The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 290 Take the long term

Li Heng did not respond to Gao Xianzhi and Lai Zhen's words, but turned to An Sishun and said, "If Geshu Han needs help from Hexi, General An will do his best to help him, so as to avoid any excuses. All I can do is to cooperate with him as much as possible."

"Yes." An Sishun accepted the order and then asked, "Your Highness, do you have any other instructions?"

Hearing An Sishun's words, Gao Xianzhi and others looked at Li Heng, waiting for Li Heng's orders.

Li Heng glanced at everyone and said, "Not yet. Everyone, go back to your duties."

Everyone looked at each other, and said in unison, "Yes!"

Li Ying returned to his mansion.

In the mansion, Yang Yuhuan was ordering people to prepare the betrothal gifts to be sent to the He Mansion. Seeing Li Ying looking lost, she walked up to him, took his hand, and said with a smile: "How can you not be happy to take a concubine?"

Li Ying smiled back and sighed.

Li Heng was melancholy, not because of whether to take a concubine or not, but because he was worried about the lives of the soldiers in Longyou.

The spring attack had a short preparation time, the ice and snow in Dafei River had not melted yet, and Tubo had complete advantages of time and place. Under such circumstances, there was a high probability of losing.

But what can he do?

Li Longji appointed Geshu Han as the deputy governor and military commander of Longyou, and served as the commander-in-chief on the front line. Tian Renwan was appointed as the grain and grass transport envoy to manage logistics. The soldiers in Longyou were eager to make achievements, so he was powerless.

Yang Yuhuan thought that Li Heng was unhappy because he had lost his power in Longyou, so she comforted him: "Man proposes, God disposes. My dear, you have done what you should do, and that is enough. At worst, we can go back to Anxi. In fact, Qiuci is also very good. I feel free there."

"I can't go back for now." Li Ying shook his head.

Yang Yuhuan asked in confusion: "Why is this?"

Li Heng predicted that Geshu Han had a high probability of failure. Once Geshu Han failed, it would prove that his strategy was correct, and then Li Longji would have no choice but to trust him.

Moreover, Geshu Han's defeat would weaken the strength of the Longyou Army, and more time would be needed to reorganize and train the troops.

Therefore he will stay in Longyou for a long time.

From the perspective of interests alone, this matter is beneficial to him, but the price is countless lives.

Li Ying pondered for a moment and felt that there was no need to tell Yang Yuhuan such a cruel benefit, so he shook his head and said with a smile: "Because where I am, you should be there."

"It's a deal." Yang Yuhuan smiled sweetly.

……

Winter passes and spring comes.

Li Heng completed his wedding with He Jin this winter, while Geshu Han was busy preparing for the war with Tubo. Then in early spring, he led an army of 50,000 and advanced into Dayuechuan.

At the beginning of the war, things were relatively smooth. Geshu Han led his troops to easily capture the three cities of Moli, Momen and Shudun, and then marched north, preparing to cross the Dayi Mountains and capture the cities around Qinghai Lake.

Although it was already spring, the wind on the plateau was still bitingly cold. At the same time, the altitude of over 3,500 meters caused many Tang soldiers to suffer from altitude sickness.

Inside the main tent of the Tang army.

Wang Sili reported to Geshu Han the situation of soldiers freezing to death and seriously ill (due to altitude sickness).

After hearing this, Ma Lin, who was standing below, said, "General, our army has lost 30% of its combat power and is running low on food and grass. We should withdraw our troops first. Tubo lives near water and grass. We can advance again in summer and autumn when the water and grass are lush." ​​Geshu Han said, "The enemy's food and grass must be stored in the cities around Qinghai Lake. As long as we take the cities around Qinghai Lake, we can replenish our food and grass. Now that victory is within reach, how can we let them go?"

"What the commander said makes sense." Gao Xiuyan agreed, "From Shanzhou to Tubo, the three most difficult cities to conquer are Shibao City, Shudun City, and Fushi City by Qinghai Lake. Now that Shibao City and Shudun City have been taken, Fushi City is not worth mentioning. I am willing to lead the way and present Fushi City to the commander."

"Very good." Geshu Han nodded with satisfaction. "In that case, General Gao will be the general of the front army, Ma Lin and Huoba Guiren will be the deputy generals, leading 20,000 troops to directly capture Fushi City. Zhang Shouyu will be the general of the rear army, Guan Chongsi and Su Fading will be the deputy generals, leading 10,000 troops to resist the enemy reinforcements at Jishishan. The rest of you will follow me to the central army and be ready to be deployed at any time."

"Yes." The generals obeyed the order.

On the other side, in the main tent of the Tubo army.

Enlan Dazalugong sat in the commander's chair, Shang Qixin'er Bella and Weilunmangzhilalu sat below.

Shang Qixin'er Bella and Weilunmangzhilalu looked down upon the young Enlan Dazhalugong, so they took advantage of the defeat in the war at the front to vent their dissatisfaction.

Shang Qixin'er Bella said: "Zamp sent a large army to support us. If we had defended Shudun City, the Tang army might not have been able to take it in three months. But the commander abandoned Shudun City and let the Tang army march straight in."

Wei Lunmangzhilalue followed up and said: "If you, the commander-in-chief, do not dare to fight, I am willing to defend to the death."

Enlan Dazalugong was not angry either, and asked with a smile: "Generals, do you think we can defend Shudun City for three months? What about after three months?"

Shang Qixin'er Bella said, "If we can hold on for a month, then that's it. Are we going to give it up just because we can't hold on?"

"Capturing cities and conquering territories is certainly what a brave general desires, but sometimes we don't have to care too much about the gains and losses of a city or a piece of land." Enlan Dazalugong stood up, "My plan of luring you into a trap was originally designed for Prince Shou, but I didn't expect that Prince Shou didn't come, but Geshu Han came instead."

Wei Lunmangzhila said: "If you don't do it well, you will invite a wolf into the house."

Enlan Dazhalugong smiled and said, "Over the years, I have traveled between Nanzhao, Jiannan, and Helong, and confirmed a phenomenon. We Tibetans are prone to illness when we go to the Central Plains in the summer, and Tang people are also prone to illness when they go to Tibet in the winter. Therefore, sometimes the best line of defense is not necessarily a castle, but the season."

Enlan Dazalugong was just basing his decision on experience, so he did not differentiate between climate issues and altitude sickness, but he knew about the phenomenon, and that was enough for him.

After hearing this, Wei and Shang felt that it made some sense and did not refute it.

Enlan Dazha Lugong continued, "Shudun City cannot determine success or failure. It will be lost sooner or later. Therefore, it is better to preserve the living forces and drag the Tang army into the Dayi River. This way, we can consume the combat effectiveness of the Tang army in time, extend the Tang army's supply line, and make the Tang army unaware of our deployment. The enemy is in the open, and we are in the dark."

Wei Lunmangzhila adjusted his attitude and asked seriously, "Where do you think it is appropriate to start the counterattack?"

Enlan Dazha Lugong said quietly, "It's at Dafei Ridge."

……

At the foot of Dafei Mountain.

Gao Xiuyan, Ma Lin and Huoba Guiren led the vanguard army to Fuqi City.

Gao Xiuyan asked, "General Ma, do you know the origin of Fuxi City?"

"I know a thing or two." Ma Lin replied, "Fushi City was the capital of Tuyuhun during the Northern Wei Dynasty. At that time, Duke Li Wei led his troops to capture Fushi City. The Tuyuhun tribe in Fushi City surrendered and became a member of the Tang Dynasty. Later, Tubo expanded and competed with the Tang Dynasty for this place. Later, Duke Pingyang was defeated in Dayichuan, and Fushi City was controlled by Tubo from then on."

Gao Xiuyan had always thought that Ma Lin was just a reckless man, so he was a little surprised when he heard what Ma Lin said, "I didn't expect General Ma to be so familiar with me. He is really a man of both civil and military talents!"

Ma Lin observed his expression and thought, "When His Royal Highness Prince Shou discussed the battle strategy with us, he made a detailed analysis of the battles that had occurred in various cities and regions before. What kind of question is this?"

Although Ma Lin complained in his heart, he still said respectfully, "General Gao, you are too kind."

(End of this chapter)