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Chapter 516 You Are Not Alone

Hearing what Liu Hongji said, Fang Xuanling said: "Brother Liu's worries are not unfounded. Brother Keming, what do you think of this matter?"

On the side, Du Ruhui was wearing a thick felt and looked a bit frail, but no one dared to underestimate the wisdom contained in this frail body.

Du Ruhui coughed a few times, and said: "Looking at the current situation, as long as Lord Zhao doesn't capture Yongnian City, it will be impossible to cross south for a day."

"What if Yongnian City is captured? We can't place our hopes on how long Liu Heita can defend." Liu Hongji asked.

Du Ruhui said: "You're right. It's up to you to achieve success, and you can't rely on others. However, even if the Zhao army captures Yongnian City, Lord Zhao still needs time to digest the land of Hebei, win over the nobles in Hebei, wipe out Liu Heita, Yu Wenhua and others. The rest of his confidantes, as well as Xu Yuanlang and Meng Haigong in Shandong, these are not things that can be done in a few months."

Hearing what Du Ruhui said, everyone nodded.

"However," Du Ruhui changed the subject, "But if Li Chongjiu really digests the land of Hebei and invades south with all his strength, then we have to make preparations first."

"May I ask where did you start to prepare?" Fang Xuanling asked.

Du Ruhui coughed a few more times, and his face became even paler. He said concentratingly: "First of all, Hanoi, Huaizhou owned by Wang Shichong, Heyang. Huaizhou is the only place in the state of Zheng north of the Yellow River. And the three cities of Heyang are connected to Hanoi in the north and Luoyang in the south. If our army can break through this place, it will cut off the passage to the north of Luoyang, and the entire Yellow River will be in danger. First of all, the Zhao army's navy will not be able to go up the river to reinforce Luoyang."

"Good!" Li Shimin clapped his hands together and said.

Du Ruhui said: "However, taking Huaizhou and Heyang is only the first step. Wang Shichong besieged Luoyang with heavy troops. If the way of besieging the city cannot be attacked ten times, then we must cut off its aid and cut off its food. If we can take Go back to Luo, Luokou, and Hanjia Sancang, then not only can Luoyang’s grain roads be cut off, but also our army can be used to avoid the hardship of transshipment for thousands of miles in Guanzhong. There are so many people in Luoyang City, but there is little food, and it will be broken soon.”

The generals listened to Du Ruhui's words. Du Ruhui's opinion was that one was to cut off Luoyang's aid, and the other was to cut off Luoyang's food.

"I think that if these two things can be achieved, Luoyang City has already been captured." Liu Hongji said with a smile. It is not difficult now with the strength of the Tang army, so he is very optimistic.

"Generally speaking, this is good, but it's not a perfect solution." Du Ruhui said.

"What is a truly complete policy?" Liu Hongji couldn't help asking.

Du Ruhui waved the bamboo stick in the fire for a while, and said: "To put out the fire, you have to pay no salary. If you really want to kill Wang Shichong, you must capture the tiger prison and stop his way back to the east."

Hearing the word "hulao", Li Shimin's eyes moved.Liu Hongji said: "Hulao, at the beginning Xiang Yu and Liu Bang faced each other here, seventy in the big battle, forty in the small battle, Liu Bang had to guard against the danger, so that the overlord of Chu could not go any further."

"That's right, Hulao can not only cut off Wang Shichong's return to the east, but also defend against the enemy in the east," Du Ruhui said solemnly, "If the main Zhao army comes to help Zheng with a large force, there are only two ways. The county sent troops to capture the land of Hanoi, captured the three cities of Heyang, and then sent Mengjin to cross the Yellow River to help Luoyang."

Liu Hongji clapped his legs immediately and said: "I understand, that's why Brother Du said just now that he will take the three cities of Heyang and Huaizhou as the top priority, in order to avoid Li Chongjiu's reinforcements from Hebei."

Fang Xuanling said: "Originally, there is no need to worry about this journey, but Li Chongjiu defeated Yu Wenhuaji and sent General Wang Mahan to lead 1 troops to Wei County. Could it be for this purpose, no wonder he dared to spread the word to the world. Wei County is so crucial."

Li Shimin said: "It doesn't matter, even if Li Chongjiu captures Hanoi, as long as the three cities of Heyang are in the hands of our army, Zhao Jun will have no chance at all."

To know the situation in Luoyang as a whole, the Yellow River is in the way in the north, and the mountains and rivers are dangerous on the other three sides, which can be called the four fortresses of mountains and rivers.On the whole, Tongguan blocks the west and the danger of Weihan; Hulao blocks the east; Yique and Longmen block the south; Mengjin blocks the north.

The north of Luoyang is even more solid. In addition to the danger of the Yellow River, there is Beiman Mountain blocking the south bank. You must know that Beiman Mountain spans hundreds of miles from east to west. Therefore, to cross the river from the north of the Yellow River to Luoyang, the only crossing is Mengjin Road.

And the three cities of Heyang are guarding the Mengjin Ferry.

The three cities of Heyang are Beizhong City, Zhongtan City and Nancheng. The North Zhongcheng City is built on the north bank of the Yellow River, Zhongtan City is built on the sandbar in the river, and the South City is built on the south bank facing the river on three sides.The three cities are the key to the north of Luoyang, and the Yellow River flows through them, and there are river bridges between each city.

Given that the three cities of Heyang are dangerous, as long as they are in the hands of the Tang army, it will not take time for the Zhao army to attack them.

That's why Li Shimin said that as long as the three cities of Heyang are under control, there is no chance for Zhao Jun to cross the river from Mengjin to help.

Liu Hongji knew that Li Shimin had sent Huang Junhan, the general manager of Huaizhou, to attack Heyang, and Liu Dewei, the general manager of the Luzhou march, to attack Huaizhou.

What's more, even if Li Chongjiu attacked this route, there would be two generals from Li Tang guarding Hedong to resist.

Now the generals will return to the topic of Hulao.

Du Ruhui said: "If the Zhao army does not go to Weijun, Hanoi, and Heyang to cross the river, and to help Luoyang from the north, then the only way is to cross the Yellow River from Liyang to the south, and after arriving at Baima City, march westward on drums. Coming to Hulao Pass is the only way for Zhao Jun to go west to aid Zheng."

After hearing what Du Ruhui said, everyone suddenly realized.Surrounding Luoyang, the Tang army is now attacking Luoyang from Tongguan in the east and Longmen in the south, and Li Chongjiu has to go to Mengjin in the north or Hulao in the west if he wants to help Zheng.

Liu Hongji said: "But this road is not easy. First of all, the military rations in Liyang warehouse need to be transported thousands of miles by land, which is labor-intensive, and the journey is also farther than going to Mengjin."

"But the victory is safe," Fang Xuanling said, "If you advance from the west, you can also get Wang Shichong's troops from the south and Wang Bo's support. After joining forces, the momentum will be greatly improved."

Liu Hongji said: "I understand, so for the sake of safety, we must guard the Hulao. Hulao is the gate for one man, and ten thousand men cannot open it. As long as our army blocks it with elite soldiers, there is nothing we can do with Zhao Junkong's [-] troops."

After everyone discussed, they all nodded.Li Shimin has been silent all the time, and has been thinking deeply after hearing everyone's opinions.

No one knew that the three conditions mentioned by Du Ruhui in the military discussion coincided with the three conditions put forward by Li Chongjiu and Wang Shichong's envoy Du Yan.And this Three Kingdoms War related to Tang Zhengzhao was also concluded here.

When everyone was discussing, the tent door was suddenly opened, and a lot of wind and snow poured into the tent from the outside.

"Okay, second brother, you are discussing a lot of important things here, why don't you call me? Is there something important you want to lie to me?"

It was Qi Wang Li Yuanji who spoke, and all the generals stood up and saluted when they saw the other party coming here.

But Li Shimin sat still, and asked instead: "King Qi, what do you mean?"

Li Yuanji smiled, walked to the side of the bonfire and said: "Second brother, you are too sensitive, I just asked this question by the way, but anyway, I am also the deputy general who is going to conquer Wang Shichong, so please don't worry about the military situation." Keep it from me."

Li Shimin said: "Who told you to come. It's just that you don't care about it on weekdays. When I left the camp just now, I patrolled the barracks for a week, but you drank fine wine with the soldiers in the tent. There is no such thing."

Li Yuanji's complexion changed, the soldiers and horses were running around, women were not allowed in the army, so there were always young and beautiful young men by his side as personal soldiers to relieve boredom.

After Li Shimin uncovered this matter, all the generals looked coldly, and looked at Li Yuanji with contempt.

Seeing the expressions of the generals, Li Yuanji was furious from the bottom of his heart. He was appointed by Li Jiancheng this time to prevent Li Shimin from monopolizing power and let Li Yuanji win over some generals in the army to support him.But Li Shimin said so in person, Li Yuanji's prestige was discredited, how could anyone work for him, and what was even more annoying was that Li Shimin still said it in public.

Li Yuanji said angrily: "Second brother, what are you talking about? How can I be a good person like Longyang? Second brother, I just remind you kindly, father, brother, don't say it, but it doesn't mean you don't know. I'm not blind either. It's not like I haven't seen it in the past month. I'm here today, and I've made it clear. Don't pull the hills in the army. What kind of faction, as well as the generals, what Qin Wang party, eighteen bachelors , there is only one King of Qin in your eyes, don't forget that you are first and foremost the courtiers of the Tang Dynasty."

As soon as Li Yuanji said this, he offended everyone in the tent.The generals dared to be angry but did not dare to speak.

"Fourth brother!" Li Shimin yelled at him.

Fang Xuanling laughed and said: "King Qin, King Qi, don't get angry, you are brothers, and you are just joking around. If the soldiers outside heard it, it would be no good. They thought we were generals. Discord has shaken the morale of the army."

Li Yuanji also sneered again and again. He pulled the general outside for his cronies, and turned around and said: "Really? Second brother, it is not easy to attack Luoyang. Don't forget that our Li family children are not the only ones who can fight , Sweeping the world doesn’t depend on you alone.”

"Just because you are not worthy to say this to me." Li Shimin said coldly.

Li Yuanji went to the tent door and said loudly: "I am not worthy to carry your shoes for the second brother, but I am not alone in the family. You don't know, this time the Turkic army invaded Hexi, and the emperor has reactivated the third sister. Take command and go out to defend against the Turks. Haha."

Li Shimin was slightly taken aback when he heard what Li Yuanji said. He didn't know about this beforehand.

Li Yuanji's laughter drifted far outside the tent, Li Shimin was meditating in the tent, the people on the left and right retreated, leaving only Fang Xuanling as a confidant.

Fang Xuanling took a step forward and said: "His Royal Highness, the King of Huai'an is currently defeated in Hebei, and the King of Hejian County has just suffered a defeat in his attack on Sichuan and Shu. At present, among the nephews of the Li family, there is no one but His Majesty the Princess. It can be sent. But fortunately, the princess is a daughter, even if she has the military power, she will not pose a threat to His Highness."

Li Shimin glanced at him, and said in a deep voice: "You are not right, if she is not a daughter, I am afraid that the crown prince would have been passed on to her by my father."

(End of this chapter)