Dunhuang City has undergone war baptisms between the Jin and the Southern and Northern Dynasties and hundreds of years of resistance to foreign invasions. The city has been destroyed and built repeatedly, and has been reinforced every time. It has gradually become a solid city with a circumference of twenty miles and a city wall two meters high.

It was winter and the weather was cold. The Sui army poured buckets of water on the city wall. After a night of freezing, Dunhuang City had become an ice city. Two-inch thick ice layer wrapped around the city wall, like a piece of ice armor, snow-white and crystal clear, shining with a magnificent ice blue color under the sun, like a dreamy castle.

In winter combat, defending the city was undoubtedly an advantage. Su Dingfang was not a fierce general who blindly attacked and killed. He studied under Li Jing and learned to use the right time and place to fight with all the favorable conditions around him. This was also an important reason why Yang Yuanqing sent him to the west after repeated consideration.

The biggest feature of Dunhuang County is that it is located deep in the Gobi Desert, with deserted population and sparse vegetation. There are only three poplar forests around Dunhuang City, all of which were cut down by Su Dingfang. Many red willows that were born along the river survived because of their curvy appearance and were not suitable for siege weapons.

Surrounded by dozens of personal soldiers, Su Dingfang immediately watched hundreds of soldiers cut down a poplar forest. This poplar forest covers an area of ​​more than ten acres and grows tall, thick and lush. Although the trees in Dunhuang are not easy to grow and this poplar forest has a history of at least a hundred years, Su Dingfang still ordered it to be cut down without hesitation.

Populus trees fell down with a bang and were dragged into the city by soldiers. Soli, the head of the Soli family next to him, felt extremely distressed. This poplar forest is the private property of his family. It has a history of 150 years and is now cut down.

As each big tree fell, the flesh on Soli's face shook violently, and his heart was like a knife cut. He finally couldn't bear the torture in his heart and went forward to beg Su Dingfang, "General Su. Keep the trees! Don't cut them down again."

Su Dingfang shook his head and said coldly: "Master Suo, I understand your mood, but I don't cut down these trees. The Tang army will cut down them, and they can't keep them."

"Then leave me one! This is the fireworks of my family. Leave a tree to let them grow again!"

Su Dingfang looked at him and saw his begging face, so he pointed the horse whip at a thin little tree by the river. It was a new seedling that only grew last year. "That little tree can be left for you."

Although the little tree is young and tender, it is better than cutting it all out. When Soli saw a soldier walking towards the little tree with an axe, he ran up in a hurry and shouted, "That tree was left to me by General Su, you can't cut it anymore."

Su Dingfang shook his head. In this cold season, the Tang army needs to burn fire to keep warm. Could this small tree be kept?

At this moment, a scout rushed from a distance and rushed to Su Ding's side for a moment. The scout bowed and bowed to the front of him and said, "Report to the general, I discovered the Tang army, about 15,000 people, and have arrived in Yumen County."

"Who is the Lord?"

"Report to the general, it seems to be Li Xiaogong, the King of Huai'an!"

"So it's him!"

Su Dingfang said to himself, and he quickly estimated in his heart that he would be about two hundred miles from Yumen County to Dunhuang County. If he marched day and night, he would probably arrive in Dunhuang County tomorrow afternoon, and there would be some time left. He immediately ordered: "Speed ​​up the logging time, it will not be completed by noon tomorrow, so a fire will burn the woods."

After giving the order, Su Dingfang turned his horse and ran into the city.

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The Tang army did not march day and night, but arrived at Dunhuang City at noon on the third day. Ten thousand Tang troops were swaying. The flags were waving and the momentum was spectacular. Under a handsome flag, Li Xiaogong was covered in armor and stared at the deserted Gobi Desert in a cold place. Wherever he saw, there were only endless rocks and sand dunes. Occasionally, there were a few bushes swaying in the wind, but no tree was seen.

At this time, Li Xiaogong was attracted by a former poplar forest. All the big trees were cut down, and only one stump that had been cut into messy cutting. The ground was full of debris of trees. There was a lonely tree left by the river in the distance, only the thickness of the arm, trembling in the cold wind. Li Xiaogong couldn't help but sigh, "The walls were clear and the fields were clear, and the Sui army did not leave them any chance."

Since the Tongguan incident more than two months ago, Li Xiaogong has been very low-key. He knew in his heart that the emperor was a little dissatisfied with him. This dissatisfaction was that he had made the incident of King Li Yuanji of Qi and did not take care of the emperor's face.

But Li Xiaogong did not regret it. If he did not punish him severely, Li Yuanji would destroy the entire Tang army. Li Shentong was originally responsible for managing Hexi. After Li Shentong was transferred to negotiate with the Northern Sui Dynasty, he was temporarily led by the Hexi army. Perhaps because of a Hongnong defeat, Li Xiaogong is very cautious now. He must not be careless and will not cause himself to suffer another defeat.

At this time, a scout chased after him, "Your Highness, Prince!"

Li Xiaogong held down the war horse. This was the scout he sent to Yiwu County to investigate the information. He immediately asked, "How is the other side of Yiwu County?"

"Report to the general, the Yiwu County Governor's garrison has surrendered to the Sui Dynasty, with more than 2,000 troops garrison, but our army cannot get through!"

"Why is this?"

"The Sui army guarded the most dangerous place in Xingxing Gorge. There were three thousand Sui army stationed there, which were easy to defend and difficult to attack. We could only pass by as merchants, and our army would need at least 30,000 people to capture it."

Li Xiaogong let out a long sigh. In fact, he didn't want to attack Yiwu County, but he couldn't find an excuse. This was the best. The Sui army defended Xingxing Gorge. His troops were insufficient, which was the best excuse.

Li Xiaogong was extremely unwilling to fight against the Sui army. Now that the morale of the Tang army is gradually recovering, if it is severely damaged by the Sui army, it will form a fear of Sui in the heart of the Tang army, which will be extremely unfavorable to the future battle with the Sui army.

Since the rebellion of Taiyuan, the Tang army was unstoppable and maintained a record of winning repeatedly during the process of moving south and occupying Guanzhong. That was because Yang Yuanqing's army was restrained by the Turks in Fengzhou, and they were so smooth.

But since the Sui army's eastern expedition, the Battle of Taiyuan, the Battle of Jiangjun, and the Battle of Hongnong, the Tang army have been defeated repeatedly and repeatedly, and the Sui army has annihilated 100,000 troops. Especially the internal strife in the Tongguan incident has caused the Tang army to be turbulent and morale is sluggish. It is precisely because of this that the Tang army fought with the Western Qin army, which was not as good as its own equipment and logistics. If Li Shimin had not been commanded in Longxi personally, if there were no internal strife in the Western Qin army, the Tang army would have lost consecutive battles and even the entire Longyou would have been completely abandoned. This is the specific manifestation of the Tang army's beginning to face the crisis. Under the cover of the elite equipment, the morale of the army was disintegrating and the morale was sluggish.

Li Xiaogong's heart was as clear as a mirror. The Sui army did not know the truth of the Tang army for the time being. If the Tang army was discovered, he might even lose his life in Dunhuang.

"Look at your highness, Dunhuang City has arrived!" A soldier pointed ahead and shouted.

Li Xiaogong stared at the god and looked into the distance. He saw a city with ice crystals like jade standing in the wilderness several miles away. The sun shone with a magnificent luster. Li Xiaogong's face showed a hint of bitterness that could not be concealed. The Sui army had already wrapped the entire Dunhuang city in ice. How could he attack the city?

"Tell me my order, the army will camp three miles away!"

The Tang army began to set up camp three miles away. They did not bring any supplies such as camping in the battlefield, and could only use a large number of spears to penetrate the city and prick the forest to protect the camp tent. A large tent stood up, and groups of soldiers ran to the river to dig ice to collect water.

Li Xiaogong personally deployed a camp, and he attached great importance to food security. This time they went north to grab time. They traveled lightly and simplifiedly, and they didn't bring much food, so they could only last less than half a month. The rest had to be transported by logistics food to support their confrontation with the Sui army.

A team of cavalry patrolled around and came back to report: "Your Highness, all the woods around Dunhuang County have been cut down by the Sui army. There are some red willows in the south, but there is no tree suitable for siege ladders."

"I know, go and explore again!"

Li Xiaogong was very annoyed. They did not bring siege weapons. The Sui army was firmly guarding the walls and clearing the fields, so they could not find a tree suitable for siege weapons. Do they still need to let them go to Zhangye County to transport siege weapons?

At this time, Deputy General Shi Wanbao walked to Li Xiaogong and whispered: "Your Highness, this battle is very unfavorable to us!"

Shi Wanbao was a general of the Li Shentong faction. He was originally a powerful Chang'an. He was named Duke of the Yuan Dynasty by Li Yuan for his contribution to assisting Li Shentong to seize Guanzhong. He was an extremely smart and cunning person. He found that the Sui army did not intend to fight with them, and it was impossible to fight quickly, which made him very worried. Their army was Li Shentong's subordinates. If he was defeated in Dunhuang County, he would not be able to explain to Li Shentong when he returned.

We lack food and the food route is too long. Once the enemy cuts off our food route, this battle will collapse without fighting. Moreover, the wind and sand are very strong, and the climate is extremely low at night. The soldiers are very complaining. It is better to withdraw the troops and go back! I told the emperor that the Sui army has taken Dunhuang County and we cannot win. It is best to keep our strength."

Li Xiaogong sighed, "I just arrived today and I was unable to explain to the emperor. I would be laughed at by the Sui army. I will hold on for a few days first. If the situation is really bad, then consider withdrawing the troops. You should first calm the morale of the army and tell them that the Sui army has few rations and few soldiers, and they will not be able to support them for a few days."

Shi Wanbao had no choice but to go to appease the soldiers. Even though he knew it was a lie, he could only deceive the soldiers to relieve their fear.

On the top of the city, Su Dingfang watched the Tang army camp. The other party did not even have a camp. Don’t they know the wind and sand at night in Dunhuang? A cold smile appeared on the corner of Su Dingfang’s mouth.

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At night, the wind was raging, sand and dust were everywhere, and the howling sound of the bitter northwest wind was like the earth crying, which was terrifying. The eyes were covered in gray, and it was hard to see clearly if you could take a step away.

The west city gate of Dunhuang slowly opened, and Li Shatuo led a team of scout cavalry of more than a hundred men to run out of the city, and disappeared in a moment in a row.

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Chapter completed!