Chapter 3 Yangguan (Eight Hours)

"Captain! You, you're really okay?! Finding that Wang Xun was widowed, Fang Ziling was very unsure, so he approached and asked in a low voice.

"No, oh, it's fine!" Wang Xun suddenly woke up from his memories, smiled reluctantly, and responded in a low voice. What kind of military glory, the glory of the Tang Dynasty, that is something that can't be beaten with seven strokes of oneself. Right now, saving your life is the number one priority.

"Are you really alright?" In view of the fact that Wang Xun had gone crazy not long ago, Fang Ziling continued to ask.

"It's all right. Get out of the way! Wang Xun raised his foot and kicked Fang Ziling aside, "Get out, bring a few to Lao Tzu, and go pick up all the weapons that you just dropped." The surname Gu will definitely not go far. Mali, there is still a fight in this battle tonight! ”

"Alas, alas!" Fang Ziling rubbed the footprints on his buttocks and ran away. Looking at the other party's back when the sky fell and he didn't care, Wang Xun couldn't help but laugh dumbly. It's good to be carefree, and I used to be carefree a year ago. But in recent times, I've seen so much.

"Captain, Captain!" Another stammering call came from the right, interrupting his thoughts. Wang Xun turned around when he heard the sound, and saw the expectant face of the gang elder Zheng.

"Is there something wrong? Say! Smiling, he kindly ordered.

"No, no!" Gang Elder Zheng shrunk his neck, and his gaze began to dodge. Soon, he lowered his head again, looked at his toes and asked, "Strong, robber, I'm talking about those guys in Hexi, and yet, don't you plan to retreat?" ”

"We are the officers and soldiers. Just beat them like robbers! Wang Xun pushed the other party's shoulder and ordered with a smile. He understands the other party's fears, throughout the ages, killing officials is tantamount to rebellion. Although the Hexi army on the opposite side is under the banner of sand pirates.

Unexpectedly, he guessed Lao Zheng's mind wrong. The other party reluctantly smiled and continued to ask: "I, I mean, it's better to run away at night, and when they react, they want to chase us, but they can't find us!" ”

"I'm afraid not!" Wang Xun thought for a moment and responded in a low voice, "First, we are not as familiar with the roads here as they are, and we are sleepy and tired, and it is easier for the enemy to find an opportunity. Second, we can't run fast at all with so much baggage. It's easy to leave a mark on the desert, as long as you follow the footprints, you will definitely be able to catch up! Looking at the other low-level officers who gathered around, he thought for a moment and continued to add, "Third, in fact, everyone knows that the gang of dog thieves in the Hexi Army came to kill people on the orders of Yang Guozhong. If we are let go like this, not only will they not be able to explain to Yang Guozhong, but the crime of robbing and killing the materials of the imperial court alone will be enough to make the Hexi army move the heads of a group of people from top to bottom!! (Note 1)

The last one, in fact, the officers have long been clear in their hearts. I just want to find some hope from Wang Xun. Now that hope was shattered, everyone's eyes immediately dimmed. Seeing this scene, Wang Xun hurriedly smiled and cheered everyone up, "What are you afraid of?" Anyway, we've already defeated them once, and we'll beat them again. When they don't dare to entangle, when can they continue to hurry! ”

Everyone smiled reluctantly, but their morale still couldn't be raised. In the melee just now, although everyone beat the Hexi Army to the point of losing their armor, there were more than 30 Flying Dragon Guards on their side who stayed in the desert forever. Now there are only more than 60 brothers who can fight, and how many times are they able to entangle with the Hexi Army?

For the first time to command a battle independently, Wang Xun didn't know what else he could do. Between the brothers and the Hexi bandits of the Gulitu Division, only one side must be able to get out of the desert alive. If you abandon the baggage and escape, what awaits everyone is still a dead end. But if you just wait for death on the spot, it really doesn't seem like a solution. The last time he defeated Gu Li Tu, it was because this person was too light on the enemy and underestimated the combat power of the Wyvern Praetorian Guard. And next time, everyone will not be so lucky, Gu Litu, who has suffered several losses in a row, is estimated to be pressed by the whole army as soon as he comes up, and no longer retains any spare strength.

Just as he was hesitating, the guide Lao Yue sneaked over again, raised his face that had been beaten into a pig's head, and proposed with a smile, "Small, the little one still knows a way, a road, also, maybe it's a way!" ”

"Tell me about it!" Everyone was overjoyed, and without waiting for Wang Xun to speak, they immediately responded loudly.

"Toward, southward!" Guide Lao Yue stretched out his finger and pointed to the unpredictable distance under the starry sky, "South, not far from here." I know a small road that leads directly to Tibet. The eastern part of Tubo over there has an order, and anyone who can bring a Mo knife to throw it over will be rewarded ....." He swallowed hard and spit, his eyes revealing endless greed, "Reward twenty ingots of silver." Five yaks, plus twenty slaves and a pasture, cash in on the spot! Tong, Tongsuo, no bullying! (Note 2)

The words fell, and there was silence all around. The Flying Dragon Guards hated Yang Guozhong and Ge Shuhan for plotting to kill them, but the pride of being a Tang person in their bones was never swallowed up by hatred. And Tubo, in the eyes of everyone, is a foreign barbarian who drinks blood, surrendering to the past, it will definitely humiliate his eighteenth generation ancestors, it is better to die in the desert.

"That, that road, in fact, is actually not difficult to walk!" The guide Lao Yue knew that from tonight, he would definitely not be able to return to Hexi, so he agitated like a spring tongue and continued to be confused, "Bypass the Great Snow Mountain, and there will be Tubo people to answer." Anyone who defected from Datang's side, as long as he has the ability, can do it and become a big official! Like, like the captain, such a few, less ......"

"Get out!" Before he could finish speaking, Wang Xun kicked over. "If you dare to talk nonsense, I'll kill you first! Lao Zheng, tie him up for me and stuff horse manure in his mouth. Before he arrives at Shule, no one is allowed to untie him! ”

"No!" Gang Elder Zheng let out a loud voice and stepped forward to hold down the guide Lao Yue. Unceremoniously tied up a sturdy knot.

Several of the other low-ranking officers of the Wyvern Praetorian Guard shook their heads and smiled bitterly. Now that Captain Wang has reported the word Shule, everyone doesn't have to think about it anymore. It's better to die in the desert than to flee to Tibet and make future generations unable to raise their heads in front of people.

"Lao Zhou, Lao Zhu. Take some of your brothers and your people out to see if there are any brothers alive on the battlefield. Shaking his head, Wang Xun left all his chaotic thoughts behind. Tubo, he will not go if he is killed. Waiting for death here is not his habit. At present, the only way to get everyone out is to annihilate all the Hexi soldiers and horses under Gu Litu's department in the next round of battle. In this way, even if Ge Shuhan got the news later, it was too late to send troops to chase and kill him.

Zhou Deshu, the leader of the gang, and Zhu Wuyi, the leader of Minzhuang, hugged each other's fists and took the order. Only then did he gather the manpower, Wang Xun caught up with him again, and added in a deep voice, "Whether it is the Praetorian Guard, or the people, whether they are seriously injured or have died in battle. and all of them were carried into the strongholds. We cannot leave their deaths without a place to bury. Later, we will light a fire and burn the war dead, and as long as some of us get out of this desert alive, we will bring their ashes back to Chang'an. None of them will be left behind! ”

"Hmm!" The guards and Minzhuang nodded with red eyes, and strode towards the place where the battle was most fierce just now. None of them will be left behind, and from now on, there will be no difference between the Praetorian Guards and the Minzhuang. They are all Chang'an people, as long as one person leaves the desert alive, they must let everyone's souls return to their hometown.

The next battle will be the last battle of the night. The morale of the brethren could not support the fifth battle, and the number of the Wyvern Praetorian Guard could not withstand the greater attrition. Looking at the empty desert in front of him, Wang Xun's voice had a calmness that was extremely incommensurate with his age. Like a battlefield veteran who had commanded many battles, he slowly adjusted his deployment, "Da Liu, you go and pick a hundred of the best war horses." Lao Zhao, you unloaded those swarms from the carriage and placed them in front of the camp. When the enemy attacks again after a while, you take the wounded soldiers and take charge of igniting the fire. Old Wei, you still lead the people and are responsible for suppressing them with bows and crossbows. Other janitarians, hurry up and press to rest. After the swarm of bees is released, we immediately ride our horses and rush out, only to pounce on Guli! ”

"No!" The soldiers glanced at Wang Xun in surprise and bowed down to receive the order. The change in the Captain is so great that it seems to have suddenly been reborn. No longer green, no longer confused, replaced by a daunting calmness and maturity. It's like a knife that finally cuts its edge on the sand, from head to toe, revealing a sharp edge.

About half an hour later, another cavalry came around from behind the dunes in the distance. Slowly approaching the barracks, closely following the cavalry, and a large brigade of foot soldiers who had lost their helmets earlier. Behind the foot soldiers were hundreds of lightly armored rangers, with freshly severed heads hanging from their horses' necks.

Those heads were all Hexi soldiers. With no hesitation in killing, Gulli tried to regroup his team before dawn. In order to make sure that nothing went wrong, he transferred all the cavalry that had been arranged around him to block the retreat of the Wyvern Praetorian Guard. Mixed with the remnants of the previous army, ready to deliver the final blow to the prey.

There is no fourth. Although they are in different camps, Gu Litu and Wang Xun have a good heart. The prestige of the Hexi army did not allow it, and neither did the pride of the Turkic royal family. "Order, all dismount, raise shield!" Gritting his teeth, he ordered loudly, "Form a fish scale array, press it directly, and never die!" ”

"Woo, woo, woo, woo-woo-" The cronies around him grabbed the horn inlaid with gold wire and passed on the order of Gu Litu. They are the offspring of the blue wolf, and the wolves pass by, and even the tigers and lions will be torn to pieces.

Note 1: Ancient Lingnan was

Note 2: Mo Dong Zebu, the great minister of Tubo, Tianbao murdered Tubo Zampu Chidezu in the 14th year. Later, he was killed by the Tibetan prince Chi Songde.