In the capital of Kangguo, next to the fountain pool in the inner garden of the royal palace, Abu Muslim, dressed plainly, was sitting in the shade of a tree, discussing with his general Qiyadesari about the recent night attack by Gao Xianzhi on the camp of the Great Food Army outside the city, and the defeat of the former army.

The bad news is that 30,000 soldiers and horses have been lost, and the superiority in troops has been weakened.

The good news is that the 10,000 most elite men in the hands of Ziyadessari are still neatly staffed, and they are not among the unlucky ones who were attacked by night.

Most of the losses were the hostile armed forces of various tribes that had been incorporated since the Shiite uprising.

Abu Muslims let them take the lead and deploy in the front, in fact, they are a little unsure of the combat effectiveness of the Tang Army, and they want these tribes to test the depth of their weapons.

It's just that I didn't expect that those people were so wasteful, and they were attacked by the light cavalry under Gao Xianzhi at night, and they couldn't form an army.

The elite under the command of Ziyadessari is a strong force with a mixed hoplite, infantry archer, hoplite cavalry and cavalry archer, and a sound combat system. It is also a team that started from black, and has experienced all kinds of wars and vicious battles, and is extremely experienced.

It is no exaggeration to say that it doesn't matter if the 30,000 tribes' soldiers and horses are damaged, and it will not shake the country's foundation. But if the elite of the 10,000 Great Food Army is damaged, it is difficult to say whether the black-clothed Great Food can still hold the field in Khorasan Province.

At this moment, Abu Muslim's face was calm, and he was listening to Ziyadesari's report on the battle damage, frowning from time to time.

"These 30,000 former troops have been scrapped, right? King Kangguo originally agreed to send troops to cover the flanks, but now he also agrees to send troops, right? ”

Abu Muslim asked softly. The effects of the defeat had already begun to be felt, and small countries such as Kang began to waver.

"Indeed, Governor, these tribes have been wiped out of the army. Kang Guo, Shi Guo and other small countries also refused to coordinate to send troops, and they were frightened by Gao Xianzhi.

We also have to guard against their betrayal at a critical moment. ”

Ziyadesa said with a gloomy look, and it was clear that he could see that Abu Muslim had accepted the reality of the defeat.

There was a hint of disdain in Ziyadesari's words, even if there were 30,000 of these troops, they were not as good as the 10,000 iron army under his command!

In fact, those tribal forces did not kill 30,000 people in the raid, and the various tribes more or less recovered a few men. It's just that their morale has been crushed, and the commanders of the various departments say that they will not go to the battlefield again.

These teams that have taken refuge in the Shiite uprising since the uprising are not very loyal in themselves, and now they have suffered a crushing defeat and are now unable to command at all.

As for Kang Guo, not to mention the wall grass. Their loyalty needs to be judged according to the situation on the battlefield.

Whoever has the upper hand will be biased!

"Gao Xianzhi is indeed good at fighting, we underestimate him."

Abu Muslim said with some emotion.

He has been in the grassroots for a long time, but he has not been in the business for many years, and he does not have the arrogance that the powerful often have, and he has nothing to look at.

Abu Muslims are very soberly aware that the combat effectiveness of the Tang Army is completely different from that of many opponents it has encountered before!

"Governor, what do you think is the weakness of Gao Xianzhi and the Anxi Army under his command?

If there is no weakness, then there is no way to start this battle? ”

Ziyadessari asked suspiciously. The two are discussing military strategy, and they are actually learning skills, so it can be said that they are also teachers and friends.

"No, we have a lot of soldiers, and we don't lack food, and that's the biggest advantage.

Gao Xianzhi has few soldiers, and there is probably not much grain left, which is the biggest disadvantage.

Isn't it the most basic rule for two armies to fight more and fight less? ”

Abu Muslim said with a smile on his face.

Actually, he was not bad at all.

Their core control areas are in the northwestern part of Kham, such as Anxi, Mulu, and Kushan, among which Abu Muslims were earlier slaves in the Mulu region (and were probably born there), and they also started their lives in the black-clothed food.

These places are almost a day or two away from Kangguo, Shiguo and other places, and it is not an exaggeration to say that they are close at hand. And the supply line of the Tang Army, it is really far away. It is said that it has been lifted for a thousand miles.

If you start from Jinmancheng in Beiting, then it will start at least two thousand miles from Kangguo.

I have a supply line of 200 miles, and you have a supply line of 2000 miles, do you want to fight logistics with me?

This is where the confidence of Abu Muslims comes from!

"Governor, with all due respect. For example, Gao Xianzhi is fighting more with less this time, and it is useless to have more people, so he must be able to exert his strength.

If there are many people but they cannot exert their strength, it will only increase the burden of raising soldiers.

The generals you said understand everything, but they can't defeat Gao Xianzhi with these alone. ”

Ziyadessari retorted unceremoniously.

Abu Muslim is the commander-in-chief, dispatching troops, arranging troops, and strategizing. And he is the commander of the most elite troops, and he needs to go into battle, and he looks at the problem from the same point of view, some points are the same as Abu Muslim, and some places are quite divided.

No matter how good the strategy, how strong the logistics, and how strong the troops, in the end, they must be implemented in the word "combat."

Gao Xianzhi is particularly good at fighting in battle, relying on absolute battlefield performance to reverse strategic disadvantages.

Abu Muslim did a good analysis, but what good are these advantages if you go to war and still can't defeat the enemy?

"How many days is there left in the ice period?"

Abu Muslim suddenly asked an unrelated question.

"It's coming, it's probably the last time. At that time, all the surrounding lakes and rivers will freeze briefly at night. ”

It's no secret, Ziyadesari said, as anyone who has lived west of the Green Ridge for a few years knows that even the desert is not hot all year round, and there will be a winter with a short time and extremely cold nights.

Take Shiguo as an example, it is common for rivers and lakes to freeze at night after winter, and even horses can run on it.

"It's time for the whole army to attack and besiege Shiguo. Transporting more grain to Kangguo for hoarding, we will start in winter. ”

Abu Muslim nodded slightly.

Seeing Ziyadesari's look of disbelief, Abu Muslim patiently explained:

"After winter, the medicine killing water is like walking on the ground at night, Gao Xianzhi can't be deployed along the two banks of the medicine killing water and its tributaries, and there is no way to talk about holding Zhezhi City.

Of course, if Gao Xianzhi chooses to leave the Stone Country with his baggage, then he must be prepared to be attacked by Bandu. The section of the road from Zhezhi City to Talas City, there are passages on the east and west sides, and mountains on the north and south sides, as long as you are caught up, the road is not so easy to walk! ”

"However, if the last one is Gao Xianzhi, then he will continue to attack the northernmost city of Kangguo and even Dongcao City, forcing us to fight him in a decisive battle!

If we are not defeated, it is impossible for Gao Xianzhi to leave the Stone Kingdom with his baggage. ”

Ziyadessari is a general who leads the troops, and he can better understand the thinking of the generals. In his opinion, Gao Xianzhi is not a coach, but more like a stubborn general. Datang's operation west of the Green Ridge cannot be said to be very clever, so much so that these countries are now more or less biased towards the Great Food Country.

Gao Xianzhi is just using his tactical super play to make up for his strategic shortcomings.

In line with the principle of "fighting more if you can", Qiyadesari felt that Gao Xianzhi's next plan was definitely to constantly attack the Great Food Army of Kangguo and force Abu Muslims to fight a decisive battle with it!

"Then the deep ditch barrier, don't fight with Gao Xianzhi, slowly grind with him!"

Abu Muslim said in a deep voice, he was angry too!

The army is strong, the supply line is short, what is there to be afraid of! If you can't fight head-to-head, it will take time!

"Then what if Gao Xianzhi threw down his baggage and ran away?"

Ziyadessari asked unwillingly, and after saying that, he himself was amused by the words. Abu Muslim didn't say a word, just looked at him and shook his head and smiled.

If Gao Xianzhi didn't withdraw by himself with baggage, then in terms of the length of the supply line of the Tang Dynasty, the Tang army would attack Shiguo again at the earliest, and it would be next summer at the earliest.

Next year, will the Tang Army still have a chance to wrestle with the Great Food Country, and how much grain, manpower, and wealth will be needed at that time? After retreating without a fight, how many small countries in the Western Regions are willing to stand on the side of Datang?

In fact, many things are obvious, after this village, there will be no such shop in the future.

If Gao Xianzhi wants to leave his baggage and retreat, Abu Muslims will definitely send troops to see him off all the way, which means that the black-clothed food soldiers will not bloodlessly pacify the Zhaowu Nine surnamed countries west of the Green Ridge, and win a great strategic victory!

The majesty that the Tang army fled without a fight can only be regained by sweeping the army of the Great Food Country in the future. Come to think of it, Gao Xianzhi also understands this truth!

"Understood, then this will go to the battle and be armed."

Ziyadessari bowed and turned to leave.

……

"Jie Shuai, the last general thinks that this battle is already quite dangerous. Even if the Anxi Expeditionary Force is included, in fact, our strength is estimated to be less than that of the Great Cannibal.

What's more, their lair is so close to Shiguo, it is very easy to replenish baggage and personnel. ”

In a wing room of the Great Cloud Temple, Wang said to the other party Chongyong who was rarely worried.

The generals in the Anxi Expeditionary Force who were not optimistic about Gao Xianzhi were incredulous about Gao Xianzhi's previous victory over the Great Food Army, and thought that these so-called "Great Food Army" were actually just an alliance of tribal armies in West Asia, and their combat effectiveness was very average, and they were by no means the elite of the Great Food Army.

In fact, the news from Che Guangqian also indirectly proves this. Or conversely, if Gao Xianzhi really beat the big cannibal and broke his muscles and bones, those small countries in the Western Regions with the most sensitive sense of smell would have sent envoys to beg for mercy.

"At both ends of the Atami, we have built a ferry port and shortened the transportation distance by hundreds of miles. And all the camels that were obtained in Beiting Sanzhou at the beginning were also near Broken Leaf City.

Now that the big cannibals can afford it, we are not exactly sitting still. ”

Fang Chongyong waved his hand and said, obviously confident.

Playing tactics with the Great Cannibal?

No, no, no, it's too risky to do this, and you can't expect the army under your command to play superbly every time.

This way, Fang Chongyong did not command too many sieges, and basically spent his main energy on logistics and supplies.

The baggage of Jinmancheng, the capital of Beiting, was transferred to the Ili River Valley, mainly some livestock.

The baggage was then transferred to the ferry port on the east shore of Atami, transported to the west coast of Atami, and finally transferred to Shattered Leaf Castle, not far north of the ferry.

This logistics line greatly ensured the abundant supplies of the army!

But the logistical optimization that Fang Chongyong and the Anxi Expeditionary Force could do ended there. The fragile transportation lines formed by a series of abandoned small cities north of Shattered Leaf City had to be transported hundreds of miles by camel before being transported to Talas City.

"Marshal, what General Wang said is not unreasonable, should we take advantage of the fact that there is enough food and straw now, go directly to Shiguo, join forces with Gao Xianzhi, and then fight a decisive battle with the big cannibal?"

Feng Changqing, who was beside Fang Chongyong, suggested.

"Yes, but the big cannibal can retreat to Sabbath City, retreat to Mulu City, can we also chase after it? Don't you know how far those places are from Shattered Leaf City? ”

Fang Chongyong asked angrily.

Hearing this, all the generals who were eager to show their hands at this combat meeting just now obediently closed their mouths.

That's right, the big cannibal may really not be able to defeat the Tang Army where the two armies are combined.

But if people can't beat them, can't they still run?

They were in the north of Kangguo in Anxi, Mulu, Shuanggui and other places with strong walls and clear fields, and they were ready for battle, and the Tang army could not bargain for a while. And the logistics supply line is too fragile to fight only a wave of tactics!

As long as the big cannibals withstand this wave, and wait for the Tang army to retreat due to lack of food, and then pursue all the way, then all the generals present will be afraid that they will give their lives on the road.

"We're going to lure the Great Cannibal to Talas for a decisive battle.

This place is far away from the core control area of the Great Cannibal, and it is not particularly far from Shattered Leaf City, so it is convenient for us to replenish. ”

Fang Chongyong looked at Feng Changqing and instructed him: "In two days, you will personally go to Zhezhi City and send a letter to Gao Xianzhi." If possible, try to lure the enemy deep and don't be brute. Of course, he is in charge of Shi Guo's related affairs, so he can ignore the military orders of this ambassador, after all, I don't know the specific situation on his side. ”

Hearing this, including Bian Lingcheng, everyone in the meditation room showed meaningful expressions.

Feng Changqing did not doubt him, and hurriedly crossed his hands and saluted: "Obey the orders of the marshal, the last general can set off at any time." ”

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly, and did not talk too much nonsense.

What he meant, everyone present could only say that they understood.

"He Laohu, you are keeping an eye on the movement ahead in Ashbulai City, the big cannibals generally use camels to carry their baggage, and the speed of advancement is definitely faster than we expected.

It cannot be ruled out that the Great Cannibal detoured to Zhezhi City and bypassed Gao Xianzhi to directly attack Talas. ”

Fang Chongyong instructed He Changqi, who hurried back to Broken Leaf City for a meeting.

"Please rest assured!"

He Changqi hurriedly packed the ticket and slapped his chest with a bang.

"Old Duan, the ferries at the east and west ends of Atami must be protected. The baggage that is delivered to Broken Leaf Town must not be broken.

As long as we can ensure the continuous supply of food and arrows, we can compete with the big cannibals for endurance!

The inside of the big food is also not stable, and the people in white clothes still control some places. As long as Abu Muslims are defeated here, or even delayed for a long time, whether the black-clothed food can be suppressed or not, it is a matter of two words.

Logistics, the most important thing, must not be broken. ”

Fang Chongyong told Duan Xiushi to say.

"Wrap it up on the last general."

Duan Xiushi said with a fist salute.

"Well, it's all gone. Tell the soldiers that the opportunity to make contributions is coming, and let them all be ready. ”

Fang Chongyong stood up, announced the adjournment of the meeting, turned around and left.

The business is finally done, and it's time to deal with the private matter.

(End of chapter)