Outside Hongnong City, the Tang Army camp.

At this time, it has entered the middle of winter, and the snow is flying all over the sky, and the cold wind is calling outside. More than 100,000 Tang troops changed into thick cotton clothes, and except for the necessary patrols, most of the soldiers hid in tents, and three or five people gathered around the fire to keep warm.

In the tent, Li Shimin, the king of Qin, Qu Tutong, Li Jilong, Liu Wenjing, Changsun Wuji, Du Ruhui and other major generals sat around the stove together. As for Li Yuanji, the deputy marshal of the Tang Army, as early as ten days ago, because he couldn't stand the cold, he led hundreds of his own soldiers to find an excuse and ran back to Tongguan for the winter.

Li Shimin drank a few sips of ginger soup, warmed his stomach, turned his head and asked the eldest grandson Wuji: "Auxiliary, what progress has Song Jingang and Li Cunqiao made?" ”

Song Jingang and Li Cunmiao originally followed Chai Rong and Li Keyong to sit in the town and annex the state, but two months ago they were ordered to go south and send troops from Hedong to attack Luoyang, intending to force Wang Shichong to return to Luoyang.

The eldest grandson Wuji shook his head helplessly: "The scout came to report last night, Wang Shichong's eldest son Wang Xuanying asked Xue Rengui for help, Sui generals Meng Hui and Gao Siji have led 15,000 elite soldiers into Luoyang to assist in the defense, Li Cunqiao and Song Jingang have failed to make several raids, and they have also lost 2,000 soldiers. ”

Li Shimin smiled bitterly, waved his hand and said: "That's it, since it's useless, then order the two of them to quickly retreat to Hedong, don't let the Sui army encircle Luoyang City at that time." ”

Liu Wenjing heard the depression between Li Shimin's words, and opened his mouth to persuade: "King Qin, although the current battle situation is slightly unfavorable, Wang Shichong's old thief is treacherous and insidious, and he is unpopular with the people, so he will definitely not be my opponent of the Tang Dynasty." ”

Li Shimin frowned slightly, shook his head and said, "Lord Liu, don't talk about this kind of high-sounding nonsense in the future." What Gu wants now is a way to break through Hongnong and defeat Wang Shichong! ”

Liu Wenjing's face turned red, and when her mouth opened, she lowered her head and stopped talking.

Li Jilong, who was on the side, gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice: "Your Highness, Wang Shichong is the most trusted general of Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty (although Yang Guang's nickname in the Sui Dynasty is Emperor Wu of Sui, but the nickname given to him by the Tang Dynasty is Yang with a slanderous nature, in order to show that the establishment of the Tang Dynasty is in line with the will of the people) The most trusted general, who was able to protect Luoyang when Li Mi swept the Central Plains, it can be seen that this person does have some ability to defend the city. And now that winter has arrived, the soldiers are suffering from the severe cold. According to the foolish opinion of the general, it is better to return to the division for the time being, and then think about it in the long run. ”

"No!"

As soon as Li Jilong's words fell, Sun Wuji and Du Ruhui, the chief strategists sitting on Li Shimin's left and right, shouted in unison: "Luoyang's important land must not be abandoned. Now that the Sui Dynasty has gradually stabilized the Central Plains, if we let go of this opportunity, Wang Shichong will definitely be wiped out by Yang Gao. If Luoyang falls into the hands of Yang Gao, it will be even more difficult for us to take it down! ”

Li Jilong glanced at the eldest grandson Wuji and Du Ruhui a few times in displeasure: "The scholar is angry." How could I not know the importance of Luoyang? But now that the weather is bitterly cold, the soldiers are already miserable, and there are more or less complaints in the battalions. If we continue to fight, I'm afraid there will be a danger of mutiny! ”

"Huh? So serious? ”

Du Ruyan was taken aback when he heard this, he was a military advisor who was responsible for making plans, and he had been thinking hard about good strategies these days, so he didn't know much about things in the barracks.

Li Shimin, who was sitting in the middle, nodded solemnly: "In the past few days, people have been constantly getting up to make trouble, and the call to return to the division is getting louder and louder!" ”

Li Shimin's Xuanjia elite cavalry is the most elite unit in the Tang army, and even the Xuanjia elite cavalry has begun to complain, so the state of the other troops can be imagined.

After realizing the unstable situation in the army, Du Ruhui also changed his original firm attitude, and said tentatively to Li Shimin: "Your Highness, if the situation in the army is really as General Li Jilong said, then it is recommended that Your Highness temporarily withdraw and return to Guanzhong, although Luoyang is important, but the 150,000 army must not have any difference. ”

The veteran Qu Tutong also echoed: "Yes, Your Highness! Although Luoyang is a piece of covetous big fat, but our current situation is that the morale of the army is fluctuating, if we continue to fight, the result is very likely to be stealing chickens and not losing a handful of rice! ”

Several confidants and civil and military officers expressed their stance on withdrawing the army, but Li Shimin was unmoved, with a pair of tiger eyes blazing, and shook his head firmly: "What you say is false. Our goal is to dominate the world! If you want to dominate the world, Luoyang is a hurdle that can never be bypassed! Now our situation is indeed very difficult, I admit it, but when we retreat when there is difficulty, then what is there to talk about dominating the world? ”

The corners of Li Jilong's mouth twitched slightly, and he sighed helplessly: "King Qin, the last general admits that you are right, but now that the battle situation is deadlocked, and the situation in the army is getting worse day by day, we are powerless to break this predicament!" ”

The corners of Li Shimin's mouth hooked slightly, and he sneered: "Who said that we are powerless to break the predicament?" ”

When all the civil and military officers heard this, their eyes lit up, and they all opened their mouths and said, "Your Highness, doesn't you have some clever plan? ”

Li Shimin smiled slightly, and said with his chin bowed: "Yes, Gu has indeed thought of a way to deal with Wang Shichong." Moreover, it was Keming and the auxiliary machine who gave Lone a hint. ”

Eldest Sun Wuji and Du Ruhui glanced at each other, shook their heads at each other, and turned to Li Shimin in confusion.

Li Shimin ignored the puzzled eyes of the two, and said lightly: "Wang Shichong has a good way to defend the city, and the only way to break through Hongnong is to force Wang Shichong out." As the saying goes, a snake hits seven inches, and Wang Shichong's seven inches are his Luoyang lair. Therefore, if you want to force Wang Shichong to come out, the key is still in Luoyang! ”

The eldest grandson Wuji was stunned when he heard this, and said puzzledly: "But the Sui general Meng Heng has already led the army into Luoyang, didn't His Highness just say that it was useless for Li Cunqiao and Song Jingang to do it, so let them withdraw their troops from Hedong?" ”

"It's true that we can't threaten Luoyang, but just because we can't do it doesn't mean that everyone can't do it."

The corners of Li Shimin's mouth rose, revealing a confident smile: "Just now you and Keming both mentioned that after the Sui army stabilizes the Central Plains, it will inevitably take Wang Shichong, so why can't we add fuel to the fire and intensify the contradictions between them in advance?" ”

"That's right!"

Everyone in the tent is a person who has left a name in history, and his ability is not simple, after Li Shimin's mention, he quickly reacted: "Now Luoyang has the Sui general Meng Heng stationed, if he suddenly makes trouble to Wang Shichong, Luoyang will not be chaotic!" ”

Li Shimin smiled and said to the eldest grandson Wuji: "Auxiliary, this matter will be handled by you." Xue Rengui has been in charge of the Central Plains for Yang Gao Xiaoer for many years, and his ability should not be underestimated. Since he dared to let this Meng Heng lead the army alone, presumably this person must have something extraordinary. It's best for you to start with Wang Shichong's straw bale son Wang Xuanying on this trip. ”