In the snow and ice, Chai Shao's army of 100,000 soldiers had run out of rations.
At this moment, the army was in a mutiny, and all of Li Yi's former generals had come to the tent to question Chai Shao. Why couldn't he ensure the supply of supplies, but instead went deep into the desert to pursue the Turks?
Chai Shao was furious and scolded the soldiers because he still only recognized Li Yi as his old master. Did he want to rebel?
The generals mocked. Ever since Chai Shao arrived in Youzhou, he had only won a few battles. However, he overthrew all the policies that General Li Yi had once used to govern Youzhou.
In a fit of rage, Chai Shao ordered Li Yi's former subordinates to lead a thousand light cavalry each, divided into nine groups, to break through the siege, or else they would be brought to see him.
......
A month later.
The nine groups of light cavalry split up. The generals of each group were iron-blooded soldiers personally trained by Li Yi in the past.
They broke out of the encirclement not because of Chai Shao's orders, but for the hundred thousand soldiers.
Because at this moment, the army had already been lured into the depths of the desert. Even if they wanted to retreat, they could not find a way out!
Moreover, there was no supply of grain at all. The remaining grain was only enough for three months.
Even if these 9,000 light cavalry could only break through one or two routes, they could still find a way to return to Youzhou to report and request reinforcements.
If they could escape even more, they could return to the grain route and kill more than half of the troops sent by the Khitans and other tribes to cut off the grain!
But the Turkic army had come in full force, with nearly three hundred thousand soldiers.
Out of caution, Jie Li Khan sent out 90,000 troops to encircle and suppress the light cavalry of the Tang army that tried to break out.
The difference in numbers was too great.
Among the nine thousand cavalrymen, there was no Divine General like Huo Qubing.
A total of nine thousand light cavalry had been completely annihilated by the Turkic army!
When Jie Li Khan heard his subordinate report, he was first surprised that the Tang army was not as brave as before, or sinister and cunning, and full of tricks. Instead, they were fighting like trapped beasts!
Then, he laughed heartily.
"The Tang army is no longer as brave as when Li Yi was around!”
......
Three months later.
Although Jie Li Khan was very pleased with the defeat of the nine thousand cavalry, he still had doubts. He was worried that it was a trick of the Tang army to lure the enemy, so he did not pursue.
Tuli suggested that the Tang army of 100,000 had run out of food and grass. The remaining food was only enough to last them for three months. It was better to fight again when they were hungry and cold.
Moreover, it was already the beginning of spring.
In the desert, snow would only melt when the seasons changed.
As the snow melted, the road became muddy and difficult to walk on. The Tang cavalry was not as good as the Turkic soldiers. They had been riding horses since they were young and were very accustomed to the various roads and environments. At this time, the Tang cavalry could easily lose their horses.
It was better to take this opportunity to launch a general attack on the Tang army!
Jie Li Khan readily agreed.
......
Half a year later.
The Turkic army of 300,000 launched a general attack on the Tang army led by Chai Shao!
When the two armies faced each other, the cavalry charged forward.
In the past, the Youzhou Cavalry, which had been invincible under Li Yi's command, was now very different.
It could be said that they could not withstand a single blow!
The Turkic soldiers were skilled in riding and archery. He had been training in the skills of charging and slashing since he was young.
In contrast, under Chai Shao's 'wise decision', the Youzhou cavalry that had been abandoned for more than two years were like vegetables to the Turkic cavalry!
Chai Shao had also tried to lead his army to break out of the encirclement.
However, the Turkic army became more and more fearless as they fought against the 90,000 Tang soldiers.
Even most of Chai Shao's personal guards were killed under the horses!
After the battle, the 100,000 soldiers that had marched out from Youzhou were reduced to less than 50,000!
......
A year later.
Under the protection of the Youzhou garrison, the supply of rations was temporarily restored.
Chai Shao decided to take advantage of the night to break out!
Chai Shao divided the army that barely reached fifty thousand into five groups, and each group was led by himself and his trusted generals.
It was already midsummer.
Chai Shao led ten thousand troops and successfully escaped under the charge of his trusted aides.
He had made an agreement with the other army to gather fifty miles away from Youzhou City.
But he was lost.
In order to break out of the encirclement easily, all the soldiers only carried five days 'worth of rations with them.
They had been lost for seven whole days!
When they ran out of ammunition and food, the soldiers could only kill their own warhorses, drink their blood, and eat their flesh.
They didn't even dare to start a fire to roast meat, afraid that the Turkic scouts would discover the smoke.
The army of 100,000 left Youzhou, and only 50,000 of them were left after the battle. In the end, the army split into five groups, and only 10,000 of them managed to escape back to Youzhou.
Defeat, a defeat that the Great Tang could not bear!
When Chai Shao fled back to Youzhou, he was no longer as high-spirited as he was when he went to war.
Under the torture of hunger and battle, he had long become a skinny man with a haggard appearance!
......
The Turkic camp.
When Jie Li Khan heard the scouts report that Chai Shao had fled back to Youzhou, he hurriedly asked,"
"The Tang army had 100,000 troops when they left. How many are there now?”
The scout couldn't hide his excitement.
"Khagan, less than 20,000!"
Jie Li Khagan slapped the table and laughed,"
"Hahahahaha, I thought that Chai Shao had Li Yi's guidance behind him and that there was something fishy about this battle. I didn't expect that he was really an idiot!”
"Pass down my order. Our Turkic men are to assemble and attack Youzhou!”
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