Zhang Xuan is currently leading an army of 50,000 troops stationed in Yingchuan County, from the side to contain the Tang army to continue the northern attack, just as the previous Sui army judged, although Du Fuwei's northern attack on Xuzhou was successful, but Xuzhou was ravaged by Yu Wenhe after the tragic devastation of the Yu culture and no longer enough population and food to support the long-term stationing of Du Fuwei's army, and as long as the Sui cavalry cut off its grain route, Du Fuwei could only withdraw back to Jianghuai.

Zhang Xuan's re-killing undoubtedly gave Li Shimin great pressure, especially the strong cavalry raid ability of the Northern Sui army made Li Shimin extremely worried that his back road would be cut off, he had to retreat strategically, abandon Xiangguo County, and lead the army to retreat to the area of Xiangcheng County in the south of Shuyang County, while Qu Tutong led 30,000 troops to garrison in Ye County, the southernmost part of Yingchuan County, Zhai Rang was ordered to lead 15,000 troops into Xiping County, Runan County, about 100 miles away from Ye County.

In this way, from Xiangcheng to Yexian to Xiping County, the three Tang armies formed a zigzag deployment, which were hundreds of miles away from each other, and each other was horns, echoing each other, and just sealing the passage of the Northern Sui army to the south.

Due to Zhang Xuan's timely western aid, Wang Shichong was finally freed from the crisis, he quickly reorganized the army, ordered his nephew Wang Renze to guard Yique County, and led 30,000 elite soldiers to re-enter Xiangguo County, echoing Zhang Xuan's army.

Both sides were very cautious and did not dare to launch an offensive lightly, entering a state of tactical confrontation.

On the morning of that day, three messengers came to the Tang Army camp in Xiangcheng County at a gallop, and they brought an urgent edict from Li Yuan, the Son of Heaven.

Soon, at the request of Li Shimin, Qu Tutong, who was hundreds of miles away, also rushed to the Xiangcheng camp overnight.

Qu Tutong was a little uneasy in his heart, at the moment when the battle situation was very tense, King Qin urgently summoned him, there must have been some major incident.

It was dark in the Tang army camp, only the Chinese army tent of King Qin was still brightly lit, Qu Tutong hurriedly came to the big tent, and a soldier stepped forward and whispered: "Your Highness is waiting for the general, please!" ”

In the big tent, Li Shimin stood in front of the map with his hands in his hand, his expression was very serious, and next to him stood the eldest grandson Wuji and Zhang Gongjin, who joined the army, although they also did not sleep all night, but neither of them was sleepy, and their eyes were also full of worry.

"Your Highness, what happened?" Qu Tutong asked eagerly.

Li Shimin sighed and said, "Wuji, tell the general!" ”

Qu Tutong's gaze turned to the eldest grandson Wuji again, and the eldest grandson Wuji said slowly: "I received an emergency military report from Chang'an this morning, the Sui army raided Hedong City and Pujin Pass, both of which have been lost, and the gate of Guanzhong has been opened by the Sui army!" ”

"Ahh

Qu Tutong was taken aback and said hurriedly: "Where did the Sui army come from?" ”

Li Shimin looked at the map on the table and said: "It should be from Hanoi County Yiguan Road to the north, and Hedong County and Pujin Pass are empty in defense, and they were defeated by the Sui army, this is obviously Zhang Xuan's strategy to encircle Wei and save Zhao, no wonder he didn't lead in Yingchuan County, he was waiting for us to withdraw to Guanzhong." ”

Qu Tutong also realized that the problem was serious, and he asked again: "What does the Son of Heaven mean?" ”

"My father sent an edict asking us to withdraw part of our troops back to Guanzhong to assist in the defense."

Li Shimin looked back at Qu Tutong, "Father asked the general to lead 30,000 troops to Hongnong County and return to Guanzhong. ”

Qu Tutong's heart was a little confused, of course he could go back, but what about the Central Plains Campaign? The number of troops was reduced by 30,000 all of a sudden, and Zhu Ji's 80,000 troops had been disbanded and returned to their hometowns, how could they deal with Zhang Xuan and Wang Shichong's army?

Li Shimin bit his lip and said: "I can transfer back the 10,000 troops in Xiangyang, plus Zhai Rang's army, I have 75,000 people in my hands, and I can still fight with the other party." ”

"But Your Highness, don't forget, the 30,000 cavalry of the Sui army has not yet appeared, once the 30,000 cavalry of the Sui army appears from the side, then they will be 110,000, 35,000 less than the other party, maybe it is the key to determining the victory!"

"But there is no way, if the general doesn't go back, what will happen to Guanzhong? Once the Sui army opened the passage from Hanoi to Hedong, they would quickly increase their troops, and once the increase in troops reached 30,000, Guangtongcang would bear the brunt, which was too big a blow to the confidence of the military and people in Chang'an. ”

Qu Tutong was silent for a moment, and said in a low voice: "The meaning of the humble position is that our whole army has withdrawn to Guanzhong. ”

Li Shimin was motionless, without any expression on his face, how could he not think so, but if the whole army withdrew, how could his father explain it?

Everyone in the big tent was silent, and at this moment, a soldier outside nervously reported: "Your Highness, Zhang Xuan, the king of Northern Sui Qi, sent someone to deliver a letter. ”

Everyone looked at each other, and Li Shimin hurriedly said, "Where is the letter?" ”

After a short time, a soldier walked in quickly, knelt down on one knee, and presented a letter, Li Shimin hurriedly opened the letter, only to see that the letter read:

'To His Royal Highness Li Shimin, King of Qin, the two countries are facing each other, and those who do not plan the overall situation are not enough to seek a domain, I have sent Wei Chi Gong to lead 10,000 troops to occupy Hedong City and Pujin Pass, presumably His Highness knows it, and then continue to send troops Xuan can be clearly indicated to His Highness, Wei Wentong has led the army to cross the Yellow River north, and will take Baicheng into Changping County, and General Wang Wei will lead the army to occupy Shangdang County through Fuyang.

The autumn harvest has arrived, the south of Jin is full of grain, the 30,000 army has no worries, if His Royal Highness knows the overall situation, he should withdraw the army as soon as possible and return to the west, otherwise Zhang Xuan would rather give up the Central Plains, concentrate his forces to attack Guanzhong, and the troops will come under the city of Chang'an. ’

Li Shimin was dumbfounded, and after a while, he handed the letter to Qu Tutong and the eldest grandson Wuji, and the two were also stunned, Qu Tutong sighed, "With such a strong enemy, the misfortune of Datang is also!" ”

"Your Highness, what should we do?" Eldest Sun Wuji asked in a low voice.

Li Shimin waved his hand, "Let me think about it, let's go rest first!" ”

Everyone withdrew from the big tent, and Li Shimin was the only one left in the big tent, and he paced back and forth with his hands in his hands, worried, and sleepless all night.

At dawn, Li Shimin finally gave the order, "Give up the Eastern Crusade, and the whole army will immediately withdraw to Guanzhong." ”

Li Shimin ordered Qu Tutong to withdraw to Guanzhong first, and then immediately sent people to Xiangyang to inform Wu Shitong, and sent people to Runan County to inform Zhai Rang, ordering the two of them to immediately withdraw their troops and return to the west.

The main force of the Tang army began to slowly retreat south, Li Shimin rode on his horse, looking at the 50,000 army returning to the west, and felt regretful in his heart, but he knew that his decision was not wrong, as Zhang Xuan said, those who do not plan the overall situation are not enough to seek a domain, he must consider the whole world, not just the small Nanyang counties.

At this time, the eldest grandson Wuji rode side by side with him, and asked in a low voice: "I haven't figured it out all night, why did Zhang Xuan tell His Highness about his strategy, if Wang Shichong is used to contain us, wouldn't it be more advantageous for his army to go north to attack Bingzhou and even Guanzhong?" ”

"Zhang Xuan is just talking about the army on paper, how can things be so easy, capturing a few counties in Bingzhou, it doesn't mean that you can always have it, I'm actually just worried that Zhang Xuan will take a risk, and the soldiers will come to Chang'an City, and the confidence of our Tang officials and soldiers and civilians will be a heavy blow, or that sentence, if you don't settle down first, you can't rush outside, and if you don't destroy Liu Wuzhou, we still shouldn't go east."

"But I'm afraid that after Liu Wuzhou is destroyed, the world has been carved up."

Li Shimin smiled and patted Changsun Wuji's shoulder, "In the future, we will also learn to pick up the soft pinch, go back and rest for a few months, and then we will send troops from Bashu and march east to Jingxiang Xiao Milling, and the Central Plains will be put aside for the time being!" ”

The eldest grandson Wuji nodded silently, he suddenly remembered something, and asked, "What about the state?" Does His Highness think Jang Hyun will really retreat north to attack and merge with the state? ”

Li Shimin smiled faintly and said: "If Zhang Xuan really wants to fight and merge the state, he will not urge us to go back, he needs us to kill Liu Wuzhou for him first, and then he will come to pick the fruit of the merger, if I am not mistaken, his next step is to fight Jianghuai Du Fuwei, Du Fuwei is not destroyed, Jiangdu will not be stable, Jiang is unstable, how to talk about the south." ”

"So.... How does His Highness explain to the Holy One? Eldest Sun Wuji asked worriedly.

Li Shimin smiled bitterly, "How else can I explain, give Zhang Xuan's letter to my father, I believe my father will understand, if my father really doesn't understand, then I can't do anything." ”

In the second year of Xingning of the Great Sui Dynasty and the first year of Wude of the Tang Dynasty, the Sui army's plan to encircle Wei and save Zhao made the Tang army extremely passive strategically, and in order to avoid the situation from continuing to deteriorate, Li Shimin had to decide to abandon the Eastern Expedition and retreat to Chang'an. (To be continued.) )