Chapter 997 Pioneer Prince
The tenth year of Zhenguan, winter.
Prince Chengqian held an emergency military meeting in Haiyan Fort by Lake Qinghai.
All the generals were ordered to come and sit in the warm tent with several pots of charcoal fire, but they all had different thoughts. Xi Junmai was exempted from military detention after being **** by five flowers, and everyone didn't know what the prince was going to mess around with again.
There is a lesson learned from Mr. Xi's purchase, and the generals are not good at trying to persuade them.
Chengqian put on a new suit of armor, holding a golden helmet with phoenix wings in his right hand, and a big sword around his waist with his left hand. His steps were steady, and the iron armor on his body clanged. , on the contrary, he looked like a guard, even with a dazed look on his face.
Looking at this appearance, the generals secretly despised him.
Chengqian walked to the tent and waved.
Two captains of Lu Ben came in with a roll of sheepskin maps and spread them out.
The generals looked at him curiously.
Standing in front of the generals, Chengqian said confidently, "Ever since Qin Lang led the Longyou army to fight for thousands of miles, defeated the Tuyuhun army, and defeated the old thief Yun, Tuyuhun's backbone has been broken by my Tang Dynasty. In the next few years, my Tang Dynasty expanded land for 300 miles to the west, and set up 18 border guards along the border, especially in the Chiling area, and built a Great Wall that is not the Great Wall. !"
"However, Tuyuhun people are thieves by nature, and rebellion is not common. After Murong Fuyun's death, although Murong Shun was obedient to the court, he had no prestige in Tuyuhun. Brother betrayed Tang, and attacked the border of Datang again!"
"Facts show that Qin Lang's judgment back then was correct. Tuyuhun shouldn't be kept. If it doesn't die, the northwestern border of the Tang Dynasty will not be peaceful for a day, and it will even seriously endanger the Silk Road leading to the Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty. And Datang's rule over the Qiangs."
"Now, Murong Cheng gathers the arrogant Tuyuhun rebels to try to provoke Datang again. This will never be tolerated. Some people say that Gu oversteps his authority to command, some say that Gu doesn't know how to fight, some say that Gu is playing with military affairs, and some say that Gu It is to bury the lives of a hundred thousand soldiers, and make fun of the great fortune of the Tang Dynasty!"
Cheng Qian clapped his hands.
"Well said, although these are not facts, but Gu admires the loyalty of this general and his courage to stand up and speak out. Although what he said is wrong, it is good for Datang. Therefore, Gu To reward him."
"Come here, invite the seat commander to come."
Xi Junmai was brought here, still confused, and even tied with tendons.
Chengqian drew his sword and stepped forward.
Xi Junmai puffed up his chest and straightened his neck without blinking his eyes.
The sword falls.
The tendon rope was broken.
Chengqian returned the sword into its sheath, and pulled Xi Junmai to the top of the tent.
"General Xi is worthy of being a brave general whom my teacher Wei Gong once admired very much, and also worthy of my father's comment that he is the best among the young generals. Out of all the generals, only Chief Executive Xi is the most loyal and daring to speak up, which is very commendable!"
"Come on, pour a glass of wine for the general alone to warm up."
Xi Junmai looked at the glass of warm wine that Chengqian handed over with both hands, and was puzzled and speechless.
"General, please drink."
"His Royal Highness wants to kill or scrape, do as you please, Xi Mou is unwilling to be humiliated!"
"The general misunderstood, Gu is really grateful for the general's loyalty, drink this glass of wine first, and listen to Gu speak slowly!"
Xi Junmai was dubious, bit the bullet and drank the wine.
"Right now, Murong Cheng is playing hide-and-seek with Gu, and Gu also plays with him for a while. Along the way, Gu has been playing with him all the time."
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Xi Junmai was shocked, and Gao Kan and other generals were also surprised.
The barbarian chiefs like Xifeng Bulai and Tuoba Chici were even more shocked.
"Hahaha, you are all so shocked, it means that Murong Cheng must have not expected it, this is just a surprise."
Chengqian is a little proud.
"Although Gu has never commanded soldiers before, he has to teach the art of war that he learned from Wei Gong. The Luben army in the East Palace is not a bad guy. This Liang Jianfang and other generals know that it is a real and rigorous training. In the past, there were often actual combat drills, against each other, and Gu Ke led the Luben army to victory more than once."
"Right now, Murong Cheng thinks he is a shrewd hunter and is sneaking closer, but he doesn't know that Gu is the real hunter, and he is just Gu's prey."
Chengqian pointed to the sheepskin map.
"Everyone, now is the best time to destroy Tuyuhun. In the First World War, Murong Cheng's main force will be wiped out, and future troubles will be eliminated forever. Tuyuhun will be completely wiped out, and Qinghai will be permanently incorporated into the territory of the Tang Dynasty."
Hou Junji immediately stood up to express his opinion.
"His Royal Highness is far-sighted and strategizing, really wise."
Xi Junmai stared at the detailed locations of the soldiers and horses of Tuyuhun marked by Prince Cheng Qiangang on the map, dubiously asking, "Are these sources accurate?"
"Of course, during this period of time, Gu is not really playing in the mountains, falcons shooting rabbits."
Xi Junmai still had some doubts, it was too unbelievable, he couldn't adapt to the prince's change, but it was the previous prince who was so outrageous that made him feel more credible.
"General Xi is commendable for his loyalty and bravery. I will appoint you as a vanguard general alone. Will you?"
Xi Junmai nodded, "I would like to lead the troops to be the vanguard of Your Highness, go straight to the tent of Murong Cheng's army, capture Murong Cheng alive and offer it to Your Highness." But he continued, "It's just that the current weather, if you want to march and fight, especially if To succeed, it must be a swift and violent attack, and this battle is not easy to fight."
Although the crown prince has already grasped the exact location of the Tuyuhun army, from the map, it can be seen that the Tuyuhun army is ambushing around Haiyan Prefecture. There are many soldiers and horses, and they are scattered, but they are not far away. If it is good, it will scare the snake.
The most important thing is that it is snowing heavily now, and it seems that the snow will not stop for a while. When the heavy snow blocks the mountains, marching will be very difficult, especially for supplies.
"A two-hundred-mile raid would not be a problem if it was normal, but in this season and the weather, our supplies cannot keep up. If we can't defeat Murong Cheng in a single battle, then we will be in trouble."
In fact, all the generals here know that if they cannot win in one battle, it is not troublesome, but very dangerous.
Rushing for 200 miles in the ice and snow, the two armies were equal in number, and even the Tuyuhun army had a numerical advantage. Without supplies and support, if they ran for a long distance like this, if they couldn't take down the opponent, the Tang army would be in a dangerous situation of riding a tiger.
Chengqian laughed.
"A little bit of frost and snow can still trouble us? Don't always look forward and backward. Although there are many Tuyuhuns, they are not the same as before. Today's Tuyuhuns are already weak. Take all the dry food, mules and horses that you can bring, and throw away all the other vehicles. Next, our soldiers are very quick to catch them by surprise, what we want is to win in one battle. When the Tuyuhun people are wiped out, we will kill cattle and sheep to eat."
"Even if there is a real battle and we can't win, we kill horses and eat donkeys, and we must defeat them!"
It has been delayed for a few months, but now it has to be resolved quickly. This huge change has made it difficult for everyone to turn around.
"Why, do you dare not, or do you not believe in Gu?"
Xi Junmai looked at the map and thought for a while, "Your Highness's plan is very bold and risky, but it does have a chance. As long as we have a strong will and perseverance, this heavy snow will not stop us. Bewildered, I definitely didn't expect that we can surprise them with lightning now, this can be used just right, we just surprise and strike them, and caught him by surprise."
Chengqian's eyes were bright and he was very excited.
"Yes, that's what Gu wants. Deliberately delaying for a few months is not only to show weakness to the enemy, but also to paralyze them and consume them. Knowing that they are lying in ambush on the border, Gu deliberately delayed for several months. They have just arrived, and they are only two hundred miles away. The Tuyuhun people have been ambushing in the valley for the past few months. Their patience has long been exhausted. I have almost eaten, maybe I have been hungry and full for a long time."
"At this time, the Tuyuhun people's defense is at the lowest level, and their combat effectiveness is also at the lowest level. It is their weakest and best time to fight!"
All the generals were also excited by the words of the young prince.
At this time, no one questioned the commanding authority of His Highness the Prince.
Chengqian exercised the power of the commander-in-chief without hesitation, and Hou Junji, the chief commander of the march, stood beside him without saying a word, obsequious.
Whatever Chengqian said, he just nodded.
"General Xi, I will regard you as the vanguard general, and I will give you the most elite five thousand cavalry under your command."
Immediately afterwards, Chengqian ordered five governors and military envoys including Liang Jianfang, Gao Kan, and Gao Zhensheng, and gave them five thousand horses each.
Xifeng Bulai, Tuoba Chici and several Hu chieftains also received the task, and each selected their headquarters to attack.
Chengqian selected 50,000 fine cavalry to attack and appointed himself commander.
However, Hou Junji was conferred by him as the chief general of the rear army, commanding the remaining 50,000 infantry followed by reinforcements.
The whole battle plan has only one key point, be fast, precise and ruthless.
The 50,000 cavalry of the former army were going to march for 200 miles in one day and night, heading straight for the valley where Murong Cheng was. Take dry food for seven days, and don't take extra arrows, heavy crossbows, or artillery carts.
What Chengqian wants is to kill with one hit.
Hou Junji had a bitter face, he persuaded the crown prince to let him lead the cavalry, the crown prince was sitting in Haiyan Fort, but Chengqian ignored him, and he persuaded the crown prince to lead the infantry, but the crown prince still refused .
The prince at this time was extremely domineering.
"In this battle, the orphan will lead the cavalry and defeat Tuyuhun!"
No matter who persuades it, it will not work.
"The sage went into battle at the age of sixteen. He is proficient with a single bow and horse. He is proficient in riding and shooting. He has practiced the art of war for a long time. If he dare not even go into battle, is he worthy of being the prince of the Tang Dynasty?"
(end of this chapter)