After receiving the report, I immediately summoned Zhang Han and others to the Sihai Palace, and I learned the whole story from the report.
When the edict was first issued, Wang Li had already taken over the Qin army in Meng Hanyu's hands.
On the tenth day of April, after receiving the edict, Wang Li immediately sent scouts to the Western Regions to investigate the situation, and at the same time summoned the Qin army and the Dada cavalry to assemble in Zhangye.
Dada had no objection to his cavalry going to fight in the Western Regions. Since his return, through the unremitting efforts of the supervisory army and the development of Hexi by the Qin Dynasty, the Beiqiang clan has now existed in name only, and Dada is more like the Emperor of Zhou who was the king of Zhou Ji back then.
Sometimes he would also think about whether his choices back then were right or wrong. However, life is pretty good now. There is no need to worry about the threat of the Xiongnu. The people of the tribe are living a good life, so there is nothing wrong with them.
Wang Li spent three days to mobilize most of the soldiers from Qinchang and Wuwei to Zhangye to assemble. There were not many Qin troops in Jiuquan and Dunhuang, so Wang Li ordered the Qin troops from the two counties to prepare on the spot, just when they passed by. Just join the army.
At the same time, the scouts brought back news that when the envoys from the Western Regions who stayed behind rushed back, Qiuci had been attacked and destroyed. Yanqi was still struggling to support himself with the six kingdoms in the north of the mountain on his back. He might not be able to hold on for much longer.
When Wang Li heard the news brought back by the scouts, he immediately led his army to Dunhuang. At the same time, he ordered the Dunhuang defenders to cut down trees east of Youze and make siege equipment. The thirty-six countries in the Western Region are no better than the grassland tribes. At least a dozen countries have cities. Without siege equipment, it will be very difficult to fight.
On the other side, Wu Jian led the cavalry to leave the camp in Helan Mountain and headed for Zhangye after Wang Li pulled out.
Wang Li led his army and galloped all the way, fearing that all the countries in the Western Region would have been destroyed before he even reached the Western Region. Once Wusun gained a foothold, it would take a lot more effort to defeat them.
On April 15th, Wang Li's army arrived east of Youze.
Before Wang Li could set up camp, he immediately asked the scouts about the situation of the countries in the Western Region: "How many countries in the Western Region have been attacked and destroyed now?"
The scout raised his hands and said: "General, all the nineteen kingdoms north of the Tianshan Mountains including Qiuci and Yanqi have fallen into the hands of Wusun! Hujie's 20,000 cavalry and Wusun's 4,000 cavalry are bypassing the Tianshan Mountains. The countries surrounding the ridge are also in danger!"
Wang Li frowned slightly: "What a fast speed! In just eight days, even with the help of Hu Jie's 20,000 cavalry, Wusun can't defeat the countries in the Western Regions so quickly, right?"
The scout said: "Back to the general, according to our investigation, after Wusun captured Qiuci and Yanqi, they slaughtered two cities each, and threatened that all countries that did not surrender would suffer the same fate! So many small countries with only one city Wangfeng surrendered. However, many countries tried their best to resist. Among them, the aunt of the Six Kingdoms in Shanbei would rather die than surrender. After being captured by Wusun, more than 4,000 people in one country were slaughtered! After the remaining countries heard about it, they again No one dares to resist Wusun."
Wang Li's right eye twitched. He had been at the border for a long time. Although he had seen villages plundered by the Xiongnu and the old Qiang clan, only a hundred people were killed. He had never faced such a heart-rending massacre.
He frowned and said, "Let's explore the situation of the Congling Kingdoms again."
Dahe, the first warrior of the Dada tribe, killed Hulda and solved the siege of Jiuquan. He was named the "honorary" Zuo General of the Qin Dynasty. As Wang Li's former general, he commanded the 30,000 cavalry of the Dada tribe during this expedition.
After hearing the conversation between the scout and Wang Li, he raised his hands and said, "General, should we immediately attack the north of Tianshan Mountain and cut off Wusun's retreat?"
Wang Li shook his head slightly, looked at the boundless Youze and said: "It is not appropriate to send troops now. There is a saying in the art of war. It is said that those who are good at using troops in ancient times can make the enemy indifferent. If we attack rashly, there will be a high wall in front of us. City, Wusun attacked our rear army from Congling, what can we do? Besides, the siege equipment has not been completed yet, so we have to wait."
Dahe didn't understand the art of war, so he could only remain silent. In fact, not only him, but also the rear general Jing Zhu felt that Wusun's retreat route for returning troops should be blocked as soon as possible at this time.
Jing Zhu had experienced battles for many years and had followed Wang Li for many years. He knew that he was cautious in using his troops, so he said cautiously: "General, now that Wusun is attacking the Congling countries with all its strength, there will definitely not be many troops north of the Tianshan Mountains. We might as well divide our troops into two. Along the way, the former general led his cavalry to hide in the east of Tianshan Mountain, and the general led the infantry to attack north of Tianshan Mountain. Wusun knew that there was a fire in the rear, so he would definitely choose to come back for reinforcements, and the former general could attack him halfway. In this way, the enemy was attacked from both sides. He became Wusun. What do you think, General?"
Wang Li still shook his head: "No. There is a saying in the art of war. The way to treat guests and the tactics of transporting troops are unpredictable. Wusun must have known that we have cavalry and infantry coming. If only infantry attacks the city, wouldn't it mean to tell Wusun, are we hiding an ambush? How could they be fooled?"
Jing Zhu, Da He:......
Jing Zhu said helplessly: "What are the general's plans?"
Wang Li said confidently: "The countries in Congling are all nomadic, so the cavalry must be the most important. Wusun and Hujie have less than 30,000 cavalry, and they foolishly bring infantry with them. I expect they will suffer heavy losses in Congling!" Let the countries in Congling consume them first, then our cavalry will attack Congling and the infantry will attack the north of Tianshan Mountain, and we will be able to capture the Western Region in one fell swoop!"
Now that the general had made his decision, Jing and Zhu didn't know what to say, so they bowed and returned to camp.
Wang Li actually felt that what they said was reasonable, but he still preferred his own judgment. When he was hesitating, his own soldiers came to report: "General, two to five hundred Lord Han Xin wants to see you!"
Wang Li frowned slightly, wondering what he was doing when a man of two to five hundred came to see him. He just remembered that he was recommended by Meng Hanyu, so he waved his hand: "Let him in."
Due to my special instructions, Meng Hanyu did not tell Wang Li that Han Xin was recommended by me...
After Han Xin came in, he cupped his fists and said, "General!"
Wang Li turned around and asked doubtfully: "Han Xin, you are not in your own camp, why did you come to see me?"
Han Xin said respectfully: "I wonder when the general will send out troops to attack the countries in the Western Regions?"
Wang Li's face turned cold, and he said coldly: "You are a small master of two to five hundred, how can you get the chance to ask these things?"
The 2500 Lords, commonly known as the Thousand Commanders, are already considered mid-level officers in the Qin army's establishment, but it is not their turn to give instructions on marching operations.
Han Xin quickly explained: "Don't be surprised, General. This is not to spy on the military situation. It's just that Wusun's troops are scattered now. If the General cuts off its retreat at this time, he will be able to defeat Wusun in one fell swoop and conquer the Western Region easily..."
"Shut up!" Wang Li said sternly: "How dare you talk about using troops? Doesn't this general know how to use troops?!"
Including Han Xin, he was the third person to persuade him to send troops immediately. Wang Li was still hesitant at first, but now he heard that a 2500 Lord and Jing Zhu had the same opinion, and he immediately felt that his judgment was correct and he should sit back and watch the fight between tigers and tigers.
"You return to your camp immediately, the general will make his own decision!"
