Early Tang Dynasty: forge ahead

Chapter 562 Let’s go home!

Mid-Autumn Festival falls on August 15th.

In the rippling Red Sea Strait, a huge fleet was close to the coastline. Liu Rengui stood at the bow, looking east, with a hint of anxiety between his brows. His hands hidden in his long sleeves clenched and loosened, showing his owner's anxious mood.

After the defeat of the Arab Empire in the western regions, Muawiyah led his troops back and headed straight for the port of Siraf.

The Arab army did not directly attack the port of Siraf, but instead sent troops to block the west side of the port of Siraf first.

Liu Rengui immediately realized Muawiyah's intention. The other party wanted to cut off his connection with Xue Rengui and prevent Xue Rengui from joining him so that he could evacuate on the warship.

Liu Rengui immediately realized that he could no longer stay in Silav Port.

Because I stayed in Xilaf Port, it gave Xue Rengui the idea that I was waiting for him, and he would definitely want to come and meet me.

In this way, his marching route would be exposed and he would be taken advantage of by the Arab Empire.

Moreover, if he continued to stay in the port of Siraf and wait for the Arab troops retreating from the front line to recover and gather their forces, Liu Rengui himself might not be able to leave safely.

After weighing the pros and cons, Liu Rengui chose to retreat, showing an attitude of giving up Xue Rengui.

In terms of strategic objectives, Liu Rengui had already completed his mission perfectly, and no one would blame him for retreating at this moment. Being behind enemy lines, being able to accomplish such a feat and bringing back half of the people alive was already very remarkable, and no one would question him at all. Even the people on the Arab side thought that Liu Rengui had really retreated and was going back to claim this tremendous achievement.

But in fact, Liu Rengui never gave up on Xue Rengui completely from the beginning. He just knew that it would be too difficult to rescue Xue Rengui under such circumstances.

A great defeat in the Western Regions would inevitably make the Arab Empire furious and humiliated, and they would vent all their anger on them.

So he sent someone to make an appointment with Xue Rengui that he would appear at the port of Jeddah in the Red Sea Strait on August 12 and wait there for three days until the Mid-Autumn Festival on August 15.

If they were nowhere to be seen before the deadline, it would mean that even if Xue Rengui was not dead, he would not have the energy to join them.

Liu Rengui had just withdrawn his troops.

Just as Muawiyah had thought, Liu Rengui returned to the port of Siraf, ostensibly to meet Xue Rengui, but in fact to attract the troops of the Arab Empire to the east so that he could take advantage of the convenience at sea and go directly from the Persian Gulf to the port of Jeddah on the Red Sea.

But Liu Rengui was not sure whether Xue Rengui could arrive within the three-day deadline.

After all, it was already extremely difficult for Xue Rengui to hold out for a month and a half under the heavy siege of the enemy, not to mention that he had to bring the troops to the designated place within the specified time.

But this was the only feasible solution Liu Rengui could think of.

Success or failure depends on today.

Liu Rengui kept looking towards the west. As dusk approached, his heart was in turmoil. A feeling of uneasiness gradually spread...

"The chief steward..."

"The chief steward..."

Liu Rengui was in a state of confusion and did not respond even when the deputy general beside him called him.

Deputy General Gao Sheji had no choice but to raise his voice and said, "General Manager, there has been no news from General Wang so far. Is he in danger?"

Liu Rengui only heard Gao Sheji's words then, and frowned, saying, "He should be safe, but he hasn't returned yet, and I don't know why?"

Liu Rengui chose to meet Xue Rengui at Jeddah Port for his own calculations. The Shiites in the Arab Empire have always been loyal followers of Ali and do not obey Muawiyah. The Shiites' power circling Mecca and Medina, the birthplace of Muhammad, the first holy place, and the place where Muhammad rose, the second holy place.

Although Muawiyah was a Western hegemon and far more powerful than the Shiites, he did not dare to mobilize troops against the two holy places to exterminate the Shiites. The port of Jeddah on the Red Sea was the Shiites' sphere of influence. Retreating from here would allow the Arabs to clamp down on each other, and the success rate would undoubtedly be much higher.

Liu Rengui didn't know the internal situation of the Arab Empire in the East China Sea, but after he occupied Jeddah Port, he also got in touch with the Persian nobles and got some basic information. The Persian nobles didn't have much in-depth intelligence, but only told Liu Rengui about the complicated relationship between Hussein and Muawiyah and the news that Xue Rengui was not dead.

Liu Rengui took advantage of the situation and changed his original plan of blindly waiting. He sent his most trusted deputy Wang Yifang to Medina to meet Hussein and persuade him to assist Xue Rengui in retreating.

Logically speaking, regardless of success or failure, Wang Yifang should have returned. But now they have neither received any news from Xue Rengui nor from Wang Yifang.

However, Liu Rengui was not worried about Wang Yifang. Hussein was in a very dangerous situation now. If he wanted to defeat the strong with the weak, he had to get the support of a powerful force.

Tang Ting is the only choice.

Therefore, Liu Rengui believed that even if Hussein was unwilling to take the risk of helping Xue Rengui, he would not kill the Tang envoy at this critical juncture.

At this moment, the soldier on the watchtower suddenly shouted: "An army is approaching us."

Liu Rengui was very steady and solemnly ordered: "Prepare to meet the enemy!"

Then he tiptoed and stretched his neck to look into the distance...

"Tang, Tang, it's the banner of our Great Tang!"

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Incoherent, excited shouts came from the observation tower.

Liu Rengui couldn't believe it and couldn't believe his ears. He still maintained his posture and looked into the distance: until the east, which was reflected by the sunset, appeared at the end of the horizon with a flag fluttering in the wind. It was a flag with a red edge and a gold background, with black words embroidered in the middle.

The moment he saw the flag, Liu Rengui's eyes filled with tears. That was the flag of the Tang Dynasty, a one-of-a-kind existence.

As the shadows got closer, the appearance of the Tang army gradually emerged.

"It's him, it's really him."

Liu Rengui, who always attached great importance to his appearance, didn't care about his manners at this moment and shouted: "Quick, welcome General Xue aboard."

Liu Rengui was so excited that he danced with joy and his voice was trembling, but he still skillfully commanded the navy to be ready to defend and retreat at any time, waiting for Xue Rengui to order his troops onto the ship and then evacuate immediately.

Liu Rengui looked at Xue Rengui who was boarding the ship and called out with excitement and admiration: "General Xue!"

Xue Rengui had a slovenly face, his beard and hair were long and dirty, and he looked at his familiar superior and said casually, "I am here as promised!"

"Good, good!"

Liu Rengui was very excited.

At this time, a man came up behind Xue Rengui. It was Wang Yifang, who was ordered to meet Hussein.

"Lord Rengui, I have accomplished your mission!"

Liu Rengui was overjoyed and said, "Good, very good, very good!"

At this moment he didn't know what to say.

Thousands of words are summed up in one sentence!

"Let's go home!"

(End of this chapter)