Hexi at the end of the first month.

The weather is cold and frozen, on the vast prairie, in addition to the wind blowing the barren grass, even the barking of wolves and wild dogs can not be heard, such weather, for the animals who are accustomed to the harsh winter, they also hope to be able to hide in the nest covered with thick hay, and sleep beautifully with their eyes closed.

Gushui River Valley.

The shallow frozen river surface has been torn apart by teams of horseshoe prints and rut marks, and pieces of irregular ice ridges protrude and cross the horseshoe of the war horses.

The most obvious gap between the war horse and the horse and the horse is whether it has the leg strength and endurance to run long distances.

Li Yuanzhong's army flowed through the valley water, and did not go far, that is, it met with the cavalry army in front of Luo Jia, and at the west end of the valley water and the Wusheling Ridge, that is, the great city of Hexi, built the Tibetan city.

Of course, the adjectives of this big city can only be compared with Mobei and other places, if compared with Guanzhong, Gaizang City is like a small bazaar, not to mention the bluestone city wall, even the rammed earth wall is only low and only one person high, and the soldiers with greater strength can turn into the city with a little force.

The defensive function of the city wall is basically abandoned and useless for nomads like the Xiongnu and Yueshi, and the blood of the steppe peoples is soaked in addition to attacking or attacking, or spreading the reins and fleeing without a trace.

The Qin and Hungarian armies confronted each other on the line of Wusheling Ridge.

Luo Jia's Qin cavalry vanguard force of 4,000 cavalry collided head-on with 10,000 Hun cavalry reinforcements two days ago, and Qin cavalry met without fear.

This big slaughter lasted from noon to night, and the two sides lost countless generals, and the Qin army was equipped with sophisticated iron horseshoes and saddles, coupled with the unified replacement of standard spears, and in terms of combat effectiveness, it was already comparable to the Hun light cavalry who were good at horse fighting.

Even in terms of discipline, the Qin cavalry was stricter than the Xiongnu tribe soldiers, and the increasingly fierce battles made Luo Jia, as the chief general of the cavalry, personally join the battle group. Zuihou, the Huns finally collapsed psychologically in front of the cold-blooded and murderous Qin cavalry, and the tribal men who lost their fighting spirit were one or two at first, and then one after another evacuated the battlefield.

When it was time to clean the battlefield, Luo Jia, who was covered in blood, found that he had been hit by an arrow from the left flank, but fortunately, the scale armor made by the soldiers covered the vital parts, so that the Huns' arrows only cut through the skin on the surface.

The Qin army was in service, with more than 400 killed and more than 700 wounded. It is not easy to kill more than 3,000 Hun cavalry, and when the number of troops is less than that of the other party, it is not easy to have such a result.

After a temptation.

The Huns learned their lesson, the time, the place, the people and the three were on their side, the right Xian Wang Zuihou decided not to be arrogant to seek a decisive battle with the Qin army in the field, they began to set up camp tents around Gaizang City and Wusheling Ridge, and laid out a defensive line, in order to rely on the mountains and terrain to block the Qin army's attack.

Behind the Huns. The large pastures were their natural supply grounds, and the Qin army came from afar, except for the cavalry horses who could graze on the spot, the generals could not adapt to the climate in the Hexi area for a while.

As for the support of local herders. The Xiaoyue people and Qiang people who originally lived in eastern Hexi had already been either expelled or assimilated by the Huns, and it was impossible for the Qin army to get any aid and support here, so. The supply of the Qin army will completely rely on long-term transportation from the rear of Longxi, and whether this supply line is safe or not will play a key role in this westward expedition.

The big tent of the Qin army.

Li Yuan's face was solemn. Since his eyes were fixed on the sand table of the Hexi Corridor, he never left, and the infiltration of the Huns into the Hexi area made him feel a lot of pressure, and the first battle of the Luo Jia Army seemed to have the upper hand of the Qin army, but in fact, it was a defeat and no one took any advantage.

The Xiongnu tribe, almost all the people are soldiers, and the casualties of 3,000 cavalry are just a small tribe that dies out in internal strife, and they can't shake their muscles and bones at all, and if they want to completely solve the Hexi problem, the Qin army must not be dragged by the Huns in the line of Wusheling and Gaizang City.

"Marquis Wu, the two generals of Loulan Guobai and Li sent messengers to report that they have successfully killed the Xiongnu mission and began to form a coalition of various countries, once the time is ripe, they can send troops to the east at any time." Sima Li Zuoche, who accompanied the army, entered the account with a happy face and reported back to Li Yuan.

After Li Zuoche surrendered to Qin in the Qin-Zhao War, because of his outstanding performance in the war on the Northern Front, he was quickly reused by Li Yuan, and for the descendants of this famous general of Zhao, Li Yuan was very much looking forward to his future from the bottom of his heart.

Historically, Han Xin and Li Zuoche had a good relationship, and after Han Xin was falsely accused of rebellion, Li Zuoche also quietly withdrew from our sight, retired early, and even his birth and death years ended in an ominous ending. Perhaps, it was precisely because of Lao Liu's suspicion and killing that the battle of Baideng in later generations was unavailable and could only be conscripted in person.

Compared with Han Xin, Li Zuoche's resourcefulness is comparable, and in terms of ambition and control, he is much smaller, such a think tank figure is the talent that the Qin army urgently needs at present.

Li Yuan nodded, and motioned for Li Zuoche to summon all the generals to come over, which was the responsibility of a military commander, and it would also help Li Zuoche integrate into the Qin army team as soon as possible.

Among the generals, in terms of seniority, Luo Jia, the chief general of the cavalry, is undoubtedly the number one person, his face is a little yellow, he was injured in a battle, and lost more than 1,000 horsemen, which is not very beautiful news for the 30,000 Qin cavalry soldiers who have just entered the battlefield.

"Wuhou, judging from the situation of the first battle, the Huns relied on flexible and mobile tactics to fight with our army, their immediate shooting skills were very powerful, although our army's group combat tactics can have an advantage in close combat, but if they can't rush close to the enemy formation, then the advantage will not be brought into play, which is also the reason why our army suffered a large loss in the first battle. In terms of command, the last general has indeed underestimated the enemy and neglected, please punish him. When Cao Xin, Gan Yong, Lu Jia and other lieutenant generals and strategists arrived, Luo Jia was the first to speak and reviewed.

For Luo Jia, who was eager to win glory in the battle against the Xiongnu, the result of the first battle was indeed unsatisfactory, mainly because Qin Qi was lost in the previous stormy attack, thinking that the Xiongnu tribe was nothing more than that, and by the time he found out that it was the real Xiongnu elite cavalry who engaged in the battle, it was too late.

Fortunately, Luo Jia's injuries were not very serious, otherwise, he would have been carried back to Longxi in the first battle, and he, the chief general of the cavalry, would no longer have the shame to do it.

"The situation of the enemy and us in the first battle is unknown, losses are inevitable, General Luo does not have to blame himself, but the arrogance of the officers and men in the army underestimated the signs of the enemy, and it must be braked fiercely, I don't want that in the next battle, there will be a situation that will lead to the passivity of the whole army. This time, everyone is summoned to discuss a strategy to defeat the enemy. I believe that the current battlefield situation is clear to everyone, the 50,000 troops of the Xiongnu are in front, and our army can't advance now, let's talk about it, what are your ideas? Li Yuan pointed to the battlefield situation in Hexi, which had shrunk several times, and said slowly.

For Luo Jia, a trusted general who has been cultivated and grown up by one hand, Li Yuan still left some face for him, Luo Jia, Li Bi, and Wang Shang, these three young people who have followed him since Yongqiu, after several years of polishing, embarked on different paths.

Wang Shang is already the highest governor of Qin in Bashu, the most mature of the three, and Li Yuan's most reassuring one, Luo Jia's temperament is a little reckless and impulsive, but there is a brave and fearless side, in the post of the county guard of Longxi County, this young Qin army general has experienced grievances, experienced incomprehension, is maturing step by step, what he needs is the opportunity to grow again and again in setbacks.

As for Li Bi, his results made many people boo, he had such a chance to start, but he completely lost his goal in life in a drunken gold fan, and death was the most relief for him.

Strong enemies are ahead.

50,000 Xiongnu elite cavalry, in terms of troops, 10,000 more than the Qin army of 20,000 people who have not yet arrived, this advantage in troops, at first glance it may not sound like a big deal, but when it really comes to the battlefield, it can free up a hand for the Huns, so as to grasp the initiative on the battlefield.

"Wuhou, the confrontation between the two armies, for the Huns, there is a rich grassland as a backing, they are not afraid, but we can't, the grassland from Jincheng to Wusheling is poor, the war horses are not easy to eat, and the supply line is long, in case of being taken by the enemy, the army's heart will be turbulent, and the war will become more and more difficult." As a military commander, Li Zuoche has the right and obligation to analyze the battle situation as a whole, which is why Li Yuan brought this think tank with him.

Li Zuoche's words, although they were not listened to, were very real, and his reminder also made the expressions of generals such as Cao Xin and Gan Yong, who had always been smooth sailing on the domestic battlefield, solemn.

"Zuoche, go ahead and tell us about your vision?" Li Yuan encouraged. Li Zuoche is a calm person and has never said much, and his opinions are generally assertive.

"Wuhou, everyone, the ancestor of the left car had led 100,000 Zhao troops to fight with the Huns in the clouds, the ancestors surrounded the battle with chariots, and sent a cavalry army to attack the Huns' pastures, which led to a great victory. Once the Qi army penetrates deep behind the enemy, it can sweep the Qilian Mountains and Yanzhi Mountains, and if it retreats, it can continue to the west and join the Western Regions coalition forces advancing east in the Juyanhai area, so that the stalemate can be broken. ”

Li Zuoche was full of energy, and talked with indignation, this kind of battle analysis is his strength, the restraint at the beginning was encouraged by Li Yuan, and gradually let go, this is the first time he has contributed to the Qin State in the strict sense, although he is still a little awkward psychologically, and some are not adaptable, but the Zhao State no longer exists, even Zhao Xie is at ease to accept the appointment to be the Handan Order of the Qin State, and he no longer needs to abide by the ideal of restoring the country and so on. (To be continued......)