The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 252 Invasion
Shazhou, inside Dunhuang City.

Li Siye, his deputy general Li Chengguang and a dozen soldiers were having dinner upstairs in a tavern, lightly equipped.

Li Siye took a sip of wine and said to Li Chengguang, "The registered population of Shazhou is 4,265 households and 16,550 people. But look at the crowds of people coming and going in the city. It's not a scene that you can expect in a city with tens of thousands of people."

Li Chengguang said: "Many tribes in neighboring cities and merchants passing by are not included in the household registration. For Shazhou, these people are the majority."

"That's why I'm worried." Li Siye looked at the officials in the city who were rushing around. "If someone contacts the tribes in the neighboring cities and the passing merchants to plot something bad, it will cause endless harm."

Li Chengguang said: "I see that Governor Wang is acting so ostentatiously, and he doesn't seem to intend to resist."

"This is good news." Li Siye took another sip of wine. "Shazhou is now in your hands. I have to go to Guazhou to complete the task ordered by His Highness. Let's split up."

"Yes." Li Chengguang accepted the order.

Li Chengguang was also a powerful general. Historically, after Feng Changqing was killed, he took over Feng Changqing's position. Later, Geshu Han guarded Tongguan and Li Chengguang was in charge of the infantry. Later, due to political struggles, Li Chengguang was executed by Li Heng on the grounds of military defeat.

Li Siye didn't know the history, but he knew Li Chengguang's ability, so he was very confident in handing over the affairs of Shazhou to Li Chengguang.

After arranging the affairs of Shazhou, Li Siye went to Guazhou without stopping and conducted an investigation in Guazhou using the method he had used on Shazhou.

Le Tinggui, the governor of Guazhou and military envoy of Moli Army, personally received Li Siye and his words were exactly the same as those of Li Jingyu.

Li Siye still did not express his opinion. He said that after he knew it, he pretended to go back to report and then monitored secretly.

Le Tinggui saw Li Siye off and returned to his mansion.

In his house, Kang Yi and Mi Qian were drinking and listening to music at this moment.

When Le Tinggui saw Kang Yi and Mi Qian, he was furious and asked, "Why don't you leave? Are you staying here to die?"

Mi Qian said respectfully, "You are too kind, Governor Le. Wang Zhongsi is in Longyou, and Prince Shou is in Liangzhou. Who else in Guazhou is more important than you? Now, apart from you, who else can let us die?"

Le Tinggui said: "Li Siye is here."

"Li Siye is just a brave man, there is no need to be afraid of him." Mi Qian said.

Le Tinggui looked at Mi Qian and said, "Tell me the truth, do you have any connection with Tubo?"

"We are just going to Tubo for business. Governor Le is too suspicious." Mi Qian explained.

Le Tinggui said: "I just received news that two Tibetan secret agents died in Liangzhou not long ago. As soon as those two Tibetan secret agents died, you left Liangzhou. Is this just a coincidence?"

"Really? We just found out about this." Mi Qian pretended to be very surprised. "If we really had any connection with the Tibetan spy, the Liangzhou government would have sent a letter to Governor Le a long time ago."

Mi Qian guessed that although Wang Daqing wanted to kill them, he would only do it secretly and would not dare to issue a written order openly.

Rich businessmen like them have connections with high-ranking Tang officials, Tibetan tribes, and many neighboring tribes along the way. Being able to get along with both sides in the cracks is their specialty.

Le Tinggui pondered for a moment and said, "Whether you have any connection with Tubo, I can't control it for now, but if Li Siye knows that I have joined hands with you to sell slaves of Tuyuhun, then His Royal Highness Prince Shou will definitely not forgive me, let alone let you go. You should leave quickly."

Mi Qian asked, "Where does Governor Le want us to go?"

"You can go wherever you want." Letingkui took a sip of tea, "Just don't set foot in Guazhou in the short term, otherwise..." Letingkui didn't finish his words, but everyone understood his meaning.

Mi Qian asked, "Does Governor Le want to get rid of the donkey after it has done its job?"

Le Tinggui said: "You can't say that. We have always split the money from the sale of Tuyuhun slaves equally. We are just a cooperative relationship."

"In that case, I'll take my leave." Mi Qian reluctantly bowed to Le Tingkui and left with Kang Yi.

When they got to the street, Kang Yi complained, "How could you talk to Le Tinggui like that? Aren't you afraid that he would kill you to silence you?"

Mi Qian said: "Le Tinggui is after money and sex, he won't break off relations with us unless it is absolutely necessary."

"That's right." Kang Yi nodded, thought for a moment, and said, "Then what should we do next?"

Mi Qian said: "According to the time, Tubo should be coming soon. We can make contact here and cooperate with Tubo from inside and outside. Then we will be a great hero and our wealth will be guaranteed."

Kang Yi said: "It's all Prince Shou's fault. If it weren't for him, we wouldn't have been forced to this point today."

"Don't complain." Mi Qian said calmly, "Prince Shou thought that Tubo would attack again from Liangzhou and Ganzhou, so he put all his energy into defending there. Not only did he not defend Guazhou and Shazhou, but he also let Li Siye come to investigate. Isn't he just messing up his own situation and courting his own death?"

"That's right. Let's split up then." Kang Yi said goodbye to Mi Qian and left.

……

November.

There was heavy snow and wind in Guazhou and Shazhou.

On the Tibetan side, led by Lumanqidun, they joined forces with the Tuyuhun tribe in Molichuan to invade Guazhou.

Under the command of Lumanqidun, 60,000 soldiers marched northward, first taking Changle County to separate Guazhou and Shazhou, and then split the troops into two groups, one heading west to take Shazhou and the other heading east to take Guazhou.

When Wang Huailiang, governor of Shazhou and commander of the Doulu Army, learned of the Tubo invasion, he immediately assembled his troops and first set up defenses in Sanwei Mountain, but he was outnumbered and was repelled by the Tubo.

After the defeat, Li Jingyu advised Wang Huailiang: "Military envoy, the Tubo is powerful and we will definitely lose if we confront them head-on. In addition, the matter of Li Siye's audit has not been resolved, and the morale of the army is unstable. It is better to abandon the city and withdraw first to preserve our strength."

Wang Huailiang said: "As a Tang general, how can I abandon my land and flee? Besides, Tubo has always been tyrannical. If we withdraw, what will happen to the people of Shazhou? We should retreat to Dunhuang City and hold on until help comes."

"The east has been cut off from Guazhou, and Marshal Wang Jie is in Longyou. How can there be reinforcements in a short time? If we retreat to the isolated city and cannot wait for reinforcements, we will be dead." Li Jingyu said bluntly.

Wang Huailiang said: "To die on the battlefield is the best fate for a soldier, so why should you be afraid? You don't have to say anything more. You retreat back to Dunhuang and defend it to the death. I will go to Mingsha Mountain to set up defenses and form a pincer attack."

Seeing that Wang Huailiang had made up his mind, Li Jingyu stopped trying to persuade him and said, "Mingsha Mountain is ahead, and it is extremely dangerous. If we want to go to Mingsha Mountain to set up defenses, it should be me who goes. You are responsible for the safety of Shazhou, so please return to Dunhuang."

Wang Huailiang sighed and said, "If I die in battle, Prince Shou will surely not investigate the accounts of Shazhou and the Doulu Army. This may be the best outcome for me and the Doulu Army. General Li, just follow my orders."

Li Jingyu hesitated for a moment, then said solemnly, "Yes, I will obey your command."

After Li Jingyu finished speaking, he saluted to Wang Huailiang, glanced at Yuan Huaichen, a military officer beside Wang Huailiang, and retreated towards Dunhuang with his men.

(End of this chapter)