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Chapter 540 One Shot of Vengeance

Luoyang City, piled up with corpses.

A few days ago, the Tang army fought a decisive battle with Wang Shichong's army, and the battle was fierce.

At that time, the surrounding areas of Luoyang had fallen. After Li Shimin led his army to capture the warehouses around Luoyang, he led the main force of the Tang army to the Qingcheng Palace in Luoyang City.

When the Tang army first arrived, the barrier was not established, but they were besieged in the palace city of Luoyang. Wang Shichong saw this and led an army of [-] to go out from the Fangzhumen of Luoyang, relying on the wall of the old horse square, and facing the valley water to resist the Tang army.

At that time, the generals of the Tang army couldn't help being moved when they saw Wang Shichong's rigorous lineup of the Jianghuai army.

But Li Shimin led his fine horses to watch the formation on Beiman Mountain, and said to the left and right: "The bandits are exhausted. Now Wang Shichong leads the whole army to fight, just because of luck. If our army breaks it in one battle today, it will not be the same in the future." Dare to come back."

After finishing speaking, Li Shimin ordered Qu Tutong to lead 5000 troops across the river to attack him, and said: "If you fight with Wang Shichong, you will burn the smoke."

When the smoke was overwhelming, Li Shimin led a light cavalry down the mountain, taking the lead and attacking Wang Shichong's army together with Qu Tutong.The battle between the two armies was very fierce, and the commander Li Shimin was shot dead immediately. Fortunately, the general Qiu Xinggong killed several members of the Zheng army and rescued Li Shimin.

Li Tang's hussar generals Duan Zhixuan and Wang Huaiwen were captured, Duan Zhixuan was captured and fled back to the Tang army camp, and after Wang Huaiwen pretended to surrender, he assassinated Wang Shichong and was killed by mistake.

The two armies fought fiercely from Chen to noon, and Wang Shichong could not defeat the Tang army, so he withdrew his troops and returned to Luoyang Gongcheng.

Casualties and casualties of the two armies of Tang and Zheng

After the war, Li Shimin rewarded Qiu Xinggong who risked his life to save him, and Duan Zhixuan who fought to the death, and went to Chang'an to comfort Wang Huaiwen who died in battle. .

All the generals said yes.

However, in this battle, Li Tang's elite Xuanjia Army performed well. Cheng Yaojin, Zhai Changsun, Zhang Shigui and other Xuanjia Army generals led more than a thousand cavalry soldiers of the Xuanjia Army. The killing of General Ge Yanzhang Wang Shichong restrained Zheng Guo's frontal onslaught.

After that, as Li Shimin said, Wang Shichong's Jianghuai army was seriously injured and could not fight again in a short time.

After Li Shimin's Tang army received reinforcements, they began to surround the palace city of Luoyang. Li Shimin told the generals that if they captured Luoyang, except for the royal car and ceremonial guards, books and equipment of the Sui Dynasty, which would all belong to the Tang Dynasty, the rest, such as men and women, jade and silk, would belong to the generals. points.If we attack Luoyang this time, if we fail to conquer the city, we will never lead our troops back west.

After Li Shimin said this, the soldiers of the Tang army were shocked.

Now that the first month is just over, Li Shimin led an army to surround Luoyang.

The new wind was hunting to the east, and the corpses of the soldiers of the two armies under the city had not yet been restrained, but the Tang army under the city brought out a giant crossbow of eight oxen, a giant cannon capable of throwing fifty catties of flying stones, and displayed it under the city.

It was freezing cold, and the snow was falling heavily.

Tang Jun's flying stone arrows slammed towards Luoyang Palace City, and broken stones rained down from the top of the city.Tang Jun couldn't help being shocked when he saw that Luoyang Palace City remained motionless after the arrows bombarded for a while.

You must know that Luoyang Palace City was originally built to prevent enemy attacks. It changed the structure of the imperial city at that time, which emphasized the outer city and neglected the inner city.The outer walls of the palace city are all covered with blue bricks, instead of rammed earth outer walls like most cities in the north, especially the palace walls are four feet eight feet high.

What is the concept of a height of four feet and eight feet? It is conceivable that the outer gate of Chang'an, the capital of Tang Dynasty, was only one foot and eight feet.Zheng Jun's defenders stood at the head of the city at a height of 14 meters, which was enough to look down from any direction of the siege.

In order to defend the palace city, Yu Wenkai, the designer of Luoyang city, designed the palace city of Luoyang extremely rigorously. There are forbidden gardens and valleys in the west of the city; Yaoyi city and Yuanbi city in the north; Dongcheng and outer city in the east; The imperial city, the Luohe River and the outer gate, plus the east and west of the palace city also have narrow partitions and folders.Blocked by layers of city walls, even if the Tang army broke through the outer wall, they would not be able to break through the second city wall. Wang Shichong's elite Jianghuai army stationed in the city and stood firm.

Back then in Luoyang city, Yang Xuangan and Li Mi returned home in defeat, and now Li Shimin attacked Luoyang palace again. Although the Tang army was elite, it was a huge challenge to encounter such a fortified city.

Changsun Wuji looked at Luoyang Palace City, and said sadly: "Our army finally defeated Wang Shichong's Jianghuai Army, but there is no way to take this Luoyang Palace City?"

Li Shimin Xu looked at the Luoyang palace city covered by flying stones and giant arrows, and said: "An isolated city cannot last long, even Luoyang City."

Fang Xuanling said slowly: "Everyone knows that a one-eyed Go player can't survive. So what if Wang Shichong defends Luoyang City? Xiangyang has been captured by us, and Wang Shichong has long been alone and helpless."

"Not yet, Hulao has not yet been captured by our army, so it will not be considered as cutting off all the routes of advance and retreat." Liu Hongji said.

Li Shimin said proudly: "I am determined to win the tiger prison. Do you know which general of the Zheng army guards the tiger prison?"

"Originally, there was only Wang Shichong's nephew Jing Wang Xingben. Later, Wang Shichong sent Prince Wang Xuanying to lead the army to strengthen the defense of Hulao Pass." Fang Xuanling replied.

Changsun Wuji said: "It seems that Wang Shichong is not a foolish person. He knows that the victory or defeat of this Luoyang battle lies in Hulao."

Fang Xuanling said: "That's right, once the Zhao army comes to aid Zheng, Hulao is the only way for him to go. If Wang Shichong wants to abandon Luoyang and retreat to Shandong, then Hulao is his only retreat now."

"Wang Xingben, what kind of thing is Wang Xuanying? His ability is even less than that of Wang Shichong. The final general is willing to lead his army to capture Hulao and secure the victory."

It seemed to Li Shimin that the one who made such a bold statement was General Li Junxian.Li Junxian was originally Wang Shichong's subordinate general, but what he disliked most was that Wang Shichong was nepotism, promoted all his children, and excluded generals with foreign surnames, so he abandoned Wang Shichong and went to Li Tang.

Li Shimin was very happy when he heard this, and said: "I will trouble you, Hongji, you will also lead the army to attack Hulao, and help General Li."

At present, the two generals will take orders together.

Everyone's eyes returned to the city wall of Luoyang. At this moment, a fast horse galloped over and said to Li Shimin: "His Royal Highness, Your Majesty has a will!"

Li Shimin and the other generals did not dare to be negligent, so they got off their horses to receive the imperial edict. For confidants.Later, Yuwen Shiji took refuge in Li Yuan.

Yuwen Shihe and Li Yuan were very friendly. When Li Yuan had not raised troops in Jinyang, he had secretly communicated with Yuwen Shihe, and he had long wanted to use Yuwen's family and other Guanlongmen clans to plot rebellion.

When Houyu Wenhua went to Chang'an and defected to Li Yuan, Li Yuan pointed to him who had fought against Pei Ji and other heroes in Taiyuan, and said: "It has been six or seven years since this man told me about world affairs, and the elders are behind him."

Later, Li Yuan married Yuwen Shiji's younger sister as Zhaoyi, and he loved her very much. He intended to make her a queen, in order to win over the Yuwen Clan, but under the opposition of other clans in Longxi, Li Yuan gave up on his intention.

Now Yuwen Shiji, following Li Yuan's will, came to deliver an edict, which must be an important order.

Yuwen Shiji said: "Your Majesty has ordered Princess Pingyang to take the place of King Huai'an in command of the soldiers in Shandong. Your Majesty has ordered that Princess Pingyang's old troops return to Hedong and be at his disposal."

As soon as Li Shimin said this, he couldn't help being surprised, Qiu Shili and Qiu Xinggong, who were beside him, also had expressions on their faces, because they turned out to be the generals under Princess Pingyang's account.Qiu Xinggong and Qiu Shili are both Li Shimin's right-hand men, and Qiu Xinggong was still on the battlefield just now, saving Li Shimin's life.

Li Shimin said: "At the moment the attack on Luoyang is in a hurry, and the troops are still insufficient. Why did the emperor send troops to Hedong? Can you postpone it for ten days? Within a month, I will definitely attack Luoyang."

Yuwen Shi and Chang sighed and said: "King Qin, you don't know something, and you have to tell me in detail. Wang Shichong sent Du Yan, Changsun Anshi and others to Youjing, begging Li Chongjiu to send troops to Luoyang. I heard that Li Chongjiu has agreed, and will Lead the main force of the Zhao army to go south to reinforce Wang Shichong. That's why His Majesty ordered the princess to go to Hexi to strengthen Shanxi's defenses. For example, the general manager Li Zhongwen, Liu Dewei and others must obey the princess' dispatch."

Li Shimin didn't speak after hearing the words. When Tang Jun generals heard that Li Chongjiu had decided to lead his army south to reinforce Wang Shichong, cold sweat oozes from their foreheads.

Li Chongjiu even killed Liu Heitai, Yu Wenhuaji, and recently even Li Tang also had a tie with the Turkic people who had to act according to their faces. At present, the elite Zhao army infantry, coupled with the brave cavalry outside the Great Wall, are better than Wang Shichong Jianghuai An even stronger enemy than the elite.

If the two families had a decisive battle under the city of Luoyang, who would win?

Among so many people, only Li Yuanji, the king of Qi, had a bright face, and he must have told Li Yuan himself that after Li Shimin captured Luoyang, he would support his troops and not return to Chang'an. He was suspicious, so he sent his third sister to Hexi to divide Li Shimin's military power, which had the effect of restraint.

Li Yuanji couldn't help thinking to himself that his strategy was too clever, and he avenged Li Shimin's humiliation without bloodshed.

(End of this chapter)