The Great Tang General

Every plan the Tang army made, whether it was caltrops, horse traps, or blocking with chevaux de frise and fences, caused minimal damage to the Uighur soldiers.

In addition, the number of Tang troops in each ambush was small, such as shooting arrows and throwing boulders in dangerous places, often with only two or three hundred people.

Although the pace of the Uighur army was slowed down, Dunsang Teqin realized that the Tang army was "strong on the outside but weak on the inside."

The Tang army focused on delaying them.

It is precisely because there are few soldiers that they dare not fight recklessly.

In this mountainous area, the Uighur cavalry had no advantage over the Tang infantry.

But once you leave the Heli Mountains and enter the Zhangye Plain.

Even if there were tens of thousands of Tang troops, they would not be able to stop the 20,000 elite cavalry of the Uighurs.

The afterglow of the setting sun shines on the Heli Mountain. The soft light is like a golden veil, gently draping over the peaks of the mountain range, as if putting on a gorgeous golden coat for the entire mountain range.

For the Uighur cavalry, the battle had not yet begun.

Once night falls, you must eat and rest.

War horses also need to be fed with fodder, but there is not much pasture on this section of the ancient Juyan Road in Heli Mountain.

Little did they know that they had gradually fallen into the trap set by the Tang army.

On the banks of the Zhangye River south of the Heli Mountains, five hundred Modao soldiers, one thousand heavy-armored infantrymen, and one thousand Shenbi crossbowmen were paddling downstream on small boats, sheepskin rafts, and cowhide rafts.

The Zhangye River eventually flows into the Juyan Lake. After passing through a dangerous mountainous section of the Zhangye River, it bypasses the Heli Mountain and reaches the Juyan Ancient Road.

That is to say, to the north of Heli Mountain, just blocking the Uighur cavalry.

There are no steep valleys on the ancient Juyan Road in Heli Mountain, so an ambush cannot be set up.

It is impossible to imagine the scene of soldiers lying in ambush on both sides of the mountains, with thunder, rocks, rolling logs, bows and crossbows coming at them.

The best way is to make a big detour.

It had been discussed at Baitinghai that the Zhangye River flowing into the Juyan Sea could help a small number of Tang troops to make a detour.

Five hundred heavily armored Modao soldiers, one thousand heavily armored infantry, and one thousand crossbowmen are more than enough.

Because the Uighur cavalry could not deploy in the mountains.

This trip was led by Zhang Guangsheng, commander of the Chishui Army.

Although there were only 8,000 people left in the reformed Chishui Army, he was still the best among the army commanders.

The Chishui Army Commander Zhang Guangsheng was also awarded the rank of lieutenant general.

"Stop the boat and move to the side."

Sailing down in the summer starry sky, they soon arrived at the designated location and Zhang Guangsheng ordered the ship to stop.

All the soldiers disembarked and tied the boats and rafts to the shore.

After getting off the boat, the Tang army soldiers ate some beef jerky and began a circuitous march.

At midnight, they arrived at the mountain pass on the Juyan Ancient Road where the Tang army first fought against the Uighur cavalry.

The traces of the battle are still clearly visible.

"Dengdengdeng..."

It was late at night, and the sound of horse hooves from the north of Heli Mountain could be clearly heard.

This is a scout from the Uighurs.

Dunsang Teqin sent many scouts to explore the rear, so that if the Tang soldiers from Juyan City came after them, they could deal with them calmly.

Unexpectedly, when I wanted to report the military situation to the main force through the Juyan Ancient Road, a dense crowd of figures appeared at the mountain pass.

As they walked, there was the sound of iron armor rubbing against each other, which made people feel cold in their spines.

"Not good, the Tang army is cutting off the special forces' retreat."

The Uighur scout looked panicked.

Although he was a cavalryman, it was impossible for him to pass through the Juyan Ancient Road.

He realized that the army had fallen into an ambush by the Tang army again.

"Woooo..."

In desperation, he could only blow the horn he carried with him.

But the distance from the main force was too far and the main force could not hear it at all.

Zhang Guangsheng didn't bother to pay attention to the cavalry. He ordered the troops to maintain their formation and advance along the Juyan Ancient Road.

The heavy armored infantry were in the front, interspersed with Modao soldiers.

The crossbowmen carry the crossbows on their backs, and they temporarily help the heavy armored infantry carry large shields.

Because the crossbowmen wear leather armor, they can march more flexibly.

Without horses or vehicles to pull them, the heavy armored infantry could not move very fast.

Zhang Guangsheng did not require a forced march, just a slow advance and maintaining physical strength.

Although the sound of the Uighur scout's horn did not alarm Donsang Teqin, it attracted a Uighur scout on the ancient Juyan Road in the Heli Mountains.

His scalp went numb as he ran towards the direction of the horn sound.

A large number of Tang army infantry appeared behind them.

So he hurriedly reported the news to Dunsang Teqin.

Dunsang Teqin, who was still sleeping soundly in the tent, was awakened by the sound of the trumpet.

When he thought it was an insignificant harassment, his personal guard reported to him urgent news.

"Reporting to the Special Service, behind us are all Tang army heavy armored infantry, estimated to be several thousand people."

After the scout entered the tent, he reported directly.

"Say it again?"

The drowsy Dunsang Teqin suddenly became alert, stood up and asked.

"The Tang army has set up an ambush, less than ten miles behind our army. They are all armored infantry."

The scout repeated it again.

In the darkness, the scouts could not see clearly, but they heard the friction of armor and saw the Tang army marching slowly, so they thought that the Tang army was composed entirely of heavily armored infantry.

"How can the Tang army's heavy armored infantry be mobilized so quickly?"

Dunsang Teqin was very puzzled.

He immediately called his deputy general into the tent and told him this important military information.

"No wonder the Tang army in Juyanhai was like a turtle hiding its head. It turned out that they were luring our army to Heli Mountain. But the Tang army's reaction speed was too fast. Could it be that they knew in advance that our cavalry was going to raid Liangzhou City?"

The deputy general was also confused, and then he was frightened.

These 20,000 cavalrymen were in a life-and-death situation.

If Li Xuan of Bai Tinghai knew in advance that they were going to raid Liangzhou City, the Great Khan's army would be in danger.

"There must be some Tang army lackeys in the Khanate who have exposed our plan to the Tang army. I am ready to fight to the death and continue to attack the Zhangye Plain."

In times of crisis, Dunsan Teqin acted extremely decisively.

Although it was possible to find other roads through the mountains, the Uighurs would have been defeated if that happened.

So what if you can break through the blockade of heavy armored infantry?

The tactic failed and the Uighurs were doomed.

In a desperate battle, if the Uighurs could break into the Zhangye Plain with passion and courage, they would be able to turn the situation around.

"Since there are Tang army infantry in the rear, there must be heavy siege in the front."

The deputy general seemed a little hesitant.

There is still a chance to break through now.

The Tang army was too cunning. They used constant small-scale harassment to make the other soldiers think that the Tang army was insufficient in numbers and was deliberately delaying them.

"We have come here, which means we are on the verge of death. If we retreat, the Khanate will no longer exist. We will also be homeless. Are you willing to accept this?"

Dunsang Teqin said loudly: "It is better to move forward and live than to retreat and die."

"Alas! I am not afraid of death and I agree with the decision of the special forces."

The deputy general understood that what Dunsangtqin said made sense and could only sigh in response.

"Woo...Woo..."

Immediately, the Uighurs sounded the horn to mobilize troops.

All the Uighur cavalry were awakened, and in their dejected state, they continued their march, preparing to cross the Heli Mountains overnight.

Dunsang Teqin wanted to use the slight lead of his cavalry to shake off the Tang army's heavy armored infantry behind him.

After learning that there were Tang heavy-armored infantry in the rear, the Uighur cavalry lost their previous arrogance and became like eggplants hit by frost.

The feeling of being on guard made them think that there were ferocious beasts in the Heli Mountains late at night.

The vanguard troops are still leading the way.

On a hilltop, the Tang army had discovered their movements and immediately reported it to Guo Xuji.

The Tang army hiding in several valleys poured out and began to gather on the Juyan Ancient Road.

Lead the charge with heavy armored infantry and powerful crossbowmen.

In order to prevent the spread of Uighur soldiers, powerful crossbows were also deployed on some dangerous mountain roads and trails.

When the sky began to turn pale, the Uighur vanguard encountered the Tang army which had blocked all their ways forward.

They are arranged vertically and horizontally, intersecting each other, and covering the entire mountain and plain.

The more flexible antlers were only used to block the cavalry and make it easier for the Tang army to move and attack.

The armor is like clouds and the spears are like forests.

Formations of powerful crossbowmen and archers are ready to go.

Just one look at the army's appearance made the Uighur vanguard feel extremely nervous.

If the Uighur cavalry dares to charge, they will be crushed to pieces.

The Uighur vanguard general immediately ran back to report the situation to Donsang Teqin.

Dunsan Teqin has some wild ideas.

The Tang army had the advantage of time, place and people, and it was impossible for the cavalry to charge through such terrain.

Now we are in a difficult situation.

The Tang army was obviously waiting for the arrival of the Modao Army, heavy armored infantry, and crossbowmen led by Zhang Guangsheng.

"The Tang army is really well prepared. The Great Khan is in danger."

When Dunsang Teqin saw the Tang army's deployment in front of him, he clenched the hilt of his knife and gritted his teeth.

He no longer had any illusions. The appearance of the Tang army was not accidental, but a conspiracy to "take the initiative" against the Uighurs.

In this terrain, it was impossible for the Uighur cavalry to defeat the Tang army and raid the Zhangye Plain.

How to do?
Dunsang Teqin's head was in a mess and he felt like the sky was falling.

The Uighur deputy general also had no idea.

Not to mention ordinary soldiers.

Didn’t they say that Li Xuan would die on the grassland?
How come they ended up with nothing?
Don’t the gods bless them anymore?
"Break out! Break out! Go home!"

"Dang Dang Dang..."

Dunsang Teqin drew out his precious sword and angrily chopped a large rock.

After only three strikes, the blade broke.

What he meant was obvious.

He changed his orders every day and turned to break out to the north.

First break through the heavy armored infantry led by Zhang Guangsheng.

Then break through the infantry and cavalry deployed by the Tang army at Juyan Lake.

This was not what he wanted.

There is an iron wall in front and the cavalry cannot be deployed. Even if all the soldiers die, it is impossible for a few to break out.

The Uighurs were defeated!

He intended to buy a way out for the warriors.

"As ordered!"

The Uighur deputy general breathed a sigh of relief, as this was exactly what he wished for.

He was really afraid that the stubborn Dunsang Teqin would attack the Tang army's iron wall.

"Woooo..."

The melody of the Uighur horns changed, and the army retreated.

But at this moment, the hearts of the Uighur cavalry were as sad as a horn.

"Today I leave Yu Dujun Mountain and go on an expedition to the Tang Dynasty. But I am trapped here. The spirit of the sacred mountain will never fade. I will definitely bring my men back to the grassland and regroup. We must unite as one, share the same hatred and fight together to break through. I will fight shoulder to shoulder with my men and charge at the risk of powerful crossbows..."

In order to restore morale, Dunsang Teqin held a spear and walked among the troops shouting.

There was no light shining in the eyes of the Uighur cavalry.

Everyone has to survive, so who is willing to pay for whom?
"Reporting to the Governor, the Huihe have changed direction and are preparing to attack Commander Zhang's heavy armored troops."

On the other side, the messenger reported to Guo Xuji.

"Move the antlers away, arrange the heavy-armored infantry forward, and follow the crossbowmen behind to chase the Uighur cavalry."

Guo Xuji gave the order.

Zhang Guangsheng's soldiers worked hard all night, and in order to prevent accidents, the army could not let Zhang Guangsheng's soldiers bear all the pressure.

Under Guo Xuji's command, the deer horns in front of the Tang army were pushed down.

The heavily armored infantry were in the front and the powerful crossbowmen were in the back, pressing forward step by step towards the Uighur troops.

Once the Uighur troops encountered Zhang Guangsheng's infantry, they would stop.

At the same time, Zhang Guangsheng led the heavy armored infantry and was less than two miles away from the Uighur cavalry.

They could already hear the sound of Uighur horses' hooves.

Zhang Guangsheng ordered his soldiers to stop and prepare for battle.

The team rested during the day yesterday, but they still managed to hold on after not sleeping all night.

Their eyes were filled with desire for military merit.

Ordinary soldiers also hope that their military rank can be increased by a few more bars so that they can get more military pay.

Some lieutenants were eager to be promoted to colonels.

Every colonel wants to be a general.

The Uighur cavalry stopped when they were more than 100 feet away from the Tang army.

Dunsang Teqin continued to use the tactic of infantry attacking the Tang infantry.

The place where the Tang army's heavy armored infantry met the battle was a small hillock, with uneven terrain. The war horses met the attack and died even more miserably.

Dunsang Teqin mobilized 5,000 soldiers one after another.

There were also hundreds of heavily armored soldiers wearing lamellar armor.

In addition, Dunsang Teqin ordered 500 elite cavalrymen to be on standby. If a hole was torn, the Uighur cavalry would immediately rush over to expand the results of the battle.

In the south, Dunsang Teqin still ordered 5,000 cavalrymen to dismount and form a spear formation to cover the rear.

To prevent the main force of the Tang army's infantry from breaking into their formation.

These soldiers guarding the rear were dejected and even more pessimistic than the soldiers charging the armored infantry.

"Kill Tang Gou..."

The charging Uighur soldiers shouted to the sky to dispel their fear, and they rushed towards the Tang army's armored infantry without hesitation.

The battle-hardened cavalrymen who followed Mo Yanchue were like a tiger losing its teeth when they lost their horses.

How can it be compared with the professional heavy armored infantry of the Tang army?
All the Huihe people are soldiers, and their qualities are mixed.

The Tang army's heavy armored infantry were all carefully selected.

Dunsang Teqin watched nervously from behind, his heart in his throat.

He hoped that a miracle would happen and that he could break through the Tang army's defense in one fell swoop.

"Strong crossbow, fire!"

When the Uighur soldiers were one hundred steps away from the Tang army's formation, Zhang Guangsheng shouted and ordered the crossbows to be fired.

The Tang army deployed a fish-scale formation on a hundred-foot-wide, rugged road.

In dangerous places, it is impossible for horses to go up, so fewer soldiers are deployed.

Dense in flat areas.

"Boom..."

"Whoosh whoosh..."

In the gap between the soldiers, the crossbowman took aim and shot the primed crossbow.

The Divine Arm Crossbow is almost the pinnacle of powerful crossbows.

"Pfft..."

It shoots like rain, and whoever is hit will fall.

An ordinary shield could be destroyed by a single shot, and even armor could be penetrated.

After one round, at least a hundred Uighur soldiers were killed or wounded.

This aroused the bloodiness of the Huihe people and accelerated their charge.

"Whoosh whoosh..."

Another round came, and because the distance was closer, the power of the Shenbi Crossbow was greater.

Arrows rained down, and someone fell down instantly, with blood flowing on the ground.

The Uighurs also responded by shooting arrows with bows and arrows.

However, their killing range was far from that of the Tang army, and the damage they caused to the Tang army was minimal.

Shoot three more rounds.

When they were within a dozen steps, the Divine Arm Crossbow was literally reaping lives.

Wherever the Uighur soldiers passed by, they left behind corpses.

The crossbowman then stepped back a little.

The Tang army's heavy armored infantry and Modao soldiers contracted their formation.

Only half of the crossbowmen were able to continue shooting in the gap.

The close combat officially began.

"kill……"

The two armies charged at each other with spears and guns, and the shouts and cries of killing shook the mountain walls to the ground.

The Uighur soldiers did not even have complete leather armor, their faces were exhausted, and they thrust their spears at the Tang army like a surging tide.

The Tang army soldiers had resolute faces. The armored infantry were like the Great Wall made of steel, piled up on this important road. The armor gleaming with cold light was impenetrable, and the long spears stood in rows, as dense as a forest.

The Uighurs were wearing incomplete heavy armor and crashed into the rock-solid array of spears. The sharp blades pierced their flesh and blood, and screams were heard everywhere.

But their spears could not penetrate the bodies of the Tang army's infantry.

Under the cover of their shields, the Tang army charged forward with ease.

Amid the sound of metal, corpses instantly piled up in front of the formation.

If any Tang army member was injured, he would retreat immediately and be replaced by the soldiers behind him.

And there were the Modao warriors, all of them were big and strong, masked, and armed to the teeth.

They held high their Mo Daos, the cold and sharp swords gleaming with bloodthirsty light under the rising sun, the blades were straight and slender, the sharp blades seemed to be able to split the sky and earth.

As soon as the Uighur soldiers came into the attack range, the Modao warriors shouted in unison, the sound was like thunder.

Immediately, the Mo Daos were swung together with great force and power, and the sharp blades cut into the enemy formation like chopping melons and vegetables, leaving blood and flesh flying wherever they passed.

The Uighur soldiers in the front row were chopped down fiercely, their heads and arms splattered in a blood mist; those in the back row had no time to react before they were swept by the ten-foot-long sword light, and fell to the ground with screams, their intestines spilling all over the floor.

Blood flowed like a small river along the Juyan Ancient Road.

After a fierce battle, some Uighur soldiers were lifted into the air by the fierce soldiers of the Tang army, while others struggled under the feet of the Tang army, covering their wounds.

The Uighur soldiers continued to fight against the Tang army, stepping on the corpses of their companions, but they were ruthlessly hacked to death.

The air was filled with blood and it was as tragic as hell on earth.

The Tang army's powerful crossbows were also constantly exerting their power, and the Uighurs' iron armor was barely left.

The soldiers who were not wearing armor attacked the Modao Army and the heavy armored infantry like an egg hitting a stone.

In terms of spear and gun combat techniques, the Tang army also completely defeated them.

After fighting for less than an hour, the Huihe soldiers suffered heavy casualties. Their courage was exhausted, and they stopped charging and desperately fled back...

(End of this chapter)