Chapter 483 Two Thousand Miles

The military orders from the Tiance Mansion were quickly transmitted to all directions as the messengers scattered in all directions.

Qingzhou, Qi County, Linzi.

Pharmacist Li, who was handling official business in the governor's mansion, was already over 47 years old, almost 50 years old.

He served Yan in his early years, but had no choice but to surrender to Tang after Yan was destroyed. Because he was a surrendered general, he initially served as a staff member of the Zhenjun General's Mansion. Later, the Tiance Mansion was established.

In the fourth year of Wude, he was ordered to lead an army together with Chang Yanheng to pacify Qingzhou. Like autumn wind sweeping fallen leaves, they conquered the entire state in a few months.

There are eight counties with 1.2 million households.

Therefore, he was appointed as the governor of Qingzhou, and was also in charge of military affairs, guarding the area and becoming a frontier official.

Although he had a good family background in the previous dynasty and his uncle was a general, his official career was not smooth. He served as a county magistrate in his early years. Murong Chao promoted him when he was in power, and Mr. Lou also said that he would be able to become one of the three highest officials in the future, but these two people died one after another, and no one in the court was willing to listen to him anymore.

On the contrary, in the Tang Dynasty, King Qi Li Yuanhui listened to his advice, implemented all his strategies, and entrusted him with important tasks.

Since he took office as the governor of Qingzhou, he first comforted the surrendered soldiers and then recruited new troops, obtaining 15,000 people. Because he raided the flank of Liu Xuanji's army in the Battle of Baigou, burned their military supplies, and successfully protected the main defeated troops, he was rewarded and was named General Zhendong, Duke of Longxi County, and commander-in-chief of Qingzhou's military affairs.

This was equivalent to the governor and the commander-in-chief, and he was also given the title of Duke of Longxi County, which was the ancestral home of the Li family, so his trust and importance were evident.

In the past few years, Pharmacist Li has been training his team in accordance with Luoyang's requirements, preparing for battle and resuming production at the same time.

Originally, Qingzhou was managed very well during the period of Zhai's occupation. Yang Sui, Cui Xiaotong and others had always advised Zhai Rang to pay attention to the agricultural restoration system. The battle to pacify Qingzhou was resolved quickly and had little impact on the people. Therefore, Qingzhou achieved long-term stability.

Although there have been wars in the past few years, the fighting has mainly concentrated in the Henei and Luoyang areas. The most Qingzhou can do is collect more taxes to support the construction of the army and the updating of armaments. In addition, there is an additional task of training troops.

However, the common people were even scrambling for this job, because joining the militia could allow them to have enough food to eat.

This time, the Qingzhou army was recruited, and according to the timetable, it would not set out until after the autumn harvest. Afterwards, the militia from various counties would be summoned to cooperate with the remaining troops to guard the various cities and passes.

Pharmacist Li calmly signed and distributed military orders one after another, ordering all units to assemble on the specified date with the specified weapons. On the other hand, he ordered his subordinates to plan the marching route and the water vehicles needed along the way. He wrote more and more steadily, but a fire seemed to be burning in his heart.

Being nearly fifty years old, he didn't know how long he could live, but he hoped that he could see the unification of the world and that His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi, who had been so kind to him, would ascend the throne.

Even though we are only a small force this time, after years of sharpening the sword, how could the world not know how sharp this sword is once it is unsheathed?

Pingyuan County on the opposite bank, where General Yang Kan, the General of the Eastern Expedition, was stationed personally, was actually mainly aimed at the Qingzhou Army of the Tang Dynasty.

At this time, the Tang army made a large-scale mobilization, which naturally could not be hidden from the eyes of the other side.

When Yang Kan learned that the Qingzhou army had begun to gather, he immediately began to summon various units and make preparations for response.

But surprisingly, while Yang Kan was busy with war preparations, he received an imperial edict from Yecheng, ordering him to hand over military affairs to the prefect of Pingyuan, and then quickly return to Yecheng.

Yang Kan did not dare to delay. After receiving the imperial edict, he rushed back to Yecheng with hundreds of his personal guards.

As the capital of the Northern Han Dynasty, Yecheng is now also the most prominent city in Hebei. Liu Xuanji expanded it after he ascended the throne, and now it has nearly 200,000 households.

After entering Yecheng, someone immediately led Yang Kan to the post station to rest, eat, and wash up. He changed into a robe and then went to the palace to pay a visit.

He arrived at Qianyang Palace where the emperor lived in the palace without any obstruction. Outside the palace, he met several familiar faces.

Shangshu Ling Liu Daohe, Zuo Pushe Ling Jing, Huqi General Tuoba Tianbao, Chariot General Wei Xiaoju, Xiaoqi General Hulu Jin, Fuguo General Dongfang Di, and Han Emperor Liu Xuanji, dressed in black robes and looking a lot fatter, sat in the main seat and looked at Yang Kan with a smile, saying, "It's been less than eight days since I sent out the edict, and Yang Gong has rushed back from Pingyuan. He must have traveled day and night, in the wind and rain, and thank you for your hard work."

Yang Kan said: "Your Majesty's words are serious. Once the imperial edict arrives, I dare not delay."

"Okay, Lord Yang is diligent in the king's affairs. I understand. Let's talk about business first, and then I'll talk to Lord Yang about the past."

Yang Kan bowed his hands to indicate that he understood. Liu Xuanji continued, "News has come from Chang'an and Luoyang that the Tang army will send 500,000 troops to attack the Western Wei in southern Jing, with Jin Wang Li Xuanqing as the commander, and will send troops from Shuzhong, Guanzhong, and Guandong."

"Another thing, Emperor Tang Li Yuan has issued an edict to abdicate to the Crown Prince at the end of the year. Gentlemen, this is a good opportunity."

Any one of these two pieces of news would be a bombshell, and both of them together would be even more heavyweight.

Liu Daohe and Ling Jing, who had been in the central government, had known the news for a long time. The same was true for Dongfang Di and Wei Xiaoju. Only Yang Kan, Tuoba Tianbao and Hulu Jin had rushed back from other towns.

"Although the Tang army launched a large-scale attack on Wei, the Weifu Army in Luoyang was not mobilized. Li Yuanhui mobilized the armies of various prefectures and counties, so Luoyang is still heavily armed and should not be underestimated. As for Bingzhou, there is the thorn of Yubi City. It is also not easy for our army to enter Hedong. Therefore, when conquering the Central Plains, it is better to start from Yanzhou and use a large army to press the border to force the Tang army to come out of Hulao to fight with us. In this way, our Han Dynasty will not need to compete with the natural barrier of the Yellow River in Henei."

Zuo Pushe Ling Jing added after Liu Xuanji finished speaking.

Yang Kan and the other three nodded in succession. They all understood that the current military strategy should have been determined. This time, they did not intend to continue to make efforts on the river bridge, but to turn to the plains of Yanzhou. In this way, they could better play the advantages of the Han army's manpower and cavalry.

"If your majesty has any orders, we will certainly obey them even if it means death."

"Please give me your Majesty's instructions."

The three people expressed their opinions one after another.

Liu Xuanji raised his hand and said, "This time, I will send an army of 200,000 to the Central Plains. I will lead them in person and fight Li Yuanhui in Yanzhou. In addition, the Tang army must not be allowed to relax. God bless you!"

"The end will be here."

"You lead your cavalry out of Wenxi Road and feint an attack on Hedong."

"The last general takes orders."

"Brother Hulu?"

"The end will be here,"

"You lead the cavalry to attack the northern part of Guanzhong and the eastern part of Longdong."

"The last general takes orders."

"There is another route. You have to lead the elite cavalry to join the Turkic army, bypass the Shuofang, and attack the Xiazhou of the Tang Dynasty! Make Guanzhong and Longyou tremble. Lord Yang has the power to break through thousands of miles and the courage to defeat ten thousand men. Are you willing to take on this important task?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Kan immediately clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty has given the order, and I, Yang Kan, will certainly not refuse even if I die. However, I only have a few hundred of my former followers, and I am not affiliated with the elite cavalry of the Central Army. I am worried that I will not be able to intimidate the other armies and delay Your Majesty's important mission."

Liu Xuanji said, "Gong Yang, don't worry. I will select the best from the Youzhou Cavalry to be with you. If there are those who don't obey, you can kill them by military law. I will grant you the imperial seal and axe, so don't worry."

Yang Kan said: "It would be hard to repay your majesty's kindness even if I sacrificed my life. I, Yang Kan, will do my best."

"Mr. Yang is too serious"

Although Hulu Jin and Tuoba Tianbao were both promoted to the rank of General, one led an alliance army of the eight Xianbei tribes, with the Tuoba clan as the main force, while Hulu Jin led an army of the miscellaneous Hu people from outside the Great Wall, mainly the Gaoche tribe. The two teams were very independent.

So generally speaking, Liu Xuanji was very cautious when using them, and tried his best to avoid letting them act with the Han army.

The mission this time was relatively simple. Tuoba Tianbao sent troops directly from Daizhou and feinted an attack on Hedong.

The distance of Hulugjin is a little farther, but it is also within the acceptable range.

Only Yang Kan had to follow the route that King Wuling of Zhao took to attack Qin, a distance of 2,000 kilometers.

(End of this chapter)