Suzhou, the northwest of the Tang Dynasty, is the northern town closest to the grassland in the Tang Dynasty. To the west of Suzhou is the Yangguan and Yumen Pass built by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty when he sent the hussar general Huo Qubing to attack the Xiongnu.

When Li Shimin first ascended the throne, Jieli Khan led 200,000 Turkic iron cavalry from here to attack the bank of Weishui outside Chang'an City, forcing Li Shimin to sign the "Weishui Alliance" with Jieli with a suspicious strategy. Suzhou, as an important town in the northwest, stationed a large number of soldiers.

"Ah~~ Cut" A soldier stationed on the customs defense was sneezed by this northwest wind. pinched his nose and said unhappily, "The weather in the northwest is really getting fast, it's not winter yet, it's already cold."

"You baby, isn't this northwest just cool in the morning and evening, and hot at noon, where is it, and the wind can blow you stupidly in winter," said an old man who looked quite experienced next to him.

"Uncle, do you think the Turks will come at this time?"

"Baby, do you want to come to the Turks like this, uncle told you, the best thing my uncle has lived as a soldier for so many years is to guard the pass here for the past three years, this soldier is a job to tie your head to the waistband of your pants, and it is a happy day given by God to not fight, although this life as a soldier is not much better, at least you can mix a full meal, and the food and salary can also be sent home to help make up for it."

"Uncle. Isn't it just a meritorious service for us to be a soldier, I have heard that our Datang Dynasty has the most important meritorious service, especially the military exploits, but I want to hurry up and kill a few enemies, and go home to marry a daughter-in-law after changing the military merits?"

"Just you, uncle doesn't look down on you kid, I know that you are good, but have you seen the Turkic cavalry, do you know how they attacked, what kind of soldiers are we, we are city defenders, that is, infantry, two arms and two legs, can you do the four-legged war horse and the sharp scimitar,. Our infantry is a fierce situation against the cavalry, once that guy rushes up, the speed of the war horse and the bravery of the Turkic cavalry can instantly break the infantry formation,"

"Uncle, then I don't think you're good,"

"You don't understand, it's my luck that my uncle can live to this day, you were still young at that time, I remember that at that time, the Turkic Jieli Khan led 200,000 Turkic iron cavalry to Chang'an from here, you think about it, it was 200,000 cavalry, who can resist that formation, the Suzhou guards at that time were so frightened that they didn't even dare to go out of the city gate, they could only watch the Turkic brigade pass, once they went out to the field to be a target for others, the Turks lived on horseback since childhood, we were basically infantry and couldn't catch up, You can only eat ashes in the back. If it weren't for His Majesty's wisdom and martial arts, I'm afraid this Chang'an would have been broken. ”

"This is the case that the Turks have also plagued this place, and the Turks are so fierce that their armies are like locusts and they have no grass everywhere they go, and all the food and livestock in the villages, all the women have been confiscated, and all the men have been killed. , those who dare to resist are either hacked to death with knives or dragged behind horses and tortured to death. I can't forget what a tragic uncle is dead,"

The young man has not experienced the tempering of the battlefield, it sounds strange and scary, but after all, he has never seen the real scene, and he is not cowardly, he has never seen his father, it was his mother who raised him, but it is a pity that the heavy man crushed his mother's weak body, and left him two years ago, telling him to live well. So he could only live alone, and soon met a wounded man, and the young man saved the man with his help, and taught him the ability to speak in order to repay his kindness, and especially warned him that he could not say that he taught, and did not let him apprentice, and left the village after a year, and life returned to normal days, until two months ago the military department came to the village to recruit soldiers, he stood out with his extraordinary skills, and was selected here to be a soldier, he did not have such great ambitions, he just wanted to kill a few Turkic barbarians, and went back to marry a wife and have children after changing his military exploits, Plant a few acres of land to live a good life, that's it.

Unwillingly, he asked again, "Uncle, you see that His Majesty has made an order this time, saying that the Turks may attack us secretly, so they recruited troops to strengthen the guards, so they should come soon." ”

The old pawn sighed and said, "I see, the fake is the best, uncle, this old arm and old leg can't withstand the toss of the Turks." Baby, listen to Uncle's advice, don't be reckless, it's good to live nothing, Uncle has seen a lot of young offspring like you, and they are all alive and vigorous as soon as they come, and they can't kill a bunch of Turks. It's a pity that they didn't live long, and they died as soon as they went up, but it's a pity. ”

The young man smiled confidently, "That's because they don't have the ability, uncle don't believe it, you wait and see, if the Turks don't come, if they come, I will definitely kill a few people to show you." ”

The old pawn can't be persuaded and doesn't get angry, these later generations don't listen to the old man's persuasion like this, they don't know the danger of the battlefield, they all come from a village, and when they really want to fight, he just looks at it. Shaking his head, he said, "Okay, I'll go to sleep first, and I'll change you when the time comes." ”

The young man nodded, "It's okay, I have it, uncle, go and get some sleep." ”

With the cool breeze, the old man put on thick clothes, leaned his gun against the city wall, and found a leeward place to curl up and sleep. The young man mustered himself and stared intently ahead.

As the saying goes, this good spirit is not bad, the sky has just dawned, a group of Turkic cavalry has approached the city of Suzhou, under the cover of night, the Turkic cavalry is ready to launch a surprise attack to break through Suzhou, the Turks are not stupid, that is, with their cavalry troops can not break through the tall city gate head-on. It is only possible to take a night attack by surprise. Use the tactics of day and night to stealth the city.

In the woods outside the city

"Chief, is it time to attack now?" A Turkic commander asked.

The Turkic leader observed the guards at the gate of Suzhou, but the enemy did not notice their arrival, and the day also dawned, taking advantage of this time to launch a sneak attack.

The leader commanded his men, "Ready, listen to my commands." Strike together, and be sure to open the gates. ”

The Turkic troops, in part, went to the edge of the woods and prepared for the attack. The cavalry also followed, ready to rush into the city as soon as possible.

"Attack" With the order of the leader, countless Turkic cavalry rushed out of the woods like ants, and in a very short time they had already rushed to the open area in front of the city gate.

The sound of skyrocketing footsteps and shouts finally alarmed the guards on the city walls.

Li Ergou suddenly found out that the Turks were coming, and immediately shouted loudly, "Enemy attack, enemy attack, the Turks are coming"

His shout alerted all the soldiers defending the city, and the torches lit. The captain of the city gate ran to Li Ergou and said, "Pay attention to me, the Turkic dog sneak attacked, immediately lock the city gate, carry the thunder wood, gold juice, and prepare for battle." Ergou, you are good, hurry up and go to the inner city to inform General Zhang, the source of the transfer of troops, looking at the posture of the Turks, I am afraid of no less than 10,000 people, go quickly, someone will light the beacon fire"

As soon as the captain ordered, the soldiers on the tower of the city gate immediately lit the beacon fire, Li Ergou rushed down the city tower and rode on his horse to rush to the city, while riding and shouting "Turkic attack, Turkic attack" along the way The shout spread through the street, startling countless people. The guards of the town military mansion in the city saw that the beacon fire at the city gate must have happened to something, and hurriedly ran into the mansion to report that the Suzhou city guard house was changed to the town military mansion during the Wude period, and the guard general of this term was Zhang Shigui, a famous general in the early Tang Dynasty.

Zhang Shigui's real name is Hu Yuan, he has learned martial arts since he was a child, "good at riding and shooting, and his arm strength is outstanding", "bending the bow one hundred and fifty pounds, and shooting left and right without empty hair". At the end of the Sui Dynasty, he gathered people to uncover the uprising, and then returned to Li Yuan, and made many military exploits in the career of completing the unification of the Tang Dynasty and the expansion of the border. Li Yuan's outstanding military achievements were very appreciated by Li Yuan, and he also made great contributions to the change of Li Shimin's Xuanwu Gate, so he was used to go out of the town of Suzhou, which shows that he has extraordinary skills.

Zhang Shigui heard the report from the guards, and the city gate lit a beacon fire to warn, and instinctively thought that it must be a Turkic attack, so he hurriedly asked someone to put on armor and prepare horses, and rushed out of the mansion with the guards, and met Li Ergou who came to ask for reinforcements.

Li Ergou turned over from his horse and said to Zhang Shenggui, "Report to the general, the Turks are attacking, and the captain ordered the villain to come and inform the general to lead troops to rescue,." The Turks are menacing, and it is estimated that there are no less than 10,000 people. ”

Zhang Shenggui's pupils shrank and said, "The Turks are attacking with 10,000 troops, and they are not good at attacking cities. There must still be a large group of people in the rear. Someone came, immediately ordered the city, the people went up to the wall to assist in carrying the equipment to defend the city, each family closed the door, and ordered the barracks to quickly assemble at the city gate to gather to listen to the order. You and Ben will go to the city gate. ”

The guards took the order and left, and Li Ergou returned to "No." Got on his horse and followed Zhang Shigui to the city gate.