Chapter 144: Take Kawahara within ten days

Late at night five days later, Meng Hu finally returned to Xiling and sent someone to summon Qi Diaozi to the Governor's Mansion overnight.

As soon as he entered the hall, Qi Diaozi saw Meng Hu talking to Zhao Qinghan, and immediately said happily: "General, are you back?"

Meng Hu turned around and smiled and said hello: "Lao Qi, I'm so embarrassed to disturb you when you're so late."

"What is the general?" Qi Diaozi hurriedly said, "It is an honor to be able to share the worries of the general."

"Okay, let's not talk about these useless things." Meng Hu waved his hand and said, "Qing Han had already roughly told me about what happened recently, especially the legion competition, you have handled it very well. This time, the Western Legion can become the vanguard army of the Western Expedition Army, and you are the number one hero!"

Speaking of this, Meng Hu suddenly stopped talking and turned to Zhao Qinghan and said, "Qinghan, you go and rest first."

Zhao Qinghan couldn't help but give Meng Hu a blank look, but still left the hall obediently.

Watching Zhao Qinghan twist her slender waist and leave the hall, Meng Hu's expression suddenly became solemn, and she asked in a low voice: "Lao Qi, what do you think about this Western Expedition?"

Qi Diaozi smiled and said, "From the perspective of the Beishi, there is no problem in occupying Qingzhou this time. It will be a bit difficult to occupy a larger territory. It is completely impossible to destroy the Mingyue Empire! Although the Mingyue Empire is full of difficulties now, no matter how big the difficulties are, they are only temporary. Situ Rui and Qiu Yutang are not Yi people."

"Um."

Meng Hu nodded and said, "Although Situ Rui has more than 200,000 troops in his hands, they are all tired troops and their morale is low. It is indeed impossible to defend Qingzhou under the fierce attack of more than 500,000 imperial troops. But do you think Meng Yan will stop the attack after occupying Qingzhou?"

Qi Diaozi said: "It is hard to say whether Meng Yan will stop attacking after occupying Qingzhou. However, as far as I know, Meng Ke's letter to Meng Yan clearly stated that the intention of this Western Expedition is only in Qingzhou, not to destroy the Mingyue Empire. Meng Ke is a wise man, knowing that the empire does not have the strength to destroy the Mingyue Empire at this time."

"Is that true?" Meng Hu frowned, "The empire's intentions are only in Qingzhou?"

Meng Hu's intention was to let the Guanghui Empire and the Mingyue Empire fight both sides, but if Meng Yan really wants to conquer Qingzhou, he will not fight, and this unprecedented century war will not be able to fight, and Meng Hu's wishful thinking will be dashed. This is something he doesn't want to see and cannot tolerate.

Qi Diaozi said: "Although General, Meng Ke and the Empire mean only in Qingzhou, the highest commander of the Western Expedition Army is Meng Yan after all, and General, you are also the third commander, so there are great variables in some things. If things go smoothly beyond everyone's imagination, Meng Yan is completely likely to abandon Meng Ke's established strategy."

"Oh?" Meng Hu said happily, "Let Meng Yan abandon Meng Ke's established strategy?"

"Well." Qi Diaozi nodded, "If Meng Yan wants to change Meng Ke's established strategy, it is not impossible to develop the ambition of destroying the Mingyue Empire, but there must be a premise, that is, our Western Legion can easily take Kawahara. In this way, Meng Yan's judgment of the resistance ability of the Mingyue Empire will be deviated!"

"Um." Meng Hu said, "It seems that we not only want to win the battle in Kawahara, but also win beautiful things!"

Qi Diaozi laughed and said, "General, wise, hehe."

Meng Hu pondered for a moment and suddenly asked, "Old Qi, if the Western Legion goes to war tomorrow, can Kawahara be captured within ten days?"

Qi Diaozi pondered for a moment and replied: "It should be possible. It is more than 800 miles from Xiling to Heyuan. It takes about seven days to march urgently. The remaining three days are enough to capture Kayuan City! After all, Kayuan City is just a small town in the border town, and Situ Rui cannot leave too many troops here to defend the enemy!"

Kawahara, Situ Rui's temporary headquarters.

When Yan Changkong strode through the throne, Situ Rui was staring at the map on the table. His old face was full of sadness, and his blood-covered eyes were filled with tears. Yes, it was tears. Yan Changkong was absolutely not wrong. The Governor, who was as calm as a stone, actually cried!

In an instant, Yan Changkong felt a tumultuous heart and said in a stern voice: "Governor..."

Situ Rui wiped away the tears on his back, and when he turned around, he had recovered from his coldness. He picked up a letter from the table and handed it to Yan Changkong, and said in a serious tone: "This is the urgent letter that the Yuewang just sent to the letter from Feige. You can take a look first."

Yan Changkong silently took the letter and read it. After reading the letter, his face changed instantly.

Situ Rui asked sadly: "Have you seen it clearly?"

Yan Changkong said solemnly: "See clearly."

Situ Rui sighed and said, "Then Kawahara will be handed over to you. Gong Yue and Gong Rui's two regiments will stay. This governor can only give you so many troops. Kawahara can defend if he can. If he cannot, he will abandon the city as soon as possible before the enemy encirclement, and move forward to the area explained to the Moon King. Remember, the march must be kept secret and never let the enemy spies discover their whereabouts!"

Yan Changkong suddenly straightened his chest and replied, "Yes!"

The next morning, Meng Yan held a military meeting.

Apart from Meng Yan, Zheng Chongguang, Le Yu, Meng Hu and other three legion commanders, there were only Meng Yan’s two confidant aides, Shi Miyuan and Pu Sanzhi. In addition to Chongshan, almost all the senior core members of the Western Expedition Army were present.

Meng Yan originally did not want to hold this military meeting because he did not want to sit in the same row with Meng Hu. Meng Hu was also the commander of the Western Expedition Army. According to the imperial regulations, Meng Hu would sit on Meng Yan's right side, rather than sitting on the left and right sides like Zheng Chongguang and others.

However, in order to get Zhao Qinghan, Meng Yan endured it.

Meng Yan had only one purpose in this military meeting, that is, to let Meng Hu's Western Legion go to war immediately. In this way, Meng Hu and Zhao Qinghan's marriage was ruined again.

Although Meng Yan is extremely lustful and especially likes to force his wife, he still has a deep affection for Zhao Qinghan. In his heart, he has even made Zhao Qinghan the queen's candidate. Since Zhao Qinghan is the best candidate for the queen, of course she can't marry Meng Hu. Otherwise, if Meng Hu dies in the future, wouldn't Zhao Qinghan become a widow?

Meng Yan gently tapped the table in front of him and said loudly: "Although the Governor of Chongshan and the Northern Legion have not arrived yet, the Western Expedition cannot be delayed for a moment. If we go out one day late, the Mingyue Empire Army will have more time to prepare. The longer the time is delayed, the more unfavorable it will be for the empire. The king means to raise an army today."

After saying that, Meng Yan turned his head and looked at Meng Hu, and asked indifferently: "What do General Meng Hu think?"

Meng Hu responded expressionlessly: "I fully agree with Your Highness's opinion."

Meng Yan turned his gaze to Zheng Chongguang and Le Yu again and asked, "What do the two governors mean?"

Zheng Chongguang and Le Yu looked at each other and said yes, but they thought in their hearts that you two commanders had already set aside. Is there any room for us to object? Speaking of which, Zheng Chongguang and Le Yu were really dissatisfied. It is reasonable that Meng Yan was the prince to serve as the supreme commander, but why did Meng Hu, a young boy, crawl over their heads and become commanders?

"Okay." Meng Yan said loudly, "Since everyone has no objection, the matter of sending troops to the next day is decided."

After saying that, Meng Yan turned his head to Meng Hu and said, "General Meng Hu, the morale and fighting spirit of the Western Legion are very high. In the Legion Competition, I compared my guards. This time, the Western Legion was the front-line. I believe that the Western Legion will definitely win and make another contribution."

Meng Hu said calmly: "Your Highness, although you don't worry, although the Western Legion has been rebuilt for a while, there are many new recruits in the army. But Beizhi really didn't take that old guy Situ Rui and the more than 200,000 defeated soldiers under his command seriously. It only takes ten days for Beizhi to take Kawahara City!"

"ah?"

"What? Ten days!"

Zheng Chongguang and Le Yu looked at each other, unable to believe their ears.

Park Sanzhi's face also changed drastically, thinking that his ears were not working well, or did Meng Hu go crazy? It's seven or eight hundred miles from Xiling to Hayuan, and it's time to march for seven or eight days? Is it still possible to take Kayuan in two or three days? This guy really doesn't know that the sky is high and the earth is so strong that he really dares to brag!

Shi Miyuan's eyes suddenly narrowed, and he lowered his head and didn't know what he was thinking.

Meng Yan, who was sitting in the main seat, was almost so angry that he vomited blood on the spot by Meng Hu's words. Although Meng Hu's tone was very calm and had no intention of being arrogant at all, what he said was so crazy! Take Kawahara within ten days? Does this bastard think Kawahara is the border town of the empire? Can the Western Legion enter the city as long as it drives over?

However, Meng Yan was not stupid either, and soon realized that this was a good opportunity to frame Meng Hu.

Meng Yan frowned and said, "General Meng Hu, as the commander, you should know that there is no joke in the army?"

"I am willing to issue a military order!" Meng Hu said sneeringly, "If the Western Legion cannot take Kawahara within ten days, I am willing to accept military law!"

"Okay!" Meng Yan said quickly, "This is what you said yourself. The two governors and two gentlemen have proved. I have no intention of forcing General Meng Hu. Since the general voluntarily issued a military order, I cannot stop you from serving the empire. Then, if the Western Legion can really take Kawahara within ten days, the general will be the first contribution. If the Western Legion cannot take Kawahara within ten days..."

Meng Yan said this, and a trace of murderous intent suddenly appeared in his eyes, and he said in a cold voice: "Then don't blame me for being rude!"

Meng Hu stood up, clasped his fists and said, "I will never complain!"

"Okay." Meng Yan stood up and waved his hand and said, "Today's meeting ends here. Everyone should go back and prepare. The army will start this afternoon!"

"yes!"

Meng Hu, Zheng Chongguang and Le Yu agreed and took the order.

Watching the three of them go away, a grim smile suddenly flashed across Meng Yan's face and said coldly: "Meng Hu, Meng Hu, this time, I'm not a wonder. You are too arrogant, hum!"
Chapter completed!