After entering October, the war situation in Hedong took a turn for the worse, and the war situation in Lingzhou also began to change.
Dubu Khan personally took charge and commanded the army to storm Anle Prefecture. After Liu Nv Nicheng resisted desperately for several days, she finally chose to lead her tribe to surrender.
It was impossible not to surrender. After suffering a huge defeat, Dubu Khan, who had lost his face, became furious. If he did not surrender, he would not be able to survive.
After Liu Nucheng surrendered, the Turks did not go on a killing spree, but they got a lot of supplies. Then Dubu Khan led his army westward, intending to cross the Yellow River.
Zhang Zhongjian's arrangement was relatively safe. He sent ships to crash into the simple bridges built by the Turks with sheepskin rafts three times in a row, drowning hundreds of enemy soldiers.
Now that the two sides are still in a stalemate, Zhang Zhongjian sent a messenger from Huizhou across Liupan Mountain and rushed to Beijing via Yuanzhou to report.
After pondering for a moment, Li Shan said softly: "If the Turks insist on crossing the Yellow River, Zhang Zhongjian can block it for a while, but it is impossible to block it forever."
Li Shan knew what Zhang Zhongjian was suspecting. In fact, this was Li Shan's own idea. Later, he sent his bodyguard to deliver a message, using the navy to prevent the Turkic army from crossing the Yellow River. This was possible.
But it is not difficult for the Turks to crack it. The simplest way is for Dubu Khan to station his army around the Mingsha Camp, and then cross the river at several locations. Although the Turks suffered a major defeat, they still have the strength in their hands. enough.
However, Zhang Zhongjian did not have many troops. With the enemy troops staring at the Mingsha Camp, it was unlikely that he would separate a partial division to board the ship and intercept the Turks at the point where they crossed the river.
Yang Gongren nodded in agreement, "The Yellow River is too long, and it is impossible for the Duke of Guangling to cover everything. Moreover, the Turks may also be luring the enemy... If the Duke of Guangling sends cavalry to fight, the Turks' cavalry may cut off their retreat and annihilate them."
Seeing that Li Yuan didn't say anything, Li Shan turned to look at Yang Gongren, "I would also like to ask Duke Guan, if the Turks cross the river, how many troops will be able to defeat Liangzhou?"
Yang Gongren had served as the governor of Ganzhou in the Sui Dynasty before and was familiar with the northwest. Li Gui, who had separatized Liangzhou in the second year of Wude, was beheaded in Chang'an. Yang Gongren, who had just entered the Tang Dynasty, immediately became the general manager of Liangzhou to appease the northwest. He did not return to the court until the sixth year of Wude. Served as Zhongshu Ling.
"Liangzhou is a mixed city of Hu and Han people. It is a metropolis in the west of Hexi. It is high in the west and low in the east. The terrain is flat, and many tribes graze here to make a living." Yang Gongren said slowly: "Now the king of Huai'an, the commander-in-chief of Longyou, has led an army of 30,000 to station in Lanzhou. "
"If Dubu Khan can lead 30,000 cavalry across the river, it will not be difficult to defeat Gu Zang's military power. Because Liupan Mountain is blocking him, he can only go south to attack Lanzhou..."
Li Shan remained silent and looked at Li Yuan. Yang Gongren's meaning was obvious. Dubu Khan still had 60,000 to 70,000 troops in his hands, leaving 30,000 to 40,000 to stare at the Mingsha Camp, and another 30,000 to 40,000 to cross the river to attack Liangzhou. .
There is definitely no problem for the Turks to conquer Liangzhou, but they will definitely have to go head-to-head with Li Shentong, the king of Huai'an. If the Tang army is defeated, the Turks will probably follow the route of the Xue family and his son in the Western Qin Dynasty, and go to Weizhou and Qinzhou. Entering Longzhou on the Guan Nei Road from the side.
Li Shan had already warned about this route, and Li Yuan and Li Shimin also made arrangements. With Longzhou as the core, soldiers from Jingzhou, Ningzhou, and Qizhou were mobilized to form an army, with Li Mengchang as the main general, and Jingzhou as the main general. The governor Qian Jiulong was the deputy general.
However, because the Turks had been lingering in Lingzhou and Xue Yantuo did not attack, some troops were transferred to Jingzhou and Yuanzhou. After that, the war situation in Hedong took a turn for the worse, and some troops were transferred to Hedong, and even Qian Jiulong followed. Li Shimin went on an expedition, but now Longzhou's troops are insufficient.
As for whether Huai'an King Li Shentong can stop it...it's hard to say. Li Shan doesn't have high hopes for this.
"Guangling County Duke has sent a messenger to Lanzhou." Li Yuan said with a sullen face: "Instruct Li Mengchang, the general manager of Longzhou, to gather troops to guard Dazhen Pass and Anyi Pass, and then order Guangling County Duke to be on guard and try not to use any force. The main Turkic force crossed the river to attack Liangzhou."
Obviously, Li Shan didn't have much hope for Li Shentong. This prince's qualifications were quite high among the clan generals, but his ability was much worse. Not to mention Li Shimin, Li Daozong, and Li Daoxuan, he was even better than his brother Xiangyi. Wang and Li's magical talismans are all one level behind.
On the one hand, he reminded Li Shentong to make preparations, and on the other hand, he asked Li Mengchang to gather his troops to guard the two passes on Guannai Road and Longyou Road. This was obviously to prepare for Li Shentong's defeat.
Everyone in the hall could see Li Yuan's thinking. Now they can only delay until Li Shimin drives out the Turks on the battlefield in Hedong. Only in this way can he make a move, not because Li Shimin can make a move, but because his troops can make a move, and return to the main pass. Road, support Longyou Road.
This is why Li Yuan asked Zhang Zhongjian to delay organizing the main Turkic force to cross the river as long as possible while being careful.
Li Shan looked calm. At first, he was afraid that Li Yuan would let him replace Li Shentong or Li Mengchang to lead the army, but he soon figured out that this was impossible. On the one hand, it was too late, and on the other hand, both of them were too late. He is a direct descendant of King Qin.
Zhongshu ordered Yang Gongren to respond. Li Shan and Li Yuan exchanged glances. There were other reasons why Li Yuan chose to delay. On the one hand, it was because it was already early October, and the Turks would not return to the grassland until mid-to-late October at most. , otherwise many tribes will not be able to survive this cold winter. Even if Dubu Khan insists, the morale of the army will definitely be unstable.
On the other hand, south of Lanzhou is Hezhou, and the Tianjie Army of Luo Yi, the crown prince's direct descendant, is stationed in Hezhou, which makes Li Yuan start to be wary.
After the discussion was over, Li Shan stayed until the end in the sight of Prince Li Jiancheng, and walked out of Liangyi Palace with Pei Shiju.
"If there is any disagreement, I'm afraid the country will be destroyed." Li Shan said softly: "Does Mr. Pei have any regrets?"
Pei Shiju was silent. In fact, his original plan was really not like this, but who would have thought that Tuli Khan could unexpectedly attack the pass twice. Feihujing and Shiling Pass were breached successively. The Tang army was defeated several times, and now half of them were lost. Hedong, resulting in the need to deploy troops from Guannai Road twice to support.
If Li Shimin cannot quickly reverse the situation in Hedong and Li Shenfu of Longyou Road is defeated, the Tang Dynasty, which has not been founded for more than ten years, may really be doomed.
Li Shan sighed, "This junior is willing to let go, what do you think Mr. Pei is?"
Pei Shiju stopped and slowly turned his head to stare at Li Shan. After a moment of silence, he said, "The arrow is already on the string."
Now that both sides are well-known, it is impossible for Li Shan not to know that Dong Gong will take action, but he can't tell when he will take action. Pei Shiju has nothing to avoid.
"The arrow has to be fired when it is on the string." Li Shan said quietly: "Then we can only rely on our own methods."
After all, Pei Shiju and Li Shan are the same type of people, with deep scheming minds...or rather dirty hearts, and they are never willing to give up the initiative to others.
