Chapter 293

The next day, at dawn.

The court of the Eastern Han imperial palace was full of people.

Not for court—Liu Xiu hadn't arranged a court meeting today.

He specifically had the hall cleaned up, set up tables, chairs, tea, and snacks, waiting for Gu Shanhe and the three ancestors to come over.

It was agreed yesterday to continue ranking the top ten battles today, and he didn't want the predecessors to stand and watch.

Liu Bang arrived first.

Liu Xiu had the best bedroom cleaned up.

Liu Bang went in for a turn, thought it was too luxurious, and said "I lived in a thatched hut back then, I can't sleep on such a soft bed."

In the end, he changed to an ordinary side room before he settled down.

Ying Zheng arrived second.

He didn't dislike anything, but when he came in, he glanced at the layout of the hall and nodded slightly.

Liu Xiu noticed that the First Emperor's gaze stopped on the chairs for a moment—the chairs were newly made by Liu Xiu, with cushions added, and the backrests were heightened.

After Ying Zheng sat down, he was expressionless, but his body clearly relaxed a bit.

Liu Che came in with Gu Shanhe.

Gu Shanhe was still holding that teacup, inside which was some unknown tea, with steam rising.

Liu Xiu stood up to welcome them, invited them to sit, and personally poured tea for each of them.

Liu Bang picked up the tea bowl and took a sip, clicking his tongue: "Good tea, much better than what I have."

Ying Zheng didn't speak, but didn't put down the tea bowl, which meant the tea was passable.

Liu Che looked around and asked: "Which one are we ranking today?"

Gu Shanhe looked at the sky and said: "Soon."

As soon as he finished speaking, the sky lit up.

This time the golden light was very measured—

Not as overbearing as when ranking Lu Bu;

Nor as overwhelming as at the beginning;

But steadily emerging from behind the clouds, like an old general walking onto the drill ground unhurriedly.

In the center of the Sky Screen, several large characters emerged.

【Ranking Top Ten Ancient Battles】

【Battle of Hulao Pass】

Tang Dynasty, Zhenguan era.

Li Shimin was eating breakfast in the Taiji Hall.

He woke up a bit late today, having reviewed memorials until midnight last night.

The eunuch brought the porridge and side dishes, and just as he picked up his chopsticks, the sky lit up.

Then he saw the five characters "Battle of Hulao Pass."

The chopsticks stopped in mid-air.

In the court of the Zhenguan era, all the officials also saw the Sky Screen.

Fang Xuanling put down his tablet, Du Ruhui squinted his eyes, and Yuchi Jingde stood up abruptly.

Hulao Pass.

That was the memory of all of them.

More than twenty years ago, at that pass, a young man in his early twenties led 3,500 cavalry, wiped out an army of 100,000, and captured two emperors alive.

That young man was the Son of Heaven sitting in the Taiji Hall eating porridge now.

Li Shimin put down his chopsticks.

He didn't speak, but there was light in his eyes.

That kind of light wasn't excitement, but memory—the temperature that would rise in the eyes of a middle-aged man looking back at his youth.

Empress Zhangsun walked out from behind the screen and asked softly: "Your Majesty?"

Li Shimin waved his hand, signaling he was fine.

But his gaze never moved away from the Sky Screen.

【Time: 620 AD to 621 AD】

【Location: Hulao Pass (now Xingyang, Henan)】

【Opposing sides: Li Shimin vs Wang Shi Chong + Dou Jiande】

【Overview: The key to the unification war of the early Tang Dynasty.

Li Shimin besieged Wang Shi Chong in Luoyang and intercepted the 100,000-strong army of Dou Jiande from Hebei who came to rescue him.

Li Shimin led 3,500 elite cavalry to occupy Hulao Pass, took advantage of the enemy's fatigue to launch a surprise attack, captured Dou Jiande alive, and forced Wang Shi Chong to surrender.】

【Why famous: "Capturing two kings in one battle," a textbook example of besieging a point to strike reinforcements in Chinese military history.

This battle laid the foundation for the Tang Dynasty to unify the world and demonstrated Li Shimin's outstanding military genius.】

In the Eastern Han court, Liu Xiu finished reading this overview and was silent for a long time.

3,500 against 100,000.

He had fought battles and knew what this ratio meant.

It wasn't ten people fighting one, it was thirty people fighting one.

And Li Shimin was the attacking side, not defending the city.

3,500 people, taking the initiative to attack the camp of 100,000, and capturing the enemy commander alive.

Liu Xiu turned his head and glanced at Ying Zheng.

Ying Zheng was also watching the Sky Screen, expressionless, but his fingers were tapping lightly on the armrest of the chair—

Liu Xiu had been with him for a few days and knew this action meant he was thinking seriously.

Liu Bang was direct: "3,500 against 100,000? This kid is even fiercer than me."

"I had Han Xin leading hundreds of thousands of people when I fought Xiang Yu."

Liu Che nodded: "Capturing two kings in one battle, are these two kings two emperors?"

Gu Shanhe explained from the side: "Wang Shi Chong proclaimed himself emperor in Luoyang, with the national title of Zheng."

"Dou Jiande proclaimed himself emperor in Hebei, with the national title of Xia. Both were emperors."

"Li Shimin captured two emperors in one battle."

Liu Bang grinned: "Good guy, capturing emperors like catching chickens."

Ying Zheng suddenly spoke: "3,500 cavalry, fighting an army of 100,000. How did he fight?"

This question hit the nail on the head.

The text on the Sky Screen began to refine, appearing line by line.

【Detailed progress of the battle】

【In July 620 AD, Li Shimin led an eastern expedition against Wang Shi Chong.

The Tang army was like a hot knife through butter, having surrounded Luoyang by the end of the year.

Wang Shi Chong was trapped in the isolated city and sent people to ask Dou Jiande for help.】

【Dou Jiande led an army of 100,000 to rescue, claiming 300,000.

Li Shimin left his brother Li Yuanji to continue besieging Luoyang, and personally led 3,500 elite cavalry eastward to occupy the natural barrier of Hulao Pass to intercept Dou Jiande.】

【Dou Jiande's army camped under Hulao Pass, confronting the Tang army.

Li Shimin remained still, waiting for the opportunity.

After more than a month, Li Shimin judged that Dou Jiande's army's morale was low and their defenses were lax, so he decided to take the initiative.】

【Li Shimin led the cavalry across the Yellow River, launching a surprise attack from behind Dou Jiande's camp.

The Tang army killed their way into the enemy formation, and Li Shimin personally led the elite to strike Dou Jiande's central army.

Dou Jiande's army was in chaos, collapsing without a fight.

Dou Jiande was captured alive by the Tang army, and the 100,000-strong army instantly disintegrated.】

【After Dou Jiande was captured, Li Shimin escorted him to the foot of Luoyang city.】

【Wang Shi Chong saw that the reinforcements were destroyed and there was no hope of rescue, so he opened the city and surrendered.】

A picture appeared on the Sky Screen.

Li Shimin, in his early twenties, wearing armor, riding a warhorse, holding a long spear, followed by 3,500 black-armored cavalry.

They crossed the Yellow River and circled behind Dou Jiande's army.

At dawn, the fog hadn't dissipated.

Li Shimin drew his sword and pointed forward.

3,500 cavalry charged simultaneously.

The sound of horse hooves was like muffled thunder, and the earth was trembling.

Dou Jiande's soldiers were just awakened from their sleep, hadn't even touched their weapons, when the Tang army's sabers were already before their eyes.

In the picture, Li Shimin charged at the front.

The long spear swept across, and the enemy soldiers fell one after another.

His armor was splattered with blood, but his eyes remained as calm as a pool of water.

He passed through layers of enemy formations, heading straight for the central tent.

Dou Jiande was putting on his armor, heard the sky-shaking killing sounds outside the tent, lifted the tent curtain, and saw—

A young general had already killed his way to the front, the long spear pointing at his throat.

"King of Xia, dismount and surrender."

The sword in Dou Jiande's hand fell to the ground.

In the Eastern Han court, there was silence.

Liu Xiu looked at Li Shimin in his early twenties in the picture and suddenly said: "How old was he then?"

Gu Shanhe thought for a moment: "Twenty-two, twenty-three or so."

Liu Xiu was silent for a while and nodded lightly.

He didn't speak, but everyone present understood—twenty-two years old, 3,500 people, capturing the commander of 100,000 alive.

This courage and ability, not everyone has.

Ying Zheng suddenly spoke, his voice not loud, but every word was very clear: "This Li Shimin is more powerful than I imagined."

Liu Bang turned to look at him: "First Emperor, this is the first time you've praised someone, right?"

Ying Zheng ignored him.

Liu Che noticed another detail: "How many people did he leave when he besieged Luoyang?"

Gu Shanhe said: "The main force was all besieging Luoyang, he only took 3,500 elite cavalry to Hulao Pass."

Liu Che took a breath.

This meant Li Shimin used a detached force to wipe out the entire reinforcement army while the main force was tied down.

This wasn't just a matter of bravery, this was the perfect combination of courage and calculation.