Cao Wei pretended not to see his eyes and said to himself: "Most of our troops in the Song Dynasty are in the north. Now that the officials have brought most of the troops in the north to Xixia, it is impossible to send reinforcements to help us.
After Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu found out about this, he would definitely take action.
We should deal with it carefully."
When Lu Yijian heard this, he snorted coldly, "You don't seem to have any objection at all to the officials leading troops to attack Xixia?"
Cao Wei stared at Lu Yijian strangely, "Why should I be disgusted? It is a troublesome thing for you civil servants that the officials are willing to lead their own troops, but for us military officials, it is great news.
As long as there is a war in the imperial court, our warriors will be able to use their skills.
My generation of warriors has also had its day.
In the future, there will definitely be more warriors among the nobles in the court.
By then we, the military ministers, will no longer need to live humbly under the pressure of your civil servants."
Lu Yijian said disdainfully: "It's not that you don't understand the principle that war will lead to death."
Cao Wei said calmly: "I understand the truth, but if taking back the territory that was inherent in the Han and Tang Dynasties can be considered warlike, then we might as well tie our hands and feet and let the enemy get stronger, and then devour us in one bite."
Lu Yijian stared and shouted: "You know that's not what I meant."
Cao Wei nodded and said: "I know you are worried that the officials will be obsessed with the taste of opening up new territories, and after taking back the territory they had in the Han and Tang Dynasties, they will continue to fight overseas.
But now we have not taken back the territory that was inherent in the Han and Tang Dynasties, so what you are worried about is a bit redundant."
Lu Yijian said dissatisfiedly: "This is called preparing for a rainy day."
Cao Wei curled his lips and said: "Don't worry. The officials know what they have in mind. Even after taking back the territory that was inherent in the Han and Tang Dynasties, if the officials intend to conquer the barbarians, they will digest the territory we have swallowed and then return.
Move troops.
By that time, muskets and artillery will probably be equipped in the entire army.
Those young men must have also shown their prominence in the court.
You and I will be just two annoying old men, and no one will listen to what we say."
Lu Yijian opened her mouth, but didn't speak again.
What Cao Wei said was so true that it made people tremble in their hearts, but they were unable to refute it.
"Even if the official wants to conquer here and there, he will not reuse your military achievements. He will only promote new talents."
Lu Yijian said fiercely.
Cao Wei said calmly: "What does it have to do with me? After I finish fighting the Liao people and return to the court, I will resign from all positions in the court and go to the Wenchang Academy to teach and educate people.
When the officials ask me to come out to fight, I won't even come out.
Officials attach great importance to Wu Xun, and Wu Xun is my descendant.
The new talents employed by the officials are all my disciples.
In short, those who stand in the court in the end will be my descendants.
Can they still take action against me?"
Lu Yijian felt a little jealous when she heard Cao Wei speak so freely and freely.
"I will also go to Wenchang Academy then..."
Cao Wei glanced at Lu Yijian and said with a smile: "Are you willing to succumb to Kou Gong?"
Lu Yijian gritted his teeth and said nothing.
As the saying goes, there is no first in literature and no second in martial arts.
No one who has ever served as a disciple of Tong Zhongshu is willing to work under someone else.
Li Di would rather go to Hexi to open up wasteland than stay in Bianjing to teach. This is a good example.
Didn't Kou Zhun offer an olive branch to Li Di?
Kou Zhunpai and Li Di also went to Wenchang Academy, but in the end he did not stay at Wenchang Academy and went to Hexi instead.
If Lu Yijian went to Wenchang Academy, he would most likely hang around for a while, then find an excuse to set up another school, or go do something else.
Seeing that Lu Yijian fell into silence, Cao Wei continued: "Let's talk about the war. Now that the official family has taken people to the northwest, it has helped us share some of the pressure from the court, and we can also breathe a sigh of relief.
.
The officials secretly sent people to send a lot of money and food.
The Queen and Kou Ji's wife are also helping us raise winter clothes in Bianjing City.
We don’t have to scrimp and save money from the soldiers.
You go down and walk around, distribute the food, and let the soldiers eat freely.
They have been eating bran with us for more than half a year. They are already starving and have thin skin. It is time for them to have a good meal.
Although you and I cannot be like Kou Ji and wantonly divide the captured territory among the soldiers.
But at least it can help them get a full meal.
As the officials move northward, Emperor Yelu Longxu of the Liao Dynasty will definitely not sit still and wait for death.
Only when the soldiers are full will they be strong."
Lu Yijian heard Cao Wei's words, sighed and nodded slowly.
He used to turn a blind eye to the suffering in the army.
During Kou Zhun's reign, he streamlined the world's military forces. He also cooperated with Kou Zhun's instructions and never expressed his own opinions.
Now that he has been with the soldiers for more than half a year, he understands how pitiful the lives of the soldiers at the bottom are.
How can we not be pitiful for a group of people who have been eating chaff for more than half a year without making a single complaint.
In other words, he has a hard heart. If someone with a soft heart comes over, he will probably have to touch his nose.
Now that they can have a full meal, Lu Yijian will naturally cooperate.
After Lu Yijian nodded, he asked Cao Wei, "When do you think Emperor Yelu Longxu of the Liao Dynasty will use his troops? How to use his troops?"
Cao Wei shook his head, "Few people can figure out the thoughts of Emperor Liao. So now we can only step up our defenses and stay the same to cope with any changes."
Lu Yijian sighed and said: "I hope the war can end soon, and the soldiers don't have to suffer with us."
Cao Wei nodded slowly and looked far away outside Tongtai Pass.
Outside Tongtai Pass.
Liao army camp.
Inside the large tent of the Chinese army of Emperor Yelu Longxu of the Liao Dynasty.
Emperor Yelu Longxu of the Liao Dynasty was lying on a couch with half-closed eyes, listening to Liu Shenxing's report on the news coming from Bianjing City.
The information Liu Shenxing reported to Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu was roughly the same as the information reported by Cao Wei's subordinates, except that some key figures were missing.
After listening to Liu Shenxing's report, Emperor Yelu Longxu of the Liao Dynasty slowly opened his eyes, stared at Liu Shenxing and said: "You are saying that my imperial nephew has dispatched most of the troops and horses in the northern part of the Song Dynasty to Xixia.
Conquer Xixia?"
Liu Shenxing nodded slowly, "Except for the Dragon God's two guards from the Song Dynasty who are stationed in Bianjing City, the rest of the troops seem to have arrived at the border of Xixia."
Emperor Yelu Longxu of Liao thought for a moment and said: "There are millions of soldiers and horses in the northern part of the Song Dynasty. Cao Wei leads 300,000 in our territory of Daliao. Then my imperial nephew brought the troops to Xixia
There should be as many as 700,000 to 800,000 horses.
My imperial nephew is quite courageous, and is more than a hundred times stronger than my imperial brother."
Emperor Yelu Longxu of the Liao Dynasty slowly sat up and said with emotion: "With seven to eight hundred thousand soldiers, I would not dare to attack a small Xixia, but he is quite courageous.
The Xixia people are plotting against us, the Liao Dynasty, and the Song Dynasty. They should definitely be attacked.
What qualifications does a small Xixia have to plot between our two countries?"
Liu Shenxing nodded in agreement.
Emperor Yelu Longxu of the Liao Dynasty continued: "Maybe my imperial nephew has other purposes, and attacking Xixia is just a pretense. He is leading troops in Yinzhou now, and he may send part of his troops to invade Daliao at any time.
Yanmen Pass is guarded by Xiao Hui, so I'm not worried.
But in Dongsheng Prefecture, there is no one in charge, so I feel a little worried."
Emperor Yelu Longxu of the Liao Dynasty said this and ordered: "Summon Xiao Pidi to see you!"
The eunuch in front of the palace heard the order from Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu and hurried down to deliver the order.
After Xiao Pidi heard the eunuch's order, he immediately rushed to the Chinese army's tent.
Emperor Yelu Longxu of the Liao Dynasty ordered after Xiao Pidi saluted: "Go to Dongsheng Prefecture and help me keep an eye on it. Don't let the Song Dynasty people come in from Dongsheng Prefecture."
The reason why Emperor Yelu Longxu of the Liao Dynasty cared so much about Dongsheng Prefecture was because he was afraid that Zhao Zhen would detach a branch of troops from Dongsheng Prefecture, follow the Great Wall, and arrive at Gubeikou and other places to block his retreat and kill him.
In the Sixteenth Prefecture of Yanyun.
After hearing the instructions from Emperor Yelu Longxu of the Liao Dynasty, Xiao Pidi agreed without hesitation. After asking about the departure time and the specific details of the troop deployment, he led his soldiers and left Tongtai Pass.
As soon as Xiao Pidi left, Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu gave the order without hesitation, ordering General Mi Liji to lead the soldiers and horses of various small tribes to attack Tongtai Pass at all costs.
At the same time, an order was given to Xiao Hui who was stationed in Datong Mansion, ordering him to launch a counterattack against Yang Wenguang and Li Zhaoliang.
As the orders of Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu were conveyed, the war broke out again after a period of calm for more than half a year.
It's just that the fighting at Tongtai Pass remains as it always was.
Although the Liao people's offensive was much more violent, they still used soldiers and horses from various small tribes.
On the contrary, the battle on the front line at Yanmen Pass was very fierce.
Xiao Hui had retreated again and again under the attack of Yang Wenguang and Li Zhaoliang without counterattack.
Now that Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu issued the order to fight back, Xiao Hui could finally let go and fight.
In just one month.
Huanzhou, which was occupied by the Song Dynasty, changed hands four times.
Xiao Hui's troops were divided into two groups, sending troops from Yingzhou and Yunzhou to attack Huanzhou from both sides. Li Zhaoliang was defeated and Huanzhou fell.
Li Zhaoliang lost Huanzhou and retreated to Shuozhou.
Yang Wenguang led his troops to attack Huanzhou, and with the advantage of his armor, he broke through Huanzhou.
Huanzhou changed hands again.
Yang Wenguang occupied Huanzhou for several days, and Xiao Hui attacked Huanzhou again.
Yang Wenguang's troops were insufficient and he asked Li Zhaoliang for help.
On the way to Huanzhou with his troops, Li Zhaoliang encountered a cavalry raid from the Liao army, which was delayed.
Huanzhou was lost.
Yang Wenguang led the retreat to the border of Shuozhou.
After Yang Wenguang and Li Zhaoliang met, they joined forces and attacked Huanzhou again.
Huanzhou was captured again.
Huanzhou changed hands four times between the Song Dynasty and the Liao Kingdom.
The situation has not changed, but the troops on both sides have suffered serious losses.
After Cao Wei learned that Yang Wenguang and Li Zhaoliang's troops in Huanzhou had less than 70,000 troops, he mobilized a Xiang army under his command and rushed for reinforcements.
Emperor Yelu Longxu of the Liao Dynasty also sent a troop of troops to assist Xiao Hui.
After the reinforcements from both sides arrived, the battle started again.
Yang Wenguang and Li Zhaoliang absorbed the lessons from previous defeats and built Huanzhou into an iron wall to defend Huanzhou to death.
Huanzhou did not change hands again, but the troops in the hands of Yang Wenguang and Li Zhaoliang continued to be depleted.
After Cao Wei received the document requesting reinforcements from Yang Wenguang and Li Zhaoliang for the second time, he sighed.
Sitting beside him, Lu Yijian, wearing a long gown, stared at the sighing Cao Wei and said, "Is the Liao Emperor weakening our military strength?"
Cao Wei nodded slowly.
"He is not sure of taking us down in one fell swoop, so he wants to weaken our strength by weakening our troops. As long as the troops in our hands are reduced to a range he can accept, he will completely launch an attack on us.
.”
Lu Yijian asked: "How many troops can he accept?"
Cao Wei thought for a moment and said: "One hundred thousand!"
Lu Yijian frowned and said, "Should I write to Bianjing City for help?"
Cao Wei looked at Lu Yijian and said dumbfounded: "What's the use of asking for help from Bianjing City? The officials are not in Bianjing City, and the imperial troops are not in Bianjing City either."
"Then send someone to the northwest!"
"No need for now!"
"Why?"
"It's not the time yet."
"Then when is the time? When the Liao Emperor breaks Tongtai Pass?"
Cao Wei glanced at Lu Yijian and was too lazy to talk to him.
Just as the two were bickering, Di Qing hurried into the city gate building and said in a deep voice: "Commander Cao, Emperor Yelu Longxu of the Liao Dynasty, led all the troops to attack!"
Cao Wei was stunned for a moment, with a look of astonishment on his face.
"All soldiers and horses?"
Di Qing nodded heavily.
Cao Wei asked: "Is the Pishi Army among them?"
Di Qing nodded again.
Cao Wei frowned in confusion, "It shouldn't be..."
Lu Yijian said from the side: "It seems that the number of troops that Emperor Yelu Longxu of the Liao Dynasty can accept is far more than you think."
Cao Wei pondered: "I always feel something is wrong."
Lu Yijian asked, "What's wrong?"
Cao Wei hesitated and said: "I can't tell! I always feel that the Liao Emperor's attack is contrary to his purpose. He has been with us for so long, there is no reason why he can't wait ten days and a half?"
Lu Yijian said casually: "Maybe he has some reason why he can't wait any longer?"
"Maybe!"
Cao Wei couldn't understand it, so he simply didn't want to think about it.
He ordered Di Qing: "Since Emperor Yelu Longxu of the Liao Dynasty has sent all the soldiers and horses to attack the city, we can't hide them. Let all the soldiers mount the city walls. In addition, muskets, artillery and other items are also moved up.
City wall.”
When Di Qing heard this, he immediately went down to deliver the order.
After receiving the order, all the soldiers and horses of the Song Dynasty in Tongtai Pass boarded the city wall.
The Liao army outside the city was as powerful as a rainbow, pressing over like black clouds.
The troops were led not by Emperor Yelu Longxu of the Liao Dynasty, but by Xiao Punu, the king of Xi Liubu, as well as Xie Jianu, the king of Changsha, Sui Ge, the king of Le'an, Chage, the king of Zhongshan, and Tie Bu, the king of Yuzhang.
The leaders of the army were all very famous, but together they were not as good as the Emperor Yelu Longxu of the Liao Dynasty.
Cao Wei and Lu Yijian stood on the top of the city and did not see the imperial flag of Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu appear.
Cao Wei strengthened his guess.
Something was wrong with Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu.
The Liao Kingdom's use of troops against Tongtaiguan this time was also inappropriate.
But he couldn't dig into it.
Because the Liao soldiers had already pressed down on the city.