After some cryptic questioning, Jia Xu learned that Li Shimin had actually deployed the Dragon Gate Formation, and Zhang Liao had actually destroyed the Dragon Gate Formation.
Jia Xu gave Zhang Liao a thumbs up in his heart and thought to himself: He is indeed the lord's favorite general, and he even defeated such a complicated formation as the Dragon Gate Formation.
Jia Xu thought it was Zhang Liao who broke the formation, but Zhang Liao said: "Thank you, the military advisor, for teaching me the method of breaking the formation, otherwise Zhang Liao would not be able to break the Longmen Formation."
Jia Xu said again: "??"
When did I teach you the method of breaking the formation? Why don’t I know it myself?
Jia Xu didn't even know that Li Shimin would meet the Longmen Formation, so how could he predict it and give Zhang Liao a way to break the formation in advance?
Seeing Jia Xu's expression, Xu Huang couldn't help but murmured: "Is it possible that the military advisor does not have the second level of true meaning? Is it because you, Wen Yuan, are overthinking it?"
"impossible."
Zhang Liao flatly denied it, then looked at Jia Xu and said with a smile: "There is no need for the military advisor to test the general. The 'soldiers are valuable and quick' in your ** not only reminds the general to fight quickly, but also tells him how to break the formation."
As long as the troops are mobilized fast enough so that Li Shimin cannot react, they will be able to break the Dragon Gate Formation.
Wen Yuan used this method to crack the Longmen Formation, and the military advisor is truly a god."
"??"
Jia Xu's eyes looked at Zhang Liao, which became a little complicated.
Can you break the Dragon Gate Formation in this way? This guy's luck must be too good.
Although Jia Xu was shocked in his heart by Zhang Liao's mistake, on the surface he looked like a teachable child and said with a smile: "General Zhang Liao, you have a good understanding and can understand my profound meaning. If it were any other, you would be able to do it."
Not necessarily, so this is not my fault."
When Zhang Liao heard this, he respected Jia Xu even more in his heart. He clearly did not take credit for his merits. The military advisor's ideological realm and moral character were so high that ordinary people of our generation simply cannot match them.
It's ridiculous that some men of letters often criticize military advisors with words and writings, but they don't know that military advisors don't care at all.
As soon as he thought of this, Zhang Liao immediately said: "No, no, no, it's all the result of the military advisor..."
"No, it's the general's credit..."
"No no no..."
Seeing the two people being humble to each other, Xu Huang felt awkward in his heart, but he couldn't say what it was.
After chatting with Jia Xu for a while, Zhang Liao led his troops into the city to rest, but was shocked by what he saw later.
There are collapsed houses everywhere in Luoyang City, and many people are sad, and the once prosperous Xuanwu Street is now in ruins...
Is this really Luoyang City, the imperial capital?
This was not the case before he left Luoyang. What kind of war did he go through to make Luoyang, the most majestic city in the world, turn into the dilapidated appearance it is now?
It seems that this third battle of Luoyang is far from easy as he imagined!
Zhang Liao led his army into the city to rest for only three days, but the vanguard of Li Jing's Hebei Army had already arrived in Luoyang, and the main force was only one day's journey from Luoyang.
After Zhang Liao and Jia Xu discussed it, they decided to lead the cavalry and infantry out of the city and march westward.
Now that the main army has arrived, and Zhao Yun's 30,000 cavalry are rapidly approaching from the north, it is time to deal with the remaining Tang army as well.
When Zhang Liao led his army into Hongnong County, he received news that shocked him.
The Tang army actually gave up the victory and withdrew toward Tongguan, with 30,000 cavalry and 50,000 infantry, totaling 80,000 troops.
The news that the Tang army had completely withdrawn from Sizhou not only shocked Zhang Liao and other generals, but also Li Jing and Han Xin, who were all shocked by Li Shimin's courage to cut off the enemy's strength.
You know, the Tang army dispatched an army of 150,000 troops, divided into two groups, attacking Nanyang and Hangu Pass in order to take control of Sizhou. After several months of fighting, only 80,000 troops were left.
Now we have finally broken through Hangu Pass, entered Sizhou, and secured a large territory in Hongnong and Hanoi counties. If we give up now, wouldn't all the previous efforts and sacrifices be in vain? Seven
Wan Dajun also died in vain.
After months of exhausting fighting and so many casualties, he ended up with nothing. Can Li Shimin really accept this result?
"Li Shimin, the king of Tang, must be one of the biggest obstacles to my lord's unification of the world." Li Jing said with a serious face.
Han Xin and Guo Jia also nodded in agreement. Compared with Li Shimin's performance, other princes were indeed much inferior.
Li Jing naturally did not want Li Shimin to withdraw from Guanzhong. After all, Tongguan was a majestic pass. Even if he had an army of 200,000, he might not be able to break it, not to mention that he would not be able to attack Tongguan by force.
The decisive battle in Jingbei was imminent, and it was impossible for Li Jing to consume his limited troops in an infinite siege.
In addition, although Li Shimin withdrew from Sizhou, he still had 80,000 troops and could come back at any time.
Li Tang held Tongguan, he could advance, attack, retreat or defend.
However, the Qin army lost Hangu Pass, and Sizhou's perfect defense line was broken. Facing Li Tang to the west, they were destined to be passively beaten.
Fortunately, Qin's national power far exceeded that of Tang. Even if the Tang army attacked, they would not be able to swallow up Sizhou's appetite, but this would definitely contain a lot of Qin's troops.
If you want to be prepared for a sudden attack by the Tang State, you must leave at least 150,000 troops in order to protect Sizhou from falling into danger again.
But if this is the case, the number of troops supporting Jingbei will be greatly reduced.
Based on this consideration, Li Jing decided to hold back Li Shimin and prevent him from returning to Guanzhong, no matter the cost.
Li Jing adopted Guo Jia's strategy and first ordered Zhang Liao to lead all the cavalry to attack, making sure to catch up with the Tang army as quickly as possible.
Hou Feige sent a message to Gongsun Yan and Tan Daoji on the front line, ordering them to lead Ye Wang and the defenders of Yiyang City to attack and delay the Tang army as much as possible.
Finally, the flying pigeon sent a message to Zhao Yun in the north, ordering him to speed up his march and must arrive before the Tang army retreated to Tongguan to block the Tang army's return.
Li Jing used the three methods in parallel to use all means to prevent the Tang army from escaping Sizhou. But what he didn't expect was that he had Guo Jiaji and Li Shimin also had the wall ladder.
Gongsun Yan and Tan Daoji were both infantry troops. Li Shimin first used cavalry to repel them, but instead of pursuing the victory, he set fire to the forest to block the Qin army's pursuit.
Zhang Liao, who was catching up, was blocked by the fire, and he didn't know when the fire would extinguish, so he could only go around it, which gave the Tang army's infantry time to withdraw.
The fire continued to burn for seven days. Zhang Liao finally arrived at the old site of Hangu Pass after detouring for five days. Zhao Yun's 30,000 Hetao cavalry had also arrived one day ago. Unfortunately, they arrived a step too late. All the Tang army's infantry had already withdrawn.
leading to.
Zhao Yun's 30,000 cavalry chased him under the starry night. When they reached Tongguan, all the Tang army's cavalry had also returned to Tongguan.
Zhao Yun had no choice but to lead his army back to Sizhou, where he happened to run into Zhang Liao who was chasing him.
The two cavalry generals looked at each other speechlessly, so they could only lead their troops back and report to Li Jing.
After receiving the news, Li Jing looked up to the sky and sighed: "God will not destroy Li Tang."