socalfunplaces Page 345
Page 345
This former general who had destroyed the Southern Tang dynasty could not believe the facts before his eyes.
That Hong family emperor who surrendered without a fight actually had such a capable son!
Moreover, only Xu Xiao has ever achieved such a feat of winning with fewer troops!
Gu Jiantang was known for his steady and reliable military tactics, and he had never achieved such a brilliant record before.
Zhao Chun looked serious, but also very relieved.
"Gu Qing, no matter what, this is a good thing."
"Shanshan has been created by the masses, and I'm afraid it won't be able to stir up any waves for several years."
"You don't need to personally lead the expedition to the Northwest. Just send tens of thousands of troops to guard Jiange."
The emperor said it was a good thing, but what Gu Jiantang saw was a worried expression on his face.
However, he was not a close advisor to Zhao Chun, and the emperor would not confide in him.
Zhao Chun gave a brief explanation and then let Gu Jiantang leave.
The Imperial Tutor Yuan Benxi was followed by Gu Jiantang, who came to see the Emperor.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty!"
"Although it was somewhat unexpected, Li Chang'an is acting according to our plan."
"As long as he goes to Shazhou, he won't be able to escape the deadly trap we've set for him!"
Zhao Chun said, "But Li Chang'an's development is just too fast."
"He has many Vajra Finger Profound experts under his command, and even some at the Celestial Phenomenon Realm."
"Cao Changqing, who broke into Tai'an City two years ago, was unable to enter Li Chang'an's military camp."
"This Li Chang'an's strength has developed in an unbelievable way!"
Yuan Benxi comforted him, "Twenty thousand men are insignificant compared to the 350,000 troops of Beiliang!"
"Moreover, there is absolutely no possibility of reconciliation between Northern Liang and Li Chang'an,"
"Because the 200,000 refugees in Qingcang County, Shazhou, are Xu Xiao's Achilles' heel,"
"Let's just wait for them to kill each other."
The Northern Liang Royal Palace.
Xu Xiao fiddled with the chess pieces on the board, looking utterly helpless.
"Damn it, Li Chang'an, did he steal all the luck I had when I was young?"
"Killing 70,000 with only 10,000 is too brutal. With Feng Nian in his hands, I can't send troops directly."
"The 200,000 refugees in Qingcang County must not be taken in by Li Chang'an."
The Northern Liang dynasty raised 200,000 refugees to raise Gu poison, as a preparation for the future.
These refugees now harbor deep hatred for Northern Liang, so it's impossible for them to be taken in by Li Chang'an.
Xu Xiao's biggest worry was that the Guihan Army had also surrendered to Li Chang'an.
"Fortunately, Zhang Yichao was kidnapped by a traitor..."
"If he were here, the situation would be even more complicated!"
Li Yishan said, "Zhang Yichao enjoys a long-standing reputation in Shazhou."
"One-third of those refugees had once been under his rule."
“We drove the Guihan Army out of the three counties of Shazhou, but we never expected that they would not die and remain alive.”
"Your Highness, we must take Li Chang'an's matter seriously."
"Have Chen Zhibao make preparations; we need to transfer more troops to the western front."
"Once Li Chang'an returns the heir, a battle between us and Shazhou is inevitable!"
Xu Xiao slammed his hand on the table and said, "It should have been done long ago! I originally wanted Li Chang'an to be Feng Nian's whetstone!"
"Now look what's happened, Li Chang'an is going to become my whetstone!"
Within the territory of Shazhou.
Li Chang'an dispatched one hundred elite Imperial Guards to Yumen County to rescue Zhang Yichao.
Li Chang'an could threaten the White-Robed Guanyin to come see him, but he couldn't make the White-Robed Guanyin hand over Zhang Yichao.
After a major defeat at Shanshan, Li Chang'an is about to arrive in Shazhou.
It is possible that the garrison commander of Waleng in Anxi killed Zhang Yichao on his own initiative.
After all, no matter how deep the hatred between Waleng and Shanshan was, the Guihan Army was their common enemy.
The commander of Yumen County was merely a first-rank military officer named Jingang, so the Embroidered Uniform Guard used the safest method.
They lay in wait for more than ten days, learned about the local situation, and then kidnapped the family of the garrison commander in a temple.
Finally, the Embroidered Uniform Guard used these family members to exchange Zhang Yichao.
When Li Chang'an set foot on the border of the three Han counties of Shazhou, the famous Northwest general Zhang Yichao finally came to his command!
On a vast, sandy Gobi Desert, Li Chang'an set up his military camp.
In the central command tent, Zhang Yichao paid his respects to Li Chang'an.
Despite his weathered face, his eyes were as firm as iron; this fifty-year-old general showed no signs of fatigue!
"This humble general, Zhang Yichao of the Guiyi Army, pays his respects to Your Highness, the Prince of Tang!"
"Shazhou has suffered from the threat of barbarian and savage tribes for decades!"
"As this humble general is nearing the end of his life, we have finally welcomed the heavenly army!"
Li Chang'an knew that Zhang Yichao's loyalty was not because Li Chang'an had saved his life.
Instead, it was Li Chang'an who fought a bloody battle with Shanshan, and he genuinely cared for the Guiyi Army.
Moreover, Li Chang'an was ambitious and wanted to recover the seven counties of Shazhou.
A general at the Zhixuan stage has joined Lichang's ranks!
Name: Zhang Yichao
Age: 50 years old
Realm: First-grade martial artist (referring to the middle stage of the Profound Realm)
Talents: Commander (Rank 2), Military Strategist (Rank 2)
Abilities: Commander (Rank 2), Military Strategist (Rank 2)
Emotion: 90
Generals Zhang Yichao and Gu Dazu were both very formidable.
Whether in terms of personal cultivation or in leading troops into battle, he is first-rate.
Li Chang'an firmly believed that it wouldn't be long before Zhang Yichao would completely submit to his will.
Li Chang'an helped Zhang Yichao up and made him sit comfortably in the chair below Gu Dazu.
"General Zhang, I am new to Shazhou and would appreciate your guidance."
Zhang Yichao said, "The three prefectures of Jinchang, Kuitun, and Qingcang now occupied by Han people are all different."
“Jinchang is the wealthiest city, controlled by several powerful families.”
"Although the prefect was appointed by the imperial court, he had long been bribed by Xu Xiao."
"Qingcang is basically full of refugees, and the government is practically useless."
“Kuitun, located in the middle, was situated between the two and mainly engaged in trade with various regions in the Western Regions.”
Although Li Chang'an had already obtained intelligence about the three prefectures, Zhang Yichao was still more aware of many details.
Inside the military tent, everyone listened to Zhang Yichao for a long time and thoroughly understood the situation in Shazhou.
Zhang Yichao concluded, "Your Highness may enter Jinchang County by imperial decree and take control of Jinchang City first."
"Then it will take one or two years to quell the internal forces and also to befriend Xu Xiao."
"After that, we will gradually deploy troops and consolidate the three counties. It will probably take seven or eight years."
"It will probably take Your Highness more than ten years to reclaim the three lost prefectures!"
Li Chang'an patted Zhang Yichao on the shoulder, "General, don't worry, it won't take that long."
"I will certainly make you personally set foot in Dunhuang City!"
Zhang Yichao knew of Li Chang'an's extraordinary abilities, but deep down he didn't quite believe it.
Several days later, Li Chang'an led his troops to the walls of Jinchang!
A desolate ancient city stands amidst the wind and sand.
The cities in the Northwest are far less refined than those in the Central Plains.
Although this place is now in Han Chinese hands, it has been attacked many times by non-Han peoples and barbarian tribes.