Chapter 70: Brigade Commander
Su Dingfang had no loyalty to Liu Heita. The reason he followed Liu Heita was because of Gao Yaxian 's wishes.
Now that Gao Yaxian had surrendered to Li Yuanji, he also followed suit and surrendered to Li Yuanji. So when Li Yuanji belittled Liu Heita, he did not defend Liu Heita. Instead, he agreed with Li Yuanji's words.
If Liu Heita could trust him like Li Yuanji did, equip him with some armor, and send him some slightly more elite soldiers, he would not have been defeated in the camp.
Although Qin Qiong and Qin Shubao were already famous and were secretly hailed as famous generals, under the same conditions, he felt that he would not necessarily lose to Qin Qiong.
Seeing that Su Dingfang approved of his words, Li Yuanji smiled even more. He pointed at the armored soldiers in the distance and said, "From now on, they will be under your command. Tell me if they need anything and I will order people to prepare it."
Su Dingfang was stunned and tried to refuse quickly.
But Li Yuanji said again: "Even if you want to give each of them a horse lance, I will order someone to do it."
Su Dingfang looked at Li Yuanji in astonishment. He was shocked by Li Yuanji again.
The horse lance is a top-grade weapon, but it is expensive and takes a long time to make.
When he was young, his father spent all his wealth to buy him an old spear that had been used by someone else.
He still uses it today.
Li Yuanji now said that as long as he nodded, he would equip all the men under his command with horse lances.
Li Yuanji's work is beyond description, it is simply amazing.
"breathe……"
Su Dingfang took several deep breaths before he calmed down.
He felt that Li Yuanji's words must have been a joke, meant to reassure him.
He didn't think anyone would be so extravagant as to give horse lances to his ordinary soldiers.
"Your Highness's kindness will be remembered by Dingfang in my heart. Since Dingfang has joined Your Highness's school, I will definitely follow Your Highness loyally."
Su Dingfang bowed and said solemnly.
Li Yuanji appreciated him enough, trusted him enough, and showed great sincerity, so he was naturally willing to follow Li Yuanji wholeheartedly.
As a general, what you want is a lord who can appreciate and trust you.
Li Yuanji smiled and nodded, ready to say something, but Su Dingfang said, "I am new to your Highness's service, and I have rashly assumed such an important position. Some people will surely be dissatisfied.
Therefore, I beg Your Highness to revoke your order and allow me to serve as a brigade commander under Your Highness.
Within three years, I will surely be promoted to the position of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Left Second Commander's Office under Your Highness based on my merits. "
Li Yuanji was full of sincerity towards Su Dingfang.
Su Dingfang also responded with considerable sincerity.
Su Dingfang said this in front of so many people, which was like a military order.
Once the military order is issued, if it is not completed, the person will commit suicide.
Li Yuanji was stunned for a moment and admired Su Dingfang even more.
Li Yuanji stared at Su Dingfang and smiled: "Are you sure?"
Su Dingfang nodded seriously.
Li Yuanji pondered for a moment, then nodded with a smile and said, "Okay, then you will serve as the brigade commander of the third school of the Qi Wang Mansion."
Su Dingfang has the bravery of "being the first to attack the enemy line" and the strategy of "charging forward with spears and cavalry". It would be difficult for him to display his abilities if he were to lead an army composed entirely of infantry.
So Li Yuanji thought about it for a moment and appointed Su Dingfang as the commander of the cavalry in the palace.
The brigade commander of the palace's cavalry can not only command the palace's cavalry, but also command the troops of the left and right military offices when necessary.
Su Dingfang bowed without hesitation and said, "Thank you, Your Highness."
Li Yuanji nodded and ordered someone to take Su Dingfang to meet the troops he needed to lead.
After Su Dingfang left, Li Yuanji looked at Gao Yaxian who was still kneeling on the ground.
Gao Yaxian thought that Li Yuanji had forgotten about him and was secretly complaining about it.
When he saw Li Yuanji looking at him, his expression froze and he straightened his back subconsciously.
Li Yuanji was very generous to Su Dingfang. He felt that his status, position and reputation were higher than Su Dingfang, so Li Yuanji would definitely be more generous to him.
In order to get more troops from Li Yuanji, he had to be more respectful in front of Li Yuanji.
Li Yuanji stared at Gao Yaxian with a smile and said, "General Gao, why are you so arrogant at first and respectful later?"
Gao Yaxian naturally would not tell Li Yuanji that he coveted the troops in Li Yuanji's hands. He deliberately frowned and said, "I just hope that Your Highness will treat Dou Qian well because of my obedience."
Li Yuanji smiled and nodded.
Using Dou Xian as an excuse is indeed a good idea.
But if you, Gao Yaxian, had not committed suicide in front of the camp, I might have believed your lies.
How could a person who doesn't care about life or death give in easily?
"I will send someone to take you to Luoyang in a while. When you arrive in Luoyang, Yuwen Bao will tell you what you should do."
Li Yuanji said with a smile.
Gao Yaxian was stunned and looked at Li Yuanji in surprise.
Li Yuanji smiled and asked, "Any questions?"
Gao Yaxian hesitated for a moment and said, "Your Highness should be going to Mingshui City, right?"
Li Yuanji did not hide it and nodded.
Gao Yaxian hurriedly said: "Your Highness wants to go to Mingshui City, he must want to participate in the battle of Mingshui City. I have been under Liu Heita for some time and I am quite familiar with him.
If Your Highness wants to achieve great success in Mingshui City, I can lend a helping hand."
"hehe……"
Li Yuanji laughed jokingly and said, "You guessed wrong. I went to Mingshui City not to seek any great merit."
Gao Yaxian's expression froze.
Li Yuanji continued, “I am an official of the first rank and have been conferred the title of prince, but my merits are of no use to me.
Let my second brother deal with Liu Heita.
After all, he has made a lot of preparations for this.”
Gao Yaxian became anxious and wanted to persuade Li Yuanji.
But Li Yuanji did not give him a chance, "Don't play your tricks in front of me. If it weren't for Su Dingfang's old feelings for you, you would have died long ago.
After you go to Luoyang, stay there well and do whatever Yuwen Bao asks you to do.
If you listen to me, I will ensure that you spend the rest of your life in peace and security.
If you don't obey me, I will hand you over to my father.
You should know clearly how my father treated you, Dou Jiande's former subordinates."
Gao Yaxian was shocked.
Li Yuanji said quietly, "My father killed you. Even if Su Dingfang wants to blame someone, he can't blame me."
After saying this, Li Yuanji didn't waste any more words with Gao Yaxian. He ordered a team of guards to take Gao Yaxian to Luoyang.
The reason why Gao Yaxian was not sent to Chang'an was because people were afraid that Li Yuan would find him and kill him.
Li Yuan hated Dou Jiande's former subordinates so much that he wanted to kill them all who had joined Liu Heita in the rebellion.
It would be strange if Li Yuan didn't kill Gao Yaxian as soon as he showed up in Chang'an.
Su Dingfang had just surrendered and had not yet repaid Gao Yaxian's kindness, so Gao Yaxian could not die now.
Su Dingfang watched from afar as Li Yuanji sent someone to send Gao Yaxian away, and hurriedly ran towards Li Yuanji.
Without waiting for Su Dingfang to speak, Li Yuanji explained: "I can trust you, but I can't trust him. After all, before this, he kept calling me Li Ni.
The place we are going to this time is Gaofen. Not far from Gaofen is Liu Heita’s military camp.
Once the news leaks out, we will most likely be surrounded by Liu Heita's army.
For the sake of our lives, I sent someone to send him to Luoyang first."
Su Dingfang felt much more at ease after hearing what Li Yuanji said.
Li Yuanji added: "Don't worry, Gao Yaxian was recruited by me personally, I can't possibly hurt him."
When Su Dingfang heard this, he was completely relieved.
If Li Yuanji goes back on his word on the matter of surrender, who would dare to surrender to him in the future?
Su Dingxiang saluted Li Yuanji and prepared to return to the team.
Li Yuanji stopped him, ordered someone to make a simple stretcher, and carried him to Gaofen.
On the way.
Qu Tutong approached Li Yuanji and asked, "Your Highness seems to think highly of Su Dingfang? I don't see anything special about Su Dingfang."
Li Yuanji glanced at Qu Tutong and said with a smile, "Even if Su Dingfang dies, he must protect Gao Yaxian. If I recruit such a person under my command, he can protect me when I encounter danger in the future."
It was naturally impossible for Li Yuanji to tell the truth to Qu Tutong, so he could only talk about Su Dingfang's loyalty.
Qu Tutong didn't believe a word of it, but he didn't ask any more questions.
Li Yuanji first issued an order to capture them alive, and then took Su Dingfang and Gao Yaxian away among thousands of surrendered soldiers and generals. After Su Dingfang chose to surrender, he generously entrusted Su Dingfang with important tasks.
If he guessed correctly, Li Yuanji had been targeting Su Dingfang from the very beginning.
The purpose is quite clear.
Gao Yaxian is obviously an extra.
Li Yuanji was unwilling to say anything, and he must have had a reason for not wanting to say it, so he didn't dare to continue asking.
However, on the way to Gaofen, he carefully observed Su Dingfang, trying to see what advantages Su Dingfang had that were worth Li Yuanji's attention.
When it was dawn.
Braving the wind and snow, the group finally arrived at Gaofen and hid in a dense forest at the foot of the tomb.
Outside the dense forest is Mingshui City.
From a distance, everyone could hear the calls coming from Mingshui City, as well as the sounds of bowstrings and screams.
The scouts sneaked out to investigate and reported to Li Yuanji when they came back.
"Your Highness, Liu Heita sent people to build a tunnel in the northeast of Mingshui City in the wind and snow, and it has now begun to take shape."
Li Yuanji didn't react when he heard this.
After hearing this, Qu Tutong frowned.
Once Liu Heita built the tunnel, it would not be easy for them to launch a surprise attack on him.
The tunnel not only helps Liu Heita attack Mingshui City, but also helps Liu Heita resist them.
The snow has already piled up to a foot and a half high, but there is still no sign of stopping. It will only pile higher as time goes by.
When the snow was more than two feet thick, even if they rushed out to launch a surprise attack on Liu Heita, it would be difficult for them to quickly reach Liu Heita's troops and pose a threat to Liu Heita, let alone create a chance for Luo Shixin to escape.
"Your Highness...please allow me to lead the army into the city..."
