Traveling through the early Tang Dynasty starts with hanging

Chapter 1397 The Night Before (Part )

"conclusive?"

"It should be." Li Daozong sighed, "At the beginning of October, the generals and school officials were deployed. Xue Wanjun guarded Yuci, Qin Wutong guarded Qingyuan, and Zhang Qianxiong, who recorded affairs and joined the army, was arranged in Shouyang County, and his son Zhang Wenguan accompanied him."

Li Shan's face was extremely ugly, but he couldn't say anything. Obviously Li Daozong knew about his friendship with Zhang Wenguan, so he specially placed Zhang Qianxiong in Shouyang County in the east of Bingzhou. Logically speaking, Shouyang County is not located in Main battlefield, this is a good intention.

But who would have thought that Qi Shanxing thought that the Turks were about to return north, so he rashly attacked and ambushed the army. The entire army was defeated, causing Wang Xu and Sang Xianhe to die in battle, and Shouyang County, which was also implicated, was captured.

The key question now is whether Zhang Qianxiong and Zhang Wenguan are dead or captured.

This is too difficult to judge. If there is no special reason or special identity, generally speaking, it is common for military-level officials to die in battle or be beheaded after being captured.

If I have to say it's special... then the relationship between Zhang Wenguan and Li Shan is special.

It is possible that Tuli Khan could let go and not kill, but there are so many generals under his command... Unlike Dubu Khan, Tuli Khan's generals are mainly from the Ashina tribe.

As we all know, tens of thousands of Ashina tribesmen died at the hands of Li Shan. Maybe they were about to vent their anger on Zhang Qianxiong and Zhang Wenguan.

But I have to admit that Li Daoxuan was not as good as Li Daozong in military strategy. Although the latter failed to defend Shiling Pass and Chitang Pass, causing the Turkic army to invade Bingzhou, Li Daozong has been able to hold on to Bingzhou to this day, and his good defense is worthy of the name.

Li Shan glanced at Li Daoxuan. Although they had a good relationship, and there were unexpected factors in the defeat of this battle, the main reason was that Korean Gong Pang Yu failed to hold the Flying Fox Trail.

Li Shen responded, but his expression was unabated. He was a descendant of the Li family in Daizhou, and the cousin of Li Qing and Li Sanlang, whom Li Shan brought north this time. Both of them were Li Shan's personal guards and participated in the battle in Guji Town. After the war, one of them stayed in the Daizhou Army, and the other was recommended by Li Shanju to join the Twelve Guards.

After being dazed for a while, Li Shan shook his head, walked into the lobby with Li Daozong, and sat on the main seat without hesitation. On the one hand, although Li Daozong was the marching commander of Hebei Province, Li Shan was the marshal of the march of Hebei Province. On the one hand, it's also the last time. I guess I won't be able to sit in this position in the future.

Various generals and officials were sitting below. Li Shan glanced at a young general sitting at the back and said, "Li Erlang."

"Get up." Li Shan sighed, "Tu Li knows his character well, so he won't go on a massacre."

Li Shan rubbed his eyebrows vigorously, thinking that if he really died, how would he tell his mother-in-law when he returned to Beijing... Zhang and Zhang Qianxiong were siblings, and Zhang Wenguan was Zhang's direct nephew.

"The scouts reported that there are at least 30,000 to 40,000 Turkic troops around Yangqu County." Li Daozong looked at Li Shan, "Wu Guogong led his army to station in Huangdan Town, maybe it can be a surprise force?"

"The blame lies with someone." Li Daoxuan looked gloomy and muttered over and over again. If the 50,000-generation state army was not included in the divided Shuozhou side, there were only more than 3,000 cavalry and more than 2,000 infantry left.

Lost Yanmen Pass, lost Daizhou, lost Xinzhou, and let the Turks' iron hoofs and scimitars fall on the people's heads.

"Today is October 22nd. Calculated in previous years, it should have snowed." Dou Jing's words turned everyone's attention back to the war, "The grassland is further north, and snow will inevitably fall at this time, and the Turks should return north. "

It was easy for Zhang Qianxiong to explain, after all, he served as the official secretary of Bingzhou and joined the military, but Zhang Wenguan was forced to come to Bingzhou by himself.

Li Shen stood up and saluted, "Greetings to Your Highness."

The Turks could either go back north through Chitang Pass or through the northern part of Bingzhou and pass through the periphery of the Luliang Mountains. However, the latter is unlikely. On the one hand, they have to cross several rivers, making it difficult for a large army to move.

Although the terrain of Chitangguan is not as dangerous as Queshu Valley and Feihu Trail, tens of thousands of Turkic cavalry still have to carry food, grass, and people to the north. Even if the Turks are wary of Tang cavalry from the Jinyang direction, if Yuchi Gong crosses the Fen River and bypasses Tianmen Pass, it is possible to pursue from behind and defeat the Turks at Chitang Pass.

Even if the Turks cannot be defeated, if the Tang army approaches, the Turks will inevitably be in chaos and their marching speed will be even slower. The Tang army will fight steadily, pass Chitang Pass, and rely on Zhoushan to attack, and it is possible to defeat the enemy. Qin Wutong suddenly added: "On that day, when they retreated south from Daizhou, there were still more than 2,000 infantrymen who took refuge in Xiezhoushan and transported two batches of grain, grass and ordnance by ship. However, after the beginning of October, there was no news."

Li Shan remained silent. It was freezing cold. With more than two thousand infantry, could he hold on?

Li Daoxuan gritted his teeth, "We must not allow the Turks to return north calmly!"

On that day, Li Daoxuan set up a formation north of Tiezhoushan to block the pursuing Turkic army. He had no choice but to let the infantry rush into Tiezhoushan, while the cavalry bypassed Tiezhoushan from the west and went south.

Li Shan, who had remained silent, said softly: "No matter what else, the first thing to confirm is whether Tuli Khan is in Xinzhou or Bingzhou."

After a brief silence, Han Liang nodded and said: "Yes, if Tuli Khan is in Xinzhou and nothing can be done, he will definitely be ready in Xinzhou to receive the troops returning from the north."

"If Tuli Khan is still in Bingzhou..." Wen Daya continued: "There is still room for maneuver."

Li Daozong and Dou Jing looked at each other, "On October 15th, the Turks broke into Qixian County. Daoxuan led his army to attack, but was blocked by the Turks at Dongwoyi. The scouts saw the Khan Banner from a distance."

In other words, it is possible, but not certain. After all, it has been seven or eight days.

Li Shan stroked his short beard, pondered for a moment and then asked: "Do you still have enough food and grass?"

"Not much." Li Daozong said with a bitter smile: "If there are no reinforcements in ten days, we will fight to the death to break through."

Dou Jing added: "Jinyang has the highest population and military strength among all counties, but Qingyuan, Jiaocheng, Wenshui, Yuci and Taigu counties still have reserves."

Li Shan turned his head and looked at Fan Shiyi, "Is there any news from Cheng Mingzhen?"

"With Sima Huang Junhan of Youzhou as the vanguard, Shiai and Shouyang have been recovered." Fan Shiyi returned to the city not long ago. "The scouts arrived at Yuci. Cheng Mingzhen, the general manager of Luozhou, ordered Shuang Shiluo and Qi Shanxing to lead four thousand cavalry to the west. , and led more than 10,000 cavalry to follow suit."

Li Shan nodded and said, "Order Huang Junhan and Shuang Shiluo to lead five thousand cavalry to Yuci and station them around the Xiangyu River to prevent the Turks from surrounding Yuci."

"Yes."

"Order Qi County and Pingyao to transport grain and grass northward." Li Shanzhen hoped that there would be a storage space. "I will also order Liu Hongji and Qian Jiulong to transport grain and grass northward from Lingshi County and Jiexiu County. It is best to take the Fenshui River."

"By the way, why hasn't Zhang Shigui arrived yet?"

"We have arrived in Qixian County." Fan Shiyi responded: "We will arrive in Jinyang tomorrow."

Li Shan was silent for a while and then said: "We will go to battle tomorrow. We will set up a formation along the Fen River. The infantry will be led by King Rencheng, Qin Wutong will be the assistant. Su Dingfang and Qin Qiong will lead the Chinese cavalry, and Liu Hei'er will lead the left army. flank."

After a pause, Li Shan added, "Attack once first to test the Turks' confidence."

Li Shan knew very well in his heart that no matter what Tuli Khan thought, even if he wanted to talk, he had to show his military power and make Tuli Khan feel afraid before he could talk.

(End of this chapter)