Xi Chao was keenly aware of something strange in Liu Cheng's words.
Although in front of Xi Jiabin, Liu Acheng often made some nonsense, but today's words were a bit too targeted.
"I thought your visit to Jiangling was a big success. After all, the Huan family was dragged in by you to do Staff of Authority." Xi Chao squinted his eyes. "Why does it sound like it didn't go well?"
"It's not that it went well or not, but I'm thinking about what will happen next." Liu Cheng didn't hide it. "I am now considered a foreigner, both to the imperial court and to Grand Marshal... As a foreigner, when seeking power, there is also the word suspicion... Internal suspicion is external, and external suspicion is internal. This is human nature."
"What do you suspect Grand Marshal?" Xi Chao asked.
"According to Grand Marshal's character, if the situation is good, he may deliberately try to trick me. If the situation is bad, he may not express his anger." Liu Cheng lowered his head and scrubbed Leg Wraps while speaking. "Am I right?"
Xi Chao paused for a moment and did not deny it, but responded seriously, "The situation is really good, so what's the point of holding it back? As long as you are young and don't give you a big pressure, it is a common thing for an official to tolerate it and get over it. It would be strange if you don't hold it back... As for expressing your anger, Yulong, I think you are thinking too much."
"How to say?" Liu Cheng Wring it out Leg Wraps and put it aside.
"The reason is very simple." Xi Chao smiled. "Duke Huan If the situation really gets bad, if Jiankang is still here, we will lead him to anger Jiankang. If Jiankang is no longer here, I can't imagine how the situation will get worse."
Liu Cheng was stunned for a moment and then smiled, "That being said, what if his situation is extremely bad and Jiankang is not enough to vent his anger?"
"If it really turns out to be that bad, I'm afraid Grand Marshal's great career in this life will be wasted." Xi Chao suddenly calmed down. "If he still wants to anger you, you should stay away to protect yourself for the future... Don't you have your own ambitions?"
"This is exactly what I thought. I just want to find a way to protect myself so that if anything happens in the future, I can continue to dream of my Northern Expedition dream." Liu Cheng sat there with bare feet and continued to smile. "But Jiabin, if it really comes to that point, what will you do?"
"I...?" Xi Chao suddenly paused, and then laughed again. "So, Yulong is waiting for me here? Could it be that you want to persuade me not to sell Northern Command in a hurry?"
"No." Liu Cheng replied quietly. "I saw Xun Xian like this. I was worried about how and when to sell Beifu. It was beyond your control. In the end, everything got out of control in a hurry, causing a big mess and making your ten-year plan come to nothing."
"No wonder." Xi Chao sighed. "No wonder... To tell you the truth, right now Northern Command is like this, Xun Xian is like this, I feel guilty... But what do you think we can do? Can we give up this idea or can we give up Duke Huan? Or who of us can control Xun Xian? Do you want to come to Northern Command in advance?"
"I have that idea, but it's just an idea." Liu Cheng shook his head in reply. "After all, Western Command is doing very well now, and I really can't bear to part with it. If I temporarily change the place and restart the business, I'm afraid I won't be able to keep up with the situation."
"That's true. Moreover, if you really came to Northern Command in advance, and the business has been running for a long time, when Duke Huan really takes over, I'm afraid you will really have to work hard." Xi Chao also shook his head. "Yulong, there is really nothing you can do about Shiya Mingya. Even if you want to gamble, you don't have to think too much."
"It doesn't matter, you can let me Northern Expedition and I won't be holding back." Liu Cheng stood up and poured the foot washing water out of the house that served as his tent. Then when he came back, he had changed the topic. "So Northern Command, what is the situation now, and what is going on with you Uncle?"
"Northern Command is really not doing well right now. If we consider that there are 25,000 field soldiers at full strength, it is estimated that only 20,000 people can move, and there are still thousands of new recruits." Xi Chao is obviously helpless and can only explain in general. "It is said that those Refugee Commander in the north are also a little unstable...Xun Xian Of course what said today was true, but it also meant he was a little annoyed. His purpose this time Northern Advance should be to defeat the latter and frighten the local Refugee Commander in the north. I really don't know the specific situation. He even put him under house arrest not long after I came to Xiapi."
Liu Cheng was stunned, and then asked, "Where are you Uncle?"
"What happened to me Uncle?" Xi Chao was slightly puzzled.
Liu Cheng took Xi Tan as a military commander and assumed the role of Northern Command, which may actually decentralize Xun Xian's conjecture. "Do you Uncle want the power of the Northern Command Army yourself?"
"You are thinking too much." Xi Chao quickly shook his head and gave the answer. "Xun Xian had a serious illness two years ago. I, Uncle, really wanted to take over at that time, and it happened that Xun Xian recovered from his illness, and Northern Advance Langya, monitored Qing Province, Northern Command the stall was too big, so I Uncle took advantage of the opportunity to stay."
Liu Cheng It suddenly dawned on me.
In this way, the two briefly exchanged information and went to Military Secretariat together early the next morning. As expected, Xun Xian was waiting there early. Unlike Xie Wan who was unwilling to come forward due to physical discomfort, it was obvious yesterday General of the Vanguard Army Liu, who were in opposition to Northern Command's owner Xun Xian, including Xi Chao who claimed to have been under house arrest for a month, started military discussions as if nothing had happened.
As a result, Xi Tan, who was originally extremely nervous, became the most uncomfortable one on the court.
Xun Xian himself first introduced the battle and explained his concept of the battle.
To put it simply, Si River is used as a food route and the hilly terrain of Mount Tai Commandery is relied upon. By besieging various strongholds occupied by Northern Yan in Mount Tai Commandery, some Xianbei reinforcements are attracted to enter and look for opportunities to eliminate them.
Of course, it is best to attract the main force of Xianbei people. In this case, even if it is just a confrontation and the final departure without a fight, it will be a victory that can show the strategic influence of Northern Command.
There is certainly nothing wrong with the idea itself.
According to Liu Cheng's calculations, if they are also going to Huaibei for support two hundred miles away, the baggage transportation cost of the inland waterway is almost only one-fifth to one-tenth of that of the land route. From Pengcheng to Mount Tai, there are lakes, swamps and hills along the way. The distance is further and the cost is very different, so it is necessary to rely on waterways.
Needless to say, mountainous terrain limits the mobility of the Xianbei cavalry... There is no problem in choosing the battlefield.
But Liu Cheng, as long as he is a responsible general, he will definitely ask more questions.
"The water is shallow in winter and easy to freeze." The first thing Liu Cheng questioned was naturally the most important transport channel. "According to Zhonglang, the upper reaches of Surabaya can go directly to the south of Taishan County. Is it true that it is also passable in winter? Has Zhonglang ever verified it with local people?"
"I did." Xun Xian, who had obviously arranged his hair, was still terribly pale, but he answered fluently. "In previous years, it was icy and the water was shallow. At worst, Si River could reach Lu County... Once there, it would be enough to use troops."
"Then how can Si River defend themselves along the grain road?" Liu Cheng continued to ask. "What if Xianbei people discovers our intention and does not fight us in Mount Tai Commandery, but instead sends cavalry from Leize's side and crosses Juye Marsh to attack behind us?"
"That's why I invited reinforcements." Xun Xian's expression did not change. "Ensure the transportation of grain and fodder."
Liu Cheng was stunned, and then continued to ask, "What if Xianbei people abandons Mount Tai's stronghold and directly withdraws to the flat ground next to the Ji River to gather and wait for us?"
"Then confront them and wait until the water rises in spring to block their retreat, then launch a surprise attack on them." Xun Xian continued to answer. "Of course, I mean when the other side does not have many reinforcements."
"Then what if..." Liu Cheng nodded. Although he felt that the surprise attack after the confrontation was a bit wishful thinking, he couldn't say there was a problem. "Then what if Xianbei people gave up Mount Tai, did not send reinforcements, and just allowed us to sweep the entire Mount Tai Commandery?"
Xun Xian finally fell silent.
Xi Tan is already nervous.
Unexpectedly, Xun Lingze was not angry. Instead, he hesitated and said slowly, "If it is true as General Liu of the Vanguard Army said, then I will only eradicate their Administrator of Mount Tai and then withdraw... I don't believe that their Administrator dares to directly abandon the entire Mount Tai."
This is to forcefully seek compensation and seize Administrator to prepare for the failed military operation.
But Liu Cheng became satisfied instead. At least Xun Xian made it clear that if that happened, he would take the initiative to withdraw his troops instead of necessarily asking for a war. This shows that the owner of Northern Command still maintains basic sanity.
"I hope Duke Xun will keep his promise." Liu Cheng saluted respectfully. "I have no other questions for the time being. When will we send troops?"
"Immediately." Xun Xian said simply. "Since you are here faster than I thought, we might as well take the lead. Our Xiapi troops will follow immediately, about ten thousand people, and the northern counties will also gather about seven or eight thousand troops. This will not delay the march."
"Okay, I'm going to send troops right now." Liu Cheng said simply. "If that's the case, let's talk nonsense first, and then ask one more question... Do we Gentleman of the Palace Xie want to go north together?"
"Let him go!" Xun Xian said coldly. "If we don't let him see combat, he won't be able to wake up."
Liu Cheng was about to say something more, when Xun Xian added, "I will urge him to go there myself, you don't have to worry about it, just take him Central Army away first."
Now he had nothing to say. He wished he could take away Central Army from Wang Xia and get rid of Xie Wan.
On November 29th, there was no waiting for Twelfth Month, Liu Cheng only had two days of rest at Pengcheng, and then Northern Command Under the urging of the Gentleman of the Palace Xun Xian, he personally commanded the Western Command armies to march northward Mount Tai, except Xie Wan, Western Command Not a single member of the original team of was left behind, all heading north... Liu Cheng originally wanted to keep Huan Xin behind, Xi Tan originally wanted to keep Wang Guannu In the rear, the two of them found out that Xie Wan was also going and were too embarrassed to stay any longer. They insisted on following Mount Tai. In the end, one more Xi Chao also went north with the army.
There is nothing wrong with what Xun Xian said. The Si River grain road is indeed an important passage to the north. It is much better than the Bian River channel that bifurcates at Pengcheng. Even if the water is shallow in winter, it can indeed support transportation.
Immediately, although they encountered a small group of Xianbei cavalry from the moment they entered Rencheng, they successfully entered Lu County on the seventh day of Twelfth Month, where they met Northern Command general Zhuge You.
Then the Beifu frontline general immediately gave out military intelligence that seemed to be good, but was actually very bad - Jia Jian, the governor of Taishan Mountain in Beiyan, after detecting the great movement in Beifu, had voluntarily abandoned most of the strongholds in Taishan County that he originally occupied, and only led his headquarters to guard the northernmost mountain of Taishan County, which was already on the plains beside Jishui.
Although Shanchi has a mountain in its name, this mountain is famous precisely because of the flat terrain there. It is said to be a small red mountain that is only a few dozen steps wide. In fact, the typical hilly terrain there quickly transforms into Pingyuan.
Or Pingyuan.
Reinforcements?
No reinforcements were seen.
The previous Xianbei cavalry should have been sent from Linqiu. No enemy troops gathered at Shanchi, and that small town could not hold one or two thousand people.
Liu Cheng feels like he has a crow's mouth.
Twelfth Month On the tenth day of the lunar month, it rained unexpectedly at the southern foot of Mount Tai. The winter rain was more unbearable than the snow. Many soldiers' winter clothes were damp. Liu Cheng boasted that the logistics were well prepared and even prepared for snow. However, at this time, he had to watch the green smoke all over the city in the small town of Tuqiu Settlement, which was used as a temporary camp, and was speechless.
How to prevent this?
I'm just passing through the camp temporarily, so there's no reason to stock up on dry firewood in advance, right?
Xie Wan Gentleman of the Palace Xie, who was almost forcibly brought here by Xun Xian, felt that there was no worse situation in his life than this. He could not escape from the choking smoke everywhere in the city, which made him unable to open his eyes and the clothes on his body were wet and cold to the bone.
Xie Wan is like this, let alone ordinary soldiers.
"General Zhuge stayed behind to guard the back road. We combined our troops and quickly crossed Wen River. I took Gentleman of the Palace Xie with me to besiege the city. You stay in the rear Fang Mountain foothills until the Chinese New Year. If there are reinforcements, we will come from Linqiu came, we defeated the reinforcements. If there were no reinforcements, I took Shanchi myself and beheaded Jia Jian." Xun Xian, who had arrived at this time, felt powerless in the face of this scene. "Then they retreated... What did the front army think?"
Liu Cheng just bowed his hands and saluted.
Until now, he really didn't blame the other party, at least he didn't think there was anything wrong with the other party's tactical arrangements.
Who would have thought that Twelfth Month would rain instead of snow? Xun Xian and Liu Cheng were really prepared for snow. They prepared a large amount of Rice Straw in the logistics supplies, and they all changed into winter clothes before coming. Even a few days ago, many people were excited that it was a warm winter.
Who would have thought that Administrator of Mount Tai would really abandon most of the city? And Murong Clan really wouldn't save it? Mount Tai, with three sides deep into Murong Xianbei's jurisdiction, really wouldn't come to save it?
Can you Murong De take responsibility? You can't possibly be afraid of being beaten in Zan County, right?
Murong Ke doesn't care?
-----I am the dividing line between not coming to rescue-----
Emperor Taizu has experienced hardships in life, none more difficult than Mount Tai, Huai River region, and Bohai. However, none of the three are as good as the tightness of Jiankang's net and the complexity of Jinan's foundation.
-- "Letter to General Shen". Qi. Fan Ye