Before the sun went down, Li Yanxian arrived outside the gate of Xiangyang City. Wang Xiaolie brought a group of officials to welcome him into the city.
After arriving at the Yamen of the Zhenfu Envoy, after being polite, the unimportant officials left, leaving only a few important people.
Wang Xiaolie said: "Observation has come a long way, and it has been a hard journey. I have prepared some thin wine here to help you catch the wind and wash away the dust. Things are difficult now, so observation should not be dissatisfied with the simplicity. Wait until the northern captives are driven away, then we will drink and have fun. !”
Li Yanxian said: "There is no need to be polite to the governor. At the beginning of the year, Lou Su led an army to surround Shaanzhou, and it was a matter of life and death. It is all thanks to the governor who overcame the difficulties and led the army north for rescue. The soldiers and people of Shaanzhou have always been grateful to the governor."
You should be polite when meeting Wang Xiaolie. Li Yanxian said: "I came here this time to discuss important matters with the governor."
Seeing Li Yanxian's solemn expression, Wang Xiaolie nodded and ordered Chen Qiudao, Chen Yuyi, Wang Ruohai and others to leave first. He and Li Yanxian were the only ones left in the room. Li Yanxian also asked Yuan Deng, Song Yan and others who came with him to leave the room.
Seeing everyone leaving, Li Yanxian said: "I heard that Wu Shu in Liuhe has finished reorganizing his army and is preparing to come west to Luoyang."
Wang Xiaolie said: "I heard about it too. Wu Shu led 35,000 elite cavalry from Liuhe via Suzhou, then through Yingtian Prefecture in Nanjing and Kaifeng Prefecture in Tokyo to Luoyang City. Privy Zhang gathered troops and horses on Shaanxi Road, Wu Shu Xi came to fight in Shaanxi."
Li Yanxian nodded. He said: "When entering Shaanxi from Luoyang, we should go to Shaanzhou. We now have two choices. One is that I send troops from Shaanzhou, Zhenfu from Dengzhou, and Zhai Kan from Yiyang, surround Wushu in Luoyang, and fight decisively with him! One is that I withdraw from Shaanzhou and let Wushu enter Shaanxi."
Wang Xiaolie asked: "How do you want to observe?"
Li Yanxian said decisively: "The governor can send at least 30,000 troops. I can send 20,000 troops. Zhai can also send 10,000 to 20,000 troops. We have 670,000 soldiers and horses, which is almost twice that of Wu Shu. If we plan carefully, we may not have no troops. Chance!"
Wang Xiaolie said nothing. After thinking for a long time, he said: "From my observation, can our army of 70,000 be as powerful as the 35,000 gold cavalry? If not, how many troops are needed? How many cavalry and how many infantry are needed at least?"
Li Yanxian was stunned for a moment. Said: "Seventy thousand against thirty-five thousand, two against one, no matter what, we still have the upper hand!"
Wang Xiaolie said: "How many people were there in Taiyuan back then, including the Taiyuan garrison and the reinforcements that came one after another? How many Jin troops were surrounding Taiyuan Mansion? What was the final result? Observation, with all due respect, fighting is not More than people.”
Hearing Wang Xiaolie say this, Li Yanxian was beyond expectations. After a while, he said: "How many people do you think the governor will need?"
Wang Xiaolie said: "Instead of calculating how many people are needed, it is better to calculate how many people are needed to fight a battle in a big city like Luoyang. Luoyang City has experienced many wars, and the city walls have long been damaged. It is impossible to defend the city. To start a war in Luoyang, it is inevitable Fighting in the field. The Jin army is all cavalry. If we attack with a large army, the Jin army can hold off two groups with a small force, and concentrate the main force to destroy one group, one by one. When we attack in three groups, we cannot count the total strength of all the troops, but the minimum strength. How many soldiers are there on that route? How long can the smallest route last if faced with an attack by the main force of the Jin army? Only if it can not be wiped out and can hold back the main force of the Jin army will it have a chance of winning."
At this point, Wang Xiaolie sighed: "Not to mention, with two against one, we may not win against the Jin Army."
How many people are suitable for the army along the way? This has something to do with the capabilities of the military and the government. Wang Xiaolie estimated that in the several states under his rule, it would be easier to support 30,000 people, but 50,000 people would be a bit difficult, and more than 50,000 people would hurt the local economy.
The Jin army did not consider the consequences of the army on the local area. As long as the local food was enough, they could form a large army. However, Shaanxi can only support no more than 50,000 people all the way now. If there are more than 50,000 people, they will be divided into several groups, and the army can only be united for a short period of time.
Zhang Jun gathered 200,000 people in Shaanxi, which almost exhausted the savings of Sichuan and Shaanxi in the past few years. People in several states were mobilized to transport supplies. It can be said that the money and materials in Sichuan and Shaanxi and the manpower in the Guanzhong area have all been used to the limit.
Li Yanxian has been guarding Shaanzhou and has no idea about the materials needed for the army to attack. However, I still felt convinced when I heard Wang Xiaolie say that if the three armies attacked together, the Jin army could defeat them everywhere. Except for Wang Xiaolie, neither Li Yanxian nor Zhai Xing among the three groups could resist the main attack of the Jin army. In the end, it was Wang Xiaolie who faced Wu Shu alone.
After a while, Li Yanxian said: "Are you just watching Wu Shu come and go freely this time?"
Wang Xiaolie said: "The time has not come yet, so we have to do this. Furthermore, Privy Council Zhang has assembled an army of 200,000 in Guanzhong, and is about to fight the Jin army to the death. This is a battle of large armies, and the Privy Council may not allow us to participate."
Li Yanxian said: "To be honest with the governor, Privy Zhang has this intention now. He gave me a letter a few days ago, saying that if Wushu moves westward, he orders me not to stop him. He will abandon Shaanzhou and retreat to Guozhou first. . Just wait until the Guanzhong War is over, and then send troops to retake Shaanzhou."
Wang Xiaolie was silent for a while. Said: "The Privy Council has this order. Wouldn't it be good to evacuate Shaanzhou first under observation?"
Li Yanxian punched his fist fiercely: "How willing I am! A few years ago when we regained Shaanxi Province, the Jin Army came to attack several times, and how many soldiers died! If it hadn't been for the rescue at the beginning of the year, we would have almost perished with the city! For such a city, I How to give up willingly!"
Wang Xiaolie said: "Observe the city and before the battle in Guanzhong, there will be tens of thousands of troops besieging Shaanzhou!"
Li Yanxian understood that if the Jin army besieged Shaanzhou again this time, Wang Xiaolie might not be able to save him. Zhang Jun may not be willing to march 400 miles east to fight the Jin army and lose the geographical advantage. At that time, how long can I hold on?
Wang Xiaolie said: "Observation, the truth sometimes doesn't sound good. We have been through thick and thin together. Today I will tell the truth. Observation forgives me."
Li Yanxian said: "I came to Xiangyang today just to hear Zhenfu's opinion. If Zhenfu has anything to say, speak directly!"
Wang Xiaolie said: "Since the city of Kaifeng was broken, the Jin army has been moving southward, heading straight into uninhabited land. After last year's battle, the imperial army has been in pieces. Not to mention us, the governors from various places, even the army under Privy Zhang. They are not monolithic. Each army works on its own, and it is full of flaws if they reluctantly send troops together. To be honest, now is not the time for a decisive battle with the Jin Army. I estimate that it will take another two or three years for each army to reorganize their own armies before we can have a battle. force."
Li Yanxian said: "The generals under the Privy Council also said the same thing. But I am always unwilling to give in!"
Wang Xiaolie said: "To be a general, you must not only be able to attack quickly and violently, but also be able to endure unfavorable opportunities. The risk of a decisive battle with the Jin army now is too great. There is no need to win the Guanzhong battle organized by Privy Council Zhang What will happen if they are defeated? How many states and counties can the Shaanxi Five Route Army be able to hold by then? Once Shaanxi is lost, the Jin army will face Sichuan and Shu, and the subsequent war will be even more pessimistic. The war between the two countries should be arranged calmly and carefully. We have the intention of deciding the outcome in a battle. Privy Council Zhang is too impatient this time, so we'd better just watch the battle from the sidelines."
This time Zhang Jun was determined to have his own way, and most of his advisers and generals disagreed. Most people believe that a decisive battle with the Jin army at this time is too hasty. Wang Xiaolie also thought this was a bad time. The internal rectification has not been completed, and there is no certainty of victory.
