Chapter 635: The storm changes

In the Zhao Palace in Chang'an, soldiers kept coming and going, delivering express messages from the front line one by one, and then sending orders to the letter station next to the palace.

In the military aircraft room of the Zhao Palace, Li Qing'an and Wei Qingping and several other aides were studying the war in front of the sand table. In addition, important officials such as Yan Zhenqing, Minister of War, Changsun Quanxu, Minister of War, and General Nan Jiyun, the General of Qianniu Guard, also counseled military affairs in front of the sand table.

Li Qingan had just received a quick message from Li Siye. He pointed to the Luzhou border with a wooden pole and said, "Wei Boyu's army has cut off Li Guiren's retreat, and Xi Yuanqing has also blocked Baixing. If Li Guiren's army wants to break out at this time, it is also possible that he can go north from the township county along the Wuxiang River. However, Li Siye's information is that Li Guiren's army has no intention of going north. They are currently stationed here...."

Li Qing'an pointed with a wooden pole to the north of Shangdang City, where there was a town made of small pieces of wood, and to the west was a river painted with white paint.

"This is Zhuozhang River. The east bank of the river is Zhuozhang Town about fifty miles away from Shangdang City. Li Guichen's 50,000 troops were stationed in this town. It is obvious that Li Guiren is going to fight to the death with Li Siye's main force of Anxi Army."

"How is the comparison between the forces between the two sides?" Yan Zhenqing asked in a deep voice.

"At present, Li Siye is about 80,000 troops in Hedong's territory, but to consider blocking the retreat route of the Yan army and some garrisons from all over the country, Li Siye can only use up to 40,000 people. At present, Zhao Chongjie and Helou Yurun have led 10,000 elite cavalry to support, so that Li Siye can also have 50,000 troops available. This is also his personality. He will not rely on more to win, but in terms of arms, the Yan army has 30,000 cavalry and 20,000 infantry, while Anxi has 40,000 cavalry and 10,000 infantry. In terms of cavalry, we have an advantage,

We also have Tianlei and turbulent oil. Regardless of the military and strength, we have an advantage. The opponent's advantage lies in the cavalry. Ten thousand Yiluohe Cavalry is An Lushan's most powerful and elite cavalry, and there are also 10,000 Khitan Cavalry, which are elites from the Khitan Yelu Division. They are well-equipped and said that their combat power exceeds the Iron Cavalry of Youzhou, and there is also another cavalry of the Xi people. It is precisely with these 30,000 cavalry that Li Guiren did not want to retreat north and compete with the Anxi Army. If he can defeat the Anxi Army, he will be famous all over the world."

Changsun Quanxu nodded and sighed: "This is a even-match battle!"

He glanced at Nan Jiyun, saw that his eyes were a little dim, and he smiled and said, "What do General Nan think?"

Nan Jiyun was regretting that he had no chance to participate in such a wonderful battle. He nodded silently and said, "General Li Siye insisted on using 50,000 troops to fight the opponent's 50,000 troops. This is itself a kind of underestimation of the enemy. I am only worried that the Anxi Army will be burdened by its reputation and will be arrogant. I will not take the Yan army seriously. This is very dangerous."

"General Nan is right, I have this concern, too."

Li Qing'an said to everyone: "I have written to Li Siye, ordering him not to underestimate the enemy. In addition, I ordered Wang Sili to lead 30,000 Guanzhong troops out of Shaanxi Province and go to Hedong to respond. This battle is of great importance. Li Siye has occupied the right time, place, and people, and must not lose!"

At this time, a clerk came in with a piece of intelligence and said, "Your Highness, the latest news from Taiyuan!"

Everyone was attracted suddenly and looked at Li Qing'an. Li Qing'an received the information and frowned, saying, "No wonder Li Guiren refused to go north. It turned out that An Qingxu changed his strategy. He withdrew back to Shiai County as soon as he arrived in Taiyuan. Li Huaixian led an army of 80,000 to the south."

This news surprised everyone. Among Li Huaixian's 80,000 army, at least 30,000 were elite Youzhou Iron Cavalry, and the cavalry was extremely fast. Once they arrived in Luzhou before the Shangdang Battle began, Li Siye's situation would be dangerous.

Li Qing'an paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back. Only then did he understand An Lushan's real strategy. It turned out that An Lushan's attack on Taiyuan was Xu. His real purpose was to deal with Li Siye's Anxi army. If Guo Ziyi divided his troops to support Li Siye, then Taiyuan's troops would inevitably be empty. It was just as if An Qingxu's army took advantage of the situation and Taiyuan was in danger again.

This is actually not Li Siye underestimating the enemy, but Li Qing'an underestimating the enemy. After underestimating An Lushan's deployment, Li Qing'an walked slowly in the room with his hands. He suddenly walked to the sand table, carefully studied the terrain, and said in a deep voice: "Immediately send my order, ordering Li Siye to give up Luzhou, retreat to the west of Wuling Mountain in Jinzhou, strictly guard the Fucheng Pass, and the Wei Bo Army and Xi Yuanqing also retreated at the same time, and ordered Tian Ganzhen's troops to give up Shangdang County, and all the troops retreated to Jinzhou to assemble."

He pondered for a moment, then gave the second order: "Let Lei Wanchun and Xin Yunjing lead their troops to the Feihu Road into Dingzhou and cut off the grain road of Anqingxu."

He sighed slightly and said to everyone: "This time we underestimated An Lushan. An Lushan attacked Hedong with vain and real. If Taiyuan is difficult to attack, they will turn to Anxi Army. If Guo Ziyi sends troops, they will turn to attack Taiyuan, leaving us passive. After all, it is because of our insufficient troops in Hedong. If we can increase our troops by 100,000 more troops, we can reverse the passive situation, so I decided to quickly increase our troops by 100,000 more troops to Hedong."

Yan Zhenqing pondered for a moment and said, "There are 150,000 troops in Guanzhong who can go to Pujin Ferry to support Hedong. When Emperor Xuanzong went to Beidu, he crossed the Yellow River from Pujin, where he could build a floating bridge overnight. Tens of thousands of imperial guards crossed the river very quickly. We might as well order Wang Sili to build a floating bridge first, and wait for the army to cross the river to cross the river."

Li Qing'andao: "Building a floating bridge is a good idea, but it is best not to move the 150,000 troops in Guanzhong. This time, there are a lot of surrendered soldiers in Jiangnan. He recruited 60,000 troops from Jiangnan. He can order the Jiangnan army to go north to defend Henan. Li Guangbi led 70,000 troops across the river to support Hedong. I will lead 30,000 elite cavalry to go to Pujin Ferry to Hedong. As long as Li Siye can retreat to Jinzhou in time, it should be time."

Yan Zhenqing and Changsun Quanxu looked at each other and said in unison: "How can Your Highness go to Hedong in person?"

Yan Zhenqing quickly advised: "Your Highness has just returned from Jiangnan and rushed to Hedong again. I am really tired. I think Li Siye is also a famous general. He should be able to stand alone and win the Battle of Hedong. Your Highness only needs to be dispatched remotely."

Li Qing'an shook his wry smiled and said, "I'm not hiding Yan Shangshu. Every household has a difficult sutra, and the Anxi Army is no exception. The biggest problem with the Anxi Army is that there are too many hills and the generals are not convinced by each other. Li Siye cannot command Li Guangbi's army, and Li Guangbi cannot mobilize Li Siye's army. They must be their own formation. After all, I'm too far in Chang'an and it's difficult to coordinate. Therefore, only if I go to Hedong to coordinate the army. Besides, Guo Ziyi can only give me face. Don't persuade me. This Hedong battle is a big deal. It is directly related to the gains and losses of Hedong. I must go to Hedong in person."

Yan Zhenqing wanted to persuade him again, but Nan Jiyun said, "Shangshu Yan, don't persuade him anymore. I also think that the general's personal visit to Hedong is the best plan. Li Siye is proud of people, because he is afraid that he will not accept Li Guangbi's support and fight against the Yan army independently will put the Anxi army in a very dangerous situation. If Li Siye was defeated in Hedong, the reputation of the Anxi army would be small, and more serious is that it would reverse the entire battle situation. If the Southern Tang echoes again, we will fall into a very passive situation. This battle is not a small matter and is related to the overall situation. I oppose Li Siye to be the leader, based on this consideration."

Nan Jiyun's analysis was very thorough, and Yan Zhenqing felt it was reasonable, so he stopped persuading him and asked, "Why don't you know when the general will set out?"

Li Qing'an made a quick decision and said, "Time is tight, I will set off now. I hope that Shangshu Yan will coordinate with Wang Sili to quickly build a floating bridge in Pujin Ferry."

Yan Zhenqing nodded, "I will send a pigeon letter to Wang Sili immediately, wishing Your Highness a good journey and a good news soon!"

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In early April of the second year of Qingping, An Lushan suddenly changed his strategy and ordered An Qingxu's army to give up the besiege of Taiyuan and retreat to Jingxingkou, Hedong. He ordered Li Huaixian to lead 80,000 elite troops south to support Li Guiren's army. In this way, Li Siye's Anxi army was attacked from both sides and the battle situation changed sharply. Without waiting for Li Qing'an's order to arrive, Li Siye also realized the critical situation. He ordered the Luzhou troops to withdraw back to Jinzhou. Ten thousand people of Wei Boyu's army were intercepted by Li Guiren's army on the way back. Fierce battle broke out. Wei Boyu's army was outnumbered, with nearly half of them losing.

Gradually, the battle situation in Hedong became bigger and bigger. Both sides realized the importance of this battle, which was related to the gains and losses of the entire Hedong. An Lushan ordered An Qingxu to increase troops of 50,000 to Luzhou, and Cai Xide led his army south, so that the total force of the Yan army in Luzhou reached 180,000.

On the Northern Tang Army, Li Guangbi led 70,000 troops across the Yellow River from Heyin County, entered Huaizhou, and walked through Taihang Xing to Zezhou, Hedong. At the same time, Li Qing'an personally led 30,000 elite cavalrymen, each with two horses, and headed towards Hedong day and night.

A war that concerns the gains and losses of Hedong and the overall situation is gradually brewing in the southeast of Hedong.

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If we open the map, we will find that the eastern part of Jinzhou is an important dividing line of Hedong Road. It is located in the eastern part of Jinzhou, Jieshan, Huoshan, Wuling Mountain and Wangwu Mountain in the south. It extends from north to south and extends for thousands of miles, dividing Hedong Road into two, forming a natural military dividing line.

On this military dividing line, Fucheng Pass in the middle of Wuling Mountain, which is today's Anze County, is an extremely important strategic location. To the east of Fucheng Pass is Liangmazhai leading to Luzhou.

At this moment, Li Siye's army was stationed in Fucheng Pass. At present, Li Siye has a total of 80,000 troops in Hedong. Since Wei Boyu lost 5,000 troops on the way back, Li Siye's actual army was 75,000, and there were 10,000 soldiers scattered in Jinzhou, Jiangzhou, Puzhou and other places.
Chapter completed!