We can finally retreat, and we must retreat. If we don't leave, we'll have no chance even if we want to leave - Khotan is an important gateway for Tibet to enter and exit the Western Regions. With Fu Jianxiong's actions, the only way to control this road lies with the Tubo people. The door in their hands has been slammed shut. The Tubo defenders huddled in Shule and other cities are now like turtles in the jar, and they no longer have the slightest strength to struggle. The Anxi Army of the Tang Dynasty will have to wait until next spring to clean them up one by one. Chi, as for the main force of the Tibetan army in Tuyuhun, there is nothing they can do except sit back and watch the Tubo tribes in Anxi be destroyed one by one. The reason is very simple. As winter approaches, the Kunlun Mountain pass has been closed by heavy snow. At that time, traffic will not be restored until March or April next year. By then, the Tubo army in Anxi will have been wiped out. Besides, the Tubo people will be sad this winter because of Li Xian's troubles. They will be sad next spring. If there is a famine in the country, there is no way to mobilize troops to attack the Western Regions. I am afraid that the Tang army will take the opportunity to launch a spring offensive and the defense will feel inadequate, let alone mobilize a large army to attack the Tang Dynasty.
All in all, the Tubo people would never think about going abroad again without several years of self-cultivation. But then again, it was precisely because they were worried that the Tang army might launch a spring offensive next year that the Tubo people became more and more eager to think about it. To seize such an important hostage as Li Xian as a barrier, in other words, once the news of Fu Xiong's righteous act reaches Fuqi City, it will inevitably stimulate Gar Qinling to mobilize all the main forces at all costs in order to completely annihilate Li Xian's troops, by that time, Li Xian would not dare to guarantee that his troops would escape smoothly.
Retreating is inevitable, but how to retreat and which route to retreat are very particular and must be carefully planned. In general, Li Xian's troops have five ways to return to the territory of the Tang Dynasty:
First, take Songpan to enter Sichuan. This road is far away, and there are many dangers and obstacles along the way, making it very difficult to travel quickly. Considering the current time, even if the Tubo people do not block it along the way, Li Xian's troops will not be able to get ahead of the heavy snow. Returning to Datang in front of the mountain, it is obvious that this road is impassable.
The second way is to take the ancient Tang-Tibo Road, passing through Shanzhou (today's Xining), crossing the Huanggu Valley, and returning to Tianshui. This road is relatively flat and easy to walk, but unfortunately it is very difficult to pass because Shanzhou is now being destroyed. The Tubo army was besieging the army. Although the left prison guard general Gao Tao had more than 30,000 troops, he could only barely protect himself. It was difficult to allocate troops to meet Li Xian's troops who returned from the east. He went alone. The consequence can only be to give credit to the Tubo people.
The third road is the way we came, returning to Lanzhou via Babaochuan. This route is most familiar to Li Xian's troops, and it is also the most convenient for generals to follow. However, the Tibetan army in this direction is the strongest, and it is in Li Xian's hands. With such a small number of troops, there is no hope of breaking out of the encirclement. If they force themselves to leave, they will only be dumped by the Tubo people, and even the horse bones may not be left.
The fourth road is the most dangerous, because this road to Zhangye is an extremely rugged mountain road with dangerous dangers everywhere. People and horses trekking through it can be killed if they are not careful. There are not many Tibetan troops on this road. As long as Li Xian's troops can quickly bypass Fulochuan City, they can escape into the rolling Qilian Mountains. It will be difficult for the Tubo army to pursue them. This path was originally the last escape route reserved by Li Xian - this road It is a mountain road used by medicinal collectors, and the locals know very little about it. The reason why Li Xian knew about it is probably because Li Xian worked as a "travel companion" when he was a university student in later generations. When he was looking for secluded places and ancient times, he walked this road with others. , having some understanding of the geographical situation along the way, it is very possible to achieve unexpected results by taking this route. The prerequisite is that Li Xian can break through the siege of the Tibetan army on the Fulochuan line. Although this is difficult, it is not completely impossible. , it is possible with careful planning.
As for the fifth route, there is no doubt that it is the Kunlun Mountain Pass that we just won. We only need to bypass the dangerous area of Dafeichuan and then go straight to the Kunlun Mountain Pass. Although this road is more difficult, it is better.
There is almost no main Tibetan army along the road. Li Xian's troops can completely run wild and rush all the way to Khotan. Of course, this refers to before the Tubo people react. According to Li Xian, Gar Qinling and others
Once the wise generals learn that Khotan has rebelled, they will most likely deploy troops to block this passage. Obviously, if they want to take this route, they must first grab time, and secondly, they must plan carefully to create some
Illusions are used to confuse Gar Qin Ling, and then there is the possibility of realization.
To sum up, except for the fourth and fifth roads, which are more certain of success, the rest are dead ends. Only the Tang-Tibet Ancient Road seems to have a slim hope, but it can basically be ignored.
, taking the fourth road is the same as the first half of the second road, you have to cross the Daoman River, while taking the fifth road you need to cross the Buha River, the two rivers are on different roads, the latter is located on the northwest side of Qinghai Lake
, and the former is located in the southeast corner of Qinghai Lake. Both rivers are large inland rivers in Qinghai. Fortunately, it is the dry season, and the water in the two rivers is very shallow. People and horses can wade across it, and there is no need to
The difference between building a pontoon bridge is that the line of the Duman River is close to Fulochuan City and is relatively tightly guarded, while the Buha River is close to Wuhai. After a major war, the garrison strength is relatively weak.
"Report, Your Highness, there are more than 10,000 wild dogs found in the west, less than twenty miles away from our army."
"Report, Your Highness, there are nearly ten thousand enemies coming from the north, they have reached Xiaoling, they are still eighteen miles away from our troops!"
Before Li Xian could think about the specific route and steps of retreat, two reporting horses had already sent back the news that the pursuers were coming. In desperation, Li Xian had to interrupt his thinking and ordered the whole army to quickly pack up the camp and prepare to continue.
Playing a cat-and-mouse game with the Tubo people, although the order was issued quite hastily, all the troops had long been accustomed to the rules of the game, and they acted very quickly. In less than a quarter of an hour, more than 4,000 soldiers
All are ready to go.
"The whole army listened to the order, except for seven days of rations, discarded all the baggage, and rushed to the mouth of the Buha River. We are going home. Anyone who dares to block the way will be killed!"
While the sergeants were packing up, Li Xian finally made up his mind. He first released the communication eagle, and then, in front of the entire army, issued a withdrawal order.
"Kill, kill, kill!"
After more than half a month of hard fighting, all the soldiers were eager to return home. When they heard that they could finally go home, they all became excited, and the passionate shouts of killing rang out, reaching into the sky...
The Buha River is located in the northwest of Qinghai Lake. It originates from the northern foot of Mantan Rigeng Peak in Shule Nanshan, a branch of the Qilian Mountains. It flows roughly northwest-southeast. It is extremely beautiful, winding around the desert grassland like a green ribbon.
The prairie on both sides of the river is Tuyuhun's famous summer pasture. Every time spring and summer meet, various tribes gather here, with green grass and cattle and sheep everywhere. It is a beautiful scene of "the wind blows and the grass is low, and the cattle and sheep are seen". Of course,
Well, such beautiful scenery can only be seen in the summer. It is the time of severe winter, the grass and trees are withered, the two sides of the river are dead silent, there is no human habitation for thousands of miles, only the biting cold wind is blowing endlessly, how can it be so desolate, but
Well, this vast and uninhabited scene for thousands of miles is what Li Xian wants to see the most after fighting bloody battles all the way here. Just because after crossing this river, the road is smooth, and there are no other dangers except the Kunlun Pass.
.
It's not easy, it's really not easy. Looking at the gurgling Buha River in the distance, Li Xian's eyes couldn't help but become moist. From the moment he decided to withdraw, only three days have passed.
But it was such a difficult three days. Not to mention how lucky the journey of thousands of miles was, nor how dangerous the encounters along the way were. Just to be able to confuse the Gar Qinling, Li Xian lost countless brains.
Cell - Li Xian's troops first rushed towards the mouth of the river like a rainbow, and at the cost of hundreds of casualties, they successively broke through two Tibetan troops of ten thousand who came to intercept them, and let Gao Hao, who was holding on to Shanzhou,
At the cost of more than a thousand casualties, the troops launched a forcible offensive and pretended to be cooperating with Li Xian's troops. Then Li Xian's troops used the cover of darkness to turn around halfway, even at the expense of nearly half of the horses being exhausted.
After running for more than 400 miles day and night, he finally escaped from the trap of the Tibetan army and rushed to the mouth of the Buha River with great difficulty. By this time, Li Xian's troops had only 3,200 remnants left.
There is only one man and one horse left in the horse equipment. This kind of sacrifice and this kind of price can only be described in one word, that is tragic!
It was really too tragic. Even though he knew that "kindness does not command troops" is a wise saying among military strategists, after all, people are not machines, and their hearts are always fleshy. Seeing him fall all the way, Li Xian's heart sank.
It's like being filled with lead. Fortunately, all this is finally coming to an end. He can successfully take back Anxi and delay the rise of Tubo. Li Xian has nothing to regret. As for the blood feud between the robes, Li Xian
Xian believes that one day he will eventually get it back. There is only one priority right now, and that is to cross the river!
"Woooooooo..."
The river was obviously not so easy to live in. God seemed to be playing a joke on Li Xian. Just when Li Xian raised his hand and was about to order the entire army to rush across the Buha River, a shrill horn sound suddenly sounded, and soon he saw a mountain ridge that was not too high.
Smoke and dust rose from behind, and thousands of elite Tibetan cavalry roared towards Li Xian's troops.
No, we were ambushed! As soon as he saw the Tubo cavalry charging over the mountains and fields, Li Xian's heart sank immediately. However, by now, both men and horses were exhausted, and it was already difficult to get rid of the Tubo cavalry.
It's absolutely impossible. There is only one way to go as far as the current plan is concerned, and that is to fight, to kill with kill, to carve out a bloody path!
"When two armies meet, the brave one wins. Sons and gentlemen, follow me to kill the thieves, kill, kill, kill!"
There was no hesitation, and there was no time to hesitate. Facing the surging Tubo cavalry brigade, Li Xian took off the Qinglong Yanyue Sword from the victory hook, raised it high, and issued the most passionate declaration of battle...