Chapter 2441 Li Mu VS Wu Qi (Part 1)


    Chapter 2438: Li Mu VS Wu Qi (Part 1)


    Li Jing sent troops a day earlier than the original plan, because he did not expect Gongsun Xuanyuan''s actions to be so smooth.


    Li Jing thought it would take at least two days before Xuanyuan could handle the second brother Chen Cang''s San Pass, but he did not expect that he had occupied the two fortresses, Chen Cang and San Pass in just one night.


    Gongsun Xuanyuan''s movements were too fast, but Ban Chao had not arrived in Chang''an yet.


    Without receiving the message from Ban Chao, many subsequent plans could not be carried out, so Li Jing deliberately waited for Ban Chao for one day.


    After receiving the news that Ban Chao was not dead and was only imprisoned, Li Jing breathed a sigh of relief. He still valued Ban Chao very much, so he naturally did not want the first Wen Zhuangsheng of the Qin Dynasty to die halfway.


    Ban Chao was not dead, and there was still room for Qin and Tang dynasties. Li Jing could already expect that after the end of this attack on Tang, a large number of Li clan relatives would surrender to Qin.


    But these had nothing to do with him. His mission was to take Guanzhong at the lowest price, so he decisively ordered all seven armies to kill Chang''an.


    Not only did most of the generals of the Qin army not understand Li Jing’s decision to attack Tang, but even Li Shimin, Li Kui, Changsun Wuji and others did not understand.


    "Why didn''t Li Jing concentrate his efforts to attack Chang''an? He only needed to capture one city in Chang''an, and the rest of the cities could be decided by a letter, but why did he disperse his troops for some irrelevant cities?"


    Changsun Wuji started to talk to himself in confusion.


    "Is Li Jing doing this because he wanted to turn Chang''an into an isolated city and completely isolate Chang''an City, so as to disintegrate the will of the defenders in the city?"


    Li Xu said with some uncertainty.


    After hearing this, Li Shimin shook his head and said, "Li Jing must have wanted to end the Guanzhong war in the shortest time and not give other countries the opportunity to support him."


    If it is an isolated strategy, it will definitely take time and effort. It will easily cause variables after a long period of time, unlike Li Jing''s style. ”


    "What''s that?"


    Changsun Wuji started to murmur.


    Seeing that the three strategists whom he relied on the most failed to see through Li Jing''s intentions, Li Shimin couldn''t help but miss Li Ru and Du Ruhui.


    Although they are not as good as Li Si and Li Ke in terms of politics, they are both better than the two in terms of military affairs.


    If Li Ru and Du Ruhui were still there, they would definitely be able to see through Li Jing''s intentions. Li Shimin said in his heart.


    With the command of Li Shimin, Li Ju and Changsun Wuji, the reason why Li Jing’s intention was not seen is actually because they found the wrong direction.


    Li Jing’s arrangement was not based on military purposes, but to cooperate with the political actions of Li Si and Ban Chao.


    Li Shimin and the other three were confused by the authorities. A leaf was blinded by the eyes and could not turn the corner, so the deep meaning of it was not visible.


    On the other hand, Li Si, since he heard the news, he knew the profound meaning of Li Jing''s actions.


    This time, we are forcing the pro-Qin faction in Chang''an City and the generals who are in charge of military power and pro-Qin faction to take sides.


    The most difficult thing to attack in Guanzhong is Chang''an City. Although division of troops to capture the rest of the cities will increase casualties to a certain extent, it will definitely not be as good as the losses of a strong attack on Chang''an City.


    If you don’t care about the casualties of the division of troops to capture the other cities, and divide the troops to capture other cities, turn Chang''an into an isolated city little by little. If the lonely city cannot be defended, the defenders in the city will inevitably bear great psychological pressure.


    Once the pressure exceeds the scope of some people, the mutiny will also change from accidental to inevitable.


    Once Chang''an falls into internal struggle, the Qin army will be able to defeat others without fighting.


    This is no less than the loss of a strong attack on Chang''an.


    The civil officials of Li Tang are fine, after all, they can only talk, but many generals are now very conflicted.


    They knew that Li Tang''s ship was going to sink and it was impossible for human resources to stop it, but they were both thinking about Li Shimin''s goodness, but they didn''t want to sink with him and buried him with Li Tang.


    Under such circumstances, Li Jing''s continuous pressure test method is far more tormenting their hearts than going directly.


    After realizing this, Li Si immediately spoke, "Lord, I have a note. No matter what Li Jing''s intention was to do this, we can use these cities and the garrisons in various camps to delay the time of the Qin army''s march.


    If the Qin army can be held back for a month, reinforcements from various countries will come by then, and the pressure on our Tang Dynasty will be much less. ”


    After hearing this, Li Shimin couldn''t help but fall into deep thought, while Li Kui frowned and said, "But if he didn''t send reinforcements, he wouldn''t be able to hold on for long just by relying on these things."


    Li Si asked slowly, "But once reinforcements are sent, are you sure they can arrive in the city? You know, the speed of the Qin army''s cavalry is not slow."


    Li Kui was speechless. Yes, even if they sent reinforcements, it would be difficult for the reinforcements to support them, because once they left Chang''an, they would inevitably be attacked by the Qin cavalry on the plain.


    With the current morale of the Tang army in Guanzhong, it is undoubtedly a failure in the field battle with the Qin army. Only by relying on the city defense can one have the power to fight.


    Therefore, if you go out of the city, you will be defeated, and only by defending the city can you have the power to fight.


    "And the Qin army came in seven directions, and the entire Guanzhong was full of beacons. Even if we wanted to save it, we couldn''t save it. Our Tang Dynasty did not have so many soldiers or so many generals." Li Si added.


    Hearing this, Li Shimin sighed. Although Li Si''s words were rough, the truth was correct. Li Jing dared to divide his troops into seven routes, not afraid that the Tang army would defeat them one by one because the commanders of the seven armies were all famous generals.


    There are many famous generals and generals in the Qin Dynasty, and they can withstand such usefulness, but the Tang Dynasty cannot find so many famous generals.


    "The commander of the county magistrates and guards of each city will recruit troops on their own, form the people, and defend the city. At least one month, the reinforcements from Chang''an will arrive soon."


    Although Li Shimin said that, he was not prepared to send reinforcements at all.


    Li Kui and Changsun Wuji did not dissuade them, because they all knew that even if they were sent, they would die and would not be able to arrive at them at all.


    Seeing this, Li Si was calm on the surface, but he was really happy in his heart and said to himself: "Li Shimin, you have fallen into the trap."


    After Li Shimin determined his strategy to defend Chang''an to the death, he immediately sought help from the three kingdoms of Shu, Chu and Sui, and at the same time recruited troops scattered in the camps around Chang''an to return to the city.


    Li Mu, the head general of Chang''an North Camp, was so angry that he tore the edict to pieces.


    "The lonely city cannot be defended, and it is a dead end to guard Chang''an." Li Mu said in a deep voice.


    "But the lord has ordered..."


    "The general is not subject to military orders abroad. He must not just retreat to Chang''an and give up the defense line we have worked hard to manage." Li Mu said extremely firmly.


    At this moment, Li Mu was extremely disappointed with Li Shimin. He did not understand those complicated politics. He only knew that he was trapped in Chang''an and died.


    Although Li Shimin knew this, he still issued such an order. This is to sacrifice 100,000 Tang troops in Guanzhong for his own selfishness to fight the Qin Dynasty to the end.


    Li Mu is a general who cherishes soldiers. Li Shimin''s behavior made him very dissatisfied, but as a member of the Li family, he could not betray Li Shimin, so he decided to fight in the best way.


    Chang''an does not lack the strength of his battalion. Even if he leads the troops back, it will not play much role, so he decided to fight his own.


    "I will immediately divorce the letter and explain the pros and cons to the lord, hoping that the lord can change his mind."


    After saying that, Li Mu ordered in a deep voice: "Transfer to my general order, leaving a thousand troops to defend the enemy to agree, and the remaining troops immediately enter Baling. Let''s take a good look at the Qin army."


    "No."


    The captains shouted in response.


    After receiving Li Shimin''s order, Li Mu not only did not return to Chang''an, but instead led his 5,000 troops to the county town.


    After seeing Li Mu''s reply, Li Shimin was furious. He was suspicious and thought Li Mu was about to rebel, so he immediately ordered the envoy to ride a fast horse to confiscate Li Mu''s military power.


    Li Mu did not know that Li Shimin suspected his loyalty, and his behavior of entering the county town was not going smoothly, because there were many pro-Qin factions in Li Tang counties, and they were all ready to surrender to the Qin Dynasty directly. How could he let Li Mu enter the city and make a bad news?


    Seeing that the county magistrate did not allow him to enter the city, Li Mu knew that the county magistrate must have a rebellious intention, so he divorced, implying that the other party wanted to join Qin and invited the other party to discuss.


    The county magistrate didn''t know that there was any fraud and trusted Li Mu easily. As soon as he met, he was killed by Li Mu with one knife, and then he entered Baling City without bloodshed.


    After Li Mu entered Baling City, he immediately changed his defense arrangements and sent someone to deliver a letter to Li Zuoche, wanting to invite the other party to defend Baling with him.


    Li Mu could never stop the Qin army with his little force. Li Zuoche also had a battalion of troops in his hands. Only with his help could he have the confidence to fight the Qin army.


    As soon as Li Mu''s messenger left, Li Shimin''s messenger arrived and read out his disposal to Li Mu in front of all the generals.


    After hearing this, Li Mu''s expression was extremely difficult to see. Li Shimin''s reaction was so extreme, which he never expected, but he could not just hand over the military power.


    Li Shimin already doubted him. If he didn''t react and was taken back to Chang''an, he would undoubtedly die. Therefore, he had to prove with his actions that he had no intention of rebellion.


    The envoy was full of confidence and thought that Li Mu''s subordinates would help him take Li Mu, but he didn''t expect that after waiting for a long time, no one moved, and Li Mu was finally invited out of the city.


    On the other hand, Li Zuoche, who also didn''t want to retreat, was extremely entangled after receiving Li Mu''s letter. After thinking about it, he finally decided to believe Li Mu, so he led a five thousand army to join Li Mu.


    After the two sides met, Li Mu had 5,000 troops, 5,000 Li Zuo''s chariots, and 2,000 defenders in Baling, which made Li Mu''s strength reach 12,000.


    At the same time, Wu Qi''s army had broken through two counties in one day. One of them surrendered without fighting, and the county magistrate of the other county fought to the death, but it was useless. In less than half a day, he was attacked by the Qin army and was defeated and killed.


    Wu Qi''s next target is Baling County, but he didn''t expect that Li Mu would pick peaches first.


    "Report to the governor, the general of Baling refused to surrender."


    "What?"


    Wu Qi was stunned. If he remembered correctly, the Baling County Magistrate had decided to surrender to the Qin Dynasty, but now he refused to surrender. Something happened.


    "interesting."


    Wu Qi''s mouth raised slightly, and he found a good prey.


    (This chapter ends)