Chapter 66: The People's Camp! Su Dingfang!
"Don't be afraid of ten thousand, just be prepared for the worst."
Li Yuanji gave a serious reminder.
Qu Tutong thought for a moment and said, "I will try to write a letter to His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin..."
This matter concerned the life and death of Luo Shixin. Although Qu Tutong did not believe that the snow would be heavy, he still wrote a letter to Li Shimin, asking Li Shimin to send reinforcements to Mingshui City.
After sending Qu Tutong's letter, Li Yuanji did not stay at Qu Tutong's residence for long and returned to his own residence.
Qu Tutong's letter was sent out at noon, and in the evening, Li Shimin sent someone to deliver a reply letter.
After receiving the letter, Qu Tutong hurried to Li Yuanji's residence.
The letter was opened by Qu Tutong. After reading the contents, he handed the letter to Li Yuanji and said, "Your Highness the Prince of Qin's reply is exactly as I guessed."
Li Yuanji took the letter and read it carefully.
Li Shimin's reply was exactly the same as Qu Tutong's guess. He was unwilling to send more troops to Mingshui City for fear that Liu Heita would be scared away and he would have to go back and have a lot of trouble to chase him.
Li Shimin believed that the heavy snow blocked the road, but he did not think that the heavy snow could stop the army from rushing to rescue Mingshui City.
After reading the letter, Li Yuanji fell silent.
Like Qu Tutong, Li Shimin underestimated the heavy snow.
Li Yuanji began to consider whether to take the risk to save Luo Shixin.
Since Li Shimin was unwilling to send troops, if he wanted to rescue Luo Shixin, he could only lead the troops of the Zuo Er General's Office, a thousand cavalry from the Prince of Qi's Office, and two thousand troops from Shanzhou.
With the addition of 5,000 fresh troops, Luo Shixin should be able to resist Liu Heita's attack.
But there is also the risk of being buried together with Luo Shixin in Mingshui City.
"How about you lead my two thousand armored soldiers and two thousand Shanzhou soldiers to help Mingshui City?"
Li Yuanji suddenly looked at Qu Tutong and said.
He was a little reluctant to put himself in danger, even though the danger was small, it was still dangerous.
Qu Tutong widened his eyes in astonishment and stared at him blankly.
"Not willing?"
Li Yuanji wondered.
Qu Tutong hesitated for a moment, then bowed and said, "Since the commander is unwilling to send people to help Mingshui City, I dare not go against the commander's decision."
Li Shimin gave Luo Shixin more than a thousand soldiers and asked him to guard Mingshui City. He must have had his own plans in mind.
Any rash intervention in the war in Mingshui City is likely to affect Li Shimin's deployment.
Li Shimin's deployment is likely the key to victory.
If this key point is affected, it is very likely that the war will fall into an unfavorable situation.
Regardless of whether Li Shimin would kill him for this, the series of consequences caused by the unfavorable war situation alone was not something he could bear.
Li Yuanji frowned and fell silent again.
Qu Tutong did not dare to interfere with Li Shimin's deployment, and no one else dared to interfere with Li Shimin's deployment. He was the only one who could interfere with Li Shimin's deployment.
He was having a hard time deciding between putting himself in danger to save Luo Shixin's life, or staying in a safe place and watching Luo Shixin die.
"Huh...it would be nice if Yuwen Bao was here."
Li Yuanji sighed and missed Yuwen Bao a little.
If that idiot Yuwen Bao were here, he wouldn't have to fall into such a dilemma.
Given Yuwen Bao's personality, as long as he gave the order, Yuwen Bao would definitely carry it out.
Yuwen Bao didn't care whether his actions would affect Li Shimin's deployment.
"Pass the order down, everyone prepare to set off."
Li Yuanji hesitated for a long time, and finally decided to go to Mingshui City.
He could choose not to enter Mingshui City, but could hide at the foot of the high tombs in the south of Mingshui City. When Mingshui City was in danger of being captured again, he could suddenly rush out to tie down a part of Liu Heita's troops and allow Luo Shixin to break through.
Qu Tutong looked at Li Yuanji in astonishment, "Your Highness is going to help Mingshui City?"
The snow was still falling outside and had already accumulated to four inches thick. The heavy snow would affect people's vision, and the accumulated snow would also slow down the formation of the army, making it unsuitable to travel quickly.
If Li Yuanji went to Guangzhou to meet Li Shimin, he would not have to travel in the wind and snow.
So Li Yuanji ordered the entire army to go out, obviously preparing to go to Mingshui City to rescue Luo Shixin.
Li Yuanji nodded slowly and prepared to get up and walk out.
Qu Tutong widened his eyes, stood in front of Li Yuanji, and said excitedly: "If you go to Mingshui City, it is very likely to disrupt the arrangement of the general's tent."
Without waiting for Li Yuanji to speak, Qu Tutong hurriedly added: "Even if Luo Shixin is really in danger, it is not your place to save him."
In Qu Tutong's eyes, Li Yuanji's life is much more important than Luo Shixin's.
Luo Shixin can be in danger and can die, but Li Yuanji cannot be in danger, let alone die.
Li Yuanji looked at Qu Tutong and said, "I will not enter Mingshui City. I plan to lead my troops to station at Gaofen, south of Mingshui City. When Mingshui City is about to be captured, I will tie down some of Liu Heita's troops for Luo Shixin and create an opportunity for Luo Shixin to break out."
Hearing that Li Yuanji would not take the risk himself and had no intention of entering Mingshui City, Qu Tutong instantly relaxed a lot.
Qu Tutong wanted to persuade him again, but Li Yuanji did not give him a chance to speak. "It's settled. You won't even stop me from going to Gaofen, right?"
Qu Tutong hesitated for a moment, then said with a wry smile: "Then let me accompany Your Highness."
Li Yuanji nodded slowly.
Qu Tutong did not block Li Yuanji's way again.
Li Yuanji left the big house of the post station, and the soldiers gathered quickly. When it was a little dark, the soldiers gathered together.
Li Yuanji wore armor and held a sword, sat astride a horse, and led his soldiers out of Feixiang Posthouse.
After running for more than ten miles, the sky had already become dark.
The waning moon shone on the snow, which pointed the way for Li Yuanji and his party.
"The camp is in front of us. Qin Shubao is stationed in front of us. If Your Highness wants to rest, you can stay in the camp for a night."
Qu Tutong said as he rode his horse.
Li Yuanji rode his horse forward, playing with a jade plaque, pursing his lips and saying nothing.
The sign in Li Yuanji's hand was made by the craftsmen he ordered before he went to war.
Because he was not satisfied with the first version made by the craftsmen, they started making a second version.
Since the followers of Prince Qi's Mansion had no combat missions, and their numbers were constantly increasing, the iron plate was not completed until a few days ago.
The new iron plate is half as thin as the first version. The text on it is all engraved in relief, and the burrs have been carefully polished off.
So it looks very beautiful.
Li Yuanji had a special status, so it was impossible for him to use the same iron badge as the other soldiers, so his badge was made of jade.
The soldiers liked the plaques he issued very much, and he also liked the jade plaques carefully carved by the craftsmen.
He was the one who prepared a method for grinding away burrs for the craftsmen, but the craftsmen did not ask him for it, which made him feel a little regretful.
Qu Tutong stared at Li Yuanji for a long time. Seeing that Li Yuanji had no intention of paying attention to him, he turned his head away in embarrassment.
"Didn't you hear anything?"
Li Yuanji suddenly asked.
Qu Tutong was stunned for a moment, then he pricked up his ears and listened carefully. The wind was very strong, so the sound mixed in the wind was very small.
The reason why Li Yuanji did not respond to Qu Tutong was because he heard a few faint shouts of killing.
Qu Tutong listened for a long time and said quickly: "It seems to be the sound of shouting and killing!"
As soon as Qu Tuhuan finished speaking, the scouts who had gone out to explore the way hurried back and reported to Li Yuanji.
"Your Highness, Liu Heita's troops are attacking the Lieren camp on a snowy night."
Lierengying is an important place.
When Liu Heita was driven out of Feixiang, he deployed his troops in Liereng. Now he is targeting Liereng for his counterattack.
This shows the importance of the Liehren Camp.
Before this, Liu Heita had sent people to seize the Lieren camp several times.
"Liu Heita is in Mingshui, but he sent people to attack the Lieren camp, hoping to outflank our central army from both sides."
Qu Tutong stated without hesitation the purpose of Liu Heita's sneak attack on the Lieren camp.
Li Yuanji nodded and ordered his soldiers to hurry up and prepare to go to the Lieren camp to take a look.
The soldiers traveled quickly in the wind and snow, and soon arrived at the territory of the Lieren Camp.
When they reached the border of the Lie people's camp, the shouting and killing became even louder.
"Your Highness, I and others have already investigated clearly. The one who attacked the Lieren Camp was Gao Yaxian, a general under Liu Heita, with 6,000 soldiers and horses."
The scouts kept shuttling back and forth throughout the Lieren Camp and soon found out who had attacked the Lieren Camp and how many troops they had.
When Li Yuanji heard the three words Gao Yaxian, his whole body trembled.
Gao Yaxian is in the camp, which means another person is also there.
Su Dingfang!
When Su Dingfang defected to Dou Jiande, he was favored by Gao Yaxian and adopted as his son.
After Dou Jiande was defeated, Gao Yaxian and Su Dingfang disappeared.
After Liu Heita rebelled , Gao Yaxian reappeared with Su Dingfang and joined Liu Heita's camp.
Su Dingfang has always been inseparable from Gao Yaxian, so wherever Gao Yaxian is, there must be Su Dingfang.
"All troops, attack! Capture Gao Yaxian and his men alive!"
Li Yuanji gave the order decisively.
He had 5,000 soldiers under his command, and Qin Qiong had 3,000 soldiers under his command, totaling 8,000 people. Against Gao Yaxian's 6,000 people, they had the advantage in numbers.
Liu Heita sent Gao Yaxian to launch a surprise attack on the Lieren camp on a snowy night, but he was not at an advantage in terms of weather.
He now leads his men to attack suddenly, which has the effect of surprising the enemy.
If he and Qin Qiong cooperated, there was a high chance that they could swallow Gao Yaxian in one bite, so he did not hesitate at all.
Qu Tutong was also stunned when he saw Li Yuanji suddenly wanted to join the battle. Just as he was about to say something, he heard Li Yuanji turn his head and say to him: "This time, you will command the troops and I will serve as the vanguard."
After saying this, Li Yuanji raised his lance and signaled the other soldiers to prepare to charge with him.
Li Yuanji knew his shortcomings, so he did not take on too much command responsibility.
Qu Tutong knew very well that if Li Yuanji led his troops to attack at this time, it would definitely be a great help to Qin Qiong in the Lieren Camp.
It was Liu Heita who sent people to attack the camp, not Li Yuanji, so it did not involve the destruction of Li Shimin's deployment.
Qu Tutong immediately said solemnly: "Then Your Highness will lead the cavalry to the right wing of the Lieren Camp, quickly seize the road to the north, and cut off the enemy's retreat.
I will lead the armored troops and infantry to attack from the left wing and catch the enemy by surprise."
