The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 71 Crossing Tanju Ridge

After two consecutive victories, the Tang army clapped their quivers, waved flags and shouted, welcoming Li Heng into Lianyun Fort.

The Tang army's quiver, called Hulu, was a wooden, leather-covered quiver.

Generally, after the Tang army won a victory, they liked to "pretend to be like the cry of a monkey and shake their arrow quivers."

In addition, when the Tang army went out to war, some soldiers used this quiver as a pillow when they were sleeping, because this quiver had good sound amplification and could amplify sounds coming from far away.

Li Heng entered Lianyun Fort and looked out from a high place.

This place is not only high and cold, but also desolate, far inferior to Qiuci. If it were not for political needs, he might never have come to such a place in his life and sacrificed so many soldiers.

……

The big tent in the army.

Gao Xianzhi reported the casualties to Li Heng.

In general, the Tang army suffered more than a thousand casualties, but killed more than 5,000 enemies, captured a thousand people, seized more than a thousand horses, and countless military supplies and equipment, which can be regarded as a great victory.

Li Heng pondered for a moment and said, "Are we collecting the bodies of the fallen soldiers, treating the wounded, and recording their achievements?"

Gao Xianzhi replied: "It's being done."

"That's good." Li Ying nodded.

An Sishun stepped forward, kowtowed and said, "Your Highness, I failed in my first attack. Please punish me."

"General, please stand up. You have not delayed the time, so you don't need to be punished." Li Heng helped An Sishun up with a smile, not caring about it.

In fact, rather than saying that Li Heng didn't care, it would be better to say that he had anticipated this result when he made the arrangements.

Although An Sishun was brave, his advantage was that he was both wise and brave. For example, in attacking Lianyun Fort from above, he relied on surprise attack, taking advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness, and on bravery, which made him unstoppable.

It can be said that there is almost no need for any tricks.

As for surprise attack, they had already accomplished it, and among the generals present, Li Siye was the most invincible in bravery.

Therefore, Li Heng wanted to adopt a rotation battle from the beginning, hoping to let An Sishun consume the enemy's energy first, and then let Li Siye attack.

By then, if An Sishun couldn't get it, he could still do An Sishun a favor.

Naturally, Li Heng couldn't say such thoughts.

An Sishun knew that Li Heng was strict in his military discipline, so he was both touched and puzzled by Li Heng's decision not to punish him. However, he did not dare to ask, so he stood up and said, "Thank you, Your Highness."

As the two were talking, a guard came and reported, "Your Highness, the younger brother of the little King of Bolor, Ma Xi, is here to see you."

Li Heng's heart trembled, and he thought, "Could something have happened again?"

Thinking about it, he returned to the main seat and said, "Please ask him to come in."

"Yes." The guard stepped back.

After a while, Ma Xilai walked in quickly, bowed to Li Heng, and lamented: "Your Highness, Prince Shou, the capital of Xiaoboluo, Nieduo City, has been conquered by Tubo. Our King Ninan was forced to flee north, and the entire territory of Xiaoboluo has basically fallen."

"This……"

Li Heng was startled, then he calmed down and asked, "When did it happen?"

Ma Xilai said: "I just received the news, five days ago."

"I know about this, please don't tell anyone." Li Ying thought.

Ma Xilai said: "Your Highness Prince Shou, please save our king!"

"I know what to do." Li Heng said with a serious expression, "You go down first."

"Yes." Seeing Li Heng's appearance, Ma Xilai dared not say more and retreated. When Ma Xilai left the tent, Feng Changqing sighed: "I thought they could hold the city for at least a year, but I didn't expect them to be so weak."

Li Heng nodded and thought: "The next step is to cross the Tanju Ridge. The Tanju Ridge is high into the clouds, and both sides are steep. Our whereabouts have been exposed. Now that Nieduo City has fallen, if Tubo sends troops to cut off our army's path at the Dulu, the consequences will be disastrous."

Gao Xianzhi stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, we have no choice but to march quickly and cross Tanju Ridge before the Tibetans can stop us."

"It can only be done this way." Li Heng nodded, "I have ordered Ma Xilai not to spread the news that Nieduo City has fallen. You should also not tell anyone about this matter, otherwise it will affect the morale of the army."

"Yes." Everyone answered in unison.

Li Heng said: "We will rest today and reward the soldiers, and set out tomorrow."

"Yes."

Everyone obeyed the order and retreated.

Li Heng left Gao Xianzhi behind and said, "I heard that Tanju Ridge is covered with snow and ice, with many icy peaks, and the road is slippery and difficult to walk on. If you are not careful, you will fall into the valley and be smashed to pieces. I am afraid that the soldiers will be afraid of difficulties. General Gao, do you have any plan to appease them?"

Gao Xianzhi thought for a moment and said with a smile, "Your Highness asked Ma Xi to prepare food and fodder for our soldiers. Perhaps we can tell the soldiers that King Ni Nan of Little Bolor has prepared a banquet and is waiting for everyone to come. This will surely motivate everyone."

"Looking at the plums to quench thirst is quite interesting." Li Heng smiled slightly, "But how are we going to explain it when we get to the city?"

Gao Xianzhi said: "The most difficult parts of this expedition are nothing more than three hurdles. The first is the 3,000-mile march, the second is to capture Lianyun Fort, and the third is to cross Tanju Ridge. Once these three hurdles are passed, our army will reach the flat land and it will not be difficult to win. Moreover, King Ninan of Xiaoboluo fled north, and we may encounter him during the march. Then he will help us to cover up the lie."

"Okay." Li Heng nodded in agreement, "Let's do it this way. I'll go talk to Ma Xi about it."

……

……

……

The next day, Li Heng left 3,000 old, weak and disabled soldiers to guard the city, while the rest of the army continued to march.

After crossing Tanjuling, there is a steep slope that is almost vertical and covered with ice and snow for forty miles. Just looking at it is enough to make people tremble with fear.

When the soldiers saw how dangerous the situation was, they became afraid and didn't want to leave.

At this time, Ma Xilai came up with dozens of small Bolor people and said to the soldiers: "My king has prepared wine and meat in the city. Once the army of Tian Khan arrives, we can have a banquet."

Hearing what Ma Xilai said, the soldiers who had been complaining just now immediately became alert. They tied up anti-slip materials and continued to move forward.

After a lot of effort, they descended Tanju Ridge and arrived at Anyue City at the foot of the ridge. The soldiers did not see Ni Nan's wine and meat, but saw Tibetan soldiers coming to reinforce them.

The soldiers were angry and asked Ma Xilai, "Where is the wine and meat?"

Ma Xilai said quickly: "It seems that they were robbed by Tibetan soldiers."

Li Siye had been waiting for these words, and continued, "Damn it! The wine and meat that were about to be eaten were snatched away by these bandits. How can we tolerate this?"

An Sishun raised his gun and said, "I will be the first to charge into battle!"

Feng Changqing said: "We will fight against the barbarians and clear the way for them, and we will not turn back until we die!"

With Li Siye, An Sishun and Feng Changqing taking the lead, the soldiers' desire for wine and meat instantly turned into anger.

Encounter battles were the Tang army's strong point, and with the help of powerful generals leading them and the anger they had just shown, the Tibetan soldiers who came to support them were instantly defeated by the Tang army.

Of the 5,000 Tibetan soldiers who came to support, more than 2,000 were beheaded and the rest escaped.

A big win, easily achieved.

Li Heng also breathed a sigh of relief.

Now, the three hurdles mentioned by Gao Xianzhi have been passed. The remaining things, except for Nieduo City, the capital of Xiaoboluo, are basically easy to push forward.

(End of this chapter)