Cao Tie still didn't understand what Cao Jixiang was planning, so he asked, "Since Uncle Cousin has won this fat shortage for Tie'er, why did he let his nephew transport the grain and grass to the border later?" I don't know if my cousin can tell my nephew the truth, so that my nephew can have some plans in his heart. ”

Cao Jixiang naturally would not tell Cao Tie about his collusion with Wara, he knew that this matter was very important, and if someone leaked it, it would be a big crime for the Nine Clans. Therefore, he thought for a moment, and then said to Cao Tie: "Tie'er, do you know who is leading the troops to fight this time?" ”

Cao Tie immediately replied: "Of course I know that this time it was the eldest princess who personally led the troops to the battle, and everyone in the world knows it. Unexpectedly, the eldest princess was just a mere woman, but she was so good at using soldiers, and buried all the 100,000 troops of Wara in Tianhe Valley in the Tianhe Valley. No one in the world knows now, no one knows. ”

Cao Jixiang glanced at Cao Tie and said quietly: "Then do you know what grievances the eldest princess has with our family?" ”

Cao Tie looked at Cao Jixiang with suspicious eyes and asked, "Uncle cousin, do you have a grudge against the eldest princess?" ”

Cao Jixiang nodded and said, "That's right, I have a big enmity with the eldest princess. Do you know why Xu Youzhen was sent to Yunnan? Why was Shi Heng killed by the imperial princess in the prison? That's because all three of us have a grudge against her. ”

It turned out that the words that Jian Huaizhen and Shi Heng said before they died had quickly reached Cao Jixiang's ears.

Although Scatter and Jian Huaizhen had already transferred the Jinyi guards present at that time, there was no impermeable wall in the world, and the conversation between Jian Huaizhen and Shi Heng was still heard by people with ulterior motives.

Cao Jixiang was all over the court, and of course the news quickly reached his ears.

Cao Jixiang said to Cao Tie: "The grievances between me and the eldest princess are a long story, do you remember what happened when Yu Qian died? ”

When Cao Tie heard Cao Jixiang say this, he immediately recalled what happened that day, when he was also present as one of the prison officials, he thought about it and said: "It seems that the eldest princess has an extremely close relationship with Yu Qian, and my nephew remembers that when Yu Qian was beheaded, the eldest princess once led people to the rescue. ”

"yes, that's it." Cao Jixiang said: "At that time, the eldest princess did not save Yu Qian, she must have been very sad and angry in her heart, and Bai Qingqing, another woman who was like a sister to the eldest princess, was also martyred by Yu Qian. The eldest princess has always been worried about this matter, she has eliminated Xu Youzhen and Shi Heng, who do you say she is going to deal with next? ”

When Cao Tie heard Cao Jixiang say this, his face suddenly changed in fright, he looked at Cao Jixiang in disbelief and said, "Do you say that the next person the eldest princess will deal with next is your cousin?" ”

Cao Jixiang nodded very solemnly.

Cao Tie's heart at this time was like knocking over a five-flavor bottle, and he had any taste. Although he was very afraid of Jian Huaizhen, he knew that he and his cousin Cao Jixiang were grasshoppers on a rope, and the so-called one was prosperous and one was lost. If Cao Jixiang has any strengths and weaknesses, the ministers in the court will definitely settle accounts with him for the bad things he has done before. As long as Cao Jixiang's protective umbrella does not fall, then no one in the court dares to be unfavorable to him. On the contrary, when everyone sees himself, he must be respectful to himself.

Thinking of this, his expression became solemn, looking at Cao Jixiang, waiting for Cao Jixiang's fate.

Cao Jixiang continued to say slowly: "Now that the eldest princess is leading troops to fight on the front line, this is a good opportunity. If we can make the eldest princess go and never come back, then presumably there will be one less enemy of our family in the future, and our family believes that the eldest princess is our family's biggest enemy. ”

Cao Jixiang's words fell on Cao Tie's heart like a soldering iron, and every word penetrated deep into his henchman, he nodded and said, "Uncle Cousin, you are right. That's why my cousin asked me to transport the rations to the front later, right? ”

"Yes. Tie'er, you are smart, as long as the grain and grass can arrive later, the army led by the eldest princess will be short of food and clothing, and they will definitely be vulnerable, and the Wara army will definitely be able to wipe them out. As long as the eldest princess can't return to the court, no one will dare to disadvantage her father-in-law at that time. My father-in-law can enjoy the glory and wealth for a long time, and Tie'er, you also have your own benefits with your father-in-law. ”

"Of course." Cao Tie immediately replied crisply: "As long as it is ordered by Uncle Cousin, Tie'er will do his best to do it, and will definitely live up to Uncle Cousin's expectations." ”

Cao Jixiang sent Cao Tie away in a few words, and he was very happy in his heart, and he instructed Cao Tie again, so that Cao Tie pretended to be someone robbing the army food on the way, and then he could come back to explain to the emperor, and no one would blame him.

After Cao Tie received a new instruction from Cao Jixiang, he quickly understood what he should do.

The two chatted until late, and Cao Tie said goodbye to Cao Jixiang. After resigning, he returned home to prepare for the escort of military rations to the front.

Sure enough, after Cao Tie escorted the military rations on the road, he encountered the so-called robbers on the way, and the military rations were soon looted by the robbers.

Although it was late spring in April, the weather was still bitterly cold, especially at night, when the northwest wind was blowing, and the soldiers felt cold in their tents.

Especially the disciples of the Candle Shadow Shake Red and the Confession Sect, where did they receive such suffering and training, and after a long time, they became more and more restless.

The food and military uniforms of the imperial court were not delivered, and Jian Huaizhen became worried in the face of the soldiers who were about to move, so she immediately sent someone to the capital to take a trip to the capital and ask the emperor for military rations.

The messengers who had been sent out returned in a few days.

He reported to Jian Huaizhen that the imperial court originally sent Cao Tie to escort the military rations, but unfortunately the grain and grass were robbed on the way to the military rations, except for Cao Tie, who was wounded and escaped back to the capital, the rest of the people who escorted the military rations were all killed. The imperial court is worried about military rations and winter clothing, and Zhu Qizhen has ordered the ministers to quickly find a way to raise grain and grass to transport to the battlefield, so that Jian Huaizhen can find a way to delay it for a few days. ”

In desperation, Jian Huaizhen had no choice but to order the daily food ration to be reduced to half of the original, so that the soldiers could not eat enough, and everyone complained.

The condition of the Ming soldiers soon reached the ears of the king of Warat through the Warat spies.

When the king of Warat heard this, he said triumphantly: "Last time we suffered a loss of light enemy, this time we take strategy and tactics, I don't believe that we will still lose in the hands of this Ming Dynasty woman." Why don't you send troops to fight them by surprise? ”

Li Changqing said cautiously beside him: "King, now is not the time to send troops. Now, although Princess Huaizhen ordered the soldiers to cut the grain and grass by half, the residual power of the soldiers is still there, so it is better to trap them for a few more days, and then we will send troops again to achieve twice the result with half the effort. ”

King Warat originally looked down on Li Changqing in his heart, and even more disdained to use any tricks and stratagems, but it turned out that Li Changqing's views were extremely effective.

Previously, he sent Li Tianyou to lead an army of 100,000 to attack the enemy, but instead of annihilating the Ming army, the 100,000 troops were killed in the Tianhe Valley. Today, although Li Changqing's method is not so radical, it has actually proved to be effective.

Jian Huaizhen was really helpless about the matter of food and grass, and could only watch the soldiers starving, waiting for the soldiers' morale to decline day by day.

Thinking of this, King Warat glanced at Li Changqing with a commative look and said, "Since this is the case, everything will be done according to what you say, and this king will definitely be rewarded after the matter is completed." ”

Li Changqing saw that King Warat had changed his previous bad attitude towards him, and now he was not only willing to listen to his advice, but also promised to reward him in the future.

Hurriedly knelt down and said respectfully: "The minister doesn't dare, as long as the minister can do his best for the king, it will be the blessing of the minister." ”

Warat's side was proud, and Jian Huaizhen's side was indeed in trouble.

Just as she was worried about the food, grass and clothing, another soldier came to report that there were few bows and arrows, and they were not enough to deal with the enemy in war.

When Jian Huaizhen heard this, he said angrily: "Didn't we bring 200,000 bows and arrows when we came? Why are there not enough bows and arrows now? ”

After investigation, it turned out that it was the disciples of Candle Shadow Shake Red and Confession Gate, who didn't know how to use bows and arrows at all.

On that day, in the Tianhe Valley, after Li Tianyou's army was besieged, the disciples of Candle Shadow Shaohong and the Confession Gate saw this, so they all took out their bows and arrows and shot them indiscriminately in the Tianhe Valley, causing bows and arrows to be damaged by no less than tens of thousands. Up to now, there are only 100,000 bows and arrows hidden in the army.

After Jian Huaizhen learned the news, she couldn't help but become worried, she frowned, and said in her heart: "How can it go on like this?" Of course, 100,000 bows were enough for the soldiers, but these 100,000 arrows were only enough for each person. What if the enemy is newly besieged and needs to use arrows? ”

The more she thought about it, the more worried she became, so she gathered Tang Jingran, Fang Xiao, Jiang Shaoheng, Nangong Jiuzhong and others together to discuss countermeasures with them.

Jian Huaizhen told everyone about the lack of clothing, food, and bows and arrows in the palace.

Jiang Shaoheng is very wise and intelligent, he thought about it, then raised his head and said, "Princess, I don't think this matter is so simple. Do you think Cao Tie was carrying military rations and winter clothes for 100,000 soldiers, how could he be hijacked halfway? I'm afraid there is something else going on in this matter. ”

Jian Huaizhen was shocked when she heard this, and slowly figured things out, she said, "Brother Jiang, you're right. I didn't think of it before, but now that I think about it, it's not that simple. It must not be so easy for the Warat army to rob the military rations of 100,000 soldiers in our Ming Dynasty. Unless someone is doing the internal response, or this Cao Tie is simply a person from Warat. They deliberately dragged the military rations and winter clothes in order to demoralize us, so that Warat could be hit with one blow. ”

Jian Huaizhen's words caused ripples in everyone's hearts, they didn't expect that they were working hard to fight outside, and there were still people in the court who were dragging them back.

Thinking of this, Jian Huaizhen's heart sank, and he said to Tang Jingran: "Jingran, I have a task for you to do, you may be competent?" ”

Tang was shocked to see that Jian Huaizhen was speaking very solemnly, and immediately said solemnly: "The eldest princess, I don't know if there is anything to order, just tell me." ”

Jian Huaizhen nodded and said, "It's not a big deal, it's just that I have to ask someone I trust to make a trip." You hurriedly returned to the court, explained the matter to the emperor, and then asked the emperor to send someone to re-transport the military rations, and said that the palace designated the military rations to be escorted by the crown and Li Xian. ”

Tang was shocked to hear Jian Huaizhen say this, knowing that the stakes were very high, and he didn't hesitate at the moment, so he quickly changed his clothes, led a thousand-mile horse out of the war horse, and galloped towards the capital.

After Tang was stunned and left, everyone continued to discuss, and they knew that it would not be a matter of one or two days for the imperial court to reraise the military rations and transport them. The top priority is to find a way to appease the soldiers.

Jiang Shaoheng was familiar with history books and military books, and he saw that Jian Huaizhen was very embarrassed, so he calmed down and thought for a while, then raised his head and said to Jian Huaizhen: "Princess, I have an idea, I don't know if it's feasible?" ”

Jian Huaizhen knew that Jiang Shaoheng had always been brave and resourceful, so he said happily: "I don't know what Brother Jiang thinks, please just say it." ”

Jiang Shaoheng nodded and said: "My method is actually very simple, and it was also used by the ancients, that is, borrowing arrows from grass boats." ”

"Straw boat borrowing arrows?" Jian Huaizhen looked at Jiang Shaoheng in surprise.

She naturally knows the method of "borrowing arrows from grass boats", and this method is already well known to the majority of military experts, can it be that the Warat people will be so easily fooled?

Jiang Shaoheng seemed to see Jian Huaizhen's doubts, and said with a slight smile: "It is precisely because this method has been known to many people that the enemy would not have thought that we would use such a simple method to borrow arrows from them, maybe we will succeed at that time." ”

Jian Huaizhen immediately understood what Jiang Shaoheng meant, Jiang Shaoheng meant to think of a surprise attack on his unpreparedness, and adopt the method of not getting tired of deceit, turning the situation into profit.

At that moment, she nodded and said, "Okay, just do what Brother Jiang said." It's just that what we need to do, please ask Brother Jiang to make it clear. ”

Jiang Shaoheng nodded and said: "Now that we are fighting on this front line, there is no river and no river, what we need to do is to order the soldiers to find a bundle of firewood and grass and build it in the shape of a straw man." During the day, they hid the straw men in this tent, and at night, each of them carried a straw man to make a siege appearance. When the time comes, the Warat army will surely think that we are troubled by the matter of food and grass, and boldly enter the city. Most of them will use bows and arrows to shoot down from the walls, and we will be able to borrow arrows then. ”

As soon as Jiang Shaoheng's words were finished, they immediately attracted the approval of Jian Huaizhen, Fang Xiao and others, and they shouted in unison: "This plan is very good, Brother Shaoheng is really clever and resourceful. ”

So, everything was settled.

Jian Huaizhen knew that Wara's spies were watching their every move all the time, so he asked Nangong Jiuzhong to lead a small army, about a thousand people, secretly pretending to go to attack the city.

Sure enough, when the Wara spy saw Nangong Jiuzhong suddenly coming out of the trench with a team of troops, he guessed that he might carry out a sneak attack on him, and then the Wara spy hurriedly went back to report.

At this time, Jian Huaizhen ordered the rest of the soldiers to each go to look for firewood and grass, and then tie the found firewood and grass into straw figures.

Although the soldiers didn't know why Jian Huaizhen gave this order, they were trapped here now, and the only way was to end the war early, so they did as Jian Huaizhen said.

In the days when they were collecting grain and grass, Jane Huaizhen ordered the people to raise the grain back to their daily rations. After all, when people have to work, they can't go hungry.

Seeing this, the soldiers' hearts were greatly boosted, and Jian Huaizhen promised them that there would be food and grass soon.

In the great victory in Tianhe Valley, they had already seen the power of Jian Huaizhen's use of soldiers, and now that Jian Huaizhen promised them this, everyone's hearts regained their courage.

So, everything is going on in an orderly manner.

Every morning, Nangong Jiuzhong would definitely take an army of more than 1,000 people to go around in front of the gate of Wara City, pretending to attack the city. The eyes of the Warat spies will also be attracted to them, and the rest of the soldiers will go around looking for firewood and grass at the behest of Jian Huaizhen.

After about three days, we had enough firewood and grass.

Jian Huaizhen ordered the soldiers to nest in the tent and secretly tie the firewood and grass into straw figures, and the soldiers did according to the plan.

Seeing that Nangong Jiuzhong would take a thousand soldiers every morning to go around in front of the city, it seemed to have the intention of attacking the city, but it was only a thousand troops and it was not like it. After being led around by them for three days, he felt that things might not be as simple as he imagined. But when it was time to spy on the rest of the army again, the firewood and grass had already been collected into the tent and used by the strawmen, and they could no longer spy on it.

The straw man was quickly tied.

On the evening of the fourth day, in the middle of the night, Jian Huaizhen quietly gathered an army of 100,000 and asked each of them to carry their own straw men to attack the city. After arriving in front of the city, he put the straw man on the ground, and the army of 100,000 quietly withdrew.

The 100,000 troops didn't know why Jian Huaizhen gave this order, and everyone said in their hearts: "No matter what, the commander gave this order, I'm afraid it will be useful for her." She said so, so let's do it. ”

Then, a military order sounded, and a quiet horn pierced the silence of the sky. 100,000 soldiers held the straw man in their hands and rushed towards the city.

The Warats were in a deep sleep, when they suddenly heard a loud trumpet in the night sky, the sound of a siege, and they became very frightened.

The king of Warat hurriedly gathered his ministers together to discuss countermeasures.

One of the ministers said: "King, we wanted to take advantage of the low morale of the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty to attack them, but Li Changqing refused to agree, and insisted that we stay up for a few more days." So far, we haven't attacked them, but they have come to attack us, I really don't know what kind of medicine is sold in Master Li's gourd? ”