Chapter 21 The two fronts have their own circumstances
After Kang Sumi lost the news, no matter how stupid Jie Li was, he knew that the Tang Dynasty had declared war on him.
He was filled with hatred, fear and excitement.
Facing the Tang Dynasty, Xue Yantuo and a small number of grassland tribe coalition forces, Jieli did not dare to be careless.
The direction of the war was just like what Li Jing had deduced before. When Duan Zhixuan, the governor of Youzhou, Xie Shufang, the governor of Yingzhou, and Qin Qiong, the marching commander of Lingzhou Road, took the lead in attacking, Jie Li had no choice but to retreat while fighting.
The war lasted until May, with neither side winning or losing.
Because the main force of the Tang army on the western front was the troops led by Qin Qiong, he only assisted Jie Li on the flanks on the grounds that his troops were not adapted to the grasslands, while the frontal battlefield was handed over to the grassland coalition led by Xue Yantuo.
Therefore, when Jieli faced Xue Yantuo's single force, the pressure was not very great, and he also gained a good advantage in more than a dozen small-scale encounters, severely damaging Xue Yantuo's troops.
At this time, Yi Nan couldn't sit still. He sent twelve groups of envoys to meet Qin Qiong, hoping that the Tang army could join forces with him to defeat Jie Li on the frontal battlefield.
But Qin Qiong always used various excuses. Either the Tang army was not adapted to the grassland, or there was insufficient food and grass supplies, or they were lost, there were various reasons.
Yi Nan was furious and helpless at the same time.
He also understood that Tang Jun had made up his mind to spend it with Jieli himself, so that they could pick peaches directly.
But facing the current situation, Yi Nan could only hold his nose and acquiesce.
Because he knew that once the Tang army retreated or a peace treaty was reached with Jie Li, he and Xue Yantuo would undoubtedly die.
As for Qin Qiong, on the one hand, he was indeed carrying out the task given to him by Li Jing, which was to consume Xue Yantuo's vitality crazily, causing Jie Li and Yi Nan to fight, causing them both to lose. On the other hand, it was also because his own troops could not defeat the Western Front battlefield.
produce a fundamental effect.
You must know that Jieli has an army of more than 200,000, but he only has 30,000.
On May 17, Jieli led his army to surprise and attack Huyan Valley, causing heavy casualties to Xue Yantuo's tribe stationed in Huyan Valley. In this battle, Xue Yantuo killed eight nobles and nearly 40,000 troops.
After learning the news, Qin Qiong sent troops from Jiuyuan, traveling hundreds of miles a day, to assist Xue Yantuo. Xu Shiji, who was stationed in Yulin, Shengzhou, also received the news and led his troops to the rear of Huyan Valley to put pressure on the Turks.
Later, after more than ten days of fierce fighting in Tangtu, Jieli was forced to temporarily withdraw his troops and leave Huyan Valley due to pressure from the eastern front.
At this moment, the valley was in a state of depression, with smoke and corpses everywhere.
"Is this the sincerity of your Tang army?" Tuo Mozhi asked Qin Qiong and Xu Shiji hysterically.
Qin Qiong and Xu Shiji looked at each other, and the former consoled him: "General, we didn't know that Jieli would suddenly attack Huyan Valley. Compared with this, general, aren't you surprised, why Jieli knew that you were stationed in Huyan Valley."
Du Mozhi has no time to care about this now. He only knows that his soldiers suffered heavy casualties. He only knows that all the tribes under his command have been defeated!
"Please remember, today's matter is not over yet!" Tuomo said angrily, "I will tell you, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, exactly what happened."
After saying this, he turned and left.
Qin Qiong and Xu Shiji were left looking at each other, and they couldn't help laughing.
"Uncle Bao, this person is a bit...stupid." Xu Shiji commented.
Qin Qiong laughed and said: "Some time ago, Yi Nan sent people to invite me to send troops several times, but I rejected them all. I thought Xue Yantuo would understand what they should do. But I didn't expect that there was another one who didn't know."
Xu Shiji said: "General Li sent someone to send news that Duan Zhixuan and Xie Shufang have led their troops to open up the gap on the eastern front. They should have reached Huaihuang Town, east of Yinshan Mountain, and have been controlled by our army."
"In this way, we have to speed up the progress. We must capture Baidao and send troops out of Wuchuan, so that we can cooperate with General Li's plan." Qin Qiong muttered: "If we can capture Baidao and move troops out of Wuchuan Town, the grain and grass can be transported directly.
Our army is located. In this way, if we cooperate with Xue Yantuo and wait for work, it will be difficult for Xie Li to advance even half a step westward."
Xu Shiji nodded.
At this moment, the scout returned.
"Reporting to the two generals, the Turkic soldiers and horses are stationed at the Niutou Mountain."
Qin Qiong said: "Without further delay, I will lead an army to raid Baidao tonight. You stay and stay here to guard against Xue Yantuo's people."
"Don't worry, uncle, I'll take care of everything."
That night, Qin Qiong led 3,000 plate-armored cavalry to rush towards Baidao.
Due to the battle in Huyan Valley, both the Tang army and the Turks suffered injuries. Faced with the sudden attack by the Tang army, the Turks hurriedly responded to the battle with a trace of exhaustion after the war.
Facing the ferocious plate-armored cavalry, the 5,000 Turkic soldiers and horses left behind at Baidao were defeated. They were routed and scattered, and Baidao was lost.
After the Tang army occupied Baidao, Jieli also realized that it was unrealistic to stay in the west. News from the east came one after another, urging him to return quickly.
In desperation, Jie Li could only order General Zhi Losi to garrison the Niutouchao Mountain to guard against Xue Yantuo and the Tang army.
And he himself led the main force to the eastern front to prevent the Tang army from continuing to advance.
At the end of May, Jie Li fought two battles with Duan Zhixuan on the eastern front. Due to the disparity in combat power, Duan Zhixuan and Xie Shufang could only lead their troops to retreat, abandoning Huaihuang Town, and stationed their troops at Yehuling.
On this occasion, the two sides were basically at odds with each other and were completely angry. The Tang Army's 150,000 troops on the east and west fronts had all been exposed.
For Jieli, it was important to find out the strength of the Tang army. He knew that there were only 50,000 Tang troops on the western front, so he felt relieved. Because he had left an army of 60,000 for Zhi Shi Si Li. Moreover, the previous battle in Huyan Valley
, the Tang army also suffered heavy losses. It is absolutely impossible to have 50,000 troops, only 30,000 at most. In this way, the Western Front can be stabilized for the time being.
Wait for him to deal with the Tang army on the eastern front, turn around and deal with Xue Yantuo and the Tang army on the western front, and capture them easily!
Accordingly, after learning that the Tang army was stationed at Yehu Ridge, Jieli immediately ordered general Ashina Kusituo to attack Yehu Ridge.
Duan Zhixuan and Xie Shufang led the remaining 60,000 soldiers and horses to defend Yehuling tightly. Facing the attack of tens of thousands of Turkic troops, they gritted their teeth and held on for ten days. Finally, they had to send soldiers to Shuozhou for help.
After Li Jing got the news, he immediately ordered Su Lie, the commander-in-chief of Lingqiu Road Marching Army, to lead his troops to rush for reinforcements. At the same time, he asked Duan Zhixuan and Xie Shufang to fight and retreat.
Yehuling.
"It's so embarrassing this time." Duan Zhixuan galloped on his horse and said quickly to Xie Shufang beside him: "I heard that the progress on the Western Front is going well, but we can only retreat. I, Duan Zhixuan, have no face to see His Majesty."
Uncle Xie was silent.
He was also a little disappointed in his heart, because in the previous battlefield on the Western Front, Qin Qiong and Xu Shiji had only half of their troops, but they managed to push back Jieli's army with the barely surviving Xue Yantuo, and also occupied the Baidao, which involved a part of the Turkic forces.
Judging from the pre-war plan, Qin Qiong and Xu Shiji undoubtedly performed all the tasks they were supposed to do perfectly, and even exceeded them.
However, he and Duan Zhixuan, with an army of 100,000, were defeated by Jie Li, so they had to ask for help and eventually had to retreat.
The gap is uncomfortable.
Su Lie caught up with him and comforted him with a smile: "General Duan, don't worry. General Li has already made the overall arrangements. We are just ordered to retreat. Furthermore, Jieli has mobilized all the Turkic troops and horses, with a total of 200,000 people. We
It’s understandable that we lose.”
"May I ask General Su, what should we do next?" Xie Shufang asked.