On the fourth day of August in the sixth year of Yonghong, a news was sent back to the capital of the Liang Kingdom. The 100,000 troops ordered to attack the Xiping Kingdom were wiped out by Ashan's crossbows in Feiyun Stream. The general Cao Bo was killed in battle! Lieutenant General Ling Zhan was captured! One of the three tigers under the seat was killed and two were injured! Only one of them, Ma Yunhua, was seriously injured and escaped.
The ruling and opposition parties were shocked!
There was a sound of a needle falling in the Zichen Palace. Emperor Wu of Liang's face was ashen, and veins popped out on the back of his hands. He held the dragon chair tightly without saying a word.
A long silence.
Tang Gai, the eunuch in charge, saw that Emperor Wu of Liang was silent and moved slightly. He was about to shout out the sentence "If there is anything to do, report early, if nothing happens, retreat from the court", but when he heard a voice from behind, he calmly took a step back.
Emperor Wu of Liang looked gloomy and said coldly: "Where is Zhu Wang!"
Hearing this, a tall military general came out. It was Zhu Wang, the current leader of the military generals of the Liang Kingdom. He went to court today. I don’t know why Zhu Wang was wearing armor instead of official uniform. He knelt down fiercely and clasped his fists and said: "The last general is here. "
Emperor Wu of Liang took a deep breath and said: "One hundred thousand versus forty thousand. In the eyes of few people, no matter how brave and good the Xiping rebels are, if they retreat ten thousand steps, even if they can defeat one against two, Cao Bo's one hundred thousand army will still be defeated." The 40,000 pro-army troops who could defeat Ashan Nu were completely wiped out, but why were all the 100,000-strong army wiped out, without even seeing the top of Laonan City? The Xiping Army suffered less than 3,000 battle losses. Zhu Wang, tell me, this Why?"
Zhu Wang felt a chill in his heart and didn't know how to answer. The hall was silent.
Seeing Emperor Wu of Liang waiting like this, his face became more and more gloomy. Zhu Wang gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice: "Reporting to your majesty, General Cao's defeat in this battle was not due to war. Feiyunjian has a dangerous terrain, and Ashan Nu Occupying the right time and place, coupled with the numerous ambushes of the Xiping Army, our Liang army was constrained by the geographical advantage and could not change in time, so we suffered this defeat."
Emperor Wu of Liang asked again: "If it were you who led an army of 100,000 people to march south, what would be the result?"
Zhu Wang was speechless for a moment and didn't know how to answer, for fear of getting angry, but Emperor Wu of Liang snorted coldly and said: "It seems that General Zhu is not sure of victory. If you are given an army of 100,000, I am afraid he will end up like Cao Bo." The whole army will be wiped out. Is it possible that the small Xiping Kingdom should ask the King of Qingzhou to put on his armor again and march south personally? Where is my great general of Liang Dynasty? "
Zhu Wang pressed his head tightly against the floor tiles, not daring to answer. Jiang Qing's sneer came from beside him, which made Zhu Wang feel on pins and needles. Emperor Wu of Liang waved his hand and said dejectedly: "I'm tired, please leave."
As Emperor Wu of Liang took the lead in leaving the Zichen Palace, all the ministers also retreated. Only Zhu Wang still knelt in front of the dragon chair and did not get up for a long time. Ye Baiye hesitated for a moment, ignored the eyes of others, walked to the former, helped Zhu Wang up, and sighed: "General Zhu, please get up, His Majesty has already left."
Zhu Wang looked at the colleague next to him who was once the same as him and smiled sadly. In the past, the four generals of the Liang Kingdom followed Li Jian and made him king of Qingzhou. Cao Bo died in the battle at Feiyunjian. Now there are only two left. Regarding his rise to power, how could Zhu Wang not know the overwhelming resentment in the hearts of Cao Bo and Ye? However, Zhu Wang never thought that today, when he was taking the blame for Cao Bo and became the target of public criticism, Ye Bai Not only did Ye not add insult to injury, but he was willing to take the risk of His Majesty's suspicion to help him out. He couldn't help but feel grateful, and all the previous grudges disappeared at this moment.
Ye Baiye didn't look sideways and said in a low voice: "General Zhu, the generals are now weak. Without General Li's check and balance, Taishi Jiang will always suppress us. You and I are like a rope now." Grasshoppers must join forces to stay warm and support each other to find a way out."
Zhu Wang nodded and agreed: "What General Ye said is that Cao Bo's death in battle is a small thing, but His Majesty's loss of face is a big thing. Now the southern expedition to Xiping is not going well, and we have lost 100,000 soldiers in Liang. I'm afraid Chu and Yan are about to make a move again."
Ye Baiye nodded, with a solemn look on his face, thinking: Is there going to be war again and the people will be in dire straits?
————
In General Yan's Mansion, Baili Jin and Guo Yuan were sitting opposite each other on the floor drinking tea.
Guo Yuan said with a smile: "It is rumored that General Ashannu of Xiping killed one hundred thousand soldiers of the Liang Kingdom in Feiyun Stream a few days ago. General Cao Bo died in the battle. The losses in the battle of Xiping were less than three thousand. I wonder what the general thinks?"
As a famous general of the Yan Kingdom, Baili Jin had of course already known the news. Guo Yuan visited today with the original intention of having a drink with the chief adviser. However, literati have always liked arty elegance, so Baili Jin did not insist on it and accompanied Guo Yuanpin. Ming. Even if it is a cup of tea, Baili Jin can drink it with the boldness of drinking wine. Hearing this, he drank all the tea in his hand and praised: "The result of the battle at Feiyunjian is really incredible. Cao Bo's actions Although Liang Guo's famous generals are not godly soldiers, they are not so stupid. Liang Guo occupies half of the Central Plains and has millions of soldiers. It can be said that it has all the time and people in the world, while Xiping has a natural barrier like Feiyun Stream. To secure the advantageous position, the two countries fought no less than a hundred times, and each time it was a matter of victory and defeat, but such a tragic result had never occurred. In the final analysis, Liang Guo did not regard the small country of Xiping as a threat. Be careful of me, Dayan and Dayan."
Guo Yuan asked again: "Suppose one day, our Yan's cavalry breaks through the gate of the Central Plains, and the king orders the general to go south to attack Xiping, and the force is 100,000 to 40,000, how confident can the general be? Our army will After how many battle losses have occurred, assemble and imprison the southern city?"
Baili Jin said in a deep voice: "Sir, you should know what I want in my heart, just to win the Central Plains. Feiyunjian is the most dangerous place today, and I have deduced it several times. If I personally lead an army of 100,000, and Ashan The 40,000-strong crossbow army in the decisive battle at Feiyunjian probably has less than a 50% chance of winning. It’s not that Ashan Crossbow is a god with his troops. It’s just that on the battlefield, the situation is changing rapidly and the opportunity is fleeting. The general has not yet thought of a good way to defeat Feiyunjian. Yunjian.”
Regarding this expected answer, Guo Yuan smiled and said: "Let me put it another way. If the general is given a hundred thousand troops, can he see the tower of Laonan City?"
Baili Jin smiled slightly and said: "That's natural. This general is not Cao Bo. He will not target Feiyun Stream. If he wants to reach Laonan City, in my heart, the best strategy is just like Liang Jun's, dividing the troops. In both directions, the infantry and the waterway army echo each other, but the infantry force must be large and strong, the water force must be small and elite, and the warships must be agile. The middle strategy is for the army to abandon the waterway. Since there is an absolute With the advantage of military strength, we might as well place the main battlefield entirely on both sides of the strait. With 40,000 people, no matter how many ambushes there are, they can't stop the mighty 100,000 people. As for the best strategy, it is to take a detour and avoid Feiyun Stream, even if necessary. Passing through the poisonous swamp full of miasma, the battle damage will definitely be much less than that of Feiyun Stream!"
Guo Yuan seemed to be smiling but not smiling, and said: "The general's idea coincides with that of me, but in Guo's heart, there is still a better idea."
Baili Jin was dubious and said, "I would like to hear the details."
Guo Yuan did not show off, and said straightforwardly: "This is the best policy, it is nothing more than dissension. Among the military generals of Xiping Kingdom, Ashannu is indeed the first to do his duty, but he is not the only one. As long as he can instigate the other three generals, from then on, If the internal disintegration occurs, the Xiping Kingdom will collapse without attack. No matter where Ah Shannu is, he will be attacked from both sides. We and those three people should cooperate with each other inside and outside. Even if Ah Shannu can use his troops like a god, after all, he is not a god who spreads beans and makes soldiers. If we have no skills, the Xiping Kingdom will collapse without attacking."
Baili Jin looked at the young counselor in front of him with awe in his heart. He had no doubt that Guo Yuan had such powerful means and asked, "Sir, do you also have internal agents in Xiping?"
Guo Yuan shook his head, and then said confidently: "General, I'm sorry for being too high. I, Dayan, have never had any contact with Xiping, and Guo is not a god who has perfect plans. Besides, there is an enemy of Guo in Xiping." It is easier said than done to corrode someone from a high position." Then he drank tea slowly and continued: "But if one day, my Dayan cavalry breaks through the gate of the Central Plains, the sixteen states of the Liang Kingdom and a total of fifty-two cities can be destroyed. Becoming a bargaining chip in negotiations, as long as someone is willing to help me, Dayan, what if these thousands of miles of rivers and mountains are divided up? What if I can be made a general or even a king? At that time, the situation was all in my hands, Dayan, even if there are a few How can a king with a different surname stir up trouble if he is not very useful and only has a high position but no real power?"
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In Shengyun City, the imperial capital of the Xiping Kingdom, the angry king Hongjiang was drunk and dreaming in the palace as usual, with dozens of beautiful women beside him in thin clothes and graceful figures.
Suddenly, an old eunuch stumbled in and said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, your Majesty, the Minister has asked to see you, and he has brought a strange man with him."
Hong Jiang was disturbed and was about to get angry when the palace door was violently opened. Li Mi first entered together with Ou Yunxi beside him. Hong Jiang narrowed his eyes, stared at the invisible academy student, and sneered: "Why did Mr. Li come to see me so unexpectedly today? Could it be that he is also interested in this wine pond and meat forest, and wants to have fun with me?"
Li Mi first put his hands behind his back, looked at the angry king coldly, and said, "I'm here today just to take your head!"
When the angry king heard this, he laughed loudly: "Just you? Even if General Zhengdong is not in the capital at this time, I still have three generals with a total of 90,000 troops. With your little Shangshu Ling, even with the martial arts master beside me Help, so what?"
Li Mixian looked as usual and asked: "Aside from the loyal General Ashannu, may I ask where the three generals Zhenxi, Pingnan and Xunbei are?"
King Nu felt a chill in his heart. Seeing the presence of Mr. Li Mi, an ominous premonition emerged in his heart. Suddenly he heard the sound of horse hooves coming from outside the palace. He immediately felt bad and snorted: "So what if these three people are not here? I still have 20,000 personal guards!"
But after a while, no personal guards came to escort him. Li Mi first smiled and said: "I advise you not to waste your efforts. I might as well tell you the truth. Except for General Ashannu, the other three generals have already been incited to rebel. , as for your 20,000 pro-army troops, they all turned against you in the face of battle. Hong Jiang, you are dissolute and immoral, and you are all to blame for today’s bitter consequences. Why don’t you just surrender quickly and abdicate in favor of someone more worthy!"
Hong Jiang suddenly became angry, grabbed the maid next to him, used it as a weapon, and threw it at Li Mixian and Li Mixian. Ou Yunxi took a step diagonally, protecting Li Mi behind him, then slapped the poor maid away with one palm, and whispered: "Mr. Li, let Ou handle this."
Although Li Mixian did not practice martial arts, he also knew that the two second-level masters were fighting each other to the death. He could not help at all. Instead, he needed Ou Yunxi's undivided attention, so he turned and left the hall without looking back.
When Hong Jiang saw Ou Yunxi take action, he knew that this person was a martial arts master like him. He glanced at the pretty maid who died tragically on the spot and said sarcastically: "When has there ever been another second-class master in the world? Such a person who doesn't know how to show mercy to women." , No wonder he, Li Mi, is so confident. I don’t know what benefits that sour scholar has given you, but he dares to be my enemy? Didn’t Li Mi tell you that this king is a second-class martial artist at the ground level? "
As he said that, he jumped up from the dragon chair and headed straight for Ou Yunxi. The latter made bold moves and exchanged punches with Hong Jiang. The power was so powerful that the whole hall shook. Ou Yunxi took three steps back, while Hongjiang only took two steps back. It was clear at a glance which one was stronger and which one was weaker.
Hong Jiang sneered: "I thought Li Mi could be so capable, but it turned out that he only found a root-level warrior. He is so petty and has the nerve to take advantage of him!"
Ou Yunxi was shocked. He had lived overseas for a long time and had only heard a little bit about Hong Jiang. He thought that with his own force, he could not be said to be invincible in the world. He could not defeat Hong Jiang who was drunk all day long. But after one move, he was able to defeat Hong Jiang. I was shocked to realize that I had underestimated this person too much, but now I was riding a tiger and couldn't get off. Li Mixian's plan was his own, and he was a key part of it. There could be no mistakes in the plan. Moreover, if he was defeated by Hong Jiang today, he would be king in the future. How to convince the public? At this thought, he gritted his teeth, swallowed the blood from his throat, and used what he had learned throughout his life. Every move was a life-threatening attack.
The two of them were fighting against Lily in an instant. Hong Jiang had been exhausted by the wine and sex, and his state was still there, but the movement of his true energy was not as smooth as Ou Yunxi's. As time went by, he felt more and more strenuous.
Half an hour later, the palace door was pushed open from the inside. Ou Yunxi, covered in blood, staggered across the threshold and lifted Hong Jiang's head high.
Seeing this, Li Mi was the first to prostrate himself to the ground and said loudly: "Your Majesty, Li Mi first, pays homage to your Majesty."
When the ministers and soldiers saw this, they also knelt down and said in unison: "Greetings to the king, long live my emperor!"
