I’m really afraid of what will happen!
Although he was mentally prepared, Li Yuan was caught off guard by the severity of Liu Renzhan's so-called bad news.
A few days ago, when Li Jinquan rebelled, Shouzhou was in emergency. After Liu Renzhan heard the news, he quickly led his troops from Haozhou to help. While Liu Renzhan was leaving, a group of Tang Army light cavalry who came from the front line of Zhou State to report the message also arrived at the gate of Haozhou City in a hurry. The governor Meng Hua also received urgent military information from the north.
Since the Southern Tang army entered the Zhou Kingdom, under the confident command of Privy Councilor Chen Jue, they attacked Xuzhou for days. Unexpectedly, the 20,000 Zhou army held on for a month. However, the Southern Tang army was unable to attack for a long time. Not only did they not gain an inch of territory, but they also suffered tens of thousands of casualties. Even General Liu Yanzhen was killed, and the morale of the army was shaken.
When Chen Juelian wrote six memorials to Jinling to ask for help, it was too late. The reinforcements sent by Guo Wei arrived later, and the two sides fought in succession under the Xuzhou city. Finally, Zhang Lingbin, the Xuzhou inspection envoy of the Zhou State, led his army to defeat the Southern Tang Dynasty's Chinese army in a night attack. At the camp, the commander-in-chief Chen Jue and Liu Yanzhen abandoned the camp and left without a leader. Zhou Ben and other dozens of generals died in the battle, resulting in a disastrous defeat for the Southern Tang army, with countless casualties and fleeing troops.
After Chen Jue and Liu Yanzhen broke through the encirclement, they gathered the remaining soldiers and fled all the way, and finally met up with the reinforcements from the north of Yan King Li Hongji. Now the army retreated to Xiapi City and was in a stalemate with the Zhou army outside the city.
Speaking of this, Liu Renzhan was filled with grief and anger: "This Northern Expedition army was all the elite of our Tang army! Just because the commander was greedy for life and afraid of death, sixty-seven out of ten of them were lost! Since Liezu, when did our Tang Dynasty Have you ever suffered such a defeat? I am really heartbroken and heartbroken!"
Li Yuan frowned tightly, with mixed feelings in his heart. Although he had already expected that the Northern Expedition army would end badly under the command of a idiot like Chen Jue, he never thought that Guo Wei would only send a partial division to help, and the Southern Expedition army would not end well under the command of a fool like Chen Jue. The Tang army could be defeated so quickly and so miserably, with a total of 80,000 elite soldiers! What's more, the Southern Tang Dynasty's treasury was almost emptied for this Northern Expedition...
The most terrible thing is that the defeat of the Southern Tang army freed up Guo Wei to concentrate on dealing with Murong Yanchao in Yanzhou. As recorded in the history books, Murong Yanchao was certainly isolated and helpless, and Guo Wei was able to quickly quell the civil strife at the beginning of the founding of the country. The foundation of the Zhou Kingdom gradually stabilized, and its prosperity began from then on.
Thinking of this, Li Yuan couldn't help but be shocked in his heart. The history is surprisingly similar. Will the Southern Tang Dynasty still be unable to escape the fate of collapse in the future?
When his thoughts were in turmoil, Li Yuan paused and asked hurriedly: "Since the Northern Expedition army has been defeated miserably, why didn't they quickly regroup and still be stationed in Xiapi?"
Meng Huan looked gloomy and replied in a low voice: "The army is now uncertain about whether to advance or retreat. Minister Chen advocated retreating, but His Highness King Yan insisted on continuing the Northern Expedition. These two memorials are expected to be sent to Jinling soon. Now we just have to wait for Your Majesty. Holy Judgment..."
"What does it mean to be indecisive? Are they making fun of the lives of our soldiers?"
Needless to say, Chen Jue is already a lost dog. As for Li Hongji's thoughts, it is not difficult for Li Yuan to understand. He had been completely disgraced by Li Congjia in Jinling. This time he led troops on an expedition. He just wanted to kill the enemy and make achievements and restore his reputation. Therefore, he persisted in continuing the Northern Expedition regardless of the situation. . It's just that this move is too reckless. If you are not careful, you will be in disaster. I am afraid that even the army will be buried with it!
After thinking about it, Li Yuan felt inexplicably angry. Then he quickly spread out the map on the case, pointed at Xiapi City on the map and gritted his teeth and said angrily: "Look, you two, where is Xiapi City? It's a tiny place. The city is small and there is no danger to defend on all sides! If the Zhou army besieges the city, it will be a problem for our army to protect itself. Why are we still thinking of continuing the Northern Expedition? I am afraid that the entire army will be wiped out before His Majesty's decree is delivered!"
Seeing Li Yuan's sullen expression, Meng Huan hurriedly said: "Commander Li, the Emperor of Zhou is personally conquering Yanzhou, and there is only a partial army outside Xiapi City. Our Northern Expedition army has suffered huge losses this time, but with the reinforcements from His Highness King Yan, it is still not enough." The 50,000 people must be able to hold on for a while..."
After Liu Renzhan frowned and thought for a moment, he gritted his teeth and said: "Although Xiapi City is small, it is a strong city. The army brought by His Highness King Yan also has sufficient food and grass. It may not be easy for the Zhou army to break the city." .”
"It's hard to say." Li Yuan continued worriedly: "The Zhou army has always been a resourceful man. Now it is the rainy season in the Yangtze River and Huaihe River. The river is gradually rising. If the Zhou army breaks the embankment and diverts the Si River to flood the city, it will only take a few days. I am afraid that our Northern Expedition army will be destroyed." Become a fish and a shrimp..."
Li Yuan is not being alarmist, but Xiapi is really famous. Thinking about it, wasn't this where Lu Bu, the God of War, failed? Now we are in the same place and in a similar season, how can we not worry?
As soon as these words came out, Liu Renzhan and Meng Hua were so shocked that they almost couldn't sit still, especially Liu Renzhan. After staring at the map for a moment, he suddenly leaned on the back of his chair dejectedly without saying a word.
Even if Meng Hua was no longer familiar with military affairs, he now understood the current predicament of the Northern Expedition army from the faces and words of the two commanders, so he was sweating profusely.
Seemingly worried, the three of them quickly fell into silence. Li Yuan was in confusion. The Shouzhou rebellion was already very difficult, and now the failure of the Northern Expedition made it worse. In addition, there was no progress in the war in the southern border of Chu. It was really a collapse of both the northern and southern fronts! I really want to know how Emperor Li Jing will react at this time and what decision he will make.
"Marshal Li!" After struggling for a long time, Liu Renzhan seemed to have made some decision. He stood up suddenly, gritted his teeth and said: "The Northern Expedition Army is the elite of our Tang Dynasty, and His Royal Highness King Yan is the eldest son of His Majesty. There is no room for failure! I also ask Marshal Li to stay in Bagong Mountain for the time being, and I will immediately lead the army north to support the Northern Expedition army returning south!"
Li Yuan shook his head decisively and said: "No! If you lead the troops and leave, it will be difficult for me to suppress the rebellion! The Northern Expedition has already failed, and it is the time when the morale of the Zhou army is greatly boosted. Let's not talk about the outcome at that time. Now there is no According to His Majesty's decree, how can Marshal Liu persuade Prince Yan to leave his army and return south? I'm afraid it will backfire.
Our top priority right now is to deal with the rebels in Shouzhou as soon as possible and prevent Li Jinquan from forming a north-south alliance with Zhou State. Only by eradicating the internal strife can we feel at ease against foreign enemies. This is also indirectly supporting the Northern Expedition! "
"Alas! Now, I don't have His Majesty's edict in my hand. I am really not sure that I can persuade His Highness King Yan to return!" Liu Renzhan seemed to be convinced a little, his mood eased slightly, he patted his forehead and sighed melancholy: " What Marshal Li said is reasonable. I have messed up the situation, and the suppression of the rebellion must not be delayed! But, alas!..."
Perhaps his emotions were contagious. Seeing Liu Renzhan sighing sadly, Li Yuan couldn't help but think calmly again. Although he insisted on suppressing the rebellion first, at this critical moment, he really didn't want anything to happen to Li Hongji.
It's not that he has a deep relationship with her, but that Li Jing has always loved his son very much. It would be better if Li Hongji died in battle and martyred his country. If he was captured by Zhou State in exchange for this, I really don't know what decision Li Jing would make in a hurry. . You must know that Li Jing is really tough when she is tough, but it is hard to explain when she is weak...
If you think about it carefully, you are really in a dilemma, and you have no choice but to do both.
Seeing that the old man and the young man were in a tangle, Meng Hua suddenly stood up and said: "I believe that the suppression of the rebellion is imminent and cannot be delayed. The two commanders are both famous generals of our Tang Dynasty. Where can I leave you in this battle?" Not even one of them! As for the safety of the Northern Expeditionary Army, it is equally important. As the eldest son of His Majesty, His Majesty the King of Yan, if he falls into the hands of the Zhou army, how will we, the General of the Tang Dynasty, deal with it? The consequences will be disastrous! Why don't you let me go to Xiapi and persuade you? Your Majesty, Prince Yan, is off duty!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Yuan and Liu Renzhan both looked at the frail Haozhou governor with astonishment on their faces.
Liu Renzhan waved his hands repeatedly: "Meng Jishi, let alone whether you can persuade His Highness to return, I just want to say that you have never been on the battlefield. Now you are going to Xiapi City, hundreds of miles deep into the enemy's territory. Wouldn't it be wrong if you met the Zhou army? Losing your life in vain? You can’t do it! You can’t do it!”
Meng Hua just paused, then stood up straight and raised his hands and said: "It is true that Xianguan has never fought in a war! But in his early years, Xianguan once served as a lecturer at the Dongdu Literary Hall, and he was fortunate enough to meet His Highness the King of Yan. Willing to take the plunge and give it a try!
As for what Marshal Liu said, what if he really met Zhou Jun? It may not be possible for a subordinate to command a war, but as a man, wouldn't he dare to kill a few enemy soldiers? ! "
In the huge handsome tent, Meng Hua, who was thin and tall, raised his chest and raised his head, and spoke loudly in his ears, which instantly made the two of them look at each other with admiration! Li Yuan couldn't help but raise his head and carefully looked at this pale but determined face again.
Who said you can't scold Fang Qiu if you're angry?
