Chapter 26 Fang Xuanling’s Choice (2)

The war between the two lakes is coming to an end!

As Li Tang mentioned, Xiao Xian was just a dry bone in the tomb and was not worthy of too much attention. At the beginning, when Li Yuan was in trouble, Xiao Xian surrendered like a duck on the ground; however, Empress Dowager Xiao gained a foothold in Jiangdong, and this person immediately turned against Li Tang. Not only did he kill the officials sent by Li Tang, he also made himself king and lived in the two lakes to dream of the emperor.

Perhaps, in Xiao Xian's view, it is not difficult to fight against Li Tang with the strength of Empress Xiao.

However, Li Tang's fierceness was beyond Xiao Xian's expectations.

Li Shimin was originally a man who was good at using troops, and Li Jing planned it specifically for him. While he was resolutely implementing it, he produced many of the unique flexible and deceitful Li Shimin's siege. Xiao Xian was very nervous. He did not dare to take it lightly and quickly ordered Dong Fuzhen to send troops from Jingmen to rescue him. However, Li Shimin's siege of Yi was fake, and it was true to peeping at Jingmen. As soon as Dong Fuzhen's reinforcements were launched, Li Shimin immediately sent Li Yuan to ambush the middle... On February 28, the fourth year of Wude, Li Daoxuan, who fought with Fang Xuanling in Jingshan, suddenly crossed the river and attacked Jingmen.

Jingmen is the gateway to Jiangling.

Once Jingmen is lost, Jiangling will be in danger.

But at this time, Xiao Xian had no more soldiers and horses in his hands, and he had to defend Jiangling to the death. How could he have the spare energy to rescue the siege of Jingmen?

In desperation, Xiao Xian had to send an envoy to Qiantang again, begging Empress Dowager Xiao to send troops to rescue him because of his relationship with the same clan.

But Qiantang is now...

On February 26, the fourth year of Wude, Empress Dowager Xiao issued an edict, ordering the prefect of Jiangdu Xie Yingdeng to lead his troops to abandon Jiangdu.

He had 30,000 elite troops under his command quickly crossed the river in ten days and defended Jiangning to resist the attack of Li Tang. Jiangning was the gateway of Jiangzuo. He was close to Zhongshan and faced the river directly. If Jiangning fell, Li Tang would be able to move unobstructed and reach Qiantang.

It is no exaggeration to say that Jiangning is Xiao Sui's life and death line.

Facing Su Dingfang and Xu Shiji who were driving straight in like a bamboo shoot, Empress Dowager Xiao had no spare time to rescue Xiao Xian.

In fact, if it weren't for knowing Xiao Xian's situation, Empress Dowager Xiao would still want to ask Xiao Xian for help.

Under this situation, Xiao Xian's previous bold words, "I want to defeat Li Tang on the left of the river" seemed to have become a joke.

In March, the rain broke out.

Fishing fires on the river surface reveal endless tranquility.

Under the escort of Qin Qiong and Cheng Zhijie, Li Shimin quietly came from Yidu to the city of Jingmen.

At this time, Jingmen was surrounded by the Tang army... Li Daoxuan was surrounded by Xiang and nearly 150,000 soldiers and horses in the two states of Henan, which made the siege of Jingmen impossible to penetrate the wind and rain. Zheng Yuanshou, the former general manager of Yuzhou, completed the task after the troops were handed over to Li Daoxuan.

Although Li Daoxuan was only eighteen years old and commanded a hundred thousand troops, he was like turning his arms.

Since arriving in Gong County at the age of twelve, under the guidance of Li Yanqing and others, Li Daoxuan is no longer the reckless boy.

With Li Yanqing's victory again and again, Li Daoxuan's admiration for Li Shimin has gradually shifted to Li Yanqing. As the saying goes, the power of role models is endless. When Li Daoxuan admired Li Shimin, he envied him for his Xuanjia Tianshang Army to defeat all the battles and invincible; he admired Li Shimin for his war first and fought bravely to kill the enemy. However, in Gong County, Li Daoxuan learned to plan and acted later. The killing of the enemy that he had admired earlier had turned into reckless behavior in his eyes.

When Li Shimin learned that he had arrived, Li Daoxuan immediately came out of the camp.

I saw him respectfully approaching Li Shimin, "The last general Li Daoxuan will pay homage to Shangshu Ling and General Tiance."

"Nineteenth brother, why are you so polite?"

Li Shimin jumped off the horse and helped Li Daoxuan up.

Li Daoxuan said seriously: "The law in the military camp is very strict. The general is the commander of Jiangzuo. How could the last general be rude?"

There is incomparable respect in the words.

But Li Shimin could feel the inexplicable alienation that Li Daoxuan showed in respect.

He couldn't help but smile awkwardly, and Li Shimin said, "The 19th brother has grown up!"

Since the 12th year of Daye, Li Daoxuan left Xiazhou and arrived in Gong County, he has never seen each other again.

Perhaps, in Li Shimin's impression, Li Daoxuan is still the ignorant child who surrounds him all day long.

However, this meeting disappointed Li Shimin.

Li Daoxuan and him seemed to be less close and more unfamiliar.

The two returned to the central army's tent all the way, and Li Shimin praised: "Although Daoxuan is young, he is very skillful in using troops to set up his troops."

Judging from the arrangement of Li Daoxuan's camping camp, Li Shimin dare not underestimate it at all.

He came to Jingmen with the intention of winning over and annexing the troops of Xiangzhou, but now it seems that it is a bit difficult.

Although Li Daoxuan's use of troops was a little immature, he had no flaws.

This also made Li Shimin's excuse to annex the troops in Xiangzhou suddenly less.

Li Daoxuan said: "The general came to Jingmen, don't know what advice would he give?"

"Nineteenth brother, our family will not speak two families.

Now that the collapse of the Later Liang is about to be imminent, Xiao Xian is no longer worthy of worry. The battle at Jingmen is not so much the key to destroying Liang, but rather the key to pacifying Jiangzuo. According to detailed investigations, Xiao Sui Shangshu Ling Fang Yanqian died of illness a few days ago, leaving only Zhang Zhongjian to support the crisis. Xiao Sui gathered troops, abandoned Jiangdu, and defended Jiangning to death, which made the battle at Pingjiangzuo a bit complicated... However, what Gu was most worried about was the Sui army under Fang Xuanling's commandment in Jingshan. Although Fang Xuanling did not have too many soldiers, they were all soldiers in the army. At the beginning, Fang Xuanling's surprise attack on Yingzhou, Fang Yanqian almost allocated all the old Danyang troops in Fang Xuanling's tent... If the thieves in Fang were not destroyed, Jiangzuo would have a hard battle."

Li Shimin's eyes were bright and he stared at Li Daoxuan.

He hoped to see what he was thinking from Li Daoxuan's face.

But Li Daoxuan is no longer the kind of stupid boy who is just starting out. After four years of hard work in Gong County, he has learned to show his emotions without showing his emotions.

He said in a deep voice: "What the General said is very...

The last general fought with Fang Xuanling several times, and his troops were indeed brave. It is said that Danyang has produced powerful soldiers since ancient times, and it is well-known. Fang Xuanling stationed 60,000 Danyang soldiers in Jingshan. Previously, Du Fuwei was defeated and brought 20,000 more troops.

Fang Xuanling now has 80,000 soldiers in his hands. It may not be easy to eat these 80,000 soldiers in one bite."

"So, I need the cooperation of my 19th brother."

Speaking of this, it is already very clear!

Li Shimin almost told Li Daoxuan bluntly: "Leave the troops in your hands to me, and do whatever you like."

Li Daoxuan frowned and pondered without saying a word.

A moment later, he raised his head in Li Shimin's eager gaze, "General, how will I cooperate with you?"

Li Shimin looked at Li Daoxuan and felt bitter in his heart.

He knew that if he said it out loud, his brotherly relationship would fade away.

However, Li Jing once said in the Ten Strategies of Pingnan: If Li Shimin wants to fight with Li Jiancheng, he must have military power.

Li Daoxuan's attitude was ambiguous and never showed his intention to surrender.

Li Shimin presided over the Battle of Pingnan, which is to make a name for seeking military achievements, gaining greater reputation, and controlling the troops of Jiangzuo at the same time.

Xu Shiji and Su Dingfang's progress was too fast!

It was so fast that Li Shimin felt inexplicable pressure.

If Xu and Su succeeded in crossing the river, then Li Shimin's glory would be reduced by at least 50% in this battle of Pingnan.

Or Xu and Su surrendered to Tiance Mansion.

Or, Li Shimin suppressed the troops of Xu and Su, so that Pingjiang Zuo would not make any contributions to other families.

submission?

Li Shimin must have agreed with both hands and feet.

If Xu Shiji and Su Dingfang are willing to defect to Tiance Mansion, he will definitely be more powerful.

Whether it is Qin Qiong or Cheng Yaojin, he is a general, not a general. In this regard, Li Shimin knew very well.

Li Jing is not around now, while Wang Tong is good at strategy and is not good at military affairs.

Why didn't he hoped that Xu Shiji and Su Dingfang would join?

Before coming to Jingmen, Li Shimin sent someone to inquire about the words of Xu and Su. However, the feedback disappointed Li Shimin. Whether it was Xu Shiji or Su Dingfang, his attitude was very ambiguous. Although he did not refuse, he did not agree.

In fact, if you don’t agree, you just refuse!

Xu and Su's loyalty to Li Yanqing made Li Shimin jealous.

In fact, Li Shimin was extremely jealous of the group of people under Li Yanqing.

Du Ruhui is upright and good at decisive; Luo Shixin is brave and invincible; Liu Heita is deceitful and flexible, Xin Wenli is calm and experienced... But these people are loyal to Li Yanqing. Li Shimin sent someone to test Du Ruhui and others before, but the result was not very satisfied.

As for Xu Shiji, that was Li Yanqing's childhood friend.

Su Dingfang served Li Yanqing for two generations.

In addition, Pei Xingyan and Xue Wanche are also close to each other with Li Yanqing.

Xue Shou, who is talented, famous, noble and unyielding, praised Li Yanqing...

Li Yanqing, Li Yanqing, Li Yanqing!

No matter where you go, you will hear Li Yanqing's name.

Even when he was stationed in Kuizhou, Li Shimin often heard the three words Li Yanqing.

Kuizhou belongs to Bashu, and there are many mountain people and liars. However, Li Yanqing is also the son-in-law of Liyao, and even the servants are willing to surrender to him.

The three words Li Yanqing have put too much pressure on Li Shimin.

If it weren't for Li Yanqing, even if Xu Shiji and Su Dingfang refused to surrender, Li Shimin wouldn't mind that they would win the merits. But the problem now is that if these two men win the first merit, they would definitely be recorded in Li Yanqing's name. Even if Li Yanqing is now thrown into the wilderness of Lingnan, it can still bring endless confusion to Li Shimin.

Now, looking at Li Daoxuan’s situation...

Li Shimin hesitated for a moment and said in a deep voice: "Fang Xuanling is calm and experienced, and has many tricks.
To be continued...