Chapter 738 The decisive battle between Tang and Tibet (1)
East of Fufeng County, Changshou Temple.
Next to the collapsed temple, there is a stone tablet with a Yin seal painting engraved on it. The character in the painting is Peng Zu, a Taoist from the pre-Qin Dynasty.
Next to the stone statue, there is another line of small words, which reads:
"Pengzu lived for eight hundred years, and could not sleep as long as the old Buddha."
Kong You, who was riding a horse, looked down at the stone statue and stayed for a long time.
Beside Kong You, an endless stream of Tang army cavalry marched slowly along the official road towards the camp on the plain.
A soldier from the Chinese army rode from a distance and came to Kong You's side.
After turning over and dismounting, the soldier sang a song and said: "Zhongcheng, General Guo invites you to attend the military meeting."
Kong You nodded and rode away from the ruins of Changshou Temple.
During the military meeting of the Chinese army, Guo Xin and a group of Tang army generals gathered next to the map to discuss the next battle with the Tibetan army.
Hearing the report outside the door that Kong You was coming, Guo Xin came to the tent in person, welcomed the former into the tent, and said, "Since Kong Zhongcheng is here, why not listen to the military report first?"
Kong You responded.
The inspector came to the map and said to everyone in the tent: "The Tubo army retreated from Chang'an five days ago. According to reports from various prefectures and counties, the Tibetan army in E County, Gangu and other places are retreating in ten thousand years."
Guo Xin: "How many troops does the Tubo army still have now?"
Inspector Jianxing: "Yamatangyi, Duomiyi, Sunboruyi, Wuruyi, Duoziyi, and other tribes from the Eight Kingdoms of Xishan can all see banners and flags, and their strength is about 150,000."
When Guo Xin heard this, he nodded slightly: "This is almost the entire military strength of the Tubo people."
Kong You asked: "Where are the enemy troops now?"
Captain Jianxing: "The vanguard of the Tibetan army has just arrived in Jincheng County today. It is still 120 miles away from our army's Fufeng Camp."
Kong You: "In five days, the Tubo army left Chang'an and only reached Jincheng County?"
Inspector: "Yes."
Kong You said to Guo Xin: "If I guess correctly, the Tubo people may have had an accident in the army in the past few days."
Guo Xin: "Zhong Cheng's expectation is good. In fact, our army's scouts also discovered another unusual place."
After speaking, Guo Xin signaled the inspector to continue speaking.
Captain Inspector Jianxing said: "When our scouts were investigating the enemy's formation, they found that the Dengma tribe, the Zamuda tribe, and the Ezi tribe were placed in the front army during the march, and there were cavalry on both sides."
Kong You frowned and said: "If I remember correctly, these tribes are all subordinates of the Tubo king's clan?"
Guo Xin: "Yes, these tribes are all noble subordinates in the Tubo king's tent. In the previous battles, they were all assigned to the central army. But now, Sang Chiruo has pushed these noble subordinates to the front army, and then
Use cavalry to coerce them from both sides and let them explore the road ahead. This means that Sang Chiruo is worried about the loyalty of these tribes and does not even trust these tribes at all, so he plans to use them as vanguards."
Kong You frowned and said with a smile: "It seems that the strategy worked."
Guo Xin laughed: "Yes, the strategy worked."
Kong You: "Since Sang Chiruo has turned against the nobles, we must make appropriate changes to the next war arrangements."
Guo Xin: "Don't worry, Zhongcheng, I've already given the order."
After the military meeting was over, Guo Xin invited Kong You to the tent for a chat.
A pot of fragrant tea and a plate of fried beans.
Guo Xin looked outside the tent and said quietly: "Zhongcheng, there is something I have never understood."
Kong You: "What's the matter?"
Guo Xin: "There are so many tiger generals in Beiting in Anxi, not to mention Hexi, Shuofang, and Hebei. They are all famous generals in hundreds of battles, but a certain person is just a deputy envoy of Beiting. Although he has experienced wars, his reputation is not obvious and he is not good at speaking.
.This time he rushed to the aid of Chang'an, which can be said to be an unparalleled achievement. Why did His Majesty choose Guo among so many candidates, ignoring others?"
Kong You took a sip of tea and glanced at Guo Xin: "Did you initially think that Guo Ziyi had said a few nice words for you in front of His Majesty?"
Guo Xin scratched his head in embarrassment: "I did think so at first, but then I felt it was not the case. With my uncle's temper, it is unlikely that he would do such a thing."
Kong You: "Before setting off from Liangzhou, I asked Your Majesty the same question."
Guo Xin was stunned and quickly asked: "What did your Majesty say?"
Kong You put down the teacup and said: "Your Majesty told me, firstly, it's because you know rewards and punishments clearly, you love soldiers as your own son, and your soldiers have followed you for many years, and they are willing to live and die together, and you have never suffered a defeat; secondly, it's because you have a strong will."
In the winter of the third year of the New Year, the Geluolu people invaded the border. You led your army to ambush the enemy in the heavy snow. You waited for three days and three nights, and finally returned with a great victory, causing the Geluolu people to move away from Zhaisangbo and return to Zhaisangbo.
I dare not return."
When Guo Xin heard this, he rubbed his hands unconsciously: "The beheading is less than five thousand, but it is just a small victory. Your Majesty actually heard about it. Guo is really ashamed."
Kong You: "Come three times..."
Guo Xin was stunned: "What else?"
Kong You turned his head, stared into Guo Xin's eyes, and said slowly: "Thirdly, I will ask you to lead the army to fight against Tibet and ensure the safety of Changchun. Your Majesty said that the reason why I give you this opportunity is because the Tang Dynasty owes you this.
"
When Guo Xin heard this, he was puzzled: "What does Datang owe me?"
Kong You smiled: "I don't know, you might as well take a guess."
Guo Xin came closer anxiously: "Zhongcheng, please don't do riddles."
Kong You spread his hands and said, "I really don't know. When I asked you about it, Your Majesty just laughed and said nothing."
After hearing this, Guo Xin sat there blankly and repeated: "What does Datang owe me?"
Kong You drank the tea in the cup in one gulp: "We are ordinary people, but Your Majesty is a man of God. Naturally, you have to say this. Just do your work with peace of mind."
Guo Xin sighed and nodded slightly.
Kong You: "When I talk about you, I think of another person."
Guo Xin: "Who is Zhong Cheng referring to?"
Kong You: "Sang Chiruo."
Guo Xin: "The Great Treatise on Tubo?"
Kong You: "The first time I paid attention to the name Sang Chiruo was during the Battle of Dunhuang in the 12th year of Tianbao. In the Battle of Dunhuang, the Tubo army was defeated. The enemy general Mang Suzhen was killed by a stray arrow, and most of the enemy army was almost completely destroyed.
.Only one young general named Sang Chiruo, with thousands of enemy troops, bypassed the heavy encirclement of the Tang army and escaped safely back to Tubo."
"After the war, His Majesty, as the governor of Anxi, faced the military report and watched it for a long time. Upon seeing this, a subordinate asked His Majesty for details. His Majesty once said this: This young general named Sang Chiruo came from Lunlun
Lingqin's family, this tribe should have moved to the Tang Dynasty decades ago. As a descendant of the Gar family, he is still in Tubo and is actually ordered to lead the army. He must be extraordinary."
Guo Xin: "Your Majesty has the magical ability to discern people. Did you spot Sang Chiruo's ability as early as ten years ago?"
Kong You nodded: "It's just a pity that no one took His Majesty's words to heart at that time. A few years later, the Tubo army came back. During the battle of Shanque Peak, heavy rain fell and the road was blocked.
Reinforcements failed to arrive in Mudang, Anxi, and Beiting. The Tang army led by Duan Xiushi and Chang Huiwu was isolated and helpless, and was finally defeated by Sang Chiruo. After that, the Tang army generals began to really pay attention to Sang Chiruo, a great Tubo scholar."
Guo Xin, who had read the Shanquefeng battle report in the military newspaper, couldn't help but sigh when he recalled the description in the last article. Chang Huiwu led his army to fight to the last dozen soldiers, unwilling to surrender, and detonated the gunpowder magazine and burned all the jade and stone.
Seeing this, Kong You comforted him and said: "The imperial court has also learned from experience. It not only repaired the official road from Anxi to the east, but also built dams on the upper reaches of Ganquan water, Mingshui, etc., so that even if there is a sudden heavy rain, it can still store water.