In the simple wooden shed yamen hall, Xu Huai stood facing the wall. After a long time, he slowly turned around, looked at Lu Xiong and asked: "Master Lu, do you think I should be willing or not?"
Lu Xiong sighed slightly. Since Xu Huai asked this, of course he was reluctant to go. He pondered for a long time and said:
"I have been hanging out in the Jianghu for too long. Many aspects of the affairs of my family and country are far less clear than yours, so I can't say. However, when I left Bianliang, I asked the king if the autographed letter could not be delivered to Mr. Hu.
What should we do there? Wang Xiang said that Vietnam is close to Zhengzhou and has very few soldiers capable of fighting. He thought over and over again but could only hope that the exhausted troops from Tongbai Mountain would rush to help. It can be said that it is both extremely embarrassing and too reluctant.
You guys. Wang Xiang also said that even if the crisis in Zhengzhou can be solved, temporarily forcing the captive troops to retreat northward will not eradicate the serious problem. When the time comes, it will be more necessary for everyone in Tongbai Mountain to make careful preparations for the country - should we focus on immediate worries first, or
Preparing for the future first, Wang Xiang was also hesitant and struggled a lot. When it comes to capturing fighter planes, there are differences between internal and external troubles. First, the captive cavalry must spy on Xu Zheng, even if Caizhou has soldiers and horses in the north.
It is difficult to reach Zhengzhou easily for reinforcements. Secondly, Sun Huacheng and other generals are stationed in Zhengzhou. It is even more worrying whether they can do good things. Therefore, Wang Xiang said that it is up to you to decide whether this new letter should be sent to Hu Gong.
, he can understand it. We are even strictly prohibited from leaking this matter. Only Zhu Han Langjun, Wang Fan Langjun and Wang Kong know about this autograph..."
Wang Ju, Xu Wuqi, Su Laochang and others looked at each other and felt that Wang Zhen's strict blocking of information was quite honest.
Otherwise, if the news spreads and Wang Zhen's request is finally rejected and no troops are sent to reinforce Zhengzhou, the world will never consider the dangers involved and consider how to balance short-term and long-term concerns. They will only accuse Tongbaishan of deliberately conserving strength.
But he was in vain for the kindness of the court and the king.
Especially those who already have deep prejudices against Xu Huai will probably fan the flames even more behind the scenes, and will probably crucify everyone in Tongbai Mountain on the trial bench where they stand behind the troops and watch the fire from the other side - even if it is absolutely impossible at this time.
Most of the city's defenders were watching.
Putting aside this external factor, Wang Zhen himself had a very clear understanding of whether the soldiers of Tongbai Mountain should reinforce Zhengzhou and what kind of risks there would be.
Zhengzhou was in danger, but the problem was that the soldiers of Tongbai Mountain rushed to Zhengzhou's aid regardless of casualties and eventually defended Zhengzhou, which could not reverse the situation of a strong north and a weak south.
It can even be said unceremoniously that only by clinging to Tongbai Mountain will the Jianghuai region be more likely to enter a stage of balance of power in the future.
Judging from the specific tactical details, the Chihu people would never let Caizhou's reinforcements go north lightly.
How did the soldiers of Tongbai Mountain bypass the flanking troops of the Chihu people and enter Zhengzhou through the Pingchuan area in the north of Xuzhou?
This is a very big problem.
If they collided with the main force of the Red Husband Cavalry in the Pingchuan area, they would suffer heavy casualties before they could reinforce Zhengzhou. In the end, less than a few hundred people might be able to enter Zhengzhou City.
Another key factor is how can they expect Zhengzhou coach Sun Huacheng to be as easy to talk to as Hu Kai and have a clear understanding of the situation?
If they lead their troops to reinforce Zhengzhou, they have to accept Sun Huacheng's control.
If Sun Huacheng did not have a deep understanding of the situation and could not follow the good example, Xu Huai led two to three thousand reinforcements into Zhengzhou. At most, they would participate in the defense of a certain section of the city wall. What use would it be?
Can it prevent other sections of the city wall from falling to the enemy?
Su Laochang, Wang Ju, and Xu Wuqi really didn't have any expectations for Sun Huacheng.
The reason is very simple. If Sun Huacheng was a man who knew the troops, the situation and the people, he would have more than 20,000 troops and horses in his hands, which could be arranged reasonably and boost morale. Facing the red cavalry who had no siege equipment, he would rely on his troops.
The city guard should have no problem waiting for the Western Army to arrive. Why do we need to transfer a lone army from Caizhou?
However, Wang Zhen had already considered all these difficulties, but he still asked Lu Xiong to send a message, saying that he was asking Xu Huai to make his own decision, and in the end he still expected Xu Huai to reinforce Zhengzhou.
Otherwise, Wang Zhen should not have put this difficult problem in front of Xu Huai.
"I don't agree with the reinforcement of Zhengzhou." Xu Wuqi said in a deep voice.
"Indeed, reinforcements to Zhengzhou will do far more harm than good." Su Laochang also followed up and said.
The rise of the soldiers of Tongbai Mountain is closely related to Wang Zhen, and it is also deeply marked by the royal line at this time - so in the face of Wang Zhen's request, these in themselves are unspeakably huge pressure.
Xu Wuqi and Su Laochang made it clear in front of Lu Xiong that they did not want Xu Huai to bear the pressure alone; Wang Ju did not express his position because he was not considered Tongbaishan compared to Xu Wuqi and Su Laochang.
The "old man".
Xu Wuqi had endured the humiliation with hatred and wanted to kill Cai Cai but he still had loyalty to Vietnam.
However, this does not mean that he does not know how to do loyalty and righteousness within his ability; it does not mean that he does not care about thousands of Tongbai Mountain children and watches their unnecessary sacrifices.
How could this court, which was not part of Tongbaishan's family, squeeze Tongbaishan's soldiers like this?
"Master Lu, please leave the Prime Minister Wang's autographed letter and return to Bianliang as soon as possible to take care of the Prime Minister! You must be more careful along the way. The blockade of the southern part of Beijing by the Red Husbands is becoming more and more strict - or I can adjust a few
Someone will escort Mr. Lu back to Bianliang?" Xu Huai pondered for a long time and said to Lu Xiong.
Lu Xiong was slightly startled. He didn't understand Xu Huai's answer. Was he unwilling to lead his troops to reinforce Zhengzhou, or was he willing to lead his troops to reinforce Zhengzhou?
Or, is this Xu Huai's answer?
Lu Xiong took out the letter written by Wang Zhen to Hu Kai from his arms, handed it to Xu Huai, stretched again, smiled, and said: "I have old arms and legs now, and I am not as good as you in fighting, but I
When we get to Yanling, we abandon our horses and walk at night. It will be no problem to return to Bianliang. Don’t worry about me!” Then he asked, “How is Miss Xuan doing in Tongbai Mountain?”
"Send her and the old lady directly to live in Lutai Village. I really have no time to take care of it during this period, and I don't know whether Wang Xuan is good or bad! There is always no need to worry about food and clothing, but Bianliang is in such a state. Wang Xiang's health
Wang Xuan is always worried when she is ill again!" Xu Huai shook his head and said.
Lu Xiong just asked. At this juncture, he couldn't stay at Tongbai Mountain for a day or two.
He didn't even have time to rest in Qingyi Ridge. Even if he felt tired and wanted to take a rest, he had to go to Yanling first to observe the enemy's situation. He didn't know how long he would be delayed in Yanling, but only by getting there first could he seize the right opportunity.
Sneak back to Bianliang.
Lu Xiong took advantage of Xu Huai and others to prepare dry food and water for him, ate some hot food, and then hurried away on horseback.
Seeing Lu Xiong crossing the Wuzhai River and his figure disappearing into the vast dusk, Wang Ju, Xu Wuqi, and Su Laochang turned to look at Xu Huai and asked: "What are you going to do with Prime Minister Wang's letter?"
?”
"..." Xu Huai muttered, "Without friendly forces that we can rely on to fight hand in hand and rely on each other, our three or four thousand soldiers and horses in the wild are simply not enough to keep the Red Guards at bay. We even enter the city and defend it to the death on all roads.
Under such circumstances, they may become the target of competition for the Red Husband Cavalry. I cannot take thousands of Tongbai Mountain disciples to take this risk. I am considering taking three to five hundred people and walking along the Jialu River...
"
"Do you think Zhengzhou will have a chance?" Xu Wuqi asked.
Xu Huai said: "Although Yue Hailou and a group of people defected to the Chihu people, which made the Chihu people very clear about the defensive deployment of the Hehuai area and the combat effectiveness of the Gyeonggi Forbidden Army, but in the end it was the Chihu people who were the first
A large-scale southward invasion - even if King Chihu Khan had great trust in people like Yue Hailou, how could the other generals not have any hesitation? This time when going south, the Chihu people must be very tempted and want to attack the city.
My mind will not be particularly firm..."
Of course, Xu Huai's tone was also hesitant. He himself didn't know how effective three to five hundred people could be if they approached the southwestern edge of Gyeonggi Province.
This time the Chihu people had a strong sense of probing, and they made it clear that they would not attack the city on a large scale, and that the defenders of the cities in Bianliang and the outskirts of Gyeonggi Province would not be too cowardly, and basically there would not be any big problems.
.
Zhengzhou was the next target for the main force of the Chihu East Route Army to attack. He only brought three to five hundred people, which was not enough to deliver food.
However, he still wanted to lead the team there. In addition to Lu Xiong's visit, he knew that he should not be afraid of the Chihu people, and guerrilla warfare was not about hiding in the mountains.
"Mr. Hu may not agree?" Su Laochang asked hesitantly.
"It's my job to go north to scout out the enemy's situation. I can't inform Caizhou..." Xu Huai said.
There is no way to ask Hu Kai for instructions on this matter - if you find Hu Kai, if you don't take out Wang Zhen's autograph letter, many things will not be clear; if you take out Wang Zhen's autograph letter, it will actually mean whether you will send troops or not.
The pressure to reinforce Zhengzhou was directly transferred to Hu Kai.
At that time, regardless of whether Hu Kai agreed or not, Xu Huai was restricted.
He is now heading north to reconnoiter the enemy's situation. Then, because he was noticed by the enemy's cavalry, in order to avoid the pursuit of the enemy's cavalry, he had to continue to go north. As a result, he was temporarily unable to return to Qingyi Ridge to take charge. This was not an unauthorized cross-border operation at all...
