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Chapter 742

Hearing that Li Jing did not capture Hulao Pass, Li Yuan frowned.

Needless to say, the strategic position of Hulaoguan to the overall situation of Luoyang.If the key point of Hulao is not cut off, Zhao Jun's land and water reinforcements will continue to come from Hebei and Shandong. In this way, Li Tang will never attack Luoyang.Li Jing retreated from Hulao Pass, which meant that Li Tang's army on the South Road had no strength left and could not make any progress.

Now unless Li Yuan made up his mind to lead his army across the Yellow River, as soon as Li Chongjiu's reinforcements arrived, Li Xiaogong and Li Jing's army in the south of Luoyang would fall into the danger of being passive or even surrounded.

All the generals are in an unfavorable situation now, and there will not be much progress if the battle continues, but they all hold their breath, waiting for Li Yuan's decision.

"Pei Qing, what do you think?" Li Yuan raised his hand, pointed at Pei Ji, and named this important official to express his opinion.

Pei Ji put away his sleeves and bowed to Li Yuan: "Your Majesty, I think that this time the Eastern Expedition has already dealt heavy damage to the Zhao army, which is enough to demonstrate our national prestige in the Tang Dynasty. Although we did not capture Luoyang, we have gained enough. I think that since the goal has been achieved, it is a good decision to withdraw troops to prepare for the battle in the future!"

When Pei Ji said that, although the left and right generals in the camp didn't say anything, they agreed with them from the bottom of their hearts.Even Li Jiancheng didn't object, but Li Yuanji opened his mouth and stopped talking again.

Hearing what Pei Ji said, Li Yuan said stunnedly: "Pei Qing is, what a serious injury, to put it bluntly, it's not because I saw that my northern and southern armies were unable to continue fighting, so I asked to withdraw my troops."

Pei Ji quickly lowered his head and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Li Yuan said: "This is a military discussion. I will talk with all the generals in a heart-to-heart manner. Don't be shy. If you want to say something, you don't need to modify the wording. I want to listen to the truth and listen to what you say from the bottom of my heart."

When Li Yuan said that, those who just wanted to get up, followed Pei Ji's agreement, and whitewashed the disadvantages of this battle all fell silent.

There was silence in the tent, and Li Yuan glanced over the generals and asked, "Is there no one who speaks bluntly among all the generals in the tent? What do you think, King Huai'an?"

Li Shentong named Li Yuan and said immediately: "Reporting to Your Majesty, I think I can fight again."

"How to fight? Cross the Yellow River by force?"

"Of course not, enter Liyang in one fell swoop, attack Liyang City, seize Liyang warehouse, and after you have enough soldiers and food, you can fight against Zhao Jun." Li Shentong replied.

"This is somewhat insightful, but near Liyang City, there are [-] cavalry from the Zhao army. Our army sent troops from Heyang to attack Liyang. Don't say that the food road is so long, is there enough food?" Li Yuan asked back. road.
"This..." Li Shentong was speechless for a moment.

Li Yuan said: "Prince Huai'an, it's a major military and national issue, you should think it over before returning to me."

"promise."

At this time, a general said: "Your Majesty, the general has something to say."

Li Yuan looked, it turned out to be Liu Hongji.

Li Yuan said: "Okay, tell me."

Liu Hongji said: "Wei Chen also thinks that if we continue to fight now, the army will be exhausted, so Wei Chen and Mr. Pei have the same opinion, the best policy is to withdraw troops as soon as possible."

Li Yuan nodded and said: "Although they have the same opinion, but Liu Aiqing is the only general in the hall, and I'm telling the truth."

Liu Hongji lowered his head and said: "Your Majesty, I am just saying something. Now that our army is retreating, Zhao Jun may counterattack aggressively. I guess Zhao Jun's next move will be either Hanoi, Hedong, or Henan. Your Majesty, please send capable generals." garrison."

Pei Ji said: "General Liu's words are wrong. Zhao Jun will counterattack, but it can't be done with great fanfare. After repeated battles, Zhao Jun also suffered a lot of losses. Our army's rations are exhausted, and Zhao Jun's rations are also consumed countless times."

Liu Hongji objected: "That's different. Zhao Jun has the Luokou Warehouse and the Liyang Warehouse in his hands, and the supply of soldiers and supplies is endless. How can there be consumption."
"Even if there is no loss of military rations, the cost of money, the casualties of soldiers, and the loss of staff can't be made up for by the two warehouses in Luokou and Liyang," Pei Jiyan said, "Your Majesty, since I have been in charge of the household department , have a clear judgment on Zhao Jun's national strength."

"According to many years of spying and estimation, we have a general understanding of Zhao's treasury revenue and expenditure. Da Zhao's annual income is nearly 20, mainly because of the trade between Huaihuang, Yuyi and the second town of Yuyi, and outside the Great Wall. This income will benefit from it every year, more than [-] pieces of silk. The second is the sea trade with Baekje and Silla, which is about [-] pieces. The third is Youjing, and the income per acre of each county in Taiyuan is estimated to be [-]. Between [-] and [-] horses, the public debt borrows [-] horses from the people every year, and this year's levy of Goguryeo, after the country is broken, the treasury is worth [-] to [-] horses."

When Pei Ji said this, the soldiers of the Tang army gasped. They didn't expect that Zhao Guo's income in the second town of Yuyi was so high with Huaihuang.And even after Li Tang occupied the rich Bashu, his annual national income was only more than 20.

Pei Ji said: "However, Zhao Guo spent even more. Since Li Chongjiu became the throne, he has exempted the Ding tax and canceled the common people's service tax, and replaced it with rewards. After Li Chongjiu attacked Liu Heita last year, he exempted Liu Heita in order to win people's hearts. The taxation of the counties in Hebei for three years is the same after taking over Shandong, so it’s all a waste of money.”

"Besides, Zhao Guo is fighting every year. It costs a lot to build warships and ships at sea, and build armor on land. I can be sure that Zhao Guo's life is not easy right now. So after this war, They are also unable to launch a further major offensive."

Li Yuan nodded and said: "Pei Qing has done a lot of hard work in the past few years. Only by knowing yourself and the enemy can you be victorious in every battle."

Pei Ji hurriedly said: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your compliment."

Li Yuan said: "Everyone, since the Zhao army has no strength left, our army will leave some troops to guard, and the rest will retreat and return to Guanzhong. Jing Xiang, everyone has no objection!"

All the generals said yes.

Li Yuan said again: "However, Zhao Jun is powerless to fight back, so I can't take it lightly. Liu Qing is right. Henan, Hedong, and Hanoi are all critical places, which must be guarded by generals."

Liu Hongji said: "Your Majesty, Henan is a place where all directions meet in the world, and the population is so large that it is the best in every place. When our army got Henan, all the old generals of Wang Shichong were left to guard. These people We don't have much favor to give them, once they turn against the Zhao army, it will be a great loss to our army. I suggest that the families of these generals can be brought into Chang'an, and additional troops can be sent to control the troops in Henan."

Li Yuan clapped his hands together and said: "Liu Aiqing's words are really good words. I decided that Hedong will continue to be guarded by Xiangwu King Li Chen, and Chai Shao will lead 5000 troops to town Shangdang. Hanoi is still the king of Huai'an, Li Shentong, so please work hard for me and continue to sit here. Hongji, you lead 5000 troops to defend Heyang."

When Li Yuan said this, he paused and said: "I have decided to use Li Jing as the governor of the Kanto Road, enter Dr. Zuo Guanglu, transfer generals Li Junxian, Zhang Gongjin and [-] Bashu troops, and give him control of the soldiers and horses of the states in Henan. The governor of Jingxiang Road, led the main force of the South Route Army back to Jiangling to sit in town."

Hearing what Li Yuan said, all the generals were shocked. Li Jing's promotion speed is too fast.All the generals knew Li Yuan's consistent style of employing people, even if he was not a relative. Li Jing came from the Li family in Longxi, so of course he was a relative of Li Yuan's clan.

But Li Jing personally went to Chang'an to denounce Li Yuan when he raised troops in Jinyang.Li Yuan once wanted to kill this person, but this time Li Jing was promoted by Li Yuan to be the governor of Kanto by virtue of his achievements in calming down Xiao Xian and his outstanding performance in the battle of Yique. One side of the princes, it can also be seen that Li Yuan is indeed eager to use powerful generals to stabilize the current situation.

But now, for Li Yuan, ordering to withdraw his troops was really not reconciled to him. This time, he invested far more in attacking Zhao than he gained.He came to the front line of Heyang this time to see if there was any last chance of success. It can be said that if Li Jingruo captured Hulao Pass, it would be completely different for Li Yuan if he gave orders today.

But after Li Jing's defeat, Li Yuan knew in his heart that there was nothing to be done, so he decided to withdraw his troops without hesitation for a moment.At the same time, the military order was sent directly to the south of Luoyang at a speed of [-] urgency.

When June came in the second year of innovation, the Tang army attacked Luoyang from the north and the south. Before Li Chongjiu's reinforcements arrived, they all retreated from the front line of Luoyang. This battle also came to an end.

(End of this chapter)