In this battle, the Zhou Dynasty's army killed 6,000 enemies and captured more than 15,000 enemies, and captured Hedong City, the most important strategic city in southern Bingzhou. The Hedong City garrison Shi Wanbao died in the chaos.

The disastrous defeat in Hedong not only destroyed Li Shentong's 25,000 elite troops, but also caused the situation in Bingzhou to develop in a direction that was extremely unfavorable to the Tang Dynasty.

After the Battle of Hedong County, the five counties including Wencheng County, Longquan County, Lishi County, Jiang County, and Linfen County, which had been waiting and watching, immediately changed their flags and flags. The prefects of the five counties announced their loyalty to the Great Zhou Empire and sent people to the Zhongdu court to offer county land and civil orders.

In just ten days later, except for an isolated city in Taiyuan, the entire area of ​​Bingzhou had already belonged to the Zhou Dynasty. The situation in Bingzhou changed so quickly, it only took half a month.

At this time, an unprecedented blizzard swept across most areas north of the Yellow River, with heavy snow falling down, and the entire northern sky turned gray.

In early winter, Chang'an City also ushered in the first heavy snow since the beginning of winter. The cold wind blew over the blizzard for three days and three nights. When the blizzard turned weaker and light snow, Chang'an had become a snowy world.

It is less than a month since the New Year, and the atmosphere of the New Year is becoming stronger day by day.

Heavy snow fell from the sky, and the road to the east was blocked, the transportation of goods was blocked, and the transmission of information was also blocked. The drastic changes in Bingzhou did not spread to the people of Chang'an. Under the premise that the court could block the news, most of the military and civilians in Chang'an did not know that Bingzhou had changed hands. On the contrary, the news that Li Shimin captured Song Jingang alive in Yan'an County excited the people of Chang'an, adding a bit of joy to the upcoming New Year.

The battle in Yan'an County lasted for four months. There were not many battles in the four months, with only three battles in total, but all three battles were huge in scale. The first battle took place in Yincheng County, south of Yan'an County. In early August, Li Shimin defeated Song Jingang's 80,000 army with 30,000 troops.

Song Jingang was forced to retreat to Gaonu County and assembled a hundred thousand troops in Gaonu County to make a comeback. However, Li Shimin did not give him a chance. He and Qu Tutong each led 30,000 troops to attack Song Jingang's camp. Song Jingang's army was defeated again, and countless people were killed and captured. Song Jingang led 30,000 troops back to Gaonu County and closed the door without fighting.

The third battle was the battle of siege, and it was also the longest battle. It lasted for three months. It was not until ten days ago that Yang Funian, the chief secretary of the Song King Kong Army, and his son Yang Jiaoxian surrendered to the Tang army. Li Shimin led tens of thousands of Tang troops into the city. Gaonu County was captured, and Song King Kong was also tied up by his guards and presented it to the Tang army.

At present, Yan'an County has been completely recovered, and only Song Jingang's general Lu Chongmao led 8,000 troops to fight stubbornly in Suide County, southern Diaoyin County. At this time, Li Shimin received an urgent letter from the court and learned that Bingzhou was on an envoy. He ordered General Sheng Yanshi to lead an army of 15,000 to continue to encircle and suppress the remnants of Song Jingang, and he led the army back to Chang'an.

Song Jingang was finally ordered to behead him in Xicheng by Li Yuan four days ago. The crowds of people in Xicheng four days ago have made many people in Chang'an still unforgettable. When Song Jingang's head was cut off, the crowds in Xicheng were jubilant. This is the effect Li Yuan wanted, using the victory of Yan'an County to cover up the defeat in Bingzhou.

After all, the paper cannot contain the fire. Although the heavy snow blocked the road and blocked the news, some big businesses still got news about Bingzhou through their carrier pigeons. The news of Bingzhou's loss has begun to spread secretly in some small circles.

In the East Palace Warm Pavilion, Li Jiancheng and Wei Zheng were sitting by the brazier and whispering to discuss the current situation. Li Jiancheng rushed back to Chang'an from Hanzhong County yesterday. He was not allowed to return to Beijing within two years, but the increasingly serious crisis in Bingzhou urgently required Li Jiancheng to participate in the discussion of countermeasures. Li Yuan had to make concessions and allowed Li Jiancheng to go to Beijing to visit his mother as an excuse to let Li Jiancheng return to Beijing for one month.

"Everyone said that the Bingzhou battle deployed by Zhang Xuan was very sudden and was launched without any warning in advance. It was a quick battle and decisive battle. It took only fourteen days to occupy the entire Bingzhou except Taiyuan City. It was very different from the previous battles. In fact, I don't think that's the case."

Wei Zheng did not follow Li Jiancheng to leave Beijing, but stayed in Chang'an and kept sending Li Jiancheng the latest news about Chang'an, which greatly helped Li Jiancheng to understand the situation in the capital in a timely manner.

Li Jiancheng asked: "What's the problem?"

"Actually, Wei Yunqi had already told us that their next goal was Bingzhou, but we did not really pay attention to it. He sent Pei Ji to lead 20,000 troops to Taiyuan. Even if there were measures to deal with it, we actually still have a lot of things we haven't done."

Li Jiancheng was silent for a moment and said, "It's not that the father didn't pay attention to it, but that we don't have the strength to protect Bingzhou anymore."

Li Jiancheng stood up and walked to the window, looking at the white snow outside the window with his hands behind his back. After a long time, he sighed, "The father did not learn the lesson of the disastrous defeat in Jingzhou at all, but let the Li clan take charge of military power. This time, the failure of Bingzhou was fully demonstrated. The Deliang clan's uncle died in Taiyuan and the second uncle of Shentu was defeated in Hedong. They were all based on their mistakes in judging the current situation. If the Deliang clan could reuse Xie Yingdeng, Xie Yingdeng's character would not surrender to the Zhou army. As for the second uncle of Shentu, it was his personality defect that led to the defeat of Hedong."

"What do you say about Your Highness?" Wei Zheng asked in confusion.

"The father asked the second uncle of Shentong to be in charge of the defense east of Guanzhong, including Hedong County. In this case, he should push the defense line to the front line of Hedong County. At least he should deploy 20,000 troops in Hedong City, but he hoarded the army in Guanzhong. This was the case when he was young. He had to keep everything by himself. He felt that it belonged to him. If he put things away a little further, he was uneasy and always felt that he would be taken away by others. Now he deployed the army the same way. The army wanted to stay by his side, but Hedong County refused to let the army go more, which caused them to rescue Hedong City in time and were intercepted outside Hedong City by the Zhou army. The number of troops was less than the other party, the combat power was weaker than the other party, and the command and response ability was inferior to the other party. It would be strange if he did not fail."

Speaking of this, Li Jiancheng said with great pain: "The father and emperor valued the uncle of Shuliang's clan. As a result, Shuliang was killed in the Eastern Expedition and Xiaoji. As a result, Xiaoji died in Shangjun and Deliang. Deliang died in Taiyuan and used divine talismans and supernatural powers. Although he was lucky enough to die, one lost Jingzhou and the other lost Jinnan and the fourth brother, and the ended up offending the nobles of Guanlong. If he did not change his nepotism, our entire Tang Dynasty would be completely destroyed on it."

Wei Zhengran was silent. He could not ask about such royal housework. After a while, he asked in a deep voice: "Does Your Highness think there is still room for recovery in Taiyuan now?"

Li Jiancheng shook his head decisively, "There is no point in defending Taiyuan to the death. We have no strength to retake Bingzhou at all. Zhang Xuan can mobilize at least 300,000 troops to fight in Bingzhou. We gather 100,000 troops in Guanzhong to fight. However, Li Jing's army in Hetao went south in a large scale. What can we resist? I am afraid that if Bingzhou is not recaptured by then, Guanlong will be completely discarded."

"Your Highness said very well, but what strategy does your Highness think can be used to withdraw from the army of Ohara?"

Before Li Jiancheng could speak, a guard outside the door reported: "Report to Your Highness, the emperor sent someone to summon Your Highness to Wude Hall to discuss matters!"

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Li Jiancheng participated in the Wude Hall discussion the day after returning. The theme of the discussion was still the situation in Bingzhou, but this was the third time that the important officials have discussed the situation in Bingzhou.

During the first two discussions, the important officials were obviously divided into two factions. One was to combine the whole country's strength to counterattack Bingzhou, headed by Li Shentong and King Li Yuanji of Chu, insisting on not giving up Bingzhou. Although Li Shentong was defeated in Hedong City, the emperor Li Yuan did not hold him accountable, which made Li Shentong extremely ashamed. Therefore, when discussing the situation in Bingzhou, he strongly advocated a counterattack Bingzhou. His proposal was strongly supported by Li Yuanji and supported by Dou Guan, Tang Jian, Dou Lu Kuan and other prime ministers.

The other faction was against the attack on Bingzhou, mainly led by Qin King Li Shimin, Chen Shuda, Liu Wenjing and other important officials. They believed that the situation in Bingzhou was hopeless and should admit and accept the failure. Both factions held their own principles and did not give in to each other. There was no result in the Wude Hall discussions. Today, Li Yuan held the third discussion, hoping that everyone could reach an agreement this time.

There was silence in the hall. Li Yuan sat down on the dragon couch. He glanced at everyone and finally fell on Prince Li Jiancheng. He said to Li Jiancheng gently: "The emperor only participated in the discussion today. Did the emperor understand the situation of the previous two discussions?"

Li Jiancheng stood up and saluted and said, "Report to the father, the two previous discussions, my son has heard from the introduction of the Prime Minister Chen and the Prime Minister Liu."
Chapter completed!