Even though Cheng Chubi's troops refused to retreat, due to the superior strength of Yuchi Gong's personal command and the impact of more than 10,000 elite soldiers with superior combat power, they could not resist for even half an hour and were completely defeated, suffering casualties. , defeated and captured hordes, and even the commander-in-chief Cheng Chubi was defeated and captured.
With the power of victory, the soldiers of Youhou Guards rushed through Chubi's camp and rushed upstream for a short distance. With the help of boats and rafts coming from Tongguan, they quickly crossed the Guangtong Canal and penetrated directly into the rear of Li Siwen's troops on the other side. .
At this time, Li Siwen returned to the camp, and the scouts also conveyed the news of Cheng Chubi's defeat...
Li Siwen suppressed the panic in his heart. He knew that since Yuchi Gong personally led the troops to launch the surprise attack, the purpose was definitely not just to destroy their two partial armies. Once they were allowed to drive straight into Chang'an, the situation would change drastically.
Not only did he lose his camp, but he was also responsible for the grave crime of leaving his post without permission.
I scolded all eighteen generations of Yuchi Gong's ancestors in my heart, "When do you think you can't make a surprise attack? It has to be when I just left the camp and went to Cheng Chubi?"
He knew he was cornered and had no choice but to fight to the death.
Immediately, he commanded his soldiers to form formations in the rain, and while resisting the rain of arrows from the enemy above the river, Juma and Luzhai were deployed in front of the formation.
When the rear formation was in chaos and he learned that Yuchi Gong had taken a detour to cross Guangtong Canal, he suddenly realized that Yuchi Gong was not giving him a way to survive...
With the escape route cut off, what else is there to say?
The only fear in his heart was firmly suppressed, and he hurriedly mobilized his troops to change the front formation into the rear formation, and the rear formation into the front formation, trying to stop Yuchi Gong's surprise attack. However, it is easy to change the military formation. How can those who resist horses and Luzhai easily move to the rear formation and set up defenses?
When the entire army was in chaos, Yuchi Gong had already led his light cavalry to charge...
Li Siwen also became fierce and shouted: "We bear the emperor's mandate. Even if we are buried here, we must stop the rebels. We must not flee and surrender. Brothers, follow me to kill the enemy!"
He was also brave, and he took the lead and led his troops to charge forward. Under his encouragement, the whole army showed no fear in the face of the enemy's cavalry charge, and marched forward to fight to the death.
However, as the same saying goes, the victory or defeat of a war is not just determined by the determination to die. When the enemy is strong enough and the tactics are absolutely correct, any courage will be in vain...
The light cavalry of the Right Houwei broke into the formation, causing the formation to be scattered and chaotic. They could not look at each other from head to tail, and failed to coordinate from left to right. In addition, arrows from the river were missing like rain and attacked both wings. The whole army collapsed quickly and was defeated in an instant.
When Li Siwen swung his sword and chopped an enemy soldier in front of him to the ground, he saw countless enemy troops coming up like a tide to surround him, and the troops behind him had been interspersed and cut into several residual formations, just waiting to be killed one by one. Encircled, suppressed and annihilated, he couldn't help but let out a long sigh, threw Hengdao to the ground, and shouted loudly: "Don't make unnecessary resistance, surrender quickly!"
He allowed the enemy to rush up and drag him off his horse, fall into the muddy water, and then pin him down.
When the soldiers on the left and right saw that he was captured, they had no choice but to dismount and surrender. Someone shouted "Li Siwen has surrendered". The soldiers who were fighting each other in the distance looked from a distance. When they saw that the flag had been toppled and the battle was calmed down, they also Equipment, hold your head and squat down.
Morale is something intangible and qualityless, but it does exist. It is extremely difficult to condense it, but it is easy to let it out...
…
In the heavy rain, the victorious Youhouwei did not delay much, leaving a group of soldiers to collect the prisoners and treat the wounded. The rest of the troops gathered and reorganized on the spot, and then set off one after another, walking on the muddy road towards Chang'an. And go.
Yuchi Gong took a bamboo hat and put it on his head, rode up to the captured Li Siwen, and looked down at him.
Although Li Siwen was pinned down in the muddy water, he still managed to raise his head, looked at Yuchi Gong on the horse, and said with a playful smile: "Since we have surrendered, don't you think you will be beheaded? At least, my nephew will call you uncle." "
Yuchi Gong's face remained as usual, and he said calmly: "You and I are each our own masters. Now that the outcome has been decided, shouldn't I kill you? Many of my subordinates have died at your hands."
Li Siwen's expression changed, and he forced a smile and said: "They say they are each their own master, but in fact they are not one family? Your Majesty and the King of Jin are brothers, and I am your nephew. Since the victory or defeat has been decided, why bother worrying about it."
He was sure that Yu Chigong would not kill him. After all, his father was still neutral until now. If his father was angry and fully supported Li Chengqian because of his death, how could Li Zhi have any chance?
However, when it was a matter of life and death, he didn't dare to be very sure.
After all, since the army was defeated, his life and death depended on Yuchi Gong's thoughts. What if this black-faced god lost his mind and went crazy?
So he could only endure the humiliation in shame, and had to put on a nonchalant expression on his face, begging for mercy with a nonchalant attitude.
After all, I didn’t dare to say a single harsh word at the moment, and I had to smile apologetically, which really showed no integrity...
"Ho!"
Yuchi Gong sneered and did not dismount. He continued to look down at Li Siwen who was pressed into the muddy water. His face seemed slightly disappointed. He shook his head and said calmly: "Since you know that I won't kill you, why not just pretend Be tougher, so that you can show off your integrity today that you don't care about death today? After all, you are still unsure, and you are afraid of death, so you don't dare to gamble with your head on my neck. Tsk, tsk, it seems that you are in the face of life and death. He talks and laughs happily, but in fact he is as timid as a mouse. Not only does he lose the prestige of your father, but he is also not as good as others."
Li Siwen trembled all over, his face was stiff, he opened his mouth to speak, but he pursed his lips to hold back. Under Yuchi Gong's burning eyes, he couldn't help but lower his head.
Those words mentioned above are nothing more. What does it mean to be ridiculed by someone like Yu Chigong? Just leave your life behind. But the last sentence pierced his heart like a thorn.
His father Li Ji was not only the number one person in the military, but also the number one prime minister and civil servant. He was the "number one person in the world" in both the military and political parties.
He himself had always looked down on his older brother who followed the rules, thinking that he could not inherit his father's power just because he was a commoner, and he was unwilling to do so. But what I did today, I am afraid that the reputation of being "greedy for life and afraid of death" will never escape. Not only has it failed to bring honor to the family, but it has also tarnished the lintel.
And the sentence "not as good as others" is undoubtedly comparing him with Cheng Chubi. It is obvious that after Cheng Chubi was defeated, he was either captured or killed, but he was not weak at all. In front of him, he was as solid as a rock.
And myself...
From now on, when we meet Cheng Chubi again, how can we have the dignity to call him brothers and be intimate with each other?
A feeling of regret grew and spread in his heart. If he had been tougher just now, maybe the situation would have been completely different.
When Yuchi Gong saw him hanging his head, he didn't want to talk too much with this junior. He waved his hand and said, "Send someone to escort him back to Tongguan. Take good care of him. Don't be slow to treat him."
"Here!"
The soldiers lifted the dejected Li Siwen out of the muddy water, tied his hands with ropes, and escorted him away.
Yuchi Gong glanced at Li Siwen's back, then turned his horse's head, raised his whip, and shouted loudly: "Follow me to attack Chang'an, and we will decide the world in one battle!"
"Attack Chang'an!"
"One battle will determine the world!"
Countless soldiers surrounded Yuchi Gong and ran wildly toward Chang'an in the pouring rain. Their morale was like a rainbow.
The swollen river in the Guangtong Canal is rolling and rushing. Countless boats, sampans, and even rafts carrying soldiers and equipment are moving upstream under the combined force of wooden oars and trackers, advancing on land and water side by side, with great momentum.
The troops were directed towards Chang'an.
*****
The night falls and the rain falls. The majestic Chang'an City is peaceful and quiet in the rain. The lights everywhere bloom in the wind and rain, dimly reflecting the halo of the lake. The flags on the city wall are wet by the rain and hang low against the flagpoles. Inside the city Groups of soldiers with helmets and armor were patrolling in the streets and alleys, and the sound of the watchman's banging was inexplicably melodious in the rain.
Hibiscus Garden, the residence of Queen Seondeok.
The lanterns hanging at the four corners of the embroidered building swayed slightly in the wind and rain. The bluestone floor wetted by rain reflected the reflection of Mo Lake. The rainwater from the roof rolled down the tiles from the dripping eaves and fell on the bluestone floor in front of the window. , the patter of drip, drip, drip.
Just like the rhythm in the building at this time...
After a long time, a soft moan sounded from the window that was obviously becoming more melodious due to suppression.
The rain has stopped inside the building, but the rain has not stopped outside.
On the dark bed, a white body trembled for a long time before slowly subsided. Supporting the bed with slender arms, he raised his upper body, fumbled for the fire break on the bedside, pulled off the cover and blew in, and a cluster of flames ignited. , lit the bedside candle.
The orange candlelight illuminates the surroundings, casting a halo on the fair skin, making it more hazy and delicate...
Passing a glass of warm water to Fang Jun next to him, his black cloud-like hair spread over his fair and smooth back, his slender waist like a bundle, his soft voice slightly hoarse: "Jin Famin has arrived in Chang'an with 'Hwarang' for a long time, why? I haven’t seen your transfer for a long time?”
Fang Jun drank the warm water in the cup in one gulp, placed the cup on the bedside, and raised his hand to touch Her Majesty the Queen's slender waist, but was slapped away by the Queen because she was ticklish...
He was not annoyed at all. He put his hands on the back of his head, calming down after the intense exercise, and said casually: "I have other plans for Jin Famin's 'Hwarang'. I told him not to worry, and to hide it carefully and not let others find it. However, Speaking of which, I'd rather I worry about it in vain and never need it."
Today, the situation in Chang'an is not as calm as it seems on the surface. Although Li Chengqian has successfully ascended the throne, and Li Zhi who is stationed in Tongguan is also far inferior to the number of troops that the central government can control, there is a group of people above the court and within the clan. An undercurrent is gathering and brewing, and it's unclear when it will surge.
Although the source of this undercurrent is not yet known, as the saying goes, "precaution will lead to failure, failure to do so will lead to failure." How could Fang Jun not be prepared in advance?