noveltune Chapter 5464 The Trend Has Been Set
Chapter 5464 The Trend Has Been Set
Chapter 5464 The Trend Has Been Set
The autumn wind rustled past, and the yellow leaves of the locust tree in the courtyard in front of the window were swirled and fell by the wind. The steam from the teacup on the desk rose and drifted out of the window before being dispersed.
Fang Jun was dressed in casual clothes and wore a turban. He had thick, dark eyebrows and bright eyes. His thin face had firm skin. If it weren't for the short mustache he had grown on his lips, he would look no different from an ordinary wealthy young man.
Being darker-skinned and thinner definitely makes one look younger.
He picked up his teacup, took a sip of tea, and looked up at Zhou Daowu across from him, asking, "More than ten days have passed, and you still haven't finished packing up your belongings? Sell what you should sell, throw away what you should throw away. Don't take advantage of my leniency and push your luck. Hurry back to Chang'an to report to His Majesty, and don't have any petty thoughts or nonsense."
Zhou Daowu felt awkward, unsure whether these words implied that he was aware of the couple's discussion about a "good princess."
The key issue is that Princess Linchuan hasn't made any moves in the past few days. Not only has she gone to Fang Jun's side to "seduce" him, but she's also been staying in the inner quarters all day, rarely seeing anyone. This makes him feel that he has probably wronged his wife. He thinks that what she said that day was just a test of his feelings, and she didn't have any other intentions...
“I have been operating in Yingzhou for many years and have a considerable fortune. Please be lenient with me for a few more days, Erlang. Besides, I also want to see how this internal strife will end.”
Fang Jun disagreed: "The outcome of the Khitan internal strife was already predetermined when I took charge here, and there was no way it could change."
Zhou Daowu tentatively asked, "When the troops are dispatched to quell the rebellion, will Erlang be leading the army of the Yingzhou Governor's Office?"
"How is that possible!"
Fang Jun scoffed. Liuzhou City was now completely sealed off, making it impossible for any news to leak out, so there was no need for secrecy: "These past few days, I've checked the army's roster and logistics, and gone out to observe the army's morale and equipment. It's clear that since the devastating defeat in the eastern expedition against Goguryeo, the army's combat strength has been slow to recover over the past seven or eight years. Not only are there serious shortages, but the damage to armor and weaponry is also worsening day by day. Morale is low, and corruption is rampant... The army under the jurisdiction of the Yingzhou Governor's Office is practically useless. If it cannot undergo a thorough purge and reorganization, it will be utterly ineffective. How could I dare to use such an army?"
Zhou Daowu was extremely embarrassed.
When the campaign against Goguryeo ended, he was ordered to escort the prisoners back to the Tang Dynasty by land. However, when he reached the vicinity of Liaoze, he encountered a blizzard and severe cold. The morale of his troops was unstable and there were signs of mutiny. He had no choice but to abandon the prisoners and march back to Liuzhou City. As a result, tens of thousands of prisoners froze to death in the snow and ice of Liaodong. He was impeached as a result and was forced to return to Chang'an to pay his respects.
Even after he was reinstated, he lost his former ambition and high aspirations, and instead focused on petty scheming, selling official positions, and amassing wealth.
The army is incapable of fighting.
"Which army does Erlang intend to deploy?"
Fang Jun frankly stated: "Li Jinxing has already mobilized several thousand elite naval troops, who have long been stationed in the port of Ruluo. They are now setting sail for Liuzhou City, awaiting orders to head north to Raozhou to quell the rebellion."
Zhou Daowu shook his head and sighed.
It now appears that the entire situation in Liaodong is under Fang Jun's control, which is enough to show that this seemingly sudden internal strife among the Khitans was entirely Fang Jun's doing. Although it is unclear how he instigated the eight Khitan tribes to fight each other, it is certainly not unjust for him to take the blame for it.
As the governor of Yingzhou, he controlled the entire Khitan people, yet he was secretly plotted against by others, leaving him completely passive. What right did he have to complain?
Zhou Daowu said, "If that's the case, it seems the internal strife will be quelled soon. Then I'll wait for the day when the great mission is accomplished before setting off back to Chang'an."
Fang Jun glanced at him, a half-smile on his face: "I'm not in a hurry to send you away. It doesn't matter when you set off. It's just that we have a long-standing feud and no friendship whatsoever. There's nothing in common to talk about sitting here like this. Why don't you go back to the inner quarters first and have His Highness Linchuan come instead? The autumn wind is blowing and the leaves are golden. Perhaps drinking tea and composing poems with His Highness can improve our friendship."
"This……"
Zhou Daowu's expression suddenly changed, his heart filled with surprise and uncertainty.
What does this mean?
Did she know about their discussion about being a "good princess" and deliberately use it to humiliate him?
Or did Fang Jun, unable to resist his "good princess" fetish, openly demand that Princess Linchuan "serve him in bed"?
If I refuse, will this idiot get so angry that he changes his mind, confiscates my property, and takes me to Chang'an like a criminal?
But if we agree, will Princess Linchuan be willing?
He was caught in a dilemma and didn't know what to do.
Fortunately, Li Jinxing quickly stepped inside with the latest battle report, which helped Zhou Daowu out of his predicament.
"Reporting to the commander-in-chief, the battle report that just arrived states that in the early hours of this morning, Li Jinzhong, together with 20,000 troops from Fenwen, Tubian, Ruixi and other forces, crossed the Huangshui River and marched straight towards Wufeng Prefecture, defeating the Duhuo tribe's army at the junction of sandy and mountainous terrain."
"The Daqi and Hebian tribes took the opportunity to infiltrate behind the Dahe clan and cut off their retreat route to the Huangshui River."
"After defeating the Duhuo tribe, Li Jinzhong did not retreat directly towards Raozhou. Instead, he moved eastward along a tributary of the Huangshui River, heading straight for Qiaoluozhou. The Daji tribe dared not continue forward and could only return to reinforce. They engaged Li Jinzhong at the confluence of the Huangshui and Tushui Rivers and were defeated."
"At present, Li Jinzhong has led the allied forces of various tribes upstream along the south bank of the Tu River, waiting for an opportunity to fight a decisive battle with the Hebian tribe."
Zhou Daowu stood up and stood behind Fang Jun. As Li Jinxing read the battle reports one by one, Fang Jun drew arrows and moved flags on the map, and the situation of the entire battlefield suddenly became clear.
Fang Jun studied the map for a long time before laughing and saying, "Good heavens, 'No matter how many routes you take, I'll only go one way'? This Li Jinzhong has the air of a ruthless hero!"
The Khitan Eight Tribes were led by the Dahe Clan, whose strength was the most formidable and capable of suppressing the entire tribe. However, after Li Kuge's death, the tribe split internally. Although the Li brothers killed Abugu and his clansmen and reunited the Dahe Clan, their strength was no longer what it used to be and had greatly declined.
As for the remaining seven tribes, the Daji, Hebian, and Duhuo tribes held a clear advantage in terms of strength. Otherwise, they wouldn't have dared to raise the banner of "annihilating internal traitors and eliminating internal strife" and brazenly instigate internal strife even after the Li brothers' strength was greatly reduced following their killing of Abugu.
Even when the Dahe clan united with several other tribes, their military strength was still inferior, and they were at a disadvantage in the war.
However, Li Jinzhong's strategy of gathering all his troops to defeat the Daji, Hebian, and Duhuo tribes one by one while they were each harboring their own schemes and not yet firmly established was truly remarkable.
Zhou Daowu said, "Li Kucaoli and Li Jinzhong are both fierce, violent, and reckless, but they are indeed good at fighting. The reason I supported Abugu back then, apart from personal reasons, was that I really didn't want to see them inherit Li Kuge's power and unify the Khitan again. After all, compared to Li Kuge's calmness and composure, these two guys are too unstable."
Fang Jun ignored his attempt to clear his name, his gaze sweeping over the mountains, rivers, and terrain belonging to the various Khitan tribes. He made estimates and predictions about the current situation and future changes in order to deduce the appropriate time to act.
Li Jinxing said, "Judging from the current situation, the defeat of the Daji, Hebian, and Duhuo tribes is inevitable and there is no way to reverse it. I request that we lead the army now to attack the Huangshui River, block Li Jinzhong on the south bank of the Huangshui River, and defeat him."
Fang Jun did not act unilaterally, but instead sought advice: "My opinion differs from yours. Li Jinzhong's victory in this battle was too smooth. After defeating the Daji, Hebian, and Duhuo tribes, his losses were minimal, and his morale is high. If we were to confront him head-on, even if we were to win, our losses would inevitably be much greater. Wouldn't it be safer if we bypassed Wufeng Prefecture and went straight to Raozhou City to destroy Li Jinzhong's stronghold, causing his morale to plummet and his army to fall into disarray?"
Throughout history, when the Central Plains fought against the Hu people, they had to pay special attention to several factors, the most important of which was the morale of the Hu people.
The Central Plains army was strong in its strict discipline and excellent teamwork, while the Hu people were strong in their fierce fighting and swift movements. To put it bluntly, they were more untamed. Such an army was best at fighting when the wind was blowing in their favor, and when their morale was high, they could often unleash many times their fighting power.
Conversely, if their morale is dampened and their fighting spirit is disrupted, their combat effectiveness will plummet.
Li Jinxing, who was of Hu origin, nodded in agreement: "The commander-in-chief is right. Li Jinzhong crossed the Huangshui River and defeated the other three tribes. He was in high spirits and full of confidence. If he knew that his base had been destroyed, his army would be in chaos. We can strike when he is halfway across the Huangshui River and then attacking Raozhou. We can win in one fell swoop."
Fang Jun cautioned: "Don't underestimate Li Jinzhong, and even more so the Khitan. Their rapid rise to power and occupation of most of the Xianbei territory is a testament to their cohesion and fighting strength. If they are allowed to develop for another hundred years, they may be no less powerful than the Turks at their peak."
The Khitan people can be described as "rising suddenly and falling just as abruptly." They rose rapidly from the Liaodong region, swept across the northern grasslands and deserts, and then mysteriously disappeared into the long river of history, leaving no trace.
However, during its most prosperous period, its formidable fighting power was no less than that of any other nomadic tribe in history.
It was impossible to completely annihilate the Khitan. If their various tribes were scattered and dispersed into the mountains and hills of Liaodong, it would constantly affect the stability of the region, becoming a persistent problem on the northern border of the Tang Empire, tying up a large number of troops and consuming a great deal of national resources.
On the contrary, weakening its power and bringing it under control makes it easier to rule.
Li Jinxing nodded and asked for orders: "When shall we launch the attack?"
After a moment's thought, Fang Jun said decisively, "We shall lead the army now, but we must keep the troops strictly confidential. At the very least, we must not reveal our whereabouts before we cross the Tushui River. Otherwise, if Li Jinzhong gets wind of our plans and abandons the rest of his troops to return to Raozhou and establish a scorched-earth policy, we will be in big trouble."
Li Jinxing accepted the order: "Yes, Commander! Rest assured, we will defeat Li Jinzhong in one fell swoop and quell the rebellion!"
Fang Jun nodded: "Then let's set off. I'll wait to report your achievements to the imperial court!"
"Here!"
Li Jinxing strode away.
Fang Jun said to Zhou Daowu, "Then let's delay our departure for a few days, so that we can go to Chang'an together with the report of our victory."
Zhou Daowu: "..."
How can you be so confident when you only have a few thousand naval soldiers against Li Jinzhong's 20,000 elite Khitan troops?