The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 306 different hearts
In the suburb of Qili, the imperial garrison camp.

On both sides of the rolling hills, densely packed military tents were scattered and orderly like wild flowers in bloom.

The army camp guarded the two exits of the hill and firmly guarded the main passage to the northeast of Kaifeng City.

If Yedu soldiers and horses want to approach Kaifeng, they usually have two options.

The first is to walk seven miles outskirts, and the second is to go around the Jishui River in the east and cross over to Caozhou. This will take an extra five to six hundred miles, and most of them are mountain roads, which are steep and difficult to travel, and there is no way to guarantee the follow-up of food, grass and baggage.

Murong Yanchao sent troops to dig a trench to connect the Bian River and Jishui River, which greatly increased the water volume of the Jishui River and made the river narrow and fast, making it difficult for ships to cross.

However, this winter, the upper reaches of the Bianhe River did not freeze, and the water volume did not decrease at all. Part of the water was diverted and filled into the Jishui River, and the water transportation of the Bianhe River was not affected at all.

As a result, the soldiers and horses of Yedu had no choice but to take the road Qilijiao.

Murong Yanchao abandoned Chigang and Liu Zipo and stationed all his strength in the suburbs of Qili.

In his vision, the Yedu army would not be able to reach Kaifeng City from here unless they completely defeated the Qili Subiao Camp.

On the surface, Murong Yanchao's arrangement is considered to be comprehensive and appropriate. Judging from the book figures of the two armies, the total number of troops and horses is almost the same. The imperial army's logistics supplies are more sufficient. They can defend instead of attack, so they have enough time to be patient. Go down.

On the other hand, in Yedu, the food and grass supplies were mainly transferred from Chanzhou and Huazhou. The journey was long. Every extra day the army stayed would add a heavy burden to the logistics supply line.

The imperial court could afford it, but Yedu and Guo Wei couldn't afford it.

Murong Yanchao wanted to fight a protracted war from the beginning. The longer the delay was, the more the morale of the Yedu rebels would be depleted, and the easier the final battle would end.

The first battle was the final battle. Murong Yanchao wanted to use a brilliant victory to establish his unique position as commander in the court.

Murong Yanchao's idea was wonderful, and he wrote his plan in detail in a memorial and submitted it to the officials for imperial approval.

But within two days, Guo Wei sent people to secretly shoot several warning letters to the camp at night, demanding that the court kidnap Li Ye, Nie Wenjin and four others and send them to the Yedu army, otherwise there would be no more fighting. Room for maneuver.

Murong Yanchao sneered at this, thinking it was just a trick by Guo Wei to shake the morale of the imperial army, and he didn't take it to heart at all.

But when Nie Wenjin, Guo Yunming, and Houzan, who were accompanying the army on the expedition, heard about it, they jumped like a cat with its tail stepped on. They rushed to the commander's tent to see Murong Yanchao and encouraged him to immediately march to Liu Zipo and fight the Yedu army. .

After three days of urging, Murong Yanchao became extremely annoyed and ordered the three of them to be kept out of the commander's tent.

At noon that day, Murong Yanchao summoned all the generals to discuss matters in the commander's tent. Hou Yi, Jiao Jixun and other veteran generals were also there.

"Commander-in-Chief, the supervisor Nie Wenjin, the flying dragon envoy Guo Yunming, and the bodyguard Ma Bujun are all waiting for an audience with the Queen!"

After reporting the soldiers, Murong Yanchao slapped his forehead with a headache, waved his hand and said angrily: "Let them come in."

All the soldiers in the commander's tent stood up one after another, only the two veterans Hou Yi and Jiao Jixun were senior and didn't have to stand up to greet them.

When Nie Wenjin and the others entered the tent, their expressions were a bit ugly. Being blocked from the commander's tent for several days in a row, the three of them felt really angry.

The three of them sat unceremoniously behind Hou Yi and Jiao Jixun, while the other soldiers could only move back one by one.

Counting the ranks in this commander's account is also a bit strange, in terms of power, Murong Yanchao is the commander-in-chief hand-picked by the government, so naturally the highest.

In terms of official positions, Nie Wenjin, Guo Yunming, and Houzan were the highest. They were the confidants of the officials and could not afford to offend anyone.

The generals who actually lead troops to fight are far inferior in official status, and they have to act according to the faces of the three of them.

Although the two veterans, Lian Hou Yi and Jiao Jixun, looked down on Nie Wenjin in their hearts, they were still polite and even a little bit flattering on the surface.

"It's really difficult to enter General Murong's handsome tent! Not even Xiaguan, the supervisor appointed by the official family, can enter!"

Nie Wenjin vented his dissatisfaction strangely.

"That's right! Those who don't know think that General Murong secretly controls the military and is planning some major events that the officials dare not know about!" Guo Yunming also added with a half-smile.

Murong Yanchao's eyes sank, and he was secretly annoyed. What the three guys said was clearly accusing him of using military power to plot wrongdoing.

Hmph~ As expected of a sycophant who was born as a cruel official, he would open his mouth to frame him.

Murong Yanchao took a deep breath and suppressed his anger. Now was not the time to fall out with the three of them.

When he defeated the Yedu rebels, when he captured Guo Wei and became an unparalleled hero in helping to protect the Han Dynasty, he would slowly settle accounts with these traitors.

Murong Yanchao forced out a smile: "The three of you were joking. I am busy with military affairs all day long, and I am really too busy to do anything. Please forgive me for any slightness."

Nie Wenjin snorted coldly: "General Murong, I came here today to ask you for confirmation. When can we send troops to Liu Zipo? Give the rebels a head-on attack?"

Murong Yanchao said in a deep voice: "The rebels from Yedu have come all the way, their morale is high, and they want to fight our army quickly. If we send troops now, wouldn't we be fulfilling the enemy's wishes?"

Guo Yunming said hurriedly: "But the rebels were stationed in Chigang, but the imperial army did not send a single soldier. How unethical is this? It's like the officials and the imperial court are afraid of the rebels in Yedu!"

Houzan said coldly: "I beg General Murong to send troops as soon as possible to fight the rebels to the death! If no one under General Murong dares to fight, I, General Murong, can lead the Longwu Army as the vanguard!"

"Bang~" Murong Yanchao couldn't bear it anymore and slapped the armrest heavily in annoyance.

Several generals of the Returned Army who had followed Murong Yanchao for a long time showed displeasure on their faces.

Seeing that the situation was not going well, Jiao Jixun hurriedly smiled and said: "The Longwu Army envoyed by the rear army is the elite of the imperial army. They are close soldiers of the government and should not be used lightly unless absolutely necessary. As the vanguard of the army, they are overqualified.

General Murong's men are all brave men, and everyone is loyal to serve the country. With just one order, they will all fight bravely and kill the enemy bravely. "

Jiao Jixun calmed down the atmosphere in time so as not to embarrass both parties.

Hou Zan snorted and said nothing, while Murong Yanchao's face was expressionless, but his eyes were full of sinister thunder.

Hou Yi stroked his gray beard and smiled bitterly to himself.

There was silence in the commander's tent for a while, and then Jiao Jixun said: "Right now, our army is waiting for work. When the morale of the Yedu rebels is exhausted, and when the rebels' food and grass supplies are insufficient, then the opportunity to fight will be revealed."

Jiao Jixun clasped his fists and said: "The strategy formulated by General Murong is very consistent with the current situation of our army. The rebels want a quick victory, while our army should be slow and slow, and not compete with the enemy for a short time."

Murong Yanchao smiled slightly with a dark face: "What General Jiao said is absolutely true."

Jiao Jixun greeted with a smile.With a well-spoken and prestigious veteran like Jiao Jixun to ease the atmosphere, everyone in the big tent would not leave in a hurry.

Jiao Jixun smiled on his face, but sighed helplessly in his heart.

If he had a choice, he would not be willing to be caught in the middle of Murong Yanchao, Nie Wenjin and others, being in a dilemma and not being human inside and out.

Murong Yanchao behaved rudely and arrogantly, and his reputation in the military had always been bad. Jiao Jixun had always looked down upon him.

Not to mention Nie Wenjin and the other three, they only gained their current high position by flattering and serving the emperor. It was a group of treacherous and unskilled villains who were harmed by them, and the court fell into its current situation.

Jiao Jixun was born into a wealthy family. After many years of fighting, he became a famous Confucian general in the world. It was only because of the rebellion of Fengxiang Army Wang Jingchong that he accidentally failed to suppress it, so he was deprived of the position of Commander-in-Chief by the officials, and was transferred back to Kaifeng and given the idle post of General Youwuwei. Retirement.

If it weren't for the Yedu rebels going south this time, I'm afraid he would never have the chance to return to the army.

Jiao Jixun has always been a bit aloof. After the Wang Jingchong Rebellion, he has seen through the harshness of the world and his temperament has become much more peaceful. But deep down in his heart, he still looks down on Murong Yanchao who relied on brutal murder and nepotism to achieve his current high position. The generals looked down upon Li Ye and Nie Wenjin, the court bugs.

Unfortunately, both groups now have higher status than him, and he is caught in the middle, just a subordinate role.

What's even more helpless is that this world-famous war will directly determine the life and death of the imperial court, as well as his personal future and wealth, so he has to rack his brains to make suggestions.

Jiao Jixun and Hou Yi looked at each other, seeing the same thoughts in each other's eyes, and smiled bitterly.

Nie Wenjin stood up, took out a yellow silk imperial edict like a magic trick, and said with a cold face: "It is not up to me to decide whether to send troops or not. The official will is here. General Murong can see for himself!"

Murong Yanchao's expression changed. Unexpectedly, Nie Wenjin actually produced an imperial edict.

All the soldiers stood up. Murong Yanchao took it respectfully, bowed in the direction of Kaifeng, and unfolded it to look at it.

At first glance, he was even more angry.

The officials actually urged him to find an opportunity to fight the rebels as soon as possible!

What he didn't expect even more was that the officials would come to Qili Subiao in person to supervise the war.

Surprised and angry, Murong Yanchao glared at Nie Wenjin.

Nie Wenjin smiled strangely and said: "General Murong, please don't take out your anger on the official. The official is coming to inspect military affairs, and the idea of ​​sitting in charge and supervising the war was not the idea of ​​the official.

Who told the thief Guo to utter arrogant words in the letter, which angered the officials, which made the officials come to Qili Suburban to see how General Murong defeated the rebels. "

Murong Yanchao's face looked ugly. It must have been Li Ye's loud noise in front of the officials, which made the officials want to personally come to the army to take charge.

Once the officials came, he, as the commander-in-chief of the army, was in name only. Everything was not decided by the officials.

But the officials do not understand military affairs and know nothing about battle formations. If they give random orders, they may disrupt his arrangements.

When the war doesn't go well, it's not up to him to bear the blame.

Murong Yan was more and more aggrieved when he thought about it. If he had known this, why would he have to fight for the position of this noble man?

Hou Yi stroked his beard with a smile on the corner of his mouth, which was quite sarcastic.

Murong Yanchao saw this and was secretly annoyed.

But now that the matter has come to an end, he has no choice but to give up his job. Murong Yanchao suppressed the anger and resentment in his heart and said in a deep voice: "The official sage came to the army in person, my army officers must be inspired! Send people to the imperial tent camp immediately , after the official family arrives, I will personally escort the official family to their camp."

A general stood up, clasped his fists, and ordered to retreat.

Guo Yunming smiled and said, "General Murong can tell us now, when will we be able to send troops to fight the rebels?"

Murong Yanchao said coldly: "The rebel army is stationed in Liuzipo. I will immediately send people to spy on the military situation. I will find an opportunity to send troops at a certain date. I will test the rebels' true strength first."

Nie Wenjin and the other three looked at each other and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Murong Yanchao finally agreed to send troops. As long as the two armies fought together, their heads could be saved.

"Then I'll leave first and prepare to welcome the royal family. After General Murong defeats the enemy's vanguard, I'll come back to congratulate you."

Nie Wenjin and the three got up and left.

As soon as the three of them left, Murong Yanchao couldn't hold it back any longer. He slapped the table in annoyance and shouted, "These three slanderous traitors are really hateful!"

Jiao Jixun said hurriedly: "General Murong really decided to send troops? It is not a good opportunity to send troops at this moment!"

Murong Yanchao said angrily: "But the official's intention to urge the war is here, what can I do? If we don't send troops again, those bitches like Li Ye will probably falsely accuse me in front of the official of supporting the troops and respecting myself, and have evil plans!"

Jiao Jixun was speechless and shook his head with a wry smile: "Guo Wei is really powerful. These letters of his are literally urging the officials to hand over Li Ye and others, but in fact, they are urging General Murong to send troops as soon as possible to fight with the Yedu army. decisive battle.

Li Ye and the others were worried that if the war dragged on and the two sides made peace, their heads would be used by the officials to appease Guo Wei and the Yedu rebels, so they spared no effort to encourage the officials to issue orders to urge the war.

It was precisely because Guo Wei had seen through this that he came up with this strange move!

Without spending a single soldier, he disrupted our army's layout. It was really clever! "

Hou Yi stroked his beard and said, "I am afraid that this plan came from Wei Renpu. This man is known as the magic strategist in black and is the number one adviser around Guo Wei!"

Murong Yanchao said angrily: "Guo Bandit is treacherous, when I capture him alive, he must be humiliated!"

Just as he was talking, a soldier came into the tent and knelt down on one knee to report: "Commander Qi, there are a large group of rebels three miles north of the camp. Please report back. There are no less than five thousand in number!"

"Oh!" Murong Yanchao perked up, stood up and shouted: "It must be the vanguard general sent by Guo Wei! Can you see clearly who the enemy general is?"

"Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief, the enemy is hoisting a red general's flag, and the person giving the orders seems to be a young general with a white face and no beard! Our army's detective horses have rushed to conduct reconnaissance. The specific situation will be known later!"

There was a sound of horses neighing outside the tent, and a scout hurriedly rushed into the commander's tent to report: "Commander Qi, the enemy general's name is Zhu Xiu. He is not more than twenty years old. He serves as the secretary of the camp in Yedu. This time he was awarded the title of vanguard." Officer, come with five thousand soldiers and horses to find a fight!"

"Zhu Xiu? Secretary in charge? Pioneer officer?" Murong Yanchao was stunned, burst into laughter, and then said with anger on his face, "What a hateful thief Guo! How dare you despise me so much, and send a young boy who is still young?" The thief came to provoke our army! It’s really abominable!”

Jiao Jixun's heart moved. A handsome face with a cunning smile appeared in front of his eyes. The past events in Jingzhou came to mind one by one.

(End of this chapter)