Chastity Layman

The summer is scorching, and the journey is very hard.

The team returning to Chang'an was huge and brought a lot of livestock, so they had to travel every morning and evening when it was cool, avoiding the scorching sun at noon as much as possible.

Qin Lang's two pro-armies, the Silver Spear Effect Team and the Black Cloud Sword Team took turns to open the way.

"Xiaocheng!"

At noon, in a forest next to the official road in Hebei, Qin Lang lay on the hammock and saw Dugu Yanyun standing there in iron armor like a javelin standing there guarding him, so he couldn't help beckoning him over.

"The weather is hot, take a break at noon, and you will also take off your armor for a rest."

Dugu Yanyun was originally a ranger of the Youzhou frontier army. It is said that he was a distant relative of the Queen Mother Dugu in the previous dynasty. When he was assigned to patrol and arrest smugglers, he repeatedly intercepted and captured smugglers. He captured the smugglers of the border guards under the governor of Daizhou. Another time, he led nine men to arrest 300 Turkic Huqi smugglers. Capture.

This sturdy combat power made Qin Lang look at him with admiration, and finally directly transferred him from the Youzhou Frontier Army to the Zhenfu Division to become his own army guard. Qin Lang also took him as the team leader and formed a new team. His pro-army was named Rampaging Luoyan Squad.

This is a cavalry team, all of them are excellent in riding and shooting, the iron cavalry is rampant, and the bow and crossbow are falling through the eagle.

"Si Cheng, I have a task under my post, so I can't leave it lightly."

Dugu Yanyun was still standing like a gun.

Qin Lang turned over and handed him the water bottle. The fresh spring water was completely icy cold.

Dugu Yanyun took a look, and finally took a few sips.

Seeing that he was dedicated to his duties, Qin Lang had no choice but to pat him on the shoulder, and then lay back in his hammock. It was quite shady in the woods, and everyone was either sleeping or chatting quietly.

Qin Lang couldn't sleep, so he chatted with Dugu Yanyun.

Dugu continued talking one after another.

After chatting for a long time, Qin Lang finally understood why the fierce man in front of him was only a fire leader when he met him. This man has nothing to say, but he is a bit self-reliant, or he always misses that he is Bazhu The descendants of Guo Duguxin usually don't get along well with other people.

Especially this person is so clean, he likes luxury, and he likes wine. Even if it's just a fire chief, he still has to be a prince's son.

In the army, there are not so many conditions, everyone is more casual, but he is always very particular, the armor and robes on his body are always shiny and clean, and he often needs to take a bath.

His actions made other comrades feel that he looked down on them. After all, most of the government soldiers are actually the children of small landlords and farmers, and not everyone is the descendant of noble officials. Why are they so particular?

In addition, although Dugu Yanyun fights fiercely, he is a bit bloodthirsty. He is merciless in his shots. He is usually cold and unsocial, and doesn't like to please the chief. Therefore, this kind of person is regarded as a stabbing head, and even the boss thinks he despises the boss. , and then going around and around, although he has repeatedly made military exploits, he will be punished for various reasons every time, so he has been in the army for many years and is only a small fire leader.

However, Qin Lang felt that this person was pretty good, and he valued Dugu Yanyun's ability more, so after getting to know him, he felt that there was nothing wrong with this person, so he transferred him over and asked him to lead the Rampage and Luoyan team.

All the way south, every day is very simple and boring.

Before dawn, I hurried on the road, and at half-morning, I found a shady place to rest and escape the heat, and waited for the sun to set in the west, and then drove for a while.

Stop and go every day, because there are many people in the team, it is not lonely. Occasionally, there will be thieves who don't have long eyes to come and rob everyone, adding some fun to everyone.

Take the unlucky and unsightly thief captive and demote them to slaves. They are responsible for cutting down trees, carrying water, feeding horses, digging latrines and erecting camp fences when they camp every day.

The two children Luo Tong and Li Cunxiao were companions along the way, and Dou Hongxian stayed in Hebei, but agreed with Qin Lang to take Luo Tong from Princess Nanyang of Mingzhou to Chang'an.

When I have free time, I teach them martial arts, or read, write and paint. Although the two children are young, they are very diligent and hardworking. They ride horses together every day. Little Turkic Li Cunxiao doesn't know martial arts, but he studies hard. He has put in more effort and sweat than Luo Tong. This kid knows that he can't compare with Luo Tong. Although he is about the same age, Luo Tong is already a prince.

Chang'an.

Li Shimin is calling important ministers and generals to discuss matters in the East Palace.

More and more information from Liangzhou, Lingzhou, and Bingzhou entered Chang'an, indicating that the Turkic invasion was imminent.

The Turks hadn't crossed the border to the south, but Shuofang's anti-king Liang division had already dispatched troops first.

Li Jing reported that the Liang division had assembled 80,000 soldiers and horses, and the troops came to Xiazhou.

Li Shimin summoned a group of ministers, not limited to the three high-ranking officials and the Donggong team, many important ministers and generals were called into the palace to discuss military matters.

Li Shentong, King of Huai'an, Li Xiaogong, King of Hejian, Li Daozong, King of Jiangxia, Prince Consort Chai Shao, Situ Dougui and other royal relatives also attended the meeting.

In the hall, Liu Rengui, who joined the army sent by Li Shiji, the general manager of Bingzhou, was making a report, "Cao Guogong has ordered the people in 34 counties in the five prefectures north of Bingzhou, with a population of more than 17,900 households, to move to the south of Yanmenguan. More than 14,000 stones, more than 6,800 livestock, cattle and horses, all moved to the south of Yanmen Pass with the population. Before Cao Guogong asked his ministers to report to the prince, if the northern captive really went southeast through my river, he would be punished and starved to death at Yanmen Pass. To the north, never let it pass through the Yanmen Pass."

Cao Guogong is Li Shiji, the governor of Bingzhou, who sits in Taiyuan.

He is now carrying out efforts to fortify the wall and clear the country on behalf of the North, just to prevent the Turks from taking advantage of it.

Clear the Daibei, then stick to the front line of Yanmen Pass and Loufan Pass, and fight a defensive battle with Taiyuan in Bingzhou as the support.

Li Shimin didn't look happy when he heard that.

"Fortify the walls and clear the wilderness. In this way, more than 10,000 households and nearly 100,000 people were forced to leave their homes. Such a large-scale relocation and refuge, the people will suffer a lot. I am worried that the Turks will not starve to death, but countless Daibei people who have left their homes will starve to death." .”

Liu Rengui hurriedly said, "Please rest assured, Your Highness, Cao Guogong has long been prepared to withdraw the people of the five northern prefectures to the south, and resettle the people of one prefecture in each of the five prefectures including Bingzhou. Bingzhou and other counterpart states will also arrange for the people to evacuate to the south to reclaim wasteland and farmland, etc., and will provide food to sustain life, and it is by no means to ignore it.”

"Livestock deaths and injuries along the way for the people who migrated south will also be compensated by the Bingzhou Metropolitan Governor's Office."

Pei Shiju, the new Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, frowned and said, "In this season, it is too late for the people to reclaim wasteland and farmland. At least one season's harvest will be lost, and the grain storage in the official warehouse will not last long."

Pei Shiju was originally a confidant of Yang Guang in the Sui Dynasty. He was once called the five nobles. He was already in his seventies at this time, but he was good at diplomacy and was still very capable. Now replacing Zheng Shanguo in charge of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, he is naturally more concerned about money and food.

Sun Wuji, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, said bluntly, "Although it is hard to move south, it is better than abandoning them in Daibei and being captured by the Turks. It is a little bit more difficult for a while. When we defeat the Turks, they can return to their hometowns." In my hometown, production has resumed."

However, Pei Shiju did not give Changsun Wuji, the crown prince, the first confidant face, and said bluntly, "I still feel that Li Shiji's preparations for the emergency in Bingzhou are a bit passive. In this respect, he is not as good as the sixteen-year-old Yi Guogong. Youzhou didn't do anything to fortify the walls and clear the wilderness, and the immigrants moved south."

"Youzhou is not the direction of Turkic attack this time! Besides, Youzhou is guarded by the Great Wall!" Changsun Wuji retorted.

"The six prefectures of the Governor's Mansion of Youzhou are not all within the Great Wall. Isn't North Yanzhou just like the Yunshuo prefectures, which are outside the inner Great Wall and inside the outer Great Wall? But have you heard that the immigrants from North Yanzhou's strong walls and clear fields moved southward?" Is it? No, the Ministry of Civil Affairs received a report that not only did the governor of the Qin Dynasty not ask the court for any money and food support, but he even took the initiative to find ways to open up border markets at the foot of the Great Wall in Beiyan Prefecture, collect taxes, and even let merchants transport food. Going to the border town to exchange salt and tea quotations, Qin Dudu’s Youzhou Dudu Mansion did not evacuate a single citizen, but cleaned up and rectified the border town, and recruited regiments to train, so that now Youzhou Dudu Mansion has 50,000 frontier soldiers guarding the border. Received a report saying that Qin Dudu, now he is Qin Sicheng, when he returned to Chang'an, he brought back thousands of horses and thousands of taels of gold and silver to help the court."

After these words came out, everyone was a little dumbfounded. Although many people felt that the situation in Bingzhou and Youzhou could not be compared at all, at least on the surface, it sounded that Youzhou was doing better than Bingzhou.

The Governor's Mansion of Bingzhou only removed all the people outside the customs of several states under the Governor's Mansion of Daizhou, but they were able to buy more soldiers and horses to feed back the imperial court.

Li Shimin couldn't help but smile, and he waved his hand, "Qin Lang did something unexpected in Youzhou, but the situation in Bingzhou is indeed more stressful than in Youzhou, and the strategy of strengthening the wall and clearing the country is worthy of recognition."

Grand Sima Du Ruhui also said at this time, "This time the Turks invaded, the imperial court discussed the war strategy many times, and the final decision was just to stick to the border, let the enemy go deep, fortify the wall and clear the field, and wait for the enemy to neglect the sixteen words. In Youzhou, Qin Lang guarded the frontiers, Li Shiji in Hedong fortified the walls and cleared the country, Li Jing in Lingzhou let the enemy go deep, Qin Qiong in Liangzhou treated the enemy slack, they all did a good job, there is no right or wrong. "

As Minister of the Ministry of War, Du Ruhui is under a lot of pressure right now, "According to the enemy situation reported by all parties, it is now estimated that in addition to the 80,000 horses in Liang Shidu, the Turkic Jieli Khan will have 200,000 horses going south. Such a force , It is bigger than the one in the eighth year of Wude, and it is really difficult for the imperial court to defeat the enemy head-on."

Li Shimin nodded, "Keming, please introduce the imperial court's deployment plan to everyone!"

"The Ministry of War's plan consists of two parts. One is to stick to the pass city, let Niu Jinda and Su Lie guard Youzhou, order Li Shiji and Zhang Gong to guard Yanmen Taiyuan, and order Li Jing and Qin Qiong to guard Lingwu, guard the pass tightly, and not fight easily. Form a mobile army to support at any time, with Huo Guogong Chai Shao's troops, Jiang Guogong Qu Tutong's troops, and Yan Wang Li Yi's troops in three directions."

"In order to be safe, Zhang Gong was ordered to move to the front line of Taihang and support Youzhou at any time. Another Duke Liu Hongji was sent to lead an army out of Qin and Long to support Qin Shubao's Lanzhou and Liangzhou."

"If the Turkic army breaks through the northwest gate of Guanzhong, the people in the villages and towns in the counties and counties north of Chang'an should be ordered to move all the food and livestock into the city to take refuge. It is necessary to ensure that there is no surplus money in the wild."

"In addition, the imperial court should send an army out of Weixi to use martial arts to ensure the safety of the west of Beijing. At present, Chang'an has assembled 57,000 troops and horses. There are sufficient food and equipment in the city. It can last for more than three months. Twenty days away, we should be able to reach the city of Chang'an, and when the enemy's food is exhausted, our army will counterattack, and we will be able to go down with one blow."

Li Shimin smiled wryly.

Du Ruhui's plan sounded good, but it couldn't hide the fact that in the face of the large-scale attack of the Turks, they could only divide their troops to defend. Kill Chang'an City and come down, hoping that the walls of Chang'an City will be strong, and then gather troops to besiege.

"Gu started to fight at the age of sixteen, and he has never fought such a useless and aggrieved battle."

"Your Highness, this is the only way. If you fight the Turks directly at the border, the odds of winning are too low. Once you lose, you will be in danger."

Li Shimin sighed.

Du Ruhui said again, "The key now is whether to issue a general mobilization order to recruit all the soldiers from Guanzhong and Jingxiang. With the current force, if we want to deal with the 200,000 Turkic army and the 80,000 Liang Shidu rebels, it is still very difficult and extremely dangerous."

"Our army's cavalry is really at a disadvantage. The Turkic cavalry can come and go like the wind, and it is difficult to defend. Even if the Turks retreat when the food is exhausted, it will be difficult for us to encircle and chase."

The plan drawn up by Du Ruhui and others can only be to fortify the stronghold and fight silently, hoping to surround the Turkic army with a larger number of soldiers and horses and pass gates everywhere.

Wang Gui, the advising doctor who had been silent all this time, objected loudly.

He was originally a confidant of the abolished prince Jiancheng. After Yang Wenqian's rebellion, he was exiled by Emperor Li Yuan in the name of alienating the emperor's flesh and blood.

"Your Highness, Du Gong, I would like to ask, if Jingxiang and other local soldiers are not conscripted, can the imperial court keep Chang'an?"

Li Shimin said domineeringly, "If the Turks break through the outer defenses, the lone general will lead the soldiers and horses near Chang'an to guard Chang'an and face the Turks!"

Back then when the Turks invaded aggressively, Li Yuan and others prepared to move the capital to Xiangyang to avoid the war. It was also Li Shimin who firmly opposed the move.

Now facing the Turkic invasion again, even more severe than that time, Li Shimin expressed his determination to fight to the end.

Upon hearing this, Wang Gui bowed to Li Shimin, "Since His Royal Highness thinks that Chang'an can be guarded, then I think it is really inappropriate to conscript Jingxiang and other local government soldiers."

"Why?"

"I just returned to Chang'an from other places not long ago, and I was deeply touched by what I saw along the way. Years of wars have reduced the number of people everywhere. Even if you take Guanzhong as an example, you are the capital of Jingzhao. Yu. The court enlisted Xue Ju to take 10%, conscripted Liu Wuzhou, another 10%, and conscripted Wang Shichong, Dou Jiande, and another 20%.

"And this year, seeing that Shandong and Henan are about to suffer a catastrophe, Yangzhou, Dongwu, a rich place, also has signs of a poor harvest this year. This year, we can only hope that the land of Jingxiang will have a little more harvest, so as to provide some disaster relief to other places. Ration. If all the military mansions in the Jingxiang area are now conscripted, tens of thousands of mansion soldiers and more than 100,000 civilian men are mobilized, then this year's autumn planting will be delayed!"

"We can't patronize the present, we have to see the future."

Li Shimin frowned tightly.

He heard the voice behind Wang Gui's words, "Does the advising doctor think that this battle, with all the power of the Tang Dynasty, still cannot be completed in one battle?"

Li Shimin discussed with Du Ruhui and Sun Wuji many times, and the ultimate goal of the strategy they drew up was to lure the enemy's lone army deep, and finally gather a large army to close the door and beat the dogs, encircle and wipe them out, in order to severely defeat Xieli and win a big victory.

But now Wang Gui's words undoubtedly expressed doubts about it.

Li Shimin is very confident in his command of the army. All his previous strategies revolved around how to defeat the Turks and injure the Turks, but now.

"Your Highness, the country is established and the world is peaceful. There will be another catastrophe this year, and there will be chaos in the capital and Youzhou. People's hearts will be unstable. When formulating a strategy at this time, I think that we should be more cautious and conservative. At the time of the trial, we must seize the momentum and do what we can, and we must not put all our eggs in one basket."

defeat?

Li Shimin never thought about it before, but now Wang Gui reminded him, what if he loses?

As soon as this idea appeared, Li Shimin suddenly felt chills in his heart.

Can he, who has just experienced the Xuanwumen palace change and seizure of power, bear this defeat?

After a long time, Li Shimin nodded.

"Admonishing the doctor is justified. Let Gu think about this matter carefully and consider it in the long run."