Chapter 75: Gift
After the guards were ready, Li Yuanji, carrying a bow and quiver, holding a sword and a spear, took a detour from the south and rushed to the northeast corner of Mingshui City.
On the way, they met two strong men who were also leading a group of soldiers and horses. They were preparing to take a detour from the south and rush to the northeast corner of Mingshui City.
When Li Yuanji saw the two strong men for the first time, he felt a little unfamiliar. After looking at them for a few more times, he knew who they were.
One is called Wu Guang and the other is called Niu Xiu.
Wu Guang also has a name that is quite taboo nowadays, which is Heita.
Niu Xiu also has a more well-known name called Jinda.
Niu Jinda is stronger than Wu Heita, and Wu Heita has more beard than Niu Jinda.
Both of them came from Wagang and surrendered to the Tang Dynasty along with Qin Qiong, Cheng Yaojin and others.
When the two saw Li Yuanji, they took the initiative to step forward and greet him.
After the two of them greeted each other.
Wu Heita clasped his fists and said, "Brother Niu and I have been ordered to follow Your Highness to raid the tunnel. Please give your orders, Your Highness."
Niu Jinda didn't seem to like talking. He just clenched his fists and said nothing.
Li Yuanji originally thought that Li Shimin asked him to take 500 people to attack the tunnel, but he did not expect that reinforcements would be sent to him.
With reinforcements, we can expand our victory and gain more credit.
Immediately, Li Yuanji nodded and said, "I don't have anything to tell you. Just follow me closely."
Wu Heita and Niu Jinda both agreed.
“Yes!”
Wu Heita and Niu Jinda each led a thousand soldiers, plus Li Yuanji's own soldiers, that was a total of 2,500 people.
With 2,500 people, the results that can be achieved are not small.
Li Yuanji didn't say much along the way, nor did he go to build relationships with Wu Heita and Niu Jindala. Wu Heita, Niu Jinda, Qin Qiong, Cheng Yaojin and others all came from Wagang. The moment they surrendered to the Tang Dynasty, they had become natural allies.
The vast majority of them had already stood firmly behind Li Shimin, and the others naturally followed Li Shimin as well.
If you have a relationship with one or two of them, you will have a relationship with all of them.
To build relationships with all of them, even if Li Shimin had a big heart, he would still have to fight with him.
Although his strength has increased a lot now, he still cannot withstand the turmoil of Li Shimin.
When Li Yuanji, Wu Heita and Niu Jinda arrived at the northeast corner of Mingshui City, Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong had already led their troops from the west of Mingshui City to the northeast corner and fought their way into the corridor.
Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong attacked very fiercely, so the enemy soldiers in the corridor ran towards Li Yuanji.
"We will guard the entrance of the tunnel and kill them!"
Li Yuanji decisively gave orders to Wu Heita and Niu Jinda.
Since Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong had blocked one end of the tunnel, there was no need for him to lead his troops to charge in. He only needed to guard the entrance of the tunnel and wait for the enemy to come to him.
Wu Heita and Niu Jinda guessed Li Yuanji's intention, agreed without hesitation, and brought their men to block the entrance to the corridor.
As soon as the enemy soldiers appeared, Wu Heita and Niu Jinda raised their butcher knives without hesitation.
They said they were fighting, but in fact they were killing people.
Those who had the courage to defend the tunnel all rushed towards Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong, and those who escaped from the tunnel were almost all frightened soldiers.
But even if they are defeated soldiers, they can only be killed if they refuse to surrender.
Li Yuanji did not run to the tunnel entrance to fight with Wu Heita and Niu Jinda. Instead, he stood not far from the tunnel entrance with a hundred guards, killing the enemies with bows and crossbows.
He used a hard bow, which was powerful and had great lethality, so he focused on targeting the officers among the enemy soldiers.
“Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh…”
The arrow is like a shooting star.
The four-stone bow was like a toy in Li Yuanji's hand and was easily pulled open.
He shot ten arrows in one breath without even taking a breath.
Li Yuanji found that his strength seemed to have increased again.
"Those who surrender will not be killed!"
After killing for a while, Wu Heita and Niu Jinda felt that the time was almost right and shouted immediately.
In an instant, countless enemy soldiers in the corridor dropped their weapons and knelt down to surrender.
After asking Li Yuanji for instructions, Wu Heita and Niu Jinda left two hundred men to surrender and led the rest to charge into the tunnel.
Li Yuanji did not go in because Wu Heita and Niu Jinda did not invite him in.
No one knows what is going on inside the tunnel.
If there were a crossbow array, it would be easy to shoot a person into a sieve.
Wu Heita and Niu Jinda didn't dare to let him go in and take the risk.
He didn't want to go in and cause trouble.
People of high status must have some self-awareness on the battlefield.
Leading the charge can certainly boost morale, but it will also distract the soldiers from taking care of your safety.
It is understandable that when fighting against the odds, you have to take the lead in the charge in order to boost morale.
If you run out and lead the charge when the battle is going your way, you are attempting to murder your soldiers' lives.
You rush forward madly, kill a few enemies, and feel great.
But many soldiers may have to die in order to help you defend against the arrows shot from the dark.
After all, as long as the enemy is not stupid, he will definitely shoot the person with the highest status on the battlefield.
The war in the corridor lasted for two hours.
The moment Li Shimin appeared with his army, Liu Heita ran away.
Most of those who remained in the corridor were those who did not have time to escape.
The corridor is just a battlefield.
It was impossible for Li Shimin to deploy all his troops to the battlefield in the tunnel.
When he lured Liu Heita to Mingshui City, he already had a complete battle plan .
The only troops fighting in the tunnel were those led by Li Yuanji, Qin Qiong, Yuchi Gong, Wu Heita and Niu Jinda. The rest had already headed for Liu Heita's food and grass camp under the command of Li Shimin, Li Daozon, Liu Hongji and Yin Qiao.
The troops of Li Yi and Du Fuwei also blocked Liu Heita's retreat from both sides.
Before the heavy snow blocked the road, Li Yi had already led his troops to Mingzhou and joined forces with Li Shimin.
Du Fuwei's men also reached Liu Heita's side before the heavy snow blocked the road.
The three-pronged offensive strategy was decided when the city of Chang'an was captured.
Li Shimin merely used Mingshui City as bait and chose a battlefield that was favorable to him.
On the battlefield of your choice, you can attack the enemy from three sides, making it basically impossible for the enemy to turn the tables.
"Your Highness!"
After the battle in the tunnel was over, Su Dingfang rushed out of the tunnel excitedly, holding two heads.
Li Yuanji was also stunned when he saw Su Dingfang, "Aren't you in Mingshui City?"
Su Dingfang smiled brightly and said, "I saw the reinforcements arriving and fighting in the tunnel, so I used wooden planks to make a bridge and climbed from the city wall into the tunnel, picking up two big bargains."
As he spoke, Su Dingfang raised his two heads.
Li Yuanji looked at the two heads that were still dripping with blood and asked, "Whose?"
Su Dingfang smiled and said, "One is from Cui Yuanxun, and the other is from Zhou Wenju."
Li Yuanji was delighted. These were really two great bargains.
These two people assassinated the Tang governors after Liu Heita's rebellion, took the governors' heads, and ran away to join Liu Heita's people.
In Li Yuan's eyes, these two were already on the kill list.
If Su Dingfang could get the heads of these two men, he could at least be awarded the title of marquis by Li Yuan.
Su Dingfang was able to turn from evil to good and personally helped the Tang Dynasty to clean up the traitors, which was very much to Li Yuan's liking.
"I have collected it. When we return to Chang'an, I will go to my father to ask for credit for you."
Li Yuanji said with a smile.
Su Dingfang is trying his best, so if he can help, he will naturally help.
As Su Dingfang's title was raised, his official position naturally followed suit, and he would be able to take up an important position earlier and make great contributions to him.
"I want to present them to Your Highness!"
Su Dingfang handed the two heads to Li Yuanji .
Li Yuanji said with a smile: "These two heads are just icing on the cake for me, but they are of great use to you."
Su Dingfang knew what these two heads could get him in exchange for in the Tang Dynasty, but he still decided to present them to Li Yuanji.
"Your Highness appreciates me and entrusts me with important tasks. I cannot fail to repay you."
Su Dingfang said seriously.
Su Dingfang felt that he had just joined Li Yuanji's army and had not done anything yet, but Li Yuanji had entrusted him with an important task. He had to respond, otherwise he would feel a little sorry for Li Yuanji.
Li Yuanji felt that Su Dingfang might not know what these two heads could bring to him, and could not help but remind him: "These two heads may very well be able to exchange for a marquis..."
Su Dingfang's expression did not change at all, and he still held up his two heads.
When Li Yuanji saw this, he understood.
Su Dingfang knew what the two heads could be exchanged for, but he was still determined to present them to him.
If you don't accept Su Dingfang's kindness, Su Dingfang will probably be unhappy.
"Forget it, let's compromise. Zhou Wenju's head belongs to me, and Cui Yuanxun's head belongs to you."
Li Yuanji discussed it with Su Dingfang.
Su Dingfang hesitated for a while and nodded.
Li Yuanji took Zhou Wenju's head with a smile and handed it to the guard, asking the guard to clean it up and put it away.
After the war, all the important heads captured on the battlefield would be gathered together and sent to Chang'an City to boast of the merits.
The period in between is very long, so we have to clean it up.
Li Yuanji didn't know how to deal with it specifically, but someone among his guards knew.
Su Dingfang was not so particular. He hung Cui Yuanxun's head around his waist and waited for the time to report his achievement.
Just after Su Dingfang hung Cui Yuanxun's head on his waist, the sound of horse hooves was heard in the corridor.
Accompanied by Wu Heita and Niu Jinda, Yuchi Gong rushed out of the corridor on horseback.
He shouted loudly after coming out of the tunnel.
"Where is the guy who snatched Zhou Wenju's head from me? Hand over Zhou Wenju's head immediately!"
Yuchi Gong was very angry. He led his men to fight hard in the tunnel. They finally reached Zhou Wenju and were about to capture him. Unexpectedly, at this moment, a man in armor jumped down from the tunnel with his men, stabbed Zhou Wenju with a spear, chopped off his head and ran away.
