The family has been prosperous and peaceful for so long that they have long forgotten how their ancestors fought bravely in the ice and snow of Wuchuan Town to take over Guanzhong and create a glorious foundation that lasted more than a hundred years. There are endless playboys in the family, but they have never been able to cultivate outstanding children who can imitate their ancestors.
Even the recruitment of talents has seriously lagged behind. The talented people in the world have been gradually recruited by Jiangnan noble families and Shandong aristocratic families. This is the main reason why the Guanlong nobles are in today's situation.
When it comes to financial resources, it cannot be compared to the Jiangnan nobles; when it comes to heritage, how can it compare to the Shandong aristocratic family that has been passed down for thousands of years? Nowadays, even the cultivation of talents has been stopped, and Guan Long’s future is not foreseeable at all...
What Changsun Wuji did was to buy decades of time for the Guanlong children, so that they could see the development of world affairs clearly, work hard to create achievements, and restore the glory of Guanlong.
He said to Chai Zhewei: "Although the Chai family is not of the same lineage as Guanlong, they have been intertwined with Guanlong for generations and have been indistinguishable from each other. Nowadays, most of Guanlong's children have no future, and young talents like the nephew are needed to take on the important role and safeguard Guanlong. Benefits. I have watched you grow up and have a close relationship with your father. I will do my best to help you reach higher levels."
Chai Zhewei was extremely grateful: "My uncle cares about old friendship and treats me kindly. My nephew is grateful and willing to do my best!"
Changsun Wuji looked pleased, stroking his hands and said: "Now the King of Jin is deeply favored and valued by Your Majesty. Although the Crown Prince has not yet been deposed, the day when King Jin will ascend to the throne is not far away. I have sacrificed my family and life to support the King of Jin with all my strength, and my nephew should also join me. , I have accomplished the feat of serving the dragon. I am already old, and my only plan is to serve as a member of the family. In the future, my nephew will soar into the sky and become the humerus of the King of Jin. It will be just around the corner."
"With my uncle's guidance, how dare my nephew not try his best? In some cases, my uncle just follows his lead!"
Chai Zhewei's expression was submissive and his tone was firm, but he didn't know what he was thinking...
Changsun Wuji was very satisfied with Chai Zhewei's reaction. He first beat him and then tried to win over him. He did not believe that Chai Zhewei, who had military power but was not dependent on any party, could resist his solicitation. After all, a skinny camel was bigger than a horse, and Guan Long's background was still there. There is no general in charge of the army in the clan. As long as Chai Zhewei integrates into Guanlong, he will get much more benefits than if he takes refuge with the prince.
Of course, this guy is also a scheming person, but he is mean, treacherous, and ruthless. While trying to win over others, he also has to be careful.
After chatting for half an hour, Chai Zhewei declined Changsun Wuji's banquet and stood up to leave.
After leaving the Changsun family's mansion, Chai Zhewei, surrounded by his soldiers, rode out of Jinguang Gate and detoured to the military camp outside Xuanwu Gate in the north of Chang'an City. As soon as they arrived at the military camp, they heard bursts of shouts of killing coming from the Youtunwei military camp on the west side.
He reined in his horse and stopped, standing by the roadside and looking at the school grounds of the Youtun Guards. He saw more than a thousand soldiers practicing. Each of the strong soldiers was shirtless, fighting against each other amidst the shouts of killing, with fierce momentum and high morale.
Chai Zhewei's face was gloomy, and he could not suppress the worry in his heart.
Just as Changsun Wuji said, after His Majesty Li Er's personal expedition, the entire established army in Guanzhong will only have the left and right camps guarding the Xuanwu Gate. They can guard the palace and control the imperial city when entering, and block the four gates and control the capital when retreating. Importantly Sex is really indescribable.
However, the gap in combat power between the left and right guards was really huge.
Chai Zhewei is not a drunkard, but apart from the imperial soldiers, most of the Zuotun guards are children of aristocratic families with mixed seniority. They eat, drink, eat and do nothing all day long. Once they want to clean up the military discipline, these Everyone must be cleared out.
How many people will be offended?
The Youtun Guards are completely different. All the troops on the front have been cancelled. Ninety-nine percent of the soldiers are recruited. They are all young men from all over Guanzhong. They have ample pay and ample supplies, plus Xue Rengui and Gao Kan. They are all good at training soldiers, and the soldiers they trained are all brave.
The most important thing is that Fang Jun doesn't care about the face of the Guanlong nobles at all, and he rejects almost all requests to recruit the children of the clan into the Youtun Guards for seniority.
There is no sand to be mixed in, the army is good, and the baggage is abundant, how can it not be strong?
Take another look at the Zuotunwei Camp on the other side. Except for the two guards standing guard at the gate of the camp who can still stand upright, no one is practicing on the empty school ground. At this time, Shen Chu has just finished. , smoke has risen from the barracks in the back row, and dinner is being prepared in the kitchen...
The two military camps are adjacent to each other. Looking at the completely different scenes and momentum, how can Chai Zhewei not be worried?
At least within the next year, the two armies will become the center of the entire competition in Guanzhong. After all, one side represents the prince's team, and the other side is closer to the Guanlong nobles and becomes a supporter of the Jin King.
But looking at the comparison of strength between the two sides, if a conflict really breaks out one day and Zuo Tunwei, his subordinate, is pushed to the ground and beaten severely, wouldn't he lose face?
It’s just a loss of face. If this puts the King of Jin’s family at a disadvantage and has to lose too much profit, then how can I stand up in front of the King of Jin and talk about the merits of Conglong and the power of the government? , Revitalize Menlin?
However, if we forcibly strengthen the training of Zuotunwei, the resistance we will receive is not as great as usual. If we do not eliminate those dandy boys who are dawdling, there will be no effect.
However, if it offends a large number of noble ministers and relatives, is it worth it?
Chai Zhewei looked gloomy and felt tangled in his heart. He turned his horse's head and drove into Zuotunwei's military camp at lightning speed.
*****
Pyongyang City.
Spring has arrived, and the gentle breeze brings warmth, but the first spring rain has yet to come. The fields are dry, the rivers have dried up, and the water levels of many rivers have plummeted, exposing their river beds.
The whole city was in a state of panic.
On the border of the Tang Dynasty and Chen Bing, they have been sharpening their swords for two years. Last year, the Eastern Expedition had to be suspended because the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty suddenly contracted an illness. As a result, a million troops were stranded in Liaodong and wasted countless money and food. No matter what happens this year, it is impossible to terminate the Eastern Expedition again. Millions of Tang troops will surely swarm in like wolves and tigers.
What did Goguryeo rely on to resist millions of Tang troops? Even the most ignorant Goguryeo people knew that Goguryeo's mere 100,000 soldiers and horses were only a drop in the bucket. If they were to encounter a real field battle, it would be like a mantis trying to block a car. In an instant, they would be crushed to pieces by the Tang army. The city would be breached, the stronghold would fall, and the entire Goguryeo army would be destroyed. The national border will be wiped out by the Tang army within a few months.
Back then, the hundreds of thousands of Sui armies went on several eastern expeditions. Goguryeo relied on the strategy of fortifying its walls and clearing the country. It retreated step by step and gradually tightened, stretching the Sui army's supply line indefinitely. Finally, it relied on strategic depth to bring down the powerful Sui army.
Today, the situation has almost not changed. The Tang army is still showing a crushing trend. Goguryeo has no power to counterattack and can only stick to the mountain city and camp step by step.
The most important line of defense was the Great Wall, which started in the spring of the 14th year of King Yeongliu's reign and started from Buyeo City in the east and to the sea in the southwest. It built a strong fortress to resist the attack of the Tang army. Beyond the Great Wall, the criss-crossing rivers in Liaodong formed a natural barrier, which made it difficult for the Tang army's cavalry to take advantage of their mobility and had to fall into a bitter battle with the Goguryeo army.
Every spring and summer, Liaodong receives abundant rainfall, and the rivers that crisscross the region generally swell. As a result, many uninhabited areas become swamps filled with rivers, which can seriously hinder the progress of the Tang army. Liaodong is vast and sparsely populated, and the roads are simple and sparse. After the rain, almost all roads cannot withstand the stampede caused by the march of the army, which further affects the Tang army's marching speed and the supply of food and baggage.
In early winter, the severe cold came, and a north wind was followed by heavy snow, which would cause a serious blow to the combat effectiveness and morale of the Tang army.
The land of Liaodong was favored by heaven. It relied on the right time, place, and people to defeat the powerful Sui army. Countless Sui army soldiers died in battle, froze to death, and starved to death in Liaodong. Their corpses were built into Jingguan by the Goguryeo people. Show off his incredible martial arts skills in defeating powerful empires.
However, there has been no rain since the beginning of spring this year, and the water levels of all rivers have dropped sharply. The originally surging Liao River only has a few feet of river surface left. The Tang army only needs to build a pontoon bridge to cross the natural chasm smoothly.
How could this not make everyone in Goguryeo panic?
I heard that the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty in Chang'an City was already preparing for the Heaven Sacrifice Ceremony before the Eastern Expedition. If nothing unexpected happened, the war would break out after the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty arrived in Liucheng in person, and it would only take more than a month at most. The powerful minister Yuan Gai Su Wen quickly summoned the ministers to discuss that Goguryeo must adjust its strategic deployment and not place too much hope on the surging rivers.
