EBE Chapter 67 Zhang Huaishen
Chapter 67 Zhang Huaishen
A sigh fell on the screen, but the familiar voice rang out again in an instant.
"Faced with the Tang court's ruthless actions, the Guiyi Army was unwilling to relinquish Liangzhou, which they had painstakingly conquered. Therefore, the Tang court had no choice but to compromise and agree to jointly govern Liangzhou with the Guiyi Army."
"In 866 AD, the situation on both the east and west sides of the Hexi Corridor began to change."
"In the east, the Uyghur leader of Beiting, Pugu Jun, drove the Tibetans out of Xizhou, while in the west, Tuoba Huaiguang of Shanzhou launched a surprise attack on Kuozhou with 500 cavalry, killing Lun Kongre. With this, the Tibetan forces were completely defeated."
"This can be considered as removing a major threat to the Tang court. In 867, Zhang Yichao and his brother Zhang Yitan, who were being held hostage in Chang'an, passed away, which gave the Tang court a reason to summon Zhang Yichao to Chang'an."
"Zhang Yichao was actually very clear about the Tang court's plans. Even though he knew he was being viewed with suspicion and might have to hand over the fruits of his years of bloody battles, he ultimately chose to accept the summons."
"Perhaps he still harbors a desire to express his loyalty to the Tang Dynasty, which he has longed for since childhood."
A Ming Dynasty soldier exclaimed: "Damn it! This is like discarding a used tool after it's done its work! The Tang emperor is utterly inhuman!"
Li Erfeng of the Tang Dynasty: ……
All Emperors of the Tang Dynasty: ……
"In the eighth year of the Xiantong era of the Tang Dynasty, Zhang Yichao left the Guiyi Army and entrusted his elder brother Zhang Yitan's son, Zhang Huaishen, to guard the frontier town."
"After Zhang Yichao arrived in Chang'an, he was appointed Right Divine Martial Commander and concurrently Minister of Works. When Zhang Huai learned of this, he petitioned the emperor for the insignia of the Guasha Military Governor."
"Emperor Yizong of Tang kept a backup plan, still appointing Zhang Yichao as the remote military governor of Guazhou and Shazhou, thus achieving the goal of controlling the Hexi region while retaining the hostage. Zhang Huaishen, caught in this predicament, could only follow Zhang Yichao's example in managing Hexi, and the situation in Hexi once again became fraught with crisis."
"The Tang Dynasty at that time was already in its late stages, on the verge of collapse. In such an unstable situation, they were still thinking of consolidating power! They were loyal enough; we couldn't ignore them! Haven't we learned enough lessons from previous dynasties?"
"Oh, I forgot, the lesson people learn from history is that they never learn anything from history."
First Emperor, Ancestral Dragon: ...
Big Han Liu Zhuzhu: ……
Li Erfeng of the Tang Dynasty: …unfilial descendants!
Li Cui of the Tang Dynasty (sweating profusely): !
……
"Soon afterward, Liangzhou, the city where the Guiyi Army had fought valiantly for over two years, fell once again."
"Upon learning of this, Zhang Yichao, who was being held hostage in Chang'an, immediately submitted a memorial to Emperor Yizong of Tang, urging him to prioritize Liangzhou. However, to everyone's dismay, Emperor Yizong stated that the region was already facing problems with supplies and provisions, and since it had already been occupied, it was better to maintain the status quo!"
Li Erfeng of the Tang Dynasty: ??? Is this what an emperor should say? The Tang Dynasty's territory was seized and you just let it go like this?
Liu Zhuzhu (Big Han): Erfeng, are you out of your mind?! You finally managed to reclaim it, and you're just going to hand it over like that?
General Judy, the Northern Expeditionary Army: He's still wary of the Guiyi Army's power! I suddenly sensed Marshal Yue's despair!
Song Dynasty Yue Fei (young): ? ? ? What happened to me?
……
"In 872 AD, the thirteenth year of the Xiantong era of the Tang Dynasty, Zhang Yichao passed away in Chang'an, filled with regret over the loss of Liangzhou and disappointment at being unable to gain the trust of the court no matter what he did."
"This man, nearing fifty, rallied his troops in his quest to reclaim his homeland, and it took him over a decade to recover the Hexi Corridor. Yet, all of this ended so tragically."
"In 873 AD, Emperor Yizong of Tang died, and Emperor Xizong of Tang ascended the throne. Just two years later, a rebellion broke out, making the situation in the Hexi Corridor increasingly difficult."
"The Tang court's prolonged failure to establish a new military governorship in Guazhou and Shazhou gave the Uyghurs, who had been entrenched in the Hexi Corridor, time to rise to power."
"But not long after, the Uyghurs were defeated by several tribal forces entrenched in the surrounding area, and in general, the Hexi Corridor began to descend into chaos."
"Zhang Huaishen finally couldn't bear it any longer and quickly raised an army to reclaim Guazhou, which had been occupied by the fleeing Uyghurs. Just like Zhang Yichao in the past, Zhang Huaishen quickly pacified Suzhou, Ganzhou, and other places, and then his army arrived at the walls of Liangzhou."
"At this time, nine years had passed since the fall of Liangzhou."
General Judy, the Northern Expeditionary General: I can't believe it! The imperial court has ignored this for so many years!
Li Erfeng of the Tang Dynasty: Damn it, another day of losing face because of my descendants!
……
Zhang Huaishen gazed at Liangzhou City with complex emotions. Ever since he recaptured Guazhou, he had sent reports of victory to the court, but the court still hadn't granted him the insignia of a military governor.
"He thought his achievements were insufficient, but when he conquered Suzhou and Ganzhou and still received no official documents from the court, I wonder what he was thinking?"
"Perhaps by this time, the rulers of the Tang Dynasty had already given up! That's why they were unmoved by Zhang Huaishen's request."