Marching in places with steep mountains and a network of hills and water networks has always been a severe test, especially now in the middle of summer, where poisonous snakes are rampant, and if you are not careful, you will be bitten, no different from death.

The only thing Li Xiaogong wanted was to rely on this terrain so that the Sui army could not use the powerful cavalry to attack his army, and when the army reached Zaoyang, he would go west along the road to the west.

In order to be able to get rid of the cavalry of the Sui army, he did not take the official road, but found a guide and guided them to take the sheep's intestine trail and march to the south through the mountains and rivers, but the dozen or so hunters who gave them guides clearly told him before setting off that it was more meaningful to throw away all the baggage that consumed physical strength, and it was more meaningful for livestock to eat than to be a means of transportation.

Although Li Xiaogong listened to these words and was fully prepared, when they really set foot on this shortcut, they found that the difficulty of walking in the mountains was much more difficult than what the hunter said, which made him very regretful. If you knew this, you should have listened to Chai Shao's words and went south directly on the official road, as long as the scouts were widely spread, you might not be afraid of the Sui army. But there was no turning back when he opened the bow, so he could only move forward, although it was more difficult, but how to say, he was not afraid of the Sui cavalry. What's more, the road is not too long, as long as you hold on for three or four days, it will pass.

But when they walked for most of the night, there was a dense light rain in the sky, the narrow path was muddy, and the steps were difficult, and it took them to march for more than 30 miles after a night's march, and the soldiers who marched with heavy loads were exhausted.

Thankfully, horses and mules could not walk, but horses, mules, and donkeys could march like people, and thousands of animals carrying grain still played their due role.

Li Xiaogong's gaze turned from the hazy and continuous mountains in front of him to the general who was covered in mud and horizontal, and couldn't help but sigh, hoping that the march during the day would be faster.

"Your Highness."

Lu Zushang found Li Xiaogong and said breathlessly: "The scout came to report that after the Sui army took over our army's camp, it didn't move at all. But the last general felt that something was wrong. ”

When the Tang army withdrew, only 120,000 troops were used for a month, and the rest of the food and equipment were not burned, the reason why it was not burned was that the Sui army never lacked food, and those ordnance were given away in vain, I am afraid that they would be disliked, and whether they were burned or not could not affect the Sui army in the slightest, and there were many people in the world who did not have enough to eat, and they could also help the poor people if they kept it.

On the other hand, it involves the life and death of the Tang army, because the camp is located in the wilderness, when the army withdraws, the huge number of Tang troops will inevitably be chaotic, if the camp is burned, the raging flames are just for the Sui cavalry to illuminate.

"What's wrong?" Li Xiaogong's heart was awe-inspiring.

"The soldier who sent us the letter took the official road and then crossed the mountain road, and it was a wise decision that he didn't take the damn mountain road. But the strange thing about the last general is that the scout is not in disguise, and is still wearing the uniform of our army. How did the Sui army let it go? ”

"Could it be that the Sui army didn't send scouts?" The samurai on the side asked.

"No way." Lu Zushang shook his head: "After the Sui army is stationed in our army's camp, to prevent our army from turning around and attacking, it will definitely spread the scouts widely to find out the whereabouts of our army, and the official road is obviously the focus of the scouts." ”

"What General Lu said is indeed the most basic common sense of marching and fighting." Samurai Tong nodded.

Lu Zushang said: "The problem is here, because our army scouts are under the rainy night, and only by watching closely can we find out the situation of the Sui army, and the Sui army scattered all over the place obviously has the opportunity to arrest him, but why not?" ”

Li Xiaogong thought for a moment and said, "Maybe it's the cover of the thick night, and the scouts of our army have not been discovered. ”

"The last general has also thought about it, but it is very likely."

"You mean, the scout is dressed up by the Sui army?"

"This person is a soldier of the last general, and there are many people who know him, so it is impossible for the Sui army to pretend. The last general thought that it was the general of the Sui army who specially ordered the Sui army scouts to let him go. Lu Zushang glanced at Li Xiaogong and continued: "The purpose is to let this scout send the news that the troops are not moving, but in fact, the Sui army has quietly left the barracks under the cover of a rainy night and is waiting for us in front. ”

"Very likely." Li Xiaogong nodded, turned around and instructed his own soldiers: "Pass my order, send another five hundred scouts to the front to investigate, expand the scope to Zaoyang, and at the same time, order Li Xiaoyi, the county prince of Liangjun, to prepare to receive the army to rest, if the Sui army comes to attack, it will not be able to defend and never go out of the city to fight." ”

"Obey." The soldiers took the order and went to deliver the order.

Li Xiaogong took out another arrow and handed it to another personal commander: "You take the soldiers of your headquarters to Xiangyang City, and ask His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to send scouts to find out the military situation in Nanyang Xinye and Shunyang. ”

"Obey."

The commander of the personal soldier received the order to leave, and Li Xiaogong stopped him again, "If you encounter a Sui army patrol post, immediately break the order arrow, and don't let the order arrow fall into the hands of the Sui army." ”

"Whoa."

The pro-soldier Huo Chang saluted and galloped away.

Li Xiaogong looked at his distant back, and breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, he knew Li Jiancheng too well, if the Sui army pretended to be a scout to convey false news, he would definitely send troops to rescue him.

The use of Xiangyang's limited forces to go out of the city was definitely not his wish Li Xiaogong.

Otherwise, you will only be cocooned.

。。。。。。。。。

Zaoyang County is located in the middle of Chungling County, in the north of the water, about 20 miles away from the water, the south bank of the water is close to an official road that can be called the main artery, this official road starts from Daxing in the north, runs through Jingzhao, Shangluo, Xiyang, Xiangyang, Chungling, Handong six counties in the east-west direction, and then goes south to Anlu, and reaches the junction of Haiyin County and Linyi in Jiaozhou.

From Zaoyang County, more than 170 miles west along the end of the water is Caiyang County, and then more than 250 miles west of Caiyang, is Xiangyang City, the middle is still a hilly area with mountains and horizontals, and there are large forests on both sides of the deep river valley, which is extremely difficult to walk. If you go west directly from the official road south of the county seat, it only takes more than 320 miles to reach Xiangyang City. Therefore, whether it is to go to Xiangyang by water or by land, the Tang army of Chungling must pass through here.

In the eastern front of the Hanshui defense line built by Li Xiaogong and Chai Shao, Zaoyang is regarded as the strategic depth of the Huyang battalion and the location of the second line of defense.

In terms of age, Li Xiaoyi is the third son of Li Shentong, but because he is the son of a concubine, there is only one duke of the county. But I have to say that although Li Shentong himself is unbearable, he is very good at teaching his son, and the eight sons born to him are not tainted with his greed and fear of death.

Before Li Xiaogong evacuated last night, he had sent scouts south to tell him the news of the army's retreat and told him to be on guard.

Zaoyang City is a big county, the city is twenty miles around, the wall is three zhang high, at this time the four gates have been closed three doors, leaving only the north gate that is convenient for communication in and out, many Tang soldiers patrol back and forth in the city, the breath of the great war permeates the whole city.

Li Xiaoyi inspected the North Gate Tower, a silver armor made him heroic and dignified, and the hand holding the handle of the knife was calloused, which was left by practicing martial arts. Looking at the misty northern land, he asked Lu Jie, the deputy general beside him, "Where has King Jing's army arrived?" ”

"Back to the general, there is no news yet." Lu Jie hurriedly said: "The humble post has already sent someone to ask questions, I think it is difficult to walk on the mountain road, and it rained heavily last night, and the scouts have not yet arrived." ”

"What about the Sui army? Nor no? Li Xiaoyi asked dissatisfiedly.

Lu Jie said worriedly: "Exactly." ”

Li Xiaoyi frowned, and said to the guards beside him: "Pass the order, send three hundred more scouts, be sure to connect with the scouts of King Jing, I want to get news once a month, and the same is true for the intelligence of the Sui army." ”

"Whoa." The guards left in a hurry.

"The commander of the Sui army is Yang Shanhui, this is a cunning old fox, he will not miss this opportunity." Li Xiaoyi sighed, and said to Lu Jie: "Zaoyang City is located at a strategic point, if the Sui army moves against King Jing, it will definitely send an army to capture the city, and you must not be careless." If the Sui army comes to attack, we must give the Sui army a head-on blow, as long as we win a battle, we will definitely be able to calm people's hearts. ”

Lu Jie asked, "General, if the Sui army comes to attack, which side do you think it will attack?" ”

"Why do you ask?"

"We only have 5,000 soldiers, and the 10,000 young men who are temporarily brought in can only play an auxiliary role, after guarding the four cities, there are only 1,000 soldiers in each city to supervise the battle, and the other 1,000 are used as reinforcements, and the Sui army's crossbow arrows are sharp, every time they arrive in a city, they must first release arrows to look at the enemy's situation and deter the enemy's courage, more than 1,000 people are afraid that they can't even raise their heads, if the Sui army specializes in one or two city gates, we can also focus on deploying troops."

"The north gate is definitely the key gate to attack."

At this moment, there was a sudden rumbling thunder, Li Xiaoyi looked up to the cloudy sky, but no raindrops fell, and at the same time, a long and long horn sounded in the north.

Li Xiaoyi was shocked, and said loudly: "The Sui army is here, close the city gate, and fight with all the arms." ”

"Whoa." A group of heralds hurriedly scattered, riding war horses and running around the city shouting:

"The Sui army is here, everyone is in place."

"Close the gates, close the gates."

The gates slammed shut.

"Woo woo woo ......"

The long and long horn sound that was getting closer and closer came from the north, and Li Xiaoyi stared at it, only to see a large sword rising from behind the low mountain beam in the north, followed by a large endless steel forest, that piece of cold and cold blades, almost trying to overwhelm the dark sky.

Behind them is the raging crowds.

Tens of thousands of Sui army iron cavalry gathered into an endless wave, and under the guidance of Daxu, rolled forward along the mountain beam. The large iron cavalry of the black pressure was divided into dozens of phalanxes, and continued to advance in an orderly manner, and the killing machine came to the face, and the heaven and earth seemed to be dim at this moment.

Li Xiaoyi licked his lips that were a little dry, and a heavy bitterness appeared in his heart.

The Sui army really looked down on him Li Xiaoyi, and he actually came with nearly 100,000 troops at one time.

It's just that he Li Xiaoyi really can't afford this attention.