Outside the city of Shazhou, Du Qi's camp.
In the central tent.
Du Qi was dealing with the latest government affairs. A small number of these government affairs were related to Guazhou and Shazhou, and most of them were related to Xia Xia's internal affairs. After all, the Six Ministries had already dealt with some of the internal affairs of Xia Xia. Now, the things that were presented were all extremely important.
The current Guazhou had been completely adjusted, and even Shazhou had been completely under Du Qi's command. After all, Li Ji's foothold in Shazhou was unstable and could not continue to stay in the Forty Mile Swamp, so he had already evacuated.
Without Li Ji, Shazhou could not withstand a single blow.
All the other places had submitted.
The most important thing was that the people of Guazhou and Shazhou were loyal to Du Qi because of various policies that benefited the people and many measures that benefited the people. The people all supported Du Qi.
Moreover, the people of these two places had received a lot of favors because of Du Qi's governance of Suzhou. They knew Du Qi, so they did not resist Du Qi.
Due to many reasons, the people submitted, and everyone recognized Xia Xia.
They all considered themselves as Xia Xia's people.
While Du Qi was busy, the tent curtain was lifted, and Li Jing entered. He stood still and said, "Your Majesty!"
Du Qi waved his hand and said, "Sit!"
After Li Jing sat down, he said, "Your Majesty, I have selected three generals from the army for the General Staff Department. They are mainly good at planning. They will be transferred to the General Staff Department."
Du Qi said, "Yes!"
Since the General Staff Department was established, it naturally had to be used. Before, it was actually the Cabinet that replaced part of the General Staff Department's functions and was responsible for many war plans. Now, this function was once again under the General Staff Department. The organization and adjustment of the army would also be under the General Staff Department.
The only thing that the General Staff Department was not involved in was the appointment of the personnel of the various armies. This was the responsibility of the Ministry of Personnel of the imperial court.
Li Jing continued, "I invite the Shangguan Pavilion Head and others to discuss the time to send troops. We believe that Shazhou and Guazhou have now been incorporated into Xia Xia's territory and belong to Xia Xia. On this basis, they could send troops to attack Suzhou. If we take Suzhou, then Xia Xia's territory will be further expanded, and we'll be able to take over the entire Western Regions. "
Du Qi said, "Since the time is right, pass down the order to prepare the troops."
"Yes!"
Li Jing immediately went to make arrangements.
An hour later, the campsite that Du Qi was in had already set off.
In fact, at this time, Shazhou and Guazhou already had appointed officials to handle government affairs, so even if Du Qi left, it would not affect the overall situation. The army rushed towards Suzhou in a grandiose fashion.
This news quickly spread to Suzhou.
It spread to Jiuquan County.
Li Ji, Zhangsun Wuji, Wei Zheng, and the others were currently stationed in Jiuquan. The army was stationed in the city. At this time, the number of soldiers under Li Ji's command had also increased. Due to another round of recruitment, the number of soldiers under his command had increased to over 60,000. After all, it wasn't easy to increase the number of soldiers they had at the moment.
There were too many losses.
After several battles, they had lost too many soldiers.
In the army camp, in the main tent.
When Li Ji received the news that Du Qi had sent troops, he immediately invited Zhangsun Wuji and Wei Zheng over and brought them into the tent. Li Ji's expression was solemn as he said, "I just received news that Du Qi has already led the army towards Suzhou. After a month or so, Du Qi once again sent out his troops. To us, this is extremely dangerous. Now, how should we defend against the enemy? "
Although Li Ji had already sent back the battle report, the help that the imperial court could give him was limited. All of this still depended on him. Therefore, Li Ji had to make sufficient preparations to defend Suzhou and Jiuquan.
If he could not defend Suzhou and lost it again, he would not have the face to return to the imperial court.
Zhangsun Wuji said, "However, it is not easy to defend Suzhou! Our current military strength is definitely not comparable to Du Qi's in a direct confrontation. After all, we do not have enough soldiers. However, in terms of defending the city, because Du Qi has weapons to bombard the city, it is also somewhat difficult. It is not easy to achieve the goal of defending against Du Qi. "
"Report!"
At this moment, a soldier entered.
After the soldier stood still, he bowed and said, "Manager Li, the Suzhou Provincial Governor requests an audience."
Li Ji said, "Please!"
The soldier went to pass the message. Not long after, the Suzhou Provincial Governor, Yan Leisheng, entered. The previous Suzhou Provincial Governor was Ye Daosheng. He was someone that Du Qi had promoted. However, after Du Qi established the country, Ye Daosheng was directly transferred by the imperial court to Chang 'an. Yan Leisheng became the new Suzhou Provincial Governor.
In fact, not only was Ye Daosheng transferred, the rest of the people that Du Qi had promoted, such as Yang Huaizhuang, were all transferred away.
They all entered the imperial court as officials.
Therefore, in Suzhou, there were no longer any of Du Qi's former direct subordinates. They were all newly arranged people.
Yan Leisheng was in his early forties. He was a typical scholar. At first glance, he was thin and gave people the impression of a weak scholar. But in fact, Yan Leisheng's methods were extremely overbearing and radical. In the short time that he had been in charge of Suzhou, he had replaced all the people that Du Qi had promoted, including the secretaries under him.
He completely eliminated future troubles.
This was Yan Leisheng's style and methods.
Yan Leisheng entered the tent. When he saw Li Ji and the others, he bowed and saluted one by one.
Li Ji nodded and said, "Governor Yan, why have you entered?"
Yan Leisheng said, "Manager Li, when I was chatting with the aides below today, I found a way to protect our Suzhou Jiuquan County."
Li Ji's eyes lit up and said, "What way?"
Yan Leisheng said, "Reporting to General Manager Li, in the previous battle with Du Qi, whether it was in Guazhou or Shazhou, in fact, although cement roads were built on the official roads outside the cities, there were many areas outside the cities that were not paved with cement roads."
"So much so that it gave the artillery a chance to bombard and the gunpowder an opportunity to ambush. Moreover, the cities of Guazhou and Shazhou are, after all, weak and not as strong as the city of Suzhou Jiuquan. So, when Guazhou and Shazhou were bombarded, they immediately collapsed. Our Jiuquan is different. The city is tall and strong. "
"My idea is very simple. Use cement comprehensively to reinforce the entire area outside the city. The area outside the city, except for the official roads, will be paved with cement. Moreover, this cement road had to be thicker than normal ones. Even add in steel bars. When the time comes, even gunpowder won't be able to blow it up. "
"The city walls will also be reinforced according to this method. Apply cement again and add in steel bars, so that the city walls will be reinforced again. In this way, even if we are attacked, it won't be a problem. "
Yan Leisheng said, "If we prepare enough provisions and equipment, we won't be afraid of being attacked. Du Qi's weapons are powerful, but they are not omnipotent. "
After hearing this, Li Ji's eyes suddenly lit up. There was a touch of annoyance on his face.
He was annoyed that he didn't think clearly.
Yan Leisheng's plan was extremely simple, but he didn't think of it.
It was the same for Zhangsun Wuji and Wei Zheng.
Because the three of them, or even more people, had fallen into the misunderstanding, thinking that Du Qi's weapons were invincible. But now they suddenly realized that in fact, Du Qi's weapons were powerful, but there was also a limit to it.
In the battle of Guazhou, the city collapsed. In the battle of Shazhou, the city still collapsed. So much so that everyone thought that the city couldn't withstand Du Qi's weapons. But in fact, this was not the case. In fact, the two-feet-wide cement road on the official road outside could also withstand weapons.
It was just that outside the official road, there were mines and other weapons lying in ambush.
Li Ji stood up, clasped his hands, and respectfully bowed to Yan Leisheng, saying, "Governor Yan, your information is really too important. These words are like the morning bell and evening drum, waking us up. If your words were two or three months earlier, the battle between our Tang dynasty and Xia Xia would not be like this. Our Tang dynasty lost this battle unjustly. "
Yan Leisheng quickly modestly said, "You don't have to do this, Director Li. This is what I should do. Besides, this information is actually something that came to my mind when I was chatting with my subordinates. I didn't think of these things earlier. I just happened to get it, so I hurriedly came to inform you, Director Li, and hope that you can give it a try. "
Li Ji said, "Your information is too timely. It can be said to be a timely rain. If it weren't for your information, our next battle would have fallen into the curse of the past. But now, we won't be affected anymore. "
Yan Leisheng said, "That's good, that's good."
A smile also appeared on his face.
He could help Li Ji and help the vanguard of the Tang dynasty not be defeated by Du Qi. He also did his part. What's more, he was an official of the Tang dynasty. Naturally, he didn't want the Tang dynasty to be defeated.
Li Ji ordered, "Yan Leisheng, the matter of mobilizing people to build the cement road in the city can only be handed over to you. In addition, reinforce the city again, and even reinforce the steel inside. You also arrange it. If you need my help, just tell me directly. In short, do your best to facilitate this matter. "
"Kill anyone who tries to stop you," Ye Futian said.
"No need to report it."
"I will explain this matter in front of His Majesty. As long as your method can stop Du Qi's army, it will be submitted to the Tang dynasty. If that's the case, you'll have contributed greatly to the imperial court. "
Li Ji encouraged, "This is your opportunity, and also the Tang dynasty's opportunity."
"I will not disappoint you!"
Yan Leisheng immediately replied.
The expression on his face was extremely serious, and there was an indomitable fighting spirit. Because at present, as long as Du Qi's army was stopped outside Jiuquan County, it would be a great contribution to the situation of the entire Tang dynasty.
After Yan Leisheng left, the atmosphere in the tent also eased up.
Zhangsun Wuji said, "Director Li, according to Yan Leisheng's arrangement, build the entire area outside Jiuquan County into cement roads. In this way, firearms will lose their function. Du Qi will not be able to bury landmines or even gunpowder. In short, this is our opportunity. "
Li Ji said seriously, "No matter what, we still have to be cautious. What should be arranged must be arranged properly. In this battle, we have to hold on. On the basis of defending, we will strive to defeat Du Qi. "
The current Li Ji had already changed his strategy.
Defend first.
Then consider other things.
Because the current Suzhou could not afford to be tossed around. Once Suzhou fell, the entire Tang dynasty would be shaken even more. Therefore, at present, the situation in Suzhou was stabilized, and defending Jiuquan County was the foundation.
Li Ji, Wei Zheng, and Zhangsun Wuji worked together and quickly discussed the defense strategy.
Everything began to be arranged.
At the same time, Yan Leisheng had already quickly adjusted, and used all the people under his command that could be used, to build cement roads on a large scale.
The commotion was huge, and it was impossible to hide the news. Thus, the scouts Du Qi had placed in Jiuquan County had already sent the news back to Du Qi, who was entering Suzhou, in a short period of time.
Now, Du Qi's army had already reached the borders of Suzhou. The strategy that Li Ji adopted was very simple. It was the same as in Shazhou, to gather the forces of Shazhou in Jiuquan County, so that they could resist with all their might.
Therefore, Du Qi's army in Suzhou was still advancing courageously.
There was simply no resistance.
The most important thing was that the people of Suzhou were extremely respectful to Du Qi. Because Du Qi had arrived in Suzhou, the thousands of people in Suzhou were able to live a good life, and were no longer bullied and robbed by bandits. Therefore, when Du Qi suddenly took over Suzhou, the people did not resist. On the contrary, many people welcomed Du Qi back to Suzhou.
After Du Qi learned about the situation in Jiuquan County, he roughly understood Li Ji's intentions after thinking for a while.
It was to strengthen Jiuquan County.
And then defend with all their might.
This was because all the areas outside the city were paved with cement roads. Moreover, the city was reinforced with steel bars, and then covered with cement. Therefore, even if a part of the city collapsed after the bombardment, it was impossible for all of it to collapse. At this point, the only advantage of the bombardment was to suppress the power of the city.
After Du Qi understood, he did not say anything for the time being. When it was close to noon and the army stopped to rest, Du Qi called Li Jing, Shangguan Yi, and the others together, and told them about Li Ji's response, as well as the changes in Jiuquan County.
After Du Qi finished explaining the situation, he finally said, "Li Ji's intention is to weaken the impact of our mortars. In fact, according to the current arrangement, it can indeed affect us. On this basis, what do you think we should do? "
Li Jing stroked the beard under his chin and thought quickly.
Since Li Ji had made a response, their side naturally had to make a response.
They could not directly rely on their military strength to attack.
Shangguan Yi said in a deep voice, "Since attacking won't work, we'll surround Jiuquan County. However, I think that we should use the offensive strategy first. After bombing for a while, if it doesn't work, we'll use the encirclement strategy. In short, after isolating Jiuquan County, it will be easy to destroy the enemy in Jiuquan County. "
"It's not easy!"
Li Jing shook his head and said, "You have to know that since Li Ji has taken a defensive stance in Jiuquan County, he must have prepared sufficient food, equipment, and weapons. The other party also has gunpowder. If we attack with all our might, the other party can counterattack. Moreover, if we use the isolated strategy, I'm afraid the effect won't be great. "
Shangguan Yi said, "It's not bad to give it a try."
Li Jing did not say anything.
At least, he did not agree with Shangguan Yi's suggestion.
Lai Ji suddenly said, "Your Majesty, I have a plan that might succeed."
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