Li Jiancheng said unhurriedly: "Erchen has a few questions I want to ask Uncle Shentong, please ask my father for permission." Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info"

Li Yuan glanced at Li Shentong and nodded: "Accurate!" ”

Li Jiancheng smiled at Li Shentong and said: "Uncle Huang strongly advocates a counteroffensive and annexation of the state, can you talk to the little nephew about the specific counteroffensive strategy, maybe the uncle has said it before, but the little nephew happens to be not there, please ask the uncle to repeat it again." ”

Li Shentong couldn't figure out Li Jiancheng's thoughts, and since the Son of Heaven had allowed it, he had to say: "Of course, the counteroffensive should start from Hedong County, Hedong County, like Hongnong County, is a buffer zone in Guanzhong, and retaking Hedong County is conducive to reducing the military pressure on Guanzhong." ”

"What about the army?"

Li Jiancheng continued to ask: "How many troops does Uncle Huang think should be sent and where should the army be used?" ”

Li Shentong was a little embarrassed by the question, and said with a dry smile: "Now we are just talking about the general outline, the specific details of this kind of troop dispatch need to be discussed after formulating a perfect plan, and now the prince asked me to say, I am not easy to answer for a while." ”

"I'll answer that question!"

Li Yuanji walked out slowly, and said with a gloomy face: "Brother Huang is just worried that we don't have enough troops and don't have the ability to capture Hedong County, but I want to tell Brother Huang that we currently have 150,000 troops in Guanguan, which is enough to recapture Hedong County." ”

"One hundred and fifty thousand?"

Li Jiancheng asked puzzledly: "How did this number come out, I really don't understand, after Uncle Huang lost 20,000 troops in Hedong County, where are there 150,000 in Guanzhong?" ”

Li Shentong's face turned red in an instant, and he stared at Li Jiancheng very dissatisfied, Li Yuanji still said in a cold tone: "After the total annihilation of Song Jingang, we got 90,000 soldiers, select the elite, go to the dross, we can get at least 60,000 people, plus the original 60,000 Tang Army, this is 120,000, plus the 30,000 in Guanyuan, isn't this 150,000?" Not including the 20,000 Imperial Forest Army, why does the imperial brother think that we can't recapture Hedong County? ”

"But the 30,000 troops in Guanzhong have lost 20,000 troops in Hedong County, where are the 30,000 troops? In addition, the remnants of Song Jingang's army have not been destroyed, and General Sheng Yanshi led 15,000 people to continue to suppress bandits in Yan'an County, and the emperor's brother will not deduct them! ”

Li Shentong's face was really unbearable, and he said: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince may not know that we have recruited another 30,000 troops in Guanzhong, so we ......."

Of course Li Jiancheng knew, he sighed and saluted his father: "Father, Song Jingang's more than 100,000 troops are all people who forcibly conquered Yan'an County, Shangjun and Honghua County, and in the past two years, the land in the three counties has been barren, the grain has decreased sharply, and the people are struggling to make a living. ”

It was Li Yuan's decision to incorporate the prisoners of war into the Tang Army, and now that Li Jiancheng had raised questions and objections, Li Yuan really felt a little embarrassed, and said after a while: "I can understand the emperor's thoughts, but now is the time to use soldiers, we are short of soldiers, and it is also a good way to use soldiers, and it is a good way to double the compensation for the three counties in the future, this matter has been decided, and the emperor doesn't have to worry about it anymore, let's talk about the policy of merging states!" ”

Li Jiancheng glanced at Chen Shuda, Chen Shuda secretly shook his head at him, suggesting that he should not mention this matter again, Li Jiancheng was helpless, so he had to turn the topic back again, "Father, the son thinks that we need to face the reality, in fact, when the Zhou army seized the three northern counties, it has become a condescending situation, plus Shangdang County and Changping County have been occupied for many years, using these two counties as a springboard, it is easy to seize Jinnan, so they can seize the state without much effort this time, if we use the power of the country to counterattack and merge the state, What about Longyou and Guannei? Li Jing is eyeing the Hetao, he is driving south, we are fighting on two fronts, does my father think we can withstand it? If not, what are the consequences? ”

The Wude Hall was silent, including Li Shentong, Li Jiancheng's words were to the point, under the strong pressure of the Great Zhou Empire's army, they were simply unable to recover the annexed state, this is an iron fact, no one dared to say it before, but today Li Jiancheng said it openly.

"Then what does the imperial brother think Taiyuan should do?" Li Yuanji asked angrily.

"It's very simple, negotiate with Zhongdu, cede Taiyuan, our army evacuates Taiyuan, and crosses the Yellow River from Lishi County to Yan'an County."

"Father, I agree with the emperor's plan!"

Li Shimin walked out of the queue, bowed and saluted: "Father, although the words of the imperial brother are difficult to accept for a while, but the fact is that our strength can no longer recover the state, now the top priority is to withdraw the army of Taiyuan, as long as the army is still there, we have a chance to turn the book, the army is far more important than the land and the city, I said before, you can't lose the big because of the small, in order to recover the unrealistic idea of the state, in the end even the Taiyuan army was wiped out." ”

The accession of the crown prince Li Jiancheng undoubtedly gave the opposition to the recovery and annexation of the state the upper hand, and Chen Shuda and Liu Wenjing successively expressed their support for the prince's proposal, and began negotiations with Zhongdu to cede Taiyuan in exchange for the withdrawal of troops.

At this time, Li Yuanji saw that everyone expressed their support for the eldest brother, and Dou Jin and the others, who originally supported him, were silent, he was really unwilling in his heart, and said: "But now that the road is closed by heavy snow, our army cannot pass through the Luliang Valley Road at all, and there are at least two months before people and horses can pass, can the so-called negotiation ensure the safety of these two months?" ”

Li Jiancheng said lightly: "Our army can retreat with its whole body, and the Zhou army can also capture Taiyuan without hurting a single soldier, and each takes what he needs, why don't they do it?" ”

"But if they occupy Taiyuan, but refuse to let us go, and take the opportunity to annihilate us all, what will they do then?" Li Yuanji asked reluctantly.

"If the emperor's brother must think so, then I have nothing to say, talk about it or not, let my father decide!"

Of course, Li Yuan didn't want to give up merging states, but he was not as simple-minded as the fourth son Yuanji, he knew that the eldest son was right, they didn't have the strength to take back the merger, although he was also unwilling in his heart, but he could only face reality.

Li Yuan said slowly: "I agree with the prince's plan, and quickly send a letter to Feng Aiqing, who has been stationed in Zhongdu for a long time, and ask him to go and make an agreement with the Zhongdu Imperial Court. ”

.......

The ministers dispersed, Li Yuan returned to the imperial study, the blow of losing the land of Longxing made him really depressed, but he felt more of an inexplicable fear, this is the feeling of losing Jingzhou and Hetao and other places, and now he has a sense of uneasiness that is about to be in trouble.

Li Yuan sat in front of the imperial case in a daze, his mind was blank, and at this time, a eunuch reported at the door: "Your Majesty, the king of Huai'an County asks to see you." ”

The king of Huai'an County is Li Shentong, he came to ask for a meeting, it must be for the merger of the state, Li Yuan nodded, "Announce him in!" ”

After a while, Li Shentong hurriedly walked in, although in the Wude Palace, it was finally decided to adopt the plan of the crown prince Li Jiancheng, but Li Shentong was not reconciled, he knew that this decision was not the original intention of the Son of Heaven, as long as the Son of Heaven was not satisfied, then he still had a chance, this opportunity was not in the court, but in the imperial study.

Li Shentong bowed deeply, "See Your Majesty!" ”

"Is there anything wrong with the county king?" Li Yuan asked silently.

"Your Majesty, Weichen still wants to suggest another matter of merging the state."

"The matter of merging the state has been decided, and now I'm afraid it's not good to change it."

"Your Majesty, Weichen doesn't want to change the resolution of merging the state, but wants to supplement and improve it."

Li Yuan sat up straight and looked at Li Shendao: "Let's talk about it, how to improve it?" ”

"Weichen is trying to say that Hedong County, Your Majesty, and other places in the state can be lost, but Hedong County cannot be lost, otherwise, the pressure in Guanzhong is too great."

Li Yuan's eyes immediately became a little dissatisfied, since he also knew that Hedong County couldn't be lost, but why couldn't he hold it?

Dissatisfied to dissatisfied, Li Yuan of course also understood the strategic significance of Hedong County, perhaps not important to the Zhou Dynasty, but for the Tang Dynasty, it was like the armor on the soldiers, without this armor, the enemy's troops would directly press Guanzhong, and the threat to Chang'an far exceeded the loss of Lingwu County.

Li Yuan pondered for a moment and asked, "What about your opinion?" ”

"Your Majesty, maybe we really don't have the strength to recover and merge the state, but Weichen feels that Hedong County can be recovered, we can gather troops in Pujin Pass first, and then we can concentrate our forces to attack Hedong City after the beginning of spring, as long as we take Hedong County, Hedong County will basically be under our control."

Li Yuan paced back and forth, it was impossible to recapture Taiyuan, and it was impossible to defend Taiyuan, so Taiyuan's army needed to withdraw safely, and at the same time, he also wanted to take back Hedong County, maybe Li Shentong's plan was good, even if they couldn't recover the annexed state, but at least they had to recapture Hedong County.

Li Shentong saw that the Son of Heaven was moved, and continued to whisper: "Your Majesty, it is snowing heavily, and it is impossible for our army to withdraw from Taiyuan immediately, at least wait for a month or two, we can reach a withdrawal agreement with the other party, and then seize the time to strengthen the defense of Taiyuan, and when the Zhou army goes all out to attack Taiyuan, it will be the time for us to send troops to counterattack Hedong." ”

Of course, Li Yuan didn't want to lose his Longxing Land, Li Shentong did say that he was moved, Li Yuan sighed slightly, "I'm afraid that Pei Lin won't be able to hold Taiyuan." ”

"Your Majesty, Weichen recommended General Qu Tutong to go to Taiyuan to replace Pei Xiangguo, although the heavy snow blocked the Luliang Valley Road, but if you ride a camel, you can also pass through the Luliang Pass."

Li Yuan's heart moved, as if he had thought of something, and hurriedly ordered: "Keep talking!" ”

Li Shentong already sensed that the Son of Heaven was about to be moved, and he continued: "The heavy snow has blocked the Luliang Pass, and the Zhou army cannot also enter Lishi County, we can use the sled to transport the grain and grass materials from Yan'an County to Lishi County, and gather troops and grain and grass in Lishi County, as long as the road is slightly clear, we can support Taiyuan City in a big way, and the blizzard is to create opportunities for us, this is the will of God!" Does Your Majesty really intend to give up Taiyuan? ”

Li Yuan walked to the window with his hand in his hand, looked out of the window for a long time, and the strong desire to keep the land of Longxing boiling in his heart finally made him persuaded by Li Shentong, and he made up his mind, no matter what, Taiyuan must not give up so easily, and Hedong County is the same.

"Alright! Let Qu Tutong go to Taiyuan to give it a try. (To be continued.) )