(It¡¯s a new month after twelve o¡¯clock, please get a guaranteed monthly ticket)
Chapter 497: War drums sound outside Xiping City
On the second day after Li Yuanshan ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor, four princes and nineteen county princes fled with their personal followers. They did not dare to go to the imperial camp to surrender, and they did not know where they fled. Li Yuanshan drank so much last night that he slept until the afternoon. When he woke up, he didn't even get angry after learning that his newly-named founding hero had run away a lot. Under the service of the chamberlain, he got up, dressed, washed and ate, as calmly as if nothing had happened.
Li Xiaoche, Wan Yansong, Song Qianhui and others were waiting at the door. The anxiety on their faces was in stark contrast to Li Yuanshan's calmness.
Before Li Yuanshan could finish his meal, Li Xiaoche finally couldn't help but barge in: "Father, if this continues, all of my men will run away. We must find a way. My son is willing to lead a group of troops to the rear. Please order the army to rear immediately." Evacuate. Xiping City is small and not a place to stay for a long time!¡±
Li Yuanshan raised his head and glanced at Li Xiaoche, but did not put down the bowl and chopsticks: "You should call me Father."
Li Xiaoche was startled and opened his mouth not knowing what to say.
"There is no way out."
Li Yuanshan said calmly while chewing food: "Xiping City is the last position. Although there are more than three thousand miles behind us to choose from, if we don't defeat the imperial troops, we will end up with the same fate no matter where we retreat. We If you take a step back, the Sui army will take another step forward. The more you retreat, the lower the morale will be, and the stronger the Sui army's fighting spirit will be."
"FatherFather, what should we do?"
"Pass the decree and let the generals of the armies discuss matters."
Li Yuanshan put the last mouthful of rice into his mouth, without a grain of rice left: "The Sui army has strong fighting spirit and morale, but it may not be of any benefit to us. The soldiers will be arrogant. This is the enemy's current weakness. ¡±
He wiped his mouth, and then carefully arranged the awkward-looking dragon robe on his body: "Since there is no retreat, we can only move forward. As long as Yang Yi is defeated, Meng Wansui and Yin Poshan will not be able to do anything. My opponent. As long as I am still in the northwest, I will ultimately make the decision here."
"good!"
Li Xiaoche nodded vigorously: "Then let's have a decisive battle. I have been waiting for this day for a long time!"
"you¡¡"
Li Yuanshan paused for a moment, then waved his hand: "Prime Minister, the princes and princes will stay here, and everyone else can go out."
The servants bowed and retreated. Li Yuanshan pointed to the chairs: "Sit down and talk."
He, Li Xiaoche, Song Qianhui, who was appointed prime minister just yesterday, and General Wan Yansong were the only four people left in the room. Li Yuanshan's eyes slowly swept over the three people. After being silent for a while, he suddenly smiled: "Since the day I raised the army, I have left no stone unturned. You have become accustomed to following me and are too lazy to use your own brains. Everything is done by me. It¡¯s up to you to just listen. But today, I want to ask your opinion.¡±
"What are my chances of winning in a decisive battle with the Sui army?"
He looked at Song Qianhui. This staff member who had been with him since he was a general was awarded the title of prime minister. This was Song Qianhui's dream all along. He believed in his talent and ability, so after Li Yuanshan raised his army, he firmly believed that he would become the first prime minister of the new dynasty, and no one could take it away from him. Now he has got his wish, but there is no excitement and joy in his heart.
"Say it, tell it truthfully."
Li Yuanshan looked at him and said.
"There arethree points."
Song Qianhui hesitated for a long time, and the answer he finally gave shocked Li Xiaoche. He respected Song Qianhui very much, because Song Qianhui was a truly wise man and Li Yuanshan's most trusted aide. When Song Qianhui said that the chance of winning was only three points, Li Xiaoche's heart became even colder.
"you say"
Li Yuanshan looked at Wan Yansong again.
"My lord"
Wan Yansong hesitated longer. Li Yuanshan did not rush and just waited quietly. Wan Yansong avoided Li Yuanshan's sight, lowered his head and uttered a few words from his mouth: "I think the chance of winning is less than two points."
Two points!
Li Xiaoche¡¯s heart tightened suddenly!
Although Wan Yansong is not one of the Seven Tiger Generals under Li Yuanshan, and his status is far inferior to Shi Lei, the leader of the Seven Tiger Generals, yesterday when Li Yuanshan announced his accession to the throne, he appointed two generals of the Zhu Kingdom, one was Zhou Dingguo and the other was Wan Yansong. Nothing happened to Shi Lei. Because Wan Yansong was more loyal than Shi Lei, Wan Yansong led the elite 60,000 Yuan Youxiao Guards under Li Yuanshan. This man led the troops above Shi Lei, and he actually thought that he only had a two-point chance of winning.
¡°My child thinks it¡¯s at least five points!¡±
Lee Hyo-cheol can¡¯t bear it?Excitedly said: "Although the morale of the army is low now and the enemy's fighting spirit is high, I think it is because we are in a desperate situation. If the soldiers of the three armies sacrifice their lives, they may not have a 20/30 chance of winning! The ancients had the determination to fight against the odds. Is this the case? Isn¡¯t this the situation we are in now? If the generals charge forward, the soldiers will fight to the death! My father, I am willing to lead ten thousand elite soldiers to the front and fight a bloody path for the army. "
"you¡¡"
Li Yuanshan slowly shook his head: "No."
"Why!"
Li Xiaoche asked eagerly.
"Your Highness, you really can't do it."
Song Qianhui looked at Li Xiaoche and said, "What your Highness said before is right. If the soldiers understand that they will die if they don't fight, there will indeed be more than a two-to-three chance of winning in this battle, but Your Highness is not a suitable candidate."
¡°Since I am already the prince, who else is more suitable than me to rush to the front to boost morale?!¡±
Li Xiaoche said slightly angrily.
"Me!"
Li Yuanshan said one word seriously.
He was silent for a while and said to Li Xiaoche: "Wan Yansong, you go back and rectify your troops now. All 60,000 elites in the city are under your command."
"Your Majesty, don't worry!"
Wan Yansong stood up, clasped his fists and said, "I will surely bring sixty thousand men to clear the way forward for the army!"
"No"
Li Yuanshan shook his head again: "When I lead the army to attack, you take the 60,000 elites out of the city from the north gate and protect the prince all the way west to Jinyang City. Jinyang City has enough food to defend it without worries. If I win, I will naturally lead the army to join them."
Li Xiaoche was stunned for a moment, and his eyes turned red instantly: "No! How can my father be personally involved in danger!"
Wan Yansong also immediately advised: "Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the troops to advance, your Majesty can only watch the battle in the city!"
"I have made up my mind"
Li Yuanshan waved his hand: "Let's arrange it this way. Anyone who disobeys the orderwill be killed!"
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When the sun just rose, the emperor asked Su Buwei to help him out of the military tent. He raised his head and glanced at the red rising sun, which outlined a golden edge on his face. He seemed to be in a good mood and his brows were wide open. Su Buwei bowed and supported the emperor for a walk. The two of them walked very slowly.
"Su Buwei"
The emperor suddenly smiled and glanced sideways at Su Buwei: "Do you know what I am thinking about now?"
"I don't know, this slave."
"I am thinking that after I deal with Li Yuanshan, I seem to be able to live a more prosperous life This is the second time I have left Chang'an City since I ascended the throne. Both times I came to the northwest. Although this place looks desolate, it is The sky is high and the clouds are clear, which makes people feel relaxed. It is a good destination. I smile because I am proud"
The emperor paused and smiled: "Fortunately, I didn't let anyone build a tomb in the imperial mausoleum on the outskirts of Beijing, otherwise a lot of money would have been wasted."
He was smiling, but Su Buwei's heart was full of misery and sadness.
"I guess Li Yuanshan can't hold it in any longer. Yesterday, I ordered the entire army not to remove their armor and keep their weapons away from their bodies. I calculated that within two or three days, Li Yuanshan would give it a go. In fact, this battle has already been won by seven points. , the remaining three points depend on God's will rather than manpower. After this battle, I plan to continue walking to the west. I haven't been to Jinyang Palace yet, and I will go and see it after this battle."
¡°Wherever Your Majesty wants to go, you can definitely go.¡±
Su Buwei lowered his head and said.
"This is too false."
The emperor smiled: "I want to go to the Meng Yuan Palace, and I also want to go to Dalun Temple in Daxue Mountain. No matter what, I can't go to these two places. People have many unfulfilled wishes in their lives, and no one can truly fulfill them. All your wishes come true. Tell me, what is your wish?¡±
Su Buwei replied without even thinking: "May your Majesty live a long and healthy life."
"I'm sorry."
The emperor smiled and shook his head: "If you want a fortune and a thousand acres of farmland, I can still give it to you, but your wish I can't do it."
Just as Su Buwei was about to speak, he suddenly saw General Jin Shixiong coming quickly: "Your Majesty, the rebels in Xiping City are mobilizing on a large scale and it seems they are about to attack. The scouts came to report that the rebels in the city have also come out. At this time, they are collection."
The emperor was slightly proud: "I guessed it right."
"Jin Shixiong"
"I am here"
"If you can't win this battle, I will consider changing someone else to do the job of the three Jiedu envoys in the northwest. When I led the army in the past, I never regarded myself as a prince, and I refused to fall behind others in the charge. Even today, if my body hadn¡¯t been unable to support myselfEven my armored hand can't hold the steel knife. I really want to go into battle myself and chop off a few heads. Su Buwei, take my Golden Luan Sword"
Su Buwei quickly ran back to get the emperor's sword. The emperor pointed at Jin Shixiong and said, "Take my Jinluan sword and let it drink some of the traitor's blood. Kill a few more for me. It's best to use this sword." Cut off Li Yuanshan¡¯s head.¡±
"I obey your decree! I will live up to your majesty's instructions!"
Jin Shixiong took the knife with both hands and tied it solemnly to his waist.
"Go ahead"
The emperor looked outside the camp: "Su Buwei, go and choose a good place. I want to watch the battle."
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Xiping City is located in an area of ??rare flat land in the northwest, making it the most suitable battlefield for a decisive battle. Hundreds of thousands of rebels marched in formation, war drums beating one after another. The army lined up horizontally and pressed forward. The formation was the most common basic formation used by the soldiers of the Sui Dynasty. When the Sui soldiers marched, they were divided into five armies, front, rear, left, center. Li Yuanshan has led troops for many years and has learned the art of war, but this time he did not set up a rear army.
General Shi Lei led an army of 50,000 to the front, and behind him was Li Yuanshan's Chinese army. The man who led the left army of 50,000 men was General Zhou Dingguo, and the man who led the right army was Li Yuankuo, Li Yuanshan's younger brother.
The imperial army had already formed its formation. Jin Shixiong raised his head and glanced at the bright red Sui battle flag, his eyes bright.
This battle may not be able to quell the rebellion in the northwest, but this battle must be the most important battle to quell the chaos. The emperor gave him the command of this battle, and he had no regrets. On the grassland of the Mandu Banner, he was attacked from behind by Li Yuanshan's right guard, and the left guard was defeated. This was the most humiliating defeat since he led the army, but now, the emperor gave him the opportunity to take revenge with his own hands.
"Load the ballista!"
He waved his flag, and the general in front immediately shouted an order. Hundreds of crossbow carts were lined up, and the soldiers loaded the heavy crossbow arrows with deft hands and feet. The noose was turned and tightened, ready to be fired at any time. Tens of thousands of archers took out their arrows and put them on their bowstrings, waiting for the order.
At this moment, the rebel front formation suddenly opened to both sides, and a cavalry slowly walked out from behind the infantry formation. Under the sunlight, the iron armor on the cavalry reflected a cold and faint light.
That¡¯s Li Yuanshan¡¯s heavy horse.
The corners of Jin Shixiong¡¯s mouth twitched a few times, and his eyes became sharp. It was this heavy cavalry that broke through his center and cut open the men and horses he had gathered in a hurry. Now, this heavy cavalry is here again.