Tiantang

Chapter 426 I will not destroy Tubo, I will not return to the country!
Chapter 435 I will not destroy Tubo, I will not return to the country!

Guo Fu was also able to put on armor and join the army.So far, the emperor's imperial conquest, accompanied by the three concubines, has become a good story in Beijing and even the world.Many storytellers compiled this into a joke, which was widely praised among the people.

Zhang Xuan's [-] troops left Zhongjing, left Tongguan and entered the Guanzhong Plain, and then marched all the way in a hurry, arriving in Hezhou a month later.

The current Hezhou is the most fringe city on the Helong line, because Tuyuhun's hometown (Liangning Prefecture and most of the Qinghai Governor's Mansion) has all fallen into the hands of the Tubo people.

In May in Hezhou, the spring is warm and the flowers are blooming. It is only because it is adjacent to the territory of the Tubo people that the current Hezhou is a bit deserted compared to the past.

The [-] troops arrived in Hezhou, and there was a lot of movement. Of course, the Tubo people also got the military report.It's just that Tubo King Stanley has agreed to join forces with Li Gong, and an army of [-] is rushing to help Tuyuhun's hometown.

It's just that the Tubo people didn't expect that Zhang Xuan's army would attack Tubo, because everyone knew that Zhang Xuan's imperial expedition to the west was first to destroy Li Gong's rebels.Even Guo Ziyi and others under Zhang Xuan's account did not expect that Zhang Xuan's original goal was Tubo.

But Guo Ziyi is a veteran in the army after all, with a very profound strategic vision.Seeing the emperor's order to change the route to Hezhou, Guo Ziyi vaguely guessed the emperor's strategic intentions, and it seemed that it was not as simple as just destroying Li Gong.

Because the Tubo cavalry often harassed and harassed, the villages outside Hezhou City almost disappeared, with ten rooms and nine empty houses.The villagers either fled to Longshuo Lingzhou and other places, or died under the horseshoes of the Tubo cavalry.

In the past, most of the immigrants who reclaimed and farmed land in Liangning Prefecture became slaves of the Tubo people. They lived in fear under the butcher knife of the Tubo people, grazing and farming for the Tubo people, and even became slaves of the Tubo noble families.

The army set up camp outside the city of Hezhou, Zhang Xuan led Guo Ziyi and other generals, and led two thousand cavalry from the Shence Army into Hezhou.Seeing the desolate and dilapidated scene along the way, Zhang Xuan frowned and his face was gloomy.

The original Hezhou was so prosperous. With the occupation of Tuyuhun's hometown and the management of Liangning Prefecture, it has gradually become a commercial center and transportation hub in Longshuo and even the entire Northwest region. Merchants come and go like clouds, and immigrants from all over the world pass through here in an endless stream. The Jedi entered Tuntian, Liangning Prefecture.

But on the official road where people flowed like water in the past, there were overgrown weeds on both sides, and there were smog and ruins everywhere.

Yang Lian had already rushed to Hezhou with his general Gu Xi and others ahead of time, waiting outside the city gate of Hezhou.

The dense sound of horseshoes came, and Zhang Xuan and his party appeared in Yang Lian's field of vision. Yang Lian hurriedly took a few generals forward, prostrated themselves on the ground, and shouted loudly, "The last general will pay homage to Your Majesty, my emperor!" Long live long live!"

Zhang Xuan got off his horse, and Guo Ziyi and others also got off their horses and lined up behind him.

Zhang Xuan took a step forward, stared at Yang Lian coldly, and said lightly after a long silence, "Yang Lian, are you guilty?!"

Yang Lian was shocked suddenly, and looked up at the emperor for some inexplicable reason. Seeing that the emperor's face was gloomy, the corners of his mouth trembled, he lowered his head, and said softly, "The last general...convicted!"

In fact, Yang Lian couldn't figure out what the emperor meant at all, and he didn't think of what crime he had committed.

When An Lushan rebelled, the Tubo people took advantage of the situation to fight back. Li Guangbi was ordered by Emperor Li Tang to evacuate Liangning Prefecture, which caused Tuyuhun's old place to fall into the hands of the Tubo people again. He was outnumbered and could only retreat to Shaliu River.

Originally, he guarded the Shaliu River and did not allow the Tubo people to take the opportunity to invade Longshuo, even if he did nothing, it should not be a serious offense.And coupled with the fact that Li Gong from Hexi was eyeing him, Yang Lian was actually under a lot of pressure.

There is Tubo on the outside, and Li Gong on the inside. He sticks to the Shaliu River and has always insisted on it.

"The fall of Liangning Prefecture is not your fault. But the Tubo people are so arrogant on our border, plundering and enslaving our border people, so that the people's hearts are scattered and the army's morale is depressed. As the general of Qinghai, you must bear the blame!"

"There are less than 5 Tubo defenders in Liangning Prefecture, and your army has [-] horses. Why are you afraid of him? Even if Liangning Prefecture cannot be recovered, at least we must protect the people on the border from being trampled by the Tubo people! Look Well, Hezhou is so dilapidated, with ten rooms and nine empties, I don’t know how many people died at the hands of the Tubo people, and in Liangning Prefecture, I don’t know how many of my people were enslaved and killed by the Tubo people..."

"Although I don't have an edict to order you to attack Tubo, but the so-called generals will not accept the orders of the emperors outside. You are the general of Qinghai, and it is your sacred duty to protect the people and guard the border. Ask yourself, do you have a clear conscience?"

"Okay, since you are loyal to the imperial court and want to keep Long Shuo safe, I won't blame you anymore. But—"

"Everything in front of you is your shame! It's my shame!" The horsewhip in Zhang Xuan's hand pointed in the direction of Liangning Prefecture in front of him, "Our compatriots are still enslaved by thieves. , I can't sleep or eat!"

"Therefore, I decided to destroy Tubo first, and then pursue Li Gong. Li Gong's rebellion is an internal strife, and the Tubo people bullying me and oppressing me is an external humiliation! I can't bear it, I can't bear it!"

"Yang Lian, you don't have to stay in Hezhou anymore. You return to Shaliu River quickly, and immediately set off with the whole army. I order you to bypass Qinghai Lake and rush to Wuhai. And I will personally lead the army, marching forward in a mighty way. Liang Ning Prefecture, Liang Ning Prefecture will not be restored, and I will not return to death!"

Zhang Xuan's voice was generous and furious, "Here I swear to the Heavenly Alliance that wherever the army comes, those who follow it will prosper and those who oppose it will perish. I will not destroy the country of Tubo, and I will not return to my country! The Tubo thieves have brought me the shame of the Chinese state." , I will give it a hundredfold!"

Yang Lian felt awe in his heart, and immediately kowtowed to the ground, "The general will obey the order! The general will lead his troops to attack Wuhai. If this battle cannot be won, the general will slay himself and apologize to His Majesty!"

Yang Lian kowtowed to Zhang Xuan three times, then got on his horse, and led his troops to leave Hezhou and return to Shaliuhe.

Zhang Xuan took Guo Ziyi and others into the city and entered the Hezhou prefect's mansion.

Zhang Xuan looked at Guo Ziyi who was standing under his desk and said in a deep voice, "Ziyi, did the Huihe people ever send troops?"

"Returning to Your Majesty, the minister received the military report. Huihe Khan Guli Pei Luo and Prince Ge Le personally raised the soldiers of the whole country and entered Shanzhou via Longshuo. They are about to cross Chiling to attack Tubo and form an outflanking trend with our army."

Guo Ziyi clasped her fists and replied.

Zhang Xuan calmed down a little, nodded and said, "Okay. Ziyi, there is no problem with our army destroying the Tibetans independently. Do you know why I still let the Huihe army and horses help in the battle?"

Guo Ziyi shook his head, "Your Majesty, please let me know, I don't know."

"My plan is far away. I want the Huihe people to gradually integrate into our great country of China. The Huihe soldiers and horses are also my soldiers and horses. The Huihe people are also my people. The imperial court has the right to expropriate them!"

"Your Majesty is wise, I understand." Guo Ziyi replied with cupped fists.

In fact, Guo Ziyi already knew it in his heart, but he didn't dare to say it directly.He had long seen that the emperor had great ambitions, not only to destroy Tubo, but also to bring the land of Huihe into the territory of the great empire, but because Huihe and the emperor were related by marriage, he would definitely not use force.

It's just that if the emperor destroys Tubo, the territory and territory of the country will be unprecedentedly large, and the national power will become stronger.Huihe was originally a dependent country, and now it is even more afraid to rebel.After a long period of peaceful evolution, Zhang Xuan had some means to integrate Huihe into his own Chinese dynasty.

Zhang Xuan laughed loudly, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, "Ziyi, pass the decree and tell Huihe Khan that Huihe obeyed the imperial court's call and helped to destroy the Tubo people. I did not treat the Huihe people badly. After Tubo was destroyed, I Hundreds of miles of rich water and grass will be set aside in the land of Tubo as the territory and nomadic land of the Huihe people."

Guo Ziyi was taken aback, and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, this..."

Zhang Xuan waved his hand, smiled and said nothing.

Tubo has a vast territory and few people. For the time being, it is impossible for the Han people alone to conduct business and development.Set aside a piece of land for the Huihe people as the territory of the Huihe people-this is equivalent to splitting the second small Huihe kingdom invisibly, and the national power of the Huihe people will be more dispersed.

Of course this is a long-term effect.In the short term, the Uyghurs' acquisition of large tracts of land is naturally beneficial and harmless.

Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief. In fact, in his eyes, it is not difficult to destroy the Tibetans. The difficulty is how to govern for a long time.In the land of Tubo, the altitude is too high and the climate is harsh, so it is unrealistic for a large number of Han people to immigrate.The Han people's land reclamation can be done within a thousand miles of Tuyuhun's hometown, but if it goes deeper, it is more difficult for the Han people to survive and reproduce here.

Zhang Xuan originally wanted to move the Huihe here as a whole, but later gave up this plan because the cost was too high, and the Huihe people might not be able to adapt to the environment of the Tubo Plateau.

The current plan is to rely mainly on the garrison in the land of Tubo, supplemented by the Han Chinese farming and Huihe nomads, to suppress and manage the Tubo civilian herdsmen, and to change this warlike Tubo nation through long-term enlightenment and assimilation.

As early as when Zhang Xuan was in Zhongjing, he had already made a plan to pacify the Tibetans.

Thinking of this, Zhang Xuan's face became serious, and he said in a deep voice, "Ziyi, the army rested in Hezhou for two days. On the morning of the third day, march into Liangning Prefecture! I ordered you to lead the main force to join Yang Lian and Huihe soldiers and horses. Besieged all the way and regained Liangning Prefecture!"

"Remember what I said, this battle will not be surrendered, and the anti-Tubo soldiers will be killed without mercy!"

"Nan Ba!" Zhang Xuan shouted again.

Nan Jiyun stepped out solemnly and clasped his fists, "Your Majesty, the last general is here!"

"Nanba, I order you to lead ten thousand cavalry to attack Dulan, the barn of Tubo. Before the army attacks, you must take down or burn the grain hoarded by the Tubo people!"

"The last general obeys the order!" Nan Ba ​​bowed and accepted the order.

……

……

A big battle is imminent.

On the Hezhou line, food, grass and transportation teams from the Longshuo prefectures and the inland Central Plains came in an endless stream, and the atmosphere seemed very tense and dignified.

Early on the morning of the third day, Guo Ziyi led an army of [-] to march towards Liangning Prefecture.Emperor Zhang Xuan was also in the army. Guo Ziyi and others repeatedly advised Zhang Xuan to stay in Hezhou, but the emperor refused and insisted on joining the army.

At the same time, [-] Huihe cavalry set out from Shanzhou, crossed Chiling, and attacked Liangning Prefecture along the south bank of Qinghai Lake.And Yang Lian led an army of [-] along the north shore of Qinghai Lake, and came to cover Liangning Prefecture.

Prior to this, Nan Jiyun led [-] cavalry of the Shence Army equipped with elite firearms to gallop to Dulan to attack the barn of the Tubo people.

(End of this chapter)