Li Zhi looked extremely ugly.
The reason why he dared to escape from Taiji Palace and raise a banner to resist Li Chengqian was because the three powerful clans of Shandong, Jiangnan, and Guanlong secretly promised him their full support, so he risked his life and fortune.
After all, they are all aristocratic families with a long history and profound heritage. Although the Guanlong clan was seriously injured due to the failed mutiny, the centipede insect did not die. In addition, the Shandong aristocratic family and the Jiangnan noble family were able to compete with Li Chengqian no matter how difficult it was. Guard the pass and divide the east and west.
But who would have thought that now the Guanlong clan is sparing no effort to connect the troops stationed in various parts of Guanzhong, and the Shandong family has exhausted its family resources to provide full support. On the contrary, the Jiangnan gentry, which was the most optimistic and powerful before, retreated because of a defeat...
So he was extremely angry. You put me in this position and let me boil and roast, and then you don't want to play anymore?
This is simply unreasonable...
However, this is the time to unite all the forces that can be united. No matter how angry we are with the Jiangnan nobles, we can only win over them, but we must not shut them out. If these old and cunning people switch to the emperor's camp again, it will really be their own fault. perished.
Suppressing his anger, Li Zhi nodded, understanding and even empathizing: "This recruitment of private troops was defeated by Yanziji, which dealt a huge blow to the Jiangnan nobles. I feel guilty in my heart, but the difficulties are temporary. As long as we persevere, we will be rewarded twice as much when we achieve great things. Huating Town is located in the south of the Yangtze River, and every family in the south of the Yangtze River has experience in going to sea. In the future, the shipping company and navy will still need the Jiangnan nobles to go all out. Stabilizing the situation in Jiangnan will continue to open up financial resources for the imperial court. It is a heavy responsibility and not easy."
When dealing with allies like the Shandong aristocratic family who have no way out, they must be suppressed so that they cannot harbor dissent; while when dealing with allies like the Jiangnan nobles who have not yet gone all out, they must make heavy promises and use heavy profits to win them over.
Don’t you all covet sea trade, and are also worried about the impact of sea trade on Jiangnan? Then I promise to hand over the Shipping Department and Navy to you in the future...
Xiao Yu humbly said: "Sea trade is of great importance, and the navy must consistently maintain the empire's maritime hegemony. It requires an outstanding person like your highness to take full control of it. I, the ministers, have shallow knowledge and vulgar talents, and they would never dare to take on this responsibility." Heavy responsibility.”
It would be a lie to say that I am not excited. Each sea route is a blood vessel flowing with wealth. It transports the cheap goods of the Tang Dynasty to overseas countries for dumping at high prices, and in turn transports the resources that the Tang Dynasty lacks back. , the wealth created is a height that land can never reach.
If the whole sea trade was in the hands of the Jiangnan nobles... the picture would be so beautiful that Xiao Yun even dared not think about it in his dreams.
However, even if Li Zhi takes the throne in the future, will he really be able to completely control the navy and make it do as he pleases without any disobedience?
Not necessarily.
Nowadays, the Navy has long become a behemoth, because its unique system is beyond the court. Even if Li Chengqian wants to control the Navy, he must go through Fang Jun, otherwise the Navy will have the ability to ignore the imperial decrees.
Do you really think that those arrogant generals from Su Dingfang on down will not rebel?
As long as the naval base is moved to ports in Silla, Wa, Annan, and Nanyang, they can freely traverse the oceans. No matter how brave the imperial army is, they can only look back and sigh, and they have to bear the naval attack on the coastal areas of the empire. Endless harassment and attacks...
It is conceivable that in the near future, the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy will inevitably be assigned the title of "General", which will be independent of the Tang Dynasty's military system and form its own system.
If you want to control the navy, it cannot be achieved just by some people's verbal promises...
Therefore, Li Zhi's promise is a sweet and delicious pie, but it is difficult to actually eat it.
Come and try it quickly. 】
Li Zhi himself seemed to know this, so he changed the subject and asked Chu Suiliang on the side: "Is there any latest battle report from Duke E?"
Chu Suiliang, who acted as the secretary of the march, took out the top document from the pile of documents in front of him and handed it to Li Zhi, saying: "The E-Government War Report has just been delivered, saying that it is currently confronting Cheng Yaojin's Zuo Wuwei. , there is a Donggong Sixth Army in the north that is surrounding and outflanking, the situation is very dangerous, whether to advance or retreat, we must make a decision as soon as possible."
Li Zhi read the battle report, stood up and stood in front of the map on the wall with his hands clasped, carefully checking the standard enemy and enemy situations on the map.
Xiao Yu took the battle report and read it, and was silent.
Cui Xin also read the battle report, his gray eyebrows furrowed and he was a little worried. Now, although Yuchi Gong has broken through the water defense line, it has not really destroyed the defensive posture of the imperial army. The water defense line is like a rubber band. One part is pushed inward with force, and the surrounding areas are stretched correspondingly, showing a very strong of resilience.
And this resilience will continue to increase as Yu Chigong continues to advance. When it reaches the critical point, the backlash will be even greater.
If Yuchi Gong's right guard is buried in the imperial army's counterattack, it will be a fatal blow to the King of Jin...
So after he pondered for a while, he knew that he shouldn't speak at this time, but he still couldn't help but said: "We might as well ask the Duke of E to return to the east of Bashui, set up camp and stabilize the position, and wait for us to join forces when we arrive. Then use all your strength to cross the Bashui River, break through the Bashui defense line in one fell swoop, and reach Chang'an City."
He felt that he should not take risks in the current situation, but should ensure Yuchi Gong's safety and enhance his own strength so that he could attack when advancing and defend when retreating. Otherwise, once Yuchi Gong's entire army is wiped out, the army under the command of the King of Jin will only have a mob of more than 100,000 men. All the elite will be lost, and defeat will be a matter of time...
Li Zhi looked at the map for a while, but decisively rejected Cui Xin's advice and said to Chu Suiliang: "Immediately draft a military order and order Yuchi Gong to completely break through the Ba River defense line no matter what, and sweep a road from Ba River to Chang'an. , when our army arrives, we can quickly cross the river and attack Chang'an."
"Here."
After receiving the order, Chu Suiliang quickly polished his pen and wrote a military order. After confirming it with Li Zhi, he stamped it with the seal of the King of Jin, put it in an envelope and sealed it with fire paint. He went out and handed it to the captain of the order outside the account, and immediately sent it to the right guard.
Seeing that Cui Xin looked a little unnatural, Li Zhi took two steps forward and said with a smile: "It's not that we don't listen to Cui Gong's advice, but to this day, where do we have a way out? There is only one way in front of us, and we can only Go forward indomitably and live towards death. If you don’t have the courage to risk death and live again, how can you change your fate and achieve great things? It must be known that when two armies meet, the brave will win."
From the moment he rebelled, his destiny has been on this road of no return. He will either reach the peak and change his destiny against the will of heaven, or fall into dust and die without any bones left. If he has the idea of compromise in his heart, he will be ruined. If too much courage is eliminated, great achievements can no longer be achieved.
Between life and death, he, Li Zhi, still had the courage to face it.
Xiao Yu also understood what Cui Xin was thinking. He squinted his eyes and said calmly: "We have already been on the imperial court's must-kill list. If we want to honor the ancestral legacy of each family, we can only overcome all obstacles and regard death as home. If anyone gives up halfway and causes the great cause to fail, We will definitely kill him with our own hands!"
At this time, anyone who thinks of giving up halfway or changing his ways is a sinner and will be punished by everyone!
Chu Suiliang glanced at Xiao Yu, who was filled with indignation and loyalty, and said nothing.
If this person hadn't forced him to write such a "letter of allegiance" as a "killer trumpet" after King Jin's failure, then at this moment he would probably believe that Xiao Yu planned to live and die with King Jin...
Seeing that he aroused everyone's suspicion, Cui Xin hurriedly explained: "Why do I have such intention? Now the Shandong family has spent hundreds of years of accumulated wealth and spared no effort to assist His Royal Highness King Zuo Jin to achieve great achievements. There is absolutely no reason to retreat voluntarily. Please rest assured, Your Highness, that no matter what, the Shandong Family will stand behind His Highness until death."
Li Zhi stepped forward to hold his hand and said with emotion: "I can also guess a little bit about Cui Gong's thoughts. He just puts safety first. If things cannot be done, he will withdraw from Tongguan and seek a comeback based on the Shandong family... But Cui Gong should also know that those who do great things are most afraid of looking forward and backward, and having two minds. If you don't have the determination to sink the cauldron, how can you change your destiny? You must do your best in this battle. If you don't succeed, you will be benevolent."
Don't beat too much, otherwise it will make the Shandong family jealous, which will be a serious problem.
At present, the Jiangnan noble family is almost abolished, and they are all counting on the Shandong family to live and die with him...
Unstable military morale is a big taboo.
*****
The Bashui River was rolling and flowing. Yuchi Gong was sitting in the Chinese army camp on the west bank of the Bashui River. Looking at the battle report that had just been delivered, his thick eyebrows were furrowed and he was worried.
The King of Jin's idea makes sense. As the saying goes, soldiers need to be quick and things should be done without delay. If the right guard can completely break through the water defense line, when the King of Jin's army arrives, they can merge into one to attack Chang'an, which will be more likely to cause Guanzhong. A sudden change in the situation.
As long as the situation changes, it will definitely be beneficial to King Jin.
Once the delay continues and delays the opportunity to fight, with each passing day, the foundation of the imperial court will become more secure, and fewer people will follow the Jin King to disrupt the situation...
But the problem is that Yuchi Gong does not have the confidence to break through the water defense line without losing too many troops.
He regards his right guard as the backbone of his power and status. With this army, the day King Jin wins is when he becomes the first in the army. Even if King Jin is defeated, he can rely on this army to fight with the court. Bargaining - On the left and right, you brothers are competing for family property. As ministers, no matter who we support, it is not considered disloyal to the empire.
There will be a lot of room for mediation.
But once the right guard suffers heavy casualties and his influence is greatly reduced, then no matter whether King Jin wins or loses, his power and status will be greatly reduced. Without the constraints of the army, the court did not have to worry too much about how to deal with him...
His defection to King Jin was, in the final analysis, just an act of speculation.
But who would devote all their efforts and risk all their wealth and life just for speculation?
Now looking at King Jin's military order, he weighed the pros and cons, considered the gains and losses, and could not make up his mind.
