Li Yuan looked around and said, "Your Highness, think about it again. If you really want to attack Zhou this time, with the precedent of fighting alone last time, you should formulate a comprehensive strategy this time. Dakechen and Marshal Liu also come up with some measures at the same time." With the assistance of soldiers and horses, I went to Jingnan, and Marshal Liu went to Henan to disperse Zhou's troops, and then let the Zhennan Army be the main force to defeat the enemy from Qingxu in one fell swoop. This is the best coordinated operation, and it is also a conventional use of troops that makes it difficult for the enemy to start and end. This method is also the most likely method of attack for our country to defeat Zhou.
As far as I know a few days ago, a bachelor of the Privy Council once proposed this strategy, but it was rejected. In the end, Li Zhenggu and Song Mojie led their troops to confront the Zhou Kingdom head-on. Isn't this strange? "
Li Hongji suddenly panicked, stood up and paced back and forth slowly, frowning and said: "My king's informants have indeed reported that someone once proposed that Wuping and Qinghuai towns should pretend to attract Zhou's troops while the Zhennan army sent troops. The idea of not letting Zhou's troops and horses gather in Xuzhou for a decisive battle with the Southern Army in Tongzhen.
The person who objected was Wei Cen. He said that moving all the armies together would consume a lot of money, and the Zhou State might seize the opportunity to break through. Instead, it would be better to let the Zhennan Army march straight in and capture Xuzhou in one fell swoop, as a front station for attacking the Central Plains. . "
Li Yuan smiled and said: "This is a conspiracy. Wei Cen's statement is completely untenable. What is so costly? If you are afraid of consumption, why do you propose to fight against Zhou? Our country has been fighting for years, and this time it consumed a lot of materials and manpower. Isn't it funny that I was preparing for this battle with Zhou State, but gave up the strategy of defeating the enemy because I was afraid of wasting materials?
It is even more ridiculous to say that they are afraid of Zhou Guo's breakthrough. It is obviously the wishful thinking of people who have never fought in a war. If our Wuping Army and Qing Huai Army were to dispatch, it would actually be just a feint. They would attack a few small towns at most. The purpose was to strengthen the main force of the Zhennan Army and suppress the Jingnan Jianghan defenders and the Zhou Kingdom Henan Forbidden Army from being transferred to the main force. Battlefield reinforcements. So that statement is extremely ridiculous. "
Li Hongji trembled: "You mean, Wei Cen and the others deliberately mobilized only the Zhennan Army to fight? But not to mention Li Zhenggu, Song Mojie and other Zhennan Army generals are well-known for their combat prowess. This time Our government has fully supported the Zhennan Army with all its might, can’t we even capture the small city of Xuzhou?”
Li Yuan sighed: "Your Highness, Your Highness, no matter how powerful the Zhennan Army is, do you think that the Zhou Kingdom is paperless? We have penetrated five hundred miles into the Zhou Kingdom, and it is the middle of winter again. Even if we fight against the Zhou Kingdom when the spring is slightly cold, How difficult is it? You know, since the last Northern Expedition, Zhou State has gathered 90,000 soldiers and horses in Xuzhou, which is not a lot of troops. Coupled with the favorable time, place and people, does Your Highness still think that the Zhennan Army can win?
Your Highness, I would like to say one more thing. The defeat of this war has appeared. Your Highness, do you think Song Qiqiu will be willing to hand over the Zhennan Army that has been protecting him for many years to his death? "
Li Hongji frowned and pondered, remembering that on the day Li Zhenggu left Beijing, his trip was extremely hurried. Not only did he quickly take away several powerful generals selected by his father from the Forbidden Army, but he also seemed to have left a memorial, but he did not personally do so. It was because of the urgent need to prepare for the war, so he asked the Privy Council to forward it to his father, but the content was a normal report about the war.
Li Hongji turned around and said: "Young Supervisor, I still remember that you said that before Li Zhenggu left the capital, he asked someone to forward a memorial to his father, which also talked about the marching season, right?"
"Yes." Liu Shaojian leaned over and said, "What Li Zhenggu said is similar to what the Grand Governor just said. He said that fighting in the middle of winter is not good for me, so after reorganizing the army in Hongzhou, he went north to garrison in Hezhou and waited for the spring. Once it warms up, the army can go out to war.”
"Where are the Zhennan Army now?"
Liu Shaojian thought for a while and said, "Back to Your Highness, the front 30,000 troops of the Zhennan Army arrived at Hezhou, a hundred miles away from Jinling, ten days ago. It is estimated that in five days, all the 100,000 troops will arrive."
Li Hongji's eyes suddenly went blank, and he sat down with a plop and said: "Li Yuan, I understand the conspiracy you mentioned, but I just can't believe it. But the current situation forces me to speak frankly. Zhennan The army is heading north this time, and their target is actually not the Kingdom of Zhou, is it?"
Li Yuan whispered: "Your Highness, this is an obvious thing. I went to the Privy Council a few days ago, and Wei Cen happened to be ill and returned home, so I deliberately asked a few bachelors, and from their few words, I got Knowing that the Forbidden Army has been around the capital in recent days, many leading generals have suddenly used it as an excuse to train the new army.
Exchange, I wonder if His Highness knows about this? "
Li Yuan's outspokenness shocked Li Hongji and Liu Shaojian who was standing aside. In fact, what Li Yuan just said, in addition to his opinions on military mobilization, Li Hongji and Liu Shaojian were also discussing in private the motivations behind the joint report between Zhongshu's men and the Privy Council against Zhou's use of troops and the possible subsequent situations. Seriously discussed.
But no matter how many possibilities he explored, Li Hongji never thought about it, or he couldn't believe it. King Zheng and others really dared to make such a shocking and outrageous move, risking the disdain of the world. After all, Li Hongji perfectly inherited one of Li Jing's skills. Perhaps a good or deadly gene is the emphasis on family ties.
No matter how he fought with Prince Zheng for the position of crown prince, in his eyes, Prince Zheng Li Congjia was still his sibling. He could hate him and plot against him, but in the end he could never kill him.
Unless there is a reason to kill him, but that reason is something Li Hongji never wants to see.
With the information revealed by Li Yuan this time, Li Hongji, who had already distrusted Li Yuan, began to dispel his doubts about Li Yuan. However, he had mixed feelings in his heart, including the fear of imminent disaster and the rebellious attitude toward his woman. The anger at each other is even greater than the sadness at being at odds with each other.
Li Hongji sighed heavily. Even though the cold wind was howling, cold sweat still broke out uncontrollably on his back. He finally clenched his fists and had to tell the truth that was difficult for him to admit: "So Lao Liu, Xu Xuan and others, and Song Qi Qiu, are they planning to rebel?"
"In my opinion, the possibility is very high." Li Yuan said solemnly: "But of course these are just my speculations. Whether they are true or false needs to be decided by Your Highness."
Li Hongji was not allowed to speak. Liu Shaojian was like an ant on a hot pot at this time. His old legs were shaking restlessly. He then eagerly held his hands and said: "Your Highness, this matter is endangering the country and the relationship is of great importance. Do you want to report this matter to your majesty quickly?" ?If unfortunately we are really told by the Governor, we have to prepare in advance, otherwise it will be too late when the rebels besiege the city..."
Li Hongji closed his eyes, clenched the jade ring in his hand tightly, and gritted his teeth and said: "But these are just our speculations. We have no real evidence at hand. My previous defeat in the Northern Expedition has already disappointed my father. If I ask for an audience in a hurry now, , said such shocking words, what if my father does not accept it, and even thinks that I am framed by my brother and sister? It must be known that my father is kind-hearted and values family affection above all."
Seeing Li Hongji's confused thoughts, Shaojian Liu suddenly walked up to Li Yuan quickly, changed his cold demeanor just now, and returned to his usual eagerness and humility. He leaned down and said melancholy: "Grand Governor, you are the world's best general, Huo, I am the first general. ! Since you have mentioned this matter today, I believe that you must have a clever plan in mind, so please tell it to His Highness quickly! This old slave is so ignorant and has offended me so much, please forgive me, Governor!"
"Young prisoner, you don't have to be like this." Li Yuan stood up and bowed his hands in return. Then he turned to Li Hongji and said solemnly: "Your Highness, this time I came to Beijing with only three thousand soldiers and horses to protect me. If the hundred thousand Zhennan Army really The sword is pointing at the capital, and King Zheng's party cooperates internally and externally. It is extremely difficult to resist despite the ministers and generals.
However, since I have made this clear to Your Highness, I will never leave Your Highness alone when my life is in danger. Please rest assured, Your Highness. "
Li Hongji raised his head, but his eyes were filled with confusion. He couldn't help but shake his head and said, "Li Yuan, I still can't believe it. My brother really dares to commit such an act of conspiracy. Do you think he has been taken advantage of?" Is there still room for redemption?"
Li Yuan felt helpless for a while, and then said coldly: "Your Highness, in fact, I don't want to believe it... I also know that Your Highness is benevolent, and I absolutely don't want to see a situation of fratricide. But I want to go to that thousand-year-old man." The throne that is admired by thousands of people will inevitably be filled with flesh and blood and bones along the way.
I boldly report this matter to you today so that you can prepare in advance, rather than letting you become a stepping stone for others to rise to the top. Your Highness, the king is the most ruthless, and his kindness comes back to bite him. You and Prince Zheng have become incompatible in life and death. The enemy has put a knife on your neck, don't hold on to the naive idea of recovering. "
Li Hongji sighed heavily and murmured inexplicably: "Father is very kind to several uncles, and he has always been forgiving to us sons."
Li Yuan said coldly: "The kindness and leniency are for my brother and my son. If King Zheng really dares to become Wujun,
How do you think Your Majesty will behave towards someone who is unfaithful and unfilial to his father? Besides, does His Highness think that His Majesty is unaware of this matter? "
Li Hongji raised his eyebrows suddenly and asked doubtfully: "What did you say? Father, does he know?"
Li Yuan hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said: "According to my judgment, Your Majesty has only figured it out in the past few days and has already begun to make preparations. It's just that Your Majesty tried his best to be patient in front of his ministers and acted as if nothing had happened. Otherwise, he would be guarding the Emperor." How could the city's imperial army suddenly expand to 30,000 troops at this time?
I have been in charge of the Dianzhi Army. It should be noted that since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Dianzhi Army has never recruited a single soldier. Your Majesty, please don’t think that your Majesty is confused. It concerns the country, the country, and the country. Your Majesty will never sit back and wait for death. "
Li Hongji was surprised and said: "Since my father knew this, why didn't he quickly issue an edict, seal the city gates tightly, and then order the kings of the world to be diligent, even if it means cutting off the food and grass supply of the Zhennan Army first! It should be noted that the 100,000 Zhennan Army will all be defeated in five days When we arrive at Hezhou, what’s the use of just expanding the imperial army..."
"There is no better son than a father." Li Yuan said solemnly: "Didn't His Highness say it before? Your Majesty has always cherished his son. Until the last moment, Your Majesty may be like Your Highness, unwilling to believe that King Zheng will rebel and seize the throne, let alone I am willing to fight with my own son. His Majesty's decree to expand the imperial army is not only a precautionary preparation, but also a sign of vigilance. He hopes that King Zheng can stop his attack in time and be alert and turn around."
