Long Chen rested in Yangcheng, waiting for the army to rest and recuperate, and then to attack again after the follow-up supplies were complete.
While he was resting, he must not make the enemy too comfortable, so Long Chen reorganized the prisoners and asked them to attack westward.
Compared with Zhu Yong's rabble, these prisoners were regular troops, and their combat effectiveness was different.
In one day, the prisoners were disposed of.
Those who were willing to continue fighting attacked from the north and south. The remaining prisoners, Long Chen immediately took out the land documents from the prefect's mansion and dispersed them around Yangcheng.
Back in the city, Wu Jian praised Long Chen for his good tactics.
"We have 80,000 more soldiers and horses, so we don't have to raise our own troops."
Long Chen said: "I have to thank Shi Le and Kong Ji. If they hadn't been misbehaving in Qiuzitang, I wouldn't have been able to make them willingly kill the monk soldiers."
"If we kill the monk soldiers, they will not be able to go back and will have no choice but to seek refuge with us."
"Of course, there will definitely be people escaping along the way, but it doesn't matter. As long as half of them can continue to attack westward, Shi Le will be busy enough."
"The next focus is to appease the surrounding people and the captives who stayed behind, so that they can farm with peace of mind."
"I guess His Majesty will also send civil servants to take over the city."
Wu Jian nodded and said, "Okay, I'll make arrangements."
....
Eastern Zhou Dynasty, Capital, Daming Palace.
The empress sat on the phoenix chair, the civil and military ministers of the court were divided into two groups, and Sun Yun, the old man of Zhuguo, sat at the head of the ministers.
Because Long Chen, Emperor Luoxi, and Emperor Lingyi were not here, the empress specially invited Gongsun Yun to come to court to discuss affairs.
"How is the supply of food and grass for the Long Family Army?"
Duan, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, both came out and paid homage: "Back to the Lord, we are raising food and grass."
"It's just... King Wu has written many times, saying that the food and grass supplied by Wei Chen is not very good."
When Duan Shuangshuang was talking, the face of Wang Wei, the Minister of War next to him, changed slightly.
The empress frowned and said, "What does it mean that food and grass are not good?"
Everyone looked at Duan Shuangshuang, then shifted slightly to look at Wang Wei, Minister of War.
Everyone knows that Wang Wei and Long Chen have a feud. If Long Chen is fighting outside, Wang Wei will definitely take the opportunity to cause trouble.
Duan Shuangshuang said: "King Wu said that the grain and rice were not good, and the soldiers had complaints."
The empress looked at Wang Wei and asked: "Wang Shangshu, the supply of military rations must be guaranteed. The Long family army is fighting fiercely with Shi Le in Yangcheng. We cannot let the soldiers fight hungry."
Wang Wei bowed unconvinced: "It is clear from the Holy Spirit that the Ministry of War has been trying its best to raise food and grass. It is true that both sides are at war and the military food consumption is too large. Even if you have money, you can't buy good food."
The empress frowned and asked, "What does it mean that you can't buy good food if you have money?"
Wang Wei looked at Sinong Qing Sun Lu and said, "Master Sun, please give me a fair word."
Sinong Qing Sun Lu came out and said: "Your Majesty, there are wars going on in the south and west. Hundreds of thousands of troops are eating food, and there are hundreds of thousands of war horses. The food consumption is too great."
"Although the Ministry of Household Affairs has plenty of silver, there is only so much food, and you can't buy good food even if you have money."
"Also, because of the war, the imperial court has been purchasing food. The price of food among the people has increased, and the people have complained a lot."
After Sun Lu finished speaking, the ministers in the court began to discuss.
They have also heard about these things, but they can't explain them clearly.
After all, Long Chen has been winning battles, and the south is resisting Li Chengdao's invasion. Both sides are related to the fate of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and as a minister, he must support him.
The empress felt a headache, and Yangcheng was still facing a confrontation. Long Chen besieged 50 troops with 200,000 troops. If food and grass were not available, if Shi Le counterattacked, the consequences would be disastrous.
"What suggestions do the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War have?"
The empress first asked Duan Shuangshuang and Wang Wei.
Both of them shook their heads helplessly.
Duan Shuangshuang and Long Chen have a very good relationship. If the Ministry of Household Affairs had a way, Duan Shuangshuang would have found a way to solve it.
"Dear ladies, where are you?"
The empress asked other ministers, but the ministers in the court could not give any advice except shaking their heads.
"Lao Zhuguo, do you have any good suggestions?"
The empress couldn't think of a good way, and the ministers in the court didn't have any ideas, so the empress asked Gongsun Yun.
Gongsun Yun thought for a while and shook his head slightly. There was nothing he could do about this matter.
Food and grass are real things and cannot be conjured out of thin air.
In recent years, relying on the products of the Ministry of Industry and the looting of the properties of the Tianxiahui, the Ministry of Household Affairs and the national treasury have sufficient money.
But no matter how much money you have, you can't use it as food. If you don't have enough grain and rice, you can't buy it even if you have money.
Wang Wei, the Minister of War, came out and bowed: "Your Majesty, actually... there is a way."
The empress asked happily: "What can we do?"
Wang Wei said loudly: "Please King Wu retreat his troops and retreat to Zhenguo Temple, and then attack again after the autumn harvest."
hiss...
When Wang Wei's suggestion came out, everyone in the room was shocked.
Long Chen was victorious in Xixia and besieged Shi Le's 50-strong army in Yangcheng. Are you thinking of retreating at this time? You must be mentally ill!
Gongsun Yun was the first to stand up and object: "No! King Wu Zhenguo Temple killed hundreds of thousands of Shi Le's elite soldiers, and now he has surrounded the Xixia army. It is a critical moment, how can we retreat!"
"If Yangcheng wins the battle, Xixia will definitely be severely damaged, and the destruction of Xixia will be just around the corner!"
"If there is not enough food, then take the food from my house!"
The ministers of the DPRK and China also disagreed with the withdrawal of troops.
The eldest princess Di Yuwei said: "Mother, you must not retreat. The world has been divided for hundreds of years, and now it has finally formed the tendency to annex Xixia. Once we retreat, I am afraid we will never be able to destroy Xixia!"
The second princess, Emperor Xingwan, also objected: "I do not agree to withdraw the troops. If there is not enough food and grass, I suggest that we save money from the palace expenses and buy cattle and sheep from the northern barbarians and send them to Yangcheng."
Everyone disagreed, but Wang Wei said: "It is a fact that there is not enough food and grass. How long can we survive just by saving a little bit?"
"I know you think that King Wu and I have some differences, but in front of the overall situation of the imperial court, I can still tell the difference."
"I'm just thinking about the imperial court. If we don't have enough food and grass, and Shi Le takes advantage of the opportunity to counterattack, we will end up losing a lot."
Gongsun Yun couldn't help frowning when he heard the words "a small thing makes a big loss".
The Battle of Yangcheng is related to the fate of the country, so how can we say that a small gain is a big loss.
The empress knew that Wang Wei said this deliberately, so she did not reprimand him.
"Think of a way again. Yangcheng must be captured. If Yangcheng is defeated, we can approach Guancheng."
"In terms of food, the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War will work together to find ways to ensure sufficient food and grass."
The empress spoke very firmly, Gongsun Yun slowly sat down, and other ministers also agreed with the empress' statement.
However, the problem of food and grass has still not been solved.
Yingfeng walked in from the door, holding a battle report in his hand, his face filled with joy.
"Your Majesty, King Wu's battle report is here."
Seeing Yingfeng's joy, the empress knew that it must be a good news, and the war in Yangcheng had come to an end.
Everyone's eyes fell on the battle report in Yingfeng's hand.
"Send it up!"
The empress stood up and took a step down. Yingfeng quickened her pace and presented the battle report.
The empress opened the battle report and read it carefully, with uncontrollable joy on her face.
Gongsun Yun sat up slightly and waited for the empress to speak. All the ministers in the hall also waited for the empress to speak.
