Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 381 The Adventures of Gao Xianzhi
The main force of the black-clad army came toward Zhezhi City with great momentum, but they were not in a hurry to attack the city. Abu Muslim ordered the army to camp on the bank of Zhezhi River (i.e. Chirqike River). The army surrounded Zhezhi City on three sides, leaving the east side unencircled. It seemed that he intended to let Gao Xianzhi lead his troops to escape.

Fighting siege warfare here in the Western Region is different from that in the Central Plains. Most of the "cities" here are castles, which occupy a very small area, but are out of reach. They have strong defenses and poor internal self-sustainability.

At the same time, the outer city walls were very low, often made of wooden fences, which could not stop a thunderous attack from the siege army.

Traditional siege equipment, such as nest carts, ladders, ram carts, etc., are of little use, and because of the lack of trees in the desert, the wood needed to make siege equipment is also difficult to find. They preferred to use the technology passed down from Rome to make ballistas and trebuchets to kill the defenders on the city walls.

Therefore, looting the surrounding areas, besieging the castle, cutting off food and grass, killing and injuring the defenders, and even sending missionaries into the city to preach and break the will of the defenders have become the primary methods of attacking the city here. This is also a series of combination punches.

As an important governor-general of the former Sassanid Persian Empire and the foundation of the Abbasid Dynasty, the Khorasan region has a strong and elite military force, and Abu Muslims have many elite soldiers.

The quantity and quality of the army are almost second to none in the country of Black Clothes.

At the beginning of their rise, the Arabs implemented a tribal military system, which was not essentially different from the Turks.

However, they later learned from the military district system of the Byzantine Empire and created a feudal military district system mixed with tribal military system elements.

When the Abu Muslims helped the Abbasid dynasty rise and replaced the Umayyad dynasty, they relied more on the military system of the former Sasanian Persian Empire to reform the rebel army from bottom to top, at least in Khura. This is the case in Shan area.

Simply put, the ruler provided rewards and equipment for the minor nobles to perform heavy cavalry service.

However, because cash rewards were not enough to arm these armored cavalry, the governor of Khorasan also had to provide them with fiefs such as villages and small manors as compensation for their service in the form of fief tribute.

Ordinary peasants in the territory served ordinary infantry services and were under the jurisdiction of the minor nobles.

This system is very similar to the combination of the feudal knighthood in Europe and the military system in the early Tang Dynasty. It also conforms to the trend of the times when there are many tribes in the Khorasan region and the relationships between them are complicated.

After the reform of the Khorasan Military Region, its troops have exploded into powerful combat effectiveness.

This time, the food army launched a massive counterattack. Abu Muslim, the governor of Khorasan, sent General Daoud to lead 20,000 troops, mainly light cavalry and camel soldiers. They only carried dry food and attacked all the way, returning 300 meters east of Zhezhi City. The city of Talas inside was immediately besieged.

Abu Muslim himself took Ziyad Sari and the most elite Khorasan Army under his command to form an array outside Zhezhi City, preparing to attack the city.

At this moment, on the top of Zhezhi City, Gao Xianzhi looked solemnly at the food army outside the city that was not attacking, folded his arms and thought quietly.

"High Deputy Protector, the cannibals are surrounding three towers. Do you want us to send people to ask for help, and then they will surround us and call for reinforcements?"

Xi Yuanqing asked doubtfully, feeling very uneasy.

Zhezhi City is very big, but the only thing that can really play a defensive role is the inner city, which is the Shiguo Palace! The outer walls are very low! Only less than one foot tall!

What's the use of this?

"Abu Muslim wanted to drive us to the city of Talas and then pursue us on the road."

Gao Xianzhi said in a deep voice.

"What should we do?"

Xi Yuanqing was stunned. He thought Gao Xianzhi didn't see it. It turned out that the general had already seen the current situation clearly.

"The Anxi army is not good at defending the city. When defending the city, the horses are of little use."

Gao Xianzhi seemed to be convincing himself and continued: "Abu Muslim must have deployed heavy troops in the dark on the unencircled east side, while the north side near the river cannot deploy many troops. Pass the order and let the soldiers Bring your supplies and break out from the north gate tonight!"

From the north? Why don't you break out into the river?

Upon hearing Gao Xianzhi's military order, Xi Yuanqing didn't know what to say.

Suddenly, he suddenly realized that here was an opportunity. Gao Xianzhi was taking advantage of a blind spot in Abu Muslim's thinking!

The north is indeed blocked by rivers, and there is more than one. But winter is the dry season, and these rivers are more like ditches than rivers. War horses can directly cross the rivers. And it's winter now, so there's no telling whether the river will freeze at night.

"I understand, I will make arrangements right away."

Xi Yuanqing saluted Gao Xianzhi with clasped fists, then took the order and left.

At the foot of Zhezhi City, Ziad Sari saluted Abu Muslim and reported: "Governor, the scouts have conducted an investigation and found no reinforcements from the Tang Army within a hundred miles."

Abu Muslim seemed not to have heard his words, and just looked at Zhezhi City not far away without saying a word, as if he was thinking about something.

"Tonight we are attacking the city from three sides. The palace of Zhezhi City cannot accommodate thousands of cavalry. I will see whether Gao Xianzhi chooses to break out or enter the palace to defend."

Abu Muslim said in a deep voice and gave the order calmly.

He didn't care at all which direction Gao Xianzhi broke through, and his purpose was not mainly to annihilate the Tang army.

Abu Muslim knew very well that the black-clad army wanted to conquer the city here, and occupying the territory was the first priority. The Tang army was a "guest army" who had traveled thousands of miles. They left as soon as they left, and the possibility of coming back was too small. This was essentially different from Tu Qishi.

Gao Xianzhi is a general, and can even be said to be a very capable general. But this person's ability only ends here. He is incapable of exploring the Hezhong area. Well, according to the name of the Tang people, places including Mulu City are called "Hezhong".

To the west of Congling, the sunshine in winter is not strong and the temperature is relatively suitable. Abu Muslim ordered his light cavalry to prepare for pursuit. These light cavalry were equipped with Arabian spears, which were more than five meters long. There are also infantry archers who are specially equipped with heavy arrows and hard bows, and the bows and arrows can break armor within the range.

In addition, the heavy armored infantry, which is the trump card, will also appear in the siege tonight. Fighting in the desert with heavy armor is a nightmare. People wearing heavy armor feel as if they are wrapped in hot iron.

But Zhezhi City at night has no such worries at all.

To the east, where the Tang army was most likely to flee, Abu Muslim deployed all his siege ballista units here, preparing to catch Gao Xianzhi by surprise.

The sun slowly set, turning the sky red, and Abu Muslim's heart seemed to be burned by something.

"Beep beep beep beep beep!"

The sound of brass trumpets sounded from the black-clad army. This was a military instrument they inherited from Sasanian Persia. When the trumpet was blown, the general attack began.

The food army rushed towards Zhezhi City from three directions like a tide!

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
As if feeling something, the drums in Zhezhi City were beating loudly, accompanied by the loud shouts of killing, as if they were trying to compete with the sound of the trumpet.

At this moment, the north gate of Zhezhi City opened wide, and Xi Yuanqing, who was holding a horse spear, rushed out of the city gate first. Behind him were dozens of cavalry who broke the formation, all of them wearing heavy armor. In an instant, they rushed into the cannibal. Military formation.

This scene surprised the cannibals, and the army in the north was in chaos for a while!

This army was the weakest among the troops under Abu Muslim who besieged Zhezhi City. They usually perform flanking missions on the battlefield. They are generally equipped with long oval shields, a straight sword at the waist, and a short spear in their hand that can be thrown or assassinated.

The predecessors of these people were the paramilitary forces that Sasanian Persia used to manage the countryside. They were dispersed and used as "field police". After being concentrated, they joined the army and served as mobile and flexible auxiliary forces on the army's flanks.

Abu Muslim did not expect Gao Xianzhi to be so courageous, so he attacked him when he just launched his attack on the city. He also did not expect that the opponent would break out from the north!
Even he didn't expect it, let alone the auxiliary troops of the Food Army in the north.

The military formation of this unit was immediately opened by Xi Yuanqing with a wave of elite soldiers. The second wave of cavalry was directly led by Gao Xianzhi. They were all light cavalry, with quivers hanging on their backs and arrows in their hands. Holding the horse bow, even the horse bag is full of arrows.

While charging, use bows and arrows to cover your retreat!

They washed away the cannibal's army like a flood, and then the Tang army's cavalry flowed away from the river in the north. The other departments of the Dashi Army, which were performing siege missions, did not receive new military orders. For a while, they did not know whether they should pursue the Tang army or carry out the old military orders and continue to attack the city.

Abu Muslim, who was conducting the battle outside the east gate, was silent for a long time after learning the news, making Ziyad Sari who was beside him afraid to speak out.

"Baishui City is between Zhezhi City and Talas. Said bin Houmed, who is stationed in Baishui City, has less than 10,000 troops.

If they only defend the city, they should be able to block the Tang army's path.

If Gao Xianzhi wants to turn around Suiye Town, he must attack Baishui City, or bypass Baishui City and attack Talos.

We just need to slowly follow him and get closer to Talas, there is no need to chase him too hastily. "

Abu Muslim said slowly to Ziyad Sari.

"Governor, if you let the tiger return to the mountain, there will be endless troubles."

Ziad Sari was in a hurry and didn't even chase him. It would be too late to catch up again!
"Gao Xianzhi has thrown away all the stolen wealth and luggage.

Countless money and food were spent, and in the end, nothing was gained except the stone kingdom.

As long as he returns to Suiye Town, even if the Western Region Economic Ambassador doesn't punish him, his subordinates will not be able to spare him. "

Abu Muslim looked at Ziad Sari and said, his eyes sharp and not angry.

Tactics serve strategy. Is Black Clothes Dashi's strategy to conquer the Hezhong area or to annihilate the main force of the Tang army?
Which is the primary purpose and which is the secondary purpose?

Feeling that Ziyad Sari should have figured it out, Abu Muslim enlightened him:
"Gao Xianzhi helped us collect all the wealth of the Shi Kingdom. If we had done it ourselves, not to mention offending others, we wouldn't have gotten so much. Speaking of which, I would like to thank him.

Nowadays, most of this wealth is still in the Stone King's Palace. If we get this wealth, we can reward the soldiers and win people's hearts. What's wrong with this?

As for Gao Xianzhi and his troops, they can keep as many as they can. There is no need to compromise our own direct lineage just to kill people.

This is the difference between this governor and Gao Xianzhi. I value the overall situation, while he only sees killing. "

"The governor is still thinking carefully, but the general is wrong."

Ziad Sari said respectfully.

He found that his thinking level was far lower than that of Abu Muslim, but on the same level as Gao Xianzhi.

"Go ahead, don't disturb the people after entering the city, and then take over Zhezhi City."

Abu Muslim nodded and said to Qiyad Sari, feeling a pang of regret in his heart. In fact, he really wanted to compete with Gao Xianzhi's powerful army, but it was a pity.

……

Next to a small hill not far from the bank of the Talas River, Gao Xianzhi and his Anxi Army, who had fled east from Zhezhi City, were drinking horses by the river, refilling their water bottles, and eating the few dry food left. Baishui City is very close, right on the river bank.

The larger city of Talas is more than a hundred miles east.

"Ugh!"

Xi Yuanqing smashed his helmet to the ground angrily, his heart filled with frustration.

The large amounts of wealth, jewels, and the eye-catching gold that were looted from the Stone Kingdom were all gone. Not a single hair was taken out of the Stone Palace in Zhezhi City.

Of course, he couldn't say that there was anything wrong with Gao Xianzhi's strategy, because under the circumstances, Gao Xianzhi had indeed tried his best to bring this army out, and the timing he chose during the breakout was extremely exquisite.

Thinking about it now makes me angry.

The Dashi Army heard the general attack of Tongxiao, and had received the military order, and had already rushed to attack the city.

At this time, no matter what Abu Muslim ordered, these troops that had rushed out needed to be redeployed and even replaced if they wanted to organize themselves into a force in a state of rapid pursuit!

When attacking the city, many cavalry were dismounted and put on heavy armor. By the time they took off their heavy armor, found their horses, and set out to pursue them, the Tang army had already disappeared.

Gao Xianzhi's move looks simple and unpretentious, but in fact it is a sudden decision based on his many years of military experience. It is very remarkable. This opportunity to break through can be said to be fleeting. It can't be early, let alone late, and it can't choose the wrong direction.

For example, if Gao Xianzhi chooses to break out from the east where the cannibals have the most ambushed troops and deploy ballistae, their light cavalry will have to shed their skin even if they don't die.

However, everyone worked hard and their pockets were bulging, but now they have lost all their money. Who would be willing to do so?

The worst thing in the world is that people are still alive but their money is gone!
"High Deputy Protector, take us back and kill us!"

Xi Yuanqing knelt in front of Gao Xianzhi, made a bow and asked.

"Take me back to kill you!"

Qiu Ba was kneeling on the ground next to Gao Xianzhi.

At this moment, a Tang Army scout galloped over on horseback from the west. As soon as he saw Gao Xianzhi, he got off his horse and came to report: "Gao Deputy Protector, the man-eating Qingqi is already less than twenty miles away from here. , It should be closer now. There may be infantry following them, so I don’t dare to get closer to see.”

"High Deputy Protector, Baishui City to the east is also occupied by the cannibals. Now their cavalry is catching up with them again. Whether they are fighting or fleeing, the soldiers will not hesitate to speak to you!"

Xi Yuanqing stood up, clasped his hands and said.

The soldiers thought that Gao Xianzhi would give the order to fight, but Gao Xianzhi waved his hand and said: "Bypass Baishui City, continue eastward to Talos."

(End of this chapter)