On the third day after Luo Shixin was forced to evacuate Hulao Pass, Li Jing led an army of 30,000 to Guancheng County. At this time, the heat of midsummer still had not passed. The scorching sun was scorching and the heat waves on the ground were rolling like a steamer to build a fire. Even if you take a step, you would feel unbearable. You would only feel a little chill sooner or later.

The summer cicada whirled with its throat and screamed loudly. In a forest covering an area of ​​100 acres in the north of Guancheng County, 30,000 Sui troops and war horses hid in the forest to rest, raising their energy, and waiting for the night to march and fight.

A small river outside the forest was crowded with soldiers and war horses who were taking showers and drinking water. It was noisy and lively. Although the weather was extremely hot, the military discipline of the Sui army was even stricter. No one dared to go into the water completely naked. More than a dozen military judges were monitoring each other by the river with their waists cross-body.

At this time, two people came from afar. Dou Xianniang rode on the horse, covered the dazzling sunshine with her palms, and looked into the forest from afar. She had some worries in her eyes, "General Luo, it's not good for a woman to appear in the Sui army!"

Luo Shixin walked with his horse, like a groom who accompanied the bride back to his parents' home, and he just had to wear a flower on his head. His injury was not serious, because he was severely shocked and caused vomiting of blood. His coma was caused by dehydration and excessive physical exhaustion, and he recovered after several days of rest.

The two of them have a sympathy, but their words and deeds are only polite. They both love each other, but no one is embarrassed to say it. There is a layer of gauze hidden between them, which may not be eliminated until the wedding day.

Luo Shixin smiled slightly, "You don't have to worry. There are female guards in the army, and you can be with them, and it will have no effect."

Dou Xianniang heard that there was a female guard, and she felt a little relieved. At this time, she saw the river in the distance full of Sui soldiers taking showers, and many of them were naked. She frowned, "I can't go there, there are soldiers taking showers over there."

Luo Shixin saw the military judge on the shore and smiled and said, "It's okay. With the military judge here, the soldiers dare not be rude, just follow me across the river."

Even so, Dou Xianniang was still a little nervous, so she simply took out the veil and put it on her head, covering her face with the veil on all sides of the brim.

At this time, a soldier saw Luo Shixin and immediately caused a commotion. Luo Shixin was the second most powerful general in the Sui army to Yang Yuanqing. He led the way in combat, sympathized with the soldiers, and had a high prestige in the army.

Many people in this army were his subordinates. When everyone heard that his whereabouts were unknown to cover the retreat of the soldiers, they were worried about him.

At this time, Luo Shixin's sudden appearance surprised the soldiers. They shouted, "General Luo is back! General Luo is back!"

Someone ran back to report to Li Jing that many people saw Luo Shixin bringing a woman and put on their clothes and grinning. Is General Luo finally going to get married?

More than a dozen officers surrounded him and greeted him in a lingering manner. The concern was revealed to Yan Biao, which moved Luo Shixin. He said to everyone: "I was injured, and I was saved by this girl and saved my life."

Everyone looked at Dou Xianniang and smiled meaningfully. They all stepped forward to salute and thanked Xianniang, "Thank you for saving my general's life!"

Dou Xianniang's face was flushed, and fortunately she was covered by a gauze, so she bowed back like a soldier. "You don't have to be polite, you generals, the little girl just met by chance and dared not accept the gifts of you generals."

At this time, Li Jing, Wang Junkuo and Cheng Yaojin came out of the woods, and Cheng Yaojin shouted from afar: "Old Luo. I thought you were dead. I would burn incense and sacrifice to you last night!"

Dou Xianniang burst out laughing. "General Luo, this is the Cheng Yaojin you mentioned! Something else is interesting."

Luo Shixin was both angry and funny, but at this time he felt particularly friendly when he saw Cheng Yaojin. Even his stinky mouth was not so disgusting. He quickly stepped forward, punched Cheng Yaojin with a shoulder, and cursed with a smile: "You bastard, have you done my spiritual card?"

Cheng Yaojin was beaten and almost fell down. He was not upset and scratched his head and said with a smile: "I also want to make you a coffin to fulfill your brotherhood. I didn't expect that when you come back, I will save me some money."

He suddenly saw Dou Xianniang and his eyes suddenly widened. What's going on? Why did this guy find Xianniang?

"Lao Luo, you have to honestly explain what you did?"

Luo Shixin ignored him, stepped forward and knelt on one knee, bowed to Li Jing, "I will lose Hulao Pass and apologize to the Chief Secretary!"

Li Jing is the chief minister of the Grand Marshal's Office, in charge of specific military affairs. Although he does not directly control the generals, his position in the military is second only to Yang Yuanqing. Generals like Luo Shixin and Qin Qiong are one level lower than him. He caught a spy from Qu Tutong yesterday and learned some information.

Li Jing quickly helped Luo Shixin up and comforted him, "I have heard General Cheng tell you the details. Qu Tutong has tens of thousands of people coming to attack, but you only have a thousand people. The water source is cut off, and I will come to the rescue again. Hulao Pass is lost. It is not a battle. General Luo does not have to blame himself."

"Thank you, the elders, for your forgiveness, and your faith and wish to be the pioneer and regain the Huzhu."

Li Jing smiled slightly, "Qu Tutong has 10,000 people guarding the pass, so it is not possible to seize it, but it is easy for me to take back the Huzhu."

Luo Shixin was stunned. He was about to ask again, but Li Jing patted his shoulder and pointed at Dou Xianniang and asked, "This girl is......"

Luo Shixin blushed, "She is my life-savior and is willing to join the female guard."

Cheng Yaojin was so anxious that he pulled Li Jing aside and whispered to him. Only then did Li Jing realize that it was her.

He vaguely heard Yang Yuanqing talk about Luo Shixin's incident. It turned out that this person was Dou Xianniang. Although the Sui army had strict military laws and family members were not allowed to enter the camp during the war, there were female guards in the army, and Dou Xianniang was not even considered Luo Shixin's family, so she could enter the camp.

Li Jing smiled at Dou Xunniang and said, "Miss Dou is willing to be the female guard of the Sui army. His ambition is commendable. There are a hundred female guards in my camp. I can appoint the girl as the lieutenant and command the female soldiers!"

Dou Xianniang was overjoyed and turned over and dismounted and said, "Thank you for your title of Changshi Li!"

......

That night, Li Jing led an army of 30,000 to set out west. Although Li Jing had commanded an annihilation battle against the Turks when he was in Fengzhou, this was his first battle on the battlefield of the Central Plains, against Li Xiaogong, the leader of the Tang army in Jingxiang.

Yang Yuanqing gave him the right to make decisions in the battle. Although there were not many troops, his responsibilities were very heavy. His mission was to defeat Li Xiaogong, occupy Xingyang County and Yingchuan County, and take the initiative on the battlefield in the Central Plains.

Although Li Jing did not blame Luo Shixin for losing Hulao Pass, it did not mean that Hulao Pass was not important. On the contrary, Hulao Pass’s strategic position is extremely important.

Taking down Hulao Pass cut off the connection between Li Shimin in Luoyang and Li Xiaogong in Yingchuan. This is also an important reason why Li Shimin wanted to retake Hulao Pass: attacking Luoyang and drawing the Great Central Plains.

Therefore, before fighting with Li Xiaogong, Li Jing must first regain Hulao Pass to prevent Li Shimin's army from attacking his rear.

The army marched urgently for a night, and early the next morning, 30,000 troops arrived at Hulao Pass. At this time, Hulao Pass was still led by Qu Tutong to guard it.

Qu Tutong had made full preparations. He dug a large pond as a drinking horse water pool. He dug five solid wells to hold soldiers to drink water. After these preparations, Qu Tutong no longer had to worry about being cut off from the water.

At this time, Qu Tutong had already obtained information about 30,000 Sui troops arriving in Xingyang County. He knew very well that the Sui army would inevitably attack Hulao Pass.

But he was not worried. He had ten thousand defenders, and the tall and strong Hulao Pass, so he was completely sure to defend the first level of the Central Plains.

Qu Tutong walked quickly and walked down several steps. He came to a stone house. As soon as he reached the door, he heard the roar of King Zhao Li Xuanba from inside: "How many times have I told you that I have no illness. I have to drink this bitter medicine, and I will never drink it even if I die!"

Qu Tutong shook his head and walked into the room. A military doctor was urging Li Xuanba to take medicine, but Li Xuanba was afraid of taking medicine since he was a child and refused to drink it.

"How is Your Highness's injury?" Qu Tutong walked into the house and asked. The result of the competition also surprised him. Luo Shixin actually injured Li Xuanba. This was the first time he heard about it.

The military doctor quickly pulled him aside and whispered: "There is no big problem, I have recovered. But in case, I still want him to take medicine, but he refused."

"Oh! If he really refuses, just forget it, don't force him."

After pausing, Qu Tutong asked again: "Can he ride back on his horse?"

"It should be OK."

The main reason is that Li Xuanba has a noble status and is the third son of the emperor, so he cannot let anything happen to him, so Qu Tutong planned to persuade him to go back to serve the King of Qin and leave him in Hulao Pass, and always felt that he would cause trouble.

Qu Tutong walked up and smiled and coaxed him, "Why don't your highness go back to Luoyang? I heard that Yang Yuanqing wants to lead his troops to attack Luoyang himself. Maybe you can have a chance to compete with him."

Qu Tutong also knew that Li Xuanba had a problem with his mind, so he could not persuade him, so he could only use this method of coaxing. Besides, Yang Yuanqing was very likely to lead his troops south personally, so it was not considered coaxing him. As for whether Yang Yuanqing was willing to compete with him, that was another matter.

Li Xuanba was immediately overjoyed, and he said impatiently: "Really? Then I'm going back."

"No hurry, I will write a letter immediately, and Your Highness will bring it to the King of Qin for me."

Li Xuanba is a hot-tempered man. As soon as he said that, he was about to leave, he immediately urged anxiously: "Go and write a letter quickly, I can't wait."

屈突通苦笑一声,“我马上去写!”

Qu Tu walked out of the door. As soon as he reached the door, a soldier reported at the door: "Report to the old general, the Sui army's large group has arrived, and someone is challenging under the lockdown."

"Who is it?"

The soldier stepped forward and whispered a few words. Qu Tutong was shocked. He glanced at Li Xuanba vigilantly and ordered the soldier, "See him, don't let him go!"

说完,他匆匆向城头走去.

In front of Hulao Pass, Luo Shixin was alone and shouting under the city: "Li Xuanba, have you become a turtle with a headscared turtle? I, Luo Shixin, challenge you, do you dare to fight again?"

"Li Xuanba, have you gone back to your mother's place to have breastfeeding? Get out of here!"

"Li Xuanba, you are the best in the world, you are the best in shit!"

Luo Shixin was cursing and Qu Tutong frowned. This was not possible. The fool was unstimulating and was about to get into trouble. He immediately ordered: "Bang the drum! Cover his shouting."

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard a muffled sound of "dong!", as if a thousand pounds of blows, the entire city tower vibrated, and then a scream came.

Someone shouted in panic under the city: "Old General, King Zhao is going out of the city, he has already killed someone!"

.........

[Monthly tickets are zero. Which brother votes for Lao Gao to hide the ugly things!]

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