Faced with Cheng Yaojin's doubts, Zhang Xingcheng smiled bitterly and shook his head: "The British government is deep and unpredictable. Who can guess his thoughts?"
Cheng Yaojin was speechless.
Li Ji has always presented himself with a humble and low-key image in front of others. He seems to have no desires and demands, neither fighting nor grabbing. He seems not to care about power and wealth. In the court, he plays more of a stunning figure who goes with the flow and gets by.
However, those who have a close friendship with Li Ji and have deep quarrels with him all know that the depth of Li Ji's city is by no means inferior to that of Changsun Wuji.
It's just that Changsun Wuji controlled Guanlong and ran rampant in the court, appearing glorious and domineering, while Li Ji was low-key and tolerant, with a very low sense of presence. Even though he was awarded the title of Prime Minister and Assistant by His Majesty, he remained gentle and low-key, without any Prime Minister or Assistant. The aura...
Therefore, people like Li Ji hide their thoughts very deeply, and it would be extremely difficult to figure out what he was thinking.
Sighing, he asked: "So why did you come here this time?"
Zhang Xingcheng said solemnly: "After discussion with the principals of various families in Guanzhong, they all agreed that Lu Guogong should be urged to use troops to wipe out the remnants of Guanlong, and must not let it resurgence. Otherwise, once the East Palace and Guanlong unite, we will even enter the court in large numbers." , I’m afraid it will be difficult to occupy a favorable position.”
Cheng Yaojin's eyes widened with a look of disbelief on his face, and he said in surprise: "Are you crazy? The right guard in front is blocking the way, and there is Yuchi Gong watching eagerly beside him. At this time, you let me attack Dayun Temple? You hate me to death. We’re late, do you want to give me a lift?”
He has gone beyond anger.
I took the risk of letting the prince hold a grudge and brazenly led the army here. I have already given an explanation to the Shandong family. However, if this is not enough, do I have to risk my life?
Zhang Xingcheng quickly shook his head: "Why did Lu Guogong say this? It's just that Guan Long's remaining power is too great, which poses a great threat to our future arrangements..."
Before he finished speaking, he was interrupted by Cheng Yaojin waving his hand.
He said dissatisfied: "You are a civil servant, but you are also familiar with military affairs. You must know what kind of army Youtun Guard is. It can continuously defeat Tuyuhun, Turks, and cannibals, and then fight thousands of miles away." The iron army rushing to support Chang'an from the Western Regions! No matter how elite my Zuowuwei is, he will lose more than he wins in a head-to-head encounter. If Yuchi Gong's right Houwei lands a fatal blow from behind at the critical moment, I will end up with the whole army destroyed!"
He glared at Zhang Xingcheng and said angrily: "What exactly do you want to do?"
Cheng Yaojin was extremely angry at those Shandong aristocratic families who were hiding in the dark and gesticulating. It didn't mean that he couldn't sacrifice, but the sacrifice had to be valuable, right? Knowing that he was going to die but still going to the road of death, was his brain broken?
The Zuo Wuwei was the foundation on which he relied on to establish himself in the court, and he was absolutely unwilling to be destroyed by the flanking attack of the Right Tun Guard and the Right Marquis Guard.
There was no need to discuss this point. Even if Li, Cui, Lu, Zheng, Wang and other heads of Shandong families were sitting in front of him, he would never agree.
Zhang Xingcheng saw Cheng Yaojin's stubborn temper and had to smile bitterly, shook his head and sighed: "Why is this necessary, Mr. Lu? You are a member of a Shandong family, and we all share the same spirit. The sacrifice you have suffered today will be natural in the future." I will compensate you ten times and a hundred times, and you will never suffer a loss."
Cheng Yaojin's attitude was firm: "If you don't speak clearly, you won't be able to leave this military camp today unless I don't agree to this matter."
Knowing that the odds were stacked against him and letting him go to die, there must be something behind this.
Zhang Xingcheng frowned and thought for a long time, then sighed softly and said helplessly: "The matter has come to this, and you have nothing to hide from Duke Lu. In fact, there is no so-called inside story as you guessed, but everyone unanimously guessed that the British Duke's behavior was extremely If it’s not appropriate, something might happen.”
Li Ji's behavior has been inexplicable for a day or two. Whether he was dragging his feet after withdrawing his troops from Liaodong and refusing to return to Guanzhong to put down the Guanlong mutiny, or he is currently allowing Yuchi Gong to stop him from annihilating Guanlong, leaving anyone to his own devices. I can't figure out what's going on.
Cheng Yaojin thought for a while and said: "So you plan to let me attack Dayun Temple and go to war with Youtun Wei just to test Li Ji's position?"
Zhang Xingcheng nodded and said in a deep voice: "That's right. The British Duke's position is too crucial, but we have no guesses from his actions. Since he condones Yu Chigong, we might as well be more direct and wait until the two armies engage in battle, or even It is a melee between the three armies, and the British Guild will take action, and its position will be revealed."
Cheng Yaojin was silent.
The three armies are fighting in a melee, and the outcome is unknown. Li Ji will naturally take action, and his position will naturally be clearly visible, but the risk that Zuo Wuwei has to bear is extremely high - the right Houwei is not sure whether the Right Tunwei will block it. On the mountain road, in order to ensure the safety of Guanlong, the entire army must go into battle. He pretended to attack, but the right Houwei was actually fighting to the death. There was only one Right Houwei. Cheng Yaojin was confident that he could block it, but if anything happened, And when the whole body is used, the right guard also attacks with all his strength?
Since the Eastern Expedition last year, the one who shines brightest among the entire Tang army is none other than Youtunwei. Each time they won a series of great victories, they defeated the strongest armies of the time. Their military exploits were unrivaled, even if only Gao Kan led an army. Stationed at the mountain pass, Cheng Yaojin was also very afraid.
But at the same time, he also realized an opportunity - if Li Ji really had ulterior motives and betrayed the Shandong family, then the Shandong family would inevitably change its so-called flag in order to ensure its interests in the court...
Only Cheng Yaojin could replace Li Ji.
No one knows the tyrannical power and huge heritage of the Shandong family better than him. If he can enter the court, he will have a place to expand. No matter what, there is no way he can compete with the Shandong family.
And as the banner of the Shandong family, I might also be able to claim the status of "the first person in the court"...
After thinking for a long time and weighing the pros and cons, Cheng Yaojin finally nodded slowly and said: "I will set up an attack formation, and then use a small group of cavalry to harass the right guard and launch a feint attack to test Li Ji's reaction. But once Wei Chigong Ignoring military orders and attacking our rear lines, I will immediately withdraw outside Chunming Gate and not participate in this action again."
He was willing to take a risk at the request of the Shandong family to test Li Jizhi's reaction in exchange for the support of the Shandong family. But he would never seriously go out and fight with Youtun Wei and Youhou Wei. Compared with The Shandong family is the backer, and the foundation of Zuo Wuwei is obviously more important.
If Zuo Wuwei was crippled, how could he, Cheng Yaojin, gain a foothold in the turbulent court in the future?
There are trade-offs between pros and cons. Cheng Yaojin will never be blinded by the immediate benefits and do things with endless consequences...
Zhang Xingcheng was in a dilemma. He thought about it for a long time. Seeing that Cheng Yaojin was resolute, he had to compromise: "That's fine. Guan Long's life and death are important, but it still cannot compare with the British Duke's position. Then I ask Lu Guogong to make proper arrangements. I will make arrangements right now."
Go back and explain everything."
Generals like Cheng Yaojin, founders of the empire, and even Shandong families can only win over and use them. They cannot be driven and treated as vassals. Once they sow dissatisfaction with each other and part ways, it will be a lose-lose situation.
Therefore, although Cheng Yaojin was unwilling to do so, he had to send troops to harass Youtun Guards; and no matter how dissatisfied the Shandong family was, they could only stop in moderation.
After Zhang Xingcheng left, Cheng Yaojin summoned his generals and assigned a light cavalry force of 2,000 people to circle south along the east bank of Chan River to the right flank of the guard, and suddenly launched an offensive.
The Zuowu Guard cavalry sneaked all the way through the light rain, and arrived less than ten miles away from the flank of the Right Tun Guard, where they were spotted by their scouts. They decisively launched a surprise attack. The two thousand light cavalry increased their speed to the limit and charged into the left flank of the Right Tun Guard. The Right Tun Guard was unprepared.
When they arrived at the opposite side, they suddenly launched an attack. They rushed to fight and were scattered by a brigade of soldiers. However, the right guard had been in battle for a long time. Although they became hasty, they responded very quickly. The crossbowmen in the rear formation stepped forward and fired from a distance.
Suppress the charge momentum of the left armed guard cavalry, and use the sword and shield guard to cover it, while fighting and retreating.
In the Chinese army tent, Gao Kan listened to the battle report, looked at the map, and frowned tightly.
Is Cheng Yaojin so determined that he must overcome the Youtun Guards' defense line and wipe out the remaining Guanlong troops stationed near Dayun Temple?
Who gave him the confidence to ignore the combat power of Youtunwei like this?
"What's the movement of Zuowuwei's main force?"
"We are urgently gathering, but there is no overall charge situation at the moment. All the troops are gathering in one place, but it is more like a defensive posture."
"What's the news over there at the Right Marquis?"
"Yu Chigong has ordered to stop crossing the river. The army is currently stationed east of Ba River. There are no abnormalities for the time being."
…
The original confrontation situation took a turn for the worse.
Messages were gathered one after another. Gao Kan pondered for a while and then ordered: "Order the left-wing army to shrink towards the central army, defend with sword and shield men, assist with archers and crossbowmen, and assemble armored cavalry at the central army. Release all the scouts. I want to know
There must be no omission of any disturbance within a radius of thirty miles! All armies are on standby at any time, and no soldier or soldier is allowed to counterattack without my military order!"
"Here!"
Military orders were issued one after another from the central military tent to various troops. The army of more than 10,000 people was operating in an orderly manner. Each department acted in accordance with the orders, and the entire army shrank and formed a defensive formation.
The enemy's motive was unclear, the current situation was unclear, and there was a Marquis on the right, Chen Bing, and Ba Shui on the left behind him, so Gao Kan did not dare to counterattack rashly.
At the same time, people were sent to rush outside Xuanwu Gate to report the situation here to Fang Jun, who would then decide whether to attack or defend.
As soon as the battle report was sent out, a scout rushed into the central military tent and shouted: "Report to the general, Yu Chigong is driving the right lord guard to cross the Ba River!"
There was silence in the tent at first, and then the sky filled with excitement.
"Mom! Bullying, right?"
"Do you really think we are stationed here because we are afraid of them?"
"General, give me the order. Let's counterattack immediately and annihilate these two groups of wolf cubs in one fell swoop!"
The generals in the tent were excited and their morale skyrocketed. They were all gearing up to completely defeat the two defiant armies and safeguard the reputation of Youtun Guards as invincible!