Emperor Sui Yang

Chapter 482
You Xiaowei, a master, second deputy and three generals, received gifts from the crown prince successively from the capital.

Gifts are of course not that expensive, they are normal human relations.

Gift giving is very complicated, and it has become more complicated as it has evolved over thousands of years.

As we all know, asking someone to do something requires a heavy gift, if the gift is light, the job will not be done properly, so the weight of the gift is basically directly proportional to the value of the thing you ask someone to do.

You wanted to be the prefect, but you gave me a gift from a county magistrate. I'm sorry, but there is no more county magistrate, because you look down on me.

There are also gifts for daily maintenance, that is, during the holidays, more or less are given, so as to maintain this incense, and in the future, when asking others for errands, they will not be unable to open their mouths.

And Yang Ming's three gifts are quite special, they belong to ordinary gifts, which means that the few of us have conflicts of interests now, give me face, this matter is over, don't mention it again, there is a layer of warning in it, and In other words, appeasement.

Often such a gift, you either don't accept it, and if you accept it, don't make trouble again, otherwise it will be a breach of trust.

Xin Shixiong looked at the people coming from the East Palace, then looked at the two carts of gifts, sighed inwardly, and said to the guards of the East Palace:

"Please tell the prince that I will return to the capital soon, and I will go to the East Palace to see you."

The guard nodded, saluted and led the people away.

Xin Shixiong didn't dare not to accept it, or the same sentence, the venerable bestowed it, but he dared not resign.

When Yang Ming sent people to give gifts, he also wrote a letter to Li Jing, informing him of the situation and letting him adapt accordingly.

So that night, Li Jing came to Xin Mansion to ask for an audience.

After Xin Shixiong asked Li Jing to sit down, he ordered his servants to pour tea, saying:
"As I get older, I don't want to drink alcohol except on some occasions. The pharmacist can have a few cups of tea with me."

Li Jing said with a smile: "It should be like this. Drinking tea can calm the mind, and calming the mind can refresh the mind. Tonight, I will talk with Mr. Xin. Drinking tea is the best."

"I probably guessed why you came," Xin Shixiong said in frustration after repeated setbacks, "The prince's great love for you is enviable."

Li Jing said solemnly: "It is precisely because of this that Li Jing is sincere and trembling, and does not dare to betray the prince's kindness. This time, he was ordered by His Majesty to take on this important task, and he was even more cautious, walking on thin ice, just like the thunderstorm tonight, which makes people's heartstrings Tight, not daring to relax for a moment.”

Although the doors and windows in the house were closed tightly, the sound of the rain outside was like drumsticks beating, and the sound was deafening.

Xin Shixiong nodded: "I have been serving as You Xiaowei for three years. It is difficult for the military mansion to move without people close to you. The pharmacist works for You Wuwei. He should understand this truth. ah."

The two of them are at the same level in terms of positions, and they are almost the same in terms of lords. There is no title, and the honours are all Zhu Guo.

"The crown prince's arrangement has a deep meaning," Li Jing said, "The younger generation speaks from the bottom of his heart, the old general can't blame Li Jing for his shallow words."

Xin Shixiong was taken aback, and said, "Please tell me."

Li Jing sighed, and said in a deep voice: "In my opinion, there is a huge disadvantage in this northern expedition. The main force of Xu Guogong and Yanshougong's main force may be difficult and dangerous. I have two flanks on the east and west, and I have a heavy responsibility. If there is a slight mistake , is the land of eternal doom."

The West Route Army, under the control of Li Jing, has Xin Shixiong Mai Tiezhang under his command, a total of 7000 people.

Yu Wenshu and Yu Zhongwen, the main force in the middle, have a total of 7 elites.

The East Route Army has four generals, Jing Yuanheng, Xue Shixiong, Cui Hongsheng, and Wei Xuan, under the control of Wei Xuan, with a total of 13 people.

In the north, Duan Wenzhen and Zhang Jin fought to help Yucheng and Xincheng, with 3000 people.

A total of 33 groups, 8000 people, the original nine groups, added Mai Tiezhang and Duan Wenzhen.

Abandoning Duan Wenzhen's troops in the north, from Liaodong to Pyongyang, 27 people from the Sui Dynasty were hoarded. Fortunately, Li Jing's West Route Army had a relatively flat terrain, while Wei Xuan's East Route Army was going south along Langlin Mountain. There are mountains and castles everywhere in that place, and every step can be described as difficult and dangerous.

Langlin Mountain is the birthplace of Datong River and Qingchuan River in North Korea, with an average altitude of 2000 meters. Changjin Lake is in Langlin Mountain.

This place is icy and snowy, with rugged roads, and it is extremely difficult to march. Once Wei Xuan and the others are blocked, they cannot move forward. Yu Wenshu's lone army will be completely exposed, and the defense on the east side will be completely exposed.

After listening to Li Jing's analysis, Xin Shixiong frowned and said, "The mountain city of Goguryeo has thousands of people at most, and hundreds at least. Can it pose a threat to Weixuan's East Road?"

"The use of troops throughout the ages has focused on the right time, place and people. The right place is not mine today," Li Jing said, "Weixuan Department shares the same responsibility as mine. They are all to block the enemy and form a barrier to the east for the main force. However, if the southward journey cannot be made in time, Princess Xu is bound to be harassed by the enemy, and the surprise attack on Pyongyang is just a matter of talking on paper."

Li Jing sighed, "It's not Wei Gong's fault, it's a strategic mistake."

Historically, when the Tang Dynasty conquered Goguryeo, it gradually encroached on it, one city at a time, and went straight to Pyongyang, which was very risky.

Of course, the Tang Dynasty also had a lesson learned from Yang Guang, so they knew that they couldn't fight like this.

"This strategy was planned by Xu Guogong. His Majesty has already nodded. This cannot be changed," Xin Shixiong said: "I have the advantage of refining steel in the Sui Dynasty and today, and the enemy is unstoppable. I can understand the pharmacist's worries, but I think , the battle situation may be smoother due to the huge advantages of weapons and armor."

Li Jing nodded and said: "If the crown prince hadn't improved the technology so that our officers and men have such treasured armor artifacts, with this strategy, we would definitely lose."

"Speak carefully!" Xin Shixiong said: "Your Majesty is full of praise for this policy, so let's stop talking about it."

Li Jing's words from the bottom of his heart made Xin Shixiong feel good. It is very difficult for people to dare to tell you this, but what does this have to do with the crown prince replacing me?

You have to give me a reasonable explanation?
Li Jing continued: "So from the very beginning, I planned that the old general would fight Beishe, and General Mai would fight Wugu, and I would follow the main force to the south and take care of the east. If Duke Wei's southward movement is unfavorable, I will be left to stop the enemy. military."

Xin Shixiong was dumbfounded: "Except for me and Mai Tiezhang, how many people do you have? Can you cover the flanks of the main force?"

"Four thousand light cavalry guerrillas, two thousand heavy cavalry are enough to break through the formation," Li Jing said, "Soldiers are more expensive than fine ones. Most of the eastern mountain cities in Goguryeo are small enemy troops. Six thousand cavalry are actually enough."

Xin Shixiong's old face twitched, young people are so courageous, 10,000+ people in the Weixuan Department do the job, you want to do it with 6000 people?
"Pharmacist is too risky, it's a must," Xin Shixiong hurriedly waved his hand.

Li Jing said with a smile: "The more than [-] main force cavalry in Goguryeo are all stocked on the front line of the capital Pyongyang. They are the most elite in the whole country. If Xu Guogong is blocked halfway, he may be embarrassed when he arrives in Pyongyang. Since the overall situation cannot be changed, then we should fight to the death to protect the main force. Going south, to put it inappropriately, if the main force is defeated, I have no choice but to withdraw from the east and west routes."

Li Jing has long seen that there are only two of my subordinates, you and Mai Tiezhang, and one of them can't be controlled, so who can he control Wei Xuan?Jing Yuanheng, Xue Shixiong, Cui Hongsheng, which one is easy to manage?
However, the terrain in the east is complicated, and most of the time they need to fight independently, so the troops will be scattered, and it will be difficult to join forces in case of serious situations. Li Jing is sure that there will be problems on the east road, so he plans to take the risk to go south.

But if he goes south, he will have to solve Xin Shixiong's problem. If this old guy can't completely seal off the Liaodong Peninsula and cause Li Jing to follow behind, it will be the end of the game.

Don't think that your own people won't bully your own people on the battlefield. There have been many such things since ancient times.

Li Jing and Yang Ming thought about killing the Comforter.

Xin Shixiong's hair is standing on end, and there has never been any talk about defeat in the court, because everyone thinks that defeat is impossible. Although this strategy is risky, there is still a gap between the soldiers of the Sui Dynasty and the soldiers of Xiaobang .

But now hearing what Li Jing said, he is also a little bit afraid. Indeed, the main force of Yu Wenshu and Yu Zhongwen cannot be defeated. Once they lose, the strategy will be invalid. There is really no second road except for withdrawing troops. choose.

You do not withdraw?The troops stationed on the east and west sides of Goguryeo, plus the main force in Pyongyang can pinch you to death. Moreover, once the main force is defeated, morale will be over first.

And the Wangshi army stationed in Liaodong had to withdraw, because behind them was the Liaohe River, and if they did not withdraw in time, they would be surrounded.

"So, the crown prince's replacement is because he is worried about me, afraid that I won't be able to protect the rear of the pharmacist?" Xin Shixiong said.

Li Jing nodded: "That's the case. The generals I lead are the lone attacking army. If there is a mistake in the back, I'm afraid the whole army will be wiped out."

"I understand," Xin Shixiong pondered for a while, and said seriously: "Since the pharmacist is open and honest, I know what to do. Don't worry, there will never be a fish that slips through the net in the Liaodong Peninsula."

Li Jing got up, bowed to the other party solemnly and said:

"Whether Li Jing can come back alive depends entirely on the old general."

Xin Shixiong also got up quickly, supported Li Jing's arms and said: "What the pharmacist has done this time has a huge relationship. When I return to Beijing this time, I will ask to see the prince, and we will discuss this matter in detail at that time."

Then, the two sat back down and started chatting.

Gossip chatting is helpful to bring the relationship closer. For example, if someone likes women, hey, you just talk to him about this. This way of matching what he likes will make the other person feel that you and him are like-minded.

As for Xin Shixiong's hobbies, there must be women among them. The two of them chatted and felt that something was wrong.

Why doesn't it stop raining?

Xin Shixiong opened the door, saw the ankle-deep water in the yard, quickly called a servant and asked:
"How long has it been raining?"

"It's been two hours, and the garden in the backyard has been flooded, and the servants are blocking the water," said the servant.

Li Jing frowned instantly: "It rained so heavily, it has been raining for two hours, there may be floods, and now the crops are in full bloom, this year's harvest is worrying."

Xin Shixiong also had a serious face.

What the ancients were most afraid of was natural disasters. They couldn't stop them, and they would kill them.

"Thunderstorms always fall on one place. I hope other places don't fall like this." Xin Shixiong frowned and said, "The food in the Eastern Capital is now being transported to the north. If there is a disaster in the Yellow River, things will be serious."

It was at this time that the gongs outside the mansion rang loudly, because the rain was too loud, so they couldn't hear what the other party was shouting.

But Xin Shixiong and Li Jing understand that this is called flood reporting, and the Luo River running through Luoyang is flooded.

(End of this chapter)