Yuan Tiangang strongly suggested that the Longshan captured by Chen Fuliang is located in the southwest suburbs of Taiyuan City, and if you want to take Longshan, you must first take the Fenshui Bridge located five miles south of Taiyuan City, and this wooden fixed bridge is the only channel to communicate the east and west banks of Fenshui, and the tactical position is very important, so no matter how tense the troops are, Li Jiancheng still divides thousands of troops to guard and protect this bridge, and prepares a large amount of firewood, grass, sulfur and fire oil on the bridge, ready to burn the Fenshui Bridge at any time when necessary, and increase the difficulty of the main force of the Sui army to cross the river.

Of course, the main force of the Sui army was not afraid of a field battle with the Taiyuan army, but the main force of the Sui army was never willing to see the Taiyuan army burn down this important bridge, so how to seize the bridge while preserving the bridge became the top priority. Therefore, after discussing and carefully considering with everyone, Chen Fuliang decided to give up the frontal attack, adopt surprise attack tactics to seize the bridge, kill the defenders of the Fenshui Bridge by surprise, and not give them the opportunity to set fire to the bridge.

It is also an opportunity, the main force of the Sui army has just moved to the camp, and all kinds of camp fortifications have not yet been built, according to common sense, it is unlikely to launch an attack in a short time, which provides some cover for the surprise attack of the Sui army, so Chen Fuliang is the best at those pit abductions, and naturally there is a place to use.

As a result, Guo Ziwu, the general of the Taiyuan Army who was responsible for guarding the Fenshui Bridge, naturally encountered a strange thing, a messenger who claimed to be Chen Fuliang suddenly ran to the Fenshui Bridge to ask to see him, on behalf of Chen Fuliang, asked Guo Ziwu to lead the defenders of the Fenshui Bridge to surrender the bridge, and promised that as long as Guo Ziwu sacrificed the Fenshui Bridge, then Chen Fuliang would give Guo Ziwu a six-grade official position, reward gold and jewelry, and also reward each soldier under Guo Ziwu's command with ten pieces of cloth, and each person above the brigade commander would be rewarded with ten yuan, and the bid was quite not low.

To be sent by Li Jiancheng to guard the bridge, Guo Ziwu of course has a high loyalty and good professional ethics, and immediately categorically rejected the bribery and surrender of the Sui army envoy, but because Li Jiancheng had an order not to hurt the envoy first, Guo Ziwu did not embarrass the Sui army envoy and ordered to drive it away. But the somewhat stupid envoy of the Sui army refused to give up, and while struggling to refuse the Taiyuan soldiers to take him away from the Fenshui Bridge, he shouted: "General Guo, you don't believe in the sincerity of our Highness, do you? We told you that ten pieces of cloth for each of your brothers are ten pieces of cloth, and one of them will not be missing from you! If you don't believe me, I'll go back and bring 10,000 pieces of cloth so that you can see for yourselves how sincere we are!" ”

After being thrown away after crossing the Fenshui Bridge, the stupid envoy of the Sui army still refused to give up, and shouted at Guo Ziwu and the defenders of the Fenshui Bridge: "General Guo, brothers in Taiyuan, you wait, I will bring 10,000 pieces of cloth when I go back!" I want you to see clearly, whether our Tang Wang's army is what he says, and he is a man of his word! ”

Not to mention, the Sui army envoy was stupid, and he was really very good at talking, and in the afternoon, he also brought some people to pull fifty trucks full of cloth and came to the Fenshui Bridge again, although the Taiyuan soldiers guarding the bridgehead refused to let him go to the bridge, and also pulled a bow and arrows to prohibit the truck from approaching the position, but the stupid messenger still shouted and asked Guo Ziwu to receive the reward from the Tang King, and let the people overturn a truck and sprinkle the cloth in the car all over the ground. Guo Ziwu, who was entangled, had to cross the bridge and refuse in person, asking him to get out of the way immediately or he would shoot him with arrows, but the stupid messenger took another step forward and said: "Stretch out your hand and don't hit the smiling person, General Guo, the little envoy is here to give you a gift, I don't believe you can really release arrows." ”

Sneering, Guo Ziwu personally pulled his bow and arrows, and shot the hat of the stupid messenger with an arrow, and scared the stupid messenger so much that he screamed and ran away, and the people he brought were also faster than the other, and they didn't even have time to take away the fifty carts of cloth before they ran clean together, and the embarrassed appearance made the Taiyuan soldiers laugh loudly.

Cloth is a necessary material for life, and it can also be used directly as currency in this era, and the Sui army's stupid messenger forgot the cloth cart, and the Taiyuan soldiers naturally did not forget it, and Guo Ziwu did not forget it, and ordered: "Pull all those cloths through Fenshui, two horses per brother, and hand over the rest to the Governor of Zuodu." ”

In the cheers, the soldiers of the Taiyuan Army rushed up, and pushed all the fifty cloth carts on the Fenshui Bridge, and then naturally, when a cloth cart passed by Guo Ziwu's side, the cloth on the car suddenly flew into the air on its own, and then jumped out of two Sui soldiers with swords and shields. At the same time, the other cloth carts also jumped off the Sui soldiers one after another, and the swords and shields quickly killed the Taiyuan soldiers guarding the bridgehead, and then did not hesitate to kill the other side of the Fenshui, and the Sui army stupid messenger who ran to the distance to look before also immediately sent a signal, and the Sui army scout sentry team who was patrolling the surrounding sentry team also immediately roared and rushed towards the Fenshui Bridge.

The incident happened suddenly, the Taiyuan army defenders on the west bank of Fenshui were also caught off guard, eighty Sui army warriors shouted that they had already rushed across the Fenshui bridge, and the west bank defenders released the first wave of bows and arrows messily, almost no effect, and then when the eighty Sui army warriors were killed in front of them, the Taiyuan army defenders would never have the opportunity to light the bridge, and were forced to fall into close combat. After a slight delay, the scout sentry of the Sui army, which was served by the elite cavalry, had also rushed to the Fenshui Bridge.

On the city wall, condescendingly saw that the Fenshui Bridge was in an emergency, and the defenders in Taiyuan City hurriedly sent troops out of the city to respond, but the Taiyuan army moved quickly, and the well-prepared Sui army moved faster, after receiving the signal, the Sui army immediately rushed out of the new camp of two thousand light horsemen, and galloped south, and then there was a large group of infantry out of the camp, which also rushed towards the Fenshui Bridge. In addition, Chen Fuliang also carefully divided an army and went straight to the east gate of Taiyuan East City to resist the troops that the Taiyuan defenders might send from the city to block the reinforcement of the Fenshui Bridge battlefield.

Again, the Sui army was only afraid of the Taiyuan army burning the bridge, and was definitely not afraid of fighting a field battle with the Taiyuan army, relying on the advantage of having prepared with mental calculations and unintentionalities, the cavalry reinforcements of the Sui army, which was far away, arrived at the Fenshui Bridge battlefield one step ahead of the Taiyuan army reinforcements, and entered the west bank position first, and the Taiyuan army would never have the opportunity to regain control of the Fenshui Bridge. In the end, when Li Jiancheng, who was thunderous, personally led the army out of the city to respond, the infantry brigade of the Sui army had also crossed the Fenshui Bridge, cooperated with the cavalry to seize the position and fought in formation, struggling to catch Li Jiancheng's main force, and buying time for the reinforcements sent by Chen Fuliang next.

Regardless of the strength and combat effectiveness is a huge gap, the Taiyuan army and the Sui army are of course unhappy for themselves, the fierce battle until the sun sets and does not recapture the Fenshui Bridge, and seeing that more Sui army reinforcements have arrived, Li Jiancheng sighed helplessly, or reluctantly issued an order to retreat, "Mingjin, it's useless to fight again, and the Fenshui Bridge can't be taken back." Brother Ying Liangxian, your tricks have really reached the point of being superb. ”

was robbed of the Fenshui Bridge by Chen Fuliang's mutant Trojan scheme, and although the military loss of the Taiyuan army was by no means large, for the entire Taiyuan battlefield, the Taiyuan defenders suddenly became much more passive. Because with the strong and spacious Fenshui Bridge, the main force of the Sui army can be mobilized back and forth on both sides of the Fenshui at will, and threaten the east and west cities of Taiyuan at the same time. Therefore, after retreating and returning to the city, the first thing Li Jiancheng did was to send reserves to strengthen the defense of Xicheng, what he was afraid of was that his scheming friends would highlight the surprise soldiers, and he would come to attack the granary, arsenal and Jinyang Palace in Xicheng, but there was absolutely no room for mistakes.

However, this is not the most important, the Li family brothers who are familiar with the history of the scriptures and the decision-makers of the Taiyuan army are more worried and most afraid of another point, but the more afraid the more useless, in the early morning of the next day, the main force of the Sui army strengthened the defense of the Fenshui Bridge at the same time, and really sent about 2,000 troops to the west to go up the mountain, climb Longshan to garrison the Jin Temple, and took control of the inlet of the Zhibo Canal, which can cut off the Jin water at any time, and force all the water flow into the Zhibo Canal into Taiyuan City.

Seeing the Sui army flag planted on the city wall from afar, knowing how much Zhiboqu threatened Taiyuan City, the Taiyuan army was of course worried, but Li Jiancheng looked up to the sky and sighed, and said: "Brother Ying Liangxian, are you really ruthless enough to flood Taiyuan?" For the land of a city, the victory of a war, and the hundreds of thousands of innocent people in the city, are you still the humble and polite Ying Liang brother who repaid grievances with virtue? ”

Yin Kaishan and Feng Li and other Li Jiancheng's henchmen were silent, Li Yuanji and Li Er's faces were expressionless, and they were also silent, although the other Li clans did not speak, but they all quietly went to see Li Shentong who was injured and went to the city to check the enemy's situation, Li Shen informed a group of relatives about their thoughts, hesitated for a while, and finally opened his mouth and said to Li Jiancheng: "Jiancheng Xian's nephew, Chen Yingliang has not yet attacked the city, he will first take the Fenshui Bridge, and occupy the Zhibo Canal, and the plan to divert water to irrigate the city is obvious. If that's the case, I wonder how you're going to deal with it, nephew? ”

"Hold on to it, of course." Li Jiancheng said without thinking about it: "As long as we find that the enemy has started to build a dam in Jinshui, then we will immediately block the entrance of the Zhibo Canal into the city, and also block the gates of Taiyuan, block the water with the city wall, and continue to fight against the enemy!" ”

"Then if Taiyuan City can't stop the flood and the water enters the city, then how should we deal with it?" Li Shentong asked.

"Plug the gap, stay on a high ground, and continue to defend the city!" Li Jiancheng replied categorically, and said: "The city is here!" The city is dead, the people are dead! ”

Hearing this, the faces of many people present couldn't help but change, and Li Shentong was also slightly surprised, he never expected Li Jiancheng's position to be so firm, and he pursed his lips before saying: "Virtuous nephew, you and Chen Yingliang are close friends, like brothers, even if you are in the match, you have to explain the future to each other and entrust your family, since you have such a friendship with him, then why don't you think about ...... and consider peace negotiations?" ”

Including Li Er, he couldn't help but feel a little faster heartbeat, and with everyone, they all focused their eyes on Li Jiancheng's face, but Li Jiancheng's answer made everyone dumbfounded, and Li Jiancheng turned out to look very strange and asked Li Shentong: "Uncle, what do you mean by this?" Let me make peace with Brother Ying Liangxian? Have you forgotten that Brother Ying Liangxian is my father-killing enemy? You told me to forget the revenge of my father's murder and bend my knees to the enemy who killed my father's enemy? ”

"Then you still call him Brother Ying Liangxian?" Li Shentong also asked dumbfounded.

"I call him Ying Liangxian because I am close friends with him, and I admire his talent and learning." Li Jiancheng replied solemnly: "But the revenge of killing his father is not shared, and the little nephew, as a son of man, must avenge his father." ”

Li Shentong was completely speechless, and finally once again determined that Li Jiancheng, who was gentle on the outside, was actually far more upright and stubborn than Li Er, who had a deep hatred for Chen Fuliang! And seeing Li Shentong's appearance, Li Jiancheng had already understood his intentions, so he said again: "Uncle, if you want to persuade the little nephew to ask for peace with Brother Ying Liangxian, then please don't open your mouth." Although the little nephew is not talented, he is not a person who is greedy for life and afraid of death, and there are people who dare to persuade the little nephew to seek peace, and the little nephew will never be spared. ”

Li Shentong was even more speechless, but Li Jiancheng still refused to give up, and turned to Yin Kaishan, Feng Li, Xie Shufang and other henchmen and generals and ordered: "From now on, give me to strictly guard the two cities in the east and west, and anyone who goes out of the city without permission to contact the enemy, no matter who it is, will be beheaded immediately!" Chop first and then play, don't report me! ”

"No!" Feng Li, Xie Shufang and other Li Jiancheng's cronies hugged their fists together, sang the promise in unison, and all of them had a firm attitude and a resolute expression. Li Jiancheng nodded, and arranged for people to closely monitor the movements of Zhiboqu, and then led a group of henchmen with different surnames to go to the city, leaving a group of Li clans in the city with sad faces and long sighs.

Seeing Li Shentong's deflated appearance and the sad faces of a group of relatives, Li Yuanji, who had already been moved by Chen Fuliang's surrender, was secretly happy in his heart, and hurried up to whisper with a group of cousins. After returning to the city, Li Er, who hugged Li Yuanji's thigh, rarely did not follow, nor did he bother to eavesdrop on the conversation of relatives, but walked to the arrow battlement on the inner side of the city wall, and looked at Li Jiancheng and the others who left the city and thought in their hearts, "I really underestimate this horseman, and he can still have such courage and determination, it seems that he would rather be besieged by the flood than surrender." What should I do? Do you change your position and join hands with him to defend Taiyuan, or do you just help the fourth brother with that straw bale? ”

"Wait a little longer." Li Er quickly made up his mind and said secretly: "If the fourth brother and uncle want to do it, I won't stop or participate, and it is estimated that they can't fight Li Jiancheng, who is a fool and a good man." If there is hope for Taiyuan City to be defended, I will help him defend it, if there is no hope of defending, help the fourth brother and them, and wait for the opportunity to make a comeback under the command of Chen Yingliang's traitors, it may not be hopeless. ”

…………

At the same time, the news that the soldiers of the Sui army successfully captured Zhiboqu was also reported to Chen Fuliang, although the war was going smoothly and gratifying, but Chen Fuliang, who had been hesitating whether to divert water to flood Taiyuan, did not have much joy, just nodded, and ordered to send grain and grass to the army stationed in Longshan, so that they could be stationed for a long time. However, Yuan Tiangang was overjoyed, and couldn't wait to say, "Your Highness, have you started to build the embankment?" The rainy season in the upper reaches of Fenshui is already starting gradually, and the sooner we build the embankment, the better it will be. ”

When he said this, Yuan Tiangang's tone was not only quite excited, but also had a strange look on his face, but unfortunately Chen Fuliang, who was having something on his mind, didn't notice this, just shook his head and said: "Don't worry, let's set up the camp first, and then hurry up to make some necessary siege weapons." By the way, how many shrimp toad cars have been built? The moat in Taiyuan is wide and deep, and it is necessary to build some precautions, as well as siege ladder trucks, which must also be prepared. ”

"No need to ......." Yuan Tiangang changed his words when he reached his lips, and said with a smile: "Your Highness, please rest assured, these things can't be mistaken, and Your Majesty guarantees to prepare enough for you to attack the city." ”

"That's good." Chen Fuliang nodded, then turned to Li Jing and Qu Tutong and said: "Uncle, old general Qu Tu, the offensive plan for the siege of the city by force is troublesome, get it out as soon as possible, and prepare enough siege weapons in advance if you need it." ”

Li Jing and Qu Tutong agreed together, and then Qu Tutong added very carefully: "Your Highness, why do you have to give priority to breaking the city by force? Isn't the tactic proposed by Yuan Shangshu quite convenient, and it can also allow countless soldiers to sacrifice ...... needlessly. ”

Qu Tutong's voice became smaller and smaller, because Chen Fuliang's face was getting more and more gloomy, and it was not until Qu Tutong completely shut up that Chen Fuliang said lightly: "What about the people in Taiyuan City?" Hundreds of thousands of innocent people, I have to be ruthless? ”

Qu Tutong was speechless, but Yuan Tiangang over there opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but after the triangular eyes turned, Yuan Tiangang changed his mind again, and said to Chen Fuliang: "Your Highness is compassionate and sympathetic to the people, and your subordinates admire it." Since His Highness insisted on refusing to flood the city, His Majesty would not be reluctant, and His Majesty still had a plan, perhaps to help His Highness break the city. ”

"What else does Yuan Shangshu have to plan?" Chen Fuhao asked curiously.

"Your Highness may wish to come to Taiyuan City in person, let Li Jiancheng come out to answer with you, and personally surrender the enemy." Yuan Tiangang suggested: "In this way, it is best to persuade Li Jiancheng to surrender in Kaicheng, if not, it can not only show His Highness's benevolence and righteousness, but also take the opportunity to impress Li Jiancheng's other subordinates and observe the reaction of Li Jiancheng's subordinates, so that His Highness can break the city with other clever strategies." ”

"Is that easy?" Chen Fuliang smiled dumbly, and said with a wry smile: "If Li Jiancheng could be recruited to surrender, I would have already contacted him, and he flooded me in the Bird Mouse Valley, and pulled Dou Jiande and Liu Wuzhou into the battlefield, where is it possible to surrender to me?" ”

Yuan Tiangang, who was full of bad water in his stomach, was anxious when he heard this, and was about to persuade him again, but Chen Fuliang changed his mind again, nodded and said: "But you can also give it a try, anyway, Brother Jiancheng and I haven't seen each other for almost three years, so it's good to meet him to catch up with the old days." Jingde, you arrange it immediately, and we will go to Taiyuan City together in a while. ”

Wei Chi Jingde hugged his fists and sang a promise, and strode out of the tent to arrange a team of entourage for Chen Fuliang, but Li Jing shouted: "General Wei Chi, bring more soldiers and horses, it is best to bring the newspaper." ”

Wei Chi Jingde turned his head to look at Chen Fuliang, and did not sing the promise again until Chen Fuliang nodded, and then Li Jing turned to Chen Fuliang again, and said: "Virtuous nephew, put on soft armor and beware of Li Erlang's hidden arrows, he has this guts and archery skills." ”

Since beating Chen Fuliang and proclaiming himself king, Li Jing used this title for the first time for Chen Fuliang, and after hearing this, Chen Fuliang not only did not reproach Li Jing for his disrespect, but on the contrary, there was a warm current gushing out of his heart, and he nodded and said: "Uncle don't worry, the little nephew will be careful." ”

Li Jing's jaw was in the first place, and Yuan Tiangang over there couldn't wait to ask to go to Taiyuan City with Chen Fuliang to surrender, Chen Fuliang didn't want to agree casually, Yuan Tiangang was overjoyed and quickly thanked him, and then lowered his head, the sinister smile of the previous day reappeared on the corner of Yuan Tiangang's mouth, and said in his heart: "Li Jiancheng, wait, see what kind of surprise I give you." ”