The Battle of Kuangcheng was to some extent a battle of Shan Xiongxin's dignity, it was a doomed battle for the Wagang army, and the huge baggage convoy was their biggest weakness, and the Wagang army fought fiercely to protect the baggage team and the Sui army, but was finally dragged down by the baggage team.

When the 3,000 cavalry defeated Wang Junkuo's army and turned back, it was like a sharp knife stabbing into the back of the Wagang army.

The Wagang army collapsed under the front and rear pinching, the defeat was like a mountain, 20,000 Wagang troops fled frantically, were chased and killed by the Sui army for more than ten miles, the corpses were all over the field, the dead and wounded were countless, Shan Xiongxin only fled back to Wagang Village with more than 2,000 remnants.

In the end, Zhang Xutuo's army escorted the baggage team of the Wagang Army back to Chenliu County.

A series of fiascos made Zhang Xutuo a nightmare in the hearts of the officers and soldiers of the Wagang Army, and the mention of Zhang Xutuo's name made everyone in the Wagang Army frightened.

Unlike Zhang Xutuo's big victory in Dongjun, Pei Renji was in a different scene in Xingyang County.

Xingyang County is Guancheng County, which is today's Zhengzhou, Pei Renji's army was temporarily stationed outside the county, but the commander Pei Renji went into the city to visit King Yang Qing, in Pei Renji's heart, visiting King Yang Qing is much more important than the pursuit of the Wagang army, the pursuit of the Wagang army is a war, but visiting the King of Xun is politics.

Yang Qing has worked in Xingyang County for many years, and has deep connections in the Central Plains, and many times, he is the representative of the interests of officials in the Central Plains counties, which is also related to Yang Qing's other identity, he once served as the Taishou of Xingyang, and later served as the supervisor of Henan Province, and has a very close relationship with the local officials.

Yang Qing's palace is not the largest in Guancheng County, the largest mansion in the county is the clan mansion of the Zheng family in Xingyang, but in terms of splendor, no one can compare with the palace of King Xun, Yang Qing has thousands of hectares of fertile land in the Heluo area, and the wealth is countless. He himself also pursued luxury, and lived a life of poverty and luxury, but Yang Guang not only hated his luxury, but praised him for his temperament, and for the royal family, the pursuit of simplicity was much more dangerous than the pursuit of luxury. King Xun obviously knows what to do.

Pei Renji's arrival was a bit unexpected by Yang Qing, and he ordered his son Yang Ji to welcome Pei Renji into the guest hall for him.

While drinking tea, Pei Renji looked at this luxurious guest hall, the couch was made of gold rosewood, inlaid with gold and jade, next to two ivory screens, the base was made of pure gold, inlaid with hundreds of pearls, and there were several famous calligraphy and paintings on the wall. Even the celadon tea bowl in his hand is from the best official kiln porcelain in Yuezhou, and even the maid standing next to him is also a stunning beauty.

Pei Renji nodded secretly, he had heard of Yang Qing's extravagance for a long time, and when he saw it today, he really lived up to his reputation.

At this time, there was a gentle cough from the hall, and the two maids helped Yang Qing into the guest hall, and Pei Renji hurriedly saluted, "Your Royal Highness King Xun will see your lower officials!" ”

"Pei Shuai doesn't have to be polite. Forgive me for being inconsiderate, please be seated! ”

Bae In-ki sat down. Yang Qing also sat down opposite him and said with a smile: "I heard that Pei Shuai defeated the Wagang army in Chenliu County, which makes me ashamed!" But I was defeated in the hands of the Wagang army, and I had no shame to face the Son of Heaven. ”

"Your Highness's words are serious, if it weren't for His Highness's march into Dongjun, he would have taken Wagang's lair directly. How could Zhai Rang give up Liang County's retreat to the north, we are all leading generals, we can't turn a blind eye, the key to this battle against the Wagang Army is to attack Dongjun with His Royal Highness. It doesn't matter if you win or lose. ”

"Thank you Pei Shuai for saying this, I feel a lot more comfortable, but the saint may not know!"

Pei Renji smiled slightly: "Please rest assured, Your Highness, I will report to the Holy Lord truthfully, and I can't wronged Your Highness!" ”

Yang Qing felt a little strange in his heart, Pei Renji didn't go to pursue the Wagang Army, but came to visit him, what is the reason?

Although he didn't know Pei Renji's true intentions, Pei Renji respected him and regarded visiting him as more important than meritorious service, which made Yang Qing feel very comfortable and secretly praised Pei Renji for understanding human feelings.

"I don't know if Pei Shuai came here today, what's the matter?"

"There is nothing big about the humble position, but I came to visit His Highness, and the humble position has passed by Xingyang several times and has no time to visit His Highness, this time I want to visit His Highness no matter what."

"Pei Shuai is a person with a heart, I am very moved, I understand Pei Shuai's sincerity."

Pei Renji took out another jade box and presented it to Yang Qing, "This is the spoils of war captured by the lowly position, and the lowly duty is dedicated to His Highness as a little heart." ”

Someone came to give gifts, of course Yang Qing was also very happy, he smiled and took the box, opened it and took a look, it was actually a piece of superb jade, collecting jade is also one of Yang Qing's hobbies, he saw that the jade body was delicate and crystalline, without a trace of flaws, and his eyes suddenly smiled into a slit, "Pei Shuai is too polite, this is very embarrassing!" ”

"Where! Where! A little caution is the respect of His Royal Highness. ”

Pei Renji's sycophants were very good, which made Yang Qing very useful, and he smiled slightly: "If Pei Shuai needs my help in the future, just ask, I will be happy to do something for Pei Shuai?" ”

"Then thank you, don't disturb His Highness's rest, take your leave first!"

"Good! Good! ”

Yang Qing asked his son to send Pei Renji out, but he was thinking in his heart why Zhang Xutuo didn't come to visit him?

However, thinking that Zhang Xutuo defeated the Wagang Army in a row, and he fought with the Wagang Army but was defeated in one battle, the contrast was too strong, and he couldn't help but feel jealousy in his heart, but Pei Renji knew how to advance and retreat, and knew how to understand his own feelings, in contrast, this Zhang Xutuo didn't take himself to heart too much.

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Fei County, after Zhang Xuan took Fei County, he was not in a hurry to attack Linyi County, but set out to help the hungry people, maintain order, especially prevent the people from taking advantage of the chaos to go to the wheat fields outside the city to grab grain, and implement strict entry and exit control on Fei County.

The reason why Zhang Xuan delayed attacking Linyi was because he knew that Meng Rang would never lose the opportunity, and he would definitely seize this opportunity to seize Sun Xuanya's troops and territory.

Sun Xuanya has 50,000 troops, in addition to the 20,000 troops in Fei County, there are also 30,000 troops in Linyi, led by six generals respectively, and now Sun Xuanya has become a prisoner of war, these Linyi troops want to take the initiative to surrender to the Sui army? It will still kill each other, and Jang Hyun needs to wait patiently for a few days.

In the lobby of the temporary military office, Zhang Xuan stood in front of the wooden model of Linyi County, which was made overnight by several craftsmen based on the government's Tibetan maps.

According to the confessions of the thieves and prisoners of war, the soldiers added a lot of Linyi County's defensive measures to make this wooden model closer to the real state.

After a while, Zhang Xuan picked up the wooden pole and said to several generals around him: "Yesterday, Shixin proposed that Linyi has a low terrain and can use Yishui to carry out water attack, I thought about it, although it is feasible to flood the city, but this will destroy tens of thousands of hectares of wheat fields that are about to ripen, and the damage to ordinary people is too great, so I consider not attacking with water, we can use the plan to take Linyi, and if it doesn't work, we can directly hard the palace!" ”

"But there is a drawbridge at the gate, and the moat is three feet wide, so it is difficult to pass." Next to him, Wei Chigong said worriedly.

Zhang Xuan glanced at Shen Guang and handed him the wooden pole.

Shen Guang understood what Zhang Xuan meant, took the wooden pole and pointed to the east gate, "Generals, the suspension bridge at the east gate has not been replaced for thirty years, I walked through it a few times, and it creaked and rattled when I walked on it, and the hoop iron was rusty, we can destroy the suspension bridge at night, and then attack the city gate with a shed battering ram, the effect should be good." ”

"What do you mean by a battering ram?" Everyone asked, puzzled.

Zhang Xuan smiled on the side: "This is a suggestion made by a craftsman, I asked them to build a mold first." ”

Everyone was very interested in the shed battering ram that Zhang Xuan said, and continued to ask: "Can the general elaborate on it?" ”

"If you are interested, you can go to the fortification camp to see for yourself, and if you have better ideas, you can also put them forward, but I tell you that this attack on Linyi County may not need a siege mall, I think it can be done again, and send scouts into the city to cooperate with the outside world."

Shen Guang was taken aback, and hurriedly said: "General Qiyu, now Linyi County should be very well defended, and it may be difficult for scouts to enter the city." ”

"Nope! Contrary. ”

Zhang Xuan smiled meaningfully, "I don't attack Linyi, I just give Meng Rang a few days to prepare for war, I believe it is easier to enter the city now than ever." ”

Everyone was stunned, and Zhang Xuan smiled and said, "You can go out of the city and see for yourself." ”

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Everyone said goodbye and retreated, and the lobby gradually quieted down, and Zhang Xuan smiled at Fang Xuanling, who had been silent, and asked, "Mr. seems to have an idea?" ”

"General, subordinates still suggest that Sun Xuanya be put back."

Fang Xuanling said in a low voice: "Of course, there are conditions to let him go back and let him evacuate Linyi County, so that we can occupy Linyi County without bloodshed, even if Sun Xuanya changes his hexagram, but after he goes back, he will inevitably have internal strife with Meng Rang, whether it is Meng Rang's death or Sun Xuanya's death, it can greatly weaken Linyi's defense, which is very beneficial for us to attack Linyi County." ”

Zhang Xuan sighed, "Actually, I'm worried that someone will grab the handle and impeach, saying that we are secretly releasing the bandit leader, and this kind of thing is difficult to explain clearly, and the saint may not be willing to listen to the explanation, I weighed the pros and cons, and I still feel that the gain of letting him go outweighs the loss." ”

Fang Xuanling is good at tactical strategy, but he is still slightly deficient in strategy, and he really did not take into account the danger on the side of the imperial court.

Fang Xuanling was silent for a while, and after a while, he asked, "What does the general think?" ”

Zhang Xuan said lightly: "I need to talk to Sun Xuanya again." (To be continued.) )