The third emperor of the Sui Dynasty

Chapter 436

In the early morning of this day, Yang Tong brought dozens of generals to the bank of the Yellow River, and saw a fleet of thousands of warships slowly approaching on the broad Henan. One hundred thousand troops, ordnance supplies, and siege equipment.

Yang Tong boarded a giant five-toothed ship, surrounded by Shui Tianji who was brought by Sipilailian. In order to escape from the palace, she served Yang Tong as happy as a fairy for several nights. When she was not paying attention, she fell into a trap , promised to take her south.

When Yin Mingyue was waiting for Shurawei to board the ship, the giant ship quickly left the north bank, crossed the Yellow River and headed south.

The humid air rushed towards her face, Shui Tianji watched the river break like a tide, and felt sick in her stomach. She also took a boat tour in the Shenwu Palace, but she didn't feel this way at the time, but for some reason , sailing on the turbulent river at this moment, Shui Tianji suddenly felt dizzy.

"Husband, I feel dizzy and nauseous! Is there another child?" Shui Tianji leaned over in Yang Yu's arms. She shook her head, trying to endure the discomfort.
"General northerners will have this kind of symptoms when sailing on this river. This big river is turbulent, which is not comparable to Jinghu Lake in Shenwu Palace." Yang Tong laughed when he heard this. Without Ximai, that's why she came here, and he wouldn't let his daughter-in-law take risks with her pregnant belly.

"Oh." Shui Tianji replied and felt relieved. If she had children, she would have no choice but to return to Yecheng and stay obediently in Shenwu Palace.

"You look straight ahead and look far away...it will be better." Yang Tong was very surprised. Logically speaking, riding a horse is similar to riding a boat. His wife is very good at riding, and she can handle all kinds of terrain with ease. It's really strange that I fainted as soon as I got on the boat.

quickly
The five-tooth warship had already moored to Xingze County on the opposite bank, and teams of soldiers got off the boat and quickly led their horses ashore.

The barracks on the other side stretched for miles, with no end in sight, and the terrifying aura made people palpitate.

A group of generals waited on the shore earlier, led by the commander of the second army, Hu Guogong Qin Qiong, who led the soldiers of the second army to land successfully two days ago and achieved considerable results.

When Yang Tong landed on land, Qin Qiong led all the generals to salute and said: "The last general will see the Holy Majesty, Your Majesty!"

"There's no need to be polite!" Yang Tong handed Shui Tianji to Shura Wei, rode on the Lixian Arrow, and headed towards the barracks, asking as he walked, "How are Li Yuan and Li Mi doing?"

"Li Gongxiao of Xiangcheng commanded [-] troops, stationed at Yangdi, and seemed to intend to invade Xingyang, but when our army came, we retreated. The final general was worried about the entry of the Tang army, so he sent General Wang Bian to lead [-] cavalry around Going south of the city, they kept Li Gongxiao out of Kangcheng. At the same time, General Zuo Tiancheng took over Yangcheng County, Henan County, which was almost defenseless. To prevent Li Daozong's troops from entering Xingyang, the third is that if our army is blocked outside Hulao Pass, Yangcheng can also directly approach Luoyang City. As for Li Mi's Dongjun, Chenliu and Yingchuan troops, there is no change."

"In this way, our army has seized the opportunity! It's a very good arrangement." Yang Tong praised.

Qin Qiong said worriedly: "The two generals passed by around the city, and the rear area still belongs to Wang Shichong's territory. The final general suggested to take back the whole territory with an absolutely powerful army, so that the two generals would not become alone."

"How many counties have been recovered?"

"Wang Shichong has gathered all his troops to Luoyang, and the four counties of Xingze, Yuanwu, Suanzao, and Yangwu surrendered without a fight."

"So, there are still seven southern counties left?"

"As long as the Holy One gives an order, we will guarantee that the whole territory will be recovered within ten days!" Qin Qiong said proudly.

"There's no need to be so troublesome." Yang Tong said with a smile, "Xingyang is already in my pocket, so why use weapons? Send me an order to send a small army to take over the city. Let's start with Xingyang County first. .”

"Uh..." Qin Qiong was slightly taken aback, he didn't know where Yang Tong's confidence came from, so he nodded.

"Li Xiaogong has grown rapidly in the past few years, and I am worried that General Wang Bian is not his opponent. You bring ten thousand soldiers under your command to the south to assist. And make preparations to fight Li Tang, food and supplies will arrive soon."

"Here." Qin Qiong bowed his hands and quickly marched south with his army.

Yang Tong then ordered Mai Mengcai and Xue Wanbei to lead [-] soldiers from each county to recapture the counties in Xingyang, and after explaining to them, the two generals went out with a shocked expression.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Outside the city of Xingyang, a group of soldiers and horses bearing the banner of Li Tang stopped at a place two arrows away from the city.

"What do you mean?" Mai Mengcai looked around at the flames burning in the city gate.

"It is said that Li Yuan persuaded Zheng Shanguo to agree to help hold back Wang Shichong's troops, and asked Li Tang to wipe out all Xingyang troops. Now it seems that this method is cheaper for us." Yin Hongzhi laughed.

"General Mai, I don't understand. My Great Sui is already sitting in the north, why does the Holy Majesty want us to fight the flag of the bandit army? This white flag is ugly." Beside Mai Mengcai, a young general couldn't help complaining road.

"You don't understand?" Mai Mengcai turned his head to look at the young general and said with a smile: "Actually, I don't understand either. Ask the governor of Yin County."

The boy turned his head and looked at Yin Hongzhi who was on the side.

"If it is under the banner of our army, if many things are done, it will be confirmed. It will be much easier to use the banner of the bandit army!" Yin Hongzhi smiled: "Now our army has just occupied Xingyang, where the aristocratic family gathers. The place has not yet gained a firm foothold, and there is no reason to slaughter the family, so it can only be done in this way. To kill people in Li Yuan's name, all the responsibility will be pushed on Li Yuan in the future."

"Will others believe it?"

"It doesn't matter whether others believe it or not. The important thing is that we can't take the blame for the massacre and persecution of the gentry! If someone jumps out and accuses the court, the court will have a reason to deal with these people."

The young general nodded half-understood, and he didn't speak anymore, but his eyes were fixed on the burning city gate, and the fire gradually extinguished as time went by.

"Report!"

A scout rushed over, bowed to Mai Mengcai and said, "General, the army in the city came out from the west gate and has no intention of fighting our army!"

Mai Mengcai frowned, and looked at Yin Hongzhi who was at the side.

"Obviously Wang Shichong gave up the outlying cities and planned to gather heavy troops in Luoyang City to fight Li Tang to the death! The stronger Luoyang's army is, the more damage it will do to Li Tang. Let's leave this army alone." Yin Hongzhi said flatly, they It was originally intended to restore the city, so it would be best for Wang Shichong's army to withdraw voluntarily. If it is foolish to prevent the return to the army, it will be Li Yuan who will be cheaper.

"Enter the city!" Mai Mengcai also had a similar thought, and immediately waved his hand and led the troops into the city.

Inside the city gate, the flames hadn't been completely extinguished, and a charred car frame blocked the door, and waves of heat kept pouring out, which also showed the intensity of the fire.

Mai Mengcai ordered people to clear the city gate so that the army could enter the city. At this time, Zheng Shanguo rushed up with several servants and said anxiously: "This general, the bandits have come out from the west gate, and the opponent has only 5000 troops! Why don't you, general?" Chase?"

"I'm going to do things, so I need you to teach me?" Mai Mengcai glanced at Zheng Shanguo unhappily, and said indifferently.

"But the Wei Lu dog thief is now fleeing far away. You don't respect the order of the Tang Emperor and let him escape. Could it be that he has colluded with Wang Shichong and that rebel?" Zheng Shanguo looked at Mai Mengcai with serious eyes. He now hates Wei to the core. Lu, so this army must be forced to march, he said sharply: "I will definitely sue you in front of the Emperor Tang!"

"Who are you? What's your name?"

"I'm not Zheng Shanguo, but the head of the Zheng family in Xingyang." Zheng Shanguo said proudly.

"Oh?" A chill flashed in Mai Mengcai's eyes, he turned his head to look at Yin Hongzhi beside him, and jokingly said: "Send someone to inform Li Xiaogong, and say that the thief is cunning, and see through our scheme before we arrive in Xingyang. The head of the family, Zheng Shanguo, was unfortunately killed by Wei Lu in order to block his way out, and everyone in his family died at the hands of thieves. Hmm, is that so?"

"The general is right, the facts are like this." Yin Hongzhi nodded, and recruited someone to tell him to deliver the letter.

"You..." Zheng Shanguo's complexion changed drastically, and he took two steps back subconsciously, only to see that several Li Tang soldiers had blocked his retreat, swallowed and said, "I am a celebrity, how do you treat me?"

"Mai knows." Mai Mengcai got off his horse and patted Zheng Shanguo on the shoulder under Zheng Shanguo's horrified eyes: "Patriarch Zheng is a famous person who can be killed and cannot be humiliated. Unfortunately, Wei Lu killed him in anger. Mai is a step late , I am very sorry, if I have the opportunity in the future, I will avenge the celebrity!"

Zheng Shanguo wanted to run, but Mai Mengcai's palm seemed to be casually resting on his shoulder, but when he wanted to struggle, he found that hand was like cast iron, no matter how hard he struggled, he didn't move a bit.

"General, you can't choose what to say when you are in a hurry, please, general..."

"Pfft~"

A dagger pierced his chest, Zheng Shanguo stared wide-eyed, looking at Mai Mengcai in disbelief.

"Celebrities have always been able to be killed and never humiliated. I have already fulfilled you, so you don't need to thank you. Also, you are already dead, and your words will scare children." Mai Mengcai pulled out the dagger and stabbed him again. Chest: "Celebrity? Patriarch?..."

Zheng Shanguo stared at Mai Mengcai in astonishment. He never dreamed that in order to deal with Wang Shichong's troops in Xingyang, he ran around and even exhausted his family's wealth.

Wiping the short sword clean with Zheng Shanguo's lapel, Mai Mengcai wiped off the blood splashed on his face, waved his hand and said, "Drag it down, and bury it anywhere."

"Here." The two soldiers dragged Zheng Shanguo away like a dead dog, leaving a few servants of the Zheng family looking at them in horror, and looking at Mai Mengcai helplessly.

"How did Zheng Shanguo die?" Mai Mengcai looked at the servants and asked with a very kind smile.

Several family members looked at each other, and a clever man's eyes lit up: "If you go back to the general, my family's head was brutally killed by that thief Wei Lu."

Getting on the horse again, he glanced at him approvingly and said: "There is a future, let's go, and lead the way to Zheng's house to see!"

Xingyang City has been controlled by the army brought by Mai Mengcai. After arriving at Zheng's mansion, he saw many members of Zheng's clan directing Jiading to fight the fire.

Mai Mengcai made a gesture, and a group of soldiers rushed forward and grabbed the well-dressed Zheng family men, women and children. Amidst the stunned crowd of people fighting the fire and Zheng's family members, Zheng was thrown into the raging fire. In the middle of the fire.

The shrill screams resounded throughout the area, and the onlookers and firefighters dispersed in an instant.

"General, scout the horse to report that the vanguard of the Sui army has arrived outside the city!" Mai Mengcai was just about to go to the county government when he received the report from the scout.

"How many people are here?" Mai Mengcai raised his eyebrows, he knew that Xue Wanbei was chasing after him, this time, they were going to pretend to be Tang Jun to the end.

"Back to the general, there are more than ten thousand people here."

"withdraw!"

Not long after Mai Mengcai left, Xue Wanbei sent troops into the city and began to set up a list to calm the people.

At the same time, the county-level officials who followed from Yecheng were also in place in one step. They each brought [-] county soldiers to appease the local area.

And Mai Mengcai continued to chase the "Tang Jun" who was in charge of the city.

(End of this chapter)