In Hedong County, Li Yuan's army has besieged Hedong City for nearly half a month, with heavy casualties, but Hedong City is standing majestically, and Qu Tutong defends Hedong City like an iron bucket.

In the face of the defense of the famous general Qu Tutong, in addition to besieging most of the troops in Hedong City, Li Yuan was indeed at a loss, and more importantly, he could not afford to delay the time, he had received the news that Yang Xuangan sent 30,000 troops to garrison Pujin Pass on the other side of the Yellow River, and Luoyang was also deploying troops to prepare to support Hedong City, and Liu Wuzhou began to attack Taiyuan, internal and external troubles, so that Li Yuan faced an embattled prisoner situation.

Inside the big tent, Li Yuan paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, his brows locked into the word 'one', he walked to the door of the tent, and couldn't help but glance outside the tent, Hedong City was clearly visible in the distance, which made him sigh.

Hedong City is famous for its tallness and solidity in the Central Plains, and Yang Liang's army was unable to capture the city back then, so he had to pretend to be a woman and enter the city to seize the city, but Qu Tutong obviously would not give him any more chances.

'What to do?' ’

Li Yuan was very anxious, but there was nothing to do, at this time, there was a sound of running outside the tent, and then the soldiers reported outside the tent, "Qi Tang Gong, Longxi Gong has an urgent matter to see!" ”

Duke Longxi is the eldest son Li Jiancheng, Li Yuan nodded, "Come in!" ”

After a while, Li Jiancheng walked in quickly, followed by a person, it was Sima Dugu Huaien under Li Jiancheng's account.

"Father, Wynne has something important to report to his father."

Li Yuan glanced at Dugu Huaien and smiled reluctantly: "Is there something wrong?" ”

Dugu Huaien smiled slightly, "I came to take Hedong County." ”

Li Yuan's spirits perked up, and he hurriedly asked, "Is there any way?" ”

Dugu Huaien took out a letter from his arms and handed it to Li Yuan, "This is a letter from the head of my family, Duke Tang will know it when you see it." ”

It turned out to be a letter written by Dugu Zhen, Li Yuan was puzzled, he took the letter and read it, his eyes slowly lit up, and he said with great joy: "But really? ”

Dugu Huaien nodded. "There is absolutely no problem, the Dugu family will be loyal, as long as I can enter the city, I will take Hedong City within three days."

"Good!"

Li Yuan immediately had a plan in his heart, so he ordered: "Order Liu Hongji to lead an army of 10,000 to prepare to cross the river to attack Pujin Pass, and the rest of the army will follow me south to attack Tongguan." ”

Li Yuan divided his troops into two routes, leaving only a small part of the army to Liu Hongji, and he personally led the army to withdraw from the siege of Hedong City. Attack Tongguan in the south.

Hedong City was besieged for half a month. The people were poor and the soldiers were lacking, and Qu Tutong confirmed that the besieging army had gone, so he opened the northern city. Let some of the merchants go out of the city, and ordered the right deputy general Yao Junsu to go to Yuxiang County to collect grain, in order to replenish the source of soldiers, Tutong sent people to recruit young people into the city, Dugu Huaien pretended to be a young peasant, was recruited into the city, received a pair of armor, and became a soldier defending the city.

At night, Dugu Huaien came to the camp of Sang Xianhe, the deputy general of Qu Tutong, and said to his own soldiers: "Report to General Sang quickly, just say that Dugu's family is coming." ”

After a while, Sang Xianhe rushed out. He recognized Dugu Huaien at a glance, "Is it General Huaien?" Why do you look like this? ”

Without waiting for Dugu Huaien to explain, he pulled Dugu Huaien by the hand, "Come in!" ”

Sang Xianhe is over forty years old this year, and he is an old general, and his father and uncle are Dugu Xin's generals. After his father died, Sang Xianhe grew up with the Dugu family paying grain and rice on a monthly basis, and later relied on the relationship of the Dugu family to enter the palace as a guard, and rose to today's position step by step.

Dugu Huaien took out the letter from the head of the family and handed it to him. Xianhe looked at it and nodded. "Since the family wants me to surrender to the Duke of Tang, I should obey my fate, in fact, the generals under Qu Tutong all have their own thoughts, and the people who are truly loyal to the Sui Dynasty are just Qu Tutong and Yao Junsu, Yao Junsu just went to Yuxiang County to collect grain, if you want to break the city, it will be tonight."

Dugu Huaien was overjoyed, and hurriedly said: "Actually, Tang Gong's army has not gone far, General Sang can quickly send someone to inform Tang Gong." ”

As soon as he finished speaking, the soldiers outside the tent reported, "General Sang, Marshal Qu Tu asked General Sang to go over to discuss the military situation, and the marshal is on the city tower." ”

Sang Xianhe nodded, "Huai'en sit down for a while, I'll come when I go." ”

Sang Xianhe quickly left the camp tent, went to the city, went to the city, only to see Qu Tutong standing at the head of the city, staring at the direction of the Yellow River, Hedong City is only ten miles away from the Yellow River, the bridge has been demolished by Yang Xuangan's army on the other side, if it is daytime, you can see the Yellow River crossing, but now it is night, the night is dark, there are no stars and moons, and it is dark outside the city.

"See the big handsome!" Sang Xianhe stepped forward to give a salute.

Qu Tutong nodded, pointed to the direction of the Yellow River and said: "I got the situation of the scouts just now, Li Yuan's 10,000 troops are laying a pontoon bridge by the Yellow River, I am thinking, this may be a fighter." ”

Sang Xianhe smiled bitterly and said: "Marshal, Yang Xuangan on the other side is also a rebel, wouldn't it be better to simply let Li Yuan's army enter the pass and let them kill each other?" ”

Qu Tutong sighed slightly: "Yang Xuangan is just a mountain pheasant, with a few long feathers, he thinks he is a phoenix, he has to be in the pass and is not afraid, I can capture it in a battle sooner or later, but Li Yuan is a dragon among people, if he gets the pass, he will be like a dragon into the sea, and he must not be allowed to enter the pass." ”

Qu Tutong turned back to Sang Xianhe and said, "I want you to lead the troops and horses of your headquarters to attack Li Yuan's army laying the pontoon bridge at night, are you willing to take the order?" ”

Qu Tutong came from Jiangdu, but Sang Xianhe was sent by King Yue of Luoyang, and the two were not a faction, so Qu Tutong was quite polite to Sang Xianhe and his words.

Sang Xianhe frowned, "The marshal has an order, I should have obeyed, why am I not good at night fighting, and the soldiers are tired, I will attack Li Yuanjun at night, I am afraid that I will miss the marshal." ”

Qu Tutong knew that he was unwilling, and he was extremely dissatisfied in his heart, so he said: "Then you defend the city, and I will attack Li Yuan's army at night." ”

Sang Xianhe was overjoyed in his heart, and hurriedly gave a deep salute, "I must stick to the city and wait for the triumphant return of the marshal." ”

Qu Tutong didn't have any disagreement with Sang Xianhe, he defended the city with himself for half a month, and he worked very hard to hold the city, if he wanted to surrender Li Yuan, he would have surrendered a long time ago, Qu Tu informed him that he was just mediocre, and he had no ability to fight and sneak attack, so he no longer forced him, personally ordered three thousand cavalry, opened the city gate and ran to the Yellow River, Qu Tutong just left, Sang Xianhe coldly ordered: "Close the city gate, all the generals come to my tent to discuss matters!" ”

Qu Tutong led the army all the way to gallop, sneak attack night battle is what he is best at, he touched Li Yuanjun's big tent, and was not in a hurry to attack, but to observe the movement, at this moment, a scout rushed to report: "Marshal, the south found that the brigade was killing this side, there were tens of thousands of people." ”

As soon as the words fell, the other party's camp sounded, and suddenly the arrows were fired, hundreds of cavalry were caught off guard, and they were shot to the ground, Qu Tutong was taken aback, the other party repaired the Yellow River pontoon bridge is a plan to lure the enemy, he was fooled, Qu Tutong immediately drank the order, and quickly retreated to the city.

Three thousand cavalry turned around and ran towards Hedong City, and after a while, the army rushed back to the city, and Qu Tutong shouted: "I am Qu Tutong, open the door quickly on the city!" ”

Sang Xianhe appeared at the head of the city and sneered: "General Qu Tu, the general trend of the Sui Dynasty has gone, I discussed with the soldiers and unanimously decided to surrender to Tang Gong, and those who know the times are Junjie, I advise you to surrender too!" ”

Qu Tu was so angry that he almost fell off his horse, he pointed to the city and scolded: "Sang Xianhe, I will cut you with a thousand knives one day!" ”

Sang Xianhe waved his hand, "Release the arrow!" ”

At this time, the chasing soldiers in the south have been killed, and there are tens of thousands of troops in the north to intercept them, the two armies are attacked, Qu Tutong is outnumbered, the army is defeated, he only led more than 100 personal soldiers to kill out of the encirclement, and fled to the north.

The day was getting brighter, and Qu Tutong had nothing to do, so he had to go to Yuxiang County to find Yao Junsu first, Yao Junsu still had 3,000 people under him, and they could join forces and retreat to Hanoi County.

Qu Tutong led more than 100 people to a hill, there is a small town called Jiang Gongji three miles ahead, you can find food there, at this moment, the drums on the hill are loud, rushing down an army from the mountain, and from the front and back of the mountain each rushing out an army, there are tens of thousands of people, surround Qu Tutong's more than 100 people.

Qu Tutong pulled out his knife and shouted: "The eldest husband will die on the battlefield and serve the court!" ”

The pro-soldiers drew their swords one after another, followed Qu Tutong to kill, Li Yuan watched them from the top of the mountain, and ordered: "Don't kill, you must catch them alive!" ”

He and Qu Tutong are old friends, and he has always admired this person, and this person is a famous general in Guanzhong, if he wins, he will win 100,000 troops.

Li Yuan's army besieged Qu Tutong to the death, Qu Tutong killed hundreds of people, covered in blood, and finally the war horse was shot down and exhausted.

Li Yuan urged him to step forward and smiled: "Qu Tugong, if you don't descend at this time, when will you stay?" ”

Qu Tutong's fighting spirit had been lost, and he sighed, "I'm not as good as Zhang Xutuo!" ”

He knelt down on one knee and said with tears in his eyes: "Qu Tutong is willing to serve Tang Gong!" ”

Li Yuan was overjoyed, personally helped him up, took off his battle robe and put it on him, and said to others: "I have to Qu Tugong, better than 100,000 troops!" ”

Li Yuan then ordered Qu Tutong to be Li Shimin's account of Zuo Changshi, to assist Li Shimin to seize Guanzhong, Yao Junsu, the deputy general who was in Yuxiang County to collect grain, heard that Hedong City was lost, Qu Tutong surrendered to Li Yuan, he knew that Yuxiang County was dilapidated and low, and could not stop Li Yuan's army, so he abandoned the county seat and fled to Hanoi County with 2,000 troops.

Chang'an, Yang Xuangan has been insomnia for three consecutive days, the news that Li Yuan's army is going south to prepare to seize Guanzhong has brought him great pressure, making him irritable, his temper is particularly hot, and the guards made a slight mistake, so they ordered a heavy staff, which frightened the people around him trembling, and no one dared to persuade him.

Yang Xuangan's worries are reasonable, he has captured Guanzhong for almost half a year, but no one in the gates of Guanlong is willing to come to him, for this reason, he found an excuse to copy the home of the descendants of Zhao Gui, one of the Eight Pillars, in an attempt to kill the chicken and set an example, but unexpectedly, the Guanlong family not only ignored him, but his army instead had more than 10,000 people rebelled, claiming to avenge the Zhao Gui family, killing Yang Zhi, the nephew he sent to guard Chencang County, and surrendered to Dou Kang, which made Yang Xuan angry, but he was helpless, and did not dare to touch the Guanlong family again.

That night, Yang Xuangan was thinking about the deployment of the army in the room, and there was a report from the soldiers outside the door: "Duke Chu, Mr. Xie has something important to see!" ”