Tanzhou City, in the small hall of the Hunan Road Commanding Embassy's Mansion, the moment Li Yuan walked in, Liu Chengwu quickly stepped forward and knelt down, kowtowed straight and made a big salute, calling His Majesty in his mouth, and his eyes were moist. Li Yuan was confused at first, and Zou Ping on the side hurriedly stepped forward and whispered, and Li Yuan was immediately overjoyed.

"It's really providence, I thought that all the generals in Chuzhou died on the battlefield." Li Yuan laughed loudly.

"How could Your Majesty think that?" Liu Chengwu smiled bitterly.

"I'm not cursing you, it's just that the three towns in Jiangbei raised troops like a bamboo, and the fourteen states in Jiangbei fell one after another, and many court generals would rather die than give in, so it is difficult to ensure that you are not among them."

"But the last general succumbed to the thief, didn't he? Your Majesty, I am ashamed to say that if it weren't for the protection of my father and the people in my hometown, the last general would have been martyred in Chuzhou with his sons and sons...... Your Majesty, do you think that the last general will be sent from the opposite side? Liu Chengwu sighed.

Li Yuan smiled and said: "Liu Chengwu, I understand that you must have been a thief as a last resort, and I don't doubt you, how could my good son in Chuzhou be in cahoots with those traitors?" Although you didn't spend much time with me three years ago, I still know a little bit about you. ”

Liu Chengwu stood up, bowed deeply, and said in a deep voice: "Thank you Your Majesty for your trust." In fact, we have always wanted to contact His Majesty, but I have not had the opportunity. If you act rashly, you may be exposed and cause trouble. ”

Li Yuan nodded and said, "I understand." By the way, besides you, are there any other generals in the Jiangbei Army who are willing to vote? ”

"Your Majesty, as well as General Zhang Yaoxian, the former deputy envoy of Haizhou's cantonment camp. The last general and General Zhang had already discussed privately to contact His Majesty, and General Zhang would be very happy if he knew that His Majesty asked about him, and he had told the last general that when His Majesty followed the Shenwu Army into Chu three years ago, he had been His Majesty's Shangguanli! What else did you say about doing things for Your Majesty......

In addition, there is another one who is Li Zhong, the former commander of Ganyang County, who is now in charge of logistics and supply in the former camp there. The three of us discussed in private, we must come to see Your Majesty, and tonight there was an opportunity, and the last general came decisively. ”

Li Yuan was stunned, how could Zhang Yaoxian not have an impression, three years ago, Li Yuan just crossed into this era, and woke up in the Chu military camp in a daze, and borrowed Luo Erhu's silver money at that time, which was used on the battalion commander Zhang Yaoxian, so that he was able to meet Bian Hao to offer advice, thus achieving the legendary story of Li Yuan's three horsemen to surrender to the king of Chu. Indirectly, Zhang Yaoxian is Li Yuan's first nobleman.

"What Zhang Yaoxian said is true, he did help me. As for what you said about Li Zhong? ”

"Li Zhong Li County Order, but he is a great talent! Jinshi, who was promoted to the sixth year of the Yuan Dynasty, said that he had a relationship with His Majesty. It was three years ago, at a poetry meeting in the Eastern Capital Yangzhou's Left-behind Mansion, he was invited to attend the meeting, and he saw His Majesty's earth-shattering talent, and he has never forgotten it. ”

Li Yuan's heart suddenly brightened, three years ago for the first time to meet his father-in-law Zhou Zong's Yangzhou Poetry Club, and all the participants in that poetry meeting, including this Li Zhong was present. At that time, Li Yuan was very excited when he heard his name, this person was recognized as the first poet of the Southern Tang Dynasty in later generations, so he also talked a few words enthusiastically, although this person looked elegant but carried a long sword, it was very interesting to watch, but he did not expect that he was also in the army opposite.

"Your Majesty, what should I do next? The great war is imminent, and the last general cannot stay for long. Liu Chengwu arched his hand.

Li Yuan nodded and said, "I understand, how many soldiers and horses you have in hand right now. ”

"General Mo and General Zhang each had 5,000 soldiers and horses under their command. Although General Li was the deputy general of the former battalion, he was only responsible for logistics and supply, and he only had 3,000 logistics soldiers and horses in his hands. ”

Li Yuan nodded and said, "God really help me." I was thinking about how to continue harassing the army on the other side when you came, and the time came at the right time. Listen, I have a plan, you go back and tell them. And so and so, and so ......and so What do you think? ”

Liu Chengwu arched his hand and said in a deep voice: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, the last general will wait to complete this matter desperately." ”

Li Yuan waved his hand and said, "Desperate? I don't want you to die, but when this is done, I will send troops to meet you, and I will ensure your successful return. ”

Liu Chengwu laughed, the two talked a few more words, Liu Chengwu asked about the current situation of the Wang family's wife and younger brother, which led to something that Li Yuan did not know.

That is the great change in the Wang family, when Wang Jingyao was hunted by wealthy merchants in Chuzhou, why he was able to escape from the city to find Li Yuan's branches.

Liu Chengzhong told Li Yuan that at that time, Wang Jingguo was imprisoned on suspicion of trafficking illicit salt, and later Wang Jingyao scratched the rich businessman and fled, and he naturally knew everything, but he did not see the money like other officials, but deliberately secretly put a hole in the south gate of Chuzhou, otherwise how could Wang Jingyao escape.

When Li Yuan heard this, he sighed. Liu Chengwu can do this, which shows that this person can be handed. He is not moved by the reward of money, but has the heart of helping others with justice, but is a person who has the responsibility to know right and wrong.

Liu Chengwu couldn't stay long, and although he was very reluctant to go back, he had to go back. But he had already achieved his goal this time, met Li Yuan as he wished, and drew up a plan, which made Liu Chengwu excited.

Li Yuan personally sent Liu Chengwu out of the East City Gate, and Liu Chengwu rushed back to the outside of the city to meet his subordinates, and after informing his brothers of some of the circumstances, all his subordinates were very happy.

The pre-war preparations entered the third day, and this day was surprisingly calm, which made Zhang Wenbiao feel very strange.

Last night's night was uneventful, but the logging work after dawn was not as harassed as yesterday, which made Zhang Wenbiao feel a little unreal. But in any case, the other party's non-harassment is exactly what Zhang Wenbiao wants, and the logging work will be completed in one day today, and hundreds of catapults have been built.

Under the mobilization of the whole army, in one or two days, everything will be ready, and the siege battle can be launched, and everything will return to the rhythm that Zhang Wenbiao expected.

However, by the late afternoon, the bad news finally arrived.

After hearing the news, Zhang Wenbiao's first reaction was that this day still didn't pass peacefully, and this time the incident was even more troublesome than the other party's nuisance and murder, that is, the only logistics supply channel to Jiangbei was blocked.

The general who delivered the letter said that a cliff in the middle of the mountain road leading from Tanzhou to Jiangbei had collapsed, and the falling mud and rocks blocked the entire road. As a result, hundreds of carts full of food supplies were blocked in the east and could not get in, and hundreds of empty trucks were blocked in the west and could not get out.

The general who delivered the letter also said that this should be an accident, the low rocks on the slopes of Chudi Mountain are loose, and landslides are not uncommon, but this time the collapse is quite serious, and he asked Zhang Wenbiao to send people to help clean up the road and restore the smooth flow of materials as soon as possible.

However, Zhang Wenbiao smelled something unusual from it.

It is true that the low hills and hills of Chudi are prone to collapse, but most of them occur during the rainy season. The slopes of the mountains will only slide when they are washed away by heavy rains, but at the moment it is March, the weather has not yet warmed, and the possibility of a landslide is not very likely. What's more, according to their description, it was a massive collapse and the entire cliff collapsed, which is even more unlikely.

Zhang Wenbiao was inclined to believe that this was sabotage sent by Li Yuan. It's not that he's suspicious, it's that he really thinks Li Yuan will do this.

In fact, he had already taken precautions against this, and in order to ensure the smooth flow of logistics, he sent 6,000 soldiers and horses to guard the logistics convoy, and sent 3,000 precious cavalry to patrol along the line day and night, just to prevent Li Yuan from sending people to cut off the logistics channel. But now it seems that Li Yuan has succeeded.

This matter is extremely serious, and the daily consumption of materials and grain and grass by the army is extremely large, and it is necessary to constantly replenish the materials, so that the army can ensure that there are sufficient supplies and enough food for more than ten days to feel at ease.

These materials cannot be cut off at all, and if they are broken for a day, the morale of the army will be one step closer to collapse.

Zhang Wenbiao immediately ordered 10,000 soldiers and horses from the rear battalion to rush to the scene of the incident to assist in dredging. Nearly 20,000 soldiers and horses are involved in carrying earth and rock, and with the addition of 5,000 or 6,000 people, this section of the collapse should be dredged soon.

The bad news didn't end there, and in the evening, the news came again.

The avenue under another steep ridge had collapsed, and this time the soldiers and men who were congested on the road could clearly hear the loud explosion on the ridge and the rising pillars of smoke.

All this confirms Zhang Wenbiao's judgment, this is man-made destruction, and this time it also helped Zhang Wenbiao solve a question, that is, how they were able to make the entire mountain beam collapse, but it turned out that they used gunpowder to blow up the mountain beam.

Before one place was passed, another big collapse came, and Zhang Wenbiao, who was not too anxious, was a little uneasy. It will take two days and two nights to dredge all the two collapsed places. This means that in these two days, there is no material grain and grass that can be transported to the camp, so you can only use the old capital.

What's even more troublesome is that if the other side keeps causing collapses and blocking the roads, the supply of the army will become the most difficult problem.

Although he was annoyed in his heart, Zhang Wenbiao warned himself not to panic, after all, the food and grass in the army were enough for ten days, and he could completely conquer Tanzhou City in these ten days.

It was imperative to clear the roads and send search forces to round up small groups of enemy soldiers who were sabotaging. Even if you can't catch them, as long as you force them not to continue to wreak havoc, you've achieved your goal.

Therefore, Zhang Wenbiao blocked the news, and he did not want to cause panic and uneasiness in the army because of this matter.

After dark, there was good news ahead. The searching soldiers and horses found traces of a small group of soldiers and horses destroyed by the other side on the slope of the south of the road, and drove them away from the mountain road, and a large number of soldiers and horses were forming a siege.

Moreover, the dredging of the mountain road is progressing smoothly, and it is expected that it will take less than two days and two nights, and it may be dredged in advance. Zhang Wenbiao was in a good mood, his tense nerves relaxed, and he even joked a few words with his generals.

In Zhang Wenbiao's view, although Li Yuan has caused a lot of trouble for himself with his scheming and headaches, it will be difficult for him to shake the overall situation. Zhang Wenbiao has already drawn up several sets of siege strategies, no matter how arrogant Li Yuan is now, when he launches it, it will definitely be a devastating thunderous blow.

Another night is coming, and the peace of last night and the peace of the whole day today have eased the atmosphere in the army. Last night's scouts' constant spying methods also proved to be a way to catch the opponent's movements in time, and many people believe that the other side is unlikely to do another raid like the previous night.

But even so, they still can't relax, and they still lie on their backs nervously, ready to meet the unexpected at any time.

Until the second watch, everything was safe. News from the scouts ahead said that the other side hadn't even sent out cavalry to hunt the scouts tonight, and it looked like it was going to be a peaceful night.

However, when it was almost close to the third watch, a colorful flame bomb suddenly rose above the head of Tanzhou City and exploded in the air, which made the Jiangbei military camp explode. The soldiers, who had fallen asleep, were awakened by the loud shouts of the generals, and they scurried around like headless flies, not knowing what was happening.

The military order was conveyed that the Chu army had sent a signal that it was possible to attack the camp, and the soldiers panicked and took positions to prepare for battle.

However, the news sent back from the scouts under the city showed that the other party only fired three signal flares, and their four cities were tightly closed, and there was no sign of troops and horses at all. After waiting for another half an hour, there was still no sign of the other party's troops. The generals all realized that they were probably nervous, and at the same time felt very ashamed.

It was ridiculous that the other side only used three signal flares to put the whole battalion of soldiers and horses into a panic. The defenders at the head of the other city were laughing and laughing at themselves, these people were all frightened birds, maybe they were just teasing themselves.

In fact, on the upper floor of Tanzhou City, Li Yuan was indeed laughing, and he was very presumptuous and happy.