Once this proclamation was issued, combined with Li Shimin’s strict military discipline, the common people gradually regained confidence in the Tang army and began voluntarily delivering grain to the military camps.

Those who win the hearts of the people win the world – this saying was absolutely correct.

The soldiers were positioned, the people were pacified – what remained was a life-or-death battle with Liu Wuzhou. But ultimately, Li Shimin still only had thirty thousand troops, which compared to Liu Wuzhou’s currently high-spirited forces was lacking by more than just a little.

After thorough discussions with Liu Hongji and others, Li Shimin decided to use the same method he had once employed against Xue Rengao: build high walls, stockpile grain extensively, wait for the enemy while rested, and fight a prolonged war.

At this time, Liu Wuzhou was doing everything possible to capture Haozhou in western Jin. It could be said that almost all of Shanxi had fallen, except for one place – Luozhou.

Responsible for defending Luozhou were Li Zhongwen and Liu Shan. Though surrounded on all sides with no relief for a thousand li, these two had consistently withstood Liu Wuzhou’s wave after wave of attacks.

While Tang forces suffered consecutive defeats elsewhere, Haozhou created the miracle of five battles and five victories, tying down most of Liu Wuzhou’s forces.

One month after Li Shimin arrived at Baibi, another piece of news came that lifted the Tang army’s spirits – the Tang forces had captured Puban.

Li Shimin realized this was the optimal time for a counterattack. After careful planning, he fought his first battle against Liu Wuzhou’s vanguard forces.

Leading this vanguard force was Song Jingang, a great general under Liu Wuzhou. The latter was famously brave, but fighting relied not merely on bravery – it also required strategy and tactics. In this regard, Song Jingang was far inferior to Li Shimin, so after his initial bravery, he began to falter due to insufficient reserve provisions.

Under these circumstances, though Song Jingang was unwilling, without provisions he lacked confidence. He could only choose the path of retreat.

Li Shimin naturally would not let slip this opportunity to beat a drowning dog. He led five thousand cavalry in pursuit of Song Jingang, making the latter flee in all directions in frustration – truly a pitiful sight.

In a single day and night, Li Shimin actually chased Song Jingang for over two hundred li, engaging in more than ten skirmishes, and this was only the beginning. After a brief rest, Li Shimin again led troops in pursuit, actually chasing for nearly half a month. Whether the fleeing or the pursuing side, all were exhausted to the extreme – it was only a matter of who would collapse first.

During this pursuit, Liu Hongji advised: “Your Highness, you have forced Song Jingang to flee like a rat crossing the street, achieving great victory. There’s no need to continue the chase. After all, soldiers are also human – they are all exhausted to the extreme. Continuing will only bring losses to our forces. For the greater good, please stop, Your Highness.”

Liu Hongji’s words undoubtedly expressed the feelings of many officers and soldiers. Though their morale was high, half a month of relentless pursuit was truly too exhausting – they had reached their limits.

Li Shimin looked at Liu Hongji for a long moment, then said: “Do you truly believe that turning back now is the best choice?”

The usually resourceful Liu Hongji was momentarily stunned by this question. After recovering, he said: “Naturally it is so, otherwise…”

Before he could finish, Li Shimin had already said: “How do you think we compare to Liu Wuzhou?”

Liu Hongji pondered for a moment, then said: “In military strategy, Liu Wuzhou is inferior to Your Highness, but in terms of troop strength, he still has the advantage.”

“Exactly.” Under Liu Hongji’s puzzled gaze, Li Shimin said slowly: “Song Jingang is Liu Wuzhou’s foremost general. Capturing him would be like severing one of Liu Wuzhou’s arms, narrowing the gap between us. Moreover, this victory over Song Jingang was somewhat fortunate. If we give up now, what will we use to defeat him once he recovers?”

“We are tired, but Song Jingang is more tired than us. And their current thinking must be the same as yours – believing we won’t pursue endlessly. This… is precisely our opportunity!”

“But…” Before Liu Hongji could continue, Li Shimin had already said: “I understand what you want to say, but consider this: if we cannot even walk this path, what qualifications do we have to walk the path to Chang’an?”

This question left Liu Hongji speechless. Yes, the future path to Chang’an would be countless times more dangerous than the present, and there would be absolutely no retreat.

As Liu Hongji’s thoughts raced, Li Shimin’s voice sounded in his ears again: “I know continuing the pursuit will be very hard, but only by passing this trial can we achieve victory, and only then… will I have the courage to walk that path to Chang’an!”

After a long moment, Liu Hongji nodded heavily. “I understand. My earlier words were spoken in error.”

“You were also thinking of me and the soldiers – how could that be spoken in error?” Saying this, he continued: “Besides, we probably won’t need to chase much longer.”

Liu Hongji asked in surprise: “What does Your Highness mean by this?”

Li Shimin walked to the desk and pointed to a specific location on the map there: “I’m certain Song Jingang will stop here and fight us to the death!”

Liu Hongji leaned in for a closer look and saw that where Li Shimin pointed were two small characters – Jiexiu.

He said thoughtfully: “How dare Your Highness make such a prediction?”

“Beyond Jiexiu lies Liu Wuzhou’s current stronghold, Taiyuan. Whether from the standpoint of face or strategy, he cannot let me reach Taiyuan. Therefore, Jiexiu is the best location for a decisive battle, and also the best place for us to completely defeat Song Jingang.”

Liu Hongji looked at Li Shimin with approval. Today’s Li Shimin was different from before – at least, the former him would not have been so obsessed with winning. It seemed… he was truly prepared.

The Crown Prince was determined to eliminate Prince Qin, even going so far as to do all manner of despicable things, yet he did not know that his very behavior was creating his most terrifying enemy!

Just as Li Shimin had predicted, Song Jingang indeed stopped at Jiexiu. He led twenty thousand men in battle formation outside Jiexiu’s west gate, stretching seven li from north to south in a magnificent display – the so-called North-South Serpent Formation. Li Shimin had five thousand cavalry at his disposal, and that was all.

Song Jingang’s battle formation might appear seamless and impenetrable to others, but unfortunately for him, he faced Li Shimin, who was like a god of war. Therefore, before this battle even began, he had already lost.

During this half month of pursuit and combat, Li Shimin had thoroughly understood Song Jingang’s character – rash, easily overconfident and complacent.

When battle commenced, he had two lieutenants each lead one thousand cavalry to attack the northern and southern ends of Song Jingang’s Serpent Formation, with both ends only permitted to lose, not to win.

Though the lieutenants were quite puzzled by Li Shimin’s command, they had boundless trust in Li Shimin and followed his orders without asking any questions.