Chapter 5: Tang Dynasty chariots rumbled to start

Geshu Han is extraordinary, talented, cheerful, and very popular. He heard that he was going to the Western Regions, not only Chen Wanrong wanted to send him off, but Zheng Qing and Zheng Jianqiu and his wife also wanted to go with him.

Chen Wanrong used it too early and had not set off yet, Wu Daozi and Wang Han also arrived. So everyone rushed to Bashang together.

When I came to Bashang, I saw that there were crowds of people and the army was solemn and densely packed. I could not see it at first glance. In the Tang Dynasty, under normal circumstances, I would not go to the battle in winter, so I found a place to go to winter.

This is a rule that does not use troops in winter, especially during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, no matter how dangerous the situation was, as long as winter comes, there is no need to fight again. Find a place to stay in the winter and wait until the spring is warm and flowers bloom again.

The famous general Bai Qi broke this tradition. In the Battle of Yique, Bai Qi happened to choose the beginning of the war in winter. In the snow and ice, Bai Qi led dozens of Qin troops to launch a fierce attack on the Six-Nation Alliance, which had an absolute advantage. At that time, the Six-Nation Alliance was comfortable in the military camp, and there was no preparation at all. When the Qin army rushed in like a tide, they immediately panicked. After one battle, the Qin army beheaded nearly 300,000, which was the most beheaded in Chinese history.

From then on, the dogma of not using troops in winter was broken by Bai Qi, and the use of troops became more diverse.

The situation is different now, and Li Longji is planning ahead. The winter marching is hard, especially when rushing to the Western Regions, which is even more difficult. It is not only because of the cold, but also because of the inconvenience of the road and the difficulty of replenishing supplies. It can be said that there are many difficulties.

However, the soldiers were not afraid at all. Everyone was full of energy and wished they could fly to the Western Regions immediately.

Not afraid of difficulties and high morale are the fine traditions of the Tang army. It is precisely because of this valuable quality that the Tang Dynasty created brilliant martial arts.

The ranks were neatly arranged, the helmets and armors were bright, which made the onlookers amazed.

As soon as Chen Wanrong and his party arrived, they met Brother Shu Daoyuan. Brother Shu Daoyuan smiled and clasped his fists at Chen Wanrong: "I have met General Chen."

If Ge Shuhan hadn't met Chen Wanrong, Chen Wanrong would have helped him from all sources, Ge Shuhan is still just a knight, and is a hero on the streets of Chang'an. If that were the case, maybe Ge Shuhan would have really waited until after Ge Shu Daoyuan's death, he would have gone to Hexi with his sword.

Since joining Chen Wanrong in the army, Geshuhan has been smooth sailing and has become a rising star in the court. Now it is better. Not only does Li Longji send Geshuhan to the Western Regions, but he also let Geshuhan stand alone. This is an extremely glorious thing. Geshu Daoyuan fought all his life. Although he served as the deputy general of the Western Regions Protectorate, he did not have the only capital to the Western Regions. He is still much worse than Geshuhan now.

All of this is because of Chen Wanrong. Brother Shu Daoyuan is really grateful to Chen Wanrong. As soon as he met, he smiled so hard that there was only a small gap left in his eyes.

Chen Wanrong flew off the horse and held the etiquette of his future generations: "I've seen my uncle."

"Okay, okay!" Brother Shu Daoyuan held Chen Wanrong's hand and kept patting him lightly.

Wu Daozi and Wang Hanyi surrounded Geshuhan on the left and right, and smiled and said, "Brother Geshu, be careful when you go to the Western Regions. We are waiting for your good news in Chang'an."

"I'll ask you guys to be so happy." Geshuhan smiled heartily.

Wu Daozi pressed on Geshuhan's shoulder and blinked his eyes, and was a little naughty: "Brother Geshu, if you win a battle, I will make a picture of victory for you. When you return to Chang'an, I will give you these paintings. When you connect them together, it will be the picture of General Geshu's triumphant victory in the west."

"Then I'll be lucky Brother Wu!" Brother Shuhan joked: "If I win a hundred battles, wouldn't you draw a hundred paintings? One painting is worth ten thousand taels of silver, and one hundred is one million taels, then I'll make a profit."

A loud laughter sounded. Zheng Qing teased and said, "Brother Brother, you are too vulgar, right? Fortunately, we know you. If we don't know you, we will definitely treat you as a stinking person!"

"Yoyo! Who am I talking about? It turns out to be the bride!" Ge Shuhan teased.

Zheng Qing was both happy and shy, and blushed, and she said angrily: "Improper!"

"Then let me say something serious!" Brother Shuhan said to Chen Wanrong with a stern face: "Brother Chen, you are about to get married, but I can't drink your wedding wine. What do you think? Keep the wedding wine for me and drink it when I come back."

Chen Wanrong also joked: "Brother Brother Shu, you will not be able to come back in three or two years. By then, I will have my grandson in my arms, so you can only drink birthday wine, not wedding wine."

Zheng Qing pursed her lips and twisted it gently on Chen Wanrong's arm. Everyone laughed and pointed at Chen Wanrong and said, "Okay, General Chen, just talk nonsense."

"Nonsense?" Chen Wanrong imitated Geshuhan's tone and said, "Then let me say something serious. Geshu, if you win a battle in the Western Regions, just treat it as my wedding banquet. Is that serious?"

"This is almost the same!" Wu Daozi and Wang Han agreed in unison.

Zheng Qing also nodded and smiled continuously.

But Brother Shuhan shook his head, pointed at Chen Wanrong, and said with a stern face: "Brother Chen, are you really not satisfied? If I win a battle, you will be happy once. When I win ten or eight battles, won't you have ten or eight brides?"

This is where it goes? But, just be happy, just be happy, and laugh out loud.

This was too funny, and Zheng Jianqiu and his wife couldn't help but laugh. Zheng Qing leaned on Chen Wanrong's shoulder, smiling so hard that she gasped.

While we were talking and laughing, Ye Tianheng, Zhang Deming and other good craftsmen of military weapons and weapons arrived, and there was another greeting.

"The emperor is here!" Gao Lishi's voice sounded, and Li Longji and a team of Longwu soldiers came on horseback.

"See the Emperor!" Chen Wanrong and the others, as well as 30,000 soldiers, greeted each other in unison, with a huge momentum and trembling in the sky.

Li Longji flew off the horse and waved his hand, "Forgive it!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Li Longji waved his hand, and the slaughter in the palace opened the imperial wine he brought, and the wine was filled with fragrance. The slaughter in the bowl and gave Li Longji, Yao Chong, Chen Wanrong, and dozens of generals one bowl each.

Thirty thousand people went to war, and it was impossible for each to have a bowl of wine, so they could only toast the generals.

Looking up at the sky, Li Longji shouted: "Soldiers: You are going to war today, I will give you a strong journey! Today's weather is dark and cloudy, very cold! It's a very cold weather! However, I believe that cold is nothing to do with good men in the Tang Dynasty! The road to the Western Regions is not smooth, the cold is invading, and it is extremely difficult. I believe that you will definitely overcome these difficulties and arrive in the Western Regions as scheduled!"

"Arrival in the Western Regions as scheduled!" Under the leadership of Geshuhan, the 30,000 soldiers shouted in unison, thundering the sky.

Li Longji continued: "You will be beaten hard by me when you arrive in the Western Regions! The beatings of these bitches are so bad that they have no tempers!"

"A big cannibal raises a bitch! Haha!" The soldiers would never have thought that Li Longji would swear words and couldn't help laughing.

"I only have one expectation for you: to promote my reputation in China thousands of miles away from foreign lands!" Li Longji raised the bowl in his hand and said, "Come on! Soldiers, please do this bowl of storm wine!"

Everyone held up the wine bowl, shouted "dry" in one voice, raised their necks, and drank them all.

Zheng Qing was not good at drinking, but she still drank it in one breath very heroic. Zheng Qing was very gentle on weekdays, but at this moment she was heroic. After drinking, she waved her white wrist and smashed the wine bowl in her hand to the ground, and with a bang, it was smashed to pieces.

As soon as she fell, everyone, including Li Longji, smashed the bowl to pieces.

"Set out!" Ge Shuhan roared and passed the order down. The soldiers began to embark on their journey and rushed to the Western Regions. Chen Wanrong, Cao Zhixiong, Zhang Deming and others gave instructions, and they followed the army to Longxi.

Thirty thousand troops started to move, with extraordinary momentum, and the sound was like thunder, which made the earth tremble. At first glance, I could not see its head, and I saw the army galloping into the distance.

Li Longji stood at a high place, looking at the winding army, very satisfied, and nodded: "There are such a good man in the Tang Dynasty, why worry about not being prosperous! Chen Wanrong."

Chen Wanrong hurried over and said, "The emperor summoned me, don't you know what's important?"

Li Longji guided the army during the march: "Your proposal yesterday is very good, and I decided to adopt it. From now on, whenever there is any war, the Longwu Army will be sent to participate. The Longwu Army is the elite of the Tang Dynasty, but they have never been to the battlefield. From now on, they will be able to go to the battlefield. Such a good idea will be given in the future."

Chen Wanrong smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I thought of it by chance!"

"According to it? Then you have more thoughts about it by chance!" Li Longji's words made Chen Wanrong not know how to answer.

Li Longji said to Yao Chong: "Yao Chong and Geshuhan's army brought to the Western Regions are only part of it. The army is moving towards Youzhou, and you have to worry about food, grass, equipment, and being subdued. Also, you need to strengthen the blockade on the border and not let the news be leaked."

"I understand!" Yao Chong took the order.

Li Longji was the best-selling emperor, and was extremely smart. He had a very clear understanding of the war next year. Mochu had 400,000 troops. If he wanted to make the Later Turks surrender, he had to learn from the battle of Tubo and completely annihilate Mochu's army. Otherwise, there would be no peace in the north.

The use of troops against the Later Turks was completely different from that in Tubo. The terrain of Tubo was dangerous and not conducive to the deployment of the army, and there should not be too many troops to be invested. Similarly, the terrain was unfavorable, and the Tubo army could not gather too much, and it would not be possible that it would be impossible for it to escape.

The prairie is different. The prairie is vast and boundless. If there are fewer troops, it can only defeat the Turks, but not the main force.

At the beginning of the Turkic rebellion, there were hundreds of thousands of troops. Pei Xingjian could only defeat the Heishan Mountain, but not completely wiped out the troops, which was due to insufficient troops.

It is easy to defeat the enemy, but it is difficult to annihilate the enemy! The reason is that the troops are insufficient and the siege cannot be completed. To complete the siege of the enemy, it requires several times the enemy's strength. On the unobstructed grassland, once the war is unfavorable, the Turks can escape in any direction, and the superior force is even more important.

Of course, when the troops are equal, it is not impossible to complete the siege of the enemy. There is also a classic battle, which is the Changping War. The reason why the Qin army was able to complete the siege of the Zhao army in the Changping War was that Bai Qi used the complex terrain of the Shangjue area and sent troops to defend the dangerous passes, and the Zhao army had no way out. If Bai Qi could only defeat the Zhao army, it would be impossible to completely wipe out.

This is a prairie, and superior forces are particularly important. It is precisely from this point of view that Li Longji decided to send 500,000 troops to participate in the war next year. If he wants to annihilate Mochu's 400,000 troops, the 50 troops are still insufficient.

However, this is already two-thirds of the total strength of the Tang Dynasty. No matter how many, Li Longji can't take it out.

It is a bit harder to mobilize the army during the winter truce, but it can win time. As soon as the spring comes next year, the battle will start.

Now Youzhou is already a barracks, with hundreds of thousands of troops stationed. Although Youzhou is still thousands of miles away from the three cities of surrender, Youzhou is the most important strategic base of the Tang Dynasty in the north. The food, equipment, and clothing stored here can support the support of the army. If the army is sent to the three cities of surrender now, this transportation is a big problem. It is better to gather in Youzhou for winter.

There is another consideration. Such a large-scale army is not easy to keep confidential in the three cities where surrendered is not as good as being placed in Youzhou.

The most important consideration is that Li Longji would not be so stupid that he would surrender all 500,000 troops to the three cities who were surrendered, but had a grand idea that when the spring of the next year, the Tang army would travel from Youzhou to various places.

Youzhou, the governor's office, people come and go, civil officials, generals, and officers come and go, and there are endless streams.

"I will report to you, sir, and I will be ordered to come and withdraw 500 stones of food and 300 stones of grass. Please tell me!" A general handed the official document in his hand to Shen Que.

Shen Que took it, browsed it briefly, nodded and said, "Come on, take him to collect it."

The general was a little surprised. As he thought, Shen Que had to at least ask. Shen Que just read the official documents and immediately approved it. He couldn't help but ask: "Sir, don't ask about the situation."

"No need to ask. You did not falsely report it, it is equivalent to your number." Shen Que's answer was very concise.

"Sir, do you know how many of us are?" The general was very surprised.

Shen Que's answer surprised him: "I know how many people there are in each of your army. If you dare to report it in a false way, how can you tolerate it?"

Shen Que was a capable minister. Li Longji sent him to Youzhou to manage Youzhou and prepare for the war with the Turks. Shen Que deeply understood Li Longji's intentions, and after taking office, he acted vigorously and rectified his orders, and prepared for the war.

Li Longji was determined to fight a big battle next year and give him all the number of troops mobilized and how many places he had transferred. Of course, Shen Que knew it. If he wanted to take food and grass, he was looking for a crime.

The general had a sudden conflict and secretly thanked that he did not take the blame. Otherwise, he would have suffered a lot and was convinced and followed the people to collect food and grass.

"Sir, General Zhang is asking for a meeting!" A civil servant came in to report to Shen Que.

"Which General Zhang?" Shen Qi was busy dealing with official affairs without raising his head.

The clerk reminded him: "Sir, of course, General Zhang Shougui, the Protector of Beiting. Sir, you are too. If it weren't for General Zhang, who would have dared to disturb you?"

"Yes, that's right! Look, if you don't take the blame, just approve it immediately." Shen Qiu explained and strode out.

I saw a tall young man standing in the yard. The young man was less than 30 years old and was dressed in plain clothes, but he had a sense of tiger spirit, which made people feel good at seeing him. Shen Que stepped forward, held his fists and said, "Shen Que met General Zhang."

"Zhang Shougui has met Lord Shen!" Zhang Shougui returned the gift.

"General Zhang, please come in the room!" Chen Que welcomed Zhang Shougui into the room, served tea, and said with a smile: "General Zhang is not in Beiting, why did he come to Youzhou?"

"Your High School learned that I was returning to the court with the order. The emperor said in the imperial edict that I would pass by Youzhou when I returned to the court and learn about the situation in Youzhou." Zhang Shougui answered truthfully.

Chen Que laughed and said, "General Zhang, the emperor does not want you to understand the military situation, but to be familiar with these troops. In the coming year, these troops will be under your command!"
To be continued...