The drizzle was continuous and the night was pattering. Not only did the weather not make the soldiers feel miserable, but they felt cool during the march and their bodies became more and more excited.
The light cavalry in front was blocked by the right guard and forced to return. The news spread among the army, and the people in the left guard were excited!
"Mother! Did the Youtun Guards take the wrong medicine? They were fighting to the death with the Guanlong Army before, but suddenly they started to protect them in the blink of an eye?"
"Guan Long rebelled and plotted to usurp the throne. This is an unforgivable crime. The Youtun Guards are aiding the evil!"
"Do you really think that after winning a few battles, you will be the strongest army in the Tang Dynasty? If you dare to block the path of our Zuo Wuwei, you are simply seeking death!"
"Rush up and show them the water. This is the first army of the Tang Dynasty!"
…
Facing the excited soldiers and generals below, Cheng Yaojin was very calm while sitting on his horse. He wiped the rain from his face and asked, "Where is the right Houwei now?"
The general beside us replied: "It's just to the east of us, blocking the way across the Ba River and rushing to Dayun Temple."
Cheng Yaojin pondered for a moment and then ordered: "The entire army marched forward, arrayed in front of the Youtun Guards, a stone's throw away, and set up a storming formation. However, no one is allowed to move even half a step forward without my commander's orders.
Not to mention forming an alliance with Youtunwei!"
The generals were stunned for a moment, and some said angrily: "Youtun Guards have gone too far! We are here to arrest the murderers who massacred the Cui family village, why should they stop us? If we are blocked by them, Commander, you can't explain it!"
"
"We don't need to be afraid of his right guard. The general will ask for orders and lead his headquarters to raid his position. If he can't break through in one fell swoop, come and see him!"
"Shut up, everyone!"
Cheng Yaojin stared angrily and yelled: "Am I the commander-in-chief or are you the commander-in-chief? You all have to obey my orders. Anyone who disobeys military orders will be subject to military law!"
"Here!"
A group of arrogant and powerful generals did not dare to say anything. Although they were not resentful of the tyranny of the Youtun Guards, they could only lead the troops forward to a stone's throw in front of the Youtun Guards formation, and then formed their formations, staring eagerly at the Youtun Guards.
When the garrison guards are in confrontation, they can launch a surprise attack at any time.
For a moment, the situation was tense and murderous.
Cheng Yaojin looked at the Youtun Guards formation from a distance, but he was very satisfied with Gao Kan: This guy has a lot of eyes, and if he is not sure whether Zuo Wuwei is real or not, he will stop him first. If Zuo Wuwei is against Guan
Long had no intention of killing and would not seriously launch an attack no matter how much trouble he made. On the contrary, if he launched an attack immediately, Gao Kan would let go and let Zuo Wuwei go up the mountain.
have a future.
…
On the other side, Yuchi Gong was impatient. He led the right Houwei from the south of Lishan Mountain. Because traveling along the east bank of Ba River, he needed to cross Ba River to reach Dayun Temple. Cheng Yaojin was on the west side of Ba River, so he only had to go all the way.
Going south, you can reach Dayun Temple at the source of Ba River and Chan River. Therefore, the marching distance required by both sides is different. If you cannot catch up with Cheng Yaojin, the remaining Guanlong troops retreating to Dayun Temple will be in danger.
.
But on the other hand, he was unwilling to start a direct war with Zuo Wuwei, so that there would be no room for change in the situation...
The soldiers under his command collected fishing boats and wooden planks nearby, and built a pontoon bridge in the upper reaches of Ba River where the river was not wide but the current was fast. Then the army stepped on this narrow pontoon bridge to cross Ba River and continued to advance towards Dayun Temple.
It's just that the pontoon bridge is too narrow and the army's crossing speed is too slow...
Yuchi Gong rode to stay on the east bank of Ba River, watching his troops slowly crossing the river. A scout came galloping from a distance, and when he got close, he reported: "Commander Qi, Zuo Wuwei has arrived at the foot of Dayun Temple."
, but the way was blocked by Youtun Guards."
Yuchigong perked up and asked hurriedly: "But the Youtun Guard took the initiative to intercept?"
The scout replied: "Exactly, the right guard has formed a formation and is waiting, and they have threatened that no one can get past them and go up the mountain. Their attitude is extremely determined."
Yuchi Gong took a long breath and put his heart back in his stomach.
If the Right Guards can stop the Zuo Wuwei, he is willing to see it no matter what the reason is. In this way, the nobles of Guan Long will be saved, and they will not start a direct war with the Zuo Wu Wei and be completely dubbed "Guan Long."
The crime of "treason"...
Suddenly, a commotion broke out among the troops who had crossed the river at the other end of the pontoon bridge in front, and the troops crossing the river also stopped.
Yuchi Gong was startled and hurriedly said to the soldiers around him: "Go and check quickly!"
"Here!"
The soldiers rode out and returned not long after, reporting back: "The Youtun Guards sent a cavalry to block our way and warned us not to cross the river to avoid unnecessary conflicts. Please stay east of Ba River.
, otherwise it will prevent us from crossing the river."
The generals on the right flank nearby were furious and shouted and cursed one after another.
Yuchi Gong waved his hand to stop the generals from shouting and cursing. He looked up at the pontoon bridge and said solemnly: "Withdraw all the troops crossing the river. We will stay here until the situation changes and then make plans."
Although the generals under his command were not angry, they did not dare to disobey the military order. They responded in unison, sent the order to withdraw the troops crossing the river, and then set up camp on the spot.
Yuchi Gong dismounted, called over two soldiers, and ordered: "Immediately lurk south and cross the river, rush to Dayun Temple to report the situation here to Zhao Guogong, and say that the attitude of the Youtun Guards is tough. If I lead my troops to charge hard, a conflict will inevitably occur."
, in front of the Right Tun Guard and the Left Wu Guard, I dare not say that I will win, and I am afraid that I will anger the two guards and be detrimental to Dayun Temple, so I will camp temporarily. Please let Zhao Guo announce the next move."
If he simply stood in front of Dayun Temple to stop Zuo Wuwei, he would still be somewhat certain that a large-scale battle would not break out. After all, in his opinion, Cheng Yaojin may not be completely obedient to the orders of the Shandong family, but now there is another
You Tuen Wei, then you have to be careful.
The three-guard troops were entangled in the narrow area between Ba River and Chan River. If they were not careful, they might cause misunderstandings and lead to a melee.
If a fight breaks out in confusion, it will be completely out of control...
*****
At the beginning of Mao hour, the sky was dark and bright, and the light rain did not stop.
A horse galloped from a distance, and the sound of horse hooves shattered the silence around it. The birds in the forest were so frightened that they fluttered their wings and flew away, regardless of the rain.
The Youtun Guard scouts who were wandering nearby quickly gathered together, and when they discovered that the rider was one of their own, they released him and allowed him to go straight to the camp and submit Gao Kan's battle report to the central military tent.
Fang Jun just woke up from the hard bed in the camp tent, put on his clothes, yawned and brushed his teeth, and rubbed his sore waist muscles with his hands.
The family members of the East Palace were all in the Youtunwei Camp, living together with Princess Gaoyang. In order to avoid suspicion, Fang Jun did not dare to go back to his residence to sleep, so he could only make do in the military tent. The bed board was too hard and
The constant battle reports from the front meant that I didn't sleep much all night, and my spirit was a little shaky and my whole body felt uncomfortable.
The battle report from Gao Kan came in, along with the letter from Yuwen Shiji, of course. Fang Jun read it at a glance, and his eyes almost popped out of his head in shock...
Gao Kan, you bastard, what are you going to do?
With you on the front line, you went to recruit women for me?
This is the legitimate daughter of the Changsun family and the daughter of the Yuwen family... Aren't you afraid of making Princess Gaoyang and Wu Meiniang jealous, so that I can't have sex for half a year?
You want to go to heaven!
Although he knew that Gao Kan's move was to find a strong support for him, with Guan Long's strong support, he would not be afraid of the provocation, rejection, and suppression of the powerful families in Shandong and Jiangnan, but this kind of "peacemaking on the spot"
Things still made him panic...
After thinking about it, he got up and dressed neatly, took the letter and went out of the tent. He led dozens of soldiers and rode to the Xuanwu Gate. After calling the city gate open, he went straight to the Taiji Palace and arrived at the Wude Hall to meet the prince.
Li Chengqian was sitting on his knees behind the table enjoying breakfast. When he saw Fang Jun being rude when he entered, he laughed and said, "Er Lang, can you have breakfast?"
Fang Jun said: "Before I had time, I just got up and washed up when I received the battle report from Gao Kan from the front. I didn't dare to be expert, so I came to ask His Highness to make a decision."
Li Chengqian asked: "But the military intelligence report?"
Fang Jun shook his head: "We didn't engage in battle."
Li Chengqian nodded, waved his hands and said, "It doesn't matter if you wait for a while. Come on, come on, buy a pair of bowls and chopsticks for Duke Yue, and eat with me."
The chamberlain at the side quickly brought bowls and chopsticks. Fang Jun thanked him and said, "Thank you for the gift, Your Highness, but I am not respectful."
Then he sat opposite Li Chengqian and had a meal together.
They ate in silence and slept in silence. The two of them didn't talk much. After breakfast, the waiter served tea. Fang Jun then took out the letter from Gao Kan and Yuwen Shiji and handed it to Li Chengqian.
Li Chengqian read them one by one, and when he raised his head to look at Fang Jun, his eyes were inevitably surprised and his expression was strange...
The wealthy families from Jiangnan and Shandong poured into the court. This was an inevitable situation. Unless he wanted the center of the court to remain stagnant, he would not be able to rebuild Guanzhong as soon as possible and comprehensively and timely transition the government to the new era after the death of his father.
But in this case, Fang Jun, as his most valued and trusted minister and one of the military giants, is bound to be ostracized and suppressed by the clans in Jiangnan and Shandong. Fang Jun himself is not a person who wants to seize power, but if he is
Without power, he is naturally restricted and suppressed everywhere. How can he cope with this loyal minister who saves him in times of crisis and never abandons him?
I always have to rely on Guan Longxungui to balance the powerful families in Shandong and Jiangnan. If Fang Jun can get the support of Guan Long, he will not be suppressed by Jiangnan and Shandong, and his amazing talents can be extended.
At least that miraculous money-making technique can make the national treasury more full.
But getting Guan Long's support through such a marriage was something Li Chengqian had never thought of...
Previously, the legitimate daughter of the Lanling Xiao family had been married into the Fang family as a concubine. At this time, it was spread all over the world, with mixed reviews. If the eldest grandson family, the core of the Guanlong clan, and the Yuwen family married the family's legitimate daughter into the Fang family as a concubine,
I wonder what kind of ripples it will cause in the world?
The aristocratic families dominate the world and occupy all resources.
The most important thing for aristocratic families is the height of the lintel. With their unparalleled reputation, the most senior family members stand high and look down on all living beings. Although the Guanlong family has been repeatedly opposed by the families in Shandong and Jiangnan, they believe that their Hu people are not worthy of being among the best in the world.
The clan members were even unwilling to marry their daughters into such a "familiar family" to avoid tarnishing their bloodline. However, it is irrefutable that the Guanlong clan had great power and unparalleled political status when they entered the Tang Dynasty. In fact, they were already the third among the clans.
Wait.
For a family of this level to marry their legitimate daughter as a concubine is simply an insult to the dignity of the family...
At the same time, Fang Jun's identity will become even more special due to his marriage to Jiangnan and Guanlong. In addition, with his previous illustrious military exploits, as well as his right guard and navy, two invincible and powerful armies in the world
, became a rock-solid force in the court.
It even had a certain impact on the foundation of the East Palace. On the one hand, it made the prince's authority more stable, and on the other hand, it easily aroused the prince's suspicion...
Therefore, regardless of whether Fang Jun agrees or not, he cannot do it himself. Instead, it must be submitted to Li Chengqian, and the prince will make a decision.