Late Tang

(Thanks to Time Jinghao 13 for the reward, thank you!)

Yanen County, Youzhou Government Office.

As night fell, the entire Yanen City was filled with gloom and mist, and fear spread.In the evening, Tuoba Sigong, the governor who led the army to support Jinglue Army City a few days ago, returned to the city in embarrassment.There were [-] elite party soldiers and horses, but now there are less than [-] remnants and defeated generals.

As soon as Tuoba Sigong returned to Yan'en City, he immediately ordered all the gates to be closed and imposed a curfew immediately.The guards on the top of the city have also doubled, and there are constant patrolling soldiers in and out of the city.

As soon as he returned to the Governor's Mansion, Tuoba Sigong's third brother, Tuoba Sizhong, directly barged in and shouted a few maids away.Sitting down, he poured a glass of wine and drank it all in one gulp: "Brother, we suffered such a big loss this time because we were instigated by Li Jing's emissary, so many brothers died, and the Jinglue Army City was lost." , The territory we took so hard to occupy in Youzhou is about to lose its hold, if I don't kill the bird messenger, I won't be able to vent my anger."

"That's Li Jing's envoy, you can kill him if you say so?" Tuoba Sigong's expression was not very good.

At first, Li Guochang sent someone to ask him to start an incident, but he did not agree after thinking for a long time.Although he saw the corruption of the Tang Dynasty, as the saying goes, a lean camel is bigger than a horse, and a rotten boat has three pound nails.The Dangxiang people were originally a branch of the Xiqiang nationality, so they are also called Dangxiang Qiang.

During the Han Dynasty, a large number of Qiang people moved inland to Helong and Guanzhong.At this time, the Dangxiang tribe lived a primitive nomadic life without knowing the harvest and remembering the age.They used the tribe as the division unit and the surname as the tribe name, and gradually formed the famous eight tribes of the party, among which the Tuoba clan was the most powerful.In addition, there are tribes such as Heidangxiang and Xueshan Dangxiang.

During the Sui Dynasty, part of the party Xiang Qiang began to follow the Central Plains regime.

During the Tang Dynasty, after two inland relocations, the party items were gradually concentrated in eastern Gansu and northern Shaanxi, including Lingzhou, Qingzhou, Xiazhou, Yinzhou, Suizhou, Yanzhou, Shengzhou and other states. host.They live together with Shiwei, Tuguhun who moved inland, and the Han people.The economy is dominated by animal husbandry, and the "Dangxiang horse" has become famous for a time.

At present, the central royal family of the Tang Dynasty has lost its prestige, the local feudal towns have grown, and the Hu people living in the border areas have gradually become stronger.The Shatuo, Dangxiang, Huihe, Turkic, Qibi, and Tuyuhun people all began to own military territory, especially the Shatuo people were the most powerful, and the leader Zhu Xiechi was given the surname Li and had his own territory.

After the Dangxiang people attached to Datang, they have been fighting for the horses of the Tang Dynasty. Every time the Tang Dynasty fought, the Dangxiang people participated in the war, and they contributed no less than the Shatuo people, but in the end they didn't even have a piece of their own territory.The governor of Yuanyou State was cruel and heartless, and the people complained a lot, Tuoba Sigong managed to seize this opportunity to drive him away, and appointed himself the governor.But he is very low-key, although he drove away the governor and claimed to be the governor, he has no intention of rebellion.The governor was just driven away, and he still listened carefully to the court.

On the one hand, he spent a lot of money to follow the path of the great eunuch Ximen Sigong, and worshiped under the disciple of the prime minister Zheng Tian, ​​so that he was recognized by the court and recognized him as the governor.With great difficulty, he managed to seize a part of the party's territory, how could Tuoba Sigong be willing to follow Li Guochang to rebel?

However, he didn't want to offend Li Guochang directly, so he planned to play it perfunctory.But later, the envoy of Zhendong Army Li Jing arrived suddenly and presented him with a thousand taels of gold.

At that time, when the messenger said that Li Guochang had plans to annex Youzhou and the Party Headquarters, Tuoba Sigong was still somewhat skeptical.But in the end, when Li Jing sent an envoy to deliver 2000 taels of gold, Tuoba Sigong still couldn't refuse the temptation. What's more, Li Jing not only gave him 3000 taels of gold, but also promised him that Li Guochang would be wiped out. The rebellion, when the time comes, the emperor will guarantee one of his great achievements.What's more important is that Li Jing's envoy explained to him that Li Guochang will definitely come to attack Youzhou, and promised to help them when the time comes.

What Li Jing's envoy said really confirmed that Li Guochang did have the intention of annexing him.In the battle of Jinglue City, Tuoba Sigong, who had always been dissatisfied with the Shatuo people, was also beaten a little terrified. It can be said that half of the soldiers and horses he had saved with great difficulty disappeared like this.

"Damn Li Jing, didn't he say that Guan Jian would send troops to help us? What about his people?" Tuoba Sizhong said angrily. "These Han people don't have a single good thing!"

Tuoba Sigong sat on the chair with a sullen face and remained silent.

"Brother, why don't we pack up our troops and retreat to the Tiande Army before the Shatuo soldiers arrive? Didn't Li Jing's envoy say that if something goes wrong, we can temporarily withdraw to the Tiande Army? The new post of the Tiande Army Jiedu envoy Yu Jian is Li Jing's teacher, they should be able to take us in."

"Go to the German army? It's easy to go now, but it's hard to come back. Third, this Yuzhou is a territory that our five brothers and many brothers took with great difficulty. If we lose it now, this Youzhou will be destroyed." There is no place for us. What's more, if you go to others, you will inevitably be annexed in the end." Tuoba Sigong said sadly.

Tuoba Sizhong said urgently: "But we only have 3000 troops left now. If such a small number of troops stick to it, it will be tantamount to guarding to the death, brother. If you keep the green hills, you are not afraid of running out of firewood. Think about the Tuyuhun The Helian tribe is now following Yu Yu, and it is said that it is not bad, there is a lush pasture in Datongchuan."

"You ask me to think again. Unless it is absolutely necessary, you must not lose Youzhou." Starting a business is difficult. If you lose this map, it will be difficult to get another one. "Go and invite Mr. Li. I believe that General Li Jing won't ignore his words and just sit and watch us in danger. He will die."

Li Jing's envoy has been staying in Yan'en City, and before Tuoba Sizhong could invite him, he has already come to the door.

Li Wei, who is over forty years old, is Li Jing's uncle. In his early years, like Li Jing's father, he served as a foreign official outside the ranks of nine ranks.After Li Jing was promoted to an official position, the Li family who had been scattered due to the rebellion against Lu Longjun by the imperial court finally reunited and surrounded Li Jing.

Although the two generations of the Li family have declined, it can be considered a large family with hundreds of people. Li Jing's uncles basically abandoned martial arts and followed literature. Most of them have studied literature. Most of them are petty officials, and some work as farmers of.Now, Li Jing has also arranged these clansmen into the Zhendong Army and Dengzhou County.

Li Wei was over forty years old, and he had been very unsatisfactory for most of his life.Unexpectedly, in middle age, my nephew suddenly became famous, and they all followed the chickens and dogs to heaven.Although Li Wei was unsatisfactory for half of his life, he had been a miscellaneous official for many years and had a lot of experience in handling affairs. He soon became a secretary of the Zhendong Army, under the management of Guo Chengan.This time when he was on a mission to Youzhou, Li Jing chose this experienced and trustworthy uncle as his envoy.

"Mr. Tuoba, please forgive me for coming here uninvited upon hearing that you have returned to Yan'en." Li Wei said loudly as soon as he entered the room.

Tuoba Sigong nodded: "I'm going to invite Mr. Li, um, who is this?" Seeing a stranger following behind Li Wei, Tuoba Sigong asked suspiciously.

"A certain self-introduction, Li Yang, I just came from the east camp of Beizhao in Hedong." The 30-year-old man cupped his hands.

"Camping on behalf of Beidong? Is it under Li Jungong's command?" Tuoba Sigong's heart moved.

"Exactly, I'm the current staff officer of the Dongmian camp, and the camp commander Li Zhen is the elder brother of a certain man!" The visitor introduced himself with a smile.

Hearing that the other party was actually the younger brother of Li Zhen, Li Jing's number one adviser, Tuoba Sigong couldn't help but lift up his spirits.Li Jing sent such an important person here, it seems that he is going to fulfill his promise.

"Since the two gentlemen have come, they must have known that our army was defeated in the Jinglue Army City. Our troops resisted desperately, but we were outnumbered. I have already done my best according to the Duke's wishes, but now the Shatuo people are about to die. I'm about to kill them, but I don't know that reinforcements from the Zhenjiang army have arrived?"

Li Yang shook his head: "This time I came alone, without soldiers and horses."

Tuoba Sigong's eyes were immediately dimmed, and he felt disappointed.

Li Yang smiled lightly: "Emissary Tuoba doesn't need to be disappointed, in fact, I'm here to congratulate you this time."

"Why do you like it?" Tuoba Sigong was a little confused.

"He Shijun defeated Li Guochang!"

"what?"

Li Yang chuckled and said, "This is a great gift from my county magistrate to the envoy. I don't know if the envoy can grasp it."

Tuoba Sigong's appetite was whetted, and he hurriedly asked what was going on.

"My County Lord has captured Li Keyong's backyard Yuzhou, and has already marched towards Yunzhou. On the other hand, my County Lord sent a letter to his division, and the Tiande Army Jiedu envoy, Yugong, sent troops to attack Li Guochang's lair, Shanyudu. Protector's Mansion. Before I left to go south, Yu Gong led the Tiande Army and Helian's troops to attack Shanyu's Protector's Mansion. This news may not have reached Li Guochang's army yet, and you should know it before him."

Tuoba Sigong was stunned in shock and couldn't believe it. "The Tiande army has broken through Shanyu's Duhu Mansion?"

"It's the Tiande Army and the Tuyuhun Helian Department." Li Yang smiled, "Right now, the Duke of our county has recovered Weizhou, Yu Gong and the Helian Department have captured the Shanyu Duhu Mansion, and the Shatuo people's lair has fallen, and their defeat is imminent. Don't miss this great opportunity to make meritorious service. At this time, if the Tuoba tribe can defeat Li Guochang, it will be a great achievement."

Tuoba Sizhong said from the side: "But Li Guochang has 3000 soldiers under his command. Although the Jinglue Army City lost more than [-], there are still ** [-] soldiers. We only have [-] troops, so we are not their opponents."

"Where are there still 9000 troops? I dare to assure you that after tonight, Li Guochang will only have 3000 troops left at most. Three thousand versus three thousand. Could it be that the party warriors of the Tuoba tribe can't defeat the same number of Shatuo people? ?” Li Yang said.

After the first battle in Jingluejun City, Tuoba Sigong knew in his heart that three thousand Dangxiang people would not be able to defeat three thousand Shatuo people, but at this time, even if he gritted his teeth, he could still win.A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. "As long as the master can really settle the six thousand Zhenwu army, the remaining three thousand Shatuo people will be handed over to my Tuoba tribe!"

"Okay, it's a deal!" (To be continued.)