In the first confrontation, the Tang army was slightly better, but due to lack of troops, it did not take advantage of the victory to pursue the Tuyuhun soldiers and horses. Instead, it began to build a stronghold and camp, as if to defend the mouth of Biandu.
King Daci was resentful of his defeat in the first battle. In the following month, he organized troops and horses to attack the Tang army's camp several times, but was unable to make any progress and could only confront the Tang army from a distance.
In August, 40,000 elite Tang troops led by Xu Shiji and Li Daoxuan finally found the Huangshui River and entered Niuxindui. This road was actually not easy to march. Once there, both sides of the Huangshui River were surrounded by high mountains. The only way was to patrol the river.
On a trail, one must always be prepared for possible ambushes ahead.
In addition, it is the food road!
Xu Shiji ordered people to temporarily build four supply warehouses along the way and set up camps along the way. Only then did he dare to march with all his strength, and finally arrived at Niuxindui a month later.
"Xue Wanjun, where is Xue Wanche!"
"The general is here!" The Xue brothers stepped forward on horseback, holding hands and waiting for orders.
Xu Shiji said: "You two led five thousand troops and stationed in Tuoling. The forward troops reached Tuyuhun forty miles away."
"As you command!"
Xu Shiji reminded again: "General Manager Li is fighting fiercely at Biandu. The lives of all the soldiers above and below are not in danger. You don't have to worry."
Xue Wanjun said: "General, don't worry. Although we are worried about the safety of our second brother, we will never violate military orders."
"That's very good." Xu Shiji nodded.
The Xue brothers went down to order all the soldiers and horses.
Xu Shiji then ordered Niu Jinda, Gao Yaxian, Zhang Shigui, and Zhang Baoxiang to each lead troops and horses, either to guard key passes or to transport grain and supplies.
The Xue brothers have made considerable contributions since they followed Li Zhiyun. They were more or less involved in the war against the Eastern Turks in the past. Later, they also had some contact with the wars such as the extermination of the Khitans and the Xi tribe, but they were mostly in soy sauce roles.
, so he did not have many meritorious achievements. Among the brothers, the one with the highest title was his eldest brother Xue Wanshu, who was granted the title of County Duke, and the following ones were all County Dukes.
This time to conquer Tuyuhun, Xue Wanjun and Xue Wanche both came with the belief that they would win.
"We must win!" Xue Wanche rode his horse and said to Xue Wanjun: "Third brother, we must make great achievements this time!"
"Of course!" Xue Wanjun said proudly.
The generals of the Tang Dynasty were like stars. He was so skilled in martial arts that he thought he would not lag behind others. How could he just sit back and watch others achieve success and fame?
Within the next three days, Xu Shiji figured out the food routes for soldiers and horses in Tuyuhun, led his troops to intercept and kill them in one fell swoop, and completely blocked the retreat route of King Menggu Daci's troops, creating a situation of closing the door and beating the dogs.
Tuyuhun Army Camp.
"There are Tang troops in Tuoling. There are many Tang troops... our food has been robbed and our roads have been blocked by them." Scout Tuyuhun cried to King Daci.
"What did you say!" The Great Merciful King grabbed the scout's neck and said, "You are so brave. You dare to disturb the morale of our army. You should be killed!"
Clang!
He drew his knife and stabbed the scout to death with his backhand.
Throwing the body on the ground, the Great Ci King looked at the other famous kings coldly.
"This thief has disturbed the morale of our army and has been executed. You will go back and reorganize the army to prepare for war. There will be no mistakes!"
The famous kings looked at each other and said goodbye.
After everyone left, King Daci's expression suddenly changed and he fell to the ground.
"It's over, it's over!"
He was too careless. Why didn't he expect that the Tang army had more than one army?
There is already one road to Shanshan and one to Biandukou, so why is there a third road missing?
Originally, he thought that those in Biandukou were the main force, but he did not expect that the Tang army in Biandukou was also the bait.
It's over.
The back road was blocked. Once Menggu's soldiers and horses were lost, there would be no dangerous passes in Tuyuhun that could stop the Tang army from advancing. They would march straight in and surround Fuqi City.
The beef heart pile must be recaptured!
No matter what the price is, he must recapture Niuxindui and stop the Tang army there. He doesn't want to worry about how the Tang army suddenly appeared behind him now. He just wants to stop this Tang army.
The next day, King Daci ordered 30,000 soldiers and horses to return to Niuxindui.
However, Xu Shiji had already prepared. His army was waiting for the arrival of King Daci, and then immediately launched an attack.
This time, King Daci faced the elite of the Tang army. The opponent's plate-armored cavalry were invincible and killed people like melons and vegetables. The encounter between the two sides was a one-sided massacre. Thirty thousand Tuyuhun soldiers and horses were beheaded and more than 20,000 were killed.
, leaving King Daci and more than a thousand cavalry to break through and escape.
Five days later, Xu Shiji contacted Li Daliang and launched a general attack on Menggu and Tuyuhun soldiers and horses. The two sides fought fiercely for half a month. In mid-August, they killed 13 famous kings and killed more than 10,000 enemies. The great compassionate king Liang Qucong was captured alive. Only Murong Xiaojun was captured alive.
He led his troops to break through and escape.
"Second brother!"
"Third brother, fourth brother!"
When the three Xue brothers met on the battlefield, they were filled with emotion, which finally turned into laughter.
At the same time, Xu Shiji and Li Daliang also finished their greetings and looked at the captured Great Merciful King Liang Qucong.
"This man actually has some status in Tuyuhun. Keep him and offer him as a prisoner to Your Majesty. I believe Your Majesty will be happy to use him to sacrifice to our ancestors of the Tang Dynasty." Cen Wenwen said with a smile.
"Then just keep it." Xu Shiji said calmly.
For him, Fu Yun is the best military exploit, and Liang Qucong is just an addition and not worthy of attention.
Li Daliang said regretfully: "If Murong Xiaojun escapes, I'm afraid it will be difficult to move along the way."
"Don't worry, we just need to go to Fuqi City step by step, and leave the rest to Wei Gong."
"Oh?" Li Daliang asked, "Where is Duke Wei now?"
Xu Shiji smiled and said, "I don't know either, but when Duke Wei appears, he will definitely scare Fu Yun."
"Yeah, then I'll wait and see."
"You are fighting an unjust war!" the Great Merciful King suddenly shouted, "Our Khan has never been disrespectful to the Tang Emperor, but the Tang Emperor started a war, you are shameless!"
"Presumptuous!" Zhang Shigui stepped forward and slapped him in the face, with a loud crack.
Xu Shiji said coldly: "You traitor, how dare you speak against His Majesty the Emperor in front of me? You are so brave!"
The Great Merciful King looked at the guards who were drawing their swords and felt that he was not feeling well.
Li Daliang said coldly: "Keep this thief and let him watch the fall of Fuqi City with his own eyes in the future!"
The soldiers did not stay in Menggu for too long. After arranging their troops and horses, they rushed to Fuqi City.
On the other side, Li Jing, who had been marching for nearly two months, finally passed through Chengfengling, crossed the source of Chishui, and arrived at Juruchuan.
Although there were people guiding us along the way, the road was rugged and still very difficult to walk.
After Li Jing arrived at Juruchuan, he immediately sent scouts to contact Luo Shixin who was in Mantou. Soon Luo Shixin personally led his army to greet Li Jing.
"Duke Wei!"
"Qu Gong!"
The two of them bowed their hands and then laughed again.
Luo Shixin rode forward on horseback, walking alongside Li Jing, and said with emotion: "A few days ago, I heard people below say that you have to cross the mountains to come, and I was really worried. Now, I think too much, and Duke Wei's style is still the same!"
Li Jing waved his hand and said: "Everything is under His Majesty's calculation, so there is nothing to be proud of. This journey has not been peaceful either, but fortunately the food and grass have supported us till now."
"Don't worry, Mr. Wei, Mantou has plenty of food and grass, which will definitely be enough."
"That's good!"
Luo Shixin said with emotion: "In the past, Wei Gong and I went straight into the Turkic rear areas like this, and it is the same now."
He was talking about what happened when the Turks were destroyed in the ninth year of Wude. At that time, Li Jing and Luo Shixin led their troops to attack the Turks' rear area and annihilated Jieli in one fell swoop.
The current situation is inexplicably similar.
Li Jing also sighed slightly. In the blink of an eye, six or seven years have passed.
Time flies so fast.
"Stop talking about this, please tell me about the situation in Mantoucheng." Li Jing said seriously.