The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 257: Killing the Commander
The next day.

Lumanchedon gathered his troops again to attack Jinchang City, preparing to capture it in one fell swoop.

Le Tinggui dragged his injured body and personally led the soldiers to fight to the death.

This time, Tubo launched a strong attack with its elite troops. These elite soldiers were wearing either camel leather armor or heavy armor. Their weapons were mostly spears with slings. They had strong defense and high attack power. After two rounds of attacks, they captured the city wall.

Le Tinggui could no longer hold on and fell to the ground seriously injured.

Lumanqidun, a subordinate under the city, watched the Tubo attack the city wall and saw victory was just around the corner, and he couldn't help but smile with joy.

But at this moment, Li Siye arrived with cavalry.

Because the Tubo elite troops were attacking the city, most of the soldiers on both sides were second-class soldiers and slave soldiers. These soldiers were usually the objects of oppression, had no loyalty to Tubo, and were poorly equipped.

Therefore, Li Siye led the cavalry to charge into the left wing of the Tubo army, and the Tubo flank army was instantly dispersed. Once the flank was dispersed, the backs of the elite siege troops were exposed.

Lumanchedon had never expected that Li Siye would lead elite cavalry to rescue him, and was terrified, but at this point in the battle, he was unwilling to give up the city that was about to be captured.

Therefore, while ordering the siege troops to continue attacking the city, he personally led his troops to stop Li Siye, hoping to delay time for the siege troops.

When the Moli army on the city wall saw reinforcements, they saw hope and their low morale instantly rose. They fought even harder against the Tubo army that had climbed up the city wall.

The battle was deadlocked again.

Then, Li Heng personally led the infantry to attack.

Li Heng led 8,000 infantrymen and advanced from the right side of Tubo. Zhang Guangsheng, Cen Shen, Lai Zhen, Hun E and others all led the charge. Soon, they defeated the Tubo right wing.

As the saying goes, a defeat is like a landslide. When Lu Mangqidun saw Li Heng personally leading his men to destroy the right wing, he was even more frightened. He knew that the defeat was inevitable, so he hurriedly ordered the troops to retreat. He led the elite Tibetan troops to retreat first, and the Molichuan Tuyuhun tribe, second-class soldiers and slave soldiers covered the rear.

When the Tuyuhun soldiers, privates and slave soldiers who were guarding the rear saw that Lumanchedon had withdrawn, they easily chose to surrender.

Li Siye and Lai Zhen personally led the soldiers and pursued Lumanche all the way.

Lu Manqidun led the Suo woman and retreated all the way to the Moli River Valley, but their way was blocked by ice and snow.

After the meeting, Sanda Gong immediately took people to clear the ice and snow.

Lu Manqidun immediately looked at the ice and snow in front of him, sighed, and said to the Suo woman: "I'm sorry, I lost again."

The Suo woman was afraid that her subordinate Lumanqidun would kill her, so she hurriedly said, "Victory and defeat are common in the military. As long as the general enters Molichuan, the Tang army will never be able to catch up with you."

The vassal Lu Mangqidun said: "Before I met Prince Shou, I fought in many battles, from Tuyuhun to Dabolü, and never suffered a major defeat. Today, the road is blocked by ice and snow. It is God's will to kill me. I cannot disobey."

As the two men were talking, Sanda Gong had already led the soldiers to clear a path, and hurriedly said to his subordinate Lu Mangqidun: "General, please go first, I will cover you."

Lu Mangqidun said: "With such a brilliant plan, I thought I could reach Qixi, but not only did I fail to take Guazhou, but I was almost wiped out. How can I face the Zamp? Forget it, General Dagong, you lead your men to retreat, and I will cover your retreat."

"General!" Lunjie Sandagong knelt on one knee, "Li Heng is insidious and cunning. He held a grand event in Liangzhou while secretly returning to Qixi. If he hadn't returned secretly, the Beiting army would not have come to support us so quickly, and we could have defeated them one by one. This is not your fault. Please go first, and we will organize our troops and come back to kill him."

Lu Mangqidun said: "General Da Gong, there is no need to say more. The mountains are covered with snow. It is extremely difficult to go to Molichuan. If I don't stay, the Tang army will definitely chase us to the end. Then no one of us can escape. You should withdraw first!"

"General..."

Sanda Gong wanted to persuade him again, but Lu Mangqidun interrupted him and said, "This is an order!"

Sanda Gong was startled and said with tears in his eyes: "I will obey your orders!"

The guards of Lumancheton said one after another: "General, we are waiting with you!"

"I can cover the rear alone." Lu Manqidun said firmly, "Listen, everyone retreat!"

"Yes."

All the soldiers present kowtowed to Lumanqidun and left one after another. Soon, only Lumanqidun and the Suo family woman were left in front of the river.

Lu Mangqidun dismounted, picked up the Suo woman from the horse, and said, "You are a Han Chinese. You will explain it clearly later. The Tang army will not hurt you. No, it is the Tang army led by Prince Shou that will not hurt you."

Lumanchedon spoke to himself, then picked up the spear, took out a silk towel, and wiped the blade carefully.

The Suo woman looked at the calm subordinate Lumanqidun and suddenly asked boldly: "Has the general's spear ever killed a baby in the Tang Dynasty?"

Lumanqidun shook his head and said, "The Tibetans do have the habit of impaling babies on spears for fun, but I believe in Buddhism."

The Suo woman asked, "Is that all?"

"Not only that." Zu Lu Manqidun smiled, "I have always believed that cruel killings can deter the conquered. However, after fighting the Tang Dynasty for many years, I gradually feel that using cruel methods to deter is actually due to a lack of self-confidence. This is the most direct, but also the lowest level method."

The Suo woman asked, "General, are you learning from Prince Shou?"

Lu Manqidun said: "He is an opponent worth learning from."

The Suo woman asked, "Then why didn't the general surrender to the Tang Dynasty?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Mangqidun stared at the woman from the Suo family, and murderous intent suddenly emerged in his eyes.

The Suo woman was startled and took a few steps back.

Lu Manqidun suddenly smiled, lowered his head and continued to wipe his spear, and said: "Do you want me to live?"

"Yes." The Suo woman replied timidly.

Lu Manqidun said: "I can promise you, but I have to wait until the next life. If there is a next life, I hope there will be no more wars between Tubo and the Tang Dynasty. I hope we..."

When Lumanchedon said this, they heard the sound of horse hooves, and Li Siye and Lai Chen led the pursuing troops to arrive.

Lu Mancheton looked up at the people in front of him and continued, "I hope I can meet you sooner."

After saying that, he jumped on his horse and faced Li Siye and others alone.

Li Siye and Lai Zhen led their troops to Lumancheton. They were surprised to see that there was only Lumancheton and a woman.

Li Siye said: "As the commander-in-chief, you actually chose to leave alone. You are a hero. His Highness Prince Shou loves heroes the most. If you are willing to surrender, His Highness Prince Shou will definitely give you endless wealth and glory!"

Lu Mangqidun asked: "If General Li were in my place, would he choose to surrender to Tubo?"

Li Siye was startled, and after a moment's silence, he asked, "Do you have any last words?"

Lu Mangqidun glanced at the Suo woman and said, "She is a Han Chinese woman, innocent. I don't know her name yet. If possible, I hope the general can burn her name for me."

"it is good!"

Li Siye agreed and rushed towards Lumancheton alone.

Lumanchedon rode his horse and held his spear to meet them.

After three rounds, Li Siye killed his subordinate Lumanqidun on his horse.

The north howled, and heavy snow fell on Rumuchistan and never melted.

"Take him back, and I'll ask His Highness to bury him with honor!"

Li Siye's voice pierced through the wind and snow and soon disappeared into the vast mountains.

(End of this chapter)