After resting for a day and two nights, although the army was still very tired, Chen Yingliang still abided by the agreement with Qinwang's friendly army, returned the old camp to the friendly army, led the friendly army of Qian Peng out of the camp to the north, and built a new camp ten miles in front of the friendly army.

For Chen Yingliang's righteous act, the small group of Qinwang friendly troops led by the Yin Shishi were full of praise, praising Chen Yingliang for being a friend for being righteous enough, and they also reached out to help the Peng Sui army to establish a camp, but the Taiyuan Qinwang army led by Li Yuan did not say anything, and still stationed troops on the west side of the camp of the Yin Shishi and other friendly troops, hiding in the rear safety of the Qian Peng Sui army, and at the same time, Chen Yingliang and Li Yuan, the two largest leaders of the Qin Wang army, still did not meet each other, and said the last sentence, they all put on a desperate posture of not getting along.

Li Yuan's attitude Chen Yingliang was not surprised, but the Turkic actions made Chen Yingliang a little puzzled, judging from the activities of the Turkic scouts, the arrival of the Han Peng Sui army on the Xinkou battlefield must have been known by the Turkic side, but a day and two nights have passed, but the Turkic side has not made any moves or reactions, and has not taken advantage of Chen Yingliang's exhaustion to launch an attack, and at the same time, the scouts sent by the Yin Shishi Division also brought news, saying that the Turkic army still has not stopped attacking Laoxian, but it has concentrated its forces to the south of Laoxian and set up camp.

In this regard, Chen Yingliang and Yin Shishi were a little confused, and they couldn't figure out whether the Turkic army was underestimating the enemy, despising their own army, and planning to capture Laoxian first, cut off the Qinwang road of the Sui army, calmly break through Yanmen and take the head of Emperor Yang of Sui, and then turn around to deal with the Qinwang Sui army? Or do you want to pretend to be careless about the enemy, lure the Sui army of King Qin to take the initiative to attack, and then use cavalry to break the enemy in the field warfare that the Turks are best at? At the same time, because of the lack of understanding of Shibi Khan's military style, Chen Yingliang and Yin Shishi were unable to judge the true intentions of the Turkic army.

Fortunately, when the Peng Sui army was nervously camping, Li Jing once again came to Chen Yingliang's face, and under the sign of congratulating Chen Yingliang and visiting and studying, he openly and honestly reconnoitred the camp situation of the Peng Sui army, and his eyes also glanced at the key points of the camp of the Peng Sui army, peeking at the key facilities such as granaries, stables, secret posts, watchtowers, lookouts, and the generals' sleeping tents, which made the generals who were setting up camp angry, and Chen Yingliang was also somewhat displeased. It's a pity that Li Jing was not satisfied, and when he saw that the fortifications of the rear camp of the Sui army in Qian County were as solid and perfect as the front camp, Li Jing also smiled and said: "No wonder Ambassador Li said behind his back that the deputy envoy was suspicious and careful, and he was really careful to build the rear camp facing the friendly army so strongly." ”

"No way, our camp is ten miles away from friendly forces, you have to be careful."

Chen Yingliang replied lightly, and then hurriedly invited Li Jing to the Chinese army's big tent to discuss matters, Li Jing returned to the Chinese army with Chen Yingliang, and continued to praise Chen Yingliang on the road for managing the army in a good way, setting up a camp in a rigorous and orderly manner, worthy of being the latest rising shining star of the Great Sui, Chen Yingliang casually perfunctory and modest, but Li Jing suddenly said a word, and said: "It's that the right battalion is a little weak, and it is a prudent choice to let go of the river beach to avoid the sudden outbreak of flash floods, but after giving up the river beach space, it gives the enemy room to attack in a roundabout way." Xia Guan felt that it would be better to increase the garrison in that area by another 1,000 people. ”

Glancing at the right camp in surprise, Chen Yingliang found that the right battalion facing the Hutuo River was indeed a little insufficient, in order to avoid the sudden outbreak of flash floods and affecting the camp, he gave up too much river beach area, giving the enemy room to attack in a roundabout way, but because of the protection of the Hutuo River, there were relatively few troops stationed there, and once the enemy surrounded the camp and attacked on all sides, the right camp was most likely to be the first to break through. Secretly frightened in his heart, Chen Yingliang hurriedly readjusted the garrison of the right battalion according to Li Jing's instructions, and dug a trench to protect it carefully, and then Chen Yingliang couldn't help but glance at Li Jing again, and said secretly in his heart: "This guy, do you really want to help me?" ”

Li Jing let Chen Yingliang not understand the place is still behind, after entering the Chinese army tent, there are no outsiders present, Li Jing took the initiative to take out a topographic map of mountains and rivers and handed it to Chen Yingliang, and explained: "The topographic sand table I made by myself before has been taken by Ambassador Li to his Chinese army tent, fortunately, I also drew a topographic map of mountains and rivers by myself, if the deputy envoy does not dislike it, you can use it." ”

After taking the map presented by Li Jing and opening it, Chen Yingliang found that this was a very detailed and clear geographical map of mountains and rivers, drawing the size of the road from Xiurong to Yanmen Pass, wide and narrow, far and near, and marked the height of the peaks along the way, the width of the river and the water sources and streams. In the end, Chen Yingliang could only hand over the map to the expert Yuan Tiangang to verify the authenticity, and then respectfully thanked Li Jing, who laughed and said that there was no need to be polite, this was just a matter of course.

After finding that he couldn't understand Li Jing more and more, in order to continue to test his sincerity in surrendering and to clarify another doubt in his heart, Chen Yingliang simply asked Li Jing, who was familiar with the Turkic situation, why the Turkic army continued to attack Laoxian. After the Turkic sneak attack on the Holy Driver failed to succeed, they besieged Yanmen, deceiving our reinforcements from the Great Sui Dynasty was difficult to gather for a while, time was very precious to the Turks, and capturing Laoxian County could win a buffer, delaying the advance speed of our Qinwang army, and buying time for them to capture Yanmen, and going south to resist our reinforcements would only waste time. ”

"But our reinforcements have already arrived?" Chen Yingliang asked: "The Turks are not afraid to attack Laoxian with all their might, and the rear will show a flaw and be stabbed in the back by us?" ”

"The Turks are not afraid." Li Jing replied quickly and replied: "There are two reasons: First, the Turks rely on the superiority of cavalry and archery, feel invincible in the field, and are not afraid of our attack. Second, the lower official told the truth, don't mind the deputy envoy, the Turks are still a little ignorant of your troops, and they are confident that they can fight on both sides and win on both sides, so they dare to attack the city while setting up camps. ”

"The Turks are so confident?" Chen Yingliang sneered a little.

"The Turks have this self-confidence." Li Jing nodded and explained with a smile: "There has not been a large-scale war between the Great Sui and the Turks for fourteen years, and the famous generals of the Great Sui who defeated the Turks several times before, such as Yang Su, Shi Wansui and Changsun Sheng, have all passed away one after another, and the Turks also know about this, and feel that since these old enemies are dead, there is no one who can defeat the Turks in the Central Plains. ”

Chen Yingliang was a little suspicious, and always felt that Li Jing's analysis was a little unreliable, and the Turkic army should not be so careless about the enemy. Li Jing glanced at Chen Yingliang, and said lightly: "Deputy Envoy Chen, Xiaguan has just said that there has been no major war between the Great Sui and the Turkic army for fourteen years, and the famous generals of the Great Sui who can make the Turks fearful have all passed away. ”

"What does Li Juncheng mean is that I will do my best to launch an attack, make a good start first, and let the Turks know that we are powerful and dare not besiege Yanmen City with all our might?" Chen Yingliang asked cautiously.

"Exactly." Li Jing nodded vigorously, his expression still very resolute.

Hearing this, don't talk about Chen Yingliang, who is treacherous and suspicious by nature, even the more kind-hearted people such as Wei Zheng and Yuan Tiangang next to him, looking at Li Jing, their eyes are inevitably full of suspicion, and they all suspect that Li Jing is helping Li Yuan to harm the self-army, instigating the self-army to attack the Turkic army head-on, and using the hands of the Turkic army to severely damage the Peng Sui army.

As if he didn't see the suspicion of Chen Yingliang and others, Li Jing returned the map from Yuan Tiangang's hand, and said: "Of course, the deputy envoy does not want to persuade Deputy Envoy Chen to dispatch all the troops to attack head-on, and confront the Turks head-on. ”

"How to defeat the enemy?" Chen Yingliang hurriedly pricked up his ears, wanting to hear what Li Jing, the first general of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, had.

"Deputy Envoy, please look here." Li Jing pointed to a location on the map and said: "Directly east of the Turkic camp, southeast of the city of Laoxian County, there is a plateau called Ziganyuan, the terrain on the original is quite open, the water source is also very sufficient, you can garrison troops, if the deputy envoy sends more than 1,000 infantry from the trail behind the mountain to go up the mountain and seize this Ziganyuan, then you can condescend and look down on the Turkic camp, and then the deputy envoy will send troops to attack the front of the Turkic camp, then the Turkic army will inevitably go out of the camp to meet the enemy, and the deputy envoy will lure them to the far side of the camp. Your infantry stationed in Ziganyuan will take the opportunity to surprise the Turkic camp and win a great victory! ”

After listening carefully to Li Jing's tactics and then looking at the map carefully, Chen Yingliang's nose was almost crooked, because Li Jing's tactics were really ridiculous, Ziganyuan and the Turkic garrison were less than five miles apart, and it was impossible for the Turks not to arrange sentry scouts on the plain to guard, and the Sui infantry went up the mountain on the back road, the road was not only much longer, once discovered by the Turkic sentry spouts, the Turkic army could not only immediately go up the mountain to seize Ziganyuan, but also immediately dispatch cavalry to outflank and cut off the Sui infantry's way down the mountain. When the time comes, how many infantry will go up the mountain and how many will die, there is almost no hope of survival.

The nose is crooked, the nose is crooked, there is still Chen Yingliang who should have the demeanor, and he respectfully thanked Li Jing, saying that he would carefully consider the tactics proposed by Li Jing, Li Jing was also very satisfied with Chen Yingliang's obedience to his words, and then used the excuse of going back to serve Li Yuan, and gave his hand, Chen Yingliang was too lazy to send him again, and sent him away with two sentences, Li Jing thanked him, but when he came out of the account, Li Jing turned back and said: "Deputy envoy, the tactics proposed by the subordinate are absolutely feasible, I hope you think twice." ”

Chen Yingliang nodded with a very graceful smile, saying that he would definitely consider it carefully, and Li Jing left satisfied, but as soon as Li Jing left on the front foot, Chen Yingliang immediately scolded, "!" What is this bastard's intentions? Why did he come up with such a bad idea for me, does he really want to take refuge in me, or does he want to help Li Yuan pit me and lose my first battle? ”

Chen Yingliang's staff officers Yuan Tiangang, Wei Zheng and Changsun Wuji are not very good at military tactics, of course they were surprised to hear Chen Yingliang scold like this, and they were busy asking in detail, and when Chen Yingliang pointed out the absurdity of this tactic, Changsun Wuji and Yuan Tiangang also immediately became angry, and scolded Li Jing for being uneasy and kind, making it clear that they wanted to help Li Yuankeng his own army. Wei Zheng, who has an upright personality, is also rarely a little displeased, and said angrily: "This thief has ill intentions, and he is really uneasy and kind!" Just now I felt that something was wrong, first of all, what did you say about using the good defense of our army's infantry to ploy, but the result was to arrange our army's infantry to attack the Turkic battalion, so contradictory, and also want to hide from our army? ”

"Yes, it's clear that you're uneasy!" Yuan Tiangang quickly took over the conversation and said angrily: "Stealing the mountain back road of Shangziganyuan is still located east of the Hutuo River, if we are fooled and send troops, it will be surrounded by mountains and water in front, and surrounded by Turkic troops in the back, and we can't die anymore!" If we use our troops like this, it would be more convenient for us to dig a pit and bury ourselves! ”

The speaker was unintentional, the listener was intentional, hearing Yuan Tiangang's angry words, Chen Yingliang turned his head violently and asked quickly: "Mr. Yuan, what did you just say?" There is a mountain in front of it? Got water next to it? What does this mean? ”

"I mean the Hutuo River." Yuan Tiangang picked up the map, pointed to the mountain road that stole the Ziganyuan and said: "This mountain road is located to the east of the Hutuo River, if our army fights according to his plan, it will be blocked by high mountains in front, Hutuo River next to it, and outflanked by the Turks in the back, so that we can't die anymore." ”

Chen Yingliang was a little stunned, hurriedly took the map and looked at it carefully, and after thinking about it for a while, Chen Yingliang was a little puzzled, and said, "Could it be that Li Jing is deliberately testing me?" Want to see if I'm a wasted name, or if I have real talent? ”

"Brother, what do you mean by that?" Eldest Sun Wuji hurriedly asked.

"His tactics worked, but he didn't say it completely." Chen Yingliang replied: "As long as we change his tactics slightly, we will definitely be able to win the first battle." ”

"How?" Yuan Tiangang, Wei Zheng and the others hurriedly asked.

"Let's sneak attack Ziganyuan's team, take on the task of feints to lure the enemy, and lure the Turks to outflank and encircle our sneak attack team." Chen Yingliang explained: "Then we use the main force behind the surprise attack of the Turkic outflanking troops, then the Turkic outflanking team will face the dilemma of having mountains and water in front of them, and they will not be able to give full play to their strengths in cavalry and archery, and they can only be blocked by us in a narrow area to surround and beat, and if the Turks want to outflank them, they must dispatch light cavalry, and we can use the strength of the heavy infantry in close combat to severely attack the weak light infantry of the Turks, and it is easy to win!" ”

"Then what about us going up the mountain to serve as the infantry of the feint army?" Yuan Tiangang hurriedly asked: "Also, the Turks went up the mountain directly from the west of Ziganyuan, and their condescending threat to us is also very great?" ”

"Our feints can send light infantry to fight, and if they can't, they can take other paths down the mountain." Chen Yingliang explained, and said: "As for the Turkic team on the mountain from the west of Ziganyuan, don't worry, the Turkic combat effectiveness of the dismounted Turks will be reduced by at least 30%, and the Turkic Luo circle legs fighting on the mountain road will be reduced by at least 50%, and we will only be tortured!" ”

Yuan Tiangang, Wei Zheng and the others looked at each other, and then the eldest grandson Wuji said in surprise: "Brother, since Li Jing's tactic is completely feasible, why didn't he say it directly?" Do you want to say only half of it? ”

"It's supposed to be testing me to see if I'm worthy of his following." Chen Yingliang replied: "Otherwise, with his ability, he can't say contradictory words, and later he reminded me to think twice, making it clear that he wanted to test whether I would respect his opinion." ”

"So, it's a possibility." The eldest grandson Wuji nodded and said: "He is Li Yuan's direct subordinate, and I feel that Huai Cai wants to give up Li Yuan and join us, which is tantamount to risking his own head, I have to test my brother, whether you are really talented and learn to compete with Li Yuan, and I have to test my brother's attitude towards him." ”

Chen Yingliang nodded, quite agreeing with the judgment of the eldest grandson Wuji, but he felt that something seemed wrong, just as Li Jing's intention may not be exactly like this, under his own life, Chen Fuliang even had such a thought, and said secretly: "Could it be that you say yes, put a long line and catch a big fish?" ”

After weighing the pros and cons for a long time, Chen Yingliang made up his mind and ordered: "Arrange a few scouts to first reconnoiter the terrain of the road behind the mountain in Shangziganyuan, grasp the specific situation, and then decide whether to use this plan." It doesn't matter if you're detected by the Turkic sentinels, it's better to let the Turks know that we're fighting that mountain path. ”

…………

At the same time that the scouts of the Sui army were ordered to go out of the camp to explore the mountain road, Li Jing also returned to Li Yuan's Taiyuan army camp, and like the last time, Li Jing reported the results of his negotiations with Chen Yingliang to Li Yuan in detail, and also truthfully explained that Chen Yingliang attached equal importance to the rear camp, as well as the details of his own advice to Chen Yingliang and Chen Yingliang's reaction.

Hearing that Chen Yingliang also attached great importance to the report of the rear camp, Li Yuan of course scolded a swear word, knowing that the plan of deliberately not saving the friendly army at the critical moment had failed, and after listening to Li Jing's proposal, Li Yuan suddenly smiled and said: "Pharmacist, your idea is really bad enough, aren't you afraid that Chen Yingliang's thief will see your bad intentions at a glance and deliberately let him go to Ziganyuan to die?" Losing trust in you? ”

"It's okay, the lower official said something in the clouds again, let him guess for himself." Li Jing smiled and said: "The big deal is to make him feel that I don't trust him very much, and I need to test his sincerity in soliciting me, anyway, the map and rain records I gave him are all true, pointing out that the Turks are currently underestimating the enemy, and he will do his best to send troops to win, and it is also the right one, at most, he just thinks that my level of use is not good, and he will not have too many doubts about me." ”

"Then why don't you build a frontal attack on him?" Li Yuan asked with a smile.

"That kid is too cunning, he is attacking head-on, he must understand that Xia Guan wants to use the Turkic hand to consume his strength." Li Jing replied truthfully and said with a smile: "So the lower official can only implement your second plan ambassador, and deliberately use the words in the clouds to offer him a plan that must fail, completely confusing his thoughts." In this way, he used my strategy to sneak attack is death, frontal attack is to defeat both Turks, it is extremely difficult to win, and the army can not move so that the ambassador can buy you the time for the arrival of the rear army, and he can't explain to the court and the emperor, he is in a dilemma, and the dilemma is enough to give him a headache. ”

"Well done." Li Yuan nodded with a smile and said: "The old man doesn't have to be too long, as long as you can completely confuse him and hold the troops within three days, then the old man's main force will be able to arrive at Xinkou in three days, and when the old man's troops are stronger than him, he can justifiably pick up the burden of the commander-in-chief of King Qin, and no longer have to worry about what tricks this kid plays." ”

Li Jing nodded with a smile and thanked Li Yuan for his compliment, but Li Yuan, who was in good spirits, said: "There is also good news for you, the old man just received the fast horse handbook, the old man's second son Li Shimin and his beloved son-in-law Chai Shao have also joined Zuo Tunwei's Qinwang army, and are rushing towards Xinkou, after you heard the grievances between them and Chen Xiaothief, don't you really want to meet them?" When the time comes, I will let you know them, you have to get along well, work together to assist the old man Qinwang to save the car, after the matter is completed, the old man will never treat you badly. ”

"The second son and the chai boy are also here?" Li Jing was stunned for a moment, and then suddenly showed a happy smile, and said with a cruel smile: "That's great, they are also here, can't you see with your own eyes that the ambassador has avenged them?" ”

Li Yuan smiled and nodded, his smile was as hideous as Li Jing's.

………………

As Chen Yingliang expected, in the afternoon of the same day, the scouts of the Sui army who went to the mountain road behind Ziganyuan to reconnoiter the situation were indeed detected by the sentry spies arranged by the Turkic army on the high ground of Ziganyuan, but these Turkic sentry spies did not startle the snake, drove away the scouts of the Sui army, and deliberately allowed the scouts of the Sui army to return after reconnoitring the terrain according to the order of Ashina Association, the brother of Shibi Khan, and at the same time reported the matter to Ashina Association.

"Damn the Central Plains barbarians, they are really fighting the idea of the original people." To report this, Ashina Association took the lead in scolding a swear word, and sneered: "Come on, if you like the idea of fighting Ziganyuan, just come, our Turkic army can't station troops on the mountain, but we are not afraid that you will come to Ziganyuan to garrison troops." ”

After sneering, Ashina immediately ordered to send double scouts in Ziganyuan, and set up a beacon tower on the hillside west of Ziganyuan, demanding that once the Sui army team was found stealing Ziganyuan from the back mountain path, they would immediately set fire to the police! Liang also attached great importance to the report of the rear battalion, of course Li Yuan scolded a swear word, knowing that the plan of deliberately not saving the friendly army at the critical moment had failed, and after listening to the content of Li Jing's proposal, Li Yuan suddenly smiled and said: "Pharmacist, your idea is really bad enough, aren't you afraid that Chen Yingliang's thief will see your bad intentions at a glance and deliberately let him go to Ziganyuan to die?" Losing trust in you? ”

"It's okay, the lower official said something in the clouds again, let him guess for himself." Li Jing smiled and said: "The big deal is to make him feel that I don't trust him very much, and I need to test his sincerity in soliciting me, anyway, the map and rain records I gave him are all true, pointing out that the Turks are currently underestimating the enemy, and he will do his best to send troops to win, and it is also the right one, at most, he just thinks that my level of use is not good, and he will not have too many doubts about me." ”

"Then why don't you build a frontal attack on him?" Li Yuan asked with a smile.

"That kid is too cunning, he is attacking head-on, he must understand that Xia Guan wants to use the Turkic hand to consume his strength." Li Jing replied truthfully and said with a smile: "So the lower official can only implement your second plan ambassador, and deliberately use the words in the clouds to offer him a plan that must fail, completely confusing his thoughts." In this way, he used my strategy to sneak attack is death, frontal attack is to defeat both Turks, it is extremely difficult to win, and the army can not move so that the ambassador can buy you the time for the arrival of the rear army, and he can't explain to the court and the emperor, he is in a dilemma, and the dilemma is enough to give him a headache. ”

"Well done." Li Yuan nodded with a smile and said: "The old man doesn't have to be too long, as long as you can completely confuse him and hold the troops within three days, then the old man's main force will be able to arrive at Xinkou in three days, and when the old man's troops are stronger than him, he can justifiably pick up the burden of the commander-in-chief of King Qin, and no longer have to worry about what tricks this kid plays." ”

Li Jing nodded with a smile and thanked Li Yuan for his compliment, but Li Yuan, who was in good spirits, said: "There is also good news for you, the old man just received the fast horse handbook, the old man's second son Li Shimin and his beloved son-in-law Chai Shao have also joined Zuo Tunwei's Qinwang army, and are rushing towards Xinkou, after you heard the grievances between them and Chen Xiaothief, don't you really want to meet them?" When the time comes, I will let you know them, you have to get along well, work together to assist the old man Qinwang to save the car, after the matter is completed, the old man will never treat you badly. ”

"The second son and the chai boy are also here?" Li Jing was stunned for a moment, and then suddenly showed a happy smile, and said with a cruel smile: "That's great, they are also here, can't you see with your own eyes that the ambassador has avenged them?" ”

Li Yuan smiled and nodded, his smile was as hideous as Li Jing's.

………………

As Chen Yingliang expected, in the afternoon of the same day, the scouts of the Sui army who went to the mountain road behind Ziganyuan to reconnoiter the situation were indeed detected by the sentry spies arranged by the Turkic army on the high ground of Ziganyuan, but these Turkic sentry spies did not startle the snake, drove away the scouts of the Sui army, and deliberately allowed the scouts of the Sui army to return after reconnoitring the terrain according to the order of Ashina Association, the brother of Shibi Khan, and at the same time reported the matter to Ashina Association.

"Damn the Central Plains barbarians, they are really fighting the idea of the original people." To report this, Ashina Association took the lead in scolding a swear word, and sneered: "Come on, if you like the idea of fighting Ziganyuan, just come, our Turkic army can't station troops on the mountain, but we are not afraid that you will come to Ziganyuan to garrison troops." ”

After sneering, Ashina immediately ordered to send double scouts in Ziganyuan, and set up a beacon tower on the hillside west of Ziganyuan, demanding that once the Sui army team was found stealing Ziganyuan from the back mountain path, they would immediately set fire to the police!