Chapter 2237: Argument about killing prisoners, fighting Li Shimin

Chapter 2237: Discussion of killing prisoners, fighting Li Shimin

Chapter 2233: Discussion of killing prisoners, fighting Li Shimin

After taking advantage of the Tang army's rout of cavalry and easily defeating Xu Rong's troops, Huo Qubing personally followed with 15,000 cavalry and pursued them for hundreds of miles before retreating, killing and capturing a large number of Tang troops.

While Huo Qubing led his army in pursuit, Gongsun Xuanyuan followed Huo Qubing's orders and led the army to capture Qian County.

Although there were only more than 2,000 defenders in Qian County, many of the defeated troops fled into the city. In addition, they were already prepared for the Qin army, and the Qin army had no siege equipment, so they could not attack by force but had to outsmart them.

 Gongsun Xuanyuan asked the Qin army to change into the military uniforms of the Tang army, disguised as the defeated Tang army, and used the unconscious Changsun Wuji to deceive the city gate and occupied the important place of Qian County without wasting a single soldier.

It is worth mentioning that Xu Rong, Gao Siji, Shi Jingtang and other generals seemed to have expected that Qian County could not be defended and would be easily captured by the Qin army if they entered the city, so they did not return to Qian County but fled to Youfufeng. In Huaili City, where the government was based, he took refuge with Li Siyuan, the prefect of Youfufeng.

Statistics after the war showed that the Qin army killed a total of 8,000 Tang army cavalry and 10,000 infantrymen, captured 6,000 cavalrymen and 12,000 infantrymen, captured 15,000 horses, and captured 50,000 shi of rations.

Forty thousand elite Tang troops were almost completely wiped out in this battle alone, with only more than 5,000 cavalry left, who fled to Huaili City under the leadership of generals such as Xu Rong and Gao Siji.

 The Qin army achieved such a great victory, and naturally it was impossible not to pay a price. However, the damage was not great, and the total casualties were less than 3,000. It can be said to be a great victory.

Although Huo Qubing won a great victory, he also lost three thousand fine cavalry. After the high-intensity march, there were two battles in a row. The soldiers were also a little tired, so Huo decided to rest in Qixian County. Ichiban continued to advance.

During the rest period, the generals of the Qin army held a heated discussion on whether to kill the prisoners.

Within one day, the Qin army defeated the Tang army in two battles. The number of captured Tang troops also accumulated to 21,000, while the total strength of the Qin army dropped to 35,000 due to casualties.

The Qin army had too few troops, and the Tang army captured too many prisoners, accounting for almost two-thirds of the Qin army's total strength.

These prisoners are all elites of the Tang army, with good combat prowess and relatively loyal to Li Shimin. It is impossible to conquer them in a short time.

It is unknown whether the prisoners were killed, but if they were not killed, a large number of soldiers would be left to guard the prisoners, which would undoubtedly weaken the Qin army's combat power.

“We can’t kill. In just one day since we entered Guanzhong, our army has already lost five thousand cavalry.

Now Li Shimin must have known that Xiao Pass has been broken and Changsun Wuji was defeated and captured. He will definitely mobilize heavy troops to encircle and suppress our army.

Even if the factors of encirclement and suppression by the Tang army are removed, our army still has to attack Wuzhangyuan and Chang'an. But how much force does our army still have to consume? "

Gongsun Xuanyuan was firmly against the prisoner-killing faction. When he heard the proposal to kill prisoners, he was shocked. However, he also knew that it was not that the Qin army was murderous, but that the existence of these prisoners had threatened the Qin army.

Xuanyuan Shi fought with the generals and objected to their reasons for killing the prisoners one by one. After arguing that the generals were speechless, he added: "We can completely imitate General Li Jing and send the Tang Army prisoners of war to help our army attack the city, so as to reduce the degradation of our army." casualties.”

 After hearing Xuanyuan's words, many generals were persuaded to give up their plans to kill prisoners.

But Huo Qubing said: "The situation in our army is completely different from that of Li Jing's.

Li Jing not only had Sijing and Sizhou at his back, but also had an army of 140,000. The Tang army had only 30,000 prisoners of war. Even if the prisoners of war resisted, they could easily suppress it without worrying about backlash from the prisoners of war.

But what about us? Going deep alone, there is no logistics and no way out.

Now there are only 35,000 cavalry left, and the prisoners of war account for close to two-thirds of the total strength. If the prisoners of war are provoked into rebellion, it will only further reduce the strength of our army and make our army's situation worse. ” ˆ ˆ After hearing Huo Qubing’s words, Xuanyuan was silent. Their situation was indeed completely different from Li Jing’s, so it was not advisable to imitate Li Jing.

Xuanyuan also knew that what Huo Qubing said was right. Killing these Tang Army prisoners of war would do more good than harm to the West Route Army, but he couldn't bear it.

These are 20,000 elite soldiers, representing 20,000 families in Guanzhong. It would be too cruel and a pity to kill them like this.

Gongsun Xuanyuan's eyes flashed with determination, and he looked directly into Huo Qubing's eyes and said: "General, please hand over these prisoners of war to the general, who is willing to issue a military order and organize these prisoners of war into a controllable force within ten days. "

After all, Huo Qubing was not a murderous general. Xuanyuan's words moved him very much. After a moment of silence, he said, "Ten days is too long. Even if I am willing to wait, does General Xuanyuan think that the Tang army will wait for you for ten days?"

 “Eight days.” Gongsun Xuanyuan gritted his teeth and said.

 “Okay, it’s settled.”

Huo Qubing smiled: "General Xuanyuan, there is no joke in the army. I will give you eight days."

  Xuanyuan: “…”

Huo Qubing asked Xuanyuan to lead 5,000 troops to guard Qianxian County, and to reorganize 21,000 Tang army prisoners of war. Of course, the time was limited, only eight days.

 Eight days later, regardless of success or failure, Xuanyuan must lead his army to join the battle. If something goes wrong with the reorganized prisoners of war, Xuanyuan will naturally bear the responsibility.

Two days later, Huo Qubing led 25,000 cavalry and left Qian County in the direction of Wuzhangyuan, intending to occupy this important road to Chang'an first, but Wuzhangyuan was already occupied by a Tang army.

Not long after Changsun Wuji was defeated, Li Shimin received the news that within one day, Xiaoguan and Qian County fell one after another, Changsun Wuji was captured, and the 40,000 elite troops were defeated with only 5,000 remaining troops.

After learning the news, Li Shimin almost fainted from anger and cursed angrily: Auxiliary machine (Chang Sun Wuji's nickname) mistook me.

 After getting angry, Li Shimin showed the qualities of an excellent monarch. He quickly calmed down and began to think about how to overcome this difficulty.

The Qin army that invaded Guanzhong was not infantry, but cavalry, and all of them were cavalry.

With the mobility of the Qin army's cavalry, the Tang army would not be able to catch up unless they took the initiative to fight the Tang army. However, the Qin army was able to maneuver in the pass.

If this Qin cavalry is allowed to do evil in Guanzhong, even if the Qin army is defeated this time, the Tang Dynasty will definitely be severely damaged.

The next time the Qin army invades again, how should Tang resist?

 Therefore, this Qin army cavalry must be dealt with as soon as possible.

Li Shimin deserves to be regarded as a great hero. He understood at a glance that Huo Qubing's goal was Chang'an, and entering Chang'an from the west could not bypass Wuzhangyuan, so Wuzhangyuan would be an excellent battlefield to deal with the Qin army.

In Li Shimin's view, the Qin cavalry that entered Guanzhong was only 40,000, and now there are at most 35,000 left. As long as the plan is proper, the strength of the Tang army may not be impossible to annihilate them all.

Li Shimin appointed Sima Yi as the guard general of Yaoguan, and he himself returned to Chang'an, preparing to personally lead the army to encircle and suppress the Qin army. This time he wanted to give Huo Qubing a urn to catch turtles in.