On the official road about 20 miles east of Xiangcheng County, a logistics grain transport team composed of thousands of ox carts walked slowly on the official road, and there were more than 1,000 Tang army guards on both sides, which was the grain transported from Xiyang County to the main force of the Tang army that was attacking Luyang Pass in Xiangcheng County, and according to the calculation of 20 stone of grain transported by each ox cart, 3,000 ox carts should transport 60,000 stone of grain. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ

Without river transportation, just collecting these 3,000 ox carts cost the Tang army a lot of energy, causing the people of Shangluo County and Xiyang County to boil, but there was no way, Ci was not in charge of the army, and the war could not tolerate too much mercy, Li Shimin ordered the forced requisition of these ox carts.

The grain transport team took a short road, from Danshui County directly to the east into Jutan County of Nanyang County, and then from Jutan County to the northeast direction into Xiangcheng of Shuyang County, which was hundreds of miles less than the southward bypass to Nanyang County Zhiyu County.

Although there were as many as 3,000 ox carts, they were not too long, and the wide official road was enough to accommodate three ox carts in parallel, so that the length of the 3,000 ox carts was only three miles.

The ox cart creaked northward, looking bloated and laborious, and the soldiers, carrying spears and following on both sides of the ox cart with tired legs, had already walked three hundred miles, and the soldiers were exhausted, but they had to walk at least one hundred and fifty miles to reach Luyang Pass.

It was noon, and a low hill about dozens of miles long appeared on the right side of the official road, and the hills were covered with dense woods, and the woods stretched to the foot of the mountain, and even ten miles away from the hills, there were still large areas of woods, and this area was a rich agricultural area, but because of the war, it seemed sparsely populated, most of the people fled, the fields were deserted, and a small village not far away was lifeless, and even the barking of the farmer's dogs was gone, as if it was dead.

At this time, an army composed of tens of thousands of soldiers was ambushed in the woods only one mile away from the official road, this army of 10,000 people was Guo Shiheng's army from Huai'an County, although Guo Shiheng surrendered to the Northern Sui, but he was still bargaining with Zhang Xuan on the title, he was no longer satisfied with the duke of the county, and hoped that Zhang Xuan could crown him as the Duke of Shenguo.

Zhang Xuan did not agree, but he did not refuse, he just hoped that he could make a great contribution, then all the glory and wealth were naturally at his fingertips, and wealth and wealth were sought in danger, Guo Shiheng resolutely led the army to infiltrate Huayang County, preparing to launch an attack on the logistics of the Tang army, which was also Zhang Xuan's clear request to him, to contain the main force of the Tang army to the north.

Guo Shiheng held an iron gun in his hand, riding on a war horse, staring intently at the grain convoy that was slowly moving on the official road, and he was secretly happy that there were only more than a thousand soldiers.

At this time, the deputy general Tian Zan came over and said in a low voice: "Big brother, are there too few guards in the Tang Army?" ”

"Too many guards also consume food, and it is normal for more than a thousand soldiers to generalize."

Guo Shiheng pursed his lips and said: "Li Shimin thought that if Liu Hongji led 10,000 troops to garrison Fangcheng close to Huai'an County, we would not dare to act rashly, how did he know that there was more than one way from Huai'an to Fangyang." ”

"Without further ado, let's do it!" Tian Zan encouraged him.

Guo Shiheng nodded, he clenched the barrel of the gun and shouted: "Beat the drum and attack!" ”

"Boom! Boom! Boom! ”

The drums of war suddenly sounded in the woods, and the 10,000 Huai'an troops who had been waiting for a long time roared loudly, rushed out of the woods under the leadership of the main general Guo Shiheng, and covered the ox cart grain team on the official road a mile away.

But the Tang army guarding was not panicked, they seemed to have been prepared for a long time, together with bows and arrows, half-squatting on the ground, aiming at the enemy who was covering and killing.

Just when the Huai'an army was within one hundred and twenty steps, the sound of bangzi sounded, the grain and oil cloths on the ox cart were lifted one after another, and countless Tang soldiers appeared from the ox cart and raised their crossbows together to shoot arrows at the Huai'an army that was killed.

When Guo Shiheng led the army out of Biyang County, the Tang Army scouts hiding in Biyang County immediately sent an eagle letter to Li Shimin, who immediately laid a trap and waited for Guo Shiheng's army to come and rob the grain.

Guo Shiheng, who was rushing to the front, saw a large number of Tang troops on the grain truck, and was immediately shocked, he knew that he had been tricked, and hurriedly ordered: "Retreat!" ”

But it was too late, the Tang army fired thousands of arrows, dense arrows shot like a storm at the Huai'an soldiers who were killed, and suddenly screamed loudly, a piece of soldiers were shot to the ground, Guo Shiheng was hit by three arrows, more than a dozen arrows in the crotch of the war horse, and fell to the ground with a hiss, more than a dozen personal soldiers behind him rushed forward to rescue, but they were shot down by random arrows, and the remaining two personal soldiers did not dare to come forward to rescue, turned around and fled for their lives, so angry that Guo Shiheng scolded.

At this time, the Tang army rushed up with a shout, drums on both sides were beating, two cavalry came from a distance, surrounded them on three sides, Guo Shiheng saw that the situation was critical, he struggled to get up, at this moment, a cold arrow 'whoosh! The ground was shot, this arrow was extremely powerful, hitting Guo Shiheng's throat, Guo Shiheng raised his head incredulously, this arrow was not shot by the Tang army behind him, but from the direction of his own army.

He happened to see Tian Zan put away his bow and arrows, and looked at him coldly, Guo Shiheng suddenly understood, he reached out and grabbed it, and finally fell down weakly and died under Tian Zhan's arrows.

Tian Zan turned his horse's head and left, and he caught up with the fleeing soldier and shouted: "Listen to my orders, go into the woods, and escape to the hill!" ”

The main general Guo Shiheng was unfortunately killed, and the command of the army naturally fell into the hands of the deputy general Tian Zhan, who was also Zhang Zhenzhou's general, and also had a certain appeal to this Huai'an army, although not all the troops were willing to listen to his command, but at least more than half of the army was willing to flee with him.

After the 10,000 troops withdrew into the hills, they parted ways, and Guo Shiheng's henchman Zhou Wenzhong refused to accept Tian Zhan's command, and he led 3,000 soldiers to retreat to Huai'an County along the same route.

Tian Zan couldn't stop persuading, so he led another 7,000 troops to retreat along the hills to Nanyang County, he knew in his heart that since Li Shimin had laid an ambush circle, then Liu Hongji's 10,000 troops would definitely intercept him on the way back to Huai'an County in the west.

Only by doing the opposite, retreating to Nanyang County, maybe he can jump out of the ambush circle, since Zhou Wenzhong is willing to send death to cover his retreat to the south, he is also happy to see it.

Tian Zan led the army to quickly retreat south along the east bank of the river, they bypassed Nanyang County, marched day and night, and finally jumped out of the encirclement of the Tang army, two days later the army arrived in Xinye County, at this time Xinye County was already the sphere of influence of the Sui army, and entering Xinye County meant that they were finally safe.

There are still a few miles away from the county seat, the soldiers are exhausted, and they can't walk anymore, at this time, a team of cavalry rushed head-on, instantly rushed to the front, and the head of the cavalry captain hugged his fists and said to Tian Zhan: "General Tian, the marshal is in Xinye County, please go and meet!" ”

Tian Zan was overjoyed, and hurriedly ordered the soldiers to rest on the spot, he urged the horse to follow the cavalry to the county seat, just walked less than three miles, and faced a mighty army, waving the flag, the momentum was magnificent, the head of the general wore a golden helmet, the momentum was majestic, it was Zhang Xuan, the commander of the Sui army.

Tian Zan hurriedly turned over and dismounted, stepped forward and knelt down on one knee, held up the golden arrow and said: "The lowly post has completed the task assigned by the marshal, and I am here to hand over the order!" ”

Zhang Xuan nodded and smiled: "General Tian has worked hard, please get on the horse and speak!" ”

"Thank you, Dashuai!"

Tian Zan turned over his horse and followed Zhang Xuan, who asked again, "How many soldiers came with General Tian?" ”

"Returning to His Royal Highness, Guo Shiheng led 11,000 soldiers to ambush the grain team in Xiangcheng, but more than 500 people died in ambush, Zhou Wenzhong took more than 3,000 people, and 7,200 soldiers followed the humble post south."

"Not bad! Are they willing to follow you? ”

"Returning to the marshal, they are more willing to be loyal to the marshal!"

Tian Zan is very good at talking, Zhang Xuan couldn't help laughing, and said to Tian Zhan: "I heard that General Tian is also very talented, then I will give General Tian two choices, if General Tian is willing to enter politics, I will make General Tian the Taishou of Nanyang County, if General Tian wants to continue to serve in the army, then he can be the general of Hu Benlang, follow General Luo Shixin, General Tian can choose by himself." ”

After a pause, Zhang Xuan said again: "In addition, I want to tell General Tian that these 7,000 troops will either be scattered and integrated into various armies, or disarmed and go home, in a word, the Huai'an Army will not exist in the future." ”

Tian Zan lowered his head and was silent, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "Does the big marshal have any news of Zhou Wenzhong?" ”

Zhang Xuan nodded, "They were surrounded by the Tang army, Zhou Wenzhong was killed by his generals, and all the three thousand troops have surrendered to the Tang army." ”

At this time, Tian Zan finally made up his mind and said: "I am willing to take off my armor and wear my robe and serve as the Taishou of Nanyang County." ”

"Why did you decide to become a taishou?"

Zhang Xuan was a little puzzled, and reminded him: "If you do too much, I'm afraid the chance of being knighted in the future will be very small." ”

"The lowly position understands, but the lowly position still chooses to enter politics."

Tian Zan sighed low and said: "This is actually the last wish of the lowly father, the father has been very disappointed in the lowly and abandoned Wen Congwu, and he refused to see the last side of the lowly post until he died, unless I am willing to put down the sword, he will never forgive, although the lowly is more willing to be a general in the army, but for the sake of my father's last wish, I can only give up my own will." ”

Zhang Xuan didn't expect him to be for his father, and he was a little moved in his heart, so he nodded and said: "Then I will fulfill your filial piety again, you have made meritorious contributions to recovering the Huai'an Army, and I will also crown you as the Marquis of Biyang County, and allow you to rebuild your father's tomb with the gift of a marquis." ”

Tian Zan was extremely moved, and choked up: "Thank you, Your Highness, for your success!" ”

Zhang Xuan patted him on the shoulder again, and said earnestly: "Be honest and honest as an official, do things for the people, remember my eight words, I believe you will have the opportunity to enter Beijing as a high-ranking official in the future." ”

"Obey!"

Zhang Xuan appeased Tian Zhan, and asked Luo Shixin to collect Tian Zhan's army, and then he took out an arrow and handed it to a personal soldier and said: "Rush to Xiyang County immediately, and order General Liu to act as planned!" (To be continued.) )