Chapter 39 9. Pulling from the bottom of the pot: an impossible-to-defense estrangement plan

In ancient China's unification war from division to union, Li Tang's unification speed was definitely among the best.Within two or three years after Li Yuan ascended the throne, the major separatist forces were basically wiped out.Although small groups of anti-Tang forces emerged from time to time, they were difficult to achieve because of their insufficient strength, and had no impact on Li Tang's rule.After the surrender of various places, Li Tang was in a period of rapid development, but Liu Heita chose to rebel against Tang at such a time, becoming the last enemy in the unification process of Li Tang.

Although seeing that Li Tang's rule is the general trend, Liu Heitai, who has a solid mass base in Hebei, is still unstoppable and rapidly developing. It was not until the confrontation with Li Shimin that his crazy and powerful trend was curbed.After the battle of Xuhe, Liu Heikai began to go downhill gradually. After a short rest, he retired to Ye County and assembled the army again, determined to restore the morale of the past and defeat Li Shimin.And Li Shimin led the army to station thirty miles east of Ye County, forming a confrontation with Liu Heita. After many days of confrontation between the two sides, Liu Hongji and others who followed Li Shimin couldn't wait any longer. They joined forces with Li Shi, Li Yuanji and others to challenge Li Shimin, hoping to wipe out Liu Heitai as soon as possible.Li Shimin couldn't help laughing when he saw that Tang Jun, who had experienced many failures, finally regained his morale, but he said to Liu Hongji: "Don't forget, we only defeated Liu Heitai once. It’s not without his reason to win so many times. Although this team is a collection of stragglers, their combat effectiveness is very strong, and we cannot underestimate the enemy.”

Liu Hongji said: "This group of people came together only because of the reckless Liu Heita. Although they claim to avenge Dou Jiande, they all want to make a fortune for themselves. We have already won once, so we should take advantage of the victory and pursue it." , beat him to pieces." Everyone agreed with Liu Hongji's proposal, and asked Li Shimin to order the siege.But Li Shimin said: "Dou Jiande has been operating here for many years, and the hearts of the people are more towards him. Now Liu Heitai is raising troops in his name, which is why he has received so much support. You all think he is a reckless man, but he has developed rapidly after starting the army. But he never proclaimed himself emperor, but made himself a great general. It can be seen from this that he knows how to win people's hearts. As long as we have the support of people's hearts, we can't do anything about him for a while. Rushing to attack the city will only increase It's our loss."

Li Shimin asked Li Shi: "How many troops are stationed in Ye County now?" Li Shi said: "At present, Liu Heita's army in Ye County is only a small part of his, about 20,000 people. And his main force is still in Mingshui. It is only to stop our advance, so he deployed defense in Ye County , I want to reject my Datang army here." After hearing this, Li Shimin thought for a while and asked, "Then who is leading the army in Mingshui?" Li Shi said: "In order to be able to defeat our army, Liu Heita brought his trusted generals Gao Yaxian and Cao Zhan to Ye County. At present, those who stay in Mingshui to lead the troops are Hushi General Li Quhuo and Cheqi General. Li Kaibi. They are all from Mingshui, so Liu Heita stayed there to guard."

After carefully finding out the distance between the Mingshui garrison and Ye County on the map, Li Shimin seemed to have a well-thought-out plan.He smiled and said to Li Shi: "If something happens in Ye County now, it will probably take a day or two to spread the news to Mingshui, right?" Li Shimin nodded, but he didn't understand Li Shimin's real intention.Seeing his doubts, Li Shimin took out a pen and paper and wrote a letter, saying to Li Shi: "I heard that Li Kaibi's nephew Li Panmai is now in the army of Ye County with Liu Heita. It should also be from Mingshui. If there is an opportunity for him to go back to Mingshui now, he will definitely be happy. You find someone to send this letter to him. I hope he can go to Mingshui and bring some for me. information."

Under Li Shi's arrangement, Li Shimin's letter was quickly reported to Li Panbuyer stationed in Ye County by his cronies. When he opened the letter, he couldn't help being surprised.It turned out that Li Shimin analyzed the current situation in the letter, pointing out that Liu Heikai was just a rebellious party thief, and he was bound to be wiped out by the Tang army.And when the time comes, these rebel captives will be beheaded.And he called Li Panmai "brother" with the friendship of the same surname, and expressed his willingness to pave the way for him. Once he wins, he can be promised a high official and generous salary.

Li Pan bought Li Shimin's letter, and his heart was churning. Looking at the mob led by Liu Heita in front of him, after some consideration, he decided to follow Li Shimin's instructions. Li Panmai left Ye County privately, hurried to Mingshui, joined his uncle Li Kaibi, and brought a shocking news: Liu Heita had been defeated and was captured by Li Shimin!Li Kaibi was taken aback when he heard this, and hurriedly asked: "Our army's morale is extraordinary, why did it fail suddenly?" Li Pan burst into tears and cried: "After the defeat of Xuhe, the generals have long since left their morality. Now they are fighting against Li Shimin in Ye County. In a few days, the Tang army broke through the city. Now the soldiers are killed and captured. There are many, and General Liu has no idea where he ended up, he probably died in the chaos!"

The news was like a boulder being thrown into the center of the lake, which aroused strong repercussions among the Mingshui army.The soldiers who were originally full of confidence began to feel insecure one by one.With no leader among the dragons, tens of thousands of people left within a day, intending to disarm and return to their fields, and become obedient citizens of the Tang Dynasty.However, Li Panmai did not tell the truth to Li Kaibi and Li Quhuo, but just encouraged him: "Now we have no generals in our army, and the Tang army is coming again. I think we can only hand over the surrender form to Li Shimin and surrender! Please! Seeing that we are not the mastermind, maybe we will be rewarded with an official position, even if we are relegated to common people, we can still save our lives, which is better than shrouding in horse leather."

Li Kaibi and Li Quhuo discussed together, and worried that Li Shimin would not accept their surrender.Li Panmai said at the right time: "I heard that Li Shimin is a virtuous person, and he has always treated those who voluntarily asked to surrender. Don't worry about this." Under Li Panmai's repeated lobbying, Li Quhuo hurriedly wrote the surrender form and sent it to Li Shimin. At the same time that the surrender table arrived at the Tang camp, Liu Heita of Ye County also learned that Li Quhuo, Li Kaibi and others had defected to the Tang army.Furious, Liu Heikai didn't care that he was confronting Tang Jun, so he said to Gao Yaxian: "I am not mean to Li Kaibi, but he turned to Li Shimin at this time. He is really a villain! I will never forgive him!"

Gao Yaxian said: "Now the Tang army is guarding outside our city, and the army should not be distracted by other things. Although Li Kaibi's defection is abhorrent, but it has already happened. We should defeat Li Shimin first." And how could Liu Heita, who was so angry, listen to this, he said to Gao Yaxian: "I asked Li Kaibi and Li Quhuo to be in Mingshui as our reserve force. Once we lose the enemy in a battle with the Tang army, We can still retreat. But now they suddenly defected to the enemy army, which cut off the way for you and me to retreat. How can I not be in a hurry?" Liu Heita couldn't help saying, and took the soldiers and horses, and went straight to Mingshui.

When Li Shimin learned that Liu Heizai had finally made a move, he clapped his hands happily and smiled, and said to Qin Shubao and others: "Although Li Quhuo submitted the surrender form under my design, he has no way to turn back. How to explain, who would believe that he didn't take the initiative to seek refuge with me?" Qin Shubao said: "There is no turning back for Li Kaibi now, we should quickly send people to control Mingshui's army." Li Shimin said: "I have already ordered Wang Junkuo to take my reward to Mingshui. I believe he will arrive before Liu Heitai, and use high-ranking officials and rich salary as bait to persuade Li Kaibi. Now we have to concentrate on dealing with it. It's Liu Heita." Qin Shubao said: "Liu Heitai thought he could not get out of the city, so we had nothing to do with him. Although he didn't come to us now, as long as he leaves Ye County, he can't escape from my palm! Commander-in-Chief, please order, Allow me to lead the troops to intercept Liu Heita." Li Shimin nodded in satisfaction, and said, "That's exactly what I mean. I believe that Liu Heita will be defeated if you send troops this time!" After reconnaissance, Qin Shubao led his army to set up an ambush on Liu Heita's only way.On the way to Mingshui, Liu Heita would never have thought that Tang Jun had already ambushed by the side of the road, waiting for him to throw himself into the trap.Having already lost the Mingshui army, he was chased and beaten by the Tang army when he was worried and angry, so he could only flee in a hurry. The two confrontations between Liu Heitai and Li Shimin were completely defeated by the opponent's ingenious design.At this time, Liu Heita had gradually developed fear of Tang Jun and lost confidence in winning.When he was defeated by Qin Shubao's ambush and fled around, he complained to Gao Yaxian, who had urged him to rebel against the Tang Dynasty: "I was just growing vegetables in the field, and I can live in peace for half my life. It's all because you have been lobbying. I started the army, and now I am fleeing everywhere, and my life is in danger!" These words have lost their heroism, not only embarrassing Gao Yaxian, Cao Zhan and other planners of the army, but also making them infinitely disappointed, with a premonition that Liu The black door is about to run out. Li Shimin cleverly stimulated Liu Heitai with a divorce plan, which caused a wave of waves inside him and a fire in the rear, so that he couldn't take into account the covetous Tang army outside the city.This war not only regained a lot of territory of the Tang Dynasty, but also consumed and incorporated a large number of Liu Heitai's troops, which greatly weakened Liu Heitai's strength and gradually moved towards the final demise. Sufficient preparations were made for the last obstacle to the unification of the Tang Dynasty.