Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 595 Thunder
On the day of Xiaoxue, one of the twenty-four solar terms, troops from Bianzhou attacked in three directions, like a tiger out of a cage!

Liu Zhan led 2,000 Qingzhou troops to attack Huazhou, and on the same day, he captured Kuangcheng in the south of Huazhou and its satellite city Pucheng. The magistrate of Kuangcheng was caught while fleeing, and the county lieutenant opened the city and surrendered. It was almost vulnerable.

Feng Changqing led 2,000 Bozhou united troops to attack Yuanwu and Yangwu in the north of Zhengzhou. They also took it in one day and encountered almost no resistance.

Li Baochen was not well-received in Henan, and Li Wan was a puppet in the eyes of outsiders. It was impossible for anyone to risk their life for them.

However, Marshal Baochen seemed to have anticipated this and had already withdrawn his troops to cut losses in advance.

After all, Li Baochen was not a fool. He also knew that there were many cities in Zhengzhou and Huazhou. If 10,000 people were scattered there, it would be like sprinkling sesame seeds on a Hu pancake, which would not be of much use.

Fang Zhongyong personally led the 3,000-man Silver Spear Xiejie Army as the main force, with 4,000 soldiers from the other four states in Xuanwu Town and 3,000 soldiers from Bianzhou as the left and right flanks, making up a total of 10,000 main forces. They marched towards Zhengzhou in a mighty force.

After taking Zhongmu County in the east of Zhengzhou without any effort, Fang Chongyong immediately divided his troops and ordered Wang Nandi to lead the troops to attack Xingze and Heyin; and ordered He Changqi to be the vanguard to attack Guancheng, the seat of Zhengzhou!

Duan Xueshi led a thousand united soldiers and escorted thousands of civilians recruited from Bianzhou. Before the city of Xingyang was officially captured, they began to build a large camp, dig trenches, construct shooting platforms for the crossbows, and install chevaux de frise, caltrops, and other items.

The military was deployed so recklessly that reports of the fall of various counties came in like snowflakes, which directly frightened Yin Ziqi, who was in charge of Guancheng, silly.

Originally he only had 5,000 soldiers and horses, and Li Baochen had taken away 3,000 elite soldiers "for no reason". Now there are only 2,000 people in the city!
Are you still playing ball?
Considering that after being captured last time, Fang Chongyong only humiliated Yin Ziqi and let him go unharmed.

In addition, Yin Ziqi had no idea how many troops Fang Chongyong had sent this time, so he simply gave up resistance.

As for Li Baochen's nonsense like "raising flags to confuse the enemy", Yin Ziqi didn't listen at all.

It was he who died when the city was broken, not Li Baochen, the hanged man. His own life is more important.

It would be fine under normal circumstances, but when it comes to life and death, why would he want to die for Li Baochen?
This is not the first time that Yin Ziqi has been involved in gang activities. He sees the current situation very clearly and knows that Zhengzhou cannot be defended.

There are many cities and no strategic plains to defend. Who are we going to show off to? Where are the reinforcements?

So he thought about it for a moment and then directly ordered the city to surrender, because Yin Ziqi knew that Fang Chongyong, who had let him go last time, would not do anything to him this time.

He Changqi, who was eager to attack the city, was confused by the enemy general's behavior.

No, brother, are wars so casual nowadays? You surrender without firing a single arrow?

Seeing that the once unruly Yin Ziqi opened the city and surrendered, Fang Zhongyong was very considerate and did not embarrass Yin Ziqi. Of course, he had no intention of recruiting him, so he let this guy go again.

The troops under Yin Ziqi's command were incorporated into the Tuanjie Army on the spot and sent to Bianzhou for resettlement first.

A day later, Liu Zhan and Feng Changqing also sent their soldiers to Guancheng to report that they had achieved their goal. Liu Zhan's troops were stationed in Baimacheng, the capital of Huazhou, facing Liyang in Hebei across the Yellow River.

Feng Changqing had already handed over the city to the untrained Tuanjie soldiers sent from Kaifeng, and he himself led the Bozhou soldiers towards Guancheng.

The battlefield situation is not just good now, it is extremely good! Victory news is coming in frequently!

Although there were strategic arrangements made by Marshal Baochen, he had no intention of defending Zhengzhou to the death.

However, Fang Chongyong listened to Li Quan's advice beforehand and adopted the strategy of "attacking in multiple areas and advancing in stages", which was the key to victory.

If they concentrated their forces to attack one city at a time, it would take many days to complete these routes even if the enemy did not resist.

By that time, Marshal Baochen's troops would have already been concentrated near Xingyang and were ready for battle, and the battle would have been difficult to fight.

Fang Chongyong did not stop, and after occupying Guancheng, he continued to march westward and captured Xingyang City, which had almost no soldiers stationed there. He joined forces with Duan Xueshi and began to build a camp in the favorable terrain west of Xingyang.

The number of enemies killed by the Xuanwu Town troops was indeed very small, and the largest group was the one that surrendered by Yin Ziqi himself.

However, the army's marching speed and troop division level were very high. Although there were many cities in Zhengzhou and Huazhou, they fell one after another in just two days.

In such a short time, the first phase of the joint attack was completed, leaving Li Baochen almost no time to respond!
When Marshal Baochen came to his senses, he found that Fang Chongyong's troops had gathered to the west of Xingyang City and had begun building fortifications in full swing.

He then hurriedly led 30,000 troops to Sishui County to set up camp and sent out scouts to investigate. He did not act rashly, nor did he rush into a decisive battle with the well-rested Xuanwu Army.

Li Baochen ordered the digging of trenches and the establishment of camps on the west bank of Sishui River in an attempt to confront the Xuanwu Army.

Fang Zhongyong's behavior was so abnormal that Li Baochen had a bad feeling.

……

The situation in front of Xingyang was tense, but the situation behind Bianzhou was calm.

When the battle report was delivered to Chenliu County, Prince Yong Li Lin could hardly believe his eyes.

Two days! Just two days!
There are so many cities, even if there is no resistance, it would be impossible to just walk through them so quickly, right?

After seeing the battle report sent by his third son Li Yi, Li Lin didn't know how to comment on it.

Dividing troops is the greatest art in military strategy, and as an outsider, it is certainly impossible for him to understand this.

"really?"

Li Lin asked in shock.

It is not uncommon to boast about frontline battle reports during a war. During the Kaiyuan period, Xue Chuyu, the governor of Youzhou, boasted about his great victory even though he had suffered a crushing defeat.

"Father, the war report is indeed true. The captives from Guancheng have all been sent to Kaifeng. I saw it with my own eyes."

Li Yi emphasized.

Now Li Lin finally believed it.

"Amazing."

Even Li Lin had to admit that the Xuanwu Army was indeed powerful. At least in terms of command and planning, it was quite capable.

"Father, why don't we go to the front line? I always feel that it's not right to stay in Chenliu."

Li Yi was still a passionate young man in his teens and wanted to go to the front line to experience life.

But Li Lin obviously didn't think so.

"You're fine in Chenliu. Why go to the frontline? Can you handle a knife or a gun?"

Li Lin shouted loudly to cover up his guilty conscience.

He also wants to go to the front line, but he is afraid of death and accidents.

"Sanlang, you should go to school. A good plan is the key to success."

Gao Shang stepped forward and spoke to Li Yi, helping Li Lin out of the predicament.

Li Yi showed reluctance and bowed to leave. After he left, Li Lin asked, "What do you think?"

Now there were only two of them left in the study, so Gao Shang could say whatever he wanted.

“If nothing unexpected happens, Li Baochen will definitely lose this time.

I just don't know whether Fang Qing will take control of Luoyang or give it to the army in Guanzhong to station there.

If Luoyang is given up, the three cities of Heyang must also be given up, as well as Huaizhou on the other side of the river.

Fang Qing will have the troops in Guanzhong border the area controlled by the Hebei bandit army."

Gao Shang said thoughtfully.

This is almost exactly what Fang Zhongyong had imagined!
After listening to Gao Shang's analysis, Li Lin also felt that this analysis made sense.

"In that case, it would be better to give up Luoyang."

Li Lin nodded slightly and said.

If it were him in the past, he would definitely think that entering Luoyang, ascending the throne and becoming emperor, and gradually conquering the world would be the best way. But now he has improved a lot.

Li Wan is a lesson for us.

Whoever enters Luoyang will be besieged by everyone, without any exception.

Because Chang'an and Luoyang are integrated, Luoyang controls the throat of Chang'an. After controlling Luoyang, either further advance into Guanzhong or be beaten to death by others. There is no third outcome.

Li Lin knew very well that he would not be able to enter Guanzhong in the short term, and he would not be able to defend Luoyang even if he entered.

Why do we have such delusions? What is the point of them other than making ourselves feel uncomfortable?

"Your Highness is right. Let Guanzhong and Hebei continue to fight, and we can reap the benefits."

Gao Shang said calmly.

Li Lin nodded, sighed, and said nothing more.

Suddenly, he thought of a guy who used to be a "dog that doesn't bite people". If Fang Zhongyong did everything openly, that guy liked to do things secretly.

"What is Prince Ying doing now? It seems like I haven't heard from him for a long time."

Li Lin asked thoughtfully, trying hard to search in his mind what Prince Ying Li Lu had done after he was sent away.

Then he was surprised to find that he had no impression at all!
"Prince Ying? He is recruiting soldiers in Xiangyang. But this is not unusual. Many princes were sent out as military governors, and they also recruited soldiers."

Gao Shang was also shocked, but he was still a person in charge of things, unlike Li Lin who was a hands-off boss. Naturally, he also found out what Ying Wang Li Lu had done.

What did this quiet guy do?
It seemed as if he was just guarding his own little piece of land, not occupying any new territory, let alone sending troops to Chang'an to "serve the king."

It's ridiculously low-key.

“I have never forgotten that before the late emperor killed three sons in one day, it was Prince Ying Li Yu who falsely accused the crown prince of borrowing two thousand armors.

If Li Heng hadn't told me about this, I would have been kept in the dark.

Do you think Prince Ying is insidious?"

Upon hearing this secret, Gao Shang was so surprised that he was speechless for a moment.

"Did the late emperor instruct Prince Ying to do this?"

Gao Shang asked back in disbelief.

He did not think that he was a good person and his personal morals were not good. He and Linghu Chao played three-horse with each other's concubine in the bedroom and got the concubine pregnant.

But Gao Shang really couldn't do something like Brother Ji, who instigated his own son to frame the prince.

I can only say that the person who sits on the throne is really cruel.

"I didn't believe it at first, but Li Heng was determined to die at that time. As the saying goes, when a man is about to die, his words are good.

I can’t help but believe it.”

Li Lin sighed and said.

Thinking of how Fang Chongyong had sent someone to rob his second son's daughter-in-law and gave her to his subordinates as his principal wife, Li Lin actually felt that Fang Chongyong was quite upright in comparison.

At least the problems are out in the open, and everyone can see them.

As for Li Lu's coin, that was really sinister! He silently obeyed the orders of his beastly father and falsely accused the prince, who had no grudge against him.

Only then did Li Lin realize that among his many brothers, the most insidious one was not Li Heng, who was very close to him and was regarded as a father; nor was it Li Ying, who was stupid and only thought about his former princess.

But it’s the Prince of Ying who is always silent and you can never predict when he will bite you.

Before that false accusation happened, Prince Ying Li Lu was generally recognized as harmless!

Otherwise, Crown Prince Li Ying would not have been on guard against him.

“Your Highness, although Xuanwu Town does not border Prince Ying’s territory to the north, if it continues to develop, the territory to the south will sooner or later border Jingxiang.

At that time, do you think Li Yu will stab His Highness with a knife?"

Gao Shang asked with a worried look on his face.

He then remembered that Fang Zhongyong's troops were actually all in several states in the north, such as Bianzhou, and the defense in the south was extremely empty and almost undefended.

Even Feng Changqing, who was originally stationed in Bozhou, brought his troops here this time.

"That's Fang Qing's concern, not mine."

Li Lin laughed.

When it comes to military affairs, Li Lin suddenly feels extremely relaxed.

Prince Ying is very powerful, so what? Go kill Fang Qing first! Why are you showing off in front of me?

Rights and obligations are two sides of the same coin.

Prince Yong Li Lin knew that he was just a puppet for the time being, so he was very relaxed on the military level.

If you don't have military power, you don't have to worry about being attacked. Even if the sky falls, there are tall people to hold it up.

At this moment, someone knocked on the door. It was Li Lin’s third son, Li Yi.

After Gao Shang opened the door, he saw the counselor Cai Yu standing behind Li Yi.

After leading the two to Li Lin, the Prince Yong looked at Cai Yu impatiently and asked, "Aren't you in Qizhou managing the united troops? Why are you in Bianzhou?"

"Your Highness, the Prince of Xiangcheng (Li Wei) sent an official to Chenliu to ask Your Highness if he can lead his troops to Zhengzhou to participate in the war."

Cai Yu had a helpless look on his face and asked Li Lin with his arms crossed.

Lead troops to Zhengzhou and fight against Li Baochen's army?
Li Lin thought he had heard it wrong.

"Your Highness, Qizhou is the rear area, which is related to the future retreat. It cannot be taken lightly."

Gao Shang whispered a suggestion into Li Lin's ear.

Damn, this little brat is asking for trouble!
Li Lin cursed Li Qi in his heart for not thinking before doing things!
Li Baochen, is that fun?
That's a man-eating tiger!

The united soldiers in Qizhou are not enough to fight a battle, why charge!

"Go back and tell Li Wei that if he dares to mobilize troops, I will punish him according to military law!"

Li Lin said angrily.

He seemed a little worried, so he said to Gao Shang: "Take my personal letter and go to Qizhou. The troops in Qizhou must not move. Whoever mobilizes troops will be beheaded by me!"

"As ordered, I will go to Qizhou right away."

Gao Shang said this cautiously, cursing in his heart that this eldest son was not someone who could be taken lightly.

Did he really think that his mediocre military skills could compete with a veteran like Li Baochen?
When two adults are fighting and a child joins in with a knife, the final result is definitely that he will be beaten to death by the adults.

Gao Shang went out with a lot on his mind, and a small snowflake fell on his eyelashes.

He looked up at the cloudy sky and muttered to himself, "It's snowing."

(End of this chapter)