Chapter 553 I am from the Northern Expedition on the Western Road
The world's best Xiongguan, the gateway to Guanzhong, Tongguan actually changed hands so easily, it all sounds like nonsense.
So what's the problem?
Three days later, Zhang Ximeng received news one after another and finally figured out the reason.
As mentioned earlier, the crown prince summoned his party members and mobilized Chahan's old troops to besiege Wang Baobao.
Among them, Li Siqi and Chahan Timur are veterans of raising troops together. Chahan is dead. It is me who should take over the power. How can I allow the younger generation to show their teeth?
As a result, Li Siqi invited other generals in Chang'an, including Zhang Sidao, Tuo Liebo, Kong Xing and others, to besiege Baobao together.
They mobilized a large number of soldiers and horses to kill Wang Baobao, and the result was a river of blood. They were left alone and outnumbered.
Opposite them were Feng Guoyong's elite Ming army, which was well-proportioned, and famous generals such as Fu Youde and Ding Pulang. They were the army and the people who were united as one and united.
At this point, it is not surprising that Li Siqi abandoned Tongguan without a fight.
It's not that he doesn't want to keep it, it's that he really can't keep it.
It was impossible for him to abandon tens of thousands of elites in Tongguan. Even if he defeated the Ming Dynasty, what would happen?
Chakhan Timur's lessons learned from the past are indeed painful.
If you think too much, you will easily risk your own life.
Protect yourself, always come first.
Therefore, Li Siqi, a smart man, not only gave up Tongguan, but also didn't even want Chang'an. He went directly to his hometown of Fengxiang.
When things got to this point, Feng Guoyong couldn't even be dealt with.
What should I do?
Take advantage of the weakness and seize Chang'an, then attack Fengxiang, and have a decisive battle with Li Siqi in Guanzhong, or go north to Yan'an, seize Datong, assist the Northern Expedition, and besiege Dadu...
There were suddenly more choices before Feng Guoyong.
But precisely because of this, Feng Guoyong hesitated for the first time.
His westward advance group had made it clear very early on that they wanted to take over the Hexi Corridor and even go straight into the Western Regions. But the problem was that they were a partial force and had to cooperate with the main force and could not do anything random on their own.
Feng Guoyong had a very clear grasp on whether to advance or retreat. He could make the decision. If he couldn't, he could only ask Governor Zhang to make the decision.
"What we are going to do depends on the overall situation we are in now."
There are only two young generals beside Zhang Ximeng, one is Lan Yu and the other is Li Wenzhong. Even Zhu Wenzheng is commanding the Shandong Army and accompanying Xu Da on the expedition.
Zhang Ximeng could only talk to these two people, "Li Siqi has given up important areas one after another. With Feng Guoyong's talents, there is more than half a chance that he can find a way to annihilate Li Siqi... If it were placed before the decisive battle in the Central Plains, I would probably agree to let him
Your Majesty will definitely agree to Feng Guoyong's march, but now, I cannot agree."
Lan Yu thought for a moment and then said: "Sir, are you saying that we are more confident now, so we don't need to take risks?"
Zhang Ximeng smiled and said: "There is another meaning. Think about it carefully."
This time it was Li Wenzhong who said: "The general trend is with me, and the possibility of Li Siqi's surrender has also been greatly increased?"
"Yes!" Zhang Ximeng said with a smile: "Indeed, it is possible for us to win Li Siqi's surrender now. Can you understand the value of this matter?"
Lan Yu's eyes lit up and she hurriedly said: "Of course I know this. Li Siqi and Chahan Timur gathered the troops of powerful landlords to suppress the Red Scarf Army. After more than ten years of fighting, Li Siqi had tens of thousands of elites, and the heroes
Sitting in Guanzhong, he is one of the few powerful factions in the Yuan Dynasty. Once he surrenders, the overall situation in Guanzhong will be opened up."
"Then what?" Zhang Ximeng asked again.
Lan Yu thought for a while and continued: "If Guanzhong falls into our hands, the soldiers and horses of the kings of Shaanxi and Gansu will not be able to go back. It will be much more convenient to march to Hexi and regain the Western Region in the future."
"Any more?"
"And? Then, that's Shanxi! Once Guanzhong is in hand, Shanxi's troops will have no way to escape. If they can quickly go north, capture Datong, and cut off the Yuan army's northward escape route, it will be like closing the door and beating the dog in one fell swoop.
Total annihilation!”
Zhang Ximeng leaned on the chair with a smile and asked: "What are the benefits of doing this?"
This time it was Li Wenzhong who answered first, "Prime Minister Zhang, we are 100% sure of victory in this Northern Expedition. The only difference is how many soldiers and horses can be surrounded. The more people and horses the Yuan Dynasty retreats to the grassland, the more trouble we will have in the future."
The bigger. On the contrary, if we can keep these people, our pressure will be much less in the future. This Northern Expedition is all about making dumplings, and the more stuffing the better!"
Lan Yu smiled and said: "According to this, I hope that Emperor Yuan will be able to garrison the capital and coexist with the country."
Li Wenzhong chuckled and said, "It's best if this is the case. I'm afraid most emperors can't be worse than Huiqin, right?"
Lan Yu had nothing to say and couldn't agree more.
However, Zhao Ji, Zhao Huan, Zhao Gou, father and son, succeeded in bringing the lower limit of the emperor to a negative value. In the past, fools could become emperors. They fully proved that fools are not terrible, but bastards are really fatal. Especially
They are shameless bastards with no bottom line. Even a dog sitting there would probably be better than them.
After all, the dog was rushed into the territory, it still barked, and even bit people when it got anxious!
After a brief discussion, Zhang Ximeng determined the policy. He could not rush into the army rashly and must win over Li Siqi's surrender.
But the problem is, how can someone like Li Siqi surrender so easily?
How to handle it requires careful weighing and proper control.
Zhang Ximeng wrote a letter and asked someone to rush it eight hundred miles to Tongguan and hand it over to Feng Guoyong.
After receiving the letter and tearing it open, Feng Guoyong took a few glances and burst into laughter.
"Zhang Xiang is indeed a genius! He can predict events thousands of miles away like a god!"
After Feng Guoyong finished speaking, he immediately said: "Tell Ding Pulang that you will capture Huazhou for me in three days."
After the order was issued, Feng Guoyong said again: "Tell Ding Pulang again to capture the prisoners as much as possible and do not harm these soldiers. I am of use."
Ding Pulang received the order with a sneer on his face. In three days, he had underestimated me!
"Feng Guosheng, tell your brother that I will win Huazhou today, and we will have a celebration drink in Huazhou!"
Feng Guosheng chuckled and said: "Brother, if you say that, how can you show how powerful you are when others give orders? We should take Huazhou first, and then tell the governor to take back Huazhou two days in advance. Wouldn't it be better?
"
Ding Pulang paused, couldn't help laughing and said: "You still have too many ideas, so I'll do as you say!"
The two men immediately mobilized their troops, and Ding Pulang led the vanguard troops to directly raid Huazhou.
Ding Pulang is known as the "Desperate Saburo" in the army, and when it comes to fighting, he can be called a lunatic.
He rushed to Huazhou like lightning, and the defenders responded hurriedly. They fought hard and finally repelled Ding Pulang's attack, but they also suffered heavy losses.
Just as the defenders in the city were in a hurry, Feng Guosheng arrived with his troops.
"You start from the west city. There is no defense there and the city is not strong. It can probably explode."
Feng Guosheng nodded quickly and thanked his brother for his loyalty.
Then Feng Guosheng commanded his troops and launched a strong attack. Different from Ding Pulang's all-out offensive, Feng Guosheng focused his attack and immediately caused chaos in the defenders.
On top of the city, heavy losses were suffered.
Bows and crossbows, fire blunderbuss, greetings like raindrops, and the sound of screams are endless.
Seeing that the fire was almost over, Feng Guosheng sent a demolition team with former miners to take action.
Three hours later, there was a loud noise and a hole was blown open in the city wall.
Then the army poured in, and the battle lasted until midnight, when Huazhou changed hands.
Then there were the tasks of capturing prisoners, appeasing the people, and extinguishing the flames. By the time the sun rose, the battle was completely over.
There is exactly half an hour left in the day.
Perfect!
After successfully capturing Huazhou, Feng Guoyong rushed over immediately. In addition to commending Ding Pulang, he ordered all the prisoners to be called over.
"Is there anything delicious?"
Feng Guosheng said hurriedly: "There are only some white flour steamed buns and some dried meat, not many vegetables, and a few barrels of oil."
"That's fine! You hurry up and get some vegetables, fry them in oil, and then add water to make soup. It must be fragrant and full of flavor."
Feng Guosheng quickly agreed, and almost an hour later, nearly a thousand prisoners were all escorted over.
Feng Guoyong gave them steamed buns with his own hands, and each had a bowl of soup with a thick layer of lard floating in the bowl.
"Brothers, whether you are from Henan or Guanzhong... you have been fighting for so many years, and it is time to enjoy peace. The fields in your hometown have long been divided. In many places, you can eat meat during the New Year. It is similar in Henan.
We can have enough to eat. What we want is peace, what we want is to have enough to eat and drink, and live a peaceful life."
"My name is Feng Guoyong, and I am the governor of Guanzhong this time. I can make the decision. No matter what you have done in the past or where you are from, you can live a good life from now on. You guys, take these words with you.
Go back and tell the other brothers and Li Siqi that as long as he surrenders, we will never harm his life. In fact, let alone him, even King Xiao Ming will be fine!"
Xiao Ming Wang!
Suddenly, someone among the prisoners stood up and asked in surprise: "His Majesty King Xiao Ming is still alive?"
"Alive, not only alive, but also studying in a school in Chen Liu."
Feng Guoyong looked at the other person with a smile. He was a middle-aged man with three or four scars on his face, which was very scary.
"Brother, you, who are you? Do you know Prince Xiao Ming?"
The man seemed unaware and suddenly said: "You didn't lie to me? Did you really not kill Prince Xiao Ming?"
Feng Guoyong laughed loudly, "Why are we killing King Xiao Ming? To be honest, General Mao Guimao became the minister in our side. If it weren't for Liu Tai's strong-willed nature, he would rather break than bend. When he came to our side, he would also have a position.
of."
When the man heard this, he finally sat down and grinned bitterly, "How heroic is Taibao Liu? How could he surrender? However, His Majesty King Xiao Ming can be safe and sound. In the name of your benevolence and righteousness, I am convinced. But I am not convinced.
What's more, how can you forgive a capricious villain like Li Siqi?"
Feng Guoyong smiled and said: "You ask me this, then I also ask you, how long have you been under Li Siqi? Are all Li Siqi's men crazy and should be beheaded? What standards should be used to weigh them?"
Feng Guoyong took a deep breath, "The land of the Central Plains is full of ten houses and nine empty houses! Except for those animals who follow the Yuan Dynasty and commit heinous crimes, we will kill them, and the rest who have a repentant heart and are willing to join the Ming Dynasty, we will let them undergo transformation
, if you can change your mind, you will naturally have the opportunity to be a new person! If you just keep killing, how long will you have to fight?"
The man was speechless for a long time, lowered his head, thought again and again, nodded and said: "I understand! Governor Feng, please let me go to see Li Siqi! I am from the Western Route Northern Expeditionary Army. People like me will not be able to serve under Li Siqi."
Young master, we are willing to submit to the Ming Dynasty!"