Outside the Zhao army's tent, the generals were discussing happily.
More than a hundred generals gathered together, speaking in loud voices, even sneezing and blowing, their energy moved the mountains and rivers. This is also the usual style of warriors, and it seems a bit vulgar. Wen Chen also stood aside and chatted. There is no special path in civil and military affairs in Zhao State, so the civil and military ministers also stood together and talked. This scene outside the tent is called, war generals are like clouds, advisors are like rain
And inside the big tent, several generals and important advisers were sitting there with smiles on their faces.
Wang Mahan dragged off the muddy riding boots, put them by the fire and said: "We fought all the way from Hanoi to Hedong, and then crossed the Yellow River. The distance to Chang'an is only more than two hundred miles now. If we work harder, we can go home and hug each other." It¡¯s a child.¡±
Wang Mahan¡¯s optimistic mood inspired the generals.
Xue Wanche looked around and said with a smile: "Now among the six major armies of the Zhao army, five of them have crossed the Yellow River and joined forces here. This is nearly 150,000 elite troops. Your Majesty, I will go straight to Chang'an now. I will listen to you." "
After hearing what Xue Wanche said, Xu Shiji immediately said: "General Xue, General Wang's words are too optimistic. We crossed the Yellow River, but there has been no news from the West Route Army. Wei Chen is uneasy in his heart. According to Wei Chen's opinion, Now we should send troops to search in the direction of Hexi, and then make a decision after getting news from the West Route Army."
"This is a safe view." Yu Shinan agreed.
The generals on both sides insisted on their own opinions. At this time, Li Chongjiu asked: "I asked you to investigate the movements of Li Tang's main force a few days ago. How did you do?"
Zhang Xuansu said: "The Hearing Department is already dealing with this matter. According to the news, those who appeared by the Yellow River a few days ago were not Li Shimin's troops, but the suspected soldiers deliberately arranged by him. In fact, they were only a few thousand warriors from the countryside. Emperor Li Tang's royal flag was also faked and beaten, and Li Shimin is not here."
When Zhang Xuansu said this, all the generals were surprised. If Li Shimin's main force was not on the bank of the Yellow River, then it was obvious that Li Shimin was not in Chang'an.
Wang Mahan asked curiously: "Why is Li Shimin so mysterious? Is it just to cover up that he is not in Chang'an?"
"That's right." The blocking at Jinguan is also to delay our advance."
When Xue Wanche said this, the joyful atmosphere in the tent disappeared.
The generals couldn't help but wonder whether Li Shimin went to Luoyang or Hexi.
Yu Chigong asked: "What's the news from Luoyang?"
Hearing this, Ji Chuan said: "As for Luoyang, we have waterways to communicate, and we can check the situation in Luoyang at any time. When we marched before, we required the water post to report the Tang army's movements every six hours. The latest news is that in two days, Luoyang According to reports, there is no movement from the Tang Army in the direction of Tongguan. In about three hours, the situation yesterday should be reached."
Hearing what Ji Chuan said, everyone was relieved that since this was the case, there should be no problem in Luoyang.
"Since the Tang army did not go to Luoyang, there is only one possibility, which is to go to Hexi!" Shan Xiongxin said.
"Hexi? Hexi has Zhao's 200,000-strong army? Li Shimin has such a good appetite, can he eat it in one bite? I don't believe it." Xue Wanche first objected.
"Then how can we explain that there is no news at all from Hexi?" Shan Xiongxin questioned.
Yu Shinan immediately said: "General Shan is unaware of something. Hearing from the intelligence of the Division, Li Shimin is planning to abandon Chang'an and flee to Shuzhong under the attack of our Zhao army."
Wang Mahan nodded and said, "I think it's possible."
Yu Shinan¡¯s and Wang Mahan¡¯s ideas were somewhat wishful thinking. In the past, during wars, one side attacked the enemy¡¯s capital and when the troops came to the city, the leader of the country led his troops to surrender. But this does not apply to Li Tang now. At least it is known that Li Tang's 100,000 elite main force has not been defeated yet, and surrender is impossible now.
The generals all held their own and hesitated as to where Li Shimin was.
Xue Wanche said at this time: "There is no point in guessing where Li Shimin's force is. Chang'an is now two hundred miles away and is within easy reach. We have no reason to abandon Chang'an and not attack, but wait for news from the West Route Army. If Li Shimin is in the West If we face a decisive battle with Wang Duhu's Western Route Army, but the outcome is still undecided, then our army can take advantage of this opportunity to capture Chang'an City."
Xue Wanche¡¯s meaning was recognized by all the generals, because Zhang Xuansu and the others had this idea at the same time when they made the plan to march.
Chang'an is the center of gravity of Guanzhong, and the significance of capturing Chang'an is self-evident.
Li Chongjiu also agreed to continue marching to Chang'an. At this time, JiChuan whispered: "Your Majesty, I am afraid that this is Li Shimin's plan. If the Tang army lures our army to go deep into Chang'an alone, it is not impossible."
"Impossible! Even if Li Shimin defeated Wang Junkuo, with more than 200,000 troops and a defeat, how could any news leak out?" Xue Wanche explained.
Li Chongjiu nodded. He still had confidence in Wang Junkuo. Among the two hundred thousand grassland elites, Li Shimin was not so good at talking. But now that the army has crossed the Yellow River, Chang'an is right in front of us. If we take into account the lack of news about the West Route Army, we dare not march into Chang'an. Not to mention these generals, even the soldiers below will be paranoid.
What does it mean to have an arrow on the string and have to do it? This is what it is now. They have traveled thousands of miles and defeated several Tang troops. Now Chang'an is right in front of them, but they are tied up. This is not their way to be a general.
At that moment, Li Chongjiu reached out and pressed the button, and all the generals stopped arguing. Li Chongjiu glanced at everyone and said with certainty: "I have made up my mind. Regardless of the movements of Li Tang's main force, we will march into Chang'an tomorrow!"
Crossing the Yellow River, there was not much rest. Although there was no news about the West Route Army, Li Chongjiu still decided to march to Chang'an. Li Tang sent Shan Xiongxin's Shi Dexi general Qi'ashu with 3,000 cavalry to search west to find out about the West Route Army.
After that, Li Chongjiu left another 20,000 troops to guard Pujin and protect the pontoon bridge and grain road. In addition, there were nearly 50,000 troops left to guard Hedong and Jiangzhou. Li Chongjiu adopted a steady attack. Although sending troops to stay behind would dilute the power of the front army's attack, this was a price that had to be paid in order to protect the thousands of miles of grain roads.
Finally, Li Chongjiu himself led an army of 150,000 troops and marched towards Chang'an. Although the number of soldiers and horses decreased from 200,000 to 150,000, they were still the most elite troops of Zhao State.
Before the march, a local Confucian scholar volunteered and came to Li Chongjiu and said: "Your Majesty's army has come overwhelmingly. The city of Chang'an is very strong and cannot be conquered overnight. The virtuous leader of Li and Tang Dynasties was descended from the royal family of Xiliang after Laozi. He is also a royal emperor. If your majesty raises an army to attack for his own selfish interests, won't he be known to be unjust and unfavorable? It is better to stop it and stop the army so that the two families can make peace."
Li Chongjiu listened to the Confucian scholar¡¯s ??words and smiled to the left and right: ¡°This is the opinion of corrupt Confucian scholars.¡±
The Confucian scholar said: "I am not a corrupt Confucian. Back then, Xiang Yu did not follow the Confucian scholars' opinions and burned Xianyang and lost his hegemony. However, Liu Bang listened to the Confucian scholars' opinions and gained the world. Your Majesty must think twice."
Li Chongjiu angrily scolded: "Chang'an is right in front of us. If you dare to make nonsense in front of the army, someone will kill you."
Minister Ji Chuan couldn't bear to see it and said: "Your Majesty, don't be punished for your words."
Li Chongjiu said: "This man has shaken the morale of our army, and not killing him will not quell my anger."
After saying this, this Confucian scholar was dragged out and beheaded like the Confucian scholar who advised Xiang Yu in history. In the end, Li Chongjiu did not listen to the Confucian scholar's words, but led his army to Chang'an.
Although it is more than two hundred miles away from Chang'an, as the political center, Chang'an has a large area. For example, Tongzhou in front was called Zuo Fengyi in the Han Dynasty. In the past, together with Jing Zhaoyin and You Fufeng, it was collectively known as Sanfu. In the Han Dynasty, it was managed by three officials who managed Jifu.
Zuo Fengyi¡¯s jurisdiction today is in Tongzhou and Heyang.
When Li Chongjiu's army forward arrived at Tongzhou, Tongzhou City was already an empty city, with all the residents in the city gone and not even a grain of grain left. The nearby Heyang was also ordinary. After the Zhao army's forwards arrived, they found that it was also an empty city. Li Shimin did not defend Heyang and Tongzhou, so he obviously wanted to abandon the two cities.
"This is to strengthen the wall and clear the field!"
The generals of the Zhao army were also experienced in the battlefield, and they immediately recognized Li Tang's tactics.
"Does Li Shimin really want to stick to Chang'an and wait for our decisive battle?"
At this time, many generals of the Zhao army were also shaken and advised Li Chongjiu to wait for the whereabouts of the West Route Army before making a decision, otherwise they would really go deep alone. Of course, more generals believe that Li Shimin has no spare power to defeat the Western Route Army. If he is afraid and refuses to move forward, he will lose the opportunity to seize Chang'an.
Li Chongjiu did not stop his march at the moment, but personally led his troops to continue advancing.
One day later, the Zhao army's forward troops arrived at Jingyang, which was only forty miles away from Chang'an.
There were no villages along the way, but the seedlings in the fields were all placed there, but no one was cultivating them. Li Shimin actually evacuated all the people from dozens of counties south of the Yellow River. This was a truly solid wall and clearing of the wilderness, which cut off any supplies from the Zhao army after they crossed the Yellow River. .
General Shan Xiongxin proposed to send another army to guard Tongzhou to strengthen the protection of the food road. Otherwise, once the food road was cut off, the 150,000 Zhao army would be in a situation of running out of ammunition and food in less than five days. After hearing this, Li Chongjiu agreed to send Shan Xiongxin to lead 25,000 troops to guard Tongzhou and Sanyuan County to ensure the safety of the retreat.
However, after the army arrived in Jingyang, it finally??I saw the soldiers and horses stationed by the Tang army. The horse scouts ahead report back. Jingyang City is heavily defended and cannot be probed.
After Li Chongjiu learned about it, he sent General Ke Mulun to lead 2,000 troops to investigate under Chang'an City through the Zhongwei Bridge on the Wei River.
But half a day later, Ke Mulun, who was dusty with travels, returned to the big tent.
Li Chongjiu saw Ke Mulun and asked: "Have you engaged the Tang army?"
Ke Mulun clasped his fists and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."
It turns out that Ke Mulun's two thousand cavalry crossed the Zhongwei Bridge from the Wei River and circled to Hengmen in the west of Chang'an.
As soon as they arrived at the city, they were ambushed by Tang Army cavalry. The Tang Army's cavalry numbered three thousand, but it was just a fight. Ke Mulun repelled the Tang Army's cavalry and retreated unscathed. At the same time, Ke Mulun reported back to the city of Chang'an, with numerous flags and soldiers guarding the city in armor.
Hearing the news of Ke Mulun's report, the generals of the Zhao army immediately felt at ease. It turned out that the main force of the Tang army had not gone anywhere and was stationed in Chang'an.
"What a good Li Shimin, do you really want to stick to Chang'an and fight with us?"
"It's impossible. Although the Chang'an city is tall and strong, its circumference is more than thirty miles. Even if the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty stationed three thousand men and horses for one mile, they couldn't defend it."
"What the heck, the Tang army might just have to defend the imperial city. Wang Shichun didn't defend Luoyang that way. Li Tang besieged it for half a year and still didn't capture it."
"Then you say that the Tang army will stick to Chang'an and fight us?"
"Yes, but don't be afraid. Although our army's food road is long, if we divide our troops and attack Tongguan, it will be much more convenient to transport food from Luoyang."
The generals told each other everything they could about the military situation of the Tang Army in Chang'an.
Li Shimin will learn from Wang Shichong and stick to Chang'an? Li Chongjiu has 10,000 unbelievers. Since ancient times, without foreign aid, there is no city that must be defended. When Wang Shichong defended Luoyang, he believed that Li Chongjiu would lead his army from Hebei to Luoyang to rescue him, so he gritted his teeth and persisted for half a year.
And today Li Shimin is trapped in Chang'an, where can he expect people to rescue him?
As for the consumption of military rations, 200,000 troops are enough to besiege Chang'an City. With Zhao's current grain reserves and transporting grain from Luoyang, there is absolutely no problem in besieging Chang'an City for a year.
Li Chongjiu said: "There is no need to argue, I want to come to the city in person to find out the reality of Chang'an."
All the generals were surprised when they heard this, and then they all said in unison: "I would like to lead my troops to join His Majesty."
Li Chongjiu waved his hand and said: "There is no need to have such a large number of people, as long as my imperial guards are with me."
"How is this possible?"
"Your Majesty has too few troops. What if the main force of the Tang Army in Chang'an attacks?"
Li Chongjiu shook his head and rejected his subordinate's suggestion.
The next day, Li Chongjiu led 5,000 imperial guards to the gates of Chang'an City.
The majestic Chang'an City Wall stands in front of you. According to historical records, Chang'an City was 9,721 meters long from east to west and 8,651 meters wide from north to south. It was the largest city in the world at that time. In comparison, Constantinople, the pride of the Eastern Roman Empire, was only worthy of being the acropolis of Chang'an City.
In China, Chang'an is far better than Luoyang City where Wang Shichong was stationed. At that time, Luoyang City was only a dozen kilometers in circumference.
Therefore, it is impossible for Li Chongjiu to believe that Li Shimin is preparing to defend Chang'an City and fight Zhao Jun below the city. How can a thirty-six-kilometer city wall be defended?
However, when Li Chongjiu came today, he wanted to explore the reality of Chang'an City.
Li Chongjiu first led his troops across the Wei River from Zhongwei Bridge and wandered around the north of Chang'an. He, Ji Chuan, Zhang Xuansu, and Yu Shinan were pointing at the Chang'an City wall on horseback, as if they were pointing out the country. The bright yellow dragon flag behind Li Chongjiu had already informed the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty in Chang'an City that the Emperor of Zhao had arrived in person.
Suddenly flags were waving on the city walls, and a large number of armored soldiers of the Tang Dynasty moved on the city walls, setting up their bows and crossbows to prepare.
When Li Chongjiu saw many Tang soldiers in the city at the beginning, he couldn't help but be surprised. There were so many people on just one city wall. If this was the case everywhere in Chang'an City, then Li Shimin's main force was really stationed in Chang'an City.
Although Li Chongjiu was suspicious in his heart, he was talking and laughing freely on his face, and then he rode around the city with his men. Li Chongjiu rode from the north of Chang'an City to the east of Chang'an City.
To the east of the city is the intersection of Ba River, Jing River and Wei River. Across the Ba River in front is the legendary Ba Bridge.
Li Chongjiu rode his horse and stood on the Ba Bridge with Zhang Xuansu and others. They pointed their whips at the top of the city and talked and laughed, while observing the movements of the Tang army on the city. But not long ago, on the city wall, groups of Tang soldiers were transferred from afar.
There are actually thousands of soldiers in the army.
Seeing this scene, Ji Chuan and Yu Shinan beside Li Chongjiu both whispered: "Your Majesty, it seems that the main force of the Tang Army is within Chang'an City, otherwise it would not have been possible to mobilize so quickly. This is a false alarm for us."
Li Chongjiu shook his head after hearing this, and then suddenly galloped towards the city wall.
"Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty!"
Ji Chuan, Yu Shinan and others all exclaimed. Li Chongjiu personally rode his horse and approached the city, just in case he was hit by some stray arrow.
"But I saw Li Chongjiu riding forward lightly. When he reached two hundred steps below the city, he took out a bow from the side of the saddle and reined in his horse to a half-stop. Then Li Chongjiu drew his bow and arrow and shot an arrow towards the top of the city. The Tang troops on the top of the city couldn't help shouting in surprise, and they all raised their shields or bent down to dodge.
But they heard the Zhao troops under the city suddenly cheering together.
Tang Jun put down his shield and looked around, only to see a flag with Tang characters hanging on the city tower, slowly coming from the top of the city, apparently shot down by Li Chongjiu's arrow.
The three armies of the State of Zhao all cheered!
The Tang troops on the top of the city couldn't help but get angry and drew their arrows to fight back.
Li Chongjiu had already turned back on his horse, and turned to look at the Tang army. He saw that the Tang soldiers were fighting back, and their bow power was weak, and most of them fell midway. But the soldiers didn't know it but they still shot arrows towards the city. It wasn't until one person shouted to stop that all the soldiers stopped.
Seeing this, Li Chongjiu nodded, knowing it in his heart, and immediately reined in his horse and returned.
Yu Shinan, Ji Chuan, and Zhang Xuansu all led the imperial guards to catch up.
Yu Shinan said: "Your Majesty, shooting down the flag of the Tang army with one arrow is enough to break the courage of the Tang army. After one arrow, no one in Chang'an dares to rest his head tonight."
After hearing Yu Shinan¡¯s praise, Li Chongjiu released his bow and couldn¡¯t help laughing: ¡°Back then, when I had thousands of troops, I shot Shibi Khan with one arrow, but today it¡¯s nothing.¡±
As soon as Li Chongjiu finished speaking, Ji Chuan said: "Your Majesty, you can no longer be so frivolous and take risks. Killing generals and seizing the flag in front of the battle is just a brave general. How can he be the emperor of Zhao State?"
Hearing Ji Chuan's blunt words, Li Chongjiu smiled and said nothing. At this time, Zhang Xuansu said slowly: "Your Majesty is wise, this arrow has already tested the reality in Chang'an City!"
With one look at Zhang Xuansu, Ji Chuan and Yu Shinan were all puzzled.
At this time, at the top of Chang'an City, a scholar wearing a straight robe walked up to the city tower and said, "Isn't it the Emperor of Zhao who is below the city? Xuanling, the lower chamber, is polite here!"
Li Chongjiu couldn¡¯t help but look up after hearing this, but saw that the other person was in his forties, holding a folding fan, and had a calm demeanor.
Li Chongjiu said: "When I was in Youjing, I heard for a long time that there was a conspiracy among King Qin's staff. When I saw Mr. Du today, it was a worthwhile trip. I just don't know where the other Mr. Du is?"
When Fang Xuanling heard what Li Chongjiu said, a smile appeared on his face, obviously because he was happy that the dignified Emperor Zhao had heard of his reputation. However, Fang Xuanling said with a smile: "Your Majesty is so scheming. Could it be that you are trying to figure out where our Lord is by asking Mr. Du?"
Li Chongjiu laughed loudly and said, "Mr. Fang underestimates my magnanimity when he says this. I have already determined that Li Shimin is not in the city at this moment, so Du Ruhui must have followed him, right?"
Fang Xuanling said with a smile on her face: "Your Majesty, there is no need to deliberately test him. Fang is not a three-year-old child and will not be tricked by your Majesty. I came to the city just to see your Majesty's style. At the same time, there are I advise you that your Majesty has many soldiers and is brave enough to conquer the world in a matter of seconds, but now he has advanced with light troops. Don't you understand the principle of a strong crossbow? At present, your Majesty has fallen into my lord's plan of fortifying the wall and clearing the country. If you retreat early, you can still be safe. Half of the country is still under the control of the country, but if you insist on wasting it under Chang'an City, then your Majesty's life will go without saying, and the hundreds of thousands of troops will probably disappear in the blink of an eye."
¡°Bold!¡±
"Presumptuous!"
Ji Chuan and Yu Shinan both cursed at the same time. This Fang Xuanling was so ungrateful.
Li Chongjiu stopped the two of them and said with a calm smile: "Mr. Fang, I have heard such words countless times since I led the army, and my ears have become calluses. What about now? I am still fine, and I have said it to you. Those who say these words have become my prisoners."
"Mr. Fang, since you have something to advise me, I also have something to advise you. If you surrender the city of Chang'an to me early, you can govern a county with your talents. As for Du Ruhui, if he surrenders to me, you can Governing a county. Do you want to consider it?"
After Li Chongjiu finished speaking, all the soldiers in the Zhao army burst into laughter. Fang Xuanling laughed loudly on the top of the city, then cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty is eloquent, Zhang Yi and Su Qin can't match it, but a war cannot be won with just a few words. I'll wait and see here."
"Then I'll wait and see!"
Li Chongjiu nodded. He had already seen the Tang army on the city wall quietly transporting two large crossbows. Li Chongjiu knew what Tang Jun was going to do. Fang Xuanling was really vicious. He was talking to him here, but he was sending people to plot against him there.
At that moment, Li Chongjiu drew his horse and left. Zhao Jun crossed the Wei River again from the East Wei Bridge.
Seeing that the Tang army did not pursue him, Ji Chuan couldn't help but ask: "Why does your majesty know that Li Shimin is not in Chang'an City?"
Li Chongjiu said: "You also saw that I just shot an arrow towards the top of the city. The soldiers of the Tang Dynasty who were guarding the city counterattacked with arrows. The arrows were shot in a mess, and the bows they used were only powerful as a stone. Such soldiers can be called local brave at most. How could it be that he was an elite soldier trained by Li Shimin for a long time in Guanzhong?"
Himekawa suddenly understood after hearing this, but at the same time he said: "Then your Majesty shouldn't take risks yourself."
Li Chongjiu said with a smile: "If I didn't come to the city in person and use my body as bait, how could the Tang soldiers guarding the city easily draw their bows and shoot at them? As for safety, I have my own discretion."
Ji Chuan could not help but admire him after hearing this, and said nothing at the moment.
When the imperial guards returned to the main tent, the generals had been worried for a whole morning. They were all overjoyed to see Li Chongjiu safe and sound.
Li Chongjiu said: "The troops under Chang'an City are no more than local warriors, not elites. Now that our army has arrived at Chang'an City, attacking the city is not the best strategy. I have"
While Li Chongjiu was discussing with the generals, a general came in and said: "Your Majesty, the people from the Rumor Department have learned about the location of Li Shimin's strength and have come to report to Your Majesty."
"Let him come in quickly." Li Chongjiu's expression remained unchanged.
Soon a man rushed into the tent and said to Li Chongjiu: "I have heard that Qin Lan from the Luoyang Department of the Department has paid a visit to His Majesty."
Someone had already checked this person¡¯s identity, and it was indeed the Rumor Department who was stationed in Chang¡¯an to work carefully. Li Chongjiu said: "Why did the people from Chang'an's Hearing Department come to report the news to me today?"
Qin Lan cried and said: "Your Majesty, it's not because of the incompetence of my subordinates. A month ago, Li Shimin suddenly took action and sent his confidant Yu Zhining to lead his troops to destroy several strongholds of our Hearing Department in Chang'an. Dozens of brothers were captured. He was killed, or his whereabouts are unknown. At that time, I was lucky enough to go out on errands, but when I saw my companions carving warning signs on the tower, I luckily escaped with my life."
The Rumor Division has been stationed in Chang'an for several years, brought a lot of important information to Zhao State, and made a lot of contributions, but it has never been targeted by Li Shimin before. But this time, Li Shimin suddenly took action to destroy the stronghold of the Rumor Division. It was obviously a thunderous blow and had been planned for a long time.
Li Shimin¡¯s purpose is to destroy all the eyes and ears of Zhao before the war, so that after Li Chongjiu enters Guanzhong, he will lose the intelligence to come to his aid and become deaf and blind.
"Li Shimin is really ruthless." Li Chongjiu couldn't help but sigh. It seemed that he still underestimated this powerful opponent.
"So where is Li Tang's main force now?" Xue Wanche asked directly, not wanting to wait for the other party to explain.
"Still in Hexi, but already returning to Chang'an."
"So, the main force of Li Shimin's Tang army fought with Wang Junkuo's 200,000 troops?" Xue Wanche immediately asked.
Everyone is staring at Qin Lan, the spy of the Rumor Division.
Qin Lan nodded and said: "It must have been a battle. This is because the intelligence network of the Henan Department was destroyed, and I don't know a lot of information. But I came to see Your Majesty this time because the brothers from Fufeng told me that the main force of the Tang Army in Hexi, Send people to Chang'an to announce the victory, and tell people along the way that Zhao's West Route Army has been completely annihilated!"
"Nonsense!"
"Rumors!"
"Li Shimin's trick!"
"How could an army of 200,000 be wiped out!"
No one in the presence of General Zhao Jun believed it. r1152