Chapter 45

This is the conclusion Luo Shixin has drawn over these days. To put it bluntly, the Turks' goal in seeking wealth is to plunder more money, not to engage in a grand battle with the Li Tang. With this mindset, would they be willing to pay an unknown price to fight a determined Tang army, an army nearly twenty thousand strong?

The answer is obvious.

If not for knowing some of the situation beforehand, Luo Shixin himself would not have dared to believe that Jiali's two hundred thousand-strong army invaded merely for wealth.

Li Shimin's eyes sparkled with excitement as he said, "If it is truly as General Luo says, then the initiative in this battle is in our hands."

Li Yi still argued, "But what if it isn't? The Turks are fierce and skilled in battle; how could they fear a fight?" He himself lacked confidence in what he said. When he ruled Youzhou, he had no shortage of dealings with the Turks. The Turks, when invading, never had the resolve for a decisive battle. They plundered freely when the main army was not around, and vanished without a trace once the main army arrived.

Princess Pingyang laughed and said, "So what if it isn't? As General Luo said... the Turks invade our territory and destroy our homes. We are determined to fight to the death; why should we fear the Turks?"

Luo Shixin clapped and laughed, "Your Highness truly matches any man. Unlike some who, despite having a large army, shrink back and let the Turks run rampant, you are different." At the end, he couldn't help but jab at Li Yi, who, though he did not comment on Li Yi's so-called "conservative" strategy, had already thoroughly despised it in his heart.

Although the Turks' 150,000-strong cavalry is terrifying, the Li Tang also gathered nearly 200,000 troops. Although the Turks' 150,000 are cavalry, the Li Tang's overall strength is still at a disadvantage. But if they shrink back and let the Turks wreak havoc within their territory due to this slight disadvantage, it cannot be described merely as cowardice. Only someone like Li Yi, who cares only about his own interests and ignores the lives of the people, could come up with such an idea.

Seeing Princess Pingyang speak thus, Li Yi's hatred grew even more, but he no longer spoke.

Li Shimin's face lit up. In the past, the Turks had only engaged in minor skirmishes. This sudden invasion by 200,000 troops, divided into three routes, instinctively made him think that Jiali had grand plans, leading him to consider it a major strategy. Now, with Luo Shixin's revelation, he had a thousand thoughts.

Leaving Princess Pingyang's camp, Li Shimin, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui rode along the banks of the Yellow River.

Li Shimin raised his whip and said, "This time, Luo Shixin has outdone us all."

Fang Xuanling shook his head and smiled bitterly, "We thought too complicated, and the more we thought, the more confused we became. General Luo's reverse thinking is extremely subtle, clearly analyzing Jiali's intentions. It's impossible not to admit defeat!"

"Can't see through him!" Du Ruhui succinctly said a few words. He was always clear-minded and spoke little, but his words were worth a thousand gold, able to hit the mark, hence his reputation as "Du the Decisive."

"Indeed!" Li Shimin sighed deeply, "I misjudged him. This sudden enlightenment of his is a world apart from his usual self."

Du Ruhui said, "It's not too late now!"

"Ha ha!" Li Shimin laughed heartily, "Keming is right, it's not too late. In this aspect, my elder brother is ultimately inferior to me."

**********

After last night's consultation, Princess Pingyang swept away her worries and acted decisively.

Early in the morning, she issued orders for the army to cross the river, hoping to reach Hebei as soon as possible to prevent the Turks from plundering and then escaping back to the grasslands.

Luo Shixin directed the troops to cross the river, but he looked left and right and saw no sign of the annoying Li Yi, which made him feel a bit strange.

Even after the entire army had crossed the river, there was still no sign of Li Yi. Luo Shixin couldn't help but mutter, "Where did that old guy go?"

"Are you referring to Li Yi?" Princess Pingyang had approached without him noticing, and she asked with a half-smile.

"Yes, the old guy is him!" Luo Shixin didn't hide it; his conflict with Li Yi was already out in the open, so there was no need to hide it.

Princess Pingyang shook her head helplessly. She had long noticed the tension between Luo Shixin and Li Yi, but she didn't expect it to be so severe. Mediation was clearly impossible.

"He resigned early this morning, saying the military situation was urgent and could not wait. He left ahead to go to Yan, using the troops of Yan and You to resist the enemy, awaiting our main army."

"Damn! That old guy has no shame." Luo Shixin couldn't help but curse. The so-called "using the troops of Yan and You to resist the enemy" was clearly a ploy to avoid the Turks hearing about the Tang reinforcements and fleeing. He wanted to return to his old base first to earn some merit.

Princess Pingyang was also a bit awkward. Luo Shixin was the first to discern the Turks' intentions, yet Li Yi got to pick up the spoils.

"This, General Li Yi's words are not without reason, and I cannot refuse him."

Compared to Princess Pingyang's awkwardness, Luo Shixin thought it over and saw it differently: "This isn't your fault, Princess. It's that old guy who has no shame. But this is for the best. If he reaches the front line first, at least more civilians can be saved, sparing them unnecessary losses."

Princess Pingyang was surprised, "I didn't expect General Luo to have such magnanimity?"

Luo Shixin rolled his eyes, "What magnanimity? I don't have that. If my troops were in Youzhou, I would have gone to the front line first. That old guy has been operating in Youzhou for years; we can't match him. Military achievements are dead things; they will come eventually. But human lives are different; once they're gone, they're gone. I, Luo Shixin, don't want to be trampled by that old guy, but I won't ignore the lives of the people to compete with him. If he reaches the front line first and can save more people, and teach the Turks a lesson, I'll accept being trampled."

Princess Pingyang was moved and praised, "General Luo is truly a great man."

Luo Shixin blushed a bit from the praise and laughed, "Princess, you flatter me. I'm not that great. I just don't want my people to suffer at the hands of the Turks."

Princess Pingyang looked deeply at Luo Shixin and said nothing.

The army crossed the Yellow River, and Li Shimin specially came to bid farewell.

One army headed for Puzhou, and the other advanced deeper into Hebei.

After Li Shimin's army left, Luo Shixin found their army somewhat small, with a total of less than 5,000, easily visible to the end.

This was an unavoidable situation, as they were dealing with a flank force, and the central army had been allocated to Li Shimin. However, the Hebei military command and Li Yi's old troops, combined, had nearly 15,000 soldiers, which should be more than enough to handle a flank force.

After a day and night of marching, Luo Shixin and his troops reached the Le Ping area. They just needed to turn north, pass through Jingxing, and they could enter the heart of Hebei.

But just as they arrived in Le Ping, a scout rushed over, shouting, "General Luo, over ten thousand Turkish cavalry have crossed Taiyuan and are heading this way."