Mingde Gate Tower.

At this time, Li Longji, who had fled late the night before yesterday, was on it.

Under the scorching sun, it should have been scorching.

But now he felt like he was in an ice cellar.

Behind him, Pei Kuan also looked into the distance, watching Li Mao personally hand over the copper coins to every soldier, and he had no bottom in his heart for the future war.

He took a step forward, walked up to Li Longji, and complained in a low voice.

"Your Majesty, the thieves are buying people's hearts, and their power is getting bigger and bigger, and the last general is really not sure to hold this section of the city wall in his heart!"

Li Longji pretended to be calm and said in a deep voice: "Tell the soldiers that the thieves are using deception now. ”

"How can Li Mao's rebel son have money in his hands? He also exempted the people of Chang'an City from taxes for three years. ”

"Maybe we'll have to get the money back from the soldiers later."

While speaking, Li Longji also took out an edict and handed it to Pei Kuan.

Pei Kuan opened it and took a look.

The content is the edict that calls on the world's top ten festival envoys and various parts of the country to come to King Qin.

In order to increase Pei Kuan's confidence, Niu Xianke also said: "General Pei, the six counties of Gyeonggi Province have sent people to reply to His Majesty's edict, and King Qin's army should set off today." ”

Tang Dynasty period.

The imperial court has four levels of administrative units: provinces, prefectures, prefectures, and counties.

In the first year of Zhenguan, Taizong of the Tang Dynasty divided the country into ten provinces according to the topography of mountains and rivers.

They are Kannai Province, Henan Province, Hedong Province, Hebei Province, Shannan Province, Longyou Province, Huainan Province, Jiangnan Province, Jiannan Province and Lingnan Province.

In the twenty-first year of the opening of Tang Xuanzong, it was divided into ten and fifteen.

Shannan Road is divided into two roads, east and west.

Gyeonggi-do province was added near Changan, Kannai Province.

Dugi Province was added near Luoyang, Henan Province.

Jiangnan is divided into Jiangnan East Road, Jiangnan West Province and Qianzhong Province.

When Pei Kuan heard this, he still couldn't raise confidence in his heart.

As a result of the land annexation, the system of the prefecture has been corrupted.

How could the strong men who were temporarily pulled up by these counties be able to withstand Li Mao's three thousand Xuanjia iron horses?

Unless the army of the frontier envoys came, it would not be possible to put an end to the rebellion.

Thinking of this, Pei Kuan strengthened his courage and said: "Your Majesty, the last general thinks that at this time, we should temporarily avoid the enemy's front, retreat to Tongguan, and wait for the army to gather before making plans!" ”

"What did you say?"

Li Longji was furious.

"You actually let me abandon the people of Chang'an Province and Gyeonggi Province and escape?"

"Do you know that once I leave here, the anointed land of the Tang Dynasty will fall into the hands of the enemy?"

"Could it be that you have been bought by that rebel? Want to frame me? ”

The torture that hit the soul resounded in Pei Kuan's heart.

Looking at the old emperor's bearded appearance under the rage, a sense of remorse rose in Pei Kuan's heart.

I shouldn't have made this suggestion if I knew it earlier.

Or earlier, after being placed under house arrest by Gao Xianzhi, he should not have fled while the army was fighting.

Pei Kuan had already inquired about it, and Gao Xianzhi had not been executed until now.

He thought that if he surrendered directly at that time, he might be entrusted with a heavy task by Li Mao.

Thinking of this, Pei Kuan shook his head secretly.

What can you do even if you vote for Li Mao?

When the border army of the ten knots arrives, it is likely that it will be the time when the soldiers are defeated and die.

Pei Kuan thinks he is much smarter than Li Linfu and Xiao Song.

Chang'an City is located in the hinterland of Guanzhong.

It's really easy to defend and difficult to attack.

But this is based on the situation of holding the four major towns in Guanzhong.

First, Tongguan (now Weinan area of Shaanxi) is the only way to go east, and it is also Hangu Pass during the Warring States Period.

Second, Wuguan, also called Nanguan (now Danfeng County, Shaanxi), is the gate to the south in Guanzhong. Han Yu once had a poem: Where is the family of Qinling in the clouds, and the snow hugs the blue pass. From the poem, we can know the dangerous terrain of this place.

Third, Dasanguan (now Baoji area, Shaanxi) is the west gate of Guanzhong, and it is also the vast westward road to the Western Regions. Lu You once wrote: The building boat crosses the snow melon island at night, and the iron horse is scattered in the autumn wind. It is about the bleakness and desolation on this road.

Fourth, Xiaoguan is a fortress in the northwest of Chang'an, and it will go to the Turkic region after leaving Xiaoguan. In all dynasties, this is the front line of the battlefield. "Xiao Guan is waiting for riding, and they are all protected by Yanran" is Wang Wei's emotion when he saw the tension of the war in Xiao Guan.

At this time, Pei Kuan thought that the checkpoints in the southeast, northwest, and four directions were all the old emperor's people, and even if Li Mao was strong, he could only make trouble near Chang'an City.

If you can't get out of Guanzhong, you won't be able to turn the sky.

This is also the reason why he took his whole family with him and followed the old emperor closely.

Seeing that Pei Kuan didn't answer for a long time, Niu Xianke could only shout.

"General Pei, what is Your Majesty asking you?"

Pei Kuan reacted at this time, and hurriedly defended: "Your Majesty, the loyalty of the last general can be learned!" I never had the idea of taking refuge in Li Mao. ”

"Humph!"

Li Longji's face was pale, but he was not yet old and mediocre, so he naturally knew that Pei Kuan was the only general he could rely on now.

After adjusting his mood slightly, he slowly spoke: "The thief doesn't need you to exterminate it. ”

"You just have to guard these three gates and tell the people of the world that I am still in Chang'an City."

"As long as you can complete this task, after the rebels are wiped out, you will definitely be indispensable."

At this point, Pei Kuan didn't dare to think about it anymore.

After all, he still has more than 40,000 people in his hands, and Li Mao has only more than 20,000 people in his hands.

With its back to the fortified city, its strength is more than twice that of the enemy.

If he can't keep this, then he will be a negative textbook in history books in the future.

Although it can't be compared with Zhao Kuo, it is also about the same status as Ma Tan.

Thinking of Ma Tan.

Pei Kuan suddenly thought of the fierce general named Lu Bu under Li Mao.

In the past two days, he has sent people everywhere to inquire.

But I didn't hear anything.

Could it be a warrior from the border?

But such a fierce general can't be a nobody!

Could it be a person who has been cultivated by a certain knot?

Pei Kuan was suddenly shocked in his heart, and hurriedly asked, "Your Majesty, have you heard of the fierce general named Lu Bu in the rebels?" ”

Li Longji shook his head, "I've never heard of it!" ”

At the same time, he remembered the battle the night before.

Chen Xuanli can be said to be his most trusted commander of the army, but he was beheaded by Lu Bu.

Thinking of Chen Xuanli, Li Longji's heart was sad.

At that time, if you had a firm will to defend the Suzaku Gate, where would the rebels be big?

"Alas!"

Li Longji sighed and said: "After the rebels are eliminated, Chen Xuanli must be buried thickly!" ”

Pei Kuan saw that the emperor hadn't heard of it, so he was even more sure of his conjecture in his heart.

"Your Majesty, it is impossible for a fierce general like Lu Bu to appear for no reason."

"Without perennial conquest, how can you lead the army to be invincible?"

"The last general guessed that Lu Bu must be a subordinate of the frontier general and was sent to support Li Mao."

When Li Longji heard this, he immediately became nervous.

"What credentials do you have?"