Tai Chi Palace, Yangxin Pavilion.
Li Bing stared at the imperial invitation on the table, slightly lost in thought.
He already knew what happened in the court yesterday. What surprised him was not only the sudden withdrawal of the two princesses, but also the intervention of Li Jiangyao, who single-handedly postponed the public discussion.
Countless questions suddenly came to Li Bing's mind:
Why did Concubine Shu, Ma Yunfang, and Concubine Hui, Murong Ling, withdraw from the election without any warning?
Why didn't they tell me about this beforehand?
What roles did Ma Hongjie and Murong Xue play behind this?
Were they interfered or coerced by someone?
Why did Li Jiangyao object to this?
Why did the military generals react so strongly?
Why didn’t Zongzheng Temple Minister Feng Xiang take the initiative to report to me?
Why did Wei Zixuan insist on setting up a separate volume for the two imperial concubines?
These questions kept swirling in Li Bing's heart, making him breathless: It seems that the issues involved in my selection of the Queen of Lizheng Palace are very complicated.
At present, the rebels in the south of the Yangtze River have not been eliminated, and the puppet Jin Dynasty King Li Zhang is recruiting troops in an attempt to cause trouble; the eastern coastal states are being invaded by Japanese pirates, and the Ministry of War is trying their best to kill them but with little effect. I am afraid that the main army will have to be recruited in the end.
These two major events had already made him feel overwhelmed, but the disagreements within the imperial court continued to add new worries.
Li Bing sighed softly and was about to ask Concubine Shu Hui about the reason. Unexpectedly, the chamberlain came to report that General Yunhui and Lieutenant Governor Li Jiangyao requested an audience.
Hearing this, Li Bing was slightly stunned, and then said in a deep voice: "Xuan!"
After a while, Li Jiangyao walked into the pavilion under the guidance of the chamberlain, and paid homage to the emperor according to the rules.
Li Bing waved his hand gently: "Li Qing, there is no need to be polite. Why did you come to see me today?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, I would like to ask when we can return to the front line." Li Jiangyao responded: "The rebels have been ready to move recently and their intentions are unclear. Whether it is the Yiling navy fleet or the Chuzhou Zhenjiang army, they have sent reports Come, ask for instructions and deployment. I am concerned about the safety of the front line, so I came here to ask for orders."
Li Bing nodded when he heard this: "Indeed, we can't live without you on the front line."
He paused briefly and said in deep thought: "The day before yesterday, Tian Mu reported that the case of Sun Chen and others has been clarified. There is nothing inappropriate in your rectification of military discipline and decisive killing, so there is no need to suspend your duties pending investigation. Li Sir, I just want to ask for your opinion, should you return to the Yiling navy or continue to be in charge of your own army?"
Li Jiangyao cupped his hands and said, "I am willing to listen to the imperial court's orders, and I can go wherever I want."
"Do you think... Yang Li can support the navy?" Li Bing asked.
Li Jiangyao said loudly: "To be honest with your majesty, Yang Li is a rare talent for water warfare. Although he is still a little lacking in experience at the moment, he can definitely stabilize the overall situation. In time, even Bao Yuchun's uncle and nephew may not be his opponents. .”
Li Bing asked curiously: "You mean, let him have more experience?"
Li Jiangyao nodded slightly: "That's right. Only by constantly carving can beautiful jade shine with infinite brilliance. In the same way, excellent generals must be fought on the battlefield! So I think that Yang Li can be the leader of the navy."
Li Bing thought for a moment, then nodded and said: "You are right, to train famous generals, you have to let go and train, and fight one battle at a time. Whether it is Yang Li or the navy, only after going through thousands of difficulties and dangers will they be able to succeed. Only then can you become stronger and stronger. Okay, then you can go back to Luzhou and Chuzhou and continue to command the Phoenix Army in combat."
Li Jiangyao cupped his hands and responded: "According to the order, I will set off and return to the front line tomorrow."
"Wait a minute," Li Bing called to Li Jiangyao who was about to leave: "Don't leave now, I want to talk to you again. Come, show Li Qing his seat."
Li Jiangyao sat down as he was told and said with a smile: "Does your Majesty plan to stay with you for dinner?"
Li Bing was stunned for a moment, and then he laughed dumbly: "You are the one who dares to talk to me like this. Well, I am also hungry. Waiter, please pass on the food. Li Qing and I will have a few drinks to prepare ourselves for the general." "
The waiter agreed and got to work quickly. Without much effort, he served sumptuous food and wine.
Li Bing first had a drink with Li Jiangyao, and then asked: "Li Qing, do you think the time is ripe for a decisive battle?"
Li Jiangyao knew that the other party was about launching a southern expedition to quell the rebellion, so he smiled and shook his head: "Until Bao Yuchun's main fleet is completely destroyed, it is difficult to say that the time is ripe. However... it does not mean that we cannot launch a southern expedition."
"Oh? Why did Li Qing say this? Can you explain it to me in detail?" Li Bing asked humbly.
Li Jiangyao put down his wine glass and said loudly: "The Southern Expedition is just a general term for strategic actions. The main force of the army crossing the river in an all-round way and launching a general offensive is the Southern Expedition. The advance troops crossing the river to conduct reconnaissance and harassment are also the Southern Expedition. Fighting in the lower reaches of the river is the Southern Expedition. , fighting in the upper reaches of the river and even in the Bashu region is also a southern expedition. What I said, does your Majesty understand?"
Li Bingruo nodded with understanding: "I understand. What Li Qing means is that the Southern Expedition is the Southern Expedition, and the decisive battle is the decisive battle. The two cannot be confused. The Southern Expedition can start at any time, but the strategic decisive battle must wait until the rebels are ready. The real arrival will not come until the division fleet is destroyed, right?"
Li Jiangyao responded with a smile: "I think so."
"How long do you estimate this war will take?" Li Bing asked: "In other words, how long will it take to completely eliminate Li Wei and Lao Jianhua."
Li Jiangyao said: "War is a common thing between the enemy and ourselves. One is ebbing and the other is escalating, and the situation is back and forth. It is difficult to judge the length of the war based on the situation of one side alone. In my opinion, we must be prepared for at least two to three more years of fighting. Prepare."
Li Bing couldn't help frowning when he heard this: "How long will it take? Yin Chengyi told me a few days ago that he is confident that the problem will be completely solved within a year."
Li Jiangyao smiled lightly: "I wonder why Governor Yin is so confident?"
"Confidence comes from you frontline soldiers." Li Bing said frankly: "The main force of the Phoenix Legion is more than 300,000, all of which are strong troops capable of fighting. In addition, the three legions of Suzaku, Qinglong, and Xuanwu have also fought for a long time in the past, and their experience Rich. On the other hand, the Jiangnan rebels were mostly newly recruited soldiers with low morale, insufficient training, and far fewer numbers than the imperial court. According to Yin Chengyi, as long as each legion can successfully break through the Dajiang defense line, Li Jianlao Jianhuabao Yuchun and his ilk will only If you can't help it, just take it."
Li Jiangyao smiled: "That's right. Four legions and six to seven million people. Just spitting can drown the rebels."
Li Bing heard the sarcasm in his words and frowned dissatisfied. However, he still asked seriously: "Is there anything wrong?"
"There are not many inappropriate things, only three." Li Jiangyao said calmly: "The first is a boat, the second is a boat, and the third is still a boat."
"Ship?" Li Bing said blankly: "Are you trying to play a riddle with me? What's wrong with the boat?"
Li Jiangyao smiled and said: "Your Majesty, don't worry. The three ships I mentioned are troop transport ships, grain transport ships and combat ships. If warships cannot defeat each other, troop transport ships will not be able to organize large-scale crossings of the river. Even if If the troops are sent over sneakily and by luck, the subsequent supplies will also be intercepted by the enemy. By then, let alone a war, the enemy's retreat will be cut off."
Li Bing was a little confused: "When the main army goes over, can't they attack the city and seize the enemy's food and grass?"
"Once the enemy sees that there is a problem with the imperial army's supply line, all he needs to do is to fortify the wall and clear the country, and it will be enough to kill us." Li Jiangyao smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Bao Yuchun is a veteran who is good at fighting. If he wanted to do this, it would be very simple. . And the hundreds of thousands of troops without sufficient material support will collapse within a few days. Does your Majesty want us to be like the Turks and horse thieves, plundering the people in the south of the Yangtze River to supplement their own needs?"
Li Bing waved his hand quickly: "That won't work. Harming the people will cause them to lose their support, causing more people to turn to the rebels."
"So, the key issue is still the ship," Li Jiangyao explained: "Or to be more accurate, it is the control of the river. Only by absolutely controlling the waterways of the river can we discuss the issue of a comprehensive decisive battle."
Li Bing thought for a moment and nodded: "Well, what you said makes sense. It seems that Yin Chengyi has simplified the problem. Just sending the main army across the river cannot really solve the problem."
Li Jiangyao said: "We are now competing with the rebels to see who is faster. The imperial court must be faster than the speed of shipbuilding and team formation, while the rebels must be faster than the speed of recruiting and training. Both sides must accumulate strength and synchronize. Competition. Therefore, I will say that the war may last another two to three years. This is the reason."
Li Bing was convinced: "Indeed. When our fleet begins to take shape and can compete with the enemy for control of the river, and the rebel recruits are also well-trained, the gap between the two sides will be relatively narrowed, and the difficulty of victory will gradually increase. You I agree with this judgment and must be prepared for the long term.”
"Of course, we can't wait blindly." Li Jiangyao said: "Before the decisive battle comes, the correct way is to continuously send troops across the river to harass the enemy, making the enemy uneasy and slowing down their preparations for war. You see, Didn’t the Japanese pirates come and invade our rear at this time? It means that Lao Jianhua and Bao Yuchun also thought of the same strategy."
Hearing this, Li Bing suddenly realized: "That's right! The Japanese pirates have come sooner or later, but they invaded in large numbers at this time. They clearly intend to cause trouble for us. I'm afraid it's just as you said, it's the helper Bao Yuchun found. Their navy has been here for a long time Fighting in Kuohai, I have dealt with many Japanese pirates."
Li Jiangyao smiled faintly: "When our Xinjiang Army fought against the Japanese pirates who attacked Donghai County and Langya County, some adults in the court were very dissatisfied with this. I don't know if they are really confused or just pretending to be confused."
As soon as these words came out, Li Bing's heart suddenly tightened: he had previously suggested that the newly recruited soldiers should be used to resist the Japanese bandits, and later accused the Zhenjiang Army of arbitrarily deploying troops to fight against the Japanese bandits. Wasn't it Shangshu Zuopu who shot Wei Zixuan and Da Governor Yin Chengyi?
Is there something wrong with the two of them?
