The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 182 Unstable Factors

"It is best to concentrate superior forces to capture one place first!"

Gao Xianzhi agreed with Li Heng's style of fighting, and other generals had no objections.

Seeing that everyone was united, Li Heng made specific arrangements and said, "General Gao and General Li will go to Suiye City first to join the Beiting Army. General Feng will count the soldiers who have returned from Helong and march with me. General Cen will continue to lead the special team and only obey my orders. General Zhang will select and lead my personal guards. As for the defense and logistics of Anxi, they will be handed over to General Cao, General Erzhu and General Yang. I hope the three generals will guard Anxi well and requisition food and grass to supply the front army."

The General Cao that Li Ying mentioned was Cao Yuan, General Erzhu was Erzhu, and General Yang was Yang Zhilie.

These three were the first batch of generals of Northwest Loyalists. Among them, Cao Yuan was older, and his son Cao Lingzhong had already gone to the front line.

"Yes." All the generals received the order in unison.

"As for camels, we can also rent some from the major noble families. I'll leave this matter to General Cao. Please take care of it, General Cao." Li Ying said again.

Cao Yuan was also the leader of the Cao clan, one of the nine surnames of Zhaowu. It should not be difficult for him to rent some camels.

Moreover, his homeland was also occupied by the Arabs. As a loyal man, he would not be unfaithful.

Cao Yuan said: "I will obey your orders."

"In this expedition, we are an army of justice. We must restrain our soldiers and enforce strict military discipline. I will reward meritorious service and punish criminals without showing favoritism." Li Heng gave his final instructions.

The generals said, "Yes, we will obey your highness' orders."

The generals received the order and dispersed to act separately.

When Li Ying returned to his mansion, Yang Yuhuan was watering the flowers in the yard.

Yang Yuhuan saw Li Heng and saw that he looked good. She smiled and said, "My dear, you must have solved another big problem today."

Li Ying took the kettle and watered the flowers while saying, "It's a good start, but it's hard to say how it will turn out."

When Yang Yuhuan heard Li Heng's tone, she knew that he was going to lead the troops himself, so she asked, "When will you set out, my lord?"

"Wait four or five days." Li Ying said, picking a flower and putting it on Yang Yuhuan's bun. He looked at it and smiled, "No matter how beautiful the flower is, it will pale in comparison with you. I also want to look at you day and night, but..."

"But what?" Yang Yuhuan asked.

"The more precious something is, the more you have to sacrifice to protect it." Li Heng gently stroked Yang Yuhuan's face, "Nothing is more precious than you."

Yang Yuhuan smiled and said, "I understand. My dear, just focus on the war and don't think about comforting me, otherwise you will be too tired. A few days ago, General Gao's wife talked to me about something similar."

"What did you talk about?" Li Ying asked casually.

Yang Yuhuan said, "Mrs. Zhou said that she and General Gao have been apart for the past few years. She may complain a little, but she doesn't blame General Gao in her heart. She is only proud of General Gao."

"Yeah." Li Heng nodded and said, "General Gao is basically in the same team with me. Come to think of it, you and Zhou are somewhat similar."

Yang Yuhuan said: "Madam Zhou is tough on the outside but gentle on the inside. I get along well with her."

"Very good." Just as Li Ying finished speaking, Li Ling, who was led by Zhang Mujin, ran over.

Li Ying picked up Li Ling, and the group of servants and maids who followed behind bowed to Li Ying and stood silently by.

Li Ying said to Zhang Mujin, "Mujin, have you improved your medical skills recently?"

"I should have made some progress." Zhang Mujin replied honestly.

Li Longji set up a medical department specifically for Li Heng, which was managed by Zhang Mujin's father Zhang Lingzhi. Whenever Li Heng went on an expedition, Zhang Lingzhi would follow him around. As father and daughter, they had done their best for him.

Li Heng sighed in his heart and said softly: "I don't insist that you study medicine, I just hope you can do what you like."

Zhang Mujin said: "Mujin understands your highness's favor. Mujin does what she likes to do."

"Ah."

Li Ying nodded and continued chatting with the two about family matters. …

Li Heng stayed in Anxi for a few days. After Feng Changqing counted the soldiers, he led the soldiers all the way to Suiye City.

Gao Xianzhi arrived at Suiye City ahead of time and had already integrated the garrison of Suiye City with the troops of Beiting.

The general who led the troops from Beiting this time was named Lai Yao, with his deputy general Wang Zhengjian and another general Zhou Yi.

Lai Yao and Wang Zhengjian had both served as Jiedushi of Beiting in history. Their military records were average and mediocre. Li Heng's knowledge of them was limited to knowing their names.

Compared to these two people, Li Heng is more familiar with Zhou Yi.

Historically, after Tubo besieged Anxi Beiting, they bribed Zhou Yi with a large sum of money. Zhou Yi betrayed the Tang Dynasty without hesitation and killed Yang Zhilie who went to seek help.

Li Heng's gaze lingered on Zhou Yi for a moment before he sat down at the main seat and asked, "Are there any changes in the war on the front line?"

Gao Xianzhi replied: "The Arabs gathered a large army to attack Bukhara, but were repelled by General An and the Bukhara army. The enemy has now retreated to the other side of the Cher River and is recruiting rear troops to prepare for another battle."

"Any other news?" Li Ying asked again.

Gao Xianzhi said: "The Karluks and the Tuqish sent troops to support us. The Karluks sent 5,000 soldiers and the Tuqish sent 2,000."

The Qarlugs were located between the Turgesh and the Turks, and were one of the nine-surname Tiele tribes.

After the rise of DTZ, it swept across the Tiele tribe. Most of the Tiele tribes adopted Turkic surnames, but the Karluk tribe kept their original surnames.

Li Heng defeated the Turks, giving the western part of the Karluk a respite. Not long ago, the Karluk joined forces with the Uighurs and defeated the Turks with Wang Zhongsi. With two fewer powerful enemies in the east and west, the Karluk had a tendency to grow stronger.

Therefore, they were able to send 5,000 soldiers for support.

However, compared with the historical Battle of Talas, it is a little less.

In the historical Battle of Talas, the Qarluk not only sent troops to support, but their military strength was also comparable to that of the Tang Dynasty.

But halfway through the battle, the Qarlugs turned against the Tang army, inflicting heavy damage and causing its defeat.

Analysts believe there are roughly three reasons why the Karluk rebelled in history.

First, Gao Xianzhi often bullied the countries in the Western Regions, and the Qarlugs had long been dissatisfied.

Second, the Arabs offered huge bribes.

Third, in the Battle of Talas, the strength of the Arabs and the Tang army was equal, and the Qarlugs became the key to victory. After weighing the pros and cons, the Qarlugs chose to support the Arabs.

The first of these three reasons has now been avoided by Li Heng, but the second and third ones still exist.

Therefore, the reinforcements from the Karluk army were a rather unstable factor.

With Zhou Yi added, there are two unstable factors.

Li Heng must pay attention to these two unstable factors.

But nothing has happened yet, and Li Heng can't do anything at the moment except keep an eye on it.

Li Heng thought for a while and said, "With the reinforcements from other countries, our army is no less numerous than the Arabs, which increases our chances of winning this battle."

"That's right." All the generals said in unison.

Li Ying said: "Rest for a day and set off tomorrow."

"Yes." The generals obeyed the order.

(End of this chapter)