In the rainy night, Xiao Yu was riding on a horse wearing a raincoat, guarded by more than a hundred elite soldiers, heading south from Yuanqiu, crossing Fengqiyuan, and stopped Zuo Wuwei who was slowly going north near Shenheyuan. Lan
On the wild road in the mountains, countless elite troops were fully armed and marching on foot in the rain. The marching speed was not fast, and there were cavalry going back and forth. Whenever they encountered injured or sick soldiers, they would be taken aside for emergency treatment. , so the traveling speed is extremely slow.
Xiao Yu secretly breathed a sigh of relief...
The most important criterion for measuring the strength of an army is its marching speed. Once elite troops like Zuo Wuwei are launched, their marching speed is often one and a half or even twice that of ordinary troops, especially when marching on a rainy night and on a bumpy road. The gap became more and more obvious. Since Zuo Wuwei was marching at a much different speed than usual, it meant that Cheng Yaojin was not in a hurry to rush to Yuanqiu.
Whether there is a misunderstanding, or taking the opportunity to seek negotiations to gain more benefits, the final step has not yet been reached...
A scout from Zuo Wuwei stopped Xiao Yu and his party. After questioning, they first sent people to monitor on the spot, and then someone rushed into the army to inform Cheng Yaojin. It took half an hour to bring the anxious Xiao Yu to the rear.
The river turned a corner at the edge of the woods and flowed northward. A temporary awning was set up at the bend of the river. Not far away was an endless stream of troops advancing along the river. Da Ma Jin Dao was sitting under the awning, with an iron kettle suspended by three wooden sticks. The flames of the campfire were licking the bottom of the pot. Cheng Yaojin was putting ginger, wolfberry, jujube, tea, etc. one by one. In the pot, the kettle quickly boiled, and white water vapor spurted out from the spout, and was quickly blown away by the breeze.
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It was almost dawn when Xiao Yu arrived, and the two of them did not greet each other. Cheng Yaojin took off the kettle, poured the boiled tea into two cups, handed one to Xiao Yu, and then refilled the kettle with water and placed it on the shelf. superior. Lan
Xiao Yu took off his raincoat and put it aside. The servant handed him a cloak and put it on, but he waved it away.
The wind on a rainy night in early autumn was a bit cold, but the bonfire warmed my body. After taking a sip of the hot tea, I felt something spicy and sweet in my mouth, and felt warm and comfortable in my stomach...
"call……"
Xiao Yu let out a breath, held the water cup in both hands, felt the temperature, and said with a sigh: "I can't bear to accept it. It's just that after driving for dozens of miles, my whole body seems to be falling apart. The wind and cold have entered my body. If I don't have this cup of hot tea, I won't be able to bear it after I return." I’m afraid I’ll be sick.”
Cheng Yaojin was drinking tea. Hearing this, he raised his eyelids and glanced at Xiao Yu, who was wrapped in a cloak. He snorted and said, "It's not like anyone is forcing me. I don't want to accept that I have to take this destiny." Who is to blame for the difficult and dangerous road? His Royal Highness, the King of Jin, assisted Zuo to achieve great achievements, and gained a share of the merits of being a slave to the dragon. The Lanling Xiao family has been the first family in the south of the Yangtze River for a hundred years... The Duke of Song Dynasty is already strong and energetic, and I am not as energetic as me. How can you say that An 'old' word? Modesty."
After being ridiculed, Xiao Yu was not angry at all. He drank two more sips of tea with a smile, and then asked: "Since you have agreed to the surrender of King Jin, but now you send troops without permission, what do you want?"
Cheng Yaojin disagreed: "Isn't it true that the King of Jin asked me to lead the army to Fengqiyuan to join him? It's just that there are many things in the army, so the departure is a little late. We haven't arrived yet. His Highness has defeated Liu Yanjing and occupied Yuanqiu. It's gratifying. Congratulations." Lan
Xiao Yu looked at him and asked: "Then why are you procrastinating behind King Jin's army?"
Cheng Yaojin glared and said, "That's what I'm saying. Do you think all the soldiers under my command are scuds? If you say you arrive at Fengqiyuan and suddenly flap your wings twice, you will arrive at Fengqiyuan? The road must be walked step by step! Besides, after saying this It’s raining, and you’ve seen the road conditions, it’s difficult to move forward, and the number of people is decreasing, so there’s nothing I can do!”
Listening to him explain everything clearly, Xiao Yu, who was always articulate, was a little speechless.
Being articulate is relative to being reasonable. What can you do if you encounter such an unreasonable devil?
After a moment of silence, Xiao Yu felt that he couldn't go around in circles with this guy. He was so angry that he was going around in vain, so he said bluntly: "Li Daozong has already turned around and led his troops to attack the inner gate. It must have been breached by now." The Neizhong Gate entered the Taiji Palace. It was impossible to stop Li Daozong with the defensive strength of the Taiji Palace. After dawn, His Royal Highness King Jin would attack the Mingde Gate. Under the attack from the north and the south, the city of Chang'an was irreversibly destroyed. It is certain that King Jin will enter the Tai Chi Palace. If you don’t behave well at this time and strive to stand by His Highness King Jin for the future, but instead act like a monster, wouldn’t it be a wise move?”
Cheng Yaojin didn't answer. He took a sip of tea and felt that the water was a little cold. He took down the kettle that had been boiled again, filled Xiao Yu's water cup first, and then poured it for himself. Without answering, he asked: "You Lanling Xiao In the south of the Yangtze River, you begged for mercy from the navy, and even cooperated with the navy to clean up the mess and conquer the south of the Yangtze River. Why are you assisting the King of Jin while you are in the middle of the court?"
As the private army in the south of the Yangtze River was bombarded by the navy in Yanziji, the entire land in the south of the Yangtze River was in ruins. All the major families and clans were in panic, fearing that the navy would take advantage of the situation to sweep into the south of the Yangtze River and occupy the interests of each family and determine the foundation of each family. So in The Xiao family of Lanling was in the middle and almost all surrendered to the navy. Lan
Among them, the Lanling Xiao family made the greatest contribution.
But in Chang'an, Xiao Yu betrayed the emperor and joined the Jin King's camp. He made suggestions and devoted himself to the Jin King's great cause... This was obviously a sign of split personality.
On the one hand, it helped the navy stabilize Jiangnan and ensure the emperor's ruling foundation. On the other hand, it assisted King Zuo Jin to depose the emperor and steal the throne... The success of one party means the failure of the other party. When the two offset each other, it means staying put. So what is the point of tossing and tossing?
Is it just that he refuses to accept his old age and wants to show his ability to turn his hands into clouds and rain?
Are you full after eating...
Xiao Yu's eyes twitched and he remained silent.
Could it be that Cheng Yaojin was told that he was optimistic about King Jin's success in seizing the throne and therefore strongly supported him, and that the reason why the Jiangnan family went against him was simply because they were afraid of being uprooted by the navy? Lan
The rain was pattering on the awning, the bonfire was blazing, the river was flowing not far away, and tens of thousands of troops were slowly advancing.
After a long silence, Xiao Yu said: "Do you think that even though King Jin is only one step away from victory, he still cannot achieve great things?"
There are some things he no longer needs to ask. The reason why Cheng Yaojin jumped up and down behind the Jin King's army. The plan is to threaten the King of Jin so that the King of Jin will not dare to use all his strength to attack Chang'an City, thus forming a situation of a pincer attack from the north and the south.
Therefore, Cheng Yaojin's position has been made clear, and he is on the emperor's side.
But Xiao Yu didn't understand Cheng Yaojin's thoughts. Anyone who looks at the current situation now will see that the King of Jin is already one step away from victory. The emperor can only resist in a corner. His fall will be a matter of time and there will be no way to recover. , why did Cheng Yaojin dare to stand firmly on the emperor's side at this time?
Based on his understanding of Cheng Yaojin, this guy is only loyal to His Majesty Li Er. He is absolutely not loyal to the Tang Dynasty or Li Chengqian...
He got straight to the point, but Cheng Yaojin was also honest: "Fang Jun also led five thousand elites to station outside Xuande Gate. They can snipe the rebels at Xuanwu Gate or guard Taiji Palace at any time." Lan.
Xiao Yu frowned and said: "It is true that Fang Jun is considered a leader among the younger generation, and his military achievements are not far behind those of you Zhenguan ministers, but he is not a military god. Even Li Jing is in such a situation. He has no way to save his life, how can he have the magical power to turn the tide and change his destiny?"
If Fang Jun is still the general of Youtun Guard and is in charge of tens of thousands of soldiers guarding Xuanwu Gate, then it may indeed become a variable. But now that Youtunwei has completely collapsed after Li Daliang secretly coerced and lured middle- and lower-level officers, how can a mere 5,000 soldiers and horses defeat the more than 10,000 elite soldiers under Li Daozong?
Not to mention that after Chai Zhewei's Zuotun Guard clears the outside of Xuanwu Gate, he can enter the palace from Xuanwu Gate for reinforcements at any time...
No matter how you look at it, this battle is a must-win situation.
Cheng Yaojin straightened up, leaned against the pillar holding up the awning, stretched out his legs, held a water glass in his hand, looked at the dark night outside the awning, and said slowly: "Do you believe Emperor Taizong's vision? "
Xiao Yu nodded.
When it comes to knowing people well, appointing them well, and promoting talents, Emperor Taizong ranks at least in the top three among emperors throughout the ages. Lan
He also remembered Emperor Taizong's praise of Fang Jun: "Emperor Taizong once said to Fang Jun that 'this son has the talent of a prime minister and assistant', but so what? Fang Jun's literary talent is indeed the best among contemporary people, and his military strategy is the best in the army. With time, It is true that he can become a general or a prime minister and become the prime minister of a country. But he does not have the power to reach the heaven and the earth, and he cannot survive in death and turn things around."
No matter how powerful Fang Jun is, how can he protect the huge Tai Chi Palace with only 5,000 troops?
Cheng Yaojin said, "Why do you think Emperor Taizong Guang deprived General Youtunwei of his military power?"
Xiao Yu frowned.
It was precisely because Fang Jun tried his best to protect the prince that he angered Emperor Taizong, and Emperor Taizong was afraid that Fang Jun's army would be turbulent in the future due to easy storage. This is known to everyone, but since Cheng Yaojin asked, Obviously he didn't see it that way.
Cheng Yaojin took a sip of tea, and the spicy aroma of ginger shreds dissipated the coldness on his body: "The reason why Emperor Taizong deprived Fang Jun of his military power was because he believed that as long as the Youtun Guards were in Fang Jun's hands, The entire Tai Chi Palace is under his control, and no matter whether it is offensive or defensive, absolutely no one can steal the Tai Chi Palace in front of him."
Seeing Xiao Yu's expression of disbelief, he shook his head and said without any intention of persuading, "How could Fang Jun not notice that you arranged for people to rebel against the middle and lower-level officers of Youtun Guard? Since he could notice it, how could he not? Unprepared? What's more, Gao Kan is not a creature in the pool, and Sun Renshi is not a drunkard... Go back and tell King Jin that this battle will be lost! Let him rein in the precipice and get lost. With your majesty's kindness, I think you can have him imprisoned. He got up and died, but if he waits until he enters Chang'an City, even if His Majesty wants to forgive his crime, the national law will not allow it.", Lan.
