Unofficial History of the Sui and Tang Dynasties

Chapter 22

Fan Yuan fought against Yu Chengji and Li Jing said to Shentong: "I will do this plan, and I will see you when the time comes." Then he whispered in his ear, so so.Overjoyed by his supernatural powers, he called Qu Tushou to his tent and told him, "You can lead 500 men who are capable of hunting, each with their own weapons, and the subordinates of the snares, and parade outside the outline. First, watch the birds flying out of Liaocheng City. Wherever I go to catch them, I have a use for them. Those who survive will be rewarded according to their number, and there should be no delay." Qu Tushou accepted the order and went happily.In the middle of the journey, there was a group of men and horses in front of them, all of them flying red flags, and they came suddenly.A hero flashed out from the head, seven feet long, blue eyes and purple beard, extraordinary courage, and outstanding cunning. He was the Lord of Xia, Dou Jiande.Jiande personally led the soldiers to the north of Liaocheng and set up a camp.The soldiers rushed to report to the Tang camp, and Li Jingxi said: "The one who succeeds in defeating the enemy in the future must be this person. It is time to prepare cattle, sheep, wine and gifts to work in the past." Shentong said: "Your words are exactly what I want." That is to say, Liu Hongji Send gifts and go to the summer camp.

But it is said that Jiande soldiers went to Liaocheng and set up a big camp, and suddenly it was reported that Liu Hongji was sent by Tang Dynasty.When Xia Zhu met, Hongji said: "I am ordered by the king of Huai'an to send a small gift to show the meaning of the dust blow. I hope you will leave me with a smile. Don't give me a small gift." Then cattle, sheep and wine were presented.Xia Zhu was overjoyed and asked, "Have you ever fought against Xu Bing?" Hongji said, "I was killed by our Tang soldiers in Wei County for a while, so I came here in Liaocheng." Xia Zhu said, "Go back to the camp and replace me." Pay homage to the King of Huai'an: Since the Tang soldiers have fought several battles, there is no need to exhaust the troops in the future. This thief is waiting for me to capture and avenge the two emperors Xue." Hongji bid farewell and returned to the camp. Jiande urgently asked Yang Yichen to discuss the strategy of defeating the enemy. Yichen Said: "When I first came to the enemy's territory, I didn't know the true and false, and I sent Fan Yuan to lead 3000 horses to fight on his own, to spy out the movement of the thieves, and then make a plan, which can keep everything safe." Said: "You can lead the army forward to meet the enemy, but if you are defeated and you are not allowed to win, it will not be your fault." Wish said: "War must be won, attack must be captured, this is the way of the general.

How about just calling me defeated? "Yichen said: "You don't know the way of soldiers and deception. "Fan Yuan took the order and left.

The next day, I would like to lead 3000 people to Liaocheng.On the left side of the Chenpai, it was not far from Mr. Xu, and marched forward with flags and drums beating.Xu Jun came to meet him enthusiastically, and the two armies joined forces to form a formation, misty and rainy, and dust to cover up the sun.Drawing drums and three links, Fan Yuan wears a water-milled helmet on his head, chain mail, a rhinoceros belt around his waist, and a stone-splitting knife in his hand. He sits chasing the wind horse, stands in front of the battle, and shouts for the general to speak.Against the opening of the upper door flag, Yuwen Chengji went out, wearing an arrow helmet on his head, wearing a Tang Yi armor, a Jinzheng gown, a Lantian belt around his waist, holding a Zhangba fire pointed gun, sitting on a black horse, and sternly shouting: "I know you!" Am I? I am Yuwen Chengji, the crown prince of Emperor Xu. Now, under the order of my father, I will lead the army to capture the little bandit Jiande, so as to make the world safe." Fan Yuan leaped on his horse and cursed loudly: "Cow herding thief, who knows you? I am Xia The deputy marshal of the king's subordinates punished rape and slaughtered, and now, under the king's order, lead a large army to capture the party of Yu Wenhua, who killed the king and seized the throne, and the adulterous empress and concubine Yu Wenhua, as a sacrifice to the late emperor. Ji came to meet him with a gun, and the two horses met, and the fight lasted to more than fifty bouts.If you want to feign defeat, you will retreat for more than [-] miles, and Chengji will not come after him.The sound of gongs in Xia's formation resounded, and each of them withdrew their troops.The pawn reported to the Tang camp: "Today Chengji defeated Fan Yuan." Li Jing said, "This servant Yang's plan is to lure the enemy and explore the truth." There are countless crows, chaffinches, cranes, pigeons and other birds.Overjoyed by the supernatural power, he ordered Jingzhao to give silver taels to several passes, reward soldiers and so on, and leave with his birthday and thanks.

That day Li Jing got the black sparrow, thought it would be a success, so he ordered the soldiers to open the core of walnuts, apricots and plums, put them in moxa fire, and tied the tail of the bird with a thread.The big ones brought walnut pits, and the small ones brought apricot and plum pits, and put them up together, and flew into Liaocheng in groups.There are poems as evidence: Li Jingxing made great achievements in the Tang Dynasty, and Huai'an heard that Ji was happy.

Who knew that the bird fire caused civil disaster in Liaocheng.

On that day, Chengji defeated Fan Yuan and led his troops back to Liaocheng. Zou Huaji said: "I am worried about Xia's lack of soldiers. Among the numbers, Fan Yuan was defeated. I have seen that he is incapable of doing anything." Ji said: "I heard that the soldiers of Xia are to the north of me, and the soldiers of Tang are to the right of me. Although we have won a little now, I am sincerely afraid that there may be deceit in them. There are few and difficult enemies, and my lord must not take care of them. If there is a fall, my family will rest." Hey." Chengji said: "The enemy's soldiers are only like this, and there is nothing to fear." Zhiji said: "You only have the enemy's soldiers on the one road. The soldiers of Tang and Wei have never moved, and they have come from three places. Why should they be treated?" Said: "What can we do like this?" Cheng Ji said: "Father, don't worry. Although my son is not talented, I would like to lead [-] elite soldiers to fight a decisive battle again, so that Jiande will be captured in the north, Tang soldiers will be defeated in the west, and they will be driven into the pass for peace. Zongmiao Sheji." Zhiji said: "It is not possible to underestimate the enemy with fewer victories. Today, I heard that Xia has more than [-] soldiers, and they are also strong soldiers and horses in the north. Shi Lan, Yin Dayong who stayed behind, and Zheng Shanguo, Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, led them to defend against powerful enemies. They stayed fifty thousand soldiers and guarded the city with Chengzhi." Huaji said: "Your brother's words are very correct, but Chengji is young , I don’t know how to advance and retreat, so I’m afraid it’s hard to trust me.” Zhiji said, “The prime minister is also a man of wisdom and courage, if not, how could we be willing to kill him with bare hands?”

Huaji said: "In the past, my father and son didn't have such a heart, and they all relied on the younger brother's push. Today, turning the family into a country is a real achievement of the younger brother. Now that the situation is pressing, you should try your best to maintain it, and don't lose yourself easily. "Hua Ji left Yin Dayong to guard the city, and the rest of the soldiers listened to Zhi Ji's dispatch.Zhiji led 15 elite soldiers to leave Liaocheng [-] miles away, and set up a big camp.On that day, Zhiji ordered Chengji to lead [-] troops, leave the camp, roll up the flags and stop the drums, with a number of men and horses, and was ordered to plot secretly, but he didn't know where he went.

But when Huaji saw the soldiers coming from all walks of life, he thought that there was no way to defeat the enemy, and he was depressed. Sitting alone in the palace, his mind was dizzy and his thoughts were drowsy.Suddenly, Empress Xiao came forward and said: "Your Majesty is so depressed, what's wrong? I go to visit the Imperial Garden with Your Majesty. Is it possible to entertain your feelings?"

Huaji said: "The third route army and horses approached the city, and they couldn't break the enemy, so they are depressed. Do you want to have fun?" Depressed?" Transform and follow it.

It turns out that this imperial garden was also built by Emperor Yangdi, and the scenery in it is unparalleled in the world.At this time, it is time to take a small chariot in a fragrant chariot, and the maids of the left and right palaces will follow.As a result, the garden landscape is abnormal: in the east, there are Yanyou Hall, peony garden, and pines and cypresses competing for freshness; in the west, there are Linxi Pavilion, fish pond, and lotus lotus; There are Eight Immortals Cave, Playing Platform, Cranes Dancing and Monkeys Crowing... It is really a fairy island in the world, Penglai in this world.Huaji and Empress Xiao toured the garden, went up to play on the flower bed, just sat down, suddenly heard a gust of wind blowing past, the dust and sand blinded the eyes, and the air-conditioning invaded, and the concubine of the Empress Xiao disappeared, only a young boy with a crown on his head , with a dragon belt around his waist, wearing a crimson red robe, holding a jasper gui in his hand, screaming repeatedly, crying tears, pulling him forward and cursing: "I am the son of Emperor Yang, the king of Qin Yang Hao. Your father and son, accept me The State of Sui was so kind, but he didn't want to pay back, but he did murder. You conspired to make me the lord of the people. What happened later, forced me to drink poison to death, and my body was exposed? Now I am appealing to the emperor, I want you to repay my life." Hua Ji said: "It is your destiny to be exhausted, what is the matter with me? I don't know that you drink poisonous wine." Before he finished speaking, he saw a group of people from the audience coming, bowing their bows. Arrows, swords and knives, all brave men ran up to the stage, pushed Huaji to the ground, stabbed wildly with swords, and cursed: "I am the son of Zhao Xingshu, Sima Dekan, Yuanli, and Zhige, the son of the Sui Dynasty." People, in the past we conspired with you to kill Wudao, because of his licentiousness and tormenting the people, we murdered him with this conspiracy, and chose his son for the benefit of us. Unexpectedly, you established yourself as the emperor, and the adultery Empress Concubine, poisoning her young master, what you have done is even worse than that of Emperor Yangdi. What is the crime of us today, and you will kill them all? Now everyone is suing the sky, and I will demand my life from you." Hua Ji There was no answer, so everyone in Xingshu raised their knives and chopped him down. His body was disassembled, and the ground was covered with blood.Hua Ji screamed, and suddenly realized that it was Nan Keyi Meng.His body was as cold as ice, and his four bodies were in shock.

When I turned and woke up, when I was sad, I saw the Milky Way clear and shallow, and I missed the third watch. Suddenly I heard the sound of noise, and people reported that the city was full of fire.Hua Ji looked at it in a hurry, and saw thick smoke and wild flames in the distance, and the whole city of Liaocheng was full of red.In the warehouse, only the ground was red, and in a short while, Li Jing used a dark fire to send birds into the city. The fire flew with the wind, burning the stored grain in the inner and outer warehouses and towers.There is a poem in Jingxuan: It is a pity that the treasury is ashes, but it is a pity that the warehouse is like a glow.

It was all because of Li Jing's tricks that the country belonged to the Li family.

General comment: But defeat does not allow victory. This is Yang Taifu's strategy to find out the truth, and the so-called soldiers practice deceitful ways.Li Jingluo's flock of sparrows is flying fire. Is there any embers in Liaocheng?It is said that the trip to the imperial garden is not a dream in Nanke, but a retribution of a wronged ghost.Don't stop killing rebellious courtiers!
(End of this chapter)