The film and television world begins with the battle for the throne in Kowloon

Chapter 846: Liaohe Battle Reversal
In their view, the Tang Dynasty is now the most powerful country in the world. If they do not send troops, it will be fine. But once they do, they will be unstoppable. If they keep up the good work and create greater glory, the crisis of Goguryeo will be resolved soon.

Unexpectedly, Jie Li, who retreated to Liaodong City, secretly transferred the army back from the front line and launched an attack on the Tang army that had not yet established a stable foothold overnight.

First, the Liaohe River ferry was lost, and Jie Li ordered the burning of the pontoon bridge and boats, cutting the Tang army across the Liaohe River into two sections.

He then led an army of more than 100,000 to attack Huaiyuan City overnight.

Outnumbered, the Tang army suffered heavy casualties and was forced to withdraw from Huaiyuan City and hastily retreat to Fuxin City, a hundred miles northwest.

In a teahouse in the downtown area east of Yingzhou City, early-rising scholars, businessmen, artists and wealthy people entered the teahouse one after another, either drinking tea alone or gathering with friends, chatting, bragging and exchanging news.

There was a lot of noise and people coming and going.

A fierce battle was raging on the north bank of the Liao River, but this place was not affected at all, and there was no longer the chaotic scene of the people fleeing at the first sign of war as in the past.

From this point, we can also see that the people of the Tang Dynasty have firm confidence in the current court. Although the military expedition suffered a slight setback, based on the current size and national strength of the Tang Dynasty, it is believed that the small Turkic countries would not dare to invade the Tang Dynasty.

The fact was just as everyone thought. Although Jie Li won a great victory on the north bank of the Liaohe River, he did not dare to cross the Liaohe River.

The teahouse was bustling with activity and noise.

The cups clinked together and the tea flowed out.

Amid the occasional music from opera or folk art performances, people in Yingzhou City began to chat.

The thing that everyone was most concerned about was the upcoming war in Liaodong.

"Did you hear that?"

At a table in the middle of the lobby, a thin young man lowered his voice and said, "There was a big battle on the north bank yesterday. The battle lasted all night. The drums of war roared in the night, people shouted and horses neighed, and even on the south bank, we could see the flames rising to the sky in the north."

"Yes, yes, I saw that, too."

A scholar sitting at the table was also excited and asked curiously, "I couldn't sleep all night because of the noise. I even got up to watch for a while. The flames of war lit up half the sky. I wonder what the result is. Did our Tang army win again?"

As soon as the scholar's words came out, not only the people at this table, but also a large group of people in the middle fell silent, with extremely gloomy expressions.

Seeing this, the scholar quickly put away his excitement, looked around in surprise, and asked with a sly look on his face, "What's wrong? Our Tang Dynasty is now at its peak and has strong fighting power. Could it be that we were defeated?"

"It's more than a failure, it's a complete defeat."

A middle-aged man in a robe at the table next to him sighed and said, "It has been less than a month since our Tang army of 100,000 crossed the Liao River and suffered this setback. I heard that the losses were very heavy this time. Not only did they lose Huaiyuan City, which had stored countless supplies, but they also suffered countless casualties?"

"In this battle, the manpower and material resources that the Tang Dynasty had accumulated in Yingzhou to defend against the Turks were destroyed. It is really regrettable."

When they heard the middle-aged man talking about the losses of the Tang Dynasty, everyone's faces turned very ugly, and they slowed down their tea drinking and eating.

"Oh, what a pity!"

An old man with white hair and beard said with regret: "A hundred thousand troops, a full hundred thousand, were defeated just like that."

"I didn't expect that after the Battle of Dingxiang, the Turks would still have such a strong fighting power?"

The thin young man who spoke first saw that the old man and the middle-aged man were talking about state affairs so recklessly, and his originally cautious mentality was relaxed. He said calmly: "This cannot be blamed on our Tang Dynasty. You know, the Turks grew up on horses, and they are excellent in riding and shooting. Their combat power is far superior to our Tang Dynasty."

"This time we are fighting on the plains of northern Liaoning. It is normal that our Tang army is inferior to the Turkic cavalry."

"What's normal?"

Although the old man was old, he had a hot temper. Hearing this, he said angrily: "In the fourth year of Zhenguan, our Tang Dynasty defeated Jie Li in Dingxiang and made him flee in panic, and broke the huge Turkic Khanate into pieces."

"Jie Li was almost captured alive, but he managed to escape with his life and fled to Mobei with his remaining troops, where he survived."

"Only a few years have passed, and the offense and defense have changed again?"

"We were victorious some time ago, but why did we suffer such a terrible defeat in Liaodong just a few days later? Is there any other reason?"

The middle-aged man opposite looked around with a kind of deceitful look, and said in a not-so-low tone: "I heard that before the war, the Tang army leaders believed that the Turkic army was attacking Goguryeo, and after Jie Li retreated to Liaodong, he must have focused on defense."

"We will not take the initiative to attack in the short term, so we will transfer some of our forces back to the south bank for rest and recuperation."

"I didn't expect Jie Li to be Jie Li. He is indeed worthy of being the former overlord of the grassland. He has a very accurate strategic vision, rich combat experience, and great courage. He decisively seized the opportunity when the Tang Dynasty's front line was empty and drew troops from the rear to counterattack, thus taking back the northern bank of the Liao River."

After the middle-aged man said this, many people at the neighboring table nodded: "I see, it seems that this is a strategic mistake, not that our Tang army is inferior to others."

"This gentleman is familiar with the details and has made a thorough analysis. I admire him." Recognized by everyone, the middle-aged man seemed to enjoy the feeling of being the center of attention. He leisurely picked up the tea bowl and took a sip, looking very proud.

"I think it's that Hou Junji, the Duke of the current dynasty, and the General of the Right Guard?"

The old man on the other side said angrily: "I thought he was a brave and brave general, but I didn't expect him to be a useless general. Facing the sudden attack of the Turks, he was so vulnerable."

'puff'

"Cough cough."

A strong and sturdy man with a resolute face sitting at a square table by the window choked and spat out half of his tea when he heard this.

He coughed twice, took a deep breath, quickly put down the cup, and stretched out his right hand to wipe the water stains from the corners of his mouth.

He stared at the elegant middle-aged man in casual robes opposite him with a bad look: "Old man Changsun, didn't you say that Xue Wanshu should bear the blame? Now, the reputation that I have accumulated over the years has been ruined by you."

"If this gets back to Chang'an, I wonder how Cheng Heizi and Li Ji will make fun of me?"

Changsun Wuji smiled awkwardly and whispered, "You saw it too. I asked you to return to Yingzhou. I clearly asked Xue Wanshu to guard Huaiyuan, but the people still blamed you. Who can you blame for this?"

"You are a duke, so don't bother with these common people."

Tang Jian on the side seemed to have anticipated this scene, and said jokingly with a smile: "Xue Wanshu's position is still a bit low. Above him, there is Lord Changsun as the commander-in-chief, and General Hou as the deputy commander-in-chief. Xue Wanshu is the governor of Yingzhou, but he doesn't even have a deputy commander-in-chief."

"With a brain that's not big enough, how can you hold up such a big pot?"

After the three men finished the battle on the north bank of the Liao River, they reorganized their troops and prepared to wait and see the situation in the Goguryeo war.

He went incognito to the teahouse in the market to listen to the people's opinions. This part of the task was completed by Tang Jian, the Minister of Rites.

After the three of them arrived, they chose a secluded seat by the window and talked in low voices.

Several people were ordered to take charge of the situation at the last minute. Although they were in high positions and in charge of the entire northeastern situation, they were not local officials. They came from the capital, looked unfamiliar, and were dressed in casual clothes. They did not attract the attention of the public.

If Xue Wanshu, who has been guarding Yingzhou for many years, appeared here, he would definitely be discovered at the first moment.

"Elder, keep your voice down!"

The curious scholar quickly put his index finger to his lips and hissed, "This is in Yingzhou, Hou Junji is in the city, if he hears about it, you will be in trouble, right?"

"So what if he hears it? I want him to hear it!"

The old man looked fearless, puffing his beard and glaring, and stubbornly said, "You can't let people say that you lost the battle? You don't have the ability to fight the Turks, but you have the ability to control my old bones. Even in front of him, I dare to say this."

"My father-in-law is right. It's not just Hou Junji, but also Changsun Wuji."

The middle-aged man opposite was eager to see the world in chaos. He fanned himself with a folding fan and fanned the flames unscrupulously, saying, "I heard that he is the commander-in-chief of this war, and Hou Junji and Tang Jian are both deputy commanders. He also commanded this battle."

"This man is clearly a civil official. Instead of being a right servant in Chang'an City, he relied on the fact that he was the emperor's brother-in-law to become the commander-in-chief and command such a large war. Does he understand military strategy? Does he know how to fight? Has he ever been on the battlefield? Does he have any military achievements?"

"How can he not be defeated if he uses civil power to control military power? I think the responsibility for his defeat this time lies with Hou Junji."

The middle-aged man seemed to know a lot of inside information. As soon as he said this, Changsun Wuji, who was just laughing at the joke, was stunned and suddenly became angry. His face turned pale and blue, and he felt an indescribable embarrassment at the same time.

His old face was as red as if it was on fire, and he was a little restless, not knowing where to put his hands and feet.

He found it quite interesting to hear that the people just despised Hou Junji.

I didn't expect that when it came to my turn, I realized how embarrassing it was to be scolded by the people.

Seeing this, Hou Junji on the opposite side twitched his mouth and said, "Master Changsun, you are the Right Prime Minister, so why don't you bother with these common people?"

After saying this, he lowered his head and lowered his eyelids, reaching out to pick up the tea bowl, without looking at Changsun Wuji. But his gloating and playful expression was not concealed, and his facial expression seemed to twitch a little because he couldn't control it.

Hou Junji didn't dare drink the tea used to cover the water, not because it was hot, but because he was afraid that he would spit it out again.

Just blow gently
Well, the words I just said were sent back to me by Hou Junji intact.

"You are so good, Hou Junji, you are just laughing at someone who is only fifty steps away." Changsun Wuji felt a little amused when he saw that Hou Junji, a tall and strong man, had such a bad taste.

After such teasing, Changsun Wuji's embarrassment was relieved a lot.

(End of this chapter)