On May 17 of the 10th year of the Tang Dynasty, the capital of Zhongcao State, the southwest of Butana City, at the entrance of the Grand Canyon.

At this moment, there were already camps everywhere, and beyond the camps, near the direction of the city of Zaibtana, a wide and deep, north-south direction, six or seven miles long, was being excavated.

On the inside of the trench and between the camps, various fortifications are also being built in an orderly manner. On the ground between the fence and the fence, dozens of short trenches are also planned with white ash, which are vertical and horizontal, and there are pitfalls used to block the enemy layer by layer, and there are also passages for cavalry to attack. Such a solemn and solemn statement is enough to see how much importance the Great Cannibal attaches to this battle.

Outside the trenches, there were constantly large food sentinels riding in and out, transmitting military information and covering the camp. At this moment, a tall Arabian war horse, guarded by dozens of elite Arab cavalry, was hurrying towards the largest camp on the inside of the trench.

The man who was on the horse was none other than the number one general under the command of J. Posirin, Ziyad ibn al-Sari.

After yesterday morning's military meeting, Qi Yad led 10,000 Khorasan religious warriors and 30,000 troops with the surname Zhaowu to go here to build fortifications in advance and command the overall situation of the front line. When the follow-up troops led by Hekh Posilin arrived, Ziyad could take the 40,000 men to Syldaria and ambush them.

What he didn't expect was that Anxijun's movements would be so fast. Before yesterday's military meeting, he had already sent a large number of horsemen to Zhongcao and Dongcao, ordering the local residents of Dashi to evacuate quickly. The large cannibal cavalry at the station left a small part, and came to report at any time after hearing the information.

But when he came here yesterday evening, he got the information that the light cavalry of the Anxi Army had fought all the way to Zhongcao State. Most of the residents of Da Shi in Dongcao and the soldiers in the military station have not had time to evacuate, and they are being slaughtered. The Anxi army actually defeated Hushu City without attacking, and then without stopping for a moment, it divided thousands of light cavalry to kill Zhongcao.

Fast speed, adventurous tactics! But it really caught them off guard.

Of course, Qi Yade would not have thought that when Xiao Quai's team passed through this canyon for the first time, Xiao Quzhi found that it was a good place to fight and block. After going fifteen miles deeper, they decisively decided to let one of Ning Yuanguo's Tuojie return to stay in the city of Zaobutana, and pay attention to the movement of the Great Eclipse.

As soon as he began to assemble troops and build fortifications here, the Tuojie immediately hurried back and reported the situation to Gao Xianzhi. After receiving the news, Gao Xianzhi also decisively advanced the plan, and immediately ordered Duan Xiushi to lead 3,600 light cavalry to sweep Dongcao and Zhongcao, and kill until he robbed Butana City for fifty miles east of the city, and sent people to pick up Xiao Quai.

Qi Yad immediately sent people to Samad Jian to report this information to Hepo Silin, and at the same time sent 600 elite sentries to the direction of Dongcao overnight to inquire about the situation. At dawn, another 4,000 religious warriors were sent to pick up the local soldiers trapped in the barracks, and at the same time to combat the arrogance of the Anxi army. He himself went to rob the city of Butana with dozens of personal guards, and ordered the king of Zhongcao to step up the reinforcement of the city defenses and the clearing of the fortified walls.

And at this time he hurried back to the camp, for no other reason, and Posilin arrived.

Dozens of horsemen hurriedly returned, and two hundred steps away from the Chinese army camp, Qi Yade saw more than 100 Jiuguo Hu hanged on a wall, among which there was also a big food officer, who was one of his subordinates.

Qi Yade raised his hand, beckoned a battalion officer to come over and asked, "What's the matter?" ”

The battalion officer on duty was full of panic, and whispered: "They let go of the family of King Kangguo, and the marshal was furious and put them to death, and the remaining Jiuguo Hu was punished with hard labor. ”

Qi Yade was shocked in his heart, and secretly thought that everything was really not going well, the decisive battle between Dashi and Datang was imminent, and Shi Guo and Huang surnamed Tuqishi were still a thousand miles away. In front of him, there are only three forces that can make the upper force, on their own side, Datang and Zhaowu Nine Kingdoms. Although the army of the Nine Kingdoms of Zhaowu is not good at fighting, it is indeed a real geographical ghost, and the number is the largest. As long as you can suppress the people of the Nine Kingdoms of Zhaowu to fight the Tang Dynasty together, the chances of victory on your side will be much greater.

On that day, according to the order of Hepo Silin, he suddenly sent troops to surround the fortress built by King Kangguo outside the city of Sama, forcibly captured his family, and then immediately sent troops to secretly escort to a large food fortress outside the city of Xicaosedi.

Before Ziyad rode to the tent, two guards of the tent opened the cowhide curtain for him. When he saw him come in, he opened his mouth and said, "I think you already know that the family of the Ao Hao family has been rescued. ”

"I just found out." Qi Yade nodded, frowned, and said, "Was it rescued by Duai?" I'll tell him to hand over this old dog. ”

"It's not Duh, they were rescued by the Tang people." And Posilin shook his head and said slowly: "The people who rescued them were four Tang people, ten Turkic people, and one Jiuguo Hu people. According to the account of Dehgan, who was transporting military rations, one of them was very valiant, and he was so brave that he was captured, and then disguised as his tuojie, and fled from here with his aggressive family, and it is estimated that he has now fled to Hushu City. ”

"Tang people?" Qi Yade was taken aback, and said a little nervously: "It's not bad now!" ”

"It's not bad, I've kept the news tightly sealed, and I don't know it now. As long as we keep a close eye on Duai and don't let the Tang people come into contact with him, the Anxi army has no choice. Aggressively still has to be obedient and obedient. And Posilin waved his hand, telling Ziyad not to be overly nervous. He paused, and then asked, "This matter is left to you, and you must keep an eye on the Kang people." Now tell me about the situation. ”

And Posilin's composure eased Ziyad's tension a lot. Indeed, what if the Tang people rescued Duai's family, as long as they strictly guarded it and didn't let Duai know the news. The effect is still the same, and he will still think that his family is in his own hands, and he still has to be at his mercy. As for his family in the future, it doesn't matter, as long as the Anxi army is defeated, Hezhong still doesn't want to do anything, just do it. When the time comes, what's the matter if you kill it together?

After thinking about this, Ziyad was a little relieved, but when he heard that Po Silin asked about the current situation, his mood became low again, and he said solemnly: "The situation is not very good, the light cavalry of the Anxi army came too quickly, and we were caught off guard, and half of the Arab inhabitants of Dongcao and Zhongcao did not have time to evacuate, and were being slaughtered by the Anxi army. At the same time, six or seven hundred soldiers were trapped in the station. ”

And Bo Xilin's voice was indifferent, and he said viciously: "There is always a chance to avenge this revenge." How many people are in their vanguard? Where are the main forces of the army? ”

Qi Yade thought for a moment and said, "I asked those who fled back, and according to the information they provided, I estimate that the vanguard of the Anxi Army is about three or four thousand people. I don't know where Gao Xianzhi's main force is, maybe it's already over, maybe it's still in the city. I have sent six hundred elite sentries to the direction of Hubo City to inquire about the news, and in the morning, I have ordered Asim to lead four thousand Khorasan warriors to the east to press and drive back the vanguard of the Anxi army. ”

And Posilin nodded and praised: "You did the right thing, you can't be pressed and beaten by the other party all the time." Tell Asimu to fight steadily, and slowly press Anxi to ride eastward, so as to win more time for our side. If you run into Gao Xianzhi's main force, tell him to slowly retreat westward. ”

The two of them came to a map, and Posilin asked, "Is there any news from the sentry you sent out?" ”

Ziyad shook his head: "Not yet." He suddenly thought of something and hurriedly said: "According to those who fled back, this time the Anxi army only killed our black-clothed Arabs in Dongcao and Zhongcao, and the people of the Zhaowu Nine Kingdoms will be fine as long as they don't resist." Those people of the Nine Kingdoms of Zhaowu had the Anxi Army as their backers, and they all rebelled, and took the Anxi Army to kill our people, and they also took the initiative to serve as auxiliaries for the Anxi Army. ”

And Posilin slammed his fist on the table and said angrily: "These capricious hyenas, thinking that they are looking for a backer, dare to slaughter our people. Look, when we defeat the Anxi army, I will kill all these Zhaowu nine surnames. After a while, his mood slowly calmed down, and he thought for a while: "Since I have already come, leave the matter here to me, you take 20,000 people to the Eastern Front, you must find out the truth and intentions of the other party, and act at the opportunity." ”

And Posilin always felt that something was wrong, and what was the use of Anxijun doing this just to take advantage of a small advantage? Gao Xianzhi is also a famous general in a hundred battles, can he win against himself by relying on these alone? Not to mention anything else, how can he break this line of defense that is being built now? As long as there is a stalemate for a few days, when the time comes, Qi Yad will attack from behind the Anxi army, and it will not be a fiasco?

But looking at Gao Xianzhi's appearance, he was full of confidence. Does he want to fight steadily and steadily, step by step, to fight a protracted war with himself in Zhongcao? That's not right, doesn't he want Anthy's nest? The whole army of Anxi is outside, Shiguo, Tuqishi surnamed Huang and Tubo can all take the opportunity to attack the four towns of Anxi! I really don't know what he's up to?

At the same time, Xiao Quzhi and Gao Xianzhi were also discussing the military situation here in Hushu City.

At this time, Gao Xianzhi had already sent follow-up troops, and they were uprooting the military stations along the way of Dongcao and Zhongcao one by one. He searched all the rich people in Huboring City, and Duan Xiushi grabbed a lot of money all the way. The two combined gains, excluding the part distributed to Ge Lulu and Ning Yuanguo, are enough for the Anxi army to spend for two or three years. Gao Xianzhi didn't have anything on the surface, but he was happy in his heart.

When he heard that Xiao Qu was sick, he rescued the family of King Kangguo, and reported the information he got along the way to him in detail. Gao Xianzhi was so excited that he almost couldn't sit still, this second brother can always surprise him.

The two of them discussed carefully in front of a rough river for a long time, and Gao Xianzhi was very shocked by Xiao Quai's very risky and bold idea. If it was someone else, Gao Xianzhi would definitely scoff at half of it and didn't want to listen to it anymore. But these words came from Xiao Quai's mouth, but Gao Xianzhi felt that maybe he could really do it.

He decided to believe Xiao Quai, Gao Xianzhi looked at his eyes, and said solemnly: "Second brother, you are really confident that with only six thousand people, you can drag down tens of thousands of people and Bo Xilin and Qi Yade?" ”

Xiao Quzhi smiled: "Try it, I haven't led any soldiers, I just provide an idea, the real commander is still a general." ”

Gao Xianzhi waved his hand: "No problem, I wrote to ask Cheng Gong to fully cooperate with you." However, if it really doesn't work, don't hold on, just retreat and hold the city. ”

Xiao Qu was sick and said with a smile: "Actually, the key is that the eldest brother is fast enough." Even if I can't hold them back on my side, Qi Yad will send reinforcements, and Duan Bei and I will take these 6,000 people with them, and we will follow behind their butts and slow down their march. By the way, is there any news of the 2,000 people who remained in the northeast of Thirsty City? ”

Gao Xianzhi nodded and laughed: "Don't say it, your method is really effective, with the way of others, those two thousand people have already eliminated the scouts who came to find out the news from the seven or eight stone countries, and they have also killed more than ten white-clothed knights." Now the city of Talas in the Stone Kingdom should also be in a fog. When those infantry troops returned, they would lead their army eastward tomorrow and march to the city of Talas! ”

Looking at Gao Xianzhi's high-spirited appearance, Xiao Quzhi suddenly remembered something, he walked to Gao Xianzhi's side, and said in a solemn whisper: "Just as we are preparing to plot against the Zhaowu Nine Kingdoms, please pay more attention to the big food is also the same as us, to plot against Ge Lulu or Ning Yuanguo, Ning Yuan State affairs Tang is the most cautious, there should be no problem." Big brother pay more attention to Gelulu, don't give the big cannibal a loophole! ”