After the grand court session that day, Guo Shao announced in front of the ministers his decision to travel westwards. In addition to more than 20,000 imperial guards, there were also a large number of officials, celebrities and merchants. Wei Renpu and Lu Duosun were responsible for arranging the trip and contacting the various tribes in the northwest.
In this march, the vanguard was no longer Shi Yanchao, but Yang Ye. This was a detail that attracted much attention from the court officials.
Guo Shao still let Fu Jinzhan supervise the country. When he was about to leave Beijing, Fu Jinzhan would go to the East Palace to deal with the memorials. He said goodbye to his family members in the harem in advance and met Fu Jinzhan in Zide Palace.
When he walked out of Zide Hall and onto the stone steps, he was suddenly attracted by the fallen leaves on the stone slabs. Guo Shao lowered his head and saw the mottled shadows of the sun on the ground. When he looked up, he saw the branches and leaves of the trees were lush and rustling in the wind.
On a summer afternoon, the quiet environment made him feel a little lazy, but he couldn't stop and had to keep walking.
Guo Shao thought that after he had done what he should do and fulfilled his wish, he would find a quiet place to chat and play chess with Fu Jinzhan, reminiscing about the ups and downs of the past.
However, we must first recover the lost territory in Hebei before we can have peace of mind.
Because it was not a campaign, the army moved slowly westward, and the emperor's ceremonial procession was very grand. A group of more than 20,000 people, carrying a lot of baggage, quickly arrived in Luoyang, the Western Capital, and then entered Guanzhong, staying in Xi'an, Jingzhao Prefecture.
Guo Shao ordered local authorities to keep things simple and only need to prepare food and fodder for the imperial army. However, every time they stayed in a place, they would arrange camps and palaces, as well as rewards for the troops and banquets, which cost a lot and was difficult to avoid.
After leaving Jingzhao Prefecture, they marched to the northwest. Yang Ye led several thousand cavalrymen from the left wing of the Konghehuben Army, and just after leaving Jingzhao Prefecture, they received an order that the army would stop in Bingzhou.
Bingzhou was the seat of Jingnan Army, and the governor of Jingnan Army was Zhe Dejian.
Yang Ye had been feeling uneasy before, but he was not sure what was wrong. Now he finally understood.
That night, the vanguard camped in the camp prepared by Qianzhou. In the northwest summer, the weather was fine, and camping was not difficult. All they had to do was light some herbs in the camp to repel mosquitoes.
Suddenly, a general came to report that the official from Bingzhou who was responsible for reception and liaison had arrived, so Yang Ye asked someone to welcome him in to meet him.
At this time, Yang Ye was ordered to be the vanguard commander, holding the military power of the Imperial Army, the Crane Army, and the Huben Army. He had the greatest power in the barracks. However, Yang Ye looked around and saw that they were all Imperial Army soldiers from top to bottom.
Yes, the soldiers had to obey his orders; but if his orders were obviously contrary to the imperial edict, would these soldiers listen to him? He was a surrendered general from the Northern Han Dynasty, temporarily taking over the military power of the imperial guards, and had no prestige at all.
Yang Ye could not complain about anything, because being the vanguard of the emperor's guard was a great honor in itself.
The sound of horse hooves rose and fell outside the big tent. Yang Ye looked up and saw that the camp was shrouded in dust and fog. The setting sun was gray and seemed to be shrouded in a halo behind the dust and fog, just like his mood, which was very gloomy.
After a while, a civil servant wearing a black hat and a round collar was brought in. He clasped his fists and said, "Your subordinate Wei Haichao pays respect to Marshal Yang.
No need to be polite, Yang Ye said, pointing to a bench on the side, "Please take a seat, Envoy Wei."
The civil official bowed again and said: I have come here on the orders of Marshal Jie to discuss with Marshal Yang the arrangements for welcoming the emperor.
The commander-in-chief mentioned by the civil officials was Yang Ye's father-in-law, Zhe Dejian.
But Yang Ye did not show concern for his relatives. He directly unfolded the military order issued by Wei Renpu, the deputy envoy of the Privy Council, read it, and said: The emperor's carriage will stay in Bingzhou City. I will be the vanguard and enter the city in advance to deploy the defense of the temporary palace. Please ask the commander of the Jingnan Army to prepare food and fodder for the imperial army in the camp.
Wei Haichao's expression suddenly changed.
Yang Ye saw this and knew that the request to enter the city had attracted the attention of the civil officials. The army had come all the way west, and except for Xijing Jingzhao and other places, the imperial guards did not enter the city in the prefectures and counties along the way; this time they were going to Bingzhou to enter the city, obviously not just a simple reception.
Yang Ye glanced at General Dong Zunhui and others, and said to Wei Haichao calmly: Is the Jingnan Army in trouble
No, no, Wei Haichao said hurriedly, the camp has no problem with food and fodder. I have discussed with Marshal Yang here and will send someone back to Bingzhou to inform Marshal Jie and make arrangements according to Marshal Yang's wishes.
Yang Ye nodded: "That's all right. Come, take Envoy Wei down to settle him down and treat him well."
Here.
When Wei Haichao heard this, he had no choice but to stand up, clasped his fists and said, "I will take my leave first." But his brows were furrowed.
Yang Ye had dinner with his generals in the big tent, and he was still thinking about this matter.
If he had a secret discussion with the officials of Bingzhou alone, it would obviously not be possible to hide it from the eyes of the imperial guards. Even Yang Ye, whose guards were all imperial guards, hesitated for a long time in the account and finally made up his mind.
This matter was of great importance, and if we did not discuss it with the Zhe family, it would be easy to cause trouble. Moreover, Yang Ye and Zhe Dejian were old friends and father-in-law and son-in-law, and everyone in the court knew about it, so there was no need to avoid it too much.
Yang Ye immediately said to the attendants around him: Where is Wei Haichao settled? Take me to see him and ask about the situation in Bingzhou.
The attendant general naturally would not disobey Yang Ye's wishes, and immediately said: I will take General Yang there.
Yang Ye secretly exhaled and strode out of the tent. The coolness outside suddenly made him shudder. The temperature changes between day and night in the west were even greater than in Tokyo.
When they arrived at Wei Haichao's tent, the civil servant saw Yang Ye and hurriedly clasped his fists and said: "Marshal Yang, please come in."
Yang Ye said calmly: "I want to discuss the arrangements with Envoy Wei. It's boring here. Let's go out and see the night view."
"It's better to obey than to be respectful," Wei Haichao said cooperatively.
The two of them staying alone in the tent seemed more like a secret meeting and there was no privacy at all. The first layer of the tent was not a wall and had no sound insulation at all. People outside could not see it, but could easily hear it.
Yang Ye asked his personal soldiers to bring the horses over, and together with Wei Haichao, they left the military camp and walked a distance towards the Qianzhou tower. They were not far from the military camp. The campfire was as bright as day, and even the light here was not dim. He reined in his horse, looked up at the fire on the tower not far away, and immediately dismissed his attendants.
Wei Haichao said hurriedly: "Marshal Jie is a little worried. As expected, the imperial guards entered the city. What is their intention?"
Yang Ye said: The Jingnan Army was originally a military garrison of the Great Zhou. There is nothing wrong with the emperor visiting Bingzhou during his western tour.
Having said that, Wei Haichao hesitated for a moment. A few years ago, the emperor had a rift with a member of the Zhe family. He had never had much contact with Mr. Zhe. Now he suddenly sent the imperial guards into the city. Will there be any
Yang Ye immediately interrupted him: "Don't act rashly. If you refuse to allow the imperial army to enter the city, it will be against the order. Can the Jingnan army make long-term preparations?"
Wei Haichao sighed: General Yang's words make sense. Not only is the general in danger, but if Bingzhou keeps the emperor out of the city within a few days, General Yang, who is in the imperial guard camp, will be in danger immediately.
He pondered again, "The emperor actually allowed General Yang to lead his troops into the city, which was really reasonable. If even General Yang led his troops and Zhe Gong refused to open the city gate, it would be unreasonable, and people all over the world would definitely criticize Zhe Gong for not recognizing his relatives."
Yang Ye remained calm and whispered: I think Mr. Zhe is at least not in danger of his life. The biggest possibility is that he will be stripped of his military power and moved to Tokyo to hold a high position and enjoy wealth and honor.
Wei Haichao said: General Yang's words make sense. If the emperor wants to kill them all, why does he use General Yang
Yang Ye was also puzzled when he heard this. Guo Shao had treated him so well in the beginning, but now he was putting him in trouble.