There were not many confrontations or twists and turns in the negotiations between Li Na and Zhu Si. Zhu Si was eager to withdraw his troops and voluntarily abandoned the densely populated Jeju and Yunzhou. Li Na was also extremely weak and had no bargaining power. Finally, Li Na considered
His father, Li Zheng, was buried at the foot of Mount Tai. Zhu Si made some concessions and gave up the northern mountainous area of Yanzhou to Li Na. The two sides reached an armistice agreement with Wenshui River as the boundary.
Zhu Si occupied the two prefectures of Mi and Yi and the southern part of Yanzhou, obtained the seaside salt field, and opened the Mi-Yi-Yan-Xu salt channel.
Zhu Si immediately stationed 10,000 troops in Mizhou, Yizhou and Yanzhou each, and nearly 200,000 elite troops retreated westward to Luoyang.
The news quickly spread to Chang'an, and Guo Song immediately sent an eagle letter to Hebei, ordering the Dizhou Intelligence Station to inform Li Bing, ordering them to wait for an opportunity to seize Licheng County.
Accurate information about the retreat of Zhu Si's army to the east also reached Licheng County, but Li Na did not reinvigorate himself. He was still addicted to the drama of joining the army. However, his eldest son Li Shigu could not tolerate his father's decadence and rushed into the actors' performance with a sword.
Li Yuan, who was rehearsing the opera, killed five people in a row, and then forced Li Na back to the military camp.
In the military camp, Li Na listened to the report of Prime Minister Wang Chongxin with a gloomy face, "Currently we have a total of 30,000 troops, and we still have a lot of food. We have 500,000 dan and 300,000 guan. The food is quite sufficient.
But the prince has promised to receive double military salary for three months after the war, as well as pensions for fallen soldiers. I guess the money is not enough and we need to raise more."
Li Na said impatiently: "Let's think about it again. I really can't borrow a little from the merchants temporarily. I usually treat them well, so they should repay me."
Wang Chong smiled bitterly in confidence, how could these businessmen borrow money, or they borrowed it by force.
He did not mention the matter of borrowing money for the time being, and continued: "Your Majesty, our top priority now is to restore effective control over Jeju and Yunzhou, to station troops in the two states, and to appease the emotions of the people in the two states. I hope that Your Majesty can personally
Go to the two states to appease the people and soldiers."
Li Na waved his hand and said: "The top priority is to appease the army. I'm surprised, our army shouldn't be only 30,000 people! When the battle to defend the city broke out, we had 60,000 people. When did we lose half of it?"
General Liu Hao was a little uneasy. He was the general responsible for commanding the city defense operations, and the prince was obviously questioning him.
Liu Hao quickly explained: "Your Majesty, I don't know. The actual number of casualties in the battle to defend the city was 8,000, and then there were more than 10,000 fleeing soldiers, and there were more than 10,000 injured soldiers, so the total number of the army is only 30,000."
people."
Li Na frowned and said dissatisfied: "Why did you run away?"
Liu Hao was a little confused: "Among the 60,000 people defending the city at that time, there were 20,000 militia soldiers, all young and strong men from the city. They were generally poorly trained and had never experienced war, and they were the ones who died the most during the siege.
It was so tragic that more than 6,000 people were killed. They were all frightened. After Zhu Si stopped attacking the city, they all found various excuses to go home and never came back."
"What about the more than 10,000 injured soldiers? Have they all lost their combat effectiveness?" Li Na asked again.
"Your Majesty, whether it is an arrow wound or a knife wound, the fastest recovery will take about a month. Recovery cannot be considered until the wound is completely healed. If your Majesty says that now, we do only have 30,000 soldiers, but we may recover in a month or two.
To 40,000 people.”
Li Na took a few steps with his hands behind his back and said to General Pan Yu: "No matter what the reason is for my escape, I will immediately post a notice that all deserters must report back within three days. Anyone who does not return for more than three days will be killed!"
Pan Yu bowed and said: "Follow the order!"
Li Na then said to generals Liu Hao and Wu Xiaoqian: "Jeju and Yunzhou are the outskirts of Qizhou. They are very important and must be firmly controlled by us. General Liu and General Wu can each lead 10,000 troops to Jeju and Yunzhou.
We need to let the people understand that our previous withdrawal was out of necessity and we did not abandon them."
Speaking of this, Li Na looked meaningfully at his eldest son Li Shigu, and actually drew his sword and killed someone in front of him. If it weren't for his own son, he would have punished him severely.
Li Na did not get angry, but said calmly: "I want to guard the capital, and you will act as my father to appease the people of Jeju and Yunzhou."
Everyone bowed and agreed and retreated. Only the Prime Minister Wang Chongxin was left in the big tent. Wang Chongxin said to Li Na: "There are also four states in the east that cannot be ignored. I suggest that the governors and chief historians of the four states be summoned."
Licheng County will report its work, and then send people to check the wealth of each state. How many people there are, how much tax revenue we can get, and whether we can recover depends on them."
Li Na nodded, "You are right, we have been neglecting the four states in the east during this period. I hope they are all safe and sound."
.......
Licheng began to urgently mobilize troops. Liu Hao and Wu Xiaoqian each led 10,000 troops to leave Licheng County and headed for Jeju and Yunzhou.
Licheng County began to clean up deserters, notices were posted all over the city, and the army also began to go door-to-door to persuade militia soldiers to return to the military camp.
Baofeng Restaurant in Licheng County is one of the three major restaurants in Licheng County. This was once the stronghold of Cangjian Restaurant in Licheng. After the dissolution of Cangjian Restaurant, the restaurant was sold to a wine merchant in Licheng County, but
The Jinwei Mansion bought it back the year before last, and it is currently the Jinwei Mansion's intelligence station in Qi.
During Li Zhengji's time, Qi State attached great importance to business, and Li Na was no exception. Status was judged based on the amount of taxes paid, and plaques symbolizing different statuses were issued to merchants, so that merchants had a very high status in Qi State.
Baofeng Restaurant pays as much as 2,000 guan in taxes every year, so the plaque of Baofeng Restaurant is gold on a black background. This is the highest level and is exempt from interrogation, search and other treatment. The boss can also use two horses to pull him when he goes out.
carriage.
The boss of Baofeng Restaurant is called Wang Jing. He is in his early forties, tall and fat, with a friendly face. He has deep connections in Licheng County, including officials and generals of Qi State.
Familiar and unfamiliar.
At noon, the restaurant was bustling with people and guests. A waiter hurriedly walked into the restaurant and came to the shopkeeper's counter. He whispered to the shopkeeper Wang Jing: "I've confirmed it, it's true!"
Wang Jing perked up and said quickly: "Go to the shopkeeper's room and discuss it in detail!"
Wang Jing received news from an official this morning. Last night, 20,000 troops left Licheng County overnight and headed towards Jeju and Yunzhou. But is this news true?
So Wang Jing sent his men to inquire and confirm.
Arriving at the shopkeeper's room, Wang Jing asked: "How did you confirm it?"
The clerk said: "I asked my friends in the military camp for help. I found the soldier on duty last night and invited him to drink two glasses of wine. He then told me everything. At two o'clock last night, two armies of 10,000 people each came out one after another.
After arriving at the camp, we left the city and headed east. Now there are only 10,000 troops left in the camp."
Of course Wang Jing knows how many troops there are in the military camp. Even if the recalled 10,000 civilian regiment troops are included, there are only 20,000 troops. This is a rare opportunity!
Thinking of this, he immediately got up and went to a private courtyard, knocked on the door, and the door opened. There was a young man at the door. Wang Jing stepped in.
"Is there something urgent, Mr. Boss?" the young man asked, closing the courtyard door.
There were two liaison soldiers sent by Li Bing living in the small courtyard. Wang Dingding nodded, "There is a situation in Licheng County, and the opportunity has come."
He handed a text message to another captain who came out of the room and said: "Twenty thousand troops went to Jeju and Yunzhou last night, and there are less than 20,000 people left in the city, of which 10,000 are militia soldiers. Please
You two immediately rush to Dengzhou and hand this letter to General Li."
The captain hesitated for a moment and said: "We have a letter eagle. I think it is faster to use the letter eagle to deliver letters."
Wang Jingding nodded, "Ying Xin will also send it, and you will send it too. I'm worried that General Li has already set off halfway."
.........
On a dark night, an army of 50,000 people was marching rapidly on the official road of Qingzhou. At the same time, a fleet of fifty warships sailed into Jishui and at the same time.
Qingzhou, the fleet transported 10,000 troops and a large amount of supplies.
The team has to pass through Qingzhou and Zizhou, and Licheng County is still 300 miles away. It will take at least three days of marching.
Li Bing rode a horse and walked at the front of the team. Because it was night, the official road was empty and there were no pedestrians in sight. There were endless wheat fields on both sides. It was early March. The ice on the Yellow River had completely melted, and the chill in the air had completely disappeared, leaving a trace of moist warmth.
It's cool, very comfortable, and very suitable for marching.
At this time, there was a rapid sound of horse hooves from the front, and a group of more than 20 scouts galloped from the front. It was the group of mounted scouts he sent.
One of them was holding a man, his mouth was gagged, his hands were tied behind his back, and he was being led by two soldiers, one on the left and the other on the right.
"See General!" the scout brigade commander bowed and saluted.
"Who is that person?" Li Bing asked, looking at the person they held hostage.
"General Qi, he is a messenger sent by Li Na. He is delivering letters from various states, and he happened to be hit by us."
"What letter should I send?" Li Bing asked.
The brigade commander handed several ultimatums to Li Na and tore off the rags from the courier's mouth. Li Na didn't rush to read the letters and asked the courier: "What letter did you send?"