Lu Xiangang gave in to the military leaders of the three towns in the military rebellion, demoted Wang Chengyan and Cui Jie, and before he could breathe a sigh of relief, someone broke into the political hall with documents.

"Sizhou Emergency!"

When several prime ministers of the political hall heard that it was an urgent report from Sizhou, their bodies couldn't help but tremble.

Although it is said that the imperial court's plan for the defense of Sizhou against Huangchao was put forward by Lu Xie, and the other ministers in the DPRK and China do not all have the same political views as Lu Xie, if there is a serious situation in the defense of Sizhou, this is indeed a great opportunity to attack Lu Xie, but the current Sizhou defense plan is also extremely important. In case the Sizhou defense line is broken through by Huangchao, and the grass thieves go north to the Central Plains, this can support the Tang Dynasty.

Once Huangchao crossed the Huai River and entered Henan, then the thief army went all the way north, naturally going north along Bian and Ying, and then converging in Luoyang. At present, the four towns of Hebei are opposed, so that Henan's soldiers and horses are gathered in Luoyang to defend the first line, if the grass thieves enter Henan, not to mention the threat to the eastern capital, it is Zhongwu, Xuanwu, Probation, Taining, Tianping, Yicheng Towns, only afraid of confrontation. Once Huang Chao joined Wang Jingwu back then, he joined forces across the river with the four towns of Hebei Province, back to back, and when he thought of this consequence, Lu Xi shuddered.

Then the facts were extremely cruel, after the Sizhou defense plan proposed by Lu Xian was reached the locality, the implementation of the feudal towns was cut corners.

In the past, there were Li Jing and Gao Biao, two generals who commanded the army, as examples, and then there were rebels in Hebei and grass thieves in Huainan threatened, and the feudal towns on the front line of Henan slackened off on the will of the imperial court.

In November, after Huang Chao plundered under Gao Yu's nose, the number of soldiers and horses expanded to 150,000 again.

For Gao Yu in Yangzhou City. Although Huang Chao once forced a large army to the city. But for this world-famous metropolis. But he didn't dare to attack easily. Huang Chao clearly understands that there are at least 30,000 Huainan troops in Yangzhou City, of which Gao Xiao's elite has lost a lot in Jiangxi, but still maintains at least 20,000 horses. Especially after being defended by Yangzhou's strong wall, Huangchao did not dare to attack the city easily even though he had an army of 100,000. Especially at present, there is an elite fleet of Zhenguo Army sailors patrolling the Yangtze River, 300 miles away at the mouth of the Yangtze River, and 20,000 Zhennan troops are stationed in Hudouzhou. You can reach the city of Yangzhou in two days.

Therefore, after Huang Chao grabbed a vote in Huainan and looted a large amount of money, grain, and silk, he led the army to show off his might under Huainan City, and then arrogantly left the north and approached Sizhou.

In November, Huangchao approached Sizhou and reached the south bank of Huaishui.

And this important town that the imperial court planned to focus on defense only gathered 6,000 Tang troops at this time.

Facing the 150,000 grass thieves on the other side, Cao Quanxi, who had just been appointed by the imperial court not long ago as the deputy commander of the southeast and the envoy of the Tianping Army. At this time, my heart was extremely cold. Due to the battle in the court, Cao Quanyang's official position has also been transferred greatly in recent years. From the history of Zizhou Thorn under Ziqing Town, to the capital of the Tianping Army, to the envoy of the Tianping Army, and then to the envoy of the Jiangxi Jiedu, in the blink of an eye, he was transferred back to the Tianping Army from Jiangxi, and was awarded the post of deputy commander of the east and was responsible for the Sizhou defense line.

It was only when Cao Quanxi arrived in Sizhou with 3,000 Tianping troops that he found that the other towns either did not send troops, or only sent 5,100,000, so that when Huangchao's 150,000 troops arrived, he only had a total of 6,000 soldiers and horses.

Six thousand to 150,000, Huang Chao's soldiers and horses are twenty-five times that of Cao Quanyang, and there is a huge disparity between the enemy and me!

Even the blind can see that there are many auspicious people in this battle.

Cao Quanhui had no choice but to urgently report to the imperial court on the one hand, and ask Gao Biao for help on the other.

However, now Gao Biao is guarding Yangzhou City, and on the other hand, he is sending a team of 10,000 elite soldiers to defend Hailing in the east of Yangzhou, and he is dedicated to guarding against the Zhenguo army at the mouth of the river, for fear that Li Jing will come to seize his base camp at this time. At present, he doesn't even listen to the emperor's edict, so how can he pay attention to Cao Quanyang, who was transferred by the Son of Heaven.

Cao Quanxi sent several messengers to Gao Biao every day to ask for help, but Gao Biao was completely unwilling to save him, supported the army, and sat and watched to the end.

On November 8, Cao Quanhui did not wait for Gao Yu's reinforcements, nor did he wait for reinforcements from other towns, and he waited for Huangchao's attack.

Taking advantage of the shallow water season in winter, Huangchao's 150,000-strong army launched a battle to cross the river. Cao Quanhui only had 6,000 soldiers and horses, and he didn't dare to go out of the city to fight according to the river, seeing that the army of Huangchao easily crossed the Huai River, and then directly killed the city of Xuyi, the seat of Sizhou Governance.

Cao Quanhui led 6,000 soldiers and horses to fight a bloody battle for a day and night, and was outnumbered in the face of countless ants attacking the city.

Of the 6,000 Tang army, only Cao Quanyang's son Cao Xiang and nephew Cao Cunshi led more than ten horsemen to break through the siege, and the remaining 6,000 died with the city.

What Lu Xian received now is a blood letter written by Cao Quanhui to the imperial court when he was dying, reporting that the Sizhou defense line had been breached.

When Lu Xian proposed this Sizhou defense plan, what he really expected to rely on was not Cao Quanyang, but still counting on Gao Yu in Yangzhou. It is hoped that Gao Biao can send troops from the back of Huangchao when Huang Chao crosses Huai.

It's a pity that Gao Biao didn't move from beginning to end.

Based on this wrong judgment, Lu Xi never thought that the Sizhou defense line could block Huangchao from the beginning. The plan of the Sizhou defense line is just to send troops from the same height. Because of this, Sizhou originally belonged to the territory of the probation army, but the probation army was transferred to the defense line by Lu.

It is a tributary of the Huai River, and was called the Sand River in later generations. It originates from Funiu Mountain at the junction of the eastern part of Henan Province and Shannan East Road, and enters Huai through Ruzhou, Henan, Xuzhou, Caizhou, Chenzhou, and Yingzhou in Xuanwu Town.

On the border between Ruzhou and Xuzhou, it joins Rushui, which also originates in Ruzhou, and joins with Xiaoshuishui in Caizhou, forming a large water, and then joins Yingshui, an important tributary of the Huai River, in Chenzhou, and flows south into the Huai River.

The whole river is 830 miles long. The east and west span the four states of Ru, Xu, Cai and Chen.

Although this river is not a natural hazard, it is also a natural barrier between the east and Chang'an in eastern Henan.

Compared with the Sizhou defense line, Lu Xian paid more attention to this Lishui defense line. After all, if Huang Chao breaks through Surabaya and enters Henan, it will not be the most catastrophic. The imperial court was most worried about Huang Chao's attack on Luoyang and westward march to Chang'an. Therefore. Defending Luoyang is the first important thing.

And set the line of defense on the first line of the water. Instead of gathering on the Huaisi line. is also worried that Huang Chao will abandon the Huaisi line to cross the river, and kill to the west, and go straight to Luoyang Chang'an. For Lu Xi and others, Chang'an and Luoyang are the most important.

Moreover, Lu Xian had previously transferred Xu Si's probation army and Yishu's Taining army to Lishui, in fact, there was still an expectation. That is, just like the fortification in Sizhou is in the hope that Gao Yu will be able to send troops after the most deaf.

Now Lu Xian has transferred the probation army and the Taining army all the way from Sizhou to Ziqing to the west, hoping that Huang Chao can see the situation clearly, hoping that he will not go west, but go directly to the direction of the richer Ziqing Denglai.

If Huang Chao really ran to Ziqing Town. Then no matter how calm Li Jing is, he will have to send troops to deal with Huang Chao.

Under Lu Xie's repeated urging, regardless of whether they were willing or not, the towns in Henan did not dare to open their mothers one after another like Gao Biao and Li Jing at this time.

The Taining Army made Liu Kerang actively send out the division and led the army into Ruzhou.

When the probation army was in the army, Pu was also stationed in Yingshui.

The new Zhongwu Army made Xue Neng very active, after all, Huangchao went north, and the Zhongwu Army bore the brunt. However, although Xue Neng can write a lot of poems, he is not familiar with military affairs. Therefore. Xue Neng sent the loyal generals Qin Zongquan and Sun Ru to Caizhou to transfer troops, and then he handed over the main force of the loyal army to another general, Zhou Qi. Let him lead the way to join Zikerjang.

The Tianping Army and the Reform Army were stationed in Sizhou.

The Loyal Army, the Taining Army, and the Reform Army are stationed in Lishui!

At the same time, Cui Anqian, Zhang Zimian, and Du Xian led the soldiers and horses of Yicheng, Dongdugi, Shannan, Shaanxi, and Hezhong to gather in Luoyang and establish a third line of defense.

In the face of the rebels in the north and south, the central court headed by Lu Xian has formulated mainly relatively conservative countermeasures until now.

After Li Jing and Gao Biao successively supported their troops, the imperial court's strategy was mainly inclined to defense. In particular, a defense plan was drawn up with Luoyang and Taiyuan as the main capitals. The Tang army focused on defense, especially against the grass thieves in the south, and the task of attacking was entrusted to the nine Hu soldiers.

Sizhou was lost, Gao Biao still sat idly by, Huangchao's 150,000 troops had entered Henan, and the news spread to Chang'an, making the emperor and Lu Xi and others worried.

On November 15, the imperial court crowned the envoy of Nanjiedu, Gao Piao, and the Pingzhangshi, Taiwei, and Jianghuai salt and iron transfer envoys, and the king of Bohai County.

On the same day, it was decreed to seal Zhou Bao, the envoy of Zhenhai Festival, and the Pingzhang of the same Zhongshu Men, Situ and the deputy envoy of the world, and the king of Runan County.

On the same day, the Son of Heaven issued another decree to add the Marshal of the Northeast and Hebei Province, the Pingzhangshi of the Tongzhong Shumen, and the Zhongshu Order Li Jing Taifu and the Captain, and added the servants, the Hebei and Northeast Salt and Iron Transfer Envoys, the Yingtian Branch Ambassador, the Hebei and Dongdao Rent Yong Ambassadors, and the envoys of Ziqing Town, Denglai Town, Hengqing Town, Jian'an Town, Liaoxi Town, Fushun Town, Lulong Town, Yiwu Town, Chengde Town, Weibo Town, Yichang Town, and Datong Town.

In order to allow Li Jing to send troops, the imperial court has now repeatedly made exceptions.

Li Jing originally served as the Taifu of the Third Division, and now he is also the Taifu of the Three Princes. The position of the three teachers and the three dukes, although it is a fictitious position, is extremely glorious. Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, only Tang Taizong Li Shimin has been a captain and a leader of Situ, and he has held two positions at the same time.

In addition, Li Jing served as the envoy of Tongping Zhangshi, and originally served as the Zhongshu Order, but this time he was added to the service.

These are repeated exceptions, which shows that the imperial court is now afraid of Li Jing.

In addition to the position of the marshal of Hebei and Northeast China, the imperial court saw that Li Jing's soldiers and horses had not been dispatched for a long time, and Li Yi, who was anxious and worried, personally proposed to award Li Jing the envoy of the festival and the soldiers and horses of the twelve towns in the Yanying Palace.

If it is said that Li Jing is awarded the post of marshal, this is not too much, after all, Guo Ziyi, Li Guangbi and other generals have served as marshals.

But the knots make this position, but it is not simple.

After the Anshi Rebellion, Xuanzong issued an edict to take the crown prince Li Heng as the generalissimo of the world's soldiers and horses, and divide the country into four major combat military regions, each with the prince as the envoy of the festival, and served as the highest military and political commander in the theater. That is: Shuofang, Hedong, Hebei, Pinglu Jiedu District, with Li Heng concurrently serving as the Jiedu Envoy; Shannan East Road, Lingnan, Qianzhong, Jiangnan West Road Jiedu District, with Yongwang Li Phosphorus as the Jiedu Metropolis; Jiangnan East Road and Huainan and Henan Jiedu District, with Shengwang Li Qi as the festival capital; Hexi, Longyou, Anxi, Beiting and other road sections, with Feng Wang Heng as the festival degree.

Under the generalissimo of the world's soldiers and horses are the four knots of the envoys, and under the four knots. It is the marshal and deputy marshal of each province. The last is the festival of each town.

At that time, there were a few festivals in the world. Each knot makes the area under the rule of the knot generally four or five towns.

Now, there are more than 50 towns in the world, and the Son of Heaven divided a total of 12 feudal towns in Hebei, Northeast China, Henan, and Hedong into a Jiedu District, with Li Jing as the Jiedu Envoy.

Li Jing suddenly mastered more than one-fifth of the world, equivalent to one-quarter of the world's military power.

Although, this is only in name, but this is enough to shock the world.

Since the Tang Heavenly Kingdom, this order. is enough to make Li Jingkan comparable to Li Jing, Li Ji, Li Sheng, Guo Ziyi, and Li Guangbi.

If it weren't for the fact that the king of the word could not be canceled after the war like the envoy and the marshal, Li Yi would have been ready to give Li Jing the title of the king.

The pressure he faced was too great, and the soldiers and horses in the hands of Li Jing and Gao Piao, any one of them put into the battlefield could immediately play a decisive role in the battlefield. But that's the case, the imperial court obviously has so many troops, and it is still in the rear of the rebels, but it can't be used. can know the pressure in the heart of Li Yi, the young emperor.

Now that Li Jing has been added two marshals, now the emperor doesn't care about adding another section to Li Jing. As long as it can be exchanged for Li Jing to send troops, even if it is only to send some troops and horses first. It can also immediately dispel the suspicions and worries of other towns, and boost the morale of the world. An important role in combating the arrogance of the rebels.

Li Jing's immobility at this time made Li Yi and Lu Ji unable to eat and sleep, for fear that they would wake up and hear the news that Li Jing had rebelled.

Now the Son of Heaven no longer dares to ask Li Jing to immediately lead a large army into the pass to quell the rebellion, and what he hopes now is that Li Jing will immediately make a statement, stating that he is still loyal to the imperial court and insists on suppressing the rebellion.

Just when the imperial court was about to collapse and despair, Li Jing finally replied to the envoy who went to announce the decree, and would immediately send some troops and horses to participate in the suppression of the rebellion.

Just three days after the news was transmitted back to Chang'an five days after the horse, Chang'an received the news.

Li Jing finally moved, and the two armies stationed on Yuzhou Island in Haizhou finally took the lead in dispatching, and the Zhenguo Army suddenly landed in Haizhou at the fastest speed, and then stationed in Xiapicheng, Sizhou, an important town in Huaibei, and at the same time stationed in Shuyang, Haizhou, and Shushan, Haizhou. The 12,000-town national army used Yuzhou Island as a logistics base for grain and grass, and then controlled the three important cities of Surabaya, Yishui, and Shushui, and Xiapi, Shuyang, and Shushan. Quickly blocked the passage of Huangchao along the Yishu River valley and the passage to Yimi, Ziqing and Denglai in the north.

When the news reached Chang'an, Li Yi's face was red with excitement, and he almost screamed. The other ministers were also very excited, and they kept waiting for speculation, for fear that Li Jing would also support the army at this time, even if Li Jing did not oppose it, if he kept supporting the army, it would be a great blow to the imperial court.

Now, Li Jing has finally set out. Although Li Jing's dispatch this time was only 12,000 troops, he was forcibly stationed in the three coastal cities east of the probation army. And judging from this operation, maybe Li Jing was just trying to prevent Huangchao from going north, so as not to attack Ziqing and other territories. But in any case, the significance of this dispatch is also very significant.

Subsequently, news came from Hebei again that Li Jing sent 10,000 soldiers and horses to be stationed on the east bank of Baoqiushui, the border of Jiyou and Tanyou, and Lushui.

After Li Jing sent troops, Gao Xiao, who had been standing still, finally sent the general Liang Zhang and his nephew Gao Jie to lead 20,000 soldiers and horses to the north and recaptured the important cities of Xuyi, Huaiyin, Shanyang, Zhaoyi, Zhongli, and Shouchun on the south bank of the Huai River.

Zhou Bao in western Zhejiang and Liu Hanhong in eastern Zhejiang also began to send some soldiers and horses to escort a batch of money and grain to the Lishui defense line.

Li Jing sent troops to garrison Xiapi, and Gao Biao sent troops to recover Xuyi opposite Linhuai in Sizhou. Although he had a large number of soldiers and horses, he did not dare to fight with the armies of Gao Biao and Li Jing at the same time, although Li Jing and Gao Biao were not present in these two armies, and the total number of soldiers and horses was less than 20,000 horses. But Huang Chao still abandoned Sizhou very much before his job.

Facing the imperial court's defense line in Lishui, Li Jing's defense line in Yishu Ershui, and Gao Biao's defense line in the south of Huaihe, Huang Chao thought carefully for a long time. First of all, he gave up the idea of going north to Ziqingzhu along Shuyi, and Li Jing sent troops and horses to guard Xiapi, and his consciousness was obvious, he just didn't want him to go to Ziqing.

Li Jing's Zhenguo Army is too perverted, the last time he went to Ziqing, Huang Chao, who almost didn't come back, refused this route without hesitation.

And going back to the south, although Gao Piao retreated as soon as Zhang Lu died last time, Huang Chao fought with Gao Piao's army, and lost nine out of ten battles, and the only victory was very lucky. Now that Gao Biao has sent troops again, he doesn't dare to try his luck again.

Thinking about it, there is still a way out in the north, and now the towns in the Central Plains are very weak, and there are no strong opponents, so they are rampant in Henan. Second, if you can take advantage of the opportunity of the four towns in Hebei to take Luoyang, then it will really be the carp leaping dragon king. Even if it doesn't work, if you can capture Tianping Town and unite with the Hebei Army against the imperial court, you will have the opportunity to establish a stable base and no longer have to wander around like this.

After much thought, Huang Chao finally made up his mind to go north to attack Luoyang, and if he failed, he would return to his hometown of Caozhou, where he would establish a base with his back to the Hebei Army.

After making this decision, Huang Chao did not wait, and immediately abandoned Linhuai City in Sizhou, and the whole army marched westward, killing the eastern capital Luoyang! (To be continued......)