"In order to kill two birds with one stone in this battle, there are two keys that need to be grasped well." Li Congjing looked around at everyone, "First, once the decisive battle in Xuanwu County is launched, it must be ensured that the Xichuan army here has no help; Second, the army rushing to Xuanwu County must be elite and achieve a surprise effect. ”

"To grasp these two keys, we need to do a few things well." Li Congjing continued, "First, continue to pressure the city of Zizhou, so that it is too busy to take care of itself, and it cannot detect the intention of our army to divide Xuanwu County; Second, the military intelligence department in the direction of Hanzhou was strictly ordered to ensure that no other troops from Xichuan would arrive during the decisive battle; Third, the Hundred Battles Army must hold out until reinforcements arrive; Fourth, the enemy scouts and rangers between Xuanwu County and Zizhou were cleared. ”

Speaking of this, Li Congjing paused, his eyes sharpened a little, "Fifth, this plan must be kept secret!" ”

When everyone heard this, they were all solemn, and they all bowed their heads.

Xuanwu County is less than 100 miles away from Zizhou and more than 200 miles away from Chengdu.

On the seventh day of the Xichuan army's attack on Xuanwu County, when the "unchanged" military report of Xuanwu County was handed to Meng Zhixiang again, Meng Zhixiang, who was playing against Su Yuan in the house, could no longer sit still, put down the chess pieces in his hand, came to the pavilion with his hands in his hands, looked at the autumn water outside the pavilion, and frowned.

Meng Zhixiang no longer had the heart to play, and Su Yuan had to put down the chess pieces in his hand, got up and came to Meng Zhixiang's side, and asked, "Dashuai is worried about the war in Xuanwu County?" ”

"Li Renhan, Zhao Tingyin, Zhang Zhiye and others, the army has been attacking Xuanwu County for seven days, and they have never been able to overcome it, causing our army's 30,000 elites to lag in Xuanwu County, and they have become sitting back and watching Zizhou City." Meng Zhixiang's voice was slow, "The war has developed to such a point, I didn't expect it. ”

"There are more than 10,000 elite soldiers stationed in Xuanwu County, and it is not easy to conquer it overnight, so don't worry too much." Su Yuan persuaded.

Meng Zhixiang shook his head, "You don't know Li Shaobin. If Xuanwu County can't overcome it for a long time, I'm afraid that Li Shaobin will give birth to him. ”

Su Yuan was taken aback, "He reads?" ”

"Li Shaobin is insatiable, short-sighted, self-conscious, ambitious, if he thinks that the road in front of him is a dead end, he will definitely not go to the dark. If our Xichuan Army is unable to rescue Zizhou for a long time, Li Shaobin will have any thoughts when he sees that Zizhou City cannot be defended, which is really difficult to predict. Meng Zhixiang's words were very meaningful.

"Is the marshal saying that Li Shaobin is likely to surrender?" Su Yuan is not a stupid person, and after a little thought, he understood what Meng Zhixiang meant, which made him even more frightened, "How dare he?" Did he think that if he surrendered this time, the court would forgive his sins? ”

"If it is only a surrender, the court will naturally not pardon his sins." Meng Zhixiang turned to look at Su Yuan, "But if he is willing to be the eagle dog of the imperial court and attack me Xichuan in turn, what will happen?" ”

"This," Su Yuan was speechless for a moment, as he found that this situation was not impossible.

Meng Zhixiang's eyes became distant, and he said slowly: "How is the state politics of the imperial court over the years, you and I see it in our eyes, and we know it well, if Li Shaobin is willing to 'abandon the dark and turn to the light', it proves that the imperial court is the desire of the people, enough to make the world submit, how can the imperial court not accept it?" Li Siyuan and Li Congjing's father and son are not narrow-minded, if Li Shaobin really does this, it is really easy to keep a fortune! ”

"How could this Li Shaobin be so confused?" Su Yuan was a little confused, but he didn't know that the alliance between East and West Sichuan was, in the final analysis, nothing more than "embarrassment", but because there were temporary common interests, where could it be said to be strong? If the situation is favorable, it is easy to say, but if the situation is unfavorable, it is inevitable that people's hearts will fluctuate, and each will have different thoughts. Meng Zhixiang and Li Shaobin, in the final analysis, who will really believe whom?

East and West Sichuan both belong to Shuzhong, one mountain can hardly accommodate two tigers, even if they are temporarily united, there will definitely be a time to compete for power in the future. Just like Li Shaobin deployed heavy troops to guard against Xichuan in Xuanwu County, although Meng Zhixiang did not make such an obvious move, who can say that his intention to prevent Li Shaobin in his heart is shallower than Li Shaobin's defense against Xichuan?

"Confused?" Meng Zhixiang suddenly stared at Su Yuan, and his tone became strange.

Su Yuan was stunned, he didn't know what Meng Zhixiang's rhetorical question meant, he was suddenly shocked in his heart, realized something, and hurriedly bowed to the ground, and said urgently: "Dashuai Mingjian, my Xichuan military and civilians have been favored by Dashuai for many years, and they are all grateful to Dade, even if the situation is unfavorable, we will never have a second heart, and if the soldier dies for his confidant, we will definitely swear to serve the marshal!" ”

It turned out that the fundamental meaning of Meng Zhixiang's words was not to worry that Li Shaobin had a bad heart, but to test whether the Xichuan military and people had a bad heart.

After Su Yuan finished speaking, he felt that it was not enough, and continued: "The court rewards and punishes excessively, traitors steal high positions, and good ministers have no place to stand. ”

The gloom in Meng Zhixiang's eyes dissipated a little, he showed a dumb smile, picked up Su Yuan, and said with a smile: "What is this doing, sir, will this Shuai not believe in your loyalty?" How can Ben Shuai not know that Dongchuan is defeated, and I, Xichuan, are waiting for you, and they are as solid as a rock? You are all the humerus of this handsome, how can this handsome be suspicious? Don't say that again! ”

Su Yuan's heart was a lot more stable, and he was busy repeatedly, but his back was cold, and he was already in a cold sweat in a short period of time.

Picking up Su Yuan, Meng Zhixiang said again: "In recent days, Ben Shuai has been rewarded, and there are many imperial court officials in the city who are stirring up the situation, trying to make a counterplot against my Xichuan officials and generals, forcing me to have civil strife in Xichuan, so as to break myself. Then Li Congjing has endless means, but unfortunately, how can he know that I, Xichuan, are of one heart and one mind, how can he be shaken by his conspiracy? ”

Su Yuan knew that Meng Zhixiang was beating him, and he also hoped to use his mouth to beat other Xichuan officials, what else could he say besides praising the "handsome and wise"?

"Leave it to Mr. to do the detailed work of the court, and within three days, you must clear all the eyeliner of the court, and leave no one! This matter is related to the stability of Chengdu, do you know? Meng Zhixiang said again.

"If you know what you want, you will do your best!" Su Yuan said busily.

"Okay, very good, Mr. is worthy of Nishikawa Junjie, there is a gentleman to do this, Ben Shuai is very relieved!" Meng Zhixiang had a kind smile on his face, and after saying this, he looked up at the sky, only to see dark clouds over Xichuan, as if a heavy wind and rain were coming.

In Shu has lost the mountains and rivers, the Xiongguan is all taken by the king, the previous results are all lost, and Dongchuan is only a lonely city, the king is pressing, although the war has not yet burned to the territory of Xichuan, but who can not know, Xichuan has long been an undercurrent, unpredictable?

The Tang Empire, which is powerful day after day, has won the hearts of the people in recent years, and the new policy of Tiancheng, which has won the hearts of the people, has been looked east by all over the world, and the people's hearts may not be very conspicuous in ordinary times, but it is indeed not to be underestimated, especially at the critical juncture when it is necessary to choose.

Su Yuan raised his head and saw that the dark clouds were low, and he felt that there was still a big stone in his heart.

In the world of great strife, all those who have flesh have contention; In the world of great contention, who does not choose the master of the talented people? The torrent of great controversy that swept the world, enveloping the people of the world to rush left and right, everyone in it is involuntarily, and it is not easy for a small individual to face the torrent, whether it is to show his talents or to protect himself.

To get to the bottom of things, chase fame and fortune, and follow the strong.

Xichuan and the imperial court, who is the strongest? Who can give them what they want?

Su Yuan originally knew, but at this time he didn't know again. But he knew, and he would soon know.

It's just that between knowing and not knowing, there is not much time and opportunity left for people to choose, and if the insignificant people can't seize the fleeting opportunity, they can only turn into a pile of white bones and disappear from there.

The game of friends and enemies, the game of the lord and the minister, the game of life and death, the game of wealth and poverty, everyone is playing with the times, and the game that is everywhere is the great battle in the world.

"In the war in Xuanwu County, what arrangements does the marshal have?" Su Yuan asked, "Do you want to send troops to help?" ”

"Xichuan has a number of soldiers and horses, if they are all sent out, once Li Congjing has other moves, how can Xichuan resist?" Meng Zhixiang shook his head and said.

After a pause, he said again: "However, the war in Xuanwu County is related to the success or failure of the overall situation, but the situation cannot be allowed to deteriorate. ”

"What is the countermeasure of the marshal?" Su Yuan asked again.

"Ben Shuai intends to go and preside over the war himself." Meng Zhixiang's words were astonishing.

"Xichuan is the foundation, Chengdu is the foundation, at this critical moment, can the handsome man leave the center lightly?" Su Yuan exclaimed.

"Soldiers are fighting bloody battles on the front line, how can this commander survive in the rear? Xichuan is the Xichuan of the Xichuan military and civilians, since the commander is in Xichuan, he should be with the Xichuan military and civilians! Meng Zhixiang said decisively, these words made Su Yuan's heart warm and very excited, and then, Meng Zhixiang said solemnly: "Also, sir, you should know that if the battle ahead cannot be won, what is the use of this commander guarding Chengdu?" ”

Meng Zhixiang made up his mind, and Su Yuan was not good at persuading,

If there is any choice to break the deadlock in the war in Xuanwu County at this time, it is only Meng Zhixiang who comes to the battlefield in person, so as to encourage the soldiers to fight bloodily to break the enemy.

Outside Xuanwu County, after learning the news that Meng Zhixiang was coming to supervise the battle, Li Renhan, Zhao Tingyin, and Zhang Zhiye were all humiliated.

In the past few days, when Meng Ping rarely closed his eyes and rested, the whole person was emaciated, his eyes were bloodshot, and his face was also covered with blood, and he didn't have time to clean, but he still had a strong fighting spirit, and he stuck to the city and fought with all the soldiers without retreating, so he held the city. On this day, after repelling a round of onslaught from the Xichuan army, he went down to the city to rest.

"Where's the general?" Zhao Hongyin ran down briskly from the city, saw Meng Ping's personal soldiers outside the house, and immediately stepped forward to ask urgently.

"Resting in the house, less than two moments after closing his eyes, what is the matter with General Zhao?" Seeing Zhao Hongyin's anxious appearance, the soldiers already had a premonition that the other party was coming to disturb Meng Ping's rest, and they couldn't help but be a little dissatisfied.

"The offensive of the thief army is urgent, and I have seen the three generals Li Renhan, Zhao Tingyin, and Zhang Zhiye personally trapped," Zhao Hongyin said.

"What does General Zhao mean is that General Zhao can't hold the city?" The pro-soldier said in a cold voice, "The general has only been resting for less than two moments!" General Zhao knows that since the beginning of the war in Xuanwu County, the generals have not rested for four hours! General Fang just ate and couldn't even swallow the meat."

Zhao Hongyin was stunned, but he still stubbornly said: "The thief army's offensive is extraordinary" Speaking of this, seeing that the eyes of the soldiers were red, they seemed to be about to shed tears, so they couldn't say any more.

"General, today, you must rest for an hour!" The soldiers hissed, and said hello left and right, "I'll go to the city with General Zhao today, even if all the battles are killed in the city, we have to fight for the general for this hour!" ”

Left and right all made a loud promise, and they all rushed forward.

"Why is it noisy?" A light reprimand came from the house, and Meng Ping, who was neatly dressed, had already walked out, his eyes were very swollen, and when he saw Zhao Hongyin, he didn't have time to take care of the guards' behavior, "General Zhao is here, but what other means did the thief army use?" ”

Zhao Hongyin was about to answer, but Meng Ping had already waved his hand, "Let's go, go to the city!" ”

"But general, you have only closed your eyes for less than two moments today" The pro-soldier was anxious.

Meng Ping didn't stop, turned around and scolded: "If the war is unfavorable, you and I will have to sleep here!" ”

The soldiers didn't dare to say more, but their eyes were even redder.

When he went up to the city and saw the overwhelming tide of Xichuan Army's ironclad outside the city, Meng Ping couldn't help but be stunned, "What a big posture!" ”