Li Qinzai led the soldiers on horseback and galloped in a very random direction. Even he himself had no fixed destination, in order to prevent enemy scouts from discovering their whereabouts.
After running sixty miles and making sure that the Tibetan pursuers had withdrawn, Li Qinzai ordered the soldiers to dismount and rest.
"Count the battle damage immediately, treat the injured Paoze, and feed the war horses!" Li Qinzai ordered loudly.
The soldiers carried out his orders in an orderly manner.
Not long after, Sun Congdong and Song Jintu came over holding the list.
"Uncle Li County, in this battle, 325 gunmen were killed and 106 were seriously injured, not counting minor injuries. Nine hundred and sixty cavalry were killed, and 42 were seriously injured, not counting minor injuries. The total losses were There are 1,200 war horses, more than 300 halberds, and 60 horizontal swords..."
Sun Congdong reported in a low voice, his expression full of sorrow.
This was the most serious casualty suffered by Li Qinzai's troops since entering Tuyuhun. One-third of the army of more than 5,000 men was lost in a single encounter.
Li Qinzai had no expression on his face and said coldly: "Send a hundred people to briefly bandage the seriously injured and escort them to Liangzhou City. The remaining soldiers will camp where they are to eat and rest."
"Send scouts in the direction of Shanzhou City to inquire about the movements of the Tibetan army and the current situation of Shanzhou City. Warning posts are posted five miles away."
Repeated orders were issued, and the uninjured soldiers all took action.
Not long after, the scouts came to report that the Tibetan army had shrunk its camp and withdrew the soldiers and horses surrounding Shanzhou City. The Tibetan army only camped in the west of Shanzhou City, and the Tibetan army in other directions of Shanzhou City had withdrawn into the main camp.
The city gate to the east of Shanzhou has been opened, and countless people are evacuating the city with their families.
Li Qinzai breathed a sigh of relief and took the initiative to fight the Tubo army today in order to relieve the siege of Shanzhou. If he did not care about the people in the city, Li Qinzai would not have chosen to confront the Tubo army head-on with his character. His tactics have always been flexible, and today for the sake of the people in the city That's why he made this decision.
"Song Jintu, send a thousand cavalry to raid around Shanzhou City. If they encounter the enemy, they will avoid it and do not engage in battle. This will contain the strength of the Tibetan army and allow time for the people to evacuate." Li Qinzai ordered again.
Song Jintu clasped his fists and accepted the order. After ordering a thousand soldiers and horses, he immediately left the team.
The army finally calmed down, and the soldiers gathered in small groups, eating dry food in silence.
The seriously injured soldier fell to the ground, groaning. The only two doctors accompanying the army were in a hurry. Those who could save his life tried their best to treat him. Those who could not be saved could only shake their heads sadly and tie a white cloth strip on his arm. Indicates that serious injuries cannot be saved.
The atmosphere in the crowd was very depressed. Someone suddenly burst out crying. The cry immediately infected a group of soldiers, and more and more people started crying.
Sun Congdong's eyes flashed with sternness, he jumped up and rushed towards the people who cried the loudest, kicking them all.
"I'll hold it back! If you eat the army rations, you should know that this will happen! There is no one who can't die in a war. Today it is him, tomorrow it will be me. If a man dies, he will die, so why be afraid!"
Sun Congdong was about to continue to curse when someone pressed hard on his shoulder. When he turned around, he saw it was Li Qinzai.
Li Qinzai had a stern face, shook his head at him, and then bowed to the soldiers.
The soldiers were at a loss and stood up one after another.
Li Qinzai sighed: "Today's casualties are not small. The soldiers lost more than a thousand people. Since Li became the envoy, he has led his brothers in more than ten battles. He is the most useless today. But the soldiers should know why we are fighting today." Have to be so cowardly?"
"Because we fought head-on with an enemy that was several times our own. We lost more than a thousand people, while the Tibetan army lost more than 6,000 people today, which is also several times our loss. Let me ask you again, are we useless today?"
In the crowd, a young soldier of seventeen or eighteen years old said softly: "I'm not a coward."
Immediately afterwards, countless soldiers said in unison: "Don't be a coward, it's worth it!"
Li Qinzai nodded and said in a deep voice: "One more thing. Because of our sacrifice, the siege of Shanzhou City has been lifted. The Tubo army did not dare to besiege the city again because they knew that our powerful force was watching not far away. So they scaled back their operations."
"So during the battle, the east gate of Shanzhou City was opened wide. At this moment, countless people are fleeing the city with their families and heading east..."
"In this battle, we saved the entire city. Do you know how many people we saved?"
Li Qinzai's voice suddenly became louder: "The people of Shanzhou, there are more than 24,000 registered people in total! You saved more than 20,000 lives today, at the cost of more than 1,000 sacrifices of brother Paoze."
"Don't talk about serving your family and country and being loyal to your emperor. Just one sentence: In the eyes of more than 20,000 people in Shanzhou, you are living Bodhisattvas. You have accumulated thousands of merits today. You have made a living for the people. , after this battle, a monument should be erected in Shanzhou City, and your names should be engraved on the monument for future generations to look up to and worship thousands of years later!"
Li Qinzai's words rekindled the sluggish military morale. Everyone raised their faces and looked at him with red faces and eyes full of enthusiasm.
Li Qinzai suddenly shouted hoarsely: "Now, I ask you again, is our sacrifice worth it?"
"It's worth it!" All the soldiers shouted.
"If it's for the sake of living and the people, I'm willing to die!"
"Young man is willing to die, for no other reason than to save some merit and bring blessings to your mother-in-law and children!"
"I am also willing to die without any hope of good fortune. My name is Zeng Donglai, and I want to carve my name on the stone tablet!"
Li Qinzai nodded, and finally a smile appeared on his face.
Sun Congdong next to him glanced at him with admiration.
Just a few words can instantly boost the sluggish military morale. Sun Congdong asked himself that he couldn't do this.
"Have a good meal and rest immediately. Maybe we will die tomorrow, but remember what you said today, I am also willing to die with you!"
Li Qinzai waved his hand vigorously, turned around and sat down, took out a hard piece of dried meat from his arms and bit it down hard.
While eating dry food, Li Qinzai talked quietly with Sun Congdong.
"Starting from tomorrow, avoid direct combat with the Tibetan army. The people of Shanzhou City have escaped from the city. We can retreat while fighting. Counting the time, Pei Xingjian's troops may be approaching Qinghai Lake tomorrow. We will try to meet up with him... "
"It's still the original strategy, to drive the Tibetan army north of Tuyuhun to the south to create conditions for the arrival of Su Dingfang's army."
Li Qinzai gritted his teeth and said: "It would be best if Lu Dongzan could be killed in the rebellion. If Lu Dongzan dies, there will be chaos in Tubo. Zampu and the landowners and nobles will fight for power and there will be internal strife. For the Tang Dynasty, , happy to hear and see.”
Sun Congdong whispered: "After arranging the seriously injured, we can break camp and go north tonight..."
Li Qinzai shook his head: "No, we can't leave tonight. The people in Shanzhou are evacuating. We have to contain the Tibetan army here. If we leave, the Tibetan army may continue to besiege the city, and many people will not be able to escape."
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