、、、、、、、、、、

After Wang Rengong was stationed in Dingxiang, the general who stayed in Mayi was his deputy general Li Shentong, who was Li Yuan's younger brother like Li Xiaogong. An important figure in the Lee Valve. Since Li Yuan served as the former left-behind guard and the post of Hedong envoy, responsible for clearing out the bandits in the Hedong area, he tried every means to install his own people in the counties of Hedong. And Mayi County, which Wang Rengong guarded, is naturally also the place where he focuses on penetration.

When Yang Guang was wary of Li Yuan before, he proposed Li Shentong's appointment several times, but it was not approved. However, after the Yuming rebellion, Yang Guang thought that Li Yuan was a trustworthy person, and gave the green light to the personnel arrangements he proposed in Hedong, and Li Shentong, Li Xiaogong, Pei Lian and Liu Jing were all entrusted with important positions. Li Shentong even served as the deputy guard of Ma Yi and held a high position. Even Wang Rengong has to let him share.

After taking up the post of deputy guard of Mayi, Li Shentong was also very nervous, especially after learning that Yang Guang was about to pass by his place, he was even more engrossed in waiting for the news of the army going north. At present, he already knew that Yang Guang had already passed through Loufu County and was about to enter the boundary of Mayi County. However, Wang Rengong, who was stationed in Dingxiang, had not yet sent back information about the Turkic army. The scouts he sent out never heard back.

At noon, a falcon circled from the west, and several soldiers shouted, "General Li, the carrier pigeon has flown back!" ”

Li Shentong rushed out of the room, looking at the descending pigeon in the sky, he was also relieved, and secretly said that this Sheng Yanshi finally had news back. After a while, the carrier pigeon landed, and the guards immediately took down the small bamboo tube tied to the pigeon's feet, then took out a roll of paper from it and handed it to Li Shentong.

After Li Shentong read it, his pupils shrank, and he was terrified in his heart, and he immediately sent an order: "Immediately send someone to inform the people of the city that the Turkic army is about to be killed, and those who are willing to evacuate can withdraw as soon as possible." ”

Then he said to the herald beside him: "Immediately ride the fastest horse to the south, go to Your Majesty, and inform him that the Turkic army has moved south, numbering more than 100,000, possibly 400,000. Your Majesty, please make a decision sooner! ”

After his order was delivered, the city of Mayi suddenly boiled, and groups of Sui soldiers rode through the streets and shouted: "The Turkic army is about to be killed, quickly evacuate to the south!" ”

The city suddenly became chaotic, and more than 60,000 residents living in the city helped the old and the young, carrying valuable gold and silver, riding horses, driving donkeys, and putting on carriages to evacuate to the south.

The advantage of border cities such as Dingxiang, Mayi, and Loufu is that almost every household has a horse, and no matter how poor the family is, there will be a donkey. As a result, a huge southward evacuation team soon gathered outside the city, and the people began to disperse and evacuate.

They were well aware that the main targets of the Turkic attacks were county towns with large quantities of grain, gold and silver, as well as villages without walls. And for those counties that do not have much oil and water, but have strong walls, they generally do not attack. Therefore, whenever a large Turkic army went south, most of the surnames of the northern counties would be evacuated to the surrounding county towns for refuge.

At this moment, Yang Guang's convoy was still one or twenty miles away from Mayi City, and the speed of this northern patrol army was not fast, mainly because it brought many palace concubines and palace maids, etc., resulting in slow movement.

At this moment, several horsemen galloped from the north, and the horses they stepped on were spewing rough air, which showed that they were running with all their strength.

Pei Xingyan, the general of the Sui army who was walking in the forefront, hurriedly stepped forward to intercept them, and then asked sharply: "Who is it, who is actually trespassing on the holy car!" If you don't stand still, you will release the arrow! ”

The cavalry hurriedly dismounted and bowed his hand: "We are the county soldiers of Mayi County, and we are ordered by General Li Shentong to report to the Holy Lord!" ”

"What emergency military intelligence?"

"The Turks have more than 100,000 troops in the direction of Mayi County, and it is estimated that Dingxiang County has fallen. General Li asked the Holy Lord to retreat urgently! ”

After Pei Xingyan heard this, he was taken aback: "Follow me!" Tell me everything you know! ”

After a while, he drove towards Yang Guang's car......

It didn't take long for Yang Guang in the carriage to hear the sound of horses' hooves coming from outside the carriage, and then the prince reported outside the carriage: "Your Majesty, General Pei Xingyan has met a messenger sent by Mayi County, and General Li Shentong has sent urgent news, more than 100,000 Turkic cavalry have been found outside the Great Wall, and they are preparing to kill Mayi from the gap, and their target may be Your Majesty." ”

Yang Guang stood up suddenly after hearing this, he never expected that the Turkic army would come so quickly, and there were so many people. He opened the window of the car, showed a frightened face and said, "Quick, quickly retreat south, retreat to Loufu County!" ”

At this time, Pei Xing, who was already respectful outside the carriage, hurriedly reminded: "Your Majesty, now we are more than two miles away from Loufu County, and our army has a lot of baggage, and there are a large number of slow-moving carriages, I am afraid that we will be caught up by the Turkic army before we reach Loufu." ”

"So where are we going now?" Yang Guang was also a little panicked when he heard this, and he said in a trembling voice: "Or, now let's hurry up and go to Mayi!" The city of Mayi County is strong and should be able to hold it. ”

"Your Majesty, this is not appropriate! Although we are now closer to Mayi County, only more than 80 miles, the Turks are also moving rapidly towards Mayi County. And they are all cavalry, according to our speed, I am afraid that when we reach Mayi, the Turks have long been lined up and waiting for us outside the city. At this time, Pei Renji was also informed, and hurriedly rode to Yang Guang's car.

"Old General Pei, what should I do now? It's impossible to fight in the field with a Turkic army that is twice as large as our army! Yang Guang also panicked at this time

Pei Renji took out the map, and after looking at it for a while, Fang Yi pointed to a red circle on the map and said: "Our current location, forty miles to the east is Yanmen County, although the county town here is not as strong as Mayi and Yuan, but it is also much more than Loufu and Dingxiang, if our army abandons some unnecessary baggage and speeds up the march, it should be able to enter Yanmen County before the arrival of the Turkic army."

"Good! Just do what General Pei wants! Yang Guang didn't dare to take the carriage anymore, he ordered all the concubines, palace maids and eunuchs to abandon the carriage and ride horses, and the 100,000 forbidden troops dropped all kinds of sundries and baggage, and retreated eastward in panic.

When it was completely dark, Yang Guang got further information. Dingxiang County has fallen, and Wang Rengong and Li Shimin, who entered the city in advance, paid a heavy price and finally led their troops to break through. The Turkic army has reached the north of the city of Mayi, but because the city is strong, there is nothing to be done for the time being. Now the Turkic army was rushing south at a rapid pace, and it was less than fifty miles from his present position.

After Yang Guang learned the news, he was terrified, he didn't care about being tired, and desperately ran east. Although he had ordered all the concubines and palace maids to switch to horseback. But many of these people can't ride horses, and they don't run fast at all. If this continues, they will surely be overtaken by the Turkic army before dawn.

"Use carrier pigeons to send an order to Li Shentong, let him lead the army to attack and bite the tail of the Turkic army! This will buy time for His Majesty to enter Yanmen County! Pei Renji immediately said at this time.

After Song Laosheng heard about it, he immediately objected: "General Pei, the city of Mayi is strong, and General Li Shentong is also a general who has fought for a long time, as long as the defense is stable, it will not be easy for the Turkic army to break through." But if he is allowed to lead an army to attack, the city will be empty of troops and easy to be attacked by the Turks. In this way, the Turks could go south without any worries. ”

"General Song, if you don't do this, I'm afraid that Your Majesty will fall into the hands of the Turks, and the consequences will be unimaginable!" Pei Renji retorted.

And Pei Ju and Pei Yun and other ministers, at this time, will naturally only stand on Pei Renji's side, because this is not only to protect Yang Guang, but also to protect their own safety. Although the consequences of the loss of Ma Yi are also serious. But it's better than letting the Holy One be captured.

"Quasi-play, just do what General Pei wants!" Yang Guang sighed lightly, and then said to the herald: "Release the carrier pigeon and notify Li Shentong to attack!" ”

After the herald answered, he opened the pigeon cage that had been prepared long ago, and saw a snow-white pigeon flapping its wings and quickly disappearing into the night.

"Chuan Zhen's order: Abandon all unnecessary things, march as fast as possible, and arrive at Yanmen County within two hours!" Yang Guang waved his horsewhip at this time and said sharply.

The 100,000 forbidden troops were all frightened and immediately ran wildly. At the same time, Yang Guang's brigade finally passed the Yanmen Pass and entered the Yanmen County City.

This Yanmen county town was destroyed twelve years ago, when Yang Guang's younger brother, Yang Liang, the king of Han, rebelled. Later, Yang Guang ordered the reconstruction, and the rebuilt Yanmen County City, the city wall is tall and strong, and it is only worse than the original and Mayi in the Hedong area. The entire city wall has a circumference of twelve miles and a population of more than 50,000 people, and Yang Guang rushed into the city with a large army, and everyone's hearts calmed down a little.

And when they entered Yanmen County, they unexpectedly found that Wang Rengong and Li Shimin were also in the city. It turned out that when the Turkic army arrived in Dingxiang two days ago, the two of them knew that the city wall was low and made of mud, so they could not defend it at all. So he led 70,000 troops to break through and go south. They paid the price of more than 10,000 killed in battle, more than 20,000 captured and scattered, and finally broke out of the encirclement.

At this time, Wang Rengong and Li Shimin did not dare to take the western route and came back from Yulin and Mayi, but made a big circle and came to Yanmen County from the gap in the Great Wall in the east. Unexpectedly, he happened to meet Yang Guang.

Wang Rengong, who had just taken over Yanmen County, saw that the emperor had also fled, so he hurriedly ordered the county guard to vacate the official office for Yang Guang and Empress Xiao and other palace concubines, and notified the wealthy families in the city to arrange the mansion for military attachés and generals to live. The 100,000 forbidden troops could only stay in the houses in the city, and they were frightened and tired, causing the people in the city to shout and neigh, and the chaos became a mess.

...