Chapter 163:
Luoxie City was now under the firm control of the Tang army, with key positions guarded by them. Following the citys occupation, Su Li issued a series of orders. Prominent Tubo nobles were required to proceed to Changan and await judgment by the Tang Emperor. Military rule was established in Tubo until local Tang officers arrived to govern the area. Anyone from Tubo who dared to defy Su Lis rules faced one punishmentdeath.
Simultaneously, Su Li dispatched personnel to prepare the Tubo royal family for transportation to Changan, a necessary step after the conquest. In just three days since the Tang armys arrival in Luoxie City, order had been restored. The former Tubo royal palace now served as a temporary military headquarters where various generals gathered.
With time, the high-ranking members of the Tang army settled into their respective roles. Li Daozong was in charge of gathering military intelligence, while Su Dingfang handled camp patrols and daily management. Cheng Yaojin and Wei Chigong, the two formidable warriors, oversaw the management of common laborers. Hou Junji was responsible for provisioning transportation.
Initially, the three newcomers were somewhat dissatisfied with Su Lis assignments, but the decisive victory on the plateau and the destruction of Tubo changed their perspectives. Cheng Yaojin and Wei Chigong, overseeing the cleanup of the battlefield, discovered valuable treasures from the Western Regions, making them content. However, the atmosphere in Changan at this time was not as open as it would be.
In Luoxie City, they had acquired numerous treasures from the Western Regions, including exotic goods and captivating women. However, routine military responsibilities like provisioning offered fewer rewards at the moment, leaving Hou Junji discontented. Nevertheless, he had no choice but to swallow his dissatisfaction due to his past conflicts with Su Li and witnessing Su Lis formidable combat prowess.
During a meeting, they maintained a facade of harmony. Commander, scouts have reported that many states in the Western Regions have formed alliances, and their intentions seem directed towards us, Li Daozong reported.
The other commanders were somewhat surprised. Except for Su Li, most of them had campaigned in the Western Regions, a vast and sparsely populated region with numerous small states and tribes. These so-called small states often encompassed relatively large tribes, and centuries of coexistence had led to generations of hostility among them. Constant struggles for dominance resulted in the emergence and disappearance of countless regional nations. The fact that these nations were now uniting to resist the Tang army was a significant and unexpected development.
However, Su Li considered it quite normal. The High Plateau Battle led to the capture of many envoys from the Western Regions by the Tang army, revealing Songtsan Gampos covert actions. It was reasonable for these small nations to fear Tang retaliation, even if they had remained within their territories and behaved obediently.
Su Li had no intention of sparing them, as this had been decided before the campaign began. These non-Han tribes might have lacked certain cultural aspects, but they possessed intelligence. The harsh environment of the Western Regions offered few opportunities for survival, and relocation was a dangerous endeavor. Resisting the Tang army, though challenging, provided them with a glimmer of hope.
Having not witnessed Su Lis power firsthand, it was challenging for them to believe that even if they assembled a million-strong army, they would still face defeat. The decision to unite was straightforward, but in reality, they had chosen a path leading to their own downfall.
Su Li had no fear of the so-called million-strong army for him. It was an advantage. This time, when he left Changan, his goal was a decisive battle to settle matters in the northwest. While tribes engaged in conflict, the outcomes wouldnt differ significantly, but it was still preferable for him.
However, Su Li didnt want to waste too much time in a prolonged campaign. Only about a month left until Changles delivery, and he needed to conclude the battle before his child was born. The alliance of the Northwestern nations played right into Su Lis hands.
Ive decided to leave behind thirty thousand troops to assist in managing the situation in Tubo. The rest of our forces will form a light cavalry and head north directly. Since those foreign nations wish to unite, theyve given us the perfect opportunity for a decisive battle, Su Li said faintly.
The other generals exchanged glances, their faces showing excitement. During the plateau battle, Su Li led ten thousand riders to a resounding victory against Tubo. Their contingent had stayed out of the conflict due to the miasma. However, this time, the miasma did not hinder their march into the Western Regions. Who among the generals wouldnt want to leave their mark in such a historic, epoch-making battle?
After a heated discussion, Hou Junji was unanimously chosen by the group to manage Tubo. In the past, this position would have been highly coveted. Before the officers sent by the imperial court arrived, Hou Junji would practically be the supreme ruler of Tubo, able to do as he pleased.
However, his face displayed no joy. It was as dark as the bottom of a pot. He knew that his previous clash with Su Li had been too intense. In the past few days, he had been attempting to gain favor with Su Li. Although Su Li hadnt acted against him, he could sense the others rejection. Given his personality, he would naturally seek opportunities for recognition, even if it meant being shameless. But now, the military had essentially become a one-man show under Su Lis command. Hou Junji had to begrudgingly accept his position and cooperate despite his reluctance.
A few days later, early in the morning in Changan city, another messenger on horseback with a small flag raced through as the city gates opened. Soon, a loud voice echoed through the streets and alleys of Changan.
Good news! Good news!
General Su Li, on the high plateau, broke through the forty-thousand-strong Tubo army, personally slew the Tubo Zanpu, Songtsan Gampo! Tubo has been annihilated!
The messenger traversed all the districts of Changan, almost shouting the news to every corner. It wasnt until daybreak that he finally disappeared into the Imperial Palace. By then, the entire city of Changan was already in a frenzy. This was the first true war of annihilation against foreign tribes since the establishment of the Great Tang, and the people who heard the news were incredibly excited.
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