Qin Huaiyu wanted to ask again, but Xiao Yannian got off his horse and said with a smile: "Let's go! Let's take a look on the mountain ridge."
He turned back and shouted to the soldiers: "Everyone, wait for me in the woods, I will be back soon!"
He quickly ran towards the mountain. Qin Huaiyu also got off his horse and said, "Captain, wait for me!"
The two of them ran towards the mountain ridge one after another. The Loess Plateau during the Sui and Tang Dynasties had not been over-deforestation. Dense woods could be seen everywhere. There was also a lush forest growing on the mountain ridge they were going to. From a high position, they could see more clearly. I saw the situation of Jinsuoguan.
Xiao Yannian stared for a moment, turned around and smiled at Qin Huaiyu: "Did you find anything?"
Qin Huaiyu frowned, "It seems that the pass is not big?"
"The pass is indeed not big and can only accommodate three thousand people at most, but that's not the problem."
Xiao Yannian pointed at a mountain that curved like a snake close to Jinsuoguan and said: "That hill is only a dozen feet high. If you capture it and shoot arrows down, or smash it with huge rocks and burn it with kerosene, what do you think of Jinsuoguan?" Can you still hold the pass?"
Qin Huaiyu looked at it for a moment. He found that there was also a wooden pagoda on the mountain, and said, "It seems that someone is already stationed on the top of the mountain."
"That's just a sentry tower, not a real garrison."
Xiao Yannian was worried that once they went back to report, the Tang army would station more troops on the mountains, making his information wrong. He thought for a while and said: "Leave two brothers here to guard, and we will divide the troops into two groups. Go back all the way to report, go all the way over the mountains, and continue to search for information to the south."
Having said this, Xiao Yannian patted Qin Huaiyu on the shoulder. "You take the two of them back to report, and I will take the brothers to continue southward to explore the information."
Qin Huaiyu bit his lip, "I'll go with Brother Xiao and let the others go back to report the news."
Xiao Yannian shook his head, "You have to do things independently. You can't always follow me. Go back and report the news, and then ask for orders from His Highness to see what tasks His Highness can give you."
"I understand, I'll go back now."
Qin Huaiyu bowed and saluted. Running down the mountain, Xiao Yannian watched Qin Huaiyu get on his horse and leave with a few people. Xiao Yannian always had some complicated emotions in his heart. Qin Huaiyu had a high-ranking father to rely on and had a bright future, but he could only rely on struggle and had no support at all. ,well! Men should strengthen themselves!
Xiao Yannian cheered up. Looking further south, I wonder if I can go deep into the hinterland of Guanzhong
At this time, the Sui army's main camp of 150,000 troops had moved south from Fushi County, Yan'an County to Luojiao County, Shang County. The army was deployed in a wilderness ten miles south of Luojiao County, located on the west bank of Luoshui River. The terrain here is open and the Sui army's sentry tower can overlook twenty miles away. With abundant water resources, it is very suitable for camping.
The Sui army adopted a step-by-step strategy, that is, every time they went south, they would formally build a camp and adopt a board-wall structure. A large camp was built like a copper wall and an iron wall. The 150,000 troops occupied an area of ??about 40 miles. The camp was so majestic that the edges could not be seen at a glance.
Yang Yuanqing arrived at the Guan Nei Dao Camp three days ago. According to his deployment, he will serve as the commander-in-chief of this decisive battle and fully command the attack on Guanzhong from all four directions. At the same time, he was also the commander-in-chief of the main force of the Northern Front Army, with Qin Qiong and Luo Shixin as his left and right lieutenants.
At this time, 120,000 shi of grain and 500,000 sheep had been transported to the main camp of the Sui army. The food was gradually sufficient, but how to defeat Guanzhong. Yang Yuanqing¡¯s unified deployment is also needed.
There is also a huge sand table two feet wide and three feet long in the Chinese army's tent. Several officers have placed white flags marking the number of Tang troops on the sand table based on the intelligence sent by scouts from various places.
Beside the sand table, Yang Yuanqing was discussing the offensive strategy of the Northern Front Campaign with more than a dozen generals. He pointed at Jingshui Road with a wooden pole: "From the information currently available, Li Shimin's main force is south of Qianshuiyuan, Beidi County, Xinping County To the north, there are about 50,000 people, the last elite of the Tang army. Among these 50,000 people there are 20,000 cavalry, so to deal with this army, we must also use elites. I will lead 80,000 elites to confront Li Shimin personally."
Qin Qiong next to him frowned and said, "Your Highness, we have an army of 150,000. Why did Your Highness only use 80,000 troops to fight against Li Shimin's forces? Isn't it a bit careless?"
Yang Yuanqing smiled slightly, "There is a saying in the art of war. What is real is illusory, and what is fictitious is real. In the name of commander-in-chief, I led 80,000 troops to attack the main force of the Tang Army. It seems to be the main battlefield. In fact, it is not. The real main battlefield should be in the east. noodle."
Yang Yuanqing pointed at the Tongguan and Pujinguan areas with a wooden pole, "The Tang army in this area only has 30,000 troops for defense, which is very weak. Their only reliance is the danger of Tongguan and Pujinguan, so we must find a way to break the opponent's advantage." , General Qin, do you understand what I mean?"
??Qin Qiong thought for a while and seemed to understand what Yang Yuanqing meant, "Your Highness is saying that we will also send out an army, go south along the Luoshui River, enter Fengyi County, and kill after Pujin Pass and Tongguan Pass?"
Yang Yuanqing smiled and nodded, "That's exactly what I mean. The reason why I said that the east is the main battlefield is that I plan to drop 150,000 troops on the eastern front, defeat Li Shentong's 30,000 troops in a lightning battle, and take the lead from If the eastern front is broken through, Chang'an will be in danger, and Li Shimin's northern front will no longer be able to confront me, and we will take the initiative in the war."
"Great idea!"
Luo Shixin clapped his hands and praised, "Your Highness uses your own strengths to attack the enemy's weaknesses. The Tang Army's weakest point is on the eastern front. Breaking through the enemy's weakest point is the brilliance of a decisive battle."
"You're flattering me again."
Yang Yuanqing smiled and knocked Luo Shixin with a wooden pole, and then said to everyone: "This is actually the consequences of the Tang Army's factional line. Guandong has always been Li Jiancheng's territory, and was later taken over by Li Shentong, but Li Shentong and Li Shimin were killed by Li Shenfu. There was a deep conflict over his death. Li Shentong always believed that Li Shimin was unwilling to send troops to assist Huining County, which led to Li Shenfu's tragic death.
So when Li Shimin deployed the army this time, although he sent 20,000 troops to the Eastern Front to assist, the 20,000 troops were not his main force. They were the troops temporarily recruited when I launched a surprise attack on Chang'an last year. After several months of training, only If we can barely form an army, the defense on the Eastern Front will become very weak. As long as we break through the Eastern Front, the overall situation in Guanzhong will be decided. "
Having said this, Yang Yuanqing turned his eyes to Qin Qiong. Qin Qiong understood what he meant and nodded.
"Okay! General Qin will lead 50,000 troops, take the Luoshui Road, enter Feng Yi County, and take Li Shentong's retreat."
Luo Shixin was a little anxious, "Your Highness, if there are still 20,000 troops, leave it to me! I will be the forward and attack Qianshuiyuan."
Yang Yuanqing smiled, "I have my own use for the 20,000 troops, but you have to be the vanguard. There is your most anticipated opponent in Qianshuiyuan."
Luo Shixin understood what Yang Yuanqing meant, and his eyes suddenly lit up
As night fell, the lights in the Chinese army's tent were bright. Yang Yuanqing still stood in front of the sand table and was silent in thought. He was the commander-in-chief of the overall situation. He had to consider the overall battle. In the entire battle situation, the last one to launch was the Western Front, and the task of the Western Front was It blocked the Tang army's westward escape route and prevented the Tang army from escaping to Hehuang, so it didn't actually matter whether they captured Dashan Pass.
The same goes for the southern front. The troops on the southern front also want to block the Tang army from escaping south to Bashu. The real offensive force is the 250,000 troops on the eastern and northern fronts.
His promise to Ziwei Pavilion was to end the campaign before the start of the summer harvest, which is still a month and a half away. In fact, it is not difficult to enter Guanzhong, and it will not take too long. The key is to conquer Chang'an, which takes a lot of time. long time.
While he was deep in thought, a soldier reported at the door: "Your Highness, Scout Qin Huaiyu is back to deliver a message."
Yang Yuanqing laughed, "Let him in!"
Yang Yuanqing has some special care for Qin Huaiyu, not because he is Qin Qiong's son, but because of his eldest daughter Yang Bing. She seems to like this young general a little. He once heard Chuchen say that Bing'er embroidered two expedition talismans. , one is for himself, and the other seems to be given to Qin Huaiyu.
In fact, Yang Yuanqing values ????Xiao Yannian more. After all, this is what Yuwen Chengdu entrusted to him. He hopes that his daughter will pay attention to Xiao Yannian, but he cannot decide his daughter's heart. The thirteen-year-old girl is just the age when love begins, and Xiao Yannian seems to be too old for her. A little older, but fifteen-year-old Qin Huaiyu is just right.
After a moment, Qin Huaiyu quickly walked into the tent, knelt down on one knee and reported: "Reconnaissance brigade commander Qin Huaiyu has information about Tongguan Dao to report to Your Highness."
After saying that, he handed over a piece of information with both hands. Although Yang Yuanqing had some special care for him, he did not show it. He took the information and read it again, and then asked: "Where is General Xiao?"
"Your Majesty, General Xiao bypassed Jinsuo Pass and continued southward, and ordered me to come and report the news."
After saying that, Qin Huaiyu mustered up his courage and said, "Can your Highness give me another humble mission?"
Yang Yuanqing smiled slightly, "Your father is going south along the Luoshui Road soon, so you should go with him!"
Qin Huaiyu didn't want to fight with his father, but he didn't dare to bargain, so he had no choice but to bow and retreat.
Yang Yuanqing read the information again and then ordered: "Order Qin Qiong and Cheng Yaojin to come see me."
Not long after, Qin Qiong and Cheng Yaojin walked into the big tent one after another. They saluted. Yang Yuanqing picked up the wooden pole, pointed at the golden lock of Tongguan Road and said: "I will give you 10,000 troops, and you pretend to be 50,000 troops. Attack Jinsuo Pass with all your strength, remember, the garrison will not move forward after the pass is captured, but it must be done with great fanfare."
?Cheng Yaojin grinned and said, "Your Highness, do you want me to bluff and pretend to be the main force?"
Yang Yuanqing smiled and nodded, "That's exactly what I mean!"
He then said to Qin Qiong: "General Qin, you will set off tonight with fifty thousand troops. You must be quick and concealed. After entering Guanzhong, first ignore Pujing Pass and occupy Guangtongcang to prevent the Tang army from transferring. Food enters Chang'an."
Qin Qiong nodded, "I understand, I will set off tonight!"
That night, Qin Qiong led an army of 50,000 people and marched southeast along the Luoshui River Valley. At noon the next day, the main force of the Sui army broke out and set up troops. The troops were divided into two groups. Cheng Yaojin led an army of 10,000 people with great fanfare. , bluffing, pretending to be an army of 50,000, and marching towards Jinsuoguan on Tongguan Road.
Yang Yuanqing and Luo Shixin led 80,000 elite Sui troops to slowly drive towards Qianshuiyuan, while Jia Runfu led 10,000 troops and 100,000 civilians to be responsible for logistics and food transportation