One Piece of Song Dynasty

In early May, when the Yan people came to Pingzhou, a Yan citizen quietly left the northbound team and ran to Pingzhou City. He cried to Zhang Jue, the governor of Pingzhou, saying: "Prime Minister Zuo Qigong couldn't find a way to defend Yanjing, but he failed. Kaicheng surrendered and let us people suffer the pain of migration and displacement. Now, my husband, you control the territory of Pingzhou, you have strong soldiers in your hands, and you are loyal to the Liao Kingdom. You will definitely be able to find a way to let us return to our homeland. Can you bear it? Are you watching a large number of people in Yanjing being forced by the Jurchens to go to the desolate and cold Mobei?"

After hearing the Yan people's cries, Zhang Jue suddenly felt excited. He immediately summoned officials and generals for a meeting to discuss countermeasures. Everyone said in a hurry: "I heard recently that Emperor Tian Zuo visited several Tatar tribes, and his troops have revived and are now advancing to the south of Songmo. Why are the Jin people in such a hurry to evacuate Yanjing and go to Shanxi? Because of Emperor Tianzuo. If Ming Gong can hold high the banner of King Qin at this time, sing righteousness to the world, and welcome Emperor Tianzuo, then the revival of the Liao Kingdom will be just around the corner. At present, the top priority is to send someone to hold Prime Minister Zuo Qi accountable. Gong and others were convicted of rebellion and beheaded them, and then the Yan people were allowed to return to the country. The Song Dynasty would definitely accept the Yan people, so Pingzhou would become a vassal town. If the Jin army comes to attack in the future, we will With Pingzhou's army, we can get help from the Song Dynasty, so why should we be afraid?"

Zhang Jue pondered for a while and said: "Such a major matter should not be decided hastily."

Pingzhou has now been renamed Nanjing by the Jin Kingdom, and Zhang Jue was appointed to stay in Nanjing.

Zhang Jue was a native of Yifeng, Pingzhou. He was admitted as a Jinshi of the Liao Kingdom when he was young, and was later awarded the deputy envoy of the Liao Xing Army. The Liao Xing Army was Pingzhou Road. At the time of the great chaos in the Liao Kingdom, "the militiamen of Pingzhou killed the governor of the state, and felt that he had the power to appease him, and the people of the state pushed him to take charge of state affairs."

After Yelu Chun's death, Zhang Jue felt that the Khitan was bound to perish, so he began to secretly recruit troops and horses to strengthen his military strength. "Although he was a member of Guan Neiding Zhuang and sent an army, he got people and thousands of horses. He recruited heroes, gathered grain and grass, and selected generals to train troops." At the same time, talented scholar-bureaucrats were recruited to participate in the discussion, secretly preparing for dominance.

When Empress Dowager Xiao was in power, she sent Prince Shaobao Shi Liai to know Pingzhou. After Shi Liai took office, Zhang Jue respected him on the surface, but in fact rejected him everywhere. Shi Liai was very shrewd. He noticed that Zhang Jue had different intentions, so he often claimed to be ill in order to save his life. All major military and political affairs in the state were decided by Zhang Jue.

After the Jin army settled in Yanjing, they attached great importance to the strategic position of Ping, Luan and Ying. Zong Han planned to send troops to capture Pingzhou. Kang Gongbi, the political advisor to the Council, suggested: "Zhang Jue is arrogant and ill-intentioned. Although he has tens of thousands of soldiers, they are all villagers. They are not equipped with weapons and armor, and they are not provided with food and clothing. There is no doubt that they can do anything." , and then slowly figure it out, it’s not too late.”

Therefore, Jin Taizu sent people to Pingzhou and asked Shi Liai to report to the Yanjing army. He appointed Zhang Jue as the military envoy of Linhai, and he still knew about Pingzhou military and state affairs.

Shi Liai did not go to Yanjing immediately, but sent someone to send some money and a letter to Jin Taizu. He said in the letter: "The people are stupid and stubborn, and if they don't obey, I am willing to be lenient to comfort the rebellious people." "Then, Shi Liai left Pingzhou and returned to his hometown of Zhuozhou to live in seclusion.

When the Jin army was preparing to withdraw from Yanjing, Wanyan Zonghan was still a little worried about Pingzhou. He said to Zuo Qigong and others: "I want to send three thousand troops to Pingzhou to capture Zhang Jue first, and then withdraw from Yanjing." , what do you think?”

Zuo Qigong and others thought it was feasible, but Kang Gongbi disagreed. He said: "If we send troops to arrest Zhang Jue at this time, wouldn't it force him to rebel? I used to be an official in Pingzhou and am familiar with the situation there. Please How about allowing me to go there alone and investigate Zhang Jue's plans before making a decision?"

Zong Han agreed and awarded Kang Gongbi a gold medal, ordering him to leave as soon as possible.

Kang Gongbi came to Pingzhou and conveyed the Jin people's wishes to Zhang Jue. Zhang Jue quickly expressed his position: "There are eight roads in the Liao Kingdom. Seven of them have been destroyed. Only one Pingzhou Road is left. How dare you think that the reason why my rural soldiers have not been disarmed and returned to the fields is mainly to defend against Xiao Qian?" The invasion and plundering. Today the Jin army does not come to ruin the people. This is something to be thankful for. This is all the power of Duke Kang." Afterwards, Zhang Jue gave Kang Gongbi a large sum of money and asked him to be beautiful in front of the Jin people. Word.

Kang Gongbi returned to Yanjing and reported to Wanyan Zonghan: "Zhang Jue is loyal and reliable, there is no need to doubt it." Zong Han believed Kang Gongbi's words and did not send troops to Pingzhou.

Jin Taizu then ordered that Pingzhou be changed to Nanjing, and Zhang Jue was promoted to Pingzhangshi, a disciple of Tongzhongshu, who also served as Nanjing's remaining guard.

Someone recommended Li Shi, a Hanlin scholar, to Zhang Jue, saying that he was a scholar and was wise and resourceful. He could be consulted with. Zhang Jue then sent someone to invite Li Shi. After a secret discussion, the two of them had the same idea. They both believed that this was an opportunity for historical change and they should seize the opportunity to do something big.

Therefore, Zhang Jue secretly sent general Zhang Qian and troops to arrest Zuo Qigong and other officials who had been demoted from the Liao Kingdom.

On May , Zhang Qian caught up with Zuo Qigong, Cao Yongyi, Yu Zhongwen, Kang Gongbi and others. They were riding horses and heading northeast along the road with many Yan people. This is a bumpy road, with the winding Yanshan Mountains to the west and the rolling waves of the Bohai Sea to the east.

Zhang Qian conveyed the order to Zuo Qigong and others that Zhang Jue should be left behind in Nanjing, and ordered them to rush to the west bank of the Luan River immediately to wait for dispatch. The oldest among them is Zuo Qigong, who is seventy-three years old. Yu Zhongwen, Cao Yongyi and Kang Gongbi are all the same age, and they are all fifty-six years old.

Kang Gongbi refused to carry out Zhang Jue's order. He galloped forward and said sternly: "We are leading the people of Yan to the Kingdom of Jin on the orders of the Lord of Gold. What authority does Zhang Jue who stayed in Nanjing have to order us? We don't go"

Zhang Qian glanced at Kang Gongbi and waved behind him. A group of soldiers rushed forward and surrounded Kang Gongbi. Someone grabbed his neck, and someone took out a rope and prepared to tie him up.

Zuo Qigong rebuked loudly: "Don't be rude and we will let you go. I want to see what this audacious Zhang Jue can do to us."

Zuo Qigong and others turned their horses and followed Zhang Qian to a forest on the west bank of the Luan River.

At this time, it was almost dusk. Zuo Qigong felt that the situation was not good and said to Zhang Qian: "Why did you bring us here? What is this place?"

Zhang Qian said: "Please dismount your horses and rest here. Zhang Liushou said he would come here to greet you."

Kang Gongbi said to Zuo Qigong: "In front of you is the Luanhe River, which is very close to Pingzhou. It only takes half an hour to ride on horseback." Zuo Qigong nodded.

After a while, a dozen fast horses galloped from the south, led by a dark-faced middle-aged man. He reined in the horses' heads and asked rudely: "Which one of you is Zuo Qigong?"