My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 371: Defeating the Turks

"Prince, damn it!"

Cui Wenxin said viciously.

He didn't care at all about the tragic situation on the front line.

All he cares about is revenge.

Whatever the reason, it was the prince who caused his brother's death.

"How hateful! This little prince is too cowardly."

Cui Wen wanted to kill the prince, but now the prince lived in the Daming Palace, and he had no way to kill him.

The Daming Palace is located on a high ground and can be seen in its entirety from above.

The Dog Prince has been living in the Daming Palace and has not come out.

He has hundreds of good hands, but what's the use?

If they were to charge into the Daming Palace, they would probably all be killed halfway and wouldn't even be able to reach the edge of the palace gate.

"These Turks are really useless. Why don't they come to Chang'an?"

Because only by reaching the city of Chang'an would Cui Wenxin have the opportunity to assassinate the prince.

However, at this moment.

There was a sudden noise in the front yard.

Before Cui Wenxin could react, the door to the backyard was kicked open.

A large number of Jinwu Guards poured in.
-
Tai Chi Palace.

Li Shimin looked cold.

Naturally, the reports from the front line also reached him.

Li Shimin was angry but also calm about the massive invasion of the Western Turks.

This is a great opportunity.

The grassland is vast, and the Turks never engage in a head-on confrontation with the Tang army.

For the Tang army, the most important thing in attacking the grassland is not the battle, but how to find their traces.

The core area of ​​Turkic activities is vast, with the terrain mainly consisting of grasslands, deserts and Gobi, and lacks clear geographical signs.

After the Tang army went deep into the grassland, they were very likely to get into trouble due to getting lost or running out of water.

In the third year of Zhenguan, when Li Jing was fighting against the Turks in the north, he left Dingxiang and attacked Yinshan at night. However, this battle relied on accurate intelligence and surprise attacks. If a large-scale advance was made, the risk would increase dramatically.

There was no agricultural support on the grassland, so the Tang army had to transport food and fodder from the inland.

In the fourth year of Zhenguan, the war was fought to destroy the Eastern Turks.

The distance from Chang'an to Dingxiang is 1,200 miles per month, and it takes three to five stones to transport one stone of grain.

If we go deep into Mobei, the loss rate can reach more than 80%.

The Turks were familiar with the hydrology of the grasslands and often adopted the tactic of burning the land and cutting off water supply.

The Tang army's war horses needed a large amount of fodder. Each horse ate about 15 kilograms of grass a day. If the pasture was burned, the cavalry's mobility would be greatly reduced.

The Turks lived a nomadic life, and all their people were soldiers. When they won, they advanced; when they lost, they hid.

Their army had no fixed camp and was good at cavalry and archery guerrilla warfare. It was difficult for the Tang army to completely annihilate the enemy through a decisive battle.

After the demise of the Eastern Turks, their remaining forces rebelled several times.

The Turkic Khanate was actually a loose alliance of tribes, and the Khan had limited control over the tribes. If the Tang army defeated the main force, the tribes might scatter, but they might also quickly establish a new Khan and make a comeback.

The Xueyantuo, Huihe and other tribes often chose their sides based on the outcome of the Tang and Turkic wars. In the early Zhenguan period, the Xueyantuo helped the Tang attack the Turkic, but later became a new threat.

The grassland is not suitable for farming, so even if the Tang army occupied it, it would be difficult for them to station troops there for a long time.

After destroying the Eastern Turks, the Tang Dynasty adopted the system of縻府州 (vassal states) to retain the autonomy of the Turkic nobles, which was actually a compromise.

If the county system is forcibly implemented, it will require huge resources and may lead to continued rebellion.

Although Li Shimin was revered as the Heavenly Khan, his strategic focus was still on consolidating the Central Plains. His military operations on the grasslands were mostly aimed at defeating and deterring rather than completely occupying them.

Compassion does not command troops.

The suffering of the people of Hedong this time is also an opportunity for the Tang Dynasty.

If the plan goes well, Li Jing will launch a surprise attack and Li Ji will lead his army to cut off the rear, thus annihilating the main force of the Western Turks.

For at least ten years, the Western Turks would no longer pose a threat to the Tang Dynasty.

"Your Majesty, the King of Wei requests an audience."

The eunuch came to report.

Li Shimin frowned slightly.

He hasn't even found fault with Qingque yet, but now he's brought it to his door?
"Xuan."

Soon, King Li Tai of Wei entered the palace.

As soon as he saw his father, Li Tai fell to his knees.

"Father, this slave is guilty."

"Zhi Nu trusted Cui Wenxin of the Qinghe Cui Clan, but she never thought that he would be so ambitious and collude with the Turks, and even secretly transport food and supplies to the Turks."

"Please punish me, Father!"

Li Shimin looked indifferent and asked, "The matter of colluding with the Turks has nothing to do with you?"

Li Tai cried out: "How dare Qingque collude with the Turks? Father, you can see clearly."

"I just got the news. Cui Wenxin secretly communicated with the Turks without telling me. If her smuggling of food and grass had not been discovered, Qingque would still be kept in the dark."

Li Shimin looked at Li Tai deeply.

Naturally, he would not think that what Li Tai said was true.

Then he asked, "I heard that Cui Wenxin brought the Turks to your palace."

Li Tai hurriedly explained: "Those are Turkic merchants."

"Cui Wenxin lied to me, saying that the Turks had many rare treasures, and Qingque saw them."

"Who knew they were treating Qingque like a monkey and were actually plotting something secretly."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin sighed softly.

"Okay, I understand, please leave."

Li Tai suddenly felt flustered and wanted to explain, but he didn't know how to start.

Under his father's sharp gaze, he seemed to be seen through all his thoughts. "I say, withdraw."

Seeing that the King of Wei did not move for a long time, Li Shimin shouted,

Li Tai shuddered and could only stand up and bow: "Yes, father, Qingque will leave now."

Watch Qingque leave.

Li Shimin said nothing, but ordered: "Tell the King of Jin that Cui Wenxin of the Qinghe Cui family has colluded with the Turks, and ask him to arrange for the Jinwu Guard to arrest him."

Zhang Ananda bowed quickly: "Yes, Your Majesty."

It’s not that Li Shimin didn’t know many things, but he was just too soft-hearted.

The crown prince is his own child, and so is the King of Wei.

The King of Wei’s lies were so crude that Li Shimin didn’t want to listen to them anymore.

Now that the Turks have entered the country, they seem strong, but it is time to close the net.
-
Hedong Road.

Turkic Front.

Li Jing understood that it was finally time to close the net.

The wolf-head flags of eighty thousand Turkic cavalrymen fluttered ten miles away like a moving dark cloud. They followed the route marked by the Five Surnames and Seven Families caravan, and were stepping step by step into the death trap set by the Tang army.

"Duke Wei, the enemy's vanguard has reached Huya Valley, the central army has set up camp three miles away, and the rear army's baggage train is stranded in Qingzhongyuan." Li Ji's voice was wrapped in chilliness as he unfolded the secret letter in the bamboo tube sent by the scout.

"We can cut off their head and tail first, and then use the thunderbolt to destroy their middle army."

Li Jing nodded slightly, and then ordered: "Pass the order down."

"Li Daozong led 30,000 Huihe cavalrymen to lie in ambush in the pine forest on the east side, and after the enemy's front army passed through, they suddenly attacked their left wing; Cheng Yaojin and Liu Hongji each led 20,000 government soldiers to guard the north and south passes of the Black Camel Valley to cut off their retreat."

"Zhang Shigui led the firearms battalion and crossbowmen to hide on the western cliff."

In the golden tent set up by Ashina Yugu, the leader of the caravan of the Five Surnames and Seven Families was holding a luminous cup and flattering: "Don't worry, Khan, the main force of the Tang army is still in Bingzhou, and these are just some scattered soldiers."

Before he finished speaking, three towering smoke plumes suddenly rose from the southeast.

"Fire arrows!"

As Li Jing waved his flag, twenty Eight-Ox Crossbows emitted a deafening roar at the same time.

The crossbows were hung with thunderbolts, and the rockets dragged long red flames, falling into the hayfield of the Turkic vanguard like meteors. The fire that ignited instantly spread rapidly with the help of the wind, and the hay and oil mixed and burned, forming a hundred-meter-long wall of fire.

The frightened war horses neighed and broke free from the reins, running rampant through the camp with their harnesses burning. The panicked shouts of the Turkic soldiers were drowned out by the roar of the flames.

"kill!"

Li Daozon pointed his scimitar at the night sky, and 30,000 Uighur cavalry poured out from the pine forest on the east side like a black torrent.

These warriors, who grew up on horseback, wielded the Tang army's standard horizontal swords and specifically targeted the hind legs of the Turkic war horses.

The dull sound of the scimitar cutting into the horse's legs and the wailing of the warhorse were intertwined. A Uighur warrior swung out the lasso and accurately caught the Turkic centurion. The warhorse exerted force suddenly and dragged the man on the ground for dozens of feet, leaving a shocking blood mark.

At the same time, Cheng Yaojin's Modao team and Liu Hongji's spearmen formed an iron chain formation and encircled the Turkic rear army from the north and south sides.

The Mo Dao was one foot wide and as thick as a copper coin, shining coldly in the moonlight. When the Turkish cavalry's scimitars barely touched the Tang army's shields, Cheng Yaojin shouted loudly, and the Mo Dao weighing thirty kilograms fell from top to bottom, instantly splitting the enemy in half, including the man and the horse, and blood splashed on his breastplate like a fountain.

Liu Hongji's spear formation was like a moving forest, with the spear tips all pointing at a forty-five degree angle, stabbing the cavalrymen who tried to break through and knocking them off their horses.

Ashina Yugushe finally realized that he had fallen into a trap. Wearing a golden wolf helmet and holding a ruby-inlaid scimitar, he climbed up to the watchtower surrounded by his personal guards.

Seeing the front and rear armies in chaos, the Turkic Khan's pupils suddenly shrank: "Hold your ground! The central army, follow me to break out to the Black Camel Valley!"

His orders were quickly conveyed through trumpets and messengers, but at this time the Turkic army was like a frightened bird, and the connection between the various units was cut off by the raging fire and shouts of killing.

Just as the Turkic central army began to move, a roar came from the cliff on the west side.

A large number of Thunderbolts were projected.

Li Jing had suffered losses from firearms, but he also understood the use of firearms better than many people.

A large amount of thunder fire was secretly prepared for the attack on the Turks.

This was made by the imperial court, so its power is naturally weaker than the one made by the prince.

But this power is basically enough.

Hearing it from others and seeing it with your own eyes are completely different feelings.

Especially the blast from the Thunderbolt explosion, which instantly destroyed the momentum of the Turkic cavalry.

"This is witchcraft!" The Turkic soldiers dropped their weapons in fear and fled in all directions.

Li Jing stood on a high place, watching the enemy's formation completely collapse, and pointed at the enemy formation: "Li Ji, lead the main force of the Black Armor Army to attack! Make sure to suppress the enemy in Baidaochuan!"

The black torrent of the Black Armor Army rushed out from the center. The fine iron fish-scale armor they wore shone coldly in the firelight, and the sword wall formed by the Mo Dao in their hands advanced like the sickle of the god of death. A Tang army soldier had his right arm chopped off by a Turkic scimitar, but he held the enemy tightly with his left hand, opened his mouth and bit off his throat, blood splattered on his face, and he still maintained a ferocious smile.

Ashina Yugusi, under the desperate protection of a hundred Golden Wolf Guards, tried to break through Liu Hongji's spear formation. The Khan's mount trampled over corpses and cut three Tang shieldmen in succession with his scimitar, but when he tried to kill the fourth, the opponent suddenly abandoned his shield and stabbed the horse with the short blade at his waist.

The warhorse stood up in pain and threw Ashina Yugushe to the ground. At the critical moment, the commander of the imperial guards sacrificed himself to block the spears of the Tang army and shouted with his last strength: "Protect the Khan!"

In the darkness before dawn, Ashina Yugushe gathered more than 10,000 remaining soldiers and fled northward along the path on the north side of Baidaochuan.

He looked back at the burning camp, watching the Tang army's "Tang" flag fluttering in the flames, and gnashed his teeth as he tore off his torn cloak. The once invincible Turkic Khan now regretted his decision.

When the first ray of sunlight illuminated Baidaochuan, the battlefield was already littered with corpses.

Of the 80,000 Turkic cavalry, less than 40% were left alive, and they were scattered in all directions. Their corpses and broken wolf-head flags were scattered all over the ground, and their blood had dyed the ground a strange purple.

The morning mist of Baidaochuan had not yet dissipated. Li Jing stepped on the frozen blood mud and bent down to pick up half of a Turkic arrowhead with a wolf's tooth embedded in it. He stroked the ice crystals on the arrowhead with his fingertips and looked at the dust rising from the northern horizon - that was the direction where the remnants of Ashina Yugushe fled.

"Lord Wei, the troops have been counted." Li Ji came quickly with a blood-stained battle report in his hand, and unmelted snow still hung on his black armor. "In this battle, we killed more than 40,000 enemies, but our army also lost 30,000 elite soldiers, and the food and grass are only enough to sustain the march for three days."

Li Jing put the arrowhead into his bag and looked at the Tang army burying their comrades. Cheng Yaojin was helping a soldier bandage a broken leg, his rough hands clumsily tying a strip of cloth; Liu Hongji squatted by the campfire, scraping the blood clots on his Mo Dao with a dagger. The cold wind blew up the tattered wolf-head flag on the ground, which looked particularly desolate under the big banner with the word "Tang".

"Send a message to Zhang Shigui to repair the Feiyun Chariot immediately and load the remaining Thunderbolt Fire." Li Jing suddenly spoke, his voice drowning out the neighing of war horses in the distance, "Li Daozong will lead the Huihe cavalry as the vanguard. They must bite the enemy's rear wing within three days."

"But." Li Ji looked embarrassed. "The scouts in Black Camel Valley reported that Ashina Yugushe had burned down the pastures along the way, and the hundred miles ahead are all barren land."

Li Jing raised his hand to stop him from talking, and took out a wrinkled sheepskin map from his bosom. The route marked with cinnabar on the map meandered northward, and at the end were three overlapping skulls - that was the "Death Gobi" in Turkic legend.

Li Jing poked the map with his fingertips. "As long as we cut off the water source before the enemy reaches the Gobi Desert, Ashina Yuguse will definitely return to fight a decisive battle."

As dusk fell, 30,000 Tang cavalrymen set out on the hunt. The cold wind was as sharp as a knife, making it hard to open one's eyes. Soldiers covered their mouths and noses with cloth strips, and quietly moved forward with horses' hooves wrapped in felt. At midnight, the vanguard troops found wounded soldiers abandoned by the Turks at Hongliu Beach. Those soldiers with their tendons cut were lying on the snow.

"This is bait." Li Daozong swung his sword and cut off the Turkic sentry who was trying to launch a sneak attack. The blood on the blade instantly solidified into ice. "Ashina Yugu calculated that we would rescue people and set up ambushes on both sides of the mountain valley."

Before he finished speaking, countless torches suddenly lit up on the hilltops on both sides.

The sound of Turkic horns pierced the night sky, and hundreds of stray arrows poured down like a rainstorm.

The Tang army immediately formed a tortoise shell formation, and the sounds of shields colliding and arrows falling to the ground intertwined into one.

Li Jing calmly ordered in the central army tent: "Fire all your crossbows, blast open the mountain pass!"

(End of this chapter)