Chapter 4582: Chase in the Dark Night
The ancient Shang Road, in a narrow sense, starts from "Shang" and ends in "Yu". In a broad sense, it connects Guanzhong, Shangluo, Luoyang, Nanyang and other places. It is also called "Wuguan Road" and "Shangland Road". Since its opening in the Shang Dynasty, , is an important military channel connecting Guanzhong with Hedong, Nanyang and other places.
Entering Shangluo from the Bashui River Valley on the side of Lantian Pass, one road goes straight down the Danshui River to Nanyang, and another road goes over the mountains and along the Luoshui River to Luoyang. Both roads pass through the river valley, and the journey is difficult and bumpy. , extremely bumpy and not suitable for large troops to rush forward.
When Fang Jun went to Luoyang from this, he suffered a lot.
But now Li Tai led his army to walk here, spending the night at dawn, not daring to delay too much. In just two days, he was exhausted and exhausted.
Although His Majesty the King of Wei has traveled to many places, counties and villages in the Tang Dynasty in the past two years, every place he went was full of people and pampered people. How had he ever suffered like this?
But with the fear in his heart and the current situation, he was afraid that someone would kill him, but he had to grit his teeth and persevere...
More than a hundred guards were brought out from the palace, and more than a hundred dead soldiers from Zhuangzi were gathered near Shaolingyuan. More than two hundred people went into battle lightly, and walked all the way through the Luoshui River Valley until they arrived at Yonggu City. Slightly relieved.
The sudden departure from Chang'an to Luoyang was beyond everyone's expectations. In addition, the rapid journey would inevitably break the possible ambush and interception. At this point, there was only one day's journey to Luoyang. With people and horses exhausted, Li Tai chose to stay in Yonggu. Camp and rest outside the city.
Of course, he didn't dare to be careless. Even when he slept at night, he arranged sentinels and scouts to patrol the outside to ensure completeness.
In the middle of the night, the scouts suddenly reported that there were soldiers and horses galloping along the official road. Li Tai, who was lying in his clothes, was so frightened that he got up, walked out of the tent with a horizontal knife, got on his horse, and gathered all the guards around him.
As a result, when it was dawn, there was no abnormal situation...
Li Tai breathed a sigh of relief, but did not dare to be careless. He ordered: "Hurry up and make a fire to cook, and then rush to Luoyang. Don't rest halfway before arriving in Luoyang!"
Although official roads are also built in the Luoshui River Valley, the roads are winding and rugged, with hills and mountains on both sides, making it the most suitable place to ambush and carry out surprise assassinations. As he walked along the way, Li Tai felt uneasy when he looked at the dense forests on the mountains on both sides. I am afraid that arrows will suddenly be shot out and dead soldiers will attack and kill...
"Here!"
The guards promised in unison that they were Li Tai's most loyal subordinates and soldiers, and they would fight to the death to ensure Li Tai's safety no matter what the hardship.
The group immediately made a fire to make food, and after a hasty meal, they broke camp and set off straight to Luoyang.
Two days later, Li Tai emerged from the Luoshui River Valley, faced with an open wilderness in front of him, and the sunset that set half of the sky but accentuated the sky. Li Tai let out a long breath. As long as he reached the open area, even if there were dead soldiers coming to attack him, he would still be able to fight. With such strength, he can escape easily even if he is defeated in battle.
However, before he could finish his breath, he heard cries like thunder in his ears, and a group of soldiers and horses suddenly rushed out from the mountain col on the north side.
Li Tai's eyes were about to burst, as hundreds of war horses rushed from the north. In the blink of an eye, they were zoomed in to hundreds of feet away, with a fierce momentum, and behind him was the rolling Luoshui, which was impossible to retreat.
"Mom! Can't you send a few dead soldiers to assassinate you? You are so crazy that you are mobilizing the army!"
Li Tai cursed loudly. No matter how little military ability he had, he could still see that the charging horses responded to each other and the arrow formations were strict and orderly. They must be a well-trained and disciplined army.
At this time, we are faced with two choices, either to turn back and retreat into the river valley. The advantage is that the narrow valley is not conducive to cavalry charges. It is difficult for the enemy to take advantage of their arms and the room for maneuver is greatly increased. The disadvantage is that the valley is deep and is equivalent to death. Once it cannot resist enemy's charge If you attack, you may be annihilated; or you can speed up your assault to the plains outside the river valley. The advantage is that the area is wide, and you can escape from the winter wilderness at will. The disadvantage is that the enemy may chase them one after another until they catch up with you...
Li Tai made a prompt decision: "Break through toward Luoyang!"
The two hundred guards under his command are all elite, and they are not without the strength to fight. It is easier to escape in the wilderness, but once they retreat into the river valley, they will face the enemy's full-force surprise attack, and the situation is too passive.
"Here!"
A group of imperial guards agreed with a loud voice, and immediately surrounded Li Tai and rushed out of the river valley with all their strength, breaking out along the vast winter wilderness and heading towards Luoyang.
The enemy cavalry turned easily during the attack and pursued them one after another.
For a moment, two cavalry troops ran wildly and chased each other on the field. The setting sun quickly fell, the lone star was lonely and the Jade Rabbit disappeared. The north wind whistled across the vast wilderness, and the thunderous sound of horse hooves rolled. roar.
Li Tai's upper body lay on the horse's back, his whole body swaying up and down with the galloping of the horse. He watched Luoyang City getting closer and closer, but the speed of the galloping horse under him became slower and slower, and the horse's nose kept spraying white water. Under the mist, a layer of sweat oozed from the horse's neck under its mane. The horse's strength was gradually exhausted, and the enemy behind it was getting closer and closer.
This was a phenomenon that he had ignored in his haste. He was rushing along the ancient Shangyu Road. The men and horses were exhausted and their physical strength had reached the critical point. However, the enemy troops were lurking in the mountains and waiting for work. Now they were galloping without any reservations. Regardless of the safety of their own personnel or horses, Physical strength is insufficient.
The distance between the two sides was getting closer and closer, and Li Tai could even faintly hear the shouts and curses coming from behind him, so he could only grit his teeth and continue to spur the horses under him.
"You will protect His Highness as he goes to Luoyang. Brothers, follow me back to kill the enemy and delay the pursuers!"
"Here!"
Seeing that the pursuers were getting closer and closer, and they had already begun to fire cold arrows during the pursuit, a captain of the imperial guards roared, and led more than 30 of his men to turn their horses around to affect the pursuing enemy troops.
Li Tai, who was galloping on horseback, glanced back and vaguely saw more than thirty cavalrymen turning their horses and forming a formation to meet the enemy. However, in the blink of an eye, they were overwhelmed by the enemy troops rushing towards them like a tide. The horses were yelling and screaming. Neighing, it quieted down in the blink of an eye, but it only delayed the pursuers for a moment.
But this is already the most effective method.
"Your Highness, leave quickly. I will do the same for you in the next life!"
A dead soldier next to him roared, slowed down his horse, formed an array with more than fifty cavalry around him, and turned around to respond to the enemy. He hoped that this tactic would continue to delay the enemy's pursuit and buy Li Tai time to escape.
This time Li Tai didn't look back, he held the reins tightly with both hands, gritted his teeth, and kept urging the horse under his crotch.
In an instant, the killing cry behind him disappeared again.
"Death for His Highness!"
More than fifty people turned their horses around and fought fiercely with the enemy soldiers...
The cold north wind blew in his face, but it could not cool down the anger raging in Li Tai's heart. One loyal guard after another died in the battle to prevent the enemy from saving his life, but he could only keep running forward, even after a while. I didn't dare to look back.
Anger made his blood boil.
He had already given up the fight for the throne, and stayed away from the throne, but why was he involved in power struggles again and again?
Could it be that just because he was the son of Emperor Taizong, he didn't even have the right to withdraw?
Who is the person chasing him behind him?
Are they the ambitious members of the clan, Fang Jun who wants to blame the clan, or even the dead soldiers sent by His Majesty himself?
Countless questions gathered in his mind, but Li Tai could do nothing but run away in embarrassment.
He must survive, otherwise all questions will be meaningless...
The sound of wind and hoofbeats filled his ears. Li Tai ran wildly in the biting north wind. He didn't know how long he ran, how far he ran, or how many people died around him, until he saw the darkness. Only in the shadow of the huge city tower in Luoyang City did a wave of ecstasy surge into my heart: "We're here!"
However, the next moment, the war horse suddenly let out a mournful cry, its front hooves suddenly missed the ground, the horse's head plunged downward, and Li Tai was thrown off the horse's back.
The war horse finally ran out of energy and could no longer hold on.
Li Tai only felt that he was flying forward like a cloud and mist for more than ten meters, and then landed hard on the ground. His forward momentum was not exhausted, and he rolled like a gourd for countless rounds. Only then did he endure the severe pain all over his body and was dizzy. Sit up.
"Your Highness!"
Several urgent calls rang in his ears. Li Tai shook his head and collected himself. He saw more than twenty guards dismounting from their horses and rushing to his side to protect him.
The roaring hoofbeats of the pursuers rang in my ears, and the ground beneath me trembled slightly from the trampling of the galloping horses' hooves. A huge black shadow suddenly appeared in front of me, and then when Li Tai and the imperial guards fought to the death , but suddenly stopped charging, hundreds of war horses maintained silence for several breaths in the dark night, and then turned their horses' heads, the sound of hoofbeats rumbled, and disappeared into the darkness.
Behind him, the city of Luoyang was brightly lit, and torches were lit, illuminating the city wall as bright as day.
The guard stood up, raised his head, and shouted at the top of the city wall: "His Royal Highness the King of Wei is here! Open the door quickly!"
There was a commotion on the top of the city. The door must not be opened. No matter how stupid the city guarding captain was, he did not dare to open the city gate rashly after witnessing the two armies chasing and attacking. A few soldiers were hanging by a few ropes. When they came down from the city, they not only wanted to confirm the identity of Wei King Li Tai, but also confirmed that the pursuing enemy troops had gone far and would not threaten the safety of Luoyang City.
After all, this is the Eastern Capital of the Tang Dynasty. Within this range, a cavalry force of hundreds of people actually attacked late at night. This is a huge event. If anything goes wrong, the city guard and the Luoyang guard will be devastated. Walk along.
Li Tai, who finally came to his senses, endured numerous scratches on his body and ignored the guards who came to check on his injuries. He stared angrily and cursed in a low voice: "Mother! You are such a bitch, so cruel." That shit, just wait for me..."
It is not certain who the murderer is, but except for Fang Jun, I am afraid that no one will spare his life.
But how could Li Tai be grateful to the other party for not killing him?
Those were all the manpower he had accumulated through so many years of hard work. Each of them was loyal and loyal to the death. As a result, the entire army was wiped out overnight, leaving only a dozen or twenty imperial guards who had abandoned their helmets and armor to protect them.
Too cruel...(End of chapter)