Tibet

At this time, Du You came over and whispered: "His Royal Highness is back, please go in, general!"

Li Sheng took a deep breath, stood up and walked to the official room.

Entering the official residence, Li Sheng bowed and saluted, "I'm sorry to see you, Your Highness!"

Li Ye smiled slightly and said, "General Li, how do you feel about going to Broken Leaf?"

The martial arts hall established by Li Ye was a school for training generals, but for the surrendered generals, it was mainly for them to go to the Western Regions to re-energize their original intention of joining the army and open up territory for the Tang Dynasty. Instead of just talking and preaching, it was better to go on an actual trip.

Li Sheng nodded, "This is the first time I know that the territory of the Tang Dynasty is so vast and magnificent. To be honest, I really don't want to come back."

Li Ye pondered for a moment and said: "The main reason is that we are relatively passive and on the defensive in the Western Region, so we did not let you go further. When I passed through the river, I opened up the border of the Tang Dynasty five thousand miles to the west and established the Aral Sea. We have captured the county seat and still have a thousand troops stationed, but we will definitely fight back. I hope the general can seize this opportunity to open up the territory for the Tang Dynasty in the Western Regions, establish immortal achievements, and leave a name in history. "

Li Sheng immediately expressed his position: "I am willing to go to the Western Regions to open up frontiers!"

Li Ye smiled and said: "I understand your thinking. There will be a chance, but not now. Now I need an army to send troops to Jingxing. General Li, you will lead this army of 30,000 people. Li Guochen will do it." Your lieutenant!"

Li Sheng was so moved that he actually let himself be the commander. This trust made him unable to control himself for a moment, and he said with a choked voice: "I am willing to do my best for Your Highness!"

Li Ye handed him a troop dispatch plan, "Report to the Privy Council! Study my troop dispatch plan carefully. In addition, the Ministry of War has a sand table. You can apply for one."

"I resign from my humble position!"

Li Sheng bowed and slowly retreated.

Li Ye watched Li Sheng walk away. Li Sheng was a famous general in the resurgence of the Tang Dynasty. He was famous in history. From his defeat of Tian Shengong in Heyang and Wang Sili at Hulao Pass, we can see that he led the troops decisively and ruthlessly. Brave and resourceful, he is indeed a rare general. Although he was in the wrong team before, it was not his problem. So after leaving Li Sheng idle for a few months, he was reactivated and asked to lead 30,000 troops to take charge of the Western Front to deal with Li Baochen. "

At this time, the officer reported at the door, "Your Highness, Mr. Duan wants to see you!"

"Invite him in!"

Not long after, Duan Xiushi hurriedly walked in, bowed and said: "See Your Highness!"

Li Ye smiled and said: "I asked Li Sheng to go to the Privy Council to find you just now!"

"I met the humble minister at the door. Let him go first. An official from the Privy Council will register him first."

After saying that, Duan Xiushi took out a piece of information and handed it to Li Ye, "This is the eagle message from Bai Yuanguang, the governor of Shuofang. Zuo Xin, the chief of the Sijie tribe, sent Shuofang to deliver the letter, saying that the Sijie tribe will not follow Huihe to attack the Tang Dynasty. ”

Li Ye nodded, "This proves from one side that the Uighur army is going to attack the Tang Dynasty."

"Yes! Sijie actually came to report a message, saying that he had sent more than a dozen people to Shuofang. In the end, only two people were left in Shuofang, and the others froze to death on the road. It is not easy to have a tribe that is pro-Tang Dynasty. "

Li Ye pondered for a moment and said: "The intelligence over the grassland is lagging behind. The information they get is often from a year ago. It is estimated that Zhu Tao, Tian Shenyu and others will use false news to deceive the grassland lakers, so they probably think that Datang is now The eunuchs still have the exclusive power, and the court is in chaos, so there are opportunities to take advantage of it.”

"Your Highness is absolutely right. There have been great changes this year, which the Uighur people would never have imagined."

Li Ye knocked on the table and said: "There is also intelligence collection in Hebei. I want to know whether Tian Chengsi is preparing to withdraw north. The Privy Council wants to strengthen intelligence in Hebei."

"I understand that I will never relax. Once I receive the news, I will report it immediately!"

Just after the Lantern Festival, in Yuancheng County, Weizhou, a group of thousands of carts loaded with food supplies and a large amount of wealth went north along the official road to Cangzhou.

Five thousand troops, led by Tian Chengsi's third son Tian Hua, guarded the convoy along the way.

Although it was midnight, many people on both sides of the official road were watching from a distance.

In fact, this is not the first time that materials have been transported northward. This is the third time. However, the previous two times were fleets and did not attract much attention. At this time, the rivers were frozen and could only be transported by large trucks.

Of course, the big truck transportation was quite loud. Even in the middle of the night, it still woke up the people in the houses along the way and quietly opened the windows to check.

In an inn about twenty steps away from the official road, there were several dark figures standing in front of the second-floor window. They were closely observing the convoy heading north.

These shadowy figures are members of Guan Longjun's intelligence station in Weizhou. The manager is Wang Xiaolin, who is from Yuancheng County, Weizhou. He was originally an eighth-level registrar of Dali Temple. He was spotted by the Privy Council and sent to Weizhou. Monitor Tian Chengsi.

"Director, it seems that there is always food!" A subordinate whispered from the side.

Wang Xiaolin shook his head, "No! The load-bearing capacity of the cart is obviously different. Let's not make random guesses. We will check with Wei Jizhong tomorrow."

Wei Jizhong was once Tian Chengsi's confidant and had been stationed at the court on behalf of Tian Chengsi for a long time. However, because he supported Tian Chengsi's nephew Tian Yue and repeatedly persuaded Tian Chengsi to establish Tian Yue's successor, he was hated by his eldest son Tian Wei.

In addition, Wei Jizhong was optimistic about Li Ye and repeatedly persuaded Tian Chengsi to befriend Li Ye and leave a way out for his descendants. His persuasion was caught by Tian Wei and became a handle for him to secretly collude with Li Ye.

Unable to withstand the slanders from several of his sons, Tian Chengsi gradually neglected Wei Jizhong. Wei Jizhong had been kicked out of the core staff circle and became a second-tier staff member who usually had nothing to do.

At noon, in the Qinghe Restaurant in Yuancheng County, Wang Xiaolin invited Wei Jizhong to drink and talked about the convoy last night.

Wei Jizhong sighed and said, "I didn't know about the thousands of carts heading north last night, including the previous fleet. I knew about it even later than you. Tian Chengsi never called me to discuss anything. I have been completely marginalized."

Wang Xiaolin also knew that Wei Jizhong was excluded by Tian Wei and others because of his support for Tian Yue. Now he has been excluded from the decision-making circle. He didn't know about Ashina Chengqing before. The internal guards sent a message to him to verify it, and he had no way to start.

"Then Mr. Wei, do you think Tian Chengsi is planning to retreat to Cangzhou?"

Wei Jizhong shook his head, "Weizhou is Tian Chengsi's old nest. He has been operating in Weizhou for many years. How could he give it up easily? He transferred materials and money to Cangzhou, but he was just a cunning rabbit with three burrows. If Weizhou cannot be saved, he will withdraw from Cangzhou."

Pause Wei Jizhong said again: "He let his eldest son Tian Wei manage Weizhou, let his second son Tian Chao manage Beizhou, and his third son Tian Hua be in charge of Cangzhou. Tian Chengsi himself is elusive. Since December last year, I have seen him three times in total, and it turns out that they are all stand-ins."

"Sir, can you recognize his stand-in?" Wang Xiaolin asked curiously.

Wei Jizhong sneered while holding a wine glass: "How could I not recognize him? I found both of his stand-ins for him. I know how to distinguish them."

"Could Tian Chengsi himself no longer be in Weizhou?"

Wei Jizhong pondered for a moment and said slowly: "It is indeed possible!"