Monk Kongji said in a heavy tone: "There is no plan. Zhenguo Temple is the gateway to the east of Daxia. If it is occupied by Long Chengen, he can advance, attack, retreat or defend. The initiative is completely in his hands. We can only
Being led by the nose."
"For the current plan, we should immediately gather our forces to recapture Zhenguo Temple."
Kong Ji, this old bald donkey, is at the end of his rope and can't think of any clever strategies, so he can only fight head-on.
Li Chenglie, the military envoy of the Tongjun Department, said: "But Zhenguo Temple has built so many fortresses. If we attack them by force, we will probably suffer heavy losses."
The Tongjun Department is responsible for the supply of food and fodder for the troops and horses, and is also responsible for war planning, which is equivalent to a staff department.
Shi Le looked at Kong Ji and said, "The commander-in-chief is right. Long Cheng'en has occupied the Zhenguo Temple, and his 200,000 Long family troops are guarding it. If we attack head-on, we will definitely suffer heavy losses."
Monk Kongji was helpless and said: "The poor monk also knows, but the location of Zhenguo Temple is too important. If we don't take it back, our hinterland of Daxia will be unsafe."
"Even if the losses are heavy, this battle must be fought!"
Shi Le looked at the hussar general Fu Yong and the privy councilor Lu Qichang.
Fu Yong said: "What the National Preceptor said is reasonable. Long Chengen has just occupied Zhenguo Temple. We should immediately send troops to attack while its foothold is not stable."
"If you give him time and rely on that guy's tricks, Zhenguo Temple will definitely become a fortress of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty."
Lu Qichang echoed: "Wei Chen seconded the proposal."
The Ministry of Revenue and the Du Branch also agreed.
Shi Le looked a little helpless and said: "Okay, the Privy Council will immediately gather troops and troops to Yangcheng to fight Long Chengen and recapture Zhenguo Temple."
"National Master, how is the situation at Zhaoti Temple?"
Originally, Zhaoti Temple had three major disciples, all of whom were outstanding people.
It's a pity that two died and one was instigated to rebel.
In the past, Zhaoti Temple could send masters to fight in wars, but now...
Monk Kongji's expression moved slightly and he said: "The poor monk has been training hard, and two disciples have already broken through to the Martial Emperor realm and can join the battle!"
Shi Le felt better now and said: "Okay, Long Chengen is only one person, and his subordinates are all kings, so there is nothing to be afraid of."
"This time, I, the king, will go on a personal expedition. We have many experts. When the time comes to fight with him, as long as we kill Long Chengen, things will be easy to handle."
Privy Councilor Lu Qichang agreed and said: "Yes, when the time comes, we will gather elite troops to break into the enemy's formation and kill Long Cheng'en in public. A great deal will be done."
Shi Le stood up and said: "Send orders to all places to meet with me in Yangcheng, fight decisively at Zhenguo Temple, and kill the dragon Cheng'en!"
Kong Ji added: "Your Majesty, there is one more thing. I, Daxia, have an alliance with Nanliang."
"We are at war with Long Chengen. Please send an envoy to Nanliang and ask Li Chengdao to send troops."
Shi Le nodded and said: "Yes, I almost forgot!"
"Privy Envoy, it's up to you to handle this matter!"
Privy Councilor Lu Qichang immediately paid homage and said, "Weak ministers accept the decree."
Shi Le took a deep breath and said firmly: "Okay, let's go! We'll set off in two days!"
Everyone stood up and worshiped: "I will obey the imperial edict!"
The crowd dispersed, and soldiers and horses from all over Xixia immediately gathered in Yangcheng.
....
Zhenguo Temple.
Long Chen walked on the main road, looking at the stone fortresses built layer by layer, and said: "This virtuous old bald donkey left us something good."
Patting the solid wall, Long Chen felt that Deshan was a good person.
Wu Jian smiled and said: "That's because he recruited many civilians and hollowed out the surrounding stones."
"Such a strong fortress, if we hadn't prepared the tunnel last year, it would have been almost impossible to attack it."
Deshan left 50,000 defenders behind and wanted to storm the Zhenguo Temple. The 200,000 Long family troops would have to fight bloody battles for several days. Without 100,000 casualties, they would not be able to win.
"When we evacuated Zhenguo Temple, I thought this would happen."
"Once Deshan suffers a loss, he will definitely build the Zhenguo Temple like an iron barrel."
"A forceful attack will definitely not work. A surprise attack must be carried out, and it must be broken from within."
"That's why I asked you to dig a tunnel, and it worked."
The Long Family Army has completely taken over the Zhenguo Temple. If the temple on the top of the mountain is burned down, it will be burned down. Long Chen doesn't need to worship Buddha anyway.
As long as the fortresses at the foot of the mountain and on the mountainside can be used, as well as the more than 60,000 horses and provisions left by Tie Yaozi, they are all intact.
"How about the Chiyan Temple?"
Long Chen said that he would station troops at Chiyan Temple and form a rivalry with Zhenguo Temple to support each other.
Wu Jian said: "I thought about it and asked Tang Heizi to lead the troops there."
"The Chiyan Temple is on a slope, which is suitable for cavalry charges. Its lancers are the most suitable for guarding."
"We have a fortress here, with archers and infantry guarding it."
Long Chen nodded and said: "I'm here at Zhenguo Temple, and you can take command over there at Chiyan Temple."
After all, Tang Heizi was only a cavalry major general, so Long Chen was worried.
Wu Jian said: "Okay, I'll go there now."
Wu Jian immediately took people to Chiyan Temple.
Long Chen returned to the room on the mountain, and Feng He came in and said, "Sir, Shi Le is gathering troops. Soldiers and horses from all over Xixia are converging on Yangcheng."
Long Chen sat down and took a sip of salty boiled water. He was still a little uncomfortable with it.
"What was expected was that if the Zhenguo Temple was lost, Shi Le would jump over the wall in a hurry."
"I'll wait here and have a fight with him!"
By occupying the Zhenguo Temple, Long Chen took the initiative.
It was not Long Chen who wanted to fight, but Shi Le.
Long Chen could rely on the strong defenses of Zhenguo Temple to have a good fight with Shi Le and let Shi Le's elite soldiers die at the foot of Zhenguo Temple.
Feng He said: "We have enough troops, but not enough generals. Xixia has many masters."
Long Chen said: "Don't worry, Zhang Qian and the others will come over."
Zhang Qian, Dugu Jiali, and Wu Chuchu are all powerful Martial Emperors. Together with Wu Jian, Long Chen has four masters here.
Although Bai Tingting and Wu Xiangyun have not yet broken through, their cultivation levels are also very high. It is not a problem for two of them to besiege a Martial Emperor.
After all, Long Chen has five masters, enough to deal with Shi Le.
The most important thing is that Long Chen has broken through Emperor Wu.
If Kong Ji and Shi Le didn't guess how powerful Long Chen was, they would have the opportunity to take advantage of their ignorance and kill them.
Feng He said: "Just wait until the general from the capital comes over."
....
Capital, Daming Palace.
The empress sat on the phoenix chair, Di Waner stood beside her, Di Yuwei and Di Xingwan were in the row of civil servants, and Di Luoxi stood in the row of generals.
The other civil and military officials stood in their respective positions.
A minister with a gray beard stood in the middle, reporting to the empress.
"The people in the south are facing the problem of not enough cattle for farming, so the local governor asked us, Sinong Temple, to find a solution."
"This clever woman can't make a meal without rice, and the old minister can't conjure up oxen by magic."
This minister is Sun Lu, the minister of Sinong Temple, and he is reporting on spring plowing.
"Please, Your Majesty, think of a way to solve the problem of insufficient cattle. If it affects the spring plowing, it will definitely affect the autumn harvest."
Sinong Qing Sun Lu's beard trembled and he bowed to the empress.
The other ministers in the court shook their heads when they heard this, and some even laughed.
The empress said helplessly: "Master Sun, you are the Minister of Agriculture, responsible for the agricultural affairs of the Great Zhou Dynasty."
"There is a shortage of cattle for spring plowing. You should find a way. This is your duty."
"But you asked me to come up with ideas for you in the court. It's better for me to sit in the seat of Sinong Qing."
This Sun Lu was in his position without any intention of doing anything, a typical example of a corpse sitting in a vegetarian position.
Sinong Qing Sun Lu felt aggrieved and said: "Your Majesty, if the old minister's corpse is not a vegetarian, there is really nothing we can do."
The empress looked at Sun Lu with disgust and was too lazy to tell him.
"Wang Shangshu."
Wang Wei, the Secretary of the Ministry of War, immediately stood up and said, "I am here."
The empress said: "Send the war horses that have been eliminated from the army to the south to give them to farmers who lack cattle."
"Although the war horse is old, it can still plow the land, which can temporarily relieve the urgent need."
Wang Wei bowed and said: "Wei ministers accept the decree."
The empress then said to Duan Shuangshuang, Shangshu of the Ministry of Hubu: "You can spend some money from the Ministry of Hubu and go to Nanliang to buy some cattle. You can also give them to states and counties that lack cattle."
Duan Shuangshuang bowed and said, "Wei Chen has received the order."
Sinong Qing Sun Lu quickly said: "Your Majesty, Nanliang knows that we are short of cattle, but they won't sell them."
In order to restrict the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, Li Chengdao prohibited the sale of cattle to the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, even if he had money.
Duan Shuangshuang smiled and said: "Master Sun, you don't have to worry about this, we have a way."
The empress said in a displeased tone: "Master Sun, please learn from your descendants how to be an official."
This Sun Lu ancestor had meritorious service, he was old, and Sinong Temple was not considered an important yamen, so the empress tolerated him.
Sun Lu looked bored and returned to the train to stand.
