Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 383: The fierce-looking Ambassador Fang
Talas City is the plain area on the left bank of the middle reaches of the valley of the Talas River (transliteration, also called Talas River). It is the intersection of waterways and land.

Its importance is that since the Western Han Dynasty, Han merchants started from Chang'an (or Luoyang), passed through the Hexi Corridor, crossed the Western Regions and crossed the Congling (Pamir Mountains) and then continued westward, entering the river where the Sogdians lived. area.

Merchants in West Asia also traveled from west to east along this line to conduct trade.

This has become an important location for east-west trade in Eurasia, and Talas City is a very important, yet unusually inconspicuous node on this route.

It is important because it is the only way to pass;
It is said to be inconspicuous because there are so many nodes like this. Although the cities of Julan, Ashibulai and even Suiye in the east were destroyed in the war, the towns formed by trade are still prosperous.

The same is true for the city of Talas. The city and the town are separate. About ten miles east of Talas City, there is a market town that has prospered due to trade, but has little defense force: Talak!

Now, Gao Xianzhi led the Anxi army to retreat to Talak, and then never left again. He plundered all the edible things in the town of Talak, used them as military rations, and set up camp here.

Abu Muslim also brought tens of thousands of black-clad elite soldiers from the Khorasan area to set up defenses on both sides outside Talas City, joining forces with Daoud's tribe in Talas City.

Both sides are preparing for a decisive battle.

……

"When I issued the military order, I already said that if Gao Xianzhi does not attack the city, you should not send troops to stop it.

"Then there is no need to consider them, and concentrate on the decisive battle with Gao Xianzhi. After defeating this Tang army, we will send envoys to negotiate with the Tang Dynasty Western Region Economic and Strategy Ambassador, saying that we are willing to withdraw from Talas City and not station troops here."

Daoud was so excited that he wanted to get up, but before he could catch his breath, he fainted!

Abu Muslim sneered and said, he knew it was impossible for Gao Xianzhi to go back like this.

He had dozens of stab wounds and arrow wounds on his body. He was almost dead, and the blood had stained the sheets red. Without a few months of cultivation, there is no way to recover, and you might even never wake up.

Ziad Sari saluted and said.

Abu Muslim frowned and asked casually. In his view, this ambassador to the Western Regions Economic Strategy was greedy for life and afraid of death, and it was not unusual for him to be more lecherous.

Abu Muslim himself almost killed Daoud because the other party did not obey military orders and forcibly stopped the Tang army. This was still his confidant! Referring to others, he knew very well that the "ambassador" could not spare Gao Xianzhi. This is true both publicly and privately.

On the contrary, the Western Region Economic and Strategic Ambassador was truly a clown, and his actions were disgraceful.

Abu Muslim looked at Ziad Sari and asked, his face a little ugly.

"There are two thousand Tang Army cavalry in Ashbulai City, that's all. Even Julan City, which is closest to Talas, has no Tang Army stationed nearby."

Ziad Sari revealed all the information about the Tang army's reinforcements. In fact, it was completely late for the Tang army to support Gao Xianzhi. But since they had never moved since they arrived in Ashbula City, they were naturally despised.

Because the tough guy Gao Xianzhi never communicated with the generals of the Dashi Army, he just spoke with a knife on the battlefield!
Although they are enemies, everyone including Abu Muslim admires Gao Xianzhi very much.

Abu Muslim asked Daoud on the bed with a cold face.

"The last general, the last general..."

In a stone house in Talas City, Daoud was lying on the bed and said weakly to Abu Muslim who came to visit.

Just like the Tang Dynasty’s Western Region Economic and Strategic Ambassador.

Abu Muslim touched his long beard and smiled.

Afterwards, he actually received praise from Abu Muslim.

"It seems that Gao Xianzhi is unwilling."

Because of lust and fear of death, he delayed important events and did not dare to go to the front line; because of jealousy, he flirted with women and refused to save his colleagues; because of lack of strategic vision, he did not work hard to gain control of the Hezhong area. ; Because we don’t know soldiers, we don’t know how to centralize and dispatch our troops, and so on.

Ziyad Sari told Abu Muslim a piece of confirmed news.

"Well, is there any news about reinforcements from the Tang Army?"

Gao Xianzhi's Tang army is really troublesome. It's not enough to be careless at all, they have already chopped off his wings one after another. Although Abu is a very well-educated Muslim, he was really angry at this moment!
Idiot Daoud, doesn't he know that the light troops responsible for detouring are not suitable for a head-on battle with the Tang army in the wild?
"Gao Xianzhi is camped in Talak Town, ten miles east of Talas City. There is no movement at the moment."

As the saying goes, don't chase the poor enemy, but fight the trapped beast. Many times, fleeing enemy troops are not suitable to be stopped.

In Ziad Sari's opinion, this person is almost full of all the elements of incompetence.

"The general is injured and cannot salute. Please forgive me, Governor."

Although Daoud was already in such a miserable condition, Abu Muslim had no good feelings toward him at all and stood at the bedside with a gloomy expression and said nothing.

The reason is very simple. Gao Xianzhi went back empty-handed, and also lost control of Shiguo, Kangguo and other places, and even the city of Talas. How was he going to explain to the Tang Dynasty's Western Regions Ambassador who was looking forward to dealing with him day and night?

A general who only wants to win glory and does not consider the overall situation will not achieve great things!
As expected, the light cavalry and camel soldiers under Daoud's command were defeated by the Anxi army after just one encounter, and they did not even last for half an hour! Daoud himself was seriously injured in this battle! Almost died on the battlefield!
When he learned that the defenders of Talas City had been severely wounded by Gao Xianzhi, Abu Muslim issued an order on the spot to behead Daoud to enforce military law. It was only later that I heard that Daoud was seriously injured. In order to prevent the troops under his command from mutiny, the beheading was changed to removal from office, and his troops were handed over to Said.

Why don't you listen to military orders? "

Hearing this, both Abu Muslim and Ziad Sari had expressions of "understanding" on their faces, and even wanted to laugh a little.

With such a person as Gao Xianzhi's colleague, Qiyad Sari felt sorry for this powerful general of the Tang Dynasty.

The Anxi Army under Gao Xianzhi was angry because it lost its gold and silver treasures and left the Shi Kingdom empty-handed. If you encounter a big cannibal blocking your way back, you will naturally beat him to death, and use as much force as you can!
Seeing the Tang army retreating, the generals in the Dashi Army thought that their military exploits were about to fly, so they all thought of a decisive battle with Gao Xianzhi. Abu Muslim was barely able to suppress the main force under his command, but he could not control the generals who had already divided their forces.

"Governor, there are rumors that Princess Jinsi Kaiya of the Stone Kingdom seems to be the concubine of the Western Region Economic Ambassador. This woman hates Gao Xianzhi to the core. The general thought that Gao Xianzhi would not have reinforcements."

At this moment, Said entered the stone house under the guidance of his own soldiers and whispered to Abu Muslim: "There is an envoy from the Tang Army, and it seems that they are not under Gao Xianzhi's command."

"Where is Gao Xianzhi's part now?"

Abu Muslim shook his head in disappointment. The general he relied on actually ignored military orders and led troops out of Talas City in an attempt to stop the Anxi Army under Gao Xianzhi.

Previously, Said could obviously stop Gao Xianzhi in Baishui City and cooperate with the main force led by Abu Muslim to attack the Tang army from front to back. However, he chose to stand still and not leave the city, allowing the Tang army to go all the way east.

This is completely different from the previous attitude towards Said.

It’s really hateful, pathetic and helpless!

No one was seen during the battle, but several groups of envoys were sent. Every time he spoke, he became more cruel and his attitude became more arrogant. However, apart from the harsh words, there is no trace of any military dispatch on their part.

It's more like hiding behind Gao Xianzhi and cursing.

"Bring people in."

Abu Muslim laughed and shook his head, the contempt in his eyes flashing away.

Abu Muslim really didn't pay attention to those clowns who liked to jump around in front of him. If he hadn't planned in his heart to make peace with Datang after this war, it wouldn't have been easy to break up. He really wanted to behead the envoy sent by the Western Region Economic and Strategy Ambassador just like this! Give some color to the "high and mighty" Western Region Economic Strategy Ambassador.

Just like when he started out as a slave, he defeated those powerful men in white clothes and rich people!

Said looked embarrassed. Seeing everyone in the room looking at him, he defended in a low voice: "The general said so too, but the envoy was very arrogant. The governor must go to the castle hall to receive him."

"That's all, let's go to the castle hall."

Abu Muslim waved his hand and said that he actually didn't care much about such a false courtesy, because the enemy would soon learn a lesson on the battlefield. You are about to beat the dogs to death and maim them, so what if you are more generous and let them bark at you now?

Abu Muslim has always been very generous towards such people and such things.

When they arrived at the castle hall, the group saw "old acquaintance" Feng Changqing holding a letter in his hand, and they were already a little impatient with the wait.

"Oh? Is it you again?"

Abu Muslim said, pretending to be surprised, with a somewhat frivolous tone.

It's a pity that Feng Changqing couldn't understand it, and the translator on the side didn't bother to translate this sentence.

"Our Ambassador Fang asks you, why did the Great Food Army come to Talas? You should withdraw from all lands including Kang State. This is not your land! It is a vassal state protected by the Tang Dynasty!"

Feng Changqing said righteously.

The translator on the side translated this sentence to Abu Muslim. After the latter heard it, he laughed and said: "The Tang army was burning, killing and looting in various countries in the Western Regions. We intervened at their request and did not attack this place." thoughts.”

The so-called negotiation sometimes means talking to each other. Or one party wants to talk, but the other party is deliberately wasting time. Let’s not talk about the content of the negotiation, let’s just say that the negotiation itself is a hands-off battle.

Abu Muslim is talking nonsense, and Feng Changqing may not be serious about his warning. To put it bluntly, it’s a battle of wits and courage!
"No matter what, the Dashi army must withdraw from these places, otherwise we will have 300,000 troops sweeping through Hezhong Prefecture, including Mulu, An'an, Kushan and other places. Don't say it was unforeseen!"

After he finished speaking, the translator looked confused and asked Feng Changqing in a low voice in a jerky tone: "How to translate the last sentence?"

"You tell your governor directly that as long as you don't restrain yourself, we will take action!"

Feng Changqing cursed angrily.

When the translator translated his words to Abu Muslim and others in Da Shi dialect, everyone present looked at Feng Changqing like a fool.

You really dare to say that you are riding a horse!
If Gao Xianzhi said this, they would take it seriously. After all, Gao Xianzhi fought fiercely with them all the way and shed blood, so his words have weight.

But you haven't sent a single soldier, and you haven't even seen a Dashi soldier in person so far, so you are just talking nonsense about an army of 300,000!

Child, have you really been on the battlefield? Do you know what an army of three hundred thousand is?

Abu Muslim felt so angry and funny that he didn't even bother to refute Feng Changqing's "bold words". There are so many flaws in it that they don’t even know where to start.

Ambassador Fang's stern appearance and inner turmoil can be seen from Feng Changqing's words.

Since they are so good at talking, let the swords and swords debate on the battlefield!

"see a visitor out."

Abu Muslim uttered two words, turned around and left with all the generals, not even bothering to send Chang Qing out of the castle.

As he walked away, he said to Qiyad Sari: "If Ambassador Fang sends an envoy in the future, he will be allowed to hang out for a night and then be brought for questioning."

……

Just after dawn, in the largest courtyard in Talak Town, Gao Xianzhi took out the secret letter written by Fang Chongyong from his arms, hesitating in his heart and not knowing what to do.

Fang Chongyong secretly ordered him to lead the cannibal to Talos for a decisive battle. This place is five hundred miles away from Shi Kingdom, five hundred miles away from Suiye City, and four hundred miles away from Kesai City, the capital of Ningyuan Kingdom. It is a very delicate place in terms of military and transportation.

The farther away from Anxi, the cannibals would not come; and the farther away from there, it was extremely unfavorable for the Tang army's logistics and transportation.

This is the only place where the cannibals are willing to fight, and the supply lines of both sides are five hundred miles away!

The gameplay of fighting in the Western Region is quite different from that in the Central Plains, and the most important thing is the logistics.

In the Central Plains, supply lines relied on so-called "auxiliaries" and civilians, who used carts or mules to pull grain trucks to transport grain to the camps. That's why there is a distinction between "combat soldiers" and "auxiliary soldiers", and the number of the latter is usually much greater than the former, even several times the difference.

But that’s not how things work in the Western Regions, and it can’t be done that way.

Except for slaves, no fool would walk long distances on foot in the desert and Gobi terrain and rely on manpower to transport food, let alone deliver it to the military camp. Thank God if you don't die of thirst on the way.

The terrain of oases and deserts in the Western Region also made it impossible for all parties involved in the war to raise auxiliary troops. That's right, raising one person here consumes too much money. Even if there is food, it is limited by water sources, so we really can't afford it.

The main force for transporting grain is camels, and only camels. Even horses are not qualified to carry supplies in the desert for a long time.

Most areas in the Western Region, except for the long stretches of yellow sand, are oases that are like strongholds. A similar environment is destined to lead a war here. The scale cannot be large, and supplies must be provided locally in the oasis, otherwise you won't even be able to drink water.

Similarly, logistical constraints have made it the norm for warring parties to "flow in one wave" and attack thousands of miles away.

Regardless of victory or defeat, just leave after the fight. Strategic stalemate is an unbearable burden.

Gao Xianzhi felt that the letter written by Fang Zhongyong in his hand was very heavy and should not be ignored. He was hesitating, should he trust Fang Chongyong?
If you can't plan for the top, you can get it; if you can't plan for it, you can get it below.

Gao Xianzhi originally planned to sweep across the Stone Kingdom and defeat the black-clad army in order to achieve unparalleled feats. Now it seems that it is just a dream.

Now, this road has gradually approached the route planned by Fang Chongyong: annihilating the main force of the black-clad food in Talas, and then sweeping across the river.

Do you want to trust this person?
Whether you choose to believe it or not, there are risks that cannot be ignored. It is more like "the lesser of two evils."

If you choose to believe it, then Gao Xianzhi must keep Abu Muslim here. For this plan, he had to fight a decisive battle with Abu Muslim without Fang Chongyong joining him, and then wait for reinforcements.

To put it bluntly, we must give Abu Muslim hope of victory. If it looks like the Tang army is invincible, then this scene will not go on!

If you choose not to believe it... then Gao Xianzhi doesn't know how it will end. He only knows that if he goes back in dejection without any merit in battle, the official position of Anxi Deputy Governor is over.

Moreover, there was no battle to fight, and Abu Muslim would not actually stay in Talas for long. The logistical pressure was the same for both warring parties.

If Dashi in black runs away, Fang Chongyong will never spare him!
"Send the order and attack the cannibal camp under Talas City tonight. If you don't succeed, you will be punished."

After struggling for a long time, Gao Xianzhi called Xi Yuanqing from far away and ordered in a serious tone.

(End of this chapter)