Li Xiaogong was excited and he had been waiting for the scout's information. Although he received the information and Xu Shiji secretly sent troops to fight north, he was not sure whether the news was reliable, so he sent a confidant scout to investigate the news.

"Send them in and report!"

After a moment, several scouts quickly walked into the lobby and knelt down on one knee for the commander of the brigade: "Report to Your Highness, Bei Zhi and others have returned from Nanyang County."

"Tell me the specific situation! Did the Sui army go north? How many troops have gone north?"

"Report to Your Highness, the Sui army has indeed gone north, and the information is accurate. Gao Zikai led 30,000 troops to the north, and the Sui army in Nanyang County has only 10,000 troops."

At this time, Yang Gongren next to him suddenly asked, "Is there really a rebellion in Hao Xiaode?"

Everyone looked at him strangely. What did you ask? The scout immediately reported: "Nanyang County is saying everywhere that Hao Xiaode led his army to burn, kill and loot, and there are no chickens and dogs left wherever he passes. There are still many refugees in the county who fled from Jingyang County and Yingchuan County."

"Qingyang County?"

Yang Gongren sneered, "What does this have to do with Hao Xiaode's rioters? It's still apart from 108,000 miles!"

Li Xiaogong was slightly unhappy, "Shangshu Yang, this is information given by the court. You won't doubt the court, right!"

Yang Gongren shook his head, "I didn't say there was anything wrong with the court. I was just worried that this was Yang Yuanqing's plan. The court probably just listened to the wind and rain. Tang Feng could not have an intelligence hall in Yingchuan County. He should have just heard Su Shichang's alarm. If it was Yang Yuanqing's plan to lure troops, I would be a little worried."

Li Xiaogong also frowned, "Do you think it was Yang Yuanqing who wanted to siege the city and attack aid, so he deliberately fabricated the rumors about Hao Xiaode, and then Xu Shiji retreated north and lured us to Jiangling City south?"

"I think so, but it's just a guess. I have no evidence, and everything will be decided by King Jing."

Yang Gongren has become smarter and will not take the responsibility on himself. Especially for this kind of battle that concerns the overall situation, he will never urge Li Xiaogong to do so without evidence. What if it is true? He cannot bear this responsibility.

The main reason is that Yang Gongren believes that farmers now have land. People are determined. Even if Hao Xiaode really wants to rebel, no one will follow him anymore.

Li Xiaogong hesitated, and Yang Gongren said it very well. The key is that there are rumors that Hao Xiaode died in the internal strife between Li Mi and Zhai Rang, and it emerged again now.

However, Li Mi has been blocking the news very tightly, and those insiders are his personal soldiers. Whether Hao Xiaode died is still a question, and Li Xiaogong only felt a headache.

In fact, the best way is to send people to Yingchuan County to investigate whether there were any rebellions or rebellions, but it is probably too late to go in time. Li Xiaogong was afraid that Yang Yuanqing would increase his troops from Jiangxia. When he confirmed that everything was over, Jiangling City had been destroyed.

Li Xiaogong paced back and forth with his hands behind his back. He needed to make a decision. Should he send reinforcements? On the one hand, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and on the other hand, he was worried that it was the Sui army's plan to lead the snake out of the hole, which made it really difficult for him to make a decision.

At this time, Gao Shilian next to him said slowly: "Your Highness, have you forgotten the gold medal given to you by the Lord?"

Li Xiaogong suddenly remembered that the emperor asked Chai Shao to bring him a gold medal, with four words on it, "If I come in person", which means that he can decide everything and do not have to bear any responsibility.

But Gao Shilian meant to remind him that the importance of the Jingxiang Battle was related to the entire Tang Dynasty. He had to fight this battle, and even if he led a snake out of the cave, he would go. Once the Jiangxia army reinforced Jiangling and Jiangling City was broken, it would be difficult to recover the Jingxiang Battle.

This is not only a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but also the only opportunity. Li Xiaogong gritted his teeth and said, "I personally led 50,000 troops to reinforce Jiangling, and I must wipe out Yang Yuanqing's Sui army."

He said to Yang Gongren again: "If I go to Jiangling, I will ask Shangshu Yang to defend Jingxiang."

Yang Gongren knew that Li Xiaogong had made up his mind and could no longer persuade him, so he could only sigh and bow and said, "I wish to defend the city for Your Highness!"

.........

Xiangcheng County is located at the junction of Jingyang County and Nanyang County. This area is high in mountains and densely forested and sparsely populated. The county is surrounded by mountains. An official road passes around the county and leads directly to the north.

About ten miles west of the official road, there is a valley three miles wide and ten miles long, called the Tibetan Bing Valley. Legend has it that Cao Cao once hid soldiers here and was named after it.

However, at this time, there was indeed an army of 30,000 people in the Zangbing Valley. It had been stationed in the valley for several days, and the tents were densely packed with the valley.

In front of a big tent, Gao Zikai sat on a stone and read the military book with all his attention. This was the military book lent to him by Xu Shiji. In recent months, he loved military books. He had decided to transform from a powerful general to a Confucian general, both civil and military, and Xu Shiji was his master.

"General Gao!"

A side general walked up with a smile, "I'm reading a military book again!"

"I am bored when I read military books to relieve my boredom."

Gao Zi smiled and asked, "Is there anything wrong with me?"

The general was a little embarrassed: "Brothers, please ask me when it will take to go north. Everyone is really tired of staying in the valley, and everyone is worried about the bandits in Yingchuan County."

Gao Zi smiled sly, "When did I say I was going north?"

The side general was stunned, "Don't the general suppress Hao Xiaode's rebellion?"

"What kind of rioters? Hao Xiaode has long been dead, but the news is blocked very strictly. Those who have long died can only rebel in the underworld."

The general was completely confused, and he scratched the back of his head, "General Gao, I don't understand what you mean."

Gao Zikai smiled slightly, "This is a strategy, do you understand? The soldiers are not disgusted with fraud. If we don't leave Nanyang County, how could the Sui army reinforce Jiangling?"

The general suddenly realized that he understood a little, "Then...when will we go back to Nanyang?"

"Wait! Wait for the order from the general manager, be patient and there will be news soon."

As soon as he finished speaking, a rapid sound of horse hooves came from the entrance of the valley in the distance. Gao Zi stood up and intuition told him that the news he was waiting for was coming.

A cavalry of a report soldier rushed over and rushed to Gao Zikai and turned over and dismounted, knelt down on one knee to report, "Report to General Gao, the general manager urgently!"

The informed soldier presented an order to Gao Zikai. Gao Zikai opened the order and looked at it, laughed, and said to his personal soldiers: "Notify all generals and prepare to go south to Xiangyang!"

.........

At night, a thin layer of light fog enveloped the Yangtze River. Generally, there were few boats on the Yangtze River, let alone such foggy nights.

But tonight, Jiangxia City was a bit abnormal. The riverside was full of people standing on the boat. There were densely populated people in the dark, with more than 40,000 people. More than 300 large river ships were moored on the river. This was the original Xiaoliang army's fleet.

A group of soldiers walked towards the boat on the board. On a high ground, Du Fuwei was staring at the soldiers on board. At this time, he turned to the deputy general Li Hai'an and said, "General Li, I will leave Jiangxia City to you. Although there are 20,000 troops to defend the city, I hope you don't care at all. Jiangxia City is a major logistics site in the Sui army, so you must not lose it."

Li Hai'an was also a general of the Sui army and was arranged by Yang Yuanqing as Du Fuwei's deputy general. This time Du Fuwei was ordered to march into Xiangyang and cooperated with Xu Shiji to attack Xiangyang City. Yang Yuanqing appointed Li Hai'an to lead 20,000 troops to guard Jiangxia City.

Li Hai'an nodded, "Please rest assured General Du, Jiangxia City is absolutely foolproof. No matter who comes to challenge it, I will not be able to defend it."

"Then I'm relieved, I hope we will meet in triumph."

Du Fuwei smiled slightly, urged his horse to rush down the high ground, and headed towards the big ship by the river.

"General Du, the journey is smooth!"

Two hours later, all 40,000 troops boarded the ship, the fleet started, crossed the river, entered the Han River, and rushed towards Xiangyang City along the Han River.

.........

As Yang Yuanqing said, Jingxiang was originally one, and those who did not plan the overall situation were not enough to plan a territory. When Yang Yuanqing used a plan to transfer Li Xiaogong's reinforcements out of Xiangyang City, the troops in Xiangyang City were only 30,000. At this time, the 40,000 Sui army in Nanyang County and the 40,000 army in Jiangxia County were all moving towards Xiangyang City, and they would attack Xiangyang City with an army of 80,000.

At the same time as Du Fuwei's army left Jiangxia City and headed for Xiangyang City, another three thousand cavalry who came from Yiling County crossed the river and arrived at the Sui army camp. Yang Yuanqing had been waiting for them for a long time.

The general who commanded the army was General Liu Tao, the general of Wang Junguo. He was led by soldiers to the front of the camp gate. Yang Yuanqing immediately stood in front of the camp gate with dozens of generals.

In the camp, 15,000 cavalry were ready to set off at any time, without holding torches, only countless black shadows were faintly seen in the darkness.

It was the fourth hour, and it was the darkest time of night. No movements in the Sui army camp were seen on the top of the city.

Liu Tao quickly stepped forward and knelt down on one knee to salute, "I am humble to Liu Tao, see Your Highness!"

Yang Yuanqing waved his hand and smiled, "General Liu has worked hard all the way, please get up!"

Liu Tao stood up and said, "I brought three thousand cavalrymen, please ask the general to dispatch them."

Yang Yuanqing turned around and ordered Wang Junguo, "Part 3,000 troops into the ranks and prepare to set off together."

"Abide by the order!"

Wang Junguo rode a horse and followed his general Liu Tao quickly towards the three thousand cavalry. He led the cavalry team into the barracks and placed the three thousand cavalry in the team. At this point, the 18,000 cavalry were fully ready.

Yang Yuanqing turned around and took a deep look at the dark Jiangling city wall not far away, and resolutely issued an order: "The whole army sets off!"

Teams of cavalry left the Sui army camp, and the huge cavalry team followed Yang Yuanqing toward the north...

On the top of the city, Liu Fangzhi, the general of the Tang army, stood in front of the battlements, staring at the Sui army camp for a long time. His eyes were very complicated, and no one knew what he was thinking?

At this time, a personal soldier rushed over, "General, the housekeeper of the mansion has come and said he has something to look for the general."

Liu Fangzhi was stunned. Why are you here to do when you are so late?

He turned around and walked towards the city. The butler of the Liu Mansion under the city was waiting for him. When Liu Fangzhi came down to the city, the butler hurried forward and said, "Master, please come back."

"What's the matter?" Liu Fangzhi asked with some displeasure. He had never come to him so late.
Chapter completed!