Chapter 4283: Military morale is turbulent
At the end of Zishi, the lights in the Chinese army tent were brightly lit. Outside the tent, groups of soldiers wearing helmets and armor were patrolling in full armor. Any soldiers or lieutenants who were walking around the camp without permission were immediately captured and handed over to the army commander for severe punishment.
In the tent, Li Zhi drank water with a dull expression.
The rest of the people were silent, and the atmosphere was very serious and tense...
Although the army's expedition this time meant abandoning Tongguan, and everyone knew that Tongguan's fall was inevitable, but until this moment, when the news came that Tongguan had been captured by Liu Rengui and Zheng Rentai, it still made people feel hesitant, uneasy, and depressed.
Because from now on, it means that everyone can only lead this army of more than 100,000 people to move forward and fight for death. Not only is the retreat completely cut off, but it cannot even stop.
This kind of pressure that can only win all the time without any failure casts a haze over everyone's heart, making them unable to breathe as if a big stone has been pressed on their heart...
After a long while, Li Zhi put down the water glass, looked around, and said angrily: "Zheng Rentai rebelled on the battlefield during the Battle of Xingyang. He not only surrendered Xingyang to Liu Rengui, but also mobilized his own soldiers and generals to cooperate with him. Help Liu Rengui to reach Keluoyang, Hangu Pass, and Tongguan. This beast is so despicable and despicable that one day, I will cut it into pieces to eliminate the hatred in my heart!"
Everyone in the tent was silent.
In fact, Zheng Rentai is not to blame for this. The entire Shandong family spent all their wealth and went to Tongguan. Even though Zheng Rentai was a famous general in Zhenguan, he lacked major generals. How could he defeat the navy with strong troops, powerful combat power, and well-equipped navy? ?
Although Liu Rengui did not show his ability in the domestic wars of the Tang Dynasty, he was in the navy during these years and he traveled across the oceans and won every battle. He defeated the surrounding countries such as Silla, Japan, Annan, etc., and lost all their armor. Losing troops and losing territory can be said to be a powerful force in the country, and he can also be regarded as a famous general...
In a different place, no one can guarantee that they can do better than Zheng Rentai. It is not difficult for a person to be strong, and it is nothing more than death. However, for the sake of personal loyalty and reputation, the entire family has been dragged down and he has become the sinner of the family. , who will do it?
In the final analysis, the interests of the family are higher than those of the individual and the country in the eyes of the family members. For the sake of the family, not to mention treason and betrayal, even surrendering to foreigners is understandable...
But now facing the furious Li Zhi, these words are obviously not allowed to be said. The consequence of "loyal words that are offensive to the ears" is often to offend others.
Cui Xin coughed dryly, stood up with a look of shame on his face, and bowed his head to the ground: "Your Highness, please calm down. This is the fault of this Shandong family. I am so ashamed that I don't know how to deal with myself... Please rest assured, Your Highness, I will definitely help you achieve great things." Let Xingyang Zheng give you a satisfactory explanation.”
As the nominal leader of the Shandong family, Cui Xin must express his firm support for King Jin.
In order to regain the glory of the past, and to imitate the power of the Guanlong clan in the early years of Zhenguan, the Shandong family has already made a desperate move to be tied to the King of Jin. They will be both prosperous and devastated. When the King of Jin achieves the hegemony of the emperor in the future, the Shandong family will Soaring to the sky and dominating the world, if the King of Jin is defeated, the Shandong aristocratic family will also fall into despair, or even fall into the dust from now on, and the aristocratic family will become a poor family...
Huge political gains naturally mean huge political risks. The Shandong Family has already evaluated this before. Now it seems that although the situation is dangerous, the chance of success is still high.
Just this time, when a hundred thousand troops came out of Tongguan and rushed to Chang'an, no troops crossed the river to stop the entire Bashui defense line. It can be seen that the emperor in Chang'an City has not yet reached the stage of winning people's hearts and frightening the world.
People's hearts are unpredictable, this is the biggest variable.
Like the King of Jin, he always believed that as long as the army arrived at Chang'an City, immeasurable drastic changes would inevitably occur, and the current imperial regime would be completely buried in the upcoming drastic changes...
Li Zhi looked resolute and said coldly: "I have the help of you all to participate in this grand event, so I will naturally remember your kindness. When I accomplish great things in the future, I will definitely repay you generously and share the world with you. But if anyone rebels halfway, , break the oath, don't blame me for not remembering the friendship of life and death that we worked side by side in the past."
Cruel words must be said, otherwise they are not enough to deter everyone in the tent. In fact, Zheng Rentai's attachment to the Navy did cause huge waves, making many people have different aspirations and no longer support him so firmly.
For example, Xiao Yu is sitting quietly aside...
Of course, no matter how harsh his words are at this time, it is of no use. It is the time when he is employing people. Even if someone is duplicitous and slanderous, he can only endure it and must not punish him severely. Otherwise, it will further unsettle people and depress morale.
The decisive battle is imminent, we must avoid all unfavorable factors and go all out...
He just needs to keep each account in his heart, and he will accomplish great things in the future, and then settle the accounts one by one. He still has this forbearance.
Everyone under the tent stood up together: "Here!"
"Give the order, light a fire and make food at the Yin hour. At three o'clock at the Mao hour, the whole army will break out of the camp and let the commander of the army closely monitor it. Anyone who spreads rumors and causes trouble will be severely punished!"
"Here!"
The military order was conveyed quickly, and the entire military camp seemed calm, but in fact there was an undercurrent. There are some things that I dare not say publicly, but soldiers in the same group can't help but whisper when they are hiding in the camp. Even if some people are stupid and don't know what the fall of Tongguan means, they gradually understand it through the narration of others.
It is certain that the military is panicked.
The 100,000 Shandong private army was recruited temporarily. It was said to be recruitment, but in fact it was no different from "catching young men." They almost wiped out all the strong laborers over the age of fifteen and under the age of fifty from all over Shandong. Although these people had also served as government soldiers. I went to Zhechong Mansion for duty, but I had never seen much of the world. "Serving as a soldier and fighting" was completely helpless.
Most of these people have the mentality of "since you can't hide, then just hang out". It is almost impossible for them to charge to the death. At best, they can only fight a smooth battle.
Having been enslaved and governed by Shandong families for generations, who knows who the emperor is?
Since Dou Jiande launched his army at the end of the year and swept through Hebei and Shandong, the war was in chaos and people were dying. The so-called "family, country and world" have never had any impression in the minds of these civilians and slaves. Everyone only demanded that the whole family work hard to make ends meet... …
At this moment, I finally understood the significance of the fall of Tongguan, and also understood that their support for Tongguan and following His Royal Highness the King of Jin to Chang'an was actually a bloody road of advancement and no retreat, leading to death. Who could remain indifferent to this?
However, this panic was firmly suppressed after Sima in the army beheaded dozens of soldiers and even captains who were "spreading rumors and causing trouble" in the camp.
However, panic is like a spring. The harder it is pressed, the greater the force. Once it rebounds, the force is infinite...
*****
The Ba River flows to the north, and the Li Mountain in the distance has been dyed with mixed colors of green and yellow. Whether it is the Tongren Plain on the east bank of the Ba River, or the Baling Plain and Bailu Plain on the west bank, the fields are all golden. And county officials from various places organized farmers to harvest grain.
The sunny weather these days is a good time to harvest crops, otherwise a heavy rain will most likely ruin a year's hard work...
Fortunately, although there is a war going on at the moment, it is still a civil war. Both the rebels and the imperial army are extremely restrained and do not disturb the farmers who are stepping up their harvesting of crops. They almost turn a blind eye.
After all, no matter who wins the battle for the throne, food is the most important material to stabilize the government and the opposition...
Li Jing and Li Ji were each wearing regular clothes, riding on horses and patrolling the Ba River defense line from north to south, surrounded by dozens of soldiers.
The two sides of the Ba River are golden, the cool breeze is blowing, and the autumn air is crisp.
Riding his horse slowly, Li Jing pointed the whip in his hand at a military camp not far away along the river. He snorted and said: "Since the end of the Jin Dynasty, the army has come from Tongguan, making a posture of being destroyed. Now it has After passing Zhaoying, no one among the more than 100,000 troops along the river took the initiative to cross the river to stop the attack. They were all waiting for the Jin King's army to march to Chang'an City to fight His Majesty in a bloody battle. It was heartbreaking. "
Li Ji held the horse's reins with both hands, obviously in a good mood. Hearing this, he smiled and said, "Why should Duke Wei be harsh? Everyone has their own position and their own interests to protect. These guys didn't hear that King Jin was going all out." They immediately raised troops to respond to the news, which is pretty good.”
Throughout the ages, there have certainly been loyal ministers and righteous men, but after all, those loyal ministers and righteous men rarely accept death and die generously simply for the loyalty in their hearts. Heroes are created by the times, mostly because their own interests are harmed, and their actions are in line with the national interests. In unison, these tragic stories were achieved.
Would anyone risk life and death simply for a noble belief?
If there really is, then there will definitely be a glorious and prosperous era created in their hands.
But it is almost impossible for the emperor to ask his ministers to abandon their families and careers and swear loyalty to the death...
After all, everyone is just waiting for the price. If Your Majesty's securing the throne can bring more benefits, I will naturally support Your Majesty; but if you hope that King Jin's military advice can break the current power structure of the court and enable some people to seize more benefits, then these people will naturally support you. King of Jin.
The current situation seems confusing and complicated, but in fact, as long as everything is summarized under "interests", it is not difficult to sort it out...
Li Jing's eyes extended from the rolling river to the fields on both sides. He sighed and said, "So, life is too complicated. The pursuit of interests is like the greed of beasts for things. It is never satisfied. This is why I am tired of officialdom. Reason. When I had to take off my armor and return to my hometown to live in seclusion, I couldn’t help but feel sad. I was resentful of being ignored and neglected. Now that I am in power, I suddenly realize that I am not suitable for officialdom at all. Emperor Taizong is still very discerning. If it were not for his suppression back then, I would have been floating in this officialdom with my character. Being used by some people to make big mistakes.”
When you don't get something, you toss and turn, ask for it, feel sad and resentful about it.
But once I got it, I found that there was no surprise in my heart, and I felt that the anxiety and hesitation I had felt was not worth it...
Li Ji felt the same and nodded: "The most important thing for a person is to recognize himself. What he wants is not important. What is suitable for him is the most important. Over the years, Duke Wei has cultivated his mind and nature and compiled military books, but he has returned to his original nature. , It is gratifying to have insight into the way of heaven.”
The two of them were chatting while riding slowly. Ever since they sent troops to Mobei to annihilate the Turks and captured Jieli Khan, it had been many years since they had put aside their positions and identities and chatted openly.
A cavalry rider came from the direction of Baqiao. When they stopped near, the cavalry dismounted and reported: "Before someone arrived at Baqiao, he claimed that he had a top-secret letter that he wanted to present to the British public in person."
Top secret letter...
Li Jing clicked his tongue, glanced at Li Ji, and sneered at the corner of his mouth. Although he didn't say it clearly, his expression was self-evident.
Li Ji was stunned for a moment, then saw Li Jing's eyes, and laughed and said: "Can a certain person still collude with the rebels? Duke Wei is too narrow-minded. If this letter is true, either someone secretly surrendered to His Majesty, and It’s an old acquaintance, or he’s deliberately creating a estrangement to deceive a fool like Wei Gong.”
Li Jing snorted, spurred his horse forward, and said, "I'm not laughing at you for possibly colluding with the rebels, but I'm laughing at you for being a person who always stays out of things and seems indifferent to fame and fortune, but in the end, people think you are the best contact person. ...You really think that everyone in the world is stupid and can’t see your thoughts? You are so smart!”
Riding his horse ahead, he galloped towards Baqiao.
Li Ji was speechless and sighed.
Yes, how can there be so many fools in the world?
However, he also felt angry in his heart. If Li Jing hadn't been present today, he would really not be able to explain. Is this some insidious and cunning guy who deliberately framed him with a "destination plan", or is he a fool who did something wrong?
Since it was a top-secret letter to myself, it arrived at Baqiao in such a grand manner and kept saying that it was handed over to me...(End of Chapter)