Chapter 1208: Solid as a Rock
In the lobby of the Marshal's Mansion, Tian Shenyu listened to General Du Feng's report with a gloomy face.
Du Feng knelt on the ground and tried his best to describe the power of the thunder. It was not that he was unable to defend the city, but that the Tang army used the power of gods and ghosts to break the city.
"My lord, I don't know how terrifying that thunder explosion was. The ground was shaking. The brothers couldn't stand and all fell down. The entire city wall collapsed. Thick smoke rose dozens of feet into the sky. It was so powerful!"
Of course Tian Shenyu knew that it was either the power of gods or ghosts, but the Iron Fire Thunder of Guan Long Army. They had used it in Feihu County, and it was nothing more than being destroyed by the Iron Fire Thunder. But what he couldn't accept was that in the end, the four thousand troops Only this bastard escaped with more than twenty people.
"Let me ask you, there are obviously two thousand brothers who escaped with you, why are you the only one who escaped and what about the other brothers?"
"Two thousand brothers. Two thousand brothers were intercepted by the enemy."
"Then how could you escape back?"
Du Feng did not dare to look into Tian Shenyu's eyes and stammered: "Beizhi was waiting for the other brothers at the back. I heard that they were intercepted in front, so Beizhi took a small road."
"Fuck your motherfucker!"
Tian Shenyu cursed loudly and cut off Du Feng's explanation, "You are clearly greedy for life and afraid of death. You betrayed other brothers and escaped by yourself. Do you think I don't know?"
Du Feng did not dare to quibble, so he had to explain: "The enemy's weapons are too powerful, and I must escape and tell the Lord."
"Bullshit, you betrayed your own soldiers and only wanted to escape for your own life. What use is there for a general like this?"
Tian Shenyu shouted loudly: "Push him out and behead him!"
"Lord, spare your life! Spare your life!"
Du Feng was usually very unpopular, but at the critical moment, no one interceded on his behalf. Du Feng was dragged down, and a moment later, a human head was brought up.
Tian Shenyu pointed at the bloody head and said coldly: "Whoever dares to abandon the city and escape without permission will be his fate."
Everyone was awestruck. It turned out that Du Feng was killed because he abandoned the city and fled for his life. It was right to think about it. He left Lishi County to escape for his life the first time and Qi County for the second time. No wonder the lord did not spare him.
"Everyone, listen up. Guan Long's army left the east city gate for us to escape, but we swear to live and die with Taiyuan and never retreat!"
All the generals raised their arms and shouted, "Never retreat! We will live and die with Taiyuan!"
The reason why Tian Shenyu refused to withdraw eastward was because he secretly defected to Huihe in Yunzhou. He knew very well that once he gave up Taiyuan City and retreated eastward, the Guanlong cavalry would send his 30,000 troops to Jingxing before he could withdraw to Jingxing. The army was completely wiped out. Even if he escaped by chance and fled to Hebei, he would still be trampled under the feet of Li Baochen and Zhu Si.
On the contrary, if he can hold on to Taiyuan City until the Huihe reinforcements arrive, Huihe is likely to support him as a prince in the future, just like Liu Wuzhou in the late Sui Dynasty.
It was precisely with this in mind that he had been preparing for war for the past six months, saving food, building city walls, expanding moats, and building Taiyuan City into a fortified city as solid as gold.
Eighty thousand troops surrounded Taiyuan City. That morning, three generals stood on a high place and looked at Taiyuan City in the distance. Gao Xiuyan frowned and said, "I remember that the moat of Taiyuan City was only five feet wide. Look at it now. It must be at least thirty feet high! The city wall has also become taller, now it is at least four feet tall."
Lei Wanchun nodded, "According to previous intelligence, Taiyuan City's defensive transformation began during Tian Shengong's time. Please pay attention to one detail. Their city gate does not face the bridge on the moat, but opens diagonally. This There’s no way to hit the city gate with a battering ram.”
"Both generals are right, let me add one more thing!"
Li Fei Yuanli said at the side: "Before I sent out the troops, I went to the Ministry of War to see the model of Taiyuan City's defense structure. Tian Shengong gave it to the Ministry of War. There are urns at the four gates, and archery towers were built on the front and sides of the urn. This urn city can deploy six thousand crossbowmen, and there is likely to be fire oil in the city!"
Lei Wanchun and Gao Xiuyan were shocked at the same time, "Why is there kerosene?"
Li Fei Yuanli said slowly: "It was Pugu Huai'en's thirteen thousand barrels of kerosene. After the court seized it, it was not sent to Chang'an, but was transported to Yunzhou to defend against the nomadic cavalry and support Pugu Huai'en, but the nomadic cavalry Without coming, the kerosene stayed in Yunzhou, and was finally obtained by Tian Shenyu. "
Lei Wanchun nodded, "I remembered it. The governor of Shuozhou said that Tian Shenyu transported a large amount of military supplies to Taiyuan, and there should be kerosene in it."
The three people discussed for a while and decided to write a detailed report on the current situation in Taiyuan and rush it to Chang'an for 800 miles, and the supervisory country would decide how to attack Taiyuan.
Why should we report to Li Ye? Because Lei Wanchun, Gao Xiuyan and Li Feiyuanli are all the chief generals. Li Ye has not appointed a unified command coach. In this case, Li Ye is the coach.
In Chang'an, the bells of the Daming Palace rang, and there was only 'dong! ’ sounds, which means it’s on time, which is eleven o’clock at noon.
The current gravity clock is not a self-ringing bell. There is a copper bell hanging next to it, and a dedicated person is responsible for ringing the bell.
Since he went to court early and had a long lunch break, it was convenient for some older officials to go home for a nap. Today at noon, Li Ye treated a guest and took a group of senior officials to the Tianranju Restaurant in Yishanfang for lunch. .
Several large carriages, protected by hundreds of guards, slowly stopped in front of the restaurant. Li Wei greeted them, "Welcome all high-ranking officials to the store. Please come in!"
Everyone went directly to the second floor from the outside stairs and entered the largest private room. The food has been put on the table. It is the most famous jambalaya in the store, and the inner guard has already tried the poison.
Except for Li Ye who had a special seat, the others were not so particular. Everyone chatted and laughed and sat down casually.
Pei Zunqing smiled and said, "Your Highness, did you come to bribe us because the Political Affairs Hall did not pass the proposal?"
Today, when the Political Affairs Hall was discussing the proposal to allocate one million guan to Quanzhou, it was unexpectedly not passed and was rejected by all votes. It was not that everyone opposed this plan, but everyone was confused. Why should we build a military city in the south of Liuqiu Island?
And another plan in this allocation of money, the transformation of the 10,000-stone ship, received unanimous support.
Li Ye smiled slightly and said, "There is no need to bribe everyone for things that benefit the country and the people!"
Li Dai also smiled and said, "It's not that everyone opposes it, but everyone doesn't understand what's going on. If it is explained clearly, it will really benefit the country and the people, and everyone will definitely agree!"
Li Ye nodded, "I didn't think it through. Let's have dinner first. I will tell you in detail in the afternoon!"
Financial power is one of the most important powers of the court. In order to ensure the financial security of the Tang Dynasty, Li Ye and the Political Affairs Hall passed the payment authority system. The Political Affairs Hall can directly approve the expenditure of the left treasury below 300,000 guan without the approval of Li Ye.
Similarly, Li Ye can also directly approve the expenditure of the inner treasury below 300,000 guan without the approval of the Political Affairs Hall.
However, large expenditures above 300,000 guan, whether it is the left treasury of the court or Li Ye's inner treasury, need to be signed and approved by the Political Affairs Hall and Li Ye at the same time before they can be implemented.
The left treasury and the inner treasury both belong to the national treasury of the Tang Dynasty. The inner treasury is not Li Ye's private treasury, but only two financial treasuries set up for the need of power sharing between the emperor and the prime minister.
The main source of income for the Zuozangku is taxes, and the main source of income for the Neiku is spoils of war. For example, the wealth of the eunuch party and Li Xilie, etc., are all split in half between the Zuozangku and Neiku.
There are also various commercial sales of the court, which are also split in half between the Zangku and Neiku.
Therefore, the amount of one million guan of money allocated to Quanzhou this time is huge, and everyone must of course strictly review it. It does not need to be approved by the Political Affairs Hall unanimously. As long as the left and right sides of the Political Affairs Hall agree, and four votes in favor of the remaining seven votes, it can be passed.
But this time, all nine people voted against it.
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[The blood lipids are too high, and the body is not feeling well. Allow Lao Gao to rest for another day, three chapters tomorrow! ]