Emperor Wang Yan of Western Shu wanted to send troops to Li Tang.

On this day, the army of Western Shu attacked Li Tang's territory.

Just say that Li Tang's Chang'an Festival made Li Cunba.

Li Tang's envoy to Chang'an was the magistrate who managed Chang'an and even the entire Qinchuan.

The official of "festival envoy" is not small.

The "festival envoy" is equivalent to the current governor.

By the way, Li Tang's Chang'an festival envoy Li Cunba is also the brother of Li Tang's emperor Li Cunmiao.

On this day, Li Tang's Tanma Blue Flag flew into Chang'an and ran into Li Cunba's lobby.

"Report! Report the festival to make your lord, the big thing is not good, Wang Yan, the king of Xishu, commanded 200,000 troops to send our Chang'an! Now, the army of Wang Yan, the king of Xishu, has arrived at the realm of our Tang Dynasty. Please make a decision early on the rulers. ”

Li Tang's Chang'an Festival made Li Cunba hear it, like five thunderbolts.

Because there aren't many soldiers in Chang'an now!

*******

Since Li Tang's prime minister Guo Chongtao lobbied in the south, Li Tang's emperor Li Cunqiao has relaxed his vigilance against the south. He thought that the kings of the south would not easily offend his Tang Dynasty.

In fact, there is a certain reason why Li Tang's emperor Li Cunqiao did not take the south seriously. For the kings of the south did not rule over a great place. All the places under the jurisdiction of the southern kings are not as big as the places of his Tang Dynasty. There are not many soldiers of the kings of the south. The area under their jurisdiction is small, and of course there will be no more soldiers.

Li Tang's emperor, Li Cunmiao, where did he think that this Wang Yan, the king of Xishu, would go crazy!

Since Guo Chongtao lobbied in the south, Li Tang's emperor Li Cunqiao let a large part of his soldiers retire and go home. First, production can be developed, and more people will grow grain and farmland, so that the peasants will have food to eat, and the country's treasury will have grain. Second, it can also reunite the family and let the people say that he is good.

Therefore, there are not many soldiers in Li Tang's country now. Because many of the soldiers have retired and gone home.

Now Li Tang's country, when it comes together, is only 100,000 soldiers. Now Li Tang's Qin Chuan, when finally together, is only 10,000 soldiers.

Therefore, Li Tang's Chang'an Festival made Li Cunba very nervous when he heard that Wang Yan, the king of Western Shu, had commanded 200,000 troops.

******

As soon as Li Cunba heard that Wang Yan of Xishu was leading an army of 200,000 troops, he was in a hurry.

Li Cunba immediately gathered several of his main figures together.

Li Cunba discussed with them what to do.

Among them, a man named Xue Rui spoke.

Xue Rui is one of Li Cunba's advisors. He is not shallow in his knowledge. He also has a lot of ideas.

Xue Rui said: "Don't worry, don't worry. I see that this time his army from Xishu came, and he couldn't bargain. ”

Li Cunba said: "How can you see it? ”

Xue Rui said: "I expected that his army from Xishu would be defeated three times this time. ”

Li Cunba said: "What are the three defeats? ”

Xue Rui said: "A defeat, that is, his main thing, his military spirit is unstable. ”

Li Cunba said: "How can you see that his military spirit is unstable? ”

Xue Rui said: "Jiedu envoy, please think, his place in Xishu is not big, where does his 200,000 army come from?" If he had recruited only from basic methods of recruitment, he would not have been able to recruit so many soldiers. I expect that many of his soldiers were temporarily captured by him from the homes of ordinary people in his country. A soldier like this will naturally not die for him. ”

How do you explain the "basic methods of recruitment" that Xue Rui is talking about?

In ancient times, there was a basic rule for conscription, that is, everyone had to serve three years of military service at the imperial court. "Three years of military service" is the "basic method of conscription".

Xue Rui said that if he had recruited only according to basic recruitment methods, he would not have been able to recruit as many soldiers. What to do? If he wants to recruit more soldiers, he has to go beyond that. For example, each person is required to serve six years of military service, each person is required to serve nine years of military service, or more. There is even a certain age range, and those within this age range are required to serve in the military.

Li Cunba said: "What about the second defeat? ”

Xue Rui said: "The second defeat, he has so many soldiers, and his salary is also a problem. His kingdom is not big, can he afford so much military pay? Even if he can get so much military salary, he is also very difficult. The military salary comes from the people's taxes, if he puts too much burden on his people, will he be okay? Therefore, a soldier like him can support him for a while and a half, and if he is allowed to support for a long time, he can't support it. ”

Li Cunba said: "What about the three defeats?

Xue Rui said: "The three defeats are also very important. It was he who went out this time, and he was unknown. We didn't recruit him, we didn't provoke him, why did he work hard to mobilize the people, spend material and financial resources, and spare the lives of his soldiers to send troops to fight us? ”

Xue Rui's words made Li Cunba nod again and again.

*******

At this time, a military general named Meng Wei also took over: "Yes, yes." I think he sent troops this time, not to mention that he lost three times, he was also defeated twenty-eight. ”

Meng Wei is also the main figure under Li Cunba. It's just that he is a military general who sends troops to fight, and he is not a civilian official who gives advice. Otherwise, how could he say that Wang Yan, the king of Xishu, had twenty-eight defeats.

At this time, a man named Han Yong asked Meng Wei.

Han Yong is also the main figure under Li Cunba. He, like Meng Wei, is also a military general. He usually jokes with Meng Wei.

When Han Yong heard Meng Wei say this, he wanted to joke with Meng Wei.

Han Yong said: "General Meng, why did you see that Wang Yan, the king of Western Shu, was defeated twenty-eight? ”

Meng Weixin said: It's bad, I just spoke, and my mouth didn't close the door.

Meng Wei thought about it, and Meng Wei said: "Once defeated, he didn't listen to his father's words. When our Prime Minister Guo Chongtao lobbied him to Xishu a few days ago, our Prime Minister Guo Cheng and his father had already signed a non-aggression pact, but as soon as his father died, he tore up the treaty. ”

Han Yong continued to ask: "What about his second defeat?" ”

Meng Wei said: "He lost the second ......, he lost twice, he dared to provoke our Jie Du envoy." ”

Han Yong continued to ask: "What about his three defeats?" ”

Meng Wei said: "He has lost three ......, he has lost three times, he dares to provoke you." ”

Everyone laughed.

Han Yong continued to ask: "Then what about his four defeats?" ”

Meng Wei said: "Four defeats, he dares to provoke me." ”

Han Yong continued to ask: "What about his five defeats?" ”

Meng Wei said: "I've said so much, don't you understand? Let's count all these seats here one by one, isn't it? ”

Everyone laughed.

******

But, after all, laughing and laughing, the 200,000 army of Xishu is here, what should I do? Don't look at him, but the 200,000 army is scary enough!

Li Cunba said: "Everyone, let's not just talk and laugh for now. Let's get down to business. At present, the 200,000 troops of Xishu are violent! ”

Xue Rui spoke again.

Xue Rui is down to business.

Xue Rui said: "Lord Jiedu, we should avoid his edge first." ”

Li Cunba said: "In your opinion, how should we deal with it? ”

Xue Rui said: "In my humble opinion, you should first give a table to the emperor to explain everything here. ”

Li Cunba said: "That's nature. Of course I have to report such a big matter to the emperor. ”

Xue Rui continued: "The next step is also our most important thing, your Excellency Jie Du Envoy, you should also order our various prefectures and counties in Qinchuan, so that the magistrates of each prefecture and county can quickly raise people from all over the country. It's not that we don't have soldiers, it's that many of our soldiers have retired and gone home, and if we raise them, we can still raise some of them. ”

Li Cunba said: "What you say is reasonable. ”

However, Li Cunba remembered something again.

Li Cunba said: "What you say is reasonable, but it is reasonable. However, when the order of the envoy of this section is sent to the various states and counties, and then the various states and counties are in place, it will take a while to wait for a while, can this time be in time? ”

Xue Rui said: "Almost. First, when the army of Xishu comes to us, it will take a while for them to come; Second, our Chang'an City is not vegetarian, and there are some people in our Chang'an City, I think if the army of Xishu comes, it will not be a problem for us to guard for ten days and a half. ”

Li Cunba said: "Okay! ”

So, on the one hand, Li Cunba wrote a letter to the emperor to explain everything here, on the one hand, he ordered him to the various prefectures and counties of Qinchuan to let them immediately raise men and horses, and on the other hand, he ordered Qin Baoshan, the prefect of Chang'an, to let him actively prepare for the battle, so that there was a period of Chang'an defense.