Age of Lazurite, Tower of Glass

Chapter 83: Gullibility leads to disaster

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The three of them turned around the Holy Sense Tower, and Zhu Yunwen snatched the battle report from Huang Zicheng's hand:

"On August 12, Geng Bingwen led his army to Zhending.

On August 15th, the Yan army attacked Xiong County on the Mid-Autumn Festival night. The vanguard Yang Song and his nine thousand troops were wiped out.

On August 25, our army fought a battle with the Yan army in Zhending. Geng Bingwen was defeated and retreated into the city to defend the city. Countless people died as a result. The left deputy general, Prince Consort Li Jian, died in battle, the left army commander, Gu Cheng, surrendered to Yan, and the right deputy general, Ning Zhongdu, commanded Liu Sui and was captured. He did not know whether he was alive or dead! "

The more Zhu Yunwen saw it, the more frightened he became. The 130,000 elite Zhili soldiers could not defeat the 30,000 rebels who had just assembled!

Qitai said hurriedly: "Your Majesty!"

Zhu Yunwen raised his hand to signal him to be silent. When Xuanxin saw the two ministers running in in a hurry, he knew something was going on and was waiting in the courtyard. At this time, he asked with a smile: "Your Majesty, don't you want to go to the abbot's room?"

Zhu Yunwen nodded: "Okay. Let me borrow the quiet room."

Xuanxin led the way, and the three people hurriedly entered the abbot's room. Xuanxin closed the door and stepped back.

Qi Tai didn't wait to sit down and said: "Your Majesty! General Geng's defeat is really unexpected! He fell into the trap three times in a row! It's obvious how cunning and rampant the Yan thieves are!"

Zhu Yunwen made no sound. Isn’t it nonsense to say that these are useless

Seeing the emperor's unkind look, Qi Tai hurriedly continued: "I estimate that Marquis Changxing is good at guarding the city. There are still nearly 100,000 soldiers and horses in Zhending City, and the Yan thieves cannot attack Zhending."

Huang Zicheng couldn't help but said: "Master Qi! Now you say that 'the Marquis of Changxing is good at defending'? The title of Marquis of Changxing comes from General Geng who defended Changxing and blocked the Wu army for many years. General Geng was not good at attacking the enemy, how could he be sent there? Suppress swallows?"

It turns out that in July, there was a dispute between the DPRK and China over the selection of generals for the Northern Expedition. Qi Tai strongly recommended Geng Bingwen, saying that he was a veteran of Taizu, loyal and reliable, and rich in combat experience. Qi Tai was the Minister of the Ministry of War, and this was originally a matter of the Ministry of War. Although Huang Zicheng did not agree, he had no choice but to agree at the time.

Qi Tai was embarrassed and had no way to defend himself.

Zhu Yunwen frowned: "Qi Qing continued. What will happen if the Yan army cannot attack Zhending?"

Qi Tai bowed and continued: "The Yan thieves will definitely retreat to Beiping, and they will be fine for the time being. However, the Yan thieves will definitely recruit troops to expand. I believe that your majesty has three top priorities."

Qitai paused and saw that the emperor was listening carefully, and then continued: "The Ning Guard is not far from Peiping. King Ning has the strongest military force among the kings. He has 80,000 soldiers and 6,000 leather chariots. Among them, the Duoyan Guards are Mongolian. The cavalry is especially brave. The King of Liao in Liaodong also has heavy troops, and the Liaodong army is also good at fighting. If King Yan joins forces with King Ning and King Liao, it will be difficult to deal with them. I beg your Majesty to quickly order King Liao and King Ning to return to the capital to prevent changes."

Zhu Yunwen thought for a moment and then told Huang Zicheng: "Okay, draw up the decree immediately. The king of Liao is ordered to return to the capital, and all the guards and other guards are handed over to Jiangyin Marquis Wu Gao and Yang Wen is commanded. The king of Ning is ordered to return to the capital and kill the three guards of Duoyan and others. "The guard of King Ning, the commander of Jiaoda Ningdu" did not remember his name, so he looked at Qitai. Qi Tai said: "Zhu Jian", Zhu Yunwen nodded, and Huang Zicheng wrote it.

Qi Tai said: "Your Majesty is wise! Secondly, the Yan thieves have now occupied Beiping, and the Liaodong Army in the northeast is behind them. Your Majesty can order Wu Gao and Yang Wen to lead the Liaodong Army to attack Yongping. The Yan thieves will definitely come to rescue us, and our army will attack from both sides. , we should be able to wipe out the Yan thieves in one fell swoop.”

Zhu Yunwen nodded again: "Yes!" Huang Zicheng hurriedly drafted the imperial edict.

Qi Tai heaved a sigh of relief: "The third thing is to send more elite troops from the imperial court. Zhending now still has 100,000 troops. I calculated that Zhili has 400,000 available. When we reach Zhending, we will have a total of 500,000 troops. Again. If you have a general, you won’t have to worry about the Yan thieves being destroyed. It’s just that the candidate for the general who conquered the captives... "

Zhu Yunwen couldn't help but frown. Half a million troops! This is an army that can overwhelm the country. I didn’t expect to use so many of them to deal with King Yan! And who should be entrusted with this wealth and life

Changxing Marquis Geng Bingwen was already a defeated general, and he was a general who was good at defense but not at attack. There was no one available for the generals in the DPRK. At this time, Zhu Yunwen couldn't help complaining about his grandfather, why did he kill all the generals

Huang Zicheng said: "Your Majesty! As I suggested before, I will use Cao Guogong. I have seen him dance with spears and discussed the art of war with him. There is no doubt that Mr. Li has the true biography of King Qiyang."

Zhu Yunwen pondered: "Li Jinglong?"

Huang Zicheng continued: "Your Majesty, remember the last time you captured the King of Zhou? The King of Zhou's Mansion in Kaifeng had six to seven thousand guards at that time. Cao Guogong only brought more than a thousand people there, and he captured the King of Zhou without a single blow. If you have the courage and knowledge, What a ploy!”

Zhu Yunwen was still a little hesitant. After all, it was an army of half a million people! He looked at Qitai with questioning eyes.

Seeing that the two of them were silent, Huang Zicheng became a little anxious: "Your Majesty! I will guarantee it with my life! Duke Cao Guo will surely annihilate the Yan thieves! If Cao Guogong had been sent for the first time, he would not have suffered such a defeat today!"

Qi Tai heard that he still couldn't forget the matter of sending generals before, so he had to smooth things over and said: "Your Majesty! Cao Guogong is the eldest son of King Qiyang, so he must have the true inheritance. Lord Huang is right."

After thinking for a while, he said: "I suggest that Qu Neng, the commander of the Sichuan capital, be transferred from the middle of Shu. He is a veteran general of Hongwu who is brave and good at fighting. His two sons, Qu Yu and Qu Tao, are also the sons of generals. The three of them, father and son, will definitely be able to assist Duke Cao Guo. Ensure the triumph of my army.”

Zhu Yunwen knew that Qu Neng was a famous general. A native of Luzhou, he is forty-nine years old this year. His father Qu Tong was a veteran general when Taizu founded the country. He was promoted to the position of the second-level governor of the Zhengde Dufu due to his military exploits. Qu Nengyin inherited the official position and took office as the commander-in-chief of Sichuan. He cooperated with Lan Yu, Duke of Liang, to conquer the Western Fan and defeated the rebel Yuelu Timur in Jianchang. Later, Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty executed the Duke of Liang, and Qu Neng was almost implicated, but King Zhu Chun of Shu spared his life. In recent years, he has been in charge of the military affairs of the western frontier in central Shu and has made many contributions to assisting the king of Shu.

Huang Zicheng praised: "That's right! Qu Neng and his son will definitely succeed in helping Duke Cao!"

Zhu Yunwen saw that the two of them were in agreement and couldn't think of anyone else, so he agreed: "Okay! Then let Li Jinglong go! Make Qu Neng the governor!"

On the second day of September in the first year of Jianwen, Emperor Jianwen appointed Cao Guogong Li Jinglong as the general to conquer the captives, and led the army to Zhending to replace the veteran Geng Bingwen.

Li Jinglong was surprised and happy, and happily accepted the order to go on the expedition. The 400,000-strong army organized themselves, left the city, and crossed the river. They were busy for several days. The river was mighty, and the boats were busy going back and forth for a whole day.

The General Zhenglu stood by the river, looking at the dense crowds on the vast Yangtze River, and he felt proud. "The green water raises the waves, and the wilderness is vast. Wave your arm to caress the long sword, and look up at the floating clouds. As soon as you fly into the sky, the earth will no longer roar!" If you go to suppress the swallows, you will definitely make achievements and shine on the lintel of Qiyang!

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In Prince Yan's Mansion in Peiping, Zhu Di took off his armor and rested on the kang in the Rain Watching Hall.

Looking back on the short period of less than two months in the past, not only did Peiping be wiped out in one week, but also the imperial army of the veteran Changxing Marquis was defeated. I also thought it was a miracle.

Putting his hand into his arms, the glazed tower was still overflowing with auspicious light.

Miracle, is it because of this pagoda? Is it really the Buddha’s blessing? Thinking back to the capital, she should already know about this war, right? What would she do

Zhu Di felt a little stinging in her heart. Maybe she was comforting the little emperor? But looking at the Glazed Pagoda, I felt a little hopeful in my heart. Didn't she explain everything by sending the pagoda all the way to me? Who knows what the road ahead will be.

Zhu Di was thinking wildly when a crowd of people rushed in.

Zhu Di hurriedly put Liuli Pagoda back into his arms. Dao Yan saw it quickly, but he didn't say anything. He smiled and said loudly: "Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

Zhu Di was puzzled: "What's the matter?"

"The court has indeed changed its people. My lord, guess who is the new general who conquers the captives?"

General Zhenglu was the highest title for a military general in the early Ming Dynasty. In the Taizu Dynasty, he only had the title of Duke Xu Da of Wei, Duke Feng Sheng of Song, and Duke Lan Yu of Liang. What rankings did these three have? So when Emperor Jianwen appointed Geng Bingwen as the General of the Conqueror, Zhu Di had already been shocked once. After all, it was excusable that the Marquis of Changxing was still a veteran general. Who else could deserve this title now

Zhu Di shook his head: "I can't guess. Who?"

Dao Yan smiled: "Mr. Cao Guo!"

Zhu Di was shocked: "Li Jinglong?"

Ma Sanbao interjected from the side: "Your Majesty! The imperial court appointed Li Jinglong as the general to conquer the captives. He commanded an army of 400,000 people. He arrived at Zhending the day before yesterday and replaced the Marquis of Changxing. Li Jinglong packed up General Geng's old troops and called him fifty. Tens of thousands of troops pledged to fight for the Northern Expedition."

Dao Yan smiled and said: "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Li Jinglong has never fought in a battle, how can he lead an army of 500,000 men? Back then, Taizu, an unparalleled hero, experienced hundreds of battles, but he only had 100,000 men. Li Jinglong is afraid. I don’t even know how to arrange these 500,000 people. The courtiers are so stupid, wouldn’t they be trying to kill the little emperor?”

Seeing that Zhu Di remained silent, Dao Yan laughed again and said, "The imperial court is handing over a great victory to the prince. How can the prince not be happy?"

Zhu Di sighed: "It was difficult for Taizu to start a business. It took him decades to save this family fortune, but he was so ruined by this villain. Li Jinglong is courageous and reckless, and he is also headstrong and arrogant. How can he entrust these five hundred thousand backbones?" "As he spoke, he walked to the window and looked at the stars: "Even if I win, my Ming Dynasty will definitely be severely damaged. I don't know how they will blame me under the imperial examination!"

Zhu Gaoxu couldn't help but said: "Father! You can't blame us for this! It's the gang of treacherous officials and bad guys in the court! The little emperor is also quite unconscious!"

Zhu Gaochi also advised: "Father! Now that something has happened, it is impossible to turn back. We can only try to make up for it after we win."

Zhang Yu hurriedly said: "Yes! My lord, don't sympathize with the imperial court. Yongping guard Guo Liang reported urgently that Jiangyin Marquis Wu Gao and Du commanded Yang Wen to lead the Liaodong Army to camp thirty miles outside Yongping City. There are about More than 30,000 people.”

Zhu Di was startled and turned around: "Liaodong Army?"

Dao Yan said: "The imperial court responded quickly. In addition, it also issued an imperial edict to capture King Ning's guard."

Zhu Di pondered: "Yongping cannot be lost! Daning must also be captured."

Zhu Gaoxu, Zhang Yu and Zhu Neng said together: "I am willing to fight for Yongping!"

Zhu Di looked at Zhu Gaoxu and Zhang Yu: "You two come with me to rescue Yongping and order 10,000 soldiers and horses." He glanced at Ma Sanbao: "Then Sanbao and I will go to Daning Guard." Finally, his eyes fell on Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Di. Neng and Dao Yan said: "As soon as we leave, Li Jinglong will definitely come to attack Beiping. The three of you only have 10,000 defenders, can you hold it?"

A look of confusion flashed across Zhu Gaochi's face, and he responded with enthusiasm: "My child, do your best!"

Zhu Neng said loudly: "You can hold it!"

Dao Yan smiled and said: "My lord, don't worry. I will wait until your lord comes back."

At this time, a crisp voice sounded: "Your Majesty, just go, there are 10,000 troops, Peiping can hold it!" Everyone followed the voice, and it was Princess Yan Xu Ying who slowly walked into the palace. I don't know when she changed into a lighter outfit. A, heroic appearance.

Zhu Di was overjoyed. Xu Da, King of Zhongshan, was the first general of the Ming Dynasty, and Xu Ying was the eldest daughter. Xu Da did not have a son, Xu Huizu, until he was seven years old. Therefore, Xu Ying was raised as a boy since he was a child. I have learned a lot of various kinds of arithmetic. In the past, Zhu Di would discuss countermeasures with Xu Ying before and after the Northern Expedition, knowing that this lady was really an expert in fighting.

Zhu Di smiled and said: "If the good concubine takes action, there will be no worries in Peiping!" He turned to Wang Jinghong and Hou Xian and said: "You two protect the concubine and Master Daoyan", and then said to Zhu Gaosui: "You guard your brother well." .

Everyone agreed one by one.

Zhu Di walked up to Xu Ying and reached out to hold his wife's hands. Xu Ying blushed but did not break away.

The King of Yan raised an army, firstly for Xu Xiu, but even more for Qu Jie, a civil servant who was proud and unwilling to tell the court. Xu Ying is the eldest daughter of King Xu Da of Zhongshan. She is as arrogant as her husband. She wholeheartedly agrees with King Yan's approach of preferring death to surrender. Xu Ying could not imagine that the King of Yan had to grovel and explain and plead to Qi Tai, Huang Zicheng and others; even if he remained intact, what would it be like dying

Zhu Di said softly: "Yingmei! I leave it to you. We should only hold on and not go to war."

Xu Ying nodded: "Brother! Don't worry!"

In Peiping in autumn, there is a cool breeze. The big flag with the word "Yan" on the city tower rustled in the wind, as if it was also looking forward to the future battle.

One is the eldest son of the King of Qiyang, and the other is the apple of the eye of the King of Zhongshan. The two founding fathers never dreamed during their lifetime that these two people would one day face each other, right? After all, who wins and who loses