Chapter 1085: Following the Way and Fighting the Bandits
Since the beginning of this war, Xiucheng King Gao Xiaoxu was the highest-ranking general of the Northern Qi captured by the Western Wei army. Such a big fish must be treated specially, so after being captured, he was sent to Yining City in the rear as soon as possible.
Li Tai was very happy to learn that the front division had such a harvest. After Gao Xiaoxu was sent to Yining City, he summoned him as soon as possible to ask about the latest military situation of the enemy.
"I am Gao Xiaoxu, the surrendered man, and I kowtow to Lord Tang and the Prime Minister! The Prime Minister's reputation is well-known. I am fortunate to see him today. He is truly unparalleled in style and awe-inspiring!"
After Gao Xiaoxu entered the hall, he glanced at Li Tai who was sitting in the hall, and then he knelt on the ground with a plop, bowed his head and bowed deeply, and said loudly.
Li Tai couldn't help but be amused to see this guy so tactful. He lowered his eyes and looked at him with a smile and asked: "You said that my style is unparalleled, then what should your thief master Gao Yang think?"
"This, this... my master, the former master, Gao, Gao relied on the resources of his father and brother, and relied on his tyranny to control the people. Their achievements and style are far inferior to the prime minister. I bowed my head and served as a minister, trapped in my duty, not because of morality. Lord Tang's noble character is admirable, shining like the sun and the moon, how can it be compared with the light of a firefly!"
When Gao Xiaoxu heard this question, he hesitated for a moment, then bowed his head and said respectfully.
Although the flattery was very loud, Li Tai couldn't help but frown after listening to it, and said in a cold voice: "You are not as smart as others, and your skills are nothing to boast of. You are mediocre and inferior. You just enjoy wealth and honor because the thief master deceived the heaven and stole the country, and you are captured by people because you can't fight the enemy with force. You turned against him before the torture instruments were put on you. What kind of noble character and morality do you know?"
Gao Xiaoxu was scolded by this, his expression froze, and cold sweat poured down his forehead, and he dared not speak again.
Li Tai didn't continue to talk nonsense with him, and asked: "The former Wusu City defenders abandoned the city and fled. Was it ordered by the thief master to lure out our army? How many enemy troops are there in Jinyang, what route did they take, and where have they reached? Tell me quickly!"
Hearing Li Tai's continuous questions, Gao Xiaoxu didn't dare to shirk and conceal, and hurriedly bowed his head to the ground and described the dynamics of the Jinyang army in detail.
Of course, Li Tai could not listen to his one-sided words. Guo Yan had already summarized and sorted out the situation of the Jinyang army when he collected prisoners of war and sent them to Yining City with Gao Xiaoxu.
However, these interrogations from ordinary soldiers of the Qi army were relatively basic information. Some real confidential information could only be obtained by people with extraordinary status like Gao Xiaoxu.
Gao Xiaoxu's attitude was quite cooperative, and he also provided some valuable information, such as the personnel configuration of the Qi Lord's troops and several basic military nodes. From this, we can get a glimpse of the overall combat plan of the Northern Qi this time, which is also of great reference value for the subsequent tactical execution of the Wei army.
To be honest, the Qi Lord Gao Yang's approach of personally leading the army to the south to seek a battle was still a bit unexpected to Li Tai.
Although the Western Wei did not penetrate deeply into the upper echelons of the Northern Qi, it can be inferred from the historical time points that the current physical condition of the Qi Lord Gao Yang should be poor, especially after the ninth year of Tianbao, many of his actions revealed a sense of dying struggle and hysteria, and even learned from Xiao Bodhisattva to go to the Buddhist temple to practice Buddhism and observe precepts whenever he had nothing to do. The unwillingness and powerlessness made people feel deeply.
However, this so-called prophetic variable specific to personal health is originally very large. It can be used as a reference but cannot be used as an actual plan execution condition, just like the death of Yuwen Tai in the Western Wei made Li Tai a little flustered, but fortunately, he was able to keep it stable after sufficient preparation in the early stage.
Although Gao Xiaoxu may have deliberately concealed some key personnel matters, or he may not know much and was a little vague, but through some words, Li Tai can also guess that the current situation in the Northern Qi is slipping towards a situation that is favorable to the Western Wei.
War is a comprehensive game. The victory or defeat on the battlefield is only the most direct presentation, and the various changes and influences caused by it are the richer connotations of war. Many changes and influences actually occurred without a clear winner, which is the best strategy.
For example, at present, as the Western Wei advances step by step and sings the song of victory, even the Qi Lord Gao Yang is forced to lead the army in person at an inappropriate time and under inappropriate circumstances. This is good news for the Western Wei, because it is equivalent to attracting a big thunder to the forefront of the battle between the two sides.
Qi Lord Gao Yang certainly hopes to attract the main force of the Western Wei army to the east of Qinyuan for a battle, and Li Tai also hopes to create pressure on the Northern Qi through this high-intensity military confrontation, prolonging this abnormal operation and increasing the possibility of internal thunder.
After interrogating Gao Xiaoxu, Li Tai did not plan to do anything to him for the time being because of his cooperative attitude. When he was about to lead him out and put him in jail, a general who was responsible for escorting Gao Xiaoxu suddenly knelt down and reported: "Your Majesty, this thief Gao Xiaoxu is the heir of the thief Gao Yongle!"
Li Tai was stunned for a moment after hearing this, and then reacted after a moment of hesitation, and then his eyes changed slightly when he looked at Gao Xiaoxu. Gao Yongle was Gao Huan's nephew, and there was not much to say about his life. The only thing that was quite influential was that he guarded the southern city of Heyang during the Battle of Heqiao. Gao Aocao was defeated and fled here, but he closed the city and refused to let him in, thus killing Gao Aocao.
When Gao Xiaoxu was captured by Gao Le on the battlefield before, he was beaten severely by Gao Le for this reason. When he heard this matter mentioned again, he was immediately terrified and fell to the ground again, saying in a sad voice: "Please spare my life, Prime Minister... The surrendered man is not the blood of the thief Gao Yongle. When he committed evil and harmed Gao Situ, I was not yet born. Because he had no descendants, I was given the title of adopted son by my father. I have nothing to do with this thief and this evil. Now that I have returned to justice, I will not be the heir of this thief..."
This guy has a strong desire to survive. After realizing that his adopted father Gao Yongle is quite hated here, he immediately wants to draw a clear line to avoid being implicated by him.
Li Tai himself did not have such strong feelings for Gao Aocao and his affairs that he would avenge him if he was even slightly involved. After all, Gao Aocao was a minister of the Eastern Wei from birth to death, and he still enjoys the honor bestowed by the Eastern Wei and Northern Qi. His descendants can inherit his title, and he does not need himself, a powerful minister of the Western Wei, to seek justice for him.
However, whether or not to do something is not about feelings. The key is whether there is a need and whether there is meaning.
After learning that Gao Xiaoxu was actually Gao Yongle's adopted son, Li Tai hesitated for a moment and then said, "Although Gao Huan was a great bandit, he also had the merits of establishing justice in Xindu and conquering Erzhu. Gao Aocao, a famous family in Jizhou, and Hebei warriors were inspired by this and joined in the righteous cause.
Unexpectedly, after the success, He Liuhun betrayed his original righteousness, dominated himself, and acted arbitrarily. He first expelled the emperor and then killed the meritorious people. Now Gao's family has stolen the country and Hebei Dao has fallen, all because of the previous reasons! Gao Yongle framed the righteous people and was finally spared. It was God's will that he would be extinct, but Gao's family went against God and continued his lineage. It was really crazy and ridiculous! I am now following the way to conquer the bandits, so I should exterminate him!"
As he spoke, he ordered Gao Xiaoxu to be dragged out of the hall and taken to the prisoner-of-war camp, where he was beheaded in front of the captured and surrendered Northern Qi soldiers and civilians. As for the reason for the execution, of course, it was also announced to the masses. Don't panic, the elders of Hebei, when Prime Minister Li comes back, there will be justice! The soldiers have occupied your land and houses, and taken your wives and children, and they can all be recovered!
Of course, the Western Wei army is still far away from Hebei, and the united front measures against the people in Hebei cannot be implemented, but it does not prevent this from being used as a basis for attacking the Northern Qi, which arouses the dissatisfaction of the Han nobles in Hebei.
Xindu Jianyi is obviously a group drama to attack the Erzhu family. Why is it that only you Xianbei soldiers drink and eat in the end, while my Han nobles can't have a name!
After a little understanding of the military dispatch and combat plan of the Northern Qi, Li Tai also has a more specific idea for the conduct and development of the next war.
Although the strength of the Qi army far exceeds that of the Wei army after the Jinyang division came south to join forces with the troops in the Shangdang area, Li Tai is not afraid of this.
Before, Li Tai led 20,000 divisions to the east, and then Han Guo led 10,000 troops to reinforce. After taking Yining City, he ordered Gao Le and He Ruo Dun to lead 50,000 troops to the east.
The troops deployed on this front have reached 80,000. Although it is still far less than the total strength of the Qi army, it is enough to fight with the enemy in this mountainous area that is not suitable for large armies to advance and retreat.
Qi Lord Gao Yang is eager to win, and Li Tai is not at ease now. It should be noted that the war has been going on for more than a month, although the Western Wei army was only dispatched in the relatively inner area of Hedong before.
However, as the front line advances, the battlefield becomes wider and the supply line is further extended, which will cause a lot of consumption every day. The treasury reserves accumulated in the past few years of recuperation are melting as fast as snow under the scorching sun. The physical strength and energy of the soldiers have also been greatly consumed, and they are gradually tired.
If this battle cannot achieve a phased situation as soon as possible and cannot obtain a considerable benefit, the Western Wei's ability to sustain the war in the next war will be weakened, and after this battle, it will be seriously injured because of not receiving enough reports.
The internal situation of the Northern Qi is not stable enough, and the war potential of the Western Wei is slightly inferior to that of the other side. Therefore, Li Tai is also looking forward to the battlefield of Wusu City chosen by Gao Yang, hoping to obtain a gratifying harvest here.
Therefore, after Gao Xiaoxu was executed, as He Ruo Dun led the rear troops to arrive, Li Tai also left Yining City and rushed to Guyuan City, which was one step closer to the front line, to make some arrangements for the next battle.