Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 476 What Must Be Done

The night was as black as ink. The dark clouds in the sky blocked the moon and stars, and it was almost pitch dark on the ground.

Jin Temple, not far to the west of Taiyuan City, was the main area where the Tang army was stationed. However, at this moment, a group of troops quietly left the camp and marched north along the Fen River.

Judging from the marching route, it seems that they want to enter Lanzhou from the west via a small path.

They were like thieves, raising no flags or lighting no torches, and moving silently like ghosts in the darkness.

When they reached the border of Yangqu County, suddenly there was fire all around and countless soldiers and horses surrounded these people!
"Which group are you from? Why did you leave the camp late at night and head north?"

The crowd parted, and Wang Zhongsi walked forward with a spear in his hand, pointing it at the leader of the opposing team and asked.

These soldiers huddled together, back to back, holding short spears and ready to fight. But they were obviously not mentally prepared to fight against Wang Zhongsi's elite soldiers. Their faces only looked frightened, but not ferocious.

"General Wang Jie, this is a part of the Datong Army. I am Tian Chengsi, the military commander of the Datong Army. I am now returning to Shuozhou to guard against a surprise attack by the Huihe people."

Tian Chengsi rode his horse forward and saluted Wang Zhongsi with his fists clasped.

"Return to Shuozhou? General Tian, ​​don't treat me like a three-year-old child! Who gave you the order to return to Shuozhou?"

Wang Zhongsi hung the lance on the saddle and asked with a cold snort.

"General, there are so many elite soldiers gathered near Taiyuan City now that we really don't need the Datong Army. I'd better lead the troops back to Shuozhou to avoid delaying the important affairs of the court. Don't you think this is the truth?"

Tian Chengsi laughed awkwardly, dismounted from his horse, and walked forward to explain to Wang Zhongsi.

"No deployment is allowed without military orders. You are to return to your base immediately. This matter will be forgiven."

Wang Zhongsi shook his head and said that he was unwilling to let Tian Chengsi and his troops leave.

"General Wang Jie, let's be frank. Others may not know the current situation in Taiyuan City, but are you still not aware of it?
The Silver Spear Filial Piety Army is a rebel army. Before, our Datong Army followed Fang Guozhong all the way from Shuozhou. He is your son-in-law and he was not spared. How can we, the lonely ghosts, protect ourselves?

If we continue to stay in Taiyuan, who will report our achievements to us, who will support us, and what if they sell us out on the battlefield?
Please also be considerate of the Hedong frontier troops. The soldiers are not rebelling, but Taiyuan is no longer our stage, and we can no longer perform. Why don't we return to our garrison and guard the area?

The Datong Army is supposed to guard Shuozhou, and Taiyuan doesn’t lack our troops now!"

Tian Chengsi knelt down on one knee and urged Wang Zhongsi earnestly.

"Please show mercy, Marshal Wang Jie!"

The officers and soldiers of the Datong Army around Tian Chengsi immediately knelt on the ground.

"Ugh!"

Wang Zhongsi sighed and rode back to his own army. With the sound of a gong, the troops holding torches slowly retreated to the side, clearing a path.

"Thank you, Marshal Wang Jie!"

Tian Chengsi saluted in the direction of Wang Zhongsi, then rode away. The officers and soldiers of the Datong Army also followed him, heading west towards the valley.

After these people left, Gao Xianzhi stepped forward, clasped his fists and saluted Wang Zhongsi, and asked, "General, how are we going to explain to the Saint if we let Tian Chengsi go?"

"The three armies must not lose their spirit. Tian Chengsi and the Datong army have lost their will to fight again. If you go into battle, would you dare to leave your back to such people? Aren't you afraid that they will ruin the whole thing?"

Wang Zhongsi looked at Gao Xianzhi and asked back.

Gao Xianzhi was speechless. In fact, such an army would be a disaster once it went to the battlefield.

We are all veterans and can see these terrible things clearly.

If you let those people be the vanguard, they will run away and disrupt the main formation. If you let those people be reinforcements, they will only help but not rescue, just stay aside and cheer for both sides.

If we let those people guard the rear, they would run faster than rabbits, and even before the enemy arrived, they would have already left completely.

In the end, everyone was killed!
Rather than letting an army without fighting spirit and morale go into battle and waste food and fodder, it is better to let them go.

At least, they can help the Tang Dynasty to watch over Shuozhou!
"General, after arriving in Taiyuan, I discovered that except for the foreign troops, the original troops stationed here were all in low morale.

Tian Chengsi's desertion as the leader of an organized group was considered a large-scale one. In the past few days, I have captured quite a few scattered deserters.

If this continues, this battle will be difficult to fight!"

Gao Xianzhi expressed his inner worries.

Wang Zhongsi remained silent; he had also noticed these phenomena.

But noticing is one thing, and being able to solve it is another. Human power is limited, and a military commander is not omnipotent, and there are many things he cannot do.

Now the troops originally stationed in Taiyuan City were in low morale, fearing that they would suffer the same fate as the Silver Spear Filial Piety Army. Although the foreign troops from the west were very strong, they were not familiar with the terrain around Taiyuan City, Hedong, and Hebei, and had no experience in fighting the Hebei rebels.

If you know yourself but not your enemy, you have already lost half the battle. How should you fight this battle?
"Let's go back to the Jinci camp."

Wang Zhongsi sighed and waved his hand.

"General, this is not a solution. We must offer generous rewards to boost the morale of the troops!
Otherwise, Hebei will be our burial place!"

Gao Xianzhi quickly knelt down on one knee and begged.

Having fought in the Western Regions for a long time, he knew very well what his soldiers were thinking.

Empty words like serving the king and contributing to the country are enough, and everyone will be happy to listen to them.

What the lower-level soldiers most hope for is sufficient military pay and generous rewards.

This is what motivates them to fight.

What's the point of protecting an emperor who doesn't give rewards?
This is a very real problem.

Especially when the strong army of Taiyuan City gathered, it was easier to have lazy thoughts like "There are so many people anyway, what does it matter if I don't contribute?" Without the sense of oppression brought by the enemy, the soldiers would not have the sense of urgency to survive.

If the rewards are not mentioned at this time, it is easy to imagine what the morale will be like after the battle.

"These are not decided by me, the saint has to speak first."

Wang Zhongsi continued to explain helplessly: "Last time when I passed Chang'an, some soldiers in the army clamored and asked the emperor to open the inner treasury to reward the three armies, but they were forcibly suppressed. What you said is of course correct, but I can't conjure up money, right?"

Gao Xianzhi was speechless. He knew that what Wang Zhongsi said was true, but he would listen to these explanations, but the soldiers under him were unwilling to listen!
What should we do then?

……

Luoyang, Shangyang Palace, Guanfeng Hall.

Crown Prince Li Heng was sitting on the dragon throne in a daze.

Everything that happened in the past few months was like a dream. It was an experience I had never had before, as if I was in a dream.

I thought he would die defending Luoyang, but unexpectedly, Huangfu Weiming actually retreated back to Hebei!

They actually withdrew! It's incredible!

Li Heng had an illusion that ever since Wei Sanniang's unjust death, he had been blessed with great fortune as if by heaven, otherwise there was no way to explain the incredible situation now.

It hurts! My heart really hurts!

Li Heng now has no feeling at all about what he suddenly has.

He had no desire to be a crown prince, nor did he have any interest in controlling the Tang Dynasty.

Even if you own the world, what can you do?
Is he as arrogant and debauched as his beastly father?

Interesting?

If there was anything that Li Heng wanted to think about in the current situation, it would be to stab Brother Ji to death with his own hands if he had the chance in the future. Other than that, he was indifferent to everything.

It’s like when you are thirsty, someone keeps stuffing delicacies into your mouth but not giving you a sip of water!
"Your Highness, there is something urgent."

Li Mi walked forward and saluted Li Heng with his arms crossed.

"Mr. Li, you don't have to be polite. We can talk."

Li Heng hurriedly stepped forward to support Li Mi who was about to salute.

Li Heng was still grateful to Li Mi. Although he didn't care about many things, he could still clearly see who was good to him and who was not.

Even though Li Heng knew that both Li Mi and Fang Youde had their own selfish motives, they only supported him for the sake of the "Crown Prince".

"Li Liangchen, the governor of Jinzhou, came to Luoyang with 5,000 of his men to support Your Highness. He also issued a manifesto, recognizing Your Highness as the only legitimate ruler of the Tang Dynasty.

In addition, the governors of Jiangzhou, Luzhou, Zezhou and other Hedong Road provinces all wrote letters to respond to Li Liangchen and support your ascension to the throne."

Li Mi said this calmly, but there was still a hint of excitement in his tone.

These four provincial governors were new members of the "Crown Prince Alliance". However, before that, Shanzhou, Huaizhou, Zhengzhou and Ruzhou near Luoyang had already recognized the legitimacy of Henan Prefecture and accepted the leadership of Crown Prince Li Heng.

It’s just that he didn’t publish a large-scale manifesto like Li Liangchen did.

"Is it……"

Upon hearing the news, Li Heng sat down on the dragon throne, stunned.

It's hard to tell whether that expression showed surprise or shock.

"Your Highness?"

Li Mi was very surprised by Li Heng's attitude.

No matter how you look at it, this is good news that is exciting, which means that the "Longzhong Strategy" he originally conceived was completely correct, and the progress was even faster than expected.

Li Heng shouldn't have this reaction!
"Why! Why!"

Li Heng suddenly burst into tears without any warning.

"Why did you come now? Why couldn't I take power earlier?
What do I want this Tang Dynasty for?
You can do what others cannot, so return Sanniang to me!"

He was shouting and sobbing without any image and almost fainted from crying.

Li Mi hurriedly stepped forward and gently stroked his back, and said to Li Ying in a bewildered manner: "Your Highness, the dead cannot be resurrected, please accept my condolences."

A person like him who traveled all over the mountains and rivers and was almost out of touch with the world naturally did not understand the principle of heroes being short-tempered and young men being affectionate. Naturally, he could not empathize with Li Heng.

Many people cannot get happiness from power.

Just as many people love money, there are also many people who have no concept of wealth.

After all, people are different.

"Yes, I need to mourn. Grief can't solve any problems."

After a long time, Li Heng stopped crying and said in an indifferent tone.

He seemed like a different person, his body straightened up and his expression became stern.

Li Mi felt creepy when he saw this.

"Where is Li Liangchen? Take me to see him."

Li Heng just made a promise to himself when he was extremely sad.

If he fails to fulfill this promise, even if he dies in the underworld, he will not be able to face Wei Sanniang who has been waiting for him there for many years.

Li Mi didn't know what Li Heng was thinking. He just led him to the Tixiang Gate of Shangyang Palace, where he met Li Liangchen, who was dusty and in tattered clothes.

"Your Highness! The Tang Dynasty is about to collapse. Please do not refuse and stand up to support the country!
"I beg Your Highness to lead the troops into Chang'an, ascend the throne and be crowned emperor! To rectify the divine weapon! To command the world!"

Before Li Heng could even speak, Li Liangchen knelt down and prostrated himself before him.

Upon hearing this, Li Mi was shocked. Li Liangchen had just told him that he was only supporting the prince and serving him like a slave.

Why did he change his words immediately when he saw Li Ying?

Leading troops to Chang'an and ascending the throne to become emperor, what does this have to do with anything?
Li Mi's heart sank a little bit, and he felt that the situation was getting out of control.

"Envoy Li, please don't say anything careless. How can the prince ascend the throne when the sage is still alive? This is extremely inappropriate, please don't mention it again!"

Li Mi scolded Li Liangchen coldly.

"Your Highness, Li Xianggong, you may not know yet, but the Saint went to Taiyuan alone, deprived Fang Guozhong of his military power, and tricked him into taking the Silver Spear Filial Piety Army back to Chang'an to set up camp.

It would have been fine if it had just been that, but he ordered Wang Zhongsi to lead 40,000 elite soldiers to ambush in Queshu Valley, intending to kill Fang Guozhong and all his troops, and then prepare to charge him with treason afterwards.

Now the people of Taiyuan are in a panic, the border troops of Hedong are scattered and fleeing, and the army has lost half of its battle before it even sets out to attack Hebei. If this is not a building about to collapse, then what is a building about to collapse?
If the crown prince cannot go to Chang'an to ascend the throne and become emperor, this emperor who is so foolish, unable to distinguish right from wrong, arbitrarily killing loyal officials and destroying his own Great Wall, will definitely destroy the Tang Dynasty!

Prince, you should pursue greater justice without being fussy about small matters!
Observing etiquette is a minor virtue, a minor rule;

Your Highness ascended the throne and became emperor, holding up the Tang Dynasty and saving the people from disaster. This is a noble cause and a great moral principle.

"Have you never considered what is right and what is wrong, what is more important and what is less important, Your Highness?"

Li Liangchen followed Fang Zhongyong's instructions, spoke them all in one gulp, and then knelt on the ground and refused to get up.

“Your Highness, what Envoy Li said does make some sense.

It would not be too late to wait until Marshal Fang returns to Luoyang before making a decision.

Judging from the speed, it should be pretty soon.”

Li Mi suggested while frowning, weighing the pros and cons repeatedly in his mind.

He also didn't expect that Brother Ji would be so stupid and actually leave Chang'an!
Fang Youde is now leading his troops back to Luoyang from the front line in Henan to let his troops rest for a while. Recently, many united soldiers have been trained in the counties and prefectures around Luoyang. Fang Youde wants to select the best from them to continue to strengthen the Xuanwu Army, so it is indeed time for him to come back and take a look.

"Envoy Li, you should first lead your troops to set up defenses in Yanshi. You just said that you would like the crown prince to ascend the throne in Chang'an.

The official position awarded to you will naturally be different whether you ascend the throne or not.

Since the enthronement has not yet been decided, then…"

Before Li Mi finished speaking, Li Heng interrupted him and said, "Envoy Li is right. I have decided to go to Chang'an to ascend the throne. When Marshal Fang returns to Luoyang, we will discuss sending troops to Chang'an immediately. Envoy Li, please stay in Luoyang to reorganize your troops first. I may ask you to come to the throne soon."

"Your Highness..."

Li Mi looked at Li Heng in surprise. He never expected that the prince, who had never competed for power, would say such impulsive words!
"Thank you, Your Highness! I will fight for you and serve you at your service!"

Li Liangchen quickly knelt on the ground and kowtowed, secretly admiring Fang Chongyong's foresight. Sure enough, as soon as he arrived in Luoyang, he saw a strong wind rising!

If I continue to stay in Jinzhou and do nothing, I will truly become a dead body in a tomb.

After Li Liangchen left, Li Mi hurriedly saluted Li Heng and said, "Your Highness has not achieved enough military merits now. There are princes inside who are ready to make a move, and there are bandits in Hebei who are eyeing us covetously. If we send troops to Chang'an, Luoyang will not be able to be defended! Your Highness, please do not do things that will make your relatives sad and your enemies happy!"

"Mr. Li, what you said makes a lot of sense, and I cannot refute it."

Li Ying sighed softly, pointed at his heart and continued, "But if I don't do some things, it will hurt me, do you understand?"

(End of this chapter)