Early Tang Dynasty: forge ahead

Chapter 418 Crazy
Chen Qingsi walked out of the lobby quickly. All colleagues in the Ministry of War also heard the shouts of the messengers, and they all put down their work to welcome the good news.

Chen Qingsi received the good news from the dusty messenger and couldn't wait to appreciate it.

Looking at the simple battle report, Chen Qingsi frowned slightly, and for a moment he couldn't understand it.

The battle report from Su Dingfang was extremely simple: he led his troops to confront the Tubo army at Xuande Shi Naihai. The two sides fought fiercely for more than 20 days. Xi Junmai tore apart the right wing of the Tibetan army. The Tang army took advantage of the situation and defeated the enemy, taking 3,500 enemy heads.

The Tubo army collapsed and fled back to the plateau.

Chen Qingsi frowned, a little embarrassed, and he didn't understand.

The battle report process was too concise, and Chen Qingsi could not understand what happened from the battle report.

From the simple battle report, the only thing Chen Qingsi was sure of was that Su Dingfang spent twenty-six days to defeat Lun Qinling.

And then it’s gone…

Chen Qingsi showed the battle report and looked at the officials of the Ministry of War who were happy but also a little confused. He waved his hands and said, "Okay, it's time to go and do your own thing."

Chen Qingsi returned to his office with the battle report, sat down and looked at it carefully, but still couldn't find any clues. I think the real details can only be learned from the mouths of generals who have personally experienced this battle in the future.

This was not the first time Chen Qingsi had encountered this situation. When he was looking at many classic battles recorded by the Tang Army in the archives of the Ministry of War, he had encountered such concise battle reports many times.

Many of them were typed by Hou Junji...

Although Hou Junji is not well-known for his rebellion, his military skills in the early Tang Dynasty, except for Li Shimin and Li Jing, no one dared to say that he could defeat him, defeat the enemy, and move forward.

Chen Qingsi once asked Li Ji and Su Dingfang why the records were so simple.

I got a unanimous answer, but I don’t know how to record it.

In addition to strategy, the military also has tactics.

The strategy can clearly state the purpose and objectives, but the tactics are not easy to describe. The conventional tactics can still be explained a little or two. When it comes to the actual battle, according to the battlefield situation and the coach's psychological analysis based on the changes in the battlefield, that is a Even I can hardly explain what happened in an instant.

Especially a genius like Hou Junji, who has extraordinary insight on the battlefield and can often intuitively detect the weaknesses of the enemy's formation and win with one blow.

Qin Ling is not a simple character, Su Dingfang is one of the few generals in China.

The ordinary tactics and strategies of the two people's duel were ineffective, and they were compared to the two sides' pre-battle games during the confrontation with real swords and guns.

This psychological game process cannot be described in words.

Both sides are looking for each other's weaknesses, looking for flaws revealed at that moment in the confrontation.

Obviously on the 26th day of the confrontation between the two sides, which was October 9th of the first year of Linde.

Su Dingfang seized the Tubo army's flaw and won the battle.

But the various games during this period are obviously not clearly written in the memorial.

Su Dingfang did not have the literary skills of Chen Qingsi to explain things clearly.

In the end, another trick was obtained, and there was a military Chinese document to write the victory report, but the details were unknown.

The real details must be analyzed against the military exploits to know some details.

But he had to analyze it in depth. He also had to deal with a condescending military novice and couldn't ruin the other person's mental image.

After sorting out the intelligence that came in the past few days, Chen Qingsi entered the palace with his military exploits.

The place where Chen Qingsi was received was still in Zhenguan Hall.

In addition to Li Zhi, there was also Empress Wu in Zhenguan Hall.

In this regard, Li Zhi no longer pretended, and directly led Queen Wu to meet with the courtiers.

It can be seen that although Empress Wu has many problems, Li Zhi still relies on Empress Wu's ability and can tolerate minor problems.

Chen Qingsi first saluted Li Zhi, then bowed slightly to Empress Wu, and treated her as if she didn't exist.

Li Zhi nodded with satisfaction, admiring Chen Qingsi not only for his ability but also for his vision. He knew that Chen Qingsi usually didn't like Empress Wu's involvement in politics, but it would be good if the other party didn't say anything and didn't cause trouble for him.

Chen Qingsi presented the victory report from the front line and said: "Your Majesty, a great victory. Su Xinggong has defeated Tubo at Shi Naihai in Xuande, beheaded 3,500 people, and driven the Tubo traitors back to the plateau."

A smile appeared on Li Zhi's face, just a smile. This kind of record of repelling 30,000 troops and taking 3,500 enemy heads was too common in this era. He nodded slightly and said: "Su Aiqing really didn't Let me down."

He waved and asked the chamberlain to pass the battle report to him.

Chen Qingsi didn't know what to say when he saw this. At this moment, he was the only one who knew that this battle was not going to be easy and simple. It was completely a manifestation of Su Dingfang's ability.

Li Zhi looked at the battle report and frowned slightly. What does it say?
He has been spoiled by Chen Qingsi's writing style.

Chen Qingsi's battle report was something that even a novice like him who didn't know anything about military affairs could understand clearly. He had a feeling of "that's it".

Now Su Dingfang's battle report, what is that?
How can you understand this thing?
Apart from knowing that you won, you don’t know anything about how you won or where you won.

Li Zhi said: "Su Xinggong's battle report is too concise."

As the emperor, he couldn't say that he didn't understand, so he could only express it tactfully, hoping that Chen Qingsi could help him understand.

Li Zhi didn't know that Chen Qingsi himself was confused. In his eyes, Chen Qingsi's military skills were comparable to Li Ji's, and he would be the mainstay of Datang's military in the future.

How could he not understand?
Chen Qingsi, the Minister of War, was also a contributor to this victory.

If he hadn't predicted in advance that Tibet would go south and sent Su Dingfang to take charge of Shanzhou, how could there be the current victory?
Chen Qingsi said: "I feel that it is so concise that I have no choice. In this kind of duel where troops are dispatched on the battlefield, the victory or defeat can be determined in an instant. It depends on the performance on the spot, not the plan... Regarding Qinling as a Tubo general, his ability is extremely outstanding. And Su Xinggong is even more like this. The two of them fight against each other, competing for the success or failure of that moment..."

With a dry mouth and tongue, he introduced the battle situation with Spring and Autumn sayings. After all, it was just Su Dingfang's cowhide.

Li Zhi also understood and praised: "I have Chen Aiqing and Su Aiqing in my court, so I can sit back and relax."

Li Zhi couldn't understand it, and Empress Wu couldn't understand it even more.

In the fog, he only knew more about Chen Qingsi's position in Li Zhi's heart, and he became even more worried.

at the same time.

On the plateau, Lun Qinling looked a little defeated, but he looked at the low morale soldiers beside him and worked hard to encourage them.

Lost again, completely. During the Battle of Dafeichuan, everyone praised Chen Qingsi for his foresight and Su Dingfang for being fearless in the face of danger and bringing order to chaos.

Only a few people knew how terrifying Su Dingfang's performance was in that battle.

As a person involved, Qin Ling deeply felt the powerlessness.

He is clearly the dominant side. As long as he can win over Su Dingfang, the situation can be stabilized.

However, Su Dingfang relied on micro-management before the battle. Every attack hit his weak waist, and his most powerful sword edge miraculously caused Su Dingfang to avoid it, and forcibly defeated his rescue team.

In that battle, Qin Ling almost became autistic...

In the end, he came out and learned from the experience of failure to make himself stronger.

Knowing that it was Su Dingfang who came to support this time, Lun Qinling was not afraid at first, but was excited. Only by defeating Su Dingfang can he avenge his shame and avenge his brother.

result……

He felt that powerlessness again, and the two faced off for the twenty-sixth day.

Both sides test each other, attack each other, and find each other's loopholes.

It seemed that they were evenly matched, but Lun Qinling knew that he was overwhelming the opponent.

The situation on the battlefield changes rapidly. As both sides spread out their battle formations and deploy their troops, flaws may inadvertently occur due to various reasons.

This is inevitable.

The key to victory or defeat lies in whether the opponent's generals can discover each other's flaws at the first time and seize the opportunity.

On the twenty-sixth day of the confrontation, Su Dingfang's judgment on fighter aircraft and his insight into the weaknesses of both the enemy and ourselves were clearly better than his.

Many times, he had just discovered the loopholes of the Tang army, and Su Dingfang had already made up for it before the order to attack was given.

As for Tubo's loopholes in this area, he was often one step behind Su Dingfang. Although he made timely corrections, he often lost the initiative and lost a lot of troops.

It seems evenly matched, but in fact it is suppressed everywhere...

Until that accident...

On October 9th, their right-wing army fought fiercely with the Tang army's left-wing army.

Suddenly Tang Jiang inexplicably stumbled and fell down. During the charge, the horse's hoof accidentally got stuck in a hole dug by an unknown animal in the grass.

When the man and horse were sprinting at high speed, one of the horse's legs suddenly fell into a hole, and the result was predictable.

The war horse's leg was broken directly due to inertia. General Tang who was on the horse flew out like a cannonball and fell to death.

This irresistible surprise frustrated the Tang Army's left wing.

Lun Qinling was overjoyed, thinking that he was blessed by heaven, and attacked the left flank of the Tang army.

But he didn't expect Su Dingfang to be superior. In an instant, he made the turbulent left-wing army retreat, drew the Tibetan right-wing army away from the support range of the Tibetan army, and ordered Xi Junmai to cut off the Tibetan army's support for its right-wing army. Eaten the Tibetan right-wing army internally.

On Qinling's failure to break through Xi Junmai's blockage in time, his position was in chaos, and he was defeated and fled.

This is the situation on the entire battlefield.

After a battle, he had been suppressed, and finally waited for the God-given opportunity. However, because he was eager to seize the opportunity, he was taken advantage of by the cunning Su Dingfang, and he was completely defeated.

Although this battle was not as severe as the blow that Da Feichuan had given him before, it still gave him a feeling of powerlessness.

Can Su Dingfang really be matched by him?
Returning to Luoche, Lun Qinling found his father Galdongzan who was discussing government affairs with the deputy prime minister Dayan Mangbuzhi.

Dayan Mangbuzhi wanted to get out of the way, but Galdongzan stopped him and asked him to listen.

Lun Qinling knelt in front of his father and talked about the battle. He told the story of his powerlessness in detail.

Gal Dongzan listened carefully, word for word, then clapped his hands and said, "It's amazing, my son is amazing."

Lun Qinling's eyes were a little dazed.

Galdong praised: "Su Dingfang is seventy-two this year. As far as I know, when he was fifteen years old, he followed his father Su Yong to conquer the local bandits and stabilize the village. Later he defected to the Hebei Rebel Army led by Dou Jiande and Liu Heitai. He has made many military exploits. He has been in the army for more than fifty years, and he has spent more time on the battlefield than you. What is there to be ashamed of when he suffers a loss? Besides, my son has performed very well. Compared with the feeling of powerlessness when we first met, now we can fight back and forth. This time we lost because of your eagerness to win. What will happen next time we meet?"

On Qin Lingdao: "I will never make the same mistake again. This time I fought with Su Dingfang. I felt deeply about it. I will never lose next time."

Gal Dongzan narrowed his eyes and nodded, saying: "I believe in you! Thank you for your hard work. Let's go down first. I have something to discuss with my uncle."

Lun Qinling bowed to Gardongzan and Dayan Mangbu respectively, then bowed and retreated.

Dayan Mangbuzhi pondered for a moment, and looked at Gal Dongzan looking at his son's retreating figure with a distressed expression. He couldn't help but said: "Da Lun, do you really think Qin Ling can beat Su Dingfang next time?"

Galdong praised: "I lied to him."

Dayan Mangbuzhi was speechless for a moment.

Galdongzan continued: "Qinling is a gift from God to Tubo. His military talent is far beyond what you and I can compare with. I don't think he will lose to Su Dingfang in this aspect. It's just that Su Dingfang fought for half his life, even if he was a mortal. , the accumulated experience of fifty or sixty years cannot be underestimated, let alone a genius like Su Dingfang... How can Qin Ling be his opponent in a short period of time? "

"Where?" Dayan Mangbuzhi couldn't understand Galdongzan.

Gal Dongzan's eyes were slightly red and he said: "Don't you think Su Dingfang is an excellent whetstone? Fighting against him, even if he loses, Qin Ling can gain valuable experience, and his ability will be even better. Su Dingfang Qi Twelve years old, how long can he live? Once he dies, who else will be my son's rival?"

Dayan Mangbuzhi was a little distracted, swallowed his saliva and said: "Aren't you afraid of breaking the big talk?"

Gal Dongzan gritted his teeth and said, "Then we Tubo will have no future."

Dayan Mangbuzhi looked at the great man in front of him who was supporting Tubo with distress, and said: "Does it really need to be so radical? What we can't do can be done by future generations."

Galdong praised: "It's different. You still don't understand. If we in Tubo can't grasp the present, we will have no future. Tubo can be where it is today because the right time, place and people are indispensable. It's not because Songtsen Gampo was born. , it was because the sky closed down that a lot of the snow on the mountains melted and became land that could be cultivated and livestock raised. This was the foundation of Tubo. The great Songtsen Gampo established our Tubo on this basis.”

"But God's curtain is limited. One day, the land on the mountains will be covered with snow. If we don't seize a fertile land for Tibet before then, we will have no future."

"Believe me, as long as Qin Ling can withstand Su Dingfang's test, he will become the most terrifying existence in the Tang Dynasty!"

(End of this chapter)