The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 172 Conquering Stone Castle

Ma Lin didn't know where Li Heng got his confidence from, but since Li Heng had said so, he didn't want to ask any more questions and could only obey his orders.

The Tibetan army in Shibao City had a clear view of the surrounding situation.

Although they lit the beacon fire, not many reinforcements came because the Tibetan army in Qinghai Lake was entangled by Feng Changqing, and the Tibetan army in Jiuqu was fighting with Gao Xianzhi.

There were only a few cities near Shibao City, with a total of less than 50,000 Tibetan soldiers available for support.

But Li Heng also led an army of 40,000.

However, although the Tibetan soldiers in Shibao City were terrified, they did not lose confidence, because they firmly believed that Shibao City was difficult to capture. As long as they held on for a few days, they could take advantage of Shibao City and unite with their own reinforcements to repel the Tang army.

Li Heng rested in Dingrong City for one night and made some arrangements. The next day, he led his army to besiege Shibao City.

Li Heng ordered Li Siye, Ma Lin, the Lun brothers, Mu Chengyun and other generals to lead troops to resist the reinforcements near Shibao City from the periphery, while he himself, Zhang Guangsheng and Cen Can, surrounded Shibao City.

After the siege, Li Heng ordered Zhang Guangsheng to lead his men to launch a feint attack on the northwest path to attract the enemy's attention, while he built fortifications under the Shibao city.

From morning to night, the Tang army pushed up thick earth under the city. When it reached a certain height, Cen Shen ordered people to set up catapults.

The catapult was set up, and Cen Shen ordered the secret troops to bring in asphalt and explosives. Then, at a command, he used the catapult to pour all the asphalt and explosives onto the stone fortress.

In an instant, explosions broke out everywhere. Under the mixed effect of explosives and asphalt, the surface of the Stone Fort City was blown into ruins. The sea of ​​fire spread throughout the entire Stone Fort City. The Tibetan soldiers defending the city were either blown to death or burned to death, and their shrill screams echoed through the valley.

The Tang army besieging the city was also witnessing such a brutal attack for the first time. They were all stunned, and some even felt pity.

The fire burned from dusk till night.

Li Ying looked at the ruined and burning Shibao City and thought of Zhuge Liang.

He never believed in ghosts or gods, and for a moment he began to doubt whether he would be punished by God.

It was not until midnight when the fire was extinguished that Li Heng ordered Zhang Guangsheng to formally march into Shibao City from the northwest path.

Eighty percent of the Tubo troops in Shibao City were killed, and the remaining 20% ​​were seriously injured and dying. The Tang army easily broke in and quickly wiped out the remaining forces in Shibao City.

Stone Castle was finally captured.

The Tibetan troops who came to support saw that Shibao City had fallen and had to retreat.

Li Heng climbed up the Stone Fort City, looked at the ruins in front of him, looked at the Tibetan soldiers who were blown to death or burned to death on the ground, squatted down, and touched the still hot soil of the Stone Fort City.

Li Heng was silent for a long time before he stood up and said to the people behind him: "Besides Shibao City, there are several other strong cities along the Chiling line. You must not be careless. First, reorganize the troops and slowly take the surrounding cities. After General Feng and General Gao join forces with us, we will advance to Dayechuan and control Qinghai Lake and the Nine Bends of the Yellow River."

"Yes." The generals accepted the order.

In the next half month, Li Heng ordered people to rebuild the fortifications of Shibao City while making steady progress.

However, since all of Li Heng's explosives and asphalt were used to attack Shibao City, he could only capture other cities by force. In addition, Tubo had heavy troops in Qinghai Lake and Jiuqu, and the terrain of Dafeichuan was extremely complex, so Li Heng's advancement was not fast.

In half a month, they only crossed Chiling and captured two cities.
Another half month later, Li Heng finally waited for Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing to join the army. On this day, Li Heng and other generals rode up Chiling Mountain to check the enemy situation and discuss the countermeasures for the next march.

Feng Changqing said: "Your Highness, now that we have taken over Shibao City, the offensive and defensive positions have changed. The next step is to slowly plan for Qinghai Lake and the Yellow River Nine Bends."

"That's exactly what I meant." Li Heng nodded. "However, Tubo has a lot of land cultivated in Qinghai Lake and the Yellow River's Nine Bends. The Dafei River is also very precipitous. These two places are to Tubo what Longyou and Hexi are to the Tang Dynasty. If we want to take them, it will probably take at least a year or so. It will be difficult to succeed."

Li Siye said: "With Your Highness here, it is only a matter of time before we capture these two places."

"Don't underestimate the enemy." Li Heng shook his head. "Back then, the Tibetans defeated our army several times in Dafeichuan. Although we have captured Shibao City now, the Tibetan soldiers have not suffered many casualties. Their strength is still strong."

"That's true." Gao Xianzhi agreed. "According to what I know, the Tibetan king Tride Zuzan has already arrived at the front line, personally commanding the troops and mediating the conflicts among the various Tibetan tribes. In addition, I also heard that Tride Zuzan specially summoned several advisers to study your military policies and strategies over the years."

"Really?" Li Heng was slightly startled, and said, "Knowing yourself and the enemy will ensure victory in every battle. We must guard against arrogance and impatience."

As they were talking, they arrived at Sun Moon Mountain.

As soon as we reached the mountain pass, a group of people suddenly came from behind.

Li Ying and others looked back and saw Shen Zhongjian holding the imperial edict.

Li Heng and others dismounted to receive the order.

I only heard Shen Zhongjian read out: "Shou Wang Li Heng is loyal and filial by nature, knowledgeable about rites and music, intelligent, generous, kind, and always speaks according to the classics and does not violate the rules. He recently defeated the Arabs, conquered Bolor, cut off the Turks in the west, and defeated the barbarians in the south. His achievements are very great. However, God has no pity on you. You are suffering from a strange disease, which makes me very sad. Yesterday, Ning Wang passed away. Today I heard that you are seriously ill and can't get up. I really can't bear it, so I specially summoned you back to the capital to recuperate and pay tribute to Ning Wang. I also ordered Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing to protect you."

When everyone heard the praise, they thought there would be some huge reward, but they didn't expect it to be a recall to the capital.

Just when he had fought the toughest battle and was about to take a step closer and achieve greater success, he was called back.

This operation was a bit outrageous, but Li Heng could understand it. After all, Li Longji was a person who liked micro-management. In history, not to mention replacing generals on the battlefield, even killing generals on the battlefield was a common occurrence.

Moreover, Li Longji also had an excuse to let him go back to recuperate and pay tribute to his adoptive father.

But Li Heng understood, while others didn't.

When the other generals heard the imperial edict, they were all shocked. They looked at Li Heng and then at Shen Zhongjian.

Ma Lin was young and full of vigor, and hurriedly said, "Shen Zhongjian, Qinghai Lake and the Yellow River Nine Bends are very rich. Only by taking these two places can we better defend Shibao City. Now our army's morale is high, and it is time to make further progress. It is not appropriate to transfer Your Highness back to the capital..."

"Your Highness, please accept the imperial edict and express your gratitude!" Before Ma Lin could finish his words, Shen Zhongjian went to help Li Heng.

Li Heng received the order and stood up.

All the generals stood up together, with confusion in their eyes.

Seeing the expressions of the crowd, Shen Zhongjian said, "Your Highness, I am too talkative. It is not easy for the emperor to commend you in the imperial edict. Before I came here, there were already dozens of memorials impeaching you. I don't know the specific matters of the impeachment, but I heard that they listed many charges against you."

(End of this chapter)