"You mean the Tang Dynasty's target is our Western Turks?" Yuan Qi said in disbelief: "The Tang Dynasty only has more than 100,000 cavalry, so where does it have the confidence to attack our Western Turks?"
"Has the Great Khan forgotten that Gaochang has been destroyed by the Tang Dynasty?" Qilaobaat'er said.
The grassland near the Tang Dynasty was originally the territory of the Eastern Turks, but is now occupied by Xue Yantuo.
On the left are the countries of the Western Regions, and the Western Turks are behind Xue Yantuo and the countries of the Western Regions.
If the Tang Dynasty wanted to launch troops against the Western Turks, it had to either go through the Western Regions or pass through the grasslands occupied by Xue Yantuo.
No matter which route it takes, it must pass through other countries. If the Tang Dynasty does not attack those countries first, but directly attacks the Western Turks, it may be cut off. This is a taboo for military strategists.
That's why the Western Turks have always been so unscrupulous and not afraid of the Tang Dynasty.
In addition to the fact that the Tang Dynasty did not show its fangs at this time, another reason is that they are not bordering the Tang Dynasty.
But things are different now. Gaochang has been destroyed by the Tang Dynasty. The Tang Dynasty can pass through Gaochang and directly attack the Western Turks.
"This..." Yuan Qi was stunned for a moment before he remembered this matter.
The reason why this point is ignored is that after the Tang Dynasty destroyed Gaochang, it withdrew its troops directly. It only occupied the royal city of Gaochang and prepared to rebuild the Western Region Protectorate there. However, very few countries in the Western Region joined.
Because of this, the Western Region Protectorate was gradually ignored by everyone.
"Then what should we do now?" When Yuan Qi thought that Datang might attack at any time, a trace of panic flashed across his face.
Regardless of whether the Tang Dynasty was strong in combat or not, hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses alone were enough for him to endure.
Even if he wins, his strength will be greatly reduced. What else can he use to fight with Tong'e She?
"Great Khan, we should unite with Xue Yantuo and Tong'e She at this time. No matter what the goal of the Tang Dynasty is, we cannot let the Tang Dynasty achieve its goal. Otherwise, the Tang Dynasty will have a large number of horses, and the Tang Dynasty will have a lot of horses.
The population of the Tang Dynasty is dozens of times that of our Western Turks. As long as there are enough war horses, a large number of cavalry can be organized. Will there be room for us to survive on the grassland by then?" Qilaobaat'er said.
"That's right, but will they agree to join forces?" Yuan Qi asked.
"Great Khan, I am willing to go to Tong'e She in person to persuade. Please ask the Great Khan to send someone to accompany Batu to Xue Yantuo to persuade Yi Nan." Qilaobaat'er said.
"Okay, I'll do as you say." Yuan Qi said quickly.
………
While Qilaobaat'er was busy uniting with Xue Yantuo and Tong'e She, Lin Xuan was leading his army to join Li Daozong.
When they arrived at the Chinese army camp, a school captain immediately greeted them. After asking for their identities, they led Lin Xuan and the others to the camping place prepared for the brave guards.
"General, the general manager has asked the general to take Captain Xue Rengui to the Central Army to discuss matters at Youshi," the captain said.
"I know, I'm here to help the general." Lin Xuan said with a smile.
"I am just a captain and cannot be called a general. If you don't have any orders from the general, I will go back and resume my duties," the captain said.
Lin Xuan nodded and asked Qin Huaidao to see him off.
"Congratulations, Rengui." Cheng Chumo and others congratulated Xue Rengui, with a hint of envy in their tone.
Normally, Xue Rengui is not qualified to discuss matters.
After all, the Chinese army led by Li Daozong had 150,000 people, and if Lin Xuan's 10,000 were included, that would be 160,000. Among them, there were countless generals. Even some generals were not qualified to go to discuss matters, let alone Xue Rengui, a school captain.
Xue Rengui was able to be called upon by Li Daozong to discuss matters, probably because Lin Xuan's memorial was effective.
"Hehe." Xue Rengui is usually more serious, but now he also showed a smile.
"Okay, let's make arrangements to set up camp first. As long as everyone can make meritorious service in this battle, I will ask Your Majesty for your merits," Lin Xuan said.
"Thank you, General."
…
In the evening, the Chinese army commander's tent
More than twenty generals stood in two rows and saluted Li Daozong, who was standing in front of the commander's position: "See the general manager!"
"Without courtesy, please take your seats," Li Daozong said.
"Thank you, General."
Everyone sat down in two rows on the left and right.
Sitting at the top on the left and right are two lieutenants, Cheng Yaojin and Hou Junji.
Lin Xuan sat on the left with Cheng Yaojin, and Lin Xuan sat in the third place.
He didn't know what the arrangement was based on. Anyway, someone reminded him when he came in, so he just had to follow it.
After Li Daozong sat down, he said in a deep voice: "Everyone, Your Majesty trusts me to command the army. I hope that you will work together with me and live up to the divine grace. If you do not obey orders, no matter who you are, you will be punished according to military law. No mercy!"
"Yes! We must obey the orders of the Grand Master!" Everyone said in unison.
Li Daozong nodded and said, "Where do you think we should start this battle?"
Li Shimin only said that he should lead his troops to destroy the Western Turks. As for how to fight this battle, it was still up to Li Daozong to decide.
"General Manager, I think we should go directly into the grassland, whether it's Xue Yantuo or the Western Turks, just grab the grass and hunt the rabbits, and they will all be wiped out." Cheng Yaojin said carelessly.
A trace of disdain flashed in Hou Junji's eyes, for such a reckless man could actually be ranked above him.
Li Daozong was noncommittal, looked at the others, and asked, "Does anyone have any other suggestions?"
Everyone was silent. If it was a local war, it would be okay for them to make some suggestions. Even if it failed, the losses would not be huge. But in this kind of war involving hundreds of thousands of people, if something goes wrong, the whole game is likely to be lost.
Seeing that no one was speaking, Li Daozong suddenly looked at Xue Rengui, who was sitting at the back, and said, "Are you Xue Rengui?"
Xue Rengui stood up quickly, cupped his hands and said, "That's right!"
Xue Rengui is tall and powerful, with a hint of heroism between his brows.
Li Daozong naturally saw that Xue Rengui was good at martial arts and couldn't help but feel good about it. He said: "The points put forward by Lin Xuan in the previous memorial are very good. His Majesty praised him very much after reading it. Lin Xuan said it was you who proposed it. I don't know." What is your opinion on this extermination of the Western Turks?"
Xue Rengui knew that this was Li Daozong's test for him. He hesitated and said: "Xi Turk and Xue Yantuo must know the news about the Tang Dynasty sending troops. Although they may not be sure which Tang Dynasty's target is now, as long as they take action, They will naturally understand. Your Majesty ordered Huo Guogong to station troops in Shuofang City, which put great pressure on Xue Yantuo. At this time, Xue Yantuo did not know that the Tang Dynasty's goal was the Western Turks. At this time, he would definitely shrink his troops, which would leave The next blank area is, I think we should enter the grassland from here and go straight to the north of Jinshan Mountain."
Seeing that Li Daozong was silent, Xue Rengui continued: "In the north of Jinshan, there is only the Mukun tribe, with a strength of about 20,000. As long as the Mukun tribe can be destroyed, they can enter the hinterland of the Western Turks."
"Then what should we do if Xue Yantuo cuts off our retreat?" Hou Junji asked.
What Xue Rengui said coincided with his thoughts. When Li Daozong asked no one, he was ready to say it. Who knew that Li Daozong actually took the initiative to ask Xue Rengui.