The third emperor of the Sui Dynasty

Chapter 448

Luoyang, the largest metropolis in the world, had a population of one million when it was the largest, and Hu merchants from the Western Regions went back and forth, and the city was quite prosperous!But since Yang Guang, the emperor who built it, left, the luck of the capital seemed to have dissipated, and since then, it has become increasingly depressed.In recent years, because of Wang Shichong's successive wars and food shortages, the people of Henan County have long been in dire straits, and the continuous fleeing of the people has caused the population under Wang Shichong's administration to drop sharply.Many people who stayed in the vicinity of Luoyang moved their families south, but most of them simply went to the Hebei area. I heard that the treatment there is good!The most prosperous city in the past, but now its prosperity has come to an end, leaving only desolation.

As the dark sky shrouded, Yun Dingxing, who participated in the hunt and kill of the Houzaimen rebels, also withdrew from the city to Yunfu.

After bathing and changing clothes, Yun Dingxing dressed in a brocade robe, received a heroic young man, this man was Li Shimin's marching Sima Yin Kaishan, who was ordered by Li Shimin to sneak into Luoyang with the defeated army.

A complex look appeared on Yun Dingxing's face, and he said: "When I fought side by side with King Jin and General Yin, especially yesterday, General Yin was as energetic as ever, but I am getting old."

"Lian Po is over [-] years old and can still eat rice, ten catties of meat, and wear a battle armor to conquer the world. General Yun is now strong and strong, so how can he say he is old? When the younger generation came, His Highness also said that General Yun has a deep understanding of strategy. The good teacher who brought him into the army, although not in the name of a teacher and student, is actually a teacher and student, if there is a general by his side to advise, he will not be defeated in Hehuang."

When the Siege of Yanmen happened, Li Shimin joined Yun Dingxing and started his military career. At that time, Yin Kaishan was accompanying him. The two had a friendship, and Li Shimin just sent him here.

"Really?" Everyone loves flattery, and Yun Dingxing is no exception. Now that Li Shimin is famous all over the world, Wang Shichong is forced to sleep and eat. Yun Dingxing is naturally extremely happy to respect himself so much.

"That's right!" Yin Kaishan nodded and said with a smile: "The general is far-sighted and has both civil and military skills. If he were in my Tang Dynasty, he would be the Great General of Youwuwei. His Highness said that after the general returns to the Tang Dynasty, he will play the Son of Heaven. General Feng Yun is the Duke of Gui De, and he strongly recommends the general as Prime Minister."

Yun Dingxing's eyes lit up. Wang Shichong was about to be defeated. He had already been in contact with Li Tang. He was very satisfied with Li Shimin's promise to himself. Why did you come to see the old man?"

"We have arranged some people in the city, but they can't change the general situation. Unlike General Yun, he is a rare person who holds military power outside of the Wang clan. As for the general who served Wang Shichong, there is no other person except the general. On the contrary, some people will be executed for their crimes.”

Yin Kaishan had a very clear grasp of the situation in the city, and he knew that Yun Dingxing was in charge of the soldiers in the city. Although there were not many soldiers, he could help Li Shimin enter the city at critical moments.And he also knew that the reason why Li Shimin came to Yun Dingxing was not because of his friendship in the past, but because of Yun Dingxing's fear of death and ungrateful nature.

When Yang Yong was deposed, he immediately turned to Yang Guang. When the emperor Yang Tan was weak, he turned to Wang Shichong and advised Wang Shichong's ascension to the throne. For which prince did you sacrifice your life?In the past, Yun Dingxing sold Yang Yong and Yang Tan, but now it is Wang Shichong's turn.

"Thank you so much, Your Highness." Yun Dingxing thought for a while, and suddenly asked, "I wonder how Yang Yu is doing now?"

Yun Dingxing's words seemed to be asking for Wang Shichong, but actually he was asking for himself. After all, the Sui Dynasty was stronger than Li Tang, and had more capital to dominate the world than Li Tang.

"Although Yang Tong has entered Henan County, his troops are not only confronting King Zhaojun and King Rencheng, but also guarding against Li Mi. The possibility of Wang Shichong wanting to use Yang Tong's power is extremely small." Yin Kaishan smiled but not smiled. Looking at Yun Dingxing, he said: "Also, after Yang Tong conquered Xingluo City, he executed Duan Da for the crime of infidelity and injustice. It is said that he wanted to correct the subjects of the Sui Dynasty so that no one would follow suit in the future." The matter has caused a lot of trouble, and almost everyone knows about it...and some people have also been included in the must-kill list by Yang Tong."

Yun Dingxing's face and smile froze, and his face turned pale. He understood that Yin Kaishan was talking about himself. If what he said was true, he had only Li Tang to choose. He was silent for a while, and forced a smile: " Although Wang Shichong did not form an alliance with Yang Tong, he knew that Yang Tong’s large-scale southward movement was also for Luoyang, and if the Sui and Tang Dynasties fought and both sides suffered losses, then both would have to return without success in the end.”

"After both the Sui and Tang Dynasties were defeated, Wang Shichong became Yang Tong's barrier instead, so that Yang Tong could concentrate on attacking the Central Plains. If Li Tang wanted to plot the Central Plains, Luoyang would not be able to go around first. This is the reason for Wang Shichong's survival and the source of motivation. .”

"If King Jin can prove to Wang Shichong that it is impossible for Yang Tong to send troops in advance, I believe Wang Shichong will not have such wishful thinking. At that time, Wang Shichong will definitely give up on himself."

In the final analysis, Yun Dingxing didn't want to risk his head to assist Li Shimin. He was worried that Wang Shichong's men were among his [-] troops.

In order to keep Luoyang City, Wang Shichong is now using extremely cruel methods. If one of the people in the city escapes, the whole family will be killed. As long as father and son, brothers, and husband and wife report, they can be exonerated.He also ordered the five families to be one guarantor and supervise each other. If someone's whole family defected but the neighbors didn't notice, the neighbors would all be executed. That's why Yun Dingxing didn't dare to betray Wang Shichong wantonly.

When Wang Shichong was defeated, he only had to follow the trend, not only to save the lives of his family, but also to enjoy wealth.

"Thank you, General Yun, for your guidance." Yin Kaishan was overjoyed, he could find out Wang Shichong's true intentions, and then he could target him accordingly.

. . . . . . . . .

The Tang Army camp outside Luoyang City is overwhelming, with banners like clouds, nearly 20 military camps stretching for more than 20 miles, and the momentum is huge.Farther away, dense large tents are springing up like mushrooms after a spring rain, one after the other, with no end in sight.

In the large tent of the Chinese army, Li Shimin stood in front of the map with his hands behind his back in a daze. He had maintained this posture for almost a moment. His eyes were fixed on the red circles outside Luoyang. These red circles represented the places where the Sui army stationed. In the evening of this evening, the guards of Hangu Pass will report that the other side of the Yellow River is densely covered with large ships, with masts like forests. There are thousands of large ships. These big ships are coming against the current, does it mean that the Sui army in Hanoi County is going to cross south?
His brows were frowned into an upside-down character, worried about the situation in front of him. Yang Tong had accumulated more than 20 troops east of Luoyang, and now he has so many ships north of the Yellow River. How many troops does this have?If more than 20 people come here, can I beat Luoyang? Even if I win, how can I defend it?
"His Royal Highness, I found an arrow letter in the south of Luoyang." At this time, Hou Junji opened the curtain and entered from outside.

Li Shimin finally came to his senses from long-term contemplation. He took the letter and looked at it. It was the letter that Yin Kaishan asked his own people to shoot out of the city. He snorted coldly: "Yun Dingxing, this old fox, is really greedy for life and afraid of death."

"It is because he is greedy for life and afraid of death that he can live a nourishing life in front of the Sui Dynasty and Wang Shichong. Looking at those Kanto families, they usually don't pay attention to Yun Dingxing at all, but now? Yun Dingxing still has two There are thousands of soldiers and horses, and the children of the Kanto family in the city are in constant fear, fearing that Wang Shichong will take their lives." Liu Wenjing looked at it very openly.

Li Shimin smiled wryly and said: "Yang Tong asked Qin Qiong and Luo Shixin to take King Zhaojun and King Rencheng seriously, especially with more than [-] troops at their disposal. Originally, this king planned to end the battle of Luoyang as soon as possible, and then restrain his main force. To give King Zhao Jun and King Ren Cheng an opportunity to wipe out the enemy. But today Yang Tong put up such a big battle in Hanoi County. According to Xiangguo's wishes, what should we do now?"

"The key is Wang Shichong." Liu Wenjing thought for a while, and suddenly smiled: "As long as Wang Shichong is defeated and Luoyang City is captured in a very short period of time, then Luoyang and Yique will become the central axis that the Sui army cannot cross. "

Li Shimin smiled bitterly and said: "Actually, we should have been defeated for a while in the first three battles outside the city, so that Wang Shichong could go out of the city to fight with me. Now that he is scared of being beaten, he simply can't shrink back. If we want to take Luoyang, we need to fight." Cost more than ten times the loss."

From Yin Kaishan's letter, Li Shimin knew that Wang Shichong still had at least [-] elite troops and tens of thousands of young and strong peasants, and that the city had sufficient food, grass, and supplies, so it was not easy to capture Luoyang.What's more terrible is that as long as they fight for a few more days, the civilian husband will transform into a sergeant in the war. The offensive power may not be as good as the upright army, but the defense is more than enough.

If there were no foreign enemies, he would spend a little more time, leisurely draining the morale and morale of the Zheng army, and then deal a fatal blow to the opponent, but Yang Tong squatted on both sides of Luoyang like a tiger, watching him consume, and waiting for him to show up. tiredness.

Liu Wenjing silently counted Wang Shichong's strength, and suddenly said: "It's not impossible to want Wang Shichong to fight. I have a plan to let him lead his troops out of the city."

Li Shimin was overjoyed. "Speak, Xiangguo!"

"Yin Kaishan said that Wang Shichong regards Yang Tong as a life-saving straw, and in his dreams he hopes that Yang Tong will launch a war against our Tang Dynasty to give him a chance to breathe. We might as well take advantage of Wang Shichong's eagerness to make a fuss and pretend to fight against Mangshan in the northeast. , Luoyang will only leave a small army, and then move the army northward, Wang Shichong will definitely take advantage of our unstable garrison to go out of the city to attack, and when the time comes, as long as the garrison in the camp restrains Wang Shichong, the main force will be able to kill Wang Shichong by surprise."

Li Shimin's eyes lit up, he immediately turned his head and said: "Please come in to discuss matters, all generals."

After a while, Xiao Yu, Yuwen Shiji, Hou Junji and others all arrived at the main tent of the Chinese army.Li Shimin told everyone about Liu Wenjing's strategy, and Hou Junji excitedly said: "Xiangguo's plan is very clever, and the general is willing to lead the army to guard the camp to attract Wang Shichong out of the city!"

Li Shimin shook his head and said with a smile: "Your bait is not good enough, let me sit in charge, you can lead the [-] Red Armored Army to pretend to retreat, and then lead the army to fight back after the beacon fire on Mangshan Mountain is lit."

At this time, Li Shimin saw that Xiao Yu was deep in thought and said nothing, so he asked, "Does Xiao Xiangguo have any ideas?"

"Yang Tong is like a wolf. He has always advocated attacking, but this time he is different from the previous ones. I think he has other schemes." Xiao Yu picked up the wooden pole and pointed to Yi Que on the sand table, and said, "What I'm worried about is King Rencheng, Yingyang City, and Pengpo City have been occupied by the Sui army. If Yique loses, it will cut off our connection with the two county kings in the southeast. If Zhuyang Pass in Hongnong County falls again, we will be defeated. Become Wang Shichong today. At that time, if Yang Tong sends troops to Xingyang, and if Li Mi also breaks the contract to attack, the situation of the two county kings will be in danger."

As soon as the voice fell, Liu Wenjing next to him said: "Xiao Xiangguo's words are very true, Yique Pass must not be lost, with it, our army can respond to the two county kings from north to south, and split the Sui army in the Yellow River. - Luoyang - Yique. And now almost all of our troops are in the Central Plains, and the rest are also arranged on the border of the Sui and Tang Dynasties. The interior is empty. Once Yique falls, and the two county kings cannot resist the Sui army, then the Sui army will be able to Fighting all the way to Xiangyang made people in the capital fluctuate. At the same time, they had to send people to strengthen the defense on the south bank of the Yellow River, because the [-] defenders at Hangu Pass could only resist the invading enemy from Tongguan, while the navy of the Sui Dynasty planned to use it from Shan County has landed, so we can't expect anything from Hangu Pass."

Hangu Pass is to defend the west, not the east. The Xiongguan that defends the east is the Tongguan that confronts it. Because Hangu Pass is aimed at the Sui army in Guanzhong, the Tang army has only 1 troops stationed. The army only needs [-] people to capture Hangu Pass from Shan County in the southeast.If Hangu Pass is lost, the Guanzhong Sui Army can enter Hongnong Changyuan County, which is an empty logistics center.

Li Shimin nodded, thought for a while, and then said to Wang Junkuo, the general under his command: "It is Luo Shixin who is facing Daozong. Zong let me guard this important checkpoint."

Wang Junkuo said proudly: "The general will have met the so-called first and second generals of the Sui Dynasty long ago. If Yique falls, the general is willing to come and meet."

"Duan Zhixuan." Li Shimin thought for a while, feeling a little unsafe, turned his head to look at his generals Duan Zhixuan and Murong Luohu, and said in a deep voice: "I will give you [-] troops, and you and Murong Luohou will lead them to take over the defense of Shan County, patrolling day and night On the river bank, if there is any change in the Sui army on the other side, it must be reported immediately."

"The general obeys orders!" Duan Zhixuan and Murong Luohuhong said in a loud voice.

……

Half an hour later, Wang Junkuo led [-] cavalry and rushed towards Yique in the southeast. After a while, Duan Zhixuan and Murong Luohu led [-] infantry and set off to the northwest.

Immediately afterwards, Chai Shao and Hou Junji led [-] troops each to leave the camp and headed northeast, leaving only about [-] troops in the main camp.

Zheng Jun's scouts quickly reported to Wang Shichong, Wang Shichong climbed to the top of the city with doubts, watched the frequent movements in Li Shimin's camp in the distance, and thought to himself: "Could it be that Yang Yu sent troops?"

At this time, Yun Dingxing's eyes flashed, and he asked for orders: "My lord, the Sui army should be dispatched. Li Shimin was worried about being attacked by the Sui army and us, so he took the initiative to meet the Sui army. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to defeat the enemy. My minister is willing to lead a powerful force to wipe out the remaining Tang troops!"

Wang Shichong frowned and said, "Wait a minute, wait for verification.

(End of this chapter)