No surprises at all.
The ministers request battle!
And Gu Yi naturally wouldn't give up on such an opportunity, so he immediately manipulated Gu Xiao to stand up and said loudly: "Your Majesty, I request to join the battle."
"If I cannot take Chang'an, I am willing to accept military punishment!"
Merit must be seized!
Especially at such a time.
Gu Yi remembered very clearly that in the original history, the Red Eyebrow Army did not stay long in Chang'an and had to withdraw due to issues with supplies and military morale.
Even though Gu Yi couldn't lead an army.
But with such foresight, this was a gift of merit!
Upon hearing this, Liu Xiu immediately looked towards Gu Xiao.
A trace of hesitation flashed in his eyes.
Regarding Gu Xiao, Liu Xiu was actually quite puzzled. Many times he could sense that Gu Xiao was just a simple military general.
To put it bluntly, he could be a general but not a commander.
However, in all this time of interaction.
Gu Xiao continually exceeded his expectations.
Whether it was capturing Feng Yi in the past or securing Handan later.
Gu Xiao displayed impressive intelligence and tactics.
This disparity made Liu Xiu very curious.
But he only hesitated for a moment before nodding slightly.
"Good!"
"Summon, appoint Gu Xiao as General of the Western Expedition, Deng Yu as General of Pingxi, leading an army of one hundred thousand to take Chang'an directly!"
At that moment, Liu Xiu's decisive command ability was perfectly showcased.
He didn't finish speaking.
Instead, he looked at Gu Xiao and Deng Yu and continued, "Guanzhong is in great famine, and the Red Eyebrow Army's supplies can't last long."
"The two generals, remember."
"Without absolute confidence, you must not engage the Red Eyebrow Army head-on when they're at their wit's end."
As he said this, he paused, pointing at the map on the ground.
"As long as you can push the Red Eyebrow Army into a corner given the current situation."
"Kui Xiao has heavy troops stationed in the west."
"If they wish to leave Guanzhong, they can only exit from the east or south."
"Hou Jin and Geng Yan, heed my command!"
"Each of you will lead troops to garrison at Xin'an and Yiyang. If the Red Eyebrow Army passes through here, attack immediately, and kill those who don't surrender!"
"I will personally lead the central army, awaiting your news."
Liu Xiu efficiently settled everything, showcasing a leadership quality that made everyone submissive.
Even Gu Yi was somewhat astonished.
Such is the capability of a founding Emperor!
If he couldn't dominate contemporary times, how could he pacify the world amidst the chaos?
The three armies thundered.
Presently, if Liu Xiu's regime were fully mobilized, it could be described as a terrifying war machine.
And Liu Xiu's target this time is not only Guanzhong.
There is also King Liang Liu Yoong in Guandong!
Facing such an opponent, Liu Xiu didn't even consider taking action himself but merely dispatched Tiger Tooth General Gai Yan and other generals for an eastern expedition!
The great battle resumes.
....
Chang'an.
When Gu Xiao and Deng Yu led their troops here, it was just as Gu Yi expected.
The Red Eyebrow Army had no intention of resisting.
They had already withdrawn from Chang'an.
It must be said that in such circumstances, Gu Xiao's ability seemed somewhat lacking.
The issues of commanding troops along the way were almost all handled by Deng Yu.
No choice.
Gu Yi also didn't understand commanding troops.
Being someone who lived in peaceful times and was just a fresh graduate, where would he learn to command troops?
Reality is not a novel.
Leading an army of one hundred thousand is not just idle talk.
The provisions of the army, various deployments—all require various arrangements to be made.
Compared to the illustrious Yun Tai Twenty-eight Generals in history, naturally, Gu Xiao was no match.
But Gu Yi didn't care about such trifles.
He only needed to make correct choices at crucial moments.
"Hahaha!"
"General, the Red Eyebrow Army is nothing much."
"Now that they've retreated, it seems they acknowledge the might of our army, and dare not oppose us!"
Walking into Chang'an city.
Deng Yu and the other generals were naturally very happy, laughing heartily, simply feeling that this merit was practically handed to them for free.
Stop laughing, stop laughing...
In history, both you and Feng Yi were beaten by the Red Eyebrow Army, almost to the point of death.
Gu Yi secretly ridiculed in his heart, then upon a thought, he manipulated Gu Xiao to say: "Zhong Hua, you must not take it lightly."
"Pass my order, reinforce defenses immediately."
"Prepare to meet the enemy."
Gu Xiao still held significant prestige in Liu Xiu's army.
No helping it, his merits were too great.
At first, in the Battle of Kunyang, he was the first to follow Liu Xiu, going through life and death with him, and later captured Feng Yi, again helping Liu Xiu to get this valiant general.
Later, in the land of Hebei, he broke Handan and then successively led the army to attack the peasant armies in various places.
Such merits.
Even Deng Yu, a friend of Liu Xiu from childhood, was very convinced.
But hearing this, they were still quite surprised.
"Meet the enemy?"
Deng Yu looked at Gu Xiao questioningly and asked, "General, the Red Eyebrow Army has retreated. What enemy are we still meeting?"
"I anticipate that the Red Eyebrow Army will retreat from Longyou this time."
"They will definitely be defeated by Kui Xiao."
Saying this, Gu Yi looked up at the sky, stretched out his hand to feel the increasingly cold weather, "In such severe cold, if the Red Eyebrow Army is defeated, they can only retreat to Chang'an."
"This battle, won't be easy for us to fight!"
Deng Yu was the chief among the twenty-eight generals of Yuntai in history.
Although he had not reached his peak yet, he was far more extraordinary than ordinary people.
He immediately furrowed his brows and fell into thought.
A moment later.
His expression suddenly changed.
"The general's words are reasonable!"
He was greatly shocked, no longer excited, and quickly began to arrange for deployment.
No way around it, if things did indeed develop this way.
Then the Red Eyebrow Army at that time must have been driven to a corner.
The combat power of the army at such time was unimaginable, and he had to take it seriously.
But Gu Yi, at this time, directly controlled Gu Xiao to stop him: "Zhong Hua, I have other matters to entrust to you."
"Please speak, General!"
By this moment, Deng Yu had completely lost all his dissatisfaction with Gu Xiao as the General of the Western Expedition and immediately cupped his hands towards Gu Xiao and said.
"Order you to select elite soldiers from the army."
"Disguise as the Red Eyebrow Army and go out of the city."
"When the Red Eyebrow Army falls into desperation."
"You and I will attack them from front and back and will surely break the enemy!"
Gu Yi didn't need to say much.
This was Deng Yu!
The chief of the legendary twenty-eight generals of Yuntai in history!
Speaking of military capability, no one knew how much stronger he was than Gu Yi, who was just a military novice.
Just by giving a slight hint.
Deng Yu would think of the way himself!
Indeed, after a brief silence, Deng Yu's eyes instantly brightened.
He didn't hesitate a bit and immediately took on this task.
"General, rest assured!"
Having said so, he immediately turned and left.
The entire city of Chang'an instantly came alive, facing this upcoming great battle, Gu Yi was much more serious than any before.
In the original history.
The Red Eyebrow Army first defeated Deng Yu, the chief of the twenty-eight generals of Yuntai.
Then they defeated Feng Yi, who replaced Deng Yu.
The level of these two people needs no further explanation.
Facing such opponents, how could Gu Yi afford to be careless?
Indeed, everything was just as Gu Yi anticipated.
In the land of Longyou, Kui Xiao defeated the Red Eyebrow Army.
As the weather grew increasingly cold, the Red Eyebrow Army could only retreat into Guanzhong, heading to Chang'an!
The great battle resumed!
Facing the Red Eyebrow Army, now desperate to seize every chance of survival, Gu Yi only had one strategy!
That was to hold onto Chang'an to the death!
The early fortifications now played a crucial role without any hesitation.
Though the Red Eyebrow Army was fierce.
They seemed somewhat powerless when confronted with the gigantic city of Chang'an.
One day;
Two days;
Three days;
Ten days;
As the weather grew more frigid, Gu Yi stubbornly guarded the city, wearing down the sharpness of the Red Eyebrow Army!
Finally, on the fifteenth day!
As the Red Eyebrow Army's sharpness gradually diminished, Gu Yi finally chose to muster his forces to confront the Red Eyebrow Army!
Meanwhile, Deng Yu, who had been hiding behind the Red Eyebrow Army, cooperated with Gu Yi to launch the attack on that day!
Under the city of Chang'an.
The sound of killing was earth-shattering.
In such a frontal and rear assault, the Red Eyebrow Army, which had completely lost its sharpness, was utterly defeated!
Gu Yi forced nearly a hundred thousand to surrender!
The remaining Red Eyebrow Army fled south to Yiyang, only to be blocked by Geng Yan, who was stationed in Yiyang.
Soon, they were directly confronted by the central forces sent by Liu Xiu as reinforcements.
In desperation, they could only seek surrender.
This battle settled Guanzhong!...
....
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