Chapter 1994: Withdraw from Sizhou
After some cryptic questioning, Jia Xu learned that Li Shimin had actually deployed the Dragon Gate Formation, and Zhang Liao had even destroyed the Dragon Gate Formation.
Jia Xu gave Zhang Liao a thumbs up in his heart and thought to himself: He is indeed the lord's favorite general, and he even defeated such a complex formation as the Dragon Gate Formation.
Jia Xu thought it was Zhang Liao who broke the formation, but Zhang Liao said: "Thank you, the military advisor, for teaching me the method of breaking the formation, otherwise Zhang Liao would not be able to break the Longmen Formation."
Jia Xu said again: "??"
When did I teach you how to break the formation? Why don’t I know it myself?
Jia Xu didn't even know that Li Shimin would meet the Longmen Formation, so how could he predict it and give Zhang Liao a way to break the formation in advance?
Seeing Jia Xu's expression, Xu Huang couldn't help but murmured: "Is it possible that the military advisor does not have the second level of true meaning? Is it because you, Wen Yuan, are overthinking it?"
"impossible."
Zhang Liao flatly denied it, then looked at Jia Xu and said with a smile: "There is no need for the military advisor to test the general. The 'soldiers are valuable and the speed' in your weapon not only reminds the general to fight quickly, but also tells him how to break the formation."
As long as the troops are mobilized fast enough, so fast that Li Shimin cannot react, they will be able to break the Longmen Formation.
Wen Yuan used this method to crack the Longmen Formation. The military advisor was truly a god. "
"??"
Jia Xu's eyes looked at Zhang Liao, which became a little complicated.
Can this be used to crack the Dragon Gate Formation? This kid's luck must be too good.
Although Jia Xu was shocked in his heart by Zhang Liao's mistake, on the surface he looked like a teachable child and said with a slight smile: "General Zhang Liao, you have a good understanding and can understand my deep meaning. If it were any other, you would be able to do it." Not necessarily, so this is not my fault."
When Zhang Liao heard this, he respected Jia Xu even more in his heart. He clearly did not take credit for his merits. The military advisor's ideological realm and moral character are so high that ordinary people of our generation simply cannot match them.
It's ridiculous that some men of letters often criticize military advisors with words and writings, but they don't know that military advisors don't care at all.
As soon as he thought of this, Zhang Liao immediately said: "No, no, no, it's all the result of the military advisor..."
"No, it's the general's credit..."
"No no no..."
Seeing the two people being humble to each other, Xu Huang felt awkward in his heart, but he couldn't tell what it was.
After chatting with Jia Xu for a while, Zhang Liao led his troops into the city to rest, but was shocked by what he saw later.
There are collapsed houses everywhere in Luoyang City, and many people are sad. The once prosperous Xuanwu Street is now in ruins...
Is this really Luoyang City, the imperial capital?
This was not the case before he left Luoyang. What kind of war did he go through to make Luoyang, the most majestic city in the world, turn into the dilapidated appearance it is now?
It seems that this third battle of Luoyang is far from easy as he imagined!
Zhang Liao led his army into the city to rest for only three days. Li Jing's Hebei Army's vanguard had already arrived in Luoyang, and the main force was only one day's journey from Luoyang.
After some discussion, Zhang Liao and Jia Xu decided to lead the cavalry and infantry out of the city and march westward. Wasiu Chinese
Now that the main army has arrived, and Zhao Yun's 30,000 cavalry are rapidly approaching from the north, it is time to deal with the remaining Tang army as well.
Zhang Liao's troops had just entered Hongnong County when they received news that shocked him.
The Tang army actually gave up the victory. Thirty thousand cavalry and 50,000 infantry, a total of 80,000 troops, all withdrew towards Tongguan.
The news that the Tang army had completely withdrawn from Sizhou not only shocked Zhang Liao and other generals, but also Li Jing and Han Xin, who were all shocked by Li Shimin's courage to cut off the tail and seek perfection.
You know, the Tang army dispatched 150,000 troops, divided into two groups, attacking Nanyang and Hangu Pass in order to take control of Sizhou. After several months of fighting, only 80,000 troops were left.
Now we have finally broken through Hangu Pass, entered Sizhou, and secured a large territory in Hongnong and Hanoi counties. If we give up now, wouldn't all the previous efforts and sacrifices be in vain? The 70,000-strong army died in vain.
After months of exhausting fighting, so many casualties, and nothing left in the end, could Li Shimin really accept this result?
"Li Shimin, the king of the Tang Dynasty, must be one of the biggest obstacles to my lord's unification of the world." Li Jing said with a serious face.
Han Xin and Guo Jia also nodded in agreement. Compared with Li Shimin's performance, the other princes were indeed much inferior.
Li Jing naturally did not want Li Shimin to withdraw to Guanzhong. After all, Tongguan was a majestic pass. Even if he had an army of 200,000, he might not be able to break it, not to mention that he would not be able to attack Tongguan by force.
The decisive battle in Jingbei was imminent, and it was impossible for Li Jing to consume his limited troops in an infinite siege.
In addition, although Li Shimin withdrew from Sizhou, he still had 80,000 troops and could come back at any time.
Li Tang held Tongguan, he could advance, attack, retreat or defend.
However, the Qin army lost Hangu Pass. Sizhou's perfect defense line had been broken. Facing Li Tang to the west, it was destined to be passively beaten.
Fortunately, Qin's national power far surpassed that of Tang. Even if the Tang army attacked, they would not be able to swallow up Sizhou's appetite, but this would definitely contain a lot of Qin's troops.
If you want to be prepared for a sudden attack by the Tang State, you must leave at least 150,000 troops to protect Sizhou from being in danger again.
But if this is the case, the number of troops supporting Jingbei will be greatly reduced.
Based on this consideration, Li Jing decided to hold back Li Shimin and prevent him from returning to Guanzhong, no matter what the cost.
Li Jing adopted Guo Jia's strategy and ordered Zhang Liao to lead all the cavalry to attack, making sure to catch up with the Tang army as quickly as possible.
Hou Feige sent a letter to Gongsun Yan and Tan Daoji on the front line, ordering them to lead Ye Wang and the defenders of Yiyang City to attack and delay the Tang army as much as possible.
Finally, the flying pigeon sent a message to Zhao Yun in the north, ordering him to speed up his march and must arrive before the Tang army retreated to Tongguan to block the Tang army's return.
Li Jing used all three methods in parallel to prevent the Tang army from escaping Sizhou. What he didn't expect was that he had Guo Jiaji and Li Shimin also had a wall ladder.
Both Gongsun Yan and Tan Daoji were infantry. Li Shimin first used cavalry to repel them, but instead of pursuing the victory, he set fire to the forest to block the Qin army's pursuit.
Zhang Liao, who was catching up, was blocked by the fire, and he didn't know when the fire would extinguish, so he could only go around, which gave the Tang army's infantry time to withdraw.
The fire continued to burn for seven days. Zhang Liao finally arrived at the old site of Hangu Pass after detouring for five days. Zhao Yun's 30,000 Hetao cavalry had also arrived one day ago. Unfortunately, they arrived a step too late. All the Tang army's infantry had already withdrawn. Lead to.
Zhao Yun's 30,000 cavalry chased him under the starry night. When they reached Tongguan, all the Tang army's cavalry had also returned to Tongguan.
Zhao Yun had no choice but to lead his army back to Sizhou, and happened to run into Zhang Liao who was chasing him.
The two cavalry generals looked at each other speechlessly and could only lead their troops back and report to Li Jing.
After receiving the news, Li Jing looked up to the sky and sighed: "God will not destroy Li Tang."
