Late Tang

On August [-], Li Maoxun summoned the generals of Lu Long's army to discuss matters.

When the generals arrived, Li Maoxun directly took out the letter written by Li Jing and handed it to the generals for circulation.Li Maoxun is very haggard today, without a bit of the arrogance of the past.

After all the generals had circulated it, Li Maoxun let out a long sigh.

"Previously Li Keyong from Shatuo attacked the Ningwu army, but fortunately he was defeated by my son Keju. But just after Shatuo's flying tiger retreated, the Sirius from Dengzhou led an army of 10 to land in Youzhou. Entering the land of no one, I don’t take my Lulong generals seriously at all. Huichang City has been occupied by the Zhendong Army twice in just over a month. The Zhendong Army came to our Youzhou. It's like the vegetable garden in their backyard. Pick whatever you like, pack it up and take it away. Last time, the Youzhou Army broke through six of my cities, robbed me of [-] people, and looted nearly [-] million in money, food, and property. "

"When I come again this time, Li Jing's appetite has grown. He proposed to ask for 200 million yuan, [-] stones of grain and grass, and four cities." It was because of Zhang Gongsu's cruelty. When he asked Li Jing to send troops, he also considered for the soldiers and people of Youzhou. But he didn't expect that he would lead wolves into the house. This is my Li Maoxun's responsibility. I feel deeply guilty about the current situation, and I have no face to serve as the leader of Youzhou. First of all, today, all the generals are summoned here. As long as the generals elect a high-ranking and respected general, I will give up the position of the general on the spot. I hope that because of my abdication, Li Jing will not be disappointed. If you hold back the past, I will return the peace in Youzhou."

As he said that, Li Maoxun actually squeezed out two tears, looking helpless as a hero.

Now that Li Jing is aggressively entering Youzhou, it can be said that the big reason is that Li Maoxun did not give Li Jing the money, and the responsibility lies with him.But he really couldn't afford the money, and he couldn't afford the three demands that Li Jing made now.After much deliberation, it was finally suggested by his son Li Maoju that it is better to retreat and advance.

At this time, the biggest threat is actually not Li Jing, but the generals in Youzhou.If these people used Li Jing's entry into Youzhou as an excuse to make a sudden attack and want to drive him out of power, at that time, he would have no way to deal with internal and external troubles.Now, take the initiative to take a step back and pretend to give up this handsome position.

At this time, let those generals elect a new commander-in-chief. These people have their own ghosts. At this time, how can anyone be able to stand out from the crowd.Moreover, if Li Maoxun abdicates, the pressure on Li Jing will be on the head of the new general. Who is willing to bear this pressure?

If everyone is given time, they will definitely be able to compromise and come up with a result.But if Li Maoxun suddenly wanted to abdicate, how could any compromise be reached in a short time.The final result is bound to be nothing.In this way, those generals can no longer attack him.When the internal troubles are removed, only external troubles remain.

Things were just as Li Keju predicted, everyone looked at each other and discussed for a long time, but no one could persuade others to become the new commander-in-chief.As a result, Li Maoxun still sits firmly in the handsome position.

"Since you still let me be the head of the generals, then we will work together to deal with Li Jing. Li Jing's Zhendong Army has strong soldiers and excellent armor. Thirty thousand soldiers and horses can defeat a hundred thousand soldiers. Thinking about earlier, when Li Jing sent eight thousand soldiers to Qingzhou, he defeated Wang Jingwu. Wang Jingwu had already captured Qingzhou, but in the end he was beaten out of Qingzhou by Li Jing. In the end, the Zhendong army killed three thousand Wang Jingwu with a slight loss, and captured three thousand. Li Jing is like a wolf like a tiger, I am afraid that our Youzhou army will not be able to defeat Li Jing."

None of the generals spoke, waiting for Li Maoxun's next words.

Seeing that the generals did not respond, Li Maoxun couldn't help feeling a little anxious.

"I've already figured it out, why don't we spend money to eliminate disasters this time. Everyone put together together, 200 million coins and [-] shi of grain and grass should be able to get together. I, Li Maoxun, don't have much money, but I am willing to sell it. I got [-] yuan, and I am willing to give it all. Ladies and gentlemen, let’s gather together and report the number to see how much we can gather. As much as we can gather, I will take the money to Huichang to meet Li Jing and plead guilty to him. .”

"Why should the commander destroy his own prestige and raise the reputation of others?" Li Maoxun's words finally made some generals unable to sit still.Li Quanzhong, the military envoy, stood up immediately, "Li Jing is just a little brat, who killed a few pirates, and thought he was great after fighting Wang Jingwu from Qingzhou. In my opinion, it's not too much. So. I think that Qingzhou Yabing was really powerful at the beginning, and the Pinglu army was also under our Lulong Jiedu envoy. But that was in the early years when Ziqing was separated from Liaoxi. In these years, Ziqing has not fought for many years. They have long been a bunch of cowards, how can they compare with our Lu Longjun?"

Li Quanzhong is from Fanyang. He was Sima in Dizhou in his early years.Later, he returned to Youzhou and followed Li Maoxun's son Li Keju, who is also Li Maoxun's direct descendant, and is currently the Yajiang General of Youzhou.

Youzhou is located in the northeast of the Tang Dynasty, and has always been in contact with the Hu people, especially in these years, it has been facing the southward invasion of the Khitan and Xi people alone.Fighting all year round, there are many brave soldiers in the army.For Li Jing's aggressiveness, they couldn't help but feel the same hatred.Especially Li Maoxun's helpless look made them feel even more uncomfortable.If Li Maoxun pleaded guilty to Li Jing, he would lose not only the face of Li Maoxun alone, but also the face of all Lu Longjun soldiers.As a veteran powerful fan, they also have their own arrogance. How can they accept a 21-year-old son like Li Jing to ride on their heads and run amok.

Gao Shunli, a general of Guizhou, also took the case: "I have 3 soldiers in the Lulong army, so I am afraid of mere Li Jing. He only has 3 people, and these [-] people will not all be soldiers. At least [-]% of the logistics troops will It would be great to have [-] soldiers. What's more, this battle is Li Jing in my Youzhou territory, and we have the home court advantage. Let's beat his mother, if Li Jing doesn't hurt him, he will I don't know how powerful our Lu Longjun is."

Before the words were finished, a white-robed young man standing behind Gao Shunli came out and asked for the battle loudly: "A certain person is willing to be a forward, and only three thousand Qingqi is required!"

After the young man in white robe finished speaking, two young generals came out and stood beside him to challenge at the same time: "We are also willing to go together!"

Fan Xinglong frowned, and shouted dissatisfiedly: "During the military discussion, how can you allow a few juniors to talk nonsense here, and not beat them out."

The white-robed young general gave Fan Xinglong a cold, squinting look, and said proudly: "On the battlefield, swords and guns have no eyes, and we don't talk about seniority. If Fan Jun is angry, he can throw it at Li Jing. If not, why don't you accept it?" Take the soldiers and horses of the headquarters and become the vanguard?"

Fan Xinglong was half a hundred years old, a veteran of Lu Long, his face turned red with anger at this moment, he pointed at the young general and said: "Which family is this doll, why doesn't he know any rules?"

General Gao Shunli of Guizhou got up and said, "I'm sorry, but this is my son Siji. He is young and vigorous, and he must have offended Fan Junshi."

Sitting there, Li Maoxun was secretly happy that Gao Shunli was his direct subordinate, while Fan Xinglong was the old army leader of Youzhou, and he watched happily when they fought.

Now he smiled and said to Fan Xinglong: "Mr. Fan doesn't know, but this young general in white robes is very famous in Guizhou. The flying tiger son Li Ke was used to invade our territory last time. This son went out with my son to fight. Picked off countless Shatuo soldiers with bright silver guns. Among the countless Ya'er troops, they held bright silver guns and stepped off silver-maned horses, acting as a blocker. The Shatuo people who were killed were frightened. Although they were young, they had already He is a fierce general from Youzhou, so he was nicknamed 'White Horse and Silver Spear'. The young man is a bit angry, but his skills are still good."

These words are undoubtedly implying that although Xinglong is old, his skills are not as good as the young player Gao Siji.An angry Fan Xinglong blushed, but he really didn't dare to fight Li Jing as the vanguard.

But Fan Xinglong didn't dare, but the other generals couldn't stand this provocation.

At today's meeting, the generals from Guizhou were more powerful than the other, and they all rushed to be the vanguard.It seems that these veterans are timid and incompetent.At this time, they were aroused and asked to fight.

Li Maoxun saw that his goal had been achieved, and finally under the pressure of Li Jing, all the generals were willing to send troops, so he couldn't help being overjoyed.It was decided at the moment to counter Li Jing's extortion with a strong force.

After some discussion, Lu Longjun finally decided to mobilize [-] troops from Youzhou Town and divide them into five groups to besiege Huichang.

Brothers Gao Shunli and Gao Zhongwu served as envoys of the former army, Gao Siji with the white horse and silver gun served as envoys of the vanguard, and his own brother Gao Sixiang and cousin Gao Mian served as the left and right deputies.Li Maoxun led the central army, his son Li Keju led the rear army, Li Quanzhong led the left army, and Liu Yue, the envoy of the Jingsai army, was the military envoy of the right army.Five routes of soldiers and horses, each with [-] troops.

Liu Rengong, ten generals of the Bald Battalion, was incorporated into the Central Route Army and became Li Maoxun's personal guard.Although it seems to be lowered by one level, it is actually promoted.

However, while Li Maoxun assembled his troops, he did not give up his plan to negotiate peace with Li Jing.Unless it was a last resort, he didn't want to confront Li Jing.While gathering troops, Li Maoxun called Liu Kutou, the new general of the personal guard, and handed him a letter, asking him to return to Huichang and hand the letter to Li Jing.

Although he was extremely unwilling, in the end Liu Rengong had no choice but to get on his horse and run all the way back to Huichang.After arriving in Huichang and leaving for a few days, the place is still peaceful.Although the Zhendong Army occupied Huichang City, it seemed to surprise him that they did not commit any crimes.If it weren't for the flapping Li character banner on the top of the city wall, he would have thought that the Zhendong Army had already left here.

Two hundred steps before the city gate, Liu Rengong got off his horse and slowly approached the city gate.

"I am the emissary of Marshal Lu Long. Our marshal has sent a reply to Duke Zhendong!" Liu Rengong said as calmly as possible.

The guard at the gate sized him up a few times, checked his military badge and other things, and let him enter the city.

(To be continued)