Almost at the same time, Li Xiaogong's army also arrived from the south, and the warriors rushed to pay their respects, "The warriors of the lower lords meet His Highness Zhao!"

Li Xiaogong asked, "Can you gain something when you go south?"

The warrior sighed, "The lower official has been defeated by Wang Renze's plan to escape from the shell, and he has nothing to do!"

Li Xiaogong nodded, "My scout found them crossing the river, but unfortunately I had no boats myself, so I had to come here desperately. It was still one step too late. Does Prefect Wu have a boat to cross the river?"

"There are more than thirty ferries in Beizhi, but it is in Xiahong County, about forty miles away."

"It's not too late, we will join forces and head north to pursue the enemy."

The warriors urgently ordered the soldiers to gather together and joined forces with Li Xiaogong. The two armies formed 35,000 people and quickly rushed to the north.

The army marched quickly, but the warrior slowed down and walked side by side with Li Xiaogong. He asked in a low voice: "Have your highness received a quick message from Chan-guo?"

Li Xiaogong nodded and sighed: "This should be the emperor's intention. To preserve his strength and give up Jingzhou, Chen Xiangguo went to Jiangxia to negotiate with Zhang Xuan. Although I can understand the difficulties of the emperor, I really feel unwilling to give up Jingzhou, which was captured by the soldiers who were bleeding and sweating."

"We are also helpless, but using destroying Wang Shichong to compensate for the loss in Jingzhou will make people feel a little more balanced."

Li Xiaogong was silent. He had seen through the current situation. All of this was in Zhang Xuan's layout. Isn't it just to transfer the battle situation of the Tang army north? As a result, the Tang army except to protect Bashu, the entire south was lost. He didn't know what to say. Zhang Xuan made a decision and then acted, but the Tang Dynasty was passive step by step. Where is the root of all this?

At this time, Li Xiaogong suddenly remembered something and asked quickly: "Is Li Shenfu's army also in Xiangyang?"

The warrior shook his head, "He was originally going to retreat to Xiangyang, but later he turned to Yiling and probably entered Shu. I thought His Highness would meet him."

Li Xiaogong suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. He just didn't want to meet Li Shenfu. This was not just an embarrassing problem of meeting, but the two had completely broken their faces in the battle between Jiangxia, and it was difficult to work together again. Li Shenfu's entry into Sichuan was the best, but it also showed that he had a correct judgment and did not advance west according to Chen Shuda's wishes, but chose to go north.

Of course, Li Xiaogong also knew why Li Shenfu chose to enter Shu. He did not dare to face Shimin and cleanse all the main generals of the Jiangxia army. Will Shimin let him go?

Li Xiaogong suddenly became energetic and ordered the army to speed up the north.

There were only two thousand Tang troops left in Xiangyang City, and two thousand defenders could not defend Xiangyang City, which had a circumference of forty miles. However, after the news of Wang Renze's army's brutal massacre of the city reached Xiangyang, the whole city of Xiangyang immediately mobilized. Tens of thousands of families had money and made great efforts. Under the leadership of the county magistrate Yang Shilin, a militia of 20,000 people was quickly formed. There were insufficient weapons, hoes and sickles, and the 20,000 people were vowed to defend their homes to the death.

At the same time, Xiangyang civilians living outside the city and fleeing people all moved into the city, with nearly 400,000 civilians in the city, making the city overcrowded.

Although the morale at Xiangyang was high, Yang Shilin was still very worried. After all, they had to face 20,000 extremely vicious thugs and were well-trained professional soldiers. Their own 20,000 militia basically had no armor, only half of the real weapons, the rest were hoes, sickles, iron rakes, wooden sticks, etc., and they had no training. If they rely on their passion to defend Xiangyang, they would probably be in danger.

Yang Shilin was about thirty years old and from Fancheng, Xiangyang County. He was a Jinshi in the fourth year of Daye. He served as the county magistrate of Shanghong County and the county magistrate of Xiangyang County. He was very smart and capable. A few years ago, in order to oppose the cannibal demon Zhu Jie's entry into Xiangyang, he led hundreds of thousands of people in Xiangyang to revolt, defeated Wang Shichong's army, and eventually forced Wang Shichong to replace Hongnong County with Xiangyang County and the Tang Dynasty. Wu Shizhen became the prefect of Xiangyang County, and Yang Shilin was promoted to the county magistrate.

A month ago, Wang Shichong's army marched south again and captured Xiangyang County. Yang Shilin knew that Wang Shichong would not let him go. He fled before the city was broken and hid among a farmer outside Xiangyang City. Although Wang Shichong offered a reward of 50,000 yuan to arrest him, no one was willing to betray him.

When the warrior army returned to Xiangyang County, Yang Shilin returned to Xiangyang City and continued to serve as the county magistrate. Unexpectedly, in just half a month, Xiangyang City was in crisis again, but this time Yang Shilin did not escape again. He stayed to organize a militia to resolutely resist Wang Renze's brutal army and vowed to live and die with Xiangyang City.

On the top of the city, Yang Shilin looked at the south with concern. He estimated that Wang Renze's army would come in half a day. Once the other party began to attack the city with strong force, how long can his militia support?

At this time, Sima Zhao Qiu walked up and whispered: "Miss Prince, the thief army has no weapons to attack the city. Maybe they will walk around the city, so we don't have to be too nervous."

Yang Shilin shook his head, "Of course I hope this is the case, but is it possible? It's like there is a pile of gold, silver and treasures ahead, and the thief will never take a detour. There are countless big trees outside Xiangyang City, and it's easy for them to make siege ladders."

"Miss Prince, why not ask the Sui army for help!"

Yang Shilin didn't say anything. He knew that there were Sui Navy warships on the Han River, but because there were two thousand Tang troops in the city, the Sui Navy did not enter Xiangyang City.

Yang Shilin was loyal to the Tang Dynasty. He would not forget that Zhang Xuan gave Xiangyang County to Wang Shichong. As a result, Wang Shichong wanted to send Zhu Jie to guard Xiangyang, which triggered them to fight to the death. The Tang army saved Xiangyang at the most critical moment. The whole Xiangyang was resentful to Zhang Xuan, but was full of gratitude to the Tang army.

"County magistrate, after all, the Tang Dynasty gave Jingzhou to the Northern Sui Dynasty, otherwise the prefect Wu would not lead the army to leave. We must face the reality." Zhao Qiu advised again.

Yang Shilin still didn't say anything. Zhao Qiu was a little anxious and couldn't help saying, "Bizhi doesn't like the Sui army, but after all, it's the lives of hundreds of thousands of people! We can't send them to the wolf's mouth for our own emotions. Beizhi can't do it!"

This sentence was said very hard and also hit Yang Shilin's vital point. Yang Shilin sighed for a while, "But the Sui army is here, what should the Tang army in the city do?"

"The Tang army can leave temporarily, go to find the prefect Wu, and temporarily station in other county towns. I believe General Han will have a choice."

Although Yang Shilin was very reluctant, he had no choice. Zhao Qiu was right. He could not destroy Xiangyang for his own likes and dislikes and let hundreds of thousands of people be massacred. Then he would be the eternal sinner of Xiangyang. Yang Shilin finally nodded, "Just ask Zhao Sima to find the Sui army! Hurry up, we have no time."

"I understand!"

Zhao Qiu turned around and headed down to the city. Yang Shilin sighed. If Bei Sui really took over Xiangyang, he would have to leave.

In the Han River outside Xiangyang City, more than a hundred Sui army warships were cruising with more than 10,000 stones. Lai Huer led 15,000 naval troops to Xiangyang first and blocked the Han River. The navy's subsequent army was also setting off from Jiangxia and advancing towards Xiangyang in hundreds of warships.

Lai Hu'er stood on a large ship parked on the north shore, staring at the tall and strong Xiangyang City from afar. A few years ago, the lord's mistake assigned Xiangyang County to Wang Shichong, resulting in the loss of the hearts of the people of Xiangyang County. If we want to take back Xiangyang County, we must make full use of Wang Shichong's army to win the hearts of the people of Xiangyang County.

Although this is just a small means of power struggle, Lai Hu'er also knew that the timely help was far stronger than the Sui army taking over Xiangyang City directly. He had to remain patient enough and wait for Xiangyang City to come to ask for help.

At this time, a lookout soldier shouted on the mast: "General, someone is waving to us on the south bank!"

Lai Huer immediately realized that this was what he was waiting for Xiangyang City to ask for help, and he immediately ordered: "The big ship leaned towards the south bank!"

Several large ships left the north shore and sailed towards the south shore. Soon after, the large ship docked, and soldiers got off the boat to inquire, and came back for a moment to report: "General, the person coming was Sima of Xiangyang County, named Zhao Qiu. He said that there was an urgent matter to ask for the old general."

"Bring him to see me!"

Soon after, the soldier led Zhao Qiu onto a large ship. Zhao Qiu stepped forward and bowed, "I am not in charge of the Sima of Xiangyang County, Zhao Qiu, who is in charge of the old general!"

Lai Huer was a general in the Yang era of Sui and Yang. Zhao Qiu and others were also Sui officials. Lai Huer had a great deterrent force on them. Lai Huer waved his hand, "What urgent matter is Zhao Sima coming to see me?"

"The old general, Wang Renze's army has appeared forty miles away and is now coming to Xiangyang City. Xiangyang City is in danger. I beg the old general to send troops to rescue!"

Lai Hu'er frowned, "Didn't the Tang army go south to intercept? Didn't it intercept Wang Renze's army?"

"We don't know why, but Wang Renze's army is about to arrive. There are only militia groups in Xiangyang City, which are not fully equipped and have weak combat power, so it is difficult to resist the tiger and wolf army. Once the city falls, Xiangyang City will inevitably suffer from a disaster, with a population of 350,000! Old general, send troops to save us!"

In desperation, Zhao Qiu knelt down, Lai Hu'er quickly helped Zhao Qiu up, comforted him, "Your Highness King Qi also hated Wang Renze's army's brutality, so he ordered us to intercept this army to go north. Of course, we will not sit idly by and watch the thieves' army commit violence against Xiangyang. Please rest assured, Sima Zhao, I will send the army to the city to assist in defense!"

Zhao Qiu cried with joy and thanked him repeatedly. Lai Huer immediately ordered the Huben Lang General Zhu Kuan to lead 5,000 troops to enter Xiangyang City.

In less than half an hour, the five thousand troops got off the ship and gathered. Under Zhu Kuan's leadership, they headed toward the northern city gate of Xiangyang. At the same time, Lai Hu'er took out another 10,000 soldiers and asked Zhao Qiu to send militia soldiers to collect them. He quickly armed the militia soldiers. Xiangyang City was filled with joy, and tens of thousands of people rushed to the northern city gate to welcome the Sui army into Xiangyang City.
Chapter completed!