In the city of Yizhou, Du Zhongxiao's temporary strategy division was the headquarters of the attack on Gaochang. Zhang Sheng, who was originally in office, returned to the city and, together with Du Zhongxiao and others, discussed the matter of fighting Gaochang for the first time.

Zhang Sheng pointed to the map on the table and said, "After the mouth of the Guigu, there are no people for dozens of miles. The first city to enter Gaochang is Puchang City. It is not a big city, and it is not very strong, and the cannons we bring should be able to break it. After Puchang, along the south of the Flame Mountain, and then through the two cities of Baozhuang and Liuzhong, you can go to the city of Gaochang. The two cities of Baozhuang and Liuzhong, which are similar to Puchang City, are both small cities, so there is no need to make too many arrangements. Only Gaochang is the important land left by the previous dynasty, the city is tall, and the population in the city is heavy. And it is the starting point of the Khitan trade route, and there are many rich merchants in the city."

Du Zhongxiao said: "That means that as long as you pass the mouth of the Guigu, you can go straight to Gaochang?" Several small cities, since they can't block the artillery, you can send a small force to surround and capture it first, and then the large army can go straight forward. In this operation, the occupation of Gaochang City was the first priority, and the rest were trivial. ”

Fu Bi said: "After the mouth of the Guigu Valley to Gaochang, it is nearly four hundred miles, and the distance is not close." To secure supplies for the 400-mile road, at least 10,000 or 20,000 people must be needed, and there must be plenty of livestock. In this way, the troops that can participate in the siege of Gaochang are only 50,000 or 60,000 at most. ”

Du Zhongxiao smiled: "Where can you use so many people!" In Gaochang City, it is reported that there are less than 10,000 people, and even if they are temporarily recruited, it is only 20,000 or 30,000. The main forces of Gaochang are in Gaochang City and Jiaohe Prefecture, and the rest are on the Yanqi front. This time, we suddenly marched into the army, and the troops on the Yanqi front line definitely did not have time to be transferred back, and the intelligence did not report that they were transferred back to Gaochang. For 10,000 people, 30,000 people are enough, and the rest of the troops do other things. In this march, except for the troops attacking Puchang, Baozhuang and Liuzhong, all the artillery belonged to the besieging troops. ”

Fu Bi was transferred to Hequ Road late, and he had no direct understanding of the combat effectiveness of the army.

Zhang Qi said: "The festival marshal wants to use 30,000 people to attack Gaochang, I don't know who to use?" ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "Your 50,000 people, in addition to capturing the cities around Gaochang, also send troops to occupy Baishui City, and block the way to rescue the troops from Beiting and Zhangbali. Send another one to the south to block the road for Yanqi to return to help. Zhao Zi's 30,000 people surrounded Gaochang. ”

When Zhang Qi heard that Zhao Zi's troops were attacking Gaochang, he was a little disappointed, but he still sang a promise.

Du Zhongxiao said: "In this battle of Gaochang, it is likely that the important battle is not fought in Gaochang City, but to appease the people outside." Most of the Uighurs in Qocho were in the army, and the rest of the ethnic groups were ordinary people. The most important thing is that the people's will should be stable during the war, and the people should not be allowed to organize themselves and become enemies of the army from the imperial court. The 50,000 men under Zhang Qi's command are the key to whether we can seize the Gaochang region as quickly as possible. ”

Zhang Qi listened, and said loudly: "Don't worry, the last general will live up to his mission!" ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "You have worked hard in the past few days, take the people of the headquarters, carefully draw up the battle plan, and hand it over to the Economic Strategy Division." Xizhou is also known as the twenty-two cities, which means that there are twenty-two cities around Gaochang. Of course, these cities can only be regarded as fortresses in the interior, and the real big cities are only Gaochang and Jiaohezhou cities. Breaking through Gaochang as quickly as possible, and the rest of the people in the rest of the region are at peace, which is our goal this time. Tens of thousands of troops are coming, and the task must be completed without mistakes to be considered victory. ”

The generals sang a promise with their hands crossed.

Du Zhongxiao said: "Gaochang has no more than 30,000 soldiers and horses in the country. Except for Gaochang and Yanqi, there are not many soldiers and horses in the rest of the places. This time, we attacked Gaochang and isolated Yanqi, which was to attack the weak with the strong, and we could not give the enemy a chance to turn over. I estimate that when the soldiers arrive at Gaochang City, they may not be able to react. In drawing up operational plans, all departments should not aim at difficulties and dangers, but should be as meticulous as possible. ”

Zhao Zi said: "Jie Shuai, I led the troops to surround Gaochang, do you want to rush on the road?" ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "Not bad. Your troops should first be in front of the cavalry troops, and Puchang, Baocheng, and Liuzhong should all go around the city, and go to the city of Gaochang before the other troops. After arriving at the place, they did not attack the city first, but only threatened the city of Gaochang outside, so that they did not dare to leave the city. The rescuers sent by Gao Chang should not let them run out. ”

Zhao Zi said: "The festival marshal is so arranged, doesn't it be a little bit like nothing to treat the Gaochang defenders as nothing?" How much is the right amount to send in the vanguard? ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "The entry of 100,000 troops into the Western Regions this time is to completely solve the problem of the Western Regions. Your lightly armed troops, about 5,000 people, all rode horses, and after passing the Ghost Valley, they went first and went straight to Gaochang. The heavy troops in the rear followed the vanguard of Zhang Qi's department, they surrounded Puchang, Baochen and Liuzhong, and your troops went around the city to Gaochang to besiege the city! ”

Zhao Zicha sang with his hand, a little eager to try. After more than a year in Juyan, the soldiers entered Yizhou without blood, and it has been too long without fighting. This attack on Gaochang is the easiest time to attack the weak with the strong. Zhao Zi has been under Du Zhongxiao for six or seven years, and it is time to change and promote.

Du Zhongxiao said to Li Fugui: "Yizhou to Gaochang, about 700 miles. A total of about 70,000 troops were dispatched this time, and we took our headquarters to defend Yizhou. With such a long distance and so many troops, it is not easy to ensure that they have food and clothing. In addition, artillery must be used to attack Gaochang, and it is extremely important to ensure the unimpeded flow of ammunition. Can it be done in the military? ”

Li Fugui thought for a while, and said with his hands crossed: "Although it is not easy, but the subordinates must do it!" ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded: "Okay!" After this battle, I will give you a great achievement! - To be honest, the first battle of Gaochang cannot be compared with the rest of the battles when he was on Hequ Road. At that time, we attacked the strong with weakness, and the blockers were invincible, and we had the courage to move forward. Now we are attacking weakness with strength, but we don't have the same spirit as before. On the battlefield, can you show your spirit and let the people of the Western Regions take a look, I don't know how the imperial army is now. ”

Zhao Zi and Zhang Qi listened to it, and sang a promise together, saying that they would never disgrace the reputation of the Hequ Road army.

Du Zhongxiao waved his hand and said, "Sit down, let's sit down and talk carefully." This battle was the first battle after the reorganization of the army, and the outcome of the battle had an important impact not only on me, but also on the future decisions of the imperial court. ”

Several people sat down separately, and Du Zhongxiao said: "The army is training, and the forbidden army in the capital was defeated by Zhang Qi's department. Since the capital sent a few people to the Wudu Military Academy, and after they returned, there was no other movement in the imperial court. How to say it, maybe the imperial court can also see that the original forbidden army is not the same as the Hequlu army, and if you want to complete the training, it will not be a matter of a few years. It is the army of Hequlu itself, because most of the soldiers who were added later were forbidden troops, and they were not as good as before. It's not that the forbidden army can't do it, but they have been in the army for a long time, and most of the habits in the army have been formed, and it is not easy to change them. Most of the officers in the army were selected and transferred from the forbidden army, and although they entered the military academy to study, how could they study well for a while? ”

Speaking of this, Du Zhongxiao said to Zhang Yu: "General Zhang is like this, he was transferred from Helinfu Road and studied many times in the military academy, he should know it." It should be no problem to lead troops to fight now, because the army opposite us is too bad. If there is an army like ours on the other side in the future, will we be sure of fighting against it? I think that's hard to say. ”

Zhang Qi forked his hands: "My subordinates know that there are still many places to learn, and they will work hard in the future!" ”

Du Zhongxiao shook his head: "It's not that I don't believe that you can learn, but because there is no one in the previous environment now." Unless the battle is tempered, or everything is normal in the army, it will be difficult to have the days of Suizhou again. There is no way to do this, and there is no need to be disappointed, as long as the national strength is still there, and there are always people who continue to be added to the army, everything is not a problem. You should do your best in this battle, and no matter what the results are, they will all be used as a reference for the DPRK and China in the future. ”