The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 292 Personnel Deployment
Shanzhou.

Li Ying stood on the city wall, watching Geshu Han leave dejectedly from afar, with a confused look on his face.

Although Tian Renwan was still there, Geshu Han had left. He could place his trusted aides among the newly recruited soldiers from Longyou. He was gradually centralizing power, but he did not feel very happy.

Because from an emotional point of view, the vivid images of those sacrificed soldiers are still vivid in front of our eyes. Those are tens of thousands of lives, and behind them are tens of thousands of families.

The decision makers were wrong, the main generals were wrong, but the lower-level soldiers had to pay with their lives for their mistakes.

From a rational point of view, after sacrificing so many people, they needed a large sum of pensions, they needed to deal with Wang Yu's "unique" taxes, they needed to raise more food and wages, they needed to arrange for the training of soldiers, and they needed to deal with the harassment of Tubo...

He needs to sort out these issues in detail.

If you want rights, you have to be able to resist.

Li Heng stood there silently for a while, and when he turned around, he saw the generals standing behind him.

Li Heng said, "It is said that officials should be humble and modest. Why don't you go and see General Geshu off?"

The generals looked at each other.

Ma Lin said: "If the 30,000 soldiers who died in the battle were still alive, they might go to see them off."

Li Heng glanced at Ma Lin and said to Zhang Guangsheng, "The Emperor has granted me full authority to take charge of all matters in Longyou. Send an order to transfer Liu Yan and Diwu Qi over."

"Yes." Zhang Guangsheng accepted the order, thought for a moment, and asked, "Where are Fang Guan and Du Youlin?"

Li Ying hesitated for a moment and said, "Transfer them here as well. Also transfer Wang Zhihuan and Wang Wei here as well."

"Yes." Zhang Guangsheng took the order.

Li Heng asked the generals to return to the meeting hall to discuss matters. As they walked, he asked, "Who are the leaders of the Tubo's multi-front attack this time?"

Ma Lin said: "The ones fighting against me are Shang Jiexi and Shang Qixin'er Bella."

"I am with General Geshu and I am in charge of the central army. The Tibetans who led the army to besiege us are Shang Dongzan and Shang Zanmo." Li Sheng first introduced his own army. Since Zhang Shouyu was not there, he continued, "The ones fighting the rear army are Wei Lunmangzhilalue and Lun Qisang."

"It's them." Li Heng thought, "Those who should come are here."

Li Sheng asked doubtfully, "Your Highness, are you familiar with them?"

Except for Shang Qixin'er Bella and Wei Lunmangzhilalue, Li Heng had never dealt directly with the other people, but he had heard of their reputations.

Not to mention his research on Tubo over the years, just by reading history books, he was deeply impressed by these people, because these people were all famous "hawks" against the Tang Dynasty in history. From the late Li Longji period to the Li Yu period, it was they who presided over the wars against the Tang Dynasty. It was also these people who fought to Chang'an and supported the false emperor.

While Li Heng was in a trance, Ma Lin said, "Knowing yourself and the enemy will lead to victory in every battle. Your Highness, how can you not know the enemy?"

"Yes, I spoke out of turn." Li Sheng said quickly.

Li Heng didn't care and changed the topic: "Tell me in detail what tactics they used."

The generals were a little surprised when they heard this question again.

Because, in theory, Li Heng was still Geshu Han's superior, and no matter what kind of achievements Geshu Han made in the front or what kind of fighting methods he used, he had to report to Li Heng.

But Li Heng knew nothing!
When Li Heng saw the expressions of the generals, he took the initiative to explain: "I have been recuperating from illness during this period and have no energy to care about the war in the front." The generals were skeptical.

"At the beginning of the war, Tubo took the initiative to retreat, luring our army deep into the territory, and then ambushed them at Dafeiling..."

Ma Lin told Li Heng the battle process in detail, and then took over Li Sheng.

After the two of them finished talking, they had already arrived at the meeting hall.

Li Heng motioned for everyone to take a seat and said, "In other words, this time Tubo did not use the Tibetan army as the vanguard, but directly used elite heavy infantry?"

"That's right." Ma Lin and Li Sheng replied in unison.

The national structure of Tubo was also very complex. The main body of the country was a union of tribes, and in addition to the main body, there were also many subordinate tribes, such as Tuyuhun, Subi, Dangxiang, Xiangxiong, Di, Qiang, etc.

As time went by, the degree of integration of these foreign subjects with Tubo varied, and Tubo's use of them also varied greatly.

For example, Su Bi mainly provided food and fodder, Tuyuhun served as the frontline and provided troops together with Dangxiang. In normal wars, Tubo always drove slave soldiers and foreign soldiers as the vanguard.

Gao Xianzhi saw Li Heng's puzzled expression and said, "This war is of great significance to Tubo. If they fail, they will no longer be able to compete with the Tang Dynasty, so they took out their family's wealth."

Li Heng said: "It also shows that Tride Zuzan has the ability to mobilize the elite troops of the Tibetan tribes."

"That's right." Gao Xianzhi agreed. "Chide Zuzan succeeded to the throne at the age of one, took power at the age of seventeen, and has been the Zamp for forty-five years. Under his rule, Tibet has become increasingly powerful. He is a worthy opponent."

Li Heng nodded, thought for a while, and said, "Before we can replenish our troops, our top priority is to prevent the Tubo from attacking. The Shibao City garrison is officially renamed the Zhenwu Army, and food and supplies cannot be delayed for a single day."

"Yes." The generals obeyed the order.

Gao Xianzhi followed up and said, "Your Highness is in Shanzhou, and Tubo probably doesn't dare to attack Shibao City. If I were the Tubo commander, it would be best to attack the Tang Dynasty from Mohuanchuan into Taozhou. The military envoy of the Momen Army in Taozhou City was Zhang Shouyu before. Now Zhang Shouyu is returning to Beijing with Geshu Han, and we need a strong general to guard the city."

Upon hearing this, Ma Lin stepped forward and said, "Although I am not talented, I am willing to serve as the military envoy of the Momen Army. If you allow the Tibetan army to enter Taozhou, I will bring my head to you."

Ma Lin was the military commander of the Baishui Army, and his transfer to Taozhou was considered a lateral transfer. However, compared with the Baishui Army, the Momen Army faced greater pressure.

Li Ying said: "Since General Ma has such great ambitions, I will approve your request and transfer Li Sheng to be the deputy envoy."

Li Sheng was startled, then stood up and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but I just lost a battle with General Geshu, so I have no merit to be promoted."

Li Heng said, "When we took Shibao City, you and General Ma worked well together and made great contributions. I am promoting you based on your merits. I hope you can work hard and make more achievements in the future."

"Yes! I will obey your command." Li Sheng bowed to Li Ying, feeling very grateful.

Li Heng smiled back and continued to discuss with the generals.

Ma Lin led the Momen Army, Baishui Army was handed over to Bai Xiaode, Jishi Army was led by Lai Zhen, Heyuan Army's military commander was replaced by Li Chengguang, Gao Xianzhi took over as the deputy military commander of Longyou and Lintao Army...

Li Heng placed all the people who followed him from Anxi in Longyou.

After making the personnel arrangements, Li Heng discussed with everyone the military deployment, war coordination, and garrison layout, etc.

After finishing the discussion with everyone, it was already late at night. Fortunately, Yang Yuhuan had made orderly arrangements. Expensive tea, fine cakes, and delicious meals were all served on time, and the generals were very happy.

(End of this chapter)