Within one day, there were five battle reports. The Turks had broken through the border and were raging in Hedong. The news exploded over Chang'an City like muffled thunder.
The Turks entered through Loufan Pass. This news was not spread, but several lines sent the relevant information to Zhu... This means that Yanmen Pass has not been breached, and Li Shan's safety is not in danger for the moment.
But even so, Zhu, who had always had a strong body and a tough temperament, could no longer hold on and fell ill... She was an extraordinary village woman. She didn't know where she was. Attacked from inside and outside, the fall of Daizhou meant that her son's future was cut off. He survived in the Central Plains.
The possibility is extremely slim.
As the sun set, at the entrance of Sun Moon Lake Village, Ling Jing opened the curtain in displeasure and scolded: "Can we snatch the person back by rushing to Daizhou now?"
After several consecutive questions, dozens of young men holding swords were speechless. Ling Jing calmed down before continuing: "I know that Huairen has been very kind to you and others, but at this time, you all need to listen to me.
Order."
After Zhu Wei led 300 young men to the north, there were not many young men left in Sun Moon Lake. Most of these men were refugees from Hedong and Guanzhong, as well as defeated soldiers from Hebei... I heard that Li Shan was trapped in the North.
, life or death was uncertain, and he was encouraged to go north.
Before Zhu Wei left, he entrusted Sun Moon Lake to Ling Jing. Now this famous man from Hebei was not thinking about Li Shan, but...if Li Shan could not return, he must protect his mother Zhu.
After driving the people away, Ling Jing waved over a middle-aged man with a short head, "Are you making any rash moves?"
The man shook his head slightly.
Ling Jing didn't say anything else. He and Li Shimin had the same worries. Jieli Khan sent thousands of partial troops from Loufan Pass to Hedong, hoping to attack Yanmen Pass from both front and rear... It was actually a risky move. After all, Daizhou and Bingzhou were not far apart.
There are heavy troops stationed far away.
Thousands of cavalry can definitely have an effect, at least disrupting the morale of the army, but it is hard to say whether they can achieve the goal perfectly... But what if Jieli Khan has other back-ups?
For example, he was taken into Yuan Junzhang's old tribe east of Yanmen Pass by Li Shan.
If there had been collusion in advance, the possibility of the Turks breaking through Yanmen Pass would have been much higher. Even if there had been no collusion in advance, it is hard to say whether those generals who had relied on the Turks for a long time would have had different intentions.
Ling Jing looked at Li's house from a distance and thought about changing to a path. This was a path paved with cobblestones. Ling Jing remembered that Li Shan would go around this path every morning until he arrived.
At the foot of Dongshan Mountain, we took another route home.
Regarding Li Shimin's decision-making, neither Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, nor Ling Jing himself had any opinions. He knew very well that under the current situation, what Li Shimin could do was very limited. Even if he made his position clear... it would be counterproductive to make his position clear.
It can only have the opposite effect.
There are actually not many generals who are qualified and likely to lead troops to the east of Hedong. Among them, Li Daoxuan, the king of Huaiyang, is the best friend of Li Shan, but he cannot be compared with Li Daozong, the king of Rencheng, in terms of ability.
The former can be a warrior, the latter can be a commander, and even more famous general. Even from the resume point of view, Li Daozong's ability to stand alone far exceeds that of Li Daoxuan, who was defeated in Xiabo.
As for several other clan generals, Li Shimin used the most direct method and threw himself out... To suppress Li Shimin, only the Prince of the East Palace had the qualifications.
Li Jiancheng obviously did not have the guts to touch the tail of the Turkic tiger, so Li Shimin threw himself out... From a certain point of view, this eliminated the possibility of Li Shenfu, a leader with malicious intentions towards Li Shan.
In fact, Li Shimin specially selected a character who had ability, reputation, and must have good thoughts towards Li Shan, Li Jing and Li Yaoshi.
When Li Jing was appointed as the general manager of Daizhou, he was involved in the war in name. He led two thousand Jianghuai soldiers to the north, and he did not have any bargaining chips in his hands.
While Li Shan was in Chang'an, he repeatedly praised Li Jing's ability to lead troops. He had a close relationship with the family of Li Jing's younger brother Li Keshi and his cousin Li Qianyou's family.
After going around in a circle, Li Zhai was already in front of him. Ling Jing sighed, but even so, even if Li Jing had the courage to go north, it was still unknown whether he could fish Li Shan out.
After crossing the threshold and making the announcement, Ling Jing took a seat in the main room. Not long after, Mrs. Zhu came slowly with the support of Cui Shiniang and another maid.
Ever since the war report came to Beijing yesterday, Zhu couldn't afford to fall ill. Cui Shiniang moved into Li's house regardless of her parents' objections and took care of her day and night... Because of the repeated marriages back then, Ling Jing didn't have a very good impression of this little lady, but now I have to sigh with emotion, Huairen really has the wisdom to choose people.
"gentlemen……"
"Madam Zhu, just rest in peace." Ling Jing said softly: "Today's news is that Yongkang County Duke Li Jing entered Hedong three days ago and led two thousand Jianghuai troops. Huairen's former general, Linji County Hou Kanling, is also in the army. middle."
Seeing Zhu's silence, Ling Jing continued: "If the Yanmen Pass cannot be broken and the Turks are short of food and grass, they will inevitably retreat. Huairen will stick to the stronghold and there will be no danger."
"If Yanmen Pass is breached and the Turks have not plundered Hedong since October of the year before last, even Jieli Khan will be unable to control them. Huairen has more than a thousand cavalry, and they should be able to break out a way."
"Mrs. Zhu should have known that others would retreat to Taiyuan Mansion, but Su Dingfang would not."
Zhu regained his energy and said: "Yanmen Pass is closed, the Turks are retreating, but the news is leaked, will the Guji Town be wiped out on the way back, and will Dalang be able to hold on to the camp..."
"If the Yanmen Pass is broken, Daizhou falls, and the Turks plunder Hedong, my son will bear a heavy crime..."
Ling Jing was speechless by these words. It was indeed true. Daizhou fell and the war situation deteriorated. After all, Li Jing had not taken office. Li Shan was not the one to take the blame. Who else was qualified to take the blame?
From a certain point of view, Li Shan was defeated and returned to Chang'an to avoid the battle for the right to inherit the throne. However, it would be difficult for Li Shan to accept the loss of the favor of the saint Li Yuan.
After all, having known Li Shan for so long, Ling Jing knew very well that Li Shan was not unable to accept failure, but it was difficult for him to accept such a failure... Once the Yanmen Pass was broken, everything Li Shan had in Daizhou would be in vain.
Ling Jing knew better that now the Li-Tang Turkic War had begun. This was something that neither the sage Li Yuan nor the prince Li Jiancheng wanted to see. Even the King of Qin Li Shimin did not want to start a war at this time.
And Li Shan single-handedly provoked the Turks to invade... There has been some discussion in the court. If Li Shan loses Li Yuan's favor, he may face Pei Shiju's methods in the future. .
After walking out of Li's house, Ling Jing was a little confused. What is today's Beidi, today's Daizhou, and today's Guji Town like?