Sui and Tang Dynasties: You were driven out of Wagang, but you surrendered to Yang Guang and were ma

Chapter 238 8 vs 8, the advantage is mine

"Let's not talk about those things anymore!"

Dou Jiande kept slamming his hands on the table, making loud thumping sounds, showing his restlessness.

"Let's talk about the present! The Li family is about to launch a military campaign. With a formidable enemy at hand, why are you still bothering with these old grudges?"

"Right now?" Dou Xianniang sneered.

"I'm so afraid that once word gets out about Luo Yi, Qin Qiong will kill you."

He could even harm his own uncle, let alone you, his father-in-law?

"Don't mention this again!" Dou Jiande turned his head sharply, glanced outside the tent, lowered his voice, and a hint of panic flashed in his eyes.

If he hadn't acted first and informed Qin Qiong later, and hadn't kept Qin Qiong in the dark when he killed Luo Yi, how could Qin Qiong have allowed him to kill him?

This was also to completely bind Qin Qiong, leaving him with no way out.

Nowadays, Qin Qiong is disgraced and is criticized wherever he goes.

But once this matter is exposed, and Qin Qiong learns the truth and realizes that he was tricked by Dou Jiande, he might very well turn around and bite back.

"In that case, Father, please don't bring up the matter of marriage again."

Seeing her father's expression, Dou Xianniang understood what was going on.

"If we don't win Qin Qiong over, how can he help our Dou family?"

"If he is loyal, he will help the Dou family even without this marriage."

If he has a change of heart, can his daughter keep him from leaving?

After Dou Xianniang finished speaking, she strode out.

Once outside the tent, she grabbed the halberd stuck in the ground, didn't even glance at Qin Qiong, and strode away.

"Shubao," Dou Jiande said, rubbing his hands together with an awkward smile as he saw Qin Qiong re-enter the tent, "I just discussed it with Xianniang, and we've decided to postpone the marriage for now. What do you think?"

"It's entirely up to my father-in-law to make the decision."

Qin Qiong frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes, but he did not press further and simply bowed in response.

He knew in his heart that this matter could not be rushed and had to be done slowly.

Seeing this, Dou Jiande felt a little relieved.

Immediately, he summoned Liu Heita, Wang Fubao, and other trusted confidants to discuss how to resist the approaching Li family army.

But Qin Qiong, who was in this place, had already let his thoughts fly to the ends of the earth.

He simply couldn't understand why Dou Xianniang looked down on him so much.

Could it be that with his abilities and appearance, he is truly unworthy of her?

Or perhaps she believed the rumors circulating outside and misunderstood herself?

Just as Li's army was about to march east out of Hebei, the situation in the Jianghuai region, thousands of miles away, was also undergoing many changes.

Lü Xiao was in the Sui army camp, sitting upright in the central command tent.

Outside the tent, scouts came and went incessantly, and military intelligence reports poured in like a flowing stream.

Since the news of Luo Yi's murder and the fall of Beiping Prefecture spread, more rebel forces have sprung up like mushrooms after rain.

In recent days, the combined forces on Siping Mountain have increased their strength again.

The number has increased from the original 500,000 to nearly 600,000 or 700,000.

The mountains and plains are covered with camps that stretch as far as the eye can see.

"Your Highness, several more groups of rebels have reached Siping Mountain!"

Yuwen Chenglong scurried into the main tent, his face beaming with exaggerated expressions, gesturing wildly as he spoke.

He now knows what it means to be surrounded by a sea of ​​people, with flags waving everywhere.

If each of them urinated, their entire camp would be washed away.

"Good thing they're here. The more the better, so I don't have to go looking for them one by one later. Gathering them all together and taking them all in one go is so much easier."

Lu Xiao leaned back in his chair, his arms dangling, and occasionally reached out to stroke the forehead of Da Hu, who was dozing off beside him.

Big Tiger squinted comfortably, making gurgling sounds in his throat.

"If things continue like this, the rebel coalition will probably have 800,000 men."

Yuwen Chenglong stood in the main tent, counting on his fingers for a long time, his face full of worry.

He was genuinely afraid that if each of them urinated, they could wash away all 80,000 of them.

The thought of that scene is enough to send chills down your spine.

He turned to look at Li Jing beside him, only to find that the man showed no worry at all.

Instead, he even wore a faint smile, as if he were watching a good show.

"Pharmacist, aren't you worried?"

Yuwen Chenglong couldn't help but ask.

"I'm not worried." Li Jing shook his head indifferently, his tone calm.

He wasn't afraid of having many enemies; the more the better.

As the saying goes, provisions are the lifeblood of an army.

Eight hundred thousand people, feeding the people and horses every day, such consumption would be unbearable even for a rebel army.

Even their imperial army suffered considerable losses.

Unfortunately, the allied forces were most lacking in food supplies. He didn't even need to attack; he could simply sit back and wait to starve the army to death.

At that time, they will collapse without a fight and be defeated without an attack.

"Eight hundred thousand people, wow, that's no small number."

Upon hearing this number, Lü Xiao displayed a strange expression, as if he were savoring something.

"Your Highness, there are still 50,000 troops stationed in Jiangdu City. Should we send reinforcements?"

Yuwen Chenglong remembered this and quickly made the suggestion.

If the rebels gather at Siping Mountain, then why should Jiangdu City keep so many troops?

Bring them all over, it'll be good to boost morale.

"No need, no need." Lü Xiao stood up and slowly walked to the entrance of the tent, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Eighty thousand against eight hundred thousand, the advantage is in my hands."

Currently, the imperial army has stationed 80,000 troops on Siping Mountain.

Ten thousand of them were elite Red Vanguard troops, and twenty thousand were regular troops brought from the Eastern Capital.

The remaining 50,000 men were the local garrison of Jiangdu.

In terms of sheer numbers, these 80,000 people are indeed not many, only one-tenth of the enemy's.

But Lü Xiao didn't think so.

The mere presence of Cheng Yaojin, the spy he planted within the Allied Forces, was enough to give those 800,000 men a run for their money.

He has people on both sides, how can the allied forces win?

How can you win?

"Your Highness is right."

Yuwen Chenglong opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but realized that saying more would be pointless.

Now, Lü Xiao says whatever comes to mind in his dreams.

I can't persuade them, I simply can't persuade them.

"Aww!"

Just then, the tiger, who had been dozing off to the side, suddenly opened its amber eyes.

It roared at Yuwen Chenglong, the sound shaking the surrounding area and making Yuwen Chenglong tremble.

"You're talking badly about me again."

Lu Xiao reached out and touched the tiger's furry forehead. This tiger was truly intelligent.

It can sense who is hostile towards it and what someone is thinking in their heart.

"I didn't mean to." Yuwen Chenglong took two steps back sheepishly, full of regret.

I should have known better than to have such thoughts; even if I did, this beast would have found out.

But how could he possibly control this thing?

As I kept thinking about it, my thoughts went astray.

"Has there been any news from Jiangling recently?"

Lu Xiao didn't dwell on it too much, and changed the subject, asking about the important matter.

Xu Maogong left Siping Mountain for Jiangling some time ago; he must have some ulterior motive, and we must be wary of him.