Xuanfu, also called Xuanfu Town, is one of the most important military towns near Yandu.
After the Tatars retreated, the three guards of Xuanfu who were originally defeated by the Tatars returned to Xuanfu and continued to defend Yandu.
Originally, most of the generals of the Three Guards of Xuanfu were Han Chinese, but now, after several great changes, basically all the generals of more than 1,000 households in the Three Guards of Xuanfu have been replaced by Zhenren Zhu Li.
In fact, this was one of the reasons why Northern Qi's combat effectiveness dropped rapidly in the middle and late stages of the war.
More than seventy years ago, there were indeed many talented people among Master Zhu Li. However, today, more than seventy years later, Master Zhu Li has long been corrupted and degenerated. In addition, their number is not large. In terms of proportion, those who are capable Naturally not too much.
Forcibly replacing the Han generals with Zhu Li Zhenren actually caused the strength of the entire Northern Qi Dynasty to drop by at least one level or even more.
However, the main reason why Shen Yi was able to successfully provoke the rebellion was because the rulers of Northern Qi thought they were superior and did not actively integrate themselves into Han civilization.
Although they were Sinicized, they were still wary of Han people and prohibited Zhu Li from intermarrying with Han people.
Although this will prevent the number of real Zhuli people from increasing dramatically to a certain extent, thereby controlling the financial expenditure caused by the increase in the number of nobles, it will inevitably bring about a sense of fragmentation.
If Master Zhuli had taken over the capital of Yan, he had begun to actively Chineseize it, or even been ruthless enough to make most ordinary Zhuli people equal in status to the Han people, and then allow intermarriage to completely integrate the whole of Beijing.
In this case, nothing would happen to Shen Yi at all. Even before Shen Yi was born, the war between the north and the south might have been over.
But now, it's too late to say anything.
Fifty miles west of Xuanfu Military Town, General Xue Wei and General Xue's military tent has begun to be stationed.
Wan Zhong stood in front of Xue Wei and lowered his head to report: "General, the scouts reported that the three guards of Xuan Mansion have been fully staffed. Their number is larger than that of the ordinary guard. The three guards combined may exceed 20,000 people. "
Xue Wei raised his head and looked at Wan Zhong, and after beckoning the latter to sit down, he touched the beard on his chin and frowned: "Didn't you say that there is already chaos within Northern Qi? The three guards of Xuanfu are not in chaos?"
"Of course it's chaos."
Wan Zhong said with a smile: "I heard from people in the Di newspaper department that several thousand-household camps were dissatisfied with the newly arrived Zhu Lizhen's thousand-household camp, and they made a fierce fuss, even killing people. However, Northern Qi's suppression methods were very violent, and several people were killed. With ten people, no one would dare to make trouble."
General Xue thought carefully, then looked at Wan Zhong and said: "Get ready, we will start attacking Xuanfu tomorrow."
"ah?"
Wan Zhong looked at Xue Wei, frowned and said: "General, Mr. Shen has told us not to fight too hastily now, just press on little by little."
"Let's not be too anxious, just keep an eye on the three guards of Xuanfu."
General Xue shook his head and said: "I don't want too many people. Tomorrow I will take three thousand-household camps to test the quality of the three guards of Xuanfu."
He looked at Wan Zhong and said with a smile: "If we defeat the Xuanfu, we can go straight into Yandu. Wouldn't that be a good thing for our entire vanguard army?"
Shen Yi told Xue Wei in private that he could find opportunities to act on his own.
If it were the former Xue Mangzi, he would have mentioned Shen Yi to Wan Zhong by now. However, General Xue had matured a lot at this time. He did not tell anyone about this matter, not even Wan Zhong, who had been his partner for a long time. Not a word was mentioned.
No one knew that Shen Yi had given him private instructions on this matter.
If he can attack Yandu, then when Master Shen holds a meeting in the future, he will probably give him a false scolding, then make up for his fault with one sentence, and the punishment will be over.
If you can't defeat Yandu, then just pretend that this incident never happened.
Wan Zhong looked at Xue Wei and said nothing for a long time. Finally, he bowed slightly and said: "I will obey your order!"
The next day, General Xue Wei ordered three thousand soldiers and horses, including more than a thousand elite cavalry he had trained under the Tatars, to attack the three guards of Xuanfu.
Xue Wei was not reckless. Before the battle, he sent dozens of people with loud voices to shout loudly at the gate of Xuan Mansion.
"At this time, when we return to our hearts and abandon our weapons, we are the people of the Han family!"
"If the city is defeated and then surrendered, defecting will be the same as barbarians!"
After shouting for more than an hour, the three guards of Xuan Mansion finally couldn't hold back anymore and led their troops out of the city to fight.
Under General Xue's personal leadership, the two sides fought fiercely outside Xuanfu Town for two full days. After two days, Xue Wei, who led 3,000 troops, retreated with the remaining 3,500 soldiers.
Xue Wei, who had greatly taken advantage of him, led his soldiers and walked away laughing.
This battle in Xuanfu greatly boosted Xue Wei's confidence. From then on, the vanguard army attacked the three guards of Xuanfu and never stopped for a day. However, the three guards of Xuanfu no longer dared to fight and only insisted on holding on. Both sides Although they were in a stalemate again, the military morale of the three guards of Xuanfu was also crumbling day by day.
At the same time, General Lang Yan, leading some of Zhu Lizhen's elite troops, and the princes and daughters of Emperor Zhaowu quietly retreated from Yandu to the outside of the pass.
At this time, Nuo Yong led his troops back to Yandu. He deployed all his soldiers in the city within 200 miles outside Yandu, and began to defend Yandu as the center.
The end of July in the eighteenth year of Hongde.
The Huai'an Army's Left Army and Right Army entered Yandu together. The two generals from the left and right armies, who had not seen each other for a long time, met in Bazhou, south of Yandu.
In an inconspicuous wine shop in Bazhou City, two generals sat across the table from each other. Ling Su took the initiative to pour a glass of wine for Su Ding, and then said with a smile: "I heard that the young master from General Su's family has also arrived in the army. Why didn't you bring him to meet me, an elder?"
Here, the right army is in control, so Su Ding rushed here to meet Ling Su.
General Su took the wine glass handed over by Ling Su with both hands and said with a smile: "That boy has just arrived in the army. He doesn't know the rules or military skills. I brought him here because he was afraid that he would be ignorant and annoy the general."
Ling Su picked up the wine glass, the two of them clinked it, and then said: "Brother, what you said is that you don't regard Ling as one of your own."
Su Ding quickly shook his head: "We are all colleagues in the Huai'an army, so naturally we are our own people. In Su's heart, I have always respected the general."
Having said this, he picked up a glass of wine and smiled: "I heard that the general recently got married to the Duke's family. This is really a great happy event. I haven't had time to say congratulations to the general. This glass of wine is my gift to you. The general congratulated you."
The two had a drink again, and Ling Su shook his head and said: "This is all for Duke Shen's sake. If it weren't for Duke Shen in the court, not to mention the Duke of the country, not even those Jinshi would look down upon us brothers. ."
Su Ding said with a smile: "Without the status of general, even if Mr. Shen has more face, this matter may not be possible."
The two exchanged a few polite words. Ling Su changed the subject and looked at Su Ding: "Xue Da's place is already in full swing. Does my dear brother know?"
Su Ding was startled, then nodded slightly: "I've heard a little bit."
Ling Su smiled and said: "He is attacking the Xuanfu. Once the three guards of the Xuanfu are defeated, his vanguard army can penetrate into Yandu unimpeded."
Su Ding frowned slightly and corrected: "This is a good thing, that is the vanguard of our Huai'an Army."
Ling Su sighed: "General Su also knows that that is the vanguard of our Huai'an Army. The vanguard is already fighting with the enemy. Can't we just sit back and ignore it?"
Su Ding looked calm: "General, our army did not sit idly by and ignore it. The left army has been advancing northward without stopping for a day."
Ling Su raised his head, took a breath, and said directly: "General Su, we both belong to the Huai'an Army. We originally worked for the court together, so we shouldn't have any selfish motives, but since you and I are the chief generals."
"If we should fight, I think we should fight. When we reach your level, standing out is no longer for yourself, but for the brothers below."
Su Ding lowered his head to drink and said slowly: "What does the general mean?"
"Let's go north together and besiege Yandu."
Su Ding looked up at Ling Su, was silent for a while, and then said, "I want to ask Duke Shen for instructions."
Ling Su lowered his head and drank: "Did Xue Da ask for instructions? If he asked for instructions and Duke Shen also agreed, why don't you and I know about it?"
Su Ding looked at Ling Su with a calm expression: "General, until today, General Xue is the one with the lowest rank and the fewest troops among the three of us."
"I don't understand where the general's resentment comes from?"
"I don't have any personal grievances."
Ling Su sighed and smiled bitterly: "But the army on the right..."
"General, that's all."
Su Ding stood up silently, lowered his head and clasped his fists and said: "It is rare for Mr. Shen to delegate power after reading the history books. If the general wants to advance north, he can directly send his troops to the north now. The reason why he roped in Su is for the sake of law." Don't blame everyone."
"After Su returns to his headquarters, he will continue to go north, but before finding an opportunity that Su deems appropriate, or before receiving an order from above, the Left Route Army will not rush northward."
After saying that, Su Ding lowered his head slightly and retreated silently.
Ling Su did not get up and watched silently as he turned and left.
At this point, as the Huai'an army grew stronger, the first obvious division within Huai was finally born.
However, as long as Shen Yi is around, this separation will be subtle and invisible.
General Ling sat in silence for a long time.
After a long time, he raised his head and drank half of his bottle of wine, smelling of alcohol.