The governor of Xuzhou, who is also the king of Huaidong County, Li Chi, promised the princes of the alliance to join forces to take counterattack actions against Murong Cheng. In addition to being deeply trapped in it and becoming the target of Murong Cheng, Li Chi was also full of ambitions for the land south of the Yangtze River.

Li Chi and Murong Cheng have been fighting for many years, and naturally they are salivating over the prosperity of Yangzhou, Jiangzhou and other places in the south. He firmly believed that if he took Yangzhou, Jiangzhou and other places, he would become a great prince second only to Zhao Xun and Situ Lei. At that time, he will not need to look at the faces of others, and he will be able to deal with the three major male lords side by side.

Of course, Li Chi also knows very well that this matter is not easy. Yangzhou and Jiangzhou are the old nests of Murong Cheng, the king of Qi, and they are also the base camps that have been painstakingly operated in recent years. Therefore, these places are also valued by Murong Cheng, and if you want to take them, there can only be one way, that is, to defeat or even completely annihilate Murong Cheng's incoming army from the front.

What annoyed Li Chi was that the envoys of the Yanzhou army pushed the task of liaising with the princes from all walks of life to themselves. But he could only accept it, and couldn't say anything more. There is no way, who made him Xuzhou the target of Murong Cheng? If you don't contribute, who will? Moreover, the reasons of the Yanzhou military envoy are also very good. First, the Xuzhou Army and the Tang Army will join forces to suppress the Yanzhou Army, and your contact is the most appropriate. Second, because of the exchange of trade between the Yanzhou army and the Zhao army, the princes were greatly dissatisfied. Now, your Xuzhou army is better than my Yanzhou army.

Immediately, several instructions came out quietly from the Xuzhou County Palace, and they went in all directions.

"Lord, will this Xuzhou Army Li Chi act as we say? Will it convince Tang Xian and Situ Lei? "Yanzhou City, in the Metropolitan Governor's Mansion, Wei Dong asked with some uncertainty.

Feng Ziming smiled and said, "General Wei Chen, don't worry. This Xuzhou Li Chi will definitely contact the princes from all walks of life as I expected. After all, he is Murong Cheng's primary target, no matter whether he directly spreads the news now or not, Murong Cheng will send troops. Moreover, if he spreads the news, then he will offend our army who informed him. At that time, it was our Yanzhou Army and the Yangzhou Army that really attacked him. How could he offend us again at this time? Therefore, now he can only unite with other princes and ruthlessly clean up this Murong Cheng. ”

Of course, fighting back against Murong Cheng and protecting himself is only one of his goals, and more importantly, he is also very interested in this state capital under Murong Cheng. If you really unite the Tang army, the Yanzhou army and the Yong army, and raid the territory of the Qi army from all sides. At that time, it was also normal for the Xuzhou army to expand southward. Therefore, the ambitious Li Chi hopes that this time he can successfully unite with other princes to act against Murong Cheng and expand his Xuzhou army outward. ”

Wei Dong said in a deep voice: "This Li Chi has a big heart. What about us? Sit and watch the Xuzhou army and the Yongjun army expand on both sides of the Qi army without suppression? ”

Zhao Xun then smiled: "How can there be no reason? However, we still don't know what the outcome of this war will be once it begins. However, in the north and west, Zhao Jun dealt with it. And where we are at war, we are responsible. As for the south under the rule of the Qi army, our navy has already begun to operate in the south. The only thing we need to wait for is what kind of situation we can bring to Murong Cheng this time, so that we can take action. ”

Zhao Xun's meaning is very simple, but he does not give any practical reasons for the countermeasures. It's nothing more than because of this attack on Murong Cheng with a face, what it will look like, and what kind of situation it can fight, it is still unknown. On the other hand, you need to take the cause according to the actual situation, and it is impossible to control everything by yourself. However, Zhao Xun was also prepared to deal with the two princes, Situ Lei and Murong Cheng.

"Well, you don't have to worry too much about these issues. What we need to do now is to rearm ourselves for war. Don't forget, Murong Cheng has already raised the call to conquest of Situ Lei, and we should respond at this moment. This time, the Left Guard Army was stationed in the northern and central state capitals as a large army left behind. Wei Dong, the most elite of the Left Guard, also experienced the actual battle against Situ Lei many times last year. Therefore, this time, they will be left behind to defend the Northern Tang Army and the entire Yanzhou headquarters. ”

After a pause, Zhao Xun smiled again: "Although we are allies with the Tang Army and the Xuzhou Army, we can't help but take precautions. Just like the Xuzhou Army and the Yangzhou Army, everyone responded to the text and conscripted the rebellious allies, but they were not hacked by friendly forces. Therefore, the Right Guard Army was deployed in Chenliu to guard against Situ Lei. The rearguard and the avant-garde army were the main forces of the battle, leading the counterattack. ”

Zhao Xun said in a condensed voice: "Our purpose this time is to enter from behind after Murong Cheng's army led from Yuzhou to Xuzhou, cut off the grain route and back road from Jingzhou, and even take the land of Yuzhou." Of course, we must ensure that this Murong Cheng and the Xuzhou army start a full-scale war. ”

"According to the agreement between us and Murong Cheng, we have an army that will enter Xuzhou from Yuzhou with Murong Cheng's army. At that time, it will be necessary to cooperate with the Xuzhou army to counterattack. Wei Dong, who is the most suitable for this striker's task? Zhao Xun asked with a smile.

Wei Dong immediately said: "Lord, my subordinates are willing to be the vanguard, leading the army and the Qi army." ”

Zhao Xun shook his head and smiled: "You are the general of the Left Guard, and you are a well-known figure in my Yanzhou Army, it is not reasonable to be the commander of a striker." When the time comes, it will make the commander of the Qi army see the problem and choose a more clever captain. It's not very difficult, but it's not easy. ”

After pondering for a moment, Wei Dong said: "Just Xu Qing of the Avant-garde Army, he was born in our former guard battalion and is alert. He is the most suitable striker. ”

"Okay, that's it. Let's start mobilizing the departments now and get ready for the challenge. Zhao Xun's eyes flashed with cold light, and he said in a deep voice.

…………

In the north of Bingzhou, Dingxiang and Mayi in the east and 200 miles north of Xiazhou in the west, more than 2,000 miles long on the grassland, nine Turkic tribes are distributed in turn. These nine tribes, above the northern grasslands, are not too big. Now, they all bowed down to the Zhao army and became a subordinate tribe of the Zhao army.

These nine tribes were too close to the state, and in the old days, this location was an extremely good position. After all, Dayan was weakened, and it was extremely convenient for the Turks to go south to plunder. It's a pity that a strong male lord appeared in the south of them, Zhao Xun! Zhao Xun's army directly raided Xue Jian's royal tent, and also took advantage of the great victory, when the soldiers of each clan went south and plundered the state, they swept all the way, and many tribes were frightened.

When Xue Pinch Khan returned, it can be said that he fled as a wolf, empty-handed. On the way back, the entire southern tribes, including these nine tribes, especially the small tribes, were all ruthlessly cleaned up by Xue Khan. Livestock, war horses, population, slaves and other materials were directly forcibly taken by Xue Jian Khan, and even in order to maintain his Xue Jian Khan's dominance, he also exterminated several small tribes and annexed them on the grounds that it was unfavorable to resist and watch the Zhao army go south.

All kinds of materials were taken by Xue Jian Khan, and the tribes naturally did not dare to speak, but wintering was a difficult problem. But what made them even more chilling was that the Zhao army in the south was dispatched in winter. First, he raided several tribes in the snow and swallowed them up. Later, they promised to exchange grain for livestock, war horses, and even armor and equipment, but asked them to submit to King Zhao and become subordinates under King Zhao.

Of course, in the area north of Bingzhou, 800 taels from north to south, and more than 2,000 miles from east to west, there are no less than 100 tribes of all sizes. Some people hesitate, and naturally some people refuse. Zhao Jun was unceremonious and exterminated all the tribes that refused. Subsequently, one by one, his subordinates began to submit. In the end, the Zhao army swallowed the original border line of 300 miles and accepted more than 30 tribes. Of these, only nine of the larger tribes became vassals of the Zhao kings and had the right to be independent.

The remaining more than 20 tribes are distributed between the nine tribes and the land of Zhao, grazing for the king of Zhao. These tribes, the tribal leaders and soldiers are a symbol, and the real power is in the hands of civil and military officers at all levels. And ordinary Turkic herdsmen will also receive greater rights, and those slaves, naturally, will not be given the status of commoners. In this way, the Zhao army firmly accepted these twenty-three tribes, making them the second line of defense against the Turks, and also the vanguard of the Zhao army's northward expansion.

Of course, this is also to prevent the nine tribes from thinking about him. Once there is a change, the Zhao army in the south will also be prepared. In addition, it is necessary to sue the nine tribes. You have to do things for my Zhao Jun honestly, otherwise, the more than twenty tribes behind will take your place.

Of course, in order for these tribes to orient themselves thoroughly. Zhang Yuanjing personally planned to let these subjugated tribes take the initiative to participate in the conquest of those tribes that refused to submit to King Zhao, at the very least, each tribe had to destroy a tribe that refused to submit to King Zhao. In addition, they had to do some acts of contempt, spitting, insulting, and humiliating the Xue Chuan Khan, but they completely cut off any possibility of bridging with the Xue Chuan Khan in the north.

Not only that, the leaders of the nine major tribes were all given positions by King Zhao to guard the various ministries and guard the various ministries for the King of Zhao. Internally, Zhao Xun sent supervisors to coordinate and transfer officials, respectively, to assist these town guards to deal with local military and political affairs, and to serve the various ministries and merchants of the Great Zhao Dynasty in trade, military and political cooperation, and the fight against Xue Jian Khan.

Of course, Zhao Xun did not expect these sent officials to directly take over the internal affairs of these nine tribes, after all, these nine departments are the larger of these dozens of tribes, and the prestige of the tribal leader in the head of the tribe is not small. What Zhao Xun hopes is that they can pass on the situation of these tribes back in time, and if there is a change, they can be prepared.

Although this Zhao Jun can't directly control these nine tribes for a while, it doesn't mean that Zhao Jun can't take them. It's just that if you take it, you won't be able to occupy this place for a while, so it's better to leave a few as shields. If there is really a change, Zhao Jun will of course solve them as quickly as possible.

The Landu tribe, a member of the Nine Great Tribes, was a tribe located in the central part of the northern region of Bingzhou, and was also the place where the Zhao army liaisoned with the rest of the tribes and gave instructions and consulted. Zhang Yuanjing, the chief officer of the Zhao army in charge of northern affairs, was here at this time.

This Landu tribe is the lord of the nine tribes, and it is the strongest one. The strongest is because in the Landu tribe, the Zhao army has an elite division of 25,000 people. Together with the original army of 50,000, it was enough to overwhelm the rest of the tribes. This is also the reason why Zhang Yuanjing placed the Landu tribe in the center of the nine tribes.

Of course, because of the arrival of the Zhao army, the Turkic leader of the Landu tribe, that is, the town guard, lost control of the tribe. In addition to the nominal town guard envoy, there were three deputy town guard envoys, one of whom was a Turk, who was also co-opted by Zhao Jun. Therefore, although the Landu tribe is a tribe of the Turks, the power of the tribe is in the hands of Zhao Jun.

In the main tent of the Landu tribe, Zhang Yuanjing, who was sitting on the main seat, said unhurriedly: "Ladies and gentlemen, with your ability, you must know better than me about the current situation on the northern grassland. This Xue Jian Khan is not an ordinary person, he wants to consolidate his rule and wash away his shame, then, it is certain to go south. You, however, are his primary target. In the hands of all the adults who are doing it, each and every one of them is stained with the blood of the tribes affiliated with Xue Jian Khan. If he really asks him to order the warriors of all the tribes within ten thousand miles, then it will be you who will be encountered. I know that you are not willing to come to my Lord. However, if you don't belong to my lord, His Royal Highness King Zhao, you will be able to live in peace? ”

"Now, Xue Jian Khan has collected various tribes north of Jinshan, and all those who do not surrender have become ghosts under his sword. And everyone, you are still sitting here, presiding over a great power, trading with my Great Zhao, and getting the support of my Great Zhao. Ladies and gentlemen, your life is much better now than it was in the old days. Besides, if it weren't for us, you wouldn't have had a hard time surviving even last winter. Among them, Xue Jian Khan is the culprit. ”

"So, I'm here this time, so that all of you adults can prepare and prepare to resist Xue Jian Khan. Remember, you are my Great Zhao's town guard, and Xue Jian Khan can only destroy you, not accept it. Because he needs to establish his prestige, and you are the best candidates. ”

Zhang Yuanjing's words made the faces of the eight town guards change slightly, and these eight town guard envoys, although they were unwilling in their hearts, also understood that what Zhang Yuanjing said was reasonable. Of course, it is not that they are unwilling to resist the army that Xue Jian Khan may go south, but they are self-aware, and the soldiers and horses in their hands are really not the elite opponents under Xue Jian Khan.

Seeing that the faces of several people were hesitant, Zhang Yuanjing said lightly: "You town guards don't need to worry, how to say, you are also my subordinate officials of Great Zhao, and the people under the rule of King Zhao." Therefore, the Great Zhao army in Xiazhou and Bingzhou will be your backing. Ladies and gentlemen, my lord's Praetorian Guard, there are still four towns stationed in the state. In total, in the land of Xiazhou and Bingzhou, I have nearly 200,000 town troops in Dazhao, what are we afraid of? ”

The leader of the Dujin tribe said in a deep voice: "Lord Zhang, since the defeat of Xue Jian Khan last year, he has wantonly conquered the disobedient tribes. Now, in the hands of Xue Jian Khan, there are more than 100,000 people and nearly 1 million soldiers. With the soldiers in our hands alone, I'm afraid it will be difficult to deal with. I know that your army's armor and equipment are sharp, and I hope to ask your army to support some of the armor and equipment, so that I don't know if I will agree to Xue Khan's army? ”

Du Yanyi said that the rest of the town guards also met one after another, asking for Zhao Jun's armor and equipment. The lack of weapons in the Turkic tribes is well known. And the armor equipment is the goods that the Central Plains Dynasty forbade to go out to foreign enemies in the grassland. Especially after the Zhao army defeated Cao Gang of the Northern Army of Bingzhou, the entire northern arms trade was completely finished. Zhao Jun clearly ordered that anyone who sells weapons and the Hu tribe of the grassland without permission will be punished by the nine tribes! After killing several greedy merchants, no merchant dared to sell armor and equipment to the Turkic tribes without permission.

Zhang Yuanjing said lightly: "Your difficulties, my lord already knows. It is also feasible to sell you armor and equipment. Exchanged horses and livestock. As many soldiers and horses as there are in each department, the corresponding armor and equipment will be sold. If there is any damage in battle, we will replenish it accordingly. Therefore, it is necessary for you to have our Inspector with you in your army. They will check the size of your armies, and the needs of them. Guys, no problem, right? ”

The eight town guards frowned slightly, although they could get armor and equipment, but they also had to pay a lot of horses and livestock. At the end of last year, in order to survive the winter, a lot of the tribe's livestock had been sold to Dazhao. Right now...... In addition, those who join the Zhao army in this army will also be subject to a lot of restrictions.

"Lord Zhang, there is no problem with our tribe. However, there are not many livestock left of our Tumen tribe. There are not many that can be traded, except as seeds. The Tumen tribe guard Mo Ha said astringently.

Zhang Yuanjing said with a smile: "Lord Moha, your tribe doesn't have it, it is brought to the north of you, but there are many tribes." In addition, in addition to accepting war horses and livestock, we also want captives and slaves under the age of forty from various tribes. ”

Mo Ha was stunned for a moment, and immediately understood that Zhang Yuanjing meant to let them rob/plunder the tribes in the north, and exchange the property of other tribes for Da Zhao's armor and equipment. Zhao Jun sold weapons to himself, not to make himself stronger and stronger, but to let himself attack other tribes. But Moha is also very clear about his position, he is a person with little ambition, and naturally knows what he should do. So he nodded and said, "So, I don't have a problem." I will hand over the required amount to the supervisor and ask him to reply to Mr. Zhang. ”

Zhang Yuanjing admired Moha's cooperation and obedience, and said with a smile: "Very good, Lord Moha is really a smart person." ”

The rest of the town guards were full of worries in their hearts, and they also understood what Zhang Yuanjing meant, but then they all expressed no objections. After all, no matter what concerns you have at the moment, it is the armor that matters most. Because, they represent strength.