As the sky gradually grew brighter and the heavy rain did not stop, thousands of Youhou guardsmen were dispatched from the military camp, either in groups of five or in teams of ten, to commandeer the ships parked near Mengjin Ferry, whether civilian ships, merchant ships or even official ships.
All boats were confiscated, and the boatmen were also requisitioned...
Such behavior will naturally arouse public resentment, but everyone knows that the fight for the throne in Guanzhong is now in full swing. At this critical moment, the army is the most unruly and unreasonable, so no one dares to resist and can only obey.
Within one day, Yuchi Gong collected nearly a thousand ships of various types and sailed to the north bank of the Yellow River, waiting for the arrival of the Shandong private army.
At this time, the news of Zheng Rentai's defeat and the fall of Banzhu also spread to Tongguan, and all the city gates were silent.
In the barracks, Li Zhi sat in the middle with a gloomy face. It had only been a few days since the Jiangnan Private Army collapsed. His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin, who had always been handsome and handsome, already looked depressed, looked haggard, and had a faint green stubble on his chin.
, the bags under my eyes are coming out...
Putting the battle report in his hand on the table, Li Zhi looked up and looked around, his voice a little hoarse: "With the situation now, what do you think should be done?"
Everyone was silent, not knowing how to answer.
The fall of Banzhu meant that the navy could freely enter and leave the Yellow River and go upstream to Tongguan at any time. Cooperating with the Sixth Army of the East Palace in Guanzhong, Tongguan, which was already weak in terms of military strength, was attacked from both sides. If it were not careful, it would be overturned.
And once Tongguan falls and the King of Jin is defeated, the fate of these people is unknown...
After a while, Xiao Yu coughed and broke the silence: "The plan now depends on whether the Shandong private army can successfully cross the river and reach Luoyang. Although Zheng Rentai was defeated in this battle and suffered many casualties, the Zheng family's forces are all around Xingyang.
Within the scope, there is no problem in raising an army of more than 10,000 men in the short term. His Highness should write to Zheng Rentai, asking him to do his best to regroup and stick to the Yellow River waterway in Xingyang."
Cui Xin looked solemn, shook his head and said: "Zheng Rentai's more than 10,000 elite infantrymen were defeated before. How can the hastily raised army resist the naval attack? I'm afraid it will be unbearable."
"It is not necessarily necessary to capture Banzhu. As long as we can contain the navy at Banzhu, Heyang, Bianzhou, and Xingyang, so that Huating Town cannot transport troops and equipment to support Liu Rengui unscrupulously, it is enough."
The navy's combat power is overwhelming. At present, it seems that no matter which army has a head-to-head advantage, it will be difficult for them to take advantage of the frontal battlefield. Therefore, they can only use harassment techniques to contain them and try to buy the Shandong private army time to cross the river.
As long as one hundred thousand Shandong private troops can successfully cross the river and reach the Tongguan area, the stalemate can be maintained in the short term at least.
Otherwise, if the navy is allowed to come and go freely on the canal, soldiers and baggage are transported at will, and Tongguan is surrounded by enemies and becomes a deadly place, how can this battle be fought?
No matter what, Itazhu cannot give up easily.
Cui Xin nodded slightly and remained silent.
Although Chu Suiliang was present, he never gave any advice. At this moment, his eyebrows were lowered and his eyes were wandering. He had a feeling of "Xu Shu entered Cao's camp without saying a word"...
Yuwen Shiji advised: "Your Highness may wish to write a letter to the Governor of Yingzhou, the Protectorate of Hanhai, and the Sixteenth Guards of Guanzhong, promising to receive rewards from the feudal side after the completion of the project. If anyone wants to move, he will come with troops.
, to assist His Highness."
For military commanders, the "feudal world" is the top of merits. The family name is passed down from generation to generation, and the descendants are all in charge of a country. This is an unparalleled temptation.
Li Zhi nodded and said with emotion: "If we can get a group of virtuous ministers and generals to uphold my father's imperial edict, prevent Guo Zuo from falling into the hands of the traitors, and allow my father's soul to rest in peace in heaven, why should I be stingy with the reward?"
He agreed very happily, because for His Highness the current King of Jin, there are really not many bargaining chips that can be used to win over the troops from all over the world...
Since he is already in a disadvantageous position and is prone to overthrow, why should he care about the cost issue? As long as it can attract the generals, he is willing to take it all. Once the left and right armies are defeated, they will have nothing. If they can buck the trend and
Victory, everything is gained in abundance.
Yu Wenshi said: "That's right. Zhou Daowu, the governor of Yingzhou, has always been at odds with the prince. After the Eastern Expedition, the late emperor ordered him to escort the captives back to the capital. It happened that a heavy snowstorm had closed the mountains and the roads in Liaodong were almost inaccessible, causing the captives to freeze to death.
Most of the time, the late emperor punished him for this. Instead of interceding, the prince and Fang Jun made trouble. Zhou Daowu was extremely dissatisfied with this, and Princess Linchuan was also at odds with the prince and Princess Gaoyang. As long as His Highness gives enough rewards, he should be able to win her over.
As for the Hanhai Protectorate..."
He looked at Xiao Yu and closed his mouth.
The current Protector of the Hanhai Protectorate is Xiao Rui, the eldest son of Xiao Yu and Princess Shang Xiangcheng...
Chu Suiliang, who had been silent all this time, also raised his eyelids and looked at Xiao Yu to see how he would respond...
Xiao Yu frowned tightly and mused: "I have been greatly favored by the emperor, and I want to repay the late emperor's kindness with a ring of grass. Why would it be a pity if my whole family was shattered to pieces? It's just that although there are four soldiers in the Hanhai Protectorate,
Wan, all are elites, but that place is close to Dragon City, Xue Yantuo's old troops are ready to move, and even the Turks show traces from time to time, and they are likely to make a comeback... In case the soldiers and horses of the Hanhai Protectorate are transferred to Guanzhong, resulting in the North Land
The military strength is empty, and Xue Yantuo gives the Turks an opportunity to take advantage of it, causing Hanhai to fall. There will inevitably be heated disputes, and it will be difficult for the government and the public to explain."
Li Zhi heard hesitation on his face.
Fighting for the throne is a family matter between two brothers, but guarding Northern Xinjiang is a state matter. If the troops of the Hanhai Protectorate are transferred to Guanzhong due to family matters, the Northern Xinjiang will be empty and foreigners will take advantage of it, leading to the resurgence of Xue Yantuo and the Turks. This is because
The private wastes the public.
Not only will everyone in the world be scolded, but it will also leave an infamy in history.
History books are written by the victors. If you win this battle and ascend to the throne, there will naturally be nothing to say. Recruiting elite soldiers from Northern Xinjiang to Beijing is a wise move. But if you lose the battle and Northern Xinjiang really falls, your reputation will be extremely dark.
black……
The risk is too great.
So he hesitated.
Chu Suiliang thought for a while and said: "Northern Xinjiang is more than a few thousand miles away from Chang'an? The road is far and difficult to travel. Even if we recruit troops from the north to Beijing at this moment, by the time we reach Guanzhong, it will be the coldest month of winter and there will be no way to save us from the distant water.
Close to fire."
Since Xiao Yu has left the "Chen Qing Letter" as a back-up, it means that he is not optimistic about the King of Jin and wants to retreat. Under such circumstances, how can he let his son Xiao Rui lead the northern troops to rescue Tongguan, which puts the whole family in trouble?
King Jin is such a big pit?
He is now being pinched so hard by King Jin that there is no room for him to turn around.
The only chance of regaining a new life is to take advantage of Xiao Yu when he clears his name with a "love letter" in the future...
Therefore, I must speak to Xiao Yu at this moment.
Li Zhi finally made a decision: "The northern border is not peaceful, and the barbarians are determined to make a comeback. How can I, the king, abandon the territory of the empire for the sake of the throne? The northern army is the cornerstone of guarding the border. It cannot be relaxed. Duke Ying's proposal is inappropriate."
"
Yu Wenshiji glanced at Xiao Yu and said respectfully: "Your Highness has an empire in mind and cares about the common people. Song Guogong is even more mature in planning for the country, calm and capable. It is an old minister who has been rash. I hope you will forgive me."
Strictly speaking, it was Xiao Yu who pushed King Jin to embark on this path of mutiny, and the others were just dependents. But now it seems that Xiao Yu is a bit dull and negative...
Xiao Yu looked at him, paused briefly, and said: "The current situation is extremely unfavorable. Once the navy reaches Tongguan, we will be attacked from both sides. If we cannot change the situation, it will be difficult to turn defeat into victory. Now it seems that if we want to get out of this predicament,
To get a chance of survival from the situation, we can only rely on the Sixteenth Guards of Guanzhong. Among the generals of the Sixteenth Guards, most of them have inextricable connections with the Guanlong clan.
Act with reason, and then promise huge profits. If two or three of the armies can support the King of Jin, then great things will happen! It is the first contribution of Ying Guo Gong to support Conglong and lead the Guanlong clan to regain their glory.
Last forever!"
Although he had left a back-up in case of emergencies, ultimately he still hoped that King Jin could succeed. After all, compared with the prince's idea of weakening the family and suppressing the family, now he could only rely on King Jin from a well-known family to ascend the throne.
Become closer to the family.
As long as clan politics can continue for a long time, it will naturally be in his best interests.
But now Tongguan has almost become a place of death. Once the Navy and the Sixth Army of the East Palace attack from both sides, it will be destroyed in an instant. Even if the Shandong private army successfully arrives at Tongguan, it will only delay their destruction. The only thing that can bring them back to life is
The Sixteenth Guards of Guanzhong.
Yu Wenshiji's eyes were clear, he met Li Zhi's earnest gaze, nodded heavily, and said solemnly: "I will do my best to not lose His Highness's favor!"
He heard the meaning of Xiao Yu's words. As long as he could instigate a few factions of the Sixteenth Guards to rebel, after King Jin ascended the throne, he would allow the Guanlong clan to return to the center. By then, the three clan factions of Guanlong, Jiangnan, and Shandong would coexist peacefully.
Shared clan politics.
If the Guanlong clan who suffered heavy losses due to Changsun Wuji's involvement can be brought back to the center, his prestige as a scholar in Guanlong will definitely far exceed that of Changsun Wuji, and his reputation as "the number one person in Guanlong" will be real.
Well deserved.
Even after a hundred generations, Yuwen Shiji is still the leader of Guanlong, and the descendants of Guanlong will remember his great achievements... Isn't this the dream he has been striving for?
Moreover, he already knew the positions of the various armies in Guanzhong, and he also had some clues about who might be persuaded to join the King of Jin...