si-mexico Chapter 1156 Unsettled Hearts
Chapter 1156 Unsettled Hearts
Everyone turned to look at Li Che.
Li Che said, word by word, "Five days later, I will lead the main force back east."
"Return east?" Yu Daliang couldn't help but exclaim, "Your Majesty, the situation is excellent now, we can seize the opportunity to sweep through the Western Regions in one fell swoop!"
All the generals turned their puzzled gazes toward Li Che.
Li Che walked to the large map, first pointing to the densely packed markings of the Western Regions, then tapping it heavily on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau.
“The city-states of the Western Regions are scattered like stars in the sky, numbering in the dozens, large and small.”
"Our army has been fighting all the way, and we still won't be able to finish fighting by next year. We will have to divide our forces to guard the area and get bogged down in the quagmire."
Li Che's voice was calm: "Tibet is the real formidable enemy of Daqing. Lu Dongzan's 100,000-strong army has been bogged down by Wang Sanchun under the walls of Chuima City and is now exhausted."
"What is the purpose of my journey to the Western Regions?"
His gaze swept over the crowd: "Isn't it all about cutting off Tibet's connection with the Western Regions and undermining their morale?"
“Lu Dongzan should now know that his backyard is on fire and his way out is cut off. Our goal has been achieved.”
Xu Jiezi stroked his beard, his eyes suddenly realizing: "Lu Dongzan has learned of the dramatic changes in the Western Regions and the imminent danger of being attacked from both sides. The morale of the army will surely be thrown into chaos."
"General Wang's frontal pressure has been greatly reduced. Now that we can attack from both sides, we can find an opportunity to defeat the enemy."
“Indeed.” Li Che nodded. “The Western Regions are afraid of our power but not of our virtue. Today, with our strength, they will naturally waver.”
"If we cannot defeat the main force of the Tibetans in one fell swoop, so that they have no strength to look eastward, then once our army is bogged down in the Western Regions for a long time, the Tibetans will surely make a comeback. At that time, the opportunists in the Western Regions will once again fawn over the Tibetans."
"If we defeat Tibet, the Western Regions can be pacified without a fight. We cannot abandon the fundamentals for the trivial."
The generals in the tent were all knowledgeable in military affairs, and with just a little guidance, they immediately understood the key points.
No matter how smoothly things went on in the Western Regions, the real key to victory always lay with the Tibetans.
Their surprise attack force has already exceeded its mission objectives.
It disrupted the Western Regions and intimidated other countries.
More importantly, it placed a sharp dagger on the back of Lu Dongzan's army.
Now, it's time to plunge this dagger in hard.
Zhang Yi, his chest heaving, stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, “Your Majesty! This humble general requests permission to lead the Shazhou Army to return east with Your Majesty and jointly attack the Tubo!”
Li Che looked at the burning fighting spirit in his eyes, but shook his head: "You have to stay."
Zhang Yi was taken aback.
“The people of the Western Regions are not yet loyal, and the various countries are still observing. The Shazhou commander is familiar with the local customs and conditions, and he will be of great use if he stays here.”
Li Che patted him on the shoulder and said earnestly, "You were born here, grew up here, and will make great contributions here."
He turned to Luo Yueniang: "General Luo."
"Your subordinate is here!"
"The 10,000 elite troops I'm leaving you will also be equipped with corresponding artillery and firearms. You will stay in the Western Regions for a period of time."
"Firstly, to consolidate the territory we have gained and to suppress instability; secondly, to continue to exert pressure on the remnants of Tibet and to demonstrate our strength to other countries."
Luo Yueniang solemnly clasped her hands in a fist and said, "This humble general obeys the order! I will certainly live up to His Majesty's trust and work together with General Zhang to firmly defend the Western Regions!"
Li Che then looked at Zhang Yi: "Study more, observe more. I place my hopes for the future of the Western Regions on you."
Zhang Yi was deeply moved and clasped his hands tightly, saying, "Your Majesty, rest assured!"
Li Che had a high opinion of these two generals.
Zhang Yi grew up in the Western Regions and was familiar with the situation; he was a talented general.
Most importantly, he is young and has great potential, and could become the commander guarding the Western Regions in the future.
Luo Yueniang is also a talented commander, and she has made great progress during her time by Li Che's side.
Ma Jing, the commander of the Northwest Army, is getting old, and Li Che plans to have Luo Yueniang succeed him in the future.
The next day, as dawn broke.
Outside Wolf's Throat Fortress, the army split up.
The main force of the Qing army, numbering over 20,000, returned eastward. Their armor was gleaming, their ranks were impeccable, and their dragon banners fluttered in the morning breeze, guiding their way.
The remaining 10,000 Qing soldiers stood solemnly behind Luo Yueniang, shoulder to shoulder with the reorganized Shazhou Division.
Zhang Yi and Luo Yueniang stood side by side at the front of the battle, watching the emperor leave.
Li Che glanced back from his black wind mount and nodded slightly to the two of them.
Without another word, he lightly flicked his whip.
"set off!"
The iron torrent rolled eastward.
Only when the dark torrent disappeared below the Gobi Desert horizon did Zhang Yi and his companion turn their gaze away.
Five days later, the Shazhou army broke camp and marched westward.
Luo Yueniang specially replenished the troops of the Shazhou Division, making the army even more elite.
The fifty-man musketeer squad was expanded to one hundred men, and ordinary soldiers of the Shazhou Division also began to come into contact with muskets.
Yemayi is located on the banks of the Shule River, an earthen fortress built and garrisoned by Tibetan soldiers.
There were some farmlands on the outskirts, but they were already deserted at this time of year.
Scouts reported that the garrison had indeed become lax, and news of the disastrous defeat at Wolf's Throat Fort had not yet reached them due to the Qing army's blockade.
Zhang Yi became increasingly decisive in his military tactics and immediately ordered an attack.
In the darkest hour before dawn, Cao Shou was dispatched with two hundred light cavalry to circle around to the west side of Yemayi and cut off their retreat.
The main force, under the cover of the morning mist, quietly approached to within three miles to the east.
As dawn approached and the Tibetan soldiers in the camp were getting up to prepare their meal, the cannons in the Shazhou division roared into action.
The shells slammed into the wooden gate of the earthen enclosure, and the fire and broken wood and stones awakened the entire camp.
The shelling lasted only three rounds.
Before the smoke of battle had cleared, Zhang Yi had already raised his banner and given orders.
"Musketeers, advance fifty paces and form ranks!"
A hundred musketeers marched forward quickly and formed three horizontal lines in front of the main force.
They were facing a hastily assembled Tibetan garrison.
Zhang Yi is now familiar with musket tactics and has trained the muskets to fire in formation.
Within twenty or thirty breaths, hundreds of corpses and wounded lay on the ground at the entrance of Yema Post Station, while the rest shrank back into the camp in terror.
"Cavalry flank from both sides! Infantry seize the gate!"
The battle ended quickly.
The Tibetan general attempted to break out from the west, but ran into the well-prepared light cavalry of Shazhou and was hacked to death.
The remaining Tibetan soldiers knelt down and surrendered.
Zhang Yi strictly carried out Li Che's orders: all grain, fodder, and livestock were taken away, and any fodder and grain that could not be taken were burned with oil.
The barracks and watchtowers were set on fire.
Thick smoke billowed straight into the sky, visible from dozens of miles away.
Zhang Yi gathered the prisoners together and had the interpreter loudly announce that Gar had been executed, Wolf's Throat Fort had changed hands, and the royal army was advancing westward.
Then they selected half of the terrified prisoners and untied their ropes.
"You all aided and abetted the wicked, and should be punished as well."
"Heaven has the virtue of cherishing life, and His Majesty has the heart of leniency, so you are allowed to return home."
Zhang Yi, mounted on his horse, said in a cold, hard voice: "Remember, from here westwards, if you encounter any banners of the royal army, immediately retreat!"
"If you continue to be stubborn and act as scouts for Tibet, the next time you leaders will suffer the same fate!"
He pointed to the headless corpse of the Tibetan general.
The released prisoners, feeling as if they had been granted a pardon, scrambled and fled west and south.
What they saw and heard will become the best propaganda for the Qing Army.
Without lingering, the Shazhou Division, carrying the captured supplies, quickly evacuated the now-burning Yemayi.
Turn southeast and move towards the next target, Shiqi Pass.
Shiqi Pass is situated in a strategically important location. It is located in a narrow mountain pass, flanked by heavily weathered reddish-brown rock mountains, with only a winding path allowing passage for people, horses, and vehicles.
The pass was built against the mountain, and the walls took advantage of the terrain, giving it a formidable defensive position.
Instead of launching a direct attack, Zhang Yi hid his main force in a dry riverbed several miles away, and sent out small groups of elite scouts to cut off the water route from the pass to the foot of the mountain.
The siege began.
Meanwhile, rumors began to spread among the various tribes of the Western Regions:
"Have you heard? The Tibetan lord of Shiqi Pass has been withholding the toll that should have been distributed to the various tribes over the past few years."
"That's not all! Last month, the people from the 'Black Sheep Tribe' transported salt there, but they insisted that the salt was mixed with sand, so they fined us double and even injured some people."
“I have a cousin who works as a laborer in the Guanzhong region. He said that the Tibetan general privately complained that the chieftains of several nearby tribes were not respectful enough and that he would deal with them sooner or later.”
"The Yema Post Station was burned down by the Qing army, and the Tibetan army was defeated like rabbits on the plateau. How long can the few people at Shiqi Pass hold out? Is that general trying to make a last-ditch effort?"
"He's planning to run away? Then what about the money we were cheated out of..."
"If you ask me, we should side with Qingjun; at least they are fair in their dealings."
The rumors were a mix of truth and falsehood. The various tribes were already dissatisfied with the long-term oppression by Tibet. Coupled with the disastrous defeats at Langhoubao and Yemayi, various unfavorable news about Tibet spread rapidly, and some minor frictions were deliberately amplified.
The already tense relationship between the garrison at the pass and the nearby tribes began to deteriorate rapidly.
The garrison commander inside the pass initially did not take it seriously and even increased patrols to suppress the troublesome border residents.
But a few days later, he discovered that not only was the supply line completely cut off, but even the small team he sent to seek help from the capital of Khotan had vanished without a trace.
As the amount of water stored within the army dwindled, morale began to waver.
He attempted to organize an outward assault, but before he had gone far from the pass, he was met with gunfire from the Shazhou army and retreated hastily, leaving behind more than a dozen corpses.
Fortunately, the enemy did not launch a full-scale attack; they simply locked down all the exits.
Only then did the garrison commander inside the pass begin to panic.
As the Tibetan Empire suffered repeated defeats, the people of the Western Regions increasingly leaned towards Daqing.