Xiangzhou, Junyi, the gate of the county government office is open, and a group of people are filing out. The leader is a big man with white hair on the temples, with broad shoulders and a strong body, wearing a long knife on his waist, but he has a worried look on his face.
Hearing the noise, the big man turned his head and stared. At the corner of the street, more than a dozen handymen were pushing a young scribe.
"This man is from Beizhou. He is a little talented and learned, but he has a dissolute nature and is despised by the locals." Junyi ordered Cui Xianshou to take two steps forward and said softly: "I heard that this man had an old relationship with Liu Heitai in the past. .”
The big man frowned slightly and snorted, but said nothing.
This is Cheng Mingzhen, the general manager of Weizhou. He served as a county magistrate under Dou Jiande in his early years. However, before the battle of Hulao Pass, Cheng Mingzhen defected to Li Tang.
During the Battle of Luoshui, Cheng Mingzhen obeyed orders under Li Shimin and cut off Liu Heitai's grain road. The latter had to abandon the Luocheng he had just captured and formed a formation to fight against him. He was eventually defeated by Li Shimin.
But he also paid a high price. His mother, wife and children were all killed by Liu Heitai.
Cheng Minzhen glanced at Junyi Ling Cui Xianshou, and was about to turn around and leave. He had served as county magistrate in many places, and was quite famous for his administration. He could be said to be both civil and military, and he knew it well.
The scribe who was being pushed was from the Beizhou family, and Cui Xianshou was a descendant of the Cui family in Qinghe. Maybe there was something wrong, and he was trying to kill someone with a borrowed knife.
At this moment, the young scribe not far away seemed to have seen Cheng Minzhen, and suddenly shouted: "A certain person is sent by the King of Huaiyang to meet with the general manager of Weizhou!"
The sound of rapid footsteps was heard, followed by a brief reprimand. Ma Zhou, whose clothes were torn, glared at Cui Xianshou... Needless to say, this guy must have been stopped by someone!
The reason is simple. Cui Xianshou and Ma Zhou have a grudge.
Ma Zhou went to Guanzhong. To put it nicely, it was just for traveling. In fact, he couldn't stay in Hebei anymore. He offended the Cui family of Qinghe, and naturally he suffered everywhere.
Ma Zhou wanted to go to Beijing to express his ambitions, so he chose the East Palace. Unfortunately, Cui Xianshou's brother worked in the East Palace, so he had to live in Zhujiagou.
Cheng Minzhen looked at Ma Zhou, "Where is King Huaiyang now?"
"Inside Guantao City."
"What's the basis?" Cui Xianshou said coldly: "Liu Heitao's army stormed Guantao. This thief is known for his cunning, and Manager Cheng has to guard against it."
Cheng Minzhen nodded slightly. According to military reports in the past few days, Liu Heitao was unable to attack Guantao. He might have tried to lure Xiangzhou and Weizhou to send troops to encircle and annihilate them in one fell swoop.
"Of course I have proof." Ma Zhou straightened his clothes and said with a sneer: "But please ask Manager Cheng to repel the rest of the people."
Cheng Mingzhen glanced at Cui Xianshou. This sentence obviously meant something... The two people seemed to have a real grudge.
Cui Xianshou's face was ashen and he was about to reprimand, but Ma Zhou jumped in front and said sternly: "Last year in the battle of Luoyang, Wang Shichong asked Dou Jiande for help. The envoy Wang Wan and the eldest grandson An Shi bribed the Qinghe Cui family so that Dou Jiande would lead the army south."
"Shut up!" Cui Xianshou shouted angrily: "Qinghe Cui family, a thousand-year-old family, how can I tolerate you..."
"The Cui family of Qinghe, a prominent family for thousands of years, how did you come out with a person like you!" Ma Zhou interrupted: "Didn't you follow Dou Jiande south to Hulao? How did you escape with your life?!"
Cheng Mingzhen was too lazy to care about these nonsense, so he sent Cui Xianshou back to the county government office and took Ma Zhou to the military camp outside the city.
As soon as he sat down, Ma Zhou took out a sign from his arms and handed it over.
Cheng Mingzhen took it and looked at it carefully, frowning and said: "Did King Huaiyang give it to you?"
"In the battle of Xiabo, Duke Yuan was unable to advance, and the King of Huaiyang fell into the formation and was captured. Six days ago, the Tang army captured Jieli Khan's eldest son, Yu Gushe, alive and replaced him with the King of Huaiyang." Ma Zhou answered quickly and clearly. Said: "Manager Wei Zhoutian is also in Guantao City now."
Cheng Mingzhen nodded slightly. Last year, when he was under Li Shimin's command, he saw this plaque in the hands of several colleagues... This is the identity plaque of the generals of the Sixth Guards Military Palace on the left and right of Prince Qin's Palace. For example, Qi Shanxing had one in his hand.
Tian Liuan was also from the Prince of Qin's palace, so he naturally had one.
"Does Manager Cheng know that the Turkic army has returned north?"
Ma Zhou's first words shocked Cheng Minzhen. Although he sent many scouts to inquire about the situation in Weizhou, he did not know the news.
"conclusive?"
"There is no doubt about it." Ma Zhou licked his dry lips, "Five days ago, Liu Heitao was forced by the Turks to attack Guantao on a large scale, but he was unable to defeat it and suffered heavy casualties. The Turk army had no choice but to return north to the grassland."
"Such a major matter can be known by just sending more scouts to investigate. Why should I lie?"
Cheng Minzhen nodded slightly, it was indeed true. After thinking for a moment, he asked in a low voice: "Why did the King of Huaiyang come here?"
"Send troops." Ma Zhou said flatly: "We must send troops to support Guantao."
"The troops in Guantao City are well equipped and well-prepared, and they are impregnable, so we don't need any help."
"The King of Huaiyang and General Manager Tian want to destroy Liu Heita, so they ask General Manager Cheng to send troops to help."
Cheng Mingzhen was startled and shook his head reflexively, "The scouts reported that the enemy army attacking Guantao has at least 40,000 soldiers. Even if Weizhou, Xiangzhou, and Weizhou join forces, it will be difficult to defeat them."
"Five days ago, Liu Heitai took turns attacking the city with tens of thousands of soldiers." Ma Zhou obviously made a draft all the way and immediately replied: "At dusk, Liu Heitai withdrew his troops, and the former elegant and virtuous son Su Dingfang led five hundred elite cavalry to fight. , defeated nearly 10,000 enemy troops."
Cheng Minzhen raised his eyebrows. He used to have a low status under Dou Jiande and had heard of the name Su Dingfang.
"Half a month ago, the general manager of Xingzhou burned the grain warehouse, and Su Dingfang burned the grain and grass raised by Liu Shishan in Beizhou..."
Cheng Mingzhen stood up as he slapped the case, his expression greatly moved, "Liu Thief's army is short of food!"
Ma Zhou nodded tiredly and said: "No different than last year, this year Hebei Road is desolate and extremely short of food. There are two fires. There is no need to cut off the food road. Liu Heitai's army is already short of food."
"We attacked Guantao for ten days without success, resulting in heavy casualties. The morale of the army was difficult to improve. In addition, the Turkic army returned north to the grassland..."
Cheng Mingzhen hurriedly walked around the camp, repeatedly calculating in his mind that he had more than a thousand cavalry and two thousand infantry, which was not a strong force, but if he added Qi Shanxing's troops, it would indeed be possible to succeed in the battle.
But first, scouts need to be sent to inquire about the battle situation in Weizhou to confirm that the Turkic army has really returned north.
But if defeated, the Tang army in Hebei Road would be completely wiped out...
Seemingly aware of Cheng Mingzhen's doubts, Ma Zhou emphasized his tone and said: "It is difficult for the reinforcements from the DPRK to come in a short time. King Qi led tens of thousands of troops and refused to go north. If the city of Weizhou is defeated, Liu Heitai will attack Weizhou westward. If What can I do?"
Cheng Minzhen chuckled, "I just said that Guantao City is impregnable."
"That's right." Ma Zhou sighed: "If General Manager Cheng refuses to send troops, Guantao can only hold on... Liu Heitao can't defeat Guantao, so he should attack Liyangcang."
Cheng Mingzhen sneered, how could he leave Li Yangcang to Liu Heitai?
"If Manager Cheng follows the example of Xingzhou's trip, everything will be burned..."
After a pause, Ma Zhou continued: "At that time, the DPRK will send generals to lead troops northward...Liu Heitai, who is short of food, will naturally find it difficult to resist."
Looking up at Cheng Mingzhen, Ma Zhou said his last words, "Then Liu Heitai can only flee to the grassland again and attach himself to the Turks."
"Bang!" Cheng Mingzhen kicked over the desk in front of him.
His mother, wife and children all died at the hands of Liu Heitai. This hatred was irreconcilable. How could Cheng Mingzhen tolerate Liu Heitai's escape? !
Ma Zhou breathed out slowly, finally he had lived up to his trust. As long as Weizhou was willing to send troops, Qi Shanxing would have no choice but to send troops even if he didn't want to...
