Thief Emperor

Chapter 721 The troops arrive in Luoyang
It was not known whether it was because General Zhou Xu was too old or he just could not drink much, but after this meal, Li Yun was only four or five percent drunk when General Zhou fell to the ground, unconscious.

Li Yun went over and shook him, but seeing that he did not respond, he asked several of General Zhou's "maids" to carry him onto the bed. Then Li returned to his own camp at a leisurely pace.

The next morning, he gave Yao Zhong a few final instructions, took Yang Xi and others, and left Chenzhou on horseback.

This time, he didn't even bring his entire guard camp with him, only a hundred or so people from the camp.

To be precise, there should be about a hundred riders.

Nowadays, his army already has a large number of cavalry, and basically everyone in his 500-guard battalion has learned the skills of riding and shooting. Although they may not be as proficient as the Khitans, they can already be called cavalry.

These hundred riders escorted Li Yun and set out from Chenzhou, heading northwest. In just two days, they arrived at Weishi County in Zhengzhou. At that time, a force of 5,000 soldiers from the Jiangdong Army was stationed here.

Su Sheng himself, having received the news in advance, had been waiting here. After seeing the horses of Li Yun and others from afar, he and a group of generals greeted them on both sides of the road, half-kneeling on the ground and knelt in salute, being extremely respectful.

Ever since Li Yun proclaimed himself king at the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven at Mount Zhong, many things in Jiangdong have become more orderly. Even a veteran like Su Sheng, who is also Li Yun's senior brother, has to observe all the proper etiquette in public.

This is also the survival wisdom of Su Sheng, who comes from an official family. No matter what he thinks in his heart, he will always behave properly on the surface, never get carried away, and never talk nonsense.

Li Yun pressed the saddle with one hand, and dismounted beautifully. Then he stepped forward to help Su Sheng up, and asked with a smile, "Brother, when did you get here?"

"Early this morning."

After Su Sheng stood up, he said, "It's only been two or three hours."

He turned sideways and said, "Your Majesty, let's talk in the camp."

Li Yun walked in front of him, and Su Sheng lagged behind him by half a body length. He smiled and said, "When I received the news, I was a little bit skeptical. If my family didn't have the seal of the Nine Departments, I might not have come."

As he spoke, he looked at Li Yun and said, "Why did the superior suddenly rush from Chenzhou to the front-line army?"

"I've received news that there is civil unrest in Guanzhong. The main force of the Shuofang Army, including Wei Quanzhong himself, is likely to have moved westward to Guanzhong. I think..."

"This is a good opportunity."

Li Yun looked back at Su Sheng, then smiled softly and said, "Let's go to the big tent to discuss the details."

"Yes."

Su Sheng responded, then looked around and asked, "By the way, Your Majesty, I heard that General Chen spent the New Year in Chenzhou, why didn't he come with us?"

"I really need to tell you about this."

Li Yun smiled and said, "I have assigned him to Xuzhou to take over Meng Qing's position. I'm afraid he won't be able to come back to serve as my brother's deputy general for a while."

Su Sheng was startled when he heard this, then smiled bitterly and said, "I'm not complaining about being promoted, but now my army has lost a deputy general. Wouldn't it be difficult to fight in the future?"

"Stop it."

Li Yun looked back at him and said with a smile: "Without Chen Da, Brother might be more comfortable in commanding troops."

Su Sheng and Zhao Cheng, both of them can be considered as "latecomers".

Although this latecomer has not been much different from the generals in Jiangdong so far, the two deputy generals Meng Qing and Chen Da, although it cannot be said that they were sent by Li Yun to keep an eye on them, there is more or less some meaning in this regard.

Hearing Li Yun say this, Su Sheng hurriedly shook his head and said seriously: "It's wrong to say that you are in a higher position. I have always admired General Chen. We often drink together."

"He is very steady in handling matters, and it is reassuring to work with him."

"It is precisely because of his steadiness that he was sent to guard Xuzhou."

Li Yun smiled and said, "Take away one of your deputy generals. Am I not here to be your deputy general?"

At this time, the two of them were walking at the front of the team, one in front and one behind. The others were ten steps away from them. The two of them spoke in a low voice and no one could hear them.

No one dared to hear it.

As they were talking, the general's tent soon appeared before them. Su Sheng stepped forward and opened the curtain for Li Yun. Then he looked back at the guards and said in a deep voice, "Guard the door. Without the king's order, no one is allowed to approach within ten steps."

"Yes!"

After saying this, Su Sheng followed him into the general's tent.

Li Yun had already sat down in the main seat. Su Sheng strode forward, hesitated for a moment, and sat next to Li Yun. He asked, "Master, why don't you see Su Zhan?"

"I let him go back to Nanjing to celebrate the New Year."

Li Yun smiled and said, "At this moment, he is probably on his way back from Jinling."

"This bastard boy."

Su Sheng was a little annoyed and said angrily: "It's already this hour, and he still doesn't know the seriousness of the matter. Is this the time for him to go back for the New Year?"

"I told him to go back."

Li Yun smiled and said, "Go back and do something for me, and visit my children while you're at it."

As he spoke, Li said with emotion, "I used to be alone, running around with a bunch of brothers, without any nod to home. Now I have a family, a child, and I am running around outside. Sometimes I feel a little unhappy." Su Sheng looked at Li Yun and laughed, "People are like this. The little monkeys in my family, the oldest is fourteen or fifteen years old this year. I miss them a lot when I am running around outside."

Li Yun lowered his head and drank a cup of hot water, then said slowly, "Brother, we won't be able to survive this kind of life for many years."

Su Sheng was startled, then looked up at Li Yun, who smiled softly and said, "Bring me the map."

Su Sheng immediately stood up and quickly took out a map of Henan Province and Duji Province and spread it in front of Li Yun. Li Yun's eyes fell on the map, pointed to the empty space on the table to the left of the Duji Province map, and said, "This is Guanzhong."

"I can now be almost certain that at least half of the Shuofang Army has been deployed to Guanzhong, or even more."

"Otherwise, they wouldn't be so timid in the Central Plains battlefield. At least they would have shown some resistance."

Su Sheng's eyes fell on the map of Duji Province. He seemed to understand Li Yun's intention and whispered, "Your Majesty... wants Luoyang."

"Correct."

Li Yun did not shy away from saying, "To be precise, I want to occupy the capital!"

"This is a bit difficult. If the Shuofang Army had left 10,000 or 20,000 men to defend Luoyang, it would have been very difficult to take it."

"However, if there are 10,000 or 20,000 people defending Luoyang, I would like to give it a try."

Mr. Li said softly, "Even if it doesn't work, we can still lure the Shuofang Army back. At most, we can have a big fight with the Shuofang Army in Duji Province!"

His eyes were blazing: "We in Jiangdong need a big battle to complete the final tempering."

Mr. Li said in a hoarse voice: "Whether you win or lose, there are benefits!"

If it was when the Jiangdong Army was first established, a major defeat would very likely have wiped the name Li Yun out of the history books.

If it had happened a few years ago, a major defeat would have driven Li Yun directly back to Jiangdong, where he would not have dared to show up for several years.

But now, Li Yun has established his own rear in Shannan East Road and even in Henan Road, and he can afford to lose!

The Jiangdong Army, whose qualities in all aspects are no worse than those of the Shuofang Army, now needs a final tempering in blood and fire, a great battle that will go down in history, to complete its final transformation!

Li Yun set this battlefield in Dugi Province!

That is, several states and counties centered on Luoyang!

Su Sheng took several deep breaths, and finally he looked up at Li Yun and said in a deep voice: "Master, please give your orders!"

"Everyone under my command is ready!"

"it is good."

Li Yun didn't waste any words and said directly: "The reason why I rushed here is because of this matter."

"I have sent someone to give orders to Zhao Cheng. He will abandon Songzhou City and lead his main force to attack Duji Province."

"It's the same here, brother."

"Besides, my brother's place is the closest to the capital city, and it's even right next to it. Speed ​​is of the essence in war."

"Brother, send a vanguard army here. Ignore all the cities along the way and go straight to the capital, or even to Luoyang."

"Open up a path for the follow-up troops."

Mr. Li looked at the map with a burning gaze: "By then, with the main force here by my brother, plus the main force by Zhao Cheng, and some scattered troops, the force we will eventually gather in Duji Province will exceed 100,000!"

Su Sheng's breathing quickened when he heard this, but he quickly calmed down and whispered, "Sir, if we mobilize troops like this, will the rear be left empty?"

"rear…"

Li Yun shook his head and said, "Most of the entire south is our territory. There is no need to worry about what's behind us. Even if there are problems, Li Zheng can free up his hands to deal with them."

"We are now only considering the Central Plains and the Capital Region!"

Su Sheng clenched his fists, his eyes burning: "You take the position of commander in chief, I will be the vanguard!"

"it is good."

Li Yun didn't say anything, but said slowly: "We'll stay here and wait for news."

Su Sheng was startled and asked, "What news?"

"News about the Shuofang Army entering Tongguan."

Mr. Li's eyes were burning.

"As soon as the Shuofang Army makes a move, we will immediately take action. By the time they penetrate into Guanzhong, our main forces will be almost gone..."

"Just in time for the troops to arrive at Luoyang!"

(End of this chapter)