Chapter 1,215 The morale of the military is in turmoil
At the end of Zishi, the lights in the Chinese army tent were brightly lit. Outside the tent, groups of soldiers wearing helmets and armor were patrolling in full armor. If any soldiers were seen walking around the camp without permission, the captain would immediately capture them and hand them over to the army commander for severe punishment.
In the tent, Li Zhi was drinking water with a dull expression.
The rest of the people were also silent, and the atmosphere was very serious and tense...
Although the entire army's expedition meant abandoning Tongguan, and everyone knew that Tongguan's fall was inevitable, until this moment, when the news came that Tongguan had been captured by Liu Rengui and Zheng Rentai, it still made people feel hesitant, uneasy, and depressed.
Because from now on, it means that everyone can only lead this army of more than 100,000 people forward and fight for death. Not only is the retreat completely cut off, but it cannot even stop.
This kind of pressure that can only win all the time and cannot fail in the slightest casts a layer of haze over everyone's heart, making them unable to breathe as if a big stone is pressing down on their heart...
After a long while, Li Zhi put down the water glass, looked around, and said angrily: "Zheng Rentai rebelled on the battlefield during the Battle of Xingyang. Not only did he surrender Xingyang to Liu Rengui, but he also mobilized his own soldiers and generals to rebel and assist Liu Rengui to connect with Keluoyang.
In Guguan and Tongguan, this beast is so despicable and despicable that it is particularly hateful. One day, I will cut it into pieces to dispel the hatred in my heart!"
Everyone in the tent was silent.
In fact, Zheng Rentai is not to blame for this. The entire Shandong family spent all their wealth and went to Tongguan. Even though Zheng Rentai was a famous general in Zhenguan, he lacked major generals. How could he defeat the navy with strong troops, powerful combat power, and well-equipped navy?
?
Although Liu Rengui did not show his ability in the domestic wars of the Tang Dynasty, he was in the navy during these years and he traveled across the oceans and won every battle. He defeated the surrounding countries such as Silla, Japan, Annan and so on, and lost all his armor.
Losing his troops and losing his territory can be said to be a powerful force in the country, and he can be regarded as a famous general...
In a different place, no one can guarantee that they can do better than Zheng Rentai. It is not difficult for a person to be strong, and it is nothing more than death. However, for the sake of personal loyalty and reputation, he drags down the entire family and becomes the sinner of the family.
, who will do it?
In the final analysis, the interests of the family are higher than those of the individual and the country in the eyes of the family members. For the sake of the family, not to mention treason and betrayal, even if they surrender to foreigners, it is understandable...
But now facing the furious Li Zhi, these words are obviously not allowed to be said. The consequence of "loyal words that are offensive to the ears" is often to offend others.
Cui Xin coughed dryly, stood up with a look of shame on his face, and bowed his head to the ground: "Your Highness, please calm down, this is the fault of this Shandong family, I am ashamed and don't know how to deal with myself... Please rest assured, Your Highness, when His Highness Fuzuo achieves great things, I will be old and determined."
I want Mr. Zheng from Xingyang to give you a satisfactory explanation."
As the nominal leader of the Shandong family, Cui Xin must express his firm support for King Jin.
In order to regain the glory of the past, and to imitate the power of the Guanlong clan in the early years of Zhenguan, the Shandong family has already made a desperate move to be tied to the King of Jin. They will be both prosperous and destructive. When the King of Jin will achieve the hegemony of the emperor in the future, Shandong will
The aristocratic family has soared to the sky and dominated the world. If the Jin Dynasty is defeated, the Shandong aristocratic family will also fall into ruins, or even fall into dust from now on, turning from a noble family into a poor family...
Huge political gains naturally mean huge political risks. Shandong Family has already evaluated this before. Now it seems that although the situation is dangerous, the chance of success is still high.
Just the fact that this time a hundred thousand troops came out of Tongguan and rushed to Chang'an, and not a single troop crossed the river to stop the entire Hegemonic Water Defense Line, it can be seen that the emperor in Chang'an City has not yet reached the point where he can win over the hearts of the people and overwhelm the world.
People's hearts are unpredictable, this is the biggest variable.
Like the King of Jin, he always believed that as long as the army arrived at Chang'an City, immeasurable drastic changes would inevitably occur, and the current imperial regime would be completely buried in the upcoming drastic changes...
Li Zhi looked resolute and said coldly: "I have the support of you all to support this great event, so I will naturally remember your kindness. When I achieve great things in the future, I will definitely repay you generously and share the world with you. But if anyone joins me halfway,
If you go against me and betray your oath, don’t blame me for not remembering the friendship that we shared through life and death side by side."
Cruel words must be said, but otherwise they are not enough to deter everyone in the tent. In fact, Zheng Rentai's attachment to the navy did cause huge waves, causing many people to have different aspirations and no longer support him so firmly.
For example, Xiao Yu is sitting quietly aside right now...
Of course, no matter how harsh his words were at this time, it was of no use. It was the time when he was employing people. Even if someone was duplicitous and attacked Qin Muchu, he could only endure it and never punish him severely. Otherwise, it would further unsettle people's hearts and depress morale.
The decisive battle is imminent, we must avoid all unfavorable factors and go all out...
He just needs to keep each account in his heart, and he will accomplish great things in the future, and then settle the accounts one by one. He still has this forbearance.
Everyone under the tent stood up together: "Here!"
"Send the order, light a fire and make food at Yin hour, and at three o'clock at Mao hour, the whole army will break out of the camp and let the commander of the army closely monitor it. Anyone who spreads rumors and causes trouble will be severely punished!"
"Here!"
The military order was quickly conveyed, and the entire military camp seemed calm, but in fact there was an undercurrent. Some words were not dared to be said publicly, but soldiers in the same group could not help but whisper while hiding in the camp. Even if some people were stupid and did not know what the fall of Tongguan meant,
But after others talked about it, everyone gradually understood it.
It is certain that the soldiers are panicked.
The 100,000 Shandong private troops were all temporarily recruited. Although they were said to be recruited, in fact they were no different from "catching young men." They almost wiped out all the strong laborers over the age of fifteen and under fifty from all over Shandong. Although these people had also served as government soldiers.
I went to Zhechong Mansion for duty, but I had never seen much of the world. "Serving as a soldier and fighting in a war" was completely helpless.
Most of these people have the mentality of "since you can't hide, then just hang out". It's almost impossible for them to charge to the death. At best, they can only fight a smooth battle.
They have been enslaved and governed by Shandong families for generations. Who knows who the emperor is?
Since Dou Jiande launched his army at the end of the year and swept across Hebei and Shandong, the war has been in chaos and people's lives have been like grass. The so-called "family, country and world" have never had any impression in the minds of these civilians and slaves. Everyone only demands hard work from the whole family.
To satisfy one's hunger...
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At this moment, I finally understood the significance of the fall of Tongguan, and also understood that their support for Tongguan and following His Royal Highness the King of Jin to Chang'an was actually a bloody road leading to death and death. Who could remain indifferent to this?
However, this panic was firmly suppressed after Sima in the army beheaded dozens of soldiers and even captains who were "spreading rumors and causing trouble" in the camp.
However, panic is like a bullet. The harder it is pressed, the greater the force. Once it rebounds, the force is infinite...
*****
The Ba River flows to the north, and the Lishan Mountain in the distance has been dyed with mixed colors of green and yellow. Whether it is the Tongren Plain on the east bank of the Ba River, or the Baling Plain and Bailu Plain on the west bank, the fields and villagers are all golden. and county officials from various places organized farmers to harvest grain.
The sunny weather these days is a good time to harvest crops, otherwise a heavy rain will most likely ruin a year's hard work...
Fortunately, although there is a war going on at the moment, it is still a civil war. Both the rebels and the imperial army are extremely restrained and do not disturb the farmers who are stepping up their harvesting of crops. They almost turn a blind eye.
After all, no matter who wins the battle for the throne, food is the most important material to stabilize the government and the opposition...
Li Jing and Li Ji were each wearing regular clothes, riding on horses and surrounded by dozens of soldiers, patrolling the water defense line from north to south.
The two sides of the Ba River are golden, the cool breeze is blowing, and the autumn air is crisp.
Riding his horse, Li Jing pointed the whip in his hand at a military camp not far away along the river. He snorted and said: "Since the end of the Jin Dynasty, the army has come from Tongguan, creating a posture of being destroyed. Now it has passed After Zhao Ying, no one from the more than 100,000 troops along the river took the initiative to cross the river to stop the attack. They were all waiting for the Jin King's army to march to Chang'an City to fight His Majesty in a bloody battle. It's heartbreaking."
Li Ji held the horse's reins with both hands, obviously in a good mood. Hearing this, he smiled and said, "Why should Duke Wei be harsh? Everyone has their own position and their own interests to protect. These guys didn't hear that King Jin was doing his best to protect his own interests." We immediately raised troops to respond to the news of our arrival, which is pretty good."
Throughout the ages, there have certainly been loyal ministers and righteous men, but after all, those loyal ministers and righteous men rarely regard death simply for the sake of loyalty in their hearts. Only by converging can we achieve those touching stories.
Would anyone risk life and death simply for a noble belief?
If there really is, then there will definitely be a glorious and prosperous era created by their hands.
But it is almost impossible for the emperor to ask his ministers to abandon their families and careers and swear loyalty to the death...
In the final analysis, everyone is just waiting for a price. If Your Majesty's securing the throne can bring more benefits, I will naturally support Your Majesty; but if you hope that King Jin's military advice can break the current power structure of the court, allowing some people to seize If there are more benefits, then these people will naturally support King Jin.
The current situation seems chaotic and complicated, but in fact, as long as everything is summarized under "interests", it is not difficult to sort it out...
Li Jing's eyes extended from the rolling river to the fields on both sides, and he sighed and said: "So, life in this world is too complicated, and the pursuit of interests is like the greed of beasts for things, never satisfied. This is why I am tired of officialdom. The reason. Back then, when he had to take off his armor and return home to live in seclusion, he felt resentful that his talents were not being recognized and was ignored. Now that he is in charge of power, he suddenly realizes that he is not suitable for officialdom at all. Emperor Taizong is still very discerning. If not for him back then I am suppressed, and with my character floating up and down in this officialdom, I am afraid that it has already been taken advantage of by some people and made a big mistake."
When you don't get something, you toss and turn, asking for it, feeling sad about it, and full of anger.
But once I got it, I found that there was no surprise in my heart, and I felt that the anxiety and hesitation I had felt was not worth it...
Li Ji felt the same and nodded: "The most important thing for a person is to recognize himself. It doesn't matter what he wants. What is suitable for him is the most important. Duke Wei has cultivated his mind and nature and compiled military books over the years, but he has already It’s a joy to be able to return to one’s original nature and understand the way of heaven.”
The two of them were chatting while riding slowly. Ever since they sent troops to Mobei to annihilate the Turks and captured Jieli Khan, it had been many years since they had put aside their positions and identities and chatted openly.
A cavalry rider came from the direction of Baqiao. When they stopped near, the cavalrymen dismounted and reported: "Before someone arrived at Baqiao, they claimed that they had a top-secret letter that they wanted to present to the British Prime Minister in person."
Top secret letter...
Li Jing clicked his tongue, glanced at Li Ji, and sneered at the corner of his mouth. Although he didn't say it clearly, his expression was self-evident.
Li Ji was stunned for a moment, then saw Li Jing's eyes and laughed and said: "Can someone still collude with the rebels? Duke Wei is narrow-minded. If this letter is true, either someone secretly surrendered to His Majesty, Either he is an old acquaintance of someone, or he is deliberately creating a estrangement to deceive a fool like Wei Gong."
Li Jing snorted, spurred his horse forward, and said, "I'm not laughing at you for possibly colluding with the rebels, but I'm laughing at you for being a person who always stays out of things and seems indifferent to fame and fortune, but in the end, people think you are the best contact person. ...Do you really think that everyone in the world is stupid and can't see your thoughts? You are so smart! Come on!"
Riding his horse ahead, he galloped towards Baqiao.
Li Ji was speechless and sighed.
Yes, how can there be so many fools in the world?
However, he also felt angry in his heart. If Li Jing had not been present today, he would really not be able to explain. Is this some insidious and cunning guy who deliberately framed him with a "division plan", or is he a fool who did something wrong?
Since it was a top-secret letter to myself, yet it arrived at Baqiao in such a grand manner and kept saying that it was handed over to me...