The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 188 Instigating Rebellion
When the Tang army generals heard Abu Muslim's words, they were all stunned.

Abu Muslim, a guy who seemed stubborn, was actually tricked into telling the truth by Li Heng.

"Really?" Li Heng expressed his doubt, and then asked: "Then when did General Abu think it was the right time to rebel? After he was killed by me?"

Abu Muslim was startled, thought for a moment, knelt on one knee, and saluted, saying: "I am willing to serve His Highness the Prince of Shou, and I will go through fire and water without hesitation."

Li Heng helped Abu Muslim up and said, "You are determined to fight against the Arabs. You should return to the battlefield where you belong. The Arabs are constantly revolting. The Western Regions, Persians, Kush, and even Arabs are revolting. You only need to raise the banner of rebellion, and the Arabs will gather in large numbers to respond."

Abu Muslim was very shocked and asked, "Your Highness, do you want me to revolt now?"

"That's right." Li Heng nodded. "I'll let you go back. You gather the remnants of the Arab army and pretend to retreat, but actually counterattack. After taking the two cities, you raise the banner of rebellion and gather troops from all walks of life to resist the Arabs. I will support you all the way. When you fight back to Khorasan, you can unite with the twelve chiefs of Khorasan and the Abbasid family. By then, overthrowing the Arabs will be just around the corner!"

It is now the middle of 742. At this time, uprisings within the Arab Empire have become quite frequent. By 744, the rebel army has spread like wildfire. Li Heng simply accelerated their progress a year in advance.

Abu Muslim and the Tang army generals present had not expected that Li Heng would be so clear about the conflicts in the Arab world and the distribution of power. They were all stunned.

Abu Muslim was stunned for a while, then asked, "Your Highness Prince Shou, are you really willing to support me?"

"Of course." Li Heng nodded and said frankly: "Our interests are the same. You want to return to your homeland, and I want to drive the Arabs back to Khorasan. We are united."

Abu Muslim knelt again and said, "I swear to Ahura Mazda that if His Majesty the King helps me, I will never step out of Khorasan in my lifetime."

"Very good." Li Heng helped Abu Muslim up. "I hope we can establish a long-lasting friendship. However..."

"But what?" asked Abu Muslim.

Li Heng said: "The Arabs have ruled Khorasan for so long that many of you Persians have almost forgotten that you are followers of Ahura Mazda. The twelve chieftains of Khorasan and the Abbasid family also believe in Islam. Therefore, in order to unite all parties, you need to use Islam as your banner for the time being."

Abu Muslim sighed and said, "To be honest with you, Your Highness, I have always told others that I am a Shia believer."

"I know."

Li Ying and Abu Muslim were both aware of the struggle between Shia and Sunni. Li Ying did not want to say more and changed the subject: "The Quran says: 'Those who are attacked have permission to resist, because they are oppressed. God is indeed able to help them.' This is suitable for the oppressed Kuts, Persians, and Arabs. General Abu can write the words of the Quran on the flag."

Abu Muslim was surprised and asked, "Your Highness is also familiar with the Quran?"

"I know a thing or two." Li Ying smiled slightly.

Abu Muslim looked at Li Heng's warm smile, but he did not feel warm, but only felt a chill.

Li Heng was a noble from the East who had just escaped from the war with Tubo, but he knew everything about the Arabs across the Western Regions, and even had a dabbling in the Koran.

Such a person is a blessing to be his subordinate or ally, but very terrible to be his enemy.

Abu Muslim was stunned for a moment, then came to his senses and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness."

Li Heng smiled back, accepting Abu Muslim's thanks, and then said, "General Abu, go and rest for a while. I will host a banquet for you in the evening and then send you off." "Thank you, Your Highness."

Abu Muslim retreated, and two Tang army guards came to lead the way for him.

After Abu Muslim left, Li Heng said to the generals, "Can we have another way of fighting now?"

Gao Xianzhi said: "The best military operation is to attack the enemy's plans, the next best is to attack their alliances, the next best is to attack their troops, and the worst is to attack their cities. I have only considered the tactics of attacking their troops and cities, and today I will learn from them."

Li Siye followed up and said, "Your Highness asked me to read more books, which is indeed a good idea. I could not think of this plan even if I racked my brains."

The two of them took the lead, and other generals followed suit to flatter Li Heng.

Li Heng said modestly: "I just know a little more information. You generals are all experienced generals. I need to learn a lot from you in marching and fighting."

"Your Highness is too modest. How dare we serve as your teacher?" the generals replied hurriedly.

"We can now unite with Abu Muslim. As for the next step in the battle, I would like to ask for your suggestions, generals." Li Heng brought the conversation back to the point.

Lai Yao, the general of the Beiting Army, pondered for a moment and said, "Your Highness, if Abu Muslim can lure the enemy to open the city gate, we can take the south first. The supplies of the Arab rear army are mostly in the south. If we can capture their grain storage city first, we can cut off the enemy's grain supply and strengthen the supply of our army and the coalition forces. But I don't know where this grain storage city is."

An Sishun said: "I know something. The enemy troops are in Anguo and Kangguo and both have grain storage."

Feng Changqing said: "Abu Muslim should know. If I ask him in the evening, it will be a good opportunity to see if he will tell the truth."

Gao Xianzhi said: "If Abu Muslim's words are credible, I think we can advance from both north and south. The specific method of advancement is to advance slowly from the north and quickly from the south. First, bluff the enemy and make them think that we will attack the north with a large force, and then attack the south when they are unprepared. After advancing on the southern front, we will then take down the enemy's isolated northern army."

Gao Xianzhi proposed the strategy of advancing slowly in the north and quickly in the south, and making a feint to the east and attacking in the west, and all the generals agreed.

Li Heng also thought so. Seeing that everyone had the same opinion, he said, "Okay, let's do as you say."

After deciding on the strategy, Li Heng asked Abu Muslim about the grain storage city of the Caliphate during the dinner. Abu Muslim told him the truth, which coincided with what An Sisun knew.

The news is true, and the next step is how to deploy the troops.

Li Heng appointed An Sishun as the commander of the Southern Army, Lai Yao and Wang Zhengjian as deputy generals, Cheng Qianli, Cao Lingzhong and others as subordinate generals. He led the entire Beiting army, the Anxi army, and the coalition forces of various countries except the Bukhara troops, totaling more than 30,000, and marched into the south.

Li Heng himself served as the commander-in-chief in the north, and led the elite troops of Anxi, including Gao Xianzhi, Feng Changqing, Li Siye, and Zhang Guangsheng, to march into the north.

Li Ying made this arrangement after careful consideration.

The reason why An Sishun was allowed to lead the troops into the south was because An Guo was in the south and An Sishun was a native of An Guo. He knew how to better balance the interests of all parties.

If someone else had been appointed commander, without Li Heng's restraint, the Tang army would have most likely looted the city after entering it.

(End of this chapter)