The army went south, returned to the Tang Dynasty from Qinghai Lake, and headed straight for Shanzhou.
Li Qinzai's heart was heavy, and he felt very bad. He always felt that there was a mysterious premonition giving him some kind of hint, telling him to think twice before acting.
Yes, it was unwise to save Shanzhou. The good strategy had to be abandoned, and the east-west pincer attack tactics had to be changed. The subsequent impact was not only on Pei Xingjian's dove, but also on the actions of the Anxi Army and Su Dingfang's army.
will change as a result.
However, Shanzhou had to be saved.
To say that the righteousness of family and country is too hypocritical, Li Qinzai, a person who cherishes his life so much, cannot sacrifice himself for the so-called family and country. His realm has not reached such a great level.
What he does is just for the tens of thousands of people in Shanzhou City, it's that simple.
He is not a true son of a powerful person. In his previous life, he was just a member of the common people. Saving others means saving himself.
While the horses were galloping on the road, the sharp wind was like a knife blade, slashing everyone's cheeks hard, mixed with yellow sand and hitting their faces, making their cheeks burn with pain.
Sun Congdong rode his horse and rode side by side with Li Qinzai. As soon as he opened his mouth, he poured a mouthful of sand into his mouth. Sun Congdong made a loud noise, took out a black face towel and covered his mouth and nose, and then said in a muffled voice: "Uncle Li County, what are we going to do when we arrive in Shanzhou?"
Go directly into the city and hold on to it?"
Li Qinzai had already covered his face with a face towel and shouted loudly into the wind: "It's not necessary. Once we get outside the city, the Tibetan army will not be able to attack the city."
Sun Congdong understood: "Or should we contain and harass the Tibetan army?"
Li Qinzai thought for a while and said: "We might as well fight the Tibetan army head-on. Five thousand soldiers and horses can sustain it for a while."
Sun Congdong was shocked: "The Tibetan army attacking the city has 30,000 troops, and we only have more than 5,000. Why do we have to fight head-on?"
Li Qinzai sighed: "If we don't fight head-on and cause greater casualties to the Tibetan army, will they give up the siege?"
Sun Congdong pursed his lips in silence.
"This is Lu Dongzan's conspiracy. He knew that the Tubo besieged the city and I had to save it, but I had no choice." Li Qinzai sighed: "This old guy is really powerful. At the beginning, I said it would be great to fight a hero.
Now that I think about it, I feel a little crazy..."
Sun Congdong laughed and said: "The general doesn't think he is crazy at all. We have five thousand soldiers and horses to contain his tens of thousands of troops. We walked him around the Tuyuhun territory for a month. Not only did he not be able to swallow Tuyuhun completely, but we also messed with him.
It's hard to think about the beginning and end of things, and this is County Uncle Li's skill."
Li Qinzai glanced at him and said: "So I said 'a little' is a bit crazy. Of course I am not bad. The emperor chose me from among tens of millions of people to be the envoy of the Tang Dynasty. Do you know why?"
"Why?" Sun Congdong felt that the next answer might not be so reserved.
"Of course it's because I'm excellent, otherwise? Just because I'm handsome?"
Sun Congdong opened his mouth and found that he really didn't know how to praise these words.
So Sun Congdong had no choice but to look around and praise: "The scenery is so beautiful..."
…………
After a day's journey, we finally arrived from Qinghai Lake, thirty miles outside Shanzhou City.
Before the soldiers and horses arrived, the scouts had dispersed.
Not long after, the scouts reported that the Tibetan army had camped outside Shanzhou City, and the number of troops was indeed 30,000. The attack on Shanzhou City was not the usual siege of three and one in wartime, but an encirclement on all sides. The final attack on Shanzhou City was
All escape routes are blocked.
Li Qinzai knew very well that this was Lu Dongzan's conspiracy. If he did not save Shanzhou, then the 30,000 Tibetan troops would not let Shanzhou go. They would take advantage of the situation and attack the city. With their attitude of besieging the city on all sides, after the city was broken, it was
A massacre of the city is inevitable.
If he saves Shanzhou, he will have to choose to confront the Tibetan army head-on. Five thousand versus thirty thousand has little chance of winning. Lu Dongzan can completely annihilate this henchman.
Whether Li Qinzai saves Shanzhou or not, it will be beneficial to Lu Dongzan.
Sun Congdong and Song Jintu were both captains and generals, so they were naturally familiar with the art of war. Seeing that Tubo dared to surround the city, they immediately understood Lu Dongzan's intentions and couldn't help but curse.
But the scolding was useless, Lu Dongzan silently told Li Qinzai by besieging the city, Shanzhou City is there, it is up to you whether you can save yourself or not.
I understand the intention, but still have no choice but to bite the bullet and get in. This is the terrible thing about conspiracy.
"Instruct the whole army to eat immediately, and before dark, engage in a tentative battle with the Tibetan army outside the city, and weigh their strength before we talk." Li Qinzai ordered.
You cannot choose to fight at night, because the three-eyed gun will emit flames in the dark and become a living target for the enemy's bows and arrows.
More than five thousand soldiers dismounted, took out the dry food they carried and began to eat in silence.
Li Qinzai took a hard bite of the dried meat, grinding his teeth hard, and the taste was not good. He couldn't even tell what kind of meat it was when he chewed it in his mouth.
After eating a few mouthfuls, Li Qinzai couldn't eat any more, so he stuffed the dried meat back into his arms, looked at Liu Asi and Lao Wei and said: "Although the battle situation is urgent, you two still have to protect me and find two shields later."
, wrap me up tenderly, don’t let any cold arrow hurt me..."
Liu Asi grinned: "You understand, I understand. Don't worry, Fifth Young Master, you won't lose even a hair."
"If you lose your hair naturally, I don't blame you."
It was already afternoon, and there were still about two hours before dark.
After the soldiers finished their meal, Sun Congdong and Song Jintu ordered the soldiers to mount their horses and gallop towards Shanzhou City, which was forty miles away.
Thirty miles away from the city, the Tibetan army's scout team could already be seen looming on the left and right of the soldiers. The scout team led by Li Qinzai also greeted them unceremoniously. Before the two armies engaged, the scouts had already begun the battle.
.
At this time, the Tibetan army also got the news and immediately began to gather troops and converged in the direction of Li Qinzai's headquarters.
Tide-like enemy troops galloped across the plains, and the black crowds were like a group of man-eating ants. There was no grass growing wherever they passed. Just looking at this picture of thousands of troops charging towards me makes people feel suffocated, as if
It seemed like even the air had been sucked out.
Li Qinzai suppressed the trembling in his heart and shouted: "The fire gunmen should dismount, line up in front, and advance on foot, while the rest are on the left and right flanks, preparing to penetrate!"
Under the command of Ling Qi, more than two thousand gunmen dismounted and arranged themselves in a three-stage formation, with one row squatting, one row standing, and one row behind to load ammunition.
The rumble of horse hooves got closer and closer, and Li Qinzai raised his chin towards Sun Congdong.
Battlefield formation was not his strong point, so at this time he indeed handed over the battlefield command to Sun Congdong.
The rumbling sound of horse hooves was getting closer and closer. Sun Congdong pulled out his sword and his eyes turned red. When the enemy was within shooting range, Sun Condong raised his sword and yelled: "Fire gun hand, release!"
There was a loud bang, and the Tubo army charging in front fell down more than a thousand people. When the army charged, the fall of people and horses meant that there was no hope of survival. Even if they were not shot to death, they would be shot from behind.
The robed war horses were trampled alive into pulp.