To a certain extent, Li Shimin was able to defeat the Turks because of a lot of luck.
If it weren't for Xie Li's stupidity.
If Xue Yantuo hadn't rebelled against the Turks.
The Tang Dynasty may have to wait decades to stabilize the northern border.
But even so, this battle is not that easy to fight.
Because the Tang Dynasty sent troops too quickly, Jieli had not had time to make preparations, and many places had not had time to send heavy troops.
Therefore, Datang had the advantage in the early stage.
Especially in the battle of Dingxiang, Li Jing only led 3,000 troops to capture the city of Zhanxiang.
This battle frightened Jieli so much that he retreated five hundred miles overnight. He did not dare to set up his tent and reorganize his troops until he reached Qikou.
He originally thought that if Li Jing led 3,000 soldiers and horses and dared to go deep alone, there must be a main force following him.
So I ran away in a hurry.
Unexpectedly, when they arrived at the place, they realized that Li Jing only had three thousand soldiers and horses, not even one more.
This time, Jie Li was very angry.
Send troops on the spot and prepare to annihilate all three thousand people on the northern desert grassland.
It is true that Li Jing entered the country with 3,000 soldiers and horses, and it is true that there was no large army behind him.
But he couldn't stand it and Li Ji chased him quickly.
After Li Jing led his army to attack Zhanxiang City and Jie Li escaped, Li Ji anticipated Jie Li's movements.
He also knew that he would definitely become angry about this, and react quickly to try to annihilate Li Jing's entire team.
Therefore, on that day, Li Ji did not enter the city, but directly led 20,000 troops to Baidao.
An ambush was set up in Baidao, just waiting for Jieli to fall into the trap.
Sure enough, two days later, Jieli's men arrived.
The result was obvious: Li Ji picked up the collar and beat him up.
The Turks were beaten back to the depths of the desert with bruises and swollen faces.
Although the two victories inspired people's hearts, Datang's losses were not small.
Anyone who knows history knows how terrifying it is to fight the Northern Desert Turks.
The Turks are located in a bitter and cold land.
But the Turks grew up on horseback.
Even the children in the clan can ride horses and shoot arrows.
Because these are their survival instincts.
< br> It can almost be said that the Turks are all very brave and good at fighting.
When a war breaks out, all the people join the army.
After two battles, Datang suffered a total of more than 6,000 casualties.
Among them, more than 2,000 people were killed and more than 700 were seriously injured.
Of the more than 3,000 people who were slightly injured, only more than 700 could continue to fight with the army.
The rest will all be transported back to Yanmen Pass in batches by the brothers on the logistics supply line for treatment.
…
It also starts from this day.
Li Chengqian's free and unrestrained days have come to an end.
On the first day, the logistics supply line sent back severely injured people.
Because of backward medical conditions, wound infection and other problems.
Less than 30% of the seriously injured people made it to Yanmen Pass alive.
Moreover, even among these 30%, many cannot survive.
Regarding this situation, the people next to you could only watch helplessly.
Only the person involved knows how uncomfortable it feels.
Among the seriously injured, some were stabbed with a knife, while the most injured were missing arms and legs.
Even if you are not fighting on the battlefield, you can still feel the tragedy on the battlefield.
Those wails, those cries of pain, are heart-piercing.
Originally, Li Chengqian thought that with Bian Que's medical skills, more people could survive.
But he still had to watch many people die in front of him.
While bandaging the wound of a wounded soldier who had broken his arm.
Li Chengqian couldn't help but blush.
The ten fingers are connected to the heart, but it hurts so much if the arm is broken...
But the wounded soldier kept looking at Li Chengqian and never wailed.
Li Chengqian glanced at him and felt familiar.
It seems that I have seen him somewhere.
After a long time, Li Chengqian suddenly remembered.
When he attacked Liang Shidu, he saw him in the wounded barracks.
Pass him.
Li Chengqian glanced at him: "You are so screwed up, why are you injured again?"
Last time, during the attack on Liang Shidu, this sixteen or seventeen-year-old guy killed a Turkic cavalryman.
After being slashed twice, Li Chengqian sewed up the wounds himself.
He also remembered that that time the guy had strong alcohol poured on his wound, and he remained silent just like now.
Seeing Li Chengqian talking to him, the wounded soldier grinned: "Your Highness, you still remember me."
"Of course I remember."
Li Chengqian helped him treat his wounds and said, "How about it? How many Turkic cavalry did you kill this time?"
"I killed two of them."
The wounded soldier boasted with a face full of pride: "I lost this arm when I fought hard with that Turkic barbarian."
Hearing him talk about his arm like he was joking, Li Chengqian almost shed tears.
Li Chengqian's voice almost trembled: "Does it hurt?"
"ah?"
He didn't hear clearly.
"Broken arm, does it hurt?"
"It doesn't hurt."
"It was gone all of a sudden."
He said: "I have always remembered His Highness's words. We are all trying to protect the peace of the Tang Dynasty."
"My life belongs to the Tang Dynasty. It doesn't matter if my arm is broken. When I recover from the injury, I can still go to the battlefield."
The young wounded soldier said it very easily.
It was as if this matter had nothing to do with him.
But his words directly hurt Li Chengqian's heart.
Sixteen or seventeen years old is the age for entering junior high school in later generations.
But this guy has already gone to the battlefield.
So far, the heads of three Turkic barbarians have been chopped off.
What a brilliant achievement this is.
Li Chengqian pursed his lips, helped him bandage the wound, and patted his body.
"You don't want to go to the battlefield."
"How about you come to my Qianzi camp after you are healed?"
This was Li Chengqian's affirmation of him. Unexpectedly, he didn't appreciate it.
He raised his head and glanced at Li Chengqian.
"Your Highness, I'm afraid this won't work."
"I don't want to go to Ganzi Camp."
"Why?"
Li Chengqian was puzzled: "Isn't it good to be my personal soldier?"
"It is precisely because I am His Highness's personal soldier that I cannot go."
The young wounded soldier looked at his broken arm and his smile turned a little bitter.
"I only have one arm left. I am not qualified to be His Highness's personal soldier..."
"I say enough is enough."
It was rare for Li Chengqian to be tough.
"After the injury is healed, go back and pack your things and report to my Ganzi camp."
After saying that, Li Chengqian walked out regardless of his expression.
The wounded soldier stared straight at Li Chengqian's back, biting his lips tightly to prevent himself from crying.
This night is destined to be difficult.
Li Chengqian had already expected this.
But he didn't expect it to be so difficult.
Listening to those wailings and lamentations, he had no intention of sleeping at all.
Looking at the bright moon in the sky, Li Chengqian asked Cheng Huailiang to fetch the Yueqin.
"Have a bowl of mutton steamed buns, board the Nagqu River Bridge, and find stories in the alleys..."
"I sang old songs, and you were swaying in the sea of people. Some were crying and some were laughing..."
"I can't forget, I can't forget, how many past events there are in Chang'an City, who is singing when the rattle is beating, the time in the capital..."
"When you go to Beijing, don't forget that once upon a time, there was an evening breeze on summer nights in this city..."
"Going to Beijing, I sing about the past, when will I be able to return to your dream..."
The yueqin is played slowly and the sound is melodious.
Li Chengqian's childish voice slowly sang a folk tune.
The wounded soldiers around him were fascinated by what he heard.
What ordinary people love most is family, relatives and lovers.
What they love most is the land beneath their feet.
The feelings in the hearts of soldiers in the Tang Dynasty can be summed up in four words.