Chapter 2232: Defeat Changsun Wuji, decisive battle at Wuzhangyuan (Part 1)
Chapter 2232 Defeat Changsun Wuji and decisive battle in Wuzhangyuan (Part 1)
Chapter 2228: Defeat Changsun Wuji, decisive battle at Wuzhangyuan (Part 1)
Changsun Wuji's 40,000 reinforcements were originally going to be transferred to Aoguan, but because Li Cunxu urgently asked for help, Li Shimin was transferred to support Xiaoguan.
After receiving the order, Changsun Wuji decisively led 20,000 cavalry and rushed to Xiaoguan on a starry night. Unfortunately, it was a step too late. Xiaoguan had been captured by the Qin army, and the guard Li Cunxu and others were all killed in the battle.
Changsun Wuji thought he had moved quickly enough, but he never expected that Huo Qubing used cavalry to attack the city and captured Xiaoguan in only half a day. This was simply shocking.
If Li Cunxu, the general at Xiaoguan, was a fool, then it would be nothing if Huo Qubing destroyed the city in half a day.
But Li Cunxu was obviously a good general with both civil and military skills. Huo Qubing was able to break through Xiao Pass in half a day under his defense. The strength of the Qin army coming from afar was terrifying.
Changsun Wuji now failed to support Xiao Guan, and instead ran into Huo Qubing's headquarters. Naturally, he felt fear in his heart.
If the 40,000 reinforcements are there and the infantry and cavalry fight together, Changsun Wuji will not be afraid of the more than 30,000 Qin cavalry. But now he only has 20,000 cavalry in hand. If he directly fights with the more than 30,000 Qin army's cavalry, he will definitely not be able to handle it.
Like Changsun Wuji, Huo Qubing did not expect Changsun Wuji to arrive so quickly. He was secretly glad that he moved quickly enough, otherwise it would have been delayed for another day and a half for Changsun Wuji to enter Xiaoguan. He was thinking It may be difficult to capture Xiao Pass.
Xiao Pass has just been captured, and another 20,000 Tang Army cavalry have arrived. All good things have happened together.
Huo Qubing was not afraid of anyone in a field battle, so he decisively ordered: "The target is the Tang Army ten miles southeast. The entire army will charge."
“Promise.” All the generals responded in unison.
“Where are Gongsun Xuanyuan and Jintai?”
“The end will be here.”
"Each of you will lead eight thousand cavalry to form the left and right wings to protect our center."
)
Following Huo Qubing's order, the Qin army's cavalry battalions were immediately divided into three groups. Xuanyuan and Jintai each led 8,000 cavalry to form the left and right wings, while Huo Qubing personally sent 17,000 cavalry to form the central army.
Thirty-three thousand cavalry rushed towards the Tang army ten miles away at full speed. The horses' hooves stamped on the ground and stirred up a lot of smoke and dust, as if there was an earthquake.
Not long after the Qin army moved, spies came to report.
"Report...to General, the Tang army does not dare to fight head-on and has retreated to the direction of Qixian County."
Hearing this, Huo Qubing on horseback smiled coldly: "It's easy to come, but it's not so easy to leave. Send the order and attack at full speed. Don't let this group of Tang troops escape."
Huo Qubing dared to fight Changsun Wuji, but Changsun Wuji did not dare to fight Huo Qubing. Now his strength was obviously weaker than the Qin army, so he rationally chose to avoid the edge for the time being.
Changsun Wuji decided to retreat to Qianxian first, join the 20,000 infantrymen in the rear, and then send the news of Xiaoguan's fall back to Chang'an, waiting for his lord's instructions before deciding how to repel the Qin army.
As for after retreating to Qian County, will Huo Qubing cross Qian County and lead his army straight to Chang'an?
Changsun Wuji believes that this is possible, but it is unlikely.
First of all, Chang'an is the largest city in Guanxi and is easy to defend but difficult to attack. However, Huo Qubing had all the cavalry and no infantry. How could he capture Chang'an?
Secondly, if his 40,000-strong army is not dealt with, the Qin army's rear defense will be unstable. If they attack Chang'an rashly, they are likely to be cut off from their retreat.
Based on these two considerations, Changsun Wuji believed that Huo Qubing would not risk going straight to Chang'an so easily before dealing with his threat.
Changsun Wuji still underestimated Huo Qubing after all. His ideas were based on conventional ideas, but Huo Qubing never felt comfortable playing tricks in battles.
How could Huo Qubing, who dared to march more than 3,000 miles long distance and go deep into the Tang Dynasty's rear areas alone, care about the rear areas? Grain road?
Huo Qubing was prepared from the beginning. After entering Guanzhong, he was turned upside down. He was not even prepared to leave a garrison at Xiaoguan.
The reason why Long Qie was left behind to guard Xiao Pass was not to guard the retreat, but to guard the one hundred thousand stones of food and grass. Changsun Wuji wanted to rely on Qian County to contain Huo Qubing, which was naturally impossible. He even thought of escaping.
"General, the Qin army is catching up, and it is very fast. If this continues, I am afraid that it will catch up with our army." Gao Siji reported anxiously.
Hearing this, Changsun Wuji frowned: "The Qin army's cavalry rides Bingzhou horses, which are better at endurance but weaker at sprinting.
The Xiliang horses that our Tang army rides are good at sprinting but weak at endurance.
How could the Xiliang horse be overtaken by the Bingzhou horse? "
Gao Siji looked annoyed and despised Changsun Wuji for being pedantic. When did he still care about this? He quickly pointed to the rising smoke and dust behind him and said anxiously: "General, you can see for yourself."
Changsun Wuji held a telescope, turned his head and looked back, and his pupils suddenly shrank.
The Qin army is really about to catch up, and the Bingzhou horse is actually faster than the Xiliang horse. This is simply unreasonable.
Changsun Wuji estimated the distance in his mind. According to this posture, the Qin army would be able to catch up in less than two hours. Although the Tang army could reach Qian County in two hours, it would not be enough for all the soldiers to withdraw into the city.
If the Qin army attacks the city before the army has completely entered the city, the situation will definitely be even more chaotic. If the Qin army is allowed to attack the city, it will be a trap.
It is better to turn the horse's head now and fight the Qin army decisively.
After thinking this, Changsun Wuji quickly asked: "Where is the current position of the 20,000 infantry?"
“I just received the report and have passed through Qian County and are preparing to retreat into the city.”
"Don't enter the city. Let Shi Jingtang lead his army to come to support immediately. As long as these 30,000 Qin cavalry can be held back, after the decisive battle begins, if the other 20,000 troops support in time, they may not be able to repel the Qin army's cavalry."
Changsun Wuji said in a deep voice, this was the only way he could think of.
Under the leadership of Changsun Wuji, the 20,000 Tang army cavalry continued to retreat. However, after retreating for half an hour, they stopped and turned around, waiting for the arrival of the Qin army to prepare for the decisive battle.
With this half-hour's march, the 20,000 Tang Army infantry in the rear could reach the battlefield faster.
“Report, the Qin army is still three miles away from our army.”
“Report, the Qin army is still two miles away from our army.”
“Report, the Qin army is still one mile away from our army.”
Changsun Wuji showed a solemn look on his face, drew his sword and shouted: "Soldiers, the Qin army is aggressive. Our army has no way to retreat. The only way to survive is to defeat the Qin army in front..."
【Ding dong, Changsun Wuji activates the skill ‘Inspire’. This effect can boost the morale of the whole army and increase the combat power of the whole army. Command +2 and force +2.
Changsun Wuji: Commander 93, Force 80, Intelligence 95, Politics 98, Charisma 88;
At present, Changsun Wuji's commander has increased to 95, and his force has increased to 82;】
(End of this chapter)