The empire has strict regulations on the mobilization of local troops and horses. Although Wei Shutong is the governor of Xichuan, the troops and horses that can be mobilized are only 2,000 people directly under his command. The troops and horses stationed in various places in Xichuan can be mobilized if necessary. , you must have the transfer order from the Ministry of War. Otherwise, transferring troops without authorization without the transfer order from the Ministry of War is tantamount to treason.
But the special order in Qining's hands was naturally more effective than the order from the Ministry of War.
Wei Shutong did not dare to mobilize troops easily because he was worried that the court would hold him accountable. Now that the emperor's order was there, he had no worries.
"Master Wei, how many troops and horses can Xichuan mobilize now?" Qining asked after taking a sip of tea.
Wei Shutong immediately said: "Reporting to your lord, the manpower mobilized directly by the lower official is the guards of the Governor's Mansion, with a strength of two thousand. In addition, the total number of troops stationed in Xichuan is no less than thirty thousand. "
"Thirty thousand people...!" Qi Ning muttered.
Wei Shutong added: "These are the soldiers who belong to the Ministry of War. In addition, there are also Yachai Xiangyong. The entire Xichuan combined can make up 20,000 people."
"That's not necessary." Qi Ning said: "The government agencies in various places ensure local security. Mr. Wei, among these 30,000 people, can we gather 10,000 people within ten days?"
"Ten thousand people?" Wei Shutong thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "If the transfer order is issued immediately, all the troops and horses around Chengdu Mansion can be mobilized within ten days. Ten thousand troops and horses will not be difficult."
Qi Ning asked: "How effective are these soldiers?"
Wei Shutong smiled and said: "Don't worry, Sir, Xichuan is an important place in the empire. The imperial court has always attached great importance to Xichuan. All the soldiers and horses stationed in Xichuan have never neglected their training, and they are all brave and good at fighting." He stroked his beard and said: " The Sichuan people are inherently brave and fearless in battle, and they are not as strong as the northerners, but in a fight, they are no less brave than the northern Han people."
Qi Ning smiled and said: "That's very good. Then you immediately issue an order to mobilize 10,000 troops and horses within ten days."
Wei Shutong stood up and said, "I'm going to take care of my humble duty immediately." As he was about to stand up, Qining said, "Don't worry, Mr. Wei, there is one more thing, please go and arrange it."
"Your Majesty, please give me your instructions."
"I'd like to use your house tomorrow night, and you can help me prepare a banquet." Qi Ning smiled and said, "I wonder if it's troublesome?"
"Sir, I will prepare a banquet to welcome you now." Wei Shutong said hurriedly: "Sir, time is urgent when you come here. I went to Heiyan Cave in a hurry a few days ago. I want to welcome you." It won’t work either, tonight…!”
"Master Wei misunderstood." Qi Ning shook his head and said, "I asked you to prepare a banquet because I wanted to entertain guests."
"A treat?" Wei Shutong was stunned, thinking that Qin Ning was the Duke of the Empire and held a high position. If he wanted to treat him, he could only be treated by others, so how could it be his turn to treat others? You can let the little prince treat you as a host, but you don't know who the guest is
Qi Ning said: "Send someone to write another invitation and arrange for it to be sent to the King of Shu's palace. Invite the King of Shu to come to the banquet tomorrow night. Then say that I will be the host myself and invite the King of Shu to have a drink."
Wei Shutong was even more surprised and lowered his voice: "Sir, do you want to invite Li Hongxin?"
Qi Ning nodded slightly, Wei Shutong's lips moved, but he stopped talking and cupped his hands and said: "I will go and make arrangements now." After thinking for a moment, he said: "It's just that since Li Hongxin's son was stabbed, he After closing the gate of Prince Shu's palace, according to the servants in his palace, Li Hongxin stayed in the Buddhist hall day and night, chanting sutras and chanting Buddha's name. He thought he was reciting sutras for his son's salvation. The lower official... was only worried that Li Hongxin would refuse to come to the banquet. .”
"Just ask someone to tell you that I will wait for him at the banquet tomorrow night. If he doesn't come, I will wait until dawn." Qining smiled and said: "I am also the Duke of the Empire after all. The King of Shu will not even have this face. You won’t give it to me, right?”
Wei Shutong sneered and said: "The Lord has given him so much face. If he really resists me, I will have him tied up directly."
Qi Ning laughed, knowing that Wei Shutong was just talking. Although Li Hongxin had already lost his glory, he still retained the title of King of Shu. This title was higher than the Duke. Wei Shutong Shu Tong was no match for the governor of Xichuan and asked him to kidnap the King of Shu. He really didn't have the courage.
That night Qi Ning went to bed in the Governor's Mansion and asked Wei Shutong to find a map of Xichuan and read it carefully with the help of an oil lamp.
The Chu State did not have a complete map of the world, but only a rough outline. Especially for the territory of the Northern Han Dynasty, only rough lines could be drawn on the map of the Chu State. However, under the leadership of Beitang Yu, the Han State had this relatively complete map. map of the universe.
Surveying the map is of course a big project, and the map of the world has always been owned only by the imperial court and is a confidential document. There was naturally a relatively detailed map of the world in the previous dynasty. After Beitang Tianwei raised troops to attack Luoyang, because the soldiers and horses were in the city After plundering and fighting, although the map of the world was found, it was already incomplete. Fortunately, the incomplete part of the map was only in the northern territory, but the south was quite intact. The Northern Han Dynasty was presided over by Bei Tangyu, who spent a lot of money Manpower and material resources will eventually restore the world map.
The founding ancestor of the Chu State was only a local military commander, so it was naturally impossible for him to have a complete map of the world. Although he established the Chu Empire, so far, the Chu State only had a map of its own territory. In fact, the map of Xichuan was created after the conquest of Bashu. Fill it up.
As the governor of Xichuan, Wei Shutong naturally had a relatively detailed map of Xichuan.
Xichuan has complex terrain and long mountains, but Qining set his sights on the north of Xichuan.
The Bajiang River and the Jialing River meander in Guanghan County, Xichuan. Lying between Xichuan and Hanzhong is a majestic giant dragon. On the left is Micang Mountain, and on the right is Daba Mountain. Between the two mountains is Micang Road, which is a thoroughfare. One of the two roads to Hanzhong, the other is located to the west of Micang Mountain and is the Jinniu Road, with Jianmen Pass guarding it.
Now Hanzhong is under the control of the Chu State, and there are troops stationed in Nanzheng, Hanzhong. However, from Hanzhong to the north, the 800-mile Qinling Mountains have become a roadblock. If Qining wants to enter the northwest to attack Xianyang, it must pass through it. After passing the Qinling Mountains, Qining saw several important roads through the Qinling Mountains marked on the map. From left to right they were the Old Road, Baoxie Road, Tangluo Road and Ziwu Road. The Ziwu Road went north and left the Qinling Mountains. Approaching Xianyang, if you leave the ridge from the old road and Baoxie Road, you will have to turn east and pass through the northwest territory.
Qin Ning knew that if he wanted to attack Xianyang by surprise, the Chu army would have no choice but to trek long distances in the northwest. Once the northwest Han army discovered the traces of the Chu army, it would be impossible to attack Xianyang by surprise. Even if Xianyang's troops were weak, once there were Without preparedness, it would be difficult to capture the city in a short period of time.
When the Chu army enters the northwest, what they require is a quick battle and a quick victory, and they must not stagnate in the northwest.
As long as the Chu army captures Xianyang in a short period of time, the northwest will soon be under the control of the Chu army. However, if Xianyang cannot be captured, it will inevitably lead to troops from all over the northwest organizing troops to rush to Xianyang. At that time, the Chu army became Chinese food for northwest people.
And if Xianyang cannot be captured, the Chu army's logistics will definitely have serious problems.
Qi Ning knew that this was an extremely risky military gamble. Once it succeeded, it would naturally become famous all over the world. But once it failed, it would inevitably have extremely serious consequences. He knew that this surprise attack must be considered again and again and must not happen. Any mistakes.
This time he brought Duan Canghai with him, which had deep meaning.
He has never been on the battlefield, and he has never experienced leading troops in combat. Even if he is a military genius, it is really difficult for him to carry out such a military adventure in his first battle, not to mention that Qining has never felt that he has any military ability. What an extraordinary talent.
Duan Canghai is a veteran who survived the battlefield. The bloody battles at the Black Scale Battalion frightened the people of the Northern Han Dynasty. Duan Canghai has been baptized by blood and fire, and is naturally a strong general with excellent qualities.
Qi Ning naturally has great trust in Duan Canghai. Such a trustworthy veteran with rich battlefield experience, Qi Ning will naturally rely heavily on him in this surprise attack. Therefore, after arriving at the Governor's Mansion, Qi Ning Ask Wei Shutong to send people to Heiyan Cave and have Duan Canghai rush back to Chengdu as soon as possible.
That night, Qi Ning only saw late at night when looking at the map, with a myriad of thoughts.
The next day, Wei Shutong sent people to notify the chefs of the three largest restaurants in the city to the governor's mansion, and ordered the three of them to prepare a banquet in the governor's mansion. By dusk, the three chefs fully demonstrated their respective skills. The king of Shu, Li Hongxin, came here.
The Governor's Mansion has a special flower hall, which is very elegant. Wei Shutong is a scholar and pays attention to elegance, so the flower hall is simple and elegant. A round table for six people is made of pear wood, which is very particular.
As the sun set, Qi Ning went to the flower hall to wait, while Wei Shutong waited at the main entrance of the Governor's Mansion, waiting until Li Hongxin arrived before welcoming him in.
Although Li Hongxin had never been seen, Qi Ning still remained calm. The lights were lit in the flower hall. Qi Ning did not invite anyone except Li Hongxin, so the flower hall seemed unusually deserted.
Just after Youshi, Qi Ning finally saw Li Hongxin arriving late, and he and Wei Shu came to the flower hall one after another.
We haven't seen each other for a few months, but Li Hongxin seems to be several years older. He doesn't have any fancy clothes, but is just wearing a very simple green robe, with a blue belt around his waist that can be seen on ordinary people, and his hair tied up. After entering the house, Qi Ning had already stood up and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, I came to Xichuan last time and was honored by Your Majesty to host a banquet. Today I am here to lend flowers to Buddha and treat Your Majesty to a glass of water and wine."
Li Hongxin was serious in speech and had a calm expression. He nodded slightly and went to sit down at the table. He said calmly: "Your Majesty Qi has been promoted to Lord Protector. I did not congratulate you in time. Please don't be offended, Sir. Come tonight." , I will lend you the wine here to toast your lordship. It’s just that I am dedicated to worshiping Buddha and only eat vegetarian food, so when I came, I drank some vegetarian food. Please don’t be offended by your late arrival.”
"It's great if you can come." Qi Ning sat down diagonally across from Li Hongxin and winked at Wei Shutong. Wei Shutong immediately went out and asked people to serve food and drinks. Then he returned to the hall and sat down at the table. The people are in the shape of a triangle, and the lights are flashing, reflecting on the faces of the three people, each with different expressions.