You must know that people who grew up in the poor mountains and rivers of Dongxi are notoriously tough. Even though Peng Shiyu is desperate, he is still the young master of Xizhou in the past. Now he openly kneels down and uses his sister as a hostage. In an instant, everyone in the hall will be killed. Everyone was shocked, but most people soon showed ecstatic expressions.
The mentality of military generals is just to make achievements and expand territories.
For them, the so-called oaths and the so-called female sex are nothing compared to the land of the two states. That is the territory that Chu has coveted for many years but has not conquered. Is it going to belong to the Tang Dynasty now? In their hearts, they wanted to plant the Tang Army's war flag on the top of Xizhou City as soon as possible, but they still looked at Li Yuan who was sitting on top. After all, it still depends on the commander's decision.
Li Yuan's heart was also turbulent, but he had his own different considerations.
Obviously, in troubled times, land, population, money, food, soldiers and horses are all capital for the struggle for supremacy. Why doesn't Li Yuan want to expand his strength? If he raised an army to help Peng Shiyu, he would not only gain a reputation for keeping his oaths and keep his word, but also get land from two states in return. This temptation would undoubtedly be huge.
But this is also a serious misunderstanding.
It is true that Xizhou is in chaos now. With the strong strength of Wuping Army and Peng Shiyu leading the way, it may not be difficult to conquer by force. But after the victory, ruling this barbaric land was another thorny problem, a problem that troubled kings of all ages.
The Dongxi barbarians are born and raised, and their habits are completely different from those of the Han people. It is extremely difficult for them to gain a foothold here. Even the Peng family in power does not dare to be too tough. They can only work hard through three generations of marriage and spend a lot of money. Try your best to integrate into the local tribe. What's more, it's the Tang army who has just arrived?
After the Battle of Jiashan, the Dongxi barbarians had developed a grudge against the Tang army. Even if Li Yuan sent troops to occupy their city, they could retreat into the mountains and forests and would not be able to completely annihilate them.
Just talking about the needs of the garrison, Li Yuan could not guarantee whether he could travel thousands of miles through the mountains and valleys to successfully supply the army with food and grass. Using barbarian methods, as long as he attacked in various unimaginable ways from time to time, it would be enough for the soldiers of the Tang Army to doubt. Li Jianqi had a deep understanding of life when he was in Yiyang.
Thinking of this, Li Yuan gradually calmed down. Even if Peng Shiyu is really willing to cede Jinchen Prefecture afterwards, he must consider it carefully. This territory is equivalent to a quagmire. It is not only costly and dangerous to rule, but Li Yuan does not have time and money at the moment. Energy, follow the example of later generations and try to change their ways...
What's more, Li Yuan now has a more dangerous enemy, Pan Chongche's Han army in the south.
Li Yuan blinked his eyes noncommittally and sighed: "Brother Peng, you should get up first! This matter is of great importance and it is not easy to make a rash decision..."
Peng Shiyu did not stand up, but suddenly raised his head, his face turned pale and he didn't know what to say, while the generals in the hall looked at each other, their brows still furrowed, with a look of reluctance on their faces.
Li Yuangang tried to find some words of comfort, but he saw Xu Kuangheng hurried to the door and returned after receiving a letter from a soldier.
"Commander!"
Xu Kuangheng raised his hands and shouted eagerly, then came forward with a calm face and presented the letter in his hand to the table. Li Yuan only glanced at the letter from the corner of his eye and knew what was going on. Then he scanned it calmly and handed it back.
Seeing that Xu Kuangheng was hesitant to speak, Li Yuan waved his hand casually, nodded and said loudly: "Sir, there are no outsiders here. If you have something to say, you can speak out!"
Xu Kuangheng understood immediately, turned around and faced the generals in the hall, especially staring at Peng Shiyu who was kneeling in the center of the hall, and said seriously: "A letter from Xizhou, Tian Hong is willing to exchange a lot of money for Master Peng, oh, the two brothers and sisters of Peng Cishi, He also asked the commander-in-chief to recommend him to the court as the governor of Xizhou. If the commander-in-chief agrees, Tian Hongyou is willing to cede the land of Jin and Chen states! If the commander-in-chief refuses, he will use all the troops from the three states to attack with the Han army. Kill me in Langzhou!"
"this......"
"This matter needs long-term consideration..."
"If Tian Hong is allowed to fall to the right of the Han army, then..."
In an instant, all the generals in the hall couldn't help but whisper. Peng Shiyu and Tian Hongyou, one after another, actually put forward the same conditions. This scene was really funny. Except for the upright Luo Erhu, everyone almost understood it tacitly and looked towards Peng Shiyu's eyes seemed to have a different meaning.
Looking up at the expressionless Li Yuan, Peng Shiyu felt deeply helpless at the moment even though he had held hope in his heart. Why didn't he understand that no matter what Li Yuan decided in the end, it was undeniable that he was at the end of his rope at this time. Under the conditions, there is no way to compare with Tian Hongyou, otherwise he would definitely not use his little sister as a hostage.
Peng Qingying, who had been sitting nearby for a long time, was also frightened, because when she looked around, not only most of the generals around her, but also Li Yuan who was sitting on top seemed to have hesitant expressions on their faces. They were no longer as enthusiastic as before, and her own The elder brother Peng Shiyu was kneeling in the hall without saying a word, looking helpless. This heavy breath made the girl breathless.
Peng Qingying was so flustered that she felt like she was sitting on pins and needles. She held a corner of her clothes tightly with her delicate hands and stared at the unfathomable heroic face in front of her. Her heart was extremely uneasy. Did Marshal Li really want to give us to that traitor Tian Hongyou? Didn’t Big Brother say that he values integrity the most...
The generals were still noisy, and the noise became more and more intense. Luo Erhu turned his head and glanced at Li Yuan, who had a gloomy face. He suddenly stood up, blushed and said sternly: "Stop, stop arguing! Are you all finished? Should we listen to our boss or you on this matter?"
The generals knew Luo Erhu's status, so they quickly closed their mouths and stared at Li Yuan, but Li Yuan just scolded him in a deep voice: "Er Hu, don't be rude!"
At this time, Xu Kuangheng thought in his mind and seemed to have an idea. Then he turned around and raised his hands and said loudly: "Commander, please forgive me for speaking frankly! In the past few months, the Han army has won many battles and conquered more than ten states in the Chu region. Now it is coming fiercely. The army has arrived in Tanzhou! I believe that the commander-in-chief is the military governor of Wuping in the Tang Dynasty. He is responsible for defending the territory. He should go all out to deal with the Han army. He must not be distracted, let alone think about old friendships. Please help me with this relationship. Shuai think twice!”
Hearing this, Li Yuan did not answer directly. Instead, he glanced at the generals in the hall and asked indifferently: "Generals, what do you think?"
Looking to the left for a long time, Liu Jiangsheng, who was at the head of the queue, was different from Luo Erhu's recklessness, but he had an idea in mind, so he quickly stood up and said with his hands in his hands: "Commander, I think Mr. Xu is right, but Governor Peng and The commander-in-chief once swore an oath to heaven in front of all the soldiers. It would be inappropriate to break the promise at this time..."
"Second brother is right!" Luo Erhu's eyes shone, and he couldn't hold back and shouted again: "Brother, no, Marshal! This is what the general meant too! What's more, Tian Hongyou is a traitor, how can we listen to him? Yes! There is a commander in charge, whether it is the Han army or Tian Hongyou, we will take care of them all!"
The infantry commander Fan Renyu obviously had a different opinion. At this time, he stood up and said in a deep voice: "Commander, the terrain of the three states occupied by Tian Hongyou is so complex and full of miasmatic beasts. In the past, King Ma Xifan of Chu defeated We haven't defeated them for two whole years! Even though our Wuping army is brave, I'm afraid it will be difficult to win if we go deep into the barren land for a while. What's more, we have to distract ourselves from the Han army. This move is really unwise..."
Xu Kuangheng nodded and said: "What Fan Duzhi said is true! Please think twice, Commander-in-Chief!"
"Hey! Commander Fan, are you afraid of Na Tian Hongyou? Why do you compare my commander to that Ma Xifan..."
"When will the general compare the commander-in-chief to Mahifan?"
...
Seeing that the generals were arguing again, Li Yuan just watched quietly and did not say anything to stop them.
At this time, Peng Qingying finally couldn't hold back anymore. She got up and ran to Peng Shiyu. She stared at Li Yuan with her eyes like a pool of clear water. She leaned slightly and said, "Marshal Li, my eldest brother is indeed desperate now, but after all, he is the heir of my Peng family. You must not be humiliated, if you really want to give my eldest brother to Tian Hongyou, please give my brother and sister death!"
Watching Peng Qingying slowly take out the short knife from her arms, and then bend down solemnly to place it on the ground. Peng Shiyu did not say anything to stop her, but just clenched his fists tightly and kept kneeling on the ground.
Seeing this, Li Yuan just shook his head disapprovingly, turned his gaze directly to Peng Qingying, and said with disdain: "I haven't spoken yet, how come your daughter's family is using a knife? I tell you, if you threaten her with death, It's a cowardly move that won't help at all! Well, I don't care about you as a prostitute. I originally wanted to keep you in Langzhou, but it seems inappropriate..."
Peng Qingying bit her red lips and was determined, but now she was a little confused when she heard the words. She couldn't help but swallow her saliva and took a few steps back hesitantly.
Then Li Yuan stood up slowly, waved his big hand to signal the generals to be quiet, and said loudly with eyes like torches: "Everyone, I have made a decision on this matter. You don't have to fight anymore! I hate being threatened most in my life. As a How could the envoy of the Tang Dynasty be intimidated by a barbarian like Tian Hongyou? Our Wuping Army is not the Chu Army, and I am definitely not Ma Xifan!"
"Brother Peng, I made an oath to heaven in the past. I will not break my promise. This time I will send troops to help you fight back to Xizhou! But after that, you need to lead the people of the three states to change their banners and belong to me, Wu Ping. I, Commander I can recommend you to be the governor of Xizhou and continue to govern the three states. What do you think?"
Today's mood was full of ups and downs. Peng Shiyu was so excited that his hair trembled in front of his forehead. He cupped his hands and replied loudly: "I will never forget the kindness of the commander-in-chief! If the great revenge is avenged, I am willing to lead the three states to surrender to the commander-in-chief. I will never forget it." betray!"
"Okay!" Li Yuan nodded with satisfaction, then tightened his expression and ordered decisively:
"Liu Jiangsheng and Luo Erhu! I order you and me to lead ten thousand light cavalry and take Linyuan City along the mountain path to cut off the barbarian soldiers' eastward exit!"
"I will obey your orders!"
"Chai Kewu! I order you to lead an army of 10,000 people, march south from Yuanshui River, and capture Chenzhou within ten days!"
"I will obey your orders!"
"I am leading an army of 20,000 troops to march westward! Sir, the food, grass and baggage required for this battle will be handed over to you!"
Then Li Yuan added: "Immediately send a message to Lin Sichang and Wumu Teqin, two generals, telling them to try to slow down the Han army's offensive and not to allow the Han army to cross Yiyang City within twenty days! Then send the order to the weapons supervisor to ask me How are you doing with the trebuchet that Shuai needs..."
Xu Kuangheng took a deep breath, not daring to neglect at all, and hurriedly handed over his hands and replied: "I obey!"
"Three days later, the army will set out! We need to seize the opportunity in this battle. You will return to camp as soon as possible to reorganize the army. Anyone who is idle will be killed immediately!"
All the generals stood up one after another and shouted: "I will obey your orders!"
