Neon Clothes and Iron Clothes

Chapter 563 Despair
There are two advantages to doing this: first, it can lead the army of the Tang people to the west and avoid taking down Fucheng City. In this way, you have to go farther to the southern line of Qinghai Road; Entering the Xingxiu Sea, if the Tang army pursues, Gong Ren can continue to move to the Xingxiu Sea with the livestock, so that the Tang army can continue to be lured to the southwest, which can not only lengthen the enemy's supply line, but also force the Tang army to go to a higher altitude. March into a more desolate place, consume the enemy's physical strength, and prepare for the next decisive battle.

"But there is a piece of news!" The reporter hesitated, and finally whispered: "Master Gong Ren was caught up by the Tang people, and the Tang people won the battle. Master Gong Ren died or was captured?"

Qin Ling didn't speak, it seemed that he lost his anger for a moment, but soon he recovered: "Are you sure?"

"Not yet!" The reporter felt his throat swallowed, and replied carefully: "You know, the situation at that time was very complicated, and Fucheng City was also far away from there. On the way, there were Tang Jun and many bandits—"

"I need definite news, the sooner the better!" Qin Ling interrupted his subordinates and asked, "Any questions?"

"No problem! I'll urge you immediately!"

Qin Ling didn't speak, he turned around and walked to the map, the reporter left quickly as if he had been pardoned.When Qin Ling was the only one left in the room, there was a sudden loud noise, and it was he who punched the table.

Qinling’s order was responded to at noon the next day. The bad news was indeed true. A herdsman who escaped from the disaster saw with his own eyes that Gong Ren was finally drowned by the Turkic cavalry, and he also said that Gong Ren should not have died—because He saw with his own eyes that the Turkic cavalry escorted a captive on horse back. That person should be Gong Ren. As long as he didn't die from serious injuries, he should be still alive.

"Boss, as long as the Tang people know the identity of Young Master Gongren, they will definitely do their best to take care of him. You don't need to worry about his safety! At most, you can spend some money to redeem him from the Tang people in the future!"

"I'm not free enough to worry about him now!" Qin Ling snorted coldly: "Xue Rengui is such a difficult guy, he even chased after Huashi Gorge and caught our herd. It's a bit troublesome. If I send troops to cut off his retreat, he can use the herds as rations and persist for a month without any problem. However, his rear army is in Dafeiling, so I will be in a dilemma; The army attacking him may not be able to attack him for a while. After all, the Tang people should have a camp in Dafeiling, and he can lead the army back to help. In any case, he is in a favorable position. If the delay continues, it is only May now After the summer harvest, the Tang people may have more reinforcements."

"Boss, there is another piece of news! The rear army of the Tang people has left Dafeiling!"

"What?" Qin Ling turned around: "Really? When? Where are they going?"

"What happened six days ago, judging from the direction of the march, it should be heading west, and they want to join their former army!"

"Six days ago, they should be here now!" Qin Ling stretched out his finger to move on the map, and finally landed on a certain place. He followed his father to fight on this land when he was young, and he is very familiar with the local topography. familiar.

"No, the marching speed of the Tang army is not so fast. They carry luggage, and most of them are infantry!"

"Yes, I almost forgot, Tang people are not from Tubo, they can't walk fast in the mountains!" Qin Ling laughed: "Why did the Tang people's rear army leave the Dafeiling camp? The location there is very good, as long as they can Hold there, even if the former army is defeated, there is still a chance to come back!"

"Maybe it was an order from the commander-in-chief of the Tang army?"

"Xue Rengui's order?" Qin Ling shook his head: "It doesn't look like it. Looking at Tang Jun's previous actions, this man is familiar with the art of war. How could he do such a stupid thing? Abandon the important place?"

"Could it be that this person wants to attack Luo Suo directly?"

"How is this possible?" Qinling couldn't help laughing when he heard the words: "Yes, the emperor of the Tang Dynasty did appoint Xue Rengui as the chief commander of the Luosuo Road march, and claimed that he would go straight to the capital of our country this time. But that's just a bluff of the Tang people, even if they pass Huashixia, after crossing the Xingxiu Sea, there is still nearly two thousand miles to go, and there are many obstacles along the way. The most important thing is that the Tang people have not even defeated us, so he just went to Luosuo. Isn't he afraid of being cut off from the back and facing enemies? ?"

"Then, what's the reason?"

"I don't know, but if I were the commander-in-chief of the Tang army, what I have to do now is to put Tuyuhun Khan in their hands on the throne first, and then open up the connection with the Western Regions. After the land of Qinghai is in his hands, then consider Luo Suo thing! Before entering a narrow alley, you must not leave any trouble behind!"

"So what should we do now?"

"When the opportunity comes, you must not miss it, otherwise the gods will not give you another chance!" Qin Ling said with a smile: "Send the order, call all the troops, and set off immediately!"

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Huashi Gorge, the former military camp of the Tang Army.

The horn sounded, waking up the entire barracks. A group of Turkic cavalry was slowly walking into the gate of the barracks. There were many cattle, sheep, and vehicles piled up with all kinds of looted furs and utensils in the scattered ranks. Some Turkic cavalry even drank kumiss on horseback, whistled and sang songs praising Khan when they were drunk.At the end of the procession came groups of captives, mostly women and children, whom the Turks tied in long strings with ropes, like their favorite horsemeat enema.

"This can at least make these Turkic people more motivated!" Xue Rengui stood in front of the big tent, looking at the marauders who were camping below. The handsome tent was always at the highest place in the camp.The Turkic cavalry accounted for at least one-third of the cavalry of the Tang army, maybe more. They had no military pay, and they were not exempted from labor taxes like the Tang army soldiers, because the Turkic khans could not collect any taxes from the troops. There are only two reasons for them to join the war: the first is to follow their leader to express "respect" to the Khan. Of course, the Turks do not have a real Khan now, and the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty has replaced the Khan; and the second is to Got the loot.The amount of loot is closely related to the morale of the Turkic cavalry. If nothing is gained, the Turkic people will not only lose their morale, but may even fail to work or even defect.

Counting from the day when Gong Ren was captured, 21 days have passed, and Xue Rengui got a lot of useful information from the captive.Obviously, it would be foolish to march directly to Luosuo. The main force of Qinling should still be intact.There are many lush pastures around Xingxiu Sea, and there are many Tubo tribes who spend the winter here. They are also potential sources of soldiers and supplies for the Tubo people. Soldiers are a wise choice.

Xue Rengui was not worried about Qinling's army. He placed his rear camp in Dafeiling, which happened to be in the transition area between Dafeichuan and the mountain valley, and the other exit of the valley road was under his control. , In this way, the Tang army can freely pass on both sides of the Kunlun Mountains, while Qinling has to choose a long detour. What is there to be afraid of?
"General Xue!" Ashina Daozhen's face was full of worry: "Guo Daifeng sent a messenger, saying that he is about to lead the rear army!"

"Guo Daifeng is coming?" Xue Rengui's good mood disappeared immediately: "Didn't I tell him to stay in Dafeiling and not move without my order?"

"Judging from the meaning of the letter, he should think that you let him stay in the rear camp to monopolize the military exploits, so—" Before Ashina Daozhen finished speaking, Xue Rengui snatched the letter from the other party, and just read a few lines Then he fell to the ground and cursed: "The geese are still flying in the sky, and he only thinks whether to stew or roast. How could Guo Xiaoke give birth to such a stupid son! I really shouldn't let him guard the rear camp!"

"Then, what should we do now?"

"Let him go back as soon as possible, the sooner the better!" Xue Rengui said sincerely to Ashina: "Take a thousand cavalry and messengers and go back quickly, bring my autographed letter, and let him lead the troops back immediately, if he dares to disobey orders , you should arrest him first, and then deal with it after the battle is over!"

"I obey the order!" Ashina Daozhen hurriedly turned and left, Xue Rengui turned back and forth a few times in frustration, and finally sighed: "I hope the gods and Buddhas will bless you, and nothing will go wrong. I really should have asked Wang Wenzuo to be the deputy , otherwise Gao Zang is fine, this Guo Daifeng is really more than successful than failure!"

Four days later, Xue Rengui saw Ashina Daozhen again—the descendant of the Turkic Khan had become another person: his voice was dull due to fatigue, his clothes were torn, and his clothes were covered with dust and black marks that seemed to be blood. , his horse was foaming at the mouth and bleeding from its mouth.He bowed to Xue Rengui and said, "General Manager, the Tubo people raided Guo Daifeng, and our army was defeated. In fact, the rear army no longer exists."

"Damn it!" Xue Rengui paused angrily, not knowing whether it was Guo Daifeng or the Tubo people he said should be damned, or both. In the corner of the tent, the dry firewood in the brazier was crackling.He forced himself to control his emotions, picked up the cup and handed it over, and said truthfully to Ashina: "Sit down, have a drink, and explain the matter in detail!"

"Thank you!" Ashina drank the liquid in the cup, and his eyes became brighter: "I walked west for two days, and on the evening of the second day, I encountered the rout of our army. From his mouth, I learned the news about the rear army, and I walked forward for a while, and encountered more and more routs, so I was sure it was true. The situation at that time was simply, simply—”

"Needless to say!" Xue Rengui sighed, of course he could imagine the tragedy at that time - most of the rear army was infantry, and there was a lot of luggage, the marching ranks in the narrow and rugged valley would be very long, once attacked , the head and the tail can't care about each other, and their commander is still a young boy like Guo Daifeng who doesn't have much experience, it will only be a massacre.

Xue Rengui put his head in his hands, thinking in pain, he has more worrying things than suffering for the dead, Guo Daifeng's stupidity can't help ruining himself and tens of thousands of soldiers in the rear army, and all Luggage, now the Tang army is nearly two thousand miles away from its nearest logistics base, and there are countless potential enemies on this long road-there is no doubt about this, all fools will stand up after hearing about this big defeat They went to the Tubo people.

"However, according to the rout soldiers, it seems that the Dafeiling camp is still in our hands!" Ashina said truthfully.

"What?" Xue Rengui raised his head in surprise: "Isn't Guo Daifeng's rear army already finished?"

"That's what happened!" Ashina Daozhen explained: "When Guo Daifeng led the army to set off, he left all the sick soldiers in the Dafeiling camp. There were 8000 soldiers in total. I fell ill. The camp is very strong, and the rear army also left some luggage when they set off, maybe the Tibetans haven't taken it down yet!"

"Great!" Xue Rengui jumped up excitedly: "Bless the gods, bless the ancestors!" He walked back and forth in the tent four or five times, and asked, "Who is the remaining guard?"

"It seems to be called Wang Zhaotang, yes, that's the name!"

"Wang Zhaotang? I remember, yes, a veteran who fought in Goguryeo! It is really a blessing from the Bodhisattva, God has no unparalleled road!" Xue Rengui waved his arms excitedly: "The order is passed, the three armies pack up and have lunch Let's go now!"

"So fast?" Ashina Dao was really taken aback: "These are all the news from the mouth of the rout soldiers. I don't even know if it's true or not!"

"There is no time!" Xue Rengui replied while quickly drafting the military order: "Now time is very precious to us and the Tibetans. The successful surprise attack of the Tibetans must be part of the fleet. The army is still behind. It will not take time to besiege the Dafeiling camp. They won the Guo Daifeng no matter what, there will be many casualties, and now they are powerless to stop us from withdrawing. But if it delays for a while, the Tibetans will have enough power to besiege Dafei The Feiling camp stopped us at the valley road. And the guards at the Dafeiling camp must be panicking now, maybe they think we are doomed too, only if we join them as soon as possible can we turn the tide of the battle!"

As a veteran general who has experienced many battles, Xue Rengui really knows the soldiers very well. Unlike the readers who read the history of wars in later generations, the participants on the battlefield are in the fog, and they can only get a limited number. The news was mixed, and the soldiers knew even less, which undoubtedly affected their psychological state.

Take the soldiers of the Tang army who stayed in the Dafeiling camp as an example. They will soon learn from the Tubo people and their own routs that the rear army is destroyed. What kind of desperate situation will they be in if they are finished.At that time, if the Tibetans had intimidated and induced them, they might have been able to win without a fight.

(End of this chapter)