The Anxi Army retreated overnight to a place called Shanbao, two hundred miles north of Suiye City. It was a small city on the Silk Road. Gongyue City was less than a hundred miles to the north.
The Anxi Army retreated here and began repairing the city wall, digging ditches, burying Jumalu Village, and building fortifications overnight. At the same time, just like Suiye City, they evacuated all the merchants, people, and goods in the city, turning the mountain fort into a military defense fortress. .
Xue Rengui entered the city, occupied the original government office, drove away all the officials from the Anxi Protectorate, occupied it, and worked on the spot.
A piece of information from all parties is summarized on the document.
Xue Rengui first sorted out the information from various departments of the Anxi Army and read it carefully. The book said that knowing yourself and the enemy can lead to a hundred battles without danger. If you can't even understand your own situation, how can you expel the Tartars and win with less?
Intelligence showed that although the Anxi Army achieved a great victory, it suffered extremely heavy losses.
The first is the garrison inside the city.
Although they rely on high walls and have the bonus of powerful weapons such as thunderbolts to defend the city, they are at an absolute disadvantage in terms of numbers and have many troops. The total number of soldiers defending the city does not exceed 8,000. In the face of tens of thousands of enemy troops frantically besieging the city, The attack resulted in heavy casualties.
During the retreat, all those who were killed and seriously injured were abandoned in the city, numbering two thousand.
In addition, coupled with the hundreds of dead soldiers who stayed in the city to ignite the gunpowder, they may not be able to survive.
Then there are the hundreds of soldiers who followed Yuanwei to the Arab camp for a sneak attack. Until now, no trace has been seen. They were probably surrounded and annihilated by the Arab army in the camp, or they were chased and killed all the way.
Rough statistics show that the number of soldiers lost in this battle was at least around 4,000.
This is an extremely heavy loss for the Anxi Army, whose total number does not exceed 50,000. After all, as we all know, once the number of troops is reduced by one-third, the morale of the army will reach its lowest point. If the number of troops is reduced by half, morale will collapse.
If we can reduce the number of troops by half and still maintain combat effectiveness, then we can call it a "strong army" and have no equal in the world.
Of course, although the losses were huge, the results were also brilliant.
There was a huge flood outside the West City, which swept away tens of thousands of enemy troops under the city. The water was so turbulent that it was difficult for these enemy troops to survive after they fell into the river, let alone only to learn after retreating that these were Arabs. The most elite "Sword of Allah"!
Although the Tang Dynasty rarely fought with the Great Shi Country, it was no stranger to its domestic situation. Xue Rengui was in the Western Regions and was always paying attention to the internal affairs and military situation of the Great Shi Country. He knew that the "Sword of Allah" was the key to the Great Shi Country. The caliph's personal guards are almost equivalent to the "Yuancong Guards" to Emperor Gaozu and the "Xuanjia Iron Cavalry" to His Majesty Li Er.
Not only is he powerful in battle, but his status is also very high.
He deliberately asked Yuan Wei to reveal to Changsun Han that the west wall of the city was broken and overwhelmed. He really hoped to get the attention of the Arab army and sent an elite army to attack. In this way, he would imitate the story of "Seven armies flooded" , you can maximize the results.
Unexpectedly, not only did the elite come, but the elite among the elite actually submerged all the "Sword of Allah" in the flood...
It can be considered an unexpected surprise.
Although there is currently no exact number of Arab soldiers killed in Suiye City, it is estimated that they must be no less than 30,000.
Looting after the city was broken was a traditional project for Arab soldiers. No matter how restrained the general was, it was impossible to keep the army in order after the city was broken. Tens of thousands of people rushed into Suiye City, and the soldiers who had been buried underground in advance were It is inevitable that gunpowder will explode into the sky.
However, the most important result was the fire that Yuan Wei set off.
The Arab armies never carry too much baggage when they go on an expedition. They support war by fighting, grabbing wherever they go, and if they cannot capture the city, they will withdraw in despair.
The few grain and supplies were burned, and the Arab army could not withdraw, which forced them to plunder the surrounding tribes in the Western Region.
In this way, the situation for the Anxi Army is naturally excellent.
On the one hand, it can prompt the Arab army to divide its forces. It is impossible to march towards Gongyue City and Luntai City on a large scale in a short period of time. However, the Anxi army can take the initiative to annihilate those Arab soldiers who have separated from the large army, and cannibalize the enemy's strength bit by bit.
, and give the enemy endless oppression and lower their morale.
Furthermore, the Tang Dynasty has always adopted a soft policy towards the tribes in the Western Regions, because the remnants of the Turks have always been in the Western Regions and secretly colluded with various tribes. If the Tang Dynasty oppressed too much, it would be easy to push all these tribes into the ranks of the Turks, which would not be beneficial to the Great Tang.
The Tang Dynasty controlled the Western Regions.
Now the Arab army has no choice but to attack these tribes. It is Xue Rengui's plan to cut off those tribes that do not obey orders and obey orders on behalf of the Anxi army.
Generally speaking, the results of this battle were remarkable. It demonstrated the prestige of the Anxi Army, severely dampened the morale of the Arab army, and caused the situation to quietly change. The Anxi Army was no longer blindly at a disadvantage.
Of course, the Arab army was outnumbered. Even though it suffered huge losses and suffered a setback in morale, it was not broken. Moreover, this setback would arouse their ferocity, making future battles even more dangerous.
The advantage of the Anxi Army is that it does not need to fight head-on with the Arab army. It only needs to move forward step by step, strengthen the walls and clear the country. Even if it eventually retreats to Yumen Pass and loses the entire Western Region, it can still be regarded as a strategic victory.
There is no way, the enemy force is strong and fierce, the Anxi army is too weak to sustain, and Guanzhong cannot provide support. Being able to defend Yumen Pass is a great achievement...
Just as I was thinking deeply about the future strategic layout, some soldiers from outside came in, saying that it was Yuan Wei who wanted to see me.
Xue Rengui was stunned for a moment, this guy is not dead?!
Going to sneak attack the enemy's baggage can hardly be described as "nine deaths", it is simply "ten deaths but no life". Therefore, before setting off for the expedition, Xue Rengui ordered his people to carefully record the names of these dead soldiers one by one.
After that, they will be submitted to the Ministry of War to describe their merits and ask for rewards. The rewards that should be rewarded, the pensions that should be paid, and all meritorious services will be upgraded according to the highest standards. It is necessary to ensure that these people's families, wives and children can enjoy the glory and get what they deserve.
award.
But I never expected that Yuan Wei could come back alive...
Xue Rengui picked up the teacup on the side and took a sip, with a deep look in his eyes: "Call in."
"Here!"
The soldiers retreated. After a moment, Yuanwei, who was wearing armor and looking embarrassed, limped into the hall and came a few steps in front of Xue Rengui. Then he stood still, knelt down on one knee with difficulty and performed the military salute, with a hoarse voice.
He said: "I'm lucky enough to live up to my humble duty. I come here to report my duties to Sima!"
Xue Rengui stood up, held Yuan Wei's shoulders with both hands, lifted him up with a little force, patted him vigorously, and praised: "This great victory, Yuan Xiaowei has contributed a lot. He burned the food and fodder in the enemy camp, and he was even more able to kill people."
After breaking through the siege and returning to the army, I will report the truth truthfully and ask for credit for Yuan Xiaowei! Come, come, sit down and talk, and tell me how to survive and return."
Yuanwei was wounded several times. Although he was not fatally injured, he had already exhausted his physical strength after fighting to the death and running away all night. He was extremely weak.
When Xue Rengui took his seat, he was still standing. A wry smile appeared on his face covered with dried blood, and he cupped his hands and said, "Sima, in his heart, is he probably convinced that the last general is just a trick of the enemy?"
Xue Rengui had no expression on his face and didn't speak. He just picked up the teacup and took a sip.
Yuan Wei only felt bitter in his mouth.
To be honest, he didn't blame Xue Rengui for thinking so.
Going to the Arab army to burn the food and baggage was a life-or-death mission. Who among those who went there this time did not have the determination to die? He Yuanwei himself had no intention of coming back alive.
However, fate is so magical. Sometimes it is difficult to live a good life, and sometimes it is difficult to die happily.
After burning down the enemy's food, Yuanwei led his men to flee. The enemy pursued and intercepted him, and the men around him died one after another. He himself was shot with several arrows and suffered many knife wounds. His war horse was unknown.
How many horses? When he felt exhausted and fell off the horse, thinking that he would definitely die, there was an earth-shattering sound in Broken Leaf City, fire and smoke shot straight into the sky, and the chasing enemy troops suddenly receded like a tide.
.
He miraculously survived...
Yuan Wei understood Xue Rengui's doubts. Anyone else would probably have doubts about how he came back alive with so many enemy troops chasing him.
He went through the whole story in detail, and in the end he could only say: "The general has never betrayed the Anxi Army, let alone the empire. Don't say that Sima doesn't believe in such things, even the general himself is ignorant and does not believe that there is such a thing in the world.
With such good luck, I will never feel any resentment. I also ask Sima Nian to give me a chance in Paoze, and for the sake of my life and death, allow me to resign, retire, and return to my hometown."
He was so brilliant and understood the righteousness so well that Xue Rengui felt a little embarrassed...