Sheng Yanshi, the general of the Zuo Xiaogu, who is currently in charge of the defense of Pujin Pass and Tongguan, is also an important figure. He controls a total of 30,000 Tang troops, including 20,000 troops defending Pujin Pass and Tongguan. In addition, the Tang army abandoned Hongnong County, and the 10,000 Tang troops stationed at Hangu Pass also withdrew from Tongguan and was also commanded by Sheng Yanshi, and Sheng Yanshi has thus become the focus of attention of all parties.

But these 30,000 troops are not a solid piece. Sheng Yanshi is Li Shentong's man, while deputy general Liu Hongji is Li Shimin's man.

This is mainly because Liu Hongji had previously commanded 10,000 troops to station Hangu Pass. After being ordered to retreat, Li Yuan appointed him as the deputy commander of Tongguan, allowing him and Sheng Yan to restrain each other, and he became the deputy general of Sheng Yan.

After Li Yuanji launched a court coup, he sent an envoy to Pujin Pass and asked Shi Sheng Yan and Liu Hongji to express allegiance, but neither of them made any statement. It was difficult for them to agree on this matter, but Shi Sheng Yan had to look at Li Shentong's attitude, while Liu Hongji had to listen to Li Shimin's orders.

After Li Yuanji ascended the throne, although Li Shentong had publicly loyal to Li Yuanji and admitted that Li Yuanji was the new emperor of the Tang Dynasty, Sheng Yanshi unexpectedly remained silent. His news was faster than others. He had learned that Zhang Xuan led an army of 200,000 to Yan'an County, and the army was about to go south.

In the tent, Sheng Yanshi was strolling back and forth with great worries. Two years ago, Zhai Rang planned to contact his old subordinates to rebel, but was killed by him. He was thus named General of the Left Wu Guard and Duke of Changge County by Li Yuan, and served as the Grand Commander of Tongguan. He was once proud of this, but now he is not happy.

Yesterday he received Li Yuanji's order to grant him the title of Prince Liang, and asked him to lead his army to the capital to serve the king. He disdained the so-called Prince Liang, and he was even more concerned about Zhang Xuan's promise to him.

At this time, his wife's brother Wang Yao's voice came from outside the tent, "You report to the general quickly, I have something urgent to see him!"

Master Sheng Yan was stunned and then ordered: "Let him in!"

After a moment, the curtain was lifted, Wang Yao walked in quickly and whispered to Master Sheng Yan: "The Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty has sent someone to deliver the letter, now I have."

Master Sheng Yan was shocked and hurriedly said, "Take him here quickly."

Then he glared at his wife's brother dissatisfiedly, and it was obvious that he had secretly affair with Zhou Jun, but he didn't know.

Wang Yao apologized: "I will go back and explain to my brother-in-law, and I will see someone first."

"You might as well go and bring people."

Wang Yao hurried away. Soon after, he brought a Zhang Xuan guard, who clasped his fists and said, "See General Sheng!"

"I heard that the emperor of your country has written me?"

The guard nodded and took out a letter and presented it to Master Sheng Yan, "This is our emperor's handwritten letter to General Sheng. Please salute him!"

Master Sheng Yan understood the meaning of the guard. He took the letter respectfully with both hands. The letter was written on the skin: "General Sheng Yan Shiqi, General of the Left Wu Guard of Tang Dynasty". The following signature was a private seal. Master Sheng Yan was excited. This was a letter written by the Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty to himself. What a glory it was.

After a moment of excitement, he slowly opened the letter and read the contents of the letter in detail. At this time, the guard said, "The Master said that the general needs time to think about it, so why not come and listen to the news tomorrow morning."

"Okay! Thank you for your hard work."

Master Sheng Yan asked someone to give him ten taels of gold to the guards, and the soldiers took him down to rest. Then he glared at his wife and said, "What do you explain?"

Wang Yao smiled bitterly and said, "Before I came to join my brother-in-law, I was already the commander of the Zhou army. In fact, my father asked me to join the army."

Sheng Yanshi was stunned and couldn't speak for a long time. His brother-in-law was actually Zhou Jun and he became the commander of the brigade. No wonder he knew how to lead troops to fight, and he praised him for being able to do it.

"Then you are ordered to come to my place."

"That's right! But I'm doing my best for my brother-in-law."

At this time, Master Sheng Yan was not angry anymore. He had decided to surrender to Zhang Xuan, but what Zhang Xuan asked him to do in the letter made him a little embarrassed.

"The Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty promised to grant me the title of General Hu Ben and the title of Duke Ge. If I can take Liu Hongji's 10,000 troops away, I will be promoted to General Longxiang."

Wang Yao said without hesitation: "Of course I want General Longxiang, and it will be difficult to become General Longxiang in the future."

Of course, Master Sheng Yan knew that General Longxiang and General Hu Ben were not the same, but

He sighed and said, "But Liu Hongji's 10,000 troops are not easy to seize!"

Wang Yao sneered: "I have a plan to kill Liu Hongji."

He said a few words to Master Sheng Yan, and Master Sheng Yan nodded repeatedly. This method is good. I believe Liu Hongji is also trying to persuade him to be loyal to Li Shimin.

Liu Hongji's army is currently stationed in Tongguan. Just as Sheng Yanshishi's judgment, Liu Hongji also received a pigeon letter from Li Shimin, asking him to find a way to persuade Sheng Yanshi not to be loyal to Li Yuanji and let them cross the Wei River together to join Li Xiaogong.

Li Shimin attaches great importance to these 30,000 troops. These 30,000 troops plus Li Xiaogong's 15,000 troops are 45,000 troops, and are a pawn that can change the situation of the battle.

But Liu Hongji was also in a dilemma. Master Sheng Yan has always been a member of Li Shentong. How could he persuade him to turn to be loyal to the King of Qin?

Just when Liu Hongji was helpless, he suddenly received a message from a spy placed in the army of Sheng Yan. At noon today, Li Shentong's son Li Xiaorui brought people to the army to seize the military power of Sheng Yan's army. He had a conflict with Sheng Yan's army, and Li Xiaorui rushed away angrily.

This news immediately gave Liu Hongji a glimmer of hope, but he was a little worried that Master Sheng Yan would surrender to Zhang Xuan.

At this time, a soldier reported outside the tent: "Report to General Qi, General Sheng sent Wang Yao to deliver the letter."

Of course, Liu Hongji knew that although Wang Yao was just a captain, he was Sheng Yanshi's brother-in-law, a very smart and capable young man. He quickly let Wang Yao in. Soon, Wang Yao walked into the tent and knelt down on one knee and said, "See General Liu!"

"Person Wang, please get up!"

Wang Yao took out a letter and handed it to Liu Hongji, "This is General Sheng's handwritten letter, please let General Liu check it out."

Liu Hongji took the letter and looked at it. In the letter, Master Sheng Yan expressed his willingness to be loyal to the King of Qin and suggested that they go to join Li Xiaogong together.

If it were normal times, Liu Hongji would have been full of doubts about Master Sheng Yan's attitude, but now is an extraordinary period. He dared not doubt Master Sheng Yan, for fear that his suspicion would anger Master Sheng Yan. Master Sheng Yan went to Zhang Xuan in anger.

Of course, this is also related to the news that Liu Hongji received. Li Shentong wanted to seize the military power of Sheng Yanshi, which forced Sheng Yanshi to turn to loyalty to the King of Qin.

Liu Hongji read the letter twice and said happily: "General Sheng is willing to be loyal to the King of Qin, which is a blessing for the Tang Dynasty. I wonder how we join forces?"

Wang Yao smiled and said, "My general means that we will set off tonight and go to the Weihe Ferry Crossing separately, join forces at the Weihe Ferry Crossing, and then cross the south together."

This plan is good, Liu Hongji immediately said, "Then it's a matter of determination, I'll leave tonight."

Liu Hongji was also worried that there were too many dreams at night, so he sent Wang Yao away. That night he gathered troops to leave Tongguan and marched towards the Weihe Ferry.

As soon as dawn was dawn, Liu Hongji's army arrived at the Weihe Ferry. Sheng Yan's army had arrived first and the army had begun to cross the river. At this time, Sheng Yan's army sent personal soldiers to invite Liu Hongji to the "Dongqu Pavilion" to gather.

Dongquge is a wine shop located at the ferry entrance, close to the Wei River, and is a place to see off relatives and friends for a drink. At this time, Liu Hongji had no doubts anymore, so he took more than a dozen personal soldiers to Dongquge.

At this time, Wang Yao was waiting in front of the gate. He clasped his fists and said with a smile: "My general has already placed wine on the upper floor, General Liu invites you!"

Liu Hongji heard the melodious sound of silk and bamboo coming from the building and the singer singing a small song. He ordered his personal soldiers to wait outside the door and walked happily to the second floor.

But after getting up, the hall upstairs was empty and there was nothing. Liu Hongji was stunned for a moment. At this moment, there was only a sound of a cup falling, and dozens of swords and axe drivers rushed out from both sides. Liu Hongji could not dodge and was immediately killed by random knives.

While Liu Hongji was killed, more than a dozen of his personal soldiers were surrounded by hundreds of soldiers, all of which were killed. At this time, Dongqu Pavilion was lit, thick smoke rolled and fires soared into the sky. Tens of thousands of Zhou troops lying around came and surrounded Liu Hongji's army.

The main general was dead, and the 10,000 troops had no backbone, and they surrendered to the Zhou army one after another. Sheng Yan's army also led 20,000 troops to surrender to Zhang Xuan.
Chapter completed!