Chapter 370: Western Liang Army Moves East

Before the heated discussion on this matter in Beijiang passed, news that attracted even more attention from the world came out: Western Liang King moves east!

Western Liang King Wei Wenlie, in the gap of initially digesting the Shu region and using Beijiang's Grand Ceremony of Selecting Talents to attract the world's attention, launched a long-planned eastward strategy.

This time, the military front was not pointing at rugged mountain passes, but at the fertile land of thousands of miles—Jiangnan, Jianghuai, and even Luoyang, one of the hearts of the Central Plains!

"Are you all ready?" Wei Wenlie's voice was low, sitting in the upper seat.

Si Wushuang nodded: "Your Highness, everything is ready.

In the direction of Jianghuai, there are only 50,000 Imperial Court Forbidden Army troops. If they win, they are arrogant; if they lose, they collapse. Their military discipline is lax, and they are stationed in various places to plunder, like scattered sand.

Our army can send a general to lead 50,000 elite cavalry out of Hanzhong, not taking Jingxiang but taking the secret mountain road between Fangling and Shangyong, straight into the heart of Xiangyang Northeast.

The defending general here has been secretly persuaded by the Cui Family and can be our internal responder. Once broken through, we can cut Zhou Bo's troops at the waist, and with the feinting side army from the east, divide and encircle them."

Quite a few military generals under the Western Liang King stood up immediately.

"Your Highness, this subordinate requests to fight!"

"This subordinate will set a military order, if I don't break Jianghuai, I will bring my head to see you!"

Wei Wenlie scanned the circle and said to Murong Ke: "Murong, go! Don't let me down!"

Murong Ke cupped his hands and said in a deep voice: "This subordinate accepts the order!"

"What about Jiangnan?" Wei Wenlie looked at Cui Yan.

Cui Yan bowed and said: "Please rest assured, Your Highness! In Jiangnan, from prefectures to counties, many families have been persuaded by me for several months, and most of them have secretly communicated with us.

They fear that the flames of war will destroy their homes and foundations, and they fear even more the 'new policies' of Beijiang that will invade the south in the future.

As long as Your Highness's large army crosses the river, displays the thunderous might, and reiterates the promise of 'protecting the territory and pacifying the people, not seizing the property of the scholar-gentry, and not changing the old system', they will definitely not resist."

Cui Yan was also proud of the spring breeze now, not only showing his family's ability in all matters, but his daughter Cui Wangshu was even more favored by Wei Wenlie.

Last year, they chose an auspicious day, and Cui Wangshu became a concubine of the Western Liang King.

Since she was not the main wife, it was naturally not very grand, and the news did not spread outside Western Liang.

But Wei Wenlie was exceptionally fond of Cui Wangshu, and even did not put Cui Wangshu in the rear, but brought her to the front line.

This was naturally a great honor for Cui Yan, and he helped Western Liang take Jiangnan and other places even more diligently.

Now the people under the Western Liang King were all showing their value without reservation, at least they had to show their faces in front of Wei Wenlie, otherwise what merit would they have after taking the world?

So the more proud Cui Yan was, the more people couldn't stand him.

The third master of the Fu Family stood up and snorted coldly: "In this way, isn't Jiangnan picked up for nothing? Then what are we fighting for? Just go and receive it!"

Si Wushuang glanced at him lightly: "Fu San! The Imperial Court also has sporadic garrison troops in Jiangnan, and there are quite a few bandits and water pirates. Receiving naturally needs military force as a backing, and even more to prevent individual families from repeating, or Beijiang and Imperial Court spies taking the opportunity to make trouble.

After General Murong solves Jianghuai, the large army needs to go south quickly, station troops at the Yangtze River, and make a gesture of crossing the river, so that the families in Jiangnan can make up their minds and deter the villains."

Wei Wenlie looked at Si Wushuang and became more satisfied, "Wushuang's words are very true! The Jiangnan matter is mainly based on Mr. Cui's contact, and you all use military force as a supplement.

Remember! The money, grain, craftsmen, and ships of Jiangnan are the foundation of our Western Liang's founding in the future. Being able to take them intact is the best strategy!"

"This subordinate understands!"

The third master of the Fu Family looked at Wei Wenlie who didn't even look at him. His Fu Family's sense of existence in Western Liang was almost zero.

Even though his Fu Family had already offered quite a few things, it was still not enough in front of the Si Family and the Cui Family.

The Si Family had Si Wushuang, who was now completely Wei Wenlie's strategist, and it was no exaggeration to say that he was under one person.

Moreover, Si Wushuang's strategy had not hit a wall so far, and others had no objection to him.

And the Cui Family was helping Western Liang without reservation. At the very least, they contributed a lot when taking the Shu region, and now they were going to help Western Liang take Jiangnan and other places.

Only his Fu Family, except for the resources bet at the beginning, basically had no sense of existence now.

Except for calling them when having a meeting, they had no sense of existence at other times and couldn't do more things.

But even so, the Fu Family still believed that betting on Western Liang was the correct strategy.

It was just a pity that their own daughter who was not promising had to go to Beijiang, otherwise she could also marry the Western Liang King as a concubine, and their days would at least not be so difficult.

Wei Wenlie didn't know the Fu Family's thoughts and continued to ask: "What about Luoyang?"

Si Wushuang pointed his finger at Luoyang on the map: "After Jianghuai and Jiangnan are pacified, our military might will point directly at the Central Plains, and Luoyang will inevitably be panicked.

By then, we can send an eloquent person, carry our Western Liang's manifesto and generous gifts, and secretly meet the Luoyang garrison and several great clans in the city who have old ties with the Cui Clan to explain the pros and cons.

State clearly that the Imperial Court is about to perish, and Western Liang is the destination of the Mandate of Heaven. If they offer the city, they can protect their family's wealth, if they resist, then Jianghuai's Zhou Bo and Jiangnan's prefectures are the lessons of the past.

At the same time, General Murong's large army moves east, making a gesture of wanting to bypass Songshan and strike straight at Luoyang. With both hands, Luoyang can be taken."

Speaking of this, Si Wushuang paused and added: "Just pay attention to Beijiang, they will definitely not sit idly by and watch our Western Liang take the southeast. They may take action while our large army goes east and Guanzhong is empty, strengthening the infiltration of Hedong and the remaining areas of the Imperial Court.

Your Highness needs to leave heavy troops to stabilize the Longxi and Chang'an defense lines, and pay close attention to Beijiang's movements."

This was why Si Wushuang wanted to take it slowly, rather than sending a large army east at once.

A flash of fierce color flashed in Wei Wenlie's eyes: "Jiang Jinshi... if he dares to move, just try whether the blade of our Western Liang's sons is sharp!

Longxi has this King sitting in town, and the Guanzhong defense line has also been reinforced. You all go east with peace of mind, and take the southeast for this King!

Wait until the money and grain are sufficient, the soldiers and armor are exquisite, and then fight for supremacy with that Beijiang kid!"

"Follow the King's order!"

The 50,000 Western Liang elites led by Murong Ke went out of the pass. They traveled at night and rested during the day, avoiding the Imperial Court's sentry posts.

Under the guidance of the guides provided by the Cui Family, in just over ten days, they appeared like gods descending from heaven, suddenly appearing in the flat area northeast of Xiangyang, defeating the unprepared sporadic garrison in one fell swoop, and cutting off the retreat and grain routes of the 50,000 Forbidden Army.

In such a situation, the Forbidden Army's military heart was already in chaos, not to mention that they hadn't fought for many years, and their momentum and strategy were at a disadvantage.

The 50,000 large army retreated steadily in front of the Western Liang army, and finally suffered more than half of the damage, and had to take a detour to retreat, intending to defend the capital.

Up to this point, the gates of Jianghuai prefectures were wide open.

After the victory report was sent back, Wei Wenlie immediately ordered the large army not to stop, and quickly swept away the remaining resistance in Jianghuai.

Then the large army arrived at the north bank of the Yangtze River, set up camps widely, built boats, and made a gesture of crossing the river to go south.

Looking across the river, the south bank of the Yangtze River was naturally frightened by such a battle formation. ===== CHAPTER 371 =====