"Xue Xiangguo, why don't you bring 40,000 Liang soldiers and horses to fight against Xiao Rui? I don't ask you to capture Xiao Rui, but as long as you can stop him from participating in the battle, you will be the first to contribute to this battle." Zhao Deyan showed a smile. A treacherous smile that is not a smile.
All the Turkic generals fell silent. No one supported Xue Li anymore, and even sympathized with him. Compared to being a vanguard and dying, it is more difficult to face Xiao Rui. The military advisor is still ruthless. Liang Guo is a group of cowards. They definitely don't dare to face Xiao Rui, the murderer.
"Okay, everything will be decided by the military advisor!" To everyone's surprise, Xue Li actually agreed?
Three days passed by in a flash, and soon came the day of the battle. Both sides led their troops out of the camp, and neatly arranged their formations to confront each other.
On a low mountain slope to the east of the battlefield, three thousand black armors guarded Xiao Rui. At the foot of the slope were thirty thousand cavalry.
Looking at the majestic hundreds of thousands of troops below, Xiao Rui couldn't help but sigh. In the cold weapon era, such a large-scale war scene has never been seen in later generations. It has only been seen in anti-Japanese film and television dramas. It is really magnificent.
"A battle with so many people, let alone winning, is difficult to command reasonably. It is a test of a general's ability. Lao Hou, are you okay?" Xiao Rui asked Hou Junji beside him.
Hou Junji shook his head, "Commanding more than 100,000 people is beyond the control of ordinary generals. In the Tang Dynasty, only two people had this ability."
"Commander Li Jing? Where is the other person?" Xiao Rui asked curiously.
Hou Junji said two words, "Your Majesty."
Oh...that's right, His Majesty was the highest-ranking general at that time.
Hou Junji commented: "Everyone praises Marshal Li as the military god of the Tang Dynasty, but everyone who has fought with His Majesty knows that compared with His Majesty, Marshal Li is inferior. That is a kind of natural talent, as if Like a natural-born general and leader, have you ever seen someone who led troops to conquer cities and territories at the age of twenty and won repeated battles?"
Ahem... Xiao Rui said immodestly: "It seems that I am less than twenty."
Forehead……
Hou Junji rolled his eyes speechlessly and complained: "Master Hou, you are also a monster."
Xiao Rui smiled and said honestly: "Although I can lead troops to fight, like you, I cannot command a battle involving more than 100,000 people. At most, I am a fierce general."
Hou Junji said: "If I were to direct the battle below, I might not be able to fight, but if I want to be able to use my arms and fingers like Marshal Li, I can't do it. This is why everyone in the Ministry of War is convinced."
"I am convinced by you because I admire your courage and achievements. I am really willing to be commanded by the commander-in-chief."
Xiao Rui clapped his hands and praised: "Not bad. Today you and I are lazy for once and watch how the commander-in-chief uses troops. If I read correctly, the commander-in-chief will retire after this battle, and the future minister of the Ministry of War will be you, the old marquis. You have to cherish the opportunity."
Hou Junji was a little excited. He could hear the support from Xiao Rui's words, but after thinking about it, he quickly said humbly: "Where are you talking? Originally, I wanted to argue with Li Ji. But now that Mr. Hou is here, neither of us need to Let’s argue, Lord Marquis, you will be the Minister of the Ministry of War, no one will refuse.”
I?
Xiao Rui waved his hand and said: "I will not join the court as an official. After collecting my profits and avenging my revenge, I will fish and farm at home. I don't want to get involved with the court. I am a relative, and I dare not take such a great power as the Minister of War. At most, I can be a minister of Honglu Temple or a great agricultural minister."
Hou Junji was slightly surprised and took a deep look at the young champion Hou. At this moment, he admired him even more. He was worthy of saying that he was as broad-minded as the sea. He is a man of great talent but does not rely on his talent to be arrogant. He is favored but does not rely on his favor and is arrogant. No wonder His Majesty has such great trust in this son-in-law.
The war drums sounded, the flags at the top of Dingxiang City were waved, and the Turkic cavalry launched a charge, heading straight for Li Jing's infantry formation.
It was agreed that there would be a duel between the two sides, with infantry on one side and cavalry on the other. Of course, the cavalry would attack the infantry. You couldn't let the infantry run on two legs to chase the cavalry, right? How to fight? There's no way to catch up.
Old Li Jing used his special skill, Liuhe Army Formation. The main force of the Chinese army was 60,000, with Qin Shubao on the left leading 20,000 troops and horses on standby, and Li Ji on the right leading 30,000 Shanxi soldiers on standby. When the main Turkic force fell into the formation, the left and right wings rushed out to cut off the enemy's subsequent rescue. In the end, the Liuhe army array digested the enemy in the array, and the battle was won.
Zhao Deyan, who was at the top of the city, could see clearly from his high position. He waved his flag and ordered the entire army to charge into battle from three directions. Be sure to break this Liuhe Formation.
The Turkic side originally had a total of 220,000 troops and horses, but Tuli took away 60,000, leaving Jieli with only 160,000 troops. Xue Li of Liang State brought 40,000 troops, so this side now has 200,000 troops.
Tuli's 60,000 people were reduced by 30,000 by Xiao Rui's design, and now Tuli only has 30,000 left.
Zhao Deyan has a clear division of labor, and Xue Li's 40,000 will not be moved to deal with Xiao Rui for the time being. Dingxiang headquarters has 160,000 people, and 60,000 are sent into the formation to defeat the enemy. One hundred thousand people were divided into fifty thousand to deal with Li Jing's left and right wings respectively. Leave 50,000 as backup.
"What a Liuhe military formation. It has a rigorous structure and tacit cooperation. The cavalry is like being stuck in a quagmire. As long as their horses are slowed down, they will be hunted."
"This formation is no less impressive than the legendary Eight-Door Golden Lock Formation."
Xiao Rui praised loudly. Hou Junji next to him took this opportunity to stare at the battlefield, clearly learning from his master. This was a rare opportunity to watch Li Jing perform the Liuhe Formation with his own eyes.
The Xuanjia Army guarding Xiao Rui also saw this and thought to themselves that the Turks are really arrogant. The general used 60,000 people to set up the Liuhe Formation. You also used the Liuhe Formation to break it? What are you thinking about? He was obviously here to die. It seems that there is no need for us to provide support.
Xiao Changle rode a big tiger as a guard beside Xiao Rui. He looked at the chaotic battlefield below, frowning, not sure if he could understand it, looking nervous.
Ma Sandao, the general who was guarding Xiao Changle, mused: "It's strange. Turkic military advisor Zhao Deyan is not an ordinary think tank. How could he deliberately send 60,000 people to death? It's not right."
As soon as these words came out, Xiao Rui was slightly startled and also fell into deep thought.
At this moment, the 20,000 Turkic cavalry on the left wing moved, led by King Youxian, the strongest Turkic general, and came straight towards Qin Shubao, who was guarding the left wing of the Tang Dynasty. With 20,000 cavalry against 20,000 left-wing infantry, the Tang Dynasty was under great pressure.
"Come on, the right virtuous king of the Turks? You were the one who attacked my Tang cavalry a few days ago? I will let you pay back your capital and profits today." Qin Shubao gave an order, with the spear soldiers in front, the sword and shield soldiers in the back, with the spear as the weapon. The fence, with a giant shield as a defense, blocked the first round of attack by the Turkic cavalry.
"Crossbowmen prepare, fire a volley!"
Thousands of arrows were fired, and many of the Turkic cavalry who charged were hit by arrows and fell off their horses, but this did not slow down their momentum of attack.
The opponent's speed was too fast, and the crossbowmen had no time to fire a second salvo. They could only retreat and withdraw from the battlefield, put away their bows and arrows, pick up their swords and shields, and prepare for close combat.
Countless pikemen sacrificed their lives to block the opponent's charge. This is to defeat cavalry with foot. Instead of killing one thousand enemies and losing eight hundred, it kills eight hundred enemies and losing one thousand. But only in this way can we get the following melee counterattack.
Qin Shubao shouted loudly, galloped out, and directly approached the Turkic King Youxian. The most powerful general of the Tang Dynasty faced off against the most powerful general of the Turks, who would win and who would lose?
