When Gao Changshou arrived in Hanzhong, he had to discuss many specific strategies with Li Xia for the southern expedition to Dali.
For example, when the time comes, Nie Zhongyou's 3,000 elite soldiers will serve as the vanguard and head south to the Five Feet Road to "conquer" Gao Changshou in Weining City.
As the commander-in-chief of Shu, Li Xia reported his victory first, asked the court to reward Gao Changshou with an official position, and formally requested orders for the Southern Expedition.
After that, Li Xia would appoint Yi Shiying as the chief general of the Southern Expedition.
More importantly, the governance strategy after the capture of Dali.
Li Xia did not have enough talents, so the Song Dynasty needed to send a large number of officials to complete the steps of "China's common style" in order to truly incorporate Dali into its territory.
This involves too much distribution of interests, which must be explained clearly in advance to avoid conflicts later.
Therefore, in the following days, whenever Li Xia had free time, he would talk with Gao Changshou and Nie Zhongyou in detail, and the three of them gradually regained the atmosphere they had when they went north to Kaifeng.
As time passed by, in mid-February, elite troops transferred from Lizhou East Road, Western Sichuan and other places began to arrive in Hanzhong.
This movement is not small.
More than 8,000 elite troops were stationed outside Hanzhong City to rest and recuperate. Counting Gao Changshou, the 3,000 elite troops that Nie Zhongyou planned to take to Dali were indeed 10,000 in number.
"It just so happens that you haven't set off yet. I will have a guest come in the next few days and let him see our military appearance."
Li Xia also felt a little proud when he was conducting military exercises with Gao Changshou and Nie Zhongyou.
His efforts in the past three years have not been in vain, Shu Shuai has the power of Shu Shuai.
"If I have time, I would like to follow your plan to capture Guanzhong and then go south." Gao Changshou looked at the battle ahead with longing in his eyes.
This time when he went north, he felt Li Xia's progress. He had made great progress in strategy, governance and other aspects.
And getting along with Li Xia will also improve your longevity.
He realized that if he only looked at Dali, his vision would be narrow. In fact, as long as Li Xia can gain momentum, he will be able to regain Dali sooner or later.
"It's too late."
Li Xia said: "Time flies too fast, and the war has not started yet. More than two months have passed this year. It is only in the past three or five years that we do not have to face the pressure from Mongolia. We must expand as soon as possible and seize the day."
.”
"Why haven't we started fighting yet?"
"Because this is a battle involving more than 200,000 people..."
The back house of Shuai Mansion.
Duan Miaoyin and Gao Mingyue were sitting in the side hall chatting.
This time when Gao Changshou went north, she thought that Gao Mingyue had not seen his family for a long time, and regardless of the difficulty of the journey, she left her one-year-old child behind and followed her.
On the other hand, it was also because Duan Miaoyin understood that Gao Changshou, the current Lord of Weining City, had followed the influence of his brother-in-law.
And there were things that her husband couldn't say to her, she had to tell Gao Mingyue.
"I guess I'll be leaving in a few days. I have something to ask you."
After driving all the maids away, Duan Miaoyin sat close to Gao Mingyue and asked, "It's been two years since you got married. Is that... okay?"
Gao Mingyue blushed instantly, lowered her head, and pinched her sleeves with both hands.
After a while, she responded softly.
"Hmm...very good."
"Then why don't you have any heirs?"
"He said that giving birth seemed scary and he was worried that my body would not be able to bear it. He had not thought about having children yet."
"Then what did you do?"
Gao Mingyue's face turned redder and she turned her head away, daring not to answer.
Duan Miaoyin pulled her and said with a smile: "Is there anything you should be shy about telling your sister-in-law?"
"That... he counts the days... every few days... he comes out... before he comes out..."
Duan Miaoyin shook her head and said: "You can't do this. Whether it's for you or for the family, you should have an heir as soon as possible."
"Actually, I know, I also want to..."
Li Xia and Gao Changshou inspected the barracks, and when they returned to the city, they went to Liu Jinsuo's house to see his newborn child.
It was a daughter. Liu Jinsuo was not disappointed and looked cheerful.
Liu Niang didn't come out, so she was sitting in confinement and couldn't see anyone.
In the hall, Gao Changshou and Liu Jinsuo were chatting and laughing, but Li Xia felt a little uncomfortable.
In his previous life, he felt that giving birth to a child was a terrible thing, so he chose to live a free life.
"Liu Jinsuo, take good care of Liu Niang, don't just focus on the child."
"Okay, Marshal, I'll see you off."
"No, go back..."
After leaving the door, Gao Changshou suddenly hugged Li Xia and whispered a few words in his ear.
"Don't touch me, I am Shu Shuai, and you are quite handsome."
"You are still my brother-in-law, if you have anything to say..."
"..."
"I don't even care about your concubinage, so this matter is more important. I will fight tooth and nail for you, even if you just nod to appease me..."
Finally, Li Xia nodded and pushed Gao Changshou away.
Gao Changshou laughed loudly and stepped forward to pick up Li Xia.
Looking at the whole Sichuan and Sichuan, he was the only one who dared to chat with Li Xia like this, but he was still pushed away by Li Xia.
"Go on, I'm busy."
"It's been so long, let's go have a drink."
Li Xia also laughed and said: "I really don't have time. It's time to go to war. I have to make arrangements..."
The two of them pushed each other in the alley for a while like boys who had not grown up. Li Xia turned around and saw Li Yong standing in the alley.
Li Yong stroked his beard and smiled, his eyes somewhat pleased.
"Li Jieshuai."
"Well, Mr. Xiling is polite."
Although Li Xia returned to his usual expression and posture, his eyes were obviously a little different from usual.
He knew that Li Yong also wanted him to have a child, and he usually suppressed him with Shu Shuai's majesty, so that the other party did not dare to ask.
But after making the decision today, Li Xia still felt a little strange.
It wasn't until this moment that he felt it was no longer awkward to get along with Li Yong.
…
Generally speaking, Li Xia is a person who is difficult to change.
Throughout his life, he had faced numerous difficulties and dangers, but he had never wavered in his decision.
But what made him change and gradually adapt to the local customs was the friendship between these people.
That night.
"Mingyue, shall we have a child?"
Gao Mingyue was looking up and gasping for breath. When she remembered in a daze that she had to hold Li Xia down and say something like this, Li Xia happened to say it first.
"okay……"
She was finally able to concentrate on feeling again, so the hand around Li Xia's waist moved up, caressing him gently, and then clenched it tightly into a small fist.
…
a long time.
Gao Mingyue tiredly buried her head in Li Xia's arms, feeling endless tenderness.
"Are you ready to have a child? Did the second brother persuade you?"
"Actually, it's not because he persuaded me. I thought about it for a long time. I can't live just for myself."
"You don't have to worry about me, I'm not that weak."
"You say that every time in a bad environment."
"It's very good now. We have a family and are very stable... But even if we go back to the same environment as when we were hunted down in the north, I still want to give you a child."
"It's not for me, it's for us." Li Xia smoothed Gao Mingyue's messy hair and suddenly said, "Thank you."
Gao Mingyue was very embarrassed and squeezed into Li Xia's arms.
"I'm an old married couple... there's no need to thank me, I... I'm so happy."
Li Xia smiled and whispered to himself.
"In this life, I have really gained more..."
Li Xia became calmer and calmer.
This was on the eve of the Battle of Guanlong, and he was originally unsure.
All forces are stronger than him.
Li Xia's strategy this time is actually very simple, and the power gap that can be bridged is limited.
And while he brought a sense of oppression to the Liu family, he also received more or less counter-effects.
During the trip to Lin'an, he only lost the lives of his men during the regicide, because the cruelty of the Lin'an struggle existed secretly.
The battlefield is different.
Because of this, Li Xia also had anxiety, although he never showed it.
But the people around him gave him enough courage.
Li Xia even dared to have a child.
He dared to take on things that he had been afraid to take on in his whole life. He was once an orphan and only pursued glory and pride his whole life, but now things are different.
He is more powerful than ever...
Li Xia is completely ready.
Even a little impatient.
"Brother Ali, you are so slow..."
February 22nd.
Liu Taiping arrived in Hanzhong again, bringing Hunduhai's promise.
"As long as Li Jieshuai is willing to attack Wang Liangchen together, Marshal Hunduhai can give up Guanzhong."
Li Xia was not in a hurry to agree, but instead said: "Please Liu Gong, please follow me to the tower and take a look at my military strength."
He never gave Liu Taiping time to object when he spoke. After he finished speaking, he directly raised his hand and said: "Please."
Liu Taiping stroked his beard and smiled.
"Li Jieshuai please!"
…
How big is the formation of more than 10,000 people?
The military formation is only one mile long and one mile wide, but when you really see it, it is like a forest of spears and the momentum is terrifying.
Especially Li Xia and the more than 10,000 people are elites with extraordinary momentum.
Liu Taiping looked at it for a long time and nodded, expressing satisfaction.
Now there are more than 100,000 troops in Hunduhai, but only 70,000 can be used to deal with Wang Liangchen. The rest of the troops have to guard against Liu Heima.
Seventy thousand versus sixty thousand is not a sure thing, but with the addition of Li Xia's ten thousand people attacking from behind, Longxi's war can be won reliably.
After that, we can concentrate our forces to defeat Liu's dark horse and then go straight to Guanzhong.
"Li Jieshuai is indeed honest and magnanimous. He said he would transfer 10,000 people, but this is more than 10,000."
Li Xia said: "But I wonder if anyone in Hunduhai is as honest as me?"
Liu Taiping stroked his beard and smiled loudly, saying: "Li Jieshuai can rest assured, the marshal is a heroic man, without all those twists and turns."
"I tell the truth, I have mobilized these troops from all over Sichuan and Sichuan. They cannot hold Guanzhong for a long time, and if we fight against Wang Liangchen, we will suffer losses. When we really win Guanzhong, I will only have a few thousand troops left. What will happen?"
Defend the four fortresses in Guanzhong? Are you trying to lie to me?"
"Marshal can swear an alliance with Marshal Li Jie."
Liu Taiping raised his hand and pointed at his team and said: "This time, the marshal's youngest son Hui Bula is also coming with me. He can cut the blood on behalf of his father, suck it, kowtow to the Immortal Heaven, and swear an oath to never break his promise."
, the Mongolian men kept their promises despite the wind and snow, attended the meeting despite the rain, and the marshal would never attack Li Jieshuai."
"I don't believe this." Li Xia didn't speak politely.
Liu Taiping twirled his long beard and his eyes flickered slightly.
"Since Li Jieshuai speaks straightforwardly, I also bluntly say that... what the marshal wants is to defeat Wang and Liu's troops, and then quickly move north to help the Khan attack Kublai Khan's main force in Kaiping. He has no intention of taking Guanzhong. On the contrary.
It is most advantageous for the Great Khan to have the Song Dynasty guard the pass and contain Kublai Khan's troops."
At this point, the old man added another sentence.
"If Li Jieshuai is willing, we can even leave soldiers and horses to help Li Jieshuai guard the Yellow River."
"Mr. Liu, can you please let me think about it again?"
Liu Taiping narrowed his eyes and asked, "Li Jieshuai still wants to consider such conditions? Are you being dishonest?"
Li Xia said: "I have reported this matter to the imperial court, but the imperial decree has not been issued yet."
Liu Taiping smiled again, showing a playful look.
He felt that Li Xia was treating him like a fool.
After walking for a few steps, he clasped his hands and muttered: "Recovering Guanzhong is a great achievement for Li Jieshuai. With this great achievement, Li Jieshuai can be regarded as an extremely popular minister and his name will go down in history. What worries do he have?"
"Is Mr. Liu anxious?" Li Xia asked, "Could it be that the military orders of Mr. Liu, the Great Khan, have been sent to Liupan Mountain?"
Liu Taiping was unhappy.
Despite his nice words, Li Xia still resisted and tried to find out the secrets of his army.
"Li Jieshuai is not sincere, so I will take my leave now."
With a flick of his sleeves, Liu Taiping actually turned around and left.
"Okay, I'll tell the truth." Li Xia said: "I have already laid out a counter-intentional plan to reveal our plan to Liu Heima to intimidate him and wait to see his reaction..."
Liu Taiping suddenly turned around, shocked and angry!
He never expected that Li Xia would be so shameless, nor did he expect that Li Xia would say it so blatantly.
He raised his hand and pointed a finger, and his hair and beard were spread out.
"you!"
"Don't be angry, Mr. Liu. You and I had not made an alliance at that time. I thought that if you and I formed an alliance, we could trick Liu Heima into supporting Wang Liangchen and let Hunduhai set up an ambush in Longshan. This is not considered a breach of contract... Everyone needs a retreat.
Isn’t it?”
After Li Xia said this, he actually had the nerve to smile.
He calmly handed over his hand and said: "There was no response from the Liu family. I wanted to wait, so I asked if there was going to be a war. But forget it. Since I have made it clear, I am determined to form an alliance with Liu Gong."
Even though Liu Taiping was a mature man, he didn't know how to answer.
Every time, he choked on the shocking words Li Xia said and could not control the rhythm of the conversation.
It can only be said that... every time the Zhao and Song Dynasties have such intrigues, the Song people are so shameless!
Liu Taiping no longer wanted to form an alliance with Li Xia.
But when I turned around and looked at the military formation outside the city, I felt that Li Xia was still honest, unforgiving in his words, but straightforward in his actions.
"If Li Jieshuai wants any more conditions, I can't give you any more!"
"There are no other conditions, but I am just reminding you that you must ambush Liu Heima when the time comes."
Liu Taiping was silent for a long time, trying hard to suppress the anger in his heart, and said word by word: "Shuai Li Jie should understand the consequences of betraying the alliance. The machete of the Mongolian warriors is ruthless."
"I understand." Li Xia solemnly agreed.
He has always known that Guanlong is a pack of tigers and wolves, and he is seeking skin from the tigers.
"Now we can talk about the specific battle? How is Hunduhai going to fight this battle..."
Liupan Mountain is the only way to pass through the northern section of the eastern section of the Silk Road, and it was an important town for military strategists in the past dynasties.
Thirty-two years ago, Genghis Khan planned to take Xixia and destroy the Jin Dynasty, garrisoned troops in Liupan Mountain... and died here.
Therefore, whenever the Mongolian kings marched south, they would come here to offer sacrifices.
The first day of March.
"Born by the order of the Immortal Heaven, Genghis Khan! The source of the heaven..."
The sacred pole was erected again, prayer flags were hung high, and more than 100,000 people were worshiping.
Hundu Haichang knelt on the ground, kowtowed to the Changsheng Heaven, and held up the white cloth with both hands.
He has received the decree from the new generation of true Khan and will lead his troops to conquer Kublai Khan...
"The proud son of immortality, Genghis Khan!"
Hunduhai cried loudly and shouted.
"Your unworthy descendant Kublai Khan betrayed his ancestors and the everlasting Great Mongolia! He tarnished the sacred Golden Family bloodline! Your Mongolian descendants will follow the will of the Great Khan and wash away the shame with his blood...
…”
What followed was earth-shaking shouts.
"Genghis Khan, the proud son of the immortal God! Please allow us to punish the traitors!"
The Liupan Mountains seemed to tremble with this cry.
The sky was filled with the strong hatred of these Mongolian warriors towards Kublai Khan.
Until the sacrifice ended, the hatred still did not dissipate, but became stronger and stronger.
"Winter! Winter..."
The drums sound.
The horses' hooves are like thunder, and the earth trembles.
The rising dust and smoke covered half of the sky, and groups of cavalry drove their horses south.
The war hymn was also sung again.
For their victory, and for the real Khan.
…
"There is only one sun in the sky and one sweat on the earth!"
"Only the land that has been watered with blood will grow more lush green grass, and it also belongs to the Great Khan..."
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
Thank you to the leader "Xiang Lao" for the large reward. I will add another chapter to express my gratitude. Recently, it is getting later every day. Next, please allow me to slowly adjust back to the normal update time. Please subscribe and vote monthly. Thank you for your support.