Late Tang Dynasty: Descendants of the Imperial Clan

Li Cenji did not intend to delve into the reasons in front of the assembled generals, and continued:

"In my humble opinion, now is the time to raise this banner high."

A low murmur arose in the hall.

Ignoring the noise, Li Cenji continued:

"The military commander can use the title of 'Commander-in-Chief of the Four Garrisons of the Capital' bestowed by the Emperor to proclaim to the world, calling on the regional military governors to send troops to defend the Emperor, join forces in Guanzhong, and jointly punish Huang Chao. The military commander is already doing this, but now he might as well make it even bigger. At the same time, the military commander can order the troops of the various garrisons to move eastward in a grand manner, making it appear as if he is about to march on Chang'an and recover the capital."

He paused, then said, word by word:

"After Huang Chao occupied Chang'an, the reason he didn't advance westward for a long time was because he was consolidating Chang'an and the surrounding territory. The military governor had only been secretly contacting various regions and gathering defeated troops, without openly displaying an offensive posture. Huang Chao turned a blind eye, intending to first digest the Guanzhong Plain before dealing with the military governor... Both sides were simply competing to see who could stabilize their rear faster. But once the military governor raised his banner and made his move, could he pretend not to know? He couldn't. If he allowed the military governor to calmly gather troops and approach Chang'an step by step, the newly surrendered soldiers and generals under his command would become restless, and the able-bodied men he had forcibly conscripted would harbor rebellious intentions. Therefore, he would definitely send troops and take the initiative to attack."

The people in the hall reacted with varying expressions upon hearing this.

Cheng Zongchu's eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh, shouting:

"What a clever scheme to lure the snake out of its hole!"

His shout was so loud that it made the teacup in Qiu Gongyu's hand shake.

Li Cenji nodded and continued:

"This is precisely a way to lure the enemy out of their hole. If Huang Chao launches an attack, his troops will have to leave Chang'an and the territory he has cultivated for two months, embarking on a long march westward towards Fengxiang. Meanwhile, we can choose a strategic location between Fengxiang and Chang'an, wait for the enemy to tire themselves out, and launch an ambush from the advantageous terrain. As long as we can defeat this force sent by Huang Chao, we can greatly dampen the enemy's morale and boost the prestige of the imperial court."

At this point, he slowed his speech slightly and revealed his plans one by one:

"At that point, there will be three possibilities for the situation."

Firstly, Wang Chongrong was defeated by Zhu Wen and Shang Rang, and Hezhong fell into Huang Chao's hands again. However, we have already defeated the enemy invading from the west and can retreat to Fengxiang at our leisure to defend the city. Huang Chao intends to take advantage of the situation to advance westward, and we can also rely on the advantage of the fortified city to try to defend Fengxiang.

Secondly, with Wang Chongrong and Zhu Wen locked in a stalemate, we can slowly advance eastward, step by step approaching Chang'an. Huang Chao's trump cards are ultimately limited. He needs to leave troops to guard Chang'an, send troops to suppress Wang Chongrong, and guard against Li Keyong in the north. His mobile forces total no more than seventy or eighty thousand. If we can defeat his vanguard sent to attack Fengxiang in one battle and advance steadily, he will certainly not give up and will send a second wave. At that time, we can either confront them head-on or continue to ambush them, striking another wave. This process can be repeated, like burning oil in a lamp, gradually depleting his trump cards wave by wave.”

Li Cenji raised his hand and made a loose clenching motion in the air:

"He adds fuel to the fire every time, and we'll burn it again. We'll burn it until he has no soldiers left to send, until he has no choice but to transfer the troops guarding Chang'an. At that point—"

He reached over Zheng Tian's shoulder and placed his loosely clenched hand heavily on the location of Chang'an on the map.

Having said that, Li Cenji continued to elaborate on the third possibility:

"Thirdly, Wang Chongrong defeated Zhu Wen. Then Hezhong truly became the sharpest knife of the court in the east. At that time, the military commander could coordinate with Wang Chongrong and Li Keyong of Taiyuan and other troops to encircle and recapture Chang'an in one fell swoop."

This speech was well-organized and progressively elaborated, clearly outlining several possible scenarios.

After hearing this, the officers and soldiers present all looked thoughtful, and some even nodded unconsciously.

Cheng Zongchu clapped his hands repeatedly and shouted:

"Brilliant! What a brilliant idea! Luring that scoundrel Huang Chao out of Chang'an is far better than a direct assault on the city! Minister Zheng, your disciple is truly remarkable!"

Zheng Tian remained calm, simply nodding slightly without rushing to express his opinion.

He looked at Li Cenji with a scrutinizing gaze, but also with a hint of satisfaction that was hard for others to detect.

What the young man just said was exactly the same as the strategy he had been planning for a long time.

Zheng Tian suppressed the turmoil in his heart, kept his expression unchanged, and asked again:

"Then, in your opinion, where should this ambush site be chosen?"

Upon hearing this, Li Cenji felt a slight chill run down his spine.

He knew that Zheng Tian was testing him, or rather, giving him a chance to continue to perform.

He naturally knew that he should choose Longwei Weir.

Longweibei, located in Fengxiang, is situated east of Fengxiang Prefecture and south of Qishan Mountain. The terrain is undulating with ravines and steep slopes on both sides, with a narrow official road winding through the middle. It is the only way from Chang'an to Fengxiang.

In his previous life, he had seen videos from marketing accounts claiming that in the Battle of Longweipo, the Tang army took advantage of the terrain to wait for the enemy to tire themselves out and decisively defeated the tens of thousands of vanguard troops led by Shang Rang, a general under Huang Chao.

In that battle, Shang Rang's army was almost completely wiped out, and he only managed to escape back to Chang'an with a thousand or so survivors.

It was this battle that demonstrated the Tang army's final might and showed the determination and strength of the court to the warlords who were still observing, prompting them to rise up in response.

The problem is, he can't say it.

Since arriving in Fengxiang, he has been guarding the military governor's mansion every day and has never left the city.

At most, they would drill their troops on the training ground within the city, and they rarely even approached the eastern gate of Fengxiang City.

How could someone who has never left the city know the terrain of Longweibei?

How can we know where the best place to ambush is?

If he were to utter the words "Longweibei" as soon as he opens his mouth, Zheng Tian would certainly become suspicious.

Who was Zheng Tian?

A veteran official of three dynasties, serving two terms as prime minister, and having seen countless people.

If he becomes suspicious, no matter how well you try to hide it, it will be peeled away layer by layer.

Li Cenji's mind raced, but a perfectly timed blush appeared on his face as he clasped his hands in a fist and said:

"Reporting to the Commander, I am ashamed. Since I came to Fengxiang, I have been guarding the Commander's residence and have never left the city. I know nothing about the terrain east of Fengxiang, where there are defensible positions, or where it is suitable for ambushes. I dare not speak carelessly in front of you commanders."

This was said frankly and openly, without showing off or hiding one's shortcomings.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Tian's eyes showed even greater approval.

A general should know what he knows and admit what he doesn't know.

If Li Cenji actually opened his mouth and said a place name, he would suspect that the young man was just spouting nonsense.

After all, Li Cenji had never left the city, a fact known to everyone in the household.

Zheng Tian nodded slightly and said:

"The fact that you can say this shows that you have truly thought it through and are not just spouting nonsense."

Having said that, he waved his hand and slowly said:

"As for where to place the ambush, I already have a plan in mind. You may listen to it."

Zheng Tian pointed to a place south of Qishan on the map and casually said:

"This place is called Stone Nose Village. The terrain is treacherous, with high cliffs on both sides and a narrow path in the middle, which is the only way from Chang'an to Fengxiang. If we set up an ambush here, with our high vantage point, the enemy army will have no chance to escape even if they had wings."

He spoke with such confidence, as if he had thought it through countless times.

Those officers and generals present who knew this place nodded in agreement.

If there was anything I didn't know, I didn't dare to ask too much; I just secretly kept the name in my heart.

Wang Lu, the military commander of the right flank of Fengxiang, looked at the location Zheng Tian had pointed to on the map, and then considered the terrain of Shibi Village. He nodded and said:

"Shibi Village is indeed a dangerous place. I have been there several times. It is a very narrow place. Cavalry cannot spread out, and infantry are crammed together. If we can really ambush them, even if the enemy army has tens of thousands of troops, they will only be able to take a beating."

Zheng Tian nodded and said, "In that case, let's settle this matter."

Li Cenji stood beside Zheng Tian, ​​and upon hearing these words, his heart sank.

Shibi Village?

Although he had never been to that place, everyone agreed that it must be easy to defend and difficult to attack.

But... that was not Longweipi after all.

The history books of my past life clearly state that in the Battle of Longweipo, the Tang army utterly defeated Shang Rang's vanguard, beheading more than 20,000 men and leaving corpses strewn across the fields. Shang Rang escaped back to Chang'an with only a thousand or so remaining soldiers.

That battle was the first major victory for the armies from all the western provinces who came to the aid of the emperor, and also the first major defeat Huang Chao had suffered since entering Chang'an.

Now Zheng Tian has actually moved to a different place?

Li Cenji remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was in turmoil.

Could it be that my own butterfly wings, as a time traveler, have ultimately influenced the course of history?

That night at the military governor's mansion, relying on his memories from his previous life, he stirred people's hearts with the classic "Qin King's Battle Song," and then suddenly launched an attack, killing the traitorous envoy and capturing the rebellious eunuch.

In the historical records of his previous life, these events were all spontaneous actions taken by the generals after Zheng Tian awoke, and had nothing to do with Li Cenji.

But now, it is he who has done these things.

Could it be that Zheng Tian's thoughts have changed because of this?

If the Battle of Longweibei had not taken place, or if such a great victory had not been achieved in another location, wouldn't the course of history have taken a complete turn from here?

His mind raced with thoughts, but he dared not show it on his face.

She simply lowered her eyes, suppressing the shock and unease that momentarily overwhelmed her.

Zheng Tian had already stood up, cupped his hands in greeting to everyone in the hall, and said:

"That concludes today's meeting. Gentlemen of the military, please stay a moment, as I have a few more words to discuss with you. All other officers and generals, return to your camps, prepare for battle, and await orders."

Upon hearing this, everyone stood up to take their leave.

Li Changyan, Zhao Buying, Sun Chu, Wang Chu, and others exited the main hall in turn.

The military commanders, officers, and yamen runners brought by the various towns also filed out.

Just as Li Cenji was about to leave with the others, Zheng Tian suddenly called out to him.

"Jingzhi, you stay too."

Li Cenji paused, turned around, and clasped his hands in greeting:

"Yes."

Before long, only Zheng Tian, ​​Li Cenji, and the five military governors remained in the hall.

Zheng Tian then lost his composure, slowly sat back in his chair, picked up the cup of tea that had long since gone cold, and took a sip.

The hall was quiet for a moment.

Cheng Zongchu was the first to speak, unable to contain himself any longer:

"Lord Zheng, what business do you have with us?"

Zheng Tian raised his hand to stop him, and said calmly:

"General Cheng, don't be anxious. The Stone Nose Village I mentioned earlier is just a decoy."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall was stunned.

Li Cenji's heart skipped a beat, and he abruptly raised his head to look at Zheng Tian.

Zheng Tian put down his teacup, glanced at everyone, and slowly said:

"You are all seasoned veterans, and I will not hide anything from you. The place I truly desire for an ambush is not Shibi Village, but Longwei Weir."

"Longwei Weir?"

None of the military commanders knew this place. They were not local military commanders of Fengxiang, so it was impossible for them to be familiar with all the mountains and valleys here.

"Exactly."

Zheng Tian nodded.

"The earthen slopes on both sides of Longwei Slope, the official road in the middle, the crisscrossing ditches and ridges, and the dense vegetation make it an ideal ambush site for cavalry to attack from both sides, taking advantage of the high ground. The enemy army could not defend themselves from both ends."

Upon hearing Zheng Tian's words, Qiu Gongyu's face showed a hint of doubt, and he said:

"Since Prime Minister Zheng has taken a liking to Longwei Weir, why did you do that just now—"

"Because there were too many people in this hall just now."

Zheng Tian’s tone was calm, but it made everyone present tense.

He said slowly:

"Among those present today are officers and generals from Fengxiang and Longyou, military commanders and garrison commanders from various garrisons, and my own staff and assistants. Most of these people are loyal and reliable, but it is hard to guarantee that there are not one or two among them who, seeing Huang Chao's growing power, have secretly colluded with him. If I were to reveal the true ambush plan in public, and it reached Huang Chao's ears, then the ambush would no longer be an ambush."

He paused, then added:

"The Peng Jingrou incident serves as a stark reminder of what happened before, and I dare not be complacent."

After hearing this, everyone suddenly understood.

Li Cenji stood there, and a layer of cold sweat immediately seeped out on his back.

He was so engrossed in his speech that he was only thinking about how to persuade everyone and how to explain his plans, but he forgot that although there were many officers and generals in the hall, not everyone was of one mind.

That night at the military governor's mansion, Peng Jingrou hosted a banquet for Huang Chao's envoy. Almost all the officers and soldiers in the hall tacitly agreed to surrender. If he hadn't stirred people's hearts with a song called "Qin King's Battle Song" and suddenly launched an attack, Fengxiang City would have already changed its flag.

Only two months have passed. Who can guarantee that not one or two of those people still harbor ulterior motives?

If someone had leaked the information and Huang Chao had known the Tang army's intentions beforehand, the ambush would not only have failed, but Huang Chao would have instead launched a counter-ambush.

Zheng Tian looked at him and said:

"Jingzhi, you spoke eloquently in the hall just now, analyzing the strategy of luring the snake out of its hole and choosing a dangerous place to ambush it in a very logical way. I was very pleased to hear it."

Li Cenji, however, felt unworthy of such praise and simply said:

"I was so overconfident just now that I almost ruined something important. Please punish me, Master."

Seeing his appearance, Zheng Tian laughed and said:

"How can this be your fault? I was the one who told you to speak today, and the officers in this hall were invited by me, not you. Since I did this, I should have anticipated the risk of leaks. If anyone should be held accountable, it should be me, not you."

He paused, then said:

"Furthermore, your words just now were well-organized and logically sound, analyzing the situation flawlessly. Otherwise, Commander Cheng and the others wouldn't have been so convinced. In this respect, you are not only without fault, but you have actually done a good job. However, you must remember one thing in the future: in matters of national importance, secrecy is paramount. What needs to be said, in whose presence, and to what extent, must all be carefully considered. And what should not be said, even with a knife to your throat, you must not utter a single word."

Upon hearing this, Li Cenji felt both ashamed and grateful.

I am ashamed to admit that I, who pride myself on having lived two lives and read some history books and watched some short videos, thought I had a deep understanding of history and was confident in my abilities, but I made mistakes in these seemingly insignificant but actually crucial details.

To his gratitude, his mentor not only did not pursue his mistake, but also took the responsibility upon himself and used the incident to teach him a lesson.

At that moment, Li Cenji bowed again and said:

"Your disciple will remember your teachings."