When a large army goes out for war, the biggest problem faced is not the process of the war, but how to prevent this large army from starving.
This is a very real problem. Since ancient times, grain and grass have been the lifeblood of an army. Many famous battles in ancient times were related to grain and grass.
For example, Cao Cao attacked Wuchao at night and cut off the food and grass of Yuan Shao's army. For example, in the Battle of Changping, the Qin army cut off the Zhao army's food and grass, but the Zhao army was defeated and 400,000 people were killed by Bai Qi.
When Li Qinzai led his army to leave Japan, the food and grass they carried was only enough for the army for half a month. Because it was a sea voyage, it was very inconvenient to carry food. When they arrived at Xiongjin City to camp, Li Qinzai's army only had enough food and grass for about ten days.
The grain and grass transported from the mainland of the Tang Dynasty also had to be transported across the sea. Navy ships were rushing day and night, and it took about ten days to reach Xiongjin City.
In other words, if the food problem is not solved within ten days, Li Qinzai will either let the soldiers go out to loot, or 20,000 people will go out to find rich women to pick up guests to make ends meet...
The latter is best not to be done unless it is absolutely necessary.
When the God of War returned, he gave an order and one hundred thousand soldiers marched into the brothel to pick up the guests... It was a spectacular scene that I couldn't even imagine.
"What's the hurry? Just raise food on the spot. As long as we raise five more days of food and grass locally, the food and grass shipped from the Tang Dynasty will arrive."
In the handsome tent, Li Qinzai was calm and unhurried, not in any hurry.
Sitting in front of them were Wang Fangyi, Liu Renyuan, and some captain-level generals in the army.
Wang Fangyi sighed and said: "Li Shuai, we have to support 60,000 people now, and the food and grass we consume every day is not a small amount. I asked Governor Sun that after Baekje was destroyed, the official warehouse outside Xiongjin City was almost empty. Only
The rations can barely support the local garrison of 5,000 people, but there is no extra food at all."
Li Qinzai snorted coldly: "How can a living person starve to death? Go out and rob."
"Baekje was destroyed, and the survivors of the subjugated country fled to Goguryeo one after another in order to make a living. The land was almost uncultivated. Even if we sent troops to grab food, I'm afraid we wouldn't be able to grab anything. On the contrary, it would arouse public anger."
Li Qinzai had a headache. Food was really a problem. Counting the days, there was at least a five-day gap before he could wait for food shipped from the Tang Dynasty.
After pondering for a long time, Li Qinzai suddenly asked: "Isn't Silla an allied force? What else can these guys do besides following us and picking up bargains? Now that the army is short of food, the Silla Allies must help us solve this problem."
Wang Fangyi said in embarrassment: "The general has heard that Silla General Jin Yuxin has an arrogant and domineering temperament, and has repeatedly had conflicts and quarrels with the Tang garrison in Xiongjin City. If Li Shuai entrusts him with the task of providing food and grass, Jin Yuxin may not obey his order so easily."
Li Qinzai's eyes widened in surprise: "I am the general manager of the march, and all the troops on the southern front of Goguryeo are under my control. When I ask Jin Yuxin for food and grass, am I negotiating with him? I am giving a military order, do you understand?"
Turning around and lying down, Li Qinzai took a brush and wrote a few lines of words, and finally stamped his handsome seal heavily on it.
"Come here, immediately send the general's order to Jin Yuxin's office and tell him to raise food for me immediately. Anyone who disobeys the order will be killed."
A member of the tribe entered the account, received the military order, and left in a hurry.
Li Qinzai sneered several times.
No matter how prime minister of a country, no matter how powerful a minister is that one person is inferior to ten thousand people, they all have to bow their heads in front of me. I am used to your bad habits!
…………
On the eastern outskirts of Ungjin City, there is the Silla Army camp.
The Tang and Luo countries formed their second alliance. Although each had its own plans, the posture of the alliance still had to be shown.
So during the Tang Dynasty's Eastern Expedition to Goguryeo, the Silla Kingdom sent 10,000 troops. After Li Ji's main force of the Eastern Expedition launched its first battle against Goguryeo's new city to the west, the 10,000 Silla troops crossed the border and arrived at Xiongjin City, where they fought with Sun Renshi's five Thousands of garrison troops joined forces.
What's interesting is that the top leaders of the two countries are very polite to each other, and the letters of credence come and go. The content in it will make even a man and woman in love blush and feel extremely sick.
The relationship between the king of Silla and the emperor of Tang Dynasty has a long and beautiful tradition. The relationship between the two is licking and being licked. The kings of Silla in the past have licked the emperors of Tang Dynasty, and each generation of emperors has been very comfortable being licked.
But if you look down on the exchanges between the two countries, you can't stand it anymore.
In fact, the two countries are somewhat hostile to each other whether it is their military or business.
The reason for mutual hostility is very simple, that is, interests. The biggest conflict is the ownership of Baekje territory.
In the past, the Silla Kingdom wanted it, but the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty was somewhat hesitant. The land of Baekje was a useless land, whether to give it or not. Li Zhi's attitude wavered back and forth, and there was no conclusion after a few years, but the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty hesitated. For the Silla Kingdom, there is still some hope after all.
However, since the Tang Dynasty prepared for the Eastern Expedition, the emperor was bewitched by someone unknown, and the Tang Dynasty's attitude towards Baekje's territory suddenly became tougher, making it clear that the Tang Dynasty was determined to take back Baekje's territory and would not give it to Silla. Leave nothing to the country.
During this period, the leader of the Silla Kingdom also worked hard and sent credentials to Chang'an one after another.
Silla insisted on it, but Tang Dynasty would not give it to him. Seeing that Tang Dynasty would not give it to him, Silla insisted on it, but Tang Dynasty still would not give it to him...
During this time, Datang was like an exhausted middle-aged man who came home from get off work, while the worried mother-in-law forced the man to pay the public salary...
There has been a rift in the relationship between the two countries.
Compared with the alliance between the two countries that destroyed Baekje a few years ago, this time the Tang Dynasty conquered Goguryeo. The alliance between the Tang and Luo countries had long been inseparable, and their feelings were fragmented.
In the commander's tent of the Silla camp, General Jin Yuxin was sitting cross-legged in the tent, drinking wine. Thinking of the neglect he received when he welcomed Li Qinzai at the port yesterday, Jin Yuxin became more and more angry as he thought about it, but he did not dare to do anything to the commander-in-chief of the suzerain country. He was holding back a sigh of relief. In my heart, I can only drink to drown my sorrows.
At this time, the personal guards entered the account and hurriedly handed a military order document to Jin Yuxin.
Jin Yuxin frowned, took it, glanced at it quickly, and then sneered: "The Tang army is short of food, what does it have to do with me, Silla? He actually wants me, Silla, to raise food for him, ha, what a joke!"
After speaking, the general ordered the roll to be rolled into a ball and thrown away as hard as he could, and then Jin Yuxin continued to drink.
The guard looked worried and said cautiously: "General, after all, this is the military order of the Tang Army commander. If you ignore it, I'm afraid..."
Jin Yuxin's eyes widened and he said angrily: "What are you afraid of? I am the general of the Silla Kingdom. I don't eat the salary of the Tang Dynasty, so why should I obey the orders of the Tang people?"
The guard whispered: "The two countries are allies after all, and both are controlled by Li Qinzai. If the general openly disobeys the order, wouldn't it give the Tang people an excuse to launch an attack?"
Jin Yuxin thought for a while and felt that what the guard said was reasonable, so he said calmly: "Just say that I did not receive Li Qinzai's military order and I don't know who intercepted it. If Li Qinzai wants to question the crime, he has the ability to kill all the soldiers of our Silla army camp.
"
The personal guard tried to persuade him a few more times, but seeing that Jin Yuxin was already a little irritable, he did not dare to say anything more and retreated wisely.