One Piece of Song Dynasty

After Jin Taizong succeeded to the throne, the Song Dynasty repeatedly sent envoys to request the cession of Shanxi states. Jin Taizong believed that it was something the previous emperor had promised and should be returned to the Song Dynasty. However, Yan Zonghan, the commander of both the southwest and northwest routes, believes that Emperor Tianzuo is still at large and Xixia is also interested in helping Liaodong advance. If the Jin army abandons Shanxi, a strategic location, it means that all previous conquests may be in vain. Therefore, He made memorials many times and refused to return the cities of Shanxi to the Song Dynasty.

However, Jin Taizong disagreed and demanded that the decision made by Jin Taizu during his lifetime be continued. Jin Taizong knew that Taizu had great trust in Zonghan during his lifetime, and Zonghan had many military exploits that no one could match. In order to appease Zonghan, Jin Taizong gave him a hundred blank imperial edicts, giving him the power to control the emperor's life regardless of his fate. privileges. Emperor Taizong of the Jin Dynasty said in his imperial edict: "Now I am sending you this information. If the transfer is to be transferred, I will have to wait for a petition. I am afraid that it will cause delays, and I will do it cheaply."

Soon, Emperor Taizong of the Jin Dynasty issued an order to Wanyan's mother, ordering him to continue sending troops to attack Zhang Jue of Pingzhou. On this day, Wanyan Yanmu led his army quietly from Runzhou and marched toward Pingzhou along the rugged mountain road in the southwest. He planned to make a sneak attack on Pingzhou.

Yan Mu did not expect that Zhang Jue had learned of his marching movements, and Zhang Jue quietly set up an ambush at Tu'er Mountain to the west of Funing. Rabbit's Mountain belongs to the remnants of Yanshan Mountain and is named after its twin peaks that resemble rabbit ears. The terrain here is difficult, making it a good place for an ambush.

Mu Mu didn't know there was an ambush in front of her, so she swaggered between the two peaks unprepared. Suddenly, three thousand Jin soldiers were violently attacked by Zhang Jue's troops, and the Jin army was defeated. The mother-in-law led the remaining soldiers to break out of the siege and fled in confusion.

Emperor Taizong of the Jin Dynasty was very angry when he heard that his mother was defeated at Tu'er Mountain. He ordered to remove his mother from his post. He immediately transferred Zong Wang from the northwest front to Runzhou and asked him to question his mother and organize forces to continue the crusade against Zhang Jue.

In terms of seniority, Yan Mu is Zong Wang's uncle; in terms of merit, Yan Mu's military exploits are also very prominent. Therefore, after Zong Wang came to Runzhou, he did not punish Chan Mu, but let him continue to lead the army to occupy Guangning and other coastal counties.

Regarding Zhang Jue, the traitor in Nanjing, Zongwang ostensibly stood still, but secretly strengthened intelligence reconnaissance work and paid close attention to Zhang Jue's every move. At the same time, Zong Wang also assembled a thousand elite cavalry on standby to prepare for attack at any time.

The Song Dynasty has also been paying close attention to the situation in Pingzhou. Song Huizong was very happy when he heard that Zhang Jue had won the victory at Tu'er Mountain. He immediately issued a secret edict to Wang Anzhong and asked Secretary Xuanfu to send tens of thousands of silver silk to reward him. At the same time, he also sent Li Anbi and Zhang Jue's brother Zhang Jun to carry Tai. Ning Junpai, as well as imperial edicts, imperial edicts, royal edicts, etc. went to Pingzhou.

Zhang Jue was overjoyed when he learned about it. On this day, he personally led a large group of officials out of the city to greet him. This incident was soon learned by the Jin Kingdom's spies, who quickly reported it to Zong Wang. Zong Wang felt that the opportunity had finally come, so he led more than a thousand elite cavalry troops and galloped over.

Facing the sudden attack by the Jin army, Zhang Jue was unprepared and was caught off guard by the Jin army. He hurried back to the city, but was intercepted by the Jin army in the east of the city. He was defeated and could not return to the city. So, he had no choice but to flee along the path to Yanjing, and his brother Zhang Jun went with him.

After that, the Jin army surrounded Pingzhou City and attacked the city continuously day and night. Because Zhang Dungu and others held firm in the city, the Jin army could not attack for a long time. Zhang Dungu was Zhang Jue's cousin, and several of Zhang Jue's nephews were also defending the city at that time. However, Jiedu's deputy envoy Wei Fu, staff officer Zhao Minyan and others had abandoned the city and fled. They led dozens of people under their command, carrying the pearls and jade treasures in the official treasury, and fled to Yanjing. They fled in all directions, leaving Zhang Dungu to defend Pingzhou with the soldiers and civilians.

At that time, the people of Pingzhou hoped to get rescue from the Song Dynasty, and the Song Dynasty really wanted to get Pingzhou. However, in the face of the fierce offensive of the Jin army, the Song Dynasty did not dare to openly fight with the Jin Dynasty. The Song Dynasty's attitude towards Pingzhou was actually that it only wanted to gain but not gain.

Zhang Jue's mother, wife and other family members are not in Yanjing or Pingzhou, but live in Yingzhou. Yingzhou was quickly captured by the Jin army, and Zhang Jue's mother and wife were captured by the Jin army.

The day after Zhang Jun arrived in Yanjing, he heard that his mother had been captured by the Jin army, so he went to join the Jin people. He brought with him the imperial edict on gold-flowered paper given by Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty to his brother Zhang Jue, as well as the imperial edict, etc. The documents were all dedicated to Zong Wang, who hoped to exchange them for his mother's life. But little did he know that his mother and sister-in-law had already been killed by the Jin army.

After Wanyan Zongwang read the edicts, imperial edicts and other documents from Song Huizong, he became furious. He hated the Song Dynasty's treachery. In fact, Zong Wang did not understand Chinese and could not read Chinese characters. The person beside him at that time who translated and analyzed these documents for him was Liu Yanzong. Liu Yanzong was originally by Zong Han's side, and later followed Zong Wangdong to conquer Zhang Jue. He deeply hated the Song Dynasty's behavior of uniting Jin Dynasty to fight against Liao Dynasty. Under his instigation, Zong Wang had the idea of ​​​​taking revenge on the Song Dynasty.

The news of Zhang Jue's defeat and escape soon reached Liang Xing. Liang Xing looked at the secret letter in his hand and paced back and forth in his new home in Dading Mansion.

Liang Xing said: "Now the imperial court's attempt has been shattered. I don't know if the imperial court has sent a secret letter or anything to Zhang Jue. It would be troublesome if the Jin Kingdom got these things. Niu San, do we have someone with Wanyan Zongwang?" Can you find out this news?"

Niu San replied: "Dear Sir, none of us are with Wanyan Zongwang."

Liang Xing asked: "Where are Mr. Fan and Wang now?"

Niu San said: "The two gentlemen are still working under Wanyan Zonghan, the commander-in-chief of Southwest China, and are currently in Xijing."

Liang Xing nodded and said: "Ask our people in Xijing to try to contact Mr. Fan Wang and see if we can get any information about this matter from Wanyan Zonghan."

Niu San said: "Yes, Langjun."

Liang Xing continued: "Go and send this secret letter to the Lord, and then inform Deputy Commander Zhao to come over tonight."

Niu San cupped his fists and said, "Yes, I will do it now."

In the evening, Zhao Yun arrived as promised. When Liang Xing saw Zhao Yun, he couldn't wait to ask: "Brother Zhao, is there anyone at Wanyan Zongwang?"

Zhao Yun thought for a while and said: "It's really not happening at the moment. What's wrong? What happened?"

Liang Xing said: "I just got the news that Zhang Jue has been defeated and fled."

Zhao Yun asked: "That's Zhang Jue, the chief officer of Pingluan Camp?"

Liang Xing replied: "Yes, the imperial court's wishful thinking has been shattered. I don't know if the imperial court has sent a secret letter to Zhang Jue. If these things fall into the hands of the Jin people, they will be ruined."

Zhao Yun said thoughtfully: "I didn't expect Zhang Jue to be defeated so quickly. Brother Liang doesn't have anyone at Wanyan Zongwang's place."

Liang Xing sighed and said, "No, otherwise I wouldn't be so anxious to call you to ask you. Now we can only see if Mr. Fan Wang can get any information from Wanyan Zonghan."