The spring rain is much smaller. At the foot of the northern foot of Songshan Mountain, there are dense pine forests. Under the watering of the spring rain, there is a lush scenery. The soldiers of the Zhao army with leggings are moving forward. The Zhao army is like a long dragon, unable to see the head and tail, while Li Chongjiu presses his horse and holds a whip to look at the hills in the distance.

The soldiers on the side built a temporary camp. Li Chongjiu got off his horse and took off his straw raincoat and sat on a trunk. The soldiers grabbed the four corners of a sheepskin map and spread it to Li Chongjiu. The map was densely packed with arrows. The three civil servants, Xue Wanshu, Zhang Xuansu, and Ji Chuan, also took off their straw raincoats and hurried to the camp to meet Li Chongjiu. The soldiers had already served the stewed ginger soup to the three of them.

"Where did Guo Shiheng's front army advance?"

"Half a day ago, breaking through Gongxian County and fighting against the Tang army in the south of the city. The Tang army retreated after losing. The former Zheng army surrendered to Li Tang's Gongxian County Magistrate turned against him. Gongxian has been recovered. Now the Zheng army's vanguard is advancing towards Yanshi." Xue Wanshu reported to Li Chongjiu on the side.

"After capturing Yanshi, you can arrive at Luoyang City. I didn't expect that the Zheng army still had some strength." Ji Chuan said with a smile.

Zhang Xuansu was silent for a while and said, "No, I see Wang Xuanying, Guo Shiheng is in danger."

"Zhang Aiqing, what do you say?" Li Chongjiu asked.

Zhang Xuansu said: "How could the Tang army be defeated by the Zheng army with the strength? If the two of them were defeated, Shang Hao would not suffer a major loss. If they win, it would be a trick to lure the enemy."

Li Chongji nodded, and everyone discussed for a while. At this time, on the north bank of the Yellow River, Xu Shiji and Wang Mahan's 20,000 troops were unstoppable.

King Li Shentong of Huai'an was defeated step by step, conquering Xinxiang and winning two counties. Li Shentong suffered losses and retreated to Henei City to meet Liu Dewei's troops before he could curb the defeat. Xu Shiji's vanguard Su Dingfang had already led his army and attacked less than thirty miles from Heyang.

Once Heyang is captured, it means that the Zhao army can cross the river and rescue Luoyang at any time. If Li Chongji is still blocked in front of Hulao Pass today, then Xu Shiji's 20,000 army can take the lead, not only can heal Luoyang, but also the Tang army in Hulao Pass, there is a danger of being cut off at any time.

Xue Wanshu said: "Huang Junhan, the general manager of the Tang army, has been defeated. Li Tang only has Liu Dewei, the general manager of the Luzhou army, in Hebei. His main soldiers are all in Henoi, and there are not many soldiers guarding Heyang. The two generals Xu and Wang are not a problem to capture Heyang, but it depends on how long the Tang army in Heyang can hold on."

Li Chongjiu pointed to the map with a horse whip and said, "Cheng Mingzhen's navy and Su Dingfang's elite cavalry are imperative to attack Heyang. Our army in Heyang must be in hand to let Xu Shiji. Wang Mahan continues to lead his army deeper, ignoring Li Shentong and Liu Dewei's Tang army in Hanoi. He will turn south and attack the three cities of Heyang along the river, which will be a great contribution."

"No!" Xue Wanshu immediately drafted a document for Li Chongjiu and ordered people to cross the river and send it to Xu Shiji's army.

After handling military affairs, Li Chongjiu closed his eyes and rested for a while.

"Urgent report!"

A cavalry came to the camp and stopped. The horses were covered with mud. The other party turned over and dismounted and said to Li Chongjiu: "Your Majesty, the vanguard of the Zheng army was hiding east of Yanshi. The Tang army generals, the Prince of Zheng and Guo Shiheng, were surrounded by them. They were being attacked. The situation was in danger!"

Zhang Xuansu hit the point. This incident was not beyond Li Chongjiu's expectations.

Xue Wanshu said: "Your Majesty, although Wang Xuanying took it upon himself, for the sake of the Allied forces, we cannot sit idly by and send troops to rescue immediately, otherwise the Zheng army will be over."

Li Chongjiu stood up, looked at the mountains in the distance with his hands behind his back, but he didn't say anything.

Ji Chuan couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, the reinforcements are like putting out fires, and they can't be delayed for a moment."

Li Chongjiu turned around and said, "No, our army will not move!"

Li Chongjiu said this. Xue Wanshu and Ji Chuan were both shocked, but Zhang Xuansu showed a slightly thoughtful expression.

Yanshi is only twenty miles east of Luoyang. For Wang Xuanying, Yanshi is a blessed land for the Zheng army. They defeated Li Mi here, and Li Mi's plan to enter the Central Plains failed. But for the eight thousand Zheng army, this is a dead place.

Because of the rain, the Luo River surged and the water flowed on the river bank quickly. But on both sides of the river bank, Li Tang cavalry wearing black armor rushed out of the dense forest valley. Zheng army threw away their armor and fled along the river bank. Li Tang's cavalry immediately set their bows and arrows and shot at Zheng army.

The Tang army cavalry shot arrows without any slightest. Zheng army soldiers ran in a hurry and kept rushing to the ground in their vests. When they were chasing near, the Tang army drew their sabers and slashed the Zheng army on their horses. The Luoshen was not seen on the banks of the Luoshui River, but they could only witness the Zheng army soldiers being chopped down by the Tang army. Some Zheng army saw that the Tang army was chasing, but they jumped into the water without caring about the Taotao Luoshui and were swept away by the torrents.

The Zheng army was killed and injured on the river bank, which was a terrible sight. Li Shimin watched all this leisurely, and it was too easy for him to defeat the Zheng army.

At this time, the general Hou Junji rode his horse and threw a head on the ground and said, "This is Guo Shiheng, the general of the Zheng army. If he fights me for three times, he will be beheaded."

Li Shimin glanced at the head on the ground and said, "What kind of Zheng army general is just a person who sells the first place in front of you."

Hou Jun gathered and praised Li Shimin very happily. At this time, another Tang army general Cheng Yaojin also rode his horse and said, "Your Highness, the rest of the Zheng army have surrendered to us, only the Crown Prince Wang Xuanying, several Zheng officials, and hundreds of Zheng soldiers have retreated to the mountain. The last general asked if he wanted to live?"

"Then you need to say it?" Hou Junji said, "If you arrest Wang Xuanying, you can force Wang Shichong to surrender."

Cheng Yaojin said: "Okay, I understand, I'll go get him."

"Slow down!" Li Shimin stopped Cheng Yaojin.

Seeing Li Shimin stopping him, Cheng Yaojin couldn't help but look anxious and said, "Your Highness, what are you waiting for? If you wait for the reinforcements of Zhao army to come, my cooked duck will fly."

Li Shimin looked at Cheng Yaojin with a smile and said, "I am just waiting for the reinforcements of Zhao's army!"

Hou Junji and Cheng Yaojin were stunned and then suddenly realized.

Hou Junji said: "The King of Qin wants to use Wang Xuanying as bait to surround and attack support. This is really a clever plan!"

Cheng Yaojin paused the horse spear to the ground and said, "Okay, as soon as the Zhao army and the horse reinforcements arrived, I, old Cheng, can kill you again."

Li Shimin said: "Yes, Li Junxian, Chai Shao has been ambushed on the banks of Luoshui. Hou Junji led his troops to detour the mountain. Once the Zhao army is trapped, he will siege them into his pocket. Cheng Zhijie leads his troops to siege Wang Xuanying. When Zhao army arrives, he pretends to be defeated and retreats, leading them into his pocket."

"No!" Hou Junji and Cheng Yaojin took the order together.

In fact, Li Shimin temporarily retreated from Hulao, because the Zhao army had bypassed Hulao and could attack Heyang with Xu Shiji's army at any time, and copy the Tang army's retreat in Hulao Pass. Second, because Li Yuan's imperial edict had been issued, if he did not retreat from Hulao Pass, he would disobey the order on the spot. Even if he won this battle, he would definitely break with Li Yuan.

Therefore, Li Shimin used roundabout means to deliberately withdraw troops from Hulao Pass. On the one hand, he paralyzed the Zhao army, thinking that Li Shimin let them go west to Luoyang, and the Tang army had already retreated. In this way, Li Shimin suddenly killed a retaliation and defeated the Zhao army who was eager to enter Luoyang to rescue the siege. On the other hand, he also made an explanation in front of Li Yuan, and claimed that he would confront the Zhao army in the battle behind the palace of Yanshi, avoiding the disrespect of disobedience.

In fact, with Li Shimin's tenacious personality, he would win if he could give up, and he gave up half a year of hard work. Li Shimin moved the battlefield from Hulao Pass to Yanshi. Just like Wang Shichen blocking Li Mi in Yanshi, he set up a battlefield to win and lose one victory with Li Chong.

After detours, the result did not change. However, Li Shimin took retreat as an advance, not only resolved his own various unfavorable situations, but also won the initiative for himself.

Now Li Shimin looked at Luo Shui, who was dyed red, and thought to himself: Li Chongjiu should stop playing those conspiracies and tricks, and he should come and fight Gu in a dignified manner. After Yanmen Pass, Gu has been waiting for this battle for ten years.

Li Shimin waved his whip heavily, and the war horse neighed, and his hooves sank into the rain and fog. Li Shimin was waiting at Yanshi City for a whole night. Wang Xuanying, Du Yan and others were also worried and scared when tied to the hill.

However, nearly 10,000 elite Tang troops waited overnight, but did not wait for the Zhao army reinforcements. In the early morning, wet fog rose everywhere on the Luoshui River, and the Tang army was ambushed, awakened by the sound of galloping horse hooves.

A general came to Li Shimin and said anxiously: "Your Highness, General Shi, urgently reported!"

The Tang army general Shi Wanbao was in charge of the Longmen and guarded the southern gate of Luoyang.

Li Shimin glanced at the other party and said, "I know, did Xiao Xian send troops to Xiangyang?"

Changsun Wuji, who was beside Li Shimin, said: "What's the fuss about this? This matter was long as the King of Qin expected. Xiao Xian was a resourceful person. Even if he sent troops, he would not dare to go north to fight me in Luoyang."

The general lowered his head and said, "Reported to the fact that King Qin was indeed Xiao Xian sent troops, but General Manager Shi wanted to tell him that it was not this matter. It was the Zhao army... The Zhao army broke through Xuanyuan Pass yesterday!"

As soon as this statement came out, Du Ruhui stopped in his hand. Fang Xuanling lost and almost threw the file in his hand on the ground. Hulao Pass and Xuanyuan Pass were one on the northern foot of Songshan Mountain and the other on the southern foot of Songshan Mountain. If Hulao Pass is the main gate to Luoyang westward, then Xuanyuan Pass is the side gate.

Once the Zhao army broke through Xuanyuan Pass, it was only twenty miles away from Luoyang. Here Li Tang had no troops to defend, so he could only watch the Zhao army successfully arrive at the Luoyang city. The Zhao army arrived at the Luoyang city, which means that Li Shimin intercepted and fought against Li Chongjiu in Yanshi, which became meaningless. The siege of Luoyang that Li Shimin had worked hard to set up has been broken.

However, the path in front of Xuanyuan Pass is difficult to walk, which is not conducive to the entry and exit of the army, and the checkpoint is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Li Shimin ordered the general Sheng Yan to station there before, which was foolproof.

But why can Li Chongjiu break through Xuanyuan Pass? There is no second possibility except for Sheng Yan's army to surrender to the enemy.
Chapter completed!