Da Tang: Father, can I resign?

Chapter 262 Li Jing's Charming Moment
The body fell to the ground, blood splattering everywhere.

The Goguryeo cavalry was like two drills, drilling into the Xueyantuo army from the east and west along the river valley.

Faced with the cavalry galloping at high speed, the Tiele soldiers were badly beaten to pieces, or cut into pieces by sabers and lances.

Speed ​​is the greatest killing power of cavalry.

Among the rugged Hengshan Mountains, the river valley carefully selected by Li Jing is one of the few areas suitable for cavalry charges.

The ground was flat enough and the mudflats were frozen solid, so the horses' hooves wouldn't sink into the soil.

The total weight of a fully equipped rider and the warhorse under him is at least half a ton.

Plus the huge kinetic energy brought by the fast running.

The Goguryeo cavalry charged at the Xueyantuo army formation like a mud truck hitting a chicken, charging forward as if they were in an empty space.

The Xueyantuo troops were preparing to attack up the mountain. When they were changing their formation halfway, they were suddenly attacked by cavalry without any preparation. Their formation was immediately thrown into chaos and they suffered heavy casualties.

However, because the river beach was narrow, with the river on one side and the mountain on the other, a large number of Xueyantuo troops were crowded in the limited space, and the situation was already chaotic.

With the cavalry's disruption, order was completely destroyed and the place became a complete mess.

"The cavalry is coming! Run!"

"Where did the cavalry come from? Didn't the Khan ask us to dismount?"

"It's the enemy's...get out of the way!"

"Hey, don't push us. We are forming the array now."

"Help!"

Chaotic shouts were heard one after another, and the soldiers on the edge had been killed so badly that they cried for their parents and fled in panic.

The soldiers in the middle were still confused and tried to form an attack formation under the command of an officer who was also confused about the situation.

The result was that the infantry was unable to form an effective anti-cavalry phalanx and were slaughtered by the Goguryeo people, leaving them with nowhere to hide.

There were already enough unfortunate people who died directly at the hands of Goguryeo, and the stampede caused by the chaotic order even resulted in greater casualties on the Xueyantuo side.

In the extreme chaos, some junior officers finally realized something and tried desperately to maintain order:

"Don't run away! Can you outrun a horse? Run away! Go back and form a formation!"

"You don't need to run faster than a horse, you just need to run faster than your comrades!"

However, the officers' efforts were in vain, as order and morale had collapsed to such an extent that even the well-trained elite troops found it difficult to organize themselves effectively.

Some legions that were not impacted did try to line up to block the cavalry.

However, the space was too small, and the Goguryeo cavalry broke up the formation before they could even get into position.

The Tiele infantry were thrown into a panic. They either fled in all directions, trampling on each other, or were knocked dumbfounded and stood still in a daze.

During this chaotic period when they didn't know what to do, let alone fight back, a dense rain of arrows fell from the sky, mercilessly hitting their heads.

The Goguryeo people fought very cleverly, not just relying on cavalry charges.

Instead, they were divided into multi-level echelons and launched attacks in waves.

Leading the way were a limited number of heavy cavalrymen wearing armor, who were responsible for breaking through the formation.

Behind the heavy cavalry were ordinary cavalry armed with long-handled weapons such as spears and lances, who were responsible for widening the gap after the heavy cavalry had torn through the enemy's defense line.

The two types of cavalry were one in front and one behind, forming an arrowhead formation with a pointed front and a pointed back.

In the middle of this huge "arrow", the space that has no direct contact with the enemy is "filled" with horse archers with superb archery skills.

Such a lineup distribution can ensure that every soldier on the front line has something to do, so that only the cavalry at the outermost edge of the formation can kill the enemy, while those in the middle of the formation can only passively fish and swim.

The cavalry was invincible. Wherever they went, like autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves, all the enemy troops fell down.

What's even more amazing is that horse archers will specifically shoot at enemy soldiers on horseback.

Such targets are not only easier to aim at, but are almost certainly officers, so shooting them is a sure thing.

After several rounds of volleys, the grassroots officers of the Xueyantuo phalanx were shot to pieces. Even if they were not killed on the spot, they did not dare to continue to sit on horseback and be living targets.

The nomadic army was defeated by the Liaodong Army so badly that no one dared to ride a horse!

This not only dealt a heavy blow to the enemy's morale, but also greatly weakened the enemy's command efficiency, almost paralyzing its grassroots command.

"Great Master, what a wonderful method!"

Su Dingfang observed the old leader's combat command on the mountain and couldn't help but admire it in a low voice.

The effect of chopping melons and vegetables is really amazing!

Xue Rengui said nothing, staring intently at the battlefield, trying hard to imprint every frame of the cavalry formation changes into his mind.

In his mind, the image of the funny old man was instantly elevated to a handsome coach.

This creative cavalry formation was a change made by Li Jing in order to kill as many enemy forces as possible.

The prototype of this "sandwich formation" is the "four-sided formation" that Li Jing himself often used. The outer soldiers held shields or long-handled weapons, while archers were deployed inside. It was very effective against cavalry.

If you make some slight changes, such as changing the square formation into a vertical formation and the infantry into cavalry, it will become a formation where cavalry can bully infantry.

If the two armies were evenly matched against each other, each forming a square formation, deploying cavalry, and making all necessary preparations, then this kind of sandwich formation would be a pure gift to the enemy, and the enemy would only be abused.

But on the battlefield, where would both sides have so much time to deploy their troops and make full preparations?

There is no panacea, only whether it is suitable or not.

Seize the enemy's weaknesses, use formations in a targeted manner, and kill more people at one time.

This is the foundation and core of all tactics.

However, the Xueyantuo army was large in numbers and powerful in strength.

It is impossible to defeat hundreds of thousands of people in one wave with just a cavalry charge.

Moreover, the enemy's formation was a bit too thick, and they used their bodies to slow down the Goguryeo cavalry.

If the cavalry loses its speed and impact and gets caught in close combat, it will have no advantage.

The key is whether subsequent waves can be seamlessly connected and whether the campaign objectives can be achieved.

There are cases where a game starts with a big advantage, but the early advantage is lost due to subsequent operations.

"Marshal, what should we do next?" Su Dingfang asked.

"I have finished my repair and can go into battle at any time!" Xue Rengui rubbed his hands, full of fighting spirit.

Li Jing ignored them completely and focused on the battlefield situation, writing and drawing on the topographic map and giving orders without stopping for a moment.

In the coldest months of winter, beads of sweat the size of beans kept oozing out of the forehead of this elderly man.

He looked visibly haggard.

Lao Su and Xiao Xue were touched and did not dare to disturb Lao Shuai's work.

"The east and west armies will encircle the enemy from both sides. The front army will charge forward, and the center army... will not move."

After giving the last instruction, Li Jing suddenly woke up from a dream, as if he suddenly found that the two young men were staring at him intently.

"What's wrong? Is there any new situation on the battlefield?"

"Uh... no, no." They both shook their heads at the same time.

They didn’t know if it was an illusion, but they always felt that... Li Weigong seemed to have lost a little weight?
…………

On the other side of the valley, on top of the mountain.

Zhenzhu Khan Yinan's face turned pale, and he had already taken his hands off the keyboard and gave up commanding.

Because he couldn't command them at all, the infantry formations below were intertwined and tangled into a ball of wool.

He felt like he was trying in vain to stop a loaded carriage from rushing off a cliff, and he was just a praying mantis.

As if the battlefield wasn't chaotic enough, the enemy's cavalry were driving the scattered auxiliary troops towards the center of the valley like sheep!

The tribes and legions are interconnected and huddled together at the foot of a cramped mountain. Even a god of war could not untie this mess.

"Khan, the enemy infantry seems to be making some moves..."

Li Tai, who was watching the fight from the side, reminded quietly, fearing that he might offend his superior.

Although he knew nothing about military affairs, anyone with eyes could see that the Xueyantuo side had suffered a reversal and the battle situation was not optimistic.

"I have eyes, I can see!"

Yi Nan growled in a low voice, having completely given up on controlling his emotions.

I'm not in the mood.

Is there anything more depressing than watching a situation go from great advantage to great disadvantage while being unable to do anything about it?
Although it was very hurtful that the formation was disrupted by the cavalry, fortunately, we had enough troops and a strong foundation, so it was not fatal.

The problem is that the enemy obviously knows how to use troops, and the cavalry is just an appetizer.

The following infantry confrontation is the real killer move.

Zhenzhu Khan also understood this truth, but the troops were in chaos and he had essentially lost command.

He could only watch as the other side deployed their troops in an orderly manner and leisurely dismembered his trusted troops like a butcher cutting up an ox.

First came the Goguryeo cavalry. After achieving the goal of disrupting the Xueyantuo formation, the cavalry, which had lost its speed, decided not to fight to the end and immediately turned their horses around and retreated.

The most expensive horse archers in the team were given priority to evacuate under the cover of ordinary cavalry on the left and right, and the heavy cavalry with armor on both horses and men were responsible for the rear.

The cavalry troops calmly left the front line of the battle, but did not leave the battlefield. Instead, they waited on the flat area of ​​the river valley not far away, waiting for their opportunity like vultures.

Immediately afterwards, Goguryeo's left and right armies attacked at the same time, seamlessly taking over the battle zone vacated by the cavalry.

Because the cavalry drove the enemy into a small area in the center, the two infantry units encountered almost no resistance and outflanked the Xueyantuo army from the rear.

Before the confused Tiele soldiers could react, their retreat was cut off.

Finally, there was the front army located on the hillside, commanding a high position and facing the Xueyantuo army head-on.

A powerful music sounded, which was the Qin King's Breaking Formation Music symbolizing the general attack.

The front army took the lead and rushed down the mountain.

They are like efficient harvesting machines, leaving no one alive wherever they go and steadily reducing the enemy's room for maneuver.

The battle between infantry in formation and infantry without formation is tantamount to a dimensionality reduction attack.

The Xueyantuo army was completely unable to resist, and the ground was littered with corpses.

The hell was that these corpses slowed down the marching speed of the Liaodong Army for their comrades, giving those behind them a chance to escape.

Most of the soldiers abandoned their ranks and ran away.

They just happened to run into the left and right armies that were encircling them.

Only then did they realize that they were surrounded, and what little morale they had left disappeared.

"Hold on! Maintain the formation!"

Some officers were still trying in vain to restore order.

But the soldiers didn't listen to them at all. They just ran away, completely ignoring the orders.

Not stepping on the officers' bodies was enough to show that I was worthy of the salary given by the Khan.

The cries of "Our army has been defeated" were heard everywhere, and the trend of retreat quickly spread like ripples to the entire Xueyantuo army, vividly demonstrating what it meant to be "defeated like a landslide."

Just like that, right under the leader's nose, this army with an absolute advantage in strength collapsed.

"Go back! Go back and fight!" Zhenzhu Khan was furious on the mountain.

Li Tai's face was equally pale, and he glanced with disdain at his ally whom he regarded as his "master".

On the top of the mountain far away from the battlefield, the soldiers naturally could not hear the shouts of the Great Khan.

Lord Khan is simply engaging in the art of impotent rage.

"Tsk, incompetent!"

Li Tai bit his lip in annoyance.

It's fine if you lose a lot, but you don't know how to judge people and use them well. How can you get involved in politics with such insects!

Now, I’ve been dragged into this!

Although Li Tai and Yinan each have their own interests, they are united in facing the common external enemy "Li Ming".

If Xueyantuo were defeated, it would mean his defeat.

"Li Ming..."

Li Tai could no longer maintain his humble appearance, and his fat face was distorted with hatred.

He ended up in such a state because he fell into the hands of that brat Li Ming!
Li Tai carefully planned all of this, from contacting the Xueyantuo, Shiwei, and Simo Turks to forcing Li Shimin and Li Chengqian to leave.

All the princes united under his banner, and even Li Zhi obeyed him.

It can be said that he had the best of both worlds, and he seemed to be only half a step away from the throne he had longed for.

However, that damn Li Ming interfered again!

First, he used the position of regent to lure Li Zhi into "betraying" Li Tai behind the scenes.

Then, somehow he hooked up with Goguryeo and defeated Li Tai's backers on the front battlefield!

Li Tai fell from being the strongest contender for the throne to being in complete defeat!

Li Ming! Li Ming...

"Huh... calm down, what should I do next?"

Li Tai used all the tolerance he had accumulated in his life to temporarily suppress his anger.

The game is over. This is not the time to get carried away with that wimpy Khan.

You have to find a way out for yourself.

Your Majesty, the Crown Prince, the Regent, the Prince of Jin... Li Tai has already offended the main political forces of the entire Tang Dynasty - his four closest flesh and blood relatives - to death.

Literally surrounded by enemies on all sides!
Is reconciliation possible?
Now that things have come to this, I'm afraid you're not joking.

Although Li Zhi promised that he would forgive past mistakes as long as they surrendered.

But no one would believe it.

It's about the struggle for the throne. Either he ascends the throne in Taiji Hall or he reports to the Hades Hall. How can there not be bloodshed? This is not playing house.

Could it be that I am finished?

Can I just wait to be killed?
"No, there is still a chance... As long as we have soldiers, everything will be easy!"

Li Tai's mind was working rapidly.

Although he did not know the art of war, he never underestimated the importance of armed forces.

And at this moment, he still has a sufficiently powerful armed force in his hands!

That's his own army!
Thanks to Zhenzhu Khan's distrust of him, he kept his troops watching the show on the other side of the valley, at the foot of several hills, and called them "reserve troops."

He just happened to escape this military defeat and was able to survive.

After all, this army was also the Tang army. Although it was not as elite as the ones near Yinshan Mountain, its level of organization was something the Tiele people could not match.

Even when they witnessed friendly troops being killed on the other side of the river, they still maintained their formation and no one deserted.

This bargaining chip is still intact in Li Tai's hand.

As for Zhenzhu Khan's chips, he squandered them all himself.

As the strength increased and decreased, Li Tai suddenly discovered.

He now has more say among the Tiele people.

It is impossible to fight back to the Central Plains and regain the throne with these tens of thousands of second-line troops, mainly Weizhou soldiers.

But if he allied with Zhenzhu Khan, he could still gain a foothold in the Xueyantuo Khanate.

Although the conditions in the nomadic Khanate are worse, there is no problem in ensuring his life and a lifetime of wealth and honor.

Didn’t the remnants of the Sui Dynasty also defect to the Turkic Khanate?
He could still stay dormant in the northern grasslands, waiting for an opportunity to move south to the Central Plains...

Li Tai's eyes became deep and he made a plan for his retreat.

"King Wei, are you planning to let your army sit on the sidelines?"

The battle line continued to collapse, causing Yi Nan's weak heart to completely collapse, and he shouted in despair:
"Put the tens of thousands of Tang troops under your command into battle. Otherwise, if the Liaodong invaders come to attack us, we will..."

"Don't shout, it's embarrassing." Li Tai said in a low voice.

Zhenzhu Khan was stunned for a moment, and his face suddenly turned red.

You are a parasite clinging to my thighs, a rebellious son who betrayed his father, and you dare to talk to me like this...

However, when these words came to his lips, he swallowed them back.

"You also realize that? There are as many tasks as there are soldiers."

Li Tai was respectful at first but arrogant later, and he did not hide his true face at all.

"With this humiliating defeat, your reputation in the Khanate has hit rock bottom.

"Can you still keep the title of Khan?"

Yi Nan's face changed.

Those who were annihilated here were the core tribes loyal to him.

Having lost the biggest card in his hand, how could he deal with other tribal forces and gain a foothold in the Khanate?

What's more, after sending away all the young and strong men in the tribe, his position in his tribe was no longer stable.

Li Tai is right.

His position and even his life are in danger!
Unless there is foreign aid...

Yi Nan then put on a humble smile, bent down and asked Li Tai:
"So, what does the King of Wei mean?"

He didn't think there was anything wrong with being rude at first and respectful later.

"Don't worry about the surrounded troops. We will retreat immediately and go back to the grassland first. We will leave the other tribes still left in Hebei area to the Liaodong army." Li Tai said decisively.

This plan was so vicious that even Yi Nan couldn't help but frown.

This meant that as a tribal leader, he had to abandon his own people, abandon the army that he had brought to a desperate situation, and escape alone.

And this can also kill with a borrowed knife.

Sooner or later, the Red Turban bandits will wipe out the Tiele tribes that are scattered and looting throughout Hebei.

All the tribal forces that disobeyed Zhenzhu Khan were included.

Sooner or later they will be wiped out by the Red Turban bandits.

If everyone is weakened, it means that no one is weakened.

He Yi Nan is still the most powerful force in Xueyantuo!
The position of "Zhenzhu Khan" remains strong!

It’s poisonous, really poisonous!

As expected, he is the King of Wei Li Tai who is good at conspiracy and intrigue!

Whether it is for our own people or for the enemy!

Forced into a corner, Yi Nan had no choice but to follow.

"As the King of Wei ordered."

Li Tai's expression relaxed a little, and a barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

The desperate barbarian took the bait.

Just go back to the grassland and kill Zhenzhu Khan.

Then Li Ming would help him eliminate other tribal forces in Hebei.

Then among the Xueyantuo Khanate, wouldn't Li Tai's power be the most powerful?

Wouldn't that mean he could take the entire Khanate into his possession?
Li Tai couldn't help but indulge in endless reverie.

…………

"Mr. Li Wei is worthy of his reputation!"

Xue Rengui and Su Dingfang watched Li Jing's fighting tactics and were filled with admiration.

Li Jing's battle formation has reached the state of returning to basics. The principle is easy to understand. It is to form a situation of defeating the enemy with more troops on a local scale through strategic planning and geometric transformation.

But he applied this principle to perfection, steadily, accurately and ruthlessly, using the simplest tactics to achieve the greatest results.

"Duke Li Wei, while the enemy army is in disarray, push the central army forward and completely annihilate them!"

On the other side of the battlefield, Xue Rengui suggested going all in and taking advantage of the victory to expand the results.

Su Dingfang agreed with his younger brother's idea:
"Nomads are like weeds. If you don't eradicate them, they will come back next year. You must kill them as much as possible."

Li Jing shook his head at the two subordinates who seemed a bit extreme:
"Central army, don't move."

Su Dingfang frowned in confusion and moved his mouth, but did not object to the old leader's decision.

Xue Rengui couldn't hold it in any longer and asked:

"Why? Is Lord Wei just going to let the invaders go?"

Li Jing asked them both:
"What are we here for? Are we really here to fight the barbarians?"

Su Dingfang and Xue Rengui looked at each other.

Is not it?
Haven’t we been fighting against the barbarians since we left Pingzhou and entered Hebei?

"Fighting the Xueyantuo is just a prelude. His Highness Li Ming's real strategic goal is to take over the entire Tang Dynasty!"

Li Jing awakened his two subordinates who were obsessed with tactics from the perspective of overall strategy.

"What Duke Wei meant was..."

"We need to grasp the key point. The Tiele people are just cannon fodder. No matter how many of them we kill, they are just a bunch of numbers. There is no point."

Li Jing's eyes swept across the enemy troops who were killed in pieces at the foot of the mountain, and looked towards the hilltop on the other side of the valley.

The mountain is high, but there is a flat area on the top, from which you can clearly overlook the entire battlefield.

If the enemy has a unified command, that would be the best place.

"But there are a few people who are truly key figures. As long as we behead them, Your Highness will have a smooth road ahead."

(End of this chapter)