Chapter 294

The screen switched to the topographic map of Hulao Pass.

On the Sky Screen, mountains and rivers were clearly visible.

Hulao Pass is located at the bend of the Yellow River, connecting to Mount Song in the south and relying on the Yellow River in the north, it is the throat of the road from the Central Plains into Guanzhong.

The pass city is not big, but the terrain is dangerous, one man guarding the pass, ten thousand cannot open it.

Li Shimin occupied this pass, and Dou Jiande's 100,000-strong army was blocked outside the pass, unable to advance or retreat.

The text on the Sky Screen continued to emerge, this time it was Li Shimin's own recollection.

【Li Shimin's recollection after the event:

At that time, Dou Jiande's army was lined up for more than twenty miles, the sound of drums shaking the sky.

All the generals were afraid, only I knew the reality of the enemy.

The enemy army came from afar, their food supplies were not continuous, and their morale had already declined.

If I stood firm and didn't fight, they would collapse on their own.】

【I led the cavalry across the river, taking them by surprise.

The enemy army was panicked and didn't have time to line up.

I took advantage of the situation to charge and kill, deciding the battle in one go.】

In the Eastern Han court, Ying Zheng finished reading this and nodded.

"He knew where the enemy's weakness was."

"Dou Jiande came from afar, food supplies couldn't keep up, morale was low. As long as you drag him out, he will collapse on his own."

"But Li Shimin didn't drag it out, he took the initiative to attack, giving a fatal blow when the enemy was at their weakest."

Liu Bang added: "And he chose to cross the river and circle behind, not a head-on charge."

"Head-on, 3,500 against 100,000, no matter how fierce, you can't win."

"But circling behind to fight, 100,000 troops are 100,000 people, not 100,000 soldiers."

Liu Che was thoughtful: "So fighting a war is about using the brain, not the number of people."

Ying Zheng glanced at him, rarely without mockery.

Liu Xiu hadn't spoken all along.

He was looking at the topographic map of Hulao Pass on the Sky Screen, his gaze moving back and forth between the Yellow River, the pass, and the mountainous area.

He was deducing this battle in his mind—if he were Dou Jiande, how should he fight?

If he were Li Shimin, how should he fight?

The result of the deduction made him silent for a long time.

Dou Jiande had almost no chance of winning.

Not because the troop strength wasn't enough, but because from the beginning, Li Shimin had caught his throat.

Hulao Pass was like a fishbone, stuck in the throat of the 100,000-strong army, unable to swallow, unable to spit out.

The Sky Screen began to show the reactions of emperors of various dynasties.

Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, was the first.

【Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian: 3,500 breaking 100,000, the Battle of Hulao Pass can be called the peak of besieging a point to strike reinforcements.

Li Shimin is not only able to fight, but also able to calculate.

He knows when to wait and when to fight.

This patience and decisiveness are more terrifying than his bravery.】

Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, smiled slightly when he saw Yang Jian's commentary.

Yang Jian was a generation older than him, and although they hadn't dealt with each other, getting his recognition still felt comfortable.

Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin, followed with a sentence.

【Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin: I have read the Battle of Hulao Pass in history books, and every time I read it, I feel it's incredible.

3,500 people, crossing the river to circle behind, striking straight at the central army.

Every step is a dangerous move, but every step was taken correctly.

This is not luck, this is genius.】

Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang's commentary was as straightforward as ever.

【Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang: I admire Li Shimin, he is truly powerful at fighting.

3,500 people daring to fight 100,000, if it were me, I would have to weigh it.

He not only fought, but won, and captured the emperor alive.

This kind of thing, no one would believe it if told.】

Emperor Qianlong shook his folding fan and said slowly.

【Emperor Kangxi: In the Battle of Hulao Pass, Li Shimin defeated the many with the few, winning by surprise.

A model of besieging a point to strike reinforcements, a battle that must be learned by later military strategists.

But I admire his courage even more—daring to gamble, and winning the gamble.】

In the Eastern Han court, Liu Bang finished reading these commentaries and suddenly asked:

"This Li Shimin, does he still fight wars later?"

Liu Che thought for a moment: "He fought less after ascending the throne, mainly governing the country."

Liu Bang nodded and sighed: "What a pity. Such a powerful person, not fighting a few more battles is a waste."

Ying Zheng coldly added: "You think fighting a war is hunting? There are many people who can fight, but few who can govern the territory they have conquered."

"He chose to govern, which shows he isn't stupid."

Liu Bang opened his mouth, but couldn't respond.

On the Sky Screen, the picture switched again.

This time, it showed the scene of Li Shimin escorting Dou Jiande to the foot of Luoyang city after the Battle of Hulao Pass.

In the picture, the Luoyang city walls were tall and thick, and Wang Shi Chong's flags were still fluttering on the city wall.

Below the city, Li Shimin was riding on a horse, with Dou Jiande tied up behind him.

Li Shimin looked up at the city wall and said only one sentence: "The King of Xia has surrendered, where is the Duke of Zheng?"

There was silence on the city wall for a long time.

Then, the city gate opened.

Wang Shi Chong was wearing plain clothes, barefoot, walking out with his head down.

He walked to Li Shimin's horse, knelt down, and offered his seal.

Li Shimin didn't dismount, just nodded.

The soldiers behind him burst into sky-shaking cheers.

Liu Xiu looked at this scene and suddenly said:

"The moment Wang Shi Chong surrendered, the unification of the Tang Dynasty was decided."

Ying Zheng nodded: "Dou Jiande was the biggest power in the north. He fell, and others were not a threat."

Liu Bang noticed something else,

"Look at Li Shimin's expression, capturing two emperors, there isn't a hint of pride on his face."

Liu Che followed his gaze—Li Shimin in the picture indeed wasn't smiling.

His face had a very calm expression, as if he were doing something he had known the result of long ago.

Gu Shanhe suddenly spoke: "This person, he never smiles when fighting a war, and rarely smiles after fighting a war."

"He is truly happy when he returns to Chang'an and sees the people living and working in peace."

Liu Bang was stunned for a moment, then smiled: "This person is different from me. The first thing I do after fighting a war is drink."

Ying Zheng glanced at him: "That's why you are not as good as him."

Liu Bang didn't refute this time.

Li Shimin sat in the Taiji Hall, looking at the "End" character on the Sky Screen, silent for a long time.

The porridge on the table had gone cold, and he hadn't touched it.

Fang Xuanling asked softly: "Your Majesty?"

Li Shimin waved his hand, stood up, and walked to the palace gate.

Outside, the sun was shining, illuminating the streets of Chang'an City, with people coming and going, and the shouts of merchants rising one after another.

More than twenty years.

From the twenty-two-year-old young general under Hulao Pass to the Son of Heaven sitting on the dragon throne today.

He had changed from a cavalryman charging into battle to an emperor reviewing memorials until midnight.

Yuchi Jingde didn't know when he had walked behind him.

This black-faced general hadn't spoken all day, but his eyes had been red.

"Your Majesty," Yuchi Jingde's voice was a bit hoarse, "I was also at Hulao Pass back then."

Li Shimin turned his head and glanced at him, smiling.

That smile wasn't the smile of an emperor to a subject, but the smile of a comrade to a comrade.

"Jingde, how many of Dou Jiande's generals did you stab to death with that spear back then?"

Yuchi Jingde grinned: "I don't remember."

"I remember."

Li Shimin said, "You stabbed three to death. I counted."

Yuchi Jingde's eyes became even redder.

In the Eastern Han court, Liu Xiu stood up and stretched.

"Battle of Hulao Pass, 3,500 breaking 100,000, capturing two kings in one battle."

He read these sentences again, as if savoring something.

Liu Bang leaned over: "Great-grandson, what are you feeling?"

Liu Xiu smiled: "Gaozu, I'm thinking, if that battle at Hulao Pass had been lost back then, would the Tang Dynasty still exist?"

Ying Zheng suddenly spoke: "There are no ifs, winning is winning."

Liu Che added: "The First Emperor is right, history has no ifs."

"Li Shimin won, so there was the Reign of Zhenguan. If he had lost, the Sky Screen wouldn't be ranking him now."

Liu Xiu nodded and didn't say anything more.

The golden light on the Sky Screen began to gather, and the ranking of this part was coming to an end.

The last line of text emerged.

【Ranking Top Ten Ancient Battles · Battle of Hulao Pass · End】

【Next preview: Battle of Feishui】