Chapter 446 Chapter Twelve

Kou Zhong rushed to Luoyang, asked the city gate guard to see Wang Shichong, reported Kou Zhong's name, and immediately alerted Lang Feng to come to receive him. After greeting, Lang accompanied him into the palace in a carriage. Kou Zhong revisited the old place and saw that Tianjie was still prosperous and prosperous. He thought that this famous city greater than Chang'an would be devastated by the flames of war in the near future, so he felt emotional. Lang Feng said in disbelief: "The Holy Majesty has mentioned the young marshal from time to time in the past few days, and it must be because he has a premonition that the young marshal will come."

Kou Zhong cursed inwardly, among Wang Shichong's generals, Shu Lang Feng and Song Mengqiu were the most favored by him, not because of their abilities, but because they were good at flattering and flattering officialdom, and also won the favor of Prince Wang Xuanying . Qin Shubao and Cheng Yaojin are gone, only the generals Zhang Zhenzhou and Yang Gongqing can be called generals, but unfortunately they were rejected by the relatives employed by Wang Shichong. Among Wang Shichong's family, only the young second son Wang Xuanshu seems to be able to do something, and the others are really dismissive.

Once the Tang army attacks, who knows how many people will betray Zheng Guitang? Wang Shichong is mean and ungrateful, Li Shimin treats talented people generously, and good birds choose trees to live in. In this aspect alone, Kou Zhong is not capable of turning the tide. The boy is not so safe. But it is not easy to defeat Li Xiaozi's invincible black-armored elite cavalry guards, majestic, well-equipped and well-trained army. While thinking about it, Lang Feng said: "Duke Yang's treasury has a false name, and it's a pity to lose it. As long as the young commander is willing to serve the Holy One, wouldn't he be sitting on the treasury? What's more, among the three capitals of the old Sui Dynasty, Luoyang has the thickest treasury. .”

Kou Zhong thought to himself, Boy Lang, that you are well informed about what is in Duke Yang's treasury, so he asked casually, "How did Yang Wengan's rebellion end?" Lang Feng snorted coldly and said: "Wen Ganzhuzi, with the position of the general manager of Qingzhou and the power of a local gang, dared to raise troops to rebel, of course it ended in a disastrous defeat. Now Jingzhaolian is listed as a rebel party. Not allowed in Guanzhong." Kou Zhongdao: "Is Li Shimin sitting on the crown prince's throne?" Lang Feng smiled sadly and said: "Li Jiancheng was indeed exhausted by Yang Wenqian this time around. Fortunately, the concubines pleaded for him, and the minister Feng Deyi and others also asked Li Yuan to excuse him. In the end, Jiancheng kowtowed to apologize and surrendered himself In the land, it was nearly extinct, and he had to barely keep his reserve position. In the end, Li Yuan only blamed Zhongyun Wang Gui, and the right guard led Wei Ting and Tiance soldiers Cao Duyan, and found a few to replace the dead ghosts."

Kou Zhong became confused, he didn't understand what this dispute had to do with Wang Gui and Wei Ting, he thought that he was Yang Wenqian's traitor just like Du Yan.Then asked: "What about Yang Wenqian?" Lang Fengdao: "Yang Wengan's rebel army was defeated by Li Shimin's troops, and the whole army was wiped out. Only Yang Wengan broke through and escaped alone, and his whereabouts are unknown." Hearing that Li Shimin could not become the crown prince, Kou Zhong ignited new hopes, and asked tentatively: "Miss Shuni won't be implicated, right?"

Lang Feng said in amazement: "Li Yuan only loves her more and more, how could he be implicated?" It was Kou Zhong's turn to be puzzled, and said curiously: "Miss Shu Ni has a close relationship with Yang Xuyan, this..." Lang Feng lowered his voice and said: "Miss Shuni was just pregnant with Li Yuan's flesh and blood. That pervert Li Yuan didn't love her enough, so how could he neglect her? Although Yang Xuyan had a relationship with Yang Wengan, he didn't participate in it. In this rebellion, Li Yuan is a nostalgic person, so his position is still very stable."

Kou Zhong almost blurted out that Li Yuan already knew that Yang Xuyan was Shi Zhixuan's apprentice, he thought that Li Yuan was really confused, or there were some subtle inside information that he didn't know. When the carriage drove into the imperial city, Kou Zhong calmed down and made preparations to deal with the old fox Wang Shichong. Xu Ziling swaggered into the city, followed Gao Zhandao's instructions, and came outside the mansion of the Hongjia Gang's main altar to sign up for an interview. In fact, there was no need for him to reveal his identity, the gatekeeper had already recognized him as Xu Ziling when he entered the city, and secretly sent someone to inform Chen Shi, of course, he couldn't hide it from Xu Ziling's eyes and ears.

It can also be seen that the images of him and Kou Zhong have been distributed to various rudders of the Hongjia Gang, so as to scout and monitor their distance. Chen Shi saw him in the inner hall, the leader of the Hong family gang, Lei Jiuzhi's sworn brother, about fifty years old, with a bushy goatee, medium build, slightly thin, regular facial features, flexible eyes, It's really a bit of a helper's attitude. He showed excessive enthusiasm, and after the politeness, the two sat down to drink tea and talk. Xu Ziling smiled and said, "I have a few words that I want to say to Chief Chen."

Chen Shi is an old Jianghu, understood what he meant, ordered his subordinates to retreat outside the hall, and said solemnly: "Master Xu is someone I Chen Shi has always admired. Even if there is no relationship with Jiuzhi, I, Chen Shi, still think that I can be Master Xu." It's an honor to do the work of a dog and a horse, not to mention that Jiuzhi is my brother who I swore to worship." He spoke sincerely, if Xu Ziling hadn't known the truth, he would not have become suspicious of him, but at the moment he only felt that his hypocrisy was ridiculous. Chen Shi asked casually again: "Did the young commander not go with Master Xu?"

Xu Ziling said indifferently: "Young Marshal has other important matters, so he didn't go with us. I'm coming to Hong's house today, just to inform Zhan Dao that they are all well and can leave with peace of mind." Chen Shi frowned and said, "Your family has just left the city to pick up another batch of soldiers and horses. I don't know when they will come back." Xu Ziling smiled and said, "They're gone!" Chen Shi lost his voice: "What?" Xu Ziling smiled leisurely and said: "Master Chen must hear every word I, Xu Ziling, said clearly. If I, Xu Ziling, hadn't read that I was Lei Jiuzhi's sworn brother and helped my subordinates, we would have to resort to force to solve the problem. "

Chen Shi changed his face and said, "What does Master Xu mean by that?" Xu Ziling stared at Chen Shi and said, "If Mr. Chen is a man, he should dare to admit it, and don't waste my words. What's more, people from Tiance Mansion will come at any time. Let's take this opportunity to study out A good way to get the best of both worlds, wouldn't it be better than becoming an enemy that you want me to die and I want you to die." Chen Shi was stunned and speechless. After all, the Hongnong Gang is still a small gang in the prefecture and county. Even with the support of Tiance Mansion, it is still very unwise to annoy famous top figures like Xu Ziling and Kou Zhong. Xu Ziling came hard and then soft, so that the other party would step down, and said in a low voice: "Of course I know that the Chen family is forced to do so. He is afraid of offending the Li family. The Tang army will come to the east in the future, and he will walk around without eating. So even though I know that Mr. Chen is secretly helping Li Shimin, we still forgive you. But one mistake cannot be repeated, and Kou Zhong and I have always repaid our kindness and revenge." "Revenge for revenge" is not Xu Ziling's style at all, but in order to achieve his goal, he had to say it. Chen Shi seemed to have aged for a few years, his eyes drooped, and he said dejectedly: "Oh! How can I still see Jiuzhi? The prosperous Bu Ting and the third cousin of Tian came to see me, and Chen said that if I am just a People, you can still run so far away, but how can you bear to let my brothers' families be destroyed." He suddenly raised his head and said: "Master Xu, go quickly, they may have already entered the city!" Xu Ziling suddenly said: "If I leave, how will the Chen family handle business? Don't worry! I can come here from Guanzhong, and naturally I can go anywhere from here. I only hope that the Chen family can rein in the precipice, hold their hands high, and let Zhan Dao and others go." Otherwise, even if I understand the dilemma of the Chen family, Kou Zhong will not give up." At the same time, he secretly blamed himself and Kou Zhong for being negligent, and set a meeting place for Hongnongzuo, forgetting that Li Shimin could track down their relationship with the Hongnong Gang from Xingchanglong. Chen Shi resolutely said: "Master Xu can repay grievances with kindness, and I, Chen Shi, will definitely reciprocate. Master Xu, please leave immediately, and I will deal with the people in Tiance Mansion." Xu Ziling suddenly gave him a wink, indicating that an enemy had sneaked in, and raised his voice slightly: "Since the brothers of Tongxingshe have left, I must go on the road immediately and rush to the champion to join them." The champion is in the south of Hong's family, which is Zhu Can's land, a place where the Li clan's forces are difficult to reach. It is reasonable for them to flee to this place. Chen Shi was used to traveling all over the world, so he knew the opportunity: "Master Xu has come here from a long way, so why don't you let Chen Shi show his respect as a landlord, and go on the road after lunch. I can also arrange carriages and horses to ensure that Master Xu can catch up with your nobles .” Xu Ziling stood up and said: "It's not too late, Master Chen's kindness is appreciated! If there is a chance in the future, come and drink with the master again." Secretly gestured, asking Chen Shi to find an excuse to leave the hall. Chen Shi was also considered a quick thinker, and immediately said: "Master Xu, please wait a moment, I have something to trouble you to bring to Jiuzhi, so go and get it to Master Xu." After all, he went away worried, although Xu Ziling was famous all over the world, but Tiance Mansion came prepared, if Xu Ziling had any troubles here, it would be strange if Kou Zhong didn't wash Hongnong with blood. Xu Ziling sat down again, watched Chen Shi disappear outside the door, and suddenly shouted: "Chen Shi, how dare you betray me!" Windows shattered, and enemies flooded into the hall. Wang Shichong met him in the other courtyard of the palace where he was discussing politics with his close ministers. Only the two brothers Wang Xuanying and Wang Xuanshu, Song Mengqiu, and Lang Feng were with him, and they were Wang Shichong's closest relatives. After the guests and hosts sat down, Kou Zhong immediately said, "The Tang army has finally left the customs!" Wang Shichong was slightly astonished, frowned and said, "Young Marshal, can you make it clearer?" Kou Zhongdao: "The Tang army has transported light supplies, grain, and grass to the Kanto, and is preparing to invade eastward on a large scale." Wang Xuanying said with a bit of disdain: "The young commander has been in the pass for a long time, so he is not aware of the latest development of the situation outside the pass. The mobilization of the Tang army is because Song Jingang borrowed Turkic horses and gathered troops on the border of Northern Bingzhou in Taiyuan. It is said that Li Yuan sent Li Yuanji out of Taiyuan, the old nest where the Li family made a fortune. Of course, we must continue to provide support in supplies." Kou Zhong had already guessed that the minions of the Eastern Turks would seize the opportunity to attack, but he never thought that it would be Li Yuanji who would deal with it. Suddenly, he felt Li Shimin's unpredictable methods and gave him a headache. Wang Xuanshu said: "The situation of the Li family today is not optimistic, because Wang Xingben of Pucheng surrendered to the Eastern Turks, greatly weakening the power of the Li family in Taiyuan, and Wang Xingben and Song Jingang's solidarity with each other made Li Jun in Taiyuan two-faced. Enemy." Song Mengqiu gloated and said, "Song Jingang saw the timing very well. When the Guan was in chaos due to Yang Wenqian's rebellion, he suddenly launched an attack, which is in line with the main purpose of the military strategists to attack him by surprise." Wang Shichong was the one who dared not underestimate Kou Zhong's intelligence, and asked, "What's your opinion, Young Marshal?" Kou Zhong hadn't fully digested the news, so he asked casually, "Who is Wang Xingben?" Lang Feng replied: "Wang Xingben was a general in the old Sui Dynasty. He supported his troops in Pucheng, and nominally submitted to the Tang Dynasty. Li Yuan ordered him to go to Chang'an several times, but he refused. Now he finally rebelled." Kou Zhong was sure that Li Yuanji was Song Jingang's opponent, so in the end Li Shimin had to come forward to deal with it, so how could he spare any energy to invade Luoyang? But he had a faint feeling that this was not the case, so he could only talk about it and said: "How is the situation of the remnants of the Wagang Army?" Wang Shichong said: "The Wagang Army is now only left with Li Shiji's troops who surrendered to the Tang Dynasty. They still control the vast land stretching from Donghai in the east, Dahe in the south, Dangzhou in the west, and Weijun in the north. However, as long as Dou Jiande defeats Yu Wenhua and Under the attack of Dou Jiande and us from the north to the south, he will not last long." Suddenly, a flash of light flashed in Kou Zhong's mind, and he said in shock, "I understand!" Everyone looked at him in astonishment. Kou Zhongdao: "Li Shimin deliberately wants Li Yuanji to lose the battle." Wang Shichong frowned and said: "The defeat is like a mountain, there is no reason to deliberately suffer defeat." Kou Zhong analyzed: "Under normal circumstances, of course Li Shimin would not do such a stupid thing. However, due to two internal and external factors, Li Shimin had to take such risks. Risks are dangerous, but they are very smart. It's really thanks to Li Xiaozi I can figure it out." Everyone was puzzled and waited for him to continue talking. Kou Zhongdao: "Let's talk about external factors first. If Li Shimin goes out to defend Taiyuan, what will happen?" Wang Shichong trembled and said: "That's right, if Li Shimin is the one who guards Taiyuan, no one in the world can surpass his ability to defend the city. Although Song Jingang is strong, it will only be a stalemate." Kou Zhongdao: "But this will not benefit the Tang family at all. Once Li Shiji is defeated by Shengshang and Dou De, the connection between Taiyuan and Guanzhong will be severed. Li Shimin has no choice but to abandon Taiyuan." Wang Xuanshu changed his face and said, "Whether the young marshal appointed Li Yuanji to suffer the defeat is actually Li Shimin's plan to lure the enemy to go south." Kou Zhong asserted: "If Liu Song did not move, because he is located in the northern frontier and borders the Eastern Turks, under the head-on conflict between the Li faction and Xieli, Liu Song's northern expedition would not be done by a wise man. But if Liu Wuzhou and Song Jingang are not resolved for a day However, it is still difficult for Li Shimin to move eastward with peace of mind. The only way is to lure Liu Song's army into Taiyuan, and then use Li Shimin's usual method to lure Liu Song's army into Taiyuan, and then use Li Shimin's usual method to build a fortress and hold on. What does your majesty think of the way the food is going to be on the back road, and only when the food is exhausted will you attack it?" Wang Shichong took a deep breath and said, "This is the external factor, so what about the internal factor?" Kou Zhongdao: "The internal factors involved the internal struggle of the Tang Dynasty. Judging from the current situation, the Yang Wenqian Rebellion did not shake Li Jiancheng's crown prince. Jian Jiancheng and Yuan Ji have always opposed Li Shimin's Eastern Expedition, fearing that he would gain momentum. It is even more difficult to hold back, so Li Shimin took retreat as an advance, and let Li Yuanji go to Taiyuan to encounter difficulties, so that he could support him." Wang Xuanying excitedly said: "Attack Guanzhong, it's the right time." Kou Zhong sighed: "If Dou Jiande has already defeated Yu Wenhuaji, Li Shiji is too busy to take care of himself. It is indeed the best time to attack Guanzhong. If my prediction is not bad, Li Shimin stationing troops outside the pass is really a strategy that kills three birds with one stone. It can not only support Taiyuan, but also contain it. The Holy Majesty's army makes it difficult for the Holy Majesty to use his full strength against Li Shiji, and the most powerful thing is that if the Holy Majesty sends troops to attack, it will be in his hands." Wang Shichong said with a smile: "Is the young commander too ambitious for Li Shimin? We only need to force Li Shimin back to the pass, and Li Yuanji who is going to defend Taiyuan will be alone. If the young commander is willing to give in and become the army's adviser again, then why not worry about it?" This is exactly Kou Zhong's goal in coming to Luoyang, but since he guessed that Li Shimin's ambition is not in Luoyang for the time being, he suddenly feels that the situation has reversed. Kou Zhong knew his own business, regardless of martial arts and tactics, he was good at attacking but not good at defending, even when defending the city, he mainly focused on surprise attacks. Li Shimin is not only good at attacking, but also good at defending. What will be the result of using Kou Zhong's offense against Li Shimin's defense? With a wry smile, he said, "Can the Holy One trust my younger brother?" Wang Shichong said frankly: "The lips are dead and the teeth are cold. Now Lian and the young marshal have the same interests. If you don't trust me, who do you trust?" Kou Zhong cheered up, and said decisively: "Okay! It's decided like this. If the Guanzhong is not broken, we will be allies fighting side by side." Wang Shichong preached: "Geilian summoned Zhang Zhenzhou and Yang Gongqing immediately. The rise and fall of Dazheng depends on the success or failure of this battle." Everyone suddenly took orders.