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Eight hundred and fiftieth chapters at three quarters

The sixth year of innovation, July 20th.

At dawn, a drizzle fell.

Li Shimin only slept for less than two hours last night before getting up. He was a little agitated, so he went to the front line to inspect the Zhao army's position in person.

Before he reached the forefront, Changsun Wuji reported to him: "Your Majesty, Yang Gongren is back."

Li Shimin turned his head and frowned and asked, "Yang Gongren, Yang Shidao and Chai Shao, aren't they pursuing Wang Jungu's men? Why are they back?"

Changsun Wuji said, "Your Majesty, let's listen to Yang Gongren himself."

Soon Yang Gongren entered the inward and reported to Li Shimin: "Meet Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty."

Li Shimin helped Yang Gongren up and said, "Thank you for your hard work, how is the battle?"

Yang Gongren replied: "Your Majesty, I brought you an army of ten thousand."

Li Shimin glared at Yang Gongren and said with dissatisfaction: "I have sufficient troops here and don't need your troops. You need to keep an eye on Wang Jungua now."

Yang Gongren lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, General Chai and us have lost the movements of Wang Jungu's men and horses. They are all cavalry and run too fast. Our army has few cavalry and many infantry. After only pursuing them for three days, they were thrown away. General Chai and my brother are both ready to continue pursuing Longyou, and ordered me to lead the army back to help Your Majesty and prevent Wang Jungu's attack."

Li Shimin listened to $金金).(cf)(w)(x). He said: "Do you say Wang Junkuo continues to meet with Li Chongjiu in the past?"

Yang Gongren knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I think it will take some time for Wang Jungu to reorganize, but I am also worried that after Wang Jungu can reorganize, he will come to Sanyuan to attack our army. But at least not today. Your Majesty. I want to ask Your Majesty to make a decision at the moment and not give the Zhao army a chance."

Li Shimin's eyes frightened when he heard this. He immediately grabbed Yang Gongren's hand and said, "You are right. Now I have ordered you to set up a formation in Gaoling County to cover our army's retreat. No matter what happens, you must protect our army's retreat to Chang'an. Do you understand?"

Yang Gongren clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, don't worry, I will do my best."

After Yang Gongren left, Li Shimin said to Changsun Wuji: "Do you want to tell the Turks that the Zhao army may have deviated from the flanks of our army?"

Changsun Wuji said expressionlessly: "Your Majesty. I think you don't tell me. This will stabilize the morale of the army."

Li Shimin said: "If you don't tell me, then do you think Tong Ye Hu can break through the defense of the Zhao army's reed area?"

Changsun Wuji said: "Your Majesty, Tong Ye Hu has been through the battlefield for a long time and is still very good at it. Your Majesty can believe it. Moreover, I guess Tong Ye Hu is also worried that the Zhao army may detour at any time, and will definitely fight with all its might today."

"Very good, then today is the time to decide the outcome."

After Li Shimin finished speaking, he walked to the forefront of the Tang army's position and inspected the Zhao army camp.

Li Shimin pointed to the Zhao army camp and said to Changsun Wuji: "You can tell from the formation. Li Chongji is really cautious in using troops. Look at the left wing of his army facing an unknown village. The main force of the army is deployed on the road from Sanyuan to Gaoling County to guard traffic. We will not allow our army to pass, while the right wing is facing a reed land. There are hills on the east and west sides of the camp, which can prevent our cavalry from detouring."

Changsun Wuji nodded and said, "Your Majesty is very true. Not only is the arrangement of the Zhao army from east to west, but from north to south. Look at the center of the Zhao army camp, there is a hill slightly raised. Some of its troops are arranged on the south slope. You can look down from a high place to see all the virtual and realities of our army, but behind the hills, you can ambush the troops and horses, so that our army can see the truth and reality."

The drizzle in the morning made the ground even more wet. Li Shimin walked in front of the formation and looked into the distance. In the mist, the dense milky white dome tents in the Zhao army camp said, "You are very saying, I have always been unwilling to attack prepared enemies when using troops, but today I have to do it."

Compared to Li Shimin getting up early in the morning to inspect, Li Chongjiu did not close his eyes all night. He has been through the battlefield for many years and has been fighting for many years, but at this moment he can't help but feel a little worried about gains and losses.

In the early morning, the generals reported that there were signs of Turkic cavalry movements in the right wing reeds. Li Chongjiu was no longer sleepy and immediately stood up.

The dew was heavy in the early morning, and it had just rained again, and the ground was very muddy.

In the camp, the soldiers were still sleeping in the tent. The drizzle hit their faces. Looking at the distant sky, the sky was gray. In the camp of the Tang army below, it seemed that they had begun to make fires and cook, and there were signs of soldiers and horses moving back and forth.

General Yuchi Gong came to report: "Your Majesty, on the right wing of our army, I found that the Turkic cavalry carried the nearby villagers carrying earth bags, as if they were going to lay out a path in the reeds and advance across the nai."

Li Chongjiu said: "It is not convenient for cavalry to enter and exit in the reed mud siege. The Turks did this to pave the way and attack our right wing."

Wang Mahan clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, the cavalry in Nizeli is just a plate of vegetables. We send infantry to slaughter all such Turkic dogs."

Li Chongjiu said: "Although reeds are not conducive to cavalry mobility, they are convenient for ambushing people. If our army rashly enters the reeds, what should we do if we get ambushed by the Turks? There must be ambush in the reeds. This is clearly the plan to lure the enemy."

"But Your Majesty!"

Wang Mahan wants to say something else, Li Chongjiu shook his head and said, "Even if there is a chance to win, I won't allow you to fight."

Wang Mahan heard this and complained: "Your Majesty, you are too cautious in using troops. That governor Ye Hu seems to be just a mediocre general."

"I think it's not necessary to praise any enemy, which will reduce the morale of our army. Of course, it's not worth it to belittle the other party. Remember to be careful and there's no big mistake!"

After hearing this, Wang Mahan clasped his fists and promised to retreat.

Seeing that Wang Mahan still couldn't mind, Li Chongjiu smiled and patted his shoulder and said, "Wang Mahan, how long have you been following me?"

"Report to Your Majesty, it's almost twenty years."

Li Chongjiu nodded and said, "Yes, among so many generals, you have followed me for the longest time, and your title has also changed. After this battle, I will make you the Duke of the State."

"I thank Your Majesty!" Wang Mahan knelt down after hearing this, and the seven-foot man couldn't help but be excited at this moment.

Li Chongjiu said: "Go down, I have a premonition. Today, the Tang army will invest heavily in the left wing. If you want to protect this place for me, you must not make any mistakes."

Wang Mahan wiped his tears and said, "Don't worry, if a soldier from the Tang army passes through the left wing, I will twist my head off."

After Wang Mahan left, his subordinates brought Li Chongjiu's cavalry to war. Li Chongjiu turned over and jumped onto his mount and began to inspect before the battle.

The sky began to brighten at this time, and a little dawn shone through the trees on the east side.

Because the war was imminent, the Zhao army's head army made meals earlier than before. After a rain, some firewood was wet, so when it was placed under the marching pot, it made choking smoke. The head army covered its face and cooked. Many people were so smoky that their faces were dark. The soldiers also joked with each other like jokingly, and various laughter came from the camp.

"Your Majesty, the war has not begun. Should the soldiers not make noise?" Wang Shi, the other general of the court guard, suggested that there are military orders for soldiers to prohibit noise in the army, and violators can be beheaded.

Li Chongjiu waved his hand and said, "No need, the battle is imminent, and the soldiers are tightening their strings. Let them relax now. Look, aren't our army's morale very high? Don't worry."

"No." Wang Shi agreed. Wang Shi was the son of Wang Junkuo. He had served under Guo Xiaoke and participated in the battle against the Khitan. After that, Goguryeo had settled, and there was no major war in the east of Zhao State. Wang Shi, who could not bear the loneliness, wanted Li Chongjiu to apply to transfer back to the court guards, and even wrote a letter to Yang Ehuang to go to the back door.

After Li Chongjiu solicited Wang Junkuo's opinions, he transferred Wang Shi to his side and served as a different general in the court guards.

The two were patrolling the army on horseback. Li Chongjiu had high hopes for this "nephew" and often talked to him. Now he looked at Wang Shi and said, "Do you think your father's men will come back from the west to participate in this battle?"

Wang Shi said with great confidence: "Your Majesty is of course. The more Li Shimin said outside, my father's Western Route Army was defeated, but in fact he had no confidence. Who is my father? When he was far and wide, Li Shimin was still wearing a crotch cloth? He wanted to plot against him, but he had no way."

After hearing Wang Shi's vulgar words, Li Chongjiu laughed out loud. The generals and staff on the side were used to it. If other ministers spoke to Li Chongjiu like this, they would have been the censor who had lost their manners before the emperor, and the least of them was also the one who was seized. Of course, no one in Zhao State dared to say that.

Li Chongjiu and Wang Shi were talking and laughing, inspecting the entire army.

There were also more footsteps in the camp, and the Dazhao military camp woke up at dawn. The soldiers all walked out of the camp, checked their equipment and had a meal.

There seemed to be a gentle sound of birds in Li Chongjiu's ears, and the sound of iron buckets swaying when the soldiers fetched water.

When the Zhao soldiers on the side saw Li Chongjiu coming to the front line, they were excited to put down their rice bowls, stood up and saluted Li Chongjiu. Li Chongjiu took off his helmet and raised his hand to greet the soldiers. Wherever they went, the soldiers shouted long live. When the generals saw Li Chongjiu chatting and laughing, they obviously had full confidence in this battle, so they all felt very at ease.

After Li Chongjiu inspected the entire army, he returned to the central army.

After arriving at the gate, it was already bright and the mist in the morning gradually dissipated.

Li Chongjiu rode on his horse and looked towards the Tang army's position, but saw that the Tang army soldiers were almost ready. At the camp, the Tang army soldiers were gathering in the open space, all of which were all armored, shining under the morning light.

A large number of cavalry teams galloped from a distance around the infantry formations, concentrated on the right wing, including both the Turkish cavalry and the Iron Cavalry of the Tang army.

Wow!

Wow!

Wow!

Three sharp horns rang out.

Li Chongjiu turned his head and asked, "When is it now?"

After hearing this, Wang Shi immediately rode his horse to the sundial that recorded the time in the army, and then rode his horse to report: "Your Majesty, it's three o'clock in the hour of Mao!" (To be continued...)

...
Chapter completed!
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