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Chapter 768: The Key Link

The arrival of 50,000 Tang reinforcements completely changed the situation on the front line of Nanxiang. Li Shimin launched a fierce offensive. First, Zhu Jie was trapped and the entire army was destroyed near Danshui County, Xiyang County. Then Li Shimin led 50,000 troops to attack the Yuwen Chengdu army stationed in Yuyang County. Yuwen Chengdu was defeated in both battles.

At this time, Qu Tutong led 20,000 troops to the eastern front, and Yuwen Chengdu was attacked from the left and right and could no longer defend Yuyang County. He had no choice but to lead 20,000 defeated troops to retreat northward to Xiangguo County, and meet with Wang Shichong's main force.

At this time, Wang Shichong was fighting fiercely with Zhai Rang in Xiangguo County. Zhai Rang's 30,000 troops were his elite troops directly under him. They were well-trained and equipped with Mingguang armor and top-class sword spears seized from the Xiaoguo Army. They were extremely powerful in combat and did not lose the advantage in fighting with Yu Wen and Xiaoguo Army. They were also Zhai Rang's last capital.

Although Zhai Rang himself gave up Songcheng County because of his fear of Zhang Xuan, he was not afraid of Wang Shichong. He fought a fierce tug-of-war with Wang Shichong's 50,000 troops in Chengxiu County, Xiangguo County. The war between the two sides was very fierce. Although Zhai Rang's army was 20,000 less than Wang Shichong, he did not fall at a disadvantage. After five days and five nights of fierce fighting, both sides lost more than half.

The central army tent was in a mess, with torn maps and kicked over shelves everywhere, and there were arrows all over the floor, and there were even cracks split by knives on the curtains of the tent. All of this shows that Wang Shichong was once furious here.

More than a dozen personal soldiers were carefully packing up the central army's tent. Their lord Wang Shichong was furious in the inner tent. At this time, a soldier accidentally knocked over a lamp holder. With a 'bang', the lamp holder rolled on the ground. The personal soldiers were so scared that their faces were as dark as earth, crawling on the ground and trembling all over. The other soldiers were also so scared that their faces were pale, like clay sculptures, motionless.

After a while, Wang Shichong's cold voice was heard, "Go and call Su Liang to see me!"

Two soldiers ran away. At this time, Wang Shichong slowly walked out of the inner tent, and he was holding a letter in his hand. The soldiers all knew that it was the letter sent by King Zhang Xuan of Qi a few days ago. The prince read it repeatedly many times, and tore off the other things, but the letter was still there, but it was this letter that caused the prince to be angry.

The soldiers crawled on the ground, not daring to move. Wang Shichong sat down and waved his hand, like driving a group of flies, "Get out!"

A group of soldiers quickly retreated. Wang Shichong's overwhelming anger was because Zhu Jie refused to surrender before, but now he was defeated. He thought of surrendering himself, which led to the full fall of the southern counties. Another reason was that Zhang Xuan refused to help him deal with Wagang, which also made him furious. He had just agreed to deal with the Wagang army together, but when he turned around, Zhang Xuan forgot his promise.

Wang Shichong thought that he had lost his troops but had no gains. How could he not be angry and furious?

However, Wang Shichong had slowly calmed down at this time. Although he did not want to accept some things, he had to face reality. For example, Zhai Rang wrote a letter to him, suggesting that both sides stop and Zhai Rang lead his army to withdraw from Xiangguo County.

Wang Shichong wished he could crush Zhai Rang's bones and ashes. If the Tang army had not threatened in the south, Wang Shichong would never have accepted Zhai Rang's suggestion and would have fought to the end with Zhai Rang.

But the reality is here. He either kills Zhai Rang as soon as possible, or lets Zhai Rang's army leave immediately, otherwise it will cause a situation of being attacked from both sides. Obviously, he cannot eliminate Zhai Rang as soon as possible, so he has to face the reality, accept Zhai Rang's suggestions, let him leave, so that he can concentrate his troops to deal with the Tang army in the south.

Wang Shichang immediately wrote a letter, called a personal soldier in, and handed it to him and said, "You go to Zhai Rang's camp and handed this letter to Zhai Rang. You must hand it to him. Then tell Zhai Rang that one day, I, Wang Shichong, will destroy him in pieces!"

The soldier took the letter and hurried away. Wang Shichong waited for a moment to calm down, then frowned and asked, "Why haven't Su Liang come yet?"

"Your Majesty, Doctor Su has arrived and is waiting outside the tent!"

"Why don't you let him in?"

Soon, Su Liang hurried in and bowed, "Su Liang meets the prince!"

"Sir, please sit down!"

Su Liang sat down and quickly glanced at the chaos in the tent. He just ran to his personal soldiers to tell him about the furious incident of King Zheng. He probably understood Wang Shichong's mood at this time and also knew why Wang Shichong was looking for him.

Wang Shichong seemed to be distracted by the mess. He pondered for a moment and said, "We had negotiated with Zhang Xuan to deal with the Wagang Army together, but Zhai Rang rushed to Xiangguo County, but he kept silent. Did Zhang Xuan take advantage of the literal loophole? Because now Zhai Rang is no longer a Wagang Army, do you think it is the reason?"

Su Liang said calmly: "Actually, Bei Zhi thinks that Zhang Xuan is not so petty. Maybe he thinks that Zhai Rang is no longer a threat and can be easily eliminated, so he doesn't have to worry about it. Bei Zhi thinks it should be the reason."

Wang Shichong sneered, "I destroyed tens of thousands of poor troops, but the most elite army of the Wagang Army did not move. Can the remaining Wagang Army be easily eliminated? It was obvious that I threw the hardest bones to me."

Su Liang had to smile bitterly and try his best to remain silent. He knew that Wang Shichong must have an important explanation for him.

Wang Shichong didn't care about Su Liang's reaction, and he said slowly: "I just got the news. Zhang Xuan didn't go far. He was still in Liang County. I think I understand what he meant. He was waiting for my bid. He had to pay a price to deal with Tang Jun. So I want the gentleman to go for me again and see what he wants? Zhang Xuan is now in Dangshan County, Liang County."

Su Liang nodded, "Bizhi set out immediately. In order to gain time, Beizhi will contact the prince with flying pigeons in Dangshan County."

"This is the best, you set off immediately!"

Su Liang took Wang Shichong's token and hurried away. Wang Shichong figured out the most critical link and breathed a sigh of relief. It depends on how much Zhang Xuan offered and whether he could bear it.













After several days of fierce battle, Zhai Rang's 30,000 elite troops were left, with nearly half of them losing. Zhai Rang could not afford such huge losses, so he decided to negotiate peace with Wang Shichong.

Currently, Zhai Rang's army is located at the northernmost point of Xiangguo County, less than thirty miles away from Yique County outside Luoyang. This location is not only the back of Wang Shichong's army, but also a huge threat to Luoyang.

It was precisely because Zhai Rang understood this that he was not afraid that Wang Shichong would not compromise. But the only thing Zhai Rang was whether the peace talks with Wang Shichong would cause Li Shimin to be dissatisfied with him without Li Shimin's consent. After all, he is now a general of the Tang Dynasty and no longer the leader of the Wagang Army. He has not been able to adapt to this change in role for the time being.

In the big tent, the personal soldiers sent by Wang Shichong presented the letter to Zhai Rang. Zhai Rang took the letter and opened it and looked at it. It was consistent with what he expected. Wang Shichong agreed to the peace agreement and asked him to evacuate west immediately, promising to never pursue him.

"Have your prince said anything else?" Zhai Rang asked again after reading the letter.

The personal soldiers hesitated for a moment. What the prince said was too ugly and might anger Zhai Rang, but if he didn't say it back, he would be blamed by the prince. He quickly bowed and said, "My prince also said something angry, but the villain dared not say it explicitly."

"You just say it as it is, it has nothing to do with you."

The personal soldiers had no choice but to muster up the courage to say, "The prince's original words are like this, 'Tell Zhai Rang again, one day, I, Wang Shichong, will destroy him to pieces!" This is the prince's original words, and the villain retells them without any word."

Zhai Rang was furious and slapped the table hard, "Go back and tell Wang Shichong that I, Zhai Rang, will not only tear him into pieces, but also destroy his nine clans and dig his ancestral grave!"

The sending soldiers were so scared that they ran away. At this time, Fang Xuanzao walked into the tent, looked at the back of the sending soldiers who were fleeing in panic, and smiled at Zhai Rang and said, "Is it because Wang Shichong refused to give in and wants to fight Zhai Gong?"

"No, Wang Shichong did agree to the peace agreement and asked me to withdraw troops westward, but I was very worried that Li Shimin would want me to stay in Yique County and attack Wang Shichong with him?"

Fang Xuanzao nodded, "It's really possible. The current situation is beneficial to the Tang army. Li Shimin must want to completely defeat Wang Shichong. It is indeed the best choice to let Mr. Zhai stay in Yique County. If I were Li Shimin, I would also make this request."

Zhai Rang immediately said anxiously: "But my troops have lost too much. If I continue to fight, I will have nothing left. I cannot consume all my capital."

"This is why I came to see Mr. Zhai. We must find a reason to withdraw our troops so that Li Shimin has nothing to say. Bei Zhi thinks that our food and grass are about to be exhausted is the best excuse. He immediately withdraws his troops before Li Shimin's military order arrives, and at the same time, he sends someone to send him a letter, saying that our food is exhausted and we have to withdraw our troops."
Chapter completed!
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