Chapter 676 The Pillar of the Country

Chapter 676 The Pillar of the Country

The countryside outside Jiuqu City gradually became covered with ice and snow as the season turned to late winter. Although there is sunshine in the sky, it is still difficult to drive away the chill.

In front of the city lord's palace, Li Renjie, Wei Xuan and other generals have been lingering here since early morning, knocking on the door repeatedly to ask for an audience, but they were told that the general was inconvenient to see guests, but they still refused to leave.

In the inner palace, the warm pavilion with its earth dragons open was as warm as spring, but with the baking of several charcoal stoves, it seemed a bit hot. Li Tai sat cross-legged on the couch, with a square table in front of him and a copper hot pot on the table.

The hot pot was steaming. The newly appointed commander-in-chief, Li Ya, was carefully cutting thin slices of raw mutton while observing the heat of the meat slices in the hot pot. He took the cooked tender meat slices into a porcelain bowl. , and quickly presented it to the general.

This series of movements is smooth and smooth, and the most important thing is the eyesight and knife skills. Seeing the general enjoying the fruits of his labor with a smile on his face, Li Ya also smiled happily, and glanced with some pride at the Feng and others who were cooking their own meals at the other tables. Although they are in the same pavilion, they can't even come within ten feet of the general. What kind of confidant is he?

The door curtain was raised, and the young man Han Qinhu walked into the Nuan Pavilion. He looked at the general and the robes who looked contented. He sighed in his heart first, and then stepped forward and said: "General, Li Yitong is still not satisfied." If you are willing to leave, you must ask to see the general to discuss the matter."

"If you don't want to leave, then just let it go."

After Li Tai heard this, he waved his hand and said, he just arranged for his soldiers to deliver two skinned raw sheep to the house. As for whether they would eat or how they would eat, he didn't bother to care.

After all, Han Qinhu still couldn't bear it, so he asked again: "How many people does the general really refuse to summon?"

Li Tai became a little irritable after hearing this. He raised his eyes and glared at Han Qinhu and said, "If you are hungry, sit down and eat. If you are not hungry, just leave!"

After Han Qinhu saw this, he didn't dare to say anything more. He closed his mouth and found an empty table in the room to sit down, then cooked meat in the hot pot.

Li Tai knew that Li Renjie wanted to see him because he wanted him to strengthen his management of Heluo, and it would be best to stay here permanently.

After all, he was able to turn around the situation in a very short period of time when he entered Heluo twice, allowing them, the righteous teachers, to get out of the bad situation they were in before. In the eyes of these people, General Li seems to have been regarded as the only savior of the Heluo situation.

But Li Tai had no way to agree to this request. Even if Daxingtai had previously sent an order to leave all the situations in Heluo to him, he couldn't really take over. It's not that he doesn't have this idea, after all, neither his strength nor his timing allow it.

Nowadays, everything in Jianghan, Mianbei, is just on the right track. If the business has just been rolled out, if he has to invest a lot of human resources in Heluo and try to cover everything, the result is more likely to fail at both ends.

This time when his troops entered Heluo, he was simply dealing with errands for the Chinese and Foreign Governments. Although the situation seems to be good at the moment, with everything south of the Yellow River under control, Li Tai knows that this is only because the main force of Jinyang in the Northern Qi Dynasty needed to stay in their home base. If the opponent increases its troops and comes south, the cost of maintaining the current situation will be very high. It will also greatly restrict the development of Li Tai's own power.

Li Tai knew that he could not satisfy the generals' request, so he simply avoided seeing them. The reason why he has not withdrawn his troops yet is to wait for the latest instructions from the Chinese and Foreign Affairs Office in Huazhou.

Although Daxingtai said in the preface that everything here was decided by him, he really wanted to leave. As a result, a large area of ​​Heluo territory fell into the hands of the enemy again. Who should be held responsible for the loss of land when the Chinese and Foreign Government investigated?

So even if you want to leave, this matter must be settled clearly.

After learning that the main force of the Bafu had withdrawn from Puban, Li Tai invited Han Xiong, Wei Fabao, Pei Kuan and other important generals here to draw up a finishing plan to preserve Yiyang Jiuqu City and Yichuan Fuliu City among other places. The fortress city, as for the Heluo Plain, was strategically abandoned.

Even though Han Xiong and others were unwilling to do so, they had to admit that this was the greatest result that could be preserved based on reality. It is simply unrealistic to rely solely on the local personnel in Heluo to firmly hold the river line and resist the Qi army coming south.

If you really want to stick to the Yellow River line, the biggest possibility is that the Northern Qi people will directly press the river line and eliminate a large number of their effective forces. In this way, it will be impossible to connect to the Yiluo Valley to confront the enemy.

Of course, Li Tai will not completely ignore the Heluo area. After all, the Heluo Plain is the imperial residence in Tianzhong. At the moment, Li Tai does not have the ability to occupy it for a long time. But looking at it from a longer perspective, the Heluo area is also where he will go. An area not to go to.

Therefore, Li Tai still has to invest as much personnel as possible here. The most important thing is to make sure that the Yishui River Valley connected to Sanya Road is in his hands to ensure that he can smoothly enter the Heluo Plain at any time. The preservation of this passage can also bring a certain containment and deterrent effect to the Northern Qi troops.

Han Xiong and others also agreed with the idea proposed by Li Tai. They knew that it would be difficult to obtain a large amount of personnel assistance from the Guanzhong Bafu, and if they could maintain the connection with Jingzhou through the Yishui River Valley, it would also be beneficial to them. It is nothing less than support in times of need.

So after the opinions were unified, Li Tai sent Pei Kuan, then the governor of Henan Province, to Huazhou to report the resolution to Daxingtai and ask for instructions.

Pei Kuan did not return until the twelfth lunar month. Although the Eastern Expedition was withdrawn without a fight, Daxingtai was very busy with various personnel arrangements. He first dealt with the urgent matters of the Chinese and Foreign Affairs Office. Only then did he take the time to listen to Pei Kuan's report.

The failure of this expedition dealt a big blow to Daxingtai's morale. Therefore, after understanding the plan, he agreed and did not hesitate to abandon the defense of Heyang Nancheng again.

In addition to this Heluo finishing plan, the others are some personnel adjustments proposed by Li Tai.

Although Bafu's side returned in disgrace without a fight, Li Tai's side fought beautifully. Even if they were forced to abandon some city strongholds, they could kill and capture hundreds of thousands of Northern Qi troops. , if it weren’t for the shameful group of losers like Bafu who crossed the river, it would definitely be called a brilliant victory.

Li Tai knew that several of the Zhu Kingdoms had done the same thing but returned without success. It was probably impossible for him to use this opportunity to improve his position, but the generals under his command could not be without rewards.

Therefore, he first promoted the positions of meritorious generals under his command in the name of the General Manager's Office, and then compiled them and submitted them to the Chinese and Foreign Affairs Office for approval.

The Chinese and Foreign Affairs Office did not raise any objections to this. Daxingtai not only approved all the promotions and personnel reported by Li Tai, but also wrote a reply to Li Tai in person, saying in his heart that the timing of the Eastern Expedition was unpredictable. He felt helpless and regretful about his cooperation, and even asked Li Tai whether he thought he could completely pacify the East Thieves in his lifetime.

Li Tai didn't have anything to say about this. He couldn't say no, please give up your seat and give me a try, so he could only express his regrets along the way, and expressed with full confidence that next time Daxingtai will march eastward, I will I will serve as a flag-carrying soldier for you, and we will not stop until we kill them!

There was another unexpected situation when Pei Kuan returned this time, that is, He Ruoden, who had just been transferred to the Chinese Foreign Affairs Office, was packaged and returned together with him.

He Ruoden was dragged back by a cart this time. There were many whip marks and scars all over his body under his robe. Li Tai was naturally surprised when he saw this. While arranging for doctor's diagnosis and treatment, he asked, "Is it possible that he was surrounded by the enemy?" Was he seriously injured?"

"There is no enemy siege! The servants and other troops just stood outside the carriage and were soaked in the cold rain for nearly a month. Not to mention the enemy, they didn't even hear the barking of enemy dogs!"

After hearing this, He Ruodun looked aggrieved and said: "The teacher has been away from home for a long time without success. I also heard that Master Lang bravely pioneered in Heluo and repeatedly attacked the bandit army in the city. I feel sad and aggrieved in my heart, and I hate that I can't follow him." Master Lang killed the enemy in vain! A few words of anger were heard by Chi Kaifu, the Duke of Pingchang..."

"So Yuchi Boluo beat you up to this point?"

Li Tai knew what kind of person He Ruodun was. The contrast between the two battlefields was so obvious that it was more than just a few words of anger. But when he heard that it was related to Yuchi Gang, he immediately lowered his face and asked in a deep voice.

"Master Lang, please rest assured. Although Duke Pingchang is very powerful, the servants have not insulted Master Lang's majesty. What this disciple is taking advantage of is that all the members of Daxingtai's family are still young, so they have to be divided into middle and foreign cousins. When Daxingtai rests, They are all strong, and the only person who can plan things is a minister as powerful as Lord Lang, a pillar of the country who is powerful in the enemy country. How can there be a place for such a favor-stealing person in the court!"

Although He Ruoden was covered with whip marks, he still said with a strong face.

After listening to He Ruodun's words, Li Tai was silent for a while, and then said: "Yuchi Boluo just beat you up?"

After hearing this, He Ruodun said with a proud face: "He did have a knife on my neck, but I just laughed and said that although a certain person is unknown, he has a benefactor to look up to. It would be easy for Duke Pingchang to kill me. I want to know the future." It’s hard to get back home!”

"That's all, no more treatment, get out!"

After Li Tai heard He Ruodun's resounding answer, his face suddenly darkened, and he waved his hand to drive away the doctor who was preparing the plaster. After a while, he managed to hold down his breath and let the doctor in, but he didn't Too lazy to stay here any longer, he walked out directly.

When he was no longer in sight and no sound was heard in his ears, Li Tai gradually relaxed and smiled proudly. He is really different now. He Ruoden can still live and return to his command. What a proof! No matter how unhappy those people are, they can only hold it in.

It should be noted that earlier, Yuchigang was dissatisfied with him and dared to attack him directly in person, but now, even if one of his disciples gave him such a harsh comment, Yuchigang did not dare to actually take He Ruodun's life. As for the whip marks all over his body, it was because Li Tai didn't work hard enough.