When I passed by the gate of the camp, I saw the eldest grandson Shunde squinting at his treacherous eyes, and I smiled at him, and left the barracks without listening to what he said.

I was amazed by the 5,000 people on display outside the barracks, all of them standing in order, not one absent, and all of them in good spirits.

That's the army I want, and that's the army I want to command.

As soon as I gave an order, Li Shimin and Li Yuanji each led 1,000 people, divided into two armies on the left and right, and set off for Xihe County.

Although the armament was neat, the march was very slow, and it could not travel more than forty miles in a day.

Of course, Li Shimin couldn't wait for such a speed, he knew that after I reported the situation of the righteous army to my father, my father personally assigned to me were all elite soldiers who had followed him for a long time, and this kind of marching speed was simply an insult to them.

The last time I confronted him in the mourning hall, I played a role in deterring him, because it was three days before he objected to me.

"Big brother, it's been three days since we set off from Jinyang, and we should have arrived in Xihe, but now the trip is not even halfway through. The soldiers are fast, don't you understand? He walked out of the queue and caught up with me, and next to me made a suggestion with some impatience.

I smiled, heard another sound of horses' hooves, and when I looked behind me, Li Yuanji also caught up with me.

He was also very unhappy with the slow pace of the march, although he was no stranger to Li Shimin, but he reached a consensus on this point.

In fact, Chai Shao's speed was faster than Li Shimin's prediction, and it only took him one day and one night to lead two thousand Turkic soldiers to Xihe, occupying the surrounding counties, leaving only one Xicheng.

Gao Deru retreated to Xicheng and took everyone in the city to defend it, he didn't know that the Turkic soldiers led by Chai Shao were actually the vanguards I sent, and the purpose was just to harass and make his defenders tired.

It's just that the Xihe soldiers are too weak against the Turks.

Of course, Li Shimin and Li Yuanji didn't know about it.

After Li Shimin finished speaking, Li Yuanji also said: "Big brother, why don't we go straight to the West River in one go?" Second ......" He paused, glanced at Li Shimin, and then turned to me and said, "Binggui is fast, I asked Tang Lin, and he didn't know why the eldest brother did the opposite." ”

Tang Lin, as the supervising army, actually has the command of 1,000 people in Li Yuanji's right army, Li Yuanji is still young, and he leads the troops alone, I am afraid that something will happen.

I pointed to the people behind me and said, "The soldiers who surrender without a fight, the good ones are also good." Don't worry, when we arrive in Xicheng, Gao Deru probably won't have the energy to compete with us. ”

Another day later, on the official road, I met people who had fled from Xihe.

Li Shimin grabbed a refugee and asked him about the situation in Xihe, and the man told him that the north had fallen and that there were many Turkic soldiers to harass and plunder.

"In that case, why are you heading north, shouldn't you go to Chang'an Luoyang?" Li Yuanji asked with a puzzled expression.

The dusty refugee shouted in a hoarse voice: "General, you are from the barracks, haven't you heard that Luoyang is about to fall into the hands of the Wagang army, and if you flee there, won't you be sent to death?" I used to trade with the Turks, and I knew a few friends, but I went to them for the most part. ”

After speaking, he continued to walk forward, followed by his villagers in twos and threes.

Li Shimin was stunned and said: "Luoyang is about to be lost? ”

I shook my head, according to the news that Tang Lin brought back before, the Wagang army has occupied Luocang, and the shortage of food in Luoyang is getting more and more serious, and the people in the city have begun to flee, and the slightly poorer families have begun to eat grass roots.

But now there is still a person in Luoyang, with him, he will not let Luoyang fall into the hands of Li Mi, if it really comes to that point, he might as well raise the banner of righteousness himself.

After another three days, we finally arrived at Xicheng.

Those who hoped to make military merits asked for their lives to fight the warm-up battle before this move.

Chai Shao disguised himself as a pawn and quietly broke into my military tent, Zimin was combing his hair, saw this and suddenly got up, leaned in front of me, and saw that it was Chai Shao, and he was slightly relieved.

Chai Shao arched his hand and said: "Gongzi is finally here, the Turkic soldiers have withdrawn, and Gao Deru is estimated to be exhausted." ”

I nodded and replied, "Well, Gao Deru? This time, I'm going to ask him to talk about it. ”

Early the next morning, I wrote a letter and shot an arrow at the tower.

About an hour later, I was thinking about the strategy of capturing Chang'an, when someone suddenly reported outside the tent: "The eldest prince, Gao Deru is here." ”

Tang Lin took Gao Deru to enter with the curtain, he was wearing armor and a hood on his head, and when he saw me, he arched his hand slightly and said: "I don't see you in the tenth month, the eldest prince is really here." ”

I said aloud: "Xihe counties, thank me for the grace of expelling the Turks, all of them are obedient, and those who have different intentions are the only ones left with Gaojun." ”

Gao Deru laughed and said: "Li Jiancheng, do you think that a few words can make me abandon the courtiers and be in cahoots with you?" Stop dreaming! ”

"Bang" twice, Li Shimin and Li Yuanji both pulled out their swords.

I waved my hand and motioned for them to put away their blades, walked around the table, stood opposite him, and said, "Gao Juncheng, as a courtier, wants to fulfill his minister's festival, and naturally has nothing to say, but the people of Xihe are innocent?" When the canal was built, which of the people here did not suffer from it? After the three expeditions to Goguryeo, the population of Xihe County was reduced by half, and now there are still people, most of their fathers, sons or husbands are buried on both sides of the river, unable to return to their hometowns. ”

Gao Deru listened to my words, and under the fierce face, there was a faint trace of compassion, and he was speechless for a long time, and he was silent for a long time and said: "Although what the eldest prince said is reasonable, it is just that Gao is deeply favored by the imperial court, and he can't turn his back on the imperial court, so please forgive the prince." ”

I said: "If you have built a heartfelt word, please think about it." Tang Lin, send Gao Juncheng back to the city. ”

Before Tang Lin could answer "yes", Li Shimin stopped in front of Gao Deru and said, "Big brother, how can you let him go back so easily?" According to the guard of Xicheng, this is the person, kill him, Xicheng will be self-defeating, and the eldest brother ......"

I snorted coldly, "Stand down!" ”

Li Shimin still wanted to distinguish, but I glanced at him and said: "The two armies are fighting, and they will not be killed." What's more, Gao Juncheng was invited to come, you killed him today, how will you establish your prestige in the world in the future? ”

I breathed a sigh of relief, and said slowly: "If you do this, you are trapping your father in injustice, and his father wants to chase the Central Plains, how can he rely on it?" The people of the world, the two armies are at war, and victory is important, but faith and righteousness are more important than victory. ”

Li Shimin silently returned the sword into the sheath and retreated.

Gao Deru turned to look at me, and suddenly smiled: "So, thank you for the grace of the eldest prince not to kill!" ”

Less than twelve hours after he left, the scouts came to report that Gao Deru had killed himself in the prison.

(End of chapter)