The smoke of the great victory at Wancheng had not yet cleared when news of victory was already spreading in Dengzhou.
Zhao Muyun sat in the main hall, with several military reports spread out on the table.
Xiao Cheyun, Xiao Dayong, Zhang Tao, Yang Chao, Shen Qian and other generals lined up on both sides, each with an excited expression.
"General, Li Hu's 60,000 troops were all wiped out in the fire in Wancheng, and Li Jingang's three-pronged encirclement strategy has completely collapsed!"
Xiao Cheyun's voice boomed, "Now that our army's advance has reached Luyang, which is only four hundred li from the capital, should we press our advantage and strike at the heart of the enemy?"
Upon hearing this, all the generals were eager to fight.
The crowd was in high spirits, but Zhao Muyun remained calm and composed.
He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and slowly swept his gaze over the generals.
"How many days has General Zhong Meng been in Luyang?" he suddenly asked.
Yang Chao replied, "It has been three days. General Zhong has written to ask whether we should continue the march towards the capital."
Zhao Muyun shook his head: "Order Zhong Meng to build fortifications and hold the city in Luyang. Do not advance rashly. The capital is well-fortified and Li Jingang still has tens of thousands of Imperial Guards. A strong attack would only increase casualties."
The generals looked at each other in bewilderment.
Xiao Dayong said urgently, "General, if we don't attack now, when will we? Let's wait until Li Jingang catches his breath..."
"He can't catch his breath."
Zhao Muyun stood up and walked to the huge map hanging in the sky. "Look at this, what is Li Jingang's situation now?"
He pointed to various points on the map: "Li Hu's entire army at Longmen Pass has been wiped out, and the northern route is cut off; Li Bao of Xiangzhou, upon learning of the defeat at Wancheng, is cowering on the north bank of the Dahe River, too afraid to move; Liu Song of Jingxiang, seeing that the situation is hopeless, is secretly contacting our side; as for Li Sheng of Youzhou..."
Zhao Muyun sneered: "Xiong Dayong has seized the key passage to Xiangzhou, cutting off Youzhou's connection with the Central Plains. General Han Zhong's 20,000 troops from Hedong are heading north to Youzhou, and Li Sheng is already trapped."
“But this is the perfect opportunity to attack the capital!” Xiao Cheyun was still puzzled.
“The time is not yet ripe.” Zhao Muyun turned around, his gaze deep. “A decisive battle is needed to determine the fate of the nation. Our army currently has several shortcomings.”
He held up three fingers: "First, we lack manpower. Although our army has won many battles, we have less than 20,000 men available to attack Luoyang. In contrast, there are 50,000 Imperial Guards in the capital."
"Secondly, the foundation is not yet stable. Xiong Da of Hebei has recently submitted, and his intentions are hard to fathom; Liu Song of Jingzhou and Xiangyang is indecisive and has not yet submitted; Zhao Mu of Nanyue is willing, but Lingnan is thousands of miles away, and distant water cannot quench immediate thirst."
"Thirdly..." Zhao Muyun paused, "the Western Regions are not yet settled."
The hall was completely silent.
The generals then remembered that the Grand General's most elite 15,000 men were still fighting in the Western Regions, thousands of miles away, under the leadership of Wu Shangzhi.
"General Wu Shangzhi has already defeated the Right Wise King Wuhan of the Northern Di in Loulan and is driving the remnants of his troops deeper into the Western Regions," Zhao Muyun said slowly. "Once the Western Regions are completely pacified, the 15,000 elite troops will return east, and that will be the real thunderous strike."
He walked to the window and looked west: "I'm waiting for four things."
The generals listened intently.
"First, we need to wait for the war report from the Western Regions. Wu Shangzhi must thoroughly eliminate the Northern Di forces in the Western Regions and stabilize the rear areas of the Western Regions and Longyou before he can lead his army back east."
"Second, wait for Jingzhou and Xiangyang and Nanyue. If Liu Song surrenders, the southern route will be safe; if Zhao Mu submits, Lingnan will be pacified. At that time, our army can reorganize all its forces and march north with all its might."
"Third, wait for good news from Hebei. Han Zhong will take Youzhou, and Xiong Dayong will secure Xiangzhou. Then all the land north of the Yellow River will be in our hands, and the capital will be completely isolated."
"Four..." A sharp glint flashed in Zhao Muyun's eyes. "We still need to wait for news from Yunzhou. If General Tian Qing can defeat the Tartar Left Wise King Wuzhu at Feihu Ridge in Weizhou, the northern border can be secured, and Han Zhong can then focus all his efforts on advancing eastward."
He turned to look at his generals: "If any one of these four things is missing, the battle to capture Luoyang will be more risky. Gentlemen, fighting a war is not about acting bravely for a moment; you must consider the overall situation and plan for the long term."
His words were like a wake-up call, and all the generals were convinced.
Yang Chao bowed and said, "General, you have a profound vision; we have been short-sighted."
"It's alright." Zhao Muyun waved his hand. "Your eagerness for battle is for the sake of the Great Yin, and I understand that. But it is precisely because it is for the sake of the Great Yin that we must plan carefully before we act."
He sat down again: "Order all armies to strengthen city defenses, stockpile grain and fodder, and train soldiers."
"At the same time, many spies were sent to infiltrate the capital to spread rumors and undermine the morale of the defending troops."
"We need to let Li Jingang know that he has no chance of winning and that resistance will only lead to his death."
"Yes, sir!"
......
On the same day, in the capital city, at the Zichen Hall of the Imperial Palace.
Li Jingang sat on the dragon throne, his hands trembling slightly as he held urgent reports in his hands.
Kneeling before His Highness were high-ranking officials such as Prime Minister Feng Liang, Minister of Revenue Cui Mian, and Minister of War Ma Zongliang, all of whom were deathly pale.
"King Zhao Mu of Nanyue... wants to submit to the Yin Dynasty?" Li Jingang's voice trembled.
Feng Liang forced a smile and said, "Yes... the envoy from Nanyue has arrived in Xijing. Zhao Mu has submitted a memorial acknowledging their submission and expressing his willingness to accept the imperial calendar of the Yin Dynasty..."
"Bang!"
Li Jingang slammed his teacup to the ground, shards flying everywhere: "I granted him the title of King of Lingnan, and the monopoly on salt and iron, and this is how he repays me?"
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger..." Cui Mian pleaded in a trembling voice.
"Calm down? How can I calm down?" Li Jingang suddenly stood up and swept a stack of military reports to the ground. "Take a look! Take a look!"
Military reports were scattered all over the ground, a shocking sight:
"A crushing defeat at Wancheng resulted in the annihilation of General Li Hu's 60,000-strong army..."
"Xiong Dayong rebelled, seized the key passage to Xiangzhou, and Hebei was thrown into turmoil..."
"Liu Song of Jingzhou and Xiangyang is secretly communicating with Yin's army, intending to surrender..."
"General Li Sheng of Youzhou is besieged, and his supplies have run out..."
"Wuzhu, the Left Wise King of the Northern Barbarians, was ambushed at Feihu Ridge in Weizhou and one thousand were beheaded..."
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