Datang: Only by resisting the decree can we become stronger

In this year's war, the Tang army lost 13 horses and [-] Turks.

Both sides have been fighting to the point of injury.

Often times like this, whoever can hold his last breath will win the final victory.

But before all the Tang soldiers, there is another problem.

That is the original strong city wall of Jingzhou, but now it has been cut off, and it is almost riddled with holes and broken walls.

Seeing this, Marshal Li Jing also issued a military order to retreat and retreat to Binzhou.

After hearing this order, Duan Zhixuan, Yuchi Jingde and others rushed over.

"Marshal, it's almost winter, these Turkic people should retreat."

"If we retreat to Binzhou at this moment, wouldn't the Jingzhou side suffer too much?"

Li Jing also sighed softly at this time, "This year, no matter how we fight this battle, we will lose our lives."

"But next year, it will be time to fight the Turks."

"Right now, the dilapidated city of Jingzhou can't do much."

"The casualties of our army are already much higher than those of the Turks."

"We can no longer fight this kind of battle that is obviously at a disadvantage."

"Otherwise, once the troops are exhausted, what will happen next year?"

"As for the loss of exiting Jingzhou, we can only admit it."

After hearing Li Jing's words, although everyone was still unwilling, they had to admit the current fact.

We can only make perfect preparations, evacuate Jingzhou City, and retreat to Binzhou.

On the other side, at the end of autumn and the beginning of winter, the four walls of Youzhou City were finally completed.

Seeing such a majestic city that gathered all the hard work and sweat, everyone was extremely relieved and emotional.

So far, for at least a hundred years, the city of Youzhou no longer has to worry about the invasion of foreign enemies.

On this day, Li Qiu put aside all his military affairs on the front line, and finally issued the order that had been lingering in his heart for a long time.

Now that Youzhou City has been completed, and the most critical event on my side has been completed, it is time for the whole army to attack and give support to Marshal Li Jing on the other side.

Three days later, the 7000 troops in Youzhou were divided into three groups.

Luo Kexin and Luo Liang led 2000 men and horses. According to the map that A Ke had explored before, the troops were divided into two groups to attack the tribes within a few hundred miles of Youzhou City.

Li Qiu, on the other hand, personally led two thousand elite cavalry to attack the hinterland of the Turkic grassland thousands of miles away.

This is also a tactic to draw salary from the bottom of the pot. Even the base camp was killed by Li Qiu. Don't you believe that the Turks will not withdraw their troops?

But after hearing Li Qiu's arrangement, Luo Kexin looked worried.

"Husband, you only have 2000 people, and you will raid the Turkic hinterland thousands of miles away."

"This is really too dangerous, why don't I and the two thousand soldiers here go with you?"

Li Qiu shook his head with a smile at this time, and then patted the Chituma who was armed to the teeth and also wearing armor under his crotch.

"Don't worry, after having these two thousand sets of armor, as long as we don't love to fight, those small Turkic cavalry can't stop us."

"Also, you two soldiers and horses, you must keep in mind."

"This raid is not for killing people, but for harassment."

"Of course, according to Ake and the others, there are quite a few horses and flocks in the nearby Xue Yantuo tribe."

"If conditions permit, bring back as many as possible."

Afterwards, the three armies led by the three of them galloped towards the hinterland of the grassland.

The team led by Li Qiu and A Ke took the lead and successfully attracted the cavalry of several nearby grassland tribes towards the Turkic hinterland.

This also facilitated the follow-up actions of the two armies of Luo Kexin and Luo Liang.

The advanced armor on Li Qiu's two thousand riders is really impressive.

Turkic bows and arrows are far away, and they can't do much harm to them at all.

All they have to do is set fires along the way while running.

Burn the withered and yellow pastures in autumn, and use flaming arrows to ignite the haystacks stored in the grassland tribes.

In this season, the wind is strong and very dry.

Once these pastures and haystacks are ignited, it is extremely difficult to control them.

Prairie people, the most precious thing is their livestock.

And these livestock depend on these forages.

Whenever they saw their pasture being set ablaze by Li Qiu and the others, the Turkic people were furious with hatred, and then went crazy, killing them one after another.

The more so, the more sense of accomplishment Li Qiu and the others felt.

Then, relying on the strength of the armor on their bodies, and the precise navigation of Ake and their masters and apprentices, they avoided the encirclement.

For the first few days, everything was fine.

There are not many left-behind cavalry in each small tribe, and it is relatively easy for Li Qiu and the others to get rid of them.

But the more they advanced with the Turkic hinterland, the more Turkic cavalry surrounded them.

Their actions felt more and more blocked.

In the end, before reaching one-third of the expected distance, Li Qiu had to order to return.

There are more and more grassland cavalry gathered around.

If you go further forward, it will be very easy to be completely surrounded.

At that time, even if I wear good armor on my side, there is only one dead end.

On the way back to the voyage temporarily, Li Qiu couldn't help but regret in his heart. It seems that this surprise attack on the grassland for thousands of miles is not so easy.

Before myself, I still took it for granted.

On the road that followed, Li Qiu's army encountered several small groups of Turkic cavalry.

After a brief contact, Li Qiu led his team to get rid of them.

As previously scheduled, this military operation is only for harassment, nothing more.

According to Li Qiu and A Ke's estimates, there are at least [-] to [-] troops left behind on the grassland.

This Turk's family background looks thicker than expected.

Chapter 268 A Great Achievement

Upon hearing the news, many tribal leaders in the Turkic tent resigned.

They all clamored to withdraw their troops.

Among them, Yi Shiyinan, the leader of Xue Yantuo's tribe, is the main one.

Because the Turkic tribe is located in the hinterland of Turkic.

But this time Li Qiu harassed most of the territory of Xue Yantuo's tribe and several other small tribes.

In this siege battle, the troops of many tribes suffered a lot.

I've already felt resentment in my heart, and I don't want to fight anymore.

However, because of Tuli and Zhuan's despicable power, they could only grit their teeth and persist, and withdraw their troops after Jingzhou was defeated.

But unexpectedly, Li Qiu's actions became the last straw that broke the camel's back.

At this moment, they didn't say anything.

The crowd was furious, yelling that you can't ignore our life and death, right?

There was no other way, after nearly a night of turmoil, Tu Li, Zhi Shi Si Li and the others finally chose to compromise.

One day later, when they were gradually evacuating in Jingzhou City in an orderly manner according to Li Jing's order, suddenly a scout horse hurried in, very excited.

"Report to the handsome!"

"The Turks have withdrawn their troops!"

Upon hearing this news, everyone including Li Jing was shocked.

People like Duan Zhixuan and Yuchi Jingde even stood up, "What did you say?"

"The Turks have withdrawn their troops?!"

"Reporting to the generals, it is indeed the case, the Turks have withdrawn their troops!"

At this time, Li Jing frowned, and walked quickly to the map, silent.

After a while, he said in a deep voice: "It doesn't make sense, they would choose to withdraw at this time?"

"Judging from the previous signs, it is clear that Tuli and Zhishili on the opposite side will withdraw their troops only after conquering Jingzhou City."

"Look closely and see if there is any other movement?"

It wasn't until another day passed that the Turkic army had left the border of Jingzhou, and everyone was finally relieved.

And in the afternoon of that day, an emergency military report was delivered to Li Jing and the others.

The defenders of Youzhou City divided into three groups to harass the Turkic grassland.

Among them, Li Qiu, the governor of Youzhou and the king of Beiping, personally led two thousand elites into the hinterland of the Turks, setting fires along the way and burning several pastures.

It wasn't until this time that everyone suddenly realized the real reason for the Turks' retreat.

Yuchi Jingde slapped the table at this time, "Li Qiu, this kid, you did a good job!"

"There's just one thing I can't figure out."

"He has only a few thousand troops, and it stands to reason that he can't pose much threat. How can he make the Turks retreat?"

Li Jing said slowly at this time: "After this year's war, the Turkic people also suffered as many as 10 casualties."

"Do you think they can avoid pain?"

"Li Qiu's move is just an opportunity to trigger conflicts among the various tribes within the Turks."

"However, the timing he chose was extremely subtle."

"Earlier, the internal contradictions of the Turks had not yet reached their peak. Even if he went to harass the hinterland of the grassland, it would not have much effect."

"And if it is later, even if it is a few days, after the Turks capture Jingzhou, they will naturally retreat."

"Either way, it's the best news for us."

"Pass down the order, the whole army rests."

"In addition, the imperial court must allocate funds at all costs to build Jingzhou and other cities."

"Prepare for next year's war."

In Chang'an, after seeing such a military situation, everyone was extremely happy.

Changsun Wuji: "I really didn't expect that the winner of this year's chess game would come from Li Qiu."

"This is a great achievement, and it should be rewarded!"

Du Ruhui frowned at this moment and said: "Your Majesty, the Turkic retreat gave us a chance to breathe."

"This Li Jing's statement, I think it is very reasonable."

"This year, the two sides fought like this, and our army's strength was greatly injured. Next year, the Turks will definitely make a comeback."

"We should concentrate our efforts and prepare well."

But Fang Xuanling frowned at this time, "Your Majesty, what Li Jing said in the book is beyond doubt."

"It's just that right now we can't even appease the victims in the Central Plains, and we don't have the strength to spend extra money to supply Jingzhou with food and grass."

"The emergency documents of various states and counties these days are like snowflakes."

"Among them, Shandong, Guanlong, and Luoyang are particularly strong."

"At present, only Jingzhou and Li Qiu's Nayouzhou Thirteen Prefectures are relatively quiet."