In Guyuan County, in a remote hut, there was a lone lamp and three people were sitting around a table.
"That's it." The short Xin Xie'er said expressionlessly but respectfully, "I don't dare to hide anything."
Liang Luoren squinted his eyes and looked at Xin Luo for a while, then smiled and said, "As expected."
In such a snowy season, Guyuan stood close to Liupan Mountain. If the Tang army wanted to break through, they could only find another way. Combining internal and external forces was the most direct and most effective method.
Liang Luoren had thought of this a long time ago. He had deliberately been wary of Huangfuli before, but soon discovered as the situation developed that the more than a thousand prisoners who had been released were more suspicious... and the most suspicious ones were the two generals who were released.
, Xin Linger, Li Zhengbao.
"Not only that." Lu Jilan stroked his beard and said: "I'm afraid he also wanted to shake the morale of the army... Looking at Li Huairen's methods, the most frightening non-battlefield fighting was that he defeated the Turks several times and forced Yuan Junzhang to surrender.
"
Liang Luoren hesitated and asked tentatively: "Attacking the Turks on a snowy night?"
"No, no." Lu Jilan said softly: "Back then, Li Huairen was just an acting county magistrate. He raised funds for Xia City, opened up trade routes, relocated people, and forcefully forced Yuan Junzhang into a desperate situation. These methods... were like a spring breeze.
drizzle."
"Although Yuan Junzhang has a large army and occupies the important town of Mayi, there are hundreds of miles of uninhabited territory, the fields are barren, there is no source of water, no food and grass, and no people, how can he still have the confidence?"
"Your Majesty has great talents and great plans, but Li Huairen has failed to explain them clearly. We naturally know the inside story, but if it spreads throughout the army, I'm afraid the morale of the army will be unstable..."
Xin Luo'er suddenly interjected: "Before the release, General Xu Mo of the Tang Army selected men for the prisoner camp."
"Li Zhengbao too?"
"Um."
The corner of Liang Luoren's mouth moved and he glanced sideways at the guards not far away from the window. No one had come to inform him yet. It was obvious that Li Zhengbao, who had been received by the King of Handan together with Xin Luo'er, had no intention of revealing his true feelings.
Lu Jilan also looked slightly cold, "The Li family is also a big family in Shuofang County. Do you remember that many members of the family are accompanying the army?"
If Li Zhengbao's personal guards and clansmen secretly spread Li Huairen's words, I am afraid that the morale of the army will be unstable... If nothing else, just civil strife in the Turks would be enough.
Who in the Liang Army doesn't know that the Liang Division is a bastard of the Turks... The defeat at Jingzhou was justifiable before. Even if the vitality is seriously injured, it is not the end of the road. But if the civil strife results in the Liang Division not being able to get support, then there will be no hope of holding on until April or May next year.
What's the point?
"On the day of selection, most of the Li family members were selected." Xin Luo'er added obediently, thinking, don't blame me... If I don't make up my mind, and you do, then I will be the only one unlucky.
.
Lu Jilan glanced sideways, "Do we want to arrest him immediately?"
"No rush, no rush." Liang Luoren smiled playfully, "Li Zhengbao is the only one, how can he cooperate inside and outside?"
"Even if we bring back more than a hundred personal guards, it will not help. You must know that there are more than 3,000 troops in the county alone."
Lu Jilan blinked, "King Xia is suspicious..."
"Well, extra manpower has been sent to keep an eye on Huangfu's family."
"Then just wait, there's really no rush."
Xin Luo'er thought in her heart that before she was exchanged, Tang Jun had given her a way to contact him. The target of contact was Huangfuli from the Huangfu family. There should be someone on Li Zhengbao's side...couldn't it be Huangfuli as well?
At this moment, in the northwest corner of the county, Li Zhengbao had a sullen face, holding a wine flask and taking a sip from time to time, pacing back and forth in the house, his steps sometimes hurried and sometimes slow, obviously a little uneasy.
Although he didn't want to admit it, Li Zhengbao knew that he had been convinced. He had been following Liangshi for so many years. He fought and lost every year. Shuofang County was almost exhausted. Even if he relied on the Turks to control two or three states, what could he do?
?
The King of Handan had analyzed thoroughly enough. The Turks were in civil strife and could no longer take care of Master Liang. After being exchanged, Li Zhengbao quickly found out the relevant information through his contacts. It was indeed Tuli Khan who forced Master Liang to do so.
They... were not exchanging hostages, but forcing Master Liang to put back Li Shenfu and Duan Decao.
You must know that after the death of Jieli Khan, Master Liang immediately chose Dubu Khan. If Tuli Khan had not gained a huge advantage, Master Liang would not have listened to Tuli Khan so obediently.
words.
This shows that the King of Handan did not lie. There was indeed civil strife in the Turks. Without the Turks, could Liang Jun really be able to defend Yuanzhou, Huizhou, and Lingzhou?
You must know that just three months ago, Liang Jun once invaded Longzhou, Jingzhou and even Qizhou, and Ren Gui, the governor of the country, led the Tang army northward, defeated Liang Jun in a battle outside Guyuan City, and took advantage of the situation to regain Yuanzhou.
, if it were not for the two khans... let alone Master Liang, he would probably not be able to return to Shuofang alive.
Li Zhengbao hesitated, took a sip of wine, and shook his head with a wry smile. Even if there was no civil strife in the Turks, so what, if Dubu Khan and Tuli Khan joined forces, wouldn't they be defeated by the King of Handan?
With a long sigh, Li Zhengbao rubbed his brows and thought hard, should he really choose to serve as an internal correspondent for the Tang Army?
Emotionally speaking, I have been with Master Liang for more than ten years. His Majesty is not very kind to his old subordinates, but he is not as mean and ungrateful as he is to his other subordinates.
But from a practical point of view, Li Zhengbao no longer has confidence. Even the Turks are not the opponent of the King of Handan. Can Liang Shi really invade Guanzhong with the land of three states, and then compete with the Tang Dynasty for world supremacy?
Just wishful thinking.
I don't necessarily want to enjoy wealth like Yuan Junzhang, nor do I want to keep the lintel from falling like the Huangfu people. The Li family is just a wealthy family in the countryside of Shuofang. But if I continue, can I escape with my life?
Li Zhengbao didn't believe that he would still be lucky enough to survive in the future when all the Liang divisions were defeated... The reputation of King Handan of the Tang Dynasty spread throughout the north, and he could stop children from crying at night on the grasslands. Would he be so merciful as to spare his life again?
?
Various thoughts came over and over in Li Zhengbao's mind. After a long time, he gently opened the door, and the moonlight shone on half of his face, making it appear obscure.
"Third brother..."
"Brother."
"I remember there was a personal guard..." Li Zhengbao whispered: "He was selected from the prisoners a few months ago...the one who is very good at archery."
"Yes, Liu Bao is from Yuanzhou."
"I remember he once mentioned that he had a brother who worked as a disciple of Huangfu's family..."
"It seems so."
"Ask him to come over."
Li Zhengbao did not plan to contact Huangfuli immediately, not because he thought Liang Luoren would doubt him being released, but because he was worried about Xin Luo'er... what choice would that person make?
Wait a minute, wait a little.
Li Zhengbao felt that Xin Luo'er was smarter and more knowledgeable than him. Now that the Tang Dynasty was at its peak and the Turks were defeated several times, it was impossible to tolerate the Liang divisions occupying the three prefectures in Guanzhong for a long time.
The clear moonlight shines on Guyuan County, which is covered with white snow. It is quiet. Only a few people's frozen bodies can be seen occasionally moving around the corner, but their eyes are still on the target.