Just as Xiao Rui expected, the two sides of the gladiator fought each other in close combat. After a fierce battle, Hou Junji withdrew in embarrassment with his remaining 4,000 cavalry. The Turks also did not benefit, and there were also less than 5,000 left. .
It was only then that Old Li Jing suddenly realized that in today's battle, Jieli was purely trying to eliminate this elite cavalry of the Tang Dynasty.
Maybe some people don't think there is anything extraordinary about such a cavalry team of 20,000 people. But just compare the Xuanjia Heavy Cavalry and you will know. In this era, the cost of raising a fully-clothed and armored heavy cavalry was more than five times that of raising an equal number of infantry.
The Xuanjia Army is so powerful that there are only three thousand people in it? Does the emperor not want to expand enrollment? Of course not, there is only one reason - poverty.
Although the 20,000 cavalry troops gathered by Hou Jun are not as good as the Xuanjia heavy cavalry, they are only slightly inferior. They are fully equipped light cavalry, far superior to the ordinary Turkic army. As long as they don't encounter the same elites as today's Royal Guards, or encounter other Turkic armies, the Houjun Assembly will have an absolute advantage.
Once a war begins, it will not depend on how many enemies the 20,000 people kill, but on them crushing the opponent and quickly breaking the enemy's morale.
A 10% loss of troops reduces morale by half. If one hundred thousand infantry of the Tang Dynasty faced one hundred thousand Turkic cavalry, they could only passively defeat the cavalry with foot, relying on terrain, strategies, etc. Even if they could win, they would suffer huge losses and kill the enemy. One thousand will cost you eight hundred.
But suppose the Tang Dynasty had 80,000 infantry + 20,000 cavalry. Against one hundred thousand Turkic cavalry. The 20,000 Tang cavalry can change the situation of the battle at a critical moment. On the basis of defeating the cavalry with foot, the 20,000 Tang cavalry suddenly rush out, break up the enemy's team, and incidentally damage the enemy's morale, giving them a greater chance of winning.
In the Yanzhou camp, Hou Junji knelt down on one knee covered in blood, "In the end, the general made a bad start and was defeated miserably at the hands of the enemy, causing heavy losses to our side. Please punish me, Commander-in-Chief!"
Old Li Jing personally stepped forward to help him up and said comfortingly: "This battle is not your responsibility. You have done a good enough job. But we didn't expect that Jieli would be so shameless and send out cavalry to die. Alas... you and me , they all fell into his poisonous scheme."
Hou Junji was a great talent in the art of war, but he also woke up at this moment and felt full of regret.
"Yes, we were greedy and fell into the enemy's trap in our hurry to rescue the prince. Now the entire cavalry has less than 2,000 fighting soldiers. A year of hard training has been wasted..."
Speaking of this, Hou Junji burst into tears.
Li Jing comforted him: "It's my fault, and I will ask for military justice. Jie Li deliberately planned to eliminate our cavalry, and he must have a more ruthless back-up plan. Go heal your wounds quickly, we can't do without you in the next battle."
"Commander..." Hou Junji felt ashamed and ashamed. He was the commander of the cavalry, and now he had less than two thousand capable soldiers. It would be useless to fight in the future.
"Please, Commander-in-Chief, punish me."
Li Jing sighed: "Let's record the merits and demerits for now, and we will discuss the punishment after this battle."
Hou Junji no longer insisted and said instead: "Write down twenty lashes before the battle. The general will request that he be executed now."
At this moment, he seemed to be in a torment that he couldn't survive without being beaten. He wanted to use the method of being dealt with by military law to alleviate the pain in his heart.
Li Jing waved his hand and said: "No need, Yuchi Jingde has already helped you withstand those twenty lashes."
What? ? ? It’s not what I agreed to do. If I win, he will help me...
Just as he was talking, Yu Chigong broke in and said in an impatient tone: "What do you say? I'm helping you get whipped because of your injuries. If you don't accept it, after your injuries heal, you and I will Let’s gamble again.”
Hou Junji knew that the other party had good intentions, so he stood up, cupped his hands, and walked out of the tent to bandage his wounds.
At this moment, a message came from outside the camp, and the Turkic envoy asked to see him. Old Li Jing raised his eyebrows, he came so quickly.
The messenger doesn't talk nonsense when he enters the camp. He is just a messenger. His words are concise and to the point. We, the Great Khan, are willing to give you another chance. The two sides will make another appointment to determine the outcome in a battle outside Dingxiang City.
Li Jing sneered and said: "What a chain of tricks. Seeing that we lost 20,000 elite cavalry, are you taking advantage of the situation? You still have 140,000 troops, and we still have 60,000 troops. It seems that you are counting on The outcome is determined."
The envoy cupped his hands and smiled and said: "I dare not say whether we will win or lose. We, the Great Khan, only ask the commander a few words, do you dare to accept the appointment? If you accept the appointment, you will decide the time. We will attack with all our troops. If you win, we will send you Return to the Crown Prince. If you lose, we will not invade the Tang Kingdom. We will only ask you to pay the price in gold and silver."
"Of course, if the commander-in-chief doesn't want to gamble, then please attack the city. The prince is in the city. If the city is broken, you can take him back."
He said and took out a list.
After reading it, Old Li Jing suppressed the anger in his heart, "I really want a lot, and I'm not afraid of supporting you to death. I'll go back and tell you, Khan, that we have accepted the decision, or outside Dingxiang City. In ten days, we will win in a battle." burden."
The messenger returned happily.
In the Chinese army tent, all the generals were worried. Sixty thousand people versus 140,000 people. The gap was too big. How could they fight?
Old Li Jing explained: "It's not that I am confused, but that the situation is different now. Jieli can directly send a hundred thousand troops to attack my camp without a fight. We have to fight even if we don't fight."
Duan Zhixuan said in confusion: "If this is the case, then why did he make a covenant? Now we can directly attack our camp. There is no better time than this."
Everyone nodded, yes, is it another conspiracy?
Old Li Jing pondered for a moment and guessed: "Presumably, his plan this time is not mine."
What's the meaning? Don't you understand, we are the main force of the Tang Dynasty's army, he doesn't want to destroy us?
Old Li Jing mocked: "If he attacks our camp at this time, while we hold on, we can immediately ask General Qin's 20,000 men to come to our aid. He is afraid he will suffer a loss."
I see……
"No, there is another possibility." Hou Junji said vigilantly, "It may also be like the commander's previous guess, Jie Li looks down on us, and what he wants to plan is-Champion Hou!"
Old Li Jing sighed, "Yes, I think so too. Why does he tell us that next time he will attack with all his troops? Doesn't he just want us to send troops to ask for reinforcements? Since he looks down on us 60,000 people , then in the entire Tang Dynasty, the one who can catch his sharp eyes is probably Xiao Rui."
Cheng Yaojin suddenly laughed, "He was afraid of Xiao Rui. Seeing that Xiao Rui was not dead, he probably couldn't sleep again."
Duan Zhixuan said worriedly: "Commander, you and I both know that the Marquis's current body... can he and three thousand mysterious armors alone turn the tide of the war?"
"Aren't there still 30,000 soldiers and horses in Yunzhou?" Yuchi Gong said, "There is also Tuli. Tuli betrayed Jieli, so adding Tuli's 30,000 troops, the Eastern Route Army will be 60,000. Haha, Marshal , our total number of people is 140,000."
Old Li Jing smiled bitterly in his heart, you are the only one who is so optimistic and dares to count yourself as one of us.
