Due to the defeat of the Ashina Kunji tribe in the ambush of the Sui army in Anyuan City, the loss of more than 20,000 people, and the Ashina Kunji himself was also beheaded by the Sui army, this news made Duji feel painful.

But what made him even more unacceptable was that Dali City suffered more than 40,000 casualties, 17,000 people lost in the attack on Yongfeng County, plus more than 20,000 casualties in Ashina Kunji's department, and the 300,000 Turkic army had lost nearly 80,000 people.

On the one hand, he mobilized a heavy army to attack the city of Hekou, and on the other hand, because his forces in the city of Dali were reduced to 130,000, the powerful attack could not be sustained, and he had to turn from an attack to a confrontation.

The battle of Fengzhou turned from the initial passive defense to a confrontation between the two armies, and the balance of the battle was gradually tilting in favor of the Sui army.

Hedong, Li Yuan's army all the way to the ground, Hedong County responded, the momentum was huge, Li Yuan ordered strict military discipline, adulterers and thieves were beheaded, his military discipline was strict, the autumn did not commit any crimes, won the hearts of the people, plus Li Yuan's family prestige is outstanding, there are countless people who have served Li Yuan's army, in just half a month, his military strength has increased from 200,000 to 300,000.

The eldest son, Li Jiancheng, believed that too many troops would increase the burden on the people, and that redundancy and incompetence were not conducive to warfare, and that the good and bad were uneven, and it was difficult to control military discipline, so he persuaded his father to disarm.

Strategist Liu Wenjing also advised Li Yuan to recruit fewer Hedong people and use more of the Guanlong army, Li Yuan agreed, so he ordered the army to be rectified in Lingshi County, eliminate the old and weak and scoundrels, the younger brother left the brother, the son left the father to go, and all those who left the army were sent rice and grain to appease.

After nearly half a month of rectification, his troops were reduced from 300,000 to 180,000, and the army gradually became elite, and at this time, the Sui general Song Laosheng led 20,000 elite soldiers to Huoyi County, occupying a dangerous place, and Li Shimin seized Jiahu Fort and led 30,000 troops to confront the Sui army.

This evening. Li Yuan was discussing the military situation with Liu Wenjing in the big tent of the Chinese army, and a personal soldier reported in front of the tent, "The Duke of Longxi and the Duke of Dunhuang ask to meet!" ”

The Duke of Longxi is Li Jiancheng, the Duke of Dunhuang is Li Shimin, and the two brothers came to see each other at the same time, which made Li Yuan a little strange, so he nodded, "Order them to come in!" ”

Moment. Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin walked into the big tent and bowed, "See father!" ”

"Is there anything wrong with the two of you coming together?"

Li Jiancheng smiled and said, "Actually, they didn't come together. I met Shimin in front of the barracks, but we both came for the same thing. ”

"What's the matter?" Li Yuan glanced at their brother and asked.

Li Shimin bowed down and said, "Father, the children's soldiers are stationed in Jiahu Fort. I am willing to lead the elite soldiers to take Huoyi County and behead the old Song people to give to my father. ”

Li Yuan understood a little, and he asked Li Jiancheng again, "Do you think the same way?" ”

Li Jiancheng hurriedly said: "Back to my father, the child has not made an inch of merit since the beginning of the army, and the second brother is also the second brother to ask for merit in taking Xihe County and beheading Gao Deru, and I implore my father to hand over the heavy task of attacking Huoyi County to the child, and the child only needs 30,000 people, within ten days." must take Huoyi County. ”

Li Shimin laughed, "Why do you need to attack with troops, I only use 3,000 people to take Huoyi County within four days." ”

Li Yuan's face sank, and he said angrily: "Why don't you say that the brothers are together." If you take Huoyi County together, you have to fight for merit with brothers, is it possible that my Li Yuan's army has its own interest groups so soon? ”

Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin were so frightened that they knelt down together, Li Jiancheng lowered his head and said ashamedly: "The father is angry, and the child knows his mistake." ”

Li Shimin also said: "Father is serious. The child and the eldest brother do not have their own interest groups, and they both want to share their father's worries. ”

Then. Liu Wenjing, who was in the back, walked over with a smile and persuaded Li Yuan: "The army is elite, the morale is high, everyone wants to make meritorious contributions and win awards, this is a human pump, Tang Gong, why blame their brothers." ”

Li Yuan's anger eased slightly, in fact, he also knew that using the contradictions of his subordinates to control them was the best skill of the subordinates, but Li Yuan did not want to have conflicts with his own son, especially when he had just started the army, sincere unity was more important.

He glared at his two sons, "Get up! This time, I will spare you for the time being, and next time I dare to fight for merit, I will take the military power of the two of you. ”

"Yes! The child didn't dare. ”

The two stood up, and Li Yuan asked Li Shimin again, "What can you do, with only 3,000 troops, you can capture Huoyi County in four days?" ”

"Back to my father, the last time we exterminated the thief in Huoyi County, the child heard that Zhang Xutuo took the secret road from Huoyi County to Gaobiling and attacked Yang Liang's army, so the child paid attention and sent someone to find this secret road, and this secret road has been found."

Li Shimin took out a map from his arms and put it on the table, Li Yuan and Liu Wenjing both surrounded him, Li Jiancheng hesitated, then smiled bitterly, and followed up, he actually didn't want to fight for merit, he and Li Shimin alone mastered 50,000 troops, and his left and right leading generals Li Xiaogong, Shi Danai and others persuaded him to win the opportunity to attack Huoyi County, Li Jiancheng came to his father to ask for his life, he saw that the light on the table was dim, so he put an oil lamp on the table, this subtle move made Li Yuan nod secretly, and secretly praised the generosity of the eldest son in his heart.

Li Shimin pointed to the map and said: "Huoyi County has a difficult terrain, which chokes the only way to go south, but you can take the Zhangxutuo road from Gaobiling, and walk fifty miles along Huoshan Mountain, you can go around to the south of Huoyi County, there are not many people, I only need 3,000 people to attack Huoyi County." ”

"Then how do you deal with Song Laosheng's 20,000 elite soldiers?" Liu Wenjing asked.

"Uncle Shi doesn't know, although Song Laosheng is trusted by the King of Yue, but that's because he is Fan Zigai's henchman, not because he has military merits, in fact, he doesn't have any military merits, just rely on seniority to get up, Fan Zigai is dead, he has lost his backer, Qu Tutong threatens his position again, he is now eager to make meritorious service, I can take advantage of his mentality of being anxious to make meritorious service, for this reason, when we attacked Xihe County, I have sent a hundred elite soldiers to enter Huoyi County in batches as businessmen, in addition, Huoyi County Lieutenant Zhao Yi is also willing to serve us."

Li Yuan asked in surprise, "When did you go to the county magistrate of Huoyi County?" ”

"Father, Zhao Yuan's father is a member of the eldest grandson's family, and I asked the eldest grandson Wuji to convince him that he is willing to serve his father."

Li Yuan didn't speak, he didn't know anything about this matter, and this son's city government was a little too deep.

"Then how are you going to take advantage of his eagerness to make meritorious contributions?" Liu Wenjing continued to ask with interest.

Li Shimin glanced at his father a little timidly, and after a while, he muttered: "I have a soldier under my command who looks quite like my father."

Li Yuan and Liu Wenjing glanced at each other, both of them understood Li Shimin's strategy, yes, this strategy is very likely to succeed, Liu Wenjing gave a thumbs up and praised: "Shimin is really a genius!" ”

Li Yuan refused to praise his son, he felt a little uncomfortable in his heart, so he stroked his beard and smiled lightly: "I am also looking for someone who looks like me, I want to take a look at this person." ”

Li Shimin went down, Liu Wenjing also said goodbye and left, only Li Yuan and Li Jiancheng were left in the big tent, Li Yuan glanced at his son, and said slowly: "Today, you and your brother are competing for merit, it is indeed very inappropriate, and it is not the demeanor of the eldest brother." ”

Li Jiancheng sighed and said ashamedly: "Actually, I don't want to fight, it's just that my generals have no chance to make meritorious contributions, and they are very anxious. ”

Li Yuan was stunned, he understood the difficulties of the construction, and said in a deep voice: "You are the prince of the world, my expectation of you is not to lead the army to fight, I will eliminate you as Xiao He, the people of the world as Han Xin, you are in charge of government affairs and logistics, and the people of the world will charge into battle, so be it!" You are still nominally the governor of the left army, but the specific affairs are in charge of Xiaogong, I named him the governor, you don't have to ask, you go to Shangdang County, persuade Taishou Sima Yong to surrender to me, can persuade Shangdang County to surrender, your merit is no less than the people. ”

Li Jiancheng breathed a long sigh of relief in his heart, in fact, he didn't want to lead the army to fight, that was not what he was good at, he stood up and bowed deeply to his father, "Son, let's go!" ”

Song Laosheng stood on the wall of Huoyi County, looking at the northern mountains from afar, his heart was heavy, worried about the future of the Great Sui, in the past, it was a rebellion of bandits, and it had disturbed the chaos in the world, and now Li Yuan, who is a nobleman of Guanlong, also rebelled, this is the cornerstone of the Great Sui Dynasty, the cornerstone has been destroyed, how long can the Great Sui Dynasty last in the storm?

His Royal Highness King Yue handed him the task of intercepting Li Yuan's southward journey, he only felt that his shoulders were extremely heavy, and he couldn't bear it a little, but he didn't want to live up to His Royal Highness King Yue's trust in him.

At this time, a cavalryman in the distance rushed quickly, and the sound of horses' hooves woke up the contemplative Song Laosheng.

"General Song, discover the enemy!" The cavalry rushed to the city and shouted.

"What hostility has been discovered?"

"An army of 3,000 people is coming towards Huoyi County, and it seems that Li Yuan is among them."

Song Laosheng's eyes lit up, and he asked again, "Is Li Yuan among them?" ”

"I saw Li Yuan's banner, but I didn't see him personally, the army was led by Liu Hongji, and tens of thousands of troops were fifteen miles behind to respond."

Song Laosheng pondered for a long time, he had dealt with Li Yuan several times when he was suppressing bandits in Hedong, and he could probably guess Li Yuan's intentions, he wanted to persuade himself to surrender.

"Humph! I sent it to the door. ”

Song Laosheng immediately ordered, "Order 20,000 troops to prepare and catch Li Yuan at any time!" ”

Song Laosheng led 3,000 people out of the city to wait in line, while the 20,000-strong army hid in the city, ready to be called at any time.

In a moment, Li Yuan's army of three thousand appeared, getting closer and closer, stopping a mile away, more than a hundred soldiers surrounded Li Yuan and rode forward, and a soldier stepped forward and said, "General Song, my lord asks you to come forward and talk about it." ”

Song Laosheng saw it clearly, two hundred steps away, the person surrounded by more than 100 soldiers was Li Yuan himself, he was overjoyed in his heart, this was simply a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, he was so excited that he waved his knife and shouted, "Sons, catch Li Yuan with me!" ”

He led the army to Li Yuan and rushed out, 20,000 ambush soldiers in the city also rushed out, Li Yuan was so frightened that he turned around and fled, 3,000 troops escorted him to the north, Song Laosheng where was willing to give up, led the army to pursue, his strength was far inferior to Li Yuan, only this kind of opportunity could make it possible to defeat the strong with the weak, but this kind of opportunity is only once, and if it is lost, there will be no more.

[Historically, Song Laosheng was deceived out of the city because of Li Yuan's small number of soldiers]