You Xiaowei's three generals, one chief and two adjutants, received gifts from the prince one after another from the capital.
Of course, the gift is not expensive at all, it is a normal human interaction.
Giving gifts is very complicated, and it has become even more complicated as it evolved over thousands of years.
As we all know, asking someone to do something requires a heavy gift. If the gift is light, the thing will not be done well. Therefore, the size of the gift is basically directly proportional to the value of the thing you are asking someone to do.
You want to be a prefect and give me a gift from the county magistrate. I'm sorry, but the county magistrate is gone because you look down on me.
There are also daily maintenance gifts, which are given more or less during holidays and festivals to maintain the relationship and keep your mouth open when you ask for help in the future.
The three gifts from Yang Ming are quite special. They are ordinary gifts. It means that we have entangled interests now. Please give me face. This matter is over and don’t mention it again. There is a layer of warning in it. In other words, it's called comfort.
Often, you either don't accept such a gift, or if you accept it, don't make trouble, otherwise it will be a breach of trust.
Xin Shixiong looked at the people coming from the East Palace, and then looked at the two carts of gifts. He sighed inwardly and said to the guards of the East Palace:
"Please tell the prince that I will return to the capital soon and will go to the East Palace to seek an audience."
The guard nodded, saluted and led the people away.
Xin Shixiong didn't dare not accept it. As he said, the Lord gave it to him and he didn't dare to refuse it.
While Yang Ming sent someone to deliver the gift, he also wrote a letter to Li Jing, informing him of the situation and asking him to adapt accordingly.
So that night, Li Jing came to Xin Mansion to ask for an audience.
After Xin Shixiong asked Li Jing to sit down, he ordered his servants to pour tea and said:
"As I get older, I no longer want to drink alcohol except on certain occasions, so the pharmacist will have a few cups of tea with me."
Li Jing smiled and said: "That's how it should be. Drinking tea makes people calm, and calming the mind makes the mind clear. Tonight I have a heart-to-heart talk with Mr. Xin, and drinking tea is the most beneficial."
"I can probably guess why you came," Xin Shixiong said in frustration after being repeatedly frustrated: "The prince's love for you is enviable."
Li Jing said sternly: "Because of this, Li Jingcai is frightened and trembling, not daring to betray the prince's kindness in the slightest. This time he was ordered by His Majesty to take on this important task, and he is even more cautious, walking on thin ice, just like this thunderstorm tonight, which makes people's hearts sing. It’s so tight that I don’t dare to relax for a moment.”
Although the doors and windows in the house were closed, the sound of rain outside was as loud as the beating of drumsticks.
Xin Shixiong nodded: "I have been serving as You Xiaowei for three years. In the military government, it is difficult to move without close people. The pharmacist who works in Youwuwei should understand this truth. The prince's situation is even easier this time, which is frightening. ah."
In terms of positions, they are on the same level, and in terms of lordship, they are almost the same. They don't have titles, and their honors are all Zhuguo.
"The prince's arrangement has profound meaning," Li Jing said: "The younger generation has his heartfelt words. Don't blame Li Jing, the old general, for speaking lightly."
Xin Shixiong was stunned and said, "Please speak."
Li Jing sighed and said in a deep voice: "In my opinion, this northern expedition has a huge drawback. The main force of Xu Guogong and Yanshou Duke will be difficult and dangerous. I have two flanks on the east and west. I have a heavy responsibility. If I make any mistakes, , it is a place of eternal destruction.”
The West Route Army was controlled by Li Jing and had Xin Shixiong Mai Iron Staff under his command, with a total of 67,000 people.
The main forces in the middle were Yu Wenshu and Yu Zhongwen, with a total of 72,000 elite troops.
The East Route Army has four generals: Jing Yuanheng, Xue Shixiong, Cui Hongsheng, and Wei Xuan, controlled by Wei Xuan, with a total of 136,000 people.
In the north, Duan Wenzhen and Zhang Jin attacked Fuyu City and Xincheng, with a population of 63,000.
There are a total of eleven routes, with 338,000 people. The original nine routes include Mai Tiezhang and Duan Wenzhen.
Abandoning Duan Wenzhen's troops in the north, they accumulated 275,000 Sui soldiers from Liaodong to Pyongyang. Li Jing's West Route Army had a relatively flat terrain, while Wei Xuan's East Route Army had to move along Langlin Mountain. All the way south, that place is full of mountain cities and fortresses, and it can be said that every step is difficult and dangerous.
Langlin Mountain is the birthplace of North Korea's Daedong River and Qingchuan River, with an average altitude of 2,000 meters. Changjin Lake is located in Langlin Mountain.
This place is covered in ice and snow, and the roads are rugged, making it extremely difficult to march. Once Wei Xuan and the others are blocked and unable to move forward, Yu Wenshu's lone army will be completely exposed if he goes deep into the area.
After listening to Li Jing's analysis, Xin Shixiong frowned and said: "The mountain city of Goguryeo, with thousands of people at most and hundreds at least, can pose a threat to Wei Xuan's east road?"
"The use of troops throughout the ages has focused on the right time, place, and people. The advantage of the land does not belong to me now," Li Jing said: "The Wei Xuan Department and I have the same responsibility, both to block the enemy and form a barrier to the east of the main force. However, if it cannot go south in time, Princess Xu is bound to be harassed by the enemy, and a surprise attack on Pyongyang is just a matter of paper."
Li Jing sighed: "It's not Duke Wei's fault, it's actually a strategic mistake."
Historically, when the Tang Dynasty conquered Goguryeo, it gradually encroached on it, conquering one city after another. Then it went straight to Pyongyang, which was very risky.
Of course, the Tang Dynasty also learned from Yang Guang's mistakes and knew not to fight like this.
"This strategy was planned by Xu Guogong. Your Majesty has already nodded. This cannot be changed." , the battle situation will probably be smoother due to the huge advantage of weapons and armor."
Li Jing nodded and said: "If the prince hadn't improved the craftsmanship and allowed our soldiers to have such precious armor artifacts, this strategy would have definitely failed."
"Be careful what you say!" Xin Shixiong said: "Your Majesty is full of praise for this policy, so let's not discuss it any more."
Li Jing's heartfelt words made Xin Shixiong's favor increase sharply. It's very difficult for people to dare to tell you this. But what does this have to do with the prince replacing my person?
You have to give me a reasonable explanation?
Li Jing continued: "So from the very beginning, I planned for General Lao to attack Beishe, General Mai to attack Wu Gu, and I would follow the main force southward to coordinate with the east. If Duke Wei went south unfavorably, I would be left to stop the enemy. military."
Xin Shixiong was stunned: "Except me and Mai Tiezhang, how many people do you have? Can you provide flank cover for the main force?"
"Four thousand light cavalry are guerrillas and two thousand heavy cavalry are enough to break the formation," Li Jing said: "Soldiers are more valuable than large numbers. Most of the mountain towns in the east of Goguryeo are small groups of enemy troops. Six thousand cavalry is actually enough."
Xin Shixiong's old face twitched, young people are so courageous. The work of more than 100,000 people in Wei Xuan's department, you want to do it with only 6,000 people?
"It's too risky for the pharmacist to do it, no," Xin Shixiong waved his hand quickly.
Li Jing smiled and said: "Goguryeo's more than 100,000 main cavalry are all hoarded on the front line of the capital Pyongyang. They are the most elite in the country. If Xu Guogong is blocked halfway, he may be embarrassed when he arrives in Pyongyang. Since the overall situation cannot be changed, then we should fight to the death to protect the main force. Going south, to put it bluntly, if the main force is defeated, we will have no other choice but to withdraw our troops from the east and west."
Li Jing has long seen that out of my two subordinates, you and Mai Tiezhang, only one of them can't be controlled. So who can he control on Wei Xuan's side? Jing Yuanheng, Xue Shixiong, Cui Hongsheng, which one is easier to manage?
The terrain in the east is complex, and most of the time it is necessary to fight separately. In this way, the troops will be scattered, and it will be difficult to unite the troops in a major situation. Li Jing was sure that there would be problems on the east road, so he planned to risk going south.
But if he goes south, he has to solve the problem of Xin Shixiong. If this old guy can't completely seal off the Liaodong Peninsula, causing Li Jing to have pursuers behind him, it will be all over.
Don't think that your own people won't plot against your own people on the battlefield. This kind of thing has happened a lot since ancient times.
Li Jing and Yang Ming also thought about killing the comforter.
The hair on Xin Shixiong's body stood on end. There was never a word about defeat in the court, because everyone felt that defeat was impossible. Although this strategy was risky, there was still a gap between our Sui soldiers and the soldiers of small countries. .
But now that Li Jing said this, he was a little scared. Indeed, the main force of Yu Wenshu and Yu Zhongwen could not be defeated. Once they were defeated, the strategy would be ineffective. Apart from withdrawing their troops, there was really no other option for the east and west routes. choose.
Don't you want to withdraw? The troops stationed on the east and west sides of Goguryeo, plus the main force in Pyongyang, can pinch you to death. Furthermore, once the main force is defeated, morale will be destroyed first.
The Wang Division's army stationed in Liaodong also had to withdraw, because behind them was the Liaohe River. If they did not withdraw in time, they would be surrounded.
"So, the prince changed his position because he was worried about me and was afraid that I could not protect the pharmacist's rear?" Xin Shixiong asked.
Li Jing nodded: "That's it. The generals I lead are the lone army in the attack. If there is a loss from behind, I'm afraid the whole army will be annihilated."
"I understand."
Li Jing stood up, clasped his hands towards the other party and said solemnly:
"Whether Li Jing can come back alive depends entirely on the old general."
Xin Shixiong also stood up quickly, held Li Jing's arms and said: "What the pharmacist did this time is of great concern. When I return to Beijing this time, I will ask to see the prince and we will discuss the matter in detail."
Then, the two sat back down and started chatting.
Nonsense chatting can help to bring the relationship closer. For example, if someone likes women, well, you can talk to him about this. This kind of flattering approach will make the other person feel that you and he are of the same mind.
And Xin Shixiong's hobbies must include women. As the two chatted, they felt something was wrong.
Why doesn't this rain stop?
Xin Shixiong opened the door and looked at the ankle-deep water in the courtyard. He quickly called a servant and asked:
"How long has it been raining?"
"It's been two hours, and the garden in the backyard has been flooded. The slaves are blocking the water," the servant said.
Li Jing frowned for a moment: "It has rained so heavily for two hours. There is a risk of flooding. Now is the time when crops are in full bloom. This year's harvest is worrying."
Xin Shixiong also looked solemn.
What the ancients feared most was natural disasters. This thing could not be stopped and would still kill people.
"Thunderstorms always hit the ground. I hope other places don't have this kind of rainstorm." Xin Shixiong frowned and said: "The food in Dongdu is now being transferred to the north. If there is a disaster in the Yellow River, things will be serious."
At this time, gongs rang loudly outside the house. Because the rain was too loud, what the other party was shouting could not be heard clearly.
But Xin Shixiong and Li Jing understood that this was called flood warning, and the Luo River that ran through Luoyang had risen.
(End of chapter)
