While Lin Feng was deploying his troops in Weibei, employing a three-pronged approach, Zhao Muyun, far away in Liangzhou, was also strategizing.
The siege of Liangzhou has been lifted, and Yang Yan has also been defeated. However, Zhao Muyun knows that they must press on and not give Yang Yan a chance to catch his breath.
Since Lin Feng's army had already approached Xijing, he had to add fuel to the fire and give Lin Feng a helping hand.
Otherwise, if the siege drags on and fails, or if Li Jingang's reinforcements arrive in Xijing, Lin Feng will have no choice but to retreat to Linzhou.
The greatest achievement of this major battle was at best the defense of Longyou and Xiazhou.
We must seize this opportunity to take Xijing in one fell swoop, so that Hedong, Guannei, and Longyou can be connected into one area.
Inside the Liangzhou Governor's Mansion, Zhao Muyun made a bold and crucial decision.
"Wu Shangzhi! Tang Yanhai!"
Zhao Muyun's voice was steady, yet carried an undeniable determination.
"Your subordinate is here!"
Wu Shangzhi and Tang Yanhai, full of energy, stepped forward to receive orders.
"We appoint Wu Shangzhi as the commander-in-chief and Tang Yanhai as the deputy commander-in-chief, and integrate the three battalions of cavalry, scouts and siege engines, totaling 3,100 men, carrying a sufficient amount of thunderbolts and crossbows, and join forces with the 3,000 elite Qiang and Rong cavalry under Namtso and Urgan in Longshan, for a total of 6,000 men to form the Western Route Assault Legion!"
Zhao Muyun's sharp eyes swept over the crowd:
"You two, immediately lead this army, march day and night, out of the Longshan Mountains, and advance swiftly along the Wei River! Target—west of Xijing!"
"Together with Governor Lin Feng's Weibei army, they will form a pincer movement, posing a fatal threat to Xijing!"
"All the warhorses in Liangzhou are assigned to you; you must hurry!"
"Even if all the warhorses die from exhaustion, we must still join forces with Lin Feng's forces in Xijing."
Having just fought several major battles in Ganzhou, Chiling, and Liangzhou, the soldiers had not had enough rest.
But for the sake of the overall war effort, all difficulties must be overcome.
Arriving in Xijing a day earlier increases the chances of victory.
The opportunity to seize Xijing in one fell swoop is right in front of them. If they miss it, Zhao Muyun doesn't know when the next opportunity will come.
Moreover, the strategic and political significance of recapturing Xijing was enormous.
With Yinji at the helm, the small court of Prince Jin was able to raise the banner of restoring the Great Yin Dynasty and gather more loyal and righteous men of the Great Yin Dynasty.
Wu Shangzhi and Tang Yanhai exchanged a glance, both seeing the fighting spirit and solemnity in each other's eyes, and replied in unison, "Rest assured, Grand Commander, we will complete the mission to the death!"
"good!"
Zhao Muyun patted the two men heavily on the shoulders, "Brothers, speed is of the essence in war! Once Xijing is recaptured, you two will have made a great contribution!"
Three thousand one hundred iron cavalry, carrying the lingering momentum of their great victory in Liangzhou and with overwhelming force, swept out of Liangzhou City that afternoon, their hoofbeats shaking the heavens and the earth, galloping towards the ancient Longshan Road in the southeast.
Soon, they contacted Namtso and Ur, who were already there.
Wu Shangzhi relayed Zhao Muyun's military order, and the two Qiang and Rong leaders immediately joined Wu Shangzhi's command without hesitation, forming a torrent of cavalry that surged toward Xijing.
After arranging the advance legion, Zhao Muyun made arrangements for the defense of Liangzhou.
"Shi Yong!"
"Your subordinate is here!" Shi Yong's voice boomed like a bell.
"I hereby appoint you as the Governor of Ganzhou, in command of the troops of Ganzhou and Guazhou, and as the overall commander of the Northwest defenses! You must be vigilant against any unusual movements in the Western Regions and guard against the Northern Barbarians taking advantage of any weakness to invade!"
"Pei Lun!"
"Your subordinate is here!" Pei Lun bowed.
"I hereby appoint you as the temporary mining commissioner of Black Dushan. You are to recruit artisans and refugees with all your might, establish workshops, and increase the mining and refining of flammable oil! This substance is of great use to the military and the nation, and you must not make any mistakes!"
"Yes, sir!"
"You two must work closely with Zhang Jiedu and Wang Buzheng to consolidate the Longyou region as solid as a rock!"
Zhao Muyun added his instructions.
Zhang Zan and Wang Xing also stepped forward to receive the order.
Zhao Muyun appointed Shi Yong as governor alone and took away the military power in Guazhou and Ganzhou. In reality, he was creating a special zone under the jurisdiction of Zhang and Wang in Longyou.
Zhang Zan also knew that Pei Lun was already the Minister of War of the Great Yin Dynasty. Although it was the deceased Prince Jin, Yinxi, who had arranged it, an imperial edict had been issued after all.
Therefore, Pei Lun's Black Dushan Fire Oil was something neither of them could ever get their hands on.
However, Zhang Zan and Wang Xing will not harbor any resentment because of this.
They discovered that Zhao Muyun was generous in rewarding those who were loyal to him.
Pei Lun and Zhao Muyun had a rift, but Zhao Muyun increasingly relied on him.
Not to mention the brothers who followed Zhao Muyun, now they are all powerful military officers and commanders, holding significant military power.
"Commander Zhang, please keep an eye on the grasslands along the Huangshui River that I promised to give to the Qiang and Rong people, and do your best to provide them with some support," Zhao Muyun added.
"Rest assured, Grand Commander."
The two of them bowed in agreement.
After making the arrangements, Zhao Muyun personally led 5,000 main force infantry and cavalry, and a few days later, with provisions and supplies, advanced towards Xijing.
Prepare to arrive at the critical moment, take over the overall situation, and stabilize morale.
In a short time, a three-pronged attack on Xijing had already taken shape:
Lin Feng exerted pressure and psychological warfare on the front in Weibei, while Xi Shengdong seized Tongguan to cut off their retreat. Wu Shangzhi and Tang Yanhai led a surprise attack from the west, heading south to launch a pincer movement.
An invisible net is slowly being cast over Yang Yan Group in Xijing City.
......
The once prosperous and majestic city of Xijing is now shrouded in an atmosphere of tension and panic.
The Hedong Army's relentless psychological offensive, like a gentle drizzle, seeped into every corner of the city.
The letters that entered the city became increasingly sharp and precise.
In particular, the persuasion to surrender of non-Yang Yan's direct subordinates, such as former deputy general Chen Xuan, and the promise to "forgive past grievances" to the major families of Xijing, secretly stirred up huge waves.
Huan Naxue's feat of "slaying Yang Fan in battle" was exaggerated to the point of being miraculous, causing the defending soldiers to turn pale at the mere mention of it, and their morale plummeted to rock bottom.
At this moment, the 30,000 demoralized defeated soldiers from Liangzhou had returned to Xijing.
Li Hu led 5,000 men to defend Niushou Mountain west of Xijing, while Yang Yi led 5,000 men to camp south of the Wei River, facing the Hedong Army on the north bank.
Inside the Prime Minister's residence.
Yang Yan looked haggard, with sunken eyes, and his former strategic and commanding demeanor was nowhere to be seen.
The successive defeats, the death of his nephew Yang Fan, and the humiliation at the gates of Liangzhou City gnawed at his mind like venomous snakes.
He had long anticipated the importance of Longmen Pass, and upon arriving in Xijing, he immediately sent someone to warn the garrison commander of Longmen Pass.
However, it can only serve as a warning.
Because the general guarding Longmen Pass was a man of the Right Chancellor, Feng Liang.
Li Jingang feared that Yang Yan would seize control of Guanzhong, so he planned to use Longmen Pass to counterbalance him.
"Your Excellency! Longmen Pass has fallen! The Hedong army launched a night attack and seized Longmen Pass!"
However, the news brought by the scouts hit Yang Yan like a heavy hammer.
What!!
He suddenly stood up, his body swayed, he almost couldn't stand, and his face instantly turned ashen.
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