"Could it be that the Tang Army is also going to participate in the Battle of the Central Plains?"

Zhai Rang finally understood the general trend of the Central Plains, not only did Zhongdu and Luoyang enter the Central Plains, but Chang'an did not stand idly by!

Wu Shi Tong nodded, "My family's saint is determined to be in the world, and Yuzhou is a heavy tripod in Kyushu, how can Zhang Xuan and Wang Shichong and others steal it." ”

Next to him, Fang Xuanzao asked again: "How did King Qin decide to participate in the battle of the Central Plains?" ”

This is the most critical and core question, Wu Shi Tong did not rush to answer, but smiled slightly: "Has Zhai Gong already made a decision?" ”

Zhai Rang pondered for a moment and nodded slowly, "I have a deep relationship with Prince Jiancheng, since the Son of Heaven sincerely invites me, how can I Zhai Rang not obey, I have decided to surrender to the Tang Dynasty and am willing to become a member of the Tang Army." ”

The warrior Tong was overjoyed and immediately said, "Please take out the map of the Central Plains and take a look!" ”

Zhai Rang hurriedly ordered his soldiers to take out the map, spread the map on the table, the warrior Tong held the oil lamp in his hand, pointed to the Shangluo line and said: "At present, the King of Qin commanded 30,000 troops from Shangluo County to the south, and has now occupied Xiyang County, and is fighting fiercely with Zhu Wei's army in Nanyang County, and Wang Shichong's army from Luoyang is stationed in Neixiang County, Yuwen Chengdu, according to the latest situation, Wang Shichong also led an army of 50,000 to kill between Yingchuan County and Shuyang County, right here!" ”

Wu Shichong pointed to a point on the map, "At present, Wang Shichong's army is in Wuyang County, and the 80,000 army is pressuring from the north, the reason why Wang Shichong has not sent troops for a long time is to use the pressure of the Tang army to force Zhu Wei to surrender, once Zhu Wei surrenders, Wang Shichong will immediately attack the Tang army, so His Royal Highness the King of Qin temporarily relaxed the pressure on Zhu Wei and withdrew back to Xiyang County. ”

In a few words, the warrior explained the situation in the southern part of the Central Plains very clearly and thoroughly, and also said the current predicament of the Tang army.

Zhai Rang frowned and asked, "Why is there only 30,000 in the Tang Army, it should be far more than that!" ”

"The 30,000 army is just to defeat Zhu Ji, since Wang Shichong has participated in the war, our backup army will come soon, Qu Tutong has led 50,000 troops from Chang'an to the south, and it should arrive in Xiyang County within two days, so that our army will reach 80,000 people, and it will be able to deal with Zhu Wei and Wang Shichong together."

Zhai Rang was silent for a long time and said: "In this way, I can't play any role." ”

"Nope! No! Zhai Gong misunderstood. ”

Wu Shi Tong took out a golden order arrow and put it on the table, "This is the golden order of the King of Qin, the King of Qin hopes that Zhai Gong can lead the army to break into Xiangguo County and cut off Wang Shichong's food supply line, so that Wang Shichong has to turn around and fight back, we can annihilate Zhu Yu in one go, and then immediately return to Zhai Gong!" ”

Fang Xuanzao next to him said: "It seems that King Qin didn't consider Zhang Xuan, if he also joined the battle, the situation would be completely different." ”

Wu Shi Tong smiled and said, "Why didn't His Royal Highness King Qin consider Zhang Xuan?" We have already negotiated with Du Fuwei, the Tang Dynasty named Du Fuwei as the king of Huai, the governor of Jianghuai, Du Fuwei will go north to Xuzhou, in this way, Zhang Xuan will have no time to take care of the battle in the western part of the Central Plains, the latest information I got before I set off, Du Fuwei's army has entered the county, the fat of the Central Plains, how can Du Fuwei not be tempted? ”

Having said that, Fang Xuanzao still felt that Du Fuwei's choice might not be wise, not everyone could eat the fat in the Central Plains, but he was afraid that the fat would not be eaten, but would be bled and cut off, Fang Xuanzao groaned and said: "I'm afraid that Du Fuwei is too weak to contain Zhang Xuan." ”

Wu Shi Tong laughed, "Although Zhai Gong and Fang Junshi can rest assured, His Royal Highness the King of Qin is like a god, he knows that Zhang Xuan is cunning, and he is more willing to sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight, so that we and Wang Shichong will both lose, but because of his alliance with Wang Shichong, he is not good not to make a move, so we will find an excuse for him to persuade Du Fuwei to go north, as long as Du Fuwei leads the army north, Zhang Xuan will have an excuse not to participate in the battle in the western part of the Central Plains, how?" Rest assured! ”

Fang Xuanzao gave Zhai Rang a look, meaning that it was acceptable, although Zhai Rang was still a little hesitant, but he also knew that since he decided to surrender to the Tang Dynasty, he could not pull out a dime, and he had to pay something to get his due position in the court.

"Okay!"

Zhai Rang finally picked up the golden order on the table, "Since the reinforcements from Chang'an will arrive in two days, then I will lead the army to break into Xiangguo County tomorrow." ”

In the early morning of the next day, Zhai Rang put down the incense case in front of the 30,000 troops, Dugu Huaien read out the holy decree, Zhai Rang officially accepted the canonization of the Tang Dynasty, and was named the general of Huaguo and Zuo Weiwei, and the 30,000 Wagang Army changed its flag to the Tang Army, which meant that the Wagang Army disappeared in the Central Plains and the banner of the Wagang Army fell.

At noon, news came from the direction of Chuqiu County, Hao Xiaode and Chen Zhiluo were wiped out by the Sui cavalry in the east of Kaocheng County, Chen Zhiluo was killed in battle, Hao Xiaode broke through and defected to Luoyang, more than 16,000 people became prisoners of war of the Sui army, and then the second news reached Songcheng, Shan Xiongxin's army was scattered, 30,000 miscellaneous troops fled overnight, Shan Xiongxin led the rest of the army to surrender to the Northern Sui army, and the 60,000 army was annihilated.

Soon a third news came that Zhang Xuan led an army of 70,000 to kill Songcheng County, and the forward was less than thirty miles away from Songcheng County.

The news is more nervous than the other, one is more thrilling than the other, Zhai Rang has no time to transport away all the military food, he can only take away 20,000 stone grain, Zhai Rang immediately ordered the general Fan Wenchao to lead 3,000 troops to defend the city, block the pursuit of the Sui army, and ordered him to set fire to the remaining 100,000 stone grain, Zhai Rang was anxious to lead the 30,000 army to quickly evacuate to the west.

An hour later, Pei Xingyan led 5,000 cavalry to Songcheng County, and the general Fan Wenchao surrendered to Kaicheng, he did not follow Zhai Rang's order to burn the remaining grain, but dedicated 100,000 stone of grain to the Sui army.

In the afternoon, Zhang Xuan led the army to Songcheng County, at this time, Songcheng County had calmed down, and groups of Sui cavalry patrolled the streets to maintain order in the county.

At this time, Pei Xingyan hurriedly came to meet Zhang Xuan with Fan Wenchao.

Fan Wenchao is the son of Fan Zigai, the former secretary of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, who was wanted by the imperial court for participating in Yang Xuangan's rebellion, and had to defect to Wagang, and his father Fan Zigai also announced that he would sever the father-son relationship with him.

Although Fan Wenchao is a famous family, it is difficult to get ahead in the mixed Wagang army, especially by Zhai Hong, although he is excellent in martial arts, no one dares to recommend him as the five tiger generals, Fan Wenchao has been depressed in the Wagang army for a few years.

This time Zhai Rang surrendered to the Sui Dynasty, because Fan Wenchao's father Fan Zigai had offended Li Yuan, Fan Wenchao did not dare to follow Zhai Rang to surrender to the Tang Dynasty, so he took the initiative to ask Ying to block the Sui army, so that Zhai Rang was left to deal with the aftermath, so that Fan Wenchao seized the last opportunity.

Fan Wenchao stepped forward and knelt down on one knee to salute, "The criminal minister Fan Wenchao greets His Royal Highness the King of Qi!" ”

Zhang Xuan helped him up and comforted: "You didn't set fire to the grain, not only kept the granary, but also saved hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Songcheng, thanks to Liang County, your father treated me with kindness in the past, how can I forget, if the general is not wronged, he will temporarily serve as the general of Huyalang, follow General Pei, and be knighted for meritorious service in the future, and will not dishonor your father's prestige!" ”

Fan Wenchao was greatly moved in his heart, he had been in the Wagang Army for so many years, and he barely managed to get the position of a general, and King Qi didn't care that he had followed Yang Xuangan to rebel, and he was named a tiger tooth general, how could he not be grateful, his eyes were red, and he choked up and clenched his fists and said: "Humble and broken bones can't repay His Highness's kindness!" ”

Zhang Xuan smiled and patted him on the shoulder, "I'm going to inspect the granary, you accompany me." ”

"Obey the order!"

At this time, Pei Xingyan stepped forward and whispered to Zhang Xuan: "Zhai Rang surrendered to the Tang army and transferred to Xiangguo County, it must be to cut off Wang Shichong's grain route, do we want to pursue it overnight, and guarantee to catch up with Zhai Rang's army before dawn tomorrow." ”

Zhang Xuan smiled and shook his head, "Wang Shichong didn't come to ask me, why should we be so active, let Wang Shichong and Li Shimin fight first!" ”

Pei Xingyan immediately understood what the boss meant, and sat on the mountain to watch the tiger fight, so that Wang Shichong and Li Shimin were both defeated, he scratched his head, "It's just that we and Wang Shichong have just formed an alliance, and the marshal will ignore it, which is a bit unexplainable, or do you want to march into Yingchuan County and assist Wang Shichong from the side?" ”

Zhang Xuan still shook his head, "If you go, Wang Shichong will use your cavalry as coolies, Xingyang County is still in my hands, forgive him for not daring to let out Yingchuan County, as for what you said you can't explain, I can give him an explanation, Du Fuwei has attacked Qian County, we must kill back." ”

The next day, Zhang Xuan wrote a letter to Wang Shichong, in which he reviewed his friendship with Wang Shichong and said that he would resolutely defend the alliance between the two armies, but as soon as the topic changed, he told Wang Shichong worriedly in the letter that Du Fuwei's 100,000-strong army attacked Xuzhou, and the situation was extremely critical, and he must immediately lead the army to kill back, and when Du Fuwei was defeated, he would definitely turn around and support Wang Shichong.

Zhang Xuan ordered someone to send the letter to Wang Shichong, and ordered Du Yunsi to lead 5,000 troops to defend Songcheng County, and Zhang Xuan immediately led an army of 60,000 to turn around and march quickly in the direction of Qian County. (To be continued.) )