People in the early Tang Dynasty: I compete with Wu Zhao for the throne

Chapter 1267: Happy to have a son, the three armies celebrate

In November, snowflakes fall and the temperature plummets.

Outside Nagqu City, countless dense knocking sounds sounded on the river, and then, the sound of ice breaking came from the river.

Li Xuan stood on the top of the city, wearing black clothes and armor, which was extremely eye-catching.

The large black paper flutters high in the wind, but it makes people feel inexplicably reassured.

Countless soldiers in black armor stood on the bank of the Nagqu River, using their long spears to directly break the thin ice that had been frozen on the river overnight.

"This can only last for ten days at most. After ten days, there will be a thick layer of ice on the river that can be crossed, and then the defense system outside the city will completely collapse." Li Xuan turned and looked behind him Yang Zhirou said: "Send the order. In five days, the Fuyuan crossbows and catapults outside the city will all be withdrawn into the city."

"Here!" Yang Zhirou agreed with his hand.

Li Xuan turned around and looked up into the distance. At the end of his sight, hundreds of Tubo cavalry were trying to charge, but the cold light of countless Fuyuan crossbows under the city still made them dare not act rashly.

"Zan Xiruo is about to move." Li Xuan stood up, looked down at the Nagqu River below, and said softly: "The city defense of Nagqu is so critical, it won't be any better if you go to the other side of the lake, and there are navy troops. If you go to the Nagqu River, it will be no better. When the lake freezes, the navy will become a trapped beast in the pool... Let's go, let's go to Cuona Lake to have a look."

"Here!" Yang Zhirou immediately handed over his hand.

A moment later, Li Xuan appeared on horseback outside the city, followed closely by dozens of soldiers in black clothes and armor.

When the Tubo cavalry in the distance saw Li Xuan's appearance, they were in an uproar for a while, but then they began to follow Li Xuan parallel to the west.

On the north bank of the Nagqu River, Li Xuan was not very fast and kept observing the water level on the river.

Ice is only one problem they need to face. There is another problem, which is the water level on the river.

As winter enters, the snowmelt water from the mountains becomes less and less, and the water level in the Cona Lake has also dropped significantly, which in turn affects the water level of the Cona River.

It means it is starting to freeze, otherwise, they will be able to see the bottom of the river within a few months.

By then, not to mention Naqu, but also the nearby Cuona Lake, Bangor, Nie Rong, Anduo and other city checkpoints, the peripheral defense systems will collapse.

Li Xuan maintained her advantage throughout the autumn, but gradually disappeared with the arrival of winter.

Li Xuan's eyes fell on the catapult and Fuyuan crossbow on one side.

The temperature outside the city was so cold that he even had to wrap thick fur around the key points of the Fuyuan Crossbow and the Catapult, otherwise these items would have been useless.

Li Xuan raised his head, glanced at the Tibetan cavalry on the other side of the river, and sneered.

The next moment, he had already galvanized his horse and galloped away.

Seeing the black figure disappearing quickly, hundreds of Tubo cavalry followed him with greedy expressions.

Suddenly, the loud sound of horse hooves sounded in front, and before these Tubo cavalry could react, hundreds of black armored cavalry had appeared in front.

Before they could unload their bows and set arrows, countless crossbow arrows were already falling down like clouds.

"Ding ding ding" amidst the sound of countless crossbow arrows falling to the ground, a crack was torn open in the center of the Tubo cavalry.

In an instant, long branches swept across and blood splattered everywhere.

Not long after, the ground was covered with corpses. Only a few Tubo cavalry turned their horses in time and fled away quickly.

With a cold snort, hundreds of black-armored cavalry turned around and headed towards Cuona Lake.

The war horses were taken away, leaving only corpses on the ground.

Snowflakes slowly covered it, covering everything.

……

As soon as the snowflakes fell on the ice, a long stick poked the ice, and the ice immediately shattered.

Yan Tao stood beside Li Xuan and watched Li Xuan measure the degree of freezing on the lake. He quickly said: "Cuona Lake will start to freeze at this time every year, but it will only be on the periphery. The center of the lake will not freeze for another month." It will freeze before it freezes, and the freezing period is very short. The center of the lake will thaw in half a month, and the outside will gradually open up."

Li Xuan nodded slowly. The temperature in Tubo over the past hundred years has been several degrees higher than that in later generations. This not only made Tubo famous for its strength, but also made the winter temperature on the south side of Tanggula Mountain not so low.

But this is still a plateau after all, and the temperature in winter is much lower than that in Chang'an. The vast Cuona Lake will still freeze except for the center of the lake.

Once the ice freezes, not to mention being unable to fight eastward, I am afraid that I will also become a turtle in the urn.

Li Xuan turned around and looked at the large stone castle a hundred steps away to the east, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

It's cold in winter, and Li Xuan had ordered all parties to make preparations a long time ago, especially Cuona Lake.

After a few months, a circular stone castle with a diameter of about one hundred feet has been formed.

Not to mention other things, with this stone fortress on the river, the Tubo people would not be able to completely capture it without using three to five thousand men.

"We must find a way to immobilize the catapult. The attack range will cover the entire stone fort. When the Tibetans attack the stone fort, the navy must provide as much help as possible." Li Xuan looked at Yan Tao.

"Here!" Yan Tao immediately handed over his hand, and then said carefully: "There is no problem in assisting the defense of the stone castle, but what if they abandon the stone castle and attack the navy directly?"

Li Xuan raised her eyes and glanced at Yan Tao with a gloomy look.

Yan Tao immediately held up his hands and said, "I will figure it out on my own."

Li Xuan turned sideways, looked at Tanggula Mountain in the distance, and said softly: "I have ordered a batch of raw salt to be transferred from Qinghai Lake..." Before Li Xuan could finish speaking, a burst of rapid horse hoofbeats came from far away. Rushing everywhere.

Zhou Qian and ten Qianniu Guards dismounted from their horses at the same time, cupped their hands and said: "Commander, Chang'an is urgent."

Li Xuan frowned slightly, and Yang Zhirou immediately stepped forward, took the official document from Zhou Qian's hand, and then handed it to Li Xuan's hand.

Li Xuan took the official document, opened it, and took a look. She couldn't help but feel happy on her face.

"Commander!" Yang Zhirou said, looking at Li Xuan curiously.

Li Xuan smiled and handed the official document to Yang Zhiju: "My concubine has given birth to a child for me. Your Majesty canonizes Fengchang County Bo to celebrate this year's harvest."

"Congratulations, Commander-in-Chief, congratulations to Your Majesty." The generals all around raised their hands at the same time, their faces full of joy.

Li Xuan waved his hand and said: "I should thank Your Majesty, but everyone, your contribution has been recorded in the files of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Personnel. Now we only need to withstand the Tubo offensive this year and capture the territory next year. I am afraid that among you, There are many people who want to go back and be granted the title of marquis or uncle."

"Thank you, Commander." All the generals handed over their hands at the same time, looking excited.

Li Xuan looked sideways to the west and said: "As for the issue of guarding the lake, let Qiu Zhenmu in the west prepare two thousand cavalry to be ready to rush to the rescue at any time. No matter how bold Zan Xiruo is, he will not come from Nagqu City." Send down tens of thousands of cavalry and come over. If he is really that bold, I will send out the Youxiao Guard and eat them all."

Zan Xiruo had only 50,000 soldiers at the beginning, of which only 15,000 were elite. In addition, 10,000 people were left to guard the retreat. Six thousand people died in Naqu, and the remaining soldiers were only 20,000. Just new recruits.

Moreover, the 20,000 new recruits had to be sent to threaten the right-wing military guards on the eastern front. Qiu Zhenmu's troops on the western front could only use six or seven thousand men.

Wanting to capture Cuona Lake is simply a dream.

"Commander, what if the 10,000 Tibetan soldiers in the west move?" Yang Zhirou immediately pointed out what Li Xuan had overlooked.

Li Xuan smiled and then said: "There is something that Brother Yang may not know. Now there are less than 6,000 Tibetan soldiers left in Nima, not to mention, there are still Xiangxiong people watching with eagerness. If Zan Xiruo If you are really bold enough to let the Shang Shung people come in, I don’t mind bringing the Shang Shung people into the chessboard.”

Although the Xiangzhong people were not included in Li Xuan's plan, the Xiangzhong people were even more powerful enemies of the Tubo people.

Now that Li Xuan has established a firm foothold in Naqu, he also has new ideas about the Xiangxiong people. Although it is not the right time yet, if Zanxi really dares to let these Xiangxiong people in, then Li Xuan will definitely not Would you mind letting the Xiangzhong people trample them first?

"Why are there only 6,000 people left?" Yang Zhirou captured an old news.

Li Xuan glanced sideways at him and said, "In the past few months, the Tubo people have been besieged in Nima. Brother Yang doesn't think Qiu Zhenmu and the others have done nothing, right?"

Yang Zhirou was stunned for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "There isn't much reflected in the military report?"

"There are many things that do not need to be included in the military report." Li Xuan shook his head, looked to the west calmly and said: "Being trapped in an isolated city is always the best time to divide people and win over each other. Qiu Zhenmu couldn't take this opportunity. We will let it go, and it happened in the Tibetan army. The specific circumstances are unknown and cannot be counted."

"Then finally?" Yang Zhirou looked at Li Xuan cautiously.

"In the end, we defeated the city with 10,000 people without compromising their military exploits or boasting about it. I approve it, the military approves it, and your majesty also approves it." Li Xuan smiled and said with deep meaning: "Yang As a censor, I should know how to handle this matter."

"Yes!" Yang Zhirou cupped his hands and said: "In the army, there are bandits who are afraid and flee. This is a normal thing. All we need to do is to report that ten thousand enemies have been defeated and beheaded. As for the others, they will either surrender or flee. In the mountains and forests, just report everything according to the facts."

"Brother Yang has finally integrated into the army." Li Xuan finally couldn't help but smile, and then said, "Let's go, I'll go back later."

"Here!" Yang Zhirou breathed a sigh of relief and earnestly handed over his hand. He knew that the little test Li Xuan gave him just now had finally passed.

After taking just two steps, Li Xuan suddenly stopped again, raised the official document in his hand, and then said loudly: "The king has a son, and your majesty will give him a son as an earl. Later, Naqu will send a thousand jars of good wine, and the brothers in the army will enjoy it." , all congratulations.”

"Thank you, Marshal, and congratulations, Marshal." All the generals raised their hands at the same time, looking happy.

Li Xuan got on his horse and quickly headed towards Nagqu City.

At the same time, he looked sideways at Yang Zhirou and said solemnly: "Today's gift of wine is to all the armies of Naqu, Anduo, Suoxian, Dingqing, Bianba, Bango, Shenzha, and Cuonahu. , it really makes a big fuss, it’s best to let the Tibetan people know that this king has a son.”

"Here!" Yang Zhirou solemnly handed over his hand. How could he not know that Li Xuan was already plotting something else.

……

In the simple and gorgeous palace, a ten-year-old boy wearing a green short robe was sitting behind the desk, reading seriously.

On the soft couch on one side, a beautiful Tubo woman in her early thirties, plump and wearing gold jewelry was reading the secret report in her hand.

A dozen maids stood around silently, but the corners of their eyes kept glancing at their Queen Mother.

"The concubine of the King of Nanchang gave birth to a son." Mrs. Bulu narrowed her eyes slightly as she read the secret report.

If she remembers correctly, Princess Taiping of the Tang Dynasty will also get married at the end of the year.

If this is the case, it is very likely that the King of Nanchang will return to Chang'an at the end of the year.

While Lu was thinking about the pros and cons, a figure jumped out in her mind.

Putting down the secret report, the beautiful Tubo woman picked up another secret report.

This is a secret report from Zan Xiruo, a detailed report on the battle this winter and the capture of Nagqu.

No. Lu couldn't help but sigh.

Zan Xiruo, can you defeat the King of Nanchang this winter?

If not, don't blame me for being cruel.

(End of this chapter)