With the help of Wang Qing and Yingbu, Li Shimin was lucky enough to break through the defense line of Yang Yanzhao's department, and after breaking out of the encirclement and joining Qu Tutong's department, he did not dare to stop, and rushed back to the Luoyang camp all the way non-stop.

After joining Li Jilong's army who stayed in Luoyang, Li Shimin made up his mind, counted the soldiers and horses, and stopped seven out of ten, and even his most elite and proud Xuanjia Iron Cavalry had lost more than half.

"Since the beginning of the army, the lonely south has been fighting in the north for many years, how can he have suffered such a fiasco?"

Such a heavy loss made Li Shimin feel distressed, he drew his sword in his hand, pointed at the southeast and said hatefully: "Yang Gao'er, I swear here alone, you will have to pay a thousand times the price for this in the future!" ”

"Your Highness!"

Li Jilong approached with a worried face, he didn't know if this young commander could withstand the blow again.

"Jilong, is something wrong?"

Seeing Li Jilong's expression, Li Shimin understood, slowly put his sword into the sheath, and asked in a deep voice.

Li Jilong sighed helplessly, and arched his hand and said: "Li Cunqiao sent someone to report that Hedong County couldn't get together so many ships for a while, and if you want to meet more than 100,000 troops to cross the river with only the existing ships, it will take at least a day and a night!" ”

"One day and one night!"

Li Shimin's eyes widened, and he said sharply: "Xue Rengui led tens of thousands of Sui army cavalry not far behind, Yang Gao Xiao'er must have extinguished the fire in the Tiger Prison Pass at this moment, and led the main army westward. Where did our army get a day and a night to cross the river? Li Cunqiao delayed the military plane, this is to trap more than 100,000 troops of our Tang Dynasty to death! ”

"Your Highness!"

Du Ruhui arched his hand and said: "How can the boats needed for more than 100,000 troops to cross the river be provided by a mere Hedong County, not to mention that there is no preparation in advance, it is not easy for General Li Cunqiao to mobilize boats to cross the river in such a short time!" ”

Li Shimin looked sad and muttered: "Lone also knows that it is not easy for him, but now the situation is like this, what can Lone Ruzhi do?" ”

"Your Highness, the only way to do this is to abandon the pawn to protect the car, and the strong man will break his wrist!"

The veteran Qu Tutong strode forward, knelt on one knee, and said: "The old minister is not talented, I am willing to lead a team of soldiers and horses to block the Sui army and win time for the army to cross the river!" ”

"General Qu Tu!"

Li Shimin's face changed when he heard this, how could he not understand what Qu Tutong meant, how easy it is to hold on for a day and a night under such circumstances, Qu Tutong has clearly made up his mind to die this time, and he wants to exchange his life for the time for the army to retreat.

"Your Highness! Sui general Xue Rengui Shentong soldiers and horses, is a world-famous general, I am afraid it will be difficult to stop his edge if he does not leave the general in charge. In addition to the old man, only two generals, Li Jilong and Li Siyuan, can take charge of the army. ”

Qu Tutong laughed and stopped Li Shimin's next words: "The two generals Li are in the prime of life, and it is a good time to make contributions. And the old man is already a rare person, he has been fighting on the battlefield for decades, and the old man has all the fame and fortune, and he has no regrets in this life! Now that we can sacrifice this remnant to win life for an army of hundreds of thousands, why not? ”

Li Shimin had tears in his eyes and said: "The old general is my important minister of the Tang Dynasty, and who in the world does not know the prestige of the old general." How can Lone now be willing to put the old general in danger? ”

Qu Tutong's eyes were full of determination, and he said in a deep voice: "Thank you, Your Highness, for your kindness!" But the old man was a Sui general back then, and Emperor Yang was not thin on the old man. But the old man did not die for the country when he defeated Tongguan in the past, and now he is leading the army to fight against the old master. In the dead of night, the old man is always ashamed when he recalls this incident, and death is also a relief for the old man, and he implores His Highness to fulfill it. ”

When Li Shimin heard this, he knew that Qu Tutong had already made up his mind to die, so he no longer insisted on it, and said with a long sigh: "In this case, then everything will be left to the old general." ”

"Your Highness, the old minister is willing to stay and help General Qu Tu!" At this time, Pei Renji also strode forward and asked for his life.

"Old General Pei!"

Li Shimin couldn't help but be stunned when he saw this, and secretly said that this Pei Renji is greedy and good at work on weekdays, and he does things tactfully, how could he ask for his life and go to danger today?

Although he had such doubts in his heart, Li Shimin still made a reservation on the surface: "General Pei and General Qu Tu are both veterans who have been famous in the Tang Dynasty for many years. ”

Pei Renji arched his hand and said in a deep voice: "Thank you Your Highness for your kindness, but now my son has fallen into the hands of the enemy, and his life and death are unknown." The old man really doesn't want to escape alone, even if he dies, the old man has to die with my son. I only hope that Your Highness will remember today's events and give my son a good future in the future. ”

Pei Renji's words seem to be a deep father-son relationship, but Li Shimin understands that Pei Renji's ability is mediocre, and his current status is entirely because he has a son Pei Xingyan who is a brave champion and three armies.

Now that Pei Xingyan has been captured, with his bravery, if Yang Gao can't take it for his own use, then he will kill Pei Xingyan to prevent future troubles. Without Pei Xingyan's son, Pei Renji is afraid that it will be difficult to be promoted in the future. Since the career is hopeless, it is better to give up this life now, at least to give another underage son, Pei Xingjian, a future.

Although Li Shimin came to his senses, it was impossible for him to refuse Pei Renji, after all, in the eyes of others, Pei Renji was dying for him Li Shimin, if he chose to reject Pei Renji, it would be too ruthless, and it would inevitably lead to the evil consequences of losing one's heart in the end.

What's more, although Pei Xingjian is still young, he has already shown extraordinary intelligence, and he may not be able to become a fierce general like Pei Xingyan in the future, but careful training will definitely make him an outstanding commander.

Li Shimin nodded heavily, and said in a deep voice: "Okay, please rest assured that after Gu returns to Chang'an, he will bring Ling Gongzi to the Qin Palace." The Lone Club invited the best master to come and teach him, and he will definitely cultivate him into a pillar of talent. ”

Pei Renji suddenly secretly breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this, and bowed his hand and thanked: "Thank you King Qin for that!" ”

On the other hand, when Li Shimin rushed back to the Luoyang camp, more than 100,000 troops all withdrew to the north. Meng Heng in the city had already gotten the news, but Meng Heng had limited troops and was cautious, lest he would be killed by Li Shimin and lose Luoyang City, so he forced the generals to fight and defend the city.

When Xue Rengui led tens of thousands of iron cavalry to Luoyang City, the Tang army camp was already empty. However, Xue Rengui didn't blame Meng Heng for anything, with the situation of soldiers and horses in Luoyang City, he would choose to stick to it.

When Meng Hui saw that Xue Rengui's army had arrived, a hanging heart was relieved, and he hurriedly sent Yang Zaixing, Gao Siji, Wang Xiaojie and other generals to lead all the elite cavalry in the city to assist Xue Rengui in pursuing the Tang army.