Chapter 37 7. Attacking the heart is the best: winning Luoyang without bloodshed

In the long-term confrontation with Dou Jiande and Wang Shichong, Li Shimin showed the characteristics of a military commander who always keeps his head clear and makes rational decisions.The Tang army's expedition to Luoyang lasted for several months. In the case of physical and mental exhaustion, he could still mobilize full combat power and give the enemy a sensitive counterattack, showing his ability to govern the army that cannot be underestimated.In addition, Li Shimin used psychological tactics more cleverly, using less to fight more, and won Luoyang without bloodshed, showing that he is not only a fierce general, but also a military strategist who is good at planning and planning.

After capturing Dou Jiande, Li Shimin knew that the Tang army's combat power had reached its limit at this time, and the soldiers who had complained would soon be unable to bear the pressure of the war, and their anger might explode at any time.Although Li Shimin is good at running the army, he can definitely control the situation, but he is not willing to let his troops be too tired. At this time, Luoyang City, after a long period of siege and isolation, successfully intercepted the Xia King Dou Jiande who came to rescue him. Li Shimin was convinced that the city must be in a panic.But how to bring this battle to a successful conclusion, so that everything can end quickly and easily, has also become a big problem in front of him.He called Qu Tutong, Li Yuanji, and Qin Shubao, who were in charge of the siege, to inquire about the progress of the siege.

Qu Tutong reported: "Wang Shichong has been attacking the city continuously for several days, but Wang Shichong still shuts the city gate tightly, and there is no movement at all. Lu Jun'er, the marching chief of our army, was killed during the attack two days ago." Li Shimin listened solemnly. Qin Shubao said: "How is the situation of the soldiers now?" Qin Shubao looked tired and said: "The soldiers are very excited about the new victory, but they are also very tired." It was such a difficult problem before Li Shimin.It will be a matter of time before Luoyang breaks the city, but he hopes to break it faster without making Tang Jun too tired.

Li Shimin ordered the captives to be tied up. After a while, Xia Wang Dou Jiande, Xia Jun's leader Sun Anshi, and Wang Shichong's elder brother Wang Wan who came from Luoyang to ask for help were tied up.Looking at the three dejected captives in front of him, Li Shimin also showed a complacent look on his tired face.He asked Dou Jiande with a hint of sarcasm: "You once captured my imperial sister, but you sent it back later. I thought we would be able to live in harmony in the future. And Meng Haigong, Xu Yuanlang and other people's sites you have one by one Swallowing, I, Tang Dynasty, did not interfere in the slightest. It would be great if you just obediently be your King Xia, why do you want to listen to Wang Shichong's words to save Luoyang and become an enemy of me?"

Dou Jiande used to be a hero of his generation, but now that he has become a defeated general, what else can he say?Li Shimin's words were full of sarcasm, but he was speechless.Seeing that he didn't speak, Li Shimin went on to say: "Look at you, you failed to save Luoyang, but you were captured instead. I'm really surprised, why did you do this?" Dou Jiande knew that he was no longer in power, so he closed his eyes and said dejectedly: "I am afraid that you will have to travel far to attack me in the future. Now I come by myself, wouldn't it be better?"

As soon as this remark came out, Li Shimin, Qu Tutong, Qin Shubao, Li Yuanji and others couldn't help laughing. The once invincible King Xia actually said such spineless words. It must be said that he completely defeated Li Shimin. .Seeing Dou Jiande's depression, Li Shimin suddenly thought about it and asked him: "Then I will give you one last chance to meet your old friend, would you like it?" Dou Jiande didn't understand what it meant, and looked at Li Shimin suspiciously.Li Shimin couldn't help him to answer, he had already ordered the three of them to be tied to a prison car and escorted to the front of the battle.Qin Shubao and others hurriedly asked, "What does the commander mean?"

Li Shimin said: "Now Wang Shichong is in Luoyang, and his soldiers are exhausted. He relies on the strength in his heart. Since this is the case, why should I let the soldiers go to charge the dead and wounded? I just need to use the strength in his heart." Pull it out by the roots, and the city of Luoyang will be destroyed!" Qu Tutong asked: "But how do we unplug the force that supports him?" Li Shimin pointed to the three rickety prison carts being driven out of the camp and said: "These three people can prove that our Tang army is invincible. As long as Wang Shichong understands this, is it still afraid that he will not surrender?" ?”

While speaking, Li Shimin rode his horse to catch up with the prison cart.When a group of people came to the camp, Li Yuanji ordered someone to go and shout for Wang Shichong to meet his old friend. After a while, a group of people loomed above the city of Luoyang. It was King Zheng and Wang Shichong who stood firm on the city.He stood on the tower and saw that both Dou Jiande and Wang Wan were captured and tied into a prison cart.Thinking that Dou Jiande came to help him, but was captured by Li Shimin; and seeing his elder brother who went out of the city to ask for help, he was also tied up.Li Shimin's use of soldiers like a god is really not bragging.Who else can save Luoyang now?Thinking of this, Wang Shichong couldn't help but burst into tears, and sighed loudly: "Brother Jiande, I have betrayed you!"

Li Shimin looked at the tragic situation of Wang Shichong at the head of Luoyang city, and became more confident in his plan.He ordered Dou Jiande and Wang Wan to be tied up in a cell, but the eldest grandson Anshi was left behind. The eldest grandson Anshi was originally Dou Jiande's right-hand man, and he had been following him since he started the army, but because he was an old friend with Wang Wan, after Wang Shichong was besieged, Wang Wan asked him for help, and he introduced Dou Jiande to him.This time he was defeated by Li Shimin, Changsun Anshi thought that his life was in danger, and regretted sending troops to rescue Zheng.Now seeing that Li Shimin was left alone again, cold sweat started to break out on his back.

Just when he was uneasy, Li Shimin came to the tent slowly and said to him: "There is an old saying, 'Under the overturned nest, there will be eggs'. I believe you must have heard of it?" Changsun Anshi heard, He became even more nervous, thinking that Li Shimin was really going to kill him, and his forehead became sweaty. But Li Shimin suddenly changed the subject and said to him: "Although you are in the nest, whether you can live or not depends entirely on me. I think you must understand this truth." The eldest grandson Anshi felt his vitality, nodded his head in approval, and waited for Li Shimin to continue.I just heard Li Shimin say: "I want to give you a task now, as long as you can complete it, I can protect you from death."

As long as he can save his life, what can the eldest grandson An Shi not do at this time?He hurriedly asked Li Shimin: "What the marshal wants me to do, I will definitely go through fire and water, and I will not hesitate!" Li Shimin smiled and said: "You don't need to go through fire and water, I just want you to enter Luoyang City and lobby Wang Shichong for me." The eldest grandson, Anshi, asked suspiciously: "Wang Shichong is a hero of the generation, how can I persuade him? And why did the Marshal let me go?" Li Shimin said: "You are the most suitable candidate, because you are the person who directly participated in the war between me and Dou Jiande. From how he deployed to how he failed, you know best. What I want you to do is not to persuade , but to tell Wang Shichong the process, and tell him how my Tang army defeated Dou Jiande at Hulao Pass." When the eldest grandson Anshi heard that his task was so simple, he hurriedly kowtowed to accept the order.Li Shimin asked to take him to the front of the camp and sent him into Luoyang City.Liu Hongji asked strangely: "This eldest grandson An Shi is originally a member of Dou Jiande. Would it be useful to ask him to lobby?" Li Shimin said with a smile: "Don't worry, today I will let Wang Shichong take a look at Dou Jiande's tragic situation, and show him my prisoners at Hulao Pass. Wang Shichong saw that both Wang Wan and Dou Jiande were captured in the prison car. The grief and indignation are already unbearable. Now I let my eldest grandson Anshi go to Luoyang to let him listen to the details of the battle of Hulao, and let him think about it: Dou Jiande’s 100,000 troops were defeated by me, and he Wang Shichong only had a group of soldiers in Luoyang. Hungry pawn, can you still stand it? Let him know what will happen if he resists any longer if he is caught by me!" As Li Shimin expected, the eldest grandson Anshi came to Luoyang, and Wang Shichong hurriedly met him. Through his description, Wang Shichong learned about the whole process of the Battle of Hulaoguan and Dou Jiande, the hero's end.Wang Shichong couldn't help sighing: "It seems that Li Shimin really shouldn't be underestimated! Although I have known him for a long time, but now Brother Dou has lost so thoroughly, it seems that I have no chance of winning." After some consideration, the eldest grandson Anshi brought a letter from Wang Shichong on his way back to Tangying.In the letter, Wang Shichong begged Li Shimin to spare his family's life, and as long as he agreed to this request, he could open the city gate and surrender.When Li Shimin saw the letter, he laughed and said, "For me, what I want is not your life, Wang Shichong, but just the city of Luoyang!" So he sent someone to tell Wang Shichong that as long as he didn't resist, he could be spared Immortal. After receiving Li Shimin's promise, Wang Shichong opened the city in despair, and took Zhu Can, Duan Da, Yang Gongqing and other civil and military officials out of the city to surrender.The most difficult, protracted, and fruitful battle since the establishment of Tang finally came to an end.The captured Dou Jiande and Wang Shichong were sent back to Chang'an together, which means that the two major forces against Tang were completely eradicated.Li Shimin relied on psychological tactics, and without dispatching a single soldier, he surrendered Luoyang City, which had been besieged for several months.For a time, the whole city of Chang'an celebrated with joy, all impressed by King Qin's extraordinary strategy. With such outstanding military talents, Li Shimin not only contributed to the stability of the early Tang Dynasty, but also continuously improved his status. Whether it was in the balance of Li Yuan or in the eyes of all officials, he was greatly affirmed. .Even among the people, the people in Chang'an gave him the emperor's gift, all of which became the basis for Li Shimin's future impact on the throne.