Fu Tang

Gentlemen feel that this matter is not easy to handle, but Li Congjia, who has no integrity, thinks it is not a matter, so he asked Xu Xuan to write a letter on the same day, accusing Zhou Guopai of undercover assassinating the king of Tang Dynasty and provoking the two countries Datang will never tolerate disputes.

Anyway, the inside and outside of the words are telling Li Jixun to either surrender or prepare to fight.

The ministers of the cabinet have become accustomed to Li Congjia's brain hole, in fact, they also guessed that they might do this

Li Jixun... Li Jixun was in a daze when he received this letter. He was not prepared to start a war with Tang Dynasty at all. What he wanted was to convince Shi Shouxin of Southern Zhou first!

Although it was necessary to unify in the previous two weeks, with the death of Emperor Gong of the Northern Zhou Dynasty and Emperor Ai of the Southern Zhou Dynasty, the two sides suddenly became divided again. The previously mentioned combination of the two seemed to be a joke.

Li Jixun hastily called his subordinates to discuss countermeasures. Among them, a think tank held a feather fan and said: "The Tang Kingdom is now at war with the Northern Han Dynasty. Fighting will lead to death, Fan Zhi and the others are all in the Tang Dynasty, and will not let the king of Tang mess around, as long as we are tougher, we will be fine."

This... It seems reasonable, especially these people have been suppressed by Fan Zhi and others. The old gentlemen feel toothache when they mention these people. These people agree that Li Congjia must be bluffing, and they are not busy dealing with it now. , should wait and see.

Li Jixun made a final decision and said: "Let's wait for a while, but we should be prepared. What if King Tang goes crazy? The Queen Mother of Tang is really dead."

Everyone thought this was the same reason, so they planned to wait and see while discussing the increase of border troops.

However, even in this case, Li Jixun did not transfer all the main force to the place bordering the Tang Dynasty, but more to the place bordering the Khitan. After all, for Li Jixun, the Khitan is stronger and more threatening.

So they waited for the news of the surrender of the Northern Han Dynasty. Li Jixun was very surprised when the Northern Han Dynasty surrendered. Invincible myth, why did he surrender in a blink of an eye?

In particular, the terrain of Jinyang in the Northern Han Dynasty was dangerous, the city was high and deep, easy to defend and difficult to attack, and even the people were good soldiers and horses, and their tough personalities were very difficult to control. How could such a country surrender so easily?

Could it be that Tang Guo used some method?

In fact, Gao Huaide did use a trick this time, because Li Congjia gave him a death order to break through Jinyang City within a month. To be honest, this order is very unreasonable. If other countries know about it, they will probably take the opportunity Call Li Congjia a fool.

On the contrary, Gao Huaide didn't have any complaints, and there was no way to complain. He was defeated and lost nearly two thousand soldiers and horses. At that time, everyone in the court doubted his ability. Gongqian went to attack the Northern Han Dynasty. At that time, Li Congjia suppressed everyone's opposition and clearly expressed his trust in Gao Huaide.

Just because of this, Gao Huaide was willing to work for Li Congjia. What's more, Li Congjia set a time for him this time, but he didn't completely ignore the situation. Things can't take over Jinyang within a month, so Gao Huaide feels that he can completely resign from the crown.

Moreover, Gao Huaide also knew that Li Congjia must be furious because of such a big incident at Jiuhua Palace. If he couldn't trouble Zhou Guo immediately, he would naturally cause Northern Han Dynasty.

In fact, just as Li Jixun and others thought, Li Congjia did not dare to fight on two fronts easily, let alone Wang Pu and the others persuaded him, even if he did not persuade him, he would not confront Zhou Guo before completely winning the Northern Han Dynasty.

After Gao Huaide received the order, he thought about it and did not immediately attack with great fanfare. Instead, he spread rumors, saying that because Gao Huaide had defended the city before, the Tang Dynasty court was dissatisfied, and now he was forced to send troops. Gao Huaide had no choice but to bring 5000 troops. Attack Jinyang City.

5000 troops...less than a quarter of the population of Jinyang, it is true that the common people can fight casually. After all, Jinyang people are skilled in bows and horses. After Liu Jien learned about it, he looked up to the sky and laughed and said: Me too, five thousand soldiers and horses, I can defeat them without Khitan soldiers, let them see the demeanor of our Han family!"

Liu Jien was really happy. He was under a lot of pressure when he brought in the Khitan soldiers, and he was also worried that he would lead wolves into the house. The most important thing was that the war between the Han people was brought in by other tribes. Liu Jien was very worried about his reputation. There are examples of the son emperor Shi Jingtang being reviled to this day.

So Liu Jien really came to fight with [-] soldiers, [-] against [-]. If there is no miracle, Liu Jien will naturally win.

In fact, a miracle really happened. The five thousand troops led by Gao Huaide... are all the firearms army!All kinds of firearms went into battle in turn. Liu Jien was stupefied as soon as he met Gao Huaide. After seeing the power of the firearms, he remembered the previous rumors, his face turned ashen, and he led his soldiers back to Jinyang City immediately.

It has to be said that Liu Ji'en is indeed a very decisive person, if he hesitates a bit more, I am afraid that all the soldiers and horses brought out today will be folded here.

After Gao Huaide saw Liu Jien run away, he was very sorry, but at this time he didn't have to hide anything anymore, he directly led his soldiers and horses to catch up, and the Firearms Army moved slowly and fell behind.

Gao Huaide felt that firearms were not good enough because they were not flexible enough. Fortunately, there were firecrackers. Gao Huaide led his men to chase after them for a while, and found that even if the firearms army was riding on a horse and holding firecrackers, the accuracy was not very good. It's a bit wasteful, so just let people stop, wait for the big troops to come, and then move forward a little bit.

At this time, Liu Jien had already run back to Jinyang City. After the gate of Jinyang City was closed, Liu Jien felt relieved, and realized that Jinyang City was so strong that the opponent would definitely not be able to break through it.

After he came back, he held a meeting with his subordinates to discuss about Datang's firearms, and then everyone found that although Datang's firearms were powerful, they also had a disadvantage, that is, they were not flexible enough. Liu Jien said regretfully: "If we knew this earlier, Let's take the cavalry to outflank and fight fast, they must not be our opponents."

The prime minister of the Northern Han Dynasty said: "Sages don't have to worry. It's not too late to know about this. Gao Huaide has already chased him outside the city. It's time to strike head-on."

Liu Ji'en smiled slightly: "Indeed, tell the Erlangs to get ready, and we will meet Gao Huaide again!"

As a result, as soon as he finished his sentence, someone from below came to report: "Report, the enemy army has begun to attack the city, and the east gate and the north gate have been somewhat unable to hold on."

Liu Jien was taken aback immediately: "It came so fast? No, why can't you hold on?"

Just kidding, of course I can't hold on any longer. If Liu Jien led the entire Jinyang City people to gallop in front on horseback, the Firearms Army might have limited damage to them. Can't help it, the artillery can't do anything else, but it is definitely a siege weapon, not to mention the newly developed flamethrower that is practical and powerful.

Most of the gates of today's cities are made of wood. Even if they are painted with tung oil, they can't withstand the attack of artillery. After a few rounds, the gates cracked.

At this time, no matter how hard the soldiers on the city wall threw stones and splashed hot water, or even dung, it was useless, because the Tang army was not within the attack range of the city wall defenders at all. The attack range of the artillery was very far, at least They don't have to do anything until the city gate is breached.

Even after the city gate was breached, they didn't have to do much. After all, the city gate was so big. If they ran out of it, one shell would pass by, and one would count as one.

Gao Huaide sat at the back of the town, watching the Northern Han army helplessly jumping down from the city gate, and said in a deep voice: "Young men of the Tang Dynasty, it's time to meet them! It's time for you to make contributions!"

Originally, the artillery in Gao Huaide's hands could fully support him to line up to bombard the Northern Han army, but after all, it was a bit unsightly to do so. Those soldiers were all killed by the artillery. Whose military merits are counted?Are they all considered operators who manipulate artillery?

But if they don’t all count, how should they be counted?split equally?This is not fair to the artillery operators. Gao Huaide didn't use it at all, and just let his subordinates go up and kill people. Of course, this may sacrifice some soldiers. However, being a soldier is a matter of licking blood with a knife. What about the military industry?

Moreover, Gao Huaide felt that there would be some shells left in this way. He felt that those shells should be more expensive than the soldiers' pensions. Of course, he would not dare to say that in front of Li Congjia. After all, Li Congjia valued human life more.

Gao Huaide recalled the note written to him by Li Congjia before, and told him that there is no need to save, and things can be remade when they are gone. Datang is short of people now, and one death is a loss.

He sighed, it is impossible to not die at all.

However, at this time, the soldiers of the Northern Han Dynasty had been beaten so hard that they could still rush out because of their usual habits. After Tang Jun waited for them to rush over, and then bumped into them, they found that Tang Jun, whom they had looked down on before , the real strength is not weak at all!

Even the Tang Army's cavalry is very good, and their horses are a little better!

Most of the horses in the Northern Han Dynasty were purchased from the Khitan. It is difficult to say which breed is better for combat, the Khitan horse or the Western Region horse, but one thing is for sure. The Khitan will never sell the best horses to the Northern Han. However, most of the Western Regions now belong to Li Congjia's territory, so he can let people study which horses are more suitable for transportation and which are more suitable for combat.

And because of Li Congjia's willingness to spend money, the Datang army itself is much better than the Northern Han army in every quality. From equipment to personal physical strength, the Northern Han army was completely crushed, and the Northern Han army was quickly defeated.

At this time, Liu Jien, who was already standing on the city wall, had a pale face. He never thought that he would be defeated so quickly. He had obviously confronted Gao Huaide for a long time before, so how could he be defeated so easily?

It was only at this time that Liu Jien realized that Gao Huaide's so-called forced dispatch of troops with [-] troops before was simply a rumor, and it was one of his schemes. He thought that Datang's strength was nothing more than that, so he underestimated the enemy.

Now he has suffered from underestimating the enemy - Jinyang City is about to lose its hold, and if Jinyang can't hold it, where else can he go?Going further north is Khitan. Liu Jien knows very well that if he surrenders, look at the Dragon King and Zhao Kuangyin before, and you will know that he should be able to be a Marquis safely in the Tang Dynasty. Not a problem.

As for Khitan, the reason why the Khitan people cooperated with him before was because he was the emperor of the Northern Han Dynasty, and he was able to provide various conveniences to the Khitan people. Once he was defeated, those Khitan people might turn their backs immediately and even drive him out of Khitan , Of course, the Khitans would not leave any of the things he carried on his body before driving them out.

Because of the way the Khitan people behaved, Liu Jien made the decision to surrender. When he walked out of the city with his surrender letter disheveled, the people of Jinyang behind him burst into tears.

Gao Huaide immediately felt that it was extremely difficult. These people had a lot of affection for Liu Jien. Even if Datang took Jinyang, I am afraid that these people would not be so obedient to Datang. Instead, he had to appease these people and turn them into people of Datang , I am afraid it will take a long time.

Gao Huaide sent up the victory report and his own memorial.

After Li Congjia got the good news from Gao Huaide, he showed the only smile these days. After seeing it, Shi Xueting was really relieved. He was really afraid that Li Congjia would become depressed, but his mother died, so it is reasonable to be sad , even he can only offer superficial consolation, not to mention that Shi Xueting has never been able to empathize with her.

Gao Huaide won the Northern Han Dynasty, and Li Congjia immediately summoned the cabinet to start the post-war pension work and rule over the new territory.

After reading Gao Huaide's excerpt, Wang Pu said: "Your Highness, what General Gao said is very true, and the subjects of the Northern Han Dynasty may not accept it."

Li Congjia said: "The city that Gao Huaide conquered before has almost been appeased. As long as you let them live a peaceful life, the real people don't have to worry about being dragged into the army at any time, and don't have to worry about their property being robbed. That's enough, but Jinyang's situation is special, and there are probably Liu Jien's loyalists there, so it's not so easy to appease him."

To put it simply, because Jinyang City is the capital of the country, the people living there should be better than those in other places in the Northern Han Dynasty, and they will receive more preferential treatment from various policies of the Northern Han Dynasty. Now after the surrender of the Northern Han Dynasty, Jinyang from the capital It has been reduced to an ordinary city, and the previous preferential treatment is gone. It is easy for the people here to make troubles.

In this regard, the ministers have no particularly good way.

Seeing that no one said anything, Li Congjia touched his chin and said, "I have an idea."

Zhou Zong bowed: "I also ask Your Highness to give instructions."

Li Congjia said very simply: "Move!"

Song Qiqiu asked: "Move?"

The remaining three cabinet ministers looked at each other in blank dismay, wouldn't it be what they thought?

Li Congjia nodded and said: "That's right, if all the people in Jinyang are moved out and scattered and arranged in various places, I don't believe they can make any trouble."

This method is really... simple and crude.

However, it is also a good way. Seeing that the ministers were hesitant, Shi Xueting asked for them: "If so, this is probably a huge project, not to mention... After all the people are removed, there will be an empty city. Jinyang has a good geographical location, easy to defend but difficult to attack, it would be a pity to give up."

Li Congjia said: "Of course I won't give up. How could such a big city be given up? What I mean is that it is too close to Khitan. Why not use it as a border city and move the soldiers and their families guarding the frontier to Jinyang?" The living environment is not very bad, and those soldiers have family members in the area, so the guards should be more careful."

Shi Xueting instantly understood that this was also a method. These days, they are basically solid officers and soldiers, who rarely change defenses, not to mention that even changing defenses is not difficult.

Li Congjia wanted to build more cities like this on the border, with similar basic facilities, and it would be easy to change defenses at that time, so that soldiers could pack up and leave with their families, and life in another town would still be the same as before.

Of course, this is still his preliminary idea, and it can only be implemented after discussing with the cabinet and the Privy Council. After all, it is easy to replace officers. It is only a high-level transfer that has little impact. But if even the soldiers are transferred, the transfer may involve success. There are tens of thousands of people, and it is impossible to be cautious.

Seeing that no one objected to his opinion, Li Congjia said, "Okay, let's put this matter here first, and the matter of attacking Northern Zhou can be put on the agenda. How is Zhou Shi Shouxin now?"

Li Congjia needs to use Shi Shouxin's actions to judge how many soldiers and horses to send. Of course, the most important thing is that the navy is in training, and it may not be useful for a while. He didn't mind letting him linger on for a while longer.

Shi Shouxin really didn't intend to intervene in the battle between the Northern Zhou Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty. He even added defenses along the Yangtze River, and the border of Shuzhou was not so strictly defended. However, the Southern Zhou Dynasty at this time was indeed not very good. Fighting, there is Jiangxi in the north, Shandong in the north, and the sea in the south. The price you have to pay to win the Southern Zhou Dynasty is not the same as fighting the Northern Zhou Dynasty.

Zhou Zong said with some concern: "Continuous battles like this...I'm afraid the soldiers will not be able to bear it, especially the Firearms Army."

Sitting on the throne, Li Congjia lazily said: "Now my Firearms Army has 5 people. Every time I go to war, there are only a few thousand people, and the maximum is no more than 1 people. The rotation is enough. How can I be overwhelmed? It is not necessary to deal with the Northern Zhou Dynasty. Let the firearms army come out."

Zhou Zong glanced at Wang Pu and felt that he had done his best. Wang Pu sat silently and didn't speak. He didn't persuade him at all. There was no way to persuade him. Mother revenge is wrong, isn't it?

Even Zhou Zong can only tactfully persuade him from the consideration of the soldiers. In fact, he is a bit over the line. Naturally, the affairs of the soldiers are handled by the Privy Council. There is no need for the chief minister to worry about it. The chief minister of the cabinet needs to care Things are more about people's livelihood.

Li Congjia looked at them and said: "I know what you want to say, don't worry, this time we won't set a time limit like we did with the Northern Han Dynasty, as long as we can fight it, don't worry too much, but don't delay, really delay If it takes a long time, there is still a large area of ​​farmland in the Northern Zhou Dynasty, plus it is defending the city, there are still advantages. Of course, if we can seize the granary along the Grand Canal, our pressure may be much less, but these will be handed over to Su Guogong Let's discuss it."

Li Congjia has already said this, what can they do?I can only bow down and do my best to ensure all kinds of food, grass and logistical equipment for the army to go out.

Hubu Shangshu frowns, he always does this every time he needs money for an expedition, and he doesn’t know if the position of Hubu Shangshu is cursed, anyway, the person who sits in this seat, no matter what he is, will have an extra sting Li Congjia is very used to attributes, so he simply doesn't care about them, as long as the job is done, it's fine.

At this time, news came from Chang'an City that the Daming Palace was completed, but of course it was not completely completed, and it was roughly completed. The decoration was done very quickly, and even after everyone in the court discussed the auspicious date for the relocation, those craftsmen might have already rushed to finish their work.

All the ministers breathed a sigh of relief. The completion of the Daming Palace means that Li Congjia will move into the Daming Palace, and they even need to prepare for Li Congjia's enthronement and proclaiming the emperor, and enthronement and proclaiming the emperor is never a trivial matter, and it needs to be accurate in every aspect. In this case, Datang may temporarily have no spare power to attack other countries.

As for after the enthronement ceremony, at that time many Tangs could be regarded as recuperating for a while. If there is no better excuse to stop them, then Li Congjia can only send people to fight. It's better than it is now, just hit it.

Just when Zhou Zong and others were going to discuss this matter with Li Congjia, they just said: "Your Highness, the Daming Palace has been completed... Your Highness should choose a date to ascend the throne, so as to reassure the hearts of the subjects."

Everyone was waiting for Li Congjia to give an order, but they heard Li Congjia say: "What kind of foundation should you ascend? No!"

Everyone in the cabinet:? ? ? ? ? ? ?