Li Chengqian of the Tang Dynasty: Please say long live His Majesty

Chapter 449: Military Supervisor Liu Rengui, Secret Order (Part )

Li Chengqian sat on the imperial couch, reading the military report in his hand. He looked up at the ministers in the hall and said puzzledly, "Only more than 20,000 people invaded Shanzhou. Does that seem a bit too few?"

"Your Majesty!" Li Ji stepped forward and said with a bow, "Of the over 20,000 men identified in Shanzhou, only 10,000 are elite Tibetan cavalry. The remaining 10,000-plus are from the Eastern Tuyuhun general Su Hegui. However, they must have risen suddenly, otherwise there wouldn't be so few."

"I don't care about Tuyuhun's cavalry. No matter how many Tuyuhun cavalry there are, in my eyes, they are nothing but chickens and dogs. Only the Tubo army is the real opponent of the Tang Dynasty." Li Chengqian looked serious. The physical fitness of the Tubo people is even better than that of Tuyuhun, and their combat power is not comparable to that of Tuyuhun.

"Your Majesty, what you said is absolutely correct." Li Ji bowed and said, "The Tuyuhun cavalry that attacked Shanzhou only had 10,000. This means they also sent 10,000 cavalry to Fuqi City, and another 10,000 cavalry from the garrison to support the rear. There should also be another part as a rear army. Therefore, the military force they deployed in Tuyuhun was only 40,000."

"It's quite a bit." Changsun Wuji stood up and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, they still have a part of their troops that must be sent to Songzhou. Besides, it's winter now, so they can't carry much food and fodder. So these 40,000 cavalry are almost the limit."

"I originally expected more." Li Chengqian said subconsciously.

"Your Majesty, these are already the elite troops of Tubo." Fang Xuanling could not help but stand up and bow.

"Alright." Li Chengqian looked up and said, "This way, our chances of winning will be even greater."

"Yes!" All the ministers bowed.

Li Chengqian looked at Zhangsun Wuji and said, "Uncle, tell the foreign envoys of various ethnic groups about the Tibetans' troop deployment situation and ask them to speed up the deployment."

"Yes!" Changsun Wuji immediately bowed.

"Tell them that they don't need to be present when I confer the title of Crown Prince. They can just send someone to represent me." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian sneered, "Of course, they can also wait. Once Songtsen is captured and brought to Chang'an, I will have him, Lu Dongzan, and Gar Qinling tried by the three courts... After all, he is the imperial son-in-law of the Tang Dynasty."

"Yes!" Changsun Wuji bowed solemnly.

Li Chengqian looked at Zhang Shigui and said, "Duke Guo, go and get ready. I will personally see you off in the afternoon."

"Yes!" Zhang Shigui immediately stood up and bowed.

Li Chengqian raised his head, looked at the ministers, and said seriously: "This is my first major battle. My Lords, if anyone makes a mistake in this matter..."

The ministers' hearts skipped a beat, and then they all bowed and said, "We respectfully listen to the Holy Spirit's instructions!"

……

"Your Majesty!" Cen Changqian stood at the palace gate and bowed to Li Chengqian, saying, "Liu Rengui has arrived."

"Announce!" Li Chengqian raised his hand slightly.

Liu Rengui, a thin, straight man dressed in a light crimson official robe, walked quickly into the hall and stood still. He bowed to Li Chengqian and said, "Your Majesty, I, the Secretary of the Central Secretariat Liu Rengui, pay my respects to you!"

"Stand up!" Li Chengqian raised his head slightly and glanced at Li Yifu who was standing behind the curtain.

If Li Yifu will be Changsun Wuji's nemesis in the future, then Liu Rengui is Li Yifu's nemesis.

Li Chengqian looked at Liu Rengui and said, "Lord Liu, I am sending you to the front of the army this time. Besides supervising the expenditure of food and military equipment, I also want you to observe the personalities of the generals in the army and their relationships with each other. Do you understand?"

"I understand. I will not interfere in military affairs." Liu Rengui bowed his head and saluted. His role as march inspector actually meant military supervision.

However, compared to him, the emperor trusted Li Jing and other military generals more.

In fact, he was just there to supervise on the surface. He only had the power to supervise, not the power to deal with.

"Yes!" Li Chengqian nodded and said, "After you arrive at the military headquarters, send two reports to Chang'an every day."

"Yes!" Liu Rengui bowed solemnly.

"Also, when you go to the front of the army this time, your main task is to urge the soldiers to use crossbows more and fight less in close combat with the Tibetans." Li Chengqian's expression became serious.

Many people attributed the Tang Dynasty's ability to dominate the world in later generations to its war horses, spears, and Mo Dao. But in fact, the Tang Dynasty crossbows, which were everywhere, laid the foundation for everything.

"Yes!" Liu Rengui bowed again.

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Don't be so serious. If you meet the Duke of Wei, please say hello to him for me."

"Yes!" Liu Rengui immediately bowed.

"Finally, tell Lanzhou Governor Du Fengju, the commander-in-chief of the Lanshan Road, to proceed with caution and not act rashly." Li Chengqian paused and said, "Keep an eye on it."

"Yes!" Liu Rengui's heart suddenly became awe-inspiring. This was the emperor's only secret order.

"Okay, go ahead." Li Chengqian waved his hand slightly.

"I'll take my leave." Liu Rengui bowed, then took three steps back before turning around and walking out of the hall.

Seeing Liu Rengui walk out of the hall, Li Chengqian finally breathed a sigh of relief.

In fact, when Liu Rengui went to the northwest, Li Chengqian wanted him to familiarize himself with the operation of the army, and it would be best if he could learn something from Li Jing.

In Li Chengqian's eyes, now and in the future, the person who can be regarded as a talented general in the army in his dynasty, apart from the already famous Li Jing and Li Ji, is Su Dingfang.

Then after Su Dingfang, it was not Pei Xingjian and Wang Fangyi, but Liu Rengui.

Liu Rengui was the true commander who could stand on his own. His ability was even greater than Su Dingfang's.

In the future, Li Ji, Liu Rengui and Li Chengqian will be used on the Goguryeo battlefield, while Pei Xingjian, Su Dingfang and Wang Fangyi will be used on the northwest battlefield.

To stabilize the world for him.

"Your Majesty!" Li Yifu stood up from behind Li Chengqian and said with some curiosity, "Your Majesty, if you want to see people and ask questions, I am also willing to do so."

"Hahaha!" Li Chengqian couldn't help but laugh. He turned to look at Li Yifu and said with a half-smile, "Mr. Li, I employ him because he will be able to take charge in the future. If he gets promoted again in the court, I will transfer him to the countryside for training. The training will last at least ten years. If you are willing, I have no objection."

"I am naturally willing to serve Your Majesty." Li Yifu quickly bowed, and then added: "If Your Majesty thinks it is best for me to stay in the court, then I will stay by your side and be able to serve you better."

Li Chengqian smiled and waved his hand, looking at the entire Chang'an City in front of him, and then looked to the northwest, where the Tuyuhun Plateau was located.

……

Under the blue sky, the mountains rise and fall.

Liu Rengui followed the clerk of the Lanzhou Governor's Office into the central hall.

At once, all the generals in the palace, including Li Dejian, the governor of Xiazhou, Qu Fang, the general of the Left Tunwei, Xi Junmai, the general of the Left Thousand Oxen Guard, Xin Liaoer, the general of the Left Guard, Xue Wanbei, Duan Baoxuan, the general of the Left Thousand Oxen Guard, as well as the local chief historian, Sima and other officials and generals of Lanzhou, all stood up to greet them.

Those who are familiar with Li Chengqian actually know that Li Chengqian wanted to transfer Liu Rengui to the Eastern Palace a long time ago.

That was not even eight years ago.

Liu Rengui was transferred from the position of Xianyang County Magistrate to the position of Xin'an County Magistrate, and it was Li Chengqian who promoted him.

Later, Li Chengqian wanted to transfer Liu Rengui to the position of Prince's Shepherd, but the Supreme Emperor had another appointment for him, so he was not transferred to the Eastern Palace.

But even so, the retired emperor transferred him to the position of Zhongshu Sheren himself.

Now Li Chengqian uses him as the Northwest Supervisor, a position of low status but with great power, and he trusts him greatly.

Among those present, Li Dejian, Xi Junmai, Xue Wanbei, and Duan Baoxuan were all Li Chengqian's men, and they attached great importance to the personnel changes around Li Chengqian.

Naturally, I know about Liu Rengui.

Other veterans like Qu Fang and Xin Liaoer each have their own channels.

Liu Rengui was flattered and bowed to everyone, then walked to the last seat and stood there.

At this moment, amidst a burst of talking, the Imperial Guard General Zhang Shigui, the Right Guard General Qian Jiulong and the Lanzhou Governor Du Fengju walked out at the same time.

Everyone bowed and said, "Greetings, General."

Zhang Shigui nodded, then walked to the center of the hall and sat down. Qian Jiulong and Du Fengju sat on his left and right respectively.

Zhang Shigui looked up at Xi Junmai and asked, "General, tell me about the current situation."

"Yes!" Xi Junmai bowed, then stood up and said, "General, over 10,000 Tibetans are besieging the cities of Shanzhou. Because of advance precautions, the civilians in the cities have already evacuated to the mountains. The remaining soldiers are using the cities as a base to fight fiercely with the Tibetans. Even when most of the cities have fallen, they are still holding on."

The generals in the hall couldn't help but laugh softly.

What "most of the country has fallen"? This is just a trap they set to tie down the Tubo army.

"In addition, there are 6,000 cavalry hidden in the mountains of Shanzhou. They will charge out at the first sign of trouble." Xi Junmai bowed and said, "The Tibetans have 15,000 cavalry, bypassing the cities of Shanzhou and heading towards Lanzhou. Tuyuhun cavalry are constantly charging into Shanzhou, so they don't worry about their retreat."

"Their goal is to capture Lanzhou and disrupt the northwest. If possible, they'll emulate Jie Li and storm the city walls of Chang'an." Zhang Shigui looked up and said, "Right now, the Tibetans are trying to disrupt Tuyuhun, but if the northwest becomes turbulent, the Western Turks and the Uighurs will both take advantage of the situation. This is exactly what the Tibetans are planning."

All the generals in the hall nodded solemnly at the same time. If this was really the case, then the situation would be difficult.

"Therefore, this battle must be fought to completely defeat, or even annihilate the Tubo army." Zhang Shigui waved his hand coldly.

"Yes!" All the generals stood up.

Zhang Shigui looked at Xi Junmai, raised his head and motioned him to continue.

Xi Junmai bowed and said, "Because of advance preparations, the Lanzhou troops are relying on the mountain roads to retreat step by step, and at the same time, soldiers are constantly retreating into the mountains on both sides.

Three days later, the Tibetan army should reach the gates of Lanzhou. When that happens, all the tribes will emerge from their ambush and together we will annihilate the Tibetans."

All the generals bowed in agreement.

"Your Majesty has been preparing in Lanzhou for six months, which has led to this opportunity." Zhang Shigui looked at the generals and said, "You all know the rules of the army. Although I don't have the power of the Duke of Wei to execute first and report later, I can still impeach and remove officials. During the war, anyone who is afraid to fight or harbors selfish motives will first be punished with a hundred strokes of the cane and then impeached and removed from office."

"I will follow the general's instructions!" All the generals bowed in unison.

"Everyone, sit down." Zhang Shigui waved his hand slightly, then said calmly: "As long as all the generals work hard, this time's military merit will be easily achieved..."

A burst of hurried footsteps interrupted Zhang Shigui's voice. A Qianniu Guard walked quickly into the hall and bowed to Zhang Shigui, saying, "General, there's a report from Hezhou that a large Tibetan army has invaded Hezhou..."

(End of this chapter)