First Minister of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 239 Cavalry Assault
...

Yu Wenshi and Li Yuan had a long-standing friendship. When they were in Fenyin Palace in the early years, they discussed the situation in the world with Li Yuan. Plotting Shandong, Yuwen Shiji had already recognized the general trend of the world, so he did not agree, and led his men to defect to Li Tang.

It happened that Yuwen Shiji's younger sister Yuwen Zhaoyi was deeply favored by Li Yuan. Thanks to his past friendship, his own talents and his sister's sake, Yuwen Shiji was reused again. He married the daughter of Li Tang's clan, the head of Shouguang County. General Hussars of the palace.

Hearing Yu Wenxin's question, Yu Wenshiji shook his head and said: "300 people are of course insignificant in this battle of 10 people, but the battle situation affects the whole body. The king sent us three hundred light cavalry to cruise around the enemy's west. If the enemy does not move, we will not move, and if the enemy moves, our army will move eastward, which has the meaning of guerrilla warfare that Gao Youzhi said."

Hearing this explanation, Yu Wenxin finally understood, and the two immediately led the troops to the west side of Niukouzhu, and kept cruising on the side of Xia Jun's camp to investigate.

After Dou Jiande got the news, he really couldn't stand it anymore, and immediately dispatched troops to pursue him. Yuwen Shiji didn't like to fight when he saw this, and retreated while fighting, all the way to the east.

At this time, in the big tent of the Chinese army, Dou Jiande frowned and remained silent. Li Shimin's tactics made him a little confused, so he immediately played his excellent quality - accepting advice with an open mind, and ordered people to quickly go to the Banzhu Palace to send civil and military soldiers to the palace. All the ministers were called to ask for their opinions.

When the Yuwen scholars mobilized the soldiers and horses on the west side of the Xia Army camp, Yuchi Jingde had also recalled a war horse from the bank of the Yellow River to cruise on the east side of the Xia camp.

Seeing that Xia's army hadn't slowed down yet, Li Shimin made a decisive decision and personally led Gao Chong, Cheng Zhijie, Qin Shubao, Shi Danai, Zhang Shigui and others to lead the Xuanjia army out of the nest, across the Sishui to the enemy's north side, while the tiger The army of Laoguan was led by Dou Gui to leave the pass to meet Xia's army.

The Tang army didn't move at all, but the movement was astonishing. Dou Jiande hurriedly deployed, but the Xia army had been lining up for more than half a day against the scorching summer, and now it was hard to rest.

The Tang Army's light cavalry appeared on the east and west sides constantly harassing. On the frontal battlefield, Dou Gui commanded the army to come head-on, and Dou Jiande faced the enemy in panic.

"Your Majesty, the direction of Banzhu", Gao Chong was riding on his horse, and from a distance he saw a large group of people coming from the direction of Banzhu, heading straight for the Xia Army's camp.

"Your Majesty, the last general is going to capture him." Shi Danai was overjoyed, and hurriedly said, this is a good opportunity to make meritorious service, if he captured Xia Guowen and Wu in one fell swoop, it would be a great achievement.

"No", Gao Chong said hastily, "You can let him rush to disrupt the enemy's formation, and we will rush in later."

Li Shimin reacted quickly and nodded straight: "This is the way to win." Then Li Shimin personally led the generals to chase after the team, clamoring and chasing.

Sure enough, this team was none other than the civil and military officials of the Xia Kingdom sent by Dou Jiande to the Banzhu Palace. There were hundreds of civil and military officials from the Xia Kingdom, and hundreds of guards, all of them here.

Seeing the Tang army pursuing them, Xia's civil and military officials did not dare to delay at all, and rushed towards the Xia army's camp without hesitation.

In the summer camp, in the big tent of the Chinese army, Dou Jiande learned that there was a cavalry from the Tang army coming from behind, and immediately dispatched a troop of cavalry to meet him, but just as the cavalry left, a personal guard reported: "The Minister of Civil and Military Affairs is coming from Banzhu. Block the way of the cavalry."

Dou Jiande was furious, and immediately ordered: "Pass down this king's order, and all the ministers retreat, and let the cavalry pass." Dou Jiande has experienced battles for a long time, so he naturally knows that once his own group of civil and military ministers disrupt his camp, the camp will be destroyed. Inside will be a mess.

Among the crowd, Pei Ju hid tightly among the guards. Seeing this situation, his eyes were horrified. He was as witty as he had already seen the situation of the battle. According to reason, Pei Ju, who is the prime minister, should raise his arms at this time and lead all the officials to get out of the way. However, Pei Ju is so wise, knowing that Xia Guo's situation is over, he ordered his personal guards to protect him and fled to the west.

The flustered courtiers of the Xia Kingdom could not advance or retreat. Li Shimin was overjoyed when he saw this, and led his army into the formation. He slashed left and right with a horizontal knife in his hand. Said: "My lord, capture the thief first and capture the king."

Li Shimin responded and said: "Youzhi, Daoxuan, capture Dou Jiande first." Gao Chong and Li Daoxuan were inspired by the words, and went straight to the camp of the Chinese army to kill them.

At this time, the Xia army was surrounded by enemies on all sides. Yuchi Jingde and Yuwenshi attacked on the east and west flanks, and Dou Gui led the attack on the front.

Dou Gui was not mediocre either, so he immediately ordered his cousin Dou Kang to lead the army to take the northeast highlands to intercept the main force of Xia's army.

Dou Kang was frank, straightforward, and very heroic. After Li Yuan raised his troops, Dou Kang came to join him. Even after Li Yuan proclaimed himself emperor, he never called him by his first name.

Even though Dou Kang's status is so respected, he is still conscientious and conscientious. He never discusses government affairs indiscriminately. He is similar to his cousin Dou Gui in that he is dedicated to his duty. , Dou Jiande couldn't make any progress.

At this time, Li Daoxuan, the king of Huaiyang, also made Gao Chong look at him differently. He had long heard the name of Li Daoxuan, the unicorn son of Li Tang's clan. When he saw him today, Gao Chong admired him very much. There are more than ten arrows in his body, but Li Daoxuan still fights with his spear, and takes Xia Junshuai's flag straight.

Gao Chong was also injured several times, the arrow shaking in front of his chest was like a hedgehog. Suddenly, Li Daoxuan accidentally fell off his horse. He led the army to rush forward and gave Li Daoxuan the spare horse.

Seeing that Xia's army was getting more and more encircled, and it was difficult to break through the large tent of the Chinese army, Li Shimin no longer hesitated, and ordered Shi Danai to prop up the banner of King Qin.

Xia Jun, who was already in a panic, saw that Tang Jun coach Li Shimin killed him from behind, and he was even more chaotic and quickly defeated. This is the role of the general. Seeing Dou Jiande retreating in a panic.

"Catch the thief first, capture the king, kill!" Gao Chong swung his knife to cut off the dangling arrows in front of him, straightened his spear and went straight to Dou Jiande, just in time to see a general of the Tang Army rushing into the formation from the east side with a spear in his hand. , in the middle of Dou Jiande's arm.

Dou Jiande was in pain, he swayed and almost fell, his guards on the left and right turned pale in panic, and rushed forward to rescue him desperately, the Tang Jun accidentally got injured when he sat down on his horse, and fell off the horse.

Gao Chong rushed in with his horse, swept across, cleared the field, and reached out to pick up the Tang Jun, "I am Sima Gao Chong of the Qin Palace, the general is very skilled."

"Carriage General Yang Wuwei thanked Gao Sima for saving his life." The Tang soldier was not injured, and after curtly saluting and thanking him, he snatched a horse. Seeing a Tang general on the other side struggling to fight, Yang Wuwei shouted loudly Said: "Brother Bai, Dou Jiande is here."

(End of this chapter)