Among the twelve counter-insurgency ambassadors in the Great Sui Dynasty, probably there is no second ambassador as useless as Pei Renji, the Henan arrest envoy. The Wagang Army, which is in the limelight, and Li Mi, a fearsome opponent who is rapidly rising, have not fought a decent battle in the three months since he took office, and he dare not even leave Hulaoguan, where he is stationed. Counties fell one after another, and the bandits became more and more rampant. Although Emperor Sui Yang had not punished Pei Renji so far, Pei Renji, whose family knew about his family affairs, was worried about this, for fear of repeating the behavior of his predecessor Dong Chun who stayed behind in Pengcheng. mistakes.
But this can't be blamed for incompetence, it's because Pei Renji's luck is so bad, it's so bad that it's shocking to the point of weeping ghosts and gods, the opponent's morale is high and the army is huge, but Pei Renji's men are only the 10,000 second-line troops given by his black-hearted nephew, and the training is serious Insufficient battlefield experience, the combat effectiveness is far behind the Wagang elite trained in the corpse mountain and blood sea, the five thousand remnants left by Zhang Xutuo are actually strong in combat effectiveness, but it is a pity that most of these remnants are wounded and exhausted from years of fighting Unbearable, the psychological problems of homesickness and war weariness are very prominent, and because of the recent fiasco at Dahai Temple, morale has been low, fighting spirit has been severely damaged, and there is not enough time to rest.
Under such circumstances, let alone Pei Renji, an ordinary man, even if the gods come, there is nothing wrong with him, so Pei Renji can only choose to be patient for the time being, while firmly guarding the throat of Hulao Pass, while letting the remnants left by Zhang Xutuo recuperate Resting, while training the army desperately, he also watched the Wagang Army and Li Mi Army commit crimes and rampage in Xingyang. I dare not really drag the army to the outskirts of Guancheng to die in vain - the Wagang Army may not have enough experience in siege warfare, but it is easy to kill the two current Pei Renji in the field.
By the way, we are still facing such a situation. Xiao Huaijing, the uncle of Xiao Xiao, is proud of the spring breeze. The memorial to the impeachment of Pei Renji for being timid and fearful of fighting and not saving the friendly army is sent to Jiangdu every three days. Although Pei Renji is aware of it, there is nothing he can do about it. Fortunately, Pei Renji had just taken over this mess, and he still had some excuses to shirk responsibility, and there were still one or two powerful backers in the court, unlike Dong Chun who was so helpless and could only lie down and wait for death. Worried that my head will fall to the ground.
Pei Renji was so furious and helpless that he was still behind. He had obediently hid in the tiger prison to avoid causing trouble, but the trouble had to take the initiative to find him. On February 13th, Yang Qing first sent someone to inform Pei Renji, saying that he had discovered that The main force of the Wagang Army who went south went north again to the vicinity of Guancheng. Pei Renji was worried that the Wagang Army would besiege Guancheng again. Unexpectedly, on February 14th, the scouts who had been scattered rushed back to Hulao Pass to call the police, saying yes The main force of the Wagang Army had already crossed Guancheng and came straight to Hulao Pass. Pei Renji was shocked and stepped up his reconnaissance. As a result, at noon on February 15th, the scouts flew to report that the main force of the Wagang Army had crossed Xingyang County. , approaching the territory of Sishui County where Hulao Pass is located, and clearly heard the slogan "break Hulao Pass and capture Pei Renji alive" from the ranks of the Wagang Army.
The situation was already very critical. After confirming from the scouts that Zhai Rang's flag and Li Mi's flag were both in the Wagang Army, Pei Renji immediately held a military meeting in Hulao Pass and called all the generals under his command to discuss countermeasures. The deputy Jia Wuben had also died of serious injuries before, so in addition to the generals Pei Renji brought from the Eastern Capital, Luo Shixin, Qin Qiong, He Yanyu and Jia Wuben's son Jia Runfu participated in this military meeting. —By the way, there is also our Little Xiao Guojiu Xiao Huaijing. Although Pei Renji didn't send anyone to notify him, Little Xiao Guojiu still heard the news from somewhere, and came to the venue with a wicked smile to participate in the discussion.
"It has been confirmed that the goal of the Wagang bandits this time is Hulao Pass." Pei Renji introduced the general situation to everyone with a helpless expression, and then said: "The current strength of the Wagang bandits is not clear, but at least 60,000 Above, the rebels Zhai Rang and Li Mi were jointly led by the rebels, so the Wagang rebels who control Xingyang, Xingze and the east of Tongji Canal may also participate in the battle. ?”
There was some silence in the venue, and then Luo Shixin clenched his fists and shouted: "Switch to meet the enemy, fight them! Avenge Marshal Zhang!"
Like Zhang Xutuo and Chen Sangliang, Pei Renji also loves Luo Shixin, a young fierce general, but no matter how much he likes him, he will not let Luo Shixin's temper fool him. So after sighing, Pei Renji still said: "Shixin, calm down!" Some, we must avenge Marshal Zhang’s revenge, but not now, most of you old people in Qi County have just recovered from their injuries, and you have been fighting for years, and the teachers are tired. At this time, the chances of winning a decisive battle with the Wagang bandits are really slim.”
"Shixin, calm down, don't be impulsive." Jia Runfu, who was still wearing a filial piety, also persuaded Luo Shixin, and then said to Pei Renji: "Commander, the enemy is many and we are few, the enemy is strong and we are weak, the best strategy is to retreat and stick to it. Asking for help from the Eastern Capital, Chen Yingliang and Chen Liushou have always been diligent in state affairs, so they will definitely not refuse, and it will not be too late to discuss how to defeat the enemy after the reinforcements from the Eastern Capital arrive."
There is a huge disparity between strength and weakness. Although it would be a bit embarrassing to do so, Pei Renji still nodded slightly, and began to plan how to ask Dongdu for help. Unexpectedly, at this moment, Uncle Xiao Guo suddenly laughed, and said with a smile: " What General Jia said is very true. We should ask Chen Liushou for help. Chen Liushou uses his troops like a god, and he is undefeated in a hundred battles. A letter order can command us to defeat the Wagang bandits. Marshal Pei, don’t you think so?”
After glancing at Uncle Xiao Guo, Pei Renji's urge to strangle Uncle Xiao Guo became stronger and stronger, and he also regretted returning that little note to this shit-stirring stick. Over there, Qin Qiong, He Yanyu and the others looked at each other in blank dismay. Although they all hated Xiao Xiaoguo very much, they couldn't help asking Xiao Xiao what he meant by his words. Xiao Xiao Guo, who hated Pei Renji to the bone, was also very happy, hurry up When Pei Renji suppressed the Yiyang bandits for a long time and Chen Yingliang used only one order to defeat the enemy in detail, he naturally had to add fuel and vinegar during the period, exaggerating Pei Renji's embarrassment and incompetence and Chen Sangliang's ingenuity, strategizing and winning thousands of miles.
While Pei Renji looked embarrassed, Qin Qiong, He Yanyu and others were amazed, and then He Yanyu said: "Commander, then we'd better report the enemy's situation to Chen Liushou immediately and ask him for help. There is nothing shameful about it. When encountering a difficult enemy, he also asked Chen Liushou for help several times, and Chen Liushou also tried his best to help each time, and defeated the powerful enemy with various ingenious strategies, never missed, we should ask him for help."
"Yes, ask Chen Liushou for help." Luo Shixin, who was well received by Pei Renji, also agreed to ask for help, and said: "It's best to ask him to send Kan Leng to help us, that guy is the most reliable in tough battles. But Ma Sanbao doesn't matter. Now, that bastard, he has never cheated once when he gambled."
The generals of Qi County agreed one after another, and the generals Pei Renji brought from Dongdu all agreed. His Majesty has a decree not to allow Chen Liushou to leave Dongdu without authorization, but his relationship with you is extraordinary after all. For Ling Qianjin's sake, maybe Chen Liushou will personally lead the troops to rescue us, and we will definitely be able to keep it Hulao Pass..."
"Xiao Huaijing! Shut up, old man!"
Pei Renji yelled unbearably, and started to shoot the case. Pei Renji just wanted to go crazy, but he never thought that there was a report from the soldiers outside the door, saying that the Wagang Army had captured a Sui Army scout, stripped him of his clothes, and left him naked. Naked to show humiliation, and then a team of cavalry was escorted outside the Hulao Pass to release in public, and the unlucky Sui army scout brought a letter to Pei Renji. Pei Renji was even more furious when he heard the news, and immediately ordered the letter to be presented, but after he took the letter and read it carefully, Pei Renji's face suddenly turned green and black, and he yelled again, "Zhai let the dog thief, the old man and you We can't live together!"
"Marshal Pei, what did you say in the letter?" Uncle Xiao Guo hurriedly asked.
"You don't care!" Pei Renji roared angrily.
"Why can't I take care of it?" Uncle Xiao Xiao sneered, and said plausibly: "The lower official has the courage to remind the commander-in-chief that the lower official is the supervising army sent to you by His Royal Highness King Yue, and has the right to check the military's Chinese letters. The letter to you is so important, and as a supervisor, I should check it immediately. In addition, I would like to remind the commander-in-chief that Tang Guogong Li Yuan was originally because he concealed a letter written to him by the bandit chief Sibi. The letter is what happened later, the past is not far away, I hope the Marshal will keep it in mind."
With a livid face, he glared at Little Uncle Xiao Guo for a moment, and then Pei Renji threw the letter to Uncle Xiao Guo with a ferocious expression, and our Little Uncle Xiao Guo is worthy of being a friend of Wagang in history. After reading the letter, he first snickered , And then deliberately read the passage, "Wagang's army of one hundred thousand, threw the whip to the Yellow River, cut off the flow, pointed at the blade, the world changed color, even if you send your beloved daughter to Chen Yingliang as a concubine, in exchange for Luoyang to send troops to rescue , It’s nothing more than a mantis arm as a cart, a gnat may shake a tree, and it can be destroyed with a flick of a finger...”
"Marshal Pei, the Wagang thief is well-informed. He even knows about Ling Qianjin and Chen Liushou's affair. It's amazing. But it's a good idea. Marshal Pei, think about it, think about it."
Little Uncle Xiao Guo didn't dare to continue when he said this, because Pei Renji's eyes were already breathing fire when he looked at him, and his fists were already clenched so hard that his joints were clenched. Maybe shut up obediently. Fortunately, Pei Renji, who was also tied up by the court decree, had a grim expression for a long time, and finally let Xiao Xiao Guoshu go, and shouted instead: "There is no need to ask Dongdu for help. We will fight this battle by ourselves. Go down, immediately start preparing the defense equipment, prepare the whole army for battle, and stick to the Hulao Pass! No matter how many Wagang rebels come, they must never let them cross the pass!"
"Marshal, please don't be arrogant." Pei Renji's Huyalang, who was brought from Dongdu, hurriedly persuaded Wang Quan, saying: "Wagang bandits are many and powerful, and the soldiers are sharp. We'd better be cautious and report Dongdu knows the military situation, and asks His Highness the King of Yue for help..."
"Shut up!" Pei Renji had no choice but to deal with Xiao Guoshu, the superintendent, but it was easy to deal with the generals, and roared: "No need! This old man will fight this battle by himself! Chen Yingliang, that little thief, let him play with Yang Tong." go!"
"Cough, cough, handsome, handsome."
Jia Runfu, who had a good relationship with Pei Renji, hurriedly coughed loudly, and winked at Pei Renji as if killing a chicken and wiping his neck, reminding Pei Renji to be careful in his words and deeds. Only then did Pei Renji realize that he had called Yang Tong by his name, and hurriedly peeked at Xiao Guoshu , but saw Xiao Xiaoguo was still buried in the letter, as if he didn't hear his slip of the tongue, Pei Renji heaved a sigh of relief, and quickly said to Wang Quan: "No need, Hulao Pass is dangerous, the city is strong, and the Wagang bandits just came." No matter how much we have, we are sure we can hold it, so it is decided, we will fight this battle ourselves."
Seeing Pei Renji's resolute attitude, the generals of the Sui Army did not dare to persuade them anymore, so they had to obey their orders. Pei Renji quickly dispatched troops and arranged for the defense of the city, but he didn't notice at all that the corner of Xiao Guoshu's mouth behind the letter paper had already Quietly revealed a smirk, and secretly said: "Pei, dare to call His Highness the name of the King of Yue directly, and disrespect His Highness the King of Yue, this is a serious crime. Damn, just copy this letter, together with the memorial Handing it over to Dongdu will embarrass Mr. Pei Renji and embarrass the little thief Chen Yingliang."
…
On the evening of the 15th, the main force of the Wagang Army and the main force of the Li Mi Army arrived outside Hulao Pass, and set up camp at Niuzhukou overnight. Two thousand troops came to fight outside Hulao Pass, and deliberately cited the example of brother-in-law Hua Mulan, loudly persuading the soldiers of Qi County who were closed at Hulao Pass to offer up the pass and surrender. Guan fought, but Pei Renji was worried that the Wagang Army deliberately lured the enemy, refused to fight, and closed the door tightly.
At the same time, the scouts scattered outside the pass also reported that the Wagang army was cutting wood everywhere. Pei Renji guessed that this was the Wagang army preparing siege weapons, so he ordered his soldiers to scold the Wagang army at the pass, trying to provoke Wagang. The Gang Army lured the Wagang Army to attack the city with a lack of siege weapons. Unfortunately, Shan Xiongxin was not fooled at all, and retreated back to the camp just in the afternoon. The soldiers of the two armies just wasted some saliva. However, shortly after Shan Xiongxin left, another scout reported that he had overheard the conversation of the logging soldiers of the Wagang Army. The army is very likely to launch a night attack, and immediately began to arrange preparations to prevent night attacks.
What Pei Renji probably never imagined in his dreams was that when he concluded that the Wagang Army was about to attack at night and concentrated all its forces on the defense of Hulao Pass, at the same time, Zhai Rang and the The elite 7,000 Wagang Army led by Li Mi has already crossed the highest peak of Fangshan Mountain and entered the forest in the northern part of Fangshan Mountain. Under the leadership of a large number of local people, they are heading towards the north at full speed with the last afterglow of the sun before sunset. Luokou Cang advanced, and there was only a mere forty miles left to Luokou Cang, the largest granary in the world.
The mountain road was rugged, and Li Mi and Zhai Rang were both leading horses. Along the way, although the scouts in front kept reporting that they were safe and did not find the Sui army ambushing, Zhai Rang kept looking around carefully, for fear that an ambush would appear somewhere and block him. Die on this narrow mountain road, and refuse to rest assured about anything. Li Mi saw what was on his mind, so he smiled and comforted him: "Don't worry, my lord, although this place is close to Hulao Pass, that idiot Pei Renji is brave and foolish, more than stubborn, but far from clever, and he will never guess our true identity." purpose, it is even more impossible to arrange an ambush here."
"I hope so." Zhai Rang muttered, looked up at the sky again, saw that the sun was about to set, and said again: "Pu Shangong, it's getting dark, and the mountain road is still about twenty miles away, what should I do?"
"Speed up the march. Before the second watch, we must get out of the mountain." Li Mi said calmly: "Then rest for an hour near Luokou on the edge of the mountain, and prepare the flying ladder by the way, and rush to the Luokou warehouse before the fourth watch. Take it by force, and then take a boat down the Luo River into the Yellow River to Niuzhukou, and tell the main force that we have succeeded."
"I know all of this." Zhai Rang was still a little nervous, and said, "What I'm worried about is whether we can successfully take down the Luokou warehouse? What if we reach the edge of the mountain and we don't have time to prepare the ladder?"
"In the Luokou warehouse, there are only more than a thousand defenders, and all of them are wine bags and rice bags that have never been on the battlefield and only embezzle money and food. They can be broken in a single battle." Li Mi smiled: "As for the flying ladder, I have already sent someone After investigation, the Luokou area is full of moso bamboo forests, and you can build as many flying ladders as you like. I also know that the walls of the Luokou warehouse are only about one foot high, and it is easy to climb."
Seeing Li Mi's self-confidence, Zhai Rang felt a little relieved, stopped nagging and asking questions, and kept on urging the army to hurry. Although Li Mi's expression remained confident, the closer he was to the Luokou warehouse, the more Li Mi felt in his heart. He also beat the drums, and secretly said: "Little thief Chen Yingliang, you must not notice it. I have the confidence to hide my tricks from anyone, but I don't have the confidence to hide it from you. But fortunately, Dongdu is a hundred miles away from Luokou Cang Besides, it is not easy to send troops at once, unless you saw through my plan to defeat the enemy before yesterday afternoon, otherwise you will not have time to stop me from taking the Luokou warehouse."
Affected by Emperor Sui Yang, the supreme emperor, luck was on the side of the Wagang Army, the 16th round of the 15th moon, so it happened that the sky was clear at night, the moon and stars were rare, and the light was excellent, and the Wagang Army was running around all year round As far as food is concerned, I am good at walking night and mountain roads. Of course, I am like a fish in water in such an environment. I can march without even lighting a torch. Recently, the advance speed of the Wagang Army has exceeded Li Mi's estimate. The main force of the Gang Army walked out of the mountainous area and came to the Luokou area where there are many bamboos. Of course, Zhai Rang and Li Mi were overjoyed by this, and immediately ordered the army to take the time to rest and eat and prepare for the ladder.
They are all elites of the Wagang Army. They are not only good at fighting, but also hardworking. With limited rest time, the seven thousand soldiers of the Wagang Army successfully completed the tasks assigned by Zhai Rang and Li Mi, and quickly prepared more than 200 aircraft. Bamboo ladder. At half past two, the well-prepared Wagang Army set off ahead of time. Under the leadership of Li Mi and Zhai Rang, they took advantage of the moonlight to re-start on the road, striding towards Luokou Cangcheng, which was less than twenty miles away. The horse whipped the whip, and the speed was extremely fast.
There was no sound and no movement in the front, and the military flag that was finally unfurled was fluttering against the night wind, and the breeze was like a girl's hand, gently caressing Li Mi's dark face, which made Li Mi feel refreshed, and also made Li Mi smile, muttering He murmured, "Little thief Chen, I really want to see what kind of expression you have when you hear the news that the Luokou warehouse has been breached."
"Pu Shangong! King Zhai! Long time no see, long time no see!"
Shi Potian's shocking voice suddenly came from the front, and Li Mi and Zhai Rang, who were riding in the front, were taken aback. They quickly raised their heads, but saw three people riding over on the road. , riding a white war horse on the crotch, before anyone arrived, a familiar voice came ahead of time, and laughed loudly: "Pu Shangong, King Zhai, I didn't expect that my old friend would be here? Why are you here now? I can wait." You have a lot of time."
The distance is still far away, so I can't see the appearance of the person coming, but just seeing the pretentious appearance of the white-clothed and armored man riding a white horse, and hearing that disgusting familiar voice, Li Mi still roared out heart-piercingly , "Chen Yingliang! Traitor! Why are you here?!"