After all, Li Yuan is also an emperor at the moment. He has experienced the war. The sudden threat made him instinctively panic, but he soon calmed down. He pondered for a moment and ordered him to hurry: "All the palace guards gathered to go to Xuanwu Gate.

To defend, pass on my will to Dou Gui, and quickly transfer back to the five thousand Yulin Army."

After Li Yuan's deployment was completed, the guards urged him again, "Your Majesty, leave the palace city quickly, the Sui army will attack the palace at any time."

Li Yuan also knew that the situation was critical, so he didn't wait to come over on a chariot and turned over and ran towards the imperial city. No matter what, he wanted to escape from the palace city first.

.........

Outside Xuanwu Gate, several palaces in Xi Neiyuan and the Yulin Army's barracks were also burned, with raging fires burning everywhere, and the entire Xi Neiyuan was filled with thick smoke.

At this time, the pressure from the Sui army continued to increase. Sui army soldiers cut down hundreds of big trees, piled them up in front of Xuanwu Gate, poured them with tinder oil, and burned them. The fire engulfed two gatehouses. Dozens of Tang army soldiers were too late.

Escape and was swallowed by the fire.

Not only Xuanwu Gate, the Sui army cavalry led rockets into the palace city, causing more than a dozen pavilions and pavilions near the city wall to be lit. The north side of Tai Chi Palace was trapped in a sea of ​​fire.

There were fires everywhere in the palace city, and the flames soaring into the sky at Xuanwu Gate were thirty feet high, so the entire Chang'an City could be clearly seen.

The Sui army's offensive in Dongcheng had weakened, and the Sui cavalry turned to Nancheng and launched an attack on Nancheng.

At this time, above the head of the East City, Dou Gui was staring blankly at the fire in the direction of the northern palace city. He was extremely shocked. It was not until this time that he finally realized why he did not see Yang Yuanqing. Yang Yuanqing actually led his army to attack.

The palace city to the north.

This is the Sui army's strategy of attacking the east and west. On the surface, it attacks the city, but in fact it attacks the palace city. This is a precedent that has never been seen before.

Dou Gui was immediately startled and let out a cold sweat. If the palace city was captured, he would become an eternal criminal minister of the Tang Dynasty. He urgently ordered Changsun Shunde: "General Changsun, you can lead 5,000 troops to support the palace, go quickly!"

Changsun Shunde was already sweating profusely. He took charge of the Yulin Army and took charge of the security of the palace, but he almost brought all the troops out of the palace. Less than a thousand people were left in the palace, and he did not realize that Yang Yuanqing would go to Xuanwu.

The gate attacks the palace city.

"Abide by the order!"

Changsun Shunde roared, turned around and ran towards the direction of the palace city. He cursed and yelled. Five thousand soldiers followed him away from the East City and ran wildly towards the North City.**...

Outside Xuanwu Gate, Yang Yuanqing was immediately under a big pine tree, staring at the fire at Xuanwu Gate. More than 2,000 guards on the city wall were fighting fiercely with the Sui cavalry, and the continuous Yulin Army was running from the east.

Come and join the battle against she.

There is no point in fighting any further. Yang Yuanqing finally issued an order, "Send the order to retreat!"

The order was issued, and two thousand Sui cavalry turned their horses and followed Yang Yuanqing toward Xiyuanmen. Soon, the team left the northern city of Chang'an, and Luo Shixin's army gathered in the southwest, and ten thousand Sui troops killed in Xianyang County.

go.

Under the escort of thousands of Yulin soldiers, Li Yuan stood on the outer city wall and watched the Sui cavalry go away. As soon as he breathed a sigh of relief, Pei Ji said on the side: "Your Majesty must not be careless. Yang Yuanqing is extremely cunning, and he is a humble minister.

I guess he will kill a shot back. If we relax a little, there will be danger of the city breaking down."

Xiao Yu also said worriedly: "This time the Sui army did not capture Chang'an because they were lightly soldiers and cavalry and did not carry siege weapons. But I remember that there were many long ladders in the Xianyang official warehouse. It was the last time when Xianyang city was repaired.

If you stay there, if you are found by the Sui army, it will be really troublesome."

Li Yuan was shocked. The Sui army's attack on Xuanwu Gate had scared him to pieces. If he turned around and had siege weapons, how could they resist it? He hurriedly asked: "Well, my dear friends."

See, what should I do now?"

Dou Gui bowed and said, "Your Majesty, it's still the old way. I will immediately recruit a large number of young and strong men in the city. At least 50,000 will be recruited, and the soldiers will be given to help defend the city. In addition, the reinforcements of the prince and the Qin King will be back immediately, and they will not be able to do so for a moment.

Delay again!”

Li Yuan gritted his teeth and said, "I will pass on my handwriting again and order the prince and the King of Qin to return to help in a hurry. Whoever dares to delay any more will be punished severely!"

.........

The offensive and defensive battle in Luoyang City has reached its fourth day. After three consecutive days of large-scale siege, today's siege finally stopped. Under Luoyang City, corpses piled up like mountains, damaged catapults, ladders and wreckage of nest vehicles are crooked in a row.

Descending to the ground, although the Tang army paid nearly 20,000 people, Luoyang City was still unable to capture it.

The cold winter helped Wang Shichong's guarding the city. Wang Shichong used ice water to pour the city into a particularly smooth place. The ladder slid away when he got on it. He had to hook the head of the city with a giant hook on the ladder, but Wang Shichong's army used iron.

A hammer smashes the hook, and a person can easily overturn the ladder, which puts the Tang army's attack into great disadvantage.

But Wang Shichong's army was also seriously injured, with nearly 20,000 soldiers killed and more than 20,000 civilians killed. Luoyang defenders were also on the verge of collapse.

The Tang army's camp was ten miles away from the west of the city, and the dense tents were endless and stretched for dozens of miles. At this time, in the central army's tent, Li Xiaogong said to Li Shimin worriedly: "I am most worried about Jingxiang now, this time, 100,000 yuan.

The army headed north, Jingxiang was empty and empty, Xiao Xian was a man who was very brave, and he didn't dare to expand west, so I was worried that the Sui army headed south to Jingxiang. Although the Sui army seemed to be a feint, if they really entered

Jingxiang, I am worried that it will cause serious consequences.”

The reason why the Tang army stopped attacking the city today was that they received a series of unfavorable information. First, the scout from Huaiyang County discovered that a Sui cavalry was heading south quickly, and the direction was Jingxiang.

Then, the Tang Feng spy from Hedong County discovered that Yang Yuanqing appeared in Hedong City. Li Shimin suspected that Yang Yuanqing was going to attack Guanzhong. As a result, he received an emergency order from his father early this morning, ordering him to return to the army immediately to rescue Guanzhong.

A series of accidents made Li Shimin feel like he was very anxious. He knew the root of all this. Yang Yuanqing's appearance in Hedong County meant that the war in the north had subsided, and it must have been the Sui army that defeated the Turks.

Li Shimin paced back and forth in the tent with his hands behind his back, frowning in a ball. This was a bit troublesome, and Jing Xiang would definitely have to return to defense.

The Sui army ended the northern battle, and it was a bit dangerous for Jingxiang to be empty. Although Xiao Xian did not dare to counterattack Jingxiang, if the Sui army went south to support him, he would most likely dare to attack.

Thinking of this, Li Shimin sighed and said to Li Xiaogong: "You will lead 80,000 troops south to Jingxiang. I am very worried that the Sui army will support Xiao Xian to counterattack Jingxiang."

Li Xiaogong was surprised. It was indeed very likely. Although Xiao Xian did not dare to attack Jingxiang, if the Sui army went south to support him, that was another matter. He immediately nodded, "I will withdraw back to Jingxiang immediately,

I will leave it to my second brother in Luoyang."

Seeing that Li Shimin was still a little worried, he asked, "Why, the 100,000 troops are not sure to take Luoyang?"

Li Shimin shook his head, "It's no problem to take Luoyang. I know it. I can conquer Luoyang in three days. The key is what to do if the Central Plains?"

Li Shimin sighed and said, "Yang Yuanqing led his army to attack Guanzhong. His father ordered me to return to the army immediately to support Guanzhong. In this way, if I lack the troops in my hands, I may not be able to strive for the Central Plains."

Li Xiaogong was silent for a moment and said, "I'm afraid this is Yang Yuanqing's purpose."

"I know, this is his plan, including sending troops to attack Jingxiang in the south, and to force you back, and then attack Guanzhong in the west, and to force my army back. After all, he is using the plan to surround Wei to save Zhao Zhice.

Frustrate our Central Plains offensive.”

Li Shimin sighed slightly again, "The problem is, I clearly know his intention, but I have to be led by him."

Li Xiaogong concentrating and thought for a moment: "I think the emperor must have ordered the prince to return to the aid. In fact, as long as the prince's army returns to the aid, it can save the danger in Guanzhong. If you don't return troops, you will continue to occupy the Central Plains after taking Luoyang. I think Yang Yuanqing

There is no way to deal with you for a moment."

"Xiao Gong means that I want me to resist the order and disrespect it?" Li Shimin asked with his eyes narrowed.

"Although it is a bit inappropriate for not following the order, as long as you take down the Central Plains, the crisis in Guanzhong will also be alleviated. Then you explain it to the emperor clearly, I think the problem should not be big."

Li Shimin shook his head again, "You are wrong. The consequences of not following the order are serious. The father regards military power more than anything else. If I don't listen to his transfer and do not obey the order, even if the crisis in Guanzhong is resolved.

No, even if I take down the Central Plains, he will never forgive me and will deprive me of my military power step by step."

The two were silent again. Li Shimin walked a few steps behind his back. He seemed to have thought of something and smiled slightly, "Maybe I can drag it out and send 50,000 reinforcements to walk slowly. When the crisis in Guanzhong is resolved, I will go back

I wrote a letter to ask my father for instructions and continued to attack the Central Plains, so that the prince would not be able to catch my handle."

"Will the Sui army agree?"

Li Xiaogong continued: "Since they have defeated the Turks and have no worries, he will allow us to occupy the Central Plains? Shimin, don't be too optimistic."

Li Shimin sneered, "Even if Yang Yuanqing defeated the Turks, he would definitely be a miserable victory. His army was exhausted and his strength was greatly reduced. How could he have the strength to compete with us for the Central Plains? Otherwise, Yang Yuanqing would not use the method of surprise attack on Guanzhong to force us.

Withdrawal, Tang is strong and Sui is weak now. As long as we can grit our teeth and hold it back, then the Central Plains must belong to us."

Li Shimin has always been resentful of the defeat of the Central Plains a few months ago. It was not his problem, but his father's command mistake. After finally allowing him to use all his troops this time, he would not take another wrong step.

He must retake the Central Plains. Even if Yang Yuanqing uses the strategy of siege Wei to save Zhao, he will never let Yang Yuanqing succeed so easily.

.......(To be continued...)
Chapter completed!