Li Chuyun's army had passed through the Guanzhong area and was heading north to Jingzhou. The mountains on both sides of the road were undulating, but unlike famous mountains such as the Qinling Mountains and the Qilian Mountains, there were no difficult mountains here, and the army marched smoothly.
An official from the Qianying Military Office handed a letter tube into the carriage. When Li Chuyun took out the paper roll from it, he found that there were lacquer seals left, but the lacquer seal had been opened, which meant that Wei Renpu must have read the letter first.
Li Chuyun glanced over the contents first and handed it to his aide Zhong Li who was in the same car.
The old man was quite old, and Li Chuyun was afraid that he could not stand the fatigue of the journey, so he tried to persuade him, but Zhongli insisted on going with him. Zhongli looked at him for a while and said: Feng Jiye is doing atrocities in the northwest. He wants to force the Dangxiang people to hand over Li Yiyin.
Li Chuyun said calmly: What the emperor wants is not Li Yiyin, but the entire Hexi Corridor.
Zhong Li nodded in thought.
Li Chuyun said in a deep voice: It would be better to use Li Yiyin as an excuse first. Our army can first expel the Dangxiang tribes and defeat them one by one.
Zhongli agreed: "Mr. Li is right. How could Li Yiyin bring together the Tanguts, Tubos, and Uighurs? It would be strange if they could all get together."
Li Chuyun lifted the bamboo curtain of the carriage, looked at the terrain, and said without looking back, "People like Li Yiyin are just like dogs that have lost their homes, and they are not a threat." The Hexi Corridor and the Liaoxi Corridor, occupying these places, Daxu has a way to expand his power to both wings.
In the Imperial City of Tokyo, a well-dressed man walked up the stone steps of the Jinxiang Palace, carefully straightened his clothes, and raised his hands to adjust his helmet. His serious look made the guards at the door unable to help but look sideways.
This burly man was Zhang Jiankui. He had seen the emperor many times in the army, but as a commander of the Tiger Guards, being summoned alone in the imperial city was indeed unprecedented.
Sword. An eunuch reminded.
Zhang Jiankui suddenly realized and quickly took off his sword from his waist and handed it over. Of course, he was not qualified to wear a sword in front of the emperor, but he forgot about it in his nervousness. The eunuch placed the sword on the wooden rack at the door and felt Zhang Jiankui up and down.
Hehe Zhang Jiankui suddenly laughed because of the itch, and twisted his body a few times. The eunuch looked at him with a frown, and Zhang Jiankui blushed and gritted his teeth to hold it back.
After a lot of trouble, Zhang Jiankui was taken in with a dizzy head.
The place where he met the emperor was completely different from what he had imagined. Zhang Jiankui had thought that the emperor was sitting in a magnificent golden palace, but when he entered, he found that it was a very ordinary room with officials sitting on both sides and books and documents everywhere. After walking through the room, the house and things inside were much tidier, but it still did not feel magnificent, and it was almost like an ancient study.
After passing a screen, he saw a strong man wearing an old purple round-necked suit sitting behind a desk. Zhang Jiankui had seen the emperor before and recognized him at a glance, but he saw that the emperor looked up and was looking at him.
The eunuch next to him reported and said something.
Zhang Jiankui knelt on one knee, clasped his fists and said: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. May your Majesty live forever."
Guo Shaodao, he didn't even say a word, he went straight to the point, Zan Jurun came back last time and said that you are loyal, brave and resourceful, and you are more than just a commander. I only look at military merits and results. Your contribution in Dongdao Shijianbao is very obvious. I will now promote your military rank to the commander of the army and make you a founding marquis.
Zhang Jiankui was stunned for a moment. The eunuch next to him reminded him: General Zhang, it is very difficult to get promoted in the imperial guards. You have been promoted several levels and made a marquis. The emperor has shown great favor to you.
Zhang Jiankui quickly kowtowed and said: "I will thank your majesty for your grace and will be loyal and brave to repay your grace."
I promoted you to a military position because I want to use you, Guo Shao said simply, and then raised his hand to signal.
Zhang Jiankui stood up and clasped his fists, saying: "Your Majesty, just give your orders. I will do whatever it takes even if it means sacrificing my life."
Guo Shao turned his head and looked at the pictures on the wall, picked up a wooden ruler and pointed, "I want to build a fortress here. Commander Zhang has an idea."
After hearing this, Zhang Jiankui raised his head and stared at it. It was full of lines and circles. He was confused at first glance. Fortunately, Zhang Jiankui could read. He looked at the words written on it, and he gradually understood the places such as Pingzhou and Yingzhou. The place Guo Shao pointed to was the seashore southwest of Yingzhou.
Your Majesty, I think it is good to build a fort near the sea. Zhang Jiankui racked his brains to think about the problem he encountered temporarily. The emperor asked him a question, and he must try his best to answer it well. The Liao Kingdom had no navy, and the sea ships were allowed to sail at will. According to the experience of Ishimian Fort, if the seaport waterway could directly connect to the fortress gate, military supplies could be obtained from the sea; Liuhua Fort would be difficult to be breached as long as it was not out of ammunition and food.
Guo Shaodao: Commander Zhang is right. But if we broaden our horizons and consider the use of troops from a larger perspective, the tactics of the Xu army are different from before, so the concept must also change. In the past, the city was built in the middle of an area, but now we don't have to do that. This is a sea and land gateway, and a fortress can be built. We can threaten Yingzhou and other large areas, and we can defend the northern exit of the Liaoxi Corridor. Once the fortress is completed, only two or three thousand people are needed. The entire Liaoxi Corridor and the large area of land west of the Liaohe River are under the control of the Xu army. Yingzhou City has no military function.
Zhang Jiankui bowed and said: I thank Your Majesty for your teachings.
Guo Shaodao: Now that you understand my strategic intentions, you will know what to do in Liaoxi. This place used to be called Longshan Huludao, but I don't like this name. Jinyang, which ruled Hedong, was once called Longcheng, a good place for warlords to rebel during the Five Dynasties, so I named it Liaoxi Fort. Commander Zhang Du will be given the military power of the Liaoxi First Army, which is composed of 1,000 Tiger Guards and 2,000 Guards. I give you the military order to build a Liuhua Fort here.
Zhang Jiankui pondered for a moment, bowed and said: "Then I need the help of warships. The area north of Pingzhou is still controlled by the Liao army. We can't go there by land, so we can only take a boat to Liaoxi Fort. Otherwise, the first thing I will do is not to build a fort, but to fight a big battle with the Liao army."
Guo Shao said: That's right. The warships of the Jiaolong Army will help you. If you encounter the enemy, the artillery of the Mulan ship can also provide some reinforcements at sea. The officials of the Military Department will give you a detailed topographic map of the area around Liaoxi Fort. The officials of the Ministry of Works will also help Zhang Du command the construction of the fort. The entire staff of the Qianying Military Office will assist the Liaoxi Army.
Zhang Jiankui took the order.
Guo Shao added: Although you only have 3,000 people, you must do your best in key matters concerning the empire's strategy.
Zhang Jiankui's blood boiled after hearing this, and he gritted his teeth and said: "I will risk my life to live up to your majesty's trust."