Tibet

Anlu Mountain's army was like a broken bamboo, heading south all the way, and all the prefectures and counties along the way looked at the wind and surrendered.

However, there were also prefectures and counties that were unwilling to surrender. Tangchang County and Gucheng County in Dingzhou, as well as Zhangyang County in Shenzhou, were determined not to surrender. An Lushan was furious and ordered the army to break through the county towns and massacre them. The men, women, and elders of the three counties were More than 20,000 people were massacred.

An Lushan immediately ordered that all those who did not surrender would be slaughtered.

Frightened by the ferocity of Anlu Mountain, the states and counties in Hebei did not dare to resist anymore and surrendered one after another. However, even if they surrendered, they could not escape the rape, burning, killing and wanton plundering of the Hu soldiers in Anlu Mountain. The cruelty of the war and the ferocity of the Hu soldiers shrouded fear. In everyone's heart.

Half a month later, An Lushan's army reached Anyang County, Xiangzhou. An Lushan ordered the entire army to rest for three days to wait for the arrival of the logistics army.

An Lushan was invited to the staff tent by Yan Zhuang. An Lushan had three great counselors, Yan Zhuang, Gao Shang and Ashina Chengqing. Among them, Ashina Chengqing was An Lushan's confidant. He assisted the third An Qing'en in taking charge. Youzhou.

In the staff tent, there were more than a dozen people including the second son An Qingxu, counselors Yan Zhuang and Gao Shang, and generals Shi Siming, Cai Xide, Cui Qianyu, Tian Qianzhen and so on.

There is a Central Plains sand table in the middle of the tent. The sand table was invented by Feilong and is now the standard equipment of all Tang armies. An Lushan sent people to lurk in the Central Plains and it took three years to make this sand table.

Gao Shang said to An Lushan: "Prince Qi, we have just received news from Chang'an. Li Longji has appointed Xianyu Zhongtong to stay in Luoyang. He has recruited 30,000 troops in Guanzhong and rushed to Luoyang for defense. In addition to Luoyang's own 20,000 troops, Then the garrison of Luoyang will be 50,000."

An Lushan sneered and said: "What kind of combat effectiveness will the newly recruited army have? It's just a bunch of rabble. How can he compete with our hard-trained soldiers? Such an army of 200,000 people will be killed by us without leaving any skin or armor!"

Yan Zhuang said from the side: "Your Majesty, Luoyang has the Luoshui River running through the city. It is easy to attack but difficult to defend. The Tang army will definitely not defend Luoyang, but will defend Sishui Pass. I am thinking of dividing the troops into two groups and attacking from the front. The other way crosses Mengjin Bridge from Hanoi and goes around behind Sishui Pass. If attacked from both sides, the Tang army will be defeated."

Shi Siming next to him said: "The Tang army will not be ignorant of the danger of Mengjin Bridge, and will definitely destroy it in advance."

An Lushan made an immediate decision: "The Mengjin Bridge has been destroyed. Let's just build another pontoon bridge. Military Advisor Yan's plan is very good. General Shi, you lead 30,000 cavalry across the Yellow River from Mengjin and attack the back of Sishui Pass. Anyone who does not surrender will , they will all be killed!"

Shi Siming bowed and said: "I humbly obey my orders!"

An Qingxu stood up and said: "Father, I have received news that the guard general of Xiangyang is Li Dai, and he is recruiting troops."

"so what?"

"Father, Li Dai is in Xiangyang, and I suspect that Li Ye is also here."

An Lushan frowned, "Didn't Li Ye go back to Anxi?"

He turned back and looked at Gao Shang, who nodded, "We received news from Chang'an yesterday. Emperor Li Longji announced that Li Ye, the military governor of Anxi, had come to the capital, and appointed Prince Feng as the Protector of Anxi. This means that Li Ye is still in Anxi."

An Lushan nodded, "Never mind Li Ye, after taking Luoyang, we will implement it as planned!"

An Qingxu added: "My son suggested that we first send five hundred people to sneak into Xiangyang City as an internal response, and then the internal response and external response will be combined to seize Xiangyang City in one fell swoop."

An Lushan nodded happily, "Agree to implement!"

In Hanzhong, a team stretching for dozens of miles had passed Liangzhou and entered Yangzhou. In the evening, Li Ye saw that it was getting late and ordered the army to camp and rest.

It is impossible for a team that is dozens of miles long to camp together, otherwise the leading army has finished its rest and is ready to set off, and the following team has not yet arrived at the camp.

This is why we have to divide the front army, the middle army and the rear army. Let the teams along the way rest at the nearest gathering place and agree on a departure time. However, marching in this way can easily be ambushed and attacked by the enemy, so marching is also a test of ability. .

The soldiers were busy burying pots and making rice, and pitched two tents in an open space. One was for Dugu Xinyue and the wet nurse, who had to take turns taking care of the children, and the other was for seven maids.

The seven maids were also busy boiling water for cooking. The wet nurse went to bed, and Dugu Xinyue sat aside and looked at the child.

Star Officer sat on a blanket, concentrating on playing with several wooden toys, such as ponies, deer, and puppies, which were all carved for her from wood by the soldiers. They were polished very smooth without any wood thorns.

Li Yeze and Li Mi were studying the map on a large rock not far away. They found that there was indeed another pass ahead, Raofeng Pass, the east gate of Hanzhong.

Before, they had passed the border calmly without disturbing the local officials. Even if some local officials discovered them, they did not say anything. This is a tacit understanding in officialdom, which can also be said to be an unspoken rule. If you don't trouble the other party, then the other party will not bother them either. you.

But Raofengguan and the others have to face it no matter what. Once a fierce battle breaks out, Nanzheng will definitely report the situation to the court, and this Hanzhong route will be cut off by the court.

Li Mi thought for a moment and said, "Send scouts to inquire about the officials in Hanzhong to see if they are familiar with them, and see if they can find any connections."

Li Ye nodded and immediately sent two scouts to Xingdao County, twenty miles away, to inquire about the situation.

Xingdao County is a small county with a population of only a thousand households and underdeveloped commerce. They make a living by farming. The city gates were closed after dark, and two scouts dressed as city merchants entered the city at the last moment.

The information they gathered was relatively simple, and they went directly to an inn near the city gate.

The innkeeper heard that they were going to give gifts to Yangzhou officials and inquired about the official situation in Yangzhou. He immediately introduced them to them in detail.

Who is the governor, who is the chief historian, who is Sima, and the officials below? The two scouts suddenly heard a familiar surname, Shi Duguqiao, the magistrate of Xingdao County.

"Is this Dugu Qiao a member of the Dugu family in Chang'an?" the leading scout asked quickly.

The shopkeeper nodded, "That's right! But I heard he's not the owner."

The two scouts immediately understood that, like Dugu Ying in the river, he had turned from a Dugu slave into a commoner. They found out where he lived and immediately went to visit him.

Dugu Qiao was also an aristocratic slave of the Dugu family. He performed outstandingly and became a commoner. He was then carefully trained by the Dugu family. He was a Jinshi in Tianbao for ten years and served as the chief registrar of Xixiang County for four years. This year he was promoted to the county magistrate of Xingdao County. .

Duguqiao was about thirty years old, of medium build, and looked very smart and capable. When he heard that Li Ye was twenty miles away to the west, he was shocked and quickly followed two scouts to visit Li Ye.

Although the city gate has been closed, he is the county magistrate, and he will be in charge of the city gate when it is opened. Of course, the soldiers guarding the city dare not offend.

Soon Dugu Qiao was brought to Li Ye. Dugu Qiao quickly bowed and saluted, "Dugu Qiao, meet my uncle!"

Li Ye smiled and said, "I didn't know there were people in the Dugu family in Hanzhong."

Dugu Qiao smiled slightly and said: "The Dugu family also has a layout, but I can meet you wherever you go. Even in Shannan East Road, there are clan members!"

"Where is Shannan East Road?" Li Ye asked quickly.

"Sima Dugukai of Jingzhou."

"I see!"

Li Ye nodded and said, "There is something I want to ask the Dugu County Magistrate if he can solve it."

"Uncle, please tell me!"

"We want to cross Rao Fengling. Of course we can fight there, but that will alarm the imperial court. But I don't want to alarm the imperial court. I want to pass by quietly. Is there any way?"

Duguqiao thought for a while and said: "Rao Fengling is an independent pass and is directly under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Military Department. It has nothing to do with the local government and generally does not pay attention to the favors of local officials. However, there is indeed a way to humble one's position!"