Shi Le sat in the back garden, holding the empty battle report in his hand and worrying.
The prince Shi Haoran walked in and said: "My son, I pay my respects to my father."
Shi Le motioned for him to sit down.
Shi Haoran sat down, and Shi Le handed him the battle report and said: "Yesterday, the Imperial Preceptor came back with a message saying that Long Chengen had arrived at Jade Buddha Pass, and our army suffered its first disastrous defeat."
"According to the wishes of the national advisor, the world will still support us Xixia. This battle should be a sure win. He requested to send another 200,000 troops to decisively fight the Jade Buddha Pass with superior force."
"What do you think of the National Preceptor's suggestion?"
Shi Haoran read the battle report carefully and said: "If what the National Master said is correct, the world will support us, and this battle will definitely be fought."
"The world will always demand that the balance of power in the world be maintained. Although the three countries have conquered each other, the national boundaries have basically remained unchanged."
"This is a rare opportunity to expand our territory. It would be a pity if we missed it."
Shi Le nodded and said: "I feel the same way. Three years ago, Long Chengen took advantage of the bad relationship between Tianxiahui and Nanliang to regain Linjiang City and captured Caishi City, greatly increasing the national power."
"If we can seize the opportunity this time and capture Jade Buddha Pass and Xifeng City, then our Xixia will have a bridgehead to attack the Eastern Zhou Dynasty."
"So, what I mean is to recruit troops from across the country, send another 300,000 troops, fight with a superior force of 500,000, and seize the Jade Buddha Pass in one go."
Shi Haoran agreed: "I am willing to lead the troops to the Jade Buddha Pass for a decisive battle."
Shi Le stroked Shi Haoran's shoulders and said: "Okay, I will appoint you as a general. I will raise another hundred thousand troops, for a total of three hundred thousand troops. We must capture the Jade Buddha Pass."
Shi Haoran bowed and said, "My son, I accept your order."
Shi Le took the seal and delivered it to Shi Haoran.
At this time, Ma Fang rushed into the back garden, holding a battle report in his hand and saying tremblingly: "Your Majesty, something big has happened!"
Shi Le thought that Jade Buddha Pass was defeated, so he hurriedly received the battle report and said angrily: "How unreasonable! They actually destroyed the Zhenguo Temple!"
Shi Haoran said in surprise: "Zhenguo Temple is in the rear, how could it be destroyed if it was so good?"
Shi Le handed the battle report to Shi Haoran and said: "Long Chengen sent a cavalry to the rear for a sneak attack, and Zhenguo Temple was burned down."
Zhenguo Temple is not only a temple, but also an important stronghold of Xixia in the east, where it can station troops and confuse the people.
Now that it was burned, Xixia suffered heavy losses.
"The Imperial Master said that he has sent three thousand iron kites to chase and kill them. I think they have been extinguished by now."
Shi Haoran believed that it would not be a problem for three thousand iron kites to destroy five hundred cavalry.
Shi Le said dissatisfied: "It's a pity that Zhenguo Temple was destroyed!"
Shi Haoran said: "Once we capture the Jade Buddha Pass and ask the Eastern Zhou Dynasty to compensate, we will rebuild it."
Shi Le nodded and said: "Yes, double the compensation!"
"Go and recruit troops as soon as possible. When the time comes, I, the king, will be the leader of the army and you will meet this Long Cheng'en!"
Shi Haoran immediately went to recruit troops.
....
"Sir, kill them all!"
Captain Leng Yu put away his sword and grabbed a handful of sand to wash away the blood on his hands.
"Have the people around here come?"
Long Chen looked at the grain and livestock piled nearby, as well as a few women.
"It should be soon."
As soon as Leng Yu finished speaking, Bai Tingting came over with more than a hundred people.
Rather than bringing him here, he could be said to be escorting him over. There were soldiers from the Xiaoqi Battalion chasing him with swords behind him.
"Things in this world are really ridiculous. If we give you benefits, you still have to put a knife to your neck."
Captain Leng Yu was a little helpless.
Long Chen smiled and said: "There is nothing we can do, they regard us as invaders, and it is normal to be afraid of us."
Bai Tingting came over, dismounted and said, "Sir, there are more than one hundred and thirty people here, all from the surrounding people."
Long Chen nodded and walked forward to take a look. There were old and young, mostly men.
"Folks, we are the army of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. We invite you here for no other reason than to distribute food and livestock to you."
"You may be wondering why the Eastern Zhou army wants to send you things?"
"You remember, we in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty have enmity with Zhaoti Temple and King Shi Le. We are targeting the soldiers and the monster monks in the temple."
"We in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty have no grudge against you, and we will not kill you."
"These grains were gathered by the evil monks in the temple. I will distribute them to you. Whose do these women belong to? You can take them away!"
Bai Tingting came out with several women and asked: "Whose daughter is it? Whose daughter-in-law is it?"
A thin man of medium height came out and said fearfully: "Master Jun, that is my mother-in-law."
When the woman saw the man, she ran over crying: "Donkey egg..."
Several other women had not seen their relatives. Bai Tingting found out after asking that their homes were relatively far away.
"Okay, come here and get it for yourselves. If you take it, it's yours."
Long Chen gave the order and the Xiaoqi camp dispersed.
The people didn't believe that such a good thing could happen, and they didn't dare to do anything about it.
Long Chen didn't rush him and took out some broken silver from his body, giving a little to each woman.
"You go back on your own. I don't dare to give you too much money. If I give you too much, you will be targeted by thieves."
"Take some food and clothes from there and go home."
Several women collected the money, knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Thank you, sir."
Bai Tingting helped her up and said, "Let's go."
Several women picked up their clothes, put them on, carried a bag of rice, and hurried home.
Long Chen got on his horse and led the people from the Xiaoqi camp to continue marching north.
When the people saw that Long Chen was gone, they were surprised and said: "There are still such good things, please leave some for me!"
People started looting.
They usually cultivate land for the temple and pay for incense, but they are squeezed very hard. Who would not be tempted by the free food and livestock.
The food was quickly plundered, and the people were very happy. They privately said that the army of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty was stronger than the monks in the temple.
"Sir, is this useful?"
Colonel Leng Yu had some doubts about the effect.
After leaving Zhenguo Temple, Long Chen led the Xiaoqi battalion all the way to the west, specifically killing demon monks and burning temples as shown on the map.
Most temples in Xixia have temple fields, and there are also grain reserves in the temples, as well as livestock such as donkeys, horses, and sheep.
Every time Long Chen went to a temple, he would kill the monks in a surprise attack and then distribute the grain and livestock to the surrounding people.
Of course, this also includes the government. After the government is conquered, the prisoners are released, the granaries are opened, and the grain is released, allowing the people to take it.
"It's a foreshadowing. How many people can be bribed depends on luck."
Long Chen didn't expect every Xixia people to have a favorable impression of the Eastern Zhou army. He only hoped that some people would support the Eastern Zhou army.
Even if you don't turn towards the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, you can make them hate the Xixia Royal Court and Zhaoti Temple.
Anyway, it's just to sow discord.
"Sir, we have captured two cities and burned seven temples. Why haven't we seen Xixia's actions?"
Bai Tingting found it strange that they had been rushing west for two days, but they had not seen Xixia's pursuers.
Logically speaking, Xixia should pursue and kill him.
Just like when Shi Ming sneaked into the rear of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, Bai Tingting immediately led troops to surround and kill him.
"They are chasing, we are running, our route is uncertain, it is difficult for them to chase."
"But I guess we're almost there."
Long Chen deliberately changed his route frequently to allow Xixia's pursuing troops to escape.
The purpose is very simple, to make Xixia's pursuers exhausted and exhausted.
Just as he was talking, Hou Qi caught up and reported: "Dazhu Kingdom, five miles behind us, the Iron Kites of Xixia are chasing us."
