In the 11th year of Daye, in early November, the Liaodong Army appointed Wang Rengong as the commander and led 5,000 elite cavalry into Hedong. Liu Wuzhou, the captain of Xuanmayi, rebelled against Tang and seized Mayi, Hedong deputy guard Yao Junsu, and Chen Xiaoyi, the prefect of Yanmen, rebelled against Tang and seized Yanmen.

The Li family stationed in Mayi, the confidant of the two counties of Yanmen, Li Xiaohe, the prefect of Mayi, and Li Daolin, the general of Yingyanglang of Mayi, were all destroyed. Wang Zhibing, the general of Hubenlang of Yanmen, was defeated and surrendered to Hebei. Ten thousand Tang soldiers in Yanmen of Mayi were gone. The news reached Taiyuan, and Li Yuan vomited blood and fainted.

After waking up, he immediately summoned Li Shimin, who was trying to reorganize his troops to go north to pacify Mayi and the two counties of Yanmen, and went back.

On the second day, after discussing with the ministers, Li Yuan decided to burn his boats and no longer care about the two counties of Yanmen and Mayi, and to shrink the nearby troops. He appointed his fifth son, Li Zhiyun, as the general of Zhenbei, and stayed in Taiyuan to be responsible for all matters in Taiyuan. Li Zhiyun was fourteen years old, and all affairs in Taiyuan were assisted by Tang Jian, Dou Wei brothers, Wen Daya brothers, and Li Xiaogong and Li Shentong, and led 50,000 troops to defend Taiyuan.

Li Yuan personally led 80,000 people and swore to move troops. He changed the flag and used Jiangbai. Because he was obedient to the Turks, he used the white of the Turks to open to Guanzhong. He wanted to advance west with all his strength, attack Guanzhong, and plan for the foundation of the dynasty.

Guanzhong is such an important place! It can be said that military strategists have always fought for. At the end of the Sui Dynasty, its importance has increased and unabated. First, it was the capital of Chang'an and also the political influence; second, Yang Guang built the Eastern Capital, built the canal, and conquered Goryeo. It had a series of activities that had a small impact on Guanzhong and had a good economic foundation, and could be a stable base; third, there were barriers such as the Yellow River and Hangu Pass, which could attack and retreat or defend.

In the ninth year of Daye, Yang Xuangan raised an army, and Li Mi proposed three strategies, namely, the upper, middle and lower ones. He was to attack Guanzhong as the central strategy. Unfortunately, Yang Xuangan was clumsy and was also helpless. He chose the worst strategy: to siege Dongdu. The siege of Dongdu failed, and Li Zixiong suggested going straight to Guanzhong. Although Yang Xuangan adopted it, it was too late.

Although Li Yuan finally won Hedong in the Taiyuan battle, he quickly expanded his strength by taking food, grass and equipment from Hedong. However, in the four battles in Hedong, all the surrounding forces were eyeing each other. Especially after the Liaodong Army also led troops into Hedong, Li Yuan could no longer sit still. He knew very well that if he waited, perhaps most of the Liaodong Army's troops would arrive.

By then, when the elite army of Liaodong arrives, it will be impossible for him to attack Guanzhong again. If he does not seize Guanzhong, it will not take long to stay in Hedong. He will inevitably be destroyed by the hands of the princes who are separating the roads around him.

Li Yuan headed south from Taiyuan and headed towards Guanzhong. Within two days, 80,000 troops headed south along the Fen River. He arrived at the first dangerous pass from Taiyuan to Guanzhong, Huoyi Pass. Huoyi Pass was located in two major mountains, Luliang Mountain and Taiyue Mountain, which was the only way to Taiyuan to go south. After heading south from Taiyuan Plain and passing Huoyi, it was the plain that could reach Tongguan of the Yellow River.

Li Yuan, Li Shimin, Li Jiancheng and his ministers marched in heavy snow for days, not caring about the muddy snow and the cold weather, and heading south. The army had just arrived at Huoyi Pass. A scout came from the south and ran quickly in the wind and rain. The scout's face turned red and even the beards on his face were frozen together.

As soon as the war horse stopped, the knight was so stiff that he couldn't dismount.

Several soldiers came forward and grabbed the snow group to wipe the scout's body to promote blood circulation. Another soldier quickly brought ginger soup. After some busy work, the scout was finally able to move his hands and feet.

The scout stretched out his still stiff hand and took out a letter from his arms, and said hoarsely, "Emergency military information in Changping County, Yang Hing led a 50,000 army to attack Hedong County, Wang Shichong ordered his eldest son Wang Xuanying to lead 20,000 troops to attack Henei County. The troops had reached Zhuguanxing and were about to attack Changping County..."

A team member who was hit by the stroke was shocked and did not dare to neglect. He quickly took the urgent report and rushed to Li Yuan's general camp.

The heavy snow like goose feathers has been falling for several days, but it has no intention of stopping at all.

Li Yuan stood on Huo Yi's city tower with his hands behind his back, looking at the north with a distance. He was still waiting for news about Liu Wenjing's in the Turks.

The snow in Hedong came so early this year, and the first snow fell for so many days, and it stopped from time to time, and the gloomy sky did not clear up. The snow on the ground had accumulated several feet thick, and it was not over the knee after stepping on it. Hedong had not seen such heavy snow for many years. It is definitely a disaster to march on such heavy snow days. Not only can't travel far every day, but the soldiers also had to carry a lot of supplies to keep the cold. However, the Fen River was frozen and could no longer transport food and grass supplies by boat. The roof was raining all night, and it had just passed through Xihe County and arrived in Linfen County. The food and grass in the army were no longer enough. If we continue to march, the food and grass of the 80,000 troops would not be paid for.

Li Yuan had issued an order in the evening, and the entire army temporarily rested in Huoyi for two days. First, he hoped that the heavy snow would stop in two days, and second, he had sent troops back to Taiyuan to urge grain and grass to transport grain and grass, so he had time to wait for the arrival of grain and grass.

However, Li Yuan was still uneasy. What he was really worried about was the Turks in the north. Liu Wenjing had not heard back yet, which made Li Yuan, who was looking forward to Turkic reinforcements, feel uneasy. Although the Mayi and Yanmen in the north of Taiyuan were taken away by Wang Rengong and Liu Wuzhou, Li Yuan no longer cared about those things. As long as he could capture Guanzhong, he would not care even if the entire Hebei was lost by then.

Now they are fully marching towards Hebei. Although the Yanmen in Mayi is lost, as long as the Taiyuan City is still in hand, they will not be able to go south for a while. Li Yuan is looking forward to joining forces with the Turks and attacking Guanzhong during this period. As long as they enter the pass, with the Yellow River and Tongguan natural danger, Li Tang has a chance to turn the tables.

Then, until dark, he did not wait for Liu Wenjing's news, but instead waited for the messenger from the south. Yang Qing, who was the emperor of Jianghan, led 50,000 troops to the north and captured five counties along the way. He had now crossed the Yellow River and attacked Hedong County, the northernmost part of Hedong. Wang Shichong, who should have been restrained by Li Mi, sent 20,000 troops to cross the Yellow River and enter Henei County. He even had seized the Zhengguan Xing and could attack the two counties of Changping and Jiang County at any time. Even Yu Wen and Guanzhong had already set up troops in Tongguan and were eyeing him.

This series of bad news almost made Li Yuan vomit blood again.

There are Wang Rengong, Yao Junsu, Liu Wuzhou, Guo Zihe in the north, Liang Shidu to the west, and Chen Pojun in the east. Now even the only chance to attack Guanzhong has been cut off. Yang Hung and Wang Shichong sent troops north, which has blocked his chance to enter Guanzhong.

! Should we advance or retreat? Continue to go south to attack Guanzhong, or return to Taiyuan?

Li Yuan urgently convened his subordinates, including his son Jiancheng and Shimin. Special experiences can make people grow the most. After years of hardship, Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin have grown up.

All the generals gathered together with Li Yuan’s military tent, serious and uneasy! No one spoke for a long time, and the generals were silent.

Pei Ji was the close friend of Li Yuan's most valued counselor. He decided to raise an army and make various specific arrangements, and to a large extent he listened to his opinions. Especially when entering Guanzhong, it was his plan. Now, Pei Ji broke the silence: "Although Yang Ming was incompetent, his command, Yu Jiluo, Tu Wanxu, Pei Renji, and Yang Yicheng were all famous generals for a while. Now that they have been allowed to cross the Yellow River, as long as they rely on the dangers of the guards, it is difficult to capture them for a while; and on the side, there are 20,000 troops led by Wang Shichong's eldest son, and now Yu Wen and Guanzhong are already prepared.

Once we have been stationed in Houtongguan, our army will be short of food again after a long period of time. Although Li Mi joined us, it is actually cunning and unpredictable. The Turks have always been greedy and untrustworthy and are profit-oriented. They have not received any reply yet, just because they are afraid that things will be unexpected. Liu Wuzhou, Guo Zihe, and Yao Jun have always been in charge of Hebei, and their troops are in a strong position. Liang Shidu has received support from the Turks, and their troops are in full swing. Chen Kefu, Yang Ming, Yu Wenji, Wang Shichong, Turks, Liu Wuzhou, and Liang Shidu are all coveting Taiyuan. The Taiyuan Yidu, our Yishang family members are all there."

Pei Ji's hesitant voice fully expressed the voice of the minister who first proposed to conquer Guanzhong and abandon Hedong. The silent tent at this time also showed the same thoughts of other generals and civil officials. Guanzhong is not advisable, so it is better to return to the army to save Taiyuan.

"Don't retreat!"

Li Shimin suddenly stood up and said firmly, "Why worry about the lack of food in Taiyuan City? Yang Ming was frivolous and impatient, but another Yang Guang. Although his subordinates were all generals, Yang Ming personally fought for the army, and his commander was incompetent and exhausted the three armies. Li Mi was determined to attack Luoyang, and Gu Lian's current territory would not attack Taiyuan far away. Wang Shichong's army was also in Luoyang, and he was sent only a partial army, and his son Wuming led the army, and could be captured in one battle. Liu Wuzhou, Chen Pojun, Liang Shizhu and Turks were all attached to each other, but the truth was guessed inside. Our Tang Dynasty raised an army, but the four battles in Hedong are now in Hebei, in the east, in Mayi Yanmen, and in the west, they all wanted to annex our Hedong but were out of reach."

At this time, we will inevitably be surrounded by all sides, advance, and there may be a glimmer of hope to take Guanzhong. We should all strive to stay in death without regard for the death of our lives, and we will be able to live in the future. And we must enter Chang'an first, so that we can command the world in the future. Now we will have to fight the enemy, and we will probably disintegrate the rebels and soldiers in one day. We will still defend the land of Taiyuan, which is a dead end, not a way to live. If we are content with a corner, we will not last long. How will we be able to do so?"

"The second brother is right!" Li Jiancheng also stood up and firmly supported Shimin. "You must never retreat and fall into a corner of a city! Whether in terms of situation or morality, you must advance to command the world."

There are many different opinions. After Jiancheng, the two brothers Shimin strive to fight.
Chapter completed!