The soldiers of the Tang Dynasty stationed in the south of Baozhou City were not in a good mood. News of the fall of Chongqing had spread widely recently, and many people were worried about their parents, wives and children in their hometown.
In addition, military meals have always been distributed on time, but in the past few days there have been signs of food reduction, and the three days only have the same amount as the previous two days.
At noon that day, it was meal time again. Several Tang soldiers squatted on the edge of the camp and couldn't help but complain.
"We say we won the battle, but our food is getting less and less every day."
"You mean, is this enough to eat?!"
Not far away, a group of civilians were carrying baggage, waiting for the general to count it.
While waiting, some of them looked at the food in the hands of these Tang soldiers with coveted eyes and praised them.
"The good food that Master Jun eats makes my mouth water even in my dreams. How can I still dislike it?"
"Hey, you man, I'm talking about not having enough to eat."
"No matter how full the military master is, he will still eat more than me. I wish I could join the army and become a Tang Army."
The civilian husband's words actually won the favor of those Tang soldiers.
"What's your name?"
"Zhao Jiafu, I am from Zhouguan Village in the north of Baozhou City."
"I know, I'll ask the general later if he wants to recruit more troops." Lan.
"Okay!"
The Tang sergeant said it casually, but Zhao Jiafu took it seriously and squatted down beside them, watching them eat in a daze.
"But you have to think about it. Once you join the army, if we return to Guanzhong, you will have to leave Baozhou."
"Ah, why?"
"Why." A Tang sergeant knocked his rice bowl with chopsticks and said, "Yan Chai is not worse than a hungry ghost, so why?!"
Zhao Jiafu scratched his head and was frightened by his tone.
Then another soldier said: "Don't be afraid of him, he is in a bad mood. He is from Hezhou and is worried about his family." Lan
Several Tang soldiers were too lazy to pay attention to Zhao Jiafu and started talking to themselves.
"Chongqing has been lost. I'm afraid it has reached Hezhou now, right?"
"If they don't reach Luzhou, I'll be worried to death."
"Oh, don't worry, listen to me, lucky people have their own destiny..."
"Don't even listen to what Xiaomeishan says. Xiaomeishan's family is far away from Chongqing. Of course he is not in a hurry."
"Hey, speaking of this. I just heard the news this morning that everything from Meishan to Chengdu was looted."
"What?!" Lan
"I said, Old Guardsman, please don't talk nonsense or scare Xiaomeishan."
"What nonsense am I talking about? This thing can't be covered up. I heard that during the New Year, soldiers from the Yuan Dynasty stormed into Chengdu Mansion, looted everything, and then went downstream to Meishan and Xuzhou."
"Don't talk nonsense! Where did the Yuan soldiers from Sichuan and Shu come from?"
"Even if Yuan soldiers killed them, Chengdu was completely wiped out. You said Chongqing and Hezhou were lost, but at least their people are still there. Those who live near Chengdu have no hope."
"The bird-bearing hozen! I told you to stop talking nonsense!"
"No... In the current situation, I'm afraid I have to go back to the teacher, right?"
"Can we go back? The commander-in-chief has just left Luoyang, and urgent documents are being sent three times a day. By the time we go back, I am afraid that Mengjindu will have been captured by the Song army." Lan.
"What?!"
~~
It's night.
Zhao Jiafu returned to the village, looked around, arrived at a large house in the village, and knocked on the door.
"Is Chief A here?"
"Come in, today is the last day for you guys to transport supplies to the new imperial court, right?"
"Yes, originally it was said that it would take twenty days, but later it was said that it would only take thirteen days. I heard a lot of what Tang Jun said today..." Lan
Zhao Jiafu muttered for a long time, and finally happily took a small piece of pork home.
Not long after, another villager knocked on the door knocker and came out with a piece of pork in his hand.
"Thank you for your hard work for the court. As a country man, I can't do anything else. I'll give this to you."
Before dawn, a figure walked out of the back door of Chief Jia's house, walked north for a while, found a small raft by the river, and floated eastward.
~~
Half a month later, Daning Palace.
A group of advisers to the Jinlianchuan shogunate met with Kublai Khan again.
Hao Jing stood among them, raised his eyes slightly and glanced around, and found that there were many people in the hall today, such as An Tong, Ali, Sang Ge, Ye Zhili and other Mongolian and Semu ministers.
However, the sect king Hu Lahu'er, who had just been released during the discussion a few days ago, was always there, but he was not here today.
Hao Jing couldn't help but think of the fact that someone who passed information to Tang Jun was captured not long ago.
He felt a slight shiver in his heart and leaned down a little lower.
After everyone stood still, Liu Bingzhong stepped out and said: "Your Majesty, I heard that the attempt to disrupt the morale of the Tang army has been effective. The Tang army has temporarily retreated to Baozhou and does not dare to fight with King Yixiang Ge."
"It's not just that." Kublai Khan gave a rare smile and said: "Ben Khan also has a letter just sent by Brother Yi Xiang. You all should read it."
He handed the letter out casually, but it was handed into An Tong's hand first.
An Tong saw it and handed it to Liu Bingzhong himself.
"It seems that not only our attack on the Tang Army was successful, but the Tang Army itself also has a lot of troubles."
"What? Is this news true? Your Majesty really sent troops to attack Chengdu Mansion?"
Hao Jing stood in the crowd, unable to understand what they were saying.
The letter from Brother Yixiang had not yet been handed to him. After Liu Bingzhong read it, he handed it to Brother Sang.
"You know the situation in Tibet best. Is this news true?"
"Of course it's true." Sang Ge responded: "Your Majesty sent people to Tibet more than two years ago, precisely because he believed in the loyalty of Chana Dorje and Kantar Mengka."
Hao Jing felt a little dazed listening to it.
Because he had heard Li Xia say these words once before.
"When Genghis Khan destroyed Xixia, he captured Duosima. In the seventh year of Ogedai Khan, Kuoduan surrendered the ten tribes of Duosima. In particular, the Great Khan personally destroyed Dali and passed through the eastern territory of Duogansi to pacify the tribes again. These
They are all the Tibetan tribesmen who are most loyal to the Great Khan. Even if they cannot fight a tough battle, as long as they rush into the defenseless place and rob, they will definitely be happy..."
Hao Jing became increasingly confused.
He listened carefully for a while, but still did not hear Sang Ge talk about anything about the Tibetan soldiers and horses being encircled and suppressed by the Tang army.
He almost wanted to ask, "Where did you get this news?" But in the end he held back.
Thinking of Li Xia's calm, even contemptuous tone when he talked about the stranglehold between Song and Tubo, and then looking at the proud Sang Ge... Hao Jing vaguely captured something.
For a moment, Hao Jing considered what it would be like to tell Kublai Khan that the news was false, but he soon realized that he would be the one who would die if he did so.
From the moment Li Xia let him back, many things after that were no longer his choice.
He had received great kindness from Zhang Rou and must rescue Zhang Rou. Then he had to deceive Kublai Khan and let Kublai Khan negotiate for peace and exchange prisoners. Having told this lie, it would be even harder to confess now.
Li Xia even deliberately let him see the situation in front of him, as if telling him, "Look, Yuan Ting is still counting on others to contain me. It's ridiculous."
As a result, a certain determination in Hao Jing's heart became stronger.
…
In the palace, after Brother Sang introduced the situation in Tubo, he handed the letter in his hand to Zhao Liangbi.
Zhao Liangbi saw it and said in surprise: "There is another news. Lu Wenhuan finally attacked Mengjindu?"
Liu Bingzhong pondered for a while and said: "I'm afraid this matter has yet to be determined. It is said that the Tang army is panic-stricken. However, the news from Prime Minister Boyan has not yet been sent..."
"That being said, Li Xia's situation is very bad."
"The Tang Army's troops were disheartened and their morale was low. This is something that can be seen with the naked eye. Many warriors in our army have already felt it."
"Great Khan, it seems that Jia Sidao warned him well. Li Xia may be preparing to withdraw his troops." Sang Ge said, "Maybe we should make preparations in advance and leave him in Hebei."
"Are we withdrawing our troops now?" Kublai Khan murmured, narrowing his narrow eyes and said, "Secretary Cong, what do you think?"
"At first glance, it sounds too simple." Liu Bingzhong said: "Li Xia finally captured Baozhou and was just a hair away from capturing the Central Plains. But he retreated so easily. Isn't it hard for your majesty to believe it?" Lan
"yes."
"But the fact is that he was wrong to go north in the first place. After the great battle in Helan Mountain, he did not have the national strength to continue fighting because he mistakenly thought that His Majesty had died and he wanted to take advantage. Now he has run out of food and grass and is under attack from behind.
, the morale of the army is weakened, these are irreversible things, he can only retreat."
"But Ben Khan didn't believe he would give up so soon."
"If he waits until His Majesty believes it, he will have no chance to retreat."
Kublai Khan nodded slowly and said, "Go and see Brother Yixiang and tell him this analysis."
"I accept the decree."
"Brother Sang, you stay." Kublai Khan waved his hand, signaling the other ministers to retreat.
His eyes scanned them, and finally fell on Hao Jing, thoughtfully.
"Profuse sweat." Brother Sang waited for everyone else to retreat and then said: "I have calculated it several times and Li Xia is really running out of food and grass."
Kublai Khan nodded and said: "Last time you asked Qian Guzhi, the Minister of Examination, to stop beforehand."
Brother Sang was stunned and a little disappointed.
This was another financial management method that he came up with, but he didn't expect to be stopped just before he started. Of course, since he could defeat Li Xia soon, there was really no need to exhaust his efforts.
"Yes, Khan."
Kublai Khan said again: "Go to Taiyuan and calculate for me how much money Ahema has collected over the years."
Brother Sang was stunned again, thinking about the meaning of Kublai Khan's words. He didn't know whether the Khan wanted to know how much money Ahema had collected for Dayuan, or how much wealth Ahema had collected himself.
~~
South of Baozhou City, Changning Military Camp.
Yi Shiying suddenly issued an order to seal off the camp, strictly prohibiting idlers from approaching, and strictly prohibiting soldiers from leaving the camp.
The next day, he summoned the entire army to order troops.
Yi Shiying walked up to the general's platform with his sword in hand and looked at the rows of soldiers below the platform. Yi Shiying could feel that the morale of the army was indeed more impetuous than before.
"Have you spread enough information?!" Lan
He suddenly opened his mouth and shouted loudly.
The generals were stunned, and the soldiers who were delivering the order were also stunned, wondering whether they should pass on this sentence.
"Have you been spreading rumors easily among the military recently? First, Chongqing was lost, then Chengdu was lost, then Luoyang was lost, and Mengjindu was lost. Who spread the rumor?!"
All the generals and soldiers looked confused, and no one dared to answer.
Only Zhu Cheng turned his back to the crowd, lowered his head, and said to himself in a voice like a mosquito: "You asked me to pass it on."
On the general stage, Yi Shiying became even more furious.
"Let others spread rumors, and you guys follow them? You came here from Mengjin Ferry! It only took sixteen days to march all the way to Baozhou. Do you think this coward Lu Wenhuan can defeat Luoyang and Mengjin Ferry in sixteen days?"
Where is the brain?!" Lan
The soldiers immediately started talking about it.
Many people whispered: "I have told you not to spread such obvious false news."
"I already told you it was a lie..."
"Damn it!"
On the general stage, the always polite Yi Shiying suddenly cursed.
Although the messenger did not send the message, many people in the front still heard it.
"Because of you, I lost the great success of attacking Yanjing. Your Majesty said that if the Changning Army wants to go back, then let the Changning Army go back and set off tomorrow. Are you satisfied?!" Lan
As soon as these words came out, more soldiers were stunned on the spot.
Zhu Cheng rarely disobeyed the military order and shouted: "The last general will not return, the last general will make a contribution!"