On the second day after Li Yuanshan ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor, four princes and nineteen county princes fled with their relatives. They did not dare to surrender to the court camp, and they did not know where they fled. Li Yuanshan drank too much last night and slept until the afternoon. When he woke up, he learned that his newly named founding hero had escaped a lot, but he didn't even get angry. He got up, dressed, washed and ate under the service of the servant, calmly as if nothing had happened.
Li Xiaoche, Wan Yansong, Song Qianhui and others were waiting at the door, the anxiety on their faces contrasted sharply with Li Yuanshan's calmness.
Before Li Yuanshan finished his meal, Li Xiaoche finally couldn't bear it and rushed in directly: "Father, if this continues, all the people under his command will run away. We must find a way. My son is willing to bring a team of troops to the rear. Please father immediately order the army to be reared." Withdraw. Xiping City is small, not a place to stay for long!"
Li Yuanshan raised his head and glanced at Li Xiaoche, but did not put down his bowl and chopsticks: "You should call me Emperor Father."
Li Xiaoche was startled, opened his mouth and didn't know what to say.
"There is no way out."
Li Yuanshan said calmly while chewing his 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 army, we will have the same fate no matter where we retreat. We Take a step back, and the Sui army will take a step forward, and the more you retreat, the lower the morale, and the stronger the fighting spirit of the Sui army."
"Father... Royal Father, what should we do?"
"Pass down the decree and let the generals of the armies discuss matters."
Li Yuanshan put the last mouthful of rice into his mouth, and there was not a grain of rice left: "The Sui army's fighting spirit is strong, but it may not be beneficial to us at all. Soldiers are 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 way out, we can only go forward. As long as Yang Yi is defeated, Meng Wansui and Yin Poshan are not enough to do it." My opponent. As long as I am still in the northwest, I will be the master here after all."
"good!"
Li Xiaoche nodded vigorously: "Then let's fight, my child has been waiting for this day for a long time!"
"you… "
Li Yuanshan paused for a moment, and then waved his hands: "Prime Minister, Zhu Guo and the crown prince stay here, everyone else can go out."
The servants bowed and retreated, Li Yuanshan pointed to the chairs: "Sit down and talk."
Only him, Li Xiaoche, Song Qianhui who was appointed prime minister yesterday, and Zhu Guo's general Wan Yansong were the only ones left in the room. Li Yuanshan's gaze swept over the three of them slowly, and after a moment of silence, he suddenly smiled: "Since the day I raised my army, I have done my best. You are used to following me and don't bother to use your own brains. Everything is up to me." Come to decide, you just listen to it. But today, I want to ask your opinion."
"In a decisive battle with the Sui army, what are my chances of winning?"
He looked at Song Qianhui. This staff member who had followed him since he was a general was appointed prime minister. This was Song Qianhui's dream all along. He believed in his talent and ability, so after Li Yuanshan raised his troops, 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 fulfilled his wish, but there is no excitement in his heart.
"Tell me, tell the truth."
Li Yuanshan looked at him and said.
"There are... three 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 veritable wise man and Li Yuanshan's most trusted aide. From Song Qianhui's mouth saying that the chance of winning is only three points, Li Xiaoche's heart became colder and colder.
"you say."
Li Yuanshan looked at Wan Yansong again.
"Chen..."
Wan Yansong hesitated for a longer time, Li Yuanshan did not urge but just waited quietly, Wan Yansong avoided Li Yuanshan's sight, lowered his head and uttered a few words from his mouth: "I think the odds of winning are less than two points."
Two points!
Li Xiaoche's heart suddenly tightened!
Although Wan Yansong is not one of Li Yuanshan's Seven Tiger Generals, and his status is usually far inferior to that of Shi Lei, the leader of the Seven Tiger Generals, but when Li Yuanshan announced his enthronement yesterday, he appointed two generals of 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 60,000 elite guards under Li Yuanshan's command. This person led the army above Shi Lei, he actually thought that there was only a two-point chance of winning.
"My child thinks at least five points!"
Li Xiaoche couldn't help but excitedly said: "Although the morale of the army is low and the enemy's fighting spirit is high, my boy thinks that it is because he is in a desperate situation. If the soldiers of the three armies use their lives, there may not be only two or three chances of winning! The ancients had the determination to fight to the death , Isn’t this exactly our current situation? The generals charge forward, and the soldiers will surely fight to the death! My father, my son, is willing to bring ten thousand fine armors to the forefront, and fight a bloody path for the army.”
"you… "
Li Yuanshan shook his head slowly: "No."
"Why!"
Li Xiaoche asked eagerly.
"Your Highness, you really can't."
Song Qianhui looked at Li Xiaoche and said: "Your Highness was right before. If you let the soldiers understand the principle of fighting or dying at this time, there is indeed more than a two-to-three-point chance of winning 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.
"I!"
Li Yuanshan said a word heavily.
He was silent for a while and said to Li Xiaoche: "Wan Yansong, you go back to rectify the troops now, the 60,000 elite in the city are under your command."
"Don't worry, Your Majesty!"
Wan Yansong stood up and cupped his fists and said, "I will definitely bring 60,000 sons to clear the way for the army!"
"No."
Li Yuanshan shook his head again: "When I lead the army to attack, you take the 60,000 elite out of the city from the north gate, and protect the crown prince all the way west to Jinyang City. Now, we will naturally lead the army to meet up."
Li Xiaoche was stunned for a moment, his eyes turned red instantly: "No way! How could the emperor himself be in danger!"
Wan Yansong also immediately persuaded: "Your Majesty, my minister is willing to lead troops to the front, and His Majesty can just watch the battle in the city!"
"I have made up my mind."
Li Yuanshan waved his hand: "Let's arrange it like this, those who violate the order...beheaded!"
…
…
When the sun was just rising, the emperor asked Su Buwei to help him out of the military tent. He raised his head and glanced at the glowing red sun, which outlined a layer of gold on his face. He seemed to be in a good mood, his brows stretched 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 turned his head to look at Su Buwei: "Do you know what I'm thinking right now?"
"The servant does not know."
"I was thinking, after solving Li Yuanshan, I seem to be able to be rich for a while... This is the second time I have left Chang'an City since I became the throne, and I came to the Northwest both times. Gao Yundan makes people feel open and is a good home. I laugh because I am proud... "
The emperor paused for a moment and said with a smile: "Fortunately, I didn't let someone build a tomb in the imperial mausoleum on the outskirts of Beijing, otherwise a lot of money would be wasted."
He was laughing, but Su Buwei's heart was full of misery.
"It is estimated that Li Yuanshan can't hold back any longer. I ordered yesterday that the entire army must not remove its armor and weapons. It is calculated that within two or three days Li Yuanshan will 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 to go west. I haven't been to Jinyang Palace yet, so I should go and see it after this battle."
"Wherever your majesty wants to go, you will definitely be able to go."
Su Buwei lowered his head and said.
"This is too false."
The emperor smiled: "I want to go to the Mengyuan Royal Court, and I also want to go to Dalun Temple in Daxue Mountain. I can't go to these two places anyway. There are many unfulfilled wishes in a lifetime, and no one can truly love them." Make your wish come true. Tell me, what wish do you have?"
Su Buwei replied without thinking, "May Your Majesty live a long and healthy life."
"I'm sorry."
The emperor smiled and shook his head: "If you want a rich family and a thousand acres of fertile land, I can give it to you now, but your wish... I can't do it."
Just as Su Buwei was about to speak, he suddenly saw the general Jin Shixiong rushing over: "Your Majesty, the rebels in Xiping City are mobilizing on a large scale, and it looks like they are about to attack. The scouts came to report, and the rebels in the city have also come out. collection."
The emperor was slightly proud: "I didn't guess wrong."
"Jin Shixiong."
"The minister is here."
"If you can't fight this battle well, I'll consider replacing me with someone else for the task of the Northwest Sandao Jiedushi. When I was leading the army, I never regarded myself as a prince, and I refused to fall behind. Even today, if it wasn't for my body being unable to support the armor and holding the steel saber, I would really like to go into battle and chop off a few heads myself. Su Buwei, take my Golden Luan Saber..."
Su Buwei hurried back to get the emperor's saber. The emperor pointed to Jin Shixiong: "Take my Jinluan saber and let it drink some traitor's blood. Kill a few more for me, it's best to use this saber Cut off Li Yuanshan's head."
"I obey the order! I will live up to His Majesty's instructions!"
Jin Shixiong took the knife with both hands, and tied it solemnly around his waist.
"Go."
The emperor looked outside the camp: "Su Buwei, go and choose a good place, I want to watch the battle."
…
…
Xiping City is located in the area, which is a rare flat land in the northwest, and it is the most suitable battlefield for the decisive battle. Hundreds of thousands of rebels lined up, and the sound of war drums followed. The army lined up horizontally and pressed forward, and the formation was the most commonly used basic formation by the soldiers of the Sui Dynasty. When the soldiers of the Sui Dynasty marched, they were divided into five armies, front, back, left, and middle. Li Yuanshan has led troops for many years and has deep knowledge of 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. Leading the left army with 50,000 troops is General Zhou Dingguo, and leading the right army is Li Yuankuo, Li Yuanshan's younger brother.
The imperial army had already finished forming. Jin Shixiong raised his head and glanced at the fiery red Sui battle flag with bright eyes.
This battle may not be able to quell the chaos in the Northwest, but this battle must be the most important battle to quell the chaos. The emperor handed over the command of this battle to him, and he has no regrets. On the grassland of 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 a chance to take revenge with his own hands.
"Ballista loaded!"
He waved the flag, and the general in front immediately shouted orders. Hundreds of ballistas lined up, and the soldiers quickly loaded the heavy bolts into them, and the nooses were turned and tightened, ready to be fired at any time. Tens of thousands of archers pulled out their arrows and placed them on the bowstrings, waiting for the order.
At this moment, the front formation of the rebel army on the opposite side suddenly opened to both sides, and a cavalry slowly came out from behind the infantry formation. The iron armor on the cavalry reflected a cold light under the sunlight.
That was Li Yuanshan's heavy cavalry.
The corners of Jin Shixiong's mouth twitched a few times, and his eyes became sharp. At the beginning, it was this heavy cavalry that broke through his central army, cutting apart the men and horses he had gathered with great difficulty in haste. Now, this heavy ride is coming again.