Chapter 227: Jedi Counterattack (Part 2)

The stone castle city seemed extremely quiet under the moonlight, with silver-white soft light spreading over the castle. The war of the day gradually faded, and the tired soldiers were already asleep. Zhang Huan stood alone in front of the battlements and stared silently at the east, where there was a bright star hanging alone in the sky.

Today is the first day of April, and it was exactly a month since he sent troops to Hehuang, but he felt that three years later, taking down Shibao City meant that the overall situation in Hehuang was clear, but the situation in Jincheng County made him worry more and more day by day.

"It's almost the fourth update, will the governor not rest for a while?" Du Mei slowly walked to Zhang Huan. He held the battlements and turned to look at Zhang Huan, "Is the governor worried about the situation in Longyou?"

"Yes!" Zhang Huan sighed softly, "Chesong Dezan personally led a 100,000 army to advance from Hexi. I was thinking that he would come with a large army, and it wouldn't be as simple as just thinking about cutting off my retreat!"

Speaking of this, Zhang Huan's eyes showed a hint of resentment and anxiety, "What I am worried about is Pei Jun and Cui Yuan. As early as a few years ago, they wanted to extend their power to Longyou. Now that there is this opportunity, how could they give up? If I guess correctly, it is most likely that it is because of their troops that Chi Song Dezan was forced to turn around and go south."

Du Meimo was speechless. In fact, he had thought that this was the only possibility. After a long time, Du Mei asked calmly: "If this is true, what will the governor plan?"

Zhang Huan sneered and said, "If they want Yan'an and Suide, I can give it to them. If they want Hue and Pingliang, I can give it to them, but if they are insatiable and want to uproot my Longyou Jiedu, I'm sorry, I have to use a knife to reason with them."

"Please rest assured to the Governor. Before we leave, we still have 40,000 troops. With He Lou Wuji's caution, he will defend part of the foundation for the Governor. I am thinking about the lesson this time." Speaking of the lesson, Du Mei showed a hint of shame on her face. He sighed and said, "Governor, I have something to say. I wonder if the Governor is willing to listen?"

Zhang Huan glanced at him, "You said that."

"I have been thinking these days that we are really impatient in attacking Hehuang. Including my strong advocate of sending troops, I have been blinded by the smooth progress and have forgotten the principle of accumulating strength. If we accumulate three years to attack Hehuang, it will never be the situation today. I hope the governor will learn from this lesson like me, accept advice as well, and be good at hiding his edge to become a great person."

Zhang Huan took a breath of cold air. He stared at the sky where the fish belly was gradually exposed in Dongfang, and said slowly: "If I can return to Jincheng County smoothly this time, I will prepare for the battle for three years and wait for the weather."

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Three days later, Zhang Huan's army had finished its reorganization and promoted a group of soldiers who made meritorious contributions. Among them, Wang Siyu had the most outstanding military achievements. He was named Lang General and the Governor of Jiuqu. He led 10,000 Tang troops to capture the Yellow River area and stationed for a long time.

He also appointed Zhou Zixing, the deputy general of Wang Siyu, as the general of the Central Army and the military envoy of Jishigu. He ordered him to lead 3,000 light cavalry to Jishi Fortnight to build defensive fortifications to prevent the Tubo army from withdrawing from there.

At this moment, the scout heard that Chisong Dezan had personally led an army of 60,000 to Linfan Fort, less than 200 miles from Shibao City.

If the situation of the Tang army, which was expeditioning to Hehuang in the west ten days ago, was in a critical situation and was facing the danger of being attacked by two Tubo armies, then ten days later, the situation reversed sharply and the battle situation turned unfavorable to Chisong Dezan. Instead, he faced the danger of being completely wiped out by the Tang army in Hehuang. There were 200,000 Tang troops east of the Yellow River, and Ma Chongying's troops in Hehuang had disappeared and Shibao City was lost.

Linfan City, this is a strong fort built by the Tang Dynasty to defend against Tubo's attack on Hehuang after Shibao City was occupied by the Tubo people. It is about 200 miles away from Shibao City, and is in the shape of a "Pin" with Suirong Castle on the west and Suihe Castle on the east.

At this moment, the setting sun was like blood, the north wind was everywhere, and the vast grassland was elusive at first sight. Chisong Dezan stood on the castle, letting the strong wind blow his face. He frowned at the south. The remnants who fled back one after another brought him extremely unfavorable news. Three days ago, Ma Chongying's troops were all annihilated by the Tang army ambushers in the Knight Valley 400 miles southeast, and even Ma Chongying himself died on the spot.

This was simply a slap to him in the face, whether to fight or retreat, or to stand in Hehuang, waiting for the army to move north, Chisong Dezan suddenly faced a dilemma. If he stood in Hehuang, he would face the danger of being captured by the Tang Dynasty's army. Of course, he could finally go south to face the Tao area and return to Tubo, but that would mean giving Hexi to the Tang Dynasty.

But if he gave up Hehuang, then he would lose a handful of rice in this battle, so how could he be content with it?

"Zanpu, are you looking for me?" Dalunnanger stood humbly behind Chisong Dezan and whispered.

Chisong Dezan turned around and asked coldly: "Have you investigated clearly? What is the glowing thing that caused Ma Chongying to defeat him in a disastrous manner?"

"I asked no less than a hundred soldiers who had seen it. Some said it was the thunder invited by the Tang army wizard, some said it was the earth fire, and some said it was......"

"Enough!" Chisong Dezan interrupted his words angrily, "Do you believe these nonsense? I asked you to check the explosion when you captured Wuwei, but you found nothing. You refused to let the craftsmen be killed. This is obviously a new weapon of the Tang army. If you don't find out, our Tubo will sooner or later be destroyed on this weapon."

"Stop Zanpu! Stop Zanpu! I will send someone to Jincheng County to investigate the matter immediately, and I will definitely find out the truth." Nanger was so scared that he made a promise.

"Okay! I'll give you two months. If you can't find out, then go and feed the horses!"

Speaking of this, Chisong Dezan turned around and left the city. He stopped at the stairs and said to his personal guards: "Transfer my order, and the army advances to Shibao City, and orders the front army to dispatch 10,000 people to attack Shibao City for me."

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The drums rumbling, and the Tubo army rushed towards them like a black wave. Under the Shibao City, groups of Tubo army rushed up along the narrow winding mountain road. They held their shields and resisted the collision of wood. Their feet were soft and their companions were the bodies. They had no way out, and they had to rush on the ground regardless of their death.

The mulberry trees and arrows on the city were as dense as raindrops. The city walls were crackling by the flying crossbows of the Tubo people. Occasionally, a huge fireball rose from the sky and rolled down the mountain road. The Tubo army on fire was scrambling up and down, making shrill screams. The mountain was filled with wreckage and corpses, but more Tubo army was advancing towards the cliffs frantically.

This is a one-sided massacre without any suspense. The magic weapon to win does not lie in how high morale is. The madness and fearless attack of the Tubo army still cannot hurt the Tang army at all. The key to victory is the steep mountains and sufficient preparations. Even if the Tubo army luckily rushed to the cliff of a hundred feet, the towering and solid city walls still made them return with regret.

Zhang Huan stood on the viewing tower, staring at the Tubo army at the foot of the mountain without expression, which was attacking like an ant colony. The tall city tower made him look like he was standing on the clouds. He could see the end of the field, where there was a faint black line. The black line had been around for half a day, but it didn't move at all. Zhang Huan couldn't help but smile coldly. He had already understood Chisong Dezan's thoughts.

The sun gradually sets westward, and the blood-like sunset has fallen to the horizon. The remaining spots on the sky have turned dark brown, and soon disappeared desolately. The surrounding fields are drowned in the boundless darkness with a trembling similar to the arrival of death. The vast earth, every time it is dull, this desolate scene appears.

The Tubo army, which had been attacking for a whole day, retreated tiredly, and thousands of corpses were left at the foot of the mountain. A layer of white frost formed in the cold night, and the blood also solidified.

Ten miles away, Chisong Dezan's tent was brightly lit. Chisong Dezan sat cross-legged on the thick felt and stared at a map of Hehuang in front of him. He was thinking about another route of march. He stood beside him, and had just reported the battle report for a day to him.

The tentative defeat of the attack made him realize that it was better to capture Shibao City from the north than to the sky. Chisong Dezan's hand advanced east along Chiling and suddenly stopped above Jishi Valley. From here, you can reach the Jiuqu area after traveling one or two hundred miles, which has been the base for Tubo to attack the Tang Dynasty for a hundred years.

Chisong Dezan's index finger gently knocked on Wanxiu City. It was here. He immediately said to Lu Zhixiu: "I will give you 20,000 troops, go back to Wanxiu City to attack Shibao City by detour. I will give you another ten days to take Shibao City for me."

Before Lunxiong received the order, a guard reported outside the tent: "Zanpu, an envoy from the Tang army came to send a letter."

Chisong Dezan was stunned, and he immediately ordered: "Let him in."

After a moment, a young official wearing a civil servant robe walked into the tent. He quickly stepped forward, bowed and took out a letter, saying, "Chen Duo, a military clerk in the West Liang Dynasty, is here to deliver a letter to my governor."

Chisong Dezan was proficient in Chinese and could write a beautiful calligraphy. He took the letter from his personal soldiers, but he was not in a hurry to open it. Instead, he looked at the young civil servant carefully. He saw that he looked solemn and his eyes were neither humble nor arrogant. Chisong Dezan couldn't help but smile coldly: "I am the lord of a country. Last year, when you Taipu Temple Minister saw me, he was rude to say that he was humble and was not polite. Zhang Huan actually sent only an eighth-rank official as an envoy. Do you want to bully me on purpose?"

Cheng Duo smiled slightly and replied, "There are no national envoys in front of the two armies, only military envoys. I am sincere. Don't think that my official position is small. A few years ago, when will my governor send an envoy to discuss in advance when his capital of Uighurs?"

Chisong Dezan's face suddenly changed. This was a naked threat. He stared at Cheng Duo and slowly opened Zhang Huan's letter.

"Tubo Zanpu Chisong Dezan, the "Sun Tzu. Nine Lands" says: If you throw yourself into the land of death, you will survive, and if you trapped in the land of death, you will be born. This is Zhang Huan's immediate situation. Zhang Huan is not talented, and he is willing to personally lead the army to advance, attack him, and attack him, and accidentally rebuild Han'er Duo Bali's achievements. Is Zanpu worried?

It is also said: The superior troops attack plan, secondly, attack diplomatic relations, secondly, attack troops, and attack cities. Now Zanpu is leading troops thousands of miles away. Zhang Huan got the seal of the Ma Governor, and wanted to write a fake book to throw it into a logic, saying that Zanpu has been destroyed, can Tubo produce a new king?

I said again: When using troops, we must examine the enemy's virtuality and reality and seek danger. I have sent light troops to defend Jishibao, and sent people to Longyou. The troops from the Tang Dynasty and the whole country advanced westward. I want to join Zanpu in Hehuang. Is Zanpu happy?

With these three strategies, I hope you can be careful with your pride! Think about it! Zhang Huanjing, the governor of Longyou of the Great Tang Dynasty."

Chisong Dezan's face turned white and red. While looking closely, his hands couldn't help trembling slightly. After a long time, he folded his letter and ordered his left and right: "Send Cheng to join the army out of the camp!"

Cheng Duo bowed deeply and turned away. The camp was silent. Seeing that the situation had changed, he did not dare to take the order to leave easily. Chisong Dezan walked slowly in the tent with his hands behind his back, considering Zhang Huan's three strategies. Perhaps it was just his threat, and he really did not dare to send troops; perhaps there were deep conflicts within the Tang people and it was difficult to cooperate tacitly; perhaps the Tang army was not adapted to the climate of the plateau and could not march from a distance; perhaps.

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He could find many reasons to convince himself that Zhang Huan's three strategies were just a paper talk, but he did not dare to take this risk. Finally, Chisong Dezan, who had been pondering for a long time, sighed: "I'll order all troops to withdraw back to Hexi immediately!"

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In the middle of April of the third year of Xuanren, Chisong Dezan's 100,000 troops were forced to abandon Hehuang and retreat to Wuwei. Chisong Dezan returned to Luosai from Dunhuang Zhedao. Zhang Huan ordered a thousand people to guard Shibao City, and he personally led a large army to return to Hehuang and entered Shancheng. Then he divided his troops to capture Ningsai, Anxiang and other counties, and renovated various abandoned military fortresses. In Hehuang, he liberated hundreds of thousands of slaves from the Tang Dynasty and implemented the military farming system. The liberated Tang slaves enthusiastically signed up for the army, and thus obtained 80,000 Hehuang troops and formed tens of thousands of Hehuang militias. In this way, the former land of Hehuang, which had been trapped in Tubo for nearly 20 years, was recaptured by the Tang army again. At the end of May, Zhang Huan led 40,000 troops to return to Jincheng County.

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Chapter completed!