Yuzhou, at the foot of Song Mountain, Yangzhai City, Yingchuan Prefecture.

Hundreds of thousands of troops gathered here, which can be described as earth-shattering. Even if they are dozens of miles away, they can hear the sound of drums and trumpets and training from the coalition camp that stretches for dozens of miles in the north of the city.

Don't look at Murong Cheng's more than 200,000 troops, but he managed these more than 200,000 people in an orderly manner and without any chaos. Not only that, but daily training is also carried out.

The first coalition team to arrive was the Xuzhou Army, which passed through the territory of the Wuwei Army in the land of Yanzhou, directly entered the land of Yuzhou, and finally entered Yangzhai City to station. The second was the Shanyang Army, and finally the Tang Army. In fact, the Shanyang Army and the Tang Army arrived at the same time. Of course, this is also the reason why the Sanyang Army can wait. Therefore, when the Xuzhou Army entered the territory of Yuzhou, the Shanyang Army and the Tang Army were marching towards Yuzhou together. However, there is no limit to the date of this coalition crusade, so it is the same from early to late.

The commander of the Shanyang Army will be Tang Bin, and this time the right guard of the Shanyang Army will go out, and Tang Bin will be fully responsible. The main general of the Tang Army is Meng Zhao, an old acquaintance of the Shanyang Army, and this time, with the addition of Minfu, there are also 50,000 people, and it is also the place where Benyang Zhai is killed. When passing through the territory of the Sanyang Army, they converged with the Sanyang Army and acted together.

To say that Meng Zhao does not hate the Shanyang Army, it is naturally false. However, now he can only greet him with a smile. Of course, this is just a formulaic smile and doesn't make any sense. The current Shanyang Army is no longer the Shanyang Army of the past, and after the expansion, the total strength of the Shanyang Army is not much different from that of the Tang Army. Although it may be inferior in terms of combat effectiveness, it is also inferior in local governance.

However, there is one thing that the Shanyang Army cannot compare with the Tang Army, and that is the new policy of the Shanyang Army. There is not much that can be seen in the short term in the policy of the Shanyang Army, one is the great effort and the very small gain, and the other is the attachment of the people. This can be seen from the soldiers of Shanyang. Unlike other princes' forces, the recruitment of soldiers in the Shanyang military area was all voluntary, and the soldiers would not complain of being tired when they were trained. Moreover, they are not afraid of sacrifice.

But Tang Xian and Meng Zhao, who had entered the territory of the Shanyang Army, both knew that over time, this new policy would bring great gains to the Shanyang Army. Because, the northern overlord Xiaoguo Army is an obvious example. Of course, it doesn't mean that his Tang Army has not changed, it's just that it is not as thorough as the Shanyang Army. Like other princes, the Tang army adopted a method that achieved faster results, and directly bribed and appeased those big gentry and wealthy households, and did not restrict and attack them. Of course, the premise is that the local government does not bring disaster to its own affairs.

This method of the Tang army was used by many princes. Because this method can win the support of the great gentry, can quickly raise a large number of grain and grass materials, and can recruit the necessary civil officials to govern the territory for themselves. Of course, the princes who have just occupied a place will also know that some people who do not cooperate will also impose restrictions on these big clans. In this way, these princes were able to quickly establish themselves in the local area, and there would be no situation where they could only go in and out. Of course, it is also to prevent a strong backlash from these big gentry. In the Xiaoguo Army, the repetition in the south of Youzhou in the past is an extremely vivid example. These big gentry cannot be underestimated.

The reason why the Xiaoguo Army was able to successfully reform was because the place where the Xiaoguo Army rose was the lost territory occupied by the Yan Army, where the imperial court could no longer control it, and most of the real gentry and wealthy families had evacuated. Therefore, at the beginning of its rise, the Xiaoguo Army was able to restructure the land of the Five Mansions.

After having the land of Wufu, the soldiers under the command of the Xiaoguo Army got real benefits, and the people began to support them. Then the tribes began to move south, and with the support of these soldiers and the support of the people, the land of Youzhou was forcibly changed. Of course, the most critical reason is not because of the strength of the Xiaoguo army, but because of the wanton invasion of the Yan army, after seizing the northern provinces of Youzhou, in the rest of the place, a large part of the big gentry already feel that this Youzhou is not very safe, so they evacuated a lot, which opened the channel for the new policy of the Xiaoguo army.

But Rao is like this, and the southern part of Youzhou still broke out in the repetition of the big gentry. It is conceivable that the power of the gentry of these local clans is strong. But after the Xiaoguo Army took the entire territory of Youzhou, the soldiers were strong and strong, and after taking the land of Jizhou and Qingzhou, and then when the system was restructured, these big gentry found that the people were impatiently waiting for the implementation of the new policy of the Xiaoguo Army, and the powerful Xiaoguo Army also made them dare not act rashly.

The Xiaoguo Army dared, at that time, because the Xiaoguo Army started from scratch, it came little by little. The other princes could not, or rather, they did not want to expend so much energy to risk the reform.

Looking at the people who were busy in the fields and in the water along the way, looking at their smiling faces full of hope for life, and looking at their heartfelt love for the Shanyang Army. Meng Zhao's heart was heavy and anxious, at this moment, he regretted a little, regretting that he had not been able to take the lead in the first move when the Shanyang Mansion army supported the two southern counties of Liangzhou Mansion and directly attacked the territory of Shanyang Mansion. I regret why I had to go according to the plan and put the Shanyang Mansion army into the two counties in the south of Liangzhou Mansion before starting the attack.

Meng Zhao now understands that the current Shanyang Army is no longer something that the Tang Army can handle. As time goes by, this Sanyang army will only get stronger and stronger.

"The general should not have stopped attacking the Shanyang Army at the beginning, but went to attack Xuzhou." At this moment, Meng Zhao couldn't help but think. Of course, this is just a thought, and nothing can be changed.

"General Tang, your army is very popular here!" Meng Zhao smiled and said to Tang Bin, the commander of the Shanyang Army, who was riding on a horse and walking side by side with him.

Tang Bin responded with a smile: "My family governor said that the needs of the people are very simple. It's just food and clothing, as long as these things are satisfied, you will naturally win the hearts of the people. However, my Shanyang Army has also paid a lot for this. ”

"What Li Dudu said is very reasonable, the reason is very simple, but it is not easy to achieve. By the way, General Tang, why didn't I see Li Dudu's stop all the way from north to south? ”

"It's only been a few months since my Shanyang Army took back Jiyin Mansion, Songzhou Mansion and Luzhou Mansion from Xu Jie, and there are a lot of things to deal with. The Governor went into the city to communicate with the towns and villages, supervise the local officials, and arrange the livelihood of the local people. At the same time, it is also responsible for local water conservancy projects, and it is necessary to fulfill the irrigation requirements for fields in various places. After all, after the people can be self-sufficient, there will be surplus grain to hand over to the government, and our Shanyang Army can ensure logistics. ”

"Li Dudu is really a good official who loves the people like a son, but in fact, the civil official should be responsible for this. Lord Governor is in charge of the military affairs of a state, if he is busy with government affairs, then ......" Meng Zhao said hesitantly.

Tang Bin said in a deep voice: "What General Meng said makes sense, but my Shanyang army lacks food and grass materials, and the army is only a hasty creation. Therefore, at present, all units of the army are simply completing basic training, and cannot do anything else. The Governor thought that the army would be able to carry out intensive training only after the local production was restored and the people could be self-sufficient. ”

Meng Zhao looked at the Shanyang army that was marching forward in a mighty way, marching side by side with his own soldiers, and frowned: "I don't think your army is bad, how can it be ......" Obviously, he was skeptical of Tang Bin's words.

Tang Bin could naturally see what the other party meant, and said: "This is just the elite of my Shanyang Army's two guards, in fact, most of them have not experienced actual combat." General Meng should be able to find these, shouldn't he? ”

Meng Zhao didn't continue to speak, and he naturally saw this. However, not to mention the Shanyang Army, even in the Right Army under his command, there are also not many newly recruited soldiers, who were still young and strong a few months ago. However, although many of the Shanyang army have insufficient murderous aura on their faces, it can still be seen that their military appearance is as strong as that of the old soldiers. However, what made him arrive and surprise him was that the other party's 30,000 people were also strong men, and they were not much different from the soldiers of the army. The only difference is the murderous aura and the armor weapon.

Among Tang Bin's right guards, only 5,000 were veterans who had experienced bloody battles, or they came south from the land of Boping. Of the remaining 20,000 people, 10,000 were soldiers who had gone through the battle to suppress bandits and break the city, and 10,000 were new soldiers who had undergone rigorous training and had seen the dead.

Of course, on that day, there were 70,000 or 80,000 soldiers and new soldiers who were killed by the mountain bandits in various prefectures. But in the end, after Zhao Xunjie formed the rearguard army, most of the rest became county soldiers and inspectors. Because the Shanyang Army had to guard against the Tang Army in the north, the Wuwei Army in the south, and the Xuzhou Army in the east. Therefore, Zhao Xun, who had the logistical support of Jizhou on the flank, directly formed the four guards and towns, with a total of 100,000 people.

Among them, the remaining three guards have not changed, and they have been expanded directly on the original basis, and as for the rear guard, they are directly selected from the half of the guards who are stranded in the land of Youzhou in the north by Zhao Xun, and they are arranged like the rear guards. The main general, Ye Xuan, who fought in the past, took over,

Now in the rearguard, the officers are basically their own people, and Ye Xuan has no intention of working against him now, so Zhao Xun decided to let him be the general of the rearguard. Of course, this is related to Ye Xuan's ability, and more importantly, when he was betrayed in Shanyang Mansion in the past, he could not hesitate to resist the Tang army and not be afraid of life and death as the first choice.

"Your Li Dudu didn't think about recovering the entire territory of Yanzhou?" After a while, Meng Zhao asked lightly.

Tang Bin looked ahead, looked at Meng Zhao, and said with a smile: "Recover the entire territory of Yanzhou?" Don't say that this kind of thinking is the governor of my family, even the soldiers and soldiers of the Shanyang Army, they have all thought about it. By the way, I guess General Meng and Tang Dudu have also thought about it. It's not just you, the Wuwei Army, the Xuzhou Army, they haven't thought about it? Of course, the governor of my family is willing to take back the entire territory of Yanzhou. The governor of Yanzhou, commanding the entire territory of Yanzhou, can be called the governor of Yanzhou. You tell me? Besides, you governors and Tang Jun will not willingly return the three mansions that seized the land of Yanzhou. ”

The corners of Meng Zhao's eyes condensed slightly, and said: "General Tang said that he laughed, the land of Sanfu that my Tang army occupied from the land of Yanzhou was taken from Xu Jie, or Xu Jie's hand was just given up, and this has nothing to do with your Shanyang Army." Moreover, our Tang Army has no intention of fighting with the Shanyang Army. Of course, if your army insists on taking action against the territory under our jurisdiction, the 100,000 soldiers of our Tang Army will naturally defend the territory of our Tang Army with their lives. ”

Tang Bin smiled faintly and said: "My Shanyang Army will also be like this, what does it mean to be the governor of Yanzhou, after all, I still have to achieve this title." We want to live up to the name, not the name. ”

After the two secretly threatened Hu Xiang, they did not continue to discuss this issue with Zai, because they both knew that the Tang Army and the Shanyang Army had no possibility of peaceful coexistence. Although nothing has broken out now, sooner or later there will be a big war. Meng Zhao was not worried that their army would be intercepted or attacked by the Shanyang army after the crusade against Situ Lei. After all, only a small part of the troops on both sides came out, and it was just to respond to the general righteousness and reap some benefits in the war.

Just like Murong Cheng, he didn't expect the princes of these tribes to really go out with their whole army to crusade against Situ Lei. He needed the name of righteousness, and ordered all the heroes of the world to discuss Situ Lei's name, and put himself at the highest point of morality. Let everyone in the world see that he Murong Cheng is right, and Situ Lei is a rebellious person, and everyone will be punished.

In Fengwei County, Meng Zhao looked at the city on the flank behind him, and said to Tang Bin beside him with a heavy face: "General Tang, after passing here, you will enter the territory of the Wuwei Army, and then the land of Yuzhou." In other words, from now on, we will enter the command and command of Murong Cheng. What can General Tang do? ”

Meng Zhao's question has a certain basis. Whether it is the Tang Army or the Shanyang Army, they all have a hostile relationship with Murong Cheng. The two of them naturally did not want to be suppressed by Murong Cheng after entering the command of the Qi army, and they would be treated as outcasts by Murong Cheng.

Tang Bin's face tightened slightly, and said: "Take a step at a time, the shape is stronger than the person, we are about to arrive in the territory of the Qi army, what can we do?" By the way, what does General Meng have to say? The Tang Army is not a new force like my Shanyang Army, it is from a dignified guard. It stands to reason that your Tang army is still the old department of Murong Cheng, the king of Qi. Arriving in the land of Yuzhou this time, King Qi should not make it difficult. ”

Meng Zhao's face froze, how could he not know the meaning of the other party's words, not to say it again, although Shanyang Jun and King Qi have grievances, but so is your Tang Army. Compared with the two, you Tang Jun is even worse. As the old ministry of Murong Cheng, the king of Qi, betrayed the rescue and rose to independence. This time to meet the old master, Tang Jun is Murong Cheng's main target. As for my Shanyang Army, it's secondary. As long as the Shanyang Army stood behind the Tang Army, the danger was much less. Therefore, it is your Tang Army that urgently needs to solve the problem now, not my Shanyang Army.

Meng Zhao said in a deep voice: "Although my Tang Army is the old department of Murong Cheng, the king of Qi, it is precisely because of this that the king of Qi will have some scruples and will not have too many difficulties. However, your Shanyang Army has defeated the hope of the Wuwei Army to go north, and has also seized several counties from the Wuwei Army. General Tang, aren't you worried that this Murong Cheng will be angry with this and let the Shanyang Army suffer losses in this crusade? Of course, if it's just a simple loss, that's fine. But if it was for the Wuwei Army's plot to go north, in order to cut off the strength of the Shanyang Army, it would not only be for General Tang to be used as cannon fodder, but even ...... General Tang, I am also Murong Cheng's old department, and I know a little about Murong Cheng, so I can't help but be on guard! Otherwise, it will be too late to regret it. ”

Tang Bin smiled faintly and said, "When it comes to the Martial Guards, in fact, Murong Cheng should be the most ruthless Xu Jie and Li Chi, not us. Years ago, Xu Jie and Li Chi jointly attacked and defeated the Wuwei army. If it weren't for the fact that my Shanyang Army replaced Xu Jie, but led the army south, I am afraid that the Wuwei Army in the south of Yanzhou Land would not exist now. Speaking of which, my Shanyang Army is still kind to the Wuwei Army in this Yanzhou land. Besides, Murong Cheng now hopes to solve the Xuzhou Army the most, not my Shanyang Army. Having said that, if you really have to do something to my Shanyang Army, my Governor will still not mind falling to the Xiaoguo Army. After all, it is better to find a better force to surrender than to be annexed. General Meng, what do you say? ”

"Take refuge in the Xiaoguo Army? General Tang, aren't you joking! Hearing Tang Xian's words, Meng Zhao's eyes jumped. This is not ordinary news, and the impact is not trivial. If this is true, then for the Tang Army, it will be a catastrophe. Nowadays, the Tang Army is the Xiaoguo Army in the north and the Shanyang Army in the southwest. If the Shanyang Army also becomes the Xiaoguo Army, then half of the Tang Army's sphere of influence will be surrounded by the Xiaoguo Army. Except for the Xuzhou side, the land of Yanzhou is basically over.

Seeing Meng Zhao's panicked look, Tang Bin secretly laughed and said, "Of course, I'd rather be the head of the chicken than the tail of the phoenix." Unless forced to do so, our Shanyang Army will naturally not change its banner lightly. ”

"Oh, I see, this is your Shanyang Army's coercion method." Hearing this, Meng Zhao breathed a sigh of relief. But he also knows that this coercion can become a reality at any time. After all, he knew that between the Shanyang Army and the Xiaoguo Army, there were frequent transactions and frequent communication, and the relationship was very deep.

"By the way, General Meng, the grain and grass we need are only prepared for March, so what if the crusade lasts longer than March? How can a sergeant not eat or drink! Tang Bin asked in a condensed voice.

Meng Zhao said: "Responding to Murong Cheng and crusading against Situ Lei is just a righteous move. But this does not mean that the soldiers do not need to eat and drink with a righteous face. If the Qi army prepares, it is naturally the best, or it is good to capture it from the spoils of war. If the Qi army does not give it, or if it is unable to win a hard battle, then our Tang army can only withdraw. We can't let the soldiers starve to death on the front line. General Tang, what do you say? ”

Looking at Meng Zhao's meaningful eyes, Tang Bin smiled and said, "Of course, the strategy of my Shanyang Army is naturally the same as that of the Tang Army. I just don't know what this Xuzhou army thinks. ”

Meng Zhao paused slightly, and said, "Li Chi sent people to enter the land of Yuzhou early, somehow?" ”

"Do you still want to make friends with Qi Jun? His Xuzhou Army and Qi Army, that is a life-and-death feud, the two armies have been fighting each other for more than several years. Whether it is against the Xuzhou army or the Qi army, they don't want to have a strong enemy on their side. The Xuzhou army didn't want a big enemy in the south to watch him, and Murong Cheng didn't want anyone around his money bag to pay attention. This time, Li Chi did not inform us, and directly led the army to take the lead in entering the land of Yuzhou, when did this mean? By the way, General Meng, how is the competition between you and the Xuzhou army in the north of Xuzhou? Tang Bin asked in a condensed voice.

Meng Zhao's face was solemn, and he said, "The two parties are good? No, whether it is Li Chi or Murong Cheng, they don't want too strong hostile forces on their side. Regardless of whether they are good friends or not, the two have been fighting for many years, and the hatred is not small, and they are too close to each other, it is unbelievable to say that they are friendly. However, this Li Chi let the Xuzhou army put aside us and take the lead in entering this land of Yuzhou, and there must be other ideas. No matter what, you and I can't be careless. If the Xuzhou army wants to expand, it can only hit the idea on you and me. ”

"As for the fight between our Tang Army and the Xuzhou Army at the northern end of Xuzhou, in a word, chaos. This Xuzhou army is really not a force that has taken root in Xuzhou for many years, and its influence is extremely great above the locality. Although we have occupied the land of the two provinces for several months. However, not only did the people above the local people not buy it, but there were also many troublemakers. In just three months, more than 1,000 people were found to be involved in the incident, and more than 30,000 people were involved. This land of Xuzhou, it is not easy to take it. My Tang army only took the land of the two provinces, and it is still like this, so if you want to capture more land, it is really difficult. Meng Zhao said worriedly. In the original plan of the Tang army, it was not just to capture two places. It's just that it was because the place was difficult to calm down, so the best time was delayed, and the reinforcements of the Xuzhou army arrived, and the two sides were deadlocked.

Tang Bin also knew about the Tang army's actions in Xuzhou, so he said in a deep voice: "Most of the local incidents are dominated by the gentry and wealthy families of the big clans, luring the people into company. As long as these big families, gentry and wealthy families are dealt with, there should be no such difficulty. General Meng, although your Tang army captured the land of the two provinces, in order to stabilize the place quickly, it also accepted the participation of the big gentry and wealthy families in the two provinces. However, among them, I don't know how many of them are Li Chi's people, and I don't know how many of them are in office. Therefore, they are working for you on the surface, but in fact, they are serving the reigning Li Chi. ”

Meng Zhao frowned and said: "This is unlikely, these big gentry and wealthy families have always been mainly to protect their family wealth and lives, but they will never serve desperately for a certain prince." Now that the land of the two northern provinces of Xuzhou has fallen into the hands of our Tang army, how dare they do this? Aren't you afraid of the whole family? ”

Tang Bin sneered: "With the whole clan? I'm afraid that these big gentry and wealthy families have already had an inseparable connection with the Xuzhou army. In other words, I will fall to you and save my life for the time being, but at any time I may be exposed by the Xuzhou army and executed them with the help of your hands. ”

"You mean, what are their key points pinched by the Xuzhou army?" Meng Zhao said in a condensed voice.

"Not only that, I think that among these big gentry and wealthy families, some important people have been taken to Xuzhou City, and among these big families, there are also many people who are from the Xuzhou army. Don't forget, the history of the Xuzhou Army is much longer than that of my Shanyang Army and your Tang Army. They have occupied the land of Xuzhou for many years, but they are not vegetarians. Tang Bin said coldly. Some of these are inspected by the Eagle Eye Division, and more are speculations, or rather, Tang Bin said them at will. The purpose was just to make Tang Xian make more mess of these two places. The Xuzhou army has occupied this place for seven or eight years, and it is not so simple to be able to remain intact under the siege of the imperial army. Of course, if the Tang Army and the Xuzhou Army are bigger and more ruthless, it will naturally be what the Shanyang Army wants to see.

Meng Zhao frowned, and was skeptical of Tang Bin's words. However, he still wanted to send a copy of these information back to General Tang to know.