Chapter 1314: Tang’s Power
A large ship slowly docked at the north pier of Fuzhou Mountain. A team of armored soldiers surrounded a middle-aged man in fashionable clothes and holding a cane and slowly walked off the ship.
Chen Chang, the Lord of Chen, had been waiting at Fuzhou Mountain for a long time. When he saw the target person appear, his anxious expression turned calm. He was about to stand up and walk out of the curtain to greet him, but after taking two steps, he stopped again and stood there in a pretended calm manner waiting for the other party to walk towards him.
The middle-aged man who walked off the ship was Xu Du, the governor of Southern Xuzhou and the governor of Jingkou. He saw the emperor walk out of the curtain and then retreat. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart, thinking that the father is a tiger and the son is a dog. The national destiny is probably not as good as its name.
The current weakness of the Southern Chen Dynasty is of course due to many reasons, and Chen Chang, as the lord of the country, has done nothing good since he ascended the throne. This is undoubtedly to blame, and it is one of the main reasons.
It should be noted that when the first lord Chen Baxian founded the country, it was also very difficult, and the situation was a hundred times more dangerous than today, but he still led a group of loyal and brave subordinates to rebuild the destiny of the Southern Dynasty. Today, Chen Chang does not say how much he has caught up with his father's amazing performance in state affairs, but he does not have a clear mind and clever means in dealing with people.
Take the current situation for example. Xu Du came to the court as a garrison, and Chen Chang, as the lord of the country, did not have to come to greet him in person in terms of etiquette. Since he came, he naturally wanted to show his importance and closeness to Xu Du, but after Xu Du landed, he was reluctant to greet him and showed an arrogant attitude.
He walked tens of thousands of steps from Taicheng to here, but he was reluctant to take these few steps and made all his previous efforts go to waste. Not only did Xu Du not feel much pleasure of being treated with courtesy, but he directly saw that the emperor did have a grudge against him.
"If the King of Linchuan is in the court, will the situation improve?"
Xu Du looked up at the magnificent imperial guards on Fuzhou Mountain, and such a thought suddenly flashed through his mind, and then he sighed secretly.
Although the King of Linchuan's talent and style are also difficult to reach the first lord, at least he has shown some ability in times of crisis, and his ability has withstood the test. The only pity is that he is not the blood of the first lord. Now the emperor has the strong support of the Tang Kingdom behind him, plus the legacy of the first lord. Although his talent is not matched, he still sits firmly in this position.
Xu Du's entry into the court this time has little to do with Chen Chang's previous various attempts to win over and show goodwill. The main reason is that he heard that the Tang Kingdom will once again pour a lot of manpower and material resources to the south to interfere in the local situation, so he wants to enter the court to find out the real intention of the Tang Kingdom this time.
After all, Jingkou, where he is stationed, is only separated from Huainan by a river. If the Tang Kingdom is ready to increase its interference in the south after unifying the north, then he will inevitably be the first to be affected. The court was quite friendly to him and wanted to win him over to check and balance the King of Linchuan, so he took this opportunity to see which way the wind was blowing.
When he was still more than ten feet away from the emperor's tent, Xu Du threw away his crutches, limped forward and bowed, saying: "Your Majesty, I, Xu Du, pay my respects to you! I was suffering from rheumatism and foot pain before, so I couldn't come to the court to pay my respects. Now that my health has improved, I will come to the court. Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
Chen Chang was indeed dissatisfied with Xu Du's various evasive attitudes before, and now he had to come to the court under the pressure of the court to borrow the power of the Tang Dynasty. He felt both happy and angry. He was the ruler of a country, but he had to borrow the power of a foreign country to order his ministers. This undoubtedly made him lose face.
However, seeing Xu Du still trying to maintain a humble and submissive attitude despite his illness, Chen Chang felt very satisfied. It seemed that these founding fathers and powerful officials were not completely fearless of him as their master. Some misunderstandings and conflicts in the past were often caused by insufficient communication.
"Mr. Xu, you don't have to be so polite! Now all the important military and political affairs of Southern Xu are entrusted to you. I only want to ask you for advice on how to govern the country. For the country and for me, Mr. Xu, you must take care of your health carefully!"
After the resentment in his heart dissipated a little, Chen Chang's attitude became cordial and easy-going. He stepped forward, leaned over and helped Xu Du, who was still kneeling on the ground, and raised his hand to signal the attendant holding the whisk behind him to come forward to dust off the dust on his robe, and asked the staff to carry the sedan chair. The monarch and his ministers returned to Taicheng one after another, talking happily.
Today, the atmosphere in Taicheng is more lively and active than in the past, not only because of Xu Du's entry into the court, but also because the court has been preparing to send troops to quell the Nanchuan Lingbiao Rebellion.
The arrival of the Tang envoy swept away the haze that had previously shrouded Jiankang, and made the minds of the people in the capital become active.
Although the previous situation of internal and external troubles was abruptly aggravated by the Nanchuan Rebellion, in fact, the source can be traced back to the unification of the north and the establishment of the Tang Dynasty. According to the tradition of confrontation between the north and the south for many years, once the north ends the turmoil and restores unity, it will definitely not be a good thing for the Southern Dynasty.
Although the current Southern Chen has various close ties with the Tang Dynasty, this confrontational thinking of the north and the south is still deeply rooted. Whether it is the pro-Tang faction or the local faction that is hostile to the north, they all have a deep worry in their hearts, that is, after the Tang Dynasty completes the unification of the north and the integration of personnel, will it cross the river and invade Jiangdong in a large scale?
Chen Chang himself had such doubts. When facing Chen Qian who was getting more and more aggressive, he still had to tolerate him. He was worried that if there was civil unrest in the country, he might be stabbed in the back by the Tang Dynasty. Although he was closer to the Tang Dynasty, it was also out of the need to maintain his own stability. Dividing the country by the river was undoubtedly the most advantageous situation for him.
The arrival of the Tang envoys this time first expressed that the Tang Dynasty was willing to send troops to quell the unrest in Nanchuan Lingbiao, which greatly relieved the Jiankang court, which was originally troubled by this. No matter how this unrest was quelled, it would undoubtedly deter other local forces within the Southern Chen Dynasty, so that they would not dare to make trouble at will.
Secondly, and most importantly, the Tang Dynasty stated that it could return the Nanchuan prefectures and counties previously occupied after the war. This was undoubtedly a great surprise for the Jiankang monarchs and ministers. The significance was far greater than the quelling of the rebellious forces such as Wang Lin and Chunyu Liang, and it would even have a fundamental impact on the political structure of the Southern Chen Dynasty!
The Southern Dynasty has always had a political structure based on geographical factors, called the Jingyang confrontation, that is, the situation of stalemate and even confrontation between the Jingxiang area in the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River and the Yangzhou Sanwu area in the lower reaches. From the Wang Dun Rebellion in the early Eastern Jin Dynasty, the Huan Chu Rebellion in the late period, to the subsequent changes of power in the dynasties, most of the far-reaching political events have such a context behind them.
However, this political tradition no longer existed in the Southern Chen Dynasty, because the Southern Chen Dynasty did not have control over the upper reaches of Jingxiang, so there was no Jingyang confrontation.
As the ruler of the Southern Chen Dynasty, Chen Chang had a considerable disadvantage that he did not have the support of local forces deeply rooted in Jiangdong, so his authority only covered the Jinnei area. If he really encountered any troubles and challenges, his power to dispatch internal personnel resources was very limited, so that the most effective means for the king of a country was to recruit people from abroad.
However, if the Jiangzhou Nanchuan area could be recovered this time, even if the situation of Jingyang confrontation formed by the previous dynasties could not be restored, a mini version of the balance of power could be established, which greatly expanded the space for Chen Chang to exercise his power.
At the same time, this incident also sent a gratifying and reassuring signal to the monarchs and ministers of the Southern Chen Dynasty, that is, the Tang Dynasty had no intention of a large-scale invasion to the south in the near future. Because if they really want to annex and destroy the Southern Dynasty, they should strengthen their control over the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and take advantage of the opportunity to quell the Nanchuan rebellion to expand their power, rather than handing over the Nanchuan prefecture.
Because of the series of logical considerations behind this, the king and his ministers in Jiankang City are also very optimistic. At the welcome banquet for Xu Du, Chen Chang even took the cup and said to Xu Du with a smile: "When the Tang Kingdom returns Nanchuan, will Xu Gong be willing to go there for the country and wipe out the remaining bandits?"
After hearing this, Xu Du hurriedly stood up and said: "I am now honored to be in Jingkou, especially relying on the remaining prestige of the former lord. Nanchuan has just been recovered, and the people's sentiments are still stubborn. With this injured body, I am afraid that it will be difficult to show the majesty of the court. Although I am willing to take on the hard work and defend the border for the country, I have more ambition than talent..."
Hearing Xu Du's slightly anxious and evasive look, Chen Chang couldn't help laughing again, and drank the wine in the cup in one gulp, and his heart was also full of pride.
Everyone has his own considerations and opinions about the current situation, and Chen Chang certainly has his own. He naturally does not believe that the Tang emperor will blindly support and favor him, and his actions are of course based on his own interests. Now in the Southern Dynasty, the most unfavorable thing for the Tang Dynasty is for Chen Qian and his ilk to take power.
Now Chen Qian lives in Wuzhong, connects the Three Wus, and connects Zhejiang and Fujian. He has become a stubborn disease in the country. Not only does he lack awe for Chen Chang, the king, but he is also deeply hostile to the Tang Dynasty.
For example, the previous collusion with the remnants of the Northern Qi Dynasty must have angered the Tang emperor, but because Chen Qian was hiding in Wuzhong, it was difficult to punish him, so he could only increase support for the Southern Dynasty forces and loosen up the Jiankang court to a certain extent, so that the court could more effectively crack down on and suppress Chen Qian.
This time, the return of Nanchuan Prefecture is probably an attempt to increase the strength of the Jiankang court. In addition to Chen Qian's behavior angering the Emperor of Tang, Chen Chang's own submissive attitude over the years made the Emperor of Tang trust him more, so he made this concession.
Although Nanchuan has not yet been acquired, Chen Chang has already regarded it as his core base and an important bargaining chip to check and balance Chen Qian and restore the balance of the situation in the country. Naturally, he will not easily hand it over to someone he cannot trust.
When people are too obsessed with their own gains and losses, they often ignore more comprehensive information. Chen Chang only noticed how the Tang Kingdom would change the situation in the country after returning Nanchuan. The officials in Jiankang were happy that the Tang Kingdom had no intention of invading the south. When Xu Du heard the Tang Kingdom's request to transfer its Yangzhou General Administration Office to Guangling, he immediately frowned.
When Chen Qian tried to take charge of the government, Xu Du once got involved in Guangling with Chen Qian's authorization, and temporarily achieved a complete form of the Northern Palace. However, soon as Nankang King Chen Tanlang returned to Jiangbei from Guanzhong and raised the slogan of serving the king, Chen Qian was forced to withdraw from Jiankang, and Xu Du also gave up Guangling tactfully.
Guangling's importance in Jiangbei is beyond doubt, and it is more reasonable to let Chen Tanlang, a member of the royal family, take charge. However, now the Tang Kingdom has requested to transfer Chen Tanlang and replace him with his Huainan generals on the grounds of pacifying the Nanchuan Rebellion. The intention of swallowing up Huainan and exerting pressure along the river is obvious. In this way, Xu Du, who is stationed in Jingkou, will directly suffer from the pressure of the Tang army on the other side of the river.
Although northerners are not good at water battles, that is a stereotype in the past. After the Hou Jing Rebellion, a large number of people from the Southern Dynasty remained in Jiangbei, and many soldiers from the former Southern Liang Jingxiang and other places were also incorporated into the battle sequence of the Tang army. Moreover, the Southern Chen Dynasty had previously invested a considerable amount of personnel resources in Jiangbei. Will these personnel and materials return to Jiangdong with Chen Tanlang, or will they remain in Jiangbei?
Not to mention that Wu Mingche, who is in charge of Qin County, has a rather ambiguous position and attitude. The so-called natural dangers of the river are really not a big obstacle to the Tang army today.
Xu Du wanted to remind the emperor not to be too optimistic about this transaction. Even if the Tang State was willing to fulfill its agreement and return all Nanchuan prefectures and counties, these places had been separated from the imperial rule for a long time, and it was not feasible to reunite them again. In the short term, investing too many human resources in management will make Jiankang even weaker.
As for Guangling, it is a knife on the neck. Once the Tang army chooses to attack here, the harm will undoubtedly be greater. Moreover, the current ruler does not seem to be as capable as the former ruler to lead the people to another victory at Zhongshan. ability.
The imperial court obviously lacked understanding of this danger, or avoided talking about it. Xu Du entered the imperial court as Fang Mu, and did not dare to speak too freely. He did not say much about it at the banquet prepared by the imperial court, and waited until the banquet was over. After that, he invited Zhao Zhili, Cai Jingli and other old acquaintances back to the government to discuss matters.
"Now the Tang Dynasty requires the imperial court to recall King Nankang to the country and switch to the Nanchuan military, but Guangling is surrendered. Don't you see the harm? Why don't you report it directly to the imperial court?"
After a few people sat down, Xu Du looked at them and frowned.
After Zhao Zhili heard this, he sighed and said: "The Tang Dynasty is powerful and is accustomed to making plans for the dynasty and the twilight. Today, all the princes in the dynasty only see the great benefits and do not talk about the harm of humiliation. Even if there are wise men who make suggestions, they will be attacked by the crowd." Xu Gong has been living in a foreign town for a long time. It is unknown that the current situation in the court is dangerous. Perhaps it is to intimidate Xu Gong! The distinction between internal and external enemies has long been blurred!"
"Xu lives in Jingkou and is deeply trusted by the state. He can remove me from my post with just an edict. Why use such a sinister plan to scare me with external force! If the Lord really cares so much, how can he control the world's talented people?" To secure the country?”
When Xu Du heard this, he frowned again and said, he had such suspicion before, but now it was directly exposed by Zhao Zhili, he still felt a little uncomfortable in his heart, and then sighed: "In troubled times, I just want to be able to My skills were still at their peak, and I was lucky enough to meet my late master, so I had the ambition to bring peace to the world. But not even half way through the process, my late master died in the middle of the road and abandoned my disciples. The successor came to the court. If I meet him, I will use it. Yin, why are you hiding thorns in your belly and speculating about right and wrong?”
This is more or less shameless. If these people really know how to advance and retreat, they will not add fuel to the flames when Chen Qian tries to take charge of the government and imprison Chen Chang. But now that their own situation is threatened, they start again Sanctimoniously lamenting that others don't understand the general situation.
Xu Du and others were still discussing in private, but the reaction of Linchuan Wang Chen Qian, who had already taken a clear-cut stand against the imperial court, was much more intense. Shortly after the Tang envoy arrived in Jiankang, Chen Qian had already learned about the relevant matters through the eyes and ears of the court, and then quickly sent his confidant, Zhang Zhaoda, the commander of Wukang, to the court to express his dissatisfaction and protest.