Aspiring to the Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 63
Qingni Ridge!
As the only way for Qinlong to enter Shu in ancient times, Qingniling is known as "the barrier of Qinlong and the throat of Bashu".

This is what Li Bai said in the poem "The Way of Shu is Difficult", "The green mud and the pan, and the rocky hills are folded ninefold in one hundred steps".

The Shu army Li Tinggui sat on the rock washed by the rain, looking down at the mountain road, with a hint of anxiety in his eyes.

Li Tinggui served Meng Zhixiang in Taiyuan of the Later Tang Dynasty since he was a child. In the third year of Tongguang, Meng Zhixiang was ordered to send troops to destroy the former Shu.In the first year of Yingshun, Meng Zhixiang established himself as emperor and established Houshu. Li Tinggui was also awarded a military post and became the chief guard of Prince Meng Chang.He assisted Meng Chang in removing Li Renhan, the first general of Shu, who was the most powerful.

It is also because of this relationship that Meng Chang trusts Li Tinggui. He is one of the few old generals of the previous dynasty who has not been liquidated, and one of the few capable generals in the state of Shu today.

Although he was defeated by Wang Jing in history, he also gained advantages in many battles, causing Wang Jing and Xiang Xun to suffer greatly.

Losing to Wang Jing is not necessarily because of his lack of ability, but the gap between Houzhou and Houshu.

At this moment, he and Gao Yancuo were hiding in the iron mountain of Qingniling.

There are only a few roads out of Shu, Chencang Road, Qishan Road, Baoxie Road, and Meridian Road.

Qingniling is located in the middle and rear section of Chencang Road.

The Zhou army went out of Dasanguan and entered Fengzhou along the upper reaches of the Jialing River, taking Chencang Road.

If Li Tinggui wanted to save Chengzhou and Jiezhou, he should take the old road of Zhuge Liang's northern expedition to Qishan, from Lueyang along the Baishui River, to reach Chengzhou and Jiezhou.

Li Tinggui did not appear in Qishan Road, but the soldiers were hidden in Chencang Road, which undoubtedly confirmed Luo Youdu's speculation.

From the beginning, Li Tinggui had no intention of being passive defense.

His target was Fengzhou, where the army was weak.

As the central general stationed in Chengdu, he is well aware of the internal situation of the Shu Kingdom, and fighting a protracted war is like suicide for the current Shu Kingdom.

A quick decision is the only option.

Suddenly, Li Tinggui stood up from the big rock, and as far as his eyes could see, a group of more than ten people were walking up the mountain.

The first person was his friend Gao Yanyu.

"Brother Gao!"

Li Tinggui walked quickly, but because the mountain road was difficult and after the rain, he slipped while walking.

"Be careful!" Gao Yanchou whispered when he saw this.

Li Tinggui stood firm and said with a smile: "It's okay, I can't help you with this mountain road!"

He is not a native of Shu, but after entering Shu, he knows how to move troops in Shu, focusing on mountain warfare, and has specially practiced the method of climbing and descending mountains.

"How is it?"

Li Tinggui looked at the more than ten people in ragged clothes behind Gao Yanjue, and said with a heavy expression: "Only these people come back?"

Gao Yanchou pointed at a small school and sighed, "Let Chang Yi speak."

Chang Yi licked his chapped lips and said: "We have a group of 30 people, with three woodcutters, we bypassed Fengzhou from Fenghuang Mountain, and arrived at Huanghua Valley four days ago. We have already detected the movement of Zhou Jun's grain and grass, They left Dasan Pass eleven days ago, and now they have almost passed through Weiwu City, and will arrive in Fengzhou in about five days."

Li Tinggui said silently: "So, we have no chance to bypass Fengzhou and directly cut off their food supply."

Changyi shook his head and said, "It's too difficult. The road is too dangerous. Wherever we go, there are trails walked by wild beasts, which are not suitable for the army to walk. The 30 of us, led by a woodcutter who is familiar with the terrain, broke 11 people, including a woodcutter. When we came back, we lost nine of them. The subordinates selected all the mountain masters. If we really want to change the army, even if we don’t count the loss, there is not enough time. When we go around Fengzhou , Zhou Jun’s grain team is about to enter Fengzhou.”

Li Tinggui no longer hesitated, and said: "Then attack the enemy and save it! I can't wait, wait any longer, if Wang Jing and Han Lingkun of Chengzhou and Jiezhou find out that we have not reinforced Erzhou, they will definitely understand our intentions. Unlike Luo Youdu, both of them are veterans with rich experience. Once they react and send troops to help Fengzhou, we will lose all our efforts."

Gao Yanhu nodded and said: "Then I will stop them from transporting the grain troops. After Luo Youdu sends troops and horses to rescue them, Brother Li will block them in Chencang Road from the rear. We are not in a hurry to eat them. Lots of soldiers and horses to support.”

"Okay! Let's do it like this! After three more days, when Zhou Jun's grain transport team has nowhere to retreat, look for opportunities to send troops. I not only want Fengzhou, but also their grain. Since they have the guts to invade our country Shu, I want them to come and go."

Li Tinggyu made the final decision.

Li Tinggui's secret post had already detected the situation in Fengzhou.

Fengzhou Luo Youdu was ignorant of military affairs, and entrusted the city defense to an unknown young general. He brought Zhang Jianxiong, Yang Yuan, and Zhao Dian with rich combat experience in the Cuihong Building to drink flower wine, linger, and recite a few poems from time to time.

In this situation, Li Tinggui has seen too much.

The object of his own allegiance is this kind of person, the emperor of Shu, Meng Chang, who prides himself on being elegant and elegant.

The first sentence I learned of Zhou Bing's attack was actually "Damn thieves, defeat my poetic nature."

The military environment was harsh, and Luo Youdu, a literati who was good at intoxicating life and dreaming of death, suffered for several months in the wilderness.After finally coming to the town and venting, it is normal.

But Li Tinggui was not too careless because of this. Luo Youdu may not understand military affairs and is a fool.But Zhang Jianxiong and Yang Yuan are both famous generals, especially Zhang Jianxiong.

After the Battle of Gaoping that year, the Khitan rescued the Northern Han Dynasty and met the Zhou Army in Xinkou.

The Khitan pursued the victory and wanted to defeat the Zhou army in one fell swoop.

Zhang Jianxiong personally broke the back at this critical moment, led a hundred cavalry to attack each other, and directly smashed through the Khitan's thousand cavalry army formation, curbing the momentum of the Khitan, allowing the Zhou army to retreat completely.

Li Tinggui, who is far away in Shu, has heard the name of bravery.

With Zhang Jianxiong and Yang Yuan present, even if many Luo Youdu are dragging their feet, Fengzhou is not easy to fight.

In a siege battle, the defender's advantage is too great.

Therefore, Li Tinggui set his target at Fengzhou, but he did not plan to attack Fengzhou directly, but instead focused on the grain transport team that was escorted to Fengzhou.

If you can bypass Fengzhou City and directly cut off the food route of Zhou Jun, everything will be fine and you will be sure to win.

It's a pity that the Shu Road goes all the way to the end, and it is unrealistic to turn over the mountains and bypass Fengzhou City.

They can only choose to attack Zhou Junliangdao directly.

If Luo Youdu was timid, he would not dare to leave the city.

The food of the army is accepted by them.

Once the Zhou army ran out of food on the front line, the only option was to withdraw.

If it is to support the food team, it is to fight around the point.

They eat as much as they come, and they have the upper hand in terms of strength.

Not afraid of wild battles.

After consuming the troops in Fengzhou City, it would be much easier to attack the city.

(End of this chapter)