Chapter 40: First Battle (Third Update, Seeking Votes)

  Du He and Li Ji walked side by side, and on the way, they mostly gathered together to personally survey the surrounding terrain, discuss where to set up ambushes, in order to ensure that future invading enemies would be completely annihilated.

  Because Songtsen Gampo was not ordinary, they could not choose a dangerous place to set up an ambush. The more dangerous the place is, the more likely it will make people suspicious and discover the problem. However, if there is no ambush in a dangerous location, then there would be no natural barriers to rely on, making it difficult to annihilate the enemy completely. Therefore, the location of the ambush must have both natural barriers and not arouse suspicion from the opponent, which is indeed troublesome.

  Fortunately, they were on Jian'nan Road, which belongs to the Bashu area. The mountains and forests are treacherous, and it really allowed them to find a suitable place for an ambush.

  Li Ji secretly sent Niu Jin to lead troops to set up an ambush, waiting only for the Tubo's night surprise attack.

  As for the nighttime raid by Tubo, Du He had a 100% guarantee. This time he saw through Tubo's intentions and understood Songtsen Gampo's thoughts, so he set up such a trap, making them either take the risk of a night raid or retreat due to lack of food, thus forcing the enemy to launch a nighttime attack.

  So he didn't worry about Songzan Gambo not coming at night.

  As dusk approached, Li Ji finally gathered all the civil and military generals together and told them the true battle plan.

  Zhilü and Liu Lan looked at each other in dismay, but they also accepted their orders with determination.

  Li Ji took a deep breath and ordered: "The matter must not be delayed, the large army will retreat in batches at night. My main force is the first wave, General Shi Li is the second wave, and General Liu will stay behind to block the Tubo and buy time for our retreating troops. General Liu, you can pile up hay in the camp first, pretend to lose and set fire to the camp to block the enemy army, and also lure the enemy into our encirclement."

  All the great generals in the account thundered to take orders.

  Li Ji left Du He and Liu Lanshan with the intention of blocking the enemy army's various strategies. Because at least during the battle, they still had to hold on for many days before pretending to retreat in defeat, otherwise who would believe that the mighty Tang generals would collapse in one battle?

  Li Ji and Liu Lan were indeed seasoned generals who had gone through a hundred battles. During their discussion, various tactics for attack and defense emerged one after another, opening Du He's eyes wide. He had extraordinary intelligence and superhuman courage, but lacked the rich combat experience of Li and Liu. Just by listening in, he felt greatly benefited.

  Mo will go and set up, although it's a defeat, but before retreating, Mo also wants to make this group of Tibetan fragments lose a good tooth! Liu Lan led the order away.

  Du He hoped that the plan would be carried out smoothly, but thinking of the soldiers who were about to sacrifice for this plan, he suddenly felt a twinge of guilt in his heart.

  Li Ji, having experienced many battlefields, understood Du He's feelings and patted him on the shoulder to comfort him: "There is no battlefield without death, as a general, one thinks about how to achieve the greatest victory with the smallest casualties. Indeed, some of the soldiers who covered the rear will sacrifice themselves because of your plan to lure the enemy, but more people will survive because of your strategy."

  Du He also understands this principle, it's just a bit hard to let go.

  After all, people's hearts are made of flesh and blood, and Du He is absolutely not a cold-blooded and ruthless person.

  After dinner, night falls gradually.

  Dark clouds cover the sky, yet dense clouds bring no rain, most advantageous for a surprise attack, but disadvantageous for pursuit.

  Du He secretly rejoiced, it's a good weather, looks like the old heaven is also helping them with one arm.

  It was near dawn when Songtsen Gampo led his night raid troops to arrive outside the camp.

  The world was quiet, except for the mosquitoes buzzing around, and there was no other sound.

  With the help of the camp, the scattered firelight, Song Zan Ganbu roughly understood the enemy's deployment and also became heavy-hearted. He praised: "This Li Ji is indeed a famous general of the Tang Dynasty. You see that the military camp is arranged in layers, with a clear layout; The soldiers on patrol are full of energy and in good order; The grain and grass are piled up like mountains, and the defense is strict. Even if we launch a night attack, our army will not be able to gain much advantage. No wonder the Grand Marshal often says that unless necessary, we should not make an enemy of the Tang Dynasty."

  The maiden beside him, Mu Sang Yan Ton, was also a famous general of the Tubo, and she nodded in agreement: "Zanpu is right, but the enemy has come from afar and is tired, while our army has been resting for a long time, which is another advantageous position."

  The current situation is like an arrow on the string that must be shot, Songtsen Gampo raised the charge order.

  "Kill...!" More than 10,000 warriors suddenly shouted in unison, and then more than 6,000 soldiers formed neat rows, rushing quickly to their respective targets, with a momentum like an avalanche!

  In an instant, that tranquility was thrown to the farthest reaches of the sky. The front sentry post of the Tang camp had only twenty or so people, and when they heard the earth-shattering roar, they hastily sounded the alarm bell, but before a moment had passed, they were already knocked down and trampled by the wildly charging soldiers.

  "Enemy attack..." "Counterattack..." and other shouts were heard one after another.

  The whole Tang camp is in an uproar!

  The war drums sounded, and the Tibetan soldiers rushed into the camp like wolves and tigers. They clashed with the Tang soldiers who had already reacted, killing each other in a melee. In terms of individual combat capabilities, the Tibetan soldiers were not inferior to the Tang soldiers at all.

  The Tang Dynasty was a martial dynasty, with a strong and fierce folk culture. As a result, the soldiers were brave and powerful, but the Tibetans were also strong and robust due to their location on the high plateau, where the harsh climate and environment had honed them into one by one.

  Du He looked around, roughly estimating that the enemy had deployed at least 15,000 people in tonight's night raid. Given the surprise attack, this was already a considerable number. They took advantage of their prior move, charging into the camp and gaining some upper hand.

  Both sides fought fiercely, cutting and killing each other with extreme cruelty.

  It was his first time seeing such a scene, and it was ten or even a hundred times more brutal than the war scenes he had seen in movies and TV shows.

  "Fall back!" Li Ji arrived at Du He's side. He was one of the main forces under Li Ji, belonging to the first wave of retreating troops.

  "Uncle, I want to stay and help General Liu retreat!" Du He saw that the front line was struggling due to his own fault, and the Tang army was in a bitter battle, he couldn't bear it.

  Li Ji looked at him for a moment, then nodded and said: "Alright, I'll let you do as you please this once. You're the most familiar with the plan, so you assist General Liu in retreating and luring the enemy into our encirclement! However... be careful! I know your martial arts skills are exceptional, but this is a battlefield..."

  "Understood!" Du He shouted: "Yi Ai, you lead the Mo Dao team to join the second defensive line, Wang Zuolang Jiang and Luo Youlang Jiang, you divide your troops to charge into the enemy array from left and right, rescue the soldiers who are surrounded and fighting hard, assist them in retreating to the second defensive line, I will lead the Imperial Guard to break through from the front!"

  Luo Tong, Wang Dezheng and Fang Yiai responded in unison.

  Li Ji saw Du He pointing and commanding as if he was in control, so he felt at ease and led the main army to retreat and set up an ambush.

  Du He drew out his Panlong sword and urged on his fine steed, leading Fan Yuanchen and five hundred cavalrymen to charge into the midst.

  It was his first time doing so and he couldn't help but feel a bit nervous, imitating the scene from The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, shouting loudly: "Long'an Du Qinglian is here, who dares to fight me!"

  This statement is very domineering and arrogant.

  Zhang San's shout scared off Cao Cao's hundreds of thousands of troops, but Du He's shout directly led to a dozen long spears thrusting towards his face!

  The second generation has created a QQ group, the group number is in the book review section, like-minded friends who like this book or have opinions and suggestions can join, and it's okay to chat casually!