Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 452 Heavy Rain
"A little to the left. Yes, a little more to the left."

Fang Zhongyong said to Anaye, who was massaging his shoulders. Fang Zhongyong closed his eyes and rested, thinking about the current military situation in the border town. The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he became.

Tomorrow is the 28th day of the lunar year. According to the "Holiday Order" issued by Brother Ji during the Kaiyuan period, officials of the Tang government will officially have their winter vacation tomorrow, which will last for seven consecutive days.

But the Shuofang Jiedushi Yamen in Lingzhou City clearly had no festive atmosphere. Clerks and border generals were coming in and out, constantly compiling military intelligence from all sides, and the people were so busy that they were dizzy.

"Any news from Hedong?"

Fang Zhongyong asked Feng Changqing who was looking at the large map on the wall.

“There’s no unusual movement.

Li Liangchen, the governor of Yunzhou and the general of Jingbian Army, sent someone to report that the Uighurs were not active in the Zihe area.

He sent out scouts to investigate more than 200 miles to the west, but they did not find any large Uighur army.

Feng Changqing frowned, clasped his fists and bowed to report.

Since taking on the post of Jiedushi of Hedong, Fang Chongyong has not been idle. He has used his power to transfer personnel and fill vacancies.

The former governor of Yunzhou was Gao Xiuyan, who was in the Heyuan Army under the command of the Longyou Jiedushi. This person was not one of them, and was suspected of participating in the Heyuan Army's mutiny that year.

Fang Chongyong was not very reassured about Gao Xiuyan.

So he ignored the opposition and appointed Li Liangchen, the governor of Jimizhou, which was adjacent to the area where the Uighurs were active, as the governor of Yunzhou and the military commander of Jingbian Army.

Li Liangchen was a Tiele, the leader of the Tiele Adie tribe, and was originally the governor of Jitian Prefecture (Kent Province, Mongolia). His real name was Adie Liangchen, but he was later given the surname Li by Jige.

The gameplay of the vassal states is completely different from that of the ordinary states in the Tang Dynasty. The court does not collect taxes, the leaders are hereditary, and they pay tribute to the court regularly. When there is a war, they can send troops to help. Generally, they are used to settle the nomadic tribes that have moved inland, and there is one vassal state for each tribe.

Fang Chongyong kicked Gao Xiuyan to Jiangzhou and appointed him as the governor of Jiangzhou and guarded Longmen Pass. If there was a great chaos in the world, this place would have a very special status, as it was a strategic point between the east and the west.

But now that the Tang Dynasty is not in turmoil, Longmen Pass can't play any role. Guarding Longmen Pass is just a way of fishing all day long. It's hard to say whether this is not a praise in public and a demotion in private.

Anyway, Gao Xiuyan couldn't say anything to object, so he went to Jiangzhou to take up his post obediently.

The governor of Yunzhou and the military envoy of Jingbian Army were things that Li Liangchen had never dared to think about before. In order to repay Ambassador Fang for his kindness, he took his troops to Yunzhou and set up camp near Wuzhou City to help Jingbian Army defend Yunzhou.

Fang Zhongyong's move, in addition to eliminating hidden dangers, was also an opportunity to win over the Tiele tribes and draw a clear line between them and the Huihe people. No matter how the Huihe people played, they could not offer the same price to the Adie tribe as the Tang Dynasty.

The more people from the Nine Tiele Clans were won over to their side, the fewer people the Huihe people could win over. Even if Li Liangchen did nothing all the way, as long as he did not follow the Huihe people, then this trick was used correctly.

Isn't politics all about making your own people more numerous, making your enemies fewer, and then beating them to death?

Li Liangchen was originally a peripheral general of the Shuofang Army (not in the organization), but he suddenly became an important member of the Hedong Army. Naturally, he was humble and obedient and served diligently.

What’s even more interesting is that this transfer did not exceed the authority of Fang Chongyong as the “Hetao Ambassador” at all.

He himself was in charge of two towns and controlled the appointment and dismissal of personnel in the two towns. Now that the generals of the two towns had been exchanged, Fang Zhongyong did not send anyone from the Silver Spear Filial Piety Army into Hedong, so it was not considered a taboo.

Fang Chongyong sent someone to bring an urgent report to Huaqing Palace. After reading it, Ji Ge waved his hand and said: Small matters can be decided by yourself, there is no need to report everything.

In Ji Ge's opinion, as long as Fang Chongyong did not place members of the Silver Spear Filial Piety Army in the towns of Shuofang and Hedong, he would not care no matter what he did.

Gao Shang, who had a broken arm, came back and explained to Brother Ji that General Fang Jie was "unparalleled in loyalty and bravery" and even sent back Prince Yong's handwritten letter without opening it.

In view of this, Fang Zhongyong found it strange. Since Li Liangchen had been completely pulled to his side, it was impossible for him to be an insider for the Huihe people, so why did the Huihe people not make any moves outside Yunzhou?
"General, something is not right now. I just came back from the west of Lingwu and saw only some scattered Huihe cavalry, but not their main force."

Che Guangqian also reported to the other party with a fist salute.

"There are three large grasslands along the east side of the Shuofang River. One is west of Lingzhou, one is north of Shoujiang City, and one is north of Yunzhou.

Could it be that the Huihe people want to break into the Hetao area from Shoujiang City? There are many fortresses and garrisons to the north of Yunzhou, like a copper wall and an iron fortress. Breaking into Yunzhou from the north is courting death!"

Fang Chongyong looked strange as he spoke. It was hard to believe that the Huihe people would be so brainless. The location of the three surrender cities was the essence of the Hetao region. The Shuofang Army had gathered heavy troops here and had been operating for decades!
Moreover, the dense river network here is not suitable for cavalry to make a detour. If the Huihe people use this place as a breakthrough point, it must be said that they are really, well, very imaginative.

Attacking Yunzhou from the north is even more ridiculous. Since the Han Dynasty, successive dynasties have built garrisons and passes here. Entering directly from here is no different from cavalry directly hitting the barricades.

In any case, Fang Chongyong himself would not dare to use troops in this way.

"General Jie, in fact, we may have overlooked one thing."

Che Guangqian lowered her voice and said with a strange look on her face. Even Anaye, who was massaging Fang Zhongyong's shoulders, stopped to listen to what he had to say.

He Changqi scolded impatiently: "If you have something to say, just say it quickly. There are no outsiders here! What a nagging! Fuck!"

He increasingly felt his shortcomings in strategy, and every time he attended a meeting, he felt inexplicably irritated.

Because He Changqi always knew the facts but not the reasons behind them, his IQ took a huge hit.

"General, our defenses to the west and north are now complete. I imagine myself as a Huihe and feel I am invulnerable.

The south is the heartland of the Tang Dynasty, so there is no need to worry about the Uighurs appearing from there.

But on the east side, our defenses were almost nonexistent, and all our forces were deployed on the western defense line.

After all, to the east of Shuofang is Hedong, so it relies on Hedong for defense; to the east of Hedong is Hebei, so it relies on Hebei for defense, and it is not directly adjacent to the Uighurs.

What if, I mean, what if the Huihe people go around Hebei, sneak in from the area where Yunzhou and Guizhou meet, and attack Yunzhou from the east, what should we do?"

Che Guangqian asked back in a low voice.

"Oh no! Huangfu Weiming is going to do something bad!"

Fang Zhongyong stood up suddenly, scaring Anaye behind him!

That's right, the defense line deployed by Fang Zhongyong now seems to be very complete. The commanders of each army have also been inspected, and those who are not trustworthy have been transferred away.

Except for the Weizhou governor who had just been appointed by the court, Xue Song and Fang Chongyong, the military commander of the Hengye Army, who were not convenient to transfer.

And this place is exactly where it borders Hebei Province.

It not only connects with Hebei Province, but also with the grasslands in the north.

If the Uighurs entered Weizhou from Guizhou, Xue Song would turn a blind eye and let the Uighurs pass through the border, allowing the Uighurs to stab the Tang army in Yunzhou from behind.

The consequences could be disastrous!

"Quick, quick, quick! Quickly notify Li Liangchen to transfer troops to Niupi Pass at the foot of Baideng Mountain to strengthen the defense of Niupi Pass!
The Huihe people are going to attack Yunzhou City from Niupi Pass!"

Fang Zhongyong, who is usually as steady as an old dog, rarely shows an anxious look on his face.

In order to guard against the Uighurs, Yunzhou's military forces were mobilized to Wuzhou City and Jingbian Army Station west of Yunzhong City (the capital of Yunzhou), leaving the eastern part of the city with few troops.

"Under your command, I will leave right away!"

Feng Changqing hurriedly clasped his fists and saluted. Fang Zhongyong wrote him an urgent military order without saying anything. Feng Changqing strode out of the study with quick steps.

After the door was pushed open, a cold wind blew in from outside, and everyone couldn't help but shrink their necks.

I felt a chill running down my spine. …

New Year's Eve is the most lively time for the Chinese people to celebrate the New Year. Every household is decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations. After a hard life on weekdays, they must celebrate and relax during the New Year.

However, in the dark night, a cavalry team passed through Yongxing County, Hebei. Their team was very long and mighty, and it was impossible to see the end of it. They passed through Yongxing County, but did not enter.

Like a ghost, the team moved westward along the Sanggan River, and it was a long time before it completely disappeared from sight.

Some soldiers stationed on the city wall of Yongxing County saw dark shadows swaying in the distance, coming from the north and heading west. The number of them was astonishing and unbelievable.

These people reported the matter to the county magistrate, but the magistrate said that it was their eyesight that was blurry and asked them to go back and rest.

This mysterious team continued to move forward, and after passing the Yokono army’s base, it turned back north along the mountain road, bypassing a series of Tang army garrisons at the border of Yunzhou in the south and Weizhou in the north, and detoured to Niupi Pass.

Niupi Pass is named after Niupi Ridge and is the last pass east of Yunzhong City.

The Tang army guarding Niupi Pass had only a hundred men, and was set up to catch bandits. After all, the area east of Niupi Pass was the defense zone of Hebei, and if the grassland people wanted to fight here, they had to pass through several states actually controlled by the Tang Dynasty.

If there was any news, it would have come long ago. The warning time is measured in days.

Since Emperor Taizong laid the foundation of the Tang Dynasty, few foreign tribes have been able to attack the territory actually controlled by the Tang Dynasty. Therefore, many originally very important passes became "insignificant" or even abandoned because of the northward shift of the battle line.

That's what Niupiguan is like.

After the front line in Hebei was stabilized, Niupi Pass became like a "rubber stamp", and it made little difference whether it was there or not.

The incident happened suddenly. Before the defenders in Niupi Pass could even issue a warning, they were slaughtered by unknown enemies who climbed up the city wall with their bare hands.

After succeeding, this mysterious army continued to advance westwards, passed by the foot of Baideng Mountain, and surrounded Yunzhong City in a lightning speed!
Li Liangchen, the governor of Yunzhou, ordered his eldest son Li Guangzhen to take a few cronies to Lingzhou to seek help from Fang Chongyong. He also sent his personal soldiers to Shuozhou to seek help from Tian Chengsi, the governor of Shuozhou and military envoy of Datong Army. At the same time, he stayed in Yunzhong City, organizing resistance and actively defending the city.

It was several days later that Fang Chongyong learned that Yunzhong was besieged by the Uighurs.

……

"The Huihe people besieged Yunzhong?"

After hearing Feng Changqing's report, Fang Chongyong asked back with a look of horror.

The faces of all the generals in the hall changed drastically.

Feng Changqing clasped his fists and reported, "General, I just arrived in Yunzhong and before I could enter the city, I saw torches outside the city like clouds, covering the sky and the earth. The Huihe people are using simple ladders to attack the city! I did not deliver the general's military order to Li Liangchen, please punish me!"

Feng Changqing returned Fang Chongyong's military order with a look of regret.

His horse riding speed was not slow, but when he arrived in Yunzhou, things were still not going well.

Everything turned out just as Che Guangqian said, the Huihe people entered from the defense zone in Hebei. This was a blind spot in everyone's thinking.

The Uighurs attacked Yunzhong from the east!

Li Liangchen could not say that he did not do his best, and even brought his own troops to Yunzhou. But he could not have imagined that Hebei would deliberately let the Huihe people pass through the border!

The most frightening thing on a battlefield is someone stabbing you in the back!

Especially at this critical juncture.

Fang Chongyong would never believe that the Uighurs had no collusion with the Tang army in Hebei!

But what good does this matter bring to Huangfu Weiming?

Fang Chongyong was a little confused.

"General, Li Liangchen's son Li Guangxun wants to see you! He's already outside the lobby!"

At this moment, a personal soldier came in hurriedly and reported loudly.

"Please!"

Fang Chongyong stood up and walked forward. Soon, a boy who was still childish in his teens knelt down and kowtowed to Fang Chongyong.

"General, Yunzhong is surrounded and our lives are at risk. Please send troops to rescue us as soon as possible, or something unexpected may happen!"

The child knelt on the ground and cried bitterly, which was so heartbreaking that anyone who heard or saw it would cry.

"General, the current situation is unclear. Moreover, Lingzhou is hundreds of miles away from Yunzhou. It is too late to send reinforcements now.

Why not order Tian Chengsi of Mayi to lead the Datong Army to relieve the siege of Yunzhou? At the same time, order Xue Song, the governor of Weizhou, to come to Lingzhou on official business. If he does not come, directly dismiss him and send someone to take over the Hengye Army! "

Che Guangqian hurriedly stepped forward to stop Fang Zhongyong who was about to give an order.

The army of Lingzhou cannot move lightly.

Not to mention the possibility of being robbed by the Uighurs, if the long-distance raid fails, the situation in Shuofang and Hedong may collapse!

I have to say that Che Guangqian's idea is reliable.

Li Guangyan was indeed pitiful, and Li Liangchen was indeed in danger. But for a commander, nothing is unsacrificable in order to win.

This is the essence of "a kind army cannot be commanded by a kind heart"

"You go down and rest first. This commander will definitely send troops to rescue Yunzhou."

Fang Chongyong walked forward, helped Li Guangyan up and said.

After Li Guangyan was taken away by his personal soldiers to rest, Fang Zhongyong looked around at everyone and asked, "What do you think of what General Che said?"

"General, a thousand-mile raid will surely defeat the general. I am one man and one horse, and can travel hundreds of miles a day. It will take five days to go to Yunzhong and back. Moreover, some mountain roads are rugged and difficult to pass, which is not convenient for cavalry to pass.

If we go to Yunzhong with too few people, we will not be able to defeat the Huihe people; if we go with too many people, it will take at least ten days or half a month to arrive.

If we forcefully relieve Yunzhou, the Huihe people will surround Lingzhou again, and we will have to turn back. Wouldn't that be exhausting?

This style of play is too passive."

Feng Changqing also tried to persuade Fang Chongyong.

All the generals present nodded silently, obviously sharing the same idea as Che Guangqian and Feng Changqing.

"Li Liangchen was in trouble, and we didn't save him. Who will save us if we are in trouble someday?

If you don't dare to fight, you will lose before you even start.

"Pass on my military order. Three thousand silver spear Xiaojie soldiers will set out immediately. This general will personally lead the troops to rescue Yunzhong!"

Fang Zhongyong waved his hand and rejected the suggestions of Che Guangqian and others.

(End of this chapter)