At dusk, Li Shimin took a group of civil and military personnel to inspect the wounded barracks in the pass, and the entire palace was filled with a strong atmosphere of sadness, and the cries and wails of the soldiers made people listen, and they couldn't help but feel a little indescribable pain in their hearts.

Facing him, Yin Kaishan, who was in charge of the wounded barracks, walked quickly with a bitter face, and saluted Li Shimin first: "Your Highness, the medicine in the army can't keep up, and many wounded soldiers can't be treated." ”

"There is no way to transfer medicinal materials from Xiangyang, and we can't wait for the soldiers to die." Li Shimin shook his head, he has nothing to think about now, but the wounded soldiers must be saved, the various benefits of the Sui army have long been spread throughout the world, which has also affected the attitude of the princes from all walks of life towards the wounded soldiers, the biggest change is that they dare not care about the life and death of the disabled soldiers, otherwise, who will follow them to die? The advantage of this is that the soldiers are more attentive, and the cohesion and loyalty are rising step by step, while the disadvantage is that it costs money - it costs money to raise the army, it costs money to pay for pensions, and it costs more money to save lives and help the wounded.

It was only at this moment that Li Shimin understood why Yang Tong was not yet under the world, and he also had to disarm and reduce his personnel in large quantities and implement the policy of elite soldiers. Everything is because the welfare of the Sui army is too good, not to mention the weapons and equipment, the settling-in allowance alone is an astronomical amount, if Li Tang compensates according to Yang Tong's standards, Li Tang's pitiful financial resources can be drained at once, but it is precisely for this reason that the Sui soldiers dare to work hard, and the people are all proud of joining the army. In this way, Yang Tong was not afraid of the lack of soldiers at all, nor was he worried that the soldiers would escape.

Retired soldiers?

This thought suddenly flashed in Li Shimin's mind, the battle has been fought so far, even if Zhu Yang can defend it, I am afraid that his army will almost be wiped out.

However, this thought was dispelled by Li Shimin as soon as it flashed, and he couldn't help fighting, let alone retreating, the Tang Army's mighty Eastern Expeditionary Division, plus the backup army that was constantly put in, as many as 500,000 people, if he retreated now, Yang Tong's layout in the direction of Guanzhong Several Sui Army Corps will immediately enter along Wuguan, not to mention the loss of Xiyang County, even Xiangyang County and Fangling County are also under the Sui army, as for Nanyang, where the father is located, it will fall into the dangerous situation of three bread copy, if this army retreats, then wait for Yang Tong to eat it step by step. At that time, who else can stop Yang Tong from unifying the world?

"Why don't you ......" Liu Hongji hesitated, looked at Li Shimin, and put forward his own suggestion: "Mobilize some soldiers and horses from the Western Regions County?" ”

Li Tang nominally launched the Eastern Expedition with the troops of the country, but at the critical juncture, there were still some troops stationed, defending Shiquan New Town, Xicheng County, which was Wei Chigong, had 30,000 elites, 20,000 soldiers from Wudu who defended Hanyang Wang Fubao, and 20,000 from Tongchang and Tangchang, which defended Lintao Xue Wanche, but such a large amount of army food and salary were shared among the people, causing an extremely heavy burden. The people are full of complaints, and the anger of the people has been suppressed to the extreme.

Li Tang had high hopes for the Eastern Expedition, planning a brilliant victory to deter the opposition of the people, and to expand the territory, expand the territory, and compete for the population, so as to reduce the pressure on the people of Bashu and Jingzhou. At the beginning, as expected by Li Tang's court, several counties were obtained in one go, but after the Sui army went south, it became Yang Dong's, which led to all Li Tang's previous efforts being in vain, and he ended up in the current situation.

"No!" Without waiting for Li Shimin to speak, Yin Kaishan had already spoken: "The army of Xicheng County wants to defend against the Seventh Army of the Sui Dynasty of Wei Chi Gong, and the pressure is no less than that of other places, once a force is withdrawn, there will be a fatal hole in the defense, and Wei Chi Gong's 60,000 elites will immediately drive straight into Fangling County!" ”

Li Shimin nodded, Yang Tong did not move the Seventh Army led by Wei Chi Gong, I am afraid that when they can't hold the front line and transfer troops from the rear, they will take advantage of the void to take down Fangling and point directly at Xiangyang, if Yang Tong really succeeds, let alone Yang Shanhui and Qin Qiong who attacked Nanyang, even if he and his father's Nanyang army attack Henan County separately, it will be useless, but will become a lone army without any support.

"If you don't transfer troops, how can you fight?" Zhang Gongjin smiled bitterly: "How many are there in this camp?" ”

"Even defending the city is like this, this battle is not easy to fight." Hou Junji felt that the Sui army's crossbow arrows were excellent, the catapult range was long, the soldiers were elite, and the slaves were not killed, all of which were beyond his imagination, and this was still relying on the advantages of the city wall of Zhuyang Pass, if a large-scale war was launched in the wilderness, Hou Junji really didn't dare to imagine what it would look like. The Qin Dynasty dominated the world back then, relying on the strong bow and crossbow and the soldiers' deadly fighting style, according to legend, the Qin crossbow can shoot a range of up to 800 steps, although the bed crossbow of the Sui army did not reach the terrifying point in the legend, but even if it is 600 steps, it has far surpassed the bow and crossbow of the Tang army.

The Sui army's car crossbows, bed crossbows, row crossbows, repeater crossbows, and divine machine crossbows...... and other bows and crossbows have different ranges, different sizes, and different effects, both near and far! Even in close combat, the equipment of the Sui army is not bad, the strong shield, even the Tang army's single-shot crossbow with the strongest penetrating power cannot penetrate it, and their use of cavalry is also breathtaking, every time they go out of the city, they end up with the annihilation of the whole army, and the opponent's losses are few, and even the Tang army no longer dares to go out to face the battle.

Li Shimin heard Hou Junji's emotion, and couldn't help glaring at this kid fiercely, the war has continued until now, everyone knows that this battle is quite difficult to fight, but is it appropriate for you to say this kind of thing in front of so many people? Do you still want morale?

Yin Kaishan said: "Hongnong, as the most important foreign strategic depth zone in Luoyang, once it is lost, Henan County will have no danger to rely on, and Luoyang, the capital of the Sui Emperor, will also be turbulent; Out of Zhuyang Pass is Hongnong County, if you go east along Yishui, you can easily reach Luoyang; Yang Tong regarded our army as a confidant, and he was eager to annihilate our army overnight, and in order for me to achieve the goal of seizing the pass, it became natural to offer all kinds of advanced equipment. As we all know, ice is not a rare thing in winter, but it is a precious thing in summer and autumn, and the Sui army now even uses ice as a siege object, which can be seen that Yang Tong is in extreme anxiety, and it also proves that Yang Tong is helpless against our army. ”

"Makes sense!" Li Shimin's face was slightly pale.

"Although the Sui army is strong, as far as the last general knows, Xue Wanjun is one of the strongest generals under Yang Tong's command, and the task of this army is related to the safety of Luoyang, I am afraid that this is the most elite soldiers and horses under Yang Dong outside the Xiaoguo Army, and other soldiers and horses naturally cannot be compared with Xue Wanjun's strong army, everyone must not be discouraged!"

"And the elite Sui army in front of the pass is as high as 100,000, as long as we drag it in the direction of Zhuyang Pass, the saint who is less pressure will have the opportunity to break the enemy, as long as the saint makes a breakthrough in the direction of Nanyang, you can take advantage of the victory to recover the two counties of Shuyang and Xiangcheng, and the troops are under the Yique Pass, Yang Tong will inevitably draw part of the troops to aid Yique in order to prevent Luoyang from being attacked by our army, and at that time, we will have the opportunity to break the enemy. Therefore, you don't have to be too stressed, you just need to guard Zhuyang Pass. ”

Yin Kaishan smiled and shook his head, whether this was true or not, but at this time, he couldn't admit it.

When the generals heard this, they couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief in their hearts, if every soldier and horse of Yang Tong was so strong, then it would be difficult to say about Datang.

"So be it!" Li Shimin thought about it for a while, then made a decision, and said: "When the grain convoy arrives, let them transfer the wounded general to Xiangyang for treatment, we will not only save a heavy burden, but also stabilize the morale of the army." ”

"That's a great way!" Yin Kaishan agreed, looked at the sky, and said, "If it is unexpected, a fleet will arrive at noon." ”

"Sir, get ready, let the wounded soldiers leave today." Looking at the wounded barracks that were in mourning, Li Shimin frowned, such a miserable cry was enough to shake the military heart of the entire army.

"Your Highness!" Without waiting for Yin Kaishan to reply, a scout rushed over with a pale face, Li Shimin's heart sank when he saw this, and he asked quickly, "What's wrong?" ”

"Back to Your Highness, the Nanxiang warehouse was attacked by the Sui army yesterday." The scout said in a trembling voice.

"What?"

When everyone heard this, they were all anxious.

"Tell me what the hell is going on? How many troops were lost? Li Shimin asked, he was also extremely shocked in his heart, anxious to know how much damage the Sui army's attack had caused, and to what extent it would affect his own army.

The scout met Li Shimin's devouring gaze, and said in a trembling voice in a cold sweat: "Your Highness, 10,000 cavalry of the Sui army came from the south under the banner of King Qi's new army, and the officials along the way did not dare to ask......"

"Anyway, let's talk about the losses first?" Li Shimin interrupted him.

"The 10,000 defenders of the Nanxiang warehouse suffered more than 7,000 casualties, and the fodder and the fleet from Xiangyang were all burned."

"Where's the grain?"

Li Shimin had an ominous premonition in his heart, the forage and the fleet were not transported, but burned, which shows that the Sui army did not intend to take the grain for itself, but completely destroyed it.

The scout lowered his head and said softly, "300,000 stone grains and 100,000 sets of winter clothes have also been burned. ”

"Angry with me?" Li Shimin only felt that his eyes were dark, and he almost fell to the ground, Hou Junji and Liu Hongji were quick and hurriedly supported him.

"Waste, Zhang Liang is a complete waste, it's really disappointing to me." Li Shimin slowly came back to his senses, his hands involuntarily clenched his fists, Zhang Liang let the Luoshui camp lose, causing his back road to be cut off, if it weren't for Liu Wenjing came up with the strategy of building a dam to hold the people of Henan County hostage, I am afraid that his army would be destroyed in Hongnong, after the war, he would ask him back from the Sui army, and let him serve as the general of the grain guard, because he felt that he would learn the lessons of failure, and he would be more familiar with the defense loopholes of the logistics center than others, who would think, Zhang Liang disappointed him again. Zhang Liang made mistakes again and again, and Li Shimin couldn't help but be angry, if someone was in front of him, he would definitely behead him with a sword.

"What about Zhang Liang? Let him come to me. Li Shimin's heart was full of hatred.

The scout said in a low voice: "Your Highness, General Zhang is dead. ”

Li Shimin had a sense of powerlessness in his heart of 'knocking down on cotton with one punch', and the feeling of having nowhere to do it made him almost crazy.

On the side, more than a dozen civil and military officers didn't dare to squeak, they were also shocked in their hearts, the Nanxiang warehouse was lost, so what should they do with their military rations?

Li Shimin's brows furrowed, and the implication of this news was that the Sui army had entered Xiyang, and the defenders of Zhuyang Pass and Waiwu Pass were in a situation of being attacked from the north and south; The Zhuyang Pass in the two passes is the defense of the north, and the Outer Wuguan is the defense of the northwest, neither of which is aimed at the south, if the Sui army goes north, the two heavy passes have no value at all. If you don't retreat in time, then the Tang army, which has finally escaped from the tiger's mouth, is surrounded by the Sui army again, and this time, there is no way to hold Yang Dong hostage, just because the south is the territory of the Tang Dynasty, and if you want to threaten, it will also be the Sui army that threatens them to the Tang Dynasty.

"Your Highness, please give the last general 20,000 elites, the last general is willing to lead the army to support Nanxiang, and must drive the Sui army out of Xiyang and reopen the grain route." Hou Junji pleaded for his life.

Li Shimin finally reacted from his long-term contemplation and sighed deeply: "Junji's courage is commendable... But it doesn't make sense anymore ... If we divide the troops, it will just give the Sui army an opportunity to divide and annihilate! The whole army of the southern Sui army is riding, coming and going like the wind, if there are fewer people, they will only be hunted one by one, if there are more, Xue Wanjun will inevitably launch a fatal blow, he has spent so long with us, but he has never launched a large-scale attack, isn't it just waiting for us to divide our troops in order to conquer Zhuyang Pass in one go? ”

"But the grain channel was cut off, and the consequences were very serious."

"I know that!" Li Shimin took a few steps with his hands in his hands, and said softly to Yin Kaishan: "Sir, do you think that Zhuyangguan is a bait to annihilate us?" ”

Yin Kaishan was stunned, pondered for a moment and said: "I don't think it's the same thing, if Yang Tong really has this intention, then it is a good opportunity in Hongnong Changyuan, Yang Shanhui and Luo Shixin will attack in the east and west, and then send the sailor to trace the Luoshui River, our army is difficult to fly, but he has always just let Yang Shanhui hoard troops in Xiong's ears to confront our army, until the prince arrived at Zhuyang Pass, I think it will be more advantageous and easier to succeed than now, what does Your Highness think?" ”

Li Shimin nodded silently, Yin Kaishan's analysis was very convincing, if Yang Dong really wanted to annihilate himself, Hongnong's land type and timing were better than now, and he asked: "Then what is Yang Dong's intention?" ”

Yin Kaishan said worriedly: "I think that Yang Tong is extremely ambitious, and it is very likely that he intends to wipe out the Holy Lord, the Crown Prince and His Royal Highness. After all, compared to the complex terrain of Xiangyang and Bashu, Xiyang and Nanyang are much simpler. If his trick succeeds, I'll go to the big deal. ”

Li Shimin was secretly frightened, Yin Kaishan's analysis, Liu Wenjing also told him not long ago, he felt alarmist at the time, but judging from the current battle situation, it is developing step by step towards this bad aspect, Yang Tong's success is still quite large, if he folds here, then Xue Wanjun's army can go south, and then cooperate with Yang Shanhui and Qin Qiong to launch a desperate offensive against his father in the west, north, and east, and my father and eldest brother may have to finish by then, and after a long time, he said to himself: " It seems that we are really going to withdraw from Zhuyang Pass. ”

"Your Highness! Holy ......"

Li Shimin interrupted Yin Kaishan, "Sir, don't say any more, Zhuyang Pass and Waiwu Pass can't be defended, and it will be a matter of time before they are lost!" We are not as strong as others, so why should we pay unnecessary sacrifices on territory that does not belong to us? ”

"But we still have 60,000 or 70,000 troops, and if we use them well, we may not have no chance of winning." Hou Junji said at this time.

Li Shimin laughed miserably and said: "Zhuyang Pass and Waiwu Pass are not important, Xiyang is not important, the army and Nanyang are important, if it is not unexpected, Xue Wanjun's fierce offensive will come soon, and if we don't leave at this time, we will never be able to go again." If we take the initiative to evacuate, not only can all the troops be saved, but also recapture Nanxiang, and then deploy defenses south of Danshui with the defenders of Waiwuguan, forming a trend of advancing in tandem with our father. ”

"Your Highness! It's hard to explain there. ”

"Say no more!" Li Shimin decisively interrupted Hou Junji, he knew that his father would not promise him to give up Zhuyang Pass, but he knew that once he fell into the siege, the Sui army would never give him a chance to get out of trouble again, he could not let the army be put in a desperate situation, this time Li Shimin decided not to ask for his life, and decided to make a decision on the battlefield, he felt that only a quick retreat to the south was the most correct choice, and immediately ordered: "Quickly pass on my order, so that Zhang Shigui will withdraw from Waiwuguan and lead the army into Danshui County." ”

Under such a complex and unfavorable situation, Li Shimin made the decision to abandon Zhuyang Pass and Waiwu Pass, although it is regrettable to lose half of Xiyang, but his decision is undoubtedly the wisest choice, concentrating forces to guard the south bank of Danshui, not only successfully avoiding the other two bureaus set up by Xue Wanjun against Zhuyang Pass, saving the vitality of life, but also avoiding the fate of being broken by the Sui army one by one, in a sense, Li Shimin, who concentrated the troops of Waiwu Pass, also has the ability to counterattack.

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Brothers, shouldn't Li Shimin be allowed to win?

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