Under the winter sun, a cold wind blows. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 info On the vast land, the phalanx moved forward slowly, although very slowly, but like a huge monster, it was gradually devouring the distance between the two sides.

When Xiao Daling looked back, the Liao cavalry in the rear was collecting tents and pulling out the camp and retreating. The front army was also ready to ride away, and everyone in the king's tent agreed to retreat to avoid a head-on battle with the Tang infantry.

At this moment, I suddenly saw a large group of horses on the left flank rushing towards this side from afar! It's the Don Army.

The Liaozhong Army ordered the cavalry on the left flank to meet the counterattack.

As time passed, the Tang army had not advanced on the front, and the cavalry on the left flank had already been engaged one after another. Centaurs are rushing back and forth in the distance, and sharp weapons are reflected in the sea of people.

Heaven and earth are so vast, and distant shouts seem to come from the ethereal.

The Liao army mounted and withdrew from the battlefield one after another, and went a little farther, and the cavalry of the Tang army did not advance. The army retreated to the camp north of Zhuozhou to the northwest and withdrew from the battlefield, ending the confrontation between the two armies.

Xiao Daling and the Liao people both believed that the main force of the Tang infantry would rush to Zhuozhou nearby. The strength of the Tang army in Zhuozhou City will exceed 100,000! A larger-scale confrontation between the North and the South is about to take shape.

……

Zhang Jiang came to the Bazhou Palace, and as soon as he entered the lobby, he saw a group of civil and military officers on both sides, and a room full of people, including Cao Bin and other adults. Everyone looked sideways and smiled appreciatively.

"General Zhang bravely crowned the three armies, and he is really a masterpiece!" Cao Bin said loudly.

It's finally your turn! Zhang Jiang is very much enjoying the glory of the spotlight at this time, in Datang, the supremacy of force has not changed! As long as the person who has won the prestige of the country, this is the treatment!

It was the center of the army, but Zhang Jiang believed that his brilliance and fame would soon spread throughout Bianjing.

"General Zhang, please come inside, the emperor has been waiting for a long time." Wang Fang, the eunuch beside the emperor, bowed down with a smile on his face.

Zhang Jiang responded with a fist clenched and strode inside.

Entering the inner house, passing through the quaint corridor, the sun shone in from between the pillars and sprinkled on Zhang Jiang's face, he was a little intoxicated. The warmth on his face made him feel that spring seemed to have come early!

The inner house of the palace is very quiet, and every pore of Zhang Jiang's body is pleasant, indescribably comfortable.

Walking into a wooden door, Zhang Jiang first saw a tall and strong back, Lu Fei was wearing a purple round-necked robe, with a golden hairpin stuck in a bun on his head, standing by the wall with his hands behind his back, looking up at the hanging map.

Zhang Jiang walked in, knelt on one knee neatly, the heavy armor on his body "clanged" and made a sonorous and powerful sound, he saluted and said loudly: "The last general was ordered to march north to attack the Liao army's grain road, live up to the emperor's high expectations, eliminate the Liao army's baggage troops, and return to life!" ”

Lu Fei turned around, looked at Zhang Jiang with a smile on his face, and said, "Come on, help General Zhang get up and help him remove his armor." Lu Fei said kindly, "You came in wearing such a thick armor to see me, how can you accompany me to eat?" ”

Zhang Jiang hurriedly stood up on his own.

Lu Fei said: "The consumption of the army on the Hebei front line is huge, so it is not appropriate to hold a feast to celebrate your achievements." I first invited General Zhang to drink alone, and when the class returned to the court, the Long Live Hall feast celebrated General Zhang's achievements. ”

Zhang Jiang's mind was dizzy, and he hugged his fists and said: "The last general feels that he can't afford such a big honor...... The soldiers were all Liao army's baggage and grain teams, and their guards had little power to fight back against the Tang Dynasty elite cavalry. Let's cut melons and chop vegetables like burning, and go around Youzhou, it doesn't seem to be a ......big war."

Lu Fei smiled and shook his head: "General Zhang did this well and played an important role in this battle, not how much he won can be compared." ”

Zhang Jiang said humbly: "Please ask the emperor to solve the doubts of the ministers." ”

Lu Fei turned his head and glanced at the map, and said slowly: "The Liao army has more than 100,000 troops, not all of them are elite, and the combat strength of each department has different levels. The Liao people wanted to send reinforcements halfway, so they divided their troops into two places; General Zhang caused heavy losses in the rear of the Liao State, which affected a large number of elite troops of the Liao army, and the Liao army divided its troops again.

Otherwise, how could Yang Yanzhao dare to easily transfer troops to attack from the north?

Yang Yanzhao attacked the northern line of Zhuozhou, where there were a large number of infantry and siege men and horses of the Liao army, and the Liao people would divide their troops to rescue! ”

Lu Fei flicked the sleeves of his robe and said calmly: "At this time, the main force of the Tang Dynasty is riding on foot, or going to Zhuozhou, or having the momentum to counterattack, is it not up to us?" ”

Zhang Jiang hurriedly said: "The emperor is strategizing, wise and martial. ”

Lu Fei smiled, his expression was relaxed, "After this battle, where the Liao people want to fight, they have to look at our faces, and the loss of troops is not begging." If we continue to be in Zhuozhou, we are not afraid; The Liao people still have to calculate whether they are hungry or not. ”

Zhang Jiang couldn't help laughing.

Lu Fei said: "Now that the morale of the Liao army is low and shrinking into Youzhou, I will take a look again, what else do they want?" ”

At this time, Wang Fang stepped forward and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, the slave maid sent the cook to cook a few dishes of the sheep sent by General Zhang, and those sheep were snatched by General Zhang from the Liao people. ”

Lu Fei raised his head and laughed: "Very good, mutton with wine, it should taste good." ”

**

The wood-carved hollow windows look a little old in the quaint, but they are very oriental and elegant. The calligraphy and ink on the wall are all unique decorations.

But on the table were two knives, forks, and spoons, and the forks were three-pronged made of sandalwood.

Lu Fei said: "Looking at the ancient books, Zhou Tianzi used this kind of tableware to eat meat, so he asked people to imitate two sets. ”

Zhang Jiang looked interested, and replied seriously: "The emperor's martial arts are world-famous, so he reads scriptures, and this kind of food utensils is an eye-opener for the ministers!" ”

After waiting for a long time, two cloth-clothed male attendants came up with two pots of hot fried mutton, and the brown soup was poured on them. Then Wang Fang carefully placed the two glass glasses and poured the fuchsia wine into the glasses.

Lu Fei picked up the knife and fork, pressed the mutton on the plate with a wooden fork with his left hand, and skillfully sawed off a piece with his right hand. A piece of meat was dipped in the soup with a fork, and then it was put in his mouth and chewed.

It can be seen on the sawn cut surface that this mutton is dark red, and there is an illusion that it is not fresh, anyway, it is not very good-looking, because he was directly shot with a bow and arrow without bloodletting, and the blood remained in the meat.

When you put it in your mouth and chew it, it also has a soft feeling and lacks the texture of the meat fibers.

But that's what I want, to remind people of how the sheep died, and where it came from!

"There are pepper noodles in the soup, I avoid the fish, and I don't feel the bloody pleasure of revenge!" Lu Feidao, then cut another piece and put it straight in his mouth, chewing while closing his eyes intoxicated.

In the quiet house, there was an elegant smell of books, but Lu Fei was here, as if he had seen a crazy iron horse, a blood-spattered blade, and a deafening scream of fighting.

Lu Fei exhaled, opened his eyes, and saw that Zhang Jiang also began to use the knife and fork in the same way.

Zhang Jiang was full of interest and devoted. No matter what Lu Fei does, the people who accompany him will be flattered and cater to him, and they will really devote themselves to it, which makes Lu Fei feel very comfortable...... This is probably one of the benefits of being an emperor.

Zhang Jiang is also very serious in learning, he was originally a child of a family, his sitting posture is very decent, and his archery hand is also very stable, so he can learn well.

Lu Fei picked up the wine glass, and Zhang Jiang hurriedly raised the glass cup with both hands, "Thank the emperor for the banquet, do it first as a respect." With that, he threw his head up and drank his glass of wine.

Lu Fei smiled, and it could be seen that Zhang Jiang was still a little nervous. He glanced sideways slightly, and Wang Yi stepped forward to pour wine for Zhang Jiang again.

However, Lu Fei was not in a hurry, he took a sip and tasted a mellow sweet taste, which was the opposite of the saltiness of mutton. This wine reminds people of the gentleness and beauty of a woman.

Lu Fei was savoring the various tastes in it, and the calm state of mind after relaxation was a breath of relief after a long period of tension.

Seeing the sunlight pouring in from the carved window, the emperor sitting on the chair also looked at himself with a gentle smile on his face. The bright and majestic person, with his eyes like a spring breeze, made Zhang Jiang's heart brighten, as if he saw a glorious future!

……

In the South Courtyard of Youzhou, Xiao Daling was silent and complained. thinks that Yelu Xiuge is not effective in guarding Youzhou, and blames him for having nothing to provoke the anger of the Tang Kingdom and cause trouble.

"The Yellow River, the southwest and the north and south of the Yangtze River are fertile for thousands of miles, and the southerners have a population of hundreds of billions. Now that the Tang State is in charge of the country, it is inappropriate for the Great Liao not to avoid the edge and delay the time......"

Yelu Xiuge was unconvinced: "Emperor Lu Xiao is a very strong lord? ”

Xiao Daling said: "Emperor Lu Xiao started from the end of Wei, the way of advance and retreat, the method of using soldiers, you and I have seen it today." In the past few years, he has fought in the south and the north, destroyed several countries in a row, and suppressed the rebellion with thunder many times. With a humble body, he was quickly promoted to a high position, and he was able to gather the chaotic forces of the Tang Kingdom, and convince the people to control the civil and military forces, which shows that he also has some mental means in his governance. ”

Xiao Daling paused, and said in an aggravated tone: "Regardless of whether Emperor Lu Xiao is a strong lord or not, the minister thinks that the rise and fall of Da Liao is important to this person!" ”

Yelu Huge was annoyed and ashamed when he heard this, and repeatedly asked for war in front of the Queen Mother.

He did not make an inch of merit in this battle, led his troops to attack Jin and Zhuo, and his fist hit the wall; He went to encircle and harass the light cavalry of the Tang army, but he pounced. Brother Yelu Hugh was very angry with Xiao Daling's words, but only by speaking with his achievements can he be tough!

Unexpectedly, all the ministers did not support him!

Jeruxiu looked back left and right, and everyone avoided their gaze. Brother Yelu Xiu was angry, and a sneer suddenly appeared on his face, and he said in his heart: When Ben Shuai won, you all applauded the slaughter of Cangzhou, and now if you lose a little, you will turn your face and deny people!

At this time, a minister said: "The Tang State is firmly holding the defense line of Zhuo and Tianjin, and it is difficult for Daliao to break through. It is better for the army to retreat to the steppe for the time being. After they are divided into troops, we will find opportunities to break through each one. ”

"Finally found a good excuse! A good one to lure the enemy into divisions, and break them all! Jerehugo sneered, he was the one who was the most reluctant to give up.

The minister's face was a little stiff: "Otherwise, more than 100,000 people and hundreds of thousands of horses in Daliao are stationed in Youzhou, and in the long run, what is the benefit of consuming the products of Daliao Province?" It can only be a stalemate like this, and it has no effect. ”

Yelu Hugh said: "Don't be short-sighted, Youzhou products, many of you enjoy them every year." What about the division of troops? Youzhou City is on the bank of the Sanggan River, once the Tang people build a city on the north bank of Jinzhou, they can directly attack Youzhou; Now under the threat of our army, the Tang Kingdom dares to come up and build a city? ”

Brother Yelu Xiu turned his head and looked at Xiao Daling coldly, "I remember that Deputy Envoy Xiao also said that Youzhou is very important to Da Liao. ”

Xiao Daling was speechless.

…… The Liao army spent the winter in Youzhou and was never able to effectively launch a large-scale attack. The Tang people also stuck to the southern border defense line, and they were calm and uneventful without any action. On the battlefield of hundreds of thousands of troops, it is like a pool of stagnant water!

After the Lantern Festival was celebrated on the battlefield in Hebei, the Liao army finally withdrew the main cavalry from Youzhou and quickly went north. Most of its infantry and baggage remained in Youzhou, and the Tang army had no way to take the Liao army that had left after learning the news.

Lu Fei immediately summoned the ministers and generals to discuss in Bazhou.

He first met with Prime Minister Lu Duan alone, and asked Lu Duan to go south to dispatch materials in the near future, and first replenish the grain storage in each city by land transportation; As soon as the ice of the river melts, the water transports grain, grass and building materials north.

**

Xiao Daling returned to the head of Youzhou City, and his heart was full of feelings.

Standing high at the top of the city, the flat earth outside the city seemed even more vast, and the sky seemed to be so low that it was within reach.

The clouds were not thick, but the brilliance of the sun behind the clouds brightened the clouds, and the middle was dazzling, and the light spread out like ten thousand arrows, but it was even more magnificent. At this time, the golden light is like a judgment in the dark.

Xiao Daling looked at the river in the south of the city for a long time, the Sanggan River meandered to the east, and the wind on the river surface blew sparkling, like the armor of thousands of troops! Along this river to the east, there are indeed thousands of troops! The Tang army's city in the lower reaches of the Sanggan River had already been built, and Xiao Daling imagined that the army could reach Youzhou in one day by advancing along the river and waterway!

According to the report of the spies, the city built by the Tang army is also a large military camp and a large granary, and there are basically no people in it except for the people who repair the city; Therefore, there is no need to consider many livelihood problems of ordinary cities, otherwise it will not be able to be built in a few months.

His palm slapped the green bricks of the women's wall a few times, making some trivial movements. Then he carefully patted the dirt off his hands, turned and walked down the wall.

As soon as I got off the city wall, I heard the boring sound of sawing wood in the city, and the craftsmen were still making catapults day and night. Xiao Daling inspected the city defense everywhere and met the Han official Fan Yi.

Fan Yi asked Xiao Daling to look at something in an official office.

"Hollowed out with stone, stuffed with gunpowder, lit and thrown, it can explode." Fan Yi said, "This is something captured by the Great Liao Army when it attacked the fortress of Zhuozhou, and it is a new thing." ”

Xiao Daling picked it up and took a closer look, "With such a small hole, I'm afraid it's not easy to hollow out the stone." ”

Fan Yi said: "That's true. ”

He took out another broken copper fire gun, which was also used by the Tang army. The Liao army had seen this thing on the battlefield at the beginning of the year, that is, the sound was loud and the smoke was loud, and the range was far inferior to that of bows and crossbows, and the fighting was still slow.

Xiao Daling pondered for a while and felt that the Tang army's tactics of attacking Youzhou might not have changed much. But if there is no foreign aid, it is only a matter of time before hundreds of thousands of troops are allowed to besiege Youzhou, and it is only a matter of time before it is captured.

After Xiao Daling patrolled, he wrote a note that night, reporting that the Jingtang Army was about to attack Youzhou, and asked for help to send troops to rescue.

He hoped that the Tang army would delay for a few more months, and in the autumn, the Liao army would have fat horses and more abundant grain, and the pressure on grain and grass in the war would not be so great.

…… In the early summer of April, the grassland is green, and the weather is not too hot.

The nobles of Shangjing, no one questioned the news that the Tang army was going to attack Youzhou. The Tang army spent a lot of money to build a city in the southeast of Youzhou, and the army gathered in Hebei for several months, I am afraid it is not as simple as scaring people.

Miyagi again discussed the matter of sending troops south.

At the beginning of the year, the army returned to the north, and a few months later it was again dispatched; And this period of back and forth also connived at the Tang Army to occupy a favorable place! However, such a situation is not a blind toss, it is definitely not a mistake in decision-making!

It's really helpless, if the Liao army is stranded in Youzhou with more than 100,000 people, the consumption of several months is unknown. The Liao army is still in Youzhou, and the Tang army should not dare to rush forward to build the city, the situation is only a stalemate, and there will be no result except for the two sides spending money and food together.

Empress Dowager Xiao felt that Xiao Daling was a loyal minister...... If Hebei is lost, what kind of chaos will there be below!

Someone suggested: "It can be imitated at the beginning of the year to use light cavalry elite soldiers to the south to attack and threaten the Tang army besieging the city." ”

The general Yelu obliquely objected: "This time and that time. In the Battle of Youzhou last year, the Tang Army's Northern Expedition army went deep into the Liao border and hung alone outside the city of Youzhou; Moreover, our army is already gathering, and Keri is heading south, which poses a great threat to the Tang army. The Tang army withdrew so quickly because it was unwilling to take risks in order to preserve its strength.

At this time, the Tang army's defensive line was only a day's journey away from Youzhou, and it was not easy to force the Tang people back with a small group of elite soldiers. ”

Xiao Yanyan turned her gaze to Brother Yeluxiu.

Yelu Hugo also said: "The ministers are invited to be the vanguard, but the Queen Mother and the Great Khan can lead the army to the south afterwards, so that they can fight with the Tang people!" ”

At this moment, the atmosphere in the palace is not quite right, and it is not as angry as before...... Most of the people did not say anything, because they had experienced the battlefield that had gone south at the beginning of the year, and this kind of war did not get any real benefits, but they had to lose their old capital, and the envoys were not very well-off at the moment.

Everyone discussed, and Youzhou couldn't give up easily. In the end, an agreement was reluctantly reached: first go south with light cavalry, and then send the army south to defend Youzhou, delay until autumn, and then send a large army south.

Xiao Yanyan said: "With Pingnan Gong Yelu Huge as the forward, lead 10,000 elite soldiers in the palace tent, select 20,000 cavalry of the tribal army, go south as soon as possible, and reinforce Xiao Daling to defend the city." ”

Jeruhhuge bowed and received the command.

Xiao Yanyan didn't dare to transfer all the palace tent troops in Shangjing, this time it was different, she had to stay in Shangjing for a few months! If there is no strength around him, he is not sure.

Xiao Yanyan sat in the chair, looking back at the ministers on both sides, looking at the faces one by one, as if she was guessing what kind of heart everyone was carrying!

"The Queen Mother is at ease, after the minister goes south, she will definitely teach the Tang people a lesson!" Jeruxiugo said hatefully. This sentence is not only to assure the emperor, but also to the people present, so as to save some people from looking down on people because of their defeat at the beginning of the year!

Xiao Yanyan praised: "Very good! Pingnan Gong is the left and right arms of Ben Khan. ”

Everyone also hurriedly said some auspicious words one after another. At this moment, a nobleman couldn't help but ask: "What method do you want to use to crack the Tang people?!" ”

No one could answer.

The general Yelu said quietly: "In the current situation, I am afraid that I can only consume it, or fight hard, there is no other way." Unless ......"

"Unless what?" Xiao Yanyan also showed an urgent glimmer of hope.

Yelu slanted to look at Yelu Huge: "Unless you are amazed by the talent of the ancients, there is a peerless good general who has established miraculous feats and unexpectedly won a key battle, so that you can get out of this quagmire!" ”

People couldn't help but sigh in frustration when they heard it. It's nonsense! Naturally, there have been occasional famous wars in history when they were outnumbered, but that thing is hard to find, and you can't just get it if you think about it.

At this time, Yelu Hugo gritted his teeth and stood there with round eyes, as if he was puffing up energy. Many people in the DPRK and China used to praise him as a hero, but later complained that he provoked the Tang State to cause trouble, and wanted to put the blame on themselves inexplicably...... It seems that such things as building miracle feats are what he should do?!

The so-called miraculous people, of course, are in the most difficult and critical moments, to do extraordinary things, in order to be gods!

...

"New Frontier City" is a city with a very colorful name. It is full of barracks, warehouses, and government offices, and the buildings are either rough and thick, or simple and low. The biggest feature of the city is that it looks bare, the saplings planted have not yet grown, and it is too laborious to move large trees, anyway, now the ornamental and green are not considered for the construction of the city.

Even the palace where Lu Fei lived, the walls were all rammed, and there was no decoration or wooden board decoration. He could still smell the smell of the newly built dirt as he sat inside.

Lu Fei looked at the accounts reported by the Bianjing Inner Treasury, the Household Department, and the Qianying Military Government, and the numbers were simply astronomical!

The nearly 300,000 troops on the front line maintained their clothing, armor, weapons, military salaries, food and drink, hundreds of thousands of people who built the city and transported grain, as well as subsidies for the town soldiers who defended the city.

Spending money like flowing water is indescribable, this is simply the loss of the Yellow River. At this rate of consumption, if there is only the previous fiscal revenue of the Tang Dynasty, it is completely impossible to afford the taxes on those territories in the Central Plains that have been ruined by successive wars.

If it goes on like this, it is estimated that in a year or two, the accumulation of Bianjing's inner treasury and local government treasury will have to be emptied.

Lu Fei had a feeling that he couldn't stop for a thousand miles. However, he was still very calm on the surface, at least now there was still something to dig out in the warehouses everywhere, and it was not the time when the mountains and rivers were exhausted and his eyebrows were burned.

Below the lobby, there were forty or fifty people on both sides. But at this time, it was very quiet, and even the sound of birds and birds flying to the new city to "observe" could be heard.

Cao Bin finally turned his head to look at the civil and military forces present: "We will deploy to besiege Youzhou City on the same day, and all the troops should boost the morale of the soldiers and prepare to advance." ”

The generals bowed and said, "Yes." ”

Cao Bin said again: "The construction of the city has been completed, and the army is approaching Youzhou City, but it still can't be too urgent. The strategy of the military government, the main force of the Liao army did not go south, then besieged Youzhou; Once the Liao army moved south to threaten the besieging army, it retreated to the northern front and confronted the five cities. And so on and so forth, until the Liao army was overwhelmed, or the Tang army broke through Youzhou! ”

Although this method is not overbearing enough, but it is scoundrel enough, listening to Cao Bin say this, everyone is full of confidence, thinking that it is a matter of time before the capture of Youzhou, and the hope of victory is in a visible place.

The lobby is getting hot. The military officials sent a stack of papers, and Cao Bin explained the siege ideas according to the map around Youzhou City, and issued military orders to the ministries for deployment. In the hall, military generals stepped forward one after another to receive military orders, and the repeated "orders" responded forcefully and full of confidence!

Only Lu Fei didn't say anything, but his face pretended to be calm and calm, and he sat on the top seat steadily.

After the deployment was completed, Lu Fei ordered the disbandment, and there was a sound of long live in the lobby.