Chapter 492 Fight to support war
The Tang Dynasty sent out its best troops and generals, and the Northern Han Dynasty was no less powerful.

Although the Northern Han Dynasty has been waging war every year in recent years, its national strength is on the rise because it has the support of the wealthy land of Hebei.

When the country was founded, there were twelve prefectures, and now there are sixteen prefectures. In addition, there are tens of thousands of imperial guards such as Yulin and Huben.

Emperor Liu Xuanji of Han personally led a large army to garrison in Liyang, headed by General Dongfang Di and General Wei Xiaoju.

Thirteen of the sixteen generals fell, including Zhu Chaoshi, Kuai En, Fu Hongzhi, Hulu Mingyue, Tuoba Tianmu, Tuoba Qian, Gao Jisi, Cui Zhongming, Xue Guyan, Liu Zhi, Zhang Shiwu, Lu Yanzheng, and Xue Andu.

There were dozens of generals and lieutenant commanders, all of whom were brave and skilled in fighting. The Northern Han also sent out its best troops and many generals.

For this military operation, the generals originally thought that Dongfang Di would be the commander-in-chief, but Liu Xuanji unexpectedly let Wei Xiaoju be in charge of the entire military affairs.

Wei Xiaoju lived up to expectations and arranged the army of nearly 200,000 soldiers in an orderly manner, with order both inside and outside the army.

Therefore, Liu Xuanji expressed his support for Wei Xiaoju in front of all the generals many times.

He also said: "All the generals are brave and strong, they are eager to take the lead on the battlefield, and they are unstoppable. They can lead an army in harmony and can handle things on their own. However, I have heard that the Emperor Gao and the Marquis of Huaiyin discussed military affairs. The Emperor Gao can only lead 100,000 troops. Han Huaiyin can lead more troops, the better. Now, with my ability, my ability to lead troops will not be better than that of the Emperor Gao, and the only generals who can defeat me are Wei Cheqi and Su Zhengnan."

Wei Cheqi naturally refers to the General of Chariots and Cavalry Wei Xiaoju, and Su Zhengnan refers to the General of Zhengnan Su Dingbian who was stationed in Hanoi.

Liu Xuanji believed that only these two people surpassed him in the ability to command large-scale military operations.

I have to say that when it comes to judging people, Liu Xuanji's vision is terrifyingly accurate.

"Mr. Wei has a good command of the army, and he is worthy of being the brave and resolute general of the past."

Liu Xuanji, wearing an old robe and holding an umbrella on his head, stood on the top of Liyang City. Behind him were prime ministers and generals including Dongfang Di, Wei Xiaoju, Ling Jing, and Li Yuanzhong.

"Father, what is General Juro of the Brave Fruit Army?"

The person who asked the question was a teenager who was standing closest to Liu Xuanji's right hand side, Crown Prince Liu Chengyou.

Liu Xuanji smiled when he heard that, and then said, "The Xiaoguo Army was formed by Emperor Zhaowu of the former Yan Dynasty who recruited brave men from Guanzhong as his army and named it Xiaoguo. Because the army was led by Emperor Zhaowu himself, there were no generals or governors. It was headed by Chief Clerk Xue Ji, and there were ten generals in charge of the troops. They were all young talents at the time. Your father was just one of them. Hahaha, it was because I intercepted the bandit leader Yang Xun with your uncle from the Li family that I was personally selected by Emperor Zhaowu and selected into the Xiaoguo Army. At that time, Duke Wei was the same as your uncle from the Li family. They were both generals of the Xiaoguo Army and were young talents who were famous at the time."

When Liu Xuanji talked about the old days, he did not hide the fact that his position was once lower than Wei Xiaoju. Everyone seemed to be nostalgic when listening to Liu Xuanji's words.

The uncle of the Li family was naturally referring to Li Yuanhui, and Liu Xuanji always addressed him as such in front of his sons. He also forbade his sons to speak disrespectfully to him.

After hearing this, Wei Xiaoju said, "Your Majesty is a man of destiny. Although I was a general in the past, I was just a playboy relying on my family background. Although your Majesty came from a humble background, your reputation for bravery is known all over the world."

"Wei Gong, there is no need to be modest. The ten generals of the brave army in the past were all talented people. The oldest among them was only thirty years old. For example, Li Yuanhui, Li Cang, Yuwen Zhao, and Wei Gong were all talented generals. The only pity was Duan Wuchen. He and his father, Lingzhi Wang Duan Fuguo, died in the Luoyang Palace. Murong Yang really destroyed his own great wall."

Liu Xuan even sighed, not sure whether he really felt sorry for the Duan father and son or wanted to step on Murong Yang.

But Wei Xiaoju heard some meaning, because the person who died on the same day as Duan's father and son was also Lou Jushi, the grandfather of his wife Lou.

But it was his cousin who did the killing.

This made him keep this matter a secret, but today Liu Xuanji brought it up again, and said that Murong Yang destroyed the Great Wall himself, which was obviously meant for him. It was nothing more than telling him that I, Liu, am not Murong Yang, and I will not casually suspect a general and do something that would destroy the Great Wall myself.

As for the Han Huaiyin mentioned above, it was just a warning.

Among the founding emperors with the surname Liu who named their country Han, although Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang killed kings of other surnames, he was still good to his meritorious officials.

Most of the meritorious officials of Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu, known as the Twenty-Eight Generals of Yuntai, had a good end.

As for Emperor Zhaolie Liu Bei, he was even more generous to others. He even sacrificed the already illusory future of the Shu Han regime in order to avenge his great general Guan Yu.

Therefore, the emperor with the surname Liu actually has a pretty good reputation.

After talking about the past, Liu Xuanji asked again: "What are the current movements of the Tang army?"

Zuo Pushe Li Yuanzhong said: "Li Yuanhui has already met with the generals in Xingyang, leaving the Right Wuwei General Zhang Jian to guard Luoyang, and all the troops have gathered out of Hulao, and it seems that they are planning to fight with our army in Yanzhou."

Liu Xuanji asked again: "What does Lord Wei think?"

Wei Xiaoju thought for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "I think that based on Li Yuanhui's previous military tactics, the Tang army will certainly defend the river before it freezes, and after the river freezes, they will definitely abandon the river defense line and retreat to the Hulao area in Xingyang, fortify the walls and clear the fields, and stay out of the deep trenches and high ravines, waiting for our army to retreat on its own."

Liu Xuanji nodded upon hearing this. "I agree with what General Wei said. Li Si has always been cautious in his use of troops and does not like to take risks. However, now that we know the general plan, do you have any way to defeat him?"

Wei Xiaoju replied, "I have been thinking about this for a long time. I think Your Majesty should lead the army across the river to Xingyang to confront the main force of the Tang army. Separate troops should be sent to conquer Qingzhou and Yanzhou. In addition, troops can be sent to Henei, and Su Zhengnan can lead the army to attack Luoyang, so that the enemy will be surrounded on all sides and it will be difficult for the front and rear to respond. However, this strategy requires speed. If we cannot defeat the enemy within three months, we must return to Hebei in the north, because once the enemy is opened up, our navy will be inferior to the Tang army, and there is a risk of being cut off from the south of the river by them."

After listening to Wei Xiaoju's military strategy, everyone fell into deep thought.

Dongfang Di was the first to raise a question: "Wei Cheqi, it would be difficult to defeat King Li Qi in three months, right?"

Wei Xiaoju said: "Duke Dongfang is right, but even if we put all our troops on the Hulao and Xingyang lines, can we immediately defeat the Tang army? Now the elite troops of Yanzhou and Qingzhou have all been sent out, and only the civilians are left to defend the city. If we can't take the two states at this time, when the Tang Dynasty destroys the Western Wei, the national strength will be greatly increased. What should we do then?"

Li Yuanzhong asked, "Wei Cheqi, if the Tang army defends the city and clears the fields, how will our army transport the food if it attacks from all directions?"

Wei Xiaoju said: "The only way is to fight to support the war. The Tang army will definitely move people and food into the city. Every time a city is conquered, they will definitely get a lot of food. Then move the people to Hebei to enrich the local area."

Li Yuanzhong remained silent after hearing this, sighed, and sat down.

Wei Xiaoju's military strategy was effective. Yanzhou and Qingzhou had recovered well in the past few years, and the people would not lack food. Plundering the people and then moving them to Hebei would definitely weaken the national strength of the Tang Dynasty. However, once looting started, the reputation of the Han army in the Central Plains would be ruined.

But talking about reputation at this time seemed a little illusory, so Li Yuanzhong could not refute anything.

In the end, almost everyone looked at Liu Xuanji, the supreme being who made the final decision.

Liu Xuanji glanced at everyone and then laughed.

"Give Li Si the strategy of Wei's chariot and cavalry. Are you still afraid that he won't take the initiative to attack?"

(End of this chapter)