At the end of the Sui Dynasty and the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, warlords all over the world were fighting each other and killing each other. However, it was a little different from other chaotic times. The famous ministers and generals with high status were often not killed, but were surrendered or captured, and were released after changing their families or being unyielding.
This is closely related to the popularity of aristocratic families in the world. Over time, it has even become an unspoken rule.
There are too many similar examples. For example, Li Shentong and Li Shiji were defeated in Hebei, and Princess Tong'an was captured by Dou Jiande, but they were eventually released to Chang'an.
For example, brothers Xue Wanche and Xue Wanjun were defeated and captured alive by Liu Heitai in Hebei. Although their hair was cut off and humiliated, they were still released to Youzhou.
Even similar examples occurred between the Tang Dynasty and the Turks. Changsun Shunde and Zheng Yuanxuan were once captured by the Turks, but in the end the two sides exchanged hostages and returned to China alive.
Therefore, although Li Shenfu was panicked and gnashed his teeth in hatred, he was not desperate... Now that the Turks were in civil strife, would Master Liang dare to kill himself, the King of Xiangyi, and completely offend the Tang Dynasty that had already unified the world?
What makes Li Shenfu even more puzzled is that the Turks are currently in civil strife. It is said that Jieli Khan has gone to war with the Turks, but how can Liang Shidu, a dog raised by the Turks, dare to suddenly bite him?
The battle has come to an end, and the remaining five or six hundred Tang troops retreated slowly, watching warily at the enemy troops who were retreating slightly. However, Li Shenfu unexpectedly discovered that there was no messenger to persuade them to surrender, and there was not even a shout out in front of the formation.
Surrounded by torches, the majestic Master Liang saw such a great victory, but still frowned. He knew that it was not difficult to defeat Xiangyi King Li Shenfu, but what was difficult was that he was likely to encounter his old enemy Duan Decao next.
The thought of Duan Decao made Master Liang itchy. From the second year of Wude to the seventh year of Wude, he never got any advantage from that fellow. He was even killed several times and had to flee.
This time, revenge must be avenged!
"Suo Zhou, with a thousand and five cavalry, must capture them alive." Master Liang turned his horse's head and looked at an old man with white hair and beard next to him, "Jihu's soldiers were divided into two groups, each with two thousand cavalry, heading eastward. From the southwest, we will go all the way to the west to make noise among the various ministries, and I will lead my army to attack the front of Lingzhou."
Liang Shidu planned to attack Lingzhou this time. In fact, he had no choice. On the one hand, when the Tang Dynasty established the Lingzhou Road Marching General Office, it was bound to use troops in the northwest. The target was nothing more than the Turks. And now, Zheng Huan, who is fighting among the Turks, Liang Everyone felt that they were likely to become the target of the Tang army.
On the other hand, there was a severe cold in the north at the end of last year. The Liang Kingdom in Liangshidu really couldn't hold on any longer. There was no supply, and there was not enough food and grass... If you don't want to see your subordinates rebel, going out to plunder is the best choice.
It's almost like transferring the conflict to the outside world... Although Master Liang didn't understand this principle, he was self-taught. In fact, unlike Liu Wuzhou and Dou Jiande, who came from wealthy rural families, Master Liang was a descendant of an official family.
Liang Shidu's family has been an official and governor since the generation of Emperor Gaozu. During this period, many people were awarded titles. Liang Shidu's biological father died early. He was raised by his father, Liang Bi, who was a famous official in the Sui Dynasty and served as the Ministry of Punishment. Shangshu, the title of Marquis of Handan County.
In early April, when Li Shenfu sent an envoy to recruit the grassland tribes to move south, Liang Shidu began to make preparations. Legend has it that the Jihu tribe was originally a branch of the Xiongnu. They even established a country during the Northern Wei and Northern Qi Dynasties, but they were soon eliminated. The Northern Qi Dynasty was wiped out, and the remaining troops fled to the west, and later became attached to the Western Turks.
However, last year, there was civil strife in the Western Turks, and the Jihu clan was forced to move eastward. It happened to catch up with the civil strife in the Eastern Turks, and at the end of the year, they were hit by a heavy snow that covered the sky. They were severely damaged. In the end, the leader Liu Nu chose to hide. Attached to Liang Shidu.
Under Liang Shidu's plan, Liu Nücheng sent her tribe to rebel and lured Li Shenfu out, and the battle was successful.
Marching at night, the cavalry holding torches swept toward the west and southwest like fire dragons. The thunderous sound of horse hooves resounded throughout the world, and Master Liang had a look of deep worry on his face.
This time sending troops is really a big risk, but if they can capture Lingzhou, or even Huizhou, Yuanzhou... Jieli Khan and Tuli Khan are not fools, they will probably give up and make peace and send a large army. Come to help.
But what Master Liang didn't expect was that what surprised him was that Lingzhou today was like a woman with a half-hearted mind, and had no ability to resist.
An hour later, Liang Shidu's brows relaxed completely.
At dusk on June 19, Li Shenfu, King of Xiangyi, the commander-in-chief of Lingzhou Road’s march, rashly sent out troops and almost wiped out the entire army. Duan Decao, the deputy commander-in-chief of Pingyuan County, did not expect that Liang Division would attack Lingzhou in a few years. After Li Shenfu led his troops to chase the enemy and heard nothing more, he immediately led his troops to come for reinforcements.
But what Duan Decao didn't expect was that he would be greeted by an overwhelming enemy cavalry at night.
Lingzhou Road has more than 10,000 troops, but they still need to leave troops to garrison various cities. The mobile troops that can be mobilized are not too many. Duan Decao led 2,000 cavalry and 2,000 infantry to come to the rescue, but he faced Liang Division An army of 8,000 soldiers led by Du Qin.
In the previous years of war in Yanzhou, Duan Decao often held out and defeated the enemy's spirit before attacking from the flank to win, but this time he failed.
When the battle between the two sides was in full swing, Jihu Marshal Liu Nu, who had married in hiding, appeared on the flank with 3,000 cavalry, which directly led to the collapse of the Tang army. All Liang divisions broke into the formation, and the Tang army fled in all directions. Duan Decao only escaped with his life.
Liang Shidu and Liu Nucheng led their troops to pursue them relentlessly, defeating Anjing County and Lingwu County overnight. By daybreak, two-thirds of the entire Lingzhou had fallen.
Liang Shidu has nearly 10,000 troops, and the Jihu clan has sent 6,000 cavalry. Together with the incited tribesmen, the total strength exceeds 20,000. With the Lingzhou army mostly destroyed, they have been temporarily defeated. There is no opponent.
"What?" Master Liang's expression changed slightly outside the gate of Lingwu County, staring at his cousin Liang Luoren who had just arrived, "Is this really so?"
"It's certain." Liang Luoren whispered excitedly: "The Emperor of Tang and the King of Qin are both here, and there should be some prime ministers and assistants as well."
Master Liang held hands with each other and looked quite struggling. Li Yuan was actually in Renshou Palace.
Renshou Palace is located in Longzhou, not too far from Lingzhou. The cavalry can attack and reach it within three days. But the problem is that Longzhou is on the flank of Jingzhao. Li Yuan can turn back to Chang'an at any time... Can he still pursue and kill him? Going to Chang'an?
Can you do what Xue Ju, Xue Rengao, Liu Wuzhou, and Song Jingang didn't do back then?
But soon, Master Liang made up his mind and "urged all the troops to go south and plunder Huizhou and Yuanzhou."
After a pause, Master Liang stared at his cousin Liang Luoren, "You personally lead two thousand elite troops from Yuanzhou and Jingzhou south to attack Renshou Palace."
The reason for the determination is simple. It may not be necessary to kill Li Yuan, but as long as Li Yuan is forced to escape and then publicized, the people in Guanzhong will definitely be unstable and there will be chaos.
As far as the current situation is concerned, the chaos in Guanzhong is not a bad thing for him.
(End of chapter)
