Xu Youchang's worries are not unreasonable conjectures.

Although the Guanzhong Plain is open and conducive to the cavalry, it is a dangerous place after all. From a general strategic perspective, once the surrounding pass fortresses are firmly controlled by the opponent, then no matter how large the scale of the cavalry, it can only be limited to operating in this relatively closed area.

On the other hand, east of Tongguan, the Central Plains, Lianghuai, Qilu, and Yanzhao, the cavalry can run wildly without shelter and unhindered, as long as they want, they can run almost all the way to the edge of the cape. Only the great river in the south can slightly block their progress.

It is precisely because of this that Lao Jianhua agreed to cooperate with the Turks again, the purpose of which was to let the Turkic iron cavalry ravage Jiangbei and completely disrupt the territory of the imperial court, while he did not have to worry about the Turkic threat by virtue of the danger of the river.

Li Jiangyao followed this line of thought and analyzed Xu Youchang: "I judge that Ashina should have seen the problem, so he began to adjust his strategy. Once the Turkic army lets go of its hands and feet, and only considers the annihilation of the living forces of the Holy Tang, and does not care about the gains and losses of the city's territory, its combat power will definitely increase exponentially. Brother, if we want to besiege and intercept them in the Central Plains, how many troops do we need? Five-fold? Or tenfold? ”

Xu Youchang said in a deep voice: "Taking into account the mobility of the cavalry coming and going like the wind, ten times the strength of the troops is probably not enough. Without terrain and passes to rely on, the infantry could not catch up with the horses' hooves. ”

"So, the situation may be about to change dramatically." Li Jiangyao's expression looked very solemn: "If the imperial court could listen to my advice early and concentrate superior forces to seize Tongguan a year ago, plus Wuguan, Zijin Pass and Shengyu Pass, then Ashina would be able to blockade Ashina in the Guanzhong area." But now, the Turks have come to their senses and are marching eastward, which means that the wolves have completely broken free from their chains and are about to start eating people. ”

Xu Youchang pondered: "If you analyze it this way, then the current target of the Turks is not necessarily the Eastern Capital, right?" ”

Li Jiangyao nodded: "Yes." Siege warfare and siege warfare were all wrong forces for the Turkic cavalry, and they did not need to sacrifice their strengths and weaknesses at all. Even if Ronia doesn't attack Luoyi, with those fragile light infantry, does Ma Hongjie dare to run out and take the initiative to provoke? If I were a Turk, I would definitely bully you and not dare to fight a field battle, so I only need to send a part of my troops to watch you, and then let the rest of the troops attack from all sides and plunder wildly. ”

"Jiang Yao, I think you're completely right." Xu You said: "After the Turks conquered the imperial capital, their mentality and thinking changed. Whether it is arrogant and lascivious, or conservative and self-consolidated, in short, they give up the advantage of iron cavalry and become more and more like Saint Tang. It wasn't until we rose up in the western frontier and completely cut off their back road that Ashina suddenly woke up: Defending the imperial capital as an emperor will grind off the fangs and claws of the Turkic beast. Jiang Yao, now that they are about to show their minions, how should we deal with it? ”

Faced with this question, Li Jiangyao did not rush to give an answer.

He thought for a long time, and suddenly asked, "Is Ashina Zhijin still in the imperial capital?" ”

Xu Youchang was slightly stunned: "According to the latest news from the Intelligence Department, he himself should still be there, and there are Blood Guard Legion servants by his side." However, since he wants to restore the Turkic style of warfare, he may leave at any time. ”

Li Jiangyao sneered: "If the Turkic army is compared to a big fish, then their khan is the best bait. If you let the bait slip away, how can you let the big fish bite? ”

Xu Youchang understood and asked, "Do you want to bypass Baoji County and directly besiege the imperial capital while Ashina is still there?" ”

"And that's not all!" Li Jiangyao pointed to the map: "While besieging the imperial capital, we must also send troops to intersperse and attack Huazhou, which is located further east, to completely cut off the connection between the imperial capital and Tongguan!" ”

Xu Youchang stared at the map for a while, and patted the table: "I'll look at it!" Ashina is surrounded to death, I don't believe that Ronia will not return to the division to rescue! Want to roam freely in the Kanto region? No way! ”

-

Li Jiangyao's judgment on the strategic changes of the Turks is basically accurate. After a thorough review, Ashina finally made the decision to change his strategy, giving full play to the advantages of the Turkic iron cavalry coming and going like the wind, and fighting a large-scale, high-intensity sports war with Shengtang.

Abandoning the imperial capital and attacking the Central Plains is the core embodiment of this strategy.

Anyway, the two levels have been completely blocked, and the head is hard three times, and he has not been able to regain control, so it is better to bravely go deep into the hinterland of Shengtang and turn him upside down!

The St. Don army could not survive without leaving the city, while the Turkic army, on the contrary, was even more vigorous in the field.

Adhering to this idea, Ashina Zhijin formulated a new plan, the main Turkic force went east out of Tongguan, and surrounded the eastern capital, and when the Shengtang court fell into a panic, concentrated all the troops in Luoyi, and prepared to defend Li Bing with all their might, Ronia, Helianxiong and others suddenly turned into pieces and attacked from all sides, sweeping the Central Plains, Yanzhao, and Qilu.

What if the imperial capital is lost in the end? Most of the Saint Tang will be the world where my Turks gallop at will!

Li Jiangyao guessed Ashina's thoughts, but unfortunately not everyone has his level. At least, Li Bing, Ma Hongjie and Murong Xue didn't see it.

Therefore, according to the design of the Turks, the Eastern Capital obediently transferred troops from all over the country to guard Luoyi, and the Central Plains and the northern state capital suddenly became empty.

On the seventh day after the Turkic and rebel troops approached the city and the imperial court set up a general headquarters in a panic, the Turkic army approaching the eastern capital left only 50,000 horses to monitor Luoyi, and the rest were all transferred to other places.

All of a sudden, smoke billowed from all over the Central Plains!

The Turks moved faster than they could have imagined. By the time Ma Hongjie and the others finally found out the true intentions of the enemy, Bianzhou, Xiangzhou, and Yanzhou had already been baptized by Helianxiong. Ronia and Durham are even more exaggerated, the vanguard of the former and Li Kuihuaiyang's army smoothly joined forces, and the latter actually advanced to the front line of Lanzhou, and Hebei Province is about to be lost!

Li Bing was so angry that he directly flipped the table and scolded the generals of the front-line armies.

The 650,000 army sat in the city of sorrow, allowing the Turks to wreak havoc on the world, and what did they say about expelling the enemy and counterattacking the imperial capital? My face is about to be swollen by the other party!

However, if you are angry, whether it is him, Ma Hongjie or Murong Xue, there is no good way to attack the Turks quickly. You can't let the infantry chase the cavalry, can you?

Besides, what if you catch up? The plains and wilderness, isn't it still for nothing?

Just when the imperial court and the military were at a loss, exciting news came again on the battlefield on the Western Front:

The Zhenjiang army was divided into three routes from Tianshui County, Du Jian's division besieged Baoji, Xu Youchang commanded the iron cavalry to attack Huazhou, and Li Jiangyao personally led the main army, bypassing Baoji County and arriving at the imperial capital.

The brave and skilled soldiers of the Western Route are in a time race with the Turks to see who can uproot the other first!

After reading the battle report, Ma Hongjie excitedly applauded: "This time, the Turks who are killing everywhere are finally in trouble!" ”

This time, he was completely right.

When the Turkic generals heard that the Zhenjiang army was advancing eastward, especially Li Jiangyao had forced the imperial capital, and Xu Youchang had taken the lead in cutting off Huazhou, they immediately felt that the situation was very bad.

Because this means that their Great Khan is completely trapped by the Holy Tang people!

To be honest, Ashina Jin didn't expect the Zhenjiang Army to come so quickly.

Originally, he planned to use the appearance that he was still in the imperial capital to further confuse Li Jiangyao and them, so as to buy more time for the main Turkic forces operating on the Eastern Front. At the last moment when the Zhenjiang army took Baoji and pressed the entire imperial capital, he led the Blood Guard Corps to leave calmly, and followed the galloping road, passing through Huazhou and Tongguan, and entering the Central Plains to join his subordinates.

Even, Ashina still has a little luck in his heart: what if Li Jiangyao doesn't dare to attack the imperial capital alone? You may be able to keep this glorious city yourself.

But it was such a mistake in thought that gave the opponent a chance to break the game.

Li Jiangyao, who saw through the thoughts of the Turks, no longer waited for the imperial army to join forces before attacking the imperial capital, and even he didn't care if he could take the imperial capital.

Li Jiangyao's real idea was to cut off the way of life of the Great Turkic Khan!

Because only in this way can Ronia Herenxiong and them be transferred back.

Looking at the military camps dotted outside the city, Ashina's mood was a little complicated. A few years ago, he also chose that place to set up his camp, and standing on the head of the imperial capital and looking out, it was Li Chengwu, the long-deceased Emperor of the Holy Tang Dynasty.

Now, the offense and defense are transposed.

Ashina thought silently: Perhaps, this is the main reason why the Turkic Eastern Crusade army has not been progressing well, offensive and defensive transposition. Since becoming the new master of this great capital, both himself and the princes and generals under him have become cautious and timid.

Everyone cherished the fruits of the victory that fell into their hands, and especially cherished the military strength of their respective tribes, not only did they no longer let go of the eastward attack, but they even came up with the idea of using poisonous monsters to fight instead of themselves.

Can this still be regarded as a Turkic hero who is proud of the world?

Ashina smiled self-deprecatingly, and said to his brother-in-law, the deputy minister of the empire, Clor Langjie: "Can you see how many people are on the other side?" ”

Like Prince Schötz, Cløranger was a civil servant of the Golden Clan, and was mainly responsible for the financial power. Hearing his brother-in-law's question, he shook his head and said sincerely, "Great Khan, I can't see it." I'm afraid you'll have to ask the Prince of the Templars or Marshal Helian. ”

"They can't see it either." Ashina's tone was very flat.

Cleurangel was a little curious: "Why is that?" Shouldn't that be a simple thing for a seasoned general? ”

Ashina pointed to the opposite side: "Li Jiangyao is in doubt, so that we can be unpredictable about him." And his goal is not me, let alone the imperial capital. ”

"Isn't it the imperial capital? What would that be? ”

"Li Jiangyao's target is exactly the two people you just mentioned, Ronia and Helianxiong." Ashina sighed lightly and ordered: "You send an envoy to tell the other side that I want to meet with the capital of the Zhenjiang army." ”