First Minister of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 188 Hussar General Liu Gan
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Xue Rengao ascended the throne hastily in Jingzhou, but he was stabbed in the back by Li Gui just after he took the throne, and lost the land of Hezhou, and Li Shimin's army came under pressure.

Originally, the belief of the Western Qin Army was that Xue Ju was the enemy of thousands of people, and internal forces such as the Minshan Qiang and the Hu people outside the Great Wall all joined because of Xue Ju. Now that Xue Ju died, they naturally had different thoughts in their hearts.

In Gaoqi City, in the Western Qin camp, there is a place to the west where the camping style is completely different. This place is the camp of the Minshan Qiang.

In the 13th year of Daye, Xue Ju defeated Sui general Huangfu Wan and captured Baohan County. Zhong Lisu, the leader of the Qiang people who lived in the Minshan area, saw Xue Ju's military prowess, and his family came to vote, a total of [-] young and strong.

It's just that in the past two years, Xue Ju conquered Li Yuan in the east and Li Gui in the west, and the war continued. More than half of the [-] young and strong people in the Minshan Qiang were killed or injured, and only more than [-] people remained.

Now that Xue Ju was dead, Xue Rengao, who succeeded him, was brave but ungrateful.

Although Xue Ju was also brutal and liked to kill captives for pleasure, but it has to be said that Xue Ju had a heroic demeanor, and Xue Ju himself was burly, brave and good at fighting.

His father, Xue Wang, Captain of Jincheng, was good at management and left Xue Ju with a huge family fortune. Xue Ju has always valued money and righteousness, liked to make friends with heroes, and he did not hesitate to reward his subordinates. This can be seen from the attitude towards Hao Yuan.

But Xue Rengao really just inherited Xue Ju's bravery, and treated the soldiers harshly and ungratefully. Yesterday, a Qiang general was thrown into the charcoal fire by Xue Rengao because he hadn't roasted the lamb. It is full of resentment.

In the king's tent of Minshan Qiang, Zhong Lisu's face was gloomy, his fists were clenched tightly, his veins were exposed, and he seemed to be enduring something.

Three or four people in the tent were angrily reprimanding Xue Rengao. Seeing that Zhong Lisu had been silent for a long time, a young man said sharply, "Half of the tribe's youth and strength have been lost. If this continues, we Minshan Qiang people will be killed sooner or later." That butcher Xue Rengao was exterminated."

Hearing this young man's words, Zhong Lisu's heart was shocked. Yes, what is the significance of defecting to the Western Qin Dynasty? Originally, he was only afraid of Xue Ju's army and respected Xue Ju's hero, so he raised his family to vote, but now Xue Ju is dead. It would be meaningless to continue to play for Xiqin after losing more than half of the young and strong clan brothers.

Zhong Lisu immediately decided to flee overnight, Minshan Qiang Zhong Lisu was the first to escape, but definitely not the last.

After Li Shimin led the remnants of the army back to Beijing, Li Yuan urgently appointed Li Shuliang, the minister of the Ministry of punishment and the king of Changping County, to guard Binzhou, and tried to recapture Jingzhou to stop the Western Qin soldiers.

The king of Changping County sent Liu Gan, a hussar general, to attack Anding City, the governor of Jingzhou.

Xue Rengao was furious, and was about to raise troops, but was dissuaded by Hao Yuan, "Your Majesty, the morale of our army is low, and the morale of the army is weak. There are more and more fugitives, such as Minshan Qiang. The most urgent thing is to rectify military affairs."

Xue Rengao looked impatient when he heard it, "But Tanggou raided Anding, I really can't swallow this breath."

Seeing this, Hao Yuan was holding on to the sick body, and after a little thought, a flash of inspiration flashed in his mind, "Your Majesty, there are many fugitives in our army now, and Tang Jun is expected to know about it, why don't we send the local people from Gaochao to the Tang camp to feign surrender and wait When Tang generals enter the city, they can be besieged and killed to relieve your majesty's hatred."

Although Xue Rengao felt troublesome when he heard the words, he complied. He immediately chose a local general from Gaoqian, and went to Anding City overnight to meet Hussar General Liu Gan.

"General Liu, the thief Xue is cruel. I have been waiting for a long time. Many soldiers have fled in the past few days. A certain family also wants to abandon the dark and turn to the bright, and donate the city of Gaochao. I hope General Liu will take him in." This local general in Gaochao was very moved. Said.

Liu Gan was overjoyed when he heard the words, and immediately sent a letter to Li Shuliang, the king of Changping who was stationed in Binzhou. Li Shuliang had no doubts at all, because it was no secret that Xue Rengao was unpopular, and many Western Qin soldiers had indeed fled in recent days.

Li Shuliang immediately led the army straight to Anding City, taking Liu Gan's place to defend the city, and then ordered Liu Gan to lead the army straight to Gaochai City, but the gate of the city did not open at the appointed time.

Liu Gan immediately became suspicious. At this time, the former general of the Western Qin Dynasty from Gaochai appeared at the head of the city, "General Liu, everyone here is my confidant, but don't worry, Xue Rengao has led the army out of the city, because the city gate is blocked. , it’s not easy to open the city, please climb the rope.”

"The city gate is blocked?" Liu Gan frowned. Xue Rengao has always been brave in fighting, even if he is in a headwind, he can only say "do it". Block the gate of Gaoqi City.

And since the city gate is blocked, where Xue Rengao leads the troops out of the city is full of loopholes.

Looking at the tall wooden gate of Gaocheng City, Liu Gan had an idea, and immediately shouted: "It's okay, I will boil it myself."Then he ordered the infantry behind him to cut wood and light the fire.

When the fire was ignited at the city gate, the Xiqin generals on the top of the city panicked, and hurriedly ordered the Xiqin soldiers to pour water to put out the fire.

Liu Gan was furious, "Xue thief is deceitful, the infantry retreated quickly, and I led the cavalry to cover."

Seeing the retreat of the Tang army, three beacon fires were lit on the city of Gaochao.

Seeing this, Liu Gan understood that there was an ambush in the Western Qin Dynasty, and immediately ordered an accelerated retreat. At this moment, the Xue character banner appeared on the southern highlands.

Among the [-] Tang troops, only the [-] cavalry led by Liu Gan had no power to resist the tens of thousands of Longyou cavalry from the Western Qin Dynasty, and the ambush was soon over.

Hussar General Liu Gan was captured.

Xue Rengao was very happy in Gaochai City, when even though Liu Gan was brought up, he wanted to cut him alive. At this time, Hao Yuan dragged his sick body forward and said, "Your Majesty can't, why don't you persuade General Liu to surrender, so as to regain stability."

Xue Rengao wanted to reprimand Hao Yuan, but after all, he saved some face when facing Hao Yuan, and immediately looked at Liu Gan viciously, "Are you willing to surrender?"

Liu Gan had his own calculations in his heart, and he was busy pretending to be the rest of his life after the catastrophe, "The crime will be surrendered."

Seeing this, Hao Yuan smiled, and then coughed, and finally calmed down, Hao Yuan said: "Tomorrow General Liu will return to Anding, or say that Gaochai has fallen, or that the army has been defeated and entered the city, just pretend to call the city gate. That's it."

Liu Gan responded in a hurry.

"After General Liu fraudulently opened the city gate, Your Majesty will lead the Longyou elite cavalry to directly attack the city gate." Hao Yuan said with a pale face, still thoughtful.

Xue Rengao also responded.

That night, Liu Gan enjoyed some top-notch treatment in the West Qin camp. Liu Gan opened his mouth to ask for delicious food, and he was served by several beauties, so he was very happy.

Xue Rengao was furious at first, but Hao Yuan thought of Liu Gan's usefulness, so he agreed one by one.

This night should be the happiest time in Liu Gan's life. Two or three beauties are in their arms, enjoying delicious food and wine, but the careful beauties find that the depths of Liu Gan's eyes are full of ashes, and there is no sense of pleasure .

(End of this chapter)