Late Tang

(Thanks to Brother Zhuang for his monthly ticket support, and also to Nanyanghuo for his birthday wishes, thank you everyone!)

At the foot of Mount Tai, beside the Wenshui River, in Qianfeng City.

The staff officers of the Staff Department took the situation maps of the towns of Tianping Army, Taining Army, Probation Army, and Pinglu Army and put them together on the ground into a large piece.Zhen [***] generals Wang Zhong, Lin Wu, Wang Pu, Li Juyi, Zhou Dewei, Guo Shunli, Liu Xun and others, as well as Li Zhen, Guo Chengan, Li Rang, Du Zhongwu and other senior civilian officials gathered together, facing the sheepskin Site pointing.

Li Wei of Xiaoqi Division pointed to the map and was reporting the latest situation to Li Jing and others.

"The official army fought against the grass thief Wang Xiancao and Huang Chao in Juye. The official army had 10 horses, and the grass thief had 16 horses. The two sides first confronted each other for ten days, and then the grass thief took the lead in attacking the official army. Defeated, 2 were beheaded in the first battle. Unexpectedly, on the night when the grass bandits were defeated, they suddenly regrouped and made a comeback, attacking the soldiers and horses of the six towns at night. After a day and night battle, although the officers and soldiers defeated the grass bandits again and beheaded more than [-] people , but the officers and soldiers also suffered nearly [-] casualties, and they ran out of food and grass, unable to fight any more, so they had to retreat to Jiyin City in Caozhou, and it was difficult to send troops again in a short time."

"The grass bandits suffered even more casualties. Wang Xianzhi led 2 cavalry to abandon Huang Chao on the battlefield and fled alone to Rencheng in Yanzhou. Huang Chao gathered his troops and retreated to Juancheng, Puzhou, and there were still about [-] horses." Li Wei After reporting this news, he said another situation.

"We also got a piece of information that Zhu Wenwen, the leader of our army's selection front army, and Zhu Zhen and Zhu Cun, the three rebels who escaped, joined the Xuanwu army and made great achievements. I heard that they also got Simon Sigong. And Yang Fugong, Cui Anqian and other awards. But who knows that after the soldiers and horses of the Six Towns defeated the grass bandits on the first day, the three of Zhu and Wen were discovered by Jun Zhong Yuhou because they stole a donkey from the auxiliary army and killed them privately. He defected and joined Huang Chao's subordinates. It is said that the grass bandit's second night attack to counterattack the Tang camp was Zhu Wen's plan."

"Damn it, Zhu Asan, a donkey ball, was in my selection of the front army. He dared to kill more than 100 prisoners of war. He also killed his colleagues for a military record and defected from the camp. It has only been a few days since he joined the Xuanwu Army. And his mother defected again because of stealing a donkey, and now he has escaped to the grass thieves. A slave of three surnames, a born rebellious boy, I was really blind at the time, and even recommended him for promotion!" Li Cun When Xiaoyi heard Zhu Wen's news, his face turned livid with anger, his face flushed, he slapped his knees and shouted loudly.

"What the three of Zhu and Wen have done is really bad, and the impact is extremely bad. I think it is necessary to offer a reward, or even send someone directly to his hometown to capture and execute his family." Everyone in the Crane Control Army knew that the envoy Li Juyi was cold Cold Road.

"The crime doesn't have to affect the family!" Li Jing replied calmly without looking up.He was looking at the map of Henan. Zhu Wen left Zhen[***], joined the Xuanwu Army, and then defected to join the Cao Army so quickly. This result is somewhat surprising.Although Zhu Wen in history joined the army later than now, he joined the Huang Chao army from the beginning.Unexpectedly, Zhu Yan went around such a big circle, and finally voted for the grass army.However, Li Jing doesn't quite believe that Zhu Wen defected because he was investigated for killing donkeys and eating them without permission.There should be a story there, he believes, but it doesn't really concern him.

Zhu Wen in history made Li Jing jealous, but now Zhu Wen is not worthy of Li Jing's attention.Even if Zhu Wen can really reach the heights in history, it will be a matter of the future.For him now, even Huang Chao and Wang Xianzhi are not the most important opponents at present.Even Li Jing knew very well that killing all the grass thieves at this time was not the best result for him and Zhen [***].

Since Li Xuan ascended the throne, the imperial court has fought several major battles. First, the imperial court strangled Li Guochang and Li Keyong, the father and son of the Shatuo people who looked forward to the north, and forced Li Guochang to return to the imperial court. Li Keyong fled Mobei .And the Chief Dragon of Nanzhao Kingdom, who had been at odds with Datang since he ascended the throne, was once again defeated in Xichuan.

Even Lulong Town in Youzhou, the most powerful of Hebei's top three vassals, who has always rebelled and surrendered from time to time, has changed its commander three times in a row. The position of head coach is headed by Li Jing, and the deputy ambassador is also held by the general of the imperial army.

With this series of actions, in the eyes of many people and officials in Datang, Datang has once again revived.This time, it seems to be more powerful than Xiaozhenguan of Xuanzong Dynasty, the grandfather of today's son Taizong.This makes many people think that another Xianzong dynasty and ZTE are coming.

In today's world, among the three powerful vassals in Hebei, the Lulong army in Youzhou seems to have been conquered again. The position of commander-in-chief is concurrently held by Li Jing, and the vice-ambassador and other high-level positions in the commander's residence are also held by the imperial army.The other Chengde Town was originally a strong town, but since Yi and Ding Towns were separated into Yiwu Town, and Cangzhou was assigned to Yichang Town, its strength has declined and it has become the weakest of the three towns.Today's Chengde Jiedu envoy Wang Jingchong took over from his uncle eight years ago as the commander-in-chief. In his generation, he is already the fourth generation, with five Chengde Jiedu envoys.Wang Jingchong was not a Han Chinese, but a member of the Absi tribe of the Huihe tribe, who was of the same clan and tribe as Li Keju of Youzhou.Now he is very respectful to the imperial court, and the official worships Tong Zhongshumen Xia Pingzhangshi, the inspector Taiwei, and the Zhongshu Ling, and he is named Zhao Guogong.

Weibo Town, another of the three towns in Hebei, has jurisdiction over the six prefectures of Wei, Bo, Xiang, Chan, Wei, and Bei.Weibo Town used to have the title of Tianxiong Army in the early years, but it was cut down later, and it was only called Wei Bojun. The current Jiedu envoy Han Jian.Han Jian's father, Han Junxiong, was a general of Wei Bo's army, and he took control of Wei Bo after a soldier's mutiny killed He Quanhao, the military governor at the time, who had strict military discipline four years ago.After Han Junxiong became Jiedu envoy, Han Jian became Jiedu envoy.Just this year, Han Junxiong died, and Han Jian just became Wei Bojun's envoy, and was officially appointed by the imperial court.

Even the San Francisco of Hebei is now very respectful to the imperial court, the Shatuo people were wiped out again, and Nanzhao was defeated again. Countless people in the world thought that the imperial court was in sight.As for the current rebellion of the grass bandit and Wang Jingwu, as well as the rebellion of Wang Ying in the southeast, it is believed that it can be settled in a short period of time.

But Li Jing is clear that this can only be regarded as a flashback.Several years of natural disasters led to riots, and then peasant uprisings tore apart the superficial excitement of the imperial court, revealing the fact that the vassals and towns in various places were separated.

Li Jing believes that even if Huang Chao is wiped out now, there will be more peasant uprisings soon.People who cannot survive will inevitably rebel.What's more, the vassals and towns in various places seem to respect the imperial court on the surface, but in fact, the current practice of the imperial court's civil servants serving as Jieshuai has made it difficult for the Jieshuai to really control the local vassal army.

In particular, the imperial court's current commander-in-chief is not only a civil servant, but also almost every two or three years. On the surface, it seems to be conducive to preventing the separatism of the feudal town, but in fact, it makes the local generals of the feudal town more and more powerful. Gradually, those handsome men have been emptied.

However, on the surface, Datang does seem to be very prosperous now, at least on the surface.

Li Jing knows that when the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog cooks.Based on the conflict between him and Tian Lingzi, once the Cao army is really wiped out, Tian Lingzi will definitely come to deal with him.But keeping the grass thief, Li Jing can grow himself with peace of mind.

Before the grass thieves broke through the current superficial strength of the Tang Dynasty, the various feudal towns did not have the guts to attack each other.Even Li Jing only dared to develop towards Liaodong at present, but did not dare to have Si Hao's idea of ​​sending troops to the Central Plains.No matter what the reason is, the princes in the court and the eunuchs in the palace all think that the Tang army is extremely strong at the moment.Especially after exterminating the Shatuo people, defeating the Nanzhao army, and subduing the San Francisco in Hebei, if anyone dares to make any moves, Li Jing believes that the imperial court will definitely mobilize troops to besiege immediately.

Especially now that Li Jing still has an opponent like Tian Lingzi, he just wished that he would have such an idea.

Shoot the first bird, whoever moves first will die.It is estimated that this is also the reason why Chen Jingxuan went to Youzhou to take office, and Lu Longjun has not had any major reactions until now.Even Lulong Town in Youzhou now understands that the imperial court is gaining momentum at this time, and no one dares to provoke the imperial court at this time, causing the towns to besiege.

"Marshal, the grass bandits are divided into two groups, how to attack and attack, should we also divide our troops to attack?"

The voice of the staff officer Gai Yu pulled Li Jing back from his thoughts. Li Jing looked at the map and shook his head.

Pointing to the map, first draw a circle in Qianfeng City, "Our town [***] is stationed here, and send a letter to Xue Shuai and Li Shuai to let the Tianping Army stick to Yuncheng, Yunzhou, and let the Taining Army Stick to Yanzhou Xiaoqiu!"

"And then?" Gai Yu was a little puzzled. This arrangement had a big loophole. The Cao army could calmly cross the interception line, jump out of the interception, and flee eastward.

Li Jing ignored Gai Yu's obvious prompt, and just smiled and said: "The Tianping army is stationed in Yuncheng, guarding the Jishui route. Our army is stationed in Qianfu City, guarding the line of Wenshui. The Taining army is stationed in Yanzhou Xiaqiu, Stick to the Surabaya line. These three routes are the only routes from west to east. Although the grass bandits have been defeated, we must not be careless and stick to it carefully."

Gai Yu nodded and went down to make arrangements.

After the generals retreated, Li Jing left behind Li Zhen and Guo Cheng'an.

"Send down the order, pack your luggage and prepare to evacuate." Li Jing said slowly.

"Evacuate so soon?" Guo Chengan was surprised.

"The grass thief should pass through our interception line within three days, so we don't have to stay here all the time. Once the grass thief passes, we will chase after it and then return all the way back to Dengzhou." Li Jing twisted his waist, "It's been more than half a year since I came out, and it's time to go back."

Li Zhen and Guo Chengan looked at each other, and finally understood the meaning of Li Jing's words, the commander is going to let the thieves go.

"Will there be future troubles?" Guo Chengan asked worriedly.

Li Jing smiled softly, "Tianping Army, Zhen[***], and Taining Army are stationed in three places, and the grass thief Wang Xianzhi and Huang Chao are separated. How do you think they will break through?"

"Huang Chao must have broken through from the defense line of the Tianping army, entered Jeju from Puzhou, crossed Yunzhou, and might join Wang Jingwu in Qizhou. Wang Xianzhi, with few other troops, either went east along Surabaya, from the defense line of the Taining army. Pass through to Yizhou, or go south along Surabaya to Xuzhou."

"That's right, as long as these two people are not stupid, they won't bump into us. As long as they don't come here, it doesn't matter whether they break through from the Tianping Army or the Taining Army's territory." Li Jing smile slightly.

"Marshal Gao Ming, Xue Chong's Tianping Army and Li Family's Taining Army have long been crippled by grass thieves, and there are no more than a thousand soldiers in their hands. The grass thieves will definitely break through their defenses, and there will never be anyone You dare to come to our place to die!" Li Jing praised.Li Jing's interception arrangement made it clear that he was telling the grass thieves to break through to the two sides. (To be continued.)