Chapter 19 9. Stabilize Li Mi: A gentleman can bend and stretch

After adequate preparations, Li Yuan raised the banner of anti-Sui. He had strict discipline, strict military law, and law with the people, which stabilized the situation. He was loved by the people wherever he went, and he gained complete political initiative.At the same time, he continued to conquer the surrounding rebels and expand his team.While Wang Shichong, Dou Jiande, Li Mi and others are all thriving, Li Yuan is not far behind. Li Yuan, who occupied the main lands in Longxi and other places, made his eldest son Li Jian the prince of Tang Guogong, made Pei Ji the chief minister of the prime minister's mansion, and Liu Wenjing the Sima.With the victory after victory, he not only forced the Sui general Qu Tutong to surrender, defeated Xue Ju, Xue Rengao and his sons, but also suppressed Li Gui, the king of Liang who tried to establish himself as emperor in the Hexi area. The rebel army was also wiped out.From Guanzhong to the Central Plains, Li Yuan was like a broken bamboo.However, after subduing these forces, Li Mi, the giant of the rebel army, became an enemy he had to face.

In 617 AD, Li Yuan and Li Shimin's father and son led an army and planned to march into Guanzhong.The main combat force of the Sui Army is concentrated here, planning to fight Li Yuan to the death.But it was Li Mi who was located near Luoyang that worried Li Yuan. Li Yuan stood on a high place facing the wind, looking at the huge stockade set up by his military camp, and said to Li Shimin behind him: "From the beginning of our army to the present, every step is very difficult. If we take a wrong step, all the efforts we have put in before will be wiped out." To be reduced to ashes. Do you understand that?"

Li Shimin said: "I understand, so the farther we go, the more cautious we have to be." Li Yuan said: "Now, we are about to enter the customs. This is a severe battle. But there is a more serious enemy standing behind him. Actually, I know that he also wants to enter the customs very much, but he is entangled by Luoyang." Stop, we can't leave for a while. But if we insist on moving forward, we will inevitably affect him. At that time, he will fight with us. We have to deal with the Sui army first, and then deal with him. It will be difficult Already!" Li Shimin nodded and said, "That's right. We can't fight on both sides. We must stop on one side."

While the two were talking, Pei Ji ran over panting, holding a letter in his hand, and handed it to Li Yuan. When Li Yuan opened the letter, he couldn't help being stunned.Li Shimin hurriedly asked: "Father, who is the letter from? What happened?" Li Yuan said: "It's Li Mi, he invited me to Hanoi County to form an alliance with him." "Ah? How did this happen!" Li Shimin said excitedly, "Li Mi's invitation to you at this time clearly has an intention!" Pei Ji followed suit, and said to Li Shimin: "It's no wonder he wrote such a letter. When we were fighting against other rebels, the lord once wrote to him, expressing his desire to form an alliance with him. He came up with an expedient plan instead of being an enemy of us. Now I never thought that Li Mi would use his plan and ask us to go to Hanoi County to form an alliance with him."

Li Yuan walked back and said: "Li Mi can be regarded as the queen. He actually had no time to take care of us before, so he accepted the so-called 'alliance' and did not make enemies with us for the time being. Now he is inviting us so clearly. , it seems that he can't tolerate us anymore." Pei Ji said: "One mountain cannot accommodate two tigers. Now that the rebels in various places have almost calmed down, there are obviously not many who can compete with him. And he and Wang Shichong are facing each other in Luoyang. The situation is not enough for a while. It is clear, but our momentum is developing rapidly, so he wants to free up his hands and subdue us first."

Li Shimin said: "I heard that during this period of time, Li Mi has been defeated by Wang Shichong one after another. At this time, he was too busy to take care of himself, but he wanted to compete with us. He really overestimated his capabilities." Li Yuan shook his head and said, "A centipede is dead but not stiff. Although he has suffered a temporary defeat, it does not mean that he cannot stand up again. We should not underestimate him." A few people walked while talking, and they came to the military tent after a while.Li Yuan ordered people to summon the soldiers, hoping that everyone would come up with suggestions.Liu Wenjing saw that everyone didn't have any ideas for a while, so she said to Li Yuan: "My lord, Li Mi's thoughts are very obvious. You must not go to Hanoi County this time."

Tang Jian said: "Now we are in a dilemma. If we go to Hanoi County to form an alliance with him, it will be good or bad; but if we don't go, I'm afraid that Li Mi will use this as an excuse to say that we have no sincerity to form an alliance with him, and then we will fight against us." For the enemy." Li Yuan said: "That's right, in the current situation, we seem to have no choice but to choose: whether to advance to Guanzhong to attack Chang'an, or to fight against Li Mi first!" Yuchi Jingde and other generals said one after another: "Since this is the case, let's teach Li Mi a lesson first and subdue him. Anyway, it will be a matter of time!"

At this time, Li Shimin, who was frowning and thinking at the side, suddenly stood up and said, "No, we can't be the enemy of Li Mi first!" When he said a word, everyone looked at him puzzled.In the current situation, Li Mi is the force that is pressing Li Yuan the hardest, and he has recently fought fiercely with Wang Shichong and suffered several defeats in a row. If he takes this opportunity to fight Li Mi decisively, he may be able to eliminate him.But the attack on Guanzhong can be slowed down.But why did Li Shimin object? Seeing that everyone looked at him suspiciously, Li Shimin explained: "Now, it seems that we will gain some advantage in fighting Li Mi. But don't forget, there is Wang Shichong behind Li Mi. If we defeat Li Mi, the next We are about to fight Wang Shichong. This will delay us for a long time! Attacking Guanzhong seems very simple, and there is no need to rush. But Guanzhong has a different meaning. Chang'an is the capital, and whoever advances in Chang'an will be able to control the world first! Why did Li Mi want to enter Chang'an? He was anxious when he saw that we were going to attack the pass. Therefore, we must not delay the opportunity to enter the pass just because we are enemies with him now!"

After hearing these words, Li Yuan exchanged glances with Pei Ji, Liu Wenjing, etc., and nodded silently in agreement. Liu Wenjing said: "But now, Li Mi has been forced to our door. If the lord doesn't form an alliance with him, maybe he will fight with each other immediately, and we will meet each other! Isn't this also a delay in entering the customs?" Li Shimin said: "So now we have to find a way to make Li Mi not an enemy of us. I already have a plan, but it will make my father wronged." Li Yuan hurriedly asked: "What is the strategy, tell me." Li Shimin said calmly: "Li Mi is a very successful guy. I read the letter he wrote to you just now, and he has already called himself the 'Leader'. In order to avoid being an enemy of him, my father has always respected him. He is the leader of the alliance. This time, I ask my father to let go of his status again, give him a soft hand, and respect him as the leader of the alliance once more!"

Li Yuan thought about it thoughtfully, and said, "In this way, can he not be our enemy?" Li Shimin said: "Of course, to achieve this, we have to bow our heads even more. Let him not only be the 'leader', but also the 'emperor'. Father can write a letter and tell Li Mi that we are entering the customs this time." I have no intention of competing for the world, because I think I dare not confront him, our team is just to clear the way for him, the world must belong to Li Mi." Li Yuan said with a smile: "Your method really captured Li Mi's weakness. Based on what I know about him, he will definitely be very happy when he hears this!"

In Li Mi's barracks outside Luoyang City, the morale of the soldiers was somewhat low due to consecutive defeats.Li Mi looked back and forth several times, feeling a little anxious in his heart.Wang Bodang and others followed behind him, seeing his dark face, they didn't dare to say anything. Back in the big tent, Li Mi said to Wang Bodang: "Wang Shichong thinks he can occupy Luoyang for a long time, but I don't believe it! I must drive him out of Luoyang!" Uncle Wang muttered, "My lord, we need to rest now. The soldiers have been fighting very hard for the past few days. We can wait for the rest to come back and fight him!" Li Mi slapped the table, shouted loudly, and said, "What do you mean by that? Do you want me to be defeated and flee? I won't go anywhere until Luoyang is taken!" Wang Bodang said: "Actually, there is a place that is more important than Luoyang, and that is Chang'an. My lord, why don't you take Chang'an first!" Li Mi said: "I also want to take Chang'an. Li Yuan wants to enter the customs now, and I will not let him go! Li Yuan, Wang Shichong, anyone who is against me, Li Mi, will end badly!" He clenched his fist, as if he was holding Li Yuan and Wang Shichong in his hands. Before the anger dissipated, someone came to report from outside the door, and Li Yuan sent an envoy to deliver a letter. Li Mi opened Li Yuan's letter, his frown slowly unfolded, and at the end, he couldn't help laughing out loud.Looking at his appearance, Wang Bodang and others were a little puzzled.Wang Bodang walked forward slowly and asked in a low voice, "Why are you laughing, my lord?" Li Mi laughed and said: "This Li Yuan, I thought he was a hero, but now it seems that he is just a bear. You see, he kept claiming me as his elder brother in his letter, not saying that he was the 'leader', but also his own army It's just to open the way for me. He is old and weak, and I hope that if I can make him a king of Tang in the future, he will be satisfied! Haha, so he only has so much promise!" At this time, Xu Shi, who had been standing silently behind the crowd, stood up and boldly said: "My lord, you wrote to him to ask him to come to the alliance, but he didn't come. This is disobedience!" Li Mi smiled and said: "Li Yuan explained in the letter that he said that I am the gospel from heaven that can save all people, so he wants to open up the territory for me and open the gate of Chang'an to welcome me!" Xu Shi said: "Li Yuan is cunning by nature, the lord cannot be trusted. Chang'an is so important that all heroes in the world want it. If he gets it, will he still give it to the lord?" Li Mi glared, and said: "Do you think he dares to take it all alone? Forgive him he doesn't dare!" After saying that, he stopped listening to everyone's persuasion, and ordered Shan Xiongxin to practice the team quickly, and he must defeat Wang Shichong. After Li Yuan humbly praised Li Mi, he got a precious opportunity.A hero bows his head not to surrender, but to raise his head higher.When Li Mi was complacent, he drove straight in, quickly occupied Chang'an, and seized the opportunity among the rebels.Li Yuan, who owned Chang'an, quickly launched his own plan, supported the acting king Yang You as the new emperor, and began to conquer other uprising teams in the name of Yang You.However, because Li Mi failed repeatedly in Luoyang and his army was exhausted, he finally couldn't continue to resist. He couldn't even realize what he said before to destroy Li Yuan.