From the pass to transport grain to Xiangzhou, it is actually the most convenient route to cross the river from Shaanzhou to Hanoi. However, there is Wang Shichong in Luoyang. For safety reasons, the Ministry of War's plan is to cross the river from Pujinguan to Hedong, and then cross the Taihang Mountains to reach Xiangzhou.
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Comparing the two routes, the latter was obviously the inferior choice. However, due to the situation, Li Zhiyun could only take the Pujin Pass to cross the river and go to Xiangzhou.
This time, he led his headquarters of five thousand soldiers and horses, and a group of powerful advisers and generals. The generals included Xie Shufang, Qin Qiong, Cheng Yaojin, Li Junxian, Luo Shixin. The civil servants included Du Ruhui, Chu Suiliang, Xue Yuanjing, etc.
Originally, Li Daoxuan and Li Daozong also wanted to come, but Lao Li did not agree, so they could only stay in Chang'an.
The purpose of gathering so many talents is actually just to transport food.
When Li Zhiyun was on the road, he thought to himself more than once that the heroes in his lineup were enough to kill Liu Wuzhou, the Turkic son. Now that they were used to transport grain, wasn't it a bit overkill?
Of course, apart from that, he was thinking more about another person.
Dugu Ying.
To be honest, when the Ministry of Civil Affairs transferred Dugu Ying to his subordinates, the first thing Li Zhiyun thought of was that this was definitely not what Lao Li meant.
Because Lao Li is not that boring.
"Keming, are you familiar with Duguying?"
The soldiers and horses, as long as dragons and snakes, were slowly crossing Pujin Ferry. Li Zhiyun and Du Ruhui were chatting aside.
Du Ruhui shook his head, "I don't know this person well, but I have found out after getting along with him in the past few days that this person is quite sincere in his work and is not lazy. He should be able to deliver some matters."
"Whose idea do you think it was that Dugu Ying was transferred to this king?"
"He must not be a saint." Du Ruhui first eliminated wrong answers.
Li Zhiyun nodded, touched his chin, and thought: "Tell me, what do the Dugu family want to do? Use Dugu Ying to observe this king?"
It was not Lao Li's intention, Li Zhiyun and Du Ruhui defaulted to the Dugu family's intention.
"It's possible, but it's also possible that he wanted to give Dugu Ying a chance to develop. Nowadays, the Tang Dynasty's main focus is on external expansion. If the children of the clan join the army, they can go faster."
Li Zhiyun was noncommittal about this.
"Forget it, let's see again."
"yes."
Although he couldn't figure out what the Dugu family wanted to do, Li Zhiyun did not let down his guard. The Guanlong family was complicated. There was me in you and you in me. You had to be more careful when dealing with them.
When the army passed by Hedong, Li Zhiyun recalled the story of Qu Tutong being captured alive in the last years of Daye. Unfortunately, the old general was now very close to his second brother.
The lesson Li Zhiyun learned is that the person who wins him may not necessarily win his heart.
The march went smoothly in Puzhou and then entered Jiangzhou.
Li Zhiyun's deepest impression of Jiangzhou in the Tang Dynasty was Longmen Xue Rengui. I wonder if this famous general is playing in the mud in Longmen now.
Thinking of this, Li Zhiyun smiled.
At this moment, a horse came galloping.
"Your Majesty, there are bandits in front of you!" Li Junxian said, cupping his fists.
"Bandits?" Li Zhiyun frowned and asked, "What are the bandits doing? What is the territory now?"
"According to reports, it should be Lu Chongmao from Xia County. The army is currently approaching Wenxi."
Lu Chongmao?
Li Zhiyun was delighted when he heard this. This guy was a fierce man. He remembered that in history, this guy had defeated Tang Jun.
After thinking for a moment, Li Zhiyun ordered: "Order Qin Qiong to lead his troops to repel them. They must injure their troops and not let anyone go."
"As you command!"
Qin Qiong received the order from King Chu and immediately ordered 300 men and horses to rush towards the bandits in the distance.
At this time, Lu Chongmao was besieging a cavalry team. When his men learned that the Tang army was attacking, they immediately told Lu Chongmao the news.
"How many people are there in the Tang army?"
"I don't know, many, many, many." The uneducated boy used a quantifier that made Lu Chongmao's forehead full of black lines.
"How many, many, many?"
"Thousands of people."
Lu Chongmao was shocked. He originally thought that the soldiers and horses that suddenly appeared should be the Tang Army's rangers. They could only be dozens of people at most. How could there be thousands of them?
"Withdraw!" Gu
As a senior bandit, Lu Chongmao understood the true meaning of "break down and sell out". When his mob fought in the wilderness with the Tang army equipped with standard equipment, it was no different than seeking death.
The situation is not right, retreat quickly!
However, the retreat at this time obviously did not go so smoothly. Qin Qiong led his troops and horses directly into the back of Lu Chongmao's troops, tearing apart the bandits like a sharp sword.
Qin Qiong rode in the lead, and with the cold light on his horse, he cut his way through the chaos and took Lu Chongmao's head.
"Help me!"
When Lu Chongmao saw Qin Qiong coming to kill him, he was immediately frightened. He drove his horse and fled in panic.
Helpless, the evil man behind him was too brave. Ma Shan slashed and killed him, and no one could get close to him for a while.
Just when Lu Chongmao felt that he was certain to die, a turning point appeared.
"Uncle Bao, help people quickly!"
Li Junxian yelled from behind, and Qin Qiong immediately looked around.
I saw a cavalry parked not far away. Lu Chongmao's remnants were fighting for the cavalry's goods. Some fled after grabbing the goods, while others were killing people and grabbing things.
In such a moment of confusion, Lu Chongmao seized the opportunity to apply oil on the soles of his feet and slipped away a long distance in an instant.
Seeing this, Qin Qiong had no choice but to give up the pursuit of Lu Chongmao, turned around and led his troops to rescue him.
Half an hour later, a large force of the Tang army approached.
"Lü Chongmao ran away?" Li Zhiyun blinked and looked at Qin Qiong in disbelief. Considering Qin Qiong's force and the combat effectiveness of the Tang army, ten more Lu Chongmao would not be enough to defeat him.
"What's going on?"
"I'm reporting back to Your Highness. It was due to despise and carelessness in allowing Lu Chongmao to escape. Please punish Your Highness." Qin Qiong was an honest man and admitted his mistake directly.
Li Junxian quickly explained the cause and effect.
After listening, Li Zhiyun comforted him and said, "It doesn't matter, it's important to save people."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Qin Qiong lowered his head.
Later, Li Zhiyun came to the cavalry team.
Xie Shufang looked at the cavalry guards with his eyes and reminded in a low voice: "Your Majesty, these people have all practiced, don't be careless."
Li Zhiyun nodded. He actually saw the difference in this cavalry team. Otherwise, they would not have persisted for so long under Lu Chongmao's siege.
Xie Shufang stepped forward and shouted: "Who are you!"
The cavalry guards looked at each other, and not long after, a man in black walked out of the crowd.
He cupped his fists and saluted, "Dare I ask if this is in front of General Tang?"
"Exactly!"
"I am pleased to hear that I have returned from a long journey. I would like to thank the general for saving my life."
Xie Shufang gently urged his horse and walked up to the man.
"May I have your name?"
The man in black frowned, then took a breath and said, "I'm Pei Shuang."
Your surname is Pei?
Xie Shufang didn't dare to be careless, so he left a few words and turned back to report to the King of Chu.
"Wait."
Looking at Xie Shufang walking away and the Tang Army's banner further away, Pei Shuang breathed a sigh of relief silently.
Not long after, Pei Shuang saw a young man riding a horse among the stars and the moon. The young man wore a golden helmet, and he knew he was of high rank at a glance.
"Are you from the Wenxi Pei family?" Li Zhiyun asked.
"Exactly."
Li Zhiyun nodded, "Although the Pei family has cultivated and studied to inherit the family, the current world is in chaos, so it is better for you to study abroad less. I will send a team of soldiers to escort you back to Wenxi."
"Thank you." After saying this, Pei Shuang suddenly realized that the young man in front of him actually called himself the king. Could he be the prince of the Tang Dynasty?
Before he could ask, Li Zhiyun had already led his troops and continued on the road.