After daybreak, the rain gradually subsided and turned into a continuous drizzle. Although the rain is scarce, it can be caught in the northwest wind, and when it rolls up on the body, it hurts like a steel needle.

Li Keyong invited Wang Jingchong to breakfast, and at the same time sent people to the city to shout and persuade him to surrender. Although he had tens of thousands of troops in his hands, if he could avoid unnecessary casualties, Li Keyong was still willing to accept surrender. It's a pity that the people in the city don't appreciate the kindness used by Li Ke. This time, although the shouting Shatuo cavalry was superb in horsemanship, the archers in the city were even more exquisite, although the riding skills were hidden one hundred and twenty steps away and shouted, but they did not expect that the archer captain at the head of the city directly operated the eight oxen and three bows at the head of the city with a crossbow spear with a thick arm, and directly nailed him to death in the mud with men and horses.

This crossbow caused a burst of loud cheers on the city, but it startled the Zhao army and the Jin army, who had just eaten breakfast and were lazily preparing for battle, and some of the soldiers who were close to them hurriedly retreated, and several of them retreated too fast, falling directly into the muddy ground, embarrassed, attracting waves of ridicule from the city.

Li Ke looked at all this coldly, turned his head to the guards next to him and said: "After the city is broken, cut off the tongues of all the defenders and sell them to the grassland to herd sheep for the Khitans!" ”

Before the words could be spoken, a group of cavalry galloped forward covered in mud, and in front of them was the sentinel who went out to patrol and guard, and behind was a general with a silver mask. Li Keyong's face changed slightly, he already recognized that the knight wearing the silver mask was the head of the guards beside the wife Liu who stayed in Yanmen.

Jing Niang suddenly arrived at this time, and it must have happened something important in Yanmen.

The cavalry ignored the order of the battalion not to gallop and galloped forward. The war horse rushed straight in front of Li Keyong and took a few steps. The knight reined in the reins of his horse. The warhorse man stood up, his flying hooves almost kicking him in the face.

Jing Niang jumped off the horse and said hurriedly: "Yanmen urgent report, five days ago, Li Jing personally led 50,000 soldiers and horses to the military capital pass, and the 30,000 defenders of the converging army capital pass suddenly came out of the pass and entered Yanzhou. The Qin army of 80,000 came out of the pass, and the momentum was like a bamboo. General Li Kexiu couldn't resist and lost Yanzhou five days ago. Four days ago, I lost Xinzhou, and three days ago, when my wife asked me to come to report the news, I lost Ruzhou again! ”

Li Keyong was stunned on the spot, a little unable to believe Jing Niang's words. After a moment, he strode forward and ripped the mask off Jing Niang's face. The mask was taken off, and inside was a very beautiful woman. Many people have never seen Jing Niang's face, but Li Keyong certainly has seen it. This time, he had no excuse to deceive himself.

It's true! How can this be true?

Dressed in a draped suit, the three generals Shatuo, Li Siyuan, Li Sizhao, and Li Cunzhang, who were coming to ask for the siege, were all stunned when they heard the words.

"The previous news did not say that the Qin army was ambushed and besieged by the Khitan. Did Li Jing lead his troops out of the fortress to rescue? Why is it that Li Jing suddenly went out of the army to attack the front of the mountain? Li Siyuan's face changed drastically. Staring at Jing Niang, he asked loudly.

Jing Niang held the sword in her hand and said in a tired voice: "The information I found earlier is indeed true, but when I left to report the news, my wife had just received the latest news from the grassland. Li Jing's Northern Expeditionary Force did not attack the Khitan at all, they only sent a small number of cavalry, bluffed, and roamed the Khitan grassland under the banner of a large army, attracting the attention of the Khitans. In fact, Li Jing's Northern Expeditionary troops and horses quietly attacked the tent of the Dongxi Khanting and raided the Dongxi people who were already attached to the Khitan. I heard that the Dongxi people were defeated, and more than 20,000 people were killed in the battle, and the Dongxi king Shise, his Khitan wife and children were all captured. ”

"What a trick to tune the tiger away from the mountain, and the strategy of striking the east and the west!"

Li Ke bit his lip tightly and said in a low voice with his teeth.

"What about the 20,000 horses we went to the grassland, do you have any news to report back?" Li Keyong asked.

Jing Niang shook her head, "General Li Quanzhong has not been in contact with Yanmen for ten days, and we have lost news of him!" ”

Everyone was silent, and a very bad thought came to everyone's hearts. Li Jing killed Dongxi, who was attached to the Khitan, and Li Quanzhong's 20,000 men went to the Khitan for reinforcements and were about to settle the Xi territory.

"Maybe it's just a temporary inconvenience to contact, don't worry too much." Li Siyuan persuaded on the side.

Perhaps, Lick thought to himself.

However, now whether Li Qianzhong's 20,000 horses were ambushed by Li Jing is not the most important thing, the most shocking news is that Li Jing suddenly sent troops to attack the front of the mountain, and he has captured three states in a row. No, it was the news three days ago, Li Jing took the three states, and now three days have passed, who knows how bad the situation is. It only took Li Jing three days to capture Sanzhou, and now another three days have passed, maybe Li Jing has captured Wu and Wei and directly attacked Yanmen.

After all, Li Jing had fought with them Shatuo in Daibei at the beginning, and he was almost undefeated. Now that Li Kexiu in front of the mountain has been defeated, and Yanmen is all run by a woman from the Liu family, can he stop Li Jing's army from attacking?

Li Ke's intentions were chaotic, after the first anti-Tang Dynasty, the battle of Daibei, the battle between Shatuo and the eight towns of the imperial court, after the most Lu they were defeated, losing the roots of Yun and Shuo Erzhou. It was not easy for Shatuo to make a comeback, if he lost his hometown again this time, it would really be an unbearable injury for Shatuo people.

"Return to Shiyanmen immediately!" Li Ke showed the blue tendons on his forehead, and his heart was shocked, frightened, and angry. Now that he knows Li Jing's movements, Li Jing did not go to the grassland, but went to raid his lair. At the moment, Li Keyong actually has two choices, first, continue the previous plan, Li Jing fights Li Jing's, he attacks him, and Chengde Town continues to attack Mozhou, and then attacks Hejian, taking advantage of Li Jing's absence in Hebei, to defeat Mo Ying. Or, immediately return to Hedong to rescue your roots. After all, although Yizhou was captured, Shatuo's foundation was in Daibei. If Yanmen is not guaranteed, Yizhou will never be able to defend it. Even if Mozhou is defeated and Hedong is lost, the gains outweigh the losses.

Of course, there are two options for returning to Yanmen. The first is to return the same way, return to Yizhou, return to Ulzhou from Flying Fox Road, and rescue Yanmen. But this road is too long, and it takes a big circle to drive back.

In addition, there is another road for him to choose, that is, to lead his troops directly into Zhuozhou, through Youzhou, to reach the military capital pass, and capture the military capital pass. Then follow the route of Li Jing's attack. Kill him from behind. The road is close. Moreover, Li Jing entered Yanmen Town with a total of only 80,000 soldiers and horses, and some defenders had to be left behind to close the newly occupied land. And he joined forces with Chengde Town, there are 100,000 people. If they can capture the military capital pass, they can block Li Jing in the territory of Yanmen Town, close the door and beat the dogs.

However, this plan is too risky, although the Shatuo army once only took one night to capture the military capital pass from Li Quanzhong's hands, but the military capital pass is the two major gateway passes of Youzhou, if it can't be captured by surprise. And to attack, it is by no means easy. Another point, from here to the military capital, they have to pass through Zhuozhou and Youzhou, and if the soldiers and horses of the two places intercept them, then they may be entangled here.

Is it adventurous or steady?

It was related to the foundation of Shatuo, and Li Keyong chose to return the same way after the worst incident, he didn't dare to take that risk. If he is dragged here, then the last shortcut will become a dead end, and Yanmen Town may be breached. He didn't dare to gamble all his net worth.

Now Li Keyong can only pray, hoping that his wife Liu can lead the soldiers and horses left behind. Stick to Yanmen until he leads his troops back to the rescue.

"A certain army will return to Yanmen with you!" In the face of Li Keyong's request, Wang Jingchong agreed very boldly. Chengde Town and Yanmen Town share the pressure of Li Jing, they are cold and need each other. Li Keyong is in difficulty, Wang Jingchong has to save it, otherwise, as soon as Li Keyong falls, it will be his turn to become a town next.

"Throw away all unnecessary things, we will return to the division lightly, and we must rush back to Yanmen as quickly as possible!" Lick lowered his path with a wave of his fist, and was in a hurry to get angry, making his mouth foam.

The Zhao and Jin coalition forces retreated in a hurry like a tide, leaving behind a wreckage everywhere.

Li Keyong was very anxious to rush back to Yanmen immediately, but the bad road made them slow to move.

"This kind of speed is not good, absolutely not!" Li Ke shouted in a hoarse voice, he now regretted that he had not listened to his wife's advice and had the courage to send troops into Hebei. As a result, he was happy for a long time, and he was complacent to take Yizhou, but in a blink of an eye, he lost three states, and even the nest may have been lost.

He was completely mobilized by Li Jing, exhausted and embarrassed, but he didn't dare not save him!

"My lord, it's better for me to lead the cavalry back to Yanmen first!" Li Siyuan clenched his fists and said to Li Keyong, he was also flustered at this time, but what he was worried about was not Yanmen Town, or whether Yanmen Town could hold on was not what he was most worried about. After hearing that Li Jing had invaded Yanmen Town, his mind was full of her shadow, and he was afraid that the last goodbye would be forever. He wanted to go back right away and see her safe immediately.

Li Keyong nodded, "You and I will lead the cavalry back to the rescue first, and Cunzhang and Sizhao will lead the infantry to come later." ”

Wang Jingchong and Li Keyong gathered all the cavalry, a total of 30,000 cavalry, and they would be led by Li Keyong and Li Siyuan to immediately rush back to Yanmen. Of the remaining 70,000 infantry, the two armies had to leave a part to guard the newly conquered Yiding Erzhou, and the remaining 30,000 infantry were led by Wang Jingchong, Li Cunzhang and Li Sizhao and then rushed to Yanmen.

Three days later, Li Keyong led the cavalry to the Flying Fox Pass at the foot of Taihang Mountain, and met the flying horse messenger again. This is the first time I have encountered in three days, and on the road in the past few days, Li Keyong has been able to meet several messengers from Yanmen every day.

The situation in Yanmen Town is very critical now, very critical!

Li Jing has completely annihilated Li Kexiu's 20,000 soldiers and horses, completely occupied the four prefectures of Fu, Xin, Confucian, and Wushan, and the troops have entered Ulzhou.

Mrs. Liu personally rushed to Ulzhou with 20,000 soldiers and horses to resist the enemy, but as of yesterday's news, most of Ulzhou had still fallen into the hands of Li Jing. Now the Liu family is sitting in Zhigu Pass, Ulzhou, refusing to defend the pass, struggling to support, and is anxiously waiting for him to go back.

Li Siyuan brought the messenger to his horse, and he asked impatiently, "How is the situation on Madame's side?" ”

The messenger gasped and reported that the situation in Ulzhou was fine, the Qin army had stopped its offensive since the day before yesterday, and the Qin and Jin armies were bounded by Zhigu Pass in Ulzhou and did not fight again. This news made Li Keyong breathe a sigh of relief, and the messengers reported another news, a terrible news.

Li Qianzhong, who has lost contact for half a month, finally has news, but it is bad news. Li Qianzhong was indeed as Li Keyong feared, and encountered an ambush in Xi territory by the Northern Expeditionary force of the Qin army that had defeated Dongxi. The 20,000 Shatuo army going north was ambushed and defeated, Li Qianzhong was killed on the spot, more than half of the 20,000 were killed and wounded, and the rest were basically captured, and only a few hundred people fled back to Yanmen to bring back this bad news.

This is undoubtedly another major blow to Li Keyong and the Shatuo people, the three elders of the Shatuo clan, Li Guochang, Li Youjin, and Li Quanzhong, all of whom have died. Moreover, 20,000 horses were wiped out in Xi Realm, even if this army of soldiers and horses was not Shatuo's elite, it was a huge blow to Shatuo, especially at this time.

"Why Li Jing suddenly stopped attacking and gave us a chance to breathe is a bit unreasonable. It stands to reason that Li Jing's momentum is strong, and although his wife led his troops to defend Ulzhou, Li Jing's soldiers and horses completely dominated, and he should not suddenly stop his actions at this time. Li Siyuan forced himself to calm down, and then thought of a doubt.

Li Keyong also came back to his senses, which is indeed a doubt. Li Jing's use of soldiers has always been cunning, making it difficult for people to guess his true intentions. But once Li Jing's intentions were revealed, it was almost unstoppable at that time.

The same is true for this operation, at the beginning, Li Jing made a lot of tricks to confuse the other party. But once he attacked, it was too late for Li Keyong to come to the rescue. And right now, Li Jing obviously still has offensive ability, and his offensive momentum has not yet ended, why did he suddenly stop at the Ulzhou Zhigu Pass? He can go all the way to Daizhou, or even to the city of Yanmen.

What does Li Jing want to do? Perhaps, this is another conspiracy by Li Jing?

"My lord, Li Jing's use of soldiers is elusive and cunning. He said that he would send troops to the north to attack the Khitan, but the target was Dongxi and our soldiers and horses going north. Li Jing said that he would lead his troops to rescue the besieged soldiers and horses of the Northern Expedition, but he raided General Li Kexiu. Now that Li Jing suddenly stood still, I always felt a sense of danger. Li Jing will never stop his army, he must be brewing some conspiracy waiting for us! Li Siyuan rubbed his head and said with some pain.

"What could his conspiracy be?" Li Ke pondered bitterly.

"Turn the tiger away from the mountain!" Li Keyong and Li Siyuan shouted almost at the same time, which startled the guards next to them and confused.

Li Keyong and Li Siyuan looked at each other, and they both saw the horror in the eyes of both sides. If it's really as they guessed, then it's really a big deal.

"Datong Army!" Li Ke said in a hateful voice, "Li Jing deliberately weakened the momentum of the attack in Ulzhou, and he was luring Yunniang to lead his troops to the rescue."

Li Siyuan nodded, "The envoy of the Datong Army, the governor of Anqing, Jingcun, and the governor of Yunzhou, Mi Haiwan, the governor of Sagar, and the governor of Shuozhou, and the governor of Qibizhang, they were originally my subordinates of Shatuo, but they all betrayed us later." Since we returned to Daibei, they are the ones we fear the most. Moreover, they have always had a good relationship with Li Jing, and they were all under Li Jing's command during the Battle of Daibei. Now the three departments of Datong must have secretly colluded with Li Jing, Li Jing is deliberately luring his wife to divide his troops to rescue Ulzhou in order to divide the soldiers of Yanmen. Right now, maybe the three departments of Datong have already sent troops to raid Yanmen! ”

Li Ke gritted his teeth, his heart was terrified, if this was the case, Li Jing deliberately lured his wife to divide his troops to defend Ulzhou, and he dragged his wife in Ulzhou. and secretly let the three departments of the Datong Army behind Yanmen send troops to raid Yanmen, which is too ruthless.

"Quick, we have to rush back to Yanmen immediately, maybe it's still too late!" Li Ke squeezed the horse's belly with a fierce grip and galloped wildly, anxious! (To be continued......)