Da Tang: Father, can I resign?

Chapter 330 Taihang Mountain Mass Hiking Guide
"Line up, don't fight or grab, everyone gets a share."

A magical scene was taking place at the Niangzi Pass parade ground, where the Ming army was paying salaries to the Tang garrison.

The soldiers of the Ming Dynasty were friendly and did not take a penny; the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty were also orderly and no one caused trouble.

The two hostile parties cooperated with each other, vividly demonstrating what "the close relationship between the armies is like that between fish and water" means.

At the same time, all the Tang Dynasty military flags flying at Niangzi Pass were removed and replaced with the flags of our Ming Dynasty.

The Tang army was watching right beside... no, most of them were too lazy to even look, their eyes were fixed on the golden copper coins.

They knew clearly the difference between taking money and losing their lives. Moreover, they were all tricked into coming to the training ground by their own officers, which showed that the officers had collectively rebelled.

The officers have all become traitors, so what kind of trouble can these soldiers cause?

They are all loyal to the Tang Dynasty, so they deserve more money!

But it must be said that the Ming Dynasty was really rich and was really generous in paying salaries.

Even the most junior soldiers could receive at least two strings of copper coins, or the equivalent amount of "Da Ming Jiaozi" paper money.

This is equivalent to two months' income for a middle-class family in Chang'an, and is much higher than Tang Jun's own monthly salary.

Because the Tang Dynasty soldiers actually received very little monetary pay, they even had to provide their own food and clothing when they were on duty, and could only receive pitifully little rations and subsidies when they were in combat.

Only by winning battles and plundering spoils can one maintain this kind of life.

After all, when their grandfather followed Emperor Gaozu into the Pass, he had already taken all the wages of their generation (referring to the land allocated to the soldiers and the permanent land under the equal-field system).

"Well, good. You did a great job, young man! You saved many soldiers' lives and greatly saved our army's time to break through Jingxing. You didn't bring shame to the Yuchi family."

On the stage, Li Jing touched his round belly and praised the little dark-haired boy standing next to him generously.

Commanding a battle is a very brain-intensive job. For this important mission, Li Jing, the "Sheep Urine Bubble", put on some fat in advance to consume.

The black-haired Wei Chi Xun Yu stood straight behind Li Jing and said respectfully:

"I have no regrets in dying for the Ming Dynasty because I have served it to the utmost. I have spent a lot of money this time, all of which was from the people's blood and sweat. I am very cautious."

In front of the God of War, he was not as nonchalant as he was in front of the "Emperor of the Ming Dynasty" himself. He behaved very humbly and was very good at treating people well.

If Li Ming saw it with his own eyes, he would definitely think that his friend had been swapped.

But despite all the complaints, Yuchi Xunyu still did a great job.

After his meticulous work, the spies he cultivated successfully infiltrated Niangzi Pass and bribed the entire command system of the pass from top to bottom.

Achieved the achievement of bloodless switch.

Spending money lavishly seems easy and cool, but when you really do it you’ll find that not everyone can do it.

Without the advance preparation of the intelligence organization, the loyal Tang soldiers would just eat the sugar coating and fire back the shells. In that case, the wasteful Ming Dynasty would really become a big Sabi.

As for Yuchi Xunyu spending a little more money to buy off connections...

Compared to a money-eating behemoth like War Machine, is this little money worth anything?!

"You are too modest, young man. Haha~" Li Jing was very satisfied with this humble young man, and the fat on his belly was shaking with laughter.

He must have been so happy to spend so much money to make the ferocious Tang army change its flag so smoothly.

A problem that can be solved with money is not a problem.

Money can be printed again, but the dead cannot be resurrected, and wasted time cannot be reversed.

If it weren't for Yuchi Xunyu's efforts, Li Jing would have had to lead his army to attack Niangzi Pass.

If the Ming and Tang armies fought with real swords and guns, it would be like Mars hitting the Earth. The casualties would surely be heavy, and the expenditure on manpower, material resources, military expenses and pensions would only be greater.

Not to mention the delayed advance time, the many complications, and the risk of the news leaking out in advance, allowing the Tang Dynasty to strengthen its defense line on the northern foothills of Taihang Mountain in advance.

After all, Niangzi Pass is a pass that is easy to defend but difficult to attack. It is a pass among the towering mountains of Taihang Mountains and the gateway to Jingxing.

Even if the Tang Dynasty was not so concerned about the passes in the north, they were still relatively defenseless compared to the Chenguan Pass.

If the Ming army really wants to tackle this tough problem, it will not be easy!

This little money is really worth it!
Yuchi Xunyu declined repeatedly:

"No, no, no, Lord Li Wei is overpraising you.

"I am not being modest, little brother... I am just faithfully carrying out the instructions of your majesty."

He's really not being modest.

This conspiracy to instigate rebellion at Niangzi Pass was indeed ordered personally by His Majesty Li Ming.

After all, when it comes to spending little money to achieve great things, who can compare to Li Ming?

The infiltration of Niangzi Pass began very, very early, even before the Ming Dynasty officially raised the banner of anti-Tang.

To turn against the Tang Dynasty in the seventh century AD required more than just courage to act blindly.

Forewarned is forearmed, without prejudging the waste.

Before the war broke out, even before Li Ming had established substantial and stable rule in a corner of the northeast and began to have ambitions to conquer the world.

He and his advisers were planning this step.

Fang Xuanling, Zhangsun Wuji, Li Jing, Hou Junji, Li Daozon... each of them is a well-known and capable person, and each of them is a all-round talent in both civil and military affairs who can govern the country and maintain its security.

These talents gathered under Li Ming's command, and after countless rounds of brain-burning and hair-breaking discussions, they finally determined the grand strategic direction of taking Taihang Mountain as the main battlefield and Niangzi Pass as the breakthrough point.

There is no strategic location to defend in the Central Plains, and Guanzhong is out of reach, so Shanxi, which borders Hebei, naturally becomes the most suitable place to exert force.

If the Ming Dynasty could conquer Shanxi, a place with beautiful scenery and great potential, then the battle for supremacy between the Tang and Ming dynasties would be a sure thing.

If you want to conquer Shanxi, you can't avoid the Taihang Mountains and the Eight Passes of Taihang. The southern passes are too strategic and difficult to conquer, while the northern passes are too remote, almost close to the grasslands and deserts.

Therefore, Jingxing, which is located in the middle, and Niangzi Pass, the main gate of Jingxing, naturally became the first places to suffer the brunt of the misfortune.

As everyone knows, the border trade between the Ming Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty has never been interrupted, and Jingxing is an important trade route between the two countries.

Wherever there is a trade route, there will be a large number of merchants passing by.

As Ming dynasty merchants and "merchants" went in and out of Niangzi Pass more frequently, they became familiar with the local garrison officers.

Wouldn’t it be convenient to “carry out work” next?
Therefore, it is both necessary and feasible to incite the defenders of Niangzi Pass to rebel.

A minute on stage takes ten years of hard work off stage. After so many discussions and careful preparations, the change of flag and banner at Niangzi Pass is a natural thing to happen.

"Niangzi Pass... Young man, do you know the origin of Niangzi Pass?"

Li Jing seemed to be in a good mood and was quite interested in chatting with Yuchi Xunyu.

Yuchi Xunyu stood aside straight, like a primary school student, and answered respectfully:

"Is it because your Majesty... is the daughter of Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty and the younger sister of the Emperor Emeritus, Princess Pingyang?"

"You don't have to be so reserved when speaking. The Ming and Tang dynasties are not so clearly distinguished." Li Jing nodded happily, his chin folded several layers of flesh, and he became more and more satisfied with the young man.

"This place was originally named 'Weize Pass'. When Emperor Gaozu first initiated the uprising against the tyrannical Sui Dynasty, Princess Pingyang Zhao recruited troops in Shanxi and stationed them here.

"Princess Zhao was good at commanding the army, and her troops never harmed anyone. The people called her 'Lady Li' and her troops 'Lady's Army'. The pass where she was stationed was renamed 'Lady's Pass' by the Emperor."

"Oh~ I see."

Yuchi Xunyu responded in a disjointed manner, but he felt somewhat puzzled.

Marshal Li is in charge of the military operations of the main force of the Ming army. He has a lot of things to do and heavy tasks to complete. How can you have time to chat with him here?
Li Jing glanced at Yuchi Xunyu's puzzled expression and said:

"Young man, do you think that if Princess Pingyang had not died young, she would have been able to become the emperor?"

Phew... Yuchi Xunyu, who was absent from duty, almost sprayed Li Jing in the face.

This, this, this... What are you talking about, Li Weigong? Why are you asking such a low-level question?
Ning also wants to fight? !

"It shouldn't be possible. From the court officials to the common people, no one will obey her. After all, she is a woman..."

Yuchi Xunyu carefully considered his words as he answered, even doubting whether Li Weigong was as powerful as the rumors said.

Li Jing asked again:

"If Princess Zhao gathers the most powerful army and conquers the whole world with overwhelming force, and she insists on becoming the emperor, can anyone in the world stop her?"

"This..." Yuchi Xunyu hesitated and found that this question was not that simple.

"If the troops are on the princess' side, then she should be able to...

Li Jing curled his lips:
“Yes, that’s the truth.

"If she could have enough military power and military exploits to make the whole world bow down, let alone become the emperor, even if she wanted to become the Yanhuang Emperor and perform Fengshan in Mount Tai, who could stop her?"

Yuchi Xunyu frowned in confusion.

He figured out that Li Jing was not talking about Princess Pingyang, but had something else in mind.

But the hidden message is...

"Whether it's the birth of a man or a woman, or the order of succession, in the final analysis, it's just a 'rule' established by our ancestors and followed by later generations.

"You can only take it if your father gives it to you and the world approves of it."

Li Jing said word by word:

"But if you have the most powerful force in the world, you can conquer every inch of land and every person by force.

"At this time, are the so-called inherited 'rules and etiquette' still useful?"

Yuchi Xunyu opened his mouth but could not speak.

"So, young man," Li Jing said earnestly:
"Your 'Ming Ge' has to fight this battle.

"He is the youngest bastard. Even if the emperor passed the throne to him, would everyone in the world and the court be convinced and not interfere?"

Yuchi Xunyu nodded sullenly:
"It should be."

There may be a minority of people who openly defect, but those who pretend to obey but actually disobey are not uncommon, and the latter are obviously more harmful.

“But if His Majesty Li Ming did not receive this crown from his father, but won it himself, he would have become the founding emperor.

"Will there still be people who oppose him and disobey him?"

In response to Li Jing's question, Yuchi Xunyu shook his head without hesitation:
"Absolutely not."

Rules only constrain ordinary people who can be constrained by them. Whoever has the ability to break the rules is the rule.

The underlying operating logic of human society is still violence.

"That's right." Li Jing patted Yuchi Xunyu's shoulder:

"This war has to be fought, so don't feel psychologically pressured just because it's a fratricidal war.

"Follow His Majesty Li Ming and do your job well."

Yuchi Xunyu nodded heavily:
"I understand."

"It's good to know."

Li Jing was very pleased and walked slowly off the stage with his hands behind his back.

"Li Weigong is Li Weigong, he looks at things deeply..." Yuchi Xunyu sighed in his heart.

As I sighed, I came to my senses.

"That's not right. When did I feel psychological pressure to fight a civil war?"

As the original shareholder of the Ming Clan, Little Black Charcoal Head, like the rest of his friends, is completely devoted to Brother Ming.

What's more, the work he does is somewhat special - intelligence work.

As time went on, his heart became as dark as his face.

Do you have any psychological baggage from fighting a civil war?

How can it be!

"Isn't it actually himself that Li Weigong was talking about?"

Yuchi Xunyu looked at the old general's back and fell into deep thought.

…………

"His Majesty the Emperor once said, 'It's a great honor to have Li Jing as our commander!'...But why do all my military achievements seem to have been made in the civil war?"

After leaving Yuchi Xunyu, Li Jing felt a little depressed.

This is not to say that Li Jing has never fought foreign wars.

However, the most glorious page in the Tang Dynasty's foreign wars - the destruction of the Eastern Turks - was commanded by Li Shiji, not him.

As for picking on other weak targets, the barbarians fell before the Tang army even made any effort, and he was unable to show his military demeanor at all.

This made him very worried, and he was always afraid that future historians would label him as an "expert in civil wars."

"Alas, it's all because the barbarians nowadays are not good at fighting.

"Tsk tsk, that brat Li Shiji got the upper hand. This time I'm going to fight him back twice as hard."

Li Jing shook his head, dispelled his negative emotions, and turned his attention back to the battle.

His Majesty Li Ming is worthy of being a senior small silver coin. He has made very appropriate arrangements from strategy to tactics.

The change of flag at Niangzi Pass indicated that the gate from Jingxing to the east of Bingzhou had been opened to the Ming army.

Bingzhou East is the eastern gate of the Shanxi Plateau.

Shanxi is known as "a river sandwiched between two mountains", with the Taihang Mountains in the east, the Luliang Mountains in the west, and the narrow north-south Fen River Valley in between, which is the essence of Shanxi.

Starting from Bingzhou and heading west along the Ye River Valley, you can reach the core of the Fen River Valley - Taiyuan Prefecture.

To the north is Shuozhou, and to the south is Li Zhi’s small treasury - Jinzhou.

If the Ming Dynasty throws this punch, the Tang Dynasty will have a stomachache for a long time.

"Neglecting the defense of Jingxing was the biggest mistake made by the Tang army.

"But it's not their fault. The geographical location of Zhongyuan and Chenguanxing is much more important than Bingzhou. The pressure from those two places is huge, and the Tang army is too busy to deal with them. So the defense here has to be neglected."

Li Jing reviewed this strategy in his mind, and felt that His Majesty Li Ming was more and more insidious and cunning... No, he was far-sighted.

This series of strategic deceptions served as an excellent cover, attracting the Tang army elsewhere and creating a flaw in the joint area of ​​Taihang Mountains!
"This is the advantage of the attacker, they can gather their forces and clench their fists.

"The defenders can only divide their forces everywhere and run around in a hurry. Moreover, this strategic situation is too favorable for Ming Dynasty."

Li Jing carefully considered Li Ming's intentions from a larger strategic perspective.

"Shanxi and the Central Plains on the front line are both important areas of the Tang Dynasty, and the Tang Dynasty cannot afford to lose either.

"But the rear of the Ming Dynasty is far away in the northeast and is very safe.

"Golden horns, silver edges, and grass belly, starting from Liaodong, His Majesty Li Ming really plays a good chess game..."

The longer Li Jing stayed with Li Ming, the more he felt that this boy was not simple.

No wonder Fang Xuanling, the old fox, bet his entire fortune on his then unknown youngest son...

"General, what should we do with these surrendered soldiers next?" the deputy general asked.

Li Jing waved his hand:
"We will handle it as usual and take them all back to the rear. Those who want to join the army will receive re-education first, those who want to settle down in Ming will be given land, and those who want to go home will be given travel expenses.

"Settle them down as soon as possible, and we will march immediately."

"Yes, sir!" the deputy general answered immediately and retreated decisively.

Li Jing looked at the towering Taihang Mountains and let out a long sigh.

After passing Bingzhou, you can go south along the Fen River Valley and go straight down to Jinzhou.

Jinzhou is a good place. Not only is the land fertile and produces nutritious millet, but it can also cause a critical strike to a certain crown prince.

More importantly, Jinzhou's geographical location is also very convenient. If you take Jinzhou, you will be not far from Guanzhong and Chang'an.

Therefore, before the war officially began, Li Ming and Li Jing unanimously decided -

"Go north quickly and head straight to Shuozhou!"

(End of this chapter)