I'm really afraid of something!

Although he was prepared in his heart, after hearing the so-called bad news about Liu Renzhan, the severity of it still caught Li Yuan off guard.

A few days ago, when Li Jinquan rebelled, Shouzhou was in an emergency. After Liu Renzhan heard the news, he quickly led the army from Haozhou to help, and during the period when Liu Renzhan left, a group of Tang army light cavalry who rushed back from the front line of the Zhou State also came to the city of Haozhou in a hurry.

Since the Southern Tang army entered the territory of Zhou, under the confident command of the privy envoy Chen Jue, they stormed Xuzhou for several days, but they did not expect that the 20,000 Zhou troops would hold on for a month. The Southern Tang army could not attack for a long time, not only did not gain an inch of land, but injured tens of thousands, and even the general Liu Yanzhen was hit by a slur, and the army's heart was shaken.

When Chen Jue connected the six Dao Song Shu to Jinling for help, it was too late, the reinforcements sent by Guo Wei then arrived, so the two sides fought in the city of Xuzhou one after another, and finally Zhang Lingbin, the inspection of Xuzhou of Zhou, led the army to smash the camp of the Southern Tang Dynasty in a night attack, the commander Chen Jue and Liu Yanzhen abandoned the camp and left, when the group of dragons was leaderless, Zhou Ben and other dozens of generals were killed, resulting in the defeat of the Southern Tang army, and countless casualties and flouts.

After Chen Jue and Liu Yanzhen broke through, they gathered the remaining remnants of the army and fled all the way, and finally joined the reinforcements of Li Hongji, the king of Yan, who went north.

Speaking of this, Liu Renzhan was sad and indignant: "The Northern Expedition army is the elite of my Tang Army!" It's just that the coach is greedy for life and afraid of death, so he actually lost six or seven out of ten! Since Liezu, when has my Datang had such a big defeat? The old man's heart is really like a knife, and he breaks his liver and intestines! ”

Li Yuan frowned tightly, and had mixed feelings in his heart, although he had expected that the Northern Expedition army would not be optimistic under the command of Chen Jue's straw bag, but he really didn't think that Guo Wei would just send a partial division to help, and the Southern Tang army would be defeated so quickly, and it would be so badly defeated, it was a full 80,000 elite soldiers! What's more, for this Northern Expedition, the treasury of the Southern Tang Dynasty was almost emptied......

And the most important thing is that with the defeat of the Southern Tang army, Guo Wei will be able to free up his hands to concentrate on dealing with Murong Yanchao in Yanzhou. As recorded in the history books, Murong Yanchao was definitely isolated, and Guo Wei was soon able to quell the civil strife at the beginning of the founding of the country in one fell swoop, and the foundation of the Zhou State gradually stabilized, and the strength rose from there.

Thinking of this, Li Yuan's heart couldn't help but be shocked, the history is strikingly similar, and in the future, will the Southern Tang Dynasty still not be able to escape the fate of its demise?

When his thoughts were in turmoil, Li Yuan paused, and hurriedly asked: "Since the Northern Expedition army has been defeated, why don't you hurry up and take the division, but still garrison in Xiapi?" ”

Meng Hu's face was gloomy, and he replied in a low voice: "The army is now indecisive, and Chen Envoy advocates retreating, but His Royal Highness King Yan insists on continuing the Northern Expedition, and these two letters are estimated to be sent to Jinling soon, and now they are only waiting for His Majesty to break ......."

"What does it mean to be indecisive? Are they joking with the lives of the soldiers? ”

Chen Jue is already a lost dog, needless to say. As for Li Hongji's thoughts, it is not difficult for Li Yuan to understand, he was previously embarrassed by Li Congjia in Jinling, and this time he led the troops for the first time, nothing more than to kill the enemy and make meritorious contributions and save his reputation, so he insisted on continuing the Northern Expedition regardless of it. It's just that this move is too reckless, and if you are not careful, you will not say that you are in trouble, I am afraid that even the army will have to be buried for it!

Thinking about it, Li Yuan's heart suddenly became inexplicably angry, and then he quickly spread out the map on the case, pointed to the Xia Picheng on the map, gritted his teeth and said angrily: "Two of you, look at it, what kind of place is this Picheng?" In the land of projectiles, the city is small, and there is no danger to defend on all sides! If the Zhou army besieged the city on a large scale, how our army could protect itself would be a problem, and they would still want to continue the Northern Expedition? I'm afraid that before His Majesty's will is delivered, the whole army will be wiped out! ”

Seeing Li Yuan's face was angry, Meng Wat hurriedly said: "Li Dashuai, the emperor of the Zhou State is personally conquering Yanzhou, and there is just a partial division outside the city of Xiapi. The losses of my Northern Expedition army this time are huge, but with the reinforcements of His Royal Highness King Yan still no less than 50,000 people, I think it will still be able to hold out for some time......"

After thinking for a moment, Liu Renzhan frowned, then gritted his teeth and said: "Although Xiapi City is small, it is a strong city, and the food and grass of the army carried by His Royal Highness King Yan are also sufficient, and it may not be easy for the Zhou army to break the city." ”

"It's hard to say." Li Yuan continued worriedly: "The Zhou army has always been a good resourceful, and now it is the rainy season in the Jianghuai River, and the river is gradually rising, if the Zhou army breaks the embankment and leads Surabaya to irrigate the city, it will only take a few days, and I am afraid that my Northern Expedition army will become fish and shrimp......"

Li Yuan is not alarmist, but this place in Xiapi is really famous, didn't Lu Bu, the god of war of the first generation, fall here? Now it's the same place, the same season, how can it not be worrying?

As soon as these words came out, Liu Renzhan and Meng Wat were so shocked that they almost didn't sit down, especially Liu Renzhan, who stared at the public opinion picture with his eyes, and suddenly leaned back on the back of the chair in despair and didn't say anything.

Even if Meng Wat no longer understands military affairs, he now knows the current predicament of the Northern Expeditionary Army from the faces and words of the two marshals, so he is also sweating profusely.

Seemingly worried, the three quickly fell into silence. Li Yuan's heart was in turmoil, the Shouzhou rebellion was already very tricky, and now the failure of the Northern Expedition was even worse, and the war in the south of Chu Di had no progress, it was really a collapse of the north and south fronts! I really want to know what the reaction of this emperor Li Jing will be at this time, and what choice he will make.

"Li Dashuai!" After struggling for a long time, Liu Renzhan seemed to have made some decision, got up suddenly, gritted his teeth and said: "The Northern Expedition army is where the elite of my Tang Dynasty is located, and His Royal Highness King Yan is the eldest son of His Majesty, so there is no room for error!" I also asked Li Dashuai to stay in Bagong Mountain for the time being, and the old man immediately led the army to the north to meet the return of the Northern Expedition army! ”

Li Yuan shook his head decisively and said, "No!" If you lead your troops away, it will be difficult to counter the rebellion alone! The Northern Expedition has now failed, and it is the time when the morale of the Zhou army has been greatly boosted, not to mention what the victory or defeat will be, and now there is no will of His Majesty, how can Liu Dashuai persuade His Royal Palace of Yan to return to the south after work? I'm afraid it's just the opposite.

At present, our top priority should be to solve the rebels in Shouzhou as soon as possible, to prevent Li Jinquan and Zhou from forming a north-south echo trend, only by eradicating the internal strife, can we resist foreign enemies with peace of mind, this is also an indirect strategy to respond to the Northern Expedition army! ”

"Alas! This, the old man does not have His Majesty's decree in his hand, and he is indeed not sure that he will be able to persuade His Royal Highness King Yan back! Liu Renzhan seemed to be persuaded a little, his mood eased slightly, he patted his forehead and sighed melancholy: "What Li Dashuai said is reasonable, it is the old man who has messed up, and the matter of counterinsurgency must not be delayed!" Just, alas! ……”

Xu is emotions were infected, seeing Liu Renzhan sighing sadly, Li Yuan couldn't help but think calmly again, although he advocated counterinsurgency first, but at this critical time, he really didn't want Li Hongji to have any accidents.

It's not that the relationship with him is deep, but Li Jing has always loved his son, Li Hongji died in battle and died in battle, but if he was captured by Zhou as an exchange condition, I really don't know what decision Li Jing will make in a hurry. You must know that Li Jing is really tough when he is tough, but it is difficult to explain when he is weak......

If you think about it carefully, it's really a dilemma, and you have no choice but to do it.

Seeing that the old man and the young were in a tangle, Meng Wat suddenly got up unexpectedly and said: "The lower officials think that the matter of counterinsurgency is imminent, and it cannot be delayed, the two marshals are both famous generals of my Tang Dynasty, and this battle will not be possible without you!" As for the safety of the Northern Expeditionary Army, it is equally important, His Royal Highness King Yan, as the eldest son of His Majesty, if he falls into the hands of the Zhou army, how will my Tang Dynasty deal with himself? The consequences are unimaginable! It's better to let the lower officials go to Xiapi and persuade the Yan Wang Palace to get off work! ”

As soon as the words fell, Li Yuan and Liu Renzhan looked at the weak Haozhou assassin with a stunned face.

Liu Renzhan waved his hand again and again: "Meng Thorn History, not to mention whether you can persuade Your Highness to return, just say that you have never been on the battlefield, go to Picheng here, and go hundreds of miles deep into the enemy's territory, if you meet the Zhou army, won't you die in vain?" I can't help it! I can't help it! ”

And Meng Wat just paused, then stood up straight and arched his hand: "Xiaguan is indeed, he has indeed never fought!" But Xia Guan had been a waiter in the Eastern Capital Museum in his early years, and he was fortunate to know His Royal Highness King Yan, so he was willing to give it a try!

As for what Liu Dashuai said, what if he really met Zhou Jun? It may not be possible for a subordinate officer to command a battle, but if you are a man, don't you dare to kill a few enemy soldiers?! ”

In the huge handsome tent, the thin Meng Wat raised his head at this time, and the words were sonorous in his ears, which instantly impressed the two of them! Li Yuan couldn't help but raise his head and seriously looked at this pale but determined face again.

Who said that the book business is angry, and you can't scold Fang Xuan?