~~

"Fortunately, Pugu Huai'en was appeased in time."

Yan Zhenqing put down the battle report and said with emotion.

The latest news is that the Eastern Route Army among Shi Siming's various rebel armies, namely Zhou Zhi's, crossed the Yellow River at Huliangdu. On the Tang Army's side, the Henan Jiedushi envoy, the successor Wu King Li Zhi, led an army to intercept and was defeated, and retreated to Yanzhou.

.

"Yes, if it had been later and Pugu Huai'en had received the news, he might not have made up his mind to surrender so quickly."

Xue Bai looked at the map and placed a war chess piece in Jining, Shandong Province.

He knew that Shi Siming wanted to take Luoyang directly, so the focus of defense had always been on the area from Bianzhou to Luoyang. Now that the rebels had broken through from further east, he regretted not replacing Li Zhi earlier.

??????55.??????

"Li Zhi must have the heart to retain his strength."

Wang Nan said: "The rebels crossed the Yellow River, and Zhang Xun was attacked on both sides, so the pressure on defense became even greater."

"yes……"

The lights in the yamen were brightly lit, and various defense plans and the allocation of food and grass were being readjusted.

At dawn, a lot of information arrived.

Yan Gaoqing, who stayed in the eastern capital, reported that due to the defeat of Hu Liangdu, the people in Kaifeng and Luoyang were very panicked, and many people had fled in the cold winter. The newly appointed Yanshi County Magistrate Zhou He had not seen the rebels and had abandoned the city.

He escaped and was captured by officers and soldiers. Yan Gaoqing beheaded him in public display.

In Xue Bai's view, the biggest problem at the moment is not whether the rebels can be defeated, but that once Luoyang is lost again, the confidence of the people in the world will be gone, which will bring about a series of follow-up problems.

In this battle, the first thing to defend is confidence and the people's expectations of Datang.

~~

Xue Bai thought for a long time and went to Li Mi again to ask a question.

"I plan to go out to Luoyang in person. What does Brother Changyuan think?"

Li Mi was surprised, thinking about it, and did not answer immediately, but asked: "Why do you think so?"

Xue Bai said: "I have considered enlisting His Majesty's chariot to go on a personal expedition and quickly wipe out the rebellion with the power of thunder to avoid future worries, but there is some resistance."

Not only was there some resistance, Xue Bai had not discussed this matter with Yan Zhenqing, because he knew that Yan Zhenqing would definitely refuse.

Li Mi was also very uneasy after hearing this.

In fact, some of Xue Bai's plots have already been revealed.

Xue Bai once served as a county lieutenant in Yanshi. He divided the land between Yishui and Luohe without paying taxes. In addition, he entered the city and captured Anlu Mountain without destroying Luoyang. It can be said that he was quite popular in the eastern capital.

And the foundation of the Li Tang clan was in Chang'an. So, once Xue Bai welcomed the emperor to Luoyang...that's what Wu Zetian did back then.

"Impossible." Li Bi said, "Only in the middle of the pass can we be safe. The emperor cannot move lightly."

"Yes." Xue Bai said, "But people in Luoyang are uneasy, so I want to suppress Luoyang. What do you think?"

Li Mi knew that Xue Bai's move would be beneficial to the war. He had defended Chang'an twice and left Luoyang, which would naturally let the Luoyang army and people know that the imperial court was determined not to abandon the eastern capital.

But once he suppressed the rebellion, Xue Bai became even more successful.

If Xue Bai stayed in Chang'an, the credit and prestige of suppressing the rebellion would definitely lie with Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi. In the future, the emperor only needed to win over these two people to control Xue Bai. It was different when he went to Luoyang. After some management, he only needed to break up

If Chang'an's water transportation is lost, the emperor can easily be held hostage...

"inappropriate."

Li Mi shook his head and said calmly: "Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi are both famous generals in the world. They have their own strategies to defeat the enemy. If you interfere too much, it will be harmful and useless. Yan Gaoqing and Zhang Xun are also famous officials at the moment. Let them defend the city and refuse."

The enemy has more of you and less of you, it doesn’t make much difference.”

Xue Bai laughed at himself and said, "Yeah."

Li Mi looked at him curiously and asked with a hint of ridicule: "Aren't you afraid that if you leave Chang'an, you will lose your authority?"

"Authority doesn't come by guarding these palaces." Xue Bai sighed: "I don't have any authority. I just protect some people and get them back, that's all. Therefore, I don't dare to let them down."

Li Mi was stunned for a moment and thought he was joking. He changed the topic and said, "If it is useful, it can solve the urgent need and urge Li Zhi to do his best to resist the enemy..."

The two discussed Li Zhi's matter for a while, and Xue Bai left.

Li Mi sat alone, thinking, wondering whether he had just persuaded Xue Bai not to go to Luoyang.

He was very worried that Li Cong would agree to the matter because he felt that Xue Bai's departure from Chang'an would be helpful for him to use his power, which would be too short-sighted.

After An Lushan's rebellion, the imperial court's control over the various factions in the world has been greatly weakened. Even if Li Cong took advantage of Xue Bai's absence and controlled most of the courtiers, what's the use if he couldn't mobilize the army to counter the rebellion?

It can be said to be a pursuit of the end at the expense of the basics.

Thinking of this, Li Mi hoped to remind the emperor.

Unfortunately, he was imprisoned in this Taoist temple, and all he could do was practice.

~~

Two days later, the detailed battle report finally reached Li Cong's ears. He was deeply worried, worried that Xue Bai would take advantage of Li Zhi's actions.

"Previously at the imperial banquet, Pugu Huaien proposed to lead troops to quell the rebellion." Li Cong said: "I think he is loyal, but it is a pity that Li Qian is unwilling to let him have military power. In the final analysis, he is still suspicious of the general."

"I see, General Pugu can be used by the saint." Dou Wenyang whispered: "If we can let him control the imperial army, he may be able to eliminate adultery for the saint in the future."

"Is it that easy?"

Dou Wenyang's eyes showed deep thought and he said: "My servant has found out some rumors recently. Cui Youfu, the resident of the house, asked the saint to send King Yong out of the eastern capital to stabilize people's hearts."

"oh?"

Li Cong became interested in this matter as soon as he heard it and asked: "Cui Youfu? It seems that this person is a loyal minister?"

"This man was born in the Cui family of Boling. He was the son of Cui Mian, the minister of Zhongshu. He was a Jinshi," Dou Wenyang said. "My servant checked and found that Cui Youfu and King Yong were appointed officials at the same time. One was a Shou'an County captain and the other a Yanshi County captain. . Now the two of them are very different from each other, and he has many unkind words for King Yong in private."

"Then he asked Li Qian to leave Luoyang out of selfish motives?"

"The slave believes that it should be out of loyalty and loyalty to the Tang Dynasty."

Li Cong looked thoughtful.

Dou Wenyang said: "All the officials have been suffering from King Yong for a long time. They said that 'the road to speech is as blocked as Li Linfu's reign'. The servants even heard that King Yong also wanted to appoint Li Xiu, the son of Li Linfu. The courtiers dared to be angry but did not dare to speak. If the general If he is sent to the Eastern Capital, the saint will be able to accept the advice of hundreds of officials. Then he will be appointed as servant Gu Huai'en to lead the army to protect the saint, and the saint can feel at ease."

"That makes sense."

Li Cong nodded repeatedly, especially moved by the word "release" used by Dou Wenyang.

Only by releasing Xue Baiwai from Beijing would he have a chance to take power... Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty could never release Cao Cao from Xuchang.

"But, how can he agree?"

Dou Wenyang said: "Cui Youfu is willing to die for your majesty. He plans to invite hundreds of officials to speak at the court meeting and use his momentum to force King Yong to go to Luoyang."

"Yes."

Li Cong suddenly gained momentum.

Since the troubled times, he has guarded Chang'an, driven away the rebel army, and pacified the loyal king. Next, he will conquer Hebei and eliminate the strong officials. This is a sign of a wise king.

Unexpectedly, Li Cong received good news only two days later.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

Dou Wenyang hurried to the imperial couch, overjoyed, and kowtowed: "I have lived up to my mission, it's done!"

"What was accomplished?"

"Let King Yong agree to go out to control Luoyang!"

"real?"

Li Cong immediately sat up, his movements as light as a young man who was often disciplined and suddenly heard that his strict father was leaving home and wanted to take control of the court immediately.

"I dare not speak nonsense." Dou Wenyang said: "King Yong only asks your majesty to allow him full power to suppress the rebellion. He can arrange the generals, food and fodder at his own convenience, and promises to swear to the eastward expedition in the near future."

Hearing this, Li Cong hesitated for a moment.

Although it is impossible to dispatch generals, food and grass, these powers are originally in Xue Bai's hands, but Xue Bai actually came down through Zhongshumen. And after Chang'an was recovered, there were many voices in the court urging Xue Bai

Give back the power.

If he agrees now, it will give Xue Bai another name to take power.

"Tell me, what should we do if he doesn't delay the rebellion?" Li Cong asked. He was worried that Xue Bai would not suppress the rebellion in order not to hand over power.

Dou Wenyang said: "How can Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi tolerate him?"

Li Cong still hesitated.

Dou Wenyang understands the saint's worries very well. If possible, he also wants to take back the military power for the saint. But the fact is here. If the saint gives it, the power will be in Xue Bai's hands; if the saint doesn't give it, the power will still be in Xue Bai's hands.

.

"If the saint is worried, I think... maybe we can send another supervisory army to King Yong to contact Guo Ziyi, Li Guangbi and others."

As soon as this idea came up, Li Cong's mentality changed. From feeling a loss to feeling a gain, he asked: "Who should I send?"
To be continued...