novelAbuy Chapter 10, Section 5: Seizing Power
Chapter 10, Section 5: Seizing Power
That night, Gao Xingzhou had a nightmare in which he dreamt that Fengxiang Prefecture was besieged and fell to the enemy, and Li Congke set fire to the tall building, burning his wife and children to the ground.
Upon waking, Gao Xingzhou was in a state of unease. After seeing off Envoy Meng before noon, he returned to the west hall of the government office and sat there silently for a long time.
The West is associated with the element of metal and is associated with military affairs, hence the name White Tiger Hall, which houses and preserves the imperial banners and insignia bestowed by the court.
According to the Tang Dynasty system, military governors were granted double banners and double insignia. The banners were for exclusive rewards, and the insignia were for exclusive executions. When they went out, they would raise the insignia and the government office would display six banners to demonstrate their power and prestige.
The complete set of banners includes one banner, one dragon and tiger banner, two gate flags, two spears, and two leopard tails, totaling eight items.
The joint is made of red and black lacquered bar, decorated with gold-plated copper leaves, with three layers of wooden plates on top, each a few inches apart, and a circle of red silk hanging around the perimeter as a banner, wrapped in a purple silk flag bag, and then covered with a green silk bag.
The banner was made of five zhang of crimson silk, with a gilded bronze dragon head, a scarlet banner wrapped around its head, and a white tiger painted in powder. It was covered with red silk, with a purple silk bag and an oil pouch as its outer cover.
The flags were all made of nine red silk ribbons, except for the leopard tail, which was made of reddish-yellow cloth with leopard print.
This set of banners and ceremonial regalia is the origin of the title "Jiedushi" (military governor) and the credential for exercising power. Without the title of Jiedushi, one could still command troops and govern, but ultimately, the title was illegitimate and lacked legitimacy.
When the imperial court was powerful, it controlled the various military governors by granting them military commands. When it weakened and became powerless, it could only rely on this matter to barely maintain a semblance of respectability for the regional military governors.
On one side of the central commander's seat hangs a map depicting the territory of the dynasty, with Yanzhou located in the northwest corner.
Gao Xingzhou did not look to the northwest, towards the Dingnan Army that the court had ordered him to deal with; instead, he turned his gaze to Fengxiang Prefecture, south of Yanzhou.
From west to east, and from north to south, the Xiongwu Army of Qinzhou, the Zhangyi Army of Jingzhou, the Jingnan Army of Binzhou, the Shunyi Army of Yaozhou, the Jingzhao Prefecture, and the Wuding Army belonging to the Shannan West Circuit surrounded Fengxiang Prefecture, where Li Congke was located.
Adjacent to Jingzhao Prefecture were the Zhenguo Army of Huazhou, the Kuangguo Army of Tongzhou, and the Huguo Army of Hezhong. These regional military governors might also join the campaign.
"It's in dire straits."
Gao Xingzhou was worried about the dangerous situation his friend was facing, and wondered how he would break the deadlock if he were in his friend's shoes.
He pondered for a while, but couldn't come up with any solution.
Even if he sided with Li Congke, would his subordinates be of one mind with him and oppose the court? Gao Xingzhou was not sure.
Even if all of his thousands of troops obeyed his orders, the Zhangwu Army would still find it difficult to break through the blockade of Huangfu Li's army in Fufangbao and march south for thousands of miles, all the way to Fengxiang.
This time, it's really up to fate whether the Indian lives or dies.
Li Congke has followed the late emperor since childhood and enjoys a high reputation in the army. If he can win over one or two regional military governors and withstand the first wave of attacks, the various military commanders, each with their own agendas, might have a glimmer of hope.
Gao Xingzhou sighed and then considered the opponent whom the court had ordered to be attacked: the Dangxiang Li clan.
Of the four prefectures of Dingnan Army, Xia Prefecture was the base, You Prefecture was the rear, and Sui and Yin Prefectures were close to Yan Prefecture.
Last year, the imperial court launched a 50,000-strong army to seize Xia Prefecture with overwhelming force. The strategy was not wrong, but the mistake was that it underestimated the various unfavorable factors such as the strong city defenses, rugged terrain, harassment by cavalry, and difficult transportation.
Gao Xingzhou was short of troops and supplies, so it was not realistic to attack Xiazhou directly. He had to unite with the surrounding towns and devise a plan.
Dingnan Army is located north of the Han Sea. To the northeast, the Yang family of Linzhou and the Zhe family of Fuzhou have been skilled in archery and warfare for generations, and their martial prowess is unparalleled in their respective regions. Back when Zhenwu Army was under their rule, I sincerely befriended them and allowed them to manage the affairs of the prefectures freely, and our relationship was harmonious.
Now that we need their help, we must negotiate face-to-face with the two heads of the family, Yang Hongxin and Zhe Congruan. We don't know what conditions they will offer.
Looking south of Dingnan Army, Yanzhou is located in the southeast, adjacent to Suiyin and Tongxiazhou; Qingzhou is located in the southwest, and if troops are sent north, it could threaten Youzhou.
If Youzhou falls, Li Yichao will have no choice but to flee into the vast desert. Although there are oases where he can find refuge, it will be a huge burden on the supply of his large army, making it difficult to support tens of thousands of people.
Drive the Li clan of the Dangxiang out of Xia Prefecture and into the desert. Then, pacify the refugees. Their people will surely disperse and will no longer be a threat.
Gao Xingzhou plans to send a letter to Fu Yanqing, the Prefect of Qingzhou, and is sure to receive a response.
If Fu Yanqing, Yang Hongxin, and Zhe Congruan are willing to cooperate, they can hold the Dingnan Army in the south and north respectively, allowing Gao Xingzhou to concentrate his forces to first recover Yin and Sui prefectures, thus ensuring half the success of the great undertaking.
Li Renyan, the defense commissioner of Yinzhou, and Li Yimin, the prefect of Suizhou, are respectively Li Renfu's cousin and nephew. Previously, when the imperial court attacked Xiazhou, they did not send troops to aid Li Yichao. Could this be used as an opportunity to sow discord between them?
The so-called strategy, at first glance, seems easy, but in reality it involves countless details. Where should one begin?
Gao Xingzhou chuckled self-deprecatingly, saying that it was too early to talk about dealing with the Dingnan Army. A tall building starts from the ground up, and it must begin with taking control of this prefecture.
The military governor (Jiedushi) was in charge of both military and civilian affairs, wielding power over personnel, military and political matters, finance, and criminal justice. If he were to personally handle every matter, he would be overwhelmed with official duties every day, leaving no time for strategic thinking. Therefore, he was assigned a large number of advisors to assist him.
Taking Gao Xingzhou's staff as an example, the deputy military governor was appointed by the court to assist in daily affairs and was responsible for supervision. The military commander assisted in military affairs, the judge assisted in civil administration, the clerk managed the finances, the secretary handled confidential matters, the judge handled lawsuits, the inspector supervised the farmland, transportation, and post stations, and there were also yamen runners, advisors, legal officers, family attendants, and military entourage members, etc. The staff ranged from the fifth rank to the eighth rank, with varying official positions.
Only by bringing a large number of people with him can he quickly take over the affairs of a prefecture. If there are still shortcomings, the military governor has the power to appoint officials and subordinates at his own discretion. He only needs to report to the court for recommendation, and he will be approved without any surprises. Afterwards, he will be formally registered as an official.
Whether local officials obey orders depends on the methods employed by the military governor.
Yanzhou had ten counties under its jurisdiction, and five garrisons were set up in key locations: Jinming, Saimen, Wuqi, Bao'an, and Yongping. Each garrison had three to five hundred soldiers, and the garrison commanders were all local powerful families, somewhat similar to the relationship between the regional military governors and the imperial court.
Gao Xingzhou's strategy relied not only on the 5,000 troops in the prefecture and the cooperation of the magistrates of the ten counties, but also on the obedience of the garrison commanders of the five towns. If he could mobilize the troops from these towns, his forces would exceed 7,000, which would immediately provide him with much more troop strength.
He was confident about this and first invited Gao Yunquan, the magistrate of Fushi County, to discuss the matter.
In the Yanzhou area, the Gao family's power was no less than that of the Tanguts.
At the end of the Tang Dynasty, Gao Junzuo served as a judge under the military governor of Fuyan, and his son Gao Huaiqian became a chief magistrate. By the time of their grandsons, the brothers Gao Wanxing and Gao Wanjin controlled the towns of Zhangwu and Baoda, reaching the pinnacle of their power. Even a powerful figure like Zhu Wen could only grant them the titles of Grand Tutor, Chancellor, and Prince of Beiping, acknowledging their rule over the region.
After the fall of the Liang Kingdom, Gao Wanxing came to Luoyang to pay homage to Li Cunxu. His territory was secured and safe, and he was granted his former title.
After Gao Wanxing's death, his son Gao Yuntao served as the acting military commissioner of Baoda Army. Later, he was reinstated as Grand Tutor and appointed as the military governor of Yanzhou. Several years ago, he was transferred to Xingzhou.
Gao Wanjin's son, Gao Yunquan, started as the registrar of Yichuan County and is now the magistrate of Fushi County. He is a true local tyrant.
It is said that the Gao family of the world originated from Bohai. When Gao Xingzhou took office, he established a kinship with Gao Yunquan, and they addressed each other as uncle and nephew. With his cooperation, the collection of taxes and the mobilization of able-bodied men went smoothly, saving him a lot of trouble.
The two chatted for a while, and Gao Xingzhou revealed the contents of the imperial edict, suggesting that there might be situations where money or personnel would be needed in the future.
Gao Yunquan was well aware of the imperial army's defeat in the campaign against Xia Prefecture last year. Compared to his predecessor, the military governor An Congjin, his uncle Gao Xingzhou was much closer to him, consulting with him on everything. So what did it matter if he collected a little money and grain and made the people perform more corvée labor?
Since we don't need to take money out of our own pockets, we can actually make money together.
Gao Yunquan patted his chest and assured him that he would never jeopardize his uncle's important matter.
Having established a relationship with his nephew, Gao Xingzhou's next audience was with Li Jidu, the envoy of Jinming Town.
Li Jidu was a local, from a powerful family that had been in power for generations, with numerous servants and vast estates. The other four towns were all located on the border, but Jinming Town was only forty li away from the prefectural capital, serving as the last gateway protecting Yanzhou City.
Li Jidu was about the same age as Gao Xingzhou and had a good reputation in the area. He treated the people relatively well and cautiously inquired whether there would be another war, fearing that the town's troops might not be up to the task.
Gao Xingzhou had no intention of harming him. He comforted him with kind words, ordered him to train diligently, and said he would review the troops another day.
In his conversation, Gao Xingzhou subtly hinted at a promise that his son, Li Xiaoshun, would succeed him as the military governor of Jinming. Li Jidu, who had initially worried that the new military governor would install his own people, was relieved to receive tacit approval and happily accepted the appointment. (Note 1)
As for the other four towns, Gao Xingzhou had other plans.
Eighteen miles north of Saimen Town lies Luzi Pass, the border of Xia Prefecture, a strategically important location. Wuqi Town, as its name suggests, is said to be where Wu Zi, a great military strategist of the Warring States period, stationed his troops. Yongping Town, on the other hand, is a stronghold located on the front line of Sui Prefecture.
There is also Bao'an Town, located between Jinming Town and Wuqi Town, about 150 li apart from each other, which is the only way to Qingzhou.
During the Xianheng era of the Tang Dynasty, imperial guards were stationed here. In the fourteenth year of the Zhenyuan era, the town was incorporated into the Shence Army and renamed Yongkang Town, and later Bao'an Town.
The Han and non-Han peoples in this area are familiar with each other. Although the population is not large, a border market has been established here.
Xia Prefecture is known for its sheep and horses, and all its goods are sourced from China. Therefore, trade with the Dingnan army is of great importance.
Gao Xingzhou had thoroughly investigated the character and abilities of the four garrison commanders, and found that Bai Wenshen, the garrison commander of Bao'an Town, was the worst.
This man was a notorious bandit in the county. He gathered a group of ruffians and scoundrels to run rampant in the town, bullying men and women. The people privately called him "White Plague God".
The connection between Qingzhou Fu Yanqing and Dingnan Army's economic lifeline must not be placed in the hands of such people.
After much deliberation, Gao Xingzhou decided to make an example of him.
An immediate order was issued to transfer Bai Wenshen to another post, replacing him with an official from the military governor's office. (Note 2)
After surveying the five towns, Gao Xingzhou stared intently at the map, carefully examining the mountains and rivers surrounding Yanzhou. Based on his years of experience in warfare, he felt that something was missing, the defenses were not complete, and the defensive line appeared weak.
His gaze was fixed on one spot.
Two hundred li northeast of Yanzhou is the old Kuanzhou, established in the Sui Dynasty and abolished in the Tang Dynasty, located only thirty li east of Suizhou.
The Wuding River flows into the Yellow River here. If a fortress is rebuilt, it can solidify the position of this prefecture on the right, obtain grain from Hedong on the left, and reclaim the former territory of Yinxia to the north. (Note 3)
A new town should be built here!
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Place Name Comparison
Fushi: The area around Baota District, Yan'an City, Shaanxi Province
Jinming: Southeast of Anse District, Yan'an City, Shaanxi Province
Bao'an: now Zhidan County, Yan'an City, Shaanxi Province
Saimen: present-day Saimucheng, northwest of Ansai District, Yan'an City, Shaanxi Province
Yongping: present-day Yongping Town, Yanchuan County, Yan'an City, Shaanxi Province