After several days of fierce fighting, Zhang Zhongjian felt that he had not gained any advantage. Dubu Khan also felt the same.
He went south with an army of 100,000 people and suffered more than 10,000 losses so far. Even the king's troops lost 2,000. This made Dubu Khan extremely distressed, but he believed it was worth it.
Is it important to conquer Mingsha Camp?
Both important and unimportant.
It is not important because in the follow-up of this war, it is difficult for the tens of thousands of Tang troops in the Mingsha camp to have any effect. This war is by no means limited to Lingzhou. It is a battle between the grassland and the emerging Tang Empire. The challenge... Although the Turks have been powerful in the grassland for more than a hundred years, and although they have been proud of the world for decades, Dubu Khan has to admit that after several defeats, this is a challenge.
As long as the Tang Dynasty can be dealt a heavy blow, the situation between the grassland and the Han countries can be restored to the previous years, and the Ashina royal family can ensure its status and authority on the grassland.
However, Mingsha Camp is difficult to break, which makes Dubu Khan quite uneasy. If the plan does not go smoothly, then the Tang Army in Mingsha Camp will become his nightmare, and he may not be able to return to Wuyuan County. .
Originally, Dubu Khan was very confident. Although there were several rivers in Lingzhou, including the Yellow River, the terrain was flat and suitable for the Turkic cavalry. In the past two years, it had been occupied by the Liang division and the Turks several times. Even further forward, If Yu Sheshe hadn't led his troops back north because he was jealous of Jieli Khan, Lingzhou might have been annexed by the Turks long ago.
However, he did not expect that Zhang Zhongjian, the commander-in-chief of the Lingzhou Army, actually took the initiative to lead his troops to withdraw southward. They were stuck in Mingsha. Considering that the surrounding towns were deserted and that the Tang Army in the Mingsha Camp had sufficient ordnance and no shortage of food and grass. Obviously, Zhang Zhongjian made the decision after careful consideration.
Dub Khan was also helpless. He also knew that it was too difficult to conquer this camp. Even if it was conquered, he would not be able to bear such a huge loss. However, he really could not feel at ease if he did not give it a try.
"Khan?"
Dub Khan took the leg of lamb brought by the guard and gnawed it carelessly. He decided to slow down the attack pace from tomorrow on. If he wanted to make a breakthrough, he couldn't act recklessly. If he could get the good news smoothly, maybe Mingsha Camp's It's possible that the Tang army will collapse on its own.
Following Zhang Zhongjian, he thought of the heir king of Wei in the Tang Dynasty. Dubu Khan was chewing the mutton in his mouth, and the muscles on his face were twitching unconsciously. Those humiliations, those humiliations, and those killings must be avenged on you, Li Huairen, this time. On your body!
Zhang Zhongjian couldn't figure out Ashina She'er's plan. Hundreds of miles away in Yuanzhou, Yuanzhou governor Zhang Shigui had the same doubts. He admired Zhang Zhongjian's plan to set up camp in Mingsha, and was also very confused as to why the Turks attacked Mingsha so fiercely. camp.
But Zhang Shigui knew that he would definitely not be able to send troops, and he would also have to be wary of the Turks crossing the mountains or going south from Yanzhou to invade the Qingzhou area. The defensive pressure on Wonzhou was not small.
Tens of thousands of Turks stormed Mingsha and were somewhat indifferent to other places, so that nine out of ten of the scouts sent by Zhang Shigui to investigate the military situation returned safely.
The sound of horse hoofbeats sounded not far away. Zhang Shigui, who was at the top of Xiaoguan City, looked down and saw more than ten horsemen galloping towards them. They announced loudly and then entered the pass.
"how?"
After the Lingzhou War, he led Huangfuzhong, who served as a general, because he was a native of Yuanzhou and he accompanied Li Shan in the night attack on Xiaoguan during the Yuanzhou War, so Zhang Shigui specially requested credit for him and stayed under his command.
Huangfuzhong took a few breaths and whispered: "The main Turkic force is now stationed on the west side of Shanshui River, twenty miles away from the Mingsha camp. It is said that Mingsha is besieged on three sides."
Zhang Shigui simulated the terrain map in his mind, "Dubu Khan had no other choice. The three major rivers, the Yellow River, the Shanshui River, and the Anle River, all run in the north-south direction. If he wants to attack the Mingsha Camp, he can only stop here."
"yes."
Zhang Shigui felt a little regretful. If Xiaoguan was not too important and Yuanzhou was not too important, he might have chosen to send troops. In the small terrain limited by the river, there was a chance to defeat the Turks who did not have much space in Yuanzhou.
But Zhang Shigui also knew that it was impossible. On the one hand, Yuanzhou was too important. Once it was lost, the Turks might sweep Yuanzhou and conquer Jingzhou, which would put Chang'an in danger.
On the other hand, it was also because Dubu Khan knew very well that it was impossible for Yuanzhou to send troops, so while he stormed the Mingsha Camp, he did not divide his troops to keep an eye on Xiao Guan.
Huangfuzhong continued: "The Turkic camp is about thirty miles away from Anle Prefecture. Three groups of Turkic envoys have already persuaded Liu Nu to surrender and hide."
Zhang Shigui narrowed his eyes and asked, "Have you seen Liu Nv Nicheng?"
"I see." Huangfu Zhong said, "Nv Liu has made a strong commitment to never betray the Tang Dynasty..."
Zhang Shigui sneered. He received a letter from His Highness the King of Qin the day before yesterday, reminding him to beware of Liu Nu's hiding in the country and not allowing Jihu to enter the pass. In fact, he had been wary of Jihu since the Turks moved south.
It is common for these grassland tribes to have two sides. They will naturally choose to rely on the most powerful force. Now Dubu Khan leads an army of 100,000 to attack Lingzhou. Although Zhang Zhongjian sticks to Mingsha, Jihu leader Liu Nu One can imagine the attitude of hiding his achievements, and he also said that he would never betray the Tang Dynasty!
"Alang, Baiquan ordered Li Kai to see you."
Zhang Shigui nodded slightly, and after a moment, Li Kai walked quickly to the top of the city and said, "Nanyang County Duke, I have delivered the grain, grass and ordnance under escort."
"Just call me brother Wu An."
Li Kai smiled and said nothing. He and Li Shan were close friends, and the latter and Zhang Shigui were sworn brothers. Logically speaking, they were the same generation... But Li Kai's father, Li Keshi, was also the same generation as Zhang Shigui. And his status within Tiance Mansion is far inferior to Zhang Shigui.
"The day before yesterday, His Royal Highness the King of Qin sent a letter saying that the former governor was vacant, and the officials wanted to select Demou to be the governor." Zhang Shigui said casually.
"The lower official is still young..."
"It's not just because of King Si of Wei." Zhang Shigui explained: "De Mou has been in charge of the county for several years and has made great contributions to the country. He also went out with King Si of Wei to attack the Hu. At the end of his last year, he was in charge of hundreds of springs and took care of the army's baggage. He also made great contributions. .”
Huangfu Zhong cast a look of envy and jealousy. He had long heard that this Danyang brother of the Longxi Li clan was a close friend of King Si Wang of Wei. He had been an official for only a few years, but he was actually appointed as the governor of the central government. His promotion speed was staggering.
Li Kai didn't know the situation in Chang'an, so he wanted to write back and ask Li Shan. The topic changed and he asked about the battle in Lingzhou. Hearing Huangfu Zhong mention Jihu, he thought for a while and said: "If Zhang Sanlang can hold on to Mingsha , Lady Liu might not dare to rebel in hiding."
Zhang Shigui was a little stunned, but then he came to his senses and nodded: "The reputation of King Si of Wei spreads far and wide beyond the Great Wall, which can stop children from crying at night. Liu Nu's success in hiding is also his defeat."
This is a milder way of saying it. Li Shan was famous for his benevolent deeds in the Tang Dynasty, but he was famous for his killings on the grasslands... Li Kai personally witnessed Li Shan building a fortress outside Yanmen Pass, and also witnessed Li Shan with his own eyes. He is good at killing prisoners by the Cangtou River.
If the Turks broke through the Mingsha camp, Liu Nv Nicheng, who vowed never to rebel against the Tang Dynasty, would have no choice but to surrender. But if Zhang Zhongjian could hold Mingsha firmly and Liu Nv Nicheng chose to rebel, the best outcome would be If you vassalize the Turks and return to the grasslands, how can you live a comfortable life now?
Moreover, Zhang Zhongjian was also a personal guard of Li Shan, and more of his subordinates were from the lineage of Wei Si Wang. Jihu might have to pay the price of thousands of heads to fight against Jingguan, and he might even be executed by his clan.
Therefore, Liu Nu's statement that she would never betray the Tang Dynasty is basically nonsense, but it still has a certain degree of credibility when the Mingsha Camp was still there.
Zhang Shigui thought to himself, and probably Dubu Khan also knew that if the Lingzhou army was defeated, there would be no need to send envoys, and Liu Nu would lead her people to surrender.
(End of chapter)
