Chapter 493 Chapter 496
Li Yuanji's side attacking troops were blocked by crossbow arrows and flying stone cannons two hundred paces away, making it difficult to advance an inch.

Behind the enemy's rear was another scene. The gates of Gaozhai were wide open. Nearly a thousand captured Tang soldiers and engineering soldiers and other non-combatants were threatened by Ba Fenghan, who had captured the horses, and nearly five hundred Feiyun riding arrows. Xia was driven out of the stronghold and ran desperately towards the cavalry formation in front of his side's horizontal case. Ba Fenghan took advantage of the cover of this group of people and led the Feiyun cavalry to kill them later.

Commanding the cavalry was Li Yuanji's confidant General Feng Liben. He watched Ba Fenghan attack, but he couldn't order his subordinates to shoot arrows at the enemy among the captives. The cavalry was chaotic by the captives, and the enemy, led by Ba Fenghan, cut the cavalry in two like a rainbow, and the captives scattered and fled, making it impossible for the cavalry to intercept and counterattack effectively, even though they outnumbered the opponent by ten More than double, still helpless.

Gaozhai flames rose, thick smoke rose into the sky, and fell into the sea of ​​flames, adding to the power of the breakout army.

Whoever is ruthless can survive.

Qu Tutong and his generals, who were located in the core area of ​​the whole army, suddenly realized that they were in a dangerous situation. Ba Fenghan came from behind, and Shen Mu's cavalry was in front of them. Both armies were unstoppable. The place where he commanded the flag was his target. With no other choice, 5000 infantry and cavalry of the Chinese army moved west to avoid it, hoping to join Li Yuanji's army and reorganize the army.

When the handsome flag moves, the whole army is affected.

The breakout army shouted in unison and fought hard to kill the enemy.

Ma Chang, Shan Xiongxin, and Guo Shancai marched forward inch by inch, while the Tang army retreated steadily.

Yang Gongqing knew it was time, and ordered Wang Xuanshu to withdraw all the troops staying in Luoyang.

Fireworks immediately erupted in the city. It turned out that dry firewood had been piled up on the city wall street. After being ignited, it ignited and burned, cutting off all the passages leading to the south wall of the city, making it impossible for the Tang army entering the city to pursue.

At this time, Shen Mu and Ba Fenghan finally joined forces at the core of the battlefield where corpses were strewn across the field and blood flowed like rivers. It is difficult, the enemy retreats without chaos, not to mention that Li Shimin's main army has not yet appeared, that is the most deadly threat to the breakout army.

The war was in full swing. The breakout army first demolished the three pontoon bridges across Yishui, and then retreated while fighting. Li Yuanji and Qu Tutong's coalition forces reorganized and assembled [-] infantry and cavalry, chasing after them.

When the breakout army withdrew to the hilltop position at the southern end of the tunnel, the whole army counterattacked immediately, together with Xu Ziling's new force, they finally held their ground, forcing Li Yuanji's army to retreat.

Attacked from Kaesong to break out of the siege. Up to this point in the battle, both sides had casualties. The number of the breakout army was reduced from 8000 to 5000. The number of casualties reached [-], and the three generals Wang Long, Xue Deyin, and Chang Jiang were lost.The Tang army suffered more than [-] casualties, which shows the brutality of the war.

Wang Xuanshu successfully sent a large number of breakout horses to the top of the mountain, including of course Xu Ziling's Wanli Ban and Ba Fenghan's Taklimakan. Avoid the enemy's interception and escape from the enemy's sphere of influence.

※※※

Shen Mu, Xu Ziling, Ba Fenghan and Yang Gongqing stood on the top of the hill, watching the situation of Li Yuanji's army from a distance under the dawn of the eastern sky.

All four of them were covered in blood, and they didn't know whether it was the enemy's blood or the blood drained from their own wounds.

Although they have successfully broken through so far, the four of them are all heavy-hearted, and feel like they are in danger from all sides.Until now, they still don't know where Li Shimin's army is.

After two hours of fierce fighting, the soldiers who broke out from the siege were exhausted, and it was difficult to cope with another fierce battle like a fierce tiger just now.

The fire in Luoyang City was extinguished, and the flag of the Tang Army was replaced on the top of the city, as if to show off their might to them.Fortunately, Gaozhai turned into a piece of scorched earth, which gave them a little sense of accomplishment in victory.

Although they knew that Li Shimin's strategy was to frustrate his sharpness first, exhaust his teacher and then pursue and intercept them, they still had no choice but to step into this trap, and now they are in the trap, waiting for the fate of being hunted and killed.

At this time, Ma Chang came to report that everything was ready and he could flee on the road at any time.

Ba Fenghan asked in a deep voice, "Is there any movement in the south?"

Ma Chang shook his head and said, "Everything is as usual. Li Shimin's main army will not lie in ambush ahead. As long as our horses are fast enough, we can escape Yiluo Heyuan before Shou'an and Yique's Tang army complete the blockade."

They set up sentry posts in the high places in the south, and any troubles on either side can't be hidden from their eyes and ears.

Yang Moqing sighed: "This is exactly Li Shimin's strategy. He sees us fleeing to the south. After breaking through, he must pass through the Heyuan pass between Shou'an and Yique day and night, and he can pass through the waterway when we are exhausted. Any point intercepts us, while Li Yuanji and Qu Tutong block our retreat, trapping us between the Yi and Luo rivers."

Shen Mu stared at Luoshui on the left, and said decisively: "The breakout battle is a war of comparing the speed of the two sides. Whoever moves faster will be the winner. We will set off immediately and go south along the west bank of Yishui River. We will be responsible for the delay."

Ma Chang took the order and went.

Xu Ziling said indifferently: "Li Shimin is in the city."

Everyone was stunned.

Yang Gongqing was surprised: "Why does Ziling think so?"

Xu Ziling said: "Even if Li Shimin guessed that we would flee to the south, he couldn't realize his guess. With his always steady style, the best strategy is to keep the same and respond to all changes. After grasping our escape route, gather water in the city. The division fleet, after dawn, divided the navy into two, and opened the gates to chase us from the Yi and Luo waters. At that time, the initiative was all in his hands, and we had to deal with the Tang army in Shou'an and Yique. There are obstacles, there is no way out, we are only left to be beaten."

Ba Fenghan nodded in agreement and said, "Zi Ling's words make sense!"

Xu Ziling continued: "After the obstacles on the two rivers are removed, it will be the time for Li Shimin's naval forces to dispatch."

Before the words were over, shadows of sails appeared in Luoshui southwest of Luoyang, and Li Shimin's naval fleet finally appeared.

Shen Mu deeply felt that his choice of fleeing on the west bank of Yishui was absolutely correct.He shouted: "Good boy! Let's compare whether our horse is faster or your boat, let's go!"

The four of Shen Mu and Fei Yunqi, who only had more than [-] people left in the rear, stepped on their horses and rushed towards their southward team.

The enemy's war drums sounded, and all the cavalry were dispatched. The cavalry team of more than [-] had no scruples. Under the leadership of Li Yuanji, they chased all over the mountains and plains without giving them any chance to breathe.

Under Li Shimin's excellent strategic deployment, he opened up a network of heaven and earth to catch all the breakout troops.So far, the breakout army has lost all its advantages and initiative, and is caught in a death game of cat and mouse.

Shen Mu was in such an extremely bad situation, and he aroused his strong fighting spirit. Even if the entire breakout army was wiped out in the end, Li Shimin would have to pay the heaviest price.

Shen Mu, Xu Ziling, Ba Fenghan, Yang Gongqing, Ma Chang, Chen Laomou, Wang Xuanshu, Ba Yegang, Shan Xiongxin, Guo Shancai, Yu Yuanzhen, Duan Da and more than ten people squatted on the top of the mountain in the afternoon sun Behind a grove of trees on the high ground, looking at Li Yuanji's [-] cavalry troops standing still three miles away, three wisps of fireworks curled up, announcing the location of the Tang army's breakout army in the distance.

Five supply ships sailed from Yishui to bring supplies and food to Li Yuanji's army.

The crowd lost their excitement and mighty image when they broke through the siege. In order to reduce the burden on the horses, the heavy armor was discarded on the way, and because of the many wounds on everyone's body, the face was pale due to blood loss and running around. scene.

Shen Mu stared at the enemy line with twinkling eyes, and said ruthlessly: "When did Li Yuanji become so shrewd? I stopped him and he stopped. It was clear that he wanted to hang behind us and persevere, but he avoided fighting."

Ba Fenghan said in a deep voice: "We should go along Luoshui instead of Yishui, then at least we can know where Li Shimin's pursuers are."

Everyone was silent, the enemy's clever strategy forced them to flee, and then at the right time, when they were exhausted, they launched an attack and completely defeated them in one fell swoop.

Xu Ziling said solemnly: "We must try to get rid of Li Yuanji's pursuers, and only then can we hope to break through Li Shimin's barrier."

Looking around the situation, Shen Mu found that the flat fertile fields of the Yiluo River had been exhausted, and the terrain began to undulate. In the south, a series of mountains continued to expand, reaching the Yi River in the east, and a large area of ​​primitive forests with towering ancient trees in the west. Arrive at the east bank of Luoshui within two hours.

A small river meanders from the mountain area and flows into Yishui.The exhausted warriors he led were resting and eating on both sides of the stream, while the horses were eating grass and drinking water.

Shen Mu looked up at the sky and said, "Master! Will the wind direction change?"

Except for Ba Fenghan and Xu Ziling, the others were confused and didn't know what they meant.

Ba Fenghan observed the sky carefully, and said: "If the master's prediction is correct, the wind direction will continue to blow from the northwest tonight, as long as we set fire to the dense forest in the northeast of the mountain, the northwest wind will bring thick smoke and stop the pursuers. "

Yang Gongqing and others were all refreshed when they heard this.

Ma Chang frowned and said, "When we travel to and from Yiluo, we always take the forest road developed in the west of the mountain area, but we have never tried to go to the mountain area."

Wang Xuanshu said: "There is a path in the mountain."

Everyone was stunned, no one would be surprised if this word came from anyone who worked under Wang Shichong's command, but Wang Xuanshu has always been pampered, how could he know the situation in the mountainous area.

Wang Xuanshu obviously thought of his father and brother, his expression darkened, and he lowered his head and said: "Father, he... oh! Father once asked me to survey the mountains and rivers in the south of Luoyang, so I have entered and left the mountain many times. There is an exit at the south end of the mountain, which can reach Iraq. The forest area northwest of Que."

Everyone suddenly realized that Wang Shichong had always been greedy for life and afraid of death, so he sent his son to investigate the situation in order to reserve a way out.

Shen Mu said: "Then Xuanshu will lead the way. Now let's send people to do tricks in the forest in the northwest of the mountain. We will abandon Li Yuanji tonight and run away."

Shan Xiongxin worried: "Although we can temporarily prevent Li Yuanji from chasing into the mountainous area, there is no way out after entering the mountainous area. As long as Li Yuanji informs Li Shimin, Li Shimin can join the two troops of Shou'an and Yique and exit in the south of the mountainous area. Wait for us, if we are trapped in the mountains, it will be the end of the whole army."

Shen Mu smiled and said, "If Xuanshu didn't know the situation in the mountains, who would dare to take the mountain?"

Ba Yegang agreed: "Of course it is quick and convenient to abandon the mountainous area and take the official road in the forest."

Shen Mu's portrait was well established, and he said calmly: "This is the reason why soldiers are expensive. Li Yuanji guessed that we would not dare to enter the mountain, so he stood still and let us flee south from the official road in the forest. While exiting, do all the fortifications and defenses, and come to a head-on blow. If we change the mountain road, it will definitely make him mess up, and we can take advantage of it."

Ba Fenghan said indifferently: "This is called seeking victory in danger."

Yang Gongqing sighed: "Li Shimin can only guard the second of the three exits. If we can go out of the mountain before Li Shimin completes the interception, of course everything will be fine, otherwise we should not choose the exit that Li Shimin personally guards."

Everyone understood the reason for his sigh, because they couldn't guess it.

Wang Xuanshu said: "The exit close to Yishui is very hidden, the enemy may not know it."

Shen Mu lowered his voice and said, "Can you pass through the mountains in one night?"

Wang Xuanshu said: "If you keep going, it will still take half a day, but I'm afraid that even the horses and men will not be able to support it."

Shen Mu looked up at the sky again, with a thoughtful look in his eyes, and said: "Then we will set the goal of going out of the mountain later, this time it will be my turn to hide the enemy, when the falcons fly in the sky, Li Shimin will also leave We are not far away!"

※※※

At dusk, a fire broke out in the mountains and forests in the northwest, and spread rapidly. The fire was violent and swept to the southeast. The flames and smoke cut off the way forward for Li Yuanji's pursuers.

The most subtle thing is that the breakout army first concentrated on the mountains and the hilltops between the narrow roads, and then quickly entered the mountains when the thick smoke obscured the enemy's sight. Walk.

Under the leadership of Wang Xuanshu, all the soldiers rode fast, climbing mountains and down valleys, crossing forests and streams, and galloping through continuous mountainous areas. At dawn, all the men and horses were exhausted, and they hid in a hidden gorge to rest and gain time for sleep.

At this time, it was forty miles deep into the mountainous area, and it was only more than ten miles away from the hidden exit at the southern end.

Shen Mu, Xu Ziling and Ba Fenghan are used to this kind of arduous journey. After sitting in meditation for half an hour, they roughly recovered. With Falcon Wuming, the three of them climbed up the highest mountain beside the gorge and looked down at the surrounding situation. The rocks stand on each other, the mountains are undulating and stretching, and the vast forest covers far and near according to the shape of the mountains, and occasionally streams run through them.

Shen Mu brushed the nameless feather to appease its desire to fly high, and said, "Ha! It seems that Li Yuanji has really been left behind!"

Ba Fenghan said: "Li Yuanji is not an idiot, so he would not venture into the mountainous area. When he is sure from the sound of horseshoes that we have fled into the mountainous area, he will guard the northern exit of the mountainous area, and at the same time inform Li Shimin of the news in the fastest way. Block all exits south of the mountains."

Shen Mu looked up at the sky and said, "I want to put Wuming around my head a few times, so there won't be any trouble?"

Ba Fenghan patted the Moonshot Bow in his arms, and proudly said: "With the Moonshot Bow as the patron saint, who can hurt him."

Shen Mu said with a hearty smile: "Boy regained his confidence so quickly, I am convinced."

He loosened the chain cover that bound Wuming, Wuming let out a neigh, and flew up into the sky, flying happily.

Seeing Xu Ziling contemplating, Ba Fenghan smiled and said, "Can Ziling guess what Li Shimin reminds me of?"

Shen Mudai guessed: "Is it more like a wolf than him?"

Ba Fenghan was stunned and said: "Do you know psychic arts? You can see the secrets in my heart. It's impossible to guess."

Shen Mu's eyes shone with a frightening brilliance, and he said in a deep voice: "This is called a hero who sees the same thing. First of all, what I thought of was that you worship wolves, and Li Shimin is just a wolf, and even more so, the most terrifying wolf king. It is waiting for an opportunity to bite, and it is about to strike. The cows have long known that the wolves wandering around are trying to intimidate them and exhaust them physically and mentally, but there is still no way to prevent them from being exhausted and waiting to die. "

Ba Fenghan nodded and said: "Li Shimin's tactics are indeed wolves, and they are better than us Turkic people. We are the cows waiting to be eaten, and Li Shimin is the wolf king wandering around, leading A group of wolves, when the cattle are exhausted, the wolves will rush to disperse the cattle, and when the cattle are left alone, they will gather and eat them! Although the cattle are stronger than any wolf, but in this case, Cows in a quarantined herd have no chance of getting out."

Shen Mu smiled bitterly and said, "I only hate that we know this, but are still helpless like cows waiting to be slaughtered."

Ba Fenghan said: "The wolf's way of winning is to rely on absolute concentration, patience and perseverance. Every moment in front of us is a moment of life and death, and we must not miss any opportunity. If we want to see the Yangtze River, we must learn Know how to deal with wolves."

Shen Mu thought for a while, then asked Xu Ziling, "What is Young Master Ling thinking?"

He didn't expect a real answer, he just wanted Xu Ziling's advice.

Unexpectedly, Xu Ziling confessed frankly: "I was thinking if I was only allowed to see either Shi Feixuan or Shi Qingxuan at this moment, who would I choose?"

Shen Mu and Ba Fenghan looked at each other, almost unable to believe their ears.Xu Ziling actually spoke out the secret in his heart, and it was such a personal matter.

Xu Ziling said calmly: "Fortunately, I never have to make such a choice in reality, otherwise I would choose to see neither of them."

Shen Mu took a deep breath and said, "Listening to Ziling's words, there is a sense of separation between life and death. Are you not optimistic about our breakout battle tomorrow night?"

Xu Ziling sighed: "You should know better than me. As long as Kang Jiaoli releases the falcon and knows where we come out of the mountain, unless the three of us are willing to abandon the others and run for our lives, we will undoubtedly die."

(End of this chapter)

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