"Master, Mr. Yang wants to see you!"
A frightened personal guard walked into the inn that had been burned by the fire and reported to Zhao Deyan who was reading a book.
The Young Master Yang here is Yang Shanjing, a member of the former Sui royal family and the biological brother of Princess Yicheng.
The Turks dared to carry out a large-scale invasion when the Tang Dynasty was in turmoil, mainly because Jieli Khan could not resist the temptation of Yang Shanjing and the love of Princess Yicheng.
Although the Sui Dynasty fell for a long time, the family wealth is still there.
The Sui Empire's grain hoarding technology was unprecedented. It is said that after the fall of the Sui Dynasty, the surplus grain left in granaries in various places was enough to feed the entire country for 5-60 years.
The Sui Empire was also an awesome country that could unify the Central Plains and win over the surrounding barbarians. But why was it that when Li Shimin ascended the throne, granaries across the country were in crisis and there was a serious food shortage? !
This is actually caused by several factors:
One: After the fall of the Sui Empire, members of the royal family like Yang Shanjing immediately fled to the grasslands with a large amount of food supplies, hoping to rely on these things as a basis for restoration.
Second: In the last years of the Sui Dynasty, warlords fought in chaos, and various rebel armies were bent on seizing power rather than production. Opening granaries and releasing grain is just to compete for the hearts and minds of the people and plunder the strong and strong. The country's grain output can only be exported but not imported, resulting in serious consumption.
Third: Li Shimin's throne was won by the Xuanwumen Incident, and his reputation is not justified. In the early stage, it was not recognized by the Confucian gentry. In addition, at the beginning of Zhenguan, natural and man-made disasters continued, and people were panicked. Every place listened to the propaganda but not the propaganda.
As soon as Yang Shanjing entered the door, he walked straight to the main seat with a dark face, picked up the tea cup and started drinking by himself.
"The Imperial Preceptor has such great official power! It has only been a few years since I came to Turks, and I am already in a high position. It is gratifying! Now everyone knows how to instruct me and let me take care of the logistics. It’s time for transportation!”
With a wave of his hand, Zhao Deyan removed all his personal guards, then fell to his knees with a plop, and said with snot and tears:
"Your Majesty, I am already in my twilight years. I have no heirs and no ambition. Everything I have done is to assist the Crown Prince in restoring the country. My loyalty to the Sui Empire can be learned from time to time!"
Zhao Deyan's sincere attitude made Yang Shanjing, who was still aggrieved just now, suddenly lose his temper.
"Then why did you let me escort the prisoners and supplies back to the grassland? Didn't we just capture the two big cities of Tanzhou and Yanzhou? Besides, Liaoxi City has been besieged for a long time, and sooner or later it will be in the pocket!"
Zhao Deyan picked up the letter on the desk and handed it to Yang Shanjing, and said sincerely:
"Princess Yicheng has written a letter, hoping that you can take this group of refugees back, identify the strong ones on the way, and create the elites that belong to us in the Sui Dynasty. The Turkic tribes are not monolithic, and we are not suitable for long-term residence. Let me see if we can annihilate Wei Xiao through this battle. The cavalry will occupy the entire Tanzhou for the crown prince."
After reading the letter, Yang Shanjing was still a little confused. He helped Zhao Deyan, who was still kneeling on the ground, and said:
"Since the current situation is clear and we will take over the entire Tanzhou, why do we still let this group of refugees run back and forth? Isn't this a waste of food? Besides, attack the city and plunder the land, and let these women and children serve as cannon fodder to consume the enemy's Aren’t supplies better?!”
The corners of Zhao Deyan's eyes trembled, why did he encounter such a stupid master?
"Your Majesty, there are still elite cavalry from the Tang Dynasty led by Wei Xiaojie in Tanzhou. They can come and go freely. If we don't try to annihilate them all, the Turks will not be able to attack Yuyang County with peace of mind."
"We want to restore our country, and if we want the Great Sui Empire to rise again, we must recruit talents and soldiers. If we absorb these elites, give them weapons, and then use their families as cannon fodder, then they will probably have to Rebellion!”
"Besides, our foothold in Tanzhou is not yet stable, and we still need to support some powerful families to check and balance the people, to prevent people from becoming unpopular, secretly colluding with Wei Xiaojie, helping him escape, and letting the duck fly away."
Yang Shanjing seemed to understand, but he didn't seem to understand. He stood up and left without saying anything, leaving Zhao Deyan with a confused look on his face.
"Report! Report to the Imperial Guard that the cavalry led by He from the Hu tribe was defeated by Zheng Jun, the forward of Wei Xiaojie, on the north side of the Hengshan Valley. Wei Xiaojie is slowly advancing towards our army."
"After receiving the military orders from the national division, all the tribes have gathered at the Sandalwood Station in accordance with the requirements of the national division. The three outer lines of defense have been properly deployed, but..."
A spy ran in to report the military situation. Halfway through the report, he started to be coy and didn't dare to say anything further.
"Just what?! If you have anything to say, please tell me. My master will forgive you!"
Zhao Deyan lost his temper all of a sudden. I don't like those who talk half-talk, damn it!
"Master National Advisor, although the tribes gathered around the post station and set up defense lines as required, they complained all over the place that the military advisor made them miss the opportunity to plunder for the sake of those thousands of cavalry. They suspected that the military advisor wanted to monopolize the supplies. , give all the resources to Young Master Yang!"
Zhao Deyan just wanted to test where Wei Xiaojie's main force was at this time, but unexpectedly, a sharp thorn appeared.
"Which tribe complains the loudest?!"
The spy swallowed and replied cautiously:
"Master Huiguo, the Yi Nan of the Xue Yantuo tribe is the most dissatisfied. He even encouraged other tribal leaders to attack directly, annihilating Wei Xiaojie's army and then directly plundering the resources of the entire Tanzhou."
"good very good!"
Zhao Deyan liked these barbarians, who were outspoken and quick-hearted, compared to the intrigues and intrigues in the court. Dealing with Turks is like playing with underage children, you can easily catch them!
Since this Yi man can see that I work for the Sui Empire, he can't keep me.
Instead of letting him stay here to confuse the public and disturb the morale of the army, it would be better to throw him out and fight Wei Xiaojie to the death.
If Yi Nan's elite Xue Yantuo tribe can take this opportunity to defeat Wei Xiaojie's cavalry, they can also cut off Li Shimin's arm. If you follow up with some small tricks, you can still alienate these barbarians who don't know the heights of the world.
Yi Nan went to Jieli Khan again and again to complain, which sometimes gave Zhao Deyan a headache. If Wei Xiaojie can't be defeated even if he dispatches 5,000 elite troops this time, he can take the opportunity to suppress them.
"Come here! Send an order to Yi Nan of the Xue Yantuo tribe to lead five thousand elites under his command to attack the army of Xiaojie in an effort to annihilate the cavalry of Xiaojie in the Hengshan Valley. The remaining tribes strengthen their defenses and increase their guards to prevent Xiaojie from taking the opportunity to escape! "
"In addition, I tell Yi Nan that as long as he can complete the mission of annihilating Wei Xiaojie this time, he will be the first to take the lead. He can choose half of the prisoners and supplies captured by Tanzhou from the Xue Yantuo tribe."
"promise!"
After receiving the order, the guard left happily, thinking that by bringing the good news conveyed by Zhao Deyan, he might be able to get a reward from Yi Nan.
