Traveling through the troubled times of Sui and Tang Dynasties

The year 620 and 621 alternated, and the Chinese New Year was approaching. After many years of homelessness, the people of Chang'an City, who fought countless battles, had enough food and clothing. Finally, they could live a peaceful year. However, the battlefield in the east was still in full swing.

Luo Cheng stood in front of the cowhide map in the center of the camp, holding a brush and drawing on the map.King Qin's plan has basically been realized - the Longmen in the south of Luoyang was captured by his cousin Qin Qiong, the two elder brothers Cheng You took Beiman Mountain in the north of Luoyang without any effort, and important military sites such as Luokou in Luocheng were also captured by Tang Dynasty. Occupy Shi Wanbao and others.

Although this strategy of besieging the city has only achieved initial results, Wang Shichong's Luoyang City has become an isolated city, and failure will happen sooner or later.

It's just that - Luo Cheng looked down at the letter on the corner of the table, and heaved a long sigh.

The letter was sent by my father from Beiping Mansion. In the letter, I said bluntly: The army has been besieging Luoyang for five months. Fearing that the emperor's imperial decree to withdraw troops will arrive soon, I hope my son will make plans early.

Luo Cheng frowned, withdrawing troops at this moment would be a failure, and he didn't know what decision the king of Qin would make. He knew that the king of Qin had enough courage, but the imperial edict could not be violated.

"General, general!" Along with repeated calls, Luo Yong lifted the curtains, and barged in directly without any regard for etiquette, with a smile on his face, "General, I'm back, guess what the emperor said?"

"Should the king of Qin continue to besiege Wang Shichong?" Luo Cheng asked with his eyes brightened.

Luo Yong was taken aback for a moment, and then he said a little unfairly: "How do you know? I just came back from King Qin's camp, how could you know about it earlier than me?"

As soon as Luo Cheng heard this, his worried heart finally fell to the ground, and his eyes suddenly turned into crescents: "I guessed the expression you just came in just now. If it is the intention of withdrawing troops, how can you be so happy?"

Luo Yong thought it was the same, so he didn't mind, and asked with a smile: "Then general, do you know why the emperor would force his ministers to change his mind and let His Highness King Qin continue to besiege Luoyang City?"

Luo Cheng shook his head. After reading his father's letter, he once thought that the emperor would definitely order to withdraw his troops this time. Who would have thought that the emperor would change his mind halfway through.

"Before I left, His Royal Highness King Qin specifically told me to thank you very much."

"Thank me for what?"

Luo Yongshen said mysteriously: "Do you know who finally made the emperor change his mind? The queen's nephew, Zuo Wuhou general Dou Kang, and some courtiers came together to advise and insist on the battle of Luoyang?"

Isn't Dou Kang the biological father of Princess Xiangyang's son-in-law, Dou Sheng?Luo Cheng had some eyebrows, but he wasn't sure: "It couldn't be Li Yuanji, could it?"

Luo Yong patted his head and shouted: "General, it turns out that you are not so dull, at least you can still feel the sincerity of His Highness King Qi towards you."

Luo Cheng thought it was weird how to say this, but he didn't go into details, he just asked the bottom line: "What's going on? Tell me, what does this have to do with Li Yuanji?"

"Last time, I don't know who said in the letter that if you don't pacify the world, you won't go to Bingzhou."

"It's just that the world is not peaceful every day. What am I going to do in Bingzhou? Can I feel at ease if I go walking and hunting with him? Besides, even if the world is in peace, when the emperor seals the Beiping mansion, I won't be able to do it." Go to Bingzhou."

Luo Yong's eyes widened: "Hey, general, you can do it, you are playing a trick on His Highness Qi Wang, but His Highness Qi is watching you eagerly and hurrying back to be his Bingzhou Commander-in-Chief, otherwise, Why did he go to such lengths to support King Qin's siege of Luoyang in front of the emperor? The world has been pacified earlier, so you can go to Bingzhou and become the governor for him."

"I'm not kidding him. I clearly said in my letter last time that the world is not in peace, and I, Luo Cheng, will not delay for a moment. I also didn't say what will happen after the peace..." Luo Cheng's voice became smaller and smaller, it was really true A little guilty, in fact, Li Yuanjifei asked him to be the commander-in-chief of the army and sit on an equal footing with him. He also said that the emperor always felt a little uncomfortable under his feet. It was different in Bingzhou. Bingzhou was his base camp. Yes, Luo Cheng couldn't entangle him, so he said "The world is not level, I dare not delay for a moment" perfunctory. Unexpectedly, Li Yuanji understood that if the world was level, he would go back to Bingzhou with him as the commander-in-chief ...

"Then you didn't say that even if the world is in peace, you still won't go to Bingzhou."

"Then I'm not... Hey, that's not right! How do you know the contents of my letter to Li Yuanji?" Luo Yong was asking him a question, but now he had a flash of inspiration and finally figured out something was wrong.

"Ah, ah? Ah..." Luo Yong couldn't turn his head for a while, and said to himself, I just want to see what new progress you two have, letters are so frequent, but these words must never be said, my own general It seems that he still doesn't understand His Royal Highness Qi's little thoughts.

Fortunately, Yan Lang hurriedly pulled Luo Yong aside, and added, "General, Luo Yong is very interested in the discussions between you and His Royal Highness Qi Wang about the subtle hidden weapons of organs, but he is a layman, so let me ask you. I'm sorry, so sometimes, I can't help but take it apart and take a look... But I promise, General, he only read three or four of them, all of them, all of them! I looked at him."

Luo Cheng was furious: "You still read three or four letters?! Luo Yong, you are so courageous that you dare to open my letters! Get the hell out of here..."

"General!"

"But it's okay to come. From tomorrow onwards, you can accompany me to the school training ground to fight. Yan Lang, go down and tell the soldiers of Yanyun Jingqi, from tomorrow onwards, I will let them see what it means to control the enemy with one move." .”

Immediately, a wailing burst out from the opposite side: "General!"

In fact, it's not a big deal. Luo Yong grew up with him and trained together. They can be regarded as close brothers, and there are almost no secrets between them.The father, queen, mother and concubine also regarded him as a half-son. In the past, they would not hide any letters from his family, and they would always bring him greetings from the father, queen, mother and concubine, so it was really nothing to read the letters.

But it's different now, just now Luo Cheng was forced to be speechless by him, now he can take this opportunity to fix him up, Luo Cheng suppressed his smile, still with a straight face: "Luo Yong, you'll be fine tomorrow morning Go to the training ground and wait for me, that's it, you guys go down." After saying that, he turned around and gave the two of them a big back.

The two of you looked at me and I looked at you, so they had no choice but to accept the order, and you pushed me back: "It's all you, you idiot, what are you talking about? Do you know how to talk? The more you talk, the more you talk." The more wrong it is."

Yan Lang said innocently: "Then I also want to help you..."

"The more you help, the more busy you are. I don't know whether you are helping me or hurting me... In the future, you'd better let me fend for myself."

"Chief of the cavalry guard..." Yan Lang looked helpless.

"Get out! I'm going to be beaten tomorrow, so I have to wash up and go to bed early today."

"Ah, by the way, I almost forgot about that person." Luo Yong was having a quarrel with Yan Lang, and suddenly remembered that he didn't come back alone this time, and he brought accessories, "General, eight hundred miles The soldiers delivering the parcel are still outside."

Luo Cheng was stunned: "Why did you bring the messenger back?"

"You think I want to, His Royal Highness King Qi has brought you something."

"Let him in."

The soldier carrying the letter walked into the big tent, shook off the coldness on his body, and grinned: "General Luo, this time it's not a letter."

"It's not a letter?" Luo Cheng immediately understood, "Oh, what kind of subtle hidden weapon? Show me."

"General Luo, this time it's not a hidden weapon."

Luo Cheng blinked, a little dazed: "What is that?"

The soldier who sent the message looked out: "I'll go and invite him in."

Luo deliberately said who else?

The curtain was lifted, and a strange middle-aged man who was cowering in the cold was invited into the tent.

Luo Cheng looked at the little soldier who sent the letter before, and the little soldier knew it well, lowered his head and said unhurriedly: "General Luo, isn't it the Chinese New Year, this battle is not over so soon, the general is afraid that he will be here It’s the Chinese New Year in the camp, and the camp is tough. One day, His Royal Highness Qi Wang was eating out, and by chance this chef was best at making pastries and sweets. They were indeed delicious, but His Royal Highness Qi himself didn’t like sweets. Remembering that General Luo seemed to like it very much, so I ordered the young man to send it to General Luo."

Luo Cheng opened his mouth, he really didn't want to refuse...

Luo Yong smiled unkindly at the side: "I've heard that people give all kinds of gifts during the New Year, but I have never heard of giving a rough-skinned man at the root of the New Year."

The little soldier who delivered the letter didn't dare to say too much, just bowed his head and waited for the order.

Luo Cheng, who was silent for a while, suddenly said: "Even if he stays, it's useless, there are no materials in the barracks."

"Small ones, I brought all the small ones. His Royal Highness King Qi sent someone to bring them, but the speed is not as fast as the horses, a little slower, but it is estimated that the evening will come." Luo Cheng smiled flatteringly.

Luo Cheng was at a loss for words.

Luo Yong couldn't help laughing: "Since they're all here, let's stay here. If you are sent back again, His Royal Highness Qi Wang will not please you. General, what do you think?"

Luo Cheng thought about it. Given Li Yuanji's violent temperament, he might not be angry with him, but the chef who was sent back would definitely suffer, so he nodded.

The chef's eyes lit up, and he acted quickly: "Yes, yes, the younger one will go down and prepare. As soon as the ingredients arrive, the younger one will make pearl and emerald glutinous rice balls for the general, and the younger one will also make green rice porridge and steamed cheese with sugar." , steamed chestnut powder cake with sweet-scented osmanthus sugar, ruyi cake, lotus leaf soup, plum blossom cake, qiqiao snacks, flowers blooming and rich... I can make all the desserts that the general can name."

When Luo Yong saw that his master's eyes were getting brighter and he couldn't help nodding like a child, he couldn't help laughing, thinking that Li Yuanji's gift was really on point.

This year, the military camp of the Luo family army is the best among several camps. Not to mention that Li Yuan, who is far away in Chang'an City, has been continuously transporting supplies. They are all good things, enough for the soldiers of the Luo family army to be wiped out with his general.

In February of the following year, the siege of Luoyang became more and more urgent. The Tang army won many battles and locked Wang Shichong firmly in Luoyang City. Also suffered heavy losses.

When Wang Shichong was at a loss, Dou Jiande finally led a so-called 30 army to help after going through the deployment of troops.

Dou Jiande's army went down to Guanzhou (Zhengzhou, Henan) and Xingyang, planning to assist Luoyang in the west.

Under such an urgent situation, Li Shimin's siege of Luoyang may become the two kings of Dou in an instant to encircle and suppress the Tang army.At the critical juncture, Li Shimin recruited good ministers and generals to discuss strategies together.

In the end, it was unanimously determined: Wang Shichong occupied Luoyang City. Although he had excellent soldiers, the difficulty lay in the lack of food and grass;If these two people get together and Dou Jiande supplies Wang Shichong with food and grass, then the Tang army will be attacked from both sides, which is very unfavorable to Li Tang.Therefore, under the discussion of everyone, Li Shimin decided to divide his troops to besiege the isolated city of Luoyang. It's self-defeating.

In this way, the most crucial part of the whole plan emerged. Who would occupy the Hulao Pass and be able to contain Dou Jiande's army?

Li Shimin volunteered to go there, but was stopped by his counselors. This Dou Jiande has an army of 30. If the Hulao Pass is not defeated, or if it is defeated, the Tang army loses to Dou Jiande's army. If something happens to His Royal Highness, they are Cutting off the head is not enough apology.

For a while, there were not a few generals recommended by Mao Sui, but Li Shimin was not at ease. After all, the force was limited to stop him this time, and he could not send many troops. What do you say?Then the hard work of the past few months will be in vain.The general of the Eastern Expedition went through his head over and over again, and finally reminded Li Shimin of a person he could absolutely trust.

When Luo Cheng received Li Shimin's letter, he didn't dare to delay for a moment. Without further ado, he ordered more than [-] soldiers from Yanyun Jingqi, and went to Hulao Pass with Luo Yong and others. Cijian was guarded by Yan Lang.

Luo Cheng took advantage of the time when Dou Jiande's army was exhausted after a long journey, and captured Hulao Pass in one fell swoop, and firmly grasped the main road to Luoyang westward.

Dou Jiande's army had no choice but to stop at Hulao Pass, claiming that 30 troops were stationed below the city, and formed a pattern of facing Hulao Pass led by Luo Cheng, which was guarded by only [-] Luo family Yanyun Jingqi, to show a decisive battle.

But at this moment, in the hall of Prince Qi's Mansion in Bingzhou, Shanxi, Li Yuanji swept all the antique vases on the table to the ground, making a piercing noise.

"Li Shimin, bastard! How the hell do I have such a tricky brother like a fox?! I agreed to win over the officials and persuade my father to let him continue to encircle and suppress Wang Shichong. He promised me to transfer Luo Cheng to a corner and settle him down. Let him go to the front line. He turned around, not only let him go to the battlefield, but also sent him to guard Hulao Pass, trying to contain Dou Jiande's 30 troops!" Li Yuanji was so angry that he smashed whatever he saw, The people below trembled, for fear that he would whip them if he picked up the whip.

Only Li An had the courage to step forward and said, "My lord, General Luo is so powerful, maybe he can come back with a big victory? Beat Dou Jiande's army to pieces."

"Luo Hua Liu Shui, you are big, you know what a fart. This time, Luo Cheng only brought a total of more than 30 soldiers to go. At this moment, Cijian wants to prevent Wang Shichong from breaking through. He must not bring too many soldiers to guard the tiger. Prison pass, even if he takes all [-] soldiers to guard Hulao pass, then Dou Jiande has [-] troops, can he stop it?"

The more Li Yuanji talked, the more worried he became, and the more anxious his heart became. He paced back and forth, and finally turned around and walked out, saying as he walked, "Li An, gather all the troops in the city for me. Follow me to Hulao Pass."

"My lord, my lord...that's not okay! The emperor asked you to guard Bingzhou and Chang'an City well. If something happens to you, it will be a big deal! The emperor must have my head... ..."

As soon as Li Yuanji turned around, he drew out his dagger and put it on Li An's neck. With a livid face, he gritted his teeth and said, "What's the matter, I'll take it with all my strength. If you don't go, I'll take your head right now. Hurry up—"