Chapter 24 4. Skillfully set apart and win the opportunity

In the many wars he participated in with Zhou Shizong, Zhao Kuangyin showed his outstanding military talent, and was reused by Shizong because of this, and established prestige in the army.Regardless of one's background and education, for the founding monarch, military strategic ability is the most critical, especially in the troubled times of the Five Dynasties, the establishment of a new dynasty will face more opposition than other dynasties, because at that time Generals are used to rebellion.Although Zhao Kuangyin has always hoped to achieve stability through peaceful means, not everyone agrees with this idea, and there are still many opponents fighting each other, so in the end he can only choose the simplest and most direct way-war.

Zhao Kuangyin, who has the world in mind, and Prime Minister Zhao Pu established a unified policy of first south and then north, and decided to realize their dream of a great country one by one starting from the south.But only after the domestic situation is stabilized, can he have the energy to conquer, so Zhao Kuangyin hopes that those military generals in power in the later Zhou Dynasty will return to him as soon as possible, and immediately give severe blows to those who disobey, so as to serve as an example.Li Yun, as the general of Hou Zhou, was the first to launch the attack, and Li Chongjin, as Guo Wei's nephew, had always held a heavy army. It was because Chai Rong was so guarded against him that he had been stationed in Yangzhou.Hearing that Li Yun rebelled against the Song Dynasty, Li Chongjin also began to move around.

Ever since Zhao Kuangyin replaced Zhou Gongdi Chai Zongxun, Li Chongjin's mother, Princess Fuqing, shed tears and said to Li Chongjin: "Your uncle's life's work was entrusted to Chai Rong, but it was destroyed in Zhao Kuangyin's hands. How can I rest in peace?" Li Chongjin also found it difficult to accept this situation, but he was far away from Fengfeng, and Zhao Kuangyin's mutiny was rapid, so he could not get the news in time, otherwise, even if it was his turn to be emperor, Zhao Kuangyin would not have a role to play!Every time he thought of this, he felt like a knife was twisting in his heart, and said to his confidant Zhai Shouxun: "I regret not being able to discern Zhao Kuangyin's wolf ambition when I served Shizong back then, so that he can succeed today!"

Although Li Chongjin was very dissatisfied, Zhao Kuangyin was very polite to him, and soon after he ascended the throne, he was named Zhongshu Ling.After Li Yun raised his troops, Zhao Pu hurriedly suggested to Zhao Kuangyin, "Although Li Yun won't cause chaos, he will definitely be a role model for others. Your Majesty should hurry up to impress others, or reward or seal them, so that they don't give birth to dissent." Zhao Kuangyin nodded and said, "I think so too. Among the Jiedu envoys who hold military power in various places, who do you think is the most dangerous and the easiest to shake?"

Zhao Pu thought for a while and said: "During the time of Emperor Gong, there were only a few people who held great power. Taizu's son-in-law Zhang Yongde has already surrendered to us, and now there is Li Chongjin who is stationed in Yangzhou. His mother is Taizu's sister. They also have a close relationship with the Chai family. Li Chongjin's elder brother, Li Chongxing, is the governor of Shenzhou, while his younger brother, Li Chongzan, is the governor of Jiezhou. Apart from Li Yun, Li Chongjin is the most powerful and easily shaken person at present." Zhao Kuangyin said: "Then order someone to seal him again. I hope Li Chongjin will not follow Li Yun's example and oppose me."

Under Zhao Kuangyin's will, Liu Zhai envoy Chen Sixui came to Yangzhou with an iron coupon specially bestowed by Song Ting as a special honor for Li Chongjin. Li Chongjin got the iron certificate, and said to his adviser Zhai Shouxun and his general Li Gu: "Although Zhao Kuangyin has tried to win me over again and again, how can I let Dazhou's country fall by the wayside and just ignore it? Now Li Yun has raised troops in Luzhou. It is said that his morale is like a rainbow and he won Zezhou in one fell swoop, I am also deeply favored by the Great Zhou, and I cannot fall behind him."

Zhai Shouxun hurriedly advised: "Song Ting has now controlled most of the country, and the imperial army is completely under the control of Shi Shouxin, Wang Shenqi and others. I believe Li Yun can't support it for a long time. If you I also have plans in this regard, so I must think twice!" Li Gu said: "Li Jun may not be able to fight against Zhao Kuangyin, but now he has the Han army as support, and Song Ting will be a little bit afraid. If we join forces with him at this time and attack Zhao Kuangyin together, the chances of winning are even greater." Added a few points."

Li Chongjin said: "Yes! At the beginning, Li Jing, the king of Tang Dynasty, sent people to send many treasures and playthings, intending to win me over. Now I will send people to ask him for help, and let Tang Jun come to support me. This can also be regarded as a new force for us. At that time, no matter how strong Zhao Kuangyin is, he will not be able to resist the combination of several of our forces." Li Chongjin, who had made up his mind, did not listen to other people's persuasion, so he first wrote a few letters, and sent people to Tang Wang Lijing and Luzhou's Li Jun respectively, and at the same time sent news to Li Chongxing and Li Chongzan, telling them about their own affairs. plan.He specially asked his confidant Zhai Shouxun to send the most important letter to Luzhou, hoping to unite with Li Yun as soon as possible.

Although Zhai Shouxun was in Yangzhou, he had worked with Zhao Pu and knew that he was extremely intelligent.I also saw that the generals of the Song Army were all brave and extraordinary, and Zhao Kuangyin was so talented that he had long wanted to take refuge in him.Now he tried to persuade Li Chongjin to take a truce but failed, so he had no choice but to deliver the letter for him.Halfway on the way, Zhai Shouxun still couldn't convince himself that he could defeat Zhao Kuangyin with the abilities of Li Chongjin and Li Yun, so he reined in his horse and headed straight for Kaifeng Mansion.

Arriving outside Kaifeng City, Zhai Shouxun believed in his own judgment even more when he saw the Song army's camps stretching one after another.He met with Shi Shouxin, the leader of the Forbidden Army, and was recommended by him to meet Zhao Kuangyin, and presented a letter from Li Chongjin to Li Yun. When Zhao Kuangyin opened the secret letter, he was secretly surprised that Li Chongjin was really rebellious and wanted to unite with Li Yun.Although Murong Yanzhao and others had been dispatched to pacify Li Yun at this time, but with Li Chongjin's echo, Zhao Kuangyin was afraid that the flames of war would intensify.He asked Zhai Shouxun: "I once gave him a special iron coupon. Didn't Li Chongjin appreciate it at all?"

Zhai Shouxun said: "He only wants to rebel, even iron coupons can't hold Li Chongjin's heart!" This news was a bit of a blow to Zhao Kuangyin, but he quickly strengthened his determination.Said to Zhao Pu: "Now Li Yun has not calmed down, Li Chongjin is trying to rebel. If they are allowed to join together, they will inevitably form a large force. I don't want to see this situation. A war in two directions at the same time will waste a lot of money." Less troops." Zhao Pu said: "What your Majesty is worried about is exactly what I am thinking about, so we should find a way to prevent or delay Li Chongjin, and we cannot allow him to unite with Li Yun." Zhao Kuangyin thought for a while, and said to Zhai Shouxun: "Since you dare to send me this secret letter, I will not let you down. When Li Chongjin is put down, I will definitely reward you, but now I still need you to do something for me." .” Zhai Shouxun hurriedly threw himself down and knelt down and said, "Your Majesty will send you, but I will never refuse to die." Zhao Kuangyin said: "Before Li Yun is put down, I don't want Li Chongjin to ignite the flames of war. Now you are the closest and most trusted minister by his side. You should go back to Yangzhou immediately and persuade Li Chongjin to suspend the rebellion and not join forces with Li Yun. I know It's very difficult, but after it's done, I'll make you a Dian Zhi, and you will enjoy high officials and generous salaries." After Zhai Shouxun took the order, he rode his horse back to Yangzhou and said to Li Chongjin who was eagerly waiting for the news: "I have already met Li Yun and presented your letter to him. Who knows that this person is very arrogant and will not let us go at all." In the eyes. He said to me: "I already have the support of the Han army. Li Chongjin has always been brave and foolish. Joining him will only drag me down."" Li Chongjin was furious when he heard the words, and said: "Young Li Yun is too arrogant. He just occupied Zezhou, so he doesn't pay attention to me. I want to see how capable he is!" Zhai Shouxun asked again: "Has Tang Wang's reinforcements arrived yet?" Li Chongjin shook his head helplessly and said: "Although Li Jing once showed favor to me, I did not accept it. Now he is afraid of Song Ting's army and dare not make friends with me. This time he sent a messenger to send a letter to borrow troops, and he found All kinds of excuses to reject me." When Zhai Shouxun heard the news, he was overjoyed. He asked Li Chongxing and Li Chongzan again, but both of them disagreed with Li Chongjin's rebellion. He persuaded him, "You fought against Zhang Yongde in the court, and they were evenly matched. Now Zhang Yongde has long since surrendered to the Song Dynasty. Ting, even he dare not fight against Zhao Kuangyin, so why do you fight? What's more, Zhao Kuangyin is not mean to you and my brothers, high officials and rich salary have been given to us, we should accept the kindness, what good results will there be if we rebel? ?” Under the repeated consolation of everyone, Li Chongjin's desire to raise troops gradually relaxed.Coupled with the setbacks at Li Yun and Li Jing, he is not sure whether he can defeat the Song army with his own strength, so he intentionally waits and sees. Zhai Shouxun said to Li Gu, who was in the main battle: "The situation is unclear now, and it is not certain who will win Li Yun or Zhao Kuangyin. We will wait until they fight each other and consume each other's strength, and then send troops to conquer. Saved a lot of energy." Li Gu and others saw that Li Chongjin seemed to be no longer in such a hurry to practice, and they were afraid that persuading him would annoy him, so they gradually relaxed. After stabilizing Li Chongjin for the time being, Zhao Kuangyin immediately led his troops to conquer Li Jun in Zezhou in one fell swoop.After winning, he rushed south non-stop, dispatching generals Wang Shenqi, Li Chuyun, Song Xie and others to lead the army to the city of Yangzhou.Li Chongjin found that Zhao Kuangyin was coming straight at him, and realized that there was no way out, so he immediately raised his troops to resist.However, the momentum of the Song army had already caused a panic in the city of Yangzhou. The military academy An Yougui led the crowd to surrender and assisted Li Chuyun and Song Xie to break the city.Li Chongjin had no choice but to set himself on fire with his family. His elder brother Li Chongxing committed suicide when he heard the news, and his younger brother Li Chongzan was captured and killed by Zhao Kuangyin. If Li Chongjin and Li Yun raised troops at the same time, regardless of the outcome, it would definitely cause Zhao Kuangyin a headache for a long time.But Zhao Kuangyin seized the opportunity and used Zhai Shouxun to drive a wedge, effectively avoiding this situation.Li Chongjin's rebellion did not actually cause any impact. Strictly speaking, it was contained by Zhao Kuangyin in its infancy.After the two military giants were wiped out, the rebellion of those remaining ministers of the Later Zhou Dynasty who were ready to move was finally settled at this time, and they did not dare to make any more disturbances, because they had already seen the power of the Song Army and realized that it would be safer to be an obedient citizen .