Zhao Deyan looked at Tu Li's letter asking for help and cursed angrily: "This Tu Li, with both heads and ends, turns out to be a loser! We can no longer divide our troops. No general is not afraid of Xiao Rui. Thirty thousand Tu Li can Blocking Xiao Rui is a great achievement. If we divide our troops again, Dingxiang will be in danger."
After thinking about this, Zhao Deyan wrote a perfunctory reply to Tu Li, preparing to shirk the situation for a few days. Then he came to Jieli Khan in person.
"Great Khan, it's time to meet Li Jing. They came to the outside of Dingxiang City to invite a fight. They came to save the prince. It's not enough to waste military rations like this."
Jie Li pondered: "Military advisor, do you have a record of defeating the enemy?"
Zhao Deyan shook his head and said: "Li Jing and Xiao Rui are both famous generals in the world. No one dares to say that they will win."
"Changan of the Tang Dynasty raised 100,000 troops, plus Li Ji's 30,000 Bingzhou Army, for a total of 130,000 troops."
"We have raised 220,000 troops, and our strength is sufficient."
"Now the Tang Dynasty's 30,000 Bingzhou Army, Xiao Rui and Xuanjia Army were all blocked by Tuli in Yunzhou. In the west, 20,000 people were taken away by the Liang Kingdom of Shuofang. In other words, Li Jing's central army now only has 80,000 people. .”
"As for our side, we only lack Tuli, the main force of Dingxiang is 160,000. We have 20,000 left to guard Dingxiang, and 140,000 are facing the main force of the Tang Dynasty. The momentum is also overwhelming."
"If you can win a head-on confrontation, there is no need to play any more tricks."
Hearing this, Jie Li burst out laughing, "Okay, just follow what the military advisor said and send someone to deliver a message to Li Jing. We will meet outside the city tomorrow. Whether it is war or peace, we will make an agreement face to face."
Early the next morning, Jie Li personally took Prince Li Chengqian to the top of Dingxiang City.
"Watch, today, right under Dingxiang City, I will personally defeat the Tang army that came to save you. Your father is too arrogant and unwilling to pay for your ransom, so he sends troops to save you? Will you make him regret it today? After this battle, not only will you not be able to redeem your son, he will also cede territory to two states to compensate us for the cost of sending troops this time."
Li Chengqian said bitterly: "You can't win."
Jie Li mocked: "Who do you think can save you from Ben Khan? Li Jing? Or the champion Hou Xiaorui?"
"Stop dreaming. Although the champion Hou Xiaorui is your brother-in-law, he may not really save you."
"As for Li Jing? Li Jing here has 80,000 troops, and Ben Khan has an army of 160,000, twice his strength. What can he fight with?"
Li Chengqian stubbornly stopped talking. He was still young and not good at arguing with others. He had never even seen any war scenes. He didn't know if he could win. All I can do now is pray.
"Khan, the reception desk below has been set up."
"Okay, I'll go down and have a meeting with the so-called Military God of the Tang Dynasty."
"Please take good care of His Highness the Crown Prince and don't let anything happen to him."
After saying that, Jie Li took Zhao Deyan and others out of Dingxiang City.
A simple round wooden pier used as a tea table, two benches, and a large umbrella for sunshade. Jie Li and Li Jing sat opposite each other, with their own men and horses standing behind them, a pot of strong wine and two wine bowls. The tables and stools were from the Turks, and the drinks were provided by the Tang army.
"You, Li Jing, are just a minister of the Ministry of War, and you are not qualified to drink alcohol with me. It would be better if you, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, were the same."
Jie Li was not afraid of being poisoned by Tang Jun, so he picked up the wine bowl and drank it all in one gulp, "Hiss... good wine! Strong enough!"
Li Jing laughed heartily and said: "After this battle, please go to Chang'an and become an official with me. I must be qualified. There are many spirits of this quality in Chang'an. Isn't the Great Khan gone?" I'm worried that I don't have any wine to drink. This bowl is worth drinking in advance of your promotion banquet."
Jieliha was not angry but happy, and laughed loudly, "Okay, you are brave enough. He is worthy of fighting against Ben Khan."
Li Jing cupped his hands and said, "Thank you Khan for the compliment."
Jie Li: "If I remember correctly, this is the second time you and I have fought against each other. It was the same Dingxiang City where you kidnapped my son. In that battle, we both won and lost. , it’s a tie. Today, it’s Ben Khan who takes the crown prince of your country, haha, what do you call it in your Central Plains dialect..."
"Feng shui takes turns," Zhao Deyan reminded.
"Ah, yes, things are changing. I wonder how Marshal Li can express his gratitude?"
Li Jing filled the two wine bowls with his own hands and said kindly: "My Crown Prince is only twelve years old, and he is still a child. It is useless for the Khan to hold it, and it will damage his reputation. Let him go, and Li will have a good fight with the Khan." !”
Jieli waved his hands and said: "No, that won't work. How can there be any reason to spit out the meat that's in your mouth? Your prince is smart and lively. Ben Khan liked him very much when he saw him. He wanted to take him in as his adopted son, but he was reluctant to give him away. "
you……
"Great Khan, don't bully others too much. The Tang Dynasty can change the prince at any time. Once His Majesty is determined to save money, then you and I will fight to the death and there will be no room for it!" Li Jing's face was very ugly.
When it comes to who in the Tang Dynasty understands the cruelty of war best, Li Jing is the well-deserved number one. Don't look at the fact that he is revered as the God of War, and that one general can accomplish thousands of bones. Under his great reputation, there are countless bones. When he wakes up in the middle of the night, even though Li Jing has a heart of stone, he is still a man of flesh and blood.
Why did he study the art of war repeatedly? It even reached the point of perfection. Is it because he wants to improve again and again to win the battle? No, we must not only win the battle, but also reduce casualties as much as possible so that one more person can survive. Behind every soldier is a family full of expectations.
The emperor's conquests may be for the sake of eternal achievements. But he, Li Jingguan, was promoted to the Minister of War, and he was promoted to the founding Duke. He had already achieved great success and did not like fighting at all. The plan in his heart is that after this battle, he can resign and retire.
Jie Li said leisurely: "Originally, I should stick to Dingxiang City and watch you attack like you did when you threatened me last time. If I have the ability to attack Dingxiang and rescue the prince from me, then You are considered great."
"However, being unable to retreat is obviously not Ben Khan's character, so I decided to give you a chance. You and I will have a head-on fight outside the city. If you can defeat it without destroying the city, you will be considered the winner, and the prince will return the favor. you."
Li Jing bluntly pointed out: "I'm afraid the Great Khan doesn't have such good intentions. There are many Turkic cavalry and they are not good at defending the city. Moreover, Dingxiang City is not big, and 200,000 troops are stationed there. For a long time, the supply of food and grass will be a problem. So you Choose to maximize your strengths and avoid weaknesses, and use your numerical advantage and the cavalry who are good at open battles in the wild to invite me to fight? Do you still want me to thank the Great Khan?"
Upon hearing this, Jieli was a little unconvinced. He seemed to be drunk, so he drank a full bowl and put down the bowl with a bang.
"Okay, since Marshal Li thinks that Ben Khan wants to bully you with numbers? How about you and I each sending out 20,000 elite cavalry for a fair duel? Twenty thousand versus twenty thousand, cavalry versus cavalry, this does not count as being bullied by Ben Khan. Bar?"
"Didn't you defraud 40,000 war horses from Youzhou before and train 20,000 elite cavalry? Then pull them out and practice. Let's see if your cavalry from the Tang Dynasty is as good as our prairie horseback warriors."
"If you can win twenty thousand against twenty thousand, I will still count you as the winner and return the crown prince to you."
hiss……
As soon as this statement came out, not only Datang was sighing, but was also surprised and wanted to shout about a good opportunity.
Even the Turks were surprised, wondering if the Khan was being reckless after drinking some wine? The weapons and armor of the Tang cavalry are superior to ours.
