Cheng Yaojin's bait did not fail. Half an hour later, several sneaky soldiers secretly ran back to find the shining spots on the hillside. When they found that it was a silver ingot, the surprise was just revealed, and there was no time to cheer,
Dozens of cold spears have surrounded them.
At this time, Cheng Yaojin strode forward. He didn't say a word. He flipped over the soldiers for a long time, found his ingot of silver, and then took more than a dozen hang money and put it in his arms.
Wave your hand, "Go down and interrogate!"
Although the intelligence that several soldiers can provide is not much, there are key points in the information. Five thousand people are stationed in Wen'an County, and five thousand people are stationed in Pingshu County to the south. In addition, there are also soldiers' equipment, morale, etc.
After asking questions, there was only so much information. Xiao Yannian was a little discouraged, "Uncle Cheng Shi, such a little information is meaningless. Let's investigate the terrain and rivers, and prepare for the army to move south."
Cheng Yaojin seemed a little depressed. He originally planned to go to Wen'an County or Pingshu County to enjoy it. Now the enemy has entered these two counties, which has failed his plan. He yawned, "Use twenty brothers."
Just check the terrain, but I won’t be with you, so I will go back to sleep.”
At this time, an interrogated soldier came to report, "General Cheng, there is new information, and Dou Jiande has been named King of Xia."
Cheng Yaojin was excited, "Who gave it to him? Did he give it to himself?"
"I don't know exactly, the prisoners said that their flag had been changed to Xia, and they were called Xia Army."
The information was pretty good. Cheng Yaojin immediately became energetic and said to Xiao Yannian: "Go back with me!"
Xiao Yannian bit his lips and said, "Uncle Shi, I still want to explore the terrain before going back."
Cheng Yaojin thought there should be no danger, so he nodded, "Whatever you want, but you have to go back as soon as possible."
He also ordered a few veterans, "Let your eyes be smart, run away when something is wrong, and I will leave my nephew to you. If there is any accident, I will peel you."
After giving the order, Cheng Yaojin turned over and ran towards Zhuojun with a few soldiers.
Xiao Yannian looked at Cheng Yaojin far away. He looked at the prisoners on the hillside again, feeling a little embarrassed, "What should they do?"
However, the scouts of the Sui army did not hesitate and killed all the prisoners one by one and buried them on the spot.
...
...
In the Sui army camp, Yang Yuanqing listened to Cheng Yaojin's report and received the same information from other scouts. Dou Jiande's military flag was written with a big word "Xia". Yang Yuanqing pondered for a moment and asked Li Jing.
"What does Sima think Dou Jiande's title of King Xia means?"
Li Jing thought for a while and said, "Dou Jiande is a relatively low-key person. When he was fighting with us, he could not proclaim himself King Xia and anger Li Mi. I think there is only one possibility. He, King Xia, was conferred by Li Mi."
"Your idea should be correct." Yang Yuanqing pointed.
Li Jing smiled again and said, "We might as well continue to extend it. Li Mi got the eldest grandson of the emperor and Empress Xiao. Although it had no impact on us and the Tang Dynasty, it had separatist forces such as Dou Jiande, Zhu Jie, Du Fuwei, Xu Yuanlang, and Meng Haigong.
Influence, I think Dou Jiande should have surrendered to Li Mi in order to find a way out for himself, so Li Mi named him King of Xia in the name of Yang Tan.”
Yang Yuanqing listened quietly to Li Jing's analysis. He seemed to have thought of something. He quickly walked to the sand table, looked at Qi County, and said slowly: "I have a sense that the reason why Dou Jiande surrendered to Li Mi is probably because he wanted to retreat to Qingzhou in the south.
.”
"It's very likely that, should you be killed by Xu Shiji to intercept Dou Jiande on the front line of the Yellow River?"
Yang Yuanqing shook his head, "If he cut off his retreat, he will fight back. It is better to leave a way out to make his fighting spirit less determined."
Although Li Jing saw through the relationship between Dou Jiande and Li Mi, his worries were not here. He frowned slightly and said, "Actually, I am more worried about the Tang army. We will attack Hebei in large numbers and the Hedong is empty. Will the Tang army launch surprise troops to attack Taiyuan? General Manager
, We have to be on guard against Hedong."
"I have considered this. I have ordered Wang Junguo to lead 10,000 troops to defend Yan'an County, Xie Yingdeng leads 10,000 troops to defend Taiyuan, and Cui Pojun leads 10,000 troops to defend Hedong County, and I have ordered 15,000 troops to defend Fengzhou.
The army went south to Lingwu County and formed a horn with Yan'an County. If the situation in Hedong County is critical, Xu Shiji's 40,000 troops can return to Hedong County at any time. Not to mention the surprise soldiers, even if they send troops on a large scale, they may not get any advantage."
"But I think they will definitely take action. When we attack Hebei this strategic gap, they cannot really stand by and miss this opportunity in vain." Li Jing still insisted on his own ideas.
Li Jing's insistence calmed down Yang Yuanqing completely. He walked a few steps behind his back, staring out of the tent, "Maybe it's not necessarily targeting us..."
...
Three days later, the Northern and Western Army of the Sui Army advanced towards Hejian County at the same time. Yang Yuanqing led an army of 60,000 to surround Wen'an County. Five thousand defenders of Wen'an County surrendered. The Sui Army then marched south south to attack Pingshu County and Pingshu County guards.
The general fled, and Dou Jiande realized the disadvantage of dividing troops to defend the city. He immediately withdrew the troops from each county and gathered 300,000 troops in Leshou City.
On February 18, 40,000 Western Army led by Qin Qiong and Luo Shixin captured Hejian City. The Northern Army immediately went south and joined the Western Army in Hejian City. The Sui army's 100,000 troops were integrated in Hejian City.
The 300,000 Xia troops were confronting forty miles away, and the clouds of the war became increasingly thicker and deeper, and it was already here: the momentum was about to break out.
...
The seven-day mourning period in Chang'an City has ended. In addition to the government gates, ordinary houses have almost removed their white cloth and started a normal life. At this moment... a seductive news came from Nanyang County.
Duan Que, the envoy of the Tang Dynasty who was ordered to persuade Zhu Jie in Nanyang, to surrender, was steamed and cooked by Zhu Jie.
This news shocked Chang'an and aroused great anger among the people in Chang'an. Tens of thousands of people went to Zhuque Gate to petition, demanding that the court send troops to Nanyang County and kill the man-eating demon king Zhu Jie.
In the Qin Palace, Li Shimin was discussing the current situation with his aide Fang Xuanling.
Li Shimin was very depressed these days. His father used the funeral as an excuse to reject the plan to send troops to Hedong. He knew in his heart that this was because the prince Jiancheng and the important officials of the court put strong pressure on his father, forcing his father to accept their
Plan: abide by the contract and rest and rectify internal affairs.
Through this incident, Li Shimin deeply felt the weakness of his power in the court. The prince regarded himself as a righteous person everywhere, which won the support of nearly 80% of court officials. The dispute over sending troops to Hedong was originally an internal secret dispute, but for some reason,
The entire court and the public knew about this, and most court officials clearly supported the prince's "building a country with confidence" and put Li Shimin in a great passive state, and he took the blame for his treason.
Of course Li Shimin knew that this was the trick of the prince Jianchengshi, and the agreement with the Sui Dynasty was signed in the name of the court. To tear up the agreement himself, it undoubtedly defiled the reputation of the court. The prince used this to cleverly arouse the court's ministers.
Dissatisfaction with him Li Shimin.
Through this incident, Li Shimin also learned about his brother Jiancheng's power strategy, and he was still a little more tender.
Fang Xuanling had been dealing with the issue of distributing cattle and sheep a few days ago, and only came back yesterday. After learning about this situation, he immediately realized that Li Shimin was a bit reckless in handling this matter. He did this to undoubtedly push himself to the whole thing.
The opposition to the court lost points in politics.
This matter should first create an incident where the Sui army broke the contract, and then propose to send troops to Hedong, so that the court's opposition would not be too fierce, and the prince could not use this matter to make a fuss. Li Shimin was still a little too young.
Not very experienced in politics.
Now that things have come to this point, Fang Xuanling doesn't want to blame Li Shimin anymore. He comforted Li Shimin and said, "Your Highness, the matter has passed, so don't need to think too much. The incident that happened in Nanyang County is an opportunity. If your Highness can seize this opportunity, no matter how
Whether it is the court or the people, this will greatly increase the reputation of His Highness."
"Sir, is it that I will lead my army to capture Nanyang County?" Li Shimin said.
“Not only that!”
Fang Xuanling smiled slightly, "Now the Sui army is attacking Dou Jiande, Hebei with all its might. Yang Yuanqing has no time to take care of the south. How can we not use this opportunity? Zhu Jie's equipment is backward, his morale is low, and the people are not attached to him. He can be defeated in one battle.
Then……"
Li Shimin suddenly understood what Fang Xuanling meant, "Sir, is Xiao Xian from the south?"
Fang Xuanling nodded, "That's exactly what I mean. I heard that Xiao Xian killed the meritorious officials, causing the military officials to be disconnected. Now he is fighting with Lin Shihong in Poyang again, and the west is empty. Your Highness can suggest that the emperor order Li Xiaogong to send 100,000 troops from Dongchuan.
Walking on the quiet road and attacking Yiling County, Your Highness personally led 100,000 troops out of Wu Pass. After defeating Zhu Jie's troops, he directly rushed to Xiangyang. Taking advantage of the opportunity that Xiao Xian was restrained by Lin Shihong, he seized Jingxiang in one fell swoop, our Tang Dynasty
The strength will be greatly enhanced, enough to compete with the Sui Dynasty. Your Highness, if we do not seize this strategic opportunity, it will be too late for us to regret it!"
Li Shimin's eyes gradually shone brightly. He wanted to attack Hedong, and he did not hesitate to anger the ministers in the court, but he did not expect to develop to the south. If Xiao Xian could be destroyed, Jingxiang Nanyang, and connect with Shangluo County,
It will indeed greatly increase the strength of the Tang Dynasty. More importantly, seizing Jingxiang will not only allow more military power, but also greatly enhance its reputation, and will benefit from both public and private capital.
But he was a little worried about his father's attitude, "But his father has issued an order for three months not to move weapons. Will this make him think he is going back on his word?"
Fang Xuanling smiled slightly, "Everything only requires a reason and excuse. Now that Zhu Jie's eating the Tang envoy has aroused great indignation from the court and the public. At this time, the emperor followed the public's wishes and sent troops to attack Zhu Jie, not only did he go back on his word, but instead
It will win the public's expectations, and my subordinates believe that Your Majesty will agree happily."
"Will it be too late to go in time?"
Li Shimin was very cautious, "The Sui army was preparing for the battle in Hebei for a winter, and we had no combat preparations. Can I hold on?"
"Your Highness, this is the time and time! The Sui army is going to prepare for combat. Because of the severe cold winter, Hebei is full of sores and hungry people are everywhere, and their army is not replenished at all. At the same time, the Sui army also rescues the hungry people, so they must
We are different when we fight in spring, and the climate is pleasant. More importantly, Jingxiang is a prosperous place, without worrying about military rations, and without needing to provide relief to the victims. We do not need any combat preparations, we need fast soldiers!"
Fang Xuanling's analysis made Li Shimin resolutely make up his mind, "What the sir said is very true. I will go to the palace to convince my father!"
On February 15th, Emperor Li Yuan of Tang strongly condemned Zhu Jie for his unruly crimes and appointed Qin King Li Shimin as the marshal of the East. He led 100,000 elite Tang troops out of Wu Pass to conquer Zhu Jie in Nanyang. At the same time, he secretly ordered Xi'an King Li Xiaogong
Lead 100,000 troops stationed in Sishu and walked on the ladder and marched towards Yiling.
Just as the Sui army launched a large-scale attack on Hebei, the Tang army also launched a southern battle and dispatched 200,000 troops to attack Jingxiang.