Li Chengqian was horrified, then nodded and said in a deep voice: "Shilang Cui's words are true, the battle in Hexi will be won!"
Morale is a very mysterious thing. It cannot be seen or touched, but it can make millions of elite wolves rush forward and be completely defeated. It can also make a ragtag group fight against the odds and win against a large number with a small number.
The current situation in Guanzhong is turbulent, all because of Hexi. If even the prince does not believe that this battle can be won, wouldn't the government and the opposition become more pessimistic? Once the morale of the army is exhausted, let alone the final outcome of the Battle of Hexi, civil strife may break out first in Guanzhong.
If there is a "tide of flight" and all the people and merchants flee the Guanzhong for refuge, the first person to bear the responsibility will be him, the prince who oversees the country.
As long as the morale of the military is stable, even if the Battle of Hexi fails, it is not impossible to mobilize all the forces to fight; but if the morale of the military is unstable and morale collapses, once the Battle of Hexi fails, the land of Gyeonggi will be devastated, and the foundation of the empire will be shaken.
Not to mention whether Tuyuhun was eventually overthrown, he, the crown prince, was probably only on the road to being deposed...
Cui Dunli said respectfully: "Your Highness, the Duke of Yue is resisting Tuyuhun in Hexi, but Guanzhong must also be more careful. At this moment, Guanzhong is empty, and the army that can fight is extremely limited, and many of them have ulterior motives. If something really happens, we may not be able to do our best to protect you. Sheji.”
Li Chengqian hurriedly asked: "What should we do?"
It is a well-known fact that the troops in Guanzhong are empty. Once there was any disturbance, it would be difficult to mobilize enough troops to deal with it. He really didn't know where he could mobilize troops and stabilize the situation.
Cui Dunli shook his head and said: "The soldiers and horses near Chang'an may not be aggressive enough, but they are more than enough to defend it. The Youtun Guards are stationed at the Xuanwu Gate. One man can guard the gate and no ten thousand men can open it, which can ensure that the entrance to the imperial city is not lost. Although the Sixth Army of the East Palace has been prepared in a hurry, But how can Duke Wei, a prodigy in this world, not be able to withstand a battle? And your Highness must not forget that in the Zhenguan Academy outside the city, more than a thousand students are training day and night, ready to fight. When the critical moment comes, they will be a rare force."
Li Chengqian became more and more surprised: "Only half of the Youtun Guards are left. Although thousands of young men have just been recruited, the total is less than 20,000. How can they hold on to the Xuanwu Gate? The six rates of the East Palace... Of course there is Duke Wei. After careful training, it is still unknown how effective they are in battle. As for the academy disciples, they are just a group of young men. They are either children of aristocratic families and romantic dandies, or they are students from poor families who are weak and weak. How can they be called extraordinary soldiers?"
After much calculation, except for half of the Youtun Guards, they still have the strength to fight, and the rest are just a bunch of rabble. If you entrust the stability of Gyeonggi Province to this, I am afraid you will regret it...
However, Cui Dunli said firmly: "How dare I lie? The Duke of Yue has prepared for a rainy day and has already arranged this matter to prevent the capital from being turbulent one day. Although there is only half of the right guard, it is enough to overwhelm the left guard. Most of the noble disciples led by Donggong Sixth were eliminated, and the newly recruited young men were all young men from poor families. While their combat power soared, they were unexpectedly attracted and corrupted by the noble families. The disciples in the academy have been training intensively for several months, and each of them is strong and strong. At the same time, they also teach how to use firearms. These students are smart and agile, and are more proficient in mastering firearms than the soldiers in the army who are accustomed to using swords, guns, swords and halberds."
The biggest advantage of firearms is that they allow soldiers to form combat effectiveness faster and are rarely affected by physical fitness.
Although there are only a thousand students in the academy, when facing battle, they are equipped with muskets and thunderbolts. They work together as one, and their combat power is definitely no less than that of the same soldiers in any army guard.
Li Chengqian was stunned for a moment and couldn't help but sigh: "The Duke of Yue is sincere in his pursuit of the country and is prepared for a rainy day. He is really a lonely humerus!"
He has always admired Fang Jun's political vision. However, I have just discovered now that Fang Jun never fights an uncertain battle. Now that I think of him suggesting that he take control of the Sixth Army of the East Palace and then carry out rectification and training, he also secretly pulled the disciples from the academy out for "military training", but he was doing it step by step. Consolidate the power of the East Palace.
At that time, who could have imagined the deterioration of the situation today?
If something happens, all of Fang Jun's preparations are life-saving things...
Cui Dunli also said: "The Duke of the State of Yue is astonishingly talented and extremely handsome. He is truly a capable minister that has never been seen in the world. The humble ministers have no place to admire him."
Everyone else only saw Fang Jun's achievements, but those who followed Fang Jun were increasingly impressed by Fang Jun's foresight, especially the research and development, construction, and application of firearms, which were groundbreaking!
Li Chengqian nodded and said: "For the defense of the capital, I still need a lot of help from Cui Shilang. At any time, you can come directly to Xingqing Palace to see you. At this time of crisis, we will act as monarchs and ministers with one heart and one mind to protect the country until the great victory." Sheng, Gu Jie will not treat you unfairly!"
Cui Dunli stood up quickly, bowed and said solemnly: "I am willing to serve you to the death!"
*****
When the Youtun Guards marched to Liangzhou, they were met by a mighty army. Along the way, the people were eating pots of pulp and lined the roads to greet them.
The news that Tuyuhun intends to rebel has already spread a lot, and the people in the counties in Hexi are panicking. The common people have also heard about the lack of military strength in Guanzhong. The elderly people even think of the brutality of Tuyuhun when he was crossing the Hexi River. How can they not be frightened?
However, transportation was inconvenient in this era, and the bitterness in the phrase "it is difficult to leave the homeland" is difficult to describe. Therefore, knowing that when Tuyuhun invaded the country, he might be tortured, but he could only pray to God, hoping that the Tang Dynasty could repel the enemy chiefs and protect them. The environment is safe and the people are safe.
When they found out that it was Fang Jun, the famous general of the dynasty, who was leaving Hexi, the soldiers and civilians in Hexi couldn't help but celebrate.
Although Fang Jun's reputation in Chang'an official circles is not very good, especially among the aristocratic families who hate him deeply, in the minds of the people all over the world, Fang Jun is a rare "god of war" among the younger generation. He loves the people like his son and has noble character. How could a famous general who had overthrown Xue Yantuo and expedition to the Western Regions be defeated by the little Tuyuhun?
When they heard that Fang Jun's army was coming, the people spontaneously greeted them with joy and laughter...
Outside Liangzhou City, Fang Jun wore a helmet and rode on a horse, waving to the people on both sides of the road with a smile on his face. Pei Xingjian led his soldiers to thank the people and appease their emotions, but all the "rewards" were not given. receive.
A frail old man with a gray beard took Pei Xingjian's hand and forced a basket of chickens into his hand.
Pei Xingjian smiled broadly and declined: "My father-in-law, our Youtun Guards are the army of the imperial court. We have all the food and supplies allocated by the imperial court, and there has never been any shortage. Please keep these things and replenish your health, so that you can live one more day." , is the auspiciousness of our Tang Dynasty!"
But the old man insisted and refused to take it back. He opened his toothless mouth and said with a smile: "I am seventy years old this year. I will die early and die later. What does it matter? Back then, I followed Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty on an expedition to Liaodong, and fortunately my body was left intact. I have made enough for living so far. Young people, take these chickens, replenish the robes, and kill a few more barbarians!"
Pei Xingjian had no choice but to say: "I know that I know that our Youtun Guards have strict orders not to ask for needles and threads from the people! If I accept your chicken today, the commander-in-chief will punish me tomorrow! Please don't do it!" It’s going to be difficult for me…”
At the same time, the soldiers he led also continued to politely refuse the common people who wanted to use the produce at home to "work for the army", no matter what, they would not accept it.
Such noble behavior made the people burst into tears and praised him repeatedly.
As the saying goes, "Thieves are like combs, soldiers are like grates." Throughout the ages, the moral character of soldiers and bandits is not much different. In many cases, in order to collect military supplies, the army forcibly requisitions civilian supplies as a commonplace. Have you ever seen such things delivered to your door? But the army refused to accept it?
…
The people greeted him all the way and sang praises, and Fang Jun was naturally very happy. In military campaigns, it is never just about the soldiers fighting to the death to kill the enemy. The unity of the army and the people is very important.
But when he arrived outside Liangzhou City and saw the Liangzhou guard who came to greet him, his face gradually darkened.
Outside the city gate, Liangzhou guard Yuchi Baohuan led his soldiers to greet him: "The last general, Liangzhou guard Yuchi Baohuan, has met the Duke of Yue!"
Two people behind him also stepped forward and saluted: "The last general Duan Hu, the guard of Ganzhou, and the last general Hou Mo Chenfen, the guard of Suzhou, have met the Duke of Yue!"
The rest all came forward to pay their respects.
Fang Jun was riding on the horse, looking down at the crowd with a gloomy face, swinging the whip in his hand, and said in a deep voice: "Duan Hu, Hou Mo and Chen Fen, you two are the guards of Gansu and Suzhou. In this crisis, If you don't stick to the city, but come to Liangzhou to flatter you, what crime should you do?"
Duan Hu and Hou Mo Chenfen were immediately startled. The former hurriedly said: "Don't misunderstand, Duke of Yue. We are just here to discuss the joint defense strategy with General Yuchi, not just to welcome you, Duke of Yue..." "
Fang Jun didn't wait for him to finish speaking. He waved his riding whip in his hand and ordered: "You two have left their posts without permission, flattered the camp, and violated military orders. Come, take off their armor and give them twenty punishments." Serve as a warning to others!”
Duan Hu and Hou Mo and Chen Fen looked extremely ugly.
Is this "powerful" attack on our brothers?
Mother!
