Yucheng was not far from Zhu'a County. Some Yucheng defenders who were lucky enough to escape with their lives quickly arrived at Zhu'a and brought the bad news to Li Jiancheng and Yuan Gaisuwen that the grain camp had been burned down.
This news was undoubtedly a disaster for the Goguryeo and Tang coalition forces. In less than a morning, the entire camp became panicked, the morale of the troops was unstable, and small-scale desertions had already occurred.
. . . . . . . . . .
In the Tang army's camp, Yuan Gaisuwen looked angrily at Li Jiancheng, who was sitting at the top, and said loudly: "Li Jiancheng, I listened to your words before I hoarded the grain and grass of my Goguryeo army in Yucheng. What did you say?" Everything is perfect, but what about now? The grain camp was burned, what do we do?"
Li Jiancheng also looked angry, but this anger was not just about the burning of the grain camp, but also about Yeon Gaesumun in front of him.
In fact, Yuengaisuwen's decision to store grain and grass in Yucheng was entirely Yuengaisuwen's own decision.
At that time, Yeon Gaesumun led his army to Qingzhou, so he asked Li Jiancheng about a suitable place to store grain because he was not familiar with the terrain. Li Jiancheng only made a suggestion to him. At that time, Yeon Gaesumun also carefully analyzed and found that it was very feasible and feasible. Now he has put all the responsibility on Li Jiancheng. How can this make Li Jiancheng not angry?
However, Li Jiancheng was a good-tempered man after all, and the defenders of Yucheng were indeed all Tang troops. Therefore, Li Jiancheng suppressed his anger and did not fall out on the spot. He glanced around the tent and asked in a deep voice: "What do our army's scouts do for food?" ? Isn’t it possible that no scout could detect such a big operation as the Sui army’s raid on Yucheng in advance?”
After Li Sheng's death, Li Dingguo, who was also from the Li clan, took over his position. Hearing Li Jiancheng's question, he immediately stepped out of the queue and answered: "Your Royal Highness, the general believes that this matter cannot be the work of the Sui army in Licheng County. Even if there is internal support for the raid on Yucheng, it will still require five or six thousand people." Troops and horses. It is impossible for such a large troop movement to escape the eyes and ears of our army’s scouts!”
Li Jiancheng frowned and said, "You mean the Sui army is still ambushing a surprise force in the hinterland of Qingzhou?"
"Impossible!" Qin Hui shook his head and categorically rejected: "The Sui army never broke through the Licheng line from beginning to end. How could they have the opportunity to bury an army of troops in the hinterland of Qingzhou?"
"Could it be the work of some local thieves?" Hou Fangyu carefully put forward his guess.
"Even if we know who broke Yucheng at this time, what's the use? They have already burned all the food and grass!"
Yeon Gaesumun was extremely impatient and stopped the speculations of several people in the tent: "The top priority is to find a way to solve the problem of food and grass! If we don't solve this problem quickly, our tens of thousands of troops will mutiny within a few days!"
"Then I wonder if General Yuan has any clever ideas to solve the current crisis? If not, could you please shut up General Yuan?"
Among the large tents, the one belonging to Li Dingguo had the highest national sentiments. He had been opposed to uniting with Goguryeo from the very beginning. Now that he saw Yeon Gaesumun being so rude, he couldn't help but feel secretly angry and said in a cold voice.
Yuan Gaisuwen sneered and said: "What can we do now? We can only borrow some food and grass from Qingzhou to meet our urgent needs!"
"No!"
Upon hearing Yuan Gaisuwen's words, Qin Hui, Li Dingguo and other Tang army officers and soldiers all changed their expressions and said in unison.
Borrowing food, Yuan Gaisuwen put it nicely, is not just about grabbing food from the people.
The alliance with Goguryeo had already had a considerable impact on Li Jiancheng's reputation. If he united with foreigners to rob the people again, Li Jiancheng's reputation would really be ruined.
How can a person with bad character become the common master of the world? What's more, after years of war in Qingzhou, people's livelihood has been in decline. Even if they steal food from the people, they can't survive for a few days.
Li Jiancheng was an honest and honest gentleman, so he would naturally not rob the people. What's more, he was also very aware of the serious relationship between this. He immediately nodded and said: "General Yuan, as the saying goes, he who wins the hearts of the people wins the world. It is absolutely impossible to rob the people." !”
Yeon Gaesumun snorted disdainfully: "In that case, I will lead my troops to borrow food myself. You just wait here to starve to death!"
After Yuan Gaisuwen finished speaking, he ignored everyone in the tent and left. An Dianbao followed closely, while Hou Fangyu was obviously stunned for a moment and glanced around the tent before following him out of the tent.
As soon as Yeon Gaesumun left, Li Dingguo couldn't hold back the anger in his chest and stepped out of the queue and said: "Your Highness, this traitor Yuan Gaesumun is too rude and doesn't take our Tang Dynasty seriously at all."
Li Jiancheng waved his hand and said: "I have no time to worry about such trivial matters. The top priority is to find a way out of the current predicament. Huizhi (Qin Hui's character), when is the next batch of grain and grass expected to arrive?"
Qin Hui smiled bitterly, cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, the last batch of food and grass was transported to Yucheng just five days ago, and the next batch of food and grass will not be until half a month later at the earliest. The army's food and grass are only enough for five days, and I'm afraid it won't be able to survive." by that time!"
Li Jiancheng frowned when he heard this, squeezed out the word "Chuan", looked around at the people in the tent and said: "What do you think our army should do now?"
"Your Highness!"
Liu Zhiyuan, who had been silent at first, suddenly stepped out of the queue and slowly said: "The general thinks that based on the current situation, if he continues to stay in Qingzhou, he will probably end up with the entire army annihilated. Therefore, it is better to take advantage of the remaining food in hand. Before the morale of the army is in chaos, quickly withdraw northward and leave Qingzhou!"
"Leave Qingzhou?" The reckless man said angrily: "General Liu, won't you avenge the vengeance of generals Li Sheng and Liu Yuan?"
"It's never too late for a gentleman to take revenge! The grain camp in Yucheng has been destroyed, and the overall situation in Qingzhou has been decided. There is no benefit in staying here!" Liu Zhiyuan said loudly: "Your Highness, if you cut it off, you will be cut off, or you will suffer chaos! That Yuan Gaisu After Wen returns, he will definitely set out with his army to plunder Qingzhou County. If His Highness cannot withdraw from Qingzhou in time and sever ties with him, I am afraid that everyone in the world will put this bad name on His Highness!"
Li Jiancheng suddenly woke up, nodded and said: "Yes, it is harmful and useless for our army to stay in Qingzhou at the moment. It will only increase the reputation. Immediately send the order, pack up, and withdraw the army back north tonight."
Li Dingguo heard this and reminded: "Your Highness, the Sui army Qin Qiong and Di Qing's troops are only a hundred miles away from Zhu'a. I'm afraid they won't let us leave easily."
Li Jiancheng immediately turned his attention to Liu Zhiyuan and signaled him what his plan was.
Liu Zhiyuan smiled slightly and said: "Your Highness, the general has a plan, which can not only ensure the safe withdrawal of our army from Qingzhou, but also clear the relationship with Yuan Gaisuwen, so that he will not be framed in the future!"
Li Jiancheng pondered for a moment, then suddenly understood, nodded heavily, and said in a deep voice: "I understand!"
