A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Starting from the Village Chief

Chapter 235: Seizing Three Forts and Defeat Five Forts

A night of wind and snow.

The next day, there was still no sign of stopping. Leaden clouds hung low, and the sky was dark and gloomy.

It was all white.

On the north bank of Gushui River, Guzhou City is connected to the west of Luo City.

In Nangang Fort, the Zheng flag in the fort had been cut down and a Tang flag was raised.

Li Yi hadn't slept all night, but at this moment, he had no desire to sleep at all. He was extremely excited. Last night, under the command of Luo Shixin, they took advantage of the wind and snow to capture three forts and five strongholds.

Five hundred people were beheaded, two thousand were captured, and a total of more than five thousand stones of grain, five hundred war horses, eight hundred mules and donkeys, and a number of swords, spears, bows and arrows were seized.

Nangang is not far from Guyu City and is the only way from the north bank of the Gushui River to Guyu.

After Wang Shichong captured this outer castle, he sent 500 elite soldiers to garrison it. However, he did not expect that Luo Shixin would suddenly turn against him and lead the Tang army to seize the castle overnight.

When the commander of Nangang Fort let Luo Shixin into the fort, it was doomed to fall.

That's a fierce tiger.

Five hundred people could not stop the enemy at all. They just set off beacons to warn Wang Shichong's camp in Guzhou before the castle was captured.

"It feels so good," Luo Shixin laughed heartily with red eyes, holding a bloody sword.

This man had gone crazy with killing last night. If Li Yi had not dissuaded him again and again, he would have killed all the Zheng troops in the three forts and five strongholds he had captured.

Five hundred people were beheaded and two thousand captured in one night.

This result was so brilliant that it was unbelievable to Qiu Xingyan, Li Dejiang and other active and courageous young players.

"Hurry up and cook. After you've eaten, brothers, take turns on duty and take a rest."

Li Yi stood on the city wall of Nangang Fort. The fort was not big, but its location was critical and very strong. If Luo Shixin had not deceived him, even if there were 5,000 people attacking, it would probably take more than ten days or half a month to take it.

Previously, Wang Shichong led tens of thousands of troops to sweep through the outer forts of Guzhou one by one. Due to insufficient troops, Ren Gui took the initiative to retreat and gave up some forts, focusing only on defending Nangang Fort. However, in the end, he could not withstand the attacks of peerless generals such as Shan Xiongxin and Pei Xingyan.

But not long after it changed hands, it was taken away by Li Yi again.

The most crucial thing is that Wang Shichong personally led a large army to attack and sent a group of peerless warriors, but it took a lot of casualties to capture the city. However, Li Yi took it by fraud with almost no loss.

"Is the bacon from last night still available?" Luo Shixin asked with a smile.

"There's still a little bacon left, but there are also some sausages and cured fish. The brothers will share them later."

Having achieved such a great victory overnight, Li Yi and Luo Shixin's followers were all smiling from ear to ear.

Thousands of troops were stationed in three forts and five strongholds.
In this cold and snowy day, with the fortress walls, everyone felt much safer, and they also seized a lot of millet and wheat.
Naturally, you have to boil water and cook rice to eat hot food.

Inside the castle, Li Yi was finally able to temporarily take off the fifty-jin Shangfang Mingguang armor, put on a warm and light fur robe, sit in front of the fire, wash his face and feet, and then comfortably warm himself by the fire.

Liu Heizi, Luo Dafu, Luo Wu and others also came over and warmed themselves by the fire while waiting for the food to be cooked.

"I didn't expect the war could be fought like this," Liu Heizi kept muttering. The whole day and night yesterday was really an eye-opener for him.

He felt a little regretful. Although he had Li Yi's help and he had mobilized the palace soldiers and was able to join the army in this battle, as Li Yi's personal soldier and a new recruit of Luojiabao, he followed Li Yi throughout the whole process and had no chance to actually go to the battlefield to kill the enemy and behead them.

Almost all of the five hundred beheaded people were from Luo Shixin's army, and most of the prisoners were also captured by them.

Li Dejiang praised Qiu Shenyan, Zhao Yongan and others, who at least had the merit of beheading prisoners, but they had none of that.

"As my personal soldiers, your duty is to guard the commander and protect the flag. Even if you don't behead or capture anyone, you will still receive military merit."

Although the casualties last night were small, there were still casualties. Dozens of people were killed in battle and hundreds were injured. There is no war without casualties.

In Luo Shixin's opinion, last night's casualties were almost negligible compared to the results of the battle.

"That soldier Luo is so small, but I didn't expect him to be so fierce."

"Yes, with his lance, no one can stop him."

Li Yi laughed and said, "Haven't you heard of it? General Luo's nickname is White Tiger Luo Shixin. They say he's the reincarnation of the White Tiger Star. There are five tiger generals in Wagang. Do you know who they are?"

Liu Heizi was excited when he heard this, "I know, Qin Qiong, Luo Shixin, Cheng Yaojin, Pei Xingyan and Shan Xiongxin."

"Yes, that's right. These five generals are highly skilled in martial arts and have great reputations. They are known as the Five Tiger Generals. Naturally, they are all very capable." Li Yi said.

The new recruits from Luojiabao borrowed 50,000 yuan from Li Yi to participate in the selection, and got Li Yi's help to select the palace soldiers. They did not expect that they would go to the battlefield immediately after being selected.

Before, they were just marching along the way, and escorting grain after passing Tongguan. They didn't encounter any problems and everything was quite new. But after experiencing last day and night, several people realized the dangers of the battlefield.

If people say it's gone, it's gone.

"Alang, you have made great contributions this time. Will you be promoted to a higher rank and become a county lord?" Luo Wu asked with a smile.

"Hahaha," Li Yi laughed, and felt a lot more relaxed.

Ten miles outside Guzhou City, the Zheng army set up camp.

Some war horses galloped directly into the camp,
The officer guarding the camp gate took a look but did not order anyone to stop him. Riding a horse in the camp was a capital offense, but the man was a scout and if there was any urgent military information, he could rush into the camp and go straight to the general's tent.

Anyone who stands in his way is guilty.

The knights rushed to the front of the tents of the Grand Marshal, the Left Prime Minister, and the Duke of Zheng. Their horses foamed at the mouth and fell to the ground. The scouts, their bodies covered in icicles and their beards frozen, fell off their horses.

Pulling out a piece of military information from his pocket,
"Quickly report to the Grand Commandant, Nangang Fort has been lost, Xishang Fort, Nanyuan Fort, as well as Guangou Village, Hougou Village, Gaoping Village, Shanggou Village, and Gaopo Village.

The three forts and five strongholds west of Guzhou have all been lost, and the defenders in several locations have been completely wiped out."

Wang Shichong suddenly opened the tent and walked out. This actual controller of the Luoyang court had a unique appearance, with millet-colored curly hair, a fair complexion, a high nose, deep eyes, and a beard.

In fact, Wang Shichong's original surname was Zhi. His grandfather Zhi Tuinuo was a Hu person from the Western Regions and died early. His father Zhi Shou followed his mother to remarry and live in the Wang family in Bacheng, so he changed his surname to Wang.

"Three forts and five strongholds fell in one night?"

Wang Shichong shouted, his voice high and shrill.

"Reporting to the Grand Marshal, after discovering the beacon fire at Nangang Fort last night, General Shan immediately sent scouts there."

"Who is it? Who could have taken over the Three Forts and Five Strongholds so quickly in one night?" Wang Shichong still couldn't believe it. He had previously led tens of thousands of people and lost over a thousand in battle before he took over the Three Forts and Five Strongholds. How could they have lost everything in one night?
He still has 2,500 men stationed there.

"Li Jiancheng, Li Xiaoji, Sheng Yanshi, Shi Wanbao, their troops are all across from us. There was no movement at all last night."

"Yes, it's Luo Shixin,"

"Luo Shixin surrendered to the Tang Dynasty?" Wang Shichong was fuming, but he had no place to vent his anger. "Luo Shixin surrendered to the Tang Dynasty?"

"Yesterday, Luo Shixin led over a thousand light cavalrymen to raid the Tang army's food supply route. He encountered a Tang general and was persuaded to surrender."

Wang Shichong was even more shocked now.

"Who, who is that Tang general? Who has such great ability to persuade Luo Shixin to rebel with just his eloquence?"

"That Tang general's name is Li Yi. He is the founding marquis of Qianshui County in the Tang State. He serves as the General Inspector of Fengyi Palace, the Crown Prince's Left Guard, and the General of the Cavalry. He also serves as the Recorder of the Camp."

Wang Shichong looked at Bing Yuanzhen, Shan Xiongxin and other generals who had emerged from the tent and said, "Li Yi, have you heard of this man? I don't remember him being under Li Yuan's command."

Shan Xiongxin and others shook their heads.

"Could it be a member of Li Yuan's clan?"

"Taiwei, I have one more thing to report."

"Say!"

"Yesterday, Duke Zhao and General You Wuhou led their personal guards to inspect the fortress. They happened to stay overnight in Gaoping Fortress. He..."

Wang Shichong frowned when he heard the name of his brother Shiyun's son, "What happened to him?"

"Luo Shixin stole the gate of Gaoping Village and the Duke of Zhao was beheaded while he was sleeping."

Wang Shichong shook his head and said, "Luo Shixin, I have treated you well. How dare you betray me like this?"

Bing Yuanzhen supported Wang Shichong. "Captain, this is extremely strange. Luo Shixin's rebellion came without warning, and he even led the Tang army to capture three forts and five strongholds. It's hard to say there's no conspiracy involved."

"You mean?"

"Perhaps Luo Shixin has been plotting rebellion for a long time, and I'm afraid he might not be the only one."

Wang Shichong's face was as gloomy as water. "Bring me my tiger talisman!"

Southwest of Guzhou,

The Tang army set up camp.

Crown Prince Li Jiancheng was looking at a map. Wang Shichong's military prowess was beyond his expectation. He joined forces with the governor of Shanzhou, Yong'an Prince Li Xiaoji, Xiongzhou commander, Ge Guogong Sheng Yanshi, Yuan Guogong Shi Wanbao and others, and gathered 30,000 troops. However, they were stopped by Wang Shichong.
Although the city of Guzhou is right in front of us, it is difficult to cross.

"Qin Shubao, Cheng Yaojin, Shan Xiongxin and Pei Xingyan are all braver than each other. Even their lieutenants Niu Jinda, Li Junxian, Tian Liuan and Wu Heita, who are not very famous, are surprisingly fierce and powerful," Li Jiancheng said with emotion. Li Mi had so many brave generals in his time, but he was still defeated.

Wei Ting, who had redeemed himself by performing meritorious deeds in the army, strode in with a serious expression. "Your Highness, please look at this." He handed over a piece of military intelligence.

Li Jiancheng turned his head and asked, "What military information?"

"Unbelievable military information," Wei Ting said.

"Three forts were taken and five strongholds were captured in one night. Li Yi?" Jiancheng took it and glanced at it quickly. His face was also filled with shock. "Li Yi has only a thousand soldiers and horses under his command, most of whom are newly selected soldiers from the government."

He continued to look back, and became even more confused when he saw that Li Yi encountered Luo Shixin and his scouts on the banks of Gushui River yesterday.

Luo Shixin, some people call him the reincarnation of the White Tiger Star, while others say he is a mad tiger, but he is a famous and brave general in the Central Plains. He was one of the left and right vanguards under Zhang Xutuo, and later one of the Five Tiger Generals of Wagang.

Li Yi encountered Luo Shixin. How could his 1,000 new soldiers stop him? How could he capture three forts and five strongholds at night?
Li Jiancheng was completely attracted.
"Li Yi was ambushed by Luo Shixin. At the crucial moment, he persuaded Luo Shixin to surrender with 1,500 cavalrymen. Then, the two of them captured three forts and five strongholds at night, beheading 500 people, capturing 2,000, and seizing over 5,000 stones of millet and wheat..."

Li Jiancheng couldn't continue. "Who sent it? Could it be Wang Shichong from across the street?"

"Marching Commander Tang Jian has already sent someone to investigate, and they should report back with results soon."

Li Jiancheng picked up the report again and asked, "What if it's true?"

"Impossible," Wei Ting shook his head and said firmly, "Impossible. Li Yi is just a sixteen-year-old boy who knows how to flatter and scheme. He can't possibly have that kind of ability."

Li Jiancheng put down the military information in his hand and said, "Yes, how is it possible?"

However, because of this military intelligence, Jiancheng was absent-minded all morning. Near noon, the person sent by Tang Jian came back and brought back accurate news.

The three forts and five strongholds are all flying Tang flags.

"I personally witnessed Li Yi, the Marquis of Qianshui, and Luo Shixin eating meat and drinking wine at Nangang Fort. There was also a frozen Jingguan inside the fort, which was built from the heads of 500 enemy soldiers.

There are still two thousand Zheng army prisoners..."

Li Jiancheng suddenly burst into laughter, startling countless soldiers and generals. He untied the thirteen-ring jade belt around his waist and took off the sable fur coat he was wearing. "Give this belt to Li Yi, and the coat to Luo Shixin," he said.

Transfer another thousand infantry and cavalry to Li Yi's command."

Jiancheng smiled brilliantly, "I now promote Li Yi to the position of commander-in-chief of the Gushui Road Army, and Luo Shixin to the position of deputy commander-in-chief. Each of their 1,500 men will be given two pieces of silk, and the imperial court will provide them with money and food supplies in the future."

(End of this chapter)