In the northern border of the Tibetan country, in the camp of the Tang army in Doma City. A decree from Chang'an arrived at the end of November. In Wang Zhonghe's big tent, dozens of generals knelt down under the leadership of Wang Zhongsi to receive the holy decree. The messenger of the decree had a serious expression and recited the decree aloud.

Wang Zhongsi, Ge Shuhan, Li Guangbi and a group of soldiers listened. I received Wang Zhonghei's performance, and I was shocked and unspeakable. Our Tang Heavenly Army with 150,000 people crusaded against the small country of Tibet, prepared for a long time, the soldiers were good and the food was sufficient, and it was supposed to be like a bamboo in a few months, but Wang Zhonghei said that the army was blocked by the small city of Shibao, and he had no plan to retreat, and I and all the ministers in the court were surprised. I know the difficulty of the battle, and I also know the pain of leading the army, but for the general, I can retreat from the difficulties, and let the monarch be ridiculed by the Tubo people, so that I can laugh and be generous? More than 100,000 troops are blocked by a small city, so you don't feel guilty? You need to understand that Shibao City is small, my Tang Dynasty is a big matter, 150,000 troops, and it costs a huge amount of money to crusade against Tibet, how can you encounter a small obstacle and be unable to do it. ”

Qin Cha's words word by word seemed to be slapped in the faces of Wang Zhongsi and the generals. This holy decree can be described as extremely heavy, raising Wang Zhonghe's request to withdraw the army to the point of disgrace to the Lord and the Tang Dynasty. He even asked the generals if they were ashamed, saying that everyone present was garbage and had failed to live up to the expectations of the court.

Wang Zhongsi's face was pale, he knelt on the ground and hung his head silently, and Ge Shuhan and Li Guangbi knelt beside him with a depressed face. This matter was completely done by Wang Zhonghe, and they were just scolded by Xuanzong. In particular, Li Guangbi once persuaded Wang Zhongsi to take back the twist.

“…… Fortunately, there are still hot-blooded generals in the army, and I still have brave ministers in the Tang Dynasty. After consulting with the left and right Xiangguo, I decided to allow Dong Yanguang to play and ordered him to be the main general of the capture of Shibao City, and gave him a one-month period to capture Shibao City. Wang Zhonghei needed to allocate troops and horses to Dong Yanguang's command, and give active assistance, so as not to delay the siege plan. I have been looking forward to your good news day and night in the capital. Chin this! ”

All the generals were in an uproar, and dozens of pairs of eyes fell on Dong Yanguang, who was kneeling in the corner. Dong Yanguang's face was calm, and he shouted loudly: "The ministers are grateful." ”

Only then did the generals realize that they had not yet received the order of thanksgiving, and after a sound of thanksgiving, the minister was arranged to rest, and the big tent suddenly exploded. The generals surrounded Dong Yanguang, and their eyes were like a sharp arrow piercing Dong Yanguang's body.

Wang Zhongsi looked at Dong Yanguang coldly and said, "Dong Yanguang, you actually went to the court without telling your handsome?" ”

Dong Yanguang patted the dust on his knees with a calm expression, and said in a deep voice: "Handsome, don't dare to play privately." As the marching Sima of the Longyou Army, he also has the right to play. The court did not need to be approved by the marshal. Besides, even if he asked for the opinion of the marshal, the marshal would not agree, so he simply made his own decisions. ”

Wang Zhongsi said coldly: "What is written on your recital?" To make His Majesty so angry? ”

Dong Yanguang smiled and said, "Handsome, it is you who angered Your Majesty." The lowly remarks were just a detailed battle plan for taking Stone Castle City. It seems that the imperial court approved this strategy. ”

Ge Shuhan shouted: "You have a good plan, why don't you directly offer it to the handsome?" ”

Dong Yanguang sneered: "Do you listen to my words? I have spoken to your General Geshu more than once, and your General Geshu rejected me at a word, saying that my strategy was useless. It seems that it's not that my strategy is useless, but that your brother General Shu has no vision, and His Majesty and Xiangguo have agreed to my strategy, and now they are coming to question me? ”

Ge Shuhan was stunned for a moment and said: "That's what you proposed, the strategy of rounding the two lakes and attacking before and after a long run?" ”

Dong Yanguang said proudly: "Yes." ”

Ge Shuhan laughed and said, "It's a joke, you can come up with this plan." ”

Wang Zhongsi frowned and said, "What kind of strategy is it?" ”

Ge Shuhan laughed without stopping, and said to Wang Zhonghe: "Marshal, Dong Yanguang once proposed a method to attack Shibao City, but at that time, the land of quicksand was impassable, and he suggested that our army should go around Ngoling Lake and Zhaling Lake and attack Shibao City from the south. Isn't it ridiculous, you say? Traveling hundreds of miles to attack Stone Castle? It's the stupidest ploy I've ever heard. ”

Wang Zhongsi was stunned for a while, and then laughed. The generals also smiled and leaned back.

Dong Yanguang frowned and said, "Is it so funny?" At the very least, this plan can attack Stone Castle City, instead of being trapped here, waiting for some cold weather to freeze and freeze quicksand. Now the quicksand is frozen, but it is necessary to ask for the withdrawal of troops. ”

Wang Zhongsi shook his head and sighed, "Did you tell the imperial court to attack Stone Castle City with this kind of strategy?" It's a big joke. ”

Dong Yanguang shook his head and said: "Now that the quicksand is frozen, of course there is no need to detour, I have another siege strategy." ”

Wang Zhongsi said: "Let's listen to it, let Ben Shuai open his eyes." ”

Dong Yanguang said: "I plan to detour from the west, lead the army to storm the south side of Shibao City, and win with surprise soldiers." However, it is necessary for the commander to respond to the frontal attack. ”

Wang Zhongsi sneered: "Your plan is quite ordinary. If it weren't for the weather conditions, the army would have been able to capture the Stone Fort without any stratagem. But you know, at the moment our military rations are not available, and the weather is very cold. Once the army is dispatched, there is no turning back. All schemes and strategies are based on the premise that there is sufficient food and grass. Therefore, your fancy scheme is useless in the eyes of this commander. ”

Dong Yanguang said proudly: "Don't forget, your majesty's holy decree just now clearly stated that the imperial court has approved the lowly siege strategy, and the marshal needs to actively assist me." How to use the troops is my problem. Now I ask the commander to allocate 50,000 soldiers and horses, give me ten days' food and grass, and I will lead the troops into battle. Moreover, I also want to lead the army into the north of Shibao City, attract the attention of the Tubo people with a feint, and assist me in attacking Shibao City from the belly and back, and take the city from the front and back. ”

Li Guangbi said angrily: "Fifty thousand soldiers and horses for ten days of grain and grass? You're talking lightweight. Do you know how much grain and grass there is in the whole city of Dom now? It is only enough for 110,000 soldiers and horses to eat for four days. If you want ten days of food and grass, do you have to drink the rest of the soldiers and horses to drink the wind and eat the snow? ”

Dong Yanguang smacked his lips and said: "I can't control this, I have to carry ten days of food and grass, because I can't let the enemy find traces, so I have to go west for dozens of miles until the back of Shibao City." It would take at least eight or nine days, and without 10 days of military rations, it would not be possible to survive until the day when the army would attack the city. ”

Wang Zhongsi said coldly: "Dong Yanguang, do you know what serious consequences you will bring if you do this. ”

Dong Yanguang arched his hands to the sky and said proudly: "I just want to take Shibao City, live up to the expectations of the saints, and live up to the hopes of the imperial court." I don't think about things that are useless. Marshal, the request for the lowly post has been put forward to you, and the humbling post hopes that the 50,000 troops and the ten-day grain and grass will be prepared tomorrow morning, and the lowly post will send troops early tomorrow morning. Also, don't forget, the key to this plan is that the commander needs to lead the army to feint to attract the attention of the Tibetan soldiers and horses. The lowly will truthfully play the court. ”

Dong Yanguang said, bowed his hand slightly, turned around and walked out of the big tent.

In the big tent, the generals looked at Wang Zhongji silently. This holy decree of the imperial court is obviously extremely dissatisfied with the marshal. As the commander of the army, the imperial court named a siege general, and let him be independent of the army to be responsible for the siege, which obviously broke the rules of the army. It is equivalent to two leading commanders in an army. This is actually a disguised humiliation, although Wang Zhonghe's coach has not been removed, but it is actually no different from changing the coach. Moreover, he ordered Wang Zhongsi to assist Dong Yanguang in attacking the city, which disregarded Wang Zhonghe's position as the commander.

The generals all respect Wang Zhonghe, seeing Wang Zhongsi in such a situation, but they can't do anything, they want to comfort but can't. Dong Yanguang's attitude towards Wang Zhongsi is no longer the attitude of a general to a coach, and he is completely a villain.

Wang Zhongsi sat slowly on the big chair, and the whole person seemed to be drained of energy. Slowly waved his hand and said: "Everyone go back to the camp, Ben Shuai wants to be quiet." ”

The generals had no choice but to leave, leaving Li Guangbi and Ge Shuhan in the big tent. Ge Shuhan said in a deep voice: "Dashuai, do you really allow Dong Yanguang to lead the army to attack the city?" After a few heavy snowfalls, it is difficult to garrison the city of Doma, and sending troops at this time is tantamount to looking for death. ”

Wang Zhongsi sighed and said, "What can it be?" Your Majesty's will, you have all heard. Dong Yanguang's performance must have made His Majesty mistakenly think that I could fight and be cowardly, so he appointed Dong Yanguang as the main general of the siege, but put my Wang Zhonghei aside. ”

Ge Shuhan scolded angrily: "Dong Yanguang, this bastard, did the act of stabbing the back of the overstepping superior, this dog mongrel is really not a thing." Otherwise, the lowly will immediately cut off his head. As a battalion general, he despised his superiors and disobeyed orders, and it was not unjust to kill him. ”

Li Guangbi hurriedly said: "General Geshu, don't make trouble. If it was an ordinary time, he could naturally cut off Dong Yanguang's head according to the military discipline in the army. But now that he has been ordered by His Majesty's holy decree, he is already confident. Kill him, are you going to kill the handsome? ”

Ge Shuhan said angrily: "Then what do you say? ”

Li Guangbi frowned and said: "Although I felt that it was inappropriate when the marshal sent the letter, I also agreed with the marshal's opinion. Fortunately, we retreated to Doma City, and there were several heavy snowfalls in the back, and the army was almost trapped in Stone Fort City and could not come back, and the foresight of the commander preserved the whole army of our army, otherwise we were trapped in the snow and starved and cold, and were attacked by the Tubo soldiers and horses in Shibao City, and the consequences would be unimaginable. ”

Geshuhan said loudly: "What are you talking about now? You and I both know that the commander is right, but His Majesty is obviously determined to take Stone Castle City. Dong Yanguang wanted to take 50,000 soldiers and horses and ten days of grain and grass to attack the city. We're also going to go head-on with feints to help. But we don't even have food and grass, how can we fight? ”

Wang Zhongsi shook his head and said, "I won't send troops, and I can't joke with the lives of the soldiers." I won't give Dong Yanguang a single soldier, I can't sit back and watch him do nothing. For the sake of a useless stone castle city, I have harmed the lives of thousands of soldiers, which I can never do. ”

Li Guangbi said in a deep voice: "Dashuai, don't be rash, if you do this, wouldn't it be a crime of resisting the decree?" ”

"I'd rather Your Majesty give me a death than send my soldiers to death knowing that this battle will be lost." Wang Zhongsi said loudly.

Li Guangbi sighed and looked at Ge Shuhan, Ge Shuhan was also speechless, Da Shuai is a strong temper, he will die if he resists the will, Da Shuai is not afraid of death, but he can't let him do it.

Li Guangbi gestured to Ge Shuhan, Ge Shuhan understood, and the two quietly withdrew from the tent. Stand outside the tent and deliberate softly. Li Guangbi said: "General Geshu, at this time, you and I have to help the marshal, and we can't let the marshal be punished by His Majesty." ”

Ge Shuhan said: "Then you still need to say? But there's not much I can do. ”

Li Guangbi pondered: "The biggest problem at the moment is the problem of grain and grass. If the army has food, it will not be difficult to capture the stone fortress city. It doesn't hurt to give Dong Yanguang the credit of this dog mongrel, the key is to take Shibao City so that His Majesty is no longer dissatisfied with the marshal, and it is only right for the army to retreat safely. ”

Ge Shuhan spread his hands and said: "But the supply of grain and grass is not enough, what can we do?" ”

Li Guangbi thought for a while and said, "In this way, you transfer troops and food to Dong Yanguang, and organize the troops and horses to assist Dong Yanguang in attacking the city." I personally took 10,000 soldiers and horses back to the camp in the gravel mountain to get grain and grass at night. If it's fast, you can come back in three days. Just in time for us to attack Stone Castle City. Because Dong Yanguang will not be able to get around to the rear of Shibao City in at least eight or nine days, and it will only take four or five days for us to reach Shibao City, so it will be in time. ”

Ge Shuhan thought for a while and said, "That's the only way." ”

Li Guangbi said: "Don't tell the marshal about this for the time being, the marshal is angry, if you tell him, he will not agree." At this time, I have to disobey the order of the marshal, and I will ask for the guilt when I go back. ”

Ge Shuhan nodded and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you." ”