Jiuxi

Chapter 519 Chapter 517 [All the way north]

On a sunny early spring afternoon, waves suddenly appeared in Yongningfang, North City, Yongjia.

A large number of secret agents in mysterious clothes from the Sutra Weaving Department were dispatched, breaking into more than a dozen houses with lightning speed, killing more than 30 people on the spot, and arresting more than 20 people, including Liu Zhao and Chi Youzhi. A descendant of the Lian royal family.

Yongjian was originally a double-edged sword. Liu Chi and the two repeatedly verified the authenticity of Bian Yin, the spy, for seven years. Naturally, Bian Yin would also use anti-tracking methods to collect information about Jingguo's spies in the city.

Once the net is closed, no water will leak.

This kind of news attracted the attention of many people in the capital. However, when the court announced that this was to capture Jingguo's spies, everyone applauded and the turmoil quickly calmed down.

A little later, Shanyang Hou Mansion.

"According to His Majesty's decree, the Sutra Weaving Department has arrested all the spies in the north to ensure that you will have no worries on the battlefield."

Qin Zheng's expression was very calm when he said this, as if the trap he and Bian Yin spent seven years weaving was nothing special and not a feat worth bragging about.

However, Lu Chen knew how difficult this matter was. Not only did the Warp Weaving Division not reveal any flaws in seven years, but they also had to sell information at critical moments to gain the other party's trust, allowing Bian Yin to get in touch with the other party's core figures little by little. .

"You have to do something, otherwise your death will be unpleasant."

Before leaving, Qin Zheng looked into Lu Shen's eyes and solemnly said: "I wish Lu Hou a great success and a great victory."

Not to mention Li Tianrun, no famous general in the history books could do this.

Qin Zheng added: "In addition, I asked someone to prepare a summary of all the important intelligence in Jiangbei in the past six months, and brought it all over today. I hope it can be helpful to you."

This can greatly reduce Li Tianrun's pressure and prevent him from wearing down his body due to excessive energy consumption, allowing him to devote all his energy to the duel with Qing Yugong.

"Thank you."

The root of all this is that the Weaving Department set up a trap for the Jingguo spies in the capital, causing the Jingguo Emperor to misjudge the situation, thus forcing Qing Yugong to take the initiative, and the strategic advantage established by Jingjun in the early stage was wiped out.

Lu Chen bowed his hands.

The battle in Jiangbei started with Jing's army taking the absolute initiative, and now it has gradually entered the rhythm of Qi's army. One of the most critical turning points was that Qing Yugong was forced to move from the rear to the front.

In his and the emperor's initial plan, the Jiangbei War Council would be jointly commanded by Li Tianrun and Xiao Wangzhi, while he would help the border army with logistics in the capital and make advance arrangements for the Beijing army.

But now that Li Tianrun is sitting in Yongqiu as a bait, he can temporarily command other departments of the Jingzhou Army. Once Yongqiu is surrounded by the main force of the Jingzhou Army, the connection between Li Tianrun and the various departments of the Jingzhou Army will be cut off, and someone must be in the middle. Contact and command these armies, otherwise they will inevitably end up with no leader and each fighting alone.

What he needs most right now is time.

Lu Chen responded: "Okay."

Therefore, Lu Chen said with admiration: "If we win this battle, the Sutra Weaver will do the most good."

Of course he was not deliberately flattering the other party.

After all, the battlefield situation is ever-changing and may deviate from the original plan at any time. No one can rely on the original strategy to get to the end, because the enemy is not a puppet that you can control.

Many times the weight of the word sacrifice is unimaginable to ordinary people.

The files Qin Zheng brought were quickly delivered to the study, and Lu Chen returned immediately after sending Qin Zheng away.

When he led his troops south to Moyang Road, the Jing army on the Dingzhou side had already switched from the main attack to flanking cooperation. Then Li Tianrun suddenly succeeded in attacking Yongqiu, leaving Qing Yugong with even less room to maneuver.

Qin Zheng took the lead and continued: "Now the Jingzhou inspector of the Warp Weaving Department is Ye Qi, and the Jiangbei inspector is Yang Jingxuan. The latter is responsible for commanding the warp weaving departments in Ding and Huai. Yesterday, your Majesty confirmed If I ask you to go to Jiangbei to lead the troops, I will have Fei Ge send a letter to Ye and Yang, and a copy of all the information in Jiangbei will be sent directly to you. "

"No need to say thank you. This is the duty of the Warp Weaving Department."

When Li Tianrun decided to stay in Yongqiu, it was inevitable that Lu Chen would take over the temporary command of the various departments of the Jingzhou Army.

In the study, a huge map was laid out on top of a large case, and several tables next to it were filled with various files.

Lu Chen had already outlined the general situation of the Jingzhou Army's troops on the map.

Before the first Northern Expedition, the Jingzhou Governor's Mansion had two battalions and seven armies under its jurisdiction, namely the Guards Battalion, Feiyu Camp, Guangji Army, Anping Army, Heyang Army, Qing Xu Army, Pingyang Army, Dingxi Army and Linghuai Army.

After the victory of the Northern Expedition, the Jingzhou Governor's Mansion added Yangzhai and Yingze armies. Later, Feiyu Camp was expanded to Feiyu Army, so there were one battalion and ten armies, with a total strength of more than 120,000.

The number of troops seems to be quite large, but the northern defense line of Jingzhou reaches more than 1,200 miles, and there are many city passes that need to be stationed and defended. When spread out evenly, it seems very thin.

Lu Chen stood in front of the big case, his brows gradually furrowed.

According to the explanation in Li Tianrun's latest memorial, he left the Guards Battalion, Qing Xu Army and Heyang Army in Yongqiu, Guangji Army, Dingxi Army and Linghuai Army were stationed on the western front, and Anping Army, Yangzhai Army and Yingze Army were stationed on the western front. To defend the eastern front, the Feiyu Army served as a mobile force to assist in the defense of the eastern front and to protect the rear baggage line.

The Pingyang Army still guards Pingyang Mansion, the core of the rear.

Generally speaking, after conquering Yongqiu, Li Tianrun divided the Jingzhou Army into three, consolidated the defense system on the east and west fronts, and prevented Jing's army from finding a breakthrough. At the same time, he personally led more than 20,000 elite troops to garrison Yongqiu, with the intention of End this war.

As a result, Qing Yugong had fewer and fewer choices.

If Qing Yugong did not attack Yongqiu and could not achieve a breakthrough on the east and west fronts, then the battle would end with his defeat. Although Jing's army captured the northern part of Dingzhou on the eastern front, this could not make up for the loss of Yongqiu.

Retaking Yongqiu, or opening up the situation on the east and west fronts, these are Qing Yugong's only options.

Li Tianrun has already set the stage. Once Qing Yugong decides to take back Yongqiu, the next thing Lu Chen needs to do is to mobilize his troops and generals to complete the encirclement.

This matter may seem simple, but in fact it extremely tests Lu Chen's judgment of timing and how to successfully cross the sea.

Qing Yugong's opportunity lies in the mid-term. Before the Jingzhou Army has completed the counter-encirclement, he has a period of time to attack Yongqiu. If he can break through Yongqiu before the arrival of the Jingzhou Army and capture Li Tianrun in the city, whether Li Tianrun is dead or alive, he will definitely deal a heavy blow to the Daqi border army.

Ten thousand steps back, even if the Jingzhou army cannot break through Yongqiu, as long as the Jingzhou army abandons the east and west fronts and the intention of forcibly completing the counter-encirclement is too obvious, Qing Yugong can lead his army to retreat north in time, while allowing other Jingzhou troops to retreat. The army is strong and breaks through the east and west fronts.

Lu Chen's brows furrowed more and more tightly.

It is difficult to hide the movements on the battlefield quietly from the opponent, let alone a famous general like Qing Yugong who has been in the army for half his life and has extremely rich experience in facing enemies.

Li Tianrun has already played the first half of the game, and the rest of the finishing task rests entirely on his shoulders.

He paced back and forth in the study, thinking about every detail.

In the evening, Song Pei came to the study carrying a tray. He didn't dare to disturb her and just stood quietly in the corner.

Lu Chen turned his head and looked at this gentle and considerate maid. He temporarily suppressed the chaotic thoughts in his heart and asked with a smile: "Put it on the table."

"Yes, Lord Marquis."

Song Pei put the tray down.

Lu Chen asked again: "What did you do?"

Song Pei said softly: "Nourishment soup."

Hearing these three words, Lu Chen's heart suddenly moved. He walked to the table and picked up the soup cup. After taking a sip, he praised: "The taste is very authentic."

Song Pei smiled at the corners of his eyes and said softly: "When I came to Ancheng, Miss Wang made this kind of soup for Lord Marquis. Seeing that Lord Marquis liked it very much, my servant asked Miss Wang privately for advice and roughly learned how to make it. These days The Marquis is getting more and more tired, so my maid thought of making this nourishing soup to help the Marquis heal himself, as a way of doing her best."

"You have a heart."

Lu Chen finished the soup and said warmly: "Tomorrow I will lead my troops out of the capital. You don't have to stay in the capital alone. I will ask Uncle Chen to send someone to take you back to Guangling."

Song Pei responded obediently: "It's all up to the Marquis' arrangements."

Then he packed up and left with the tray.

"and many more."

Lu Chen called out to her.

Song Pei turned around and asked, "Master Marquis, do you have any other instructions?"

Lu Chen walked closer, looked at this happy and angry face, and said slowly: "You have taken good care of me during this period. Although I have said some things in a vague way before, I have not given you a clear answer after all. Wait for me After the wedding, I will take you in. You have been in contact with Senior Sister and Miss Wang, so you should know their temperaments. There will definitely be a place for you in the family in the future, and no one will treat you harshly. You don't have to feel anxious after returning to Guangling this time. , you can tell your parents this news to reassure the two elderly people."

"Master Hou..."

Song Pei's face was full of surprise.

Although she knew Lu Tong's purpose of bringing her to the capital this time, she also knew very well that in this prince's mansion, Lu Chen's own opinion was the most important.

Lu Chen looked at the tears flashing in her eyes, raised his hand to rub her hair, and said with a smile, "Go pack your luggage."

"Yes, Lord Marquis."

Song Pei responded subconsciously, feeling a courage that he couldn't believe in his heart.

She mustered up the courage to stand on tiptoes, lightly touched Lu Chen's cheek with her lips, then turned around and left quickly with small steps.

Lu Chen smiled slightly, then his eyes returned to the map on the big case, and his mood gradually calmed down.

Early the next morning, outside the north gate of the capital.

Ye Jitang led two thousand cavalry and stood waiting.

Lu Chen rode out of the city with more than two hundred soldiers, followed by a group of civil and military officials who came to see him off.

Among the soldiers, Li Gongxu, who was only fourteen years old, stood out.

"Everyone, stay."

Lu Chen bowed his hands to everyone, took one last look at the majestic dragon-like city, then turned his horse's head with more than two thousand riders, stepped onto the official road in the north of the capital, and left at lightning speed.

(End of this chapter)