Things were as Luo Zhaoyun expected, Xue Rengao was too light on the enemy, stubborn and self-serving, refused to listen to the advice of the strategists, took the initiative to face the battle, and wanted to defeat the Tang army head-on.

However, Li Jiancheng listened to the advice of the strategists around him, divided his troops to outflank, attacked the east and the west, avoided the main force of the Western Qin, and led Xue Rengao to constantly lead troops to rescue the nearby cities, and was dragged by fatigue tactics The three armies were weak, and finally, the Tang army besieged the city and sent reinforcements, set up an ambush to block the killing, and successfully broke Xue Rengao's Western Qin army.

Xue Rengao was also in the chaos and was captured and killed by the Tang army's fierce generals Duan Zhixuan, Zhang Gongjin and others.

The Western Qin army was leaderless for a while, collapsed directly, and fled in all directions, and the 100,000 army was like a plate of scattered sand, and the rain and wind blew away.

The military situation here was transmitted back to the northwest by the agents of Yanlang Pavilion as soon as possible.

After Luo Zhaoyun learned about it, he immediately sent Hou Junji and Qu Tutong to lead troops into Longyou and seize territory.

Before, he didn't move, but he didn't want to put pressure on Xi Qin, so that Xue Rengao could let go of his hands and feet, and fight to the death with Tang Jun without worries, and both sides would lose.

Now that the goal has been achieved, it is time for the Northwest Army to take action.

Qu Tutong led an army of 50,000 to attack Huichuan County, and Hou Junji led 30,000 troops to attack Longxi County.

Since these two counties are adjacent to Jincheng County, the terrain and defense have long been clearly felt by the scouts of the Northwest Army, and the number of garrisons at the checkpoint and who the guards are, all know well.

In this way, the garrisons of these two counties originally had 30,000 troops each, but now they could not stop the sweep of the Northwest Army at all.

Ten days later, Qu Tutong took Huichuan County, conquered Liangchuan City, and then led his troops to continue to advance eastward to capture Pingliang County.

Hou Junji did not bother to capture Longxi County, and then sent troops to Tianshui County.

At this time, Hou Junji received a secret letter from Chu Liang in Tianshui County, asking him to cooperate with the outside and help the Northwest Army successfully take the palace city of Western Qin in Tianshui County.

Hou Junji had already heard that Chu Liang was Chu Suiliang's father, one of the scholars of Northwest University, quite famous and prestigious, and had been detained by Xue Ju as a strategist, in fact, he had already expressed his intention to surrender in private and stood on the side of the Northwest Army.

Because Tianshui County was designated as the national capital by the Western Qin regime, there were many checkpoints, high fortresses, deep trenches, especially the city of Shangqi, the city wall was thickened and heightened, and it was extremely strong.

After Hou Junji pushed away Yicheng, the troops came to Shangqi City, commanded the three armies, and launched a strong attack.

"Kill—"

For a time, it was surrounded on all sides, arrows were like rain, and all the chariots and ladders were used to fight the city.

If you want to attack like this, you will inevitably suffer heavy losses. Chu Liang in the city had a plan, summoned some generals and subordinates, announced the death of Xue Ju's father and son, and then instigated some capable people in the city to surrender as soon as possible, don't make senseless sacrifices, and defect to the Northwest Army.

Many generals and courtiers were persuaded to successfully rebel and open the city gate in time, avoiding a vicious siege battle.

Chu Liang and Chang Zhongxing opened the city gate and welcomed Hou Junji's army into the city.

Hou Junji jumped off his horse, clasped his fists outside the city gate, and said: "Mr. Chu, this time, thanks to your deep understanding of righteousness and persuasion of the military generals and civil servants in the city, you can avoid a war that will destroy all lives. ”

He doesn't look at the face of the monk to see the face of the Buddha, Hou Junji is a colleague with Chu Suiliang in private, and he belongs to the inner circle of the Northwest Army.

Chu Liang bowed his hand and saluted: "General Hou is polite, the emperors of Western Qin have died on the battlefield, Western Qin exists in name only, we are old ministers, there is no future and hope in the city, instead of accompanying the funeral, it is better to give everyone a way to live, born in troubled times, everyone wants to follow the British Lord, do not want to make senseless sacrifices, today I can abandon the darkness and turn to the light with my colleagues, and avoid a disaster, I am also very happy in my heart." ”

Behind him, dozens of civil and military generals of Western Qin also nodded one after another, as soon as Xue Ju's father and son died, it was meaningless for them to defend the city.

The regime in troubled times, originally in the hearts of the people and subordinate generals has a low degree of recognition, at any time according to the war situation, as well as the character of the leader, change the camp, since the Warring States and the end of the Han Dynasty, there is such a custom, but it can be called beautifully: those who know the times are handsome, abandon the dark and turn to the light, and so on.

Tianshui County has a population of 150,000 people, and the land is relatively fertile, and it is no longer a bitter cold land outside the northwest.

This county is the military center of Longxi, the most important, the Great Wall of Qin passed through this county, connected Lintao, blocked the barbarian Hu people in the west outside Guanlong, and protected the rear of the Qin State.

"General Hou, please enter the city!"

"Well, Mr. Chu, please, there are still many things that Mr. Chu needs to help with, stabilize Tianshui, incorporate the army here, and after half a month, the young marshal will ascend the throne in Jincheng and claim the king, and then he will rush here." Hou Junji asked.

"The young marshal is also going to stand on his own as king?" Chu Liang was secretly happy in his heart and couldn't help but marvel.

Hou Junji smiled and said: "Yes, now that Emperor Yang is dead, the imperial court is destroyed, the Great Sui no longer exists, the heroes in various places are divided, the young marshal has a heavy army, and he is a wise and martial artist, a benevolent lord and a hero, and he can completely compete for the country and dominate the world." ”

Chang Zhongxing and other Western Qin civil and military officials, after listening to it behind their backs, were also pleasantly surprised, once the young marshal established the country, it was not too late for them to surrender at this time, because the next fight against Li Tang and the Central Plains needed more talents, and now they joined the Northwest Army, taking the lead and being able to be reused.

"Are there any members of the Western Qin royal family in the city?"

"Xue Rengao has a three-year-old son, several wives and concubines, Xue Ju's palace dependents, cousins, and nephews, and the Xue family have all been controlled."

Hou Junji lowered his voice and said: "Xue Ju's father and son are irritable and unpopular with the people, their heirs, don't keep them, this matter, the young marshal is not easy to order, it is up to our courtiers to take care of it, three-year-old children are easy to die, don't leave the aftermath." ”

Chu Liang sighed lightly, although he had the heart to refute, but he was worried that it would cause General Hou to be unhappy, and it was even more contrary to the holy will, so he didn't say anything.

However, Hou Junji is a cold-blooded general who kills decisively, and for the interests of the northwest, he does not hesitate to wield a butcher's knife to get rid of some troubles and clear some obstacles for the lord.