Taihang Mountains are now a natural barrier between Youzhou and Bingzhou. The mountains are extremely high and extremely steep.
The army entered Youzhou from Bingzhou, and there were only two channels, namely Feihu Xing and Puyin Xing among the eight passes of Taihang. These two passes are a place that military strategists have been competing since ancient times. Control this place, you can attack and retreat or defend.
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The Right Longxiang Guard of the General Cao Gang of Zhenbei is stationed in the place where Yougei handover and the northern part of Bingzhou. He is an authentic border general and does not govern the local government troops. He can allow the local government troops to supplement the losses of the Right Longxiang Guard.
But after serving as the general to fight against rebellion, the troops of the four northern prefectures also obeyed his orders.
Cao Gang left 20,000 Right Longxiang Guards to guard the three northern prefectures in Bingzhou to prevent the north. He personally led 20,000 troops and 20,000 troops to enter Hengzhou Prefecture. Because both passes were on the side of Yunzhou Prefecture,
Cao Gang did not strictly guard the two passes. After all, both passes and left and right are his own territory, so he would not believe that there would be problems here.
However, just as Cao Gang took over Hengzhou Prefecture and was full of his ambition, thousands of troops quietly occupied the place and built several mountain cities in Feihu Xing and Puyin Xing.
Although the two passes are dangerous, they are also business roads that connect east, west, south and north.
The merchants and mule gangs transporting goods from Feihu Xing were in groups, and merchants carried mules with donkeys and transported various supplies, continuously and continuously, traveling between the ancient Feihu Road day and night. These mule gangs were all the time.
When we head north, we carried silk and tea from the south of the Yangtze River, daily necessities in the Youji area of Hebei, small local cloth from the Central Plains, red dates, persimmons, walnuts from Laiyuan and other places. After passing the Feihu Ancient Road, we arrived at Zhuozhou Prefecture
Some unload goods along the way, which is the end point; some pass through Zhuozhou Prefecture and go directly to the Yanmen Mayi Prefecture. Or continue to cross the desert and head towards the Turkic grassland. When turning south, they transported the grassland and fur, livestock, and miscellaneous grains outside the border.
, old wine and medicinal materials from the Yanmen Mansions of Mayi, millet, casserole, large urn, etc., cross the Feihu Ancient Road to the Youzhou Mansions.
Suddenly, several mountain cities appeared above the two passes, without any flags and did not disturb the people's tax collection, so naturally they spread to the two passes.
When the governor of Yunzhou Prefecture and the commander of the Duke changed drastically when they heard this. As Cao Gang's rule, they were under the jurisdiction of Youzhou, so they naturally knew where these two places were and what would happen if there were passes.
"Is it Li Huaiyuan? This is his support?"
Dai Qingwen, the governor of Yunzhou, thought for a moment and said anxiously: "Master, please report this to the general immediately."
"What's the matter? Governor Dai, you are too timid! The army of generals who fought against rebels have opened like the six palaces of Youzhou. Even if they take it down, it doesn't matter the overall situation. Whether they are them remains to be verified. I'll do it now.
Send someone to investigate. Who is so bold that he dares to build a city privately in our jurisdiction? He is simply ignorant of his life!" Yunzhou Commander Cao Yun left with contempt and laughed.
Looking at Cao Yun's arrogant and disdainful look at him, Dai Qingwen's face was angry. As the governor of a mansion, he was treated like this by the other party.
"Cao Yun is just using Cao Gang's name to act as a blessing. You don't have to take it to your heart." Zhou Yan, the governor of the Yun Prefecture, said with a smile.
Dai Qingwen sneered: "Well, since I don't take me seriously, I'm too lazy to pay attention to it. When you suffer a great loss, it will be too late to regret it."
The two passes were occupied and the rear road was gone. Once the food and grass support in Bingzhou was cut off, Cao Gang's army would be in danger. He wanted to remind Cao Yun, but after being despised by Cao Gang's nephew, he extinguished this plan.
.Win and defeat, what does it have to do with me? I am in the jurisdiction of Youzhou...
Youzhou Prefecture, the capital of Youzhou.
Cao Gang's army and Li Muzhi's army were in a stalemate here. Li Muzhi could not stand firm, and he also implemented the strategy of strengthening the walls and clearing the fields.
Seeing Li Muzhi's strong walls and clear fields, Cao Gang didn't care because his food and grass came from Bingzhou and Jizhou. However, the Jizhou grain transport team was often attacked by Li Muzhi's cavalry. First, most of the food and grass came from Bingzhou. For the time being,
He did not rely on occupying the prefectures of Youzhou to provide food and grass.
What Cao Gang cares more about is that Li Muzhi cannot hold on. Most of the siege equipment he made in Yunzhou Prefecture was destroyed on the city that attacked Hengzhou Prefecture, and is now stepping up the production.
"Come on, let the grain supervisor come to me!" Cao Gang said angrily.
Not long after, the grain supervisor who conquered the army this time entered the commander's tent, "I have seen the general!"
"Why do the soldiers say they are not enough?"
"If you go back to the general, it has not been half a month since the food and grass have arrived. In the army, the food and grass have been used for less than seven days. My subordinates think that if they are not controlled, they may be unexpected. This matter is personally issued by the general!" The grain supervisor said in a trembling voice.
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"What, it hasn't arrived for five days? Well, I remembered that it was the general's instructions. You go down first!"
After the grain supervisor left, Cao Gang's face turned gloomy and said angrily: "What's going on? Why don't the food and grass come in?"
The chief Xu Shan frowned and said, "General, this matter is probably a little bad. It would be fine if the grain road in Jizhou was attacked, but why would there be no food and grass in our rear? Even if it is attacked, there should be a traveler.
Reported by riding a horse."
"Xu Changshi, what do you mean?" Cao Gang's heart moved and he said anxiously.
"General, if you didn't report any abnormality, it means there was no enemy army in the rear. The food and grass have not arrived and have not been attacked by the enemy, so there was no food and grass transport at all. No matter what the situation is in Bingzhou, the most urgent task is to prepare food and grass.
Otherwise, the 50,000 army would collapse. In Youzhou, except for the Hengzhou Prefecture that had just been captured, there was Yunzhou Prefecture, and Hengzhou Prefecture would not need to be counted on. The general immediately ordered Yunzhou Prefecture to raise grain
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"Cao Feng!"
"The last one will be here!" a burly man stepped out.
"You can order the governor of Yunzhou to raise grain for us. When you arrive at Yunzhou Prefecture, you will work with Yunzhou Commander Cao Yun to investigate the reason why the food and grass will not be obtained."
"The last general takes the order"
Looking at Cao Feng's back, Cao Gang was satisfied. Compared with his brother Cao Yun, Cao Feng was much better.
Two days later, Cao Feng led a thousand cavalry to Yunzhou Prefecture and conveyed the general's orders to the governor of Yunzhou and the commander of the commander.
Hearing Cao Feng's general order, Dai Qingwen looked embarrassed. Because Yunzhou Prefecture itself provides a small part of the army's food and grass, and also needs to build equipment for the army, it is simply the limit, and it is difficult to pay for the right food and grass. But now, General Cao Gang
He actually asked him to provide food and grass for the 50,000 army until the Bingzhou food and grass arrived. But can the Bingzhou food and grass be arrived? He was very clear about the matter between the two passes. Cao Yun, the commander of Yunzhou, ate in those mountain cities.
It was a big loss. Although he had never given a banner, he still didn't know that they must be Li Huaiyuan's people, and the food and grass in Bingzhou were not allowed to be passed.
"General Cao Feng, it is really difficult for Yunzhou Prefecture to provide more food and grass. You also know that Yunzhou Prefecture is just a place of the entire prefecture, and it is also difficult to provide equipment for the army..."
Cao Feng frowned slightly and smiled bitterly: "I also know the predicament of the governor, but now the army is short of food. Once the food is out of food, the consequences will be... Governor, Governor cannot delay it, please do as soon as possible."
Seeing Cao Feng like this, Dai Qingwen shook his head helplessly. He no longer had hope for the army to fight against rebellion. Li Huaiyuan defended the border when he was young and made great contributions, which was a big deal. Otherwise, he would not have been appointed as the governor of Youzhou.
Although the General of Longxiang Guard, although he did not care about the Right Longxiang Guard, in name, the General of Longxiang Guard was in charge of the left and right guards. Now it seems that Cao Gang is no match at all.
Could it be that Li Huaiyuan in Youzhou won a great victory? Li Huaiyuan won a great victory... The three states in the world are in chaos, so... alas... Dai Qingwen shook his head helplessly.
Duwei's Mansion.
"What? You said that you found a mountain city on Liangxing Mountain Road half a month ago?" After hearing his elder brother's words, Cao Feng almost fainted. Now, he couldn't guess the change there, so it was on Liangxing Passage.
The terrain there is steep. Once it is occupied, it will be difficult to get it back.
"Brother, brother... why are you... what should I say about you? You have caused a big disaster this time." Cao Feng said with a dark face, pointing at Cao Yun.
"How did I know that these mountain cities are so difficult to fight?" Cao Yun said angrily.
"Brother! I'm not talking about this, but the army's food and grass. These mountain cities were made by Li Huaiyuan. Now the army's food route has been cut off. Our army is about to lose food. Why don't you report it in the morning?"
Cao Yun's face changed drastically. He knew what the army's shortage of food would cause, so he quickly said, "Second brother, I thought that some local lieutenant sets up the levels privately and collects taxes privately. I didn't expect that they were Li.
Huaiyuan’s subordinate. What should I do? You have to think of a solution for me.”
"Report... Report to the Duwei, Bingzhou urgently reported!" At this moment, the soldiers outside the door interrupted the words of the two brothers.
"Let the person who sent the message come in!" Cao Feng said in a deep voice.
Then, a man with dust came in and saw Cao Feng and Cao Yun, and hurriedly said, "I have seen the commander and general. Bingzhou urgently reported that the Khitan army invaded Dingxiang Prefecture!" As he said that, he took out a "she" from his arms.
The official document was handed over.
"Khitan invaded Bingzhou..." Cao Feng's face changed drastically. He knew that the crisis of the army to fight against rebellion had finally broken out...
"Brother, immediately collect food and grass at the Governor Ran Dai immediately. The more you are, the better. No matter what method you use, you must be fast! I will immediately rush back to Yanzhou Prefecture to meet the general.
When Cao Yun learned that the situation had changed drastically, he immediately plundered the people's food in Yunzhou Prefecture, and plundered many times, and even turned into looting the people's property, traitor, lust, and women, causing the people of Yunzhou Prefecture to hate the rebel army. And Cao Cao
The wind blew through the stars and went straight to the camp.
In mid-July 23rd year of Xuanwu, 30,000 Khitan troops appeared fiercely a hundred miles north of Dingxiang Prefecture. At the same time, the Turks and Shiwei were also in a state of chaos. For a moment, the situation in Bingzhou suddenly changed.
According to the customs of the imperial court, when foreign tribes invaded, General Zhenbei temporarily had the right to mobilize the Bingzhou Prefecture Army to resist foreign enemies. However, Cao Gang, who was guarding the north, fought in Youzhou, and half of the Right Dragon Xiang Guard were also in Youzhou, but Bingzhou
A person who has no control.
"Good means! Good means!" Lu Xianjing sighed in dismay when hearing the situation in northern Yunzhou.
"Father, who are you talking about?"
"Zhao Xun!" Lu Xianjing said in horror.
"Zhao Xun? What does this have to do with Zhao Xun?" Lu Liangqing asked in confusion.
"Where are the Khitan tribes?" Lu Xianjing asked in a deep voice.
"In the northern part of Shunzhou Prefecture... how is this... possible? Could it be that Zhao Xun and Khitan..." Lu Liangqing said in shock.
Lu Xianjing said in a muffled voice: "Not only that, I'm afraid Zhao Xun and Li Huaiyuan are also hooked up. Otherwise, how could the Khitans travel far to the north of Dingxiang Prefecture and invade the situation? Without Zhao Xun's consent, the Khitans
We must never act rashly, because the Marinthian tribes are their role models.”
"This...this is too..." Lu Liangfang opened his mouth and said nothing. Obviously, such speculation was a bit unbelievable to him.
The Khitans naturally followed Zhao Xun's wishes and went to the north of Dingxiang Prefecture to intimidate Cao Gang. As for Shiwei and the Turks, they were even more alarmed by the Khitans. Although there were not many 30,000 people, you ran to others.
, it naturally makes others feel a little uneasy. As a result, it leads to frequent changes in the north, while the upper and lower parts of Bingzhou are panicked.
General Zhenbei was a border general, with the main guards, and the rest were deputy. Under the imperial edict, Cao Gang was asked to properly arrange the north defense before going east to attack.
When Cao Gang got the news, Chang'an City also got the news. At the court meeting, most of the ministers agreed to the suggestion of King Qi and asked Cao Gang to withdraw to Bingzhou to deter the north. However, the ministers had different opinions on the conquest of Li Huaiyuan.
.The Left Prime Minister Situ Lei firmly opposed the imperial edict of the court to go south to fight against rebellion. The reason was that the Xiaoguo army's opinions were out of control of the court and he was completely autonomous. More importantly, because of his huge reputation, the court also
We cannot punish them at will. As for the Qi King Party, we neither agree nor object to this matter.
The court then issued an edict asking Cao Gang to return to Bingzhou to resist the Khitans. As for the rebel thieves in Youzhou, we will ignore it for the time being.
"What a Xiaoguo Army, what a Zhao Xun, it's really not easy! Play with everyone in applause." Situ Lei, who returned to the mansion, said calmly.
"Father, what does this have to do with Xiao Guojun? I can only blame Li Huaiyuan for his good intentions."
"Tomorrow, haven't you noticed it yet? Li Huaiyuan and Zhao Xun have hooked up. Otherwise, how would the Khitans in the north of Shunzhou Prefecture dare to appear thousands of miles away? Alas... This is not the most terrifying thing, I'm afraid they will still be there?
There is a next move.”
Situ Ming carefully understood what his father meant, and he also understood a little. He was slightly stunned and said, "Father, is this Li Huaiyuan the main? Or is it Zhao Xun the main? Or is the two working together?"
"I think this is mainly based on Zhao Xun. First, Xiaoguo's army is strong, and second, Li Huaiyuan has become a traitor and cannot be washed away. At a young age, he has good methods."