Chapter 66: Qingfenggang Attack
After Li Ji left, the maid Xia He was still whispering to Xia Yu:
"Master Li said that the young lady was tired at night. Was she practicing martial arts or doing physical work?"
Xia Yu asked in confusion: "You have been outside the room the whole time, don't you know what happened?"
"At first, when I was about to go in with my tea, the lights went out."
"Didn't you hear anything?"
Xia He thought for a while and whispered, "I only heard the young lady calling me softly, and then I fell asleep."
Suddenly, Liu Qi shouted from the inner room:
"Xia Yu, Xia He, come in and give me a waist massage."
The little maid Xia He smiled and pulled Xia Yu into the inner room.
"Miss, what's going on?"
Liu Qi blushed and shouted angrily:
"Xia He, why are you talking so much? Just hit me when I ask you to. My waist and legs are sore anyway."
The two maids didn't understand what was going on, so they started beating him.
After a while, they saw the young lady fell into a deep sleep again.
Liu Tong led the way in front, and soon Li Ji arrived at the gate.
When Li Ai saw Li Ji coming out, he hurriedly tidied up the carriage. After he got in, they went to the yamen together.
Arriving at the lobby, Li Ji asked, "Is there anything urgent, housekeeper?"
Li Ai reported, "My lord, the leader of the Wagang Mountain Zhai has sent someone to invite you to the camp to discuss matters. Several leaders have already gone."
"Yes, General Shan and I went to Wagang Mountain once, and I cut off one of Wang Lang's arms."
Li Ai hurriedly said, "My Lord, that is all in the past. It is best to form an alliance with Wagang now."
"I think so too. To conquer the Central Plains, we must have a strong military force. We cannot completely defeat the Empire's army by ourselves."
Li Ai smiled and said, "My Lord, if we go up the mountain, it will be unfair to you."
Li Ji immediately understood what Li Ai meant. He laughed and said humorously:
"People also need to rest and recuperate. Staying in the mountains will help you recuperate."
Li Ai hurriedly said: "We will arrange elite soldiers to guard Xun Mansion and Liu Mansion."
At this time, Shan Xiongxin said, "Sir Li, I will be in charge of Xun Mansion, and Brother Qin will be in charge of Liu Mansion."
Li Ji smiled and said, "Don't be so nervous. The housekeeper and I will be back soon."
After Shan Xiongxin and Qin Qiong left, Li Ji and Li Ai sat in the government office of Xingyang County and discussed the issue of going into the mountains again.
Li Ji said with emotion:
"Now, Xingyang County is too close to the Eastern Capital, the government troops are strong, and the risk factor is too high. As people often say, a cunning rabbit has three burrows. We must open up a new base."
Li Ai asked: "The rebels in various places have risen up and are spreading like wildfire. But which one should we choose as an ally?"
"There are hundreds of rebel forces, large and small. From what I've seen, Wagang Mountain is easy to defend but difficult to attack, and the terrain is dangerous. We have a good relationship with Zhai Facao, so it's better for us to join him."
Li Ai said worriedly, "Although we have a friendship with Zhai Facao, we haven't worked together for a long time. We can only wait and see what kind of person he is."
"Butler, don't worry too much, let's split up and prepare to go into the mountains now."
Li Ji thought that he had already laid a foundation in Xingyang, and this was his home base.
Going up to Wagang Mountain, one can, on the one hand, form an alliance with other leaders, and on the other hand, seize the opportunity to fight for a place for oneself.
When necessary, the butler can be promoted to the position of commander.
Li Ai is over 30 years old, which is the golden period for doing things and starting a business.
From Shanshen Temple to Xingyang, I have fully investigated and found that Li Ai has superhuman military talent.
In troubled times, it is important to employ geniuses, eccentrics and geniuses.
Li Ai is such a rare talent.
An unexpected and brilliant plan formed in Li Ji's mind.
Li Ji was determined to leave.
While he continued to strengthen the defense of Hulao Pass, he urged the various camps to continue to cultivate land and prepare for war and famine.
On the one hand, he urged Zheng Baiwan and Zheng Shan to give full play to the role of the Chamber of Commerce and build several commercial streets in Xingyang as soon as possible.
After coming out of the yamen, housekeeper Li Ai quickly made specific arrangements.
In the evening, a banquet was held in the hall of Xun Mansion.
Shan Xiongxin, Qin Qiong and Pei Renji were invited to the table.
Li Ji said, "Tomorrow, I will go into the mountains with the housekeeper. You will guard the Xingyang area according to your respective duties."
Pei Renji immediately responded: "My lord, please rest assured that we will be on duty diligently."
After the dinner, Li Ji went directly to the Yongmei Poetry Society in Xun Mansion.
At the time of Shen on the next day, he and Li Ai led the Ji Camp and marched towards Wagang Mountain overnight.
Arriving at the gate of Wagang Village, Li Ji shouted loudly:
"Li Ji from Xingyang County has been invited by General Zhai to come to the gathering. Please ask the guards to inform him."
A guard standing on the tower at the gate pointed and shouted:
"Good Li Ji, General Wang Lang has issued an order to refuse you entry into the camp. If you know what's best for you , leave quickly, or you'll be shot to death."
When Li Ji heard this, he burst into laughter.
"Wang Lang, you are talking nonsense. I, Li Ji, am no longer the Li Ji who entered the mountains for the first time."
He suddenly became furious and shouted, "General Jihua, listen to my orders!"
Ji Hua clasped his hands together and answered loudly: "I am here!"
"Lead the Ji Camp and retreat fifteen miles to Qingfenggang and set up camp there."
"Yes! Lord Li." Ji Hua took the order and left.
"The guards at the gate are most likely Wang Lang's personal soldiers. I don't think it will be possible to enter the village today."
"Sir, since we are here to seek refuge, we will have to endure it for the time being."
Li Ai didn't know about the feud between Li Ji and Wang Lang. Wang Lang is still the second in command of Wagangzhai and has control over the military forces.
Li Ji had no choice but to drive his horse with his housekeeper to chase after Ji's camp.
In the middle of the night, there was a sudden sound of horse hooves.
Wang Lang's cousin Wang Qing led 20,000 troops and suddenly rushed into the Jiziying camp in Qingfenggang.
"The bandits are coming! Protect Lord Li."
Ji Hua picked up his gun and rushed to the central army tent.
Wang Qing led his soldiers in the Ji camp and killed many soldiers in their dreams.
Wherever Wang Qing's troops went, they killed anyone they saw. After hacking and killing, they set fire to the tents.
Soon, flames shot up into the sky from Qingfenggang, and the painful cries of the soldiers from the Ji Camp could be heard continuously.
When Li Ji saw that his camp was attacked, he mounted his horse and galloped away.
Wang Qing came to the central army tent of the Ji Camp and did not find Li Ji. He waved his hand and shouted:
"Divide into three groups and chase them. Capture them alive."
Wang Qing brought his personal guards and chased forward along a small path.
Wang took Wang Lang's military token and attacked Li Ji's camp at night, which was completely beyond Li Ai's expectations.
When he saw that the camp was destroyed and his lord had escaped from the barracks on horseback, he hurriedly brought a few personal soldiers to Wagangzhai again.
"Open the door quickly. I'm looking for Chief Zhai. I have his handwritten order."
After a while, the village gate opened.
Snapped!
The first thing Li Ai did when she saw a guard was to slap him in the face.
"Damn it, this ruined my plan."
After a while, Li Ai arrived at Zhai Rang's mansion.
"Facao, you are repaying kindness with hatred. How can you ask me to return to the Xingyang camp when my lord is still alive or dead?"
Li Ai's eyes flashed with ferocity, and he drew out his sword with a clang...
