At Kuhai Camp, Qiu Zhenmu quickly walked to a large tent in the back camp and opened the curtain.
Looking at Li Xuan behind the table, Qiu Zhenmu held up his hands with a solemn expression: "Your Majesty, a batch of military rations shipped from Panzhou to Changzhou was burned by the Tibetan cavalry from Maqin."
The grain roads were robbed, grain and grass were burned, and the situation suddenly became serious.
Li Xuan was wearing a scarlet robe and put down the thin bamboo brush, but his face was unexpectedly calm: "Did Qin Ling really take action?"
The corner of Qiu Zhenmu's mouth twitched slightly and said: "Reporting to the prince, the prince predicted that Lun Qinling was successful."
Li Xuan nodded calmly.
Although the military rations on the front line are now transported from Shanzhou and Kuozhou to Dafeichuan, the quantity is no longer large, and they rely more on the supply of grain and grass from central Shu.
They have to support the autumn grain harvest at least until the end of August, but everyone knows that Lun Qinling will not give them this opportunity.
At the latest in early August, or even in mid-July, Lunqinling will be completely launched, and the Battle of Dafeichuan will be completely started.
But in the battle a few days ago, the Tubo people suffered a heavy loss.
The Tang Dynasty's 6,000 cavalry and 1,000 infantry fought against 16,000 Tibetan troops, killing more than 7,000 Tibetan soldiers.
If the 5,000 cavalry reinforcements behind Lun Qinling had not appeared when the Tang army was somewhat weak, then all 16,000 people might have died on the battlefield.
Of course Qinling would not have a decisive battle at that time, because at that time, the three thousand cavalry in Kuhai and the two thousand cavalry in Wuhai City were also ready to move.
Once it evolves into a decisive battle involving all forces, no one can predict the final outcome.
Qin Ling, Li Xuan, Liu Shenli and the others were all thinking about how to kill their opponents with the least amount of effort.
Instead of dying together with your opponent.
How can a decisive battle be fought so easily? When there is no absolute chance of victory, the final strength will not be released.
On the Tang Dynasty side, Xue Rengui was the back-up man, and on the Qinling side, they also set their sights on the grain road from Panzhou to Changzhou.
Unfortunately, he didn't know that Liu Shenli had been waiting for him to do this for a long time.
In fact, if you think about it carefully, you will know that this is almost the only place where Lun Qinling can start.
It is also the easiest place for him to strike.
The place where Datang's Achilles' heel can be strangled immediately with one hand.
People like Liu Shenli, Li Xuan, Xue Rengui, and Li Jinxing can all be thought of.
Therefore, an exquisite game has been laid out.
The brigade's grain was delivered to Xinghai in advance. Among the grains delivered several times after that, only the first few trucks were loaded with grain, and the other trucks were loaded with dry grass.
No matter how cautious Qin Ling's cavalry were, they could only check the first few grain carts and then burn them to the ground.
As for taking it away, how to take it away.
Coming over the mountains and ridges from Maqin, it is already very difficult to retreat in time.
And these people are most likely still hiding in the mountains, preparing for the next attack.
As long as they are here, there will most likely still be problems with this grain road.
So even if it was a piece of food and grass that Li Xuan and the others had hoarded in advance, they wouldn't be able to hold on for long.
I can't hold on for long, but I can't hold on for long, but at this time, Li Jingxuan has been appointed as the general manager of the northwest road march and leads the army to the northwest.
Along with it, there was also a large amount of food and grass.
Although various government treasuries were short of food, the emperor still found a way to raise a batch of food.
After all, there should have been food in the treasury, but it disappeared inexplicably.
But in fact, everyone knows where the food went, but now is not the time to pursue those who went to live.
Even the emperor could only chop off a few more heads in each state and county.
As for forcing those families to actively donate food, it is not too difficult.
Finding an excuse to exile three or two governors would be enough to scare people into giving out some food.
As for what happens next, there is plenty of time to play slowly.
The key now is the battle before us.
A rush of footsteps sounded at the door, and Zhou Qian immediately appeared outside the tent, holding his hands solemnly and saying: "Your Majesty, the chief steward invites you."
"I know." Li Xuan nodded and stood up. He was wearing a black and gold robe that made him look taller and taller.
Li Xuan lowered his head, looked at the simple map of Wuhai in front of him, and said softly: "When the army was short of food, Lun Qinling cut off the army's most important food route. He was already ready for war. Next, Let’s see how our chief executive responds.”
Li Xuan's words made Qiu Zhenmu look solemn again.
The next battle was originally a small battle in the original plan, but Liu Shenli's sudden bet made it important.
In front of the army formation, even Li Xuan had to follow orders.
"Let's go. With me here, we won't lose this battle after all." After finishing speaking, Li Xuan walked out of the tent.
Zhou Qian, Qiu Zhenmu, Su Baotong and Li Zhu all followed closely.
…
Dahuashi Gorge, Lun Qinling looked at the detailed map of every ravine in front of him, his face solemn.
Looking up at the generals in the camp, Lun Qinling said calmly: "The Tang Army's food route was robbed. Although there was a temporary crisis, the previous food reserves were still enough to support them for a while.
The order was sent, and from today onwards, each department will take turns to harass, day and night. "
The ferociousness of Qin Ling was revealed instantly, and all the generals in the camp were awestruck at the same time: "Here!"
Lun Qinling nodded calmly. Quiet days will only make people consume less. Only by moving can their food consumption be doubled.
When the food was exhausted, they had only one way to retreat.
At this time, there was a sound of footsteps outside the tent. Shang Jiezan quickly walked in, stood with a heavy face and raised his hands: "Prime Minister, the Tang Dynasty has increased its troops."
"How many more troops are there?" Lun Qinling raised his head slightly with a calm expression.
"There are five thousand people coming from Dafeichuan." Shang Jiezan looked solemn.
The strength of the Tang army should not be underestimated. Now that another 5,000 reinforcements have arrived, the situation on both sides has changed again.
"Where is he now?" Lun Qinling asked calmly.
"Just passed Changshui Pass, we can reach the Sea of Bitterness tonight." General Shang Jiezan reported the intelligence that the scouts obtained with great difficulty to Qinling.
Looking at Shang Jiezan who looked too heavy, Lun Qinling couldn't help but shake his head and asked: "What do you think they are doing here at this time?"
"Reporting back to the Prime Minister, the Tang Dynasty's grain road was attacked and there was a severe drought in the country. Now that I think about it, they should be evacuated. These five thousand people should have come to support them.
However, five thousand people is a bit too much, so they must rush forward and then retreat. "Shang Jiezan analyzed carefully.
All the generals in the tent couldn't help but nod at the same time.
"Since April, after the Tang people captured Dahuashi Gorge, they no longer easily advanced. Until June when our army retook Dahuashi Gorge, they firmly defended Wuhai."
Lun Qinling showed a disdainful sneer at the corner of his mouth and said: "There are five thousand cavalry in Wuhai, five thousand cavalry in Kuhai, and tens of thousands of other cavalry are guarding the snow mountain road and the Dafeichuan at the foot of the mountain. Food and ordnance are constantly being sent to Dafei. Sichuan, what exactly does the Tang Dynasty want to do, do you really think it can be hidden from the eyes of the truth?"
"Perhaps the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty thought that we didn't know what the Minister of Industry of the Tang Dynasty was best at." Shang Jiezan bowed, with a hint of ruthlessness in his eyes.
Although Liu Shenli burned many Tubo cavalry to death in the battle at Changshui Pass, that pass had blocked their way before that.
Even without the fire that followed, it was enough to show that Qin Ling valued his ability.
"These people always think that others are fools."
Qinling sighed softly, shook his head and said: "They thought that abandoning Wuhai and pretending to retreat would really lead us to Dafeichuan, but they had no idea that if the commander-in-chief hadn't been Xue Rengui, how could they have retreated to Dafeichuan? An opportunity for Feichuan.”
Shang Jiezan looked solemn. In the entire Dahuashi Gorge, the Tubo people still had more than 30,000 cavalry.
If the Tang people charged head-on, it would be difficult to know whether each other would win or lose. But if the Tang people aimed to retreat, then they would not even think about how many of them could escape down the plateau.
"Send the order for Maqu's cavalry to attack, cross the mountains to join Maqin's cavalry, and beat the Tang people's grain team again." Lun Qinling raised his head and looked at Shang Jiezan.
Shang Jiezan was filled with awe: "Here!"
Maqu is downstream of Maqin. The Yellow River flows from Maqin to Maqu and then to Ruoergai.
The Tubo cavalry can send troops from Maqin, and naturally they can also send troops from Maqu to attack the Tang grain team from a place closer to Panzhou.
The Tubo people want to completely block this grain road.
Lun Qinling looked at the people in the tent and said in a deep voice: "This time, the truth wants them all to die in Wuhai, and no one can escape."
"Here!" Shang Jiezan and others responded at the same time.
After a long time, after the detailed layout arrangements were completed, everyone slowly retreated.
I don't know when, Lun Qinling stood on the city wall alone, looking at the bitter sea camp in the distance.
Turning around, deep in the Dahuashi Gorge canyon, a thousand heavily armored cavalry were slowly approaching.
Tubo heavy cavalry.
The most powerful killing machine of the Tubo military.
Even in Dafeichuan, Lun Qinling did not use this group of people.
Although at that time, the Tubo heavy armored cavalry had not yet taken shape.
Now seven years have passed, and Tubo's financial resources can only afford to support this thousand heavy cavalry.
With them, Qinling can even compete with the light army in the hands of the royal family.
But now, this group of heavy cavalry took the lead in targeting the Tang Dynasty cavalry.
"What on earth did the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty think about appointing a minister of the Ministry of Industry as the commander-in-chief of the army? Is he confused?"
A hint of disdain flashed at the corner of Lun Qinling's mouth, and deep in his eyes, it seemed as if he had seen through the dispute between the emperor and the prince of the Tang Dynasty.
…
"In this battle, we will first make a feint to retreat into the swamp, and then counterattack with all our forces."
Liu Shenli sat on the commander's seat, looked at Xiao Siye, and said solemnly: "General Xiao, you will be in command of the front lines."
"Here!" Left Guard General Xiao Siye accepted the order.
"Wuhai's backup is commanded by the general." Liu Shenli looked at Li Jinxing.
Li Jinxing immediately accepted the offer.
Liu Shenli looked at Li Xuan and said seriously: "The two thousand cavalrymen under the command of the King of Nanchang will immediately turn around and fight towards the Xiaohuashi Gorge after they reach the Dahuashi Gorge. If something unexpected happens, the flood will be released immediately."
"Here!" Li Xuan earnestly handed over his hand.
Liu Shenli raised his head and looked at the crowd, and said in a deep voice: "In this battle, I don't want to hold on, I just want to kill the enemy. If you can kill Lun Qinling, I recommend that you be granted the title of Duke or Marquis."
"Here!" Everyone was immediately in awe.
…
After leaving the tent, Li Xuan paused slightly and looked at the hundreds of ships parked on the swamp in the distance.
There are also light catapults and bed crossbows placed above.
Liu Shenli also came prepared this time.
Behind him stood Prince Li Xian.
Now, when the army goes to war, there is now an opportunity missing.
(End of chapter)
