Why did the Guanlong clan go all out to support Emperor Taizong in launching the "Xuanwumen Revolution" and risk their own lives to compete with the entire central power of the Tang Dynasty? Because the benefits they hoped to obtain could only be obtained from Emperor Taizong, and those benefits were at that time.
What Li Jiancheng, the prince, was unwilling to give and could not give.
Therefore, driven by interests, the Guanlong clan and the King of Qin's Tiance Mansion joined forces to take risks, overcome all difficulties, and finally achieve the imperial hegemony.
The rewards obtained by both parties are more than a hundred times or a thousand times higher than what they paid...
Many people even directly participated in the story that happened more than ten years ago. They still have fresh memories to this day. Naturally, it becomes increasingly difficult to resist the huge benefits gained from taking risks. They believe that history is always repeating itself. Since then,
Emperor Taizong and the Guanlong clan were able to usurp the throne, so why can't they and the King of Jin do the same today?
Whether it works or not, you will never know until you do it.
After all, compared with the huge profits, no matter how big the risk is, it is worth it...
…
Outside the tent, Chu Suiliang walked in quickly: "Your Highness, the Duke of E has sent General Su over to discuss matters regarding the rendezvous."
Li Zhi nodded: "Invite him in."
Chu Suiliang went to the door and opened the door curtain. Su Jia, who was wearing a helmet and an armor, strode in. He first took off his belt and then knelt down on one knee: "My armor and stomach are in my body, so I cannot perform the full ceremony. Please forgive me, Your Highness."
Li Zhi had a warm smile on his face. He stood up and walked out after studying. He stepped forward and put his hands on Su Jia's shoulders to help him up. He looked up and down and praised: "Although the war has suffered setbacks, General Su followed Duke E.
He took the lead and won the position to cross the river for the army. This is a special honor, and I will not hesitate to reward you later."
The Youhou Guards were defeated, but at this time, they naturally cannot be held responsible for the defeat. Instead, they should try their best to comfort them and eliminate the anxiety of all the Youhou Guards generals and soldiers from Wei Chi Gong on down. After all, this is the fighting force of the King of Jin.
The strongest troops can be called pillars.
He can even tolerate Xiao Yu, who eats both inside and outside, let alone the conscientious Yu Chi Gong?
He may not be as naturally kind as Li Chengqian, but when it comes to his broad-mindedness, he believes that he will never lose to Li Chengqian...
Su Jia said solemnly: "Thank you for your forgiveness, Your Highness."
Li Zhi asked him to take a seat under Cui Xin, served tea, and then asked: "What is the current situation?"
The real battlefield is to the west of the B River, spanning both sides of the Chan River to the vast area under Chang'an City. The terrain is complex, with numerous plateaus, merging rivers, and lush mountains and forests. Because there is a B River across the river, news is not flowing smoothly.
Su Jia said: "This defeat was all caused by Cheng Yaojin's cunning and insidiousness and our army's lack of preparation. However, even so, it can be seen that Cheng Yaojin was half-hearted and pursued profit. This pair of Your Highnesses
Said it was a great thing."
Li Zhi's eyes lit up: "Can I recruit him?"
Su Jia thought for a while, shook his head and said: "It's difficult...Cheng Yaojin is cunning and cunning. When he was guarding Chang'an before, he just stood by and waited for the price. How can he be willing to accompany His Highness to take risks now? Unless His Highness has the advantage.
It’s very big, otherwise it would be difficult to recruit them.”
Li Zhi also knew that it was difficult and sighed: "What a pity."
The Zuowuwei is the most powerful being among the Sixteen Guards. If he can be recruited under his command, his strength will be greatly increased. At the very least, it will offset the Youwuwei who are chasing after him, making his own advantage even greater.
But Cheng Yaojin has made his attitude clear a long time ago. If you want my support, no matter who you are, you have to wait until you have established an advantage before we talk. The bargaining chips and interests can be smaller, but I won’t fight with you...
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Su Jia continued: "Now the Zuo Wuwei is renovating near Chanshui east of Bailuyuan, and the right guard General Liang Jianfang is in the Baoling area to the north. Because of the heavy losses, he has to recruit a lot of soldiers, although Cheng Yaojin compensated him for a large number of horses and ordnance.
, but the combat effectiveness cannot be restored for a while, so it can be targeted as a breakthrough weakness."
"In addition, Dong Gong Liu led tens of thousands of troops and deployed them in a narrow area south of Dongyuan to Leyouyuan. They were heavily fortified and had tight battle lines. Li Jing was commanding at Chunmingmen. They were impregnable, so they had to bypass Dong Gong Liu.
Only with a strong defense line can we break through to Changnian City."
Li Zhi nodded, stood up and came to the map, carefully observing the map as Su Jia said.
With the fighting strength of the hundreds of thousands of people under his command, they would never dare to attack the position of the Sixth Army of the East Palace, so it would make no difference to them to seek death. To the south of Leyouyuan, there are Fengqiyuan, Hongguyuan, and Shaolingyuan, with various land plateaus crisscrossing each other.
It extends all the way to the foot of Zhongnan Mountain. If you want to bypass the defense area of Donggong Liuliu, the shortest way is to directly defeat Liang Jianfang, and then rush westward in the Boling area between Zuowuwei and Donggong Liuliu, until you reach the foot of Chang'an City.
But in this case, the risk is extremely high, because even if Liang Jianfang's front can be quickly defeated and moved closer to Chang'an, once Zuowuwei on the south side and Donggong Liuli on the north side attack in both directions, either the retreat will be cut off and become a turtle in the urn, or
He was intercepted at the waist and defeated.
After all is said and done, the focus is still on Cheng Yaojin.
If Cheng Yaojin cannot be recruited, he will have to be completely defeated. In this way, he can pass through Shaolingyuan and Shenheyuan to the south of Chang'an City and attack the city.
However, judging from the previous battles, Cheng Yaojin had no intention of holding on to his position at all. It was entirely a strategy of fighting when he could, and running if he couldn't, with the top priority of preserving his strength. In this way, the mighty army and
If we fight a tough battle with him, the old thief will probably see an unlucky opportunity and flee south. Tens of thousands of people will run into the Zhongnan Mountains to catch up but they won't be able to catch up. However, when the army approaches Chang'an, they will have to be prepared for the old thief to suddenly come from behind.
Once Zhongnan Mountain emerges, once it engages Liang Jianfang in the north, the result will be the same as before...
"This old thief!"
Li Zhi was itching with hatred, but he was helpless.
Immediately he asked: "Does the Duke of E have a charter?"
Su Jia said: "The Duke of E means that whether we break through Liang Jianfang's position or pass through Cheng Yaojin's position, the important thing is to deal with Cheng Yaojin. Either completely defeat him or reach an agreement with him."
Li Zhi said with a headache: "Cheng Yaojin is so cunning and cunning. He will not let go of the eagle before he sees the rabbit. He will definitely not switch to my king at this time."
"There is no need for Cheng Yaojin to surrender. As long as His Highness makes a promise that makes him tempted, and then repeats the old story of 'the Zuowuwei was exhausted and fled south', the position will be released to allow us to pass without being allowed to do so.
A sneak attack halfway is not impossible."
"Well?"
Li Zhi fell into deep thought.
It would be as difficult as climbing to the sky to completely win Cheng Yaojin over to his side. The old dog had long made up his mind not to help each other, so as not to offend either party to death, he would rely on his merits, strength, status, and new achievements after the world was stabilized.
The emperor did not dare to do anything to him and continued to be his founding father.
The previous idea of selling at a price has failed, and now Cheng Yaojin is absolutely unwilling to take any risks for some illusory benefits.
But if we just reach an agreement with them and let them voluntarily give up their positions, it might be feasible...
As for what kind of promises and benefits to give Cheng Yaojin, Li Zhi didn't even think about it.
He has nothing now, and if he is defeated, he will be dead and soulless. After getting out of the loess, he will still have nothing. All the things given out must be snatched from Li Chengqian's hands to count. What else can he be reluctant to part with?
He didn't even convene his advisers for discussion. He immediately asked Wang Shoushi, who was standing by, to polish it, take the paper and pen, think about it briefly, and then write a letter.
Wang Shoushi glanced aside, and when he saw Li Zhi's promise and benefits to Cheng Yaojin, he immediately took a breath of cold air. If he hadn't been so profound, he might have screamed out on the spot...
He was granted the title of Duke of Wu, and the land of Wu and Yue was granted. General Zuo Wuwei remained unchanged, and he was given the title of Commander-in-Chief of the Navy... Doesn't this mean that all of Fang Jun's family assets were transferred to Cheng Yaojin?
Everyone knows that Fang Jun is the richest in the world. Almost half of his family property is in Jiangnan. Huating Town alone has gathered endless wealth, and there are also pillars of the empire like Jiangnan Shipyard. If Cheng Yaojin can take it for himself, then
Become the first-class feudal country in the world.
Your Highness is too generous...
Presumably when this letter was delivered, Cheng Yaojin immediately changed his stance and completely joined the Jin King's camp.
Li Zhi glanced at Wang Shoushi, leaned over and dried the ink, put it in an envelope, sealed the seal with fire paint, stamped the seal of King Jin, and handed it to Su Jia.
"You take this letter and cross the river back. I will send someone later to discuss with the Duke of E about the time to cross the river to join forces. Then you will personally choose a loyal person to send this letter to Cheng Yaojin. No matter what, this letter will definitely be of no use to you."
You must not be left outside."
Su Jia didn't know the content of the letter, but he also knew that if he wanted to reach an agreement with Cheng Yaojin on non-aggression or even retreat, the price he had to pay must be extraordinary. If such a letter was left out, it would definitely lead to heated discussions, which would be extremely detrimental to the King of Jin.
.
He stood up, took the letter with both hands and put it away, saluted and said: "I will go back and resume my life now."
Li Zhi nodded: "It's an important matter, I'd rather trouble you, General."
Su Jia hurriedly said: "It is my duty, and I am willing to go through fire and water for His Highness, even if I die!"
*****
After Cheng Yaojin defeated the right guard, he stationed his troops near Sima Village, which was originally the Du family's farm. It had both Du's ancestral tombs and the luxurious manor built by Du. Previously, during the Guanlong Mutiny, he was attacked by rebels and Du Huaigong died.
Afterwards, Du He sent people to make some repairs, but before they were completed, the King of Jin mutinied again and forced the work to stop. Now it was naturally requisitioned by Cheng Yaojin.
In the most luxurious house in the manor, Cheng Yaojin, who had taken off his armor and stomach, was drinking tea with Niu Jinda while discussing the current situation.
Cheng Yaojin picked up a piece of pastry and put it into his mouth, chewed it twice and said: "The food in the army has been pretty good recently. This pastry is not even worse than the chef hired from the south of the Yangtze River in the government... Autumn is approaching, and the rain is getting heavier.
Has the grain harvest around Chang'an been completed?"
Grain is the cornerstone of the country. Nowadays, because the Jin Dynasty controls Tongguan, water transportation is cut off. Grain purchased from overseas cannot be transported into Guanzhong. Grain harvesting in various places is a top priority. In case the farming season is delayed due to war, the grain cannot be harvested before the rainy season.
This will lead to a sharp decline in Guanzhong's grain output, and there is a risk that the country will be shaken.
No matter the court or the rebels, no one wants this to happen.
After all, no matter who wins in the end, they all want to sit on the throne safely and smoothly govern the country, instead of burning, killing, looting and leaving like foreign invaders...
When brothers fight, they still have to consider the bottom line, otherwise it will cause public anger, betrayal, and alienation. How can an emperor who does not care about the common people and hundreds of millions of living beings in Guanzhong gain the support of the whole world?