The camp of the army was built in the middle of the city, and there was no need to dig trenches or set up lookouts, and from a distance it looked like a tourist camping out. Qu Tutong made such an arrangement precisely so as not to affect the lives of the people.

When Li Xuanba and the others arrived outside the camp, Qu Tutong took several generals to greet them in front of the camp gate, and they were polite to each other, and everyone entered the marching tent. There was a sand table in the center of the tent, a few maps on the desk, and nothing else.

Qu Tutong is nearly sixty years old, his beard and hair are white, but he looks energetic, energetic, and does not show any old age.

Li Xuanba and everyone surrounded him, Qu Tutong said directly: "Hedong City is high and steep, if you can't hold out, the thief army will not dare to attack the city, but our army will also be trapped here. If you send troops to rescue, and you are afraid that the thief army will attack Hedong, then you will be defeated by the enemy on your back. ”

In just a few words, Qu Tutong explained the current situation clearly, and Li Xuanba looked at the flag planted on the delicate sand table and thought seriously.

A middle-aged military general said: "The last general thinks that the Xiaoguo army will stick to the east of the river, and the Xingyang army will garrison Ruicheng, which is enough to block the road for the thief army to advance westward. ”

In the previous greetings, Li Xuanba learned that this person's name was Yao Junsu, and the official worshiped the eagle and Yang Lang. Yao Jun Su has a bear waist on his back, eight feet tall, and his eyebrows are like swords, which is extremely eye-catching in the big tent. When Yang Guang was still the king of Jin, he served under him, so he was loyal to Yang Guang.

As soon as Yao Junsu's voice fell, everyone moved their eyes to the thin Li Xuanba, who was unconscious and stared at the sand table very calmly. Since Qu Tutong wanted to force him to express his position in this way. Naturally, he didn't bother to pay attention.

Qu Tutong frowned slightly, and said, "Jun Su's words, what do you think of Zhongyongwei?" ”

"General Qu, the lower officials are ordered by His Royal Highness the King of Yue to assist in defending the city, and everything is subject to the general's orders." Li Xuanba raised his head calmly and arched his hand: "The general can think about it carefully." If Xuanba has two hearts, why did he lead his army here? ”

Qu Tutongguan worshiped Zuo Xiao's cavalry guard, which was a positive third grade, Li Xuanba spoke to him without the slightest respect, but the more this was the case, the more relieved Qu Tutong became, he stroked his beard and smiled: "Your Majesty is really not mistaken, Zhongyongwei is very talented, and he can easily see the temptation of our waiting." ”

"The enemy is now. The lower officials don't want to be suspicious of each other because of their status. Li Xuanba's tone softened a little and said: "Although General Yao's words are true, the lower officials think that if they want to block the westward advance of the Taiyuan army, the most important thing is not to hold Hedong, but here. After speaking, he pointed his finger at Tongguan.

If the Xingyang army was transferred to Tongguan, it would be possible to block the westward advance of Li Yuan's army. If they storm Tongguan, Qu Tutong can invade the rear of the Taiyuan army. As for the possibility of the Taiyuan army storming Hedong. As Qu Tutong said before, Hedong City is high and steep, the Xiaoguo army only needs to hold on, Li Yuan has no way at all, and the Xingyang army continues to stay in Tongguan and doesn't need to pay attention to it at all.

"Tongguan does have natural hazards as a barrier. But the city was too small to hold a large army, and there was not enough food and grass. Yao Junsu sighed: "Feng Ling's area is rampant, and there is no way for the grain and grass of the imperial court to be safely sent into Tongguan, and it is not our original intention to garrison Hedong." It's really a helpless move. ”

"But Ruicheng also doesn't have enough food and grass, if the Taiyuan army besieges Hedong and Ruicheng respectively, will the Xingyang army starve to death?" Li Xuanba questioned: "The Wagang thieves occupy the two major granaries of Luokou and Liyang, and the food of millions of people in the eastern capital can only rely on returning to Luocang, how can there be excess grain sent to Ruicheng?" ”

Li Yuan successively captured Xihe, Huoyi, Linfen, and Jiangxian, and the grain and grass could be continuously sent to the front along the Fenshui River, and the siege war was a war of attrition, and without food, how could the soldiers defend the city?

Qu Tutong was silent for a moment and said, "What do you think Zhongyongwei should do?" ”

"Since Tongguan can't go, then transfer the Xingyang army to Hedong." Li Xuanba said unceremoniously: "Once they divide their troops and march west, the Xingyang army stays to hold the city, and the general leads the army back to help, the Xiaoguo army is the elite of the imperial court, are you still afraid of the Taiyuan army?" If they want to attack from the front and back, the Xingyang army will raid from their rear, how can there be no reason to be invincible? ”

Li Xuanba's proposal, Qu Tutong did not think about it. It's just that the Xingyang army was transferred to Hedong, and the risk was extremely high. If the 20,000 Xingyang Army becomes the internal response of the Taiyuan Army, let alone Hedong, even Luoyang will not be able to hold it.

"The Taiyuan army has entered Hedong County, and it may come to the city at any time, and I hope the general can think it carefully, otherwise it will be too late to regret it." Li Xuanba continued: "Xuanba doesn't know how to arrange troops, the Xingyang army has always been led by Li Jing under the command of the last general, this person has made decisive decisions, if he feels that he can't hold Ruicheng, he is very likely to lead the army to withdraw to the eastern capital. ”

"Thank you for the reminder." Qu Tutong said with a calm face: "You and all the soldiers have worked hard all the way, you might as well go back to the house to rest first, as for how the Xingyang army will settle down, the general knows it." ”

Li Xuanba smiled bitterly and left the big tent with Luo Shixin and the others.

"If it's really a newborn calf, he dares to speak wildly." Qu Tutong couldn't suppress the anger in his heart, and said angrily: "Isn't there no Xingyang Army, and General Ben can't stop Li Yuan, a traitor?" ”

"The general is angry." Yao Junsu arched his hand and said: "The last general thinks that the loyal and brave guards are good intentions. ”

"What do you mean by what Jun Su said?" Qu Tutong heard this, sat down with a frown, and said, "You didn't hear the threat in his tone? ”

"The meaning of Zhongyongwei should be to keep himself by the general's side to dispel the doubts in the general's heart." Yao Junsu replied: "Tang Guogong conspired against him, he still dared to do this, and the last general believed that he had no two thoughts about the imperial court." ”

Qu Tutong calmed down, carefully recalled what Li Xuanba said before, and found that it was indeed as Yao Junsu said, and suddenly showed a look of shame, and sighed: "Could it be that Ben is wrong to blame him?" ”

"General, even if you doubt the loyalty of the Xingyang Army, we have no way out." Sang Xianhe also spoke: "The thief army is getting stronger, and the morale of the Xiaoguo army is sluggish, and at this time, we can only re-inspire the courage of the soldiers through the Xingyang army." The last general has seen the demeanor of the Xingyang Army, and it can indeed be called an elite division. ”

"Besides, the relatives of the Xingyang Army were all left in the Eastern Capital, how could they cling to the traitors?" Yao Junsu continued to persuade: "Even Your Majesty and King Yue are not worried, so why should the general bother himself? ”

Before Li Xuanba returned to the mansion, Sang Xianhe chased after him from behind.

"General Qu has an order to order the Xingyang army to enter the city as soon as possible." Sang Xianhe finished the order and said in a deep voice: "Lord Zhongyongwei, General Qu is loyal to the imperial court, and I hope that your Excellency will not take what happened just now to heart." ”

Li Xuanba returned the salute and said: "After all, Xuanba's identity is somewhat special, and General Qu should be vigilant, General Sang can rest assured that Xuanba will not hold a grudge because of this matter." ”

Sang Xianhe arched his hand again and left.

"Shixin, you personally go to Ruicheng and let the army rush here overnight." Li Xuanba turned around and said, "There will be more dreams at night." (To be continued.) )