Li Yanxian stood in the restaurant and said to the generals who were preparing to eat: "In the next few days, everyone must concentrate on discussing the war. No drinking is allowed. Make an exception tonight, half a bottle per person, no more drinks. Tomorrow at Chen time, we will be in the official hall on time Assemble in front, no one is allowed to be late! If there is any violation, military law will be dealt with!"
The generals promised, and no one dared to make a loud noise.
After looking at everyone, Li Yanxian said: "Okay, let's eat! Everyone, please obey the order and don't cause trouble!"
Today's meal was very good. The food includes large pieces of braised pork, stewed tofu, scrambled eggs, and various vegetables. The last soups include beef meatball soup, seaweed and egg soup, and fish head and tofu soup.
Zhang Chi bought a piece of meat, a bowl of tofu, a scrambled egg with leek, a cold toon sprout, and a beef meatball soup. He took the plate to a corner where there were few people and enjoyed it quietly. Not long after, Chi Yuping took a plate and sat across from Zhang Chi. Before the two of them took a few bites, Lu Yuandeng and Shao Yun came over with plates.
Sitting down, Shao Yun said, "Why are you sitting in the corner? It's not as lively as other places."
Zhang Chi said: "I just like the quietness here. I haven't seen you two for a long time. How are you doing these days?"
Shao Yundao: "It's okay. It's not like when I was in Shaanzhou. There are a lot more rules now, but my life is full. In the past, I drank in big bowls and ate big chunks of meat. Brothers often got together to cheer and drink. Now there are things going on in the military. There are rules for everything, and it’s not as lively as before.”
Lu Yuandeng said: "I still like to be quiet. Life is pretty good now."
Shao Yun smiled and said: "As time goes by, I gradually got used to it. In the past, there was no family in the army. I only cared about military affairs and almost never went home. Now family is family, and military affairs are within the military." It's okay, just get used to it."
Several people laughed together. Not everything in Wang Xiao's hunting army is decided by the commander. Everyone has their own responsibilities. Being an officer is more like a job.
These two knew each other during the rescue of Shaanzhou and had a good relationship. Later, Lu Yuandeng took command of Cao Zhiyan's former army, and Shao Yun took command of Xie Linong's right army, and they rarely met each other. This time we went to Luoyang for a meeting, just to catch up on old times.
After taking a few bites, Shao Yun said: "We are reunited after a long separation, how can we not have wine? Come on, let's get our own wine!"
The other three people said yes and went to get their own drinks.
There is a prohibition on alcohol in Wang Xiaolie's army. Unless permitted, drinking is not allowed in the army. Over time, some people who were not addicted to alcohol, such as Zhang Chi and Chi Yuping, gradually gave up drinking. As for Lu Yuandeng, who was originally a monk, he did not abstain from drinking, but he usually did not drink.
After bringing the wine, the four of them said, "Let's have a cup of reunion after a long separation!"
Each held a cup and drank it all in one gulp.
After drinking and eating, several people sat and chatted in the restaurant.
Lu Yuandeng said: "I heard that tens of thousands of troops came from Balisu. You are on the west road. The pressure this time is really not small."
Zhang Chi said: "There is a Jin army of 50,000 to 60,000 in Shaanxi, and Privy Zhang is in front. How many people can come from the Jin army? It is said to be one hundred thousand, but it is just a bluff. And most of them are from Fuzhou Zhe Keqiu and Yan'an Zheng Zhengjian. . Their number, I don’t know how much discount will be given.”
Shao Yun said: "Twenty to thirty thousand Jin troops should not be underestimated. In the past two years, only thirty to forty thousand Jin troops went south, and the officials had to go to the sea to escape. Although we have tens of thousands of people, we are smaller than the troops around the officials. How much stronger can it be?”
Chi Yuping said: "How many generals from previous years are left among the officials? Although the Jin army is brave, there is no need to be afraid of them."
Zhang Chi nodded in agreement. Said: "I have fought against the Jin Army several times in the past few years. I am not bragging, but I have never lost to them. This Bali Su was blocked by us at Jingmen back then. After several fierce battles, there was no way we could do it. We can only find other ways. They stole countless gold and silver treasures and used them as our military expenses."
Lu Yuandeng said: "I often hear people mention the Battle of Jingmen. It's a pity that we didn't participate!"
Chi Yuping said: "Don't be anxious, won't there be a chance this time?"
Shao Yun sighed after hearing this: "We are on the east road, and it is Liu Yu's army that is coming, not the Jin army."
Zhang Chi smiled: "What's the rush? There are still three thousand gold troops from Taiyuan Prefecture."
A few people were chatting and laughing. When they saw most people starting to leave, they got up to wash the dishes.
In Houya, Wang Xiaolie held a banquet to entertain Shao Ling and Niu Gao, who had reunited after a long separation, as well as Chen Yuyi, who came from Xiangyang.
After drinking for three rounds, Wang Ruohai said to Chen Yuyi: "The counselor is from Luoyang. Have you gone home to have a look?"
Chen Yuyi shook his head: "When we entered the city, it was full of devastation. I grew up in Luoyang and almost didn't recognize it. The houses in my area have long since collapsed, and many places have become farmland. What's the point of looking at it?"
Niu Gao said: "Zhi Niang, this thousand-year-old city has been transformed into this by the Jinren! I am from Lushan. Since I was a child, when I talked about the big city, I always said it was Luoyang City, Xijing. Now that I am here, I didn't expect it. It’s just broken bricks and broken tiles, which is really unlucky!”
Speaking of this, several people shook their heads and sighed.
Wang Xiaolie said: "Let's not talk about these things. Luoyang is ruined, we will rebuild it. Counselor Chen came here just for this matter. The most important thing now is to deal with the enemy troops from Shaanxi and Kaifeng Prefecture. This recruitment The various commanders and staff came to Luoyang to discuss this matter precisely for this matter."
After hearing this, Niu Gao said to Shao Ling: "They say that a hundred thousand troops from Shaanxi are coming from Ba Lisu. Is this really true?"
Shao Ling smiled and shook his head: "There are not even 100,000 Jin troops in the whole of Shaanxi, it's just rumors. Balisu brought more than 20,000 Jin troops eastward in total, and including Zhe Keqiu and Zheng Jianchong's troops, the number was less than 100,000. This time it was a good fight, but not as powerful as the one passed down.”
Niu Gao said: "I think so. With a hundred thousand gold army, the Jurchens don't want any other place."
Wang Xiaolie said: "Yes, the current Jin army, unless it sends out an army that will overwhelm the country, it will be difficult to gather an army of 100,000. In the past two years, the grasslands in the north have not been peaceful, and a large part of the Jin army must be placed in the north. They cannot deal with us with all their strength. This time the Jin army came to attack Luoyang, and I saw that the troops they sent out were all under Nianhan. Wushu did not send troops. It seems that for the Jurchens, Nianhan still values this place."
As more intelligence has been collected in the past two years, Wang Xiaolie has become more and more aware of the Jin Army's situation.
Yin Shuke in Taiyuan and Ba Lisu in Shaanxi are brothers, and they are both under Nianhan. The two of them sent out troops, but Wu Shu did not move. It was obvious that the Nianhan clan was unwilling to suffer defeat in Luoyang. Moreover, the Tianding Pass in the north of Luoyang is the gateway to the east of the Central Plains. Once Wang Xiaolie secures Luoyang, he will inevitably occupy these surrounding areas and pose a threat to Hedong Road. Nianhan regarded Hedong Road as his own forbidden area, so naturally he would not allow it.
"The First Clan"
Wang Ruohai said: "Yes, this time the Nianhan clan sent troops, together with Liu Yu of Daming Prefecture, with the intention of retaking Henan Prefecture and weakening or even annihilating our strength. If we hold on, what will happen to the Jin Army and Liu Yu They are all major blows. If we cannot hold on, Liu Yu can take back Henan Prefecture, or even go south to threaten us in Xiangyang and Dengzhou. In this way, the Hedong Road in Nianhan will no longer be a threat."
After hearing this, Niu Gao and Shao Ling laughed together. Said: "The Jin people only sent out 20,000 soldiers, and Liu Yu only sent out 50,000 soldiers. How dare you think like this!"
Wang Xiaolie said: "You can still think about it. How can people not have dreams? However, they can only think about it. We have cannons to defend the city and the number of troops is sufficient. The Jin Army and Liu Yu actually have no ability to capture anything. A city. Our goal in this battle is not to defend Luoyang and repel the enemy, but to destroy the invading enemy! Through this battle, the Jin Army and Liu Yu must get to know us again, and we must also get to know each other again. they themselves!"
After saying that, Wang Xiaolie felt a surge of pride rising in his chest. Yes, if you can't wipe out all the 100,000-strong army facing the invading 20,000-strong Golden Army, how can it be considered a victory? As for the other puppet troops such as Liu Yu, they were actually just making up the numbers.
