Tibet

Chapter 871 A strange combination of circumstances

The water ghosts are chipping away at the rocks under the water, and the firearms makers are also working hard to make super firearms.

Li Ye sent hundreds of scouts to Mianchi County to investigate the enemy's situation.

Originally, the Yan army was stationed in Shaanxi County, relying on Hangu Pass to the west to confront the Tang army. However, due to the conflict between Shi Chaoyi and his father Shi Siming, Shi Chaoyi was furious and led his army back to Luoyang.

Shi Siming had no choice but to let Shi Chaoyi attack Jianghuai. He sent generals Li Guiren and Zhou Zhi to lead an army of 50,000 to fight back to Shaanzhou. However, it was too late. Wang Sili's army had already occupied Shaanxi County.

Li Guiren had to station in Mianchi to confront the Tang army.

The terrain of Mianchi County is open, allowing for battlefield battles, and there is no dangerous terrain to defend.

In the early morning, a Tang Army scout rushed through a forest at the foot of Mount Xiao, frightening the forest birds into flight.

The leading general was a scout captain named Niu Guoyao, who was from Lantian County, Jingzhao Prefecture. He suddenly waved his hand, and more than twenty of his subordinates reined in their horses and stopped.

"Did you hear anything?"

Everyone pricked up their ears and listened carefully, and suddenly someone said: "It's the sound of a car axle!"

At this time, other soldiers heard it. It was indeed the creaking of the axle. Niu Guoyao waved his hand gently, and everyone dismounted their horses and walked forward slowly. After walking for dozens of steps, they found that they had reached the end of the forest. Below was a road. official way.

A convoy of more than a dozen oxcarts was moving slowly. The oxcarts were filled with wine and meat. There was also a carriage in the middle with an official sitting in it.

There are not many escort soldiers, only a dozen Yan Army cavalry. This place is still thirty miles away from Mianchi County, and they should be going to Mianchi County.

Niu Guoyao immediately decided, "Get ready with bows and arrows!"

More than two dozen Tang army scouts drew their bows and set arrows. They had already formed a tacit understanding. Each of them was responsible for only one enemy soldier. This was also the basic skill of a scout. Everyone must know who the target of the people around them was. This requires years of work. This tacit understanding can only be formed through months of cooperation and training.

"Fire arrows!"

Niu Guoyao gave an order, and more than 20 people fired at the same time. The arrows were like rain. The Yan army cavalry on the official road were caught off guard. They were hit by arrows and fell off their horses, leaving no one behind.

The scouts got on their horses, rushed down the slope, and stabbed to death all the Yan soldiers who were still alive.

The farmers on the oxcart were stunned and did not dare to move. The officials on the carriage were so frightened that they hid in the corner of the carriage and shivered.

The scouts opened the car door and dragged him out. The officer was so frightened that he knelt down and shouted: "Spare my life! Spare my dog's life!"

Niu Guoyao urged his horse forward, pointed his spear at him and shouted, "What kind of official are you?"

"The villain's name is Wu Liang, and he is the Minister of War of the State of Yan."

Everyone looked at each other, the Minister of War was a senior official! He actually knelt on the ground and shouted for the dog's life. His dignity and everything else were completely lost. It was simply unbelievable to them.

Niu Guoyao immediately ordered: "Take them all away!"

The crowd dug a hole and buried the bodies of the Yan army soldiers, then led dozens of ox carts and Yan officials along another road toward Shaanxi County.

In the early morning, white waves suddenly flew up to a height of ten feet in Sanmenxia. A thousand kilograms of gunpowder box exploded with great power. The stone pillars under the water were finally broken. This indicates that grain transport ships can also pass through Sanmenxia with full loads of grain. , there is no need to unload the goods and transport them overland through Sanmenxia.

This is definitely an epoch-making feat, which means that Guanlong's status can be maintained for another hundred years. It means that the Song Dynasty does not have to establish its capital in Bianliang, and it means that the Ming Dynasty can still establish its capital in Chang'an.

Li Ye immediately ordered to reward all soldiers and officials who participated in the operation. At noon, a two-thousand-stone cargo ship loaded with cargo carefully sailed through Sanmenxia. The crew on the ship cheered. This was the first large ship to pass through Sanmenxia.

In these two days, Li Ye gained a lot. He not only optimized the waterway of Sanmenxia, ​​greatly improved the water transportation of the Yellow River, but also gained the support of an army.

The general who took refuge with Li Ye was also a famous general in the Anxi Army, named Wei Boyu. Following Yu Chaoen's order, he led 5,000 Shence troops to guard the north bank of the Yellow River in Shaanzhou.

Wei Boyu is the representative of Yu Chaoen's forces in Shaanxi Province and is not under Guo Ziyi's jurisdiction. Guo Ziyi and Wang Sili did not notify Wei Boyu of the withdrawal this time. In fact, even if they were informed, it would be useless. Only Yu Chaoen ordered the withdrawal from Shaanzhou. , Wei Boyu would lead his army to retreat.

Although Wei Boyu was deeply respected by Yu Chaoen, he did not appreciate it. On the contrary, he was very disgusted with Yu Chaoen's willful behavior, especially the tragic defeat of Xiangzhou. It was Yu Chaoen's random command that caused him to miss the opportunity. In the end, sixty The entire army of Wan Da was defeated, which made Wei Boyu deeply disgusted.

But he had no choice. He was one of the divine soldiers and horse envoys appointed by the emperor, so he could only obey the emperor's orders.

Until Li Ye's army arrived, Yu Chaoen still sent people to send secret orders, asking him to find ways to hold back Li Ye and cause Li Ye's army to be defeated miserably. Wei Boyu finally couldn't bear it anymore and led his army to cross the river to join Li Ye.

Li Ye was overjoyed and immediately appointed Wei Boyu as General Hu Ben.

In the big tent, Wei Boyu was telling Li Ye about the Battle of Heyang. The Battle of Heyang was a big battle between Li Guangbi and Shi Siming. In this battle, Li Guangbi won miserably, but it was of great significance.

The first was to contain the overwhelming strategic advantage of Shi Siming's army, the second was to protect Hedong, and the third was to boost the morale of the Tang army. After the tragic defeat in Xiangzhou, the entire Tang army was demoralized, and everyone in the court was in danger, thinking that Guanzhong was about to attack again. Can't keep it.

At this critical moment, the victory of the Battle of Heyang boosted the morale of the Tang army and defended Tongguan, making it impossible for the Yan army to attack for a long time.

"Your Highness, there are many factions under Shi Siming's command, and the generals are not convinced by each other. Although Li Guiren is the commander-in-chief of Mianchi, the deputy general Zhou Zhi is not convinced. Zhou Zhi is Shi Siming's number one confidant and has been following Shi Siming for many years.

Li Guiren was An Lushan's general. His seniority was very senior, and he was parallel to Shi Siming. In order to win over An Lushan's army, Shi Siming appointed him as chief general. His Highness could take advantage of the contradiction between the two of them to divide the enemy forces. , defeated each one. "

Wei Boyu pointed to the two red flags of Mianchi County on the sand table and said: "Your Highness, please look at these two camps. Inside the city are the 20,000 troops commanded by Zhou Zhi, who are directly under Shi Siming's army. The camp outside the city is owned by Li Guiren. The army under his command is the army of An Lushan in the past, and the two armies are clearly distinct."

Li Ye nodded. This information was very important. He only knew that the Yan army was divided into two camps in Mianchi, one to defend the city and the other to station outside the city. He couldn't figure out the reason? Now that Wei Boyu woke up at one o'clock, he knew the reason.

Wei Boyu smiled and said: "I also heard a news that Li Guiren supports Shi Chaoyi and Zhou Zhi supports Shi Chaoqing, but I don't know whether this news is true or false!"

At this time, a soldier reported at the door of the tent: "Your Highness, the scouts have captured Shi Siming's Minister of War, and he has been brought to the camp!"

Li Ye quickly said: "Bring him here immediately!"

Not long after, several soldiers escorted Wu Liang, the minister of the Ministry of War of the State of Yan, to the Chinese army's tent. Just as Li Ye came out, Wu Liang said, "Poof!" Kneel down and kowtow, "Your Highness, spare your life! Your Highness, spare your life!"

Li Ye was startled, how could this happen? Wei Boyu whispered from the side: "Shi Siming's officials are basically appointed at will, and many of them are horsemen, treasurers and the like."

Li Ye understood now and asked, "What did you do originally?"

Wu Liangzhan said tremblingly: "Reporting to your highness, the villain was originally a county official in Jixian County. He followed Shi Siming on the expedition. He appointed the villain as a soldier to participate in the military affairs. Later, he appointed the villain as the minister of the Ministry of War."

It turned out that he was just a county official. Li Ye understood. No wonder he was so afraid of dying and having no future. He asked him again: "What are you doing in Mianchi?"

"The villain is here to convey Shi Siming's imperial edict!"

Li Ye immediately asked: "Where is the Holy Apostle?"

(End of this chapter)