In the big tent, Lai Yi stood in front of the map with a serious expression. He had just received news from the spies that the hundreds of thousands of troops stationed in the Tongguan area suddenly disappeared.
Lai Ai got information from several businessmen who came from Guanzhong ten days ago that hundreds of thousands of troops were hoarded in the Tongguan area.
Laiyi immediately sent more than a dozen spies to investigate the situation. Now the intelligence sent by the spies showed that there were originally 200,000 troops, but they disappeared overnight.
This news made Lai Yi nervous. He had realized that Li Ye had sent troops to Luoyang. Otherwise, how could the 200,000 troops stationed in Tongguan disappear?
There is only one explanation: 200,000 troops left Tongguan.
Previously, Lai Yi was hot-headed and led an army of 30,000 to stand up for Li Tan, the king of Shu, in an attempt to help him regain the throne. Now when he discovered that Li Ye led an army to Luoyang, he realized that his thinking was too simplistic.
He actually ignored Qi King Li Ye. It is said that Li Ye had the will of the Supreme Emperor and had the right to inherit the throne of the Tang Dynasty. Since Li Ye legally had the right to inherit the throne, how could he miss this opportunity?
I actually want to fight for the throne for Li Tan and Li Ye. I really don’t know what I thought at the beginning? I’m so confused!
His own army of 30,000 was not enough for Li Ye to swallow him up in one go. Instead of helping Li Tan attack Luoyang with this small force, it would be better to directly be loyal to Li Ye and fight for a future for himself.
Lai Yi felt regretful in his heart, he had made a mistake.
At this time, a soldier at the entrance of the tent said: "General, His Majesty the King of Shu is here."
Lai Yi frowned, nodded and said, "Invite him in!"
After a moment, Shu King Li Tan quickly walked into the tent, cupped his hands and said: "Come here, general, we have been stationed in Liang County for three days. I don't know when the Northern Expedition will be?"
Lai Yi smiled bitterly and said: "I have news for Your Highness. Li Ye has led an army of 200,000 to march into Luoyang. This happened several days ago. I'm afraid they are not far from Luoyang now."
"What?"
Li Tan was stunned and asked in confusion: "What does this mean? I don't quite understand?"
"Your Highness, let me tell you the truth! Not only you three kings, but also King Li Ye of Qi will participate in the fight for the throne."
Li Tan suddenly became furious, "He is just Li Linfu's grandson and a side branch of the royal family. What qualifications do he have to compete for the throne?"
Lai Yi really despised this bookish prince. He actually said what qualifications did Li Ye have? Li Ye had an army of 500,000 people. This was his qualification. To put it more harshly, Li Ye had killed all the orthodox royal family.
His offshoot became orthodox.
Lai Yi said calmly: "Your Majesty, Li Ye has the decree of the Supreme Emperor in his hands. He is as qualified to inherit the throne as your Majesty."
Li Tan's face turned red and he said dissatisfied: "He was just barely recognized as a direct clan member. There are hundreds of direct clan members, so where is his turn? I have my father's succession edict, and I am the first in line to the throne.
Heir."
"In fact, His Highness can go talk to Li Ye and see if he is willing to support His Highness to inherit the throne? This may be the only way."
Li Tan took two steps back, stared at Lai Yi and asked, "Is it possible that the general doesn't want to go north?"
Lai Yi shook his head, "I'm a humble soldier with few generals. I can't help His Highness achieve his wish. I'm sorry!"
"you--"
Li Tan was so angry that he was trembling all over, "Before, you vowed to help me regain the throne, but now you have gone back on your promise. Are you worthy of being called a minister of the Tang Dynasty? Lai Ai, you have really disappointed me!"
"Your Highness!"
Lai Yi finally couldn't bear it anymore and said sternly: "It is precisely because I am a minister of the Tang Dynasty that I hope that the Tang Dynasty can be strong and prosperous. I said I would help you before because I didn't know that King Qi also wanted to fight for the throne. Now I know that King Qi also wants to fight for the throne."
If he has the ambition to make progress, of course I will support him. Only he can bring prosperity to the Tang Dynasty, not you!"
"Okay! Okay! Okay! I finally heard your true thoughts. It turns out that you want to surrender to Li Ye. I understand. I don't count on you either. I'll go find Guo Ziyi. I believe he will support me."
Lai Yi said calmly: "If His Highness wants to defect to Guo Ziyi, I can send troops to escort His Highness there."
"No need, I have a thousand loyal troops under my command, and they will escort me to Caozhou!"
Li Tan turned around and left. When he reached the door of the tent, he turned back and said coldly: "Stop your hypocrisy. Your so-called help will only make me feel sick!"
Lai Yi said nothing and calmly watched Li Tan go away.
Not long after, a logistics general came to report, "General, His Royal Highness the King of Shu wants to take a thousand soldiers to leave the camp. They want to take away 2,000 mules and 2,000 stones of grain. I don't dare to make the decision because of my humble position!"
"Let them take it away!"
After a pause, Lai Ai added: "They can bring whatever they want!"
"I humbly obey orders!"
The logistics general left in a hurry.
Lai Yi sighed, this Li Tan was too ambitious but had no self-awareness. Sooner or later, he would be killed by his own ambition.
At this moment, Lai Yi made up his mind. He immediately wrote a letter and sent people to Xiaohan Road to find Li Ye's main force.
At the same time that Lai Yi decided to pledge allegiance to Li Ye, an army of 30,000 soldiers led by Tian Shenggeng was preparing to cross the Yellow River from Heyang. To the southwest of Heyang County is the famous Heyang Bridge.
In the middle of this section of the Yellow River, there is a vast sandy land, which is equivalent to an island in the river. It divides the Yellow River into two parts, the South Yellow River and the North Yellow River. Du Yu, the Minister of Duzhi during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Jin Dynasty, built two buildings on the Yellow River.
The floating bridge connects the two sides of the Yellow River through the island in the river.
During the war between Li Guangbi and Shi Siming, the two pontoon bridges were partially destroyed. After the rebellion was suppressed, the pontoon bridges were restored.
A pass city was built on the island in the river, which is the famous Heyang Pass. Heyang Pass has North Pass and South Pass, which guard the North Floating Bridge and South Floating Bridge respectively.
General Liu Zhen of the Shence Army led an army of 5,000 to garrison Heyang Pass, which was the first pass that Tian Shengong's army of 30,000 wanted to attack.
Tian Shengong was bound to win. At one watch in the night, he personally led 3,000 crossbowmen and 3,000 sword and shield troops onto the Heyang Bridge and marched towards Heyang Pass step by step.
In the night, Heyang Pass was very quiet. Halfway through the journey, Tian Shengong waved his hand and asked all the soldiers to squat down. He sent a spy to find out what was going on.
Not long after, the spies came back and reported, "Let me tell you, Prince Qi, there are no patrolling soldiers at the top of the city. They all seem to be asleep!"
Tian Shengong was overjoyed. They all said that Shence's army was distracted. Sure enough, at this critical moment, they were still sleeping in the middle of the night. God help me!
Tian Shengong turned around and waved to the ramming army. A ramming army of two hundred people quickly ran forward holding a huge battering ram. They covered the top with their shields, just like a giant centipede running on the pontoon.
The opportunity has been seized, success or failure depends on this.
"Boom!" There was a loud noise, the city gate shook, and the siege weapon weighing several thousand kilograms slammed into the city gate. There was a chaos on the top of the city.
