Early Tang Dynasty: forge ahead

Chapter 281 Veteran attacks

Galdongzan never took Tuyuhun seriously from the beginning, and Tang Ting was their opponent.

Being too entangled with Tuyuhun is not conducive to the real battle that follows.

Galdongzan knew very well the significance of this battle to Tibet. To put it bluntly, it was a battle that blocked the fate of the country.

Winning, shook the foundation of Tang Ting, established a firm foothold in Qinghai Lake, and had a place to establish itself.

If they lose, they will be in trouble within ten years, or decades.

Even though he knew that the effect would be minimal, Galdongzan still sent an envoy to show weakness and hope that Tang Ting would not interfere.

The excuse Galdongzan made was legitimate. Tuyuhun maliciously levied toll taxes and deducted supplies from their caravans.

This is really not a crime, but it is true.

Tang-Tibet trade originated from the Zhenguan period. The Tang Dynasty and Tubo were both prosperous and powerful countries with clear political principles. The trade between the two parties was a win-win situation.

Tuyuhun was in internal chaos, its khan was incompetent and unable to convince the public, and its economy was far inferior to that of Tang and Fan.

The two countries are making a lot of money, and Tuyuhun is naturally jealous. The Tuyuhun nobles did not dare to offend the eldest father of the Tang Dynasty, so they offended Tubo by deducting supplies and increasing taxes on passing merchants.

Tubo had been wronged a lot over the years, but they just didn't say anything, waiting for this time to complain to the Tang court like a wronged daughter-in-law.

Historically, Tubo used the same method, but the Tang Dynasty was caught in a war in the Northeast and was unable to look westward, so it could only acquiesce to this approach.

Now that Li Zhi has realized the threat of Tubo, he will only become more indignant at Tubo's methods.

Just from all these details, we can see how deliberately Tibet tried to seize Qinghai Lake.

Therefore, Tubo's series of weak explanations had no effect at all. The huge machine of the Tang Dynasty was still running rapidly.

The soldiers from Lianglong Prefecture gathered first, and the soldiers from Guanzhong Prefecture also rushed to the battlefield under the leadership of Captain Zhechong.

The first person to enter the territory of Tuyuhun was Ashina Zhong, the governor of Liangzhou. At this moment, as the general manager of the march of Qinghai Road, he led 15,000 Tang troops and 20,000 Turkic soldiers, jumped over the Chiling Mountains and entered the territory of Tuyuhun. .

Ashina Zhong arranged for Turkic cavalry to clear out the Tibetan army cavalry that appeared sporadically on both sides along the way. At dusk of the fourth day after entering the Tuyuhun territory, they arrived at Moliyi under the shining of the setting sun.

The moment they arrived at Moliyi, a mighty force of Tibetan soldiers appeared in front of them.

Under the large banner made of yak hide, there were 50,000 Tibetan troops waiting in full formation.

"Haha! These turtles finally appeared!"

Qiu Xinggong supported himself and laughed.

In this era, the Tang Army did not have the word "fear" in its dictionary.

When this enemy suddenly appeared, his instinctive reaction was not fear, but joy.

Ashina Zhong looked at it intently and said: "No wonder His Majesty specially compiled a book to remind us that Tibet is not the enemy we have encountered in the past. Now it seems that it is indeed remarkable."

Since they entered the Tuyuhun territory, the left and right wings have been harassed to varying degrees.

There are not many people, just a small force of several hundred people, not for killing the enemy but only for harassing and causing trouble.

Ashina Zhong knew that the other party was trying to delay their advance in order to consolidate the newly captured land, so he resolutely ordered the Turkic soldiers to clear out the Tibetan army's cavalry to ensure the smooth and rapid passage of the army.

Tuyuhun is a vast area with few people. Although the work of cleaning up the rangers went smoothly, it also took a lot of effort and energy.

They marched all the way, traveling day and night, in order to maintain their strongest condition and face the incoming enemy.

This Moliyi is where they plan to stay tonight.

Moliyi is a post station located at a key link of the Tang-Tibet Ancient Road. It was originally the settlement of the Moli tribe of Tyuhun. Because it is located at a strategic point, it has become one of the most important supply points on the Tang-Tibet Ancient Road.

With the wind and the water at its back, it is a natural base. Two hours ago, their scouts came here specifically to investigate and found no trace of the Tibetan army.

Ashina Zhong decided to set up camp in Moliyi for repairs.

As a result, when they arrived nearby, they found that the Tubo army had already entered Moliyi.

This is definitely not a coincidence.

It's all a clever calculation.

Qiu Xinggong was born into a family of officials and generals. His grandfather Qiu Shou was a general in the Western Wei Dynasty and he was promoted to General Zhendong. His father Qiu He was promoted to General Zuo Wuhou and the governor of Jizhou. When he was still young, he followed Princess Pingyang and traveled wildly in Guanzhong. , who has been in battle and has rich experience, he also saw the tricks, and even guessed the methods used by the opponent, and said: "To the northwest of Moliyi is Dafeichuan, where soldiers can be hidden. Most of the time the thieves are hiding here, or soldiers can be hidden nearby. place. They keep sending people to harass us and know our movements very well. They know that Moliyi nearby is suitable for camping and repairing, so they decided on this method. Let us choose to fight us when we are tired after marching for a day. .”

Ashina Zhong glanced around and saw that his soldiers had marched for more than sixty miles and had not yet received a good rest, so they were really not suitable for an immediate battle.

but……

He narrowed his eyes and saw the movement of the opponent's army. He drew out the scimitar from his waist and shouted: "Get ready to meet the enemy!"

Since the decision of whether to fight or not lies with the other party, there is nothing to hesitate.

Rather than expecting the other party not to fight, it is better to take the initiative yourself.

No matter being in a disadvantageous situation, Datang has never had a timid general, let alone a timid commander.

Qiu Xinggong shouted: "Bring me my horse!"

He called to Ashina Chu's side: "General Manager, seize the time to form a formation. The last general will rush to the enemy's formation first to test the opponent's level."

Ashina Zhongdao: "Then it's settled!"

Qiu Xinggong's beard and hair were all white, and he was wearing a dazzling Mingguang armor. Under the setting sun, the Mingguang armor reflected colorful rays of light.

"We, the warriors of the Tang Dynasty, let these southwestern barbarians see what the power of the Tang Dynasty is."

"Follow me!"

Qiu Xinggong took the lead...

The colorful light shines at the front of the team, seeming to shout to the Tang army behind them, sons and daughters, follow the light and move forward bravely...

And he seemed to be shouting to the Tibetan people on the opposite side: You bastards, have the courage to come and kill me.

The Mingguang Armor of the Tang Dynasty has the magical power of courage and ridicule.

Moliyi Tubo military formation.

Galdongzan's eldest son, Zanshirudobu, squinted his eyes slightly and frowned as he looked at the Tang army that had launched an attack in advance.

Zanxi Ruoduobu did not have the terrible intuition about the battle situation like his younger brother Lun Qinling, but he inherited his father's characteristics of being steady, steady and resourceful, and he was good at layout and planning.

Since Tang Jun entered the country, every step has been planned by him.

Especially the battlefield of Moliyi was the tomb he specially prepared for the Tang army.

With a recuperated army to face the tiring journey from far away, our own numbers still hold an advantage, and we have a great chance of winning.

However, something unexpected happened at the last step of defeating the enemy.

The decisiveness of the Tang army's actions and the swiftness of their attacks completely exceeded his expectations.

(End of this chapter)