Xu Youchang rushed to Zijin Pass after a long journey. As soon as he entered the city, he was led by white-robed soldiers to Li Jiangyao's mansion here.
An important meeting that will decide the fate of Shengtang is waiting for him.
Except for Du Jian and Holia, who stayed on the front line to command the operations, all other senior officials of the Zhenjiang Army were present.
Li Jiangyao sat in the middle, glanced at everyone, and said loudly: "The imperial court has officially replied to us. The full text only has eight words: Keep up the good work and manage Guanzhong. Brothers, what do you think?"
Xie Tanzhi was the first to speak: "Looking at it this way, the imperial court is becoming more and more wary of us. Our army successfully captured Yongliang Prefecture and controlled the Hetao Corridor. The Turks were extremely nervous. With such a favorable fighter opportunity, the imperial court itself We should make corresponding arrangements and mobilize the troops east of Tongguan to cooperate with our army in advancing from east to west. However, after waiting for nearly a month, we only waited for these eight words, neither salty nor bland."
Situ Wushou also said: "Keep up the good work and manage the Guanzhong. I really don't understand what these eight words mean? Are we going to eat the imperial capital by ourselves? Or are we holding back the Turks in the Guanzhong area so that we can fight for the eastern battlefield?" time?"
Since this matter involved the Holy Tang court and the topic was somewhat sensitive, the local generals and officials in Western Xinjiang basically remained silent.
Li Jiangyao looked at Xu Youchang: "What's your opinion?"
"It's just a moth!" Xu Youchang was quite dissatisfied: "My forward troops have arrived in Lanzhou and have been fighting with Roniya's people for four or five rounds in a row. I watched them increase their troops every day, and even He Lianxiong's golden number one All the legions have come to join in the fun! If the imperial court could cooperate at this time, even if the eastern front puts a little pressure on the Turks and restrains some of their troops, I would have captured Lanzhou long ago."
Hearing what he said, Li Jiangyao nodded first, and then said: "Let's not complain. The imperial court has its considerations, and we have our mission. Let's talk about the situation on the battlefield. What are your suggestions for the next step?"
Xu Youchang sighed softly and continued: "Defender, my lords, overall, the current situation is very beneficial to our army. Just ten days ago, Du Jian successfully joined forces with me, and there were strong winds, fierce fire, and thunder. , Shenhua, Raging Waves, Cold Wave, Kuangsha, a total of seven armies and 330,000 soldiers and horses, gathered in Yongdeng County in the northwest of Lanzhou, ready to launch a general attack on Lanzhou City at any time."
He paused for a moment, then continued: "Once Lanzhou is captured, the natural moat barrier in the western section of the Jinhe River will be completely broken. Going further east, only Tianshui County in Qinzhou and Baoji County in Qizhou will remain. It’s a key city, and the Turks can’t hold it at all.”
"Baoji is an important gateway to the west of the Imperial Capital," Xie Tanzhi nodded slightly: "Occupying that place is equivalent to inserting a sharp knife directly into the hinterland of Guanzhong. The Imperial Capital will become undefendable for us."
Xu Youchang said loudly: "Mr. The final battle between the Holy Tang and the Turks will come soon!"
Li Jiangyao nodded and asked: "Are you confident that you can capture Lanzhou, Tianshui and Baoji?"
Xu Youchang answered without hesitation: "I have confidence!"
"How confident are you that you don't rely on the imperial court to contain the enemy from the east?"
"Yes! The Protector-General, the 330,000 soldiers on the front line are well equipped and have high morale. Without the help of the imperial court, they can still attack the city!"
"how much time is required?"
"How long can Daduhu give me? There are fast and fast attacks, and there are slow and slow attacks. The casualties and losses will be different."
Li Jiangyao thought for a moment and said, "I'll give you a month! How about adding an additional Eighth Army to you at the same time?"
Xu Youchang smiled and said: "All three heavy armored infantry regiments are handed over to me? Haha, no problem! Within a month, I guarantee that the eagle flags of the Xinjiang Army will be flying on the city tops of Lanzhou, Tianshui and Baoji!"
Xie Tanzhi hesitated for a moment, but finally couldn't help but ask: "Defender, why are you in such a hurry to march? If we can manage to persuade the court to act at the same time, wouldn't the pressure on General Xu be much less?"
Li Jiangyao smiled and explained to everyone: "It was in order to convince the imperial court that I urged my friend to launch an attack. Right now, Dongdu is facing two problems, which makes them hesitant to jointly attack the Turks. The first One is an old problem. The imperial court believed that it could not truly control our Zhenjiang Army and Ma Hongjie's Southern Army. It was not even easy to determine who would be the coach of the decisive battle. Unification and coordination were out of the question, so it simply let it go. The second question , is the threat from the Xuanjia rebels. Bao Yuchun had done a trick before, not only forcing Murong Xue back, but also attacking Ma Hongjie. As a result, Luoyi's southern defense line was always at risk of being breached by the rebels. Risk. The imperial court was afraid, so it wanted to focus more on defending the Eastern Capital."
"In this case, no matter how much truth we say, the emperor and the courtiers will not listen. It is better to persuade people with words than to persuade them with actions; it is better to convince them with results than to persuade them with actions. If our army can Within a month, it swept through all the cities of Lanzhou with the force of wind and clouds, forcing Ashina to defend the imperial capital. It will surely shock the world and inspire the people. By that time, the imperial court will not only have more confidence in the duel, but also be forced by the righteousness of the family and the country. , focus on driving out foreign enemies first.”
Hearing this, Xie Tanzhi nodded repeatedly: "Your Excellency is wise, and you have humbled yourself to accept the teachings. Seeing that victory is in sight, the emperor really has no reason not to deal with the Turks first. More importantly, once the imperial capital is successfully recovered, the emperor's authority will also increase. At the peak, and with the gathering of troops from all walks of life, it will be easy to defeat the southern rebels."
Xu Youchang agreed: "It seems that winning a big victory on the battlefield is a key step in gathering the power of Shengtang in the future. I instantly felt that the burden on my shoulders was very heavy."
Li Jiangyao couldn't help but laugh: "You guys are rarely funny. However, it is right to say so. My friend, the responsibility you shoulder is related to the destiny of the Shengtang nation. I'll leave it to you."
Xu Youchang stood up suddenly and gave Li Jiangyao a standard military salute: "Please rest assured, Protector-General, I will do my best for this humble duty! Attack the cities of Lanzhou and gather strength for the country!"
Li Jiangyao motioned him to sit down, and then said to Ma Mu, who was sitting not far away: "The battle line suddenly extended to the east for more than two thousand miles, and the burden on your side is not light. How about it? Can you withstand it? ?”
Ma Mu cupped his hands and said: "Sir, we have been preparing for today for a whole year. Whether it is food, arrows, medicinal materials, or civilian craftsmen, it is enough to support the needs of the front line. Let's put it this way, Xu Shuai's army will fight wherever it goes. , our supply line will follow wherever it goes, never hold us back!"
"How many vehicles are accumulated? How are the supply relay stations set up?"
"Replying to your lord, there are five thousand double-column carriages, eight thousand single-column carriages, eleven thousand ox-carts, and six thousand camels." Ma Mu replied carefully: "The supply relay station will be opened every day according to the highest standards you set originally. Set up a station every 100 to 120 miles away. The basis for transshipment and stockpiling is based on ten days of rations for 50,000 people. Other equipment and materials are also stored in accordance with the regulations. Each relay station deploys 300 soldiers and 100 light cavalry. , a fire-fighting team of 100 people is on alert at all times.”
Seeing that he was very knowledgeable about military supplies, Li Jiangyao nodded with satisfaction and gave a few serious reminders. Then, he turned to look at Yuduoluo: "The war is coming, and the military situation takes the lead. Are you ready?"
Yuduoluo quickly reported: "Reporting to your lord, the Intelligence Department keeps a close eye on the enemy at all times and does not dare to make any omissions. So far, we have dispatched 213 secret agents to infiltrate Lanzhou, Tianshui, Baoji, Qingyang, and Longnan. , six important cities in Hanzhong, and in the direction of the imperial capital, an additional 61 people were dispatched on the original basis. From the enemy command center, to the tribes and legions, to the grain and grass baggage, the messenger station, and the important road passes, everything Our eyeliner.”
Li Jiangyao nodded slightly and said, "As for the friend, how many liaison officers has your intelligence department sent?"
"Originally there were only two, but now there are nine in total," Yudala responded: "I have transferred a liaison officer to each army to provide information to the generals of each army at any time."
"It's not enough." Li Jiangyao said: "In addition to the general, the scout battalions of each army must also maintain close contact with the Intelligence Department. Only when the reconnaissance scouts and intelligence spies cooperate well can they be well-informed."
Yuduoluo cupped his hands and responded: "I obey my command, and I will make arrangements immediately when I get back!"
Li Jiangyao turned to the other side: "How is the situation at the battlefield medical center? Tell us."
This was the first time for Xia Lian of the Yiwu tribe to participate in such a high-level meeting. Although she was usually familiar with the adults present, she still felt a little nervous when she heard Li Jiangyao ask her. Xia Hou Ninghan, who was accompanying her, smiled and encouraged: "Don't be afraid, speak boldly."
Xia Lian nodded, stood up slowly, and tried to make her voice sound calmer: "To inform the Protector, we now have a total of ten field medical clinics, with 2,242 registered military doctors. In addition, we have recruited nearly 7,000 medical women from various parts of Western Xinjiang. Although these girls cannot treat diseases, they have no problem dressing wounds and taking care of wounded soldiers. As for the required medicinal materials, bandages, stretchers and other items, Ma Mu Your Excellency and Master Situ have made sufficient preparations for us, I think it is enough for the battle."
After saying that, she smiled sheepishly, looking both embarrassed and cute.
When everyone saw this, they couldn't help laughing.
Li Jiangyao praised: "Very good, you have made adequate preparations, and the lives of the frontline soldiers will be more protected. Minor injuries will not be converted into serious injuries, and serious injuries will not be converted into death. This is a key means to improve morale."
Xu Youchang also nodded repeatedly: "Your Excellency, you are right. When soldiers know that they can receive timely and proper treatment after being injured, they will have less worries and become more brave when fighting. Miss Xia Lian, I want to thank you on behalf of all the soldiers in the army."
Xia Lian blushed and quickly stood up again: "Xu Shuai deserves the award. This is what I should do."
