After the military meeting in Suzhou City concluded, Li Maoxue's 11th Infantry Division, carrying ample rations and drinking water, took the lead in embarking on the westward journey to Guazhou.
At the same time, Luo Mingliang's 8th Cavalry Division was also escorting the 11th Infantry Division on its flank, advancing towards Guazhou.
After the 11th Infantry Division and the 8th Cavalry Division advanced westward, the 12th Infantry Division set off a day later.
The 13th Infantry Division stayed in Suzhou for a period of time.
Three armies set off one after another, all heading towards Guazhou City.
Suzhou City is not far from Guazhou, about five or six hundred li away. However, the route is mostly through the Gobi Desert. By mid-September, the cold wind was biting, blowing sand and dust that covered the sky.
The journey was also somewhat difficult.
After two days of marching, the 11th Infantry Division arrived at Liuhe.
Willow River, named for its location near the Dark Water (a tributary of the Dark Water), is surrounded by willow trees. Historically, this place was an important stop on the Silk Road, where merchants often stopped to resupply and rest.
As people come and go, this place has become a place to settle down in the Gobi Desert.
However, not long ago, when the Samanid Khanate's cavalry invaded the border of the Dagang Kingdom, the people in the Liuhe area were almost completely slaughtered.
After Li Maoxue and his group arrived, the dilapidated houses around Liuhe River were clearly visible. On the ground, one could still see the stark white bones, with strands of nearly dried meat still clinging to them.
Vultures screeched in the air as they pecked at the flesh on the bones.
That afternoon, the 11th Infantry Division arrived at Liuhe.
Looking at the surrounding scene, Li Maoxue's expression turned solemn. He ordered in a deep voice, "Set up camp by the Willow River tonight, gather up the corpses around here, and give them a proper burial."
"yes!"
The adjutant responded and then led the guards to collect Liu He's remains, dug a deep pit in the Gobi Desert, and buried them.
Although the buildings in Liuhe are dilapidated, they are still able to obtain supplies because of the small river running through them.
While resting in Liuhe, Li Maoxue did not let his guard down.
The cavalry units and reconnaissance battalion under the command of the 11th Infantry Division also scattered out to scout out the situation in the surrounding area.
The reconnaissance battalion even penetrated deep into the Guazhou area, closely monitoring the movements of the Samanid cavalry near Guazhou.
As the large army marched westward, the news naturally reached the troops of Tuli, the general of the Samanid Khanate, in the Guazhou area.
Inside the camp in Guazhou City.
Upon hearing this news, General Tuli frowned and asked, "How many troops did the Da Gan Army mobilize?"
"General Turi,"
A trusted confidant spoke up: "According to intelligence gathered by scouts, the vanguard of the Da Gan Army, numbering around 10,000, has already reached the Liuhe area and is expected to arrive in Guazhou in about two days. Behind Liuhe, there are another 20,000 to 30,000 troops advancing, who are the reserve forces of the Da Gan Army. This time, the total strength of the Da Gan Army advancing westward is over 30,000!"
"Over 30,000 people? That's a lot!"
General Tuli took a deep breath and asked, "How many troops are left in Suzhou City?"
"Reporting to the General,"
The confidant replied, "There are also more than ten thousand people in Suzhou City."
"oh?"
General Tuli was stunned.
"The main force of the army located in Longyou and Hexi has all been assembled in the Suzhou area."
Tuli frowned and asked, "Where did these troops come from? Are they the large armies from Ganzhou and Liangzhou that marched westward to Suzhou?"
"The General is wise!"
The confidant nodded and said, "That's right! According to the information obtained by the scouts, when we retreated from Suzhou City, Da Gan Army dispatched a large force from Ganzhou and Liangzhou to enter Suzhou City. Now, there are not many troops left in the Ganzhou and Liangzhou area."
"oh."
General Tuli nodded meaningfully, a solemn expression appearing between his brows.
Currently, 30,000 to 40,000 troops from Suzhou are advancing westward, threatening Guazhou.
However, the area around Ganzhou and Liangzhou, east of Suzhou City, has become almost a ghost town.
For them, a head-on confrontation with the large army would clearly be disastrous. Even if their entire army were wiped out, they probably still wouldn't be able to defeat them.
However, if a surprise force could be dispatched to launch a raid from the Gobi Desert into Ganzhou and Liangzhou, cutting off the main army's supply lines, then the main army in Suzhou and other areas, running out of ammunition and food, would be doomed to defeat!
Thinking of this, General Tuli gave a cold laugh and said, "Ashina Simo!"
"General!"
Ashina Simo quickly responded.
"Nowadays,"
General Tuli spoke, “The Da Gan army is advancing westward, threatening Guazhou. Our situation in Guazhou is likely dire. We are clearly no match for them in a direct confrontation. Therefore, I have decided to employ a surprise attack. General Ashina Simo, I order you to lead 60,000 cavalry, bypassing the Gobi Desert, and launch a surprise attack on Ganzhou and Liangzhou! Be careful to conceal your tracks and prevent the Da Gan army from discovering our plans. If you can reach Ganzhou and Liangzhou and capture these two cities in one fell swoop, we will achieve a great victory in the Battle of Suzhou!”
"The General is wise!"
Ashina Simo's eyes lit up and he said, "This subordinate will take care of it immediately!"
"Be careful to stay hidden!"
General Tuli gave another instruction.
"yes!"
Ashina Simo replied.
After watching Ashina Simo leave, his trusted aide frowned and said, "General, with General Ashina Simo's departure, we only have ten or twenty thousand troops left in Guazhou. With such a force, it will be difficult to defend Guazhou. What should we do?"
"Guazhou, we will not defend it."
General Tuli frowned and said coldly, "Since we can't hold out even with the main force here, let's just give up. Order the garrison in Guazhou to retreat west immediately. We will use our cavalry advantage in the Gobi Desert to deal with the main force."
"We must play to our strengths and avoid our weaknesses! We excel at cavalry warfare, but we are not good at defensive battles."
"The Gobi Desert is the domain of our Samanid cavalry!"
Hearing General Tu Li's words, the confidant nodded and said, "General, you are truly brilliant!"
"in addition,"
General Tuli took a deep breath and said, "Before retreating, be sure to destroy all the houses and buildings in Guazhou. Pour cow dung and camel dung into the rivers and lakes. Don't leave the Dagan army a single grain of food, a single house, or a single cup of clean water. As long as the Dagan army's logistics are cut off, we will still have a chance to return to Guazhou. At that time, this place will still be ours!"
General Tuli's words astonished everyone inside the tent.
"The General is brilliant!"
"The General is amazing!"
"Let's do it this way!"
...
Amidst a chorus of compliments, the Samanid cavalry in the Guazhou area began destroying houses, buildings, rivers, and lakes, before retreating westward into the Gobi Desert.
At the same time, Ashina Simo led his army westward into the Gobi Desert, then detoured through the northern Gobi and sped eastward...
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