Jiuxi

Chapter 330 Chapter 328 [There is a long road ahead]

News of the fall of Heluo City spread throughout the country, and the one most affected was Beiyan Moyang Road.

General Niu Cunjie was in a very uneasy mood during this period, fearing that the Huaizhou West Route Army occupying Heluo City would move south and attack the back of the Yan Army's defense line on Moyang Road. They had done this the year before last.

Fortunately, the Jing army led by Qingyu Zhongwang and Mou Lianghu did not relax their vigilance. Although they withdrew from the capital in accordance with Lu Chen's request, they repeatedly increased the number of ranger scouts in an effort to grasp the Huaizhou army's movements in a timely manner.

Niu Cunjie could finally feel relieved, but the tactics of the Jingzhou Army in the south also made him unable to understand.

Except for the initial capture of two cities on the western front, the Jingzhou Army continued to maintain the status quo. It only maintained an oppressive posture against the Yan Army on the border and did not launch a strong offensive.

Niu Cunjie knew that Feiyu Battalion went north to support the Huaizhou Army, but the loss of one Feiyu Battalion was not a big deal for the Jingzhou Army. Why was Li Tianrun so conservative?

Even though he was confused and puzzled, Niu Cunjie did not dare to relax, for fear that the Jingzhou Army would find a flaw and defeat it in one fell swoop.

The two armies have maintained this state of confrontation.

Nearly a hundred miles south of the Jingzhou Army's front is Fuchang City.

This was the wartime headquarters of the Jingzhou Governor's Mansion, and Li Tianrun was sitting here to control the overall situation.

After careful treatment by Xue Huaiyi, a generation of miracle doctors, Li Tianrun's physical condition improved, and the atmosphere in the Governor's Mansion gradually became relaxed and cheerful. Especially when Li Bingxue returned with the Feiyu Camp Cavalry with great honors, the festive atmosphere became even more Strong.

During the Northern Expedition, the Jingzhou Army was willing to cover the flanks and its military exploits were not outstanding. However, Feiyu Camp played a decisive role in the victory of Leize, and this matter had already spread throughout the country.

After this battle, Li Bingxue will definitely be able to reach a higher level in the military.

In the study, Li Tianrun looked at his daughter with gentle eyes and said with approval: "Not bad, I didn't embarrass the Jingzhou elders."

"Dad, when has my daughter ever embarrassed you and the Jingzhou Army?"

Li Bingxue responded slightly mischievously. It was obvious that Li Tianrun's improved physical condition made her very happy, which far exceeded her joy of making achievements on the battlefield.

Li Tianrun smiled slightly and said, "I thought you would take Feiyuying to Heluo City for a visit."

Li Bingxue explained: "Lu Chen didn't plan to defend Heluo from the beginning. My daughter didn't know his specific plans, but he said there was no need to make an extra trip to Feiyu Camp, so my daughter rushed back with her troops."

Li Tianrun nodded and said: "His choice is very wise. The difficulty of breaking Heluo is very different from that of holding Heluo. Moreover, the imperial court may not be able to bear the price of holding Heluo."

Li Bingxue's eyes flickered and she asked expectantly: "Dad, are our Jingzhou Army going to step up their offensive next?"

Li Tianrun didn't answer, but looked at her and asked, "Have you given up?"

This brief question made Li Bingxue startled. She vaguely guessed what her father meant, but she found it unbelievable because Li Tianrun had never interfered with her life-long affairs. At most, her mother was just insinuating.

The current question seemed to mean that her father knew her thoughts well.

Li Tianrun said warmly: "You are my daughter, how could I not know what you are thinking? That time you came back from Guangling City and you were full of praise for Lu Chen. I have never seen that kind of look on your face. When you came back After a trip to the capital, it became more obvious when Lu Chen was assassinated and injured, and Huo Zhen and others also mentioned it vaguely in front of me."

"These people are really long-tongued..."

Li Bingxue smiled helplessly, not denying or feeling embarrassed.

Li Tianrun continued: "You have been independent since you were a teenager and basically don't need my wife and me to worry about, so you have not interfered with your dealings with Lu Chen. But as far as I know, Lu Chen has a close relationship with the daughter of the Lin family, and you are not quarrelsome with others. I can't help but be a little worried about your temper. This time I asked you to lead the army north, with the intention of letting you think carefully. Now it seems that you have finally given up?"

Seeing him asking again, Li Bingxue said calmly: "Dad, my daughter has never thought about fighting with Lin Xi."

Li Tianrun said with a complicated expression: "Are you unwilling to compete, or are you afraid that you won't be able to compete?"

Li Bingxue laughed dumbly, raised her eyebrows slightly and said: "Of course I don't want to. I made it very clear to Lu Chen that although I have some affection for him, I don't want to live in a deep house with a husband and children. In this world... once a woman gets married, she It’s not easy for a woman to show up in public, but I still have business to do, how can I live up to my father’s expectations?”

Li Tianrun sighed softly and said slowly: "Silly boy, as a father, I just want you to be safe and happy. Some things are the responsibility of our fathers and cannot be forced on your shoulders."

Li Bingxue smiled sweetly and said: "Of course my daughter understands what her father wants. However, the eldest daughter of the dignified Governor of Jingzhou can't be a concubine, right? Even if the daughter doesn't want to be decent, how can she ignore her father's face? Lu Chen People are very stubborn at heart, and he believes that Lin Xi will never change, and now that there is another daughter of the Wang family, my daughter really doesn’t want to compete with them."

Li Tianrun looked at her bright eyes and cheerful expression, and said with a sigh: "That's fine, you can make your own decision."

Li Bingxue suppressed the complicated emotions in her heart and continued the previous question: "Dad, when will our army strengthen its offensive?"

Li Tianrun shook his head and said, "That's it."

Li Bingxue looked puzzled.

Li Tianrun explained briefly: "The main force of Jing's army is still there, and stretching the front too long is not a good thing for our army. Half of Moyang Road and the entire Dongyang Road have been harvested beyond expectations. At this time, we need to digest the regained Territory, if you bite off more than you can chew, you will suffer the consequences. Brother Xiao and I wrote letters, and he also agrees with this view. Now we need to put down a firm foothold and stabilize the front."

Li Bingxue nodded slightly.

Li Tianrun added: "When our army and the main force of Jing's army face each other head-on in the future, as long as we can gain an advantage, our army can take advantage of the situation and march forward. Before that, we have to be patient and wait for the real battle."

Li Bingxue said cheerfully: "My daughter understands, and she will step up her training during this period."

Li Tianrun smiled and said: "It's not so urgent. Let's go back to Pingyang Mansion to see your mother."

"Yes, daddy."

Li Bingxue stood up and responded.

After walking out of the study and into the courtyard, she looked up to the north and saw the sky was high and the clouds were pale blue.

She exhaled slowly, with a touch of sadness in her eyes.

……

In the 14th year of Jianwu of Qi Dynasty, the 6th year of Jingtiande, March 12th. After seven days of repeated wrangling and haggling, the envoys of Qi and Jing finally reached peace talks.

The two sides agreed that the Huaizhou West Route Army would withdraw from Heluo and return to Dongyang Road (Qi State Dingzhou) along the east line of the Gyeonggi Province. Jingjun Qingyu's Zhongwang Division, Moulianghu Division, and the Dingbai Army Division under Shanyang's command entered one after another. In the Gyeonggi area, Heluo will be taken over after the Huaizhou army withdraws.

The position of Emperor Yan was abandoned, and the central government of the imperial court assumed the responsibility of governing. The Heluo area was used as a buffer zone between Qi and Jing.

The Jing Dynasty acquiesced that half of the territory of Dongyang Road and Moyang Road was occupied by the Qi Dynasty, but no written text was formed.

The Jing Dynasty paid a total price of more than 8,600 war horses to redeem all prisoners of war headed by Qing Yu Huaijin, the princess of Yongping County.

The most fierce dispute between the two sides was the ownership of the pass east of Heluo. Finally, with the approval of Xiao Wangzhi and Lu Chen, Xu Zuo, the censor Zhongcheng, agreed to the other party's request. The two armies of Qi and Jing used Gongcheng as the boundary, and Qingliu Pass in the east belonged to it. The Qi army, and Yaoshanguan in the west returned to the Jing army.

From this point of view, Qi Chao suffered a slight disadvantage.

There is no need to mention Heluo. The key lies in Yaoshang Pass. I believe that after this failure, Jingjun will definitely attach great importance to Yaoshang Pass. After all, this pass is the last barrier to the east of Heluo.

However, neither Xiao Wangzhi nor Lu Chen was too insistent on this matter, as if they would be satisfied if they could get Qingliu Pass.

From March 14th to March 17th, near Linying City in the north of Heluo, the Qi army returned prisoners of war in batches for four consecutive days, and at the same time obtained a corresponding number of war horses from the Jing army.

On March 17, in the last exchange ceremony, there was only one prisoner of war.

All the elite troops of the Huaizhou West Route Army came out, the Ruishi Battalion cavalry and infantry advanced slightly, and the Feiyun Army and the Lai'an Army lined up in the rear to respond.

For Jing's army, Qing Yu Zhongwang led 5,000 elite cavalry to hold down the formation, with the flag of the Dingbai army looming behind.

In the Ruishi camp, Lu Chen and Qing Yu Huaijin stood side by side on horseback.

Lu Mo looked ahead silently, watching Li Chengen lead people to receive the two thousand horses that Jing Chao used to redeem the women around him.

The spring breeze blew slowly, blowing Qingyu Huaijin's black hair on the temples.

She turned around and said, "Hey."

Lu Chen said calmly: "Say."

Qing Yu Huaijin looked around at the soldiers of the Rui Shi Battalion who were in strict military appearance, and lowered his voice and said, "You really have never thought about defecting to our court? This is your last chance."

Lu Chen said without squinting: "Want to hear the truth?"

Qingyu Huaijin nodded and said, "Yes."

Lu Chen said: "I never thought about it."

Qingyu Huaijin curled his lips.

Lu Chen added: "Although I can't become a person like Yang Guangyuan and Marshal Yang, I certainly won't become a villain like Pang Shigu, who will be stabbed in the spine for a lifetime, and finally beheaded and executed without peace of mind."

Qingyu Huaijin looked up at the sky and did not answer the question.

After about half a stick of incense was burned, Li Chengen came to report that the war horses had been received.

Lu Chen then said: "Princess, you can go back and say hello to your father for me."

Qingyu Huaijin made no move.

Lu Chen smiled and said, "Don't want to leave? Or do you think two thousand war horses are not in line with your noble status?"

"Pooh."

Qingyu Huaijin spat softly, swung his riding whip, and the horse neighed and stepped forward with four hooves.

After walking a few steps, Qingyu Huaijin turned to stare at Lu Chen and said word by word: "Goodbye, Lu! Da! Loyal! Chen!"

When they parted, her eyes finally showed some indescribable emotions. She seemed to want to engrav Lu Chen's face firmly in her heart and repay the shame he had inflicted on her in the future. She also seemed to want to do this for this young man. It's a pity that people are pedantic. Maybe he can have a better future in the north.

But she didn't get any response, so she looked back and moved forward without hesitation.

Lu Chen's expression remained unchanged as he watched her ride through the hundred-foot distance between the two armies, then enter Jing's army's formation and then disappear.

"Withdraw troops!"

Lu Chen gave an order, and all units of the Huaizhou Army retreated in an orderly manner toward Heluo. The Jing Army on the opposite side also cautiously retreated to the north.

Between heaven and earth, there is only the sound of wind, which is endless and lonely.

……

March 20th, the fourteenth year of Qi Jianwu's reign.

The Huaizhou Army withdrew from Heluo, carrying more than 8,000 fine war horses, 13,750,000 taels of snowflake silver, and countless grain, grass and ordnance. With the support of the Zhenbei Army and the Guangling Army arranged by Xiao Wangzhi, they marched along the Returned smoothly along the official road east of Heluo.

At this point, the Northern Expedition of the Qi Dynasty frontier army came to an end.

The State of Yan has been destroyed in name only, and the military confrontation between Qi and Jing is temporarily suspended, but no one dares to take it lightly, because each other can confirm that the war has not really ended unless they decide the final winner.

There will be a battle.

　Hello book friends, the third volume of this book [The Wind Rises in Heluo] has ended, and the fourth volume [Or Leaping into the Abyss] will begin tomorrow.

　　

　

(End of this chapter)