Chapter 625: Please enter the ward

In winter, the south of the Yangtze River is a little less stern than in the north, and a little more warm. The river water has not frozen, but it is still flowing slowly. It is not a vast world of ice and snow. A month ago, it has melted. There are only piles of dirty snow condensed into ice slag in the shade. The willows by the river are hanging barely, but the branches have already appeared in green. The wind blowing the willows is not so cold, and it has already brought a refreshing and spring atmosphere.

Today is the last day of the first year of Qingping, and next year is the New Year. Although the war in Jiangnan has not yet subsided, the people in Jiangnan still cannot resist their desire for the New Year. Every household kills chickens and sheep, cleans up houses, hangs peach talismans, and welcomes the arrival of the New Year with great enthusiasm.

After four days of marching, the 60,000 Jiangnan army led by Li Yi had arrived east of Zixi County, the southernmost part of Hangzhou. The Lingnan army marched slowly, and is still in Xinchang County, Hongzhou. The two armies were about 300 miles apart. Li Yi received information that the reason why the Lingnan army marched slowly was because the soldiers were not adapting to the cold climate here, and many people fell ill.

This news made Li Yi even more excited. He wanted to put on his wings and flew to Hongzhou in one step to attack the Lingnan Army, which was difficult to maintain even the march. He seemed to see his image covered with halo and rushed to attack for a hundred miles. Li Yi became a famous general who was mighty of the Tang Dynasty. His desire for the halo of famous generals had already made Li Yi almost crazy. He ordered soldiers to march day and night. His 60,000 army had only 5,000 war horses, and the rest were infantry. Despite this, he still marched 180 miles a day and night, and even the war horses were almost dead, let alone the soldiers.

For this reason, Li Chengshi persuaded Li Yi many times. After the persuasion failed, the conflict between them finally broke out. During lunch, Li Chengshi broke into Li Yi's tent with his sword.

"Little Prince! I will warn you at the end."

Li Chengshi pointed at Li Yi with his sword, and his eyes were filled with anger. He said word by word: "If you dare to march like this, regardless of the life or death of the soldiers, I will immediately lead the troops north. You can fight the Lingnan Army alone!"

Li Yi seemed to hear nothing and was still eating his lunch slowly. His lunch consisted of twelve dishes and a pot of wine. Because tonight was New Year's Eve, he would eat a little at noon.

He drank all the wine in his glass and the army was not allowed to drink when fighting. He also knew, but he did not want to comply. Didn’t the Anxi Army also stipulate that soldiers must bring wine in winter?

"General Li, have you drunk too much? Dare to point your sword at me." Li Yi said coldly.

"I didn't drink, nor was I dizzy. It was because you were vigilant and confused. No matter whether the soldiers were alive or dead, whether they were logistical, food or grass, little prince, you are young and do not understand military tactics. It doesn't matter, but you must listen to my advice. What you do is a taboo in military strategists. You underestimate Li Qing'an too much, and you are stepping into his trap step by step."

Li Yi laughed to the sky, and he stopped laughing and said coldly: "What a person who doesn't understand military tactics, what a great military tactic, where are the soldiers? The soldiers are in Xinchang County, Hongzhou. They are no longer able to advance eastward. If we don't seize the opportunity to chase them, they will retreat to Lingnan. You are called a delay in the opportunity to fight. Do you understand? You keep saying, "I don't care about soldiers, but you don't control soldiers?" You understand, but you are not happy that I am your boss, so you find an excuse to attack. Now you point your sword at me, and the following is the one who is in trouble. General Li, I'm sorry, I must kill you!"

Speaking of this, Li Yi threw the wine glass to the ground and shouted: "Come on, tie him up!"

Dozens of personal soldiers from both sides rushed up, and Li Chengshi was also prepared. He waved his sword left and right, shouting: "Who of you dares to touch me!"

Li Yi's personal soldiers stopped, and dozens of Li Chengshi's personal soldiers poured into the tent, protecting Li Chengshi step by step, and quickly withdrew from the tent.

Although Li Yi set up a tent, the army did not set up camp. The soldiers sat on the ground on the side of the road, simply eating dry food and drinking water. Li Yi only gave them half an hour. Although the time was short, many soldiers still fell asleep with fried noodles in their mouths. The days and night marched the soldiers to the extreme exhaustion.

Li Chengshi rushed out of the camp, and he was both angry and frustrated. He always felt that it was strange that the Lingnan Army went north this time. If it were really the Lingnan Army, he could go north by sea and land in Hangzhou Bay without having to travel so long, which consumed physical strength and food. Moreover, the journey along the way was difficult, so the logistics might not be able to keep up. He always suspected that this was not the Lingnan Army, but Li Qing'an's Anxi Army pretended to be, but it was unlikely that the Anxi Army would not need to make a big circle to Hongzhou.

The anger was slightly calmer, but his doubts became even stronger. At this time, a personal soldier advised: "Deputy Commander, with your prestige, it is better to take all the troops away and let this little bastard go to Hongzhou alone."

Li Chengshi shook his head, "He can be unkind, but I can't be unrighteous. He is the prince of the King of Wu at least. Forget it, I have done my best to be kind and righteous, just leave myself."

He whipped the war horse hard and headed north.

Li Chengshi had a fight in the camp. Li Yi had no intention of eating. He held a sword in his hand and stared fiercely in the distance. His team of personal soldiers had already arrested Li Chengshi.

After a moment, a personal soldier rushed back to report to Li Yi, "Report to the head coach, Li Chengshi took more than 100 confidants to the north."

"Run! It's so cheap."

Li Yi was so angry that he slashed into the horse-tie stake with a sword, but he thought about it. It would be fine, and now the army is completely controlled by him.

However, Li Chengshi's military advice still calmed down slightly. Today is New Year's Eve, and he could rest for the soldiers for a night and work hard for him tomorrow. He immediately ordered: "The whole army set off immediately, travel another thirty miles to camp in Zixi County."

The military orders were like mountains, and the 60,000 troops set out again tiredly, heading towards Zixi County 30 miles away.

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Just when Li Yi's 60,000 army was preparing to celebrate New Year's Eve in Zixi County, they did not know that Li Qing'an's big net had been quietly gathered. Just the night before, a huge fleet of 30,000-stone sea ships sailed into Hangzhou Bay and docked in Qiantang County. The ship was loaded with 30,000 elite cavalrymen of Anxi from Yan Port, and 30,000 Northern Tang cavalry came ashore silently and strictly blocked the news. Even the local officials of Qiantang County did not know that a large army appeared in their jurisdiction.

The ones leading this cavalry army were General Li Baozhen and Deputy General Zhao Chongjie. This was Zhao Chongjie's plan. Let the Lingnan Army go north and lure the main force of the Jiangnan Army to fight south. They then sent surprise troops to land from Hangzhou Bay and cut off the Jiangnan Army's return.

This is a bit like the US military landing in Incheon in later Korean Wars and cutting off the Korean army's retreat. It is an extremely clever strategy.

Each of the 30,000 cavalry only brought rations and fodder for three days and moved forward lightly. In the afternoon, the Jiangnan Army arrived at the east of Zixi County, while the Northern Tang cavalry occupied Yuqian County. Here, the Northern Tang Army intercepted Li Yi's logistics supplies, and a grain and baggage team consisting of more than a thousand flat carts.

By intercepting the logistics and supplies team, it means that their strategy has been successful by 80% and the rest is how to completely wipe out Li Yi's 60,000 troops.

Li Baozhen was discussing the march route with Zhao Chongjie. The distance from Yuqian County to Zixi County was only fifty miles away, and the cavalry could reach it in more than an hour. However, the five words given to them by coach Li Qing'an were "planning and then activating", which means that they must have sufficient intelligence support, which is also the usual style of the Anxi Army. Ten scouts were released after they got ashore. Li Baozhen and Zhao Chongjie decided unanimously to wait for the scout's intelligence first and then discuss the specific action plan.

At this time, a slight commotion came from the camp in the distance. Li Baozhen stood up and asked, "What happened?"

After a moment, a soldier ran back to report: "General Su Yu captured a team of 100 enemy troops, and the chief general seemed to be a big official."

Li Baozhen was surprised and immediately ordered: "Bring the enemy general you caught up with him."

Su Yu was the Hanzhong general whom Zhao Chongjie conquered the Arrows in the Battle of Hanzhong. He had been following Zhao Chongjie and also participated in the Jiangnan regaining battle with Li Qing'an. He is now a Lang general. He is good at scout patrols, so he was appointed as the leader of the patrol by Li Baozhen and led a thousand cavalry to patrol the periphery. Just half an hour ago, a subordinate of Su Yu discovered a team of more than a hundred Jiangnan cavalry running from the south. Su Yu set up an ambush, ambushed the cavalry, captured the leader of the cavalry alive, and then found out that the person he was caught was Li Chengshi, deputy commander of the Jiangnan army.

Su Yu was overjoyed and hurriedly removed Li Chengshi in front of Li Baozhen. Li Chengshi's hands were tied behind him. He raised his head and stood up without kneeling, but his heart was as cold as death. When he saw 30,000 Northern Tang cavalry, he understood Li Qing'an's plan. The invasion of the Lingnan army was simply a trap, just to lead a fool like Li Yi, who was ignorant of the sky and earth, to cut off his retreat, and wipe out the 60,000 army. He couldn't help but sigh secretly that the Jiangnan army would be finished this time!

Li Baozhen looked at him for a while and knew that Li Chengshi was originally the governor of the Tang Dynasty Navy, and later appointed as the chief of the Yangzhou Grand Governor's Office. He was a leading general who was a civil servant and was especially good at training the navy. The Jiangnan Navy was trained by him. This person was also the focus of Li Qing'an's attention. Unexpectedly, he was captured alive here.

Li Baozhen waved his hand and ordered someone to untie the rope on his body, clasped his fists and bowed his hands and smiled: "So you are Li Changshi, I have been relied on for a long time."

Li Chengshi moved his wrist silently without saying a word. Li Baozhen didn't care and said with a smile: "We suddenly appeared here, Li Changshi didn't expect it!"

Li Chengshi shook his head and said, "I thought the Lingnan Army was pretending to be you, but I didn't expect that you would land in Hangzhou Bay. It's really surprising. It's really clever, but where did your big ship come from?"

Li Baozhen waved to Tian Jianming, the general next to him. Tian Jianming stepped forward and bowed, "General Li, what's the matter?"

"It's nothing, I'll introduce you to this former Datang Navy Governor."

Li Baozhen pointed to Tian Jianming and said to Li Chengshi: "This General Tian was still a garrison in Xinde half a year ago. Four months ago, General Tian set out from Anxi Military Port in southern Xinde, leading 300 sea boats to transport two million stones of grain, sailing thousands of miles, and arrived in Guangzhou more than a month ago. Then he led the fleet northward and finally arrived at Yan Port. Our 30,000 troops boarded the ship south at Yan Port and landed in Hangzhou Bay. Just wait for your army to go south to fight against the Lingnan Army. We will attack again. The cause and effect, Li Changshi understands!"

Li Chengshi was moved. He was once the governor of the Tang Dynasty Navy, but after the Tang Dynasty Navy defeated the Japanese Navy in the Battle of Baishuihe in the early Tang Dynasty, he never made great achievements, let alone sailing to Sindhi, Persia. He was full of respect for Tian Jianming, and even bowed to him with his fists and said slowly: "General Tian is the one I admire."

Li Chengshi turned around and said to Li Baozhen: "But you 30,000 people may not be able to intercept our 60,000 army."

Zhao Chongjie next to him smiled slightly and said, "It seems that Li Changshi thought our general too simply. For this battle in Jiangnan, our general started preparing half a year ago. Moreover, the Inner Guard Intelligence Hall has collected all the information about the King of Wu and his prince in detail. Their personality traits and weaknesses. Let me tell you this! Li Yi had the habit of wetting the bed at the fourth update. He would get up and urinate before the fourth update, and then he could no longer sleep. His personality was impatient and selfish, and he would never consider the fatigue of soldiers. He would definitely start ordering marches before the fifth update. From the age of sixteen to now, there was no exception. So tomorrow morning, he would set out before the fifth update. I was not wrong!"

Li Chengshi was stunned when he heard this. It was true that Li Yi was the characteristic. He only discovered this time, but he didn't know that it was because Li Yi wet the bed, but the other party knew it clearly.

"How could you... know?"

"This is the ability of our Neiwei Intelligence Hall."

Zhao Chongjie smiled again and said, "I might as well reveal to you that Li Taiqing, the assistant of the King of Wu, had surrendered us at the beginning of the year. So we all know how many troops you sent, how much food and grass, how many troops, how many horses, and the march route you have. Although we only have 30,000 troops, we are 30,000 cavalry, one of the most elite cavalry in Anxi. They are all experienced in many battles. Can Li Changshi intercept your 60,000 troops?"

Li Chengshi was speechless, and even Li Lin’s most trusted aide Li Taiqing surrendered to Li Qing'an. What is the meaning of this battle? He couldn’t help but think of a sentence: Know yourself and your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles.

Li Chengshi sighed and said, "You win."

Li Baozhen walked forward slowly and said sincerely: "It is inevitable that we will win, but His Highness Zhao did not want Jiangnan's children to follow Li Lin and leave their hometown to Bashu, so he wanted to keep these soldiers in his hometown as much as possible so that Jiangnan would not be destroyed by war. In this way, the Tang Dynasty can achieve revival and reappear in the prosperous era. King Zhao was in love with the people of the world, and Li Changshi was also an official of his parents. Why could Li Changshi not serve the court and insisted on following Li Lin to rebel."

Li Chengshi sighed and bowed his head without saying a word. Zhao Chongjie advised him again: "Your personal soldiers also said that you have turned against Li Yi. Just imagine, who would Li Lin choose between his son and the general? Li Lin would rather trust his son than you. If you go back, you will definitely die. Our general once told us that if I can get Li Chengshi, I will order him to lead the Tang Dynasty navy to travel all over the world and open up the territory of the Tang Dynasty. This is the original words of my general."

Li Chengshi's eyes gradually brightened. He stared at Zhao Chongjie blankly and led the Tang Dynasty navy to travel all over the world to open up the sea territories for the Tang Dynasty. This was his wish when he was a young man. At this moment, his heart was ups and downs and was extremely excited. He suddenly knelt down on one knee and clasped his fists to Li Baozhen and said, "Li Chengshi is willing to return to the court, serve His Highness Zhao, and devote himself to the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty navy, and die."

Li Baozhen quickly helped him up and nodded and said, "Okay! I'll send someone to see you in Jiangbei."

Li Chengshi shook his head firmly and said, "I want to go south with you. I don't want Sixty-one Erlang to follow Li Yi, that idiot to die."

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In the evening, the scout's information was sent. Today was New Year's Eve. Li Yi's army of 60,000 camped outside Zixi County to rest, but the military camp did not hear the bustling New Year's Eve. It was very quiet. I guess all the soldiers fell asleep.

"What about Li Yi?" Li Baozhen asked in a deep voice.

"He led a thousand personal soldiers to the city for New Year's Eve, and ordered the 30 largest households in Zixi County to offer him a woman."

"This is a goddamn!" Li Chengshi cursed in a low voice.

Li Baozhen said without hesitation: "This is a very good opportunity, let's set off now!"

At the command of the chief general Li Baozhen, 30,000 cavalrymen boarded the horse and accelerated their speed. The 30,000 cavalrymen were as fast as lightning, and they were as powerful as rainbows, galloping towards Zixi County fifty miles away.

The sky was getting darker, and the night was shrouding Zixi County. Zixi County was a small county with a population of only a thousand households. The county town was very small and could not accommodate 60,000 troops to settle in. Li Yi himself had to spend New Year's Eve, so he did not allow troops to enter the city, but instead stationed outside the city. He originally wanted the soldiers to have a good meal and march for him tomorrow, but his logistics did not keep up with it, and the grain and meat were not delivered. He sent a few people to urge him, and there was no news. Zixi County could not provide food and drink for the 60,000 troops. In desperation, Li Yi ordered the soldiers to drink water and eat dry food and go to bed early.

There were complaints in the military camp, but there was no way. Everyone was really exhausted. They ate some dry food and the soldiers fell asleep.

Dozens of officers did not sleep. They gathered together to discuss countermeasures. After Li Chengshi, who was extremely prestigious, left, the officers did not want to go to Hongzhou to work hard for Li Yi.

"Damn it, I'm drinking water and eating fried rice. This is New Year's Eve. But his kid went to the city to sleep with a woman for a banquet. I'm quitting!"

A general cursed, and his yelling resonated with him. Dozens of officers followed him and said, "I heard that there is an epidemic in the Lingnan army. Let's go, don't you be infected and die?"
To be continued...