On Liu Chengyou's side, after the accounts were settled, he asked Guo Rong to lead him around the Han camp, looking around and listening to Guo Rong's introduction.
After wandering around for an hour, I finally walked around the south camp and stood on a corridor built at a height of two feet at the front of the camp wall. From a high position, I pointed at the tent behind me and sighed with emotion: " This fortress is so...big!"
"Since the army came to the capital of Ye, the most important thing our army has done is to set up camps and build fences. It took hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians two months of work to achieve this result." Guo Rong said.
The camp behind them has a huge layout, the camps are connected and solemn, like a ferocious giant beast, staring at Yuancheng with eagerness. Liu Chengyou said: "No matter how Gao Linggong plays, this camp is still well built."
Guo Rong was a little unsure of what Liu Chengyou meant by his words. He was joking or something else, and echoed: "Commander Gao Du is young and prudent. Among the generals in the world, there are not many who can surpass him in terms of his ability to control troops."
"only--"
"Just what?" Liu Chengyou glanced at Guo Rong.
"With Marshal Gao Du's tactics, weakening the enemy's morale and consuming their food, we can naturally capture Yedu with minimal damage to our troops." Guo Rong sighed and said, "However, this is a huge burden for the imperial court. . In the two months of fierce fighting, money and food were wasted, and the damage to the prefectures and counties was even more serious. Too many men were recruited, and too much wealth was gathered. As a result, many people in Hebei froze and starved to death during the autumn harvest. Especially in Wei The reason is so great. Your Highness may have noticed when you came here that the people's livelihood is in decline, people's hearts are in turmoil, and bandits are everywhere. It's not much better than when the Khitan invaded."
"If the world is at peace, the country is powerful, and the treasury is full, then this is all." Guo Rong continued: "But with the current situation of the Han Dynasty, it is best to fight slowly, or to decide quickly."
"I know what you said!" After Guo Rong said this, the atmosphere became a little tense. Liu Chengyou raised his head and let the cold autumn wind hit his face. He looked at the towering city wall of Yedu, clenched his fists and said: " The officials just wanted to inspect the situation in the city, fearing that there might be a rebellion, so they marched personally to capture the city and bind the thieves, to restore peace to the Han Dynasty and peace to the people!"
Hearing this, the concentration on Guo Rong's face dissipated a lot, and he looked at Liu Chengyou: "If the officials had listened to His Highness's suggestion from the beginning and brought the heroes in person, the war in Yedu would not have been dragged on until now!"
Liu Chengyou raised his eyebrows and raised his hand to stop him: "Don't say such remarks again!"
"Yes!" Guo Rong also realized that he was talking nonsense.
"I heard that the Yan army in the city caused great trouble to the army?" Pointing to the south city of Yedu, Liu Chengyou naturally changed the subject.
"The Yan army in the city was stationed in Yedu when the Khitan retreated to the north. It only had about 2,000 people, but it was very powerful. The commander was named Zhang Lian. The previous attack on the city failed, except for the unfavorable effects of God. It was this man who led the crowd to drive down our soldiers who climbed the city!" Guo Rong explained.
"Is it very powerful?" Liu Chengyou posed as if he was pondering a question. After thinking for a while, he pointed to the north and asked, "Compared to the Yan army in the Battle of Luancheng, how strong is it?"
"It's more than a step stronger. This Yan army has a particularly strong will to fight!" Guo Rong gave an answer.
Hearing this, Liu Chengyou didn't have any worries on his expression. He pondered for a while, as if he was asking himself: "The thieves are in danger day by day. These Yan troops are not willing to be buried with Du Chongwei..."
Guo Rong immediately heard something from Liu Chengyou's words and asked: "Your Highness, is he going to do something wrong?"
"The emperor has arrived in person. Next, we must conquer Yedu in one battle without any further delay!" Liu Chengyou raised his index finger with a stern expression: "This matter can be manipulated! There are some reorganized soldiers in the Forbidden Army. The Yan people!"
"We have to get in touch with the Yan soldiers in the city." Guo Rong said.
Liu Chengyou looked at him: "I'll leave this matter to you!"
Guo Rong also simply accepted the job given by Liu Chengyou.
Gently holding on to the railing, Liu Chengyou suddenly pointed at the two young men waiting below and asked curiously: "I just noticed those two people, they are quite heroic and have a strong aura about them. Who are they?"
Guo Rong followed Liu Chengyou's gaze, then chuckled and replied: "One of these two people is named Ma Renyu and the other is Pan Mei. They came to join the army when the general arrived in Chanzhou to recruit troops. Ma Renyu has amazing physical strength and bravery. Pan Mei is good at shooting, smart, honest, and has seen a lot of people. They are all young talents, and they have always been around to train them. When he saved Murong in Lujiadian... Murong Shijun relied on these two to protect each other to the death. .”
Hearing these two names, Liu Chengyou couldn't help but look at the two young men below a few more times, then turned back to face Guo Rong with a strange look. Guo Rong was puzzled and asked, "Your Highness, do you have any questions?"
"Listening to what you said, I'm so happy to see Hunter Xin that I want to keep it for myself." Liu Chengyou said lightly.
Hearing this, Guo Rong was a little surprised and looked at Liu Chengyou, trying to tell whether he was serious.
However, Liu Chengyou quickly withdrew his gaze and waved his hand: "Since he is a talented person, you should train him well. If he can become a general in the future and serve the country, it will be a good story."
"yes!"
The cold wind blew too much, and I felt my nose was wet. I wiped it with my hand and said hello to go back to the tent. As for the other four military camps, I have no intention of visiting them for the time being.
While returning to his account, he bumped into Gao Xingzhou, and Liu Chengyou stepped forward and said hello: "Gao Linggong!"
"Don't take it seriously!" Liu Chengyou was very polite, and Gao Xingzhou was even more polite: "I will see His Highness the King of Zhou at the end of the day!"
"Your Majesty, you are exempt from the courtesy!" Liu Chengyou stretched out his hand and raised it.
Looking at Gao Xingzhou, he was really old, with mottled beard and hair, an old look on his face, and his expression could not hide his fatigue. Feeling something in his heart, he cupped his hands and said, "If you have worked so hard for the country, I really admire you greatly!"
“The general admires His Highness’s broadmindedness!”
He was stunned by what he said. How could the old man's compliments be spoken so smoothly? In his dazed state, Gao Xingzhou solemnly saluted Liu Chengyou: "I'd like to thank you, Your Highness, for speaking up!"
Liu Chengyou reacted and waved his hand grandly: "Your Majesty, there is no need to do this. I just said something fair out of public interest, that's all!"
No matter what Liu Chengyou said, it was obvious that Gao Xingzhou kept this kindness in his heart.
That night, dozens of people from Yuancheng came out of the city and surrendered to the Han camp, causing a riot both above and below the city. At the same time, some people came out and some people came in secretly...
The next day, at dawn, Liu Zhiyuan summoned the senior generals of the army to hold a military meeting in the imperial tent. Counting the accompanying troops, there were nearly 100,000 imperial troops at the front and rear. In addition to the local troops assisting in the battle, there were nearly a hundred generals, and the spacious imperial tent was packed to the brim.
After the normal meeting, the generals discovered that Liu Zhiyuan did not speak, but looked at Murong Yanchao. Suddenly, everyone's attention was attracted.
Murong Yanchao stood motionless, his dark pockmarked face changed for a while under the numerous gazes, he took a deep breath, suddenly walked up to Gao Xingzhou, and knelt down simply: "Gao Dushuai, I have never been able to do anything before. I apologize to you for speaking arrogantly!"
After saying that, he closed his face and buried his head.
The generals in the tent were all surprised by this scene. As a person involved, Gao Xingzhou was also stunned for a moment, subconsciously glanced at Liu Zhiyuan who was sitting, and then he slowly helped Murong Yanchao up: "General, please Get up, don’t do this, I can’t handle it!”
As people mature with age, Gao Xingzhou certainly knew that this was Liu Zhiyuan's order. Otherwise, with Murong Yanchao's temperament, how could he be so apologetic and apologetic. The emperor gave him such face, how could Gao Xingzhou put on airs. No matter what you think in your heart, you have to do enough on the surface.
After this little episode passed, Liu Zhiyuan started the military discussion. There was no nonsense and he went straight to the point: how to capture Yedu.
The generals were still divided into two opinions.
One is led by Gao Xingzhou. In his opinion, Ye is at the end of its war effort and collapse is imminent. The emperor's visit has also dealt a serious blow to its morale and people's morale. The soldiers' escape from the city last night is clear evidence. We only need to wait a little longer to defeat the enemy without fighting.
The other one, still dominated by Murong Yanchao, is much simpler and cruder, attack! And there are too many people who support this time. There is no need for a hundred thousand troops to be timid when facing Shanchou City, not to mention that if it continues, it will be the beginning of winter!
There is still a dispute between the two parties, but the degree of the dispute is not that intense.
"What day is today?" Liu Zhiyuan asked Su Fengji, who was accompanying him at the camp.
Su Fengji immediately replied: "September 20th!"
"Twenty-five days ago, I will enter Yedu!" Liu Zhiyuan made the final decision and only gave five days. His attitude was already obvious, and he was more in favor of the attack.
Liu Chengyou naturally participated in the military discussion, but he remained silent from beginning to end and did not express any opinions.
