Li Jiangyao poured Xu Youchang a cup of tea and asked calmly, "What's the big deal?" ”

Xu Youchang's expression looked very serious: "Jiang Yao, I suspect that the Turks may be about to make a big move again. ”

As he spoke, he unfolded the volume in his hand and introduced: "This is all kinds of information sent back by the Intelligence Department in the past month. I've sorted it out, you see, it's mainly these four things. ”

Li Jiangyao took the scroll and saw that it was written:

In the Guanzhong region, the prices of refined iron, medicinal materials, fire oil and other materials have soared recently, and it is becoming increasingly difficult for the people to purchase them, and the Turkic side is secretly hoarding a large number of them.

The Turkic prince Tanli recently left the imperial capital and went to the south, and is expected to contact the rebel Lao Jianhua Department, and there may be some schemes, the details of which are to be investigated.

Recently, the Turkic Helian Xiong Department has frequently sent troops to attack and harass the six counties of Wuguan, greatly restricting the scope of activities of the southern army, and the intention of exerting pressure is obvious.

According to the latest news from the Persian side, an area of long-standing dispute on the border between Turks and Persia has shown signs of easing in recent days. It seems that the Turks intended to withdraw from the region and cede it to the Persian Empire. However, the Persian side did not inform us about this.

After reading these news, Li Jiangyao pondered for a moment, and said lightly: "It is another large number of hoarding strategic materials, and it is constantly putting pressure on the southern army, and it is also engaging in relations and friendship between the south and the north, and it is quite lively in all directions, but our side is quiet and without any waves, and the smell of conspiracy is indeed very strong." ”

Xu Youchang nodded when he heard this: "I'm worried about this. Whether it was Tanli or Helianxiong, the intention of their actions was obvious - to contain the Shengtang army in the Central Plains to the greatest extent, and at the same time, to try to ease the contradictions with Persia. I suspect that the Turks may be preparing to fight back and completely open up the connection with the Western Continent. ”

"Looks like it's time to let Gema go home." Li Jiangyao smiled calmly: "Although the Turkic Empire has invaded eastward, there are still many garrisons in the country, and they may have received an order from Ashina Zhijin to prepare to attack the western frontier as a second-way reinforcement and cooperate with the main Turkic force to open the passage." I stayed with Gema for so long, because I was afraid that he would return too early and completely conquer the weakened Turks on his own, but instead pose a great threat to the western frontier. Now that the internal forces of the Turks are reconverging, it is just the right time for Gema to go back and have a good fight with his old friends. ”

Xu Youchang sighed: "You are still ruthless enough." Gema is now returning with 10,000 Yakut cavalry, and he will immediately have to fight with the remaining troops of the Golden Clan, and there is no need to mention any second-way reinforcements. ”

Li Jiangyao bowed slightly: "Yes, use the Turks to contain the Turks." At the same time, ask Ameni to come forward and persuade the Persian Empire to send troops to the border and put pressure on his neighbors. The Persian emperor was not a fuel-efficient lamp, he would have known to take advantage of the Turks. ”

"What are we going to do here?" Xu Youchang asked.

"I estimate that if the Turks don't come, they will definitely have to fight hard." Li Jiangyao analyzed: "It is basically the same as my original strategic concept, to make use of the dangerous terrain that can be defended, to wait for work, and to consume the enemy's strength as much as possible. ”

Xu Youchang agreed: "Then still rely on Zijin Pass and Shengyu Pass to fight a war of attrition with them." I'm going to give the order for the troops to start mobilizing and preparing to meet the enemy. ”

Li Jiangyao thought for a while, and then said: "This time we are different from the last time, first, the defense system is more complete than before, and the Turks will inevitably pay a huge price, and second, I propose to arrange a flexible and mobile cavalry force to stay behind the enemy to attack and destroy." ”

"I agree!" Xu Youchang nodded and said, "How is the First Army?" ”

Li Jiangyao waved his hand: "The First Army is a heavy cavalry, as a fist force, it is better to put it on the frontal battlefield." The Fourth and Ninth Armies were light cavalry, and although their combat strength was not particularly strong, they were victorious in coming and going like the wind and erratic, and they were most suitable for outflanking the Turks' rear routes. ”

Xu Youchang thought about it seriously for a while, and agreed: "That's right, it's better for them to be." In that case, let the Fourth Army of Montenegro go. ”

"The two of us thought together," Li Jiangyao said with a smile: "The Shenhua Fourth Army has another advantage, that is, their clansmen are all over the subordinate army in the western Xinjiang, and they can carry out a pre-battle rebellion at any time. ”

At the beginning, there were as many as 250,000 subordinate troops in Western Xinjiang, and excluding the 100,000 soldiers and horses who surrendered to Li Jiangyao and those who lost one after another in the war, there are still about 80,000 troops stationed in the Guanzhong area.

It is entirely possible that this force will be won over and defected.

Li Jiangyao continued: "You arranged for Montenegro to set off in the next two days, lurk in the Yongliang area, and then cooperate with the frontal battlefield to launch a sneak attack on the supply lines and grain points in the rear of the enemy army. I guess the Turks will probably leave most of their subordinate armies in the back and take care of the baggage or something. Therefore, I ordered Yudra to send some spies from Western Xinjiang to act with the Fourth Army, so that it would be convenient to persuade the subordinate army when the time came. ”

"Okay, that's it." Xu Youchang stood up and arched his hand: "I'll go and deploy immediately." ”

-

"His Royal Highness the Prince is here, and he has missed the distance, forgive his sins."

"Mr. Lao, I haven't seen you for a long time, and my demeanor is better than before, I admire and admire."

The second Turkic prince Tanli was full of spring breeze, and stretched out his hand to shake Lao Jianhua, looking very close and familiar.

Lao Jianhua was also enthusiastic and introduced him: "Your Highness, this is the world-famous marshal of the navy and the governor of the capital, Bao Yuchun. ”

Tanley hurriedly bowed his hand: "Ah, it turned out to be Bao Shuai." The famous generals of the Holy Tang Dynasty are like thunder, and they have been admired for a long time. ”

Bao Yuchun said politely: "I heard Lord Lao say that His Royal Highness has traveled to the Holy Tang Dynasty for many years, and when I see it today, it really deserves its name, and I am fortunate to meet it." ”

Tanli replied hehehehe: "If you want me to say, you two are worthy of your reputation." In a blink of an eye, I captured Xiangcheng, so as not to run thousands of miles more unjustly, haha. ”

Lao Jianhua invited Tanli to sit in the hall and said, "It's all up to Bao Shuai." The naval soldiers won all battles, and the big rivers were their world. ”

Tanley immediately understood what the other man meant. Lao Jianhua is obviously deliberately emphasizing the fact that neither the Turks nor the Holy Tang Dynasty can compete with him in the rivers, lakes and seas.

However, Stanley was a master of pretending to be confused, he deliberately pretended not to understand, and replied with a smile: "Hey, Xiangcheng is a city on land after all. The water army is powerful, isn't the Xuanjia army even more powerful? As soon as you appeared, Ma Hongjie's men immediately fled in a hurry with their tails between their legs. ”

Lao Jianhua knew that the other party was slashing and beating, and in turn provoked the relationship between him and Bao Yuchun. However, his city is very deep, and he is silent on the surface: "Your Highness is right, the Xuanjia Army and the Navy Army have joined forces to advance by land and water, and Li Bing and Ma Hongjie have no choice but to escape." ”

The three of them sat down in the hall, and the servants brought all kinds of fragrant tea and pastries with their hands and feet, and specially burned a pot of elegant incense.

Tanley obviously liked the clean and talkative environment, and couldn't help but praise it.

Lao Jianhua stroked his beard with a smile and asked, "Your Highness, we haven't seen each other for more than three years, right?" ”

"Not really." Tanli tasted a snack and nodded: "Last time it was on the Central Plains side, I remember that you were preparing to attack Tongguan at that time." ”

Lao Jianhua smiled meaningfully: "Yes, attack Tongguan." Unexpectedly, after a lot of losses, it finally fell into the hands of Marshal Helianxiong. ”

Tanley completely ignored the other party's sarcasm, and said with a big grin: "That's Xie Guang is too stupid!" If Mr. Lao were in charge, or Bao Shuai would be in command, presumably we Turks would not have had a chance to pick this fruit, hahaha. ”

Hearing this, Lao Jianhua and Bao Yuchun couldn't help laughing loudly, obviously very popular with the Turkic prince.

Bao Yuchun tasted the fragrant tea and asked, "Your Highness, when we meet for the first time, don't blame Bao for being profound." At present, you and I are inseparable from friend and foe, and we are here, but I don't know why? ”

Tanley also took a leisurely sip of tea before replying, "You two, I have come to make friends with you on the orders of the Great Khan. ”

"Making friends?" Bao Yuchun smiled: "The khan of your country really likes to make friends, I remember that Li Jiong is also your friend, right?" ”

Tanley replied unhurriedly: "Isn't there a saying about Saint Tang? Many friends, many roads, fewer enemies, and fewer walls. Another sentence is that the enemy of the enemy can be considered a friend, right? ”

Lao Jianhua smiled slightly: "Your Highness is still so funny. You're right, we Shengtang people have always had a tradition of making friends, but ......"

He paused slightly, and then continued, "However, this friendship is also particular. ”

"Oh? Please also ask the gentleman for advice. Tanley bowed.

Lao Jianhua glanced at him meaningfully: "People intersect with each other, and they speak of a righteous word, and they are honest with each other and have nothing else to ask for, just like Lao and Shu Pingkuo, the patriarch of the ghost fighting clan of your country." However, the intersection between countries is a good word, and only when the two sides benefit each other can there be a basis for friendship. ”

Tanley nodded again and again: "What Mr. Law said is extremely true! Before I set out, my father Khan said the same thing. ”

"In that case," Lao Jianhua asked with a smile, "what kind of preferential treatment does the Great Khan plan to give us?" What do we need to do? ”

Tanley didn't rush to answer Lao Jianhua's question, but asked rhetorically: "Mr. Lao, Bao Shuai, what are your plans next?" I mean the scramble for the world of the Holy Tang Dynasty? ”

Lao Jianhua and Bao Yuchun glanced at each other, and then replied lightly: "Your Highness, your wording needs to be changed, we are not competing for the world of Shengtang, but for the imperial court to set things right, and return the people to a peaceful and prosperous world." ”

Tanli didn't expect that a big thief would still have the face to say that he was setting things right for the Holy Tang Imperial Court, and he couldn't help but secretly mock in his heart, and at the same time showed a sincere smile on his face: "Mr. Lao has the country in his heart, which is really admirable. Then let me ask you another way, what are your plans for restoring the peace and stability of Shengtang as soon as possible? ”