Thief Emperor

Chapter 747 Pinglu and Fanyang (Happy New Year!)
Su Zhan was sitting next to Su Sheng. He frowned slightly when he heard this and whispered, "Brother, from what you said, things are not going well on the battlefield..."

Su Sheng's smile faded. After a moment of silence, he took out a map and pointed at it, saying, "After the battle in Ruzhou ended, I was ordered to take charge of the battlefield west of Luoyang. We are now stationed near Shou'an. General Zhao Cheng and General Lu Zheng are stationed in Xin'an. These two forces are responsible for closing the west gate of Luoyang and blocking the main force of the Shuofang Army from advancing westward."

Su Sheng pointed at the map and continued, "Right now, General Meng Qingmeng has troops stationed here, and is fighting fiercely with the Shuofang Army that broke out from Luoyang. The two sides... have similar forces, and neither side has any terrain advantage, so it's a close-quarters fight. Now there's news that... the fight is very brutal."

At this point, Su Sheng pointed to the location of Shanzhou and continued, "Wei Quanzhong has the idea of ​​withdrawing to Guanzhong, but he can't just leave in such a shameful way, so there is still a tough battle brewing. These two battles are tough battles that cannot be won by tricks, and we have to bite the bullet and fight them."

At this point, Su Sheng showed a faint smile on his face: "However, after taking Luoyang, even if we win this battle in Jiangdong, the difference is only a big victory or a small victory."

Su Zhan was a little curious and asked, "Brother, what do you mean?"

"The Shuofang Army left Luoyang, which means they admitted defeat. They are still fighting now. To put it bluntly, it's just to be more respectable."

"We continue to fight them in order to implement the combat purpose of our superiors, which is to kill as many enemy forces as possible."

At this point, Su Sheng's eyes fell on the map and he continued, "Our Jiangdong Army's final goal in entering the Central Plains this time is Luoyang. Once Luoyang is taken, it's just a matter of how much we win, brother."

Su Sheng patted Su Zhan on the shoulder and said slowly: "When the autumn wind blows across the Central Plains this year, the Central Plains...will be almost settled."

Su Zhan's eyes also fell on the map, and he continued to ask: "Brother, the Hedong Army is just like this..."

"Give up halfway?"

"They never thought of getting involved. They just wanted to take advantage of the loss of both sides and make a profit."

Su Sheng sneered: "Now that Luoyang City has been occupied, with our Jiangdong's capabilities, we can surround Luoyang and fight. Even if the Hedong army really comes out in full force and we are outnumbered, we can still defeat them!"

At this point, Su Sheng looked at Su Zhan and said slowly: "Brother, since ancient times, once the Central Plains was settled, the world would not be settled for long. The blood feud of our Su family..."

Hearing this, Su Zhan also took a deep breath and whispered, "It's a pity that the dog emperor ran to Xichuan again."

"It's not a pity."

Su Sheng lowered his head and took a sip of wine, then said, "Since ancient times, after the establishment of the Xin Dynasty, it has been necessary to conquer the east and the west. Conquering Shu will be a major event for the Xin Dynasty in the future."

"When the time comes, you and I, brothers, will take on this task!"

Hearing this, Su Zhan smiled and said, "I'm afraid General Zhao will compete with my brother for it."

Su Sheng put down his wine glass and smiled.

"Then fight for it, fight for it."

He looked at Su Zhan and whispered, "You are a close person to the superior, so you have to speak to the eldest brother when the time comes."

Su Zhan thought for a moment and said, "I can only speak when the superior asks, and by that time, I will probably not be near the superior."

“Relationships are different after all.”

Su Sheng looked at Su Zhan and said with a smile: "The prosperity of our family for the next two generations will probably depend on your efforts in the past few years."

Su Zhan lowered his head and did not respond.

Su Sheng just looked at him and didn't say much. He just said, "Since the superior asked you to come, you should follow me, watch more, and learn more. Although it's a little late for you to join the army now, you will have to fight in the next twenty years."

"You must train well, and in the future you will be the most trusted general in the army."

Li Yun had three close attendants. Meng Hai entered the Nine Departments, Zhou Bi entered the Inspection Department of the Privy Council, and Su Zhan was going to join the army in the future!
By that time, Mr. Li will most likely be in a high position, standing too high up, and it will be difficult for him to see clearly what is happening at the grassroots level. He will need many direct subordinates to see and hear some things for him, and also to do some things for him.

In the future, Su Zhan in the army will most likely be such a character. At this moment, Su Sheng has seen it clearly.

Su Zhan lowered his head slightly: "I understand, little brother."

…………

Although the battle in the Central Plains is still going on, the fight has actually come to an end.

Since the Hedong Army did not have the courage to "go all in", and the Shuofang Army had no way to continue to suffer losses, Luoyang changed hands.

After the Jiangdong Li flag was hung on the Luoyang city wall, the news of Luoyang's change of ownership spread in all directions at the fastest speed.

Among them, the Pinglu Army, which was most concerned about the Central Plains battlefield, naturally sent the news all the way to Xuzhou as quickly as possible after receiving the news and reported it to the Zhou father and son.

After hearing the news, Major General Zhou Chang was stunned for a long while, then he took the document and went to see his father who was "seriously injured in an assassination attempt". After handing the document to Zhou Xu, he couldn't help but say, "Dad, this Li Yun..."

"Too fierce." Zhou Chang murmured, "One against two, snatching food from the tiger's mouth, and biting Luoyang from Wei Quanzhong's mouth!"

After Zhou Xu finished reading the document, he was silent for a long time. Then he looked up at Zhou Chang and said silently: "This Li Yun is a bit weird."

Zhou Chang looked at his father and whispered, "Dad..."

"Don't ask me, don't ask me."

Zhou Xu shook his head and said slowly: "How many years can I live? What happens in the future is all your business. You should make the decision. But your father wants to remind you that if you are going to join Li Yun, the sooner the better."

"The faster it is, the more benefits our family can get."

General Zhou said slowly: "If we are slow, let alone the eternal nobility, the Fengyang Alliance in the future will be rejected by others."

Zhou Chang nodded silently and asked, "Dad, do you think we can continue to command the army if we surrender to Jiangdong?"

Zhou Xu glanced at his son and asked, "Do you think it's possible?"

He sneered, "Even if Li Yun allows you to continue to command the army, if he orders you to lead your troops to die, will you go?"

"At this stage, he still needs us father and son, and he might allow you to continue to lead the army. But one day in the future, when he has accomplished great things, if our family continues to lead the army, we will most likely become a thorn in his side."

Zhou Chang took a deep breath and whispered, "Dad, I feel..."

"We should lean on Li Yun."

He said slowly: "I will leave now and go to Luoyang to meet Li Yun."

Zhou Xu thought about it and said, "Do you want your father to go on your behalf?"

Zhou Chang shook his head: "At this time, it would be useful for the child to go."

At this point, he whispered, "No matter what, unless Li Yun shows signs of defeat, our family will not be his enemy."

"As for whether or not there is military power."

Zhou Chang said in a hoarse voice: "If he really unifies the world, we will voluntarily hand over the military power. As for now..."

"It's too early."

Zhou Xu hummed, and said lazily: "Just do as you wish."

……

In Jinling City, in the Secretariat.

An official from the Nine Departments stood in front of Du Qian, bowed his head slightly, and roughly told him about the Central Plains. Then he said, "Mr. Du, the king has successfully occupied Luoyang. The only thing left to do before he can establish his capital in the Central Plains is to clean up the mess."

Du Qian slammed the table, stood up suddenly and shouted.

"it is good!"

He has always been gentle and polite, and this time, even Du Laian next to him was startled.

Du Qian said "OK" several times in a row, and then waved his hand to let the official from the Ninth Department go. The official from the Ninth Department did not leave, but paused and continued: "Mr. Du, in addition to the matter of Zhongyuan, there is another matter that the Ninth Department needs to inform you of."

Du Qian's face was flushed with excitement. After hearing this, he took a deep breath and sat back in his seat: "Go ahead."

The official immediately bowed his head and continued, "According to the king's arrangement, a considerable number of the Nine Departments are now in Fanyang. There is news from Fanyang that the Khitans..."

“It has gone and is back with great force.”

"The Fanyang Army may not be able to hold on, or..."

"I may not be willing to hold on to the end."

Du Qian's expression became serious and he frowned.

"I see."

(End of this chapter)