In the afternoon, Qin Mubai held a military parade on the campus.
Hou Junji angrily rode over and shouted: "Qin Mubai, give me your snow sculpture army!"
Qin Mubai glanced at him, "Reason?"
"Why does Xue Wanjun have 40 cannons under his command, but I don't?" Hou Junji said angrily, "That old boy has been boasting about his power and power in front of me all day long. What ability does he have? Isn't it just with his hands? Does it have those forty cannons? He can only use these things to be a big turtle guarding the camp. Can he destroy the city like me? "
"You have thought it through so thoroughly, what else can you complain about?" Qin Mubai said with a smile, "The forty-sided cannon was originally used to guard Dafeichuan. What do you have to object? You destroyed the city and pulled out the stronghold. He is strong, so he can show off his power when the time comes. Why are you jealous of what he has?"
Hou Junji rolled his eyes a few times and groaned twice, and said: "I'm just angry! I think back then when that old boy looked up to me under my command, how could he be as arrogant as he is today! Qin Mubai, what the hell? It’s time to start a war! If you put up the war-free card as soon as you arrive, you won’t be able to ignore it for a long time. After all, it’s not him who is short of food and grass, but us!”
"I know this." Qin Mubai said, "Don't be impatient. I have my own arrangements."
"It would be an easy life to stay in the camp. There are forty cannons stationed there, and the Garqin Mausoleum does not dare to cause trouble." Hou Junji said, "But have you ever thought about it, Su Lie's side may not be able to resist for long. If you don't fight here, Garqinling may send more troops to attack the second pass of Yuyang, and Lanzhou will be destroyed as well!"
Qin Mubai frowned and said, "Do you want me to send you to Yuyang Second Pass to help in the battle?"
"That's exactly what I mean!" Hou Junji said, "More than half of the 60,000 Lanzhou Field Army under my command are new recruits. They need to be baptized by the fire of war before they can mature, and they need victory to boost morale before they can grow stronger. If you stick to it without fighting, your vigor will grow day by day. Falling is not an option!”
Qin Mubai thought for a moment and nodded, "Let me think again."
"You decide quickly!" Hou Junji waved his hand and strode away, saying as he walked, "Our army's strength lies in fighting quickly, while the enemy's strength lies in deception. If you cannot defend, being passive is disadvantageous."
"Stop and come back." Qin Mubai called him.
Hou Junji came back and said, "If you have anything to say, just say it."
"The enemy's strength lies in their deceit... This is interesting." Qin Mubai said, "Let's talk about it in detail."
"Obviously, the initiative now lies in the hands of Garqin Ling." Hou Junji said, "His troops are strong and strong, and they will divide their forces to attack our Dafeichuan and Yuyang Passes. They may even go south to Jiannan to attack Xichuan. We, the Tang Dynasty, are caught off guard by enemies on all sides. Which way to attack and where to attack are all at his whim, so the enemy's strength lies in their deception. The morale is high and we need to fight quickly. The most important thing is to take the initiative before we can turn the situation around. Otherwise, we really have no chance of winning in a head-on confrontation. After all, we are too outnumbered."
"We need to fight quickly, but we can't have a head-on confrontation. What's your best strategy?" Qin Mubai asked.
"No." Hou Junji shook his head decisively and said expressionlessly, "I just think I should do this. But how to do it is up to you as the coach. If I have to make up my mind about everything, What do you need?"
Qin Mubai was a little dumbfounded, "I've been talking for a long time, but it's all nonsense! Go ahead and do your business!"
"Well..." Hou Junji was not angry. Instead, he looked at Qin Mubai with solemn eyes and said, "Offense is the best defense. Whether you want to fight the enemy to the death or make clever plans. To defeat the enemy, Hou Junji can be used, please call the vanguard!"
"promise you."
"Thank you, farewell!"
After Hou Junji left, Qin Mubai secretly sighed angrily: "How on earth should we fight this battle?... Sure enough, blood and hatred alone are not enough. After all, Luan Quan dare not fight the master, because he can only win. Can’t lose!”
At this moment, a fast horse pawn came to report that Li Daozong, the king of Jiangxia, was here.
Qin Mubai was suddenly stunned: How could it be so fast! I just sent someone to invite him last night. Why did he arrive today? … Could it be that there is something else important
So Qin Mubai immediately rushed back to the main camp to see Li Daozong.
Sure enough, something else came up. In the main camp, Li Daozong held the imperial edict in his hand, his expression solemn and solemn.
"Qin Mubai, listen to the order!"
Qin Mubai was shocked and took the order to listen to the announcement.
The imperial edict was issued, and Qin Mubai was officially appointed to succeed his late father Qin Shubao as the new "Grand Commander of the March in Guanxi Road". He was appointed four other chief marchers under his command, including Yuchi Jingde, the chief marcher in Jiannan Road, and Xue Wanjun, the chief marcher in Xihai Road. Xue Wanche, the commander-in-chief of the Ganliang Road march, and Su Dingfang, the commander-in-chief of the Helong Road march, also ordered Li Daozong, the king of Jiangxia, to temporarily act as the governor-general of the Lanzhou Metropolitan Governor's Office to oversee military and civil affairs, manage the rear area, and also take orders from Qin Mubai. Condemned, all the soldiers, horses, money, food and civilian utensils under his jurisdiction were allowed to be requisitioned, and all the troops were used against Tubo!
In addition, Fang Xuanling was appointed as the deputy general manager of the Guanxi Road March, and was in charge of Chang'an as the governor of grain, grass and equipment. The first batch of military supplies, including 500,000 shi of grain and grass, 2 million jins of iron, 30,000 horses, 70,000 civilians, and countless armored mules and horses, are already on their way to Lanzhou.
The imperial edict was very long, and after it was read out, everyone understood it clearly - in addition to soldiers and horses, the imperial court sent almost half of Taicang and the treasury!
Qin Mubai closed his eyes and raised his hands above his head with slightly trembling hands. For the first time, he received the order so seriously and gratefully - "My Emperor, Holy Ming! Long live, long live!"
Li Daozong folded the imperial edict and stuffed it into Qin Mubai's hand, then held his wrists tightly, like a father seeing his son who had been away from home for a long time, and held him in his arms without any explanation.
The two hugged tightly, Qin Mubai clenched his teeth and closed his eyes, trying to hold back his excitement.
"Mubai!" Li Daozong let go of Qin Mubai and sighed loudly, "Congratulations! Your Majesty and the court have chosen you after all!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Qin Mubai held the apricot-yellow imperial edict tightly, stared at it, and said, "Maybe this is what my father paid for with his life..."
"Your Majesty has another oral message. I asked his eunuch to bring it to you. I thought the eunuch was slow, so I left him in Lanzhou. I will come in person to deliver the message. You order left and right to retreat, and I will read the oral message now. ." Li Daozong said with a hearty smile.
"I have heard from you," Qin Mubai said, sending the rest of the crowd away and cupping his hands.
"His Majesty ordered - 'Qin Mubai, you don't have to worry about using troops. If you are not the opponent of Gar Qinling, I will personally raise the whole country's army to fight against the abandoned Zong Nongzan!'"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!!!" Qin Mubai almost shouted.
Li Daozong smiled and nodded, "Although His Majesty said this, it is enough to show that he respects you and has great confidence in you. Did you see that, except for soldiers and horses, everything else the imperial court can give you, including Your Majesty’s unreserved trust.”
"Well..." Qin Mubai nodded and said, "Although half of the soldiers and horses of the Tang Dynasty are concentrated in Guanzhong, but with the continuous dispatches in recent years, the strength of Guanzhong's troops is already very small. It is helpless to send more troops to Lanzhou. I don't complain about this. The imperial court. Your Majesty's ability to send Yuchi Jingde to guard Jiannan Road is the greatest recognition and support for my strategic plan. Now that I have logistical support, I really feel more confident! Although there are many soldiers and horses in the mausoleum, why should I die to fight with them?"
"Well said." Li Daozong nodded in approval, "In the past, you were swimming against the current and fighting alone. Now that you have His Majesty and the imperial court behind you, and the entire Tang Empire as your backbone, you should have more confidence and confidence. But you We must also pay attention to reality. We are still outnumbered, so you must use your troops carefully. "
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for reminding me. I will do my best."
"There is another thing, which is why I have to come to Dafeichuan in person to announce the decree..." Li Daozong frowned.
Qin Mubai thought he was going to talk about Li Xueyan, so he said, "Your Majesty, please tell me."
"Chang Sun Huan, do you still remember?"
"Of course... Changsun Wuji's second son has worked with me in Baiqi before. Why don't you remember?"
"The first batch of military supplies to assist Lanzhou was escorted by him." Li Daozong said solemnly, "Another transfer order has been issued to the Lanzhou Governor's Office, and the prison guard general Sun Huan was transferred to General Zuoweiwei, and concurrently served as the Lanzhou Governor's Office. Together with the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Saikaidō March, he traveled with the army on the Dafeichuan River."
"What?" Qin Mubai said in shock, "You transferred that thorny head and trash to my hands, and you still have to stay on the front line of Dafeichuan? Isn't this nonsense!"
"Mu Bai, please calm down." Li Daozong sighed helplessly and said, "It can be seen that this is Changsun Wuji's handiwork. He is probably thinking that since the war is a foregone conclusion, this military achievement will also It can't all fall into the hands of some outsiders. At least, let the eldest son's family have some success, so that he can straighten his waist in the court. To put it bluntly, eldest son Huan may be here to gain military fame. "
"It's just to add chaos to the military merits!" Qin Mubai said angrily, "Before, before the war started, his eldest son, Sun Wuji, tried to block me. How arrogant he was. He wanted to get rid of me and then hurry up; now the war is going to start. Well, he sent another son to seek military merit. I have never seen such a shameless person!"
"Mu Bai, please calm down. I know you hate Changsun Wuji very much, because your father's death was somehow related to him." Li Daozong said, "But think about it calmly now. With his character, Changsun Wuji, To be able to make this move, is it really because of his military merit? With the honor and status of his eldest son’s family, do they really need military merit to show off? "
Qin Mubai was startled for a moment and then calmed down. After thinking for a moment, he suddenly said, "According to the prince's intention, Changsun Wuji has another deep meaning?"
"It is true..." Li Daozong nodded meaningfully, "Changsun Wuji is very cunning and sophisticated. He sent a son to compete with you in the military. This is a very shameful thing. With his high-profile and tough personality in the past, Such a thing is absolutely impossible. But he did it, have you figured it out? "
Qin Mubai raised his eyebrows, "Is it possible that he is actively showing his kindness to me and wants to shake hands with me and win me over to his camp?"
"By the way, that's the answer." Li Daozong smiled, "That scheming old fox will not do anything without a reason. This time he actually put down his most noble airs and dignity, of course for Pursuing a huge benefit. Is there a more promising young military general in the Tang Dynasty than you, Qin Mubai? No! You are almost overtaking Li Ji! …So, all his actions are understandable!”
"This old fox..." Qin Mubai cursed bitterly and spat, thinking to himself: Wasn't this guy incompatible with me and indirectly killing my father? ... In the political situation, there are indeed no eternal enemies and friends, only eternal interests!
"Mu Bai, you must treat Changsun Huan with caution." Li Daozong said.
"Well, I know it well, Prince, don't worry."
"Okay, the official business has been done. Next, help me with a private matter." Li Daozong breathed a sigh of relief and said.
"My lord, what's your personal matter?"
"Asking even though you know it!" Li Daozong's tone suddenly rose, as if he was still a little angry, "Where is that evil girl!!!"