The city of Talas is a plain on the left bank of the middle reaches of the valley of the Talas River, where the waterway and land routes meet.

Its significance lies in the fact that from the Western Han Dynasty, Han Chinese merchants set out from Chang'an (or Luoyang), passed through the Hexi Corridor, crossed the Western Regions, and crossed the Green Mountains (Pamir Mountains) before continuing westward into the Sogdian-inhabited Hezhong region.

And the merchants of West Asia also traveled from west to east from this line to trade.

It became an important part of the East-West trade between Eurasia and Talas, and the city of Talas was a very important and unremarkable node on this route.

It is important because it is the way to go;

It is said to be inconspicuous because there are so many nodes like this, such as Kulan City, Ashburai City, and even Broken Leaf City in the east, although the city was destroyed in the war, but the market town formed by trade is still prosperous.

The same is true of the city of Talas, where the city and the town are separated. About ten miles east of Talas was a market town that had flourished by trade but had little defense: Tarak!

Now, Gao Xianzhi retreated to Tarak with the Anxi army, and never left again, looting everything that could be eaten in the market town of Tarak as military rations and camping here.

Abu Muslims also led tens of thousands of black-clad soldiers from the Khorasan region to defend on both sides of the city of Talas, and joined forces with the Daoud troops in the city of Talas.

A decisive battle is brewing on both sides.

……

"The last general is wounded and cannot salute, please forgive the governor."

Lying on the bed in a stone house in the city of Talas, Daoud said weakly to the Abu Muslims who had come to visit.

He had dozens of knife wounds and arrow wounds on his body, almost once dead, and the blood had stained the sheets red. If you don't have a few months of cultivation, you won't be able to recover at all, and you'll never wake up if you don't even get it right.

Although Daoud was already so sad, Abu Muslim did not have a good face for him at all, and stood at the head of the bed with a gloomy face and did not speak.

This is a very different attitude towards Saeed before.

"When the governor issued the military order, he already said that if Gao Xianzhi did not attack the city, you should not send troops to stop it.

Why don't you listen to military orders? ”

Abu Muslim asked Dao Dao on the bed with a cold face.

Previously, Said could obviously stop Gao Xianzhi in Baishui City, and cooperated with the main force led by Abu Muslim to flank the Tang army before and after, but he chose not to move his troops and did not leave the city, letting the Tang army go all the way to the east.

Afterwards, he was even praised by Abu Muslims.

"The last general, the last general......"

Daoud was excited and wanted to get up, but he didn't catch his breath and passed out!

Abu Muslim shook his head in disappointment, the general he relied on did not obey the military order, and led his troops out of Talas City, in a vain attempt to stop the Anxi army under Gao Xianzhi.

It's really hateful, pathetic and helpless!

Just thinking about merit and not considering the overall situation, such a general can't achieve great things!

As expected, the light cavalry and camel soldiers under the command of Daoud were defeated by the Anxi army, and they did not even survive for half an hour! Daoud himself was also seriously wounded in this battle! Almost died on the battlefield!

When he learned that the defenders of Talas had been severely defeated by Gao Xianzhi, Abu Muslim gave the order on the spot to behead Daoud for military justice. It was only later that Daoud was seriously wounded, and in order to prevent the mutiny of his army, the beheading was changed to dismissal, and his troops were handed over to Said's control.

The so-called poor Kou Mo chases, and the trapped beast is still fighting. In many cases, fleeing enemy forces are not suitable for hindrance.

The Anxi army under Gao Xianzhi was already holding back the fire because he lost his gold and silver treasures and left the stone country empty-handed. When encountering a big cannibal blocking the way back, it is naturally a fight to the death, and as much force as possible!

The generals in the Great Food Army saw that the Tang Army had retreated, and thought that their combat exploits were going to fly, so they all thought about a decisive battle with Gao Xianzhi. Abu Muslim could barely suppress the main force under his command, but he could not control the generals who had already divided his army.

"Where is Gao Xianzhi's part now?"

Abu Muslim looked at Ziyad Saari and asked, his face a little ugly.

Gao Xianzhi's Tang army is really a prick. It's not okay to be careless, and I've already chopped off his wings one after another. Rao is Abu Muslim is very well cultivated, and he is really angry at this moment!

Daoud, an idiot, doesn't he know that the lightly armed troops in charge of roundabouts are not suitable for a head-on battle with the Don Army in the field?

"Gao Xianzhi is camped in Tarak Town, ten miles east of Talas City, and there is no change at present."

Ziyadessari saluted.

"It seems that Gao Xianzhi is unwilling."

Abu Muslim sneered, he knew that Gao Xianzhi couldn't go back like this.

The reason is very simple, Gao Xianzhi went back empty-handed, and also lost the control of Shiguo, Kangguo and other places, and even lost Talas City, how could he explain to the ambassador of the Tang Western Regions who was looking forward to cleaning him up day and night?

Abu Muslim himself almost beheaded Daoud, just because the other party did not obey the military order and forcibly blocked the Tang army, which is still his cronies! Pushing himself and others, he knew very well that the "ambassador" couldn't spare Gao Xianzhi. This is true for both public and private purposes.

"Governor, it is rumored that the princess of Shiguo, Jin Si Kaia, now seems to be the concubine of the ambassador of the Western Regions, and this woman hates Gao Xianzhi to the core. The last general thought that Gao Xianzhi would not have reinforcements. ”

Ziyadesari told Abu Muslim the news that he had heard, which had been hammered.

"Well, isn't there any news of reinforcements from the Tang Army?"

Abu Muslim's brows furrowed and he asked casually. In his opinion, this ambassador of the Western Regions is greedy for life and afraid of death, and it is not uncommon for him to be lustful.

"There are two thousand Tang cavalry in Ashi Burai City, that's all, even the closest city to Talas, there is no Tang army stationed nearby."

Ziyadesari revealed the intelligence and inventory of the reinforcements of the Don army. In fact, it was completely too late for the Tang army to support Gao Xianzhi. But since they came to Ashbulai City and never moved, they were naturally despised.

It's the same as the ambassador of the Tang Dynasty's Western Regions Economic Strategy.

In Ziyadesari's view, this man is almost full of all the elements of mediocrity and incompetence.

because of lust and greed for life and fear of death, he delayed major events and did not dare to go to the front; Because jealousy and women blow the pillow wind, and they don't save their colleagues when they see death; because of a lack of strategic vision and not trying to gain control of the Transoxiana region; Because I don't know the troops, I don't know the centralized dispatch of troops, and so on and so forth.

With such a person as Gao Xianzhi's colleague, Qi Yadesari felt sorry for this Tang Dynasty's fierce general.

"Then you don't have to think about them, and concentrate on the decisive battle with Gao Xianzhi. After defeating this Tang army, we will send an envoy to negotiate with the ambassador of the Tang Dynasty's Western Regions Economic Strategy, saying that we are willing to let us withdraw from Talas City and not garrison troops here. ”

Abu Muslim touched his long beard and smiled.

At this moment, Saeed entered the stone house under the guidance of his own soldiers, and whispered to Abu Muslim: "There is an envoy from the Tang army coming, and it seems that it is not under the command of Gao Xianzhi. ”

Hearing this, both Abu Muslim and Ziyad Saari had a look of "understanding" on their faces, and even wanted to laugh a little.

Because the tough guy Gao Xianzhi never communicates with the generals of the Great Food Army, he uses a knife on the battlefield when he speaks!

Although they are enemies, they all admire Gao Xianzhi very much, including Abu Muslims.

On the contrary, it is the ambassador of the Western Regions Economic Strategy, who is really a proper clown, and his behavior is despicable.

In the battle, there was no one to be seen, but the messengers sent several groups. The words are really more and more ruthless every time, and the attitude is more and more arrogant every time. However, apart from their ruthless words, there is no trace of their military dispatch at all.

It's more like hiding behind Gao Xianzhi and scolding the street.

"Bring people in."

Abu Muslim shook his head with a smile, and the disdain in his eyes flashed.

Those clowns who like to bounce in front of him, Abu Muslim really didn't pay attention to them.

If it weren't for the plan in his heart to make peace with Datang after the war, it would be inconvenient to tear his face. He really wanted to behead the envoy sent by the ambassador of the Western Regions Economic Strategy directly to show the public! Give the "high" ambassador of the Western Regions a little color.

Just like when he started as a slave, he beat up those powerful people who were dressed in white and ate a lot!

Said looked embarrassed, and when he saw that everyone in the room was looking at him, he whispered, "The last general said the same, but the envoy is very arrogant, and the governor must come to the castle hall to meet him." ”

"Well, let's talk about the castle hall."

Abu Muslim waved his hand and said that he did not really care about such a false courtesy, because the enemy would soon learn a lesson on the battlefield. You're going to kill and maim the dogs, so what if you're generous enough to let them bark at you?

Abu Muslims have always been very generous to such people and such things.

When they came to the castle hall, the group saw that the "old acquaintance" Feng Changqing was holding a letter in his hand, and he was already waiting a little impatiently.

"Oh? You're you again? ”

Abu Muslim pretended to be surprised, and his tone was a little frivolous.

It's a pity that Feng Changqing couldn't understand it, and the translator on the side didn't bother to translate this sentence.

"Our ambassador asks you, why did the Great Food Army come to Talas? You should withdraw from all lands, including Kangguo, this is not your land! It is a subject country protected by the Tang Dynasty! ”

Feng Changqing said righteously.

The translator on the side translated this sentence to Abu Muslim, and after the latter heard it, he laughed and said: "The Tang army is burning, killing and looting in the Western Regions, and we intervened at their request, and we have no intention of attacking here." ”

The so-called negotiation is sometimes a matter of saying things to each other. Or one party wants to talk, and one side is deliberately wasting time. Regardless of the content of the negotiations, let's just say that the negotiation itself is a hands-off battle.

Abu Muslims are talking nonsense, and Feng Changqing is not necessarily a serious warning. To put it bluntly, it's a battle of wits and courage!

"In any case, the Great Food Army must withdraw from these places, otherwise we will have an army of 300,000 to sweep through Hezhong Province, including Mulu, Anxi, Kushan and other places. Don't be preemptive! ”

After he finished speaking, the translator looked embarrassed, and asked Feng Changqing in a jerky tone: "How to translate the last sentence?" ”

"Tell your governor directly, as long as you don't relent, we're going to do it!"

Feng Changqing scolded angrily.

When the interpreter translated his words to Abu Muslim and the others in the Great Food Language, everyone present looked at Feng Changqing like fools.

You really dare to say it when you step on a horse!

If Gao Xianzhi said this, they would be serious, after all, Gao Xianzhi fought with them all the way, and the blood flowed like a river, and what he said had weight.

But you haven't sent a single soldier, and you haven't even seen the face of a big food soldier so far, so you are talking about 300,000 troops in that big talk!

Child, have you ever been on the battlefield, and do you know what an army of 300,000 is?

Abu Muslims felt so angry and funny that they didn't bother to refute Feng Changqing's "bold words". There are so many slots in it that they don't know where to start.

This ambassador Fang's lust is inward-looking, which can be seen from Feng Changqing's words.

Since they are so good at talking, let the sword debate on the battlefield!

"Sending off guests."

Abu Muslim spat out two words, turned around and left with a group of generals, disdainful of sending Feng Changqing out of the castle.

As he walked, he said to Ziyadesari: "In the future, if there is an envoy sent by this ambassador, he will be allowed to hang outside for one night, and then bring him for questioning." ”

……

Just now, in the largest courtyard in Tarak Town, Gao Xianzhi took out the secret letter that Fang Chongyong had written to himself from his arms, hesitating in his heart, not knowing what to do.

Fang Chongyong secretly ordered him to lead the Great Cannibal to the decisive battle of Talas. It is 500 miles away from Shiguo, 500 miles away from Broken Leaf City, and 400 miles away from Qisai City, the capital of Ningyuan Kingdom, and it is a very delicate place in terms of military and transportation.

Farther away from the resting side, the great cannibals will not come; And the place closer to that side is extremely unfavorable to the logistics and transportation of the Tang Army.

Only in this place, the big cannibals are willing to fight a decisive battle, and the supply lines of both sides are five hundred miles!

Fighting in the Western Regions is quite different from the Central Plains, and the most important thing is logistics.

In the Central Plains, supply lines relied on so-called "auxiliaries" and men to transport grain to the camps in carts or mules. That's why there is a distinction between "soldiers" and "auxiliaries", and the number of the latter is usually much more than the former, or even several times the difference.

But that's not how the Western Regions play, and they can't play like that.

Except for slaves, no fool would walk long distances in the desert and Gobi terrain on foot, relying on manpower to transport food, let alone deliver it to the barracks, and thank God for not dying of thirst on the way.

The terrain of the oases and deserts in the Western Regions also made it impossible for the parties involved in the war to raise auxiliary troops. That's right, it's too expensive to raise one person here, and even if there is food, it's limited by the water source, so you really can't afford it.

The main force of grain transportation is camels, and only camels, even horses are not capable of carrying supplies in the desert for a long time.

Most of the Western Regions, except for the long yellow sand, are oases like strongholds. A similar environment is destined to fight here, the scale cannot be very large, and it must rely on the local area of the oasis to provide supplies, otherwise you will not even be able to drink water.

Similarly, logistical constraints have made it the norm for the warring sides to "wave in waves" and run thousands of miles.

Win or lose, just leave when you're done. Strategic stalemate, on the contrary, is an unbearable burden.

Gao Xianzhi felt that the letter written by Fang Chongyong in his hand weighed a thousand catties and could not be ignored. He was hesitating, should he trust Fang Chongyong?

You can't get it, but you get it; If you can't get it, you can get it.

Gao Xianzhi originally wanted to plan to sweep the Stone Kingdom and defeat the black-clothed food in order to achieve immortal feats. Now it seems that it is already a dream.

Now, this road has gradually approached the route planned by Fang Chongyong: in Talas, the main force of the black-clothed food will be completely annihilated, and then swept across the river.

Do you want to trust this person?

Whether you choose to believe or not believe, there are risks that cannot be ignored, and it is more like "choosing the lesser of two evils".

If he chooses to believe, then Gao Xianzhi must leave Abu Muslim here. For this plan, he had to fight a decisive battle with Abu Muslim without Fang Chongyong to join him, and then wait for reinforcements.

To put it bluntly, to give Abu Muslims hope of victory. If the Tang Army is invincible, then this scene can't be sung!

If you choose not to believe...... That Gao Xianzhi didn't know how to end, he only knew that he had no military merits and went back like this, and this deputy protector of Anxi was the end of the day.

And there is no war to be fought, Abu Muslims will not stay in Talas for a long time, and the logistical pressure is the same for both warring sides.

If the black-clothed food ran away, Fang Chongyong would definitely not be able to spare him!

"Pass the order, attack the big cannibal camp under Talas City tonight, and if you don't succeed, you will be benevolent."

After struggling for a long time, Gao Xianzhi called Xi Yuanqing in the distance and ordered in a serious tone.

(End of chapter)