Great Warriors of Sui and Tang Dynasties

Chapter 844 Taiji Palace Fire

Since yesterday, Li Yuan has not left the Tai Chi Hall.

The second son, Shiminbing, whom he placed the greatest hope on, defeated Huo Yi, the fifty thousand troops were wiped out, and even Shimin was captured.Immediately afterwards, the Qin army swept across Hedong like a broken bamboo. In just a few days, half of the counties in Hedong all joined Luocheng.

Li Cunxiao burned the Pujin Bridge, and then divided his troops to garrison Tongguan and Tongzhou, guarding these two Guanzhong gateways.But Cunxiao has only [-] soldiers and horses, and the [-] defeated soldiers who retreated from Hedong are only [-].

On the contrary, it was Luo Cheng who completely annexed Henan and Hedong, presenting a situation of two sides to him.

What's more, even Wuguan was lost a long time ago, and now Li Yuan has sent troops to garrison Lantian to prevent the Qin army from entering the pass from the southeast.

Documents from all over the world flew into the Tai Chi Palace like snowflakes, and almost every one was stamped with the seal of urgent report.

Huai'an Wang Li Shentong from Lantian even sent seven or eight urgent reports a day, saying that the Qin army in Wuguan was constantly moving and increasing its troops. Now there are at least [-] soldiers and horses gathered, and they may enter Guanzhong at any time.

Li Xiaogong from Tongguan was also anxious, saying that now with [-] troops, it is too difficult for him to guard both Tongguan and Tongzhou, two gates.

In particular, Tongguan, the most important gate, is now guarded by only 3 people. It is necessary to guard the new pass city of Tongguan by the Yellow River, as well as the old pass of the Han Dynasty on the plateau. In Liancheng, the strength of the army is stretched, especially after two consecutive defeats. Now the army's morale has been shaken and morale has plummeted.

Li Xiaochang was stationed in Tongzhou, but he had few and weak soldiers. Although the Pujin Bridge was burned, the Qin army also began to gather at Puban on the opposite bank after clearing the river. Although there is no bridge here, the river is wide. , the water flow is gentle, and it is an excellent ferry, and the Qin army may cross the river to attack at any time.

"It's getting worse!"

Li Yuan couldn't help sighing again and again. First, the eldest son Jiancheng was defeated by Hongnong, and then the second son was defeated by Linfen. Now Li Tang has lost all the land outside the pass, and the only soldier in his hand that can be drawn is also It was Chai Shaojun from Longyou.

Li Yuan rubbed his sore eyes, and continued to pace in the hall. He walked on the huge map of the world laid out in the hall, hoping to find out one or two strategies to deal with the enemy.

Two eunuchs came in cautiously, put a stack of the latest memorials on the emperor's desk, and then quietly exited.

Li Yuan glanced at these documents, with a hint of hope in his eyes.

He went over and picked up one.

When I opened it, I was very disappointed.

This is also bad news. Deng Shiluo, a local barbarian from Xicheng County in Hanzhong, led the local barbarians to rise up and beheaded the officials sent by Li Yuan, including the prefect of the Tang Dynasty, and captured the two cities of Jinchuan and Ankang.

Xicheng County is the upper reaches of the Han River, and its downstream is Fangling County. Qin general Shan Xiongxin had captured Fangling before, and now Xicheng is not defending.

Pick up another report.

Li Xiaoji, the king of Yong'an, Jiang Baoyi, the general of Youwuwei, Wang Jian and Lu Min led the army to attack Shuofang Liangshidu.

Seeing this news, Li Yuan couldn't help shaking his body a few times.

Li Xiaoji is dead. This is the first clan king who died in the Tang Dynasty. Before that, Lujiang King Li Yuan and Zhao Wang Li Shimin were only captured. Now Yongan King Li Xiaoji was directly defeated and died. The general is gone too.

After Liang Shidu defeated Li Xiaoji, he took advantage of the momentum to attack Lingwu.

However, Yun Dingxing, who was stationed at Lingwu, led his army north to Jiuyuan to defend Luo Siye.

"Jiuyuan must not have any bad news." Li Yuan secretly prayed in his heart.

Open another one.

Another bad news.

Seeing the turmoil in the world, Ran Zhao, the leader of the barbarians in Badong County, also killed officials and rebelled.Previously, all parts of Bashu belonged to the Guanzhong court, and Li Yuan assigned his cronies to take over.

After these new governors and county magistrates took office, they were very loyal to Li Yuan. Because of the successive wars, money and food in Guanzhong were in dire straits, so these new governors and county magistrates in Bashu were very careful about collecting food and soldiers. If you go out, you will be chained and whipped.

And Ran Zhao waited for these barbarians. In the past, life was quite carefree. The Sui Dynasty’s policy towards them was relatively loose. As long as you are honest and loyal to the emperor, the court has no requirements for them. They don’t want to pay tribute to some local products every year. That's it.

But now the officials sent by Li Yuan, because they want to send money, food, soldiers, and various supplies to Chang'an, they can't wait to scratch the ground.

If the Han people organized by the government don't have enough money, food and supplies, even the barbarians in the mountains will not be spared.

They were ordered to pay money and food, and young and strong were sent to transport food and fight wars. If the local barbarians refused to comply, they would be caught and displayed in front of the government office under the shackles. This move aroused resentment from the local barbarians.

Where there is oppression, there will be resistance.

So there were local barbarians such as Deng Shihan in Xicheng and Ran Zhaoze in Badong, and they ascended to the top and followed like a cloud.

Although Li Tang ruled in Bashu in name, he had no foundation in reality. It was better when Li Yuan embraced Yang You and fought under the banner of the Sui Dynasty, but now he is the emperor himself, and there are still many people in Bashu Secretly dissatisfied, not to mention that now that Li Yuan has suffered consecutive defeats, Luo Cheng has been writing letters to officials and gentry tycoons in Bashu, promising to appoint officials in various ways.

Ever since, now Bashu is like a kite with a broken string, which is getting more and more out of Chang'an's control.

"Deng Shiluo and Ran Zhaoze are mere savages, and they dare to take advantage of the fire to rob them!"

Li Yuan scolded angrily.

But after cursing, Li Yuan was helpless, now the focus was on Guanzhong, and Bashu was helpless.

Originally, Xue hoped to send soldiers and horses from Bashu to rescue, but now it seems that there is no hope.

He couldn't help tightening the big fur that was draped over his body. He couldn't take it anymore after two consecutive days of sleepless nights. The gray hair on the top is really like an old lady.

If there hadn't been a big defeat in Jiancheng, maybe Xiao Gong would have entered Bashu long ago, and stabilized the southwest for him, so that there would be no chaos there, and a stable supply of money and food could be transported to Guanzhong for the army.

"Move the capital."

At this time, Li Yuan suddenly thought of the idea of ​​moving the capital again.

It's just that Nanzheng in Hanzhong is no longer suitable. Nanzheng's downstream neighbor is Xicheng County, and not far to the south is Badong County.Now that the two counties have rebelled, how can Nanzheng in Hanzhong still go.

There were still a few memorials left on the table, but Li Yuan didn't dare to look at them anymore.

"Go away!"

Suddenly a voice came from not far outside the hall, Li Yuan's lips trembled.

He walked quickly to the front of the hall and pushed open the door.

The door of the palace was pushed open, and the summer wind from outside the door blew in. He was shocked to see that the front court of Tai Chi Palace was igniting a huge fire under the starry sky, and the fire spread rapidly, and soon illuminated half of the sky .

The Taiji Palace was already in chaos, the Imperial Guards and guards were running around in a panic, the maids and eunuchs on duty were also running around, there were shouts everywhere, some shouted to put out the fire, some went to fight the fire. water, and some ran out of the palace like headless chickens.

"How could there be a fire?" Li Yuan stood in front of the hall, thinking quickly.

At this time, the guards of the brigade came, "Your Majesty, there is water in the palace, please leave the palace temporarily to escape."

"Where did the fire start?"

"It seems to be over there in Chengqian Hall."

Supported by the guards, Li Yuan hurried to the harem, left the palace from Xuanwu Gate, and went to Beiyuan to take shelter. The air was filled with the pungent smell of smoke and ashes, and Li Yuan was extremely embarrassed.

(End of this chapter)