Four hundred and ninetieth chapters war situation reversal
Early the next morning, Shence Army envoy Bai Zhizhen was appointed as the recruitment envoy, specifically to recruit brave warriors from the powerful and wealthy families in Chang'an. Each family was required to have two legitimate sons and three concubines to form a vanguard army for the decisive battle with Li Xilie.
Everyone understands that this is obviously a rip-off. Who would send their legitimate son and concubine to fight in the battlefield? If they don't want to go to the battlefield, they can use the method of buying it out with money, thirty thousand guan for the legitimate son, and 10,000 guan for the concubine.
Within three days, four million guan of money was forcibly raised, which suddenly solved the salary shortage of the Eastern Front Army.
For a time, the powerful people in Chang'an complained and wanted to eat Bai Zhizhen's flesh and sleep on Bai Zhizhen's skin. Although everyone knew that this was the emperor's order, no one dared to point the finger at the emperor.
However, another problem arises: how to transport money to the front line for disbursement. This is also a difficult problem.
At this time, the fighting on the battlefield in Qizhou was extremely fierce. The battle for the city head turned into a meat grinder. A large number of corpses were piled up under the city wall. The blood dyed the entire moat scarlet red. A large number of mosquitoes and flies multiplied. In summer, the corpses began to rot.
, the stench is overwhelming and disgusting.
Li Mian was extremely worried about the outbreak of the epidemic. He wanted to withdraw hundreds of miles first to give Li Na a chance to burn and bury the corpses. But at this time, the emperor issued seven imperial edicts in succession, urging them to attack, and issued a death order, which must be done before the end of the month.
Take Licheng County, otherwise Lang will kill them all.
That night, in the large tent of the Chinese army, the supervisor Song Chaofeng held Shang Fang's sword in his hand and roared like thunder, "Why do you need to rest? There are only five days left before the end of the month. If you don't go to war tomorrow, I will deal with you according to military law!"
Li Mian suppressed his anger and said: "The soldiers have been attacking the city for ten consecutive days. They can't attack it anymore. Now the casualties are getting bigger day by day. The corpses under the city are stinking. Those are their brothers and their close friends. Our military morale has been
It collapsed. Didn’t you see the afternoon siege? More than two thousand people died without even reaching the moat. If we continue like this, our entire army will be destroyed."
Song Chaofeng was unmoved and said viciously: "The low military morale has nothing to do with me. That is your business. I only carry out the Holy Father's decree. I must capture Licheng County within five days. If I fail, you will commit suicide and apologize."
At this moment, there was a sudden noise outside. Li Mian ignored the argument with Song Chaofeng, turned around and walked out of the tent, and asked sharply: "What happened?"
At this time, a military officer from Cang Cao ran up and bowed and said: "I am reporting to you, a large group of generals have forced their way into Cang's tent. Their lowly positions cannot stop them!"
Li Mian secretly screamed that something was wrong, something might have happened.
Sure enough, hundreds of low-level generals came angrily. When they saw Li Mian, they immediately gathered around and asked, "Your Majesty, where is our military salary?"
"It has been three months and I haven't seen a penny. We are working hard here, but my parents, wife and children are starving at home. I want my salary to support my family!"
Everyone shouted angrily, "If we don't get the salary, we will quit."
Li Mian wanted Song Chaofeng to come out and say a few words. When he turned around, Song Chaofeng was gone. A soldier said: "The supervisor said that he has something to do, so he will leave first!"
Li Mian gritted his teeth with hatred, but when it was time for him to come forward, he ran away.
Helpless, Li Mian had no choice but to explain: "The imperial court must be rich, but because there is a war in Bianzhou, military salaries cannot be shipped. Everyone is working hard for the imperial court. How could the imperial court not give everyone military salaries? There must be some, and
It’s double. In fact, even if it is delivered now, you can’t deliver it to your family. Then the court will deliver it to your family together.”
He casually took out a letter from his arms and coaxed everyone: "This is the handwriting the emperor gave me. The emperor promised that starting from February, double the salary and double the pension. I, Li Mian, promise everyone that every penny will be doubled."
The money will be sent to our families. If you lose a penny, it’s my fault!”
Li Mian explained so hard that his lips blistered, and he managed to calm everyone down and disperse. He was exhausted, and the entire army must have a day's rest tomorrow.
.........
In Licheng County, 20,000 elite soldiers have been assembled at the west gate. These soldiers are the recruited civilians. After four months of training, they are gradually trained into an elite army. The soldiers have high morale and high spirits. They did not participate.
In the battle to defend the city, we have been recharging our energy, just waiting for this moment tonight.
Li Na personally led three thousand cavalry in front, followed by infantry. He shouted to all the soldiers: "Success or failure depends on this one move, protect our parents, wives and children, and kill all the enemy troops!"
The soldiers raised their arms and shouted, "Kill them all!"
Li Na waved his horse and ordered sternly: "Open the city gate!"
The city gate slowly opened, the drawbridge slowly lowered, and Li Na rushed out with his horse, followed by three thousand cavalry, followed by twenty thousand infantry.
They took advantage of the cover of night to attack the Tang Army's camp two miles away. It wasn't until they were fifty steps away that the sleepy sentry spotted them and sounded the alarm urgently, 'Dang! Dang! Dang!'
But it was too late. Li Na roared, led three thousand cavalry and rushed towards the camp gate, and rushed into the Tang army's camp in an instant.
"Kill!" 20,000 Qi troops followed their commander into the Tang army's camp.
Before Li Mian fell asleep, he was awakened by shouts of killing from all directions. He ran out of the tent with his sword in hand. The soldiers shouted: "Tens of thousands of enemy troops have entered the camp. Brothers, the whole army has collapsed. Commander, please leave quickly."
!”
Li Mian sighed, this battle was completely over, how could he still have the face to see the emperor?
He walked quickly back to the tent, stared at the map for a moment, then gritted his teeth, stabbed himself to death with his sword drawn horizontally.
In this sneak attack, the Tang army completely collapsed. After ten days of continuous siege, the Tang army soldiers were so exhausted that they no longer had the energy to escape, and they knelt down desperately to beg for mercy.
Li Na immediately ordered that those who surrender would be spared death. He needed these soldiers to supplement his strength.
The entire Tang army of 40,000 was destroyed, more than 30,000 surrendered, and the rest were all killed by the enemy. The commander-in-chief Li Mian committed suicide. Only General Qu Huan led more than a hundred Shence Army cavalry to protect the supervisor Song Chaofeng from escaping.
Li Na immediately led his army to take advantage of the victory and recaptured the five states of Yun, Yan, Ji, Pu, and Yi. He also occupied Xuzhou and cut off water transportation. His momentum grew rapidly and the world was shocked.
........
The news of the defeat of the Tang army reached Chang'an, and the Chang'an government and the public were shocked. A powerful storm of public opinion immediately set off, demanding that the court severely punish the decision-makers, and even asked the court to send troops urgently. Everyone in Chang'an knew that once water transportation was cut off, the people of Chang'an would be unable to
Although he survived, the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty were eagerly waiting for the 10 million guan salt tax from Yangzhou to be released to Chang'an.
During this period, Lu Qi was a little anxious, and many ministers pointed their contradictions at him. It was he who strongly opposed Li Xilie's surgery first and insisted on destroying Li Na first. As a result, a series of vicious consequences were triggered. Li Xilie rebelled and ravaged the Central Plains.
In the south, Li Na reversed the tide of the battle and destroyed all 60,000 Tang troops.
Lu Qi has been keeping a low profile these past two days, usually hiding in his official room and not daring to go out. Previously, he raised a sum of money by selling the utensils in the Zuozangku, paid the officials two months' salary, and paid the wages owed to the craftsmen from the Ordnance Supervision Office.
After that, the two million yuan was completely spent. Now some ministers accused him of selling the important equipment of the court at a low price, which caused serious losses to the court and made Lu Qi a bad person both inside and outside.
Although Lu Qi's life was difficult, he still had to go to the Imperial Study Room to be scolded by the emperor.
Li Shi had just received news from Zangjian Pavilion that Li Na's army had rapidly expanded to more than 100,000 people, and the forward troops had entered Bianzhou, making Liu Qia and Ge Shuyao's armies threatened from both sides, and Li Xilie's army had been defeated
Compressed to the front line of the Huaihe River, once the Ziqing Army attacks Liu Qia and Ge Shuyao's troops from behind, it is likely that the battle against Li Xilie will be in vain.
In the imperial study, Li Mi suggested: "Wei Chen will mobilize Li Sheng's army to go south to the Central Plains to stop the Ziqing Army from expanding westward. In addition, Wei Chen will consider moving the Southern Army to advance eastward and attack Li Xilie's lair...
"
Before Li Mi could finish speaking, Lu Qi objected: "The Jiannan Army cannot move, as we are afraid that Tibet will take advantage of the situation and invade. The minister suggested that Chen Shaoyou's Huainan Army be mobilized to advance westward and attack Li Xilie's lair."
Li Shi thought for a moment and said: "Actually, I am considering dispatching Fengxiang Army and Jingyuan Army to march eastward to the Central Plains to participate in the war against Li Na. It is best for Li Sheng's army not to move to prevent Zhu Tao from entering Hedong again."
Li Mi nodded, "This plan is also possible, but the soldiers of Fengxiang Army and Jingyuan Army have not been paid for several months, so they need to be appeased appropriately."
Lu Qi glared at Li Bi and said: "Where is the extra money in the court? You can stand and talk by yourself without pain, take out the money and show me!"
Li Shi was also very dissatisfied with Li Mi's proposal, "When it comes to fighting, you have to get money. What do you do to support them? They should contribute when it's time for them to contribute. How can there be so much bargaining?"
Li Mi had no choice but to say: "At least Your Majesty must promise to give them promotions and titles after the war. You must always give them a little hope, otherwise they will not fight hard at all."
"I know!"
Li Shi immediately issued an order, ordering Chen Shaoyou, the military governor of Huainan, to send troops to attack Huaixi, Li Xilie's home base. In addition, he mobilized 20,000 troops from Fengxiang Jiedu and 30,000 troops from Jingyuan Jiedu to rush to the Central Plains to fight!