"If Wu Jie wants to escape the Great Tang in the shortest time possible, the route he would take would be from Chang 'an, through Feng Province, Ning Province, Qing Province, Jiang Province, Shuo Province, and then from Huaiyuan to the steppe! Based on the speed of the Martial Grandmaster, Wu Jie has probably already passed through Feng Province, perhaps even reached Qing Province!
What we need to do now is to set up an ambush at the passes that must be passed between Qing Province and the steppe! Wu Jie would never have imagined that the northern provinces of the Great Tang would react so quickly! "
Li Zexuan led the army out of the city at top speed and headed straight for Jiang Province in the west after organizing the thirty thousand soldiers who were skilled in battle formations.
On the road, Li Zexuan analyzed the situation to Xu Tingda.
Because he didn't have any generals he was familiar with, and he didn't have the time to familiarize himself with the people around him, Li Zexuan could only do everything himself and slowly build up a tacit understanding with the soldiers from Bing Province. Only after he understood the abilities of the people around him could he gradually delegate authority to others!
Fortunately, Xu Tingda, the Commandant of Bing Province's Subjugation Prefecture, was rather capable and experienced on the battlefield. Most importantly, he was obedient and didn't have the rebellious nature of the veteran generals. He carefully listened to Li Zexuan's every word, and cupped his fist.
"Marquis's words are reasonable. This is the shortest route from Chang 'an to the steppe! But this general estimates that in order to avoid the pursuit of the Imperial Court, Wu Jie might not take the official road, but the smaller ones. As long as we guard the important passes that he must pass through, we'll definitely be able to intercept him! "
Li Zexuan nodded, and after a few moments, he asked, "Commandant Xu has been stationed in Bing Province for many years, so you must be more familiar with the passes in the north than this marquis. In Commandant Xu's opinion, should this marquis dispatch soldiers to those passes?"
In truth, he had a map of the Great Tang in his mind, and he was clearly aware of the passes in the north. He had only asked this question because he wanted to test Xu Tingda.
Of course, for Xu Tingda himself, he was very happy to accept this consideration. Earlier, Li Zexuan had already stated the purpose of this deployment, to surround and capture Wu Jie. For Xu Tingda, this was an excellent opportunity to render meritorious service! If he performed well in this battle and received a little bit of support from Li Zexuan, then he might be promoted by another rank!
Don't be fooled by Xu Tingda's uncouth appearance, this fellow was very meticulous. In the past year, Li Zexuan had been promoted like a rocket, becoming the most dazzling upstart in the imperial court in recent years. Perhaps no one in the younger generation could compare to him in the glory of the Emperor's favor! Moreover, putting aside his official position, Li Zexuan was also a martial arts grandmaster. Even though he had never been on the battlefield before, Xu Tingda did not dare to underestimate him, so he had been carefully and conscientiously waiting on the side!
"Replying to Marquis, this general believes that we should first set up an ambush at Longmen Pass, as it is the closest to the Qing Province. Secondly, we should dispatch a small number of troops to Longmen Pass, Yonghe Pass, and even Yanmen Pass. Firstly, we should prevent Wu Jie from passing through Longmen Pass. Secondly, if we fail to stop Wu Jie at Longmen Pass, the remaining three passes should be able to delay him for a while!
Most importantly, these four passes have always been contested by military strategists since ancient times. They are the only passes on the way to the steppe, and they are also the only passes on the way to the Central Plains. If Wu Jie wants to go around them, he would have to travel at least five or six hundred li, so he can't go around them! "
After thinking for a while, Xu Tingda cupped his fists to Li Zexuan.
In ancient times, there were many places that military strategists fought over. Some modern people might not understand why there were places that military strategists fought over, and why would they spend a huge amount of troops to capture these places? Couldn't they just go around them?
In fact, these strategic locations were generally divided into two types, one was a pass, and the other was an important town. A pass was a "strategic pass". Under normal circumstances, the terrain on both sides of the pass was mountainous, making it impossible to go around it. However, an important town could be bypassed, but if one didn't attack such an important town and instead went around it, it would make the entire military operation meaningless, and it would be easy to be caught in a pincer attack!
The Longmen Pass, Longmen Pass, Longmen Pass, Yonghe Pass, and Yanmen Pass that Xu Tingda mentioned all belonged to this type of strategic pass!
Hearing this, Li Zexuan's face couldn't help showing a trace of praise, nodding with a smile, "Good! In Wu Jie's opinion, the northern provinces of the Great Tang still hadn't received the news that he was wanted by the Imperial Court, so they hadn't effectively organized their forces to intercept him. Under these circumstances, it was even less likely that he would deliberately go around the pass!
Since that's the case, this Marquis will now take ten thousand soldiers to Longmen Pass. Commandant Xu, you will take the remaining twenty thousand soldiers and head north. Take this Marquis' order and the Imperial Edict to set up defenses at Longmen Pass, Longmen Pass, and Yanmen Pass. If necessary, you can have the soldiers of the nearby provinces assist you! This Marquis will set up an inescapable net that will make it impossible for Wu Jie to escape! "
Through these considerations, Li Zexuan discovered that Xu Tingda had some talent as a general. Although he hadn't heard of this person in the history books, in the five thousand years of history of China, it was impossible for every capable person to leave their name in the annals of history, right? Those who were buried in the long river of history might not all be incapable people!
It was precisely because of this consideration that Li Zexuan decided to have Xu Tingda lead an army to set up defenses in the north! But then again, the only capable general by his side who could take charge of a region on his own was Xu Tingda. If he didn't choose this person, who else could he choose?
Xu Tingda's heart suddenly shook, and a trace of excitement flashed in his eyes. He quickly cupped his fists and said, "Many thanks for Marquis' trust! However, this general suggests that Marquis lead twenty thousand soldiers to guard Longmen Pass, while this subordinate leads ten thousand elite soldiers to set up defenses in the north. After all, Wu Jie is most likely still in the Qing Province region. Longmen Pass will soon usher in a fierce battle! In comparison, the three passes in the north are less likely to be in danger! "
He was worried that if he left too few soldiers behind, Li Zexuan might be in danger!
Li Zexuan thought for a moment, but in the end, he shook his head and said, "You don't need to worry about this Marquis! Even if Wu Jie has yet to reach Longmen Pass, the ten thousand soldiers this Marquis has brought are enough to guard Longmen Pass! I have you lead the remaining twenty thousand soldiers to the northern passes not only to prevent Wu Jie from escaping, but also to prevent the Turkic army from the north! "
Xu Tingda couldn't help but be shocked by these words, and he asked in shock, "Marquis, you mean that the Turks will send an army to invade the borders of our Great Tang?"
This was' big news'. Although the Great Tang and the Turks occasionally had 'friction', those were only small skirmishes. Once the Turks officially invaded the heartland of the Great Tang, it would mean that the two countries were about to go to war!
The Wei River Alliance in the ninth year of Wude was because the Great Tang had just experienced internal strife and didn't have the strength to take on such a tough battle, so it chose to compromise. But now, the Great Tang was unprecedentedly strong, and anyone who understood the situation could see that within three years, the Great Tang would definitely take revenge for the siege of their city. Now that he heard Li Zexuan say that the Turks might attack the passes in the north, Xu Tingda instantly felt that a national war was about to descend!
Li Zexuan thoughtfully nodded and said, "Very likely! Do you know what Wu Jie stole from the Great Tang? He stole the most important batch of confidential information from Yanhuang College. As long as the Turks learn what is in there, in less than a year, the Turks will be at least twice as strong as they are now. At that time, the Great Tang will have no power to fight back against the Turks! With such an important item, do you think that Xieli will not send soldiers to receive Wu Jie? "
His expression turned solemn as he cupped his fists and said, "Marquis, don't worry. This general will definitely guard the passes in the north and will definitely not let the Turks enter the Great Tang's territory!"
Li Zexuan nodded and said, "En! That's for the best! Quickly take twenty thousand elite soldiers to the north! "
Xu Tingda cupped his fists and replied loudly, "Yes ~! This general will go right away! "
Then, he turned around and shouted to the soldiers behind him, "Third Battalion, Fourth Battalion, Fifth Battalion, and Sixth Battalion, listen up! Immediately follow this general to Madouguan!"
"Yes ~!"
The twenty thousand soldiers replied loudly and then changed their path and followed Xu Tingda to the north.
On the other hand, Li Zexuan led the remaining ten thousand soldiers and continued to advance towards the Longmen Pass.
"Ga — ga —"
When the army reached a hillside in Longmen County, two "ga ga" sounds suddenly came from the sky. The sound was a little like the cry of a goose. Li Zexuan looked up and saw a wild goose flying over his head toward the southwest!
But at this moment, a "xiu" sound was heard, and a sharp arrow shot out from the forest on the hillside, heading straight for the wild goose. No, to be precise, it was heading straight for the wild goose's mouth!
"Ga —"
The arrow pierced into the wild goose's body and it let out a sad cry. It immediately fell from the sky and coincidentally landed three feet in front of Li Zexuan!
"Shh ~!"
Li Zexuan quickly reined in Big White. Seeing this, the soldiers behind him also stopped in their tracks. The soldiers beside Li Zexuan thought that they had encountered an ambush and quickly shouted, "Assassins! Quickly protect Marquis! "
"Swish swish swish ~!"
The soldiers all drew the modao from their waists and scattered around Li Zexuan. They stared at the hillsides on both sides with vigilance.
Li Zexuan waved his hand helplessly and said, "Everyone, back down!"
In his opinion, this was probably someone shooting wild geese on the hillside. What did it have to do with assassins? These people were a little too nervous!
Everyone looked at each other and could only put away their modao.
At this moment, Li Zexuan jumped down from Da Bai's back and walked in front of the wild goose. Upon closer inspection, he was shocked to find that the arrow from just now had coincidentally shot into the wild goose's mouth!
The hunter who had yet to show himself actually took advantage of the moment the wild goose opened its mouth and accurately shot the arrow into the wild goose's mouth. This kind of control over timing and arm strength was definitely not something an ordinary person could do!
An expert!
Li Zexuan didn't expect that he would encounter an expert of this level in this remote and desolate place!
He could not help but become serious and shouted to the hillside on the right, "Which warrior shot the wild goose? Quickly take it back!"
However, the forest was silent and no one responded. The hunters on the hillside were probably too scared to come out after seeing such a scene at the foot of the hill!
After a while, just as Li Zexuan was about to leave, the hunter on the hillside finally spoke, "Can I really take it back? You won't catch me, right? "
The voice was a little immature, but it sounded quite imposing.
Li Zexuan could not help but be a little surprised. This was because from the voice, the person on the hillside did not seem very old!
Thinking of this, he could not help but become more interested in the hunter on the hillside. Thus, he shouted, "Warrior, you must be joking. Why would I catch a commoner for no reason? You just need to come down and take the wild goose! This wild goose has no external injuries. It should be able to sell for a good price! "
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