Changsun Wuji's 40,000 reinforcements were originally supposed to be transferred to Yaoguan, but because Li Cunxu urgently asked for help, they were transferred to Xiaoguan by Li Shimin.
After receiving the order, Changsun Wuji decisively led 20,000 cavalry and rushed to Xiaoguan on a starry night. Unfortunately, it was too late in the end. Xiaoguan had been captured by the Qin army, and the guard Li Cunxu and others were all killed in the battle.
Changsun Wuji thought he had moved quickly enough, but he never expected that Huo Qubing used cavalry to attack the city and captured Xiaoguan in only half a day. This was simply shocking.
If Li Cunxu, the general guarding Xiaoguan, was a fool, then it would be no big deal for Huo Qubing to destroy the city in half a day.
However, Li Cunxu was obviously a good general with both civil and military skills. Huo Qubing was able to break through Xiao Pass in half a day despite his defense. The strength of the Qin army coming from afar was terrifying.
Now that Changsun Wuji failed to support Xiao Guan, and instead ran into Huo Qubing's headquarters, he naturally felt fear in his heart.
If the 40,000 reinforcements were there and the infantry and cavalry fought together, Changsun Wuji would not be afraid of the more than 30,000 Qin cavalry. But now he only has 20,000 cavalry in hand. If he directly starts a battle with the more than 30,000 Qin cavalry, he will definitely be out of power.
Like Changsun Wuji, Huo Qubing did not expect Changsun Wuji to arrive so quickly. He was secretly glad that he moved quickly enough, otherwise it would have been delayed for another day and a half for Changsun Wuji to enter Xiaoguan. He was thinking
It may be difficult to capture Xiao Pass.
Xiaoguan has just been captured now, and another 20,000 Tang Army cavalry have arrived. All good things have come together.
Regarding field battles, Huo Qubing was not afraid of anyone, so he decisively ordered: "The target is the Tang Army ten miles southeast. Charge with the entire army."
"No." All the generals responded in unison.
"Gongsun Xuanyuan, where is the Golden Platform?"
"The end will be here."
"You two each lead eight thousand cavalry to form the left and right wings to protect our central army."
"promise."
Following Huo Qubing's order, the Qin army's cavalry battalions were immediately divided into three groups. Xuanyuan and Jintai each led 8,000 cavalry to form the left and right wings, while Huo Qubing personally sent 17,000 cavalry to form the central army.
Thirty-three thousand cavalry rushed towards the Tang army ten miles away at full speed. The horses' hooves stamped on the ground and stirred up a large amount of smoke and dust, as if there was an earthquake.
Not long after the Qin army moved, spies came to report.
"Report... General, the Tang army does not dare to fight head-on and has retreated towards Qixian County."
Hearing this, Huo Qubing on horseback smiled coldly: "It's easy to come, but it's not so easy to leave. Send the order and attack at full speed. We can't let this group of Tang troops escape."
Huo Qubing dared to fight Changsun Wuji, but Changsun Wuji did not dare to fight Huo Qubing. Now his strength was obviously weaker than the Qin army, so he rationally chose to avoid the edge temporarily.
Changsun Wuji decided to retreat to Qianxian first, join the 20,000 infantrymen in the rear, and then send the news of Xiaoguan's fall back to Chang'an, waiting for his lord's instructions before deciding how to repel the Qin army.
As for after retreating to Qian County, will Huo Qubing cross Qian County and lead his army directly to Chang'an?
Changsun Wuji believed that this was possible, but it was probably unlikely.
First of all, Chang'an is the largest city in Kansai and is easy to defend but difficult to attack. However, Huo Qubing had all the cavalry and no infantry. How could he capture Chang'an?
Secondly, if his 40,000-strong army is not dealt with, the Qin army's rear defense will be unstable. If they attack Chang'an rashly, they are likely to be cut off from their retreat.
Based on these two considerations, Changsun Wuji believed that Huo Qubing would not risk going straight to Chang'an so easily before dealing with his threat.
After all, Changsun Wuji underestimated Huo Qubing. His ideas were all based on conventional ideas, but Huo Qubing never felt comfortable playing tricks in battles.
How could Huo Qubing, who dared to march more than 3,000 miles long distance, go deep into the Tang Dynasty's rear areas alone, care about the rear areas? Food roads?
Huo Qubing was prepared from the beginning to turn everything upside down after entering Guanzhong, and was not even prepared to leave any defenders at Xiaoguan.
The reason why Long Qie was left to guard Xiao Pass was not to guard the retreat, but to guard the one hundred thousand stones of food and grass.
Changsun Wuji wanted to rely on Qian County to contain Huo Qubing, but this was naturally impossible. He even thought of escaping.
"General, the Qin army is catching up, and it's going very fast. If this continues, I'm afraid they will catch up with our army." Gao Jisi reported anxiously.
Hearing this, Changsun Wuji frowned: "The Qin army's cavalry rides Bingzhou horses, which are better at endurance but weaker at sprinting.
The Xiliang horses our Tang army rides are good at sprinting but weak at endurance.
How could a Xiliang horse be overtaken by a Bingzhou horse?"
Gao Jisi looked annoyed, despising Changsun Wuji's pedantry in his heart. When did he care about this? He quickly pointed to the smoke and dust behind him and said anxiously: "General, you can see for yourself."
Changsun Wuji held a telescope, turned his head and looked back, and his pupils suddenly shrank.
The Qin army was really about to catch up, and the Bingzhou horse was actually faster than the Xiliang horse. This was simply unreasonable.
Changsun Wuji estimated the distance in his mind. According to this posture, the Qin army would be able to catch up in less than two hours. Although the Tang army could reach Qian County in two hours, it would not be enough for all the soldiers to withdraw into the city.
If the army has not completely entered the city and the Qin army comes to attack at this time, the situation will definitely be even more chaotic. If the Qin army is allowed to enter the city, it will be like catching a turtle in a urn.
It's better to turn around and fight the Qin army now.
After thinking about this, Changsun Wuji quickly asked: "Where is the current position of the 20,000 infantry?"
"I just received the report. We have passed through Qian County and are preparing to retreat into the city."
"Don't enter the city. Let Shi Jingtang lead his army to come to support immediately. As long as we can hold back these 30,000 Qin cavalry, and after the decisive battle begins, if the other 20,000 troops support us in time, we may not be able to repel the Qin army's cavalry."
Changsun Wuji said in a deep voice that this was the only way he could think of.
Under the leadership of Changsun Wuji, the 20,000 Tang army cavalry continued to retreat, but after retreating for half an hour, they stopped and turned their horses around, waiting for the arrival of the Qin army to prepare for the decisive battle.
With this half-hour march, the 20,000 Tang Army infantry in the rear could reach the battlefield faster.
"Report, the Qin army is still three miles away from our army."
"Report, the Qin army is still two miles away from our army."
"Report, the Qin army is still one mile away from our army."
Changsun Wuji showed a solemn look on his face, drew his sword and shouted: "Soldiers, the Qin army is aggressive. Our army has no way to retreat. The only way to survive is to defeat the Qin army in front..."
[Ding dong, Changsun Wuji’s skill ‘Inspire’ is activated. After this effect is activated, it can boost the morale of the entire army and increase the combat effectiveness of the entire army. Command 2, Force 2.