A Clash of Gods - Chapter 1176

[Chapter 1166 Banquet]

The empire has strict regulations on the movement of troops and horses in local areas. Although Wei Shutong is the prefect of Xichuan, the only soldiers and horses that can be mobilized are only 2,000 people directly under his command. , you must have the order of the Ministry of War in hand, otherwise, if there is no order from the Ministry of War to transfer troops without authorization, it is equivalent to treason.

However, this special purpose in Qi Ning’s hand is naturally more effective than the order of the Ministry of War.

Wei Shutong didn’t dare to move troops easily, just because he was worried that the court would hold him accountable.

“Master Wei, how many soldiers and horses can Xichuan mobilize at the moment?” Qi Ning asked after drinking a sip of tea.

Wei Shutong immediately said: “Reporting to the lord, the staff directly mobilized by the lower officials are the guards of the governor’s house, with a staff of 2,000 people. In addition, the troops stationed in various parts of Xichuan add up to no less than 30,000. ”

“Thirty thousand people…!” Qi Ning pondered for a while.

Wei Shutong said again: “This is a soldier belonging to the Ministry of War, and there are also Yachai and Xiangyong. The entire Xichuan can add up to 20,000 people.”

“That’s not necessary.” Qi Ning said, “The yamen from all over the country will protect the local security. Mr. Wei, among the 30,000 people, can you gather 10,000 people in ten days?”

“10,000 people?” Wei Shutong thought for a while before nodding and said, “If you issue an order immediately, within ten days, you can mobilize all the troops and horses around Chengdu Mansion, and 10,000 troops and horses are not difficult.”

Qi Ning said, “What is the combat effectiveness of these generals?”

Wei Shutong said with a smile: “Don’t worry, Sir, Xichuan is an important part of the empire. The imperial court has always attached great importance to Xichuan. All the soldiers and horses stationed in Xichuan have never been neglected in training, and they are all brave and good at fighting.” Fushu said: ” These Sichuan people are brave and not afraid of death, and they are not as strong as the northerners, but when they fight, they are no less brave than the northern Han people.”

Qi Ning smiled and said, “That’s very good, then you immediately issue an order, and within ten days, be sure to mobilize 10,000 troops and horses.”

Wei Shutong got up and said, “I’ll do it right away.” He was about to get up, but Qi Ning said, “Don’t worry, Mr. Wei, there is one more thing, please arrange it.”

“Sir, please order.”

“Tomorrow night, I want to borrow your residence. You can help me prepare a banquet.” Qi Ning smiled, “I wonder if Ma will be troublesome?”

“Sir, I’m going to prepare a banquet right now to welcome him.” Wei Shutong said hurriedly: “Your Excellency is here, time is urgent, and I went to Heiyan Cave in a hurry a few days ago. It can’t be done, tonight…!”

“Mr. Wei misunderstood.” Qi Ning shook his head and said, “I asked you to prepare a table of banquets because I wanted to treat you as a guest.”

“Inviting guests?” Wei Shu was stunned, thinking that Qi Ninggui is the Duke of the Empire and has a high position. If you want to treat guests, you can only invite others to invite him, so how can you get him to invite others?

You can let Xiao Guogong treat you as a guest, but you don’t know where the sacred guest is?

Qi Ning said: “You send someone to write another invitation, arrange for someone to send it to the King of Shu’s mansion, and invite the King of Shu to come to the banquet tomorrow night, and say that I will be the host myself and invite the King of Shu to have a drink.”

Wei Shutong was even more surprised, and said in a low voice, “Sir, do you want to invite Li Hongxin?”

Qi Ning nodded slightly, Wei Shutong’s lips moved, he hesitated, and he cupped his hands and said, “Xiaguan, I will arrange it.” After thinking for a while, he said: “It’s just that Li Hongxin has since beat his son and was stabbed. After closing the gate of the Prince of Shu’s mansion, according to the servants in his mansion, Li Hongxin stayed in the Buddhist hall day and night, chanting sutras and chanting Buddhas. Not coming to the banquet.”

“You ask someone to tell me that I will wait for him for tomorrow night’s banquet. If he doesn’t come, I will wait until dawn.” Qi Ning smiled and said, “I am also the Duke of the Empire, and the King of Shu won’t even show this face. Not at all, right?”

Wei Shutong said with a sneer: “Your Excellency gave him such a big face, if he really pushes three and four, the lower official will directly let him tie him up.”

Qi Ning laughed, knowing that Wei Shutong was just talking about it. Although Li Hongxin had already lost his former glory, he still retained the title of King of Shu.

This prince is even taller than the duke, and Wei Shu is no match for the governor of Xichuan. He asked him to tie the king of Shu. He really didn’t have such courage.

That night, Qi Ning went to bed in the governor’s mansion, and asked Wei Shutong to find a map of Xichuan and look at the map with the oil lamp.

The state of Chu does not have a complete map of the world, but a general outline, especially the territory of the Northern Han. On the map of the state of Chu, only rough lines can be drawn. However, under the auspices of Beitangyu, the state of Han is relatively complete. map of the world.

The survey map is of course a big project, and the map of the universe has always been owned by the imperial court, which is a confidential document. Naturally, there were already more detailed maps of the universe in the previous dynasty. After Beitang Tianwei attacked Luoyang, because the troops and horses were in the city Longitudinal raids, weapons and fire intersected, although the map of the universe was found, but it was already incomplete. Fortunately, the incomplete part of the map was only in the northern territory, but the south was well preserved. The Northern Han Dynasty was hosted by Beitangyu and spent a lot of money. Human and material resources will eventually restore the map of the universe.

The founding father of the Chu state was only a local military general, and naturally he could not have a complete map of the world. Although the Great Chu Empire was established, so far, the court of the Chu state has only a map of its own territory. In fact, the map of Xichuan is still after conquering the land of Bashu. fill up.

Wei Shutong, as the governor of Xichuan, naturally has a relatively detailed map of Xichuan.

The terrain of Xichuan is complex and the mountains are long, but Qi Ning set his sights on the north of Xichuan.

The Bajiang River and the Jialing River meander in Guanghan County, Xichuan. There is a majestic dragon between Xichuan and Hanzhong. Micang Mountain is on the left, Daba Mountain is on the right, and Micang Road is between the two mountains. One of the two roads to Hanzhong, and the other road is located to the west of Micang Mountain, which is the Golden Bull Road, and Jianmen Pass is guarded in between.

Now that Hanzhong is under the control of Chu State, Hanzhong Nanzheng also has troops and horses stationed, but from Hanzhong to the north, the Qinling Mountains of 800 miles have become a hindrance, and Qi Ning must pass through the northwest to attack Xianyang. After crossing the Qinling Mountains, Qi Ning saw that there were several important roads that passed through the Qinling Mountains marked on the map. Going straight to Xianyang, if you go out from the old road and Baoxie Road, you have to turn eastward and pass through the northwest territory.

Qi Ning knew that if he wanted to make a surprise attack on Xianyang, the Chu army would have to travel long distances in the northwest. With precautions, it is difficult to take the city in a short time.

When the Chu army entered the northwest, what they asked for was a quick battle and a quick decision, and they must not be delayed in the northwest.

As long as the Chu army conquered Xianyang in a short period of time, the northwest will soon be under the control of the Chu army, but if Xianyang is not captured for a long time, it will inevitably lead to the formation of troops and horses from all over the northwest to assist Xianyang. At that time, the Chu army became Northwestern Chinese dishes.

And if Xianyang is not taken, the logistics of the Chu army will definitely have serious problems.

Qi Ning knew that this was an extremely risky military gamble. Once successful, it would naturally be famous all over the world, but if it failed, it would inevitably bring extremely serious consequences. He knew that this surprise attack must be carefully considered and must not appear. any flaws.

This time, he brought Duan Canghai with a deep meaning in it.

He has never been on the battlefield, and even has no experience in leading troops. Even if he is a military genius, it is really difficult for a strong man to take such a military adventure. What an extraordinary talent.

And Duan Canghai was a veteran who survived from the battlefield. Back then, the bloody battle of the Black Scale Camp made the Northern Han people terrified. Duan Canghai was baptized by blood and fire, so he was naturally a strong general.

Qi Ning naturally had great trust in Duan Canghai, such a trustworthy veteran with rich battlefield experience, Qi Ning naturally had to rely heavily on this surprise attack, so after arriving at the Governor’s Mansion, Qi Ning again Let Wei Shutong send someone to Heiyan Cave, and let Duan Canghai rush back to Chengdu as soon as possible.

That night, when Qi Ning looked at the map, he could only see the middle of the night, and he was full of thoughts.

The next day, Wei Shutong sent people to pass the chefs of the three largest restaurants in the city to the Governor’s House, UU Reading www.sonicmtl.

com ordered the three to prepare a banquet in the governor’s mansion. By dusk, the three chefs had fully demonstrated their respective craftsmanship, just waiting for the King of Shu, Li Hongxin, to come.

There is a special flower hall in the Governor’s House, which is very elegant. Wei Shutong is a scholar and pays attention to elegance, so this flower hall pays attention to simplicity and elegance. A round table for six people is made of pear wood, which is very particular.

As the sun went down, Qi Ning waited in the flower hall, while Wei Shutong waited at the main entrance of the Prefect’s Mansion, and greeted him when Li Hongxin came.

Although Li Hongxin has never been seen, Qi Ning is still calm, and the lights are lit in the flower hall. Except for Li Hongxin, Qi Ning has not invited anyone else, so the flower hall looks very deserted.

Just after the You Shi, Qi Ning finally saw that Li Hongxin was late, and arrived at the Flower Hall the same day as Wei Shu.

I haven’t seen him for a few months, but Li Hongxin seems to be several years old. He has no brocade clothes, just a very simple Tsing Yi robe, with a blue belt around his waist that can be seen on ordinary people, and his hair is tied. Qi Ning, after entering the house, Qi Ning had already got up and said with a smile: “My lord, I came to Xichuan a while ago, and I received a banquet hosted by the lord. Today, I am also here to borrow flowers to present to the Buddha, and I will invite the lord to have a glass of water and wine.”

Li Hongxin is unsmiling, his expression is also calm, he nodded slightly, went to sit down at the table, and said calmly: “Master Qi has been promoted to protect the country, this king did not congratulate him in time, don’t take offense, sir, come tonight. , I will use the wine here to make a toast to the Lord. It’s just that this king pays homage to the Buddha and only eats fast food, so when he arrives, he eats some fast food, and it’s so late, Lord, don’t take it as a surprise.”

“It’s good if you can come.” Qi Ning sat down diagonally opposite Li Hongxin, and gave Wei Shutong a wink. Wei Shutong immediately went out and ordered wine and food. Then he returned to the hall and sat down at the table. The people are in the shape of a triangle, and the lights are flashing, reflecting on the faces of the three people, and their expressions are different.