One Piece of Song Dynasty

At dawn on October th, Tao Xuangan and his party set out from Huaizhou and stayed in Wolfche that night. Tao Xuanqian immediately issued an official document and sent a special person to Longde Mansion to ask Yao and Li to handle the money and grain. On the evening of the ninth day of October, I arrived in Zezhou and stayed in a horse shop outside the city. He entered the city early the next morning and paid an audience with Gao Shiyou, the magistrate of Zezhou.

Within three days, Tao Xuangan gathered more than scattered troops. It was late autumn, and all of these people were naked and weak. Tao Xuangan took these people to Pingyang Mansion.

On October , Tao Xuangan arrived at Pingyang Mansion. He personally handed over the soldiers he had gathered along the road to Lin Jiren, the economic and strategic pacification envoy, and conveyed Zhe Yanzhi's opinions to him. After hearing this, Lin Jiren still insisted: "Pingyang City must not be defended."

Tao Xuanqian said: "Today's situation is different from the past. Now that Taiyuan has been lost, Pingyang Mansion has been promoted to Commander's Mansion, leading the leadership to defend the area, so we must try our best to hold it. Recently, the emperor personally issued an order, especially Ding Ning. Today Caosi and Xuanfu Si is following suit, so he will naturally give his full support. The Jin people have not arrived yet, and they have no plans to defend themselves, so why?"

According to Tao Xuangan, to % of the people in the city have not left the city. He felt that if the organization was effective, it would not be impossible to defend Pingyang Mansion. Therefore, he repeatedly stated to Lin Jiren the importance of guarding Pingyang Mansion.

Lin Jiren finally expressed his position: "Very good, let's go to the city with the governor someday to have a look."

Tao Xuangan then went to see Liu Rui and said, "I heard that the general now has a number of soldiers and horses in his hands. When we left Xuanfu Division, Zhe Xuanfu personally promised me that he would send troops and horses immediately for reinforcements."

Liu Rui said: "The troops and horses I have in hand, plus Zhang Sizheng's troops and horses, total ten thousand people, but many of them have been sent to various places."

The next day, Tao Xuangqian accompanied two governors to the city wall to check the defense situation. The governor introduced to him: "The city wall has a circumference of twenty-four miles, and there are more than enemy towers and war tents. However, since they were burned down by Liu Sichu and Geng Shouzhong, no construction has been carried out. There are only more than tents. It is only enough to hang four watchtowers. According to the hundred-step defense method, it takes people to guard the -mile city wall, and there are only three to four thousand soldiers in the city, which is far from enough."

Tao Xuanqian asked: "Why was there no repairs after the enemy tower and war tent were destroyed?"

The two supervisors replied: "There are few craftsmen and there is a shortage of materials."

Tao Xuanqian asked again: "Why don't you pay a high price and call craftsmen from among the people? Yesterday when I came, I saw a lot of discarded official banners on the banks of the Fen River on the roads between Zhaocheng and Huoyi. Why not use them?"

The two governors replied: "It takes a lot of effort to carry it."

Tao Xuangan said: "It is too late to go to Huoyi, Zhaocheng, to get it now. The trees in the city should be cut down quickly for use. If there are not enough, empty houses of officials and empty houses of ordinary people should be demolished. For empty houses of ordinary people, we will wait until after the war. The restoration and restoration with public funds should be ordered as soon as possible."

The two governors continued: "We have given orders to the counties to hurry up and prepare, but so far the counties still don't take it seriously."

Tao Xuanqian said: "Write a report on the delay in official affairs, and submit it to the Xuanfu Department together with the names of these county officials to investigate and deal with it immediately."

On the afternoon of October , Tao Xuangan went to see Liu Rui, the commander of the capital. Liu Rui said: "I just got the Hui Niuling customs report, and the Jin army has begun to attack Hui Niuling."

Tao Xuanqian asked: "Will the commander-in-chief send troops for reinforcements?"

Liu Rui replied: "The Control Department currently manages more than troops and horses. Among them, infantry and cavalry have been sent to Huiniuling to guard the pass. infantry have been sent to Xizhou. Currently, there are only infantry and cavalry in the city. Cavalry. After the Jin people come, why don't they engage in battle and defend the city against the enemy? There are still soldiers and horses to reinforce."

Tao Xuanqian said: "I just got a letter from the governor of Fuzhou asking for help. The letter is sincere and asks Hao Zhonglian to send three or two thousand troops to the rescue. He said that Fengzhou and its two villages have been conquered by the Jin army. According to the detective report, the Jin army The army wants to attack Fuzhou, but Fuzhou is in great danger."

Liu Rui shook his head and said: "There are too few troops and horses in our department now. It is simply not enough. How can we have the strength to reinforce? Besides, Hao Zhonglian was sent by the Xuanfu Department to serve as the deputy commander of Pingyang Prefecture Road. This department does not dare to give him orders. He must report to the Xuanfu Department." That’s all.”

Tao Xuangan said anxiously: "We should all plan and deal with it from multiple parties. The matter cannot be delayed."

Early the next morning, Tao Xuangan went to see Lin Jinglue. Lin Jinglue said: "Today I accidentally received an official document from the court, saying that I should resign from my post and be responsible for taxation in a small remote area. From this point of view, I am already a sinner, and I should leave now."

Tao Xuanqian said: "If the official document obtained by the general is just a memorial from the minister, and does not receive the official official document from the court, please consider carefully how you can hand it over and leave office. At this time of border affairs, if you leave your post without permission, the court will blame you. Coming down will probably be even more inconvenient.”

Lin Jinglue said: "I just received a customs report that the Jin army has defeated Hui Niuling, and the defenders arrived at Zhaocheng County last night. Now, I am afraid that the Jin army has passed Zhaocheng County."

Tao Xuangan said: "I met with Liu Tongzhi last night and I heard that the Jin army was returning to Niuling. They have arrived in Zhaocheng tonight, and their marching speed is really fast."

Tao Xuangan turned around and asked the staff beside Lin Jinglue: "How far is it from Hui Niuling?"

They replied: "One hundred and ninety miles."

Tao Xuangan said: "After a while, I will say goodbye to the generals and set off."

Lin Jinglue asked: "Where will we go?"

Tao Xuangan replied: "My official business has been completed and I am ready to return to Xuanfu Division."

Tao Xuangan went back to eat a few bites of breakfast, and then came to the government office to prepare to say goodbye to Lin Jinglue. Suddenly, he saw Lin Jinglue wearing military uniform and asking for horses, as if he was going out. Tao Xuanqian asked: "Where are Jinglue going?"

Lin Jinglue replied: "It was reported again just now that the Jin army is only thirty-five miles away."

Tao Xuanqian asked: "Does Liu Tongzhi know if he should send troops to intercept and attack? Don't let them charge directly."

Lin Jinglue said: "It is reported that Liu Tongzhi led his troops out of the city and then entered the city again. I don't know why. I have sent someone to ask. Will you leave now?"

Tao Xuangan replied: "Leave now."

Tao Xuangan left the government office and hurried towards the south gate of the city. At the same time, he sent his entourage to the north of the city to rush for luggage, intending to leave the city together. After about two cups of tea, I suddenly heard people walking on the street say: "The golden man has arrived at the city."

After a while, Tao Xuangan's personal follower Ren Zhong came to the south city gate with his luggage and said: "We can't get out. The Jin army has arrived at the north city. A man carrying a scroll of text stood by the Hao River and shouted to the city, shouting People talk.”

Tao Xuangan said to Ren Zhong: "Just take care of your luggage, and find a safe place nearby to settle down. I will go to the city to see for myself."