Forty thousand Sui troops marched west along the Han River Valley, crossing mountains and winding west along the way. This Sui army was composed of 20,000 cavalry and 20,000 infantry, and was first reorganized by the surrendered troops of Liu Wuzhou and Dou Jiande.

Later, it was broken and reorganized several times, especially in Hanoi County. After Yang Yuanqing strongly rectified military disciplines and after great wars, the Sui army was gradually built into an elite army.

The 40,000 Sui army was in great power. Along the way, Fangling County and Xicheng County surrendered. Finally, the army stationed west of Ankang County, at the junction of Xicheng County and Hanchuan County.

The Sui army was a vast valley more than thirty miles long and more than ten miles wide. Yue River, a tributary of the Han River, flowed through the valley. The river was very shallow, and the deepest was only at the waist of the people, and it was clear and clear. Forty thousand troops were stationed on both sides of the Yue River.

It was noon, and the sun was scorching in Heyu. Although it was mid-spring, it felt stuffy and unbearable. The soldiers hid in the tent to rest, rested, and were waiting for the order to set off. In the tent of the central army, Xu Shijizheng, deputy general Gao Zikai, and marching Sima Yao Jindong discussed military information together.

According to the order issued by Yang Yuanqing to them, Hanzhong must be taken down before April 20, and the Tang army in Bashu and Tang army in Guanzhong must be cut off from the retreat of the north and the Tang army in Guanzhong and the third day of the April 20th. It is now more than half a month left.

Although there was plenty of time, Xu Shiji did not dare to be careless. He knew that Luo Yi was a general who was good at leading troops to fight, with nearly 20,000 troops. As the decisive battle of the Sui and Tang Dynasties was approaching, if the enemy was underestimated, it would have serious consequences to the entire battle situation. At that time, not only his Duke could not get it, but even his life could not be saved.

"This time we take Hanzhong, there are still seventeen days left before the time stipulated by Your Highness. There is still plenty of time. However, Nanzheng County is tall and strong, and commander Luo Yi has 20,000 troops to guard it. It is not easy to capture it. Let's take a look and decide the grand strategy first. How to fight this battle."

On the table in front of Xu Shiji was placed a map of the entire Hanzhong. They had no sand tables and could only rely on this terrain to deploy wars.

Gao Zi frowned and said, "Didn't the general manager tell me? The superiors attacked the city and attacked the city, and the attack was a last resort. Since that's the case, I think we should not consider siege first. We do not have heavy siege weapons. If we forcefully attack the city, there will definitely be heavy casualties. It is a pity that we have tried our best to train the cavalry and let them attack the city. It's better to think of other ways to lead the Tang army out of the city."

The marching Sima Yao Jindong also smiled and said, "General Gao said it well. In fact, there is a second sentence called "the second attack of diplomatic relations. Now the Sui Dynasty has won nine of its strength in the world. The Tang Dynasty is in a desperate situation. I think Luo Yi is not a person who believes in the truth. It is better for us to send an envoy to persuade him to surrender. If he is unwilling to surrender, we will trap him in the city. On the other hand, the Sui army cut off the road to Bashu and forced Hei Yi to go out of the city to rescue him. What do you think?"

"Good plan!"

Gao Zikai praised loudly. Yao Jindong's plan to force the Tang army out of the city to rescue him was touched by his heart. He quickly added: "Actually, Ziwu Road, Tangluo Road, Baoxi Road and Chencang Road, etc. all lead to Hanzhong Nanzheng. I heard that the Tang army was guarding these important intersections, so we simply pulled out these defenders one by one and replaced them with our army, as well as the Jiange Road, Micang Road and Yangba Road in the south. We also seized them and were controlled by the Sui army. In this way, Nanzheng City actually lost its strategic significance. Even if Luo Yi did not surrender, he would find it difficult to stick to the lonely city. He would inevitably leave the city to seize the road. Isn't it true that we were thinking?"

Xu Shiji pondered and said nothing. In fact, he heard that King Li Wuji of Qi was also in Hanzhong, and he didn't know whether the news was true. If the news was true, the situation would change.

At this moment, a report from a personal soldier came from outside the tent, "Report to the Chief Executive, the scout of Nanzheng has returned, and there is an emergency report."

Xu Shiqiang was happy, and he came by chance, and he kept saying, "So quickly and let the stranger come in!"

After a moment, a short and fat peddler was brought in. The man was named Wang Ji, a native of Hanzhong. He surrendered to the Sui army in the Battle of Jiangling and was selected as a scout. This man was short and fat, with a pair of flexible small eyes. He was 40 years old. In addition, he was a local, no one would have thought that he was a scout in the Sui army.

Although the scout named Wang Ji was short and fat, he looked very smart and full of peddlers. He stepped forward and knelt on one knee: "Go to the general manager!"

Xu Shiji waved his hand and smiled, "What news can I tell me?"

"Report to the general manager, the Tang army had 17,000 troops stationed in Nanzheng City. In addition to the 10,000 troops stationed by Hanzhong's own army, more than 7,000 people were retreating from Jiangling..."

"Jangling retreated?"

Xu Shiji pondered for a while and asked again: "Is Chai Shao in the city?"

"Qi reported to the general manager that Chai Shao is not in Nanzheng and has returned to Chang'an, but the King of Qi Li Wuji is in Nanzheng and robbed Luo Yi's military power."

Sure enough, Li Wuji was in the city, and Xu Shiji asked quickly: "Why use the word robbery? Isn't Luo Yi willing to hand over power?"

Wang Ji bowed and said, "I have a cousin in the military under Luo Yi, who works as a military officer in the Warlord. He heard that Luo Yi refused to hand over power, so he was almost killed by the King of Qi, and was forced to hand over power."

Xu Shiji and marching Sima Yao Jindong looked at each other. They both had a sense of intuition, and there was an opportunity in it.

Xu Shiji asked him again: "Then is your cousin still joining the army?"

"Report to the general manager, he is still a civil servant in the army. The King of Qi does not have many people. Apart from seizing Luo Yi's power, there are only a dozen other officers who have replaced Luo Yi's confidants, and the rest have not changed. My cousin is willing to serve the Great Sui Dynasty."

"good!"

Xu Shiji nodded in praise, "I will send an envoy to Nanzheng with you, and your cousin will introduce Luo Yi. After the matter is completed, I recommend your cousin to be the Sima of Hanchuan County and will also give you a great reward."

Wang Ji was overjoyed and hurriedly said, "I am willing to serve the general manager."

Xu Shiji gave Yao Jindong a few instructions and asked him to arrange this matter. Yao Jindong led the scout Wang Ji. At this time, Xu Shiji said to Gao Zi again: "You can lead 10,000 people to clear the garrisons of the Jiange Road, Micang Road and Yangba Road in the south, and occupy these three passes."

"Abide by the orders!"

Gao Zikai hesitated and asked again: "Did the Tang army sweep away the four passes in the north?"

Xu Shiji nodded, "The Tang army stationed in the area can be swept away, but the Sui army does not need to station troops. Give the northern road to the Tang army. We only care about the pass in the south."

"I understand and send troops immediately."

Gao Zi took the order and left. In the afternoon of the same day, Xu Shiji led the remaining 30,000 Sui troops to set up camps and fight to Nan Zheng Hao.

...

One of the important reasons why Luo Yi decided to surrender to the Tang Dynasty was that he wanted to regain troops and become independent in the Tang Dynasty, and even participate in the battle for the world. For this reason, he surrendered to the prince Li Jiancheng, who was short of generals, and became Li Jiancheng's right-hand man, and was highly valued by him.

Luo Yi's greatest hope is that he can lead his army to guard Bashu, so he can defend Bashu and become independent. If Bashu is not good, then Hehuang and Hexi can be independent. However, Li Yuan was extremely cautious about foreign ministers and did not give him any chance to guard Bashu.

Hehuang and Hexi were the sphere of influence of Li Shimin and Li Shentong, and the prince could not get in. In the end, Luo Yi was appointed as the commander of Tongguan, and the area east of Guanzhong was the sphere of influence of the prince.

Unexpectedly, in a battle between the Central Plains, Li Shimin took the opportunity to seize his military power in Tongguan. Fortunately, the prince made efforts, which allowed him to lead another 10,000 troops to guard Hanzhong and was named the general manager of Hanzhong.

However, although Prince Li Jiancheng valued him, he was also wary of him. He left his eldest son Luo Cheng in the East Palace as a general, nominally valued Luo Cheng, but in fact he was a hostage.

In the study, Luo Yi was strolling back and forth with great worries. From the day before yesterday, he was seized from the military power by King Li Wuji of Qi in an extremely domineering way. Under the pressure of King Qi, no one of his subordinates dared to resist, which forced Luo Yi to surrender. As long as he disobeyed a little, Li Wuji would kill him without hesitation.

At this time, Luo Pu's heart was in chaos. The Sui army arrived eastward, the King of Qi seized power, and the decisive battle between the Sui and Tang Dynasties was about to begin. Where should Luo Yi go?

He was not loyal to the Tang Dynasty. Since he surrendered to the Tang Dynasty, he had the intention to be independent, but he had never had this opportunity. But when he was able to support troops in Hanzhong, the general trend of the world was gradually becoming clear. He had no future to support troops in his own army, but instead he was a dead end.

As the situation in the south became increasingly unfavorable to the Tang Dynasty, Luo Yi's desire to use military independence had completely disappeared. At this time, he was upset and didn't know what to do?

The door opened, and the second son Luo Xin walked in. Luo Xin was only twenty-four years old this year. After his brother Luo Cheng entered the Eastern Palace as an official, he had been following his father.

Luo Xin is different from his brother Luo Cheng. He is a civil servant. He once appointed Wen Yanbo as his teacher. Later, he joined the Lu family and studied. He is knowledgeable. He is currently the account room under his father's account and is in charge of the clerks. However, as Li Wuji seized power, he also lost his official position.

"Father, can you say a few words?"

Luo Yi nodded, "Sit down!"

Luo Xin did not dare to sit down. He waited for his father to sit down, then stood beside him with his hands down, frowned and said, "Father, I have been thinking about the past two days that the prince was instructed by the prince to seize the power of his father?"

Luo Yi shook his head, "The King of Qi was just Qin Li Shimin who seized the military power of Bashu. With the strict order of his father, he dared not refuse to obey, so he had to give up the military power of Bashu and return to Chang'an. But he was unwilling to accept it, so he seized my military power. This should have nothing to do with the prince."

"But his father is obviously the prince's man, and Li Wuji wants to seize his father's power. What's that?"

Luo Yi sneered, "Li Wuji is just doing whatever he wants, there is no reason. Is he still having few sleeves? He fled before the battle in Taiyuan, resulting in Taiyuan loss. Yang Yuanqing was able to rise in Hedong and rob the concubine of a general in Tongguan, causing some internal division of the Tang army. Li Xiaogong returned in a crushing defeat. This person is a huge troublemaker, but the emperor repeatedly protected him, saying that if the tiger poison does not eat his son, in fact, half of the Tang Dynasty was destroyed in his hands."
Chapter completed!