Unfortunately, Yuwen Huaji was incompetent in both literary and military affairs. After several attacks on Cangcheng, he was repeatedly struck from both front and rear by Li Mi and Xu Shiji, leaving him thoroughly exhausted. Those who could fight, such as Pei Qiantong and others, had all been killed by the Yuwen Huaji brothers, leaving only Yuwen Zhiji with some capability, but compared to Li Mi, he was still insufficient. With no other choice, Yuwen Huaji had to order a halt to the attacks and rest in place. Cangcheng was so close, yet it remained tantalizingly out of reach.

When this news reached Li Shimin’s army, Pei Qiancheng said: “Marshal, Yuwen Huaji’s army is extremely exhausted and has begun to face food shortages. This is the perfect opportunity for us to attack. I volunteer to serve as the vanguard and take the heads of the Yuwen Huaji brothers for you, Marshal.”

During these days in Chang’an, Pei Qiancheng had never forgotten the sight of his elder brother’s death. He swore to kill Yuwen Huaji to avenge his brother. When he learned that Li Shimin was leading troops to Luoyang to crusade against Yuwen Huaji and his forces, he strongly requested to join the campaign.

Li Shimin looked at the sand table on the desk and said: “No rush. They are only engaged in minor skirmishes now, and their main forces haven’t suffered any losses. If we attack now, we might force them to unite and turn against us instead.”

Pei Qiancheng immediately replied: “Yuwen Huaji and Li Mi are like fire and water – there’s no way they could ever unite.”

Du Ruhui, standing nearby, said: “Don’t forget that Li Mi and Luoyang were also like fire and water before, yet didn’t they form an alliance?”

Pei Qiancheng was left speechless by his retort. After a long while, he said somewhat unwillingly: “Then according to your thinking, we should just keep watching like this?”

“When the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman profits. We should wait until they fight each other to their last breath before making our move – only then can we achieve complete victory.”

Li Shimin shook his head: “But if we do this, we can only ensure the elimination of Yuwen Huaji. As for Luoyang City… we may not necessarily be able to capture it.”

Du Ruhui said gravely: “I’ve considered this point as well. It’s just that Wang Shichong’s army of over a hundred thousand is now holed up in Luoyang City. To take Luoyang, we can only rely on sieging the city.”

Liu Wenjing said: “When the Tang King sent the Marshal on this expedition, he wanted the three parties to fight each other while we cleaned up the aftermath in the chaos. One hundred thousand troops would have been sufficient. However, we didn’t expect Yang Tong to actually win over Li Mi, using him to deal with Yuwen Huaji while Luoyang’s army took the opportunity to rest and recover. In this case, our hundred thousand troops are no longer enough.”

Du Ruhui deeply agreed: “But if we don’t capture Luoyang, this expedition will have been in vain. We still need to think of a solution.”

Liu Wenjing remained silent. Although he was quite cunning, facing the current situation, he was also at a loss.

While they were talking, Li Shimin kept staring at the sand table, his thoughts spinning like wheels. He slowly said: “Only by drawing Wang Shichong out of the city will we have a chance to attack Luoyang.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Wenjing immediately frowned: “This is naturally the best method, but now with Li Mi serving as a spear, why would Wang Shichong need to come out himself? Although Luoyang’s forces are not weak, there’s no need to waste them.”

Li Shimin smiled slightly and looked up: “What if Li Mi were defeated?”

Liu Wenjing blurted out: “That’s impossible. With the Yuwen Huaji brothers’ capabilities and their troop strength, even if they had abundant provisions, they couldn’t defeat Li Mi, let alone when they’re facing food shortages.”

His words made Li Shimin’s smile even broader: “Whether Li Mi wins or loses isn’t important. What matters is what news Wang Shichong hears.”

Liu Wenjing and the others were first stunned, then gradually understood his meaning. Du Ruhui said: “Marshal, do you mean to make Wang Shichong think Li Mi has been defeated, thereby sending troops to eliminate Yuwen Huaji?”

Pei Qiancheng picked up the conversation: “Once they’re defeated, we’ll have the opportunity to capture Luoyang.”

“Exactly. Of course, it would be even better if Li Mi were actually defeated or killed.” Li Shimin pointed to Luoyang’s position on the sand table: “We’ve already come so close to Luoyang – we absolutely cannot return empty-handed.”

While Li Shimin and his men were carefully plotting, Yuwen Huaji encountered the greatest crisis since arriving outside Luoyang City: food shortage. Any army, once lacking provisions, would be defeated before anyone else even attacked them. Although the current food shortage wasn’t very severe, it was already enough to give Yuwen Huaji a headache.

Just at this moment, Li Mi, who was in the opposing camp, sent an envoy to seek peace and promised to send food supplies to resolve Yuwen Huaji’s urgent crisis.

Yuwen Huaji forcefully flicked the letter and said disdainfully: “This Li Mi, who previously acted so arrogantly – I thought he was so remarkable, but he turns out to be just like this.”

After Yuwen Zhiji took the letter and read it carefully, he frowned: “Elder brother, Li Mi has always been unyielding against us. Why is he suddenly seeking peace?”

Yuwen Huaji snorted lightly: “Do you even need to ask? Naturally, he’s afraid of us.”

After pondering for a moment, Yuwen Zhiji shook his head: “I’m afraid things aren’t that simple. We need to be careful of deception.”

Yuwen Huaji disagreed: “What deception could there be? Second brother, you’re good in every way, but you’re too cautious. You have to be suspicious of everything.”

“In warfare, caution is paramount.” Facing Yuwen Zhiji’s persuasion, Yuwen Huaji didn’t listen at all. He called over a soldier: “Pass my order – have the soldiers quickly eat up the remaining grain. If Li Mi knows we still have surplus food, he might not send us grain.”

Hearing this, Yuwen Zhiji quickly advised: “Elder brother, in all matters, you should leave yourself some room for maneuvering. If you’re really worried this will affect Li Mi’s grain delivery, you could just have the soldiers hide it.”

“No need. I expect this Li Mi wouldn’t dare deceive us.” Without waiting for Yuwen Zhiji to say more, Yuwen Huaji said: “Follow my orders.”

After the soldier left, Yuwen Zhiji also departed from the tent. Soon, even the small remaining food supplies were gone, but Yuwen Huaji waited and waited, never receiving the grain Li Mi had promised to send.

The entire army of seventy to eighty thousand soldiers was waiting for food to cook. One or two days might be manageable, but if it continued long-term, there would only be two outcomes: mutiny or desertion.

When all the generals, including Yuwen Zhiji, believed they had been fooled by Li Mi, Yuwen Huaji still fantasized that Li Mi would soon send grain.

Finally, when the entire army was so hungry their stomachs were rumbling, someone appeared in Yuwen Huaji’s camp – a subordinate of Li Mi. But he hadn’t come to deliver grain; rather, having committed a capital offense, he had come to seek refuge with Yuwen Huaji. He told Yuwen Huaji that Li Mi had never intended to send grain at all – the peace talks and grain delivery were nothing but a deception.

Hearing this, Yuwen Huaji flew into a rage. If this person had come just a few days later, his tens of thousands of troops would have starved to death here. Li Mi, you actually dared to deceive me – I will make you pay with your life!