xymnovel Chapter 111 Request that I be appointed as the Executioner
Chapter 111 Request that I be appointed as the Executioner
Once the doubts that had clouded his mind for years dissipated, Li Congke had a clear understanding of the whole story.
On March 28, Li Siyuan launched an attack from Bianliang. On April 1, during the Xingjiao Gate Incident, the army marched 200 li to Yingzi Valley, which was only a day's journey from the capital.
The army that had pacified Shu was about to return. If it were not foresight that something was about to happen in Luoyang, how could my adoptive father have dared to lead his troops and boldly advance on the capital?
After entering the capital, Li Siyuan quickly took control of the situation, appointing Shi Jingtang as acting military governor of Shanzhou and Li Congke as acting military governor of Henan Prefecture, effectively closing the retreat route of the army that had been pacifying Shu.
With the matter settled, Li Siyuan ascended the throne before Li Cunxu's coffin.
The dragon throne was taken by a new emperor, Gao Xingzhou, who was given special favor and appointed as the governor of Jiangzhou. His eldest son was born in Zhengding, and it was none other than Gao Huaide, that troublesome little boy.
"This mystery has been etched in my heart for ten years. The late emperor's acquisition of the empire was certainly not a matter of luck."
Li Congke breathed a sigh of relief: "The process seemed thrilling, but it was actually solid and stable."
Leading troops into battle, being entangled by mutinous soldiers, submitting a memorial to defend himself, crossing the Yellow River southward, first occupying Bianliang, and then marching on the capital—every step Li Siyuan took was meticulously planned and secretly orchestrated.
"There is only one problem: Yuan Xingqin first mistakenly shouted 'Long live the Emperor' when he met the commander-in-chief, then cut off his adoptive father's communication with the court, and even killed his adoptive father's eldest son. His behavior is utterly incomprehensible."
Li Congke attempted to discern a reasonable logic.
"Yuan Xingqin must have known about his adoptive father's plan beforehand, and may even have been involved in it. When the time came, whether he thought of Li Cunxu's kindness or regretted it when he learned that the army that had been pacifying Shu was about to return, he changed his stance."
"That's why he desperately tried to stop his adoptive father from submitting a memorial to the court, fearing that Li Siyuan would reveal that he was not a loyal subject, and he also couldn't let Li Congshen meet with his adoptive father and report back to Li Cunxu."
This valiant general, who had once fought fiercely against him, ultimately met a tragic end, which made Gao Xingzhou sigh with regret.
"Perhaps His Majesty's speculation is correct, but the truth has been buried and no one knows it now."
After Emperor Zhuangzong died, Yuan Xingqin, along with Empress Liu and Prince Li Cunwo, led 700 cavalry out of the Lion Gate. Along the way, his troops gradually dispersed, and only a few riders remained.
Upon reaching the border of Pinglu County, they were captured by wild men and sent to Guozhou.
April 14th, Gengzi year.
The day after Shi Jingtang and Li Congke received their new appointments, they hurriedly took up their posts.
Gao Xingzhou accompanied Li Siyuan, who had been recommended by civil and military officials to oversee the country, to meet Yuan Xingqin, who was being escorted to the capital.
Yuan Xingqin was locked in a cage cart, the cage around his neck with his head exposed. He could neither stand up straight nor sit down, and was forced to bend over, like a tiger lurking in the shadows, enduring the pain.
At first glance, Gao Xingzhou saw that Yuan Xingqin was clenching his teeth, his cheek muscles were contorted, his hair was messy and tangled, and his forehead was covered with large beads of sweat.
Gao Xingzhou was puzzled. It wasn't the height of summer, so why was he sweating so profusely?
Upon closer inspection, Yuan Xingqin's boots were nowhere to be seen, his bare feet were covered in mud, his lower garment was stained with blood, his legs were limp and powerless, and a piece of bone could be vaguely seen protruding from his shinbone, which was obviously broken with a blunt instrument.
The tiger's claws and teeth are gone, and its life hangs in the balance.
Li Siyuan glared at the fierce general he had taken in as his adopted son who had defected to Li Cunxu's command. It was this disobedient pawn that caused a huge flaw in what was originally a flawless plan.
Even with his deep-seated shrewdness, the thought of his own son, who had originally had a way out but had been blocked by Yuan Xingqin, made him angrily curse, "What has my son done to you!"
Yuan Xingqin steadied himself against the wooden pillar, his large hands bulging with veins, the iron shackles clanking loudly. He glared at him and retorted, "What wrong has the late emperor done to you!"
Li Siyuan snorted, having no intention of arguing with a dying man, and turned away.
Gao Xingzhou glanced at Yuan Xingqin one last time, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
As he later told his son, if Li Cunxu had chosen him initially, their positions might be reversed at this moment. Fate's arrangements and the whims of heaven are truly beyond the control of ordinary people.
On that day, an imperial edict stripped Yuan Xingqin of all his official titles and ranks, and he was beheaded in the South Market of Luoyang, where onlookers wept.
"Yuan Xingqin was not the only one caught in the middle of this situation."
Li Congke let out a long, sorrowful laugh: "Xiao Gao, you and I are both just pawns on a chessboard."
Once he understood this, he was able to let go of his worries and anxieties.
"I am far less farsighted than the late Emperor, and my plans can only be described as doing my best. If things do not go as planned, do not blame me, and I will not blame you either."
Upon hearing the emperor's words, Gao Xingzhou knew that he was determined to break with Hedong, and said in a deep voice, "If Your Majesty ever needs my help, I will certainly do my utmost!"
"Good! Once the imperial decree is issued, news will surely arrive within ten days."
"If we were to engage in warfare with Hedong, what position would Your Majesty wish to appoint me to?"
Gao Xingzhou was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guard Cavalry, and he must be a key figure in the expeditionary force, hence this question.
"Zhang Jingda is currently the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Han and non-Han troops in the Northern Campaign, so it is only natural for him to take over military power. If Shi Jingtang disobeys the imperial decree, I intend to appoint Zhang Jingda as commander-in-chief to lead the campaign, and have you, Minister Gao, serve as his deputy. What do you think?"
Unexpectedly, Gao Xingzhou rejected the appointment.
"Zhang Shengtie is upright and straightforward. He rose to power during the reign of Emperor Zhuangzong by serving as a military commissioner, and we have no prior relationship. Even if I am willing to serve in a subordinate position, I fear he will have other ideas."
Li Congke understood Gao Xingzhou's meaning.
The military places great importance on lineage and faction. Gao Xingzhou originally belonged to the Youzhou army and had been following Li Siyuan as a general ever since, which created a natural rift between him and the generals of the Daizhou faction.
Moreover, his seniority and reputation are comparable to Zhang Jingda's. If Gao Xingzhou were to be his deputy, it would inevitably be seen as a move by the court to hinder him, which could easily lead to discord among the generals. (Note 1)
In major battles that affect the fate of a nation, even the slightest conflict can lead to unpredictable consequences.
Li Congke acknowledged the validity of Gao Xingzhou's words and, after a moment's thought, said, "Then let Yang Guangyuan assist Zhang Jingda."
Yang Guangyuan's original name was Yang Tan. He changed his name to Guangyuan because Li Siyuan changed his imperial name to Dan, but the radical of the character violated the taboo.
He served Li Cunxu as a cavalry general, and followed Zhou Dewei in resisting the Khitan at Xinzhou. His reckless advance led to defeat, resulting in the loss of an arm and his dismissal from office. It wasn't until Li Cunxu ascended the throne that, recognizing his military achievements, he was reinstated and assigned to guard Waqiao Pass. During Li Siyuan's reign, he served as the prefect of four prefectures: Gui, Ying, Yi, and Ji.
Yang Guangyuan had been in decline for many years, and his achievements and prestige were relatively weak. He was only awarded the title of "Commander-in-Chief" two years ago. Moreover, he and Zhang Jingda both came from the same faction as Li Cunxu, so they were not likely to be disliked by him. He was indeed a suitable candidate to be his deputy.
"Good steel should be used where it's needed most; you've been wronged, Commander and Supervisor."
The commanders and supervisors were the third and fourth most important figures under the commander and deputy commander. Gao Xingzhou resigned from his position as deputy commander, so Li Congke simply changed his job.
"The infantry will defend the lines, while the cavalry will decide the victory. How about appointing you as the Commander-in-Chief of the Cavalry in the expeditionary force?"
In addition to the aforementioned positions, combat troops were divided into cavalry and infantry, each with its own commander. When the force was large, it was further divided into left and right wings with their own commanders.
Having control of the entire cavalry's decisive battle force was a perfect match for Gao Xingzhou's abilities, Li Congke felt that he had truly made a good choice in recognizing and utilizing talent.
Surprisingly, Gao Xingzhou refused again: "The cavalry must be mainly composed of the Zhangsheng Army. I have been stationed in the outer regions for a long time, and my soldiers do not know their generals, and their generals do not know their soldiers. This is a major taboo in military strategy. Please let the old generals command it."
"Hmm, what Gao Qing said makes sense."
Li Congke had known Gao Xingzhou for many years and was well aware of his meticulous and methodical nature. He did not think Gao was putting on airs or making excuses.
If generals and soldiers are unfamiliar with each other and lack coordination, they are lucky if they can perform at half their full strength. Unless absolutely necessary, changing generals on the eve of battle is tantamount to playing with the outcome of the war and the lives of the soldiers.
Li Congke, having commanded troops for many years, knew well that Gao Xingzhou spoke of the orthodox principles of military strategy. After a moment's thought, he said, "An Congjin is untrustworthy and has already been transferred to an outlying garrison. Since my ascension to the throne, I have appointed An Shenqi to command the Zhangsheng Army. Last May, when the Khitan invaded, I ordered him to garrison Xingzhou. In that case, how about having him lead the cavalry?" (Note 2)
Gao Xingzhou also believes that An Shenqi is a good candidate.
An Shenqi's family originated from the three tribes of the Shatuo and were important members of the Daibei Army. His ancestor, An Shansheng, started his career as a prison commander in Shuozhou. His uncle, An Jinyou, was famous on the frontier, and his father was even feared by Liang army scouts, known as An Jinquan of Anwudao.
By the time of An Shenqi, his elder brother An Shenhui, his younger brothers An Shentao and An Shenyu, as well as his cousins An Shentong and An Shenxin, all served in the military. They were truly one of the most prominent military families in the dynasty, and their influence was not to be underestimated.
Having been dismissed from both positions, Li Congke threw the question back at Gao Qing: "Then what position does Gao Qing wish to take?"
Gao Xingzhou had already figured it out, and immediately proposed a military position: "Your Majesty, please grant me the title of Commander of the Battle Formation."
The name "Arrangement Envoy" originated during the Qianfu era.
When Huang Chao invaded Jiangxi, he appointed the eunuch Yang Fuguang as the commander of the army. Previously, this position was often held by eunuchs, whose role was similar to that of a military supervisor, overseeing rewards and punishments and investigating errors, but not directly involved in military affairs. After several crackdowns, the eunuch power was completely eradicated from the army, and this position was filled by a military officer.
The full name of the Array Master is Array Slash Master.
This dynasty reveres martial prowess, and the commanders of the battle formations are often the vanguard of the entire army, bearing the responsibility of charging into battle, slaying enemy generals, and capturing flags. Only fierce and skilled generals can take on this role.
Li Congke felt a pang of pity: "Gao Qing, we are both over fifty years old. Let the younger generation take the lead in the battle."
Gao Xingzhou shook his head and said, "This battle cannot be lost; someone must set an example on the front lines."
The emperor and his minister looked at each other in silence. More than twenty years had passed quietly between them, and now their temples were streaked with gray.
"I understand. I hereby appoint you as the Commander of the Encirclement and Slaughter."
Li Congke lowered his voice and said, "Should we go and see the Empress Dowager? It's just a meeting; I'm sure my godfather won't mind."
Gao Xingzhou hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.
As time goes by, the past fades into the past. Why stir up the still waters of your heart that you've finally managed to calm down?
With a major battle imminent, he banished the lingering reverie deep within his heart.
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Place Name Comparison
Pinglu: present-day Pinglu County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province
Guozhou: present-day Lingbao City, Sanmenxia City, Henan Province, the ancient site of Hongnong.