The Tang Army's camp in Xihai currently only has 10,000 troops stationed, and the other 20,000 troops are stationed in Shanzhou.
Li Sheng immediately ordered 20,000 troops from Shanzhou to rush to the West Sea to prepare for war.
At the same time, Li Sheng sent another eagle letter to Chang'an, requesting the regent to send an additional army to fill the gap in Shanzhou's military strength.
After thinking for a moment, Li Sheng sent another scout to Hezhou to notify Hun Yao, who was defending Jiuqu, that the Tibetan army was attacking.
Lieutenant General Zhang Bingquan advised: "The number of Tibetans is unknown now. If it is just a small army of more than a thousand people harassing, the general informs the court and Hezhou, which will make the court feel that the general is making a fuss."
Li Sheng shook his head and said: "There is no difference in military affairs, only seriousness and carelessness. If the court thinks that I am making a fuss out of a molehill, then ask them to change the general."
Zhang Bingquan was so ashamed that his predecessor Xin Yunjing would not report to the court for fear that the regent would criticize him for making a fuss out of a molehill.
"The general is right, no matter how big or small a war is, you must go all out and not be lenient. I suggest you notify the herdsmen immediately to move. There are too many herdsmen here. If a war breaks out, they will be affected."
Li Sheng smiled slightly and said: "General Zhang can draw inferences from one instance and reminded him very timely. I almost forgot about the herdsmen."
Li Sheng immediately sent two thousand cavalry to organize the herdsmen to withdraw westward, and also sent scouts to Dafeichuan to investigate the enemy's situation.
Xu Wu and his men had already detoured down the hill. They were much more familiar with this hill than the Tubo people.
Hundreds of Tianzhu people were searching on the mountain. There were only three Tibetan cavalry waiting at the foot of the mountain, one thousand captain and two centurions. Naturally, they would not go up the mountain, but were waiting at the foot of the mountain, followed by five or six Tianzhu soldiers.
At this time, Xu Wu and his men focused on the three people, or more precisely, on their horses, and killed them. With these three horses, they could successfully return to the Xihai camp.
As for the few Tianzhu soldiers, they didn't take it to heart at all.
At this time, a Tubo centurion got off his horse and went to relieve himself. This was an opportunity.
Xu Wu decisively seized this opportunity. He asked his men to continue to keep an eye on the other two people. He rolled forward twice in a row and arrived behind the lone centurion.
When the Tubo centurion was about to stand up, Xu Wu rushed forward, covered his mouth, and pierced his back with a sharp dagger. The centurion fell to the ground without saying a word.
Xu Wu dragged the body behind a big rock and quickly returned to hide. The two Tibetan generals were still looking at the mountain. At this time, the beacon fire on the mountain was stamped out.
Everyone's attention was focused on the top of the mountain. This was an opportunity. Xu Wu and his men raised their crossbows and aimed at the two captains. Although they were only a few dozen steps away, both of them were wearing shackles. The only target was their throats.
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It happened that these two people were looking up at the top of the mountain, which gave them an excellent opportunity.
It is useful for Xu Wu to keep this soldier because his archery skills are superb and can be effective at critical moments, such as now.
The two of them fired arrows almost at the same time, and the two arrows shot out like lightning, hitting the throats of the two Tibetan generals, causing them to flip over and fall from their horses.
Xu Wu and his men jumped up, brandishing their short spears and charging forward, roaring like thunder.
The five Tianzhu soldiers thought that there were many people coming from the other side, so they turned around and ran away in fright.
Xu Wu and his men got on their horses and led another horse. The two turned their horses and galloped away into the vast Gobi desert, quickly disappearing without a trace.
Chang'an, after entering late October, the weather has become obviously cold, and the wind is biting. Chang'an people have put on thick clothes and hung up their necks when walking on the road.
Although the imperial court was busy preparing for the new emperor's accession to the throne, Li Ye's thoughts were flying to the distant Longyou. He had just received an urgent eagle message from Li Sheng. There was an enemy situation in Dafeichuan, and he requested the imperial court to increase troops in Shanzhou.
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In the staff room, Li Ye stood in front of the sand table and was silent in thought. Privy Councilor Duan Xiushi said: "Your Highness, it is almost November. It is very risky for Tubo to send troops at this time. It is basically impossible for them to go back, which means
Without logistical supplies, they only have the food they carry with the army. If they can't find a place to stay or can't get food, the whole army will probably be destroyed. Tubo will not fail to take this into consideration!"
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Li Ye nodded, "I also find it strange that burning the cauldron and sinking the boat is a gesture made when there is no way out. Anyone who has a little retreat will not do such a thing, so Tubo sent troops to Longyou at this time.
It’s very strange, there must be a reason for it.”
"Will there be only one or two thousand troops and small-scale harassment?" Duan Xiushi asked again.
Li Ye shook his head, "This has nothing to do with the number of troops, but it has nothing to do with sending troops at this time. If you send troops at the wrong time, there must be something fishy!"
"Then your Highness wants to send troops?"
"Of course, I have ordered the 20,000 troops stationed in Lanzhou to rush to Shanzhou, and at the same time ordered Pei Xiu's 10,000 Ganzhou troops to go out to pull out the valley to support Longyou."
At this time, Duan Xiushi thought of something and said quickly: "Your Highness, I just remembered that a few months ago, the Privy Council got an intelligence. At that time, Your Highness was still in Youzhou. Hun Yao captured more than a dozen Tibetan spies, all from Tianzhu.
People, according to their accounts, more than 30,000 Tianzhu people in the Tubo army died last winter due to lack of supplies, either due to freezing or illness. Now there are only 70,000 to 80,000 Tianzhu people left in the Tubo army. Is this possible?
Were the Tibetan troops who attacked Longyou for the first time all from Tianzhu?"
"Are you saying that the top Tibetan officials were worried that they would not survive the winter, so they consumed them in advance?"
Duan Xiushi nodded, "This is what humble position means!"
Li Ye thought for a moment and realized that this was indeed possible. It was in line with the Tubo army's philosophy of "all non-human beings are consumables." It was the only reason that could explain the reason for sending troops now. The Tubo army wanted to consume Tianzhu people. To be precise, they wanted to use Tianzhu people.
People come to consume the Tang army."
Li Ye took a few steps with his hands behind his back and said with a smile: "I was worried that I could not find laborers to develop Liuqiu and Luzon, so the Tibetan army sent these people from Tianzhu. Why don't I just hand them pillows when I feel sleepy?"
Li Ye immediately ordered: "It is reported that the Hun Yao tribe is also leading troops to participate in the battle. If the opponent's army is from Tianzhu, they must be captured alive!"
Li Sheng has received accurate information. The opponent has more than 75,000 people, most of them are Tianzhu people, and there are only a few thousand Tubo cavalry.
This information was brought by Xu Wu, the commander of the Lenghu Fort Brigade. He led his men to avoid the enemy's main force, took a shortcut to the Xihai Camp, and brought the most detailed information first-hand.
From the captain's horse bag, they found a lot of important information, such as knowing that the opponent's general was Dazalukong, and the composition of the opponent's troops, including 5,000 Tibetan soldiers and 70,000 Tianzhu soldiers.
I also found a letter written by the captain to the Prime Minister, complaining that this was a very irrational troop dispatch, using 70,000 Tianzhu troops to consume the Tang army, and might even end up losing 5,000 Tubo cavalry.
It was this information that gave Li Sheng the idea to defeat the enemy.
Li Sheng really appreciated Xu Wu's responsibility, wisdom and bravery, and immediately promoted him to the rank of scout general, with a reward of 500 guan, and promoted his subordinates to the rank of captain.
At this time, Li Sheng had received express messages from Pei Xiu, the governor of Ganliang and Hunyao, the governor of Hezhou. Pei Xiu led an army of 10,000 people, who had left the valley to fight and was heading towards the Xihai camp.
Hun Yao led 20,000 troops north from Jiuqu to support him.
Of course, this must be the regent's order, so they came in a hurry.
Adding their 30,000 troops, Li Sheng had 60,000 troops in his hands. In addition, there were 20,000 troops from Lanzhou. These 20,000 troops had to guard the Chiling Passage, and they could not all be escorted.
Li Sheng thought for a long time and wrote a letter to Hun Yao, suggesting that he lead his army to deploy in the Dafeichuan area to cut off the enemy's retreat.
He immediately sent scouts to deliver a message to Hun Yao's army.