As the sky gradually grew brighter and the heavy rain did not stop, thousands of Youhou guardsmen were dispatched from the military camp, either in groups of five or in teams of ten, to commandeer the ships parked near Mengjin Ferry, whether civilian ships, merchant ships or even official ships. All boats were confiscated, and the boatmen were also requisitioned...
Such behavior will naturally arouse public resentment, but everyone knows that the fight for the throne in Guanzhong is now in full swing. At such critical moments, the army is the most unruly and unreasonable, so no one dares to resist and can only submit obediently.
Within one day, Yuchi Gong collected nearly a thousand ships of various types and sailed to the north bank of the Yellow River, waiting for the arrival of the Shandong private army.
At this time, the news of Zheng Rentai's defeat and the fall of Banzhu also spread to Tongguan, and the city gates and upper floors were collectively silenced.
In the barracks, Li Zhi sat in the middle with a gloomy expression. It had only been a few days since the Jiangnan Private Army collapsed. His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin, who had always been handsome and handsome, already looked depressed and haggard, with a green stubble sprouting from his chin. , the bags under my eyes are coming out...
Putting the battle report in his hand on the table, Li Zhi looked up and looked around, his voice a little hoarse: "With the situation now, what do you think should be done?"
Everyone was silent, not knowing how to answer.
The fall of Banzhu meant that the navy could freely enter and leave the Yellow River, and it could flow upstream to Tongguan at any time. With the help of the Sixth Army of the East Palace in Guanzhong, Tongguan, which was already weak in terms of military strength, was attacked from both sides. If it were not careful, it would be overturned.
And once Tongguan falls and the King of Jin is defeated, the fate of these people is unknown...
After a while, Xiao Yu coughed and broke the silence: "The plan now depends on whether the Shandong private army can successfully cross the river and reach Luoyang. Although Zheng Rentai was defeated in this battle and suffered many casualties, the Zheng family's forces are all around Xingyang. Within the scope, there is no problem in raising an army of more than 10,000 men in the short term. His Highness should write to Zheng Rentai, asking him to do his best to regroup and stick to the Yellow River waterway in Xingyang."
Cui Xin looked solemn, shook his head and said: "Zheng Rentai's more than 10,000 elite infantrymen were defeated before. How can the hastily raised army resist the navy's attack? I'm afraid it will be unbearable."
"It is not necessarily necessary to capture Banzhu. As long as we can contain the navy at Banzhu, Heyang, Bianzhou, and Xingyang, so that Huating Town cannot transport troops and equipment to support Liu Rengui unscrupulously, it is enough."
The navy's combat power is overwhelming. At present, it seems that no matter which army can take advantage of a head-on confrontation on the frontal battlefield, they can only use harassment techniques to contain them and try to buy the Shandong private army time to cross the river.
As long as one hundred thousand Shandong private troops can successfully cross the river and reach the Tongguan area, at least the stalemate can be maintained in the short term.
Otherwise, if the navy is allowed to come and go freely on the canal, soldiers and baggage are transported at will, and Tongguan is surrounded by enemies and becomes a dead end, how can this battle be fought?
No matter what, Itazhu couldn't give up easily.
Cui Xin nodded slightly and remained silent.
Although Chu Suiliang was present, he never gave any advice. At this moment, his eyebrows were lowered and his eyes were wandering. He had a feeling of "Xu Shu entered Cao's camp without saying a word"...
Yu Wenshiji advised: "Your Highness may wish to write a letter to the Governor of Yingzhou, the Protectorate of Hanhai, and the Sixteenth Guards of Guanzhong, promising rewards from the feudal side after the completion of the project. If anyone wants to move, he will come with troops. , to assist His Highness."
For military generals, the "feudal world" is the top of merits. The family name is passed down from generation to generation, and the descendants are all in charge of a country. This is an unparalleled temptation.
Li Zhi nodded and said with emotion: "If we can get a group of virtuous ministers and generals to uphold my father's imperial edict, prevent Guo Zuo from falling into the hands of traitors, and allow my father's soul to rest in peace in heaven, why should I be stingy with the reward?"
He agreed very happily, because for His Highness the King of Jin, there are really not many bargaining chips that can be used to win over the troops from all over the world...
Since we are already in a disadvantageous position and are at risk of collapse, why should we care about the cost issue? As long as it can attract the generals, he is willing to give it all. Once the left and right armies are defeated, they will have nothing. If they can buck the trend and win, they will gain everything.
Yu Wenshi said: "That's right. Zhou Daowu, the governor of Yingzhou, has always been at odds with the prince. After the Eastern Expedition, the late emperor ordered him to escort the captives back to Beijing. It happened that a heavy snowstorm had closed the mountains and the roads in Liaodong were almost impassable, causing the captives to freeze to death. Most of the time, the late emperor punished him for this. Instead of interceding, the prince and Fang Jun actually added insult to injury. Zhou Daowu was extremely dissatisfied with this, and Princess Linchuan was also at odds with the prince and Princess Gaoyang. As long as His Highness gives enough rewards, she should be able to win them over. As for the Hanhai Protectorate..."
He looked at Xiao Yu and closed his mouth.
The current Protector-General of the Hanhai Protectorate is Xiao Rui, the eldest son of Xiao Yu and Princess Shangxiangcheng...
Chu Suiliang, who had been silent all this time, also raised his eyelids and looked at Xiao Yu to see how he would respond...
Xiao Yu frowned tightly and mused: "I have been greatly favored by the emperor, and I want to repay the late emperor's kindness with a ring of grass. What's the point of losing my family to pieces? It's just that although there are four soldiers in the Hanhai Protectorate, Wan, all are elites, but that place is close to Dragon City, Xue Yantuo's old troops are ready to move, and even the Turks show traces from time to time, and they are likely to make a comeback... In case the soldiers and horses of the Hanhai Protectorate are transferred to Guanzhong, resulting in the North Land The military strength is empty, and Xue Yantuo and Turks can take advantage of it. As a result, Hanhai falls, and the material debate is bound to boil, making it difficult for the government and the public to explain."
Hearing this, Li Zhi showed hesitation.
Fighting for the throne is a family matter between two brothers, but guarding Northern Xinjiang is a state matter. If the troops of the Hanhai Protectorate are transferred to Guanzhong due to family matters, the emptiness of Northern Xinjiang will be taken advantage of by outsiders, causing the resurgence of Xue Yantuo and Tujue. This is because The private wastes the public.
Not only will everyone in the world be scolded, but it will also leave an infamy in history.
History books are written by the victors. If you win this battle and ascend to the throne, there will naturally be nothing to say. Recruiting elite troops from northern Xinjiang to Beijing will be a wise move. But if the war is defeated and Northern Xinjiang really falls, then the reputation will be extremely dark...
The risk is too great.
Hence the hesitation.
Chu Suiliang thought for a while and said: "Northern Xinjiang is more than a few thousand miles away from Chang'an? The road is long and difficult to travel. Even if we recruit troops from the north to Beijing at this moment, by the time they reach Guanzhong, it will be the coldest month of winter and there will be no way to save them from the distant water. Near fire.”
Since Xiao Yu has left the "Chen Qing Letter" as a back-up, it means that he is not optimistic about the King of Jin and wants to retreat. Under such circumstances, how can he let his son Xiao Rui lead the northern troops to rescue Tongguan, which puts the whole family in trouble? King Jin is this big pit?
He is now being pinched so hard by King Jin that there is no room for him to turn around.
The only chance of regaining a new life is to take advantage of Xiao Yu when he clears his name with a "love letter" in the future...
Therefore, he must speak to Xiao Yu at this moment.
Li Zhi finally made a decision: "The northern border is not at peace, and the barbarians are determined to make a comeback. How can I, the king, abandon the empire's territory for the sake of the throne? The northern army is the cornerstone of guarding the border. It cannot be relaxed. Duke Ying's proposal is inappropriate." "
Yu Wenshiji glanced at Xiao Yu and said respectfully: "Your Highness has the empire in mind and the common people at heart. Song Guogong is even more experienced in planning for the country, calm and capable. I am rash, but I hope you will forgive me."
Strictly speaking, it was Xiao Yu who pushed King Jin to embark on this path of mutiny, and the others were just dependents. But now it seems that Xiao Yu is a bit dull and negative...
Xiao Yu looked at him, paused briefly, and said: "The current situation is extremely unfavorable. Once the navy reaches Tongguan, we will be attacked from both sides. If we cannot change the situation, it will be difficult to turn defeat into victory. Now it seems that if we want to get out of this predicament, To get a chance of survival in the situation, we can only rely on the Sixteen Guards of Guanzhong. Among the generals of the Sixteen Guards, most of them have inextricable connections with the Guanlong clan. Act with reason, and then promise huge profits. If two or three of the armies can support the King of Jin, then great things will happen! It is the first contribution of Ying Guo Gong to support Conglong and lead the Guanlong clan to regain their glory. Forever!"
Although he had left a backup plan in case of emergencies, after all, he still hoped that King Jin could succeed. After all, compared with the prince's idea of weakening the family and suppressing the aristocratic family, now he can only rely on the king of Jin who is from a well-known family and ascends the throne. Become closer to the family.
As long as clan politics can continue for a long time, it will naturally be in his best interest.
But now Tongguan has almost become a dead place. Once the navy and Donggong Liu lead a two-sided attack, it will be destroyed in an instant. Even if the Shandong private army successfully reaches Tongguan, it will only delay their demise. The only one who can come back to life is the Sixteenth Guards in Guanzhong.
Yu Wenshiji's eyes were clear, he met Li Zhi's earnest gaze, nodded heavily, and said solemnly: "I will do my best to not lose His Highness's favor!"
He understood the meaning of Xiao Yu's words. As long as he could instigate a few factions of the Sixteenth Guards to rebel, after King Jin ascended the throne, he would allow the Guanlong clan to return to the center. By then, the three clan factions of Guanlong, Jiangnan, and Shandong would coexist peacefully. Shared clan politics.
If the Guanlong clan, who had suffered heavy losses due to Changsun Wuji's involvement, could be brought back to the center, his prestige as a scholar in Guanlong would be far greater than that of Changsun Wuji, and his reputation as "the number one person in Guanlong" would be real. Well deserved.
Even after a hundred generations, Yuwen Shiji is still the leader of Guanlong, and the descendants of Guanlong will remember his great achievements... Isn't this the dream he has been striving for?
Moreover, he already knew the positions of the various armies in Guanzhong, and he also had some clues about who might be persuaded to join the King of Jin...
