Chapter 83: The Siege of Guangwu (Part )

"General Zhao's marching speed is almost comparable to Xiahou Yuan of the Tiger Step Guanyou."

Li Yuanhui, standing on the north city wall, looked at the Turkic camp in the distance and couldn't help but sigh.

Xiahou Yuan was famous for his fast marching speed, "600 in three days, 1,000 in five days." The only faster speed was the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry's exaggerated speed at Changban Slope, "Cao Gong led 5,000 elite cavalry to pursue them, marching more than 300 miles in one day and one night, and arrived at Changban in Dangyang."

However, Zhao Yi's army was a mixed group of cavalry and infantry, and could march at a speed of nearly 100 miles a day. They even arrived at Xinkou earlier than the Jinyang army. This was a bit too exaggerated.

This shows two things. First, his army is well disciplined and can maintain this marching speed in an organized manner without mutiny or large numbers of people falling behind.

Second, Zhao Yi’s prestige as the commander-in-chief of this army is absolutely very high.

Just based on these two points, it is clear that the combat effectiveness of this army is definitely first-class.

Liu Xuanji beside him heard this and asked, "I heard that he still wears armor and burns incense and prays every day?"

Li Yuanhui laughed and said, "Haha, if not, how can you dare to call yourself a loyal minister and a good general?"

Anyone with a discerning eye could tell that this was a show, but Murong Ying just fell for it.

Liu Xuanji also heard the sarcasm in Li Yuanhui's tone, "Hahaha, it's a good thing after all. The reinforcements are here, and we can drive these beasts away sooner."

Li Yuanhui remained silent upon hearing this. These past few days he had been recalling the historical siege of Yanmen.

The Old Book of Tang says that Guangshen was surrounded by the Turks at Yanmen, and my second brother volunteered to rescue them and was assigned to Yun Dingxing, a general of the Garrison Army. He suggested to Yun Dingxing that the army should raise more flags during the day, beat more war drums at night, tie branches to the horses' tails to create more smoke and dust, and bluff the Turks into thinking that a large army was coming to help.'

Li Yuanhui still has some impression of the original text: Dingxing followed. The army camped in Gang County, and the Turkic scouts rushed to inform Shibi: The king's army is coming. So they lifted the siege and fled.

After that, the wise solution to the siege of Yanmen became the second brother's first performance, as if the key to the solution lies in the second brother. Li Yuanhui once thought that the second brother was in Longxi now, and who would come to the rescue without him?

But while in Guangwu City, Li Yuanhui felt more and more that something was wrong these days. The key to the problem should not be with his second brother.

Instead, a large number of troops gathered to support the king, forcing the Turkic army to retreat.

There is an obvious question here: When Yun Ding led his army to Gang County, did he use his second brother's bluffing strategy? In fact, the Old Book of Tang did not make it clear at all.

When the army arrived at Gang County, the Turkic scouts reported to Shibi that the king's army was coming, so Shibi withdrew. This sentence did not mention that when Yun Dingxing's army arrived at Gang County, they used a bluffing strategy and took actual actions, which were seen by the Turkic scouts, who then reported to Shibi, causing Shibi to decide to withdraw.

This passage is equivalent to playing a word game, making people mistakenly believe that the credit for the rescue of Yanmen was all due to the second brother.
The Turks were not fools. The reason they withdrew their troops was that the troops coming to support the king had arrived and it was meaningless to continue the siege. Instead, they might be attacked from both inside and outside.

However, Li Yuanhui was not thinking about how to break the siege of Guangwu, even though he was trapped here now, but in this battle to support the king, Zhao Da would definitely get the biggest reward. If Murong Ying put Zhao Da in Bingzhou after the battle, it would be very bad.

It is hard to imagine what kind of results would be achieved if Bingzhou, the birthplace of the Chinese nation, fell into Zhao Da's hands.

"Shiro."

A call brought Li Yuanhui back to his senses. When he turned around, he saw Murong Yang and Duan Wuda.

"Your Highness, Duan Sanqi, why are you here?"

"I have nothing to do, so I came up to take a look."

The two walked to Li Yuanhui's side and looked at the Turkic camp in the distance with him. It was dark and dense. Duan Wuda said, "The Turkic offensive seems to have slowed down in the past few days."

Li Yuanhui nodded and said, "Yes, that's right. The Turks are not good at attacking cities. The siege ladders they built before should be almost destroyed. The nearby trees have been cut down by them. They should be cutting wood from Hengshan to build equipment. In addition, the army from Xinkou also put a lot of pressure on them."

Murong Yang said, "Silang, in your opinion, when will the Qinwang army be able to lift the siege of Guangwu?"

Li Yuanhui said: "The Turks have been besieging the city for more than 20 days. Now the reinforcements from Guanzhong and Luoyang should be on the way. Once they lift the siege of Gang County, Guangwu will naturally be out of danger."

Murong Yang nodded upon hearing this, and then smiled and said, "Silang, you let Jia Luo stay in Jinyang, didn't you know the future?"

Li Yuanhui, whose thoughts were exposed, smiled bitterly and said, "If I had known that the Turks would come, I would have advised the Saint not to tour the north."

"Hahaha. It's a good thing that Jialuo doesn't have to come here. It can be considered a blessing in disguise." Murong Yang was naturally joking, and Li Yuanhui laughed along to hide his embarrassment.

Duan Wuda said, "If we can successfully rescue the siege this time, I would like to serve in the army."

Murong Yang asked curiously, "Duan Si, why did you suddenly think of going to the army?"

"Although the position of Palace Attendant is noble, he can advise the emperor on his mistakes and serve as a sage's advisor, and he can ride a horse and follow his followers when he is out, but it is not suitable for a warrior like me, especially this time."

Although Duan Wuda did not say it explicitly, Li Yuanhui and Murong Yang both understood what he meant.

Now, as a palace attendant, he could only be trapped here like most officials, doing nothing. But it was different for a general like Li Yuanhui, as long as he could defend Guangwu and wait for reinforcements to come, it would be a great achievement.

Moreover, we are now approaching a time of chaos, and even Duan Wuda has noticed some clues about this.

Murong Yang sighed upon hearing this, "You two are my relatives and friends, so I have something to tell you. Right now, Dayan is indeed in a turbulent time, and it is hard to describe it in one sentence. As a descendant of the Murong family, I have the ambition to clear up the world, but I am powerless. So I must take the position of crown prince, wipe out the declining trend, and revive Dayan."

Duan Wuda immediately echoed, "Your Highness and I have known each other since childhood. Among all the princes, none is more virtuous than you. I am willing to follow Your Highness, even if it means going through fire and water."

When Li Yuanhui heard Duan Wuda's statement, he could not help but say something to show his loyalty. So he immediately said, "I am willing to help Your Highness to clear the world and revive Great Yan."

As for going through fire and water, forget it.

After the two men left, he heaved a sigh of relief and sat down on the city wall. Accompanying them on the city wall to express their feelings and express their support, Li Yuanhui felt that it was more tiring than marching in battle.

However, with Murong Ying's way of doing things, even if Murong Yang got the position of crown prince, he would not be able to wait until the day of succession.

Unless Murong Ying himself wakes up and stops making trouble, Dayan still has a chance of survival.

Not much, just a little.

Is it possible that Murong Ying will repent?

Li Yuanhui didn't believe that it was easy to change the country but difficult to change one's nature.

But sometimes, some people really change their temperament after going through certain things.

But the time has not come yet.

(End of this chapter)