Ashina Sheer indeed guessed correctly, the direction of the war was indeed like this, Duan Zhixuan remained motionless just to meet the army.
After Duan Zhixuan dug into the flank of the Turkic army and caused a commotion, Su Dingfang and Zhang Zhongjian calmly led their troops to retreat southward. The distance between them was not far away. Both of them were famous generals. From time to time, they sent cavalry back to the formation to intercept the pursuers.
Li Keshi and Ma Sanbao on both sides of the east and west also led their troops to advance to cover the retreat of the army. The Turkic cavalry wanted to pursue them, but a large group of cavalry caught up close. Dou Gui, who had already ordered the right army to move eastward, With an order, more than a thousand crossbowmen came out of the formation and moved a hundred steps forward.
Crossbowmen have always been a powerful weapon in the army, but they are also the most vulnerable to being dispersed by the enemy. They are often hidden in the formation. However, under the cover of the large Tang cavalry, the Turks cannot advance forward and charge into the formation. It was easy to be flanked by Tang Qi instead.
A burst of fierce fire from the crossbowmen forced the Turks to stop, and had to watch Tang Qi easily leave the battlefield.
Ashina She'er looked at this scene with a pale face. Although the terrain was unfavorable, although the opponent relied on strong bows and crossbows, and although the opponent had heavy cavalry that was unmatched in the world, after all, his own strength was superior, and Li Huairen did not give in. The pawn went into battle, but he was played around by the opponent, and even let Tang Qi attack a hundred steps in front of the Khan flag. It was really embarrassing.
But it was almost dusk, Ashina Sheer looked at the situation bitterly for a while and then had to order the withdrawal of troops. The face of Tuli Khan on the side did not look good either. But the reasons are different.
More than half a year ago, there were rumors in Wuyuan County that among the Ashina clan, only Sheer and Tuli were outstanding. Tuli Khan quickly guessed that this was a rumor spread by his brother who was sworn to Jinlan, and he also Through this, he hooked up with Ashina Sheer and finally destroyed Jieli Khan.
But in the scene just now, he was still confused, but the other party saw through Tang Jun's movements for the first time... This made Tuli Khan have complicated feelings in his heart.
It was dusk at this time, and the setting sun was shining. Li Shan personally drove his horses out to meet them. Although he did not achieve any substantial victory, anyone who is not stupid knows that the battle before noon today successfully blocked the Turkic activity space. In the battle from the afternoon till now, the troops gathered together and used heavy cavalry to break the formation, severely defeating the Turks and causing heavy killings.
In other words, the Turks destroyed tens of thousands of Tang troops in Lingzhou and galloped all the way south. They encountered almost no opponents who could compete with them. Even Qian Jiulong and Hu Yan fled all the way from Lingzhou. If Su Dingfang hadn't been in time the day before yesterday, Arriving there, the Turks almost broke through the defense line.
Today's battle will revive the morale of the Tang army.
As the commander-in-chief, Li Shan only needs to make a gesture of comforting the soldiers. There are dedicated personnel responsible for other things. Wen Yanbo has already started preparing meals. The military schools clean up the battlefield, collect the corpses, and it can be repeated after picking them up. Arrows, crossbows and scattered weapons used.
Li Qianyou personally took the guards and civilians to transport the wounded to the wounded barracks in the rear. Doctors who came from various places were waiting, and Li Shanzai personally wounded Hu Yan, the governor of Ningzhou who was very brave in the battle today.
"I've heard for a long time that Brother Zizhong is brave. When I saw him today, he is indeed well-deserved." Li Shan stretched out his hands and asked Zhu Wei to pour water to wash his hands. He said with a smile: "Although it is not a serious injury, it is still broken. Brother Zizhong has been injured these days. Take a break for now.”
After a pause, Li Shan added: "It is difficult to win this battle quickly, and I will have to rely on my loyal brother Zhongzi in the future."
Hu Yan, who had been silent all this time, raised his head and glanced at the young prince, nodded thoughtfully, but then asked in a low voice: "When will the stronghold be established?"
"Let's wait a few more days." Li Shan said softly: "The weather is acceptable now, but the Chang'an order has already asked the people to start preparations."
Hu Yan turned his head and glanced at the battlefield full of corpses. He hesitated for a while and then asked: "Is Your Highness planning to force the Turks to retreat first?"
This is a logical conjecture and one of Li Shan's main purposes. He nodded and pointed to the north, "The army is here to hold firmly. It is difficult for the Turks to go south. However, the main road is controlled by the Turks. As time goes by, only I’m afraid something might change.”
After chatting for a few more words, Li Shan turned around and left, leading his guards to inspect the front army and the left and right armies one after another. Hu Yan leaned lazily in the corner in a daze. After an unknown period of time, several guards carried a bamboo. The basket came over and a bowl of mutton soup was brought out.
"Where did it come from?" Hu Yan smelled it and thought it smelled good.
"His Highness ordered a large number of pigs and sheep to be collected from various places. The injured were given meat, and the rest were chopped into minced meat. Those with meritorious deeds were used first." The guard said with a smile: "But many people find it difficult to swallow."
Of course, in such a cruel war, all the so-called meritorious soldiers were left with blood and flesh for the rest of their lives. Many people vomited when they saw minced meat, and they couldn't eat it.
However, Hu Yan had been on the battlefield for a long time and had long been accustomed to it. He picked up the pottery bowl and swallowed most of it in a few mouthfuls. He wiped his mouth and thought to himself, considering today's war, the King of Handan is indeed well-deserved, but he may be a little too extravagant.
At this moment, Li Shan, who was inspecting the Zuo Army, was still saying, there will be no meat to eat tomorrow, there is no way, Jingzhou is already gone, it will take time to recruit from Ningzhou and Longzhou. .
Behind him, Wen Yanbo's face was as pale as earth. Dou Gui suppressed a smile and asked in a low voice: "Don't worry, he was recruited anyway."
"The army goes out to collect pigs and sheep from the people. How can the imperial court not compensate them?" Wen Yanbo snorted, "If we don't pay, we will lose the support of the people!"
Dou Gui casually agreed, "Yeah, that's true."
"But Mr. Dou thinks the Shaofu and the Ministry of Civil Affairs will provide this money?"
Dou Gui pretended to think for a while before replying in a decisive tone: "The food and grass are all ready, and the soldiers are given meat. Neither the Young Mansion nor the Ministry of Civil Affairs will pay for this money!"
"Yes." Wen Yanbo sighed: "Yuhuchun's matter is not over yet...and now...the King of Handan is really a young man who doesn't know how expensive firewood and rice are!"
Li Shan, who happened to hear this sentence, said sternly: "Your Majesty, Lord Xihe, is wrong!"
"As long as we can defeat the enemy in this battle, isn't it right to spend more money?"
"Otherwise the Hu people are plundering Jingzhou and the people are in ruins. How can the government just ignore it?"
"If the Young Master and the Ministry of Civil Affairs refuse to give this money, then when we return to the court, we will go straight to His Majesty!"
"Shouldn't the people of the Tang Dynasty be loved and protected by His Majesty?"
"Your Majesty will definitely provide this money!"
Li Shan's words were flying up and down. What he said was reasonable and well-founded. Wen Yanbo's hands were trembling with anger. You said it lightly. Do you know how much it will cost?
You just open your mouth, and it’s not your money you’re spending anyway!
Wen Yanbo was also so angry that he blurted out, "Huairen has a good management and his family is very wealthy. Why not come to the Li family to provide this money!"
This was really confusing... Li Shan rolled his eyes and didn't even bother to speak.
"Ahem, Mr. Wen, be careful what you say, be careful what you say."
Dou Gui glanced over, and Wen Yanbo finally realized that now that Li Shan was the chief general, it was normal, and even appropriate, to be generous to the soldiers, but it would be abnormal to use his own money to make up for it after the war.
To put it more seriously, if the Turks are defeated in this battle and Li Shan returns to the court... Li Yuan doesn't know how to add rewards and favors. But Li Shan backhand favors the soldiers and the people. It is impossible for Li Yuan not to worry about it.
(End of chapter)
