"Nearly ten years after the founding of the People's Republic of China, unexpectedly, the country was in danger of overthrowing."
After hearing Li Yuan's sigh, Li Shan thought to himself... This is really right to think. Even if Dubu Khan, who still has the main force, lingers in Lingzhou and does not go to Lingzhou, Tuli Khan is as sharp as a sword on Hedong Road. It's very dangerous, and you still don't know that there is Pei Shiju behind you who is willing to destroy the country.
"Father, it's not like this." Li Shimin shook his head and said: "Even if the Turks break through Queshu Valley or even Huoyi, they will still have difficulty entering the pass."
"The general manager of the march on Yanzhou Road still has more than 20,000 elite troops. Once the east of the river is lost, the Yanzhou army will move south, which will be enough to prevent the Turks from crossing the river."
Li Yuan, who was a little panicked just now, took a deep breath and said, "Erlang, who will be the chief general?"
Li Shimin hesitated, "Although the third brother-in-law has taken up his duties, his foot injury seems to have not recovered yet, and he needs to protect the imperial city. Duke Jiang is a famous general, but he is already seventy..."
"Tandouba is already seventy?" Li Yuan counted with his fingers. He and Qu Tutong were also familiar with each other in the Sui Dynasty. After Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty slipped to Jiangdu, among the three important places, Taiyuan was the one who stayed behind. Li Yuan, the one who stayed behind in Luoyang later was Wang Shichong, and the one who stayed behind in Chang'an was Qu Tutong.
"What about Su Dingfang?"
Li Shimin glanced sideways, and Li Shan smiled bitterly and said: "Although Su Dingfang has won a great victory in Lingzhou, he is afraid that he will not be able to take on the important task..."
"Huairen, state affairs are the most important thing!" Li Yuan frowned. Of course he knew what Li Shan meant. His subordinate Zhang Zhongjian would lead the Lingzhou Army, and then let Su Dingfang lead the army to the east of Hedong... It would be too easy for people to covet him.
Li Shimin nodded and said: "Now that the Turks are coming fiercely, if a good general is elected, if it is difficult for Su Dingfang to take on the important task, then Huairen can only go into battle himself."
Li Shan was speechless for a moment, racking his brains and said: "Your Majesty, it is not for me to shirk..."
Before he finished speaking, Su Zhi, the supervisor of the palace outside, walked in quickly and said, "Your Majesty, report on the battle in Hedong."
Li Yuan had no reaction yet, but Li Shimin and Li Shan were both shocked.
After Li Yuan took a few glances at the battle report, Li Shan couldn't wait to ask: "Your Majesty, is this the battle report sent by King Rencheng?"
Li Yuan shook his head and said, "It's Liu Hongji."
Li Shimin and Li Shan both had disappointed looks on their faces, but Bai was happy.
The first batch of ten messengers sent by Li Daozong were intercepted and killed, and all the battle reports were lost. Only one person was injured and arrived in Beijing. If this is the battle report sent by Li Daozong... it means that the Turks did not go south to Fenzhou, so the messengers are safe arrived in Beijing carrying the battle report.
The battle report sent by Liu Hongji is not likely to be good news.
"Liu Hongji has passed the Lingshi, but has not yet arrived at Jiexiu." Li Yuan said as he handed the battle report to Li Shimin.
Li Shan lowered his head and looked at the map. Bingzhou was surrounded by mountains on three sides, including the Taihang Mountains, Xizhou Mountains, and Luliang Mountains. However, the south side was slightly flat, and the Turkic horses were galloping, and it was possible to enter Fenzhou quickly.
The distance between Lingshi County and Jiexiu County is about sixty or seventy miles, not too close but not too far. If there is no sudden attack by the Turks, Liu Hongji should be able to safely retreat to Lingshi.
There are Gaobiling, Fenshui Pass, and Jiahu Fort near Lingshi County. Liu Hongji should be able to hold on to them and prevent the Turks from crossing Queshu Valley.
After Li Shimin glanced at it for a few times, he handed it to Li Shan. The latter looked at it for a few times, his face changed slightly, and the situation slipped into the worst direction.
Obviously, Tuli Khan was fully prepared for this battle. Although he not only failed to capture Mayi in Shuozhou, but even suffered a small loss, the strategic purpose of attracting the attention of the Tang army was achieved, and the sneak attack on Feihu Trail was achieved. Taking Yanmen Pass lightly and taking a detour to attack Shiling Pass to force the Tang army to retreat showed that this young Khan was not really that useless.
The description of the battle situation in Liu Hongji's battle report is a bit rough and vague, but the general situation is very clear. The main force of the Tang army should now be trapped in Jinyang, Yuci, and Qingyuan counties. The Turkic army spread out horizontally, with thousands or even thousands of troops. More than ten thousand cavalry carried out large-scale and long-distance outflanking tactics.
One group will go east, bypassing Jinyang and Yuci, and may attack Taigu, or it may attack the rear of Jinyang in a roundabout way, or even lure the Tang army to send troops to annihilate the enemy in the field.
One group went west and went south along the Luliang Mountains to block the southward path of the Tang army in Lanzhou. At the same time, another group crossed Wenshui and invaded Fenzhou. The Tang army scouts under Liu Hongji had already met the Turkic scouts near Jiexiu County.
Obviously, the situation in Hedong may collapse. Whether Jinyang and Yuci can be defended is a problem. Whether the Tang army in Lanzhou can be defended is also a problem. But these are minor problems. The key is whether Liu Hongji can It could not withstand the Turkic onslaught.
If Liu Hongji could not withstand it, he would probably be completely defeated and give up the entire Fenzhou. At the same time, he would also lose the Lingshi and Queshu Valley, allowing the Turks to invade Jinzhou.
Once the Turks enter Jinzhou, everything will be smooth sailing... Li Shan couldn't help but think of the story in the second year of Wude. Pei Ji was also defeated in Jiexiu and fled all the way, losing Fenzhou and Jinzhou. Song Jingang easily Across the Sparrow Valley.
If Pei Ji hadn't done something bad and lured Yu Chigong and Xun Xiang under Song Jinjiang's command to Xia County, even though it cost Li Xiaoji the king of Yong'an to be killed and Yu Jun, Tang Jian, and Liu Shirang to be captured, Li Shi was It was time for the people to cross Longmen and garrison Baibi.
"We will set off tomorrow...the day after tomorrow at the latest." Li Shimin looked at Li Yuan, "Father, we can't wait any longer."
Li Yuan nodded silently and could not place his hopes on Liu Hongji.
"Crossing the river from Longmen?" Li Shan said softly: "I remember when His Highness crossed the river and stationed at Baibi, the prefectures and counties were plundered, and there were no granaries around..."
"Huairen's concern..." Li Shimin nodded and said, "The army's food reserves were insufficient back then, but Liu Wu and Zhou's army were even more short of food. This time we should cross the river from Fengling."
"Fengling Ferry, backed by Huazhou, with Yongfengcang as the backing, is safe to move northward steadily." Li Shan stroked his short beard, "But Jiangzhou may not be able to be defended."
"Waiting for the battle report tomorrow." Li Yuan said: "The army will bring dry food and allocate it tomorrow. We will set off early the next morning."
"yes."
"yes."
"Erlang, it's getting late. You've worked hard tonight and you've confirmed the choice of the general."
Li Yuan obviously meant to let Li Shimin discuss with the counselors and generals of Tiance Mansion. Li Yuan also knew that in terms of ability, the ministers and assistants he appointed were not as good as Li Shimin's staff.
Li Yuan glanced at Li Shan and said, "Huairen is also working hard tonight, so I will discuss it with Erlang."
Li Shan responded, thinking that this seemed to be his first time entering Tiance Mansion, and it was Li Yuan who asked him to go.
When Li Shimin and Li Shan left Chengtianmen together, news of the defeat in Hedong had spread throughout Chang'an, and there were even rumors that Jinyang and Yuci had been conquered by Turks.
In the province under the door, Pei Shiju sat on his knees in the house for a long time. He knew that he could not wait any longer. Although the war in Hedong disrupted his deployment, it also gave him the opportunity to take action in advance. The most important thing was to wait for Yuchi. If Gong returns to Beijing, he will have no chance.
Pei Shiju was confident that he could force the prince to make up his mind, but he needed to adjust his plan. Pei Shiju fell into thinking for a long time.
(End of chapter)
