Chapter six hundred and twentieth underappreciated
At the end of the day, people are far away from the drunkenness. The sky is full of wind and rain, and I go down to the west building.
——Excerpt from "Farewell to Xie Ting" by Xu Hun (Tang Dynasty)
…
Bai Fu used both kindness and power, and without killing anyone, the generals saw what he was doing.
Previously, some generals from Anbeiting were still a little scornful and dissatisfied when they saw that Bai Fu was in a high position at a young age.
After this incident, although Bai Fu was young, his ability to grasp people's hearts and his sophisticated methods made the generals dare not underestimate him.
The generals were in awe and did not dare to take any chances. Instead, they devoted their whole body and mind to military training.
Bai Fu set a task and divided the Sichuan gang masters and generals at all levels into two groups to study the methods of military training respectively.
After more than a month, the two groups presented their research results respectively.
In the first group, the masters of the Sichuan Gang came up with a solution for the new recruits' martial arts: they created several simple and easy-to-learn moves based on the standard weapons of the Tang army such as spears and horizontal knives.
In these kung fu, the moves are simple and straightforward, and the moves are quick and precise. The moves are not required to be exquisite, but the goal is to defeat the enemy with one move and kill with one blow.
After actual combat competition between Anxi veterans and Xiangyong recruits, these moves were personally tested to be effective and extremely lethal, and were unanimously recognized by the veterans.
The second group, the elite of Anbeiting, allowed the Sichuan disciples to take their horse control skills and battle formation drills to a new level.
In Lihentian's "Martial Arts Hall", Persian general Alberts taught the Sichuan disciples how to control horses with both hands off the reins; use long spears and round shields to combine offensive and defensive skills; immediately draw the bow from left to right, shoot arrows in succession, and other tactical actions.
Under the careful instruction of the Persian general Alberts, the Sichuan disciples rode horses as if they were walking on flat ground, and their own martial arts were not affected at all.
However, due to the limitations of the venue size and the requirements for confidentiality and security, it is difficult to carry out large-scale military formation drills in Lihentian.
Take Yuchi's cavalry for provoking troubles as an example: Although Dashi's horses have been trained to resist interference and avoid being frightened, among an army of ten thousand people, the momentum and sound of such a large army fighting on the battlefield far exceed Li Hentian's training.
That's why the previous scene happened.
Although Yuchi Hussar was unruly and stubborn, he was indeed a battle-hardened veteran. He designed many incredible training programs, which made both the elite Sichuan gang and the new recruits suffer.
Yuchi's hussar had extremely strict requirements and trained his soldiers extremely harshly. At the most severe level, he would be scolded to death, and at the most severe level, he would pick up a riding crop, snap his head and cover his face, and be violently whipped.
But what surprised Bai Fu was that after being severely beaten, the soldier not only did not feel resentful, but instead became closer to Yuchi Hussar.
It wasn't until one day that Bai Fu accidentally saw Yuchi Qiaoqi squatting down and sucking the sores of a soldier with rotten legs, that he understood the reason.
Bai Fu thought: "It is said that the famous general Wu Qi loves his soldiers as much as his own son and is willing to suck the soldiers' sores. I once laughed at Wu Qi for his showmanship and his ability to win people's hearts.
This trick seems to have been tried and tested, but throughout the ages, only Xiang Yu and Wu Qi have been recorded in the annals of history.
After meeting him today, I realized that there were such generals in the Tang army. I finally understood the true meaning here: without a heart that loves soldiers as sons and a sincerity of giving wholeheartedly, ordinary generals would not be able to suck sores and thicken their blood.
The soldiers are not stupid, they all know who is sanctimonious and who is sincere!"
Bai Fu found Huyan Tieyi and asked, "I asked the commander of the army to find the resume of Yuchi Hussar. After reading it, I was quite confused.
Yuchi has been in the army for such a long time, has made outstanding military achievements, and is deeply loved by the soldiers. Why is it that after so many years, he is still just a small brigade commander?"
Huyan Tieyi sighed: "He became famous very early, but he has fallen to where he is today. The bad thing is that he has not read many books and has a bad temper like a stubborn donkey."
Bai Fu ordered someone to give Huyan Tieyi a cup of tea and said, "Let's talk and listen."
Huyan Tieyi took a sip of hot tea, and the few tea buds floating in the water brought back his memories: "
In March of the sixth year of Tianbao, Yuchi Hussar, who had already been promoted from the seventh-grade Zhechongfu school captain, and Xi Yuanqing, as the left and right vanguard officers, followed General Gao Xianzhi to attack Xiao Bolu.
The great chiefs in Xiaobolu Anuyue City were all Tubo's confidants, and they acted in secret. On the surface, they were perfunctory with the Tang army, but secretly sent spies to ask for help from Tubo.
Yuchi Qiaoqi and Xi Yuanqing used a false plan to attack Guo and entered Anuyue City. In order to avoid internal and external collusion, the two lured the chiefs to surrender and then killed them all.
After Xiao Bolu returned in triumph, General Gao Xianzhi offended Fu Meng Lingcha, the military governor of the four towns.
Because the military eunuch Bian Lingcheng supported Gao Xianzhi, Fumeng Lingcha could not take action against Gao Xianzhi. Fumeng Lingcha ordered the severe punishment of General Gao's favorite generals Wei Chi Huiqi and Xi Yuanqing on the pretext of trapping and killing the surrendered soldiers.
In the Battle of Xiaobolu, Xi Yuanqing made great achievements by cutting down the Suyi Teng Bridge and blocking Tibetan reinforcements. His merits and demerits were balanced and he will not be held accountable.
Yuchi Hussar was not so lucky and was directly demoted to the rank of Fire Chief."
"Oh, General Xi Yuanqing is the military envoy of Jiannan today and is in charge of one side." Bai Fu said.
"That's right. One step is a thousand miles away. Otherwise, I'd say his life is bad." Huyan Tieyi sighed.
Huyan Tieyi continued: "This time, because it was General Daigao Xianzhi who received the demotion, he was demoted for a short period of time.
Later, the imperial court issued an edict to elevate General Xianzhi to the title of Honglu Qing, pretending to be Yushi Zhongcheng, and succeeded Fu Meng Lingcha as the Jiedushi of the Four Towns. Yuchi Hussar returned to his post and resumed his post.
But he was demoted for the second time because he offended General Gao Xianzhi.
In the eighth year of Tianbao's reign, General Gao Xianzhi coveted the wealth of the Shi Kingdom and wanted to plunder it for himself, so he sent troops to cover up the attack and captured the king of the Shi Kingdom Naju Chebishi and his tribe.
Later, General Gao Xianzhi sent troops to kill and plunder the Shi Kingdom, and even refused to spare the old, weak, sick and disabled. In this operation, General Gao Xianzhi obtained more than ten pieces of stone from the Shi Kingdom, five or six camels of gold, and other goods, slaves, and horses.
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At this time, Yuchi Qiaoqi was promoted from the sixth-grade Xiafu Guoyi Captain.
After receiving the order, although he took the lead in plundering the Shi Kingdom, he disobeyed General Gao Xianzhi's military orders and refused to massacre the people of the Shi Kingdom. He even let go of Hu merchants with the nine surnames of Zhaowu who were trading in the Shi Kingdom, so that the news leaked and the truth was revealed.
The court learned.
General Gao Xianzhi was furious, punished him with a hundred army sticks, and demoted him to the rank of sergeant again.
…
In the tenth year of Tianbao, during the Battle of Talos, the Tang army and the Dashi army fought fiercely for five days, but no victory was achieved.
During the stalemate between the two sides, the Geluolu tribe in the Tang army suddenly rebelled and attacked the Tang army with Dashi. General Gao Xianzhi was defeated and escaped at night.
Due to the obstruction of the road, all the men and horses of Bahan's army were blocked. Fortunately, General Gao Xianzhi was able to escape thanks to General Li Siye of the Right Guards and Yuchi Hussar who used their big sticks to open a bloody road.
In this battle, tens of thousands of Tang troops were killed and wounded, leaving only a thousand soldiers.
After the Battle of Talos, General Gao Xianzhi was relieved of his post as the Jiedushi of the Four Towns of Anxi and went to Beijing to serve as General Youjinwu.
In the following years, Yuchi Qiangqi followed the last two governors of the Four Anxi towns, Wang Zhengjian and Feng Changqing, to conquer the east and west, and made many military exploits, and finally climbed to the position of the sixth-rank Qinxun Yiwei Xiaowei.
In November of the 14th year of Tianbao, Anlu Mountain rebelled. At this time, Yuchi Hussar was following Anxi Jiedu envoy Feng Changqing back to Chang'an to report his duties to the court. Your Majesty urgently sent General Feng Changqing to Luoyang to recruit troops to fight.
The imperial court also appointed Guo Ziyi as the military envoy of Shuofang, General Wang Chengye of You Yulin as the Yin of Taiyuan, Wei Weiqing Zhang Jieran as the military envoy of Henan Province, and Cheng Qianli as the governor of Lu;
Subsequently, His Majesty appointed Rong Wang Li Wan as marshal and General Gao Xianzhi as deputy marshal. He led Feiqi, Weiqi and Shuofang, Hexi, Longyou and other troops to resist the rebels.
General Gao Xianzhi, who was idle at home, resumed command of the army and immediately transferred Yuchi's cavalry to serve under his command.
On December 13, An Lushan captured Luoyang. General Feng Changqing was defeated at Sishui and retreated to Shaanxi Province with his remaining troops. General Feng Changqing suggested that General Gao Xianzhi, who was stationed in Shaanxi County, abandon Shaanxi County and retreat to Tongguan.
General Gao Xianzhi saw that the rebels were powerful and was convinced. He decided to temporarily avoid the enemy's front and retreat to Tongguan, using the natural dangers of Tongguan to prevent the rebels from advancing westward to Chang'an.
General Gao made a prompt decision and ordered the troops to retreat to Tongguan, and ordered Yu Chi to seize the rear.
When retreating, Yuchi's cavalry adopted the strategy of fortifying the wall and clearing the country. Without the court's will, they acted arbitrarily and acted on their own convenience. They opened the Taiyuan warehouse without authorization and gave all the silk cloth in the warehouse to the soldiers. The rest were set on fire.
On the way to retreat, the Tang army was overtaken by the rebels and collapsed at the first touch. Jiazhi Zhiliang was on the road and covered hundreds of miles.
On December 18, after the two generals Feng Changqing and Gao Xianzhi were beheaded at Tongguan, the eunuch Bian Lingcheng demoted Yuchi Hussar to trumpet player on the grounds of burning the Taiyuan warehouse.
All of this can be described as timing, luck, and destiny!”
After Huyan Tieyi finished speaking, he drank the cold tea in the bowl in one gulp, feeling angry for his brother who worshiped him.
As a bystander, Bai Fu gained something else.
Bai Fu thought to himself: "Although Yuchi Hussar is a special case, it is by no means an isolated case.
During the Tianbao period, singing and dancing flourished. Xuanzong indulged in pleasure and did not want to interfere with political affairs. He entrusted the government to Li Linfu, Yang Guozhong and other treacherous people, which led to the increasing corruption of the Tang Dynasty and the increase in the number of followers.
If the court is like this, how can the army be spared?
Master Zhongsi was imprisoned and died. Two generals, Gao and Feng, died unjustly, and rebels such as An Lushan and Shi Siming rose to prominence.
Commander Ziyi was a late bloomer, and General Guangbi was ordered to do so at a critical moment.
There should be quite a few unappreciated soldiers like Yuchi Hussar in the army of Beiting in Anxi. If one could pick them up with a discerning eye, there would be no need to worry about being high-ranking and there would be no famous generals after the title.
Over time, we will promote a group of young generals from the elite Sichuan gang and the brave recruits from the countryside. The Anbeiting camp will surely gather talents and stars, and they will regain the power of the past in the western frontier!"