Chapter 271 Zhang Yi’s choice

Heqing Hou Zhang Yi said that he was an old friend of Li Weizheng. Many years ago, when Li Weizheng was still a thousand households in the Jinyiwei, he rescued Zhang Yi once in Guangdong. Although he finally resigned and returned to his hometown, it was precisely because he left the officialdom in time that he escaped the Feng Fu case, otherwise he would not be able to escape death.

Zhang Yi has always felt grateful to Li Weizheng. In addition, they are fellow villagers and their personal relationships are very good. That year, when Li Weizheng was demoted to his hometown to marry Ye Sutong, Zhang Yi helped him a lot, so when Li Weizheng made a comeback and became the general of Liaodong, he was deeply pleased and wrote a letter to congratulate him.

Until later, Li Weizheng gradually became popular and was jealous of the late emperor, but he was helpless to treat him. Zhang Yi slowly felt that Li Weizheng would turn against the court sooner or later. In order to protect himself, he no longer had any contact with Li Weizheng and became alienated from him. However, this time Li Weizheng was appointed as the governor of the Five Armies to control Huguang and Sichuan provinces, which surprised Zhang Yi very much. In his opinion, this was definitely a serious mistake made by the court. The court was attracting wolves into the house. Lan Yu was just a small disaster. But once Li Weizheng became popular, it would be the destruction of the Ming Dynasty.

Just when Zhang Yi was worried, he suddenly received a secret decree from the emperor, ordering him to jointly suppress Lan Yu with Li Weizheng, but not to hand over the military power to Li Weizheng, which made Zhang Yi breathe a sigh of relief, indicating that the emperor also knew the consequences of Li Weizheng's entry into Sichuan.

At this moment, Zhang Yi was ordered to see Li Weizheng, and he felt a little nervous. Although the emperor secretly ordered him not to hand over military power to Li Weizheng, the emperor did not show a clear attitude, such as re-appointing him as the commander of the capital of another province, so that he could not be controlled by Li Weizheng. However, his current position is still the commander of the commander of the Sichuan army, and the governor of the left army, under the dual leadership of Li Weizheng.

Zhu Yunwen's take-for-nothing style of scholarly affairs made Zhang Yi very embarrassed. He could not give the emperor's secret order to Li Weizheng! If Li Wei really asked him to hand over power, how could he refuse? But no matter what, he would never hand over power.

After receiving the report from the soldiers, Li Wei was greeting the camp in person. He laughed from a distance and said, "Old General, don't be fine!"

Zhang Yi also smiled and said, "Governor Li, I haven't seen each other for a few years, and my style is even better than before."

"Of course, can the small Jinyiwei Qianhu compare with the Grand Governor of the Five Army?" Li Weizheng and Zhang Yi looked at each other, and raised their heads and laughed.

"That's! That's!"

While walking towards the tent with Li Wei, Zhang Yi and Li Wei sighed, "The Liaodong Army is indeed extraordinary. Qingmei Town wiped out the main force of Lan Yu in the battle, which has plagued us for several years. Governor Li actually solved it in half a month. I am really old."

"Liang Po can still fight rice at eighty, and the old general is only sixty-four this year. He is old. Besides, if the old general had not defended Hanzhong, the consequences would be unimaginable once the Qin King's army headed south to join."

Li Wei was asking Zhang Yi to sit down in the tent, and then ordered his personal soldiers to serve tea. Then he smiled again: "The main force of Lan Yu was annihilated, and it is not far from the time of his destruction. This time, Sichuan quelled the Lan Yu Rebellion, and I am going to ask the old general for the second merit and let the emperor give you a generous reward. What do the old general think?"

Zhang Yi's heartbeat, and Li Weizheng always treats him as a subordinate. This is not possible. Once he agrees, wouldn't it be natural for Li Weizheng to seize his military power?

He nodded and sighed, "Thank you for your kindness, Governor Li, but I know it myself. I have been in Sichuan for several years, but I can't calm Lan Yu down. I plan to apologize to the emperor in person, so I won't bother Governor Li."

Li Weizheng smiled, picked up the tea and sucked it slowly, but his mind turned a sudden thought. He tentatively found out in a few simple words. Zhang Yi refused to trade military power and did not recognize his leader. It seemed that he might have received Zhu Yunwen's secret order. Li Weizheng was mentally prepared for this. Even if Zhu Yunwen could not expect that he would seize power in Sichuan, Huang Zicheng, Qi Tai and others could think about it. How could they not guard against it?

So Li Weizheng also knew that Zhang Yi's military power was not so easy to seize. He had been in Hanzhong for a long time and the army listened to him. If the capture was too urgent and direct, maybe Zhang Yi would turn against him, and then the matter would be difficult to deal with.

Thinking of this, Li Wei was putting down the teacup and laughing: "Whether we are talking about merit or sin now, it seems that it is too early. I invite the old general today, mainly to discuss how to seize Chengdu. To be honest, it is easy to seize Chengdu, but this will hurt civilians. I don't want to do this. Can the general have a good way?"

When Zhang Yi heard that he would never submit military power, he put down a little. He thought for a while and said, "I think since Lan Yu's situation is over, it is no longer necessary to attack with force. To destroy the city and hurt the civilians, the best way is to surround the court without fighting, and let the court send officials to negotiate with Lan Yu to resolve the matter, grant Lan Yu a false position, give him a wealth and honor, Lan Yu hand over the last army and surrender to the court. This is the most ideal solution, what does Governor Li think?"

Li Wei squinted his eyes and smiled, "The so-called heroes have similar views, and I have the same intention. I will hand over Lan Yu to the court to solve the problem, so that our soldiers will have fewer casualties."

When Zhang Yi heard Li Weizheng agree, he was secretly happy. As long as the court sends officials, he will have the opportunity to leave Sichuan and make Li Weizheng hopeless to seize power. He immediately stood up and smiled and said, "Since that's the case, we will act separately immediately. I am responsible for surrounding the North City and the West City, Governor Li is responsible for surrounding the South City and the East City. On the court, I will immediately compile a book and ask for instructions."

Li Weizheng looked at him deeply, nodded slowly and said, "Just follow the old general's plan!"

Zhang Yi said goodbye and left. His aide Shao Wenda walked out of the tent and smiled: "Why don't you directly seize Zhang Yi's power and send someone to take over his army?"

Li Weizheng shook his head and sighed: "I guess he is ready, and I am also afraid of being a mouse!"

"Didn't that master really obey his advice and let the imperial officials solve Lan Yu?"

Li Wei glanced at him and smiled slightly and said, "Isn't that possible?"

Shao Wenda was stunned. He didn't expect that Li Wei was really thinking this way. He hurriedly said: "But when the imperial officials come, he will likely bring new will. In this way, even if the adults seize power, it will be unreasonable and unfavorable to the adults' future. Please think twice."

"Mr. Shao is overly worried. I can get to where I am today. Do you not even understand this?"

Li Wei was walking to the table with his hands behind his back, and there was a chess game on the table. He stared for a long time, took out a black piece and placed it on the chess road, and smiled faintly and said, "I am a chess player. I have already set up this move."

Li Weizheng and Zhang Yi reached an agreement. Two days later, the mighty Hanzhong army marched south from Hanzhong Prefecture. Zhang Yi raised 150,000 troops from 200,000 troops to siege Chengdu. At the same time, Li Weizheng also ordered 150,000 troops to siege Chengdu from the south, and 300,000 troops to siege Chengdu so that 300,000 troops were trapped. At this time, Zhu Chun, the king of Shu who fled to Hanzhong Prefecture, also followed the army south. However, he did not enter the camp that besieged Chengdu, but temporarily lived in Deyang, waiting to take Chengdu and return to the palace.

Zhu Chun, the King of Shu, was Zhu Yuanzhang's eleventh son. He was very different from Zhu Yuanzhang's many sons. He was not good at war and military affairs, but he liked to read books, especially treating the people of Sichuan well, filial and kind, and was deeply loved by the people and Sichuan officials. He was called the "Su Scholar" by Zhu Yuanzhang. Although he did not like war and military affairs, after Lan Yu rebelled, he inevitably got involved in the war. Zhu Yuanzhang did not believe in Geng Bingwen and Zhang Yi. When he ordered them to surround Lan Yu in Guizhou, he handed over the power of the army to Zhu Chun, the King of Shu. To this day, this power has not been abolished. Zhu Chun, the King of Shu, is still the supreme commander of Zhang Yi's 200,000 army. However, Zhu Yunwen refused to admit it, but he could not find a reason to abolish the orders of the late emperor.

So this time Li Wei was going to Sichuan. One of the secret tasks was to remove the title of King of Shu and take him back to the capital. Then Zhu Yunwen changed him to the vicinity of the capital and took him closely to monitor him, and then he completed the removal of the King of Shu and the vassal states.

Although Zhu Chun was honest and generous, he was very clear in the cruel struggle of imperial power. He had seen the fate of King Zhou, King Ning and other vassal kings after they were captured into the capital. He was never willing to be reduced to the vassal states and returned to the capital. At the same time, he also saw the King of Qin and King Jin respected themselves. After the court was helpless against them, Zhu Chun was not the leader. In the chaotic situation in Sichuan, he did not know where he should go.

That afternoon, several horse riders came to Deyang County. The leader was Gao Wei, the general who had originally guarded Chongqing. They all wore straw hats everywhere in Sichuan and came to the temporary residence of the King of Shu. Most of the 30,000 guards of the King of Shu were lost in the battle with Lan Yu. There were only hundreds of guards left by him. At this time, Zhu Chun was reading a book in the study, and suddenly the guards came to report that General Gao Wei asked for a meeting.

Gao Wei is also a man who has been fighting in Sichuan for a long time and often deals with Zhu Chun. The two are very familiar with each other. Zhu Chun was stunned for a moment. He didn't know what Gao Wei was about, so he immediately ordered someone to invite Gao Wei to meet in the study.

Gao Wei entered the study and knelt down on one knee and said, "My minister Gao Wei bowed to His Highness the King of Shu."

Zhu Chun quickly helped him up and said, "General Gao can't do this. I don't like others kneeling down."

Gao Wei stood up and smiled and said, "Your Highness really wants to return to Chengdu!"

"Yes! I have been away from Chengdu for more than a year. I am like a rootless duckweed. Only by returning to my palace can my heart be settled."

Zhu Chun sighed a few times, and he suddenly glanced at Gao Wei and asked in confusion: "Isn't General Gao guarding Chongqing Prefecture? Why did he come to Chengdu too?"

"I am hereby orders from the command of Lord Li, the chief general of the Five Army, to discuss matters with His Highness."

Zhu Chun quickly closed the door and asked hesitantly: "What do Governor Li want to talk to me?"

Gao Wei took out an order from his arms and gave it to Zhu Chun, "Your Highness, let's take a look first!"

Zhu Chun launched the imperial edict in confusion, and he was immediately shocked. This was the emperor's secret decree to Li Weizheng. The decree was written very clearly, and the king's vassals were cut off and captured into the capital.

"What...what does this mean?" Zhu Chun raised his head and looked at Gao Wei in confusion. He didn't understand why Li Weizheng showed him this imperial edict.

"Your Highness loves the people as a son, and is very kind and righteous, and is deeply loved by the people of Sichuan. Governor Li also respects His Highness very much. He is unwilling to obey this will. He specially ordered me to tell His Highness that he will resist the order and leave His Highness to be king in Sichuan."

Zhu Chun suddenly sneered and said, "Governor Li has never been a good person. If he has any conditions, just tell me!"

Gao Wei smiled, "Your Highness is indeed a smart person. Governor Li does have a small condition. He hopes that your Highness can persuade Zhang Yi to obey military orders and put the overall situation first."

"Abide by military orders?"

Zhu Chun looked at Gao Wei with a slanted look. After a while, he stood up and said coldly: "Don't think I don't understand. The army is still an army of the court in Zhang Yi's hands. When it comes to Li Weizheng's hands, it becomes his private army. As a member of the Ming Dynasty, I will destroy the Great Wall by myself? General Gao should tie me back to the capital with a rope!"

Gao Wei shook his head and sighed: "Governor Li's original intention was to protect the people of Sichuan, but in this way, Sichuan will suffer from the disaster."

He turned around and left, and Zhu Chun suddenly called him, "General Gao, please wait!"

Zhu Chun slowly walked up and asked, "Why does it hurt the people?"

Gao Wei sighed and said in a deep voice: "I, Gao Wei, are not the ones who betrayed the Ming Dynasty. If Governor Li really wanted to establish his country, when Li Jinglong was defeated, the capital was empty, and he would have been able to abolish the emperor and establish himself. With his army of more than 600,000, who could still resist? But he did not do this, but respected the emperor to resist Yan, advance westward to pacify Lan Yu, and even the emperor believed in him, appointed him as the commander of the five armies, and control Sichuan and Huguang. The emperor's will has been clearly stated, and Zhang Yi's army was also under his command. However, Zhang Yi refused to obey and took his own initiative, so he made the plan of Li to eliminate Lan Yu as soon as possible failed. Governor Li tried to persuade him to be invalid and was unwilling to seize power, so he asked His Highness to mediate. If His Highness refused, Governor Li could only use force. Once the two turned against each other, the people of Chengdu would face a catastrophe."

Seeing Zhu Chun silent, he continued, "Your Highness may have some misunderstandings. Governor Li did not want to seize Zhang Yi's military power, but just wanted him to obey his command. He asked Your Highness to mediate for this. If Your Highness is willing to do this favor, Governor Li will persuade the emperor to leave Your Highness in Sichuan and continue to be the king."

Zhu Chun was a little moved, and he walked a few steps behind his back and said, "It would be okay if he just persuaded Zhang Yi to obey the military order, but I was worried that Zhang Yi would not listen to me."

"Your Highness, don't worry, after all, Your Highness is still the governor of Sichuan by the late emperor. Zhang Yi is his subordinate. Your Highness will persuade him to be justified."

"Okay! I can give it a try. Zhang Yi is also a wise person. He should know that it will be detrimental to him if he fails to obey the order."

Gao Wei hurriedly said, "Then it's a blessing to your highness, but Governor Li hopes that the place will be in Deyang City, and he will come to meet at that time. Your Highness will not mention any mediation, so that the conflict will be made public."

"I understand this in my heart. I just want him to discuss military affairs."
Chapter completed!