Qin Huaiyu wanted to ask again, but Xiao Yannian turned over and got off the horse and smiled and said, "Let's go! Take a look on the ridge."

He turned around and shouted to the soldiers: "Everyone is waiting for me in the woods, and I'll be back soon!"

He quickly ran up the mountain, and Qin Huaiyu also turned over and dismounted, "Captain, wait for me!"

The two of them ran towards the ridge one by one. The Loess Plateau during the Sui and Tang Dynasties had not been cut too much, and dense forests could be seen everywhere. There were also lush forests on the ridge they were going to. They were condescending to the heights and could see the situation of Jinsuo Pass more clearly.

Xiao Yannian stared at him for a moment, turned around and smiled at Qin Huaiyu, "Did you find anything?"

Qin Huaiyu frowned, "It seems that the pass is not big?"

"The pass is indeed not big, and it can only accommodate 3,000 people at most, but the problem is not here."

Xiao Yannian pointed at the Golden Lock Pass and said, "That hill is only ten feet high. If it is occupied and shot arrows down, or smashed with huge rocks and burned tinder, do you think this Golden Lock Pass can still be defended?"

Qin Huaiyu looked at it for a moment and found that there were wooden towers on the mountain, and said, "It seems that someone has already stationed on the top of the mountain."

"That's just a mail tower, not a real garrison."

Xiao Yannian was worried that once they went back to report, the Tang army would add troops to the mountains, which made his intelligence go wrong. He thought for a while and said, "Save two brothers here to guard us. We will divide our troops into two groups, go back to report, cross the mountains, and continue to explore the intelligence in the south."

Speaking of this, Xiao Yannian patted Qin Huaiyu on the shoulder. "Take the two of you back to report, and I will take my brothers to continue to investigate the information south."

Qin Huaiyu bit his lip, "I'll go with Brother Xiao and let others go back to report the news."

Xiao Yannian shook his head, "You always have to do things. You can't always follow me, go back to report the message, and then ask your highness for orders to see what tasks your highness can give you."

"I understand, go back now."

Qin Huaiyu bowed and saluted. He ran to the bottom of the mountain. Xiao Yannian looked at Qin Huaiyu and turned over and took a few people away. Xiao Yannian always had a complicated feeling in his heart. Qin Huaiyu had a high-ranking father who could rely on, and had a bright future, but he could only rely on struggle and had no support. Alas! Men should be self-reliant!

Xiao Yannian cheered up and looked towards the farther south, wondering if he could go deep into the hinterland of Guanzhong.

...........

At this time, the main camp of the Sui army of 150,000 had moved south from Fushi County, Yan'an County to Luojiao County, Shangjun. The army was deployed in a field ten miles south of Luojiao County, located on the west bank of Luoshui. The terrain here is wide, and the Sui army's post can be viewed twenty miles away. In addition, the water source is sufficient, so it is very suitable for camping.

The Sui army adopted a step-by-step strategy, that is, every time a distance southward, the camp was formally built and a panel-walled structure was adopted. A large camp was built like a copper wall and an iron wall. The 150,000 army covered an area of ​​about forty miles. The camp was grand and elusive at a glance.

Yang Yuanqing arrived at the Guannei Dao Camp three days ago. According to his arrangement, he will serve as the head coach of this decisive battle and fully command the attack on Guanzhong in four directions. At the same time, he is also the commander of the main force of the Northern Front Army, with Qin Qiong and Luo Shixin as the left and right deputy generals.

At this time, 120,000 stones of grain and 500,000 sheep had been transported in the main business of the Sui army. The food was gradually sufficient, but how to fight Guanzhong still needed Yang Yuanqing's unified deployment.

In the central army's tent was also placed a huge sand table that was two meters wide and three meters long. Several engaged in the activities had inserted white flags marked with the number of Tang troops onto the sand table based on the information sent by scouts from various places.

Next to the sand table, Yang Yuanqing was discussing the offensive strategy of the Northern Front Battle with more than a dozen generals. He pointed at Jingshuidao with a wooden pole: "From the information currently in place, Li Shimin's main force is south of Qianshuiyuan, Beidi County and north of Xinping County, with about 50,000 people, which is the last elite of the Tang army. There are 20,000 cavalry among these 50,000 people, so we must also use elites to deal with this army. I will lead 80,000 elites to fight against Li Shimin himself."

Qin Qiong frowned and said, "Your Highness, we have an army of 150,000. Why did your Highness only use 80,000 troops to fight against Li Shimin's main force? Are you a little careless?"

Yang Yuanqing smiled slightly, "There are many military tactics, the real ones are empty, and the virtual ones are real ones. I led 80,000 troops to attack the main force of the Tang army in the name of the commander. It seems to be the main battlefield, but in fact, the real main battlefield should be in the east."

Yang Yuanqing pointed to Tongguan and Pujin Pass with a wooden pole. "The Tang army in this area has only 30,000 troops to defend, which is very weak. Their only dependence is the dangers of Tongguan and Pujin Pass. So we have to find a way to break the opponent's advantages. Does General Qin understand what I mean?"

Qin Qiong thought for a moment and seemed to understand what Yang Yuanqing meant, "Your Highness said, we should also set up an army along the Luo River, go south, enter Fengyi County, and fight after Pujin Pass and Tongguan?"

Yang Yuanqing smiled and nodded, "That's the point. The reason why I say that the east is the main battlefield is that I am planning to cast 150,000 troops on the Eastern Front, defeating Li Shentong's 30,000 troops in a lightning battle, and taking the lead in breaking through the Eastern Front. In this way, Chang'an is in a hurry, and Li Shimin's northern front will not be able to confront me, and we will take the initiative in the war."

"A clever plan!"

Luo Shixin praised, "Your Highness is the best to attack the enemy's weakness. The weakest part of the Tang army is on the Eastern Front. Break through the weakest point of the enemy's army. This is the cleverness of the decisive battle."

"You guy is flattering again."

Yang Yuanqing smiled and knocked Luo Shixin with a wooden pole, and said to everyone: "This is actually the evil consequence of the Tang army factional route. Guandong has always been Li Jiancheng's territory and was later taken over by Li Shentong. However, Li Shentong and Li Shimin had a deep conflict because of Li Shenfu's death. Li Shentong always believed that Li Shimin refused to send troops to aid Huining County, which led to Li Shenfu's tragic death.

So when Li Shimin deployed his army this time, although he sent 20,000 troops to the Eastern Front for assistance, these 20,000 troops were not his main force, but the army I temporarily recruited when I attacked Chang'an last year. After training for several months, I could only barely form an army. In this way, the defense of the Eastern Front becomes very weak. As long as we break through the Eastern Front, the overall situation in Guanzhong will be determined."

Speaking of this, Yang Yuanqing turned his eyes to Qin Qiong. Qin Qiong understood what he meant and nodded.

"Okay! General Qin led 50,000 troops to take the Luoshui Road, enter Fengyi County, and capture Li Shentong's retreat."

Luo Shixin was a little anxious, "Your Highness, then you have 20,000 troops left to me! I'll fight against the forward and attack Asamihara."

Yang Yuanqing smiled, "I have my own uses for 20,000 troops, but you want to be a pioneer. Asamihara has the opponent you are most looking forward to."

Luo Shixin understood what Yang Yuanqing meant, and his eyes suddenly lit up.

.........

As night fell, the lights in the central army's tent were bright, and Yang Yuanqing was still standing in front of the sand table and pondered. He was the commander of the overall situation and he had to consider the overall battle. In the entire situation, the last one was launched. The task of the Western Front was to block the Tang army's escape to the west and prevent the Tang army from escaping to Hehuang. Therefore, whether to take down Dasan Pass is actually not important.

The same is true for the southern line. The troops on the southern line also wanted to block the Tang army from fleeing south to Bashu. The real attack force was the 250,000 troops on the Eastern and Northern lines.

His promise to Ziwei Pavilion was to end the battle before the summer harvest began, and there was still one and a half months before now. In fact, it was not difficult to attack Guanzhong and it would not take too long. The key was to conquer Chang'an, which would take a long time.

While pondering, a personal soldier reported at the door: "Report to Your Highness, Scout Qin Huaiyu comes back to deliver the letter."

Yang Yuanqing laughed, "Let him in!"

Yang Yuanqing had some special care for Qin Huaiyu, not because he was Qin Qiong's son, but because of his eldest daughter Yang Bing. She seemed to like this young general a little. He once heard from Shuchen that Bing'er embroidered two talismans to the expedition, one for himself, and the other for Qin Huaiyu.

In fact, Yang Yuanqing valued Xiao Yannian more. After all, this was entrusted to him by Yuwen Chengdu. He hoped that his daughter would pay attention to Xiao Yannian, but his daughter's heart was not determined by him. The thirteen-year-old girl happened to be at the age of falling in love. Xiao Yannian seemed to be a little older to her, while the fifteen-year-old Qin Huaiyu was just right.

After a moment, Qin Huaiyu quickly walked into the tent and knelt down on one knee to report: "The scout Qin Huaiyu has the information about the bronze official road of his highness."

After saying that, he presented a piece of intelligence with both hands. Although Yang Yuanqing took some special care of him, he did not reveal it. He took the information and looked at it again, and asked, "Where is General Xiao?"

"Report to Your Highness, General Xiao bypassed Jinsuo Pass and continued to go south, and ordered Beizhi to come and report the news."

After saying that, Qin Huaiyu mustered up the courage to say, "Can Your Highness give you another job?"

Yang Yuanqing smiled slightly, "Your father is about to go south along the Luoshui Road, so you can go with him!"

Qin Huaiyu didn't want to fight with his father, but he didn't dare to bargain, so he had to bow helplessly and retreat.

Yang Yuanqing read the information again and then ordered: "Order Qin Qiong and Cheng Yaojin to come to see me."

Soon, Qin Qiong and Cheng Yaojin walked into the tent, and they bowed. Yang Yuanqing picked up the wooden pole and pointed to the Jinsuo Pass on the bronze official road and said, "I will give you ten thousand troops. You pretend to be 50,000 troops and attack Jinsuo Pass with all your strength. Remember, after you capture the pass, the troops will not move forward, but you must make a big fuss."

Cheng Yaojin grinned and said, "Does Your Highness want me to bluff and pretend to be the main force?"

Yang Yuanqing smiled and nodded, "That's exactly what it means!"

He then said to Qin Qiong: "General Qin, you will lead 50,000 troops to set off overnight tonight. You must be quick and hide. After entering Guanzhong, don't worry about Pujin Pass first, occupy Guangtong Cang first, and prevent the Tang army from transporting food into Chang'an."

Qin Qiong nodded, "I understand, I will set off overnight tonight!"

......

That night, Qin Qiong led an army of 50,000 to move southeast along the Luoshui Valley. At noon the next day, the main force of the Sui army set off a camp and raised its troops. The troops were divided into two groups. One route was Cheng Yaojin, leading 10,000 troops, and bluffed, dressed up as a 50,000 army, and rushed towards the Jinsuo Pass on the bronze official road.

Yang Yuanqing and Luo Shixin led 80,000 elite Sui army troops to slowly drive towards Qianshuiyuan, and Jia Runfu led 10,000 troops and 100,000 civilians to be responsible for logistics and grain transport.
Chapter completed!