Residents of Liangdu, men, women, old and young, mobilized to fight to protect their homeland.
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling are now famous heroes all over the world. Not only are they invincible in battle, but because they are from low-level business backgrounds, their images are more popular than those of former Sui Dynasty ministers and generals who came from high-ranking families and became tycoons who started their careers in the underworld. The martial arts figures and ambitious young men from the nearby area came to join him one after another.
Kou Zhong's first public gathering of friends on the road to hegemony happened suddenly and unintentionally.
Under any other circumstances, Xu Ziling would not have been directly involved in Kou Zhong's personal business of conquering the world. But this time, because of his compassionate kindness to the people of the city, he even dealt with Yu Wenhua and had to shoulder the responsibility of training soldiers and forming an army. important responsibility.
Kou Zhongze relied on the Heavenly Book handed down by Lu Miaozi with one hand and copied the entire administrative structure of Liangdu with the other hand and tried to make the best use of limited resources.
However, Yu Wenhua and the approximately 20,000 troops from the south moved slowly, and because they had to plunder food and grass along the way and force strong men, they turned into disaster areas like locusts, forcing the people along the way to flee to Liangdu. The burden on Kou Zhong was hundreds. Add weight.
On this day, with great difficulty, the two of them gathered in a side hall of the Zhongfu Sheng Restaurant on Nanbei Street, which runs through the north and south city gates, to have lunch together and discuss matters of attack and defense.
The other customers in the restaurant were used to seeing the two of them as people who were approachable and didn't like to hide in the general manager's house. They only liked to be in the common people's place, chatting with each other with big bowls of wine and chunks of meat, and swearing at each other with some motherly words.
Kou Zhong said in a low voice: Now the fourteen towns and more than 200 villages near Liangdu have all surrendered to us, so we can get more food and grass and relieve the suffering of food shortage.
Xu Ziling frowned and said: Where did the food of Liangdu come from before?
Kou Zhongdao: These towns and villages only hate the Khitan dog thieves who are killing people and setting fires everywhere. As a result, the farmland has been abandoned and cannot be supplied as usual. Do you want to buy food? Upstream, Wang Shichong fought against Li Mi. Downstream, Dad and Shen Faxing fought against Li Zitong, and the water transportation was cut off. Alas. !
My young master Ling never imagined that one day we would have to worry about firewood and rice for nearly 100,000 people in the city! You were foresighted in your previous advice to me not to compete with others for the fruits of the world.
Xu Ziling asked without even smiling: How many days can the food supply last?
Kou Zhongdao: According to Chen Jiafeng's estimation, if Yu Wenwengu, that bitch, comes to besiege the city and cut off all water transportation in three days based on the current marching speed, we won't be able to last ten days even if we tighten our pants.
Xu Ziling changed his expression and said: Isn't it true that the jackals of the bad universe will still take advantage of the opportunity to plunder, so that he will not be short of food, while we will be trapped in the isolated city and end up starving to death.
Kou Zhong smiled bitterly and said: "Now we seem to have thousands of people, but we can really send out no more than twenty to deal with them. We can prepare our own leather weapons, and there are only a thousand people, and there are so few horses. Even the old, tired and thin ones only have a hundred or so horses." .Soldiers are more expensive than elites, but those who are truly considered to be elite soldiers are afraid that only two idiots, you and me, will be left. This time it’s not bad, but terrible.
Xu Ziling said resolutely: Defending the city is a dead end, so why not just ambush the Yuhua bones on the way, rather than waiting to die here.
Kou Zhong shook his head and said: "The reason why Yuhuagu's army marched so slowly and abandoned the fast waterway and came up from 6 is to prevent us from ambush on the way, so this plan will definitely not work for you. Can thousands of people go out to fight in a mighty way?" Where is the master of spying from the Yuwen clan? Now we can only look at Li Zitong's side.
At this time, Xie Jiao, who had been promoted to the head of Kou Zhong's bodyguard, came to report that a man who claimed to be named Xuanyong asked to see the two uncles.
The two were very happy - Xie Jiao invited him in.
After a while, Xuanyong, who was in a dusty state, arrived, and the three of them met and talked about their separation.
Kou Zhongdao: You came at the right time.
Xuanyong said happily: The news that you defeated the Khitan horse thieves with an empty city and a few difficult soldiers has spread throughout the northern cities.
Xu Ziling was surprised: How could the news spread so quickly in only seven or eight days?
Xuanyong said: Everything that happens near the north and south waterways is particularly easy to spread due to the convenient water transportation. When I learned that Yu Wenhua and his troops were advancing towards Liangdu, I knew something was wrong and immediately rushed over.
Kou Zhong suddenly stood up and clasped his fists at the diners in the store and said: Dear fellow villagers, we have important matters to discuss. Can you please finish your meal and leave?
After hearing this, all the guests left happily.
When Kou Zhong sat down, there were only three of them left in the store. Even the boss and the waiter had fled to the kitchen.
Xu Ziling said: Brother Xuan, do you know what's wrong with us?
Xuan Yong calmed down and said: First, there is a lack of food; second, there are no available soldiers; third, I am isolated and helpless. Am I wrong?
Kou Zhongdaqi said: "Looking at your appearance, it seems that you can solve these three problems for us. Don't just coax me."
Xuan Yong said: Food is tight everywhere and no one can do anything about it. However, these three problems are all caused by Yu Wenji. As long as he is driven back to his hometown, all problems can be solved.
Kou Zhong smiled and said: Manager Xuan's words were so insightful that I immediately felt that in the final analysis, the only problem left was Yuwen Gugu.
Xuanyong said in shock: What is Mr. Xuan?
Xu Ziling laughed dumbly.
Kou Zhongdao: Of course it's Liangdu and Pengcheng. Even if the general manager of Yuhuagu is killed, he still needs to be managed by people like the general manager of Xuanda who have experience in commanding the army and defending the city and are talented. Li Zitong can take advantage of the opportunity now. Lin Shihong, Li Mi and others are unable to go north to take care of themselves, so I rely on you to build an unbreakable and strong formation for me here to cut off the northward and southward routes of the Central Plains pass. Ha! This is really a God-sent arrangement.
Xuanyong stayed for a long time and said: I must ask my sister for instructions on this matter.
Kou Zhong patted his chest and said: I will take care of the eldest sister. Why doesn't she come?
Xuan Yong said: We have recalled a group of Wagang generals numbering 2,000, but they lack a place to stay. When I heard that you had captured Liangdu, I ordered me to lead them to join the troops who are currently stationed thirty miles north of the city. In a dense forest.
Kou Zhong was overjoyed and said: This trip is really a rescue.
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As Yu Wenhua and his army continued to approach, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were too busy to make preparations to defend the city.
Early that morning, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling rode out of the city to inspect the fortifications built outside the city and arrived at a hill overlooking the plain to the north.
The Tongji Canal is rolling on the left and no boats can be seen.
Kou Zhong said as if reciting: In battle, the city must be attacked because the city not only plays a strategic role related to the overall situation or a certain area, but also controls the transportation and economy of a large area. It is the support and lifeblood of the entire battle situation. Hey... wait a minute. wait.
Xu Ziling looked in shock and saw Kou Zhong using lightning techniques to take out Lu Miaozi's Heavenly Book from his pocket and flip to a certain page before continuing: Hey! The city is a battleground for military strategists. Who has such a strategic city like Liangdu? Whoever holds the hand will gain control of the Tongji Canal. Ha! Does this sound like what it sounds like?
Xu Ziling laughed dumbly and said: You don't have to obey me, I will try my best to fight Yu Wenhuagu to the end.
Kou Zhong said solemnly: I'm borrowing you for practice. To convince others, you must first enrich yourself. When I read Lu Miaozi's chapter called "Battle Must Attack the City", I didn't know why, but I always thought of another city that might be the one I can Is it a key to establishing a firm position? Guess which city I am thinking of?
Xu Ziling looked at the rising red sun in the east and said lightly: Is it Xiangyang?
Kou Zhong was shocked and said: How come you guessed it?
Xu Ziling said: "What's so difficult about this? If we want to march into Luoyang and Guan Guan, there are Jiangdu and Liangdu in the east; Jingling and Xiangyang in the west. Of the latter two, Xiangyang has more strategic significance. Otherwise, Li Mi wouldn't have to go to Qian Duguan in person." Hard.
Kou Zhong first said: There is a chapter in Lu Miaozi's "Topography" that talks about Xiangyang, a place that must be fought over by military strategists in the world, so Xiangyang was on the list.
Xu Ziling asked: What about Mr. Lu?
Kou Zhong recited the following from his family treasures: Xiangyang connects Bashu to the west and controls Xiangchu to the south and Heluo to the north. Therefore, whenever there is a war, there must be wars and fortresses facing each other. During the Three Kingdoms period, Wei, Shu, and Wu fought hard for this city, causing Guan Yu to die here. Subsequently, the Western Jin Dynasty's expedition against Wu, the Eastern Jin Dynasty and Huanwen's Northern Expedition all used Xiangyang as their base. Therefore, Mr. Lu's conclusion is that "the reason why the Six Dynasties were able to protect Jiangzuo was due to the strong troops stationed between Huainan and Jingxiang."
Xu Ziling couldn't help but think of Zhu Yuyan's praise of Lu Miaozi's talent. His discussion of Xiangyang was indeed insightful.
Although Xiangyang is not a capital city like Luoyang, it is located in the upper reaches of the Han River and is a transportation hub for the four provinces of Hubei, Henan, Sichuan and Shaanxi. If you want to go south from the Central Plains or enter the Jianghan Plain from Guanzhong, you must first take Xiangyang.
In Xiangyang, Kou Zhongzhi secretly harbored the intention of having a decisive battle with Li Shimin in the future. Even if Li Shimin captured Luoyang, he would still have to pass the Xiangyang level.
Neither Xiangyang nor Liang is the center of political economy, but strategically they are related to the success or failure of the entire situation.
Xu Ziling said: If you want to capture Xiangyang, you must first capture Jingling. That is not an easy task.
Kou Zhong said happily: The most interesting thing about this game is the high degree of difficulty.
Xu Ziling said displeasedly: Do you actually regard the brutal city attack and defense battle that kills Yingye as a game?
Kou Zhong smiled bitterly and said: Don't keep a straight face and speak sternly, okay? Let me beg you! Life to me is just a game. My responsibility is to try to make this game more meaningful and interesting. This is purely Looking at it from a natural perspective, it’s like Shi Feixuan believes that everything in the world is illusion and has no eternal significance.
After a pause, he continued excitedly: Mr. Ling, just think about the distribution in the vast land of our Central Plains - there are countless large and small cities according to its geographical situation - the different importance and significance are not the same as those on a chessboard. The grid and the people and the army are the chess pieces. Looking at it this way, what does war look like like a game? All battles are centered on the destruction and defense of the city.
Xu Ziling pondered for a moment and said: Your views on fighting for the world are indeed much deeper than before.
Kou Zhong looked back at Liangdu and let out a long breath and said: I have lost Jingling and can never lose Liangdu again! If we have enough food and grass, we can use the method of fortifying the wall and clearing the field to drag the enemy troops outside the city for a long time until they run out of food and retreat. moment and then annihilate them in one fell swoop. Of course, we cannot use this strategy now, so we can only use clever tricks to take advantage of the weak Yuhua bones who dare not fight for a long time to severely defeat them.
Xu Ziling shook his head and said: Now everyone knows that there is a shortage of food in Liangdu. Yu Wenwen Gu deliberately marched slowly in order to chase the residents along the way to Liangdu and make us even more food-starved. He will not even be patient for ten or eight days. No.
Kou Zhong was shocked and said: You are right! So the first plan is to use deception. We not only want to deceive the Yuwen culture bones, but also deceive the entire city's soldiers and civilians.
Xu Ziling said with emotion: After all, it was a lie, but it was better to lie that Li Zitong was willing to lend not only food but also troops; both of them would come to help within a few days. As long as the news reached Yu Wenhua's ears, he guaranteed that he would immediately march with the most violent force.
If we attack the city in this way, we will have an opportunity to take advantage of it.
Kou Zhong clamped his horse's belly, turned around and said: We have to send people to intercept immediately - Ren Meimei will be returning north at any time and she should be the one to tell the lies!
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In the evening of the same day, Ren Meimei returned to Liangdu by boat, and more than ten carts of grain and grass came with her. It was reported that it was the first batch of grain borrowed after forming an alliance with Li Zitong.
On the way to the granary of the Governor's Mansion, one of the vehicles accidentally overturned and dumped rice and wheat.
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling greeted him personally at the city gate. They were on the left and right sides. When the hero entered the city, the citizens even lined the streets and cheered. Some even knelt down, burned incense, worshiped and shouted long live.
After entering the high wall of the General Manager's Mansion, Ren Meimei's smiling face immediately turned expressionless as she gritted her teeth and cursed:
What kind of dog is Li Zitong who really deserves to be annihilated by Du Fuwei? Not only did he refuse to lend a helping hand, but he also added insult to injury and cut off the water transportation downstream, which is even more disgusting and infuriating!
Kou Zhong said with a smile: "Sister Ren, why bother with this kind of person? He will look good later when we clean up Yu Wenhua."
Turning to Xu Ziling, he said: Wasn’t that grain-transporting performance real enough?
Xu Ziling said with satisfaction: If I hadn't known the inside story, I would have been deceived.
The three of them sat down in the lobby.
Ren Meimei's anger was still lingering and she cursed loudly: "That bitch not only put on all the airs and forced me to wait for three days in vain, but finally sent a eunuch to tell me that he was not available unless he had to wait ten more days before he had time to see me. How irritating you are."
Kou Zhongqi said: "Sister Ren, didn't his words just now sound offensive to your ears? How can you hear his words since you are not even allowed to see him?"
Ren Meimei puffed up her cheeks and said, "Although I can't see him, the eunuch sent a message on his behalf. If I am willing to stay at the bedchamber, he will summon me to the palace to accompany him in five days."
Kou Zhong's eyes flashed with murderous intent, but he remained surprisingly calm and said slowly: "Li Zitong is deliberately humiliating us."
Okay! Since he wants to add insult to injury, don't blame me for being ruthless.
Xu Ziling remained silent.
Ren Meimei then reported the situation in Jiangdu: Du Fuwei's army is now stationed in the east of Danyang, only twenty miles away from Jiangdu, and Shen Faxing's son Shen Lun's army stationed in the north of Piling echoes each other. He has launched three fierce attacks on Jiangdu city.
Both sides suffered casualties, but Li Zitong was slightly at a disadvantage. Piling was originally owned by Li Zitong, but it was captured by Shen Lun a month ago, and Li Zitong lost all the counties south of Jiangdu.
Kou Zhong asked: What leverage does Li Zitong have left? How dare you look down on us like this.
Ren Meimei replied: There are more than ten cities and counties north of Jiangdu. Among them, Donghai County on the northeast coast and Zhongli County on Huaishui are the most important. The former is this dog's hometown and rear defense base, and the latter is his general area.
The fall of any of the 6 transportation hubs inward would be a fatal blow to him.
Kou Zhong laughed and said: I thought he was invulnerable? It turns out that with so many flaws, I will settle the accounts with him later. I have worked hard on this trip, eldest sister! Please go to the inner hall and have a good rest.
After Ren Meimei left, Kou Zhong frowned and said: Is this strange? I thought that because of Song Jingang's relationship, we helped him again - Yu Wenhua and Li Zitong should be so grateful that they cried bitterly. Who knew he treated our envoys like this?
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Xu Ziling said: What could be more beneficial to him than us and Yuwen Huagu fighting in a lose-lose situation? At that time, he only needs to send thousands of generals and Liang Liang to get them.
Kou Zhong looked thoughtful for a while and then said: According to me, things are not that simple. Now his most urgent task is to break the siege of Jiangdu, so any action must be to achieve this military goal. Just think about it, assuming that Yu Wenhua is here What are the benefits to him of finally winning Liangdu after a hard battle?
Xu Ziling said with an expression: I understand that he wants to transfer the troops originally stationed in various cities north of Jiangdu to Jiangdu to deal with the coalition forces of Dad and Shen Lun. However, Yu Wenhuagu is unable to expand the invasion due to the threat of Dou Jiande.
At that time, as long as he can repel his father and Shen Lun's army, he can go north along the river and snatch Liangdu back from Yu Wenhuagu's hands.
Kou Zhong showed a smile and said: This must be the case, so I hope that both we and Yu Wenhuagu will recover from their injuries!
Should this be called a person who is poor but has an ambition to be poor? Or maybe greed has arisen before the desire to be poor is exhausted.
Xu Ziling smiled and said: Isn't that the same for you?
Kou Zhonghuo stood up and said proudly: How can I agree? Victory has come into my hands. What is needed now is to sharpen the dog's head in the well and cut off the bones of Yuhua and bring it to my mother's grave to pay tribute. After all these years. Isn’t this the day we have been waiting for?