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Chapter 1265 Launching the Recapture War

Inside the Governor's Mansion in Luntai, a huge map of the Western Regions was laid out on the table, and Lin Hao, Guo Xin, and Yang Xigu stood around it.

“Jieyuqis had previously invited me to join him in attacking Beiting, but fortunately the Grand Commander informed me that the Uyghurs had suddenly lost their Khan and internal strife had broken out, so the matter was delayed.”

Looking towards the former site of Beiting, Yang Xigu said with a hint of regret, "Now it seems that these past few days may not have been such a bad thing after all!"

"Now that we have the superior weapons and armor supplied by Luntai, our soldiers are well-fed and hopeful, and their morale and fighting strength are far greater than before. Now is the perfect time to wage war!"

Guo Xin nodded slightly. His face had returned to its youthful appearance, but he had disguised himself slightly to prevent the soldiers from not recognizing him.

At this moment, he looks like a middle-aged man. Compared to before, he looks much younger, but it doesn't seem out of place.

"That is indeed the case. Moreover, thanks to the Grand Commander, since the reopening of the caravan, the tribes around Kucha have gradually become more stable. In addition, with the new soldiers and people arriving from Chang'an, my forces are much more relaxed."

"This time I can select three thousand elite troops and place them under the unified command of the Grand Commander to help General Yang recover Beiting!"

Guo Xin paused, then added:

"However, Kucha is too far from Beiting. I must stay in Kucha to suppress the local area and prevent the Tubo from launching a sneak attack from behind. These three thousand soldiers will be handed over to the Grand Commander. I will not personally lead anyone to participate!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Hao shook his head: "I appreciate General Guo's good intentions, but the defense of Kucha should not be taken lightly. Protector-General Yang still needs to detour through Yizhou to Beiting and needs to guard against the Tibetans. Let's leave it to Protector-General Yang!"

"Besides, I have quite a few men in Luntai; it won't be a problem for me to spare two thousand troops." He pointed towards Luntai and said:

“I can leave a thousand soldiers to guard the city. This place faces the enemy to the east, is buffered by the Uyghur and Karluk forces to the west and north, and is backed by the Tianshan Mountains to the south. General Yang also controls the key road. In fact, he has a heavy task. His place is the front line against the Tubo.”

Previously, he had Guo Yuanzheng take four thousand veteran heavily armored cavalrymen who had regained their youth and returned to China, in exchange for Guo Xin's other five thousand white-haired veterans.

Similar to the previous batch of 5,000 white-haired veterans, this batch of veterans is younger, but still over 60 years old, and their physical strength is insufficient to go to the battlefield.

Therefore, Lin Hao's total troop strength was considerable, but he did not plan to send the five thousand white-haired veterans to participate in the battle. He only planned to send one thousand Chang'an soldiers and one thousand veteran heavy cavalry, and also leave one thousand to guard Luntai.

Beiting is located to the east of Luntai. Their main threat comes from the Tibetans in the east. Since they are going to attack the Tibetans in the east, Luntai does not need to leave too much defense.

To the west and north of Luntai lies an area where Uyghur and Karluk forces are mixed, and the Uyghurs can help them defend themselves. To the south lies the Tianshan Mountains, which prevent enemies from coming down from the mountains.

The other passage was located between West State (on the right) and the neighboring State of Illinois, so while Luntai appeared to be on the front lines of the war, it was actually relatively safe.

“I’ll also contribute two thousand!” Yang Xigu said at this moment.

Yang Xigu had already calculated that Prince Guo needed to contain the Tubo and guard the area, but he sent 3,000 troops. Lin Hao sent 2,000 troops, and Yang Xigu could also spare 2,000 of his own, which would amount to 7,000 elite troops!

Moreover, they were all well-fed and equipped with the finest weapons from Luntai, making their fighting strength more than double that of the exhausted soldiers who had struggled to hold on in the past!
Thinking of this, Yang Xigu was filled with heroic spirit and said, "With the combined strength of the three parties and seven thousand elite warriors, clad in strong armor and sharp in blades, we will surely be able to crush the Tibetan camp in one fell swoop and restore the Northern Court!"

"That's exactly right!" Lin Hao said with a smile.

"By the way, the workshop has recently completed another batch of armor and weapons. When you two generals return, please take these newly forged armor and weapons with you so that you can better fight against the Tubo."

"Thank you very much, Grand Commander!" Guo Xin and Yang Xigu said in unison.

"Oh, there's one more thing." Lin Hao seemed to remember something and instructed his personal guard beside him:

"Go and inform the logistics battalion to immediately begin producing naan bread as rations for the army's expedition!"

Lin Hao then turned to the two and explained, "While steamed buns and mantou are delicious, they are not convenient to store or carry for long. This naan is baked with wheat flour, making it extremely durable and easy to carry. With the addition of dried meat and raisins, it is lightweight and effortless for the army to carry."

Yang Xigu and Guo Xin exchanged a glance, both revealing a hint of barely perceptible embarrassment.

This trip to Luntai has been incredibly fruitful, with food and gifts provided. Now, even our marching rations are being taken care of by them.

However, circumstances were beyond their control, and the grain reserves in Xizhou and Kucha were indeed insufficient to support such a large-scale expedition.

Yang Xigu clasped his hands in a fist and said solemnly, "Thank you very much. After the restoration of Beiting, please send someone to teach us how to cultivate land."

Guo Xin and Yang Xigu knew that only by achieving self-sufficiency in grain and machinery, like Luntai, could they truly gain a foothold.

Lin Hao readily agreed: "Beiting and Luntai are both located on the northern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains, with similar soil and water. It is the right time to promote new improved varieties and new land reclamation methods."

With the plan settled, Guo Xin and Yang Xigu did not delay any longer. They immediately led their personal guards, escorting the large amount of military equipment given by Lin Hao, back to Kucha and Xizhou respectively.

Upon returning to their respective cities, the two immediately took swift and decisive action.

The selected elite soldiers were quickly fitted with brand-new armor and weapons from Luntai.

Upon hearing that they were to retake Tingzhou, an unprecedented fighting spirit ignited in the eyes of these battle-hardened veterans.

In the cities of Kucha and Xizhou, swords were sharpened and horses hooves clashed, creating an atmosphere of pre-battle tension and impending doom.

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On the other side, after making some preparations and arranging things after his departure, Lin Hao led four thousand soldiers directly eastward, fighting all the way to the city of Beiting.

Although it was said to be an attack, in reality, these cities originally defended by the Tang Dynasty did not have many troops, and the journey was quite easy and pleasant.

Of the 4,000 soldiers Lin Hao brought this time, 2,000 were white-haired veterans. After helping them regain their youth, he arranged for 1,000 veterans to escort the prisoners back, while the other 1,000 were stationed to guard the captured cities along the way.

When Lin Hao arrived at the city of Beiting with his two thousand troops, Yang Xigu waited for the reinforcements sent by Guo Xin to arrive in Xizhou before leading his troops eastward to Yiwu City, and then northwest to the east gate of Beiting.

At the same time, Jieyuqis also led the Uyghur army to the north of Beiting. The three families together surrounded Beiting City. Seeing that there were many soldiers and generals outside the city, the Tibetans did not fight, but simply closed the gates and waited for reinforcements to arrive.

Jieyujiasi's troops were mostly cavalry, not skilled in siege warfare, so he was not in a hurry to start a war. Instead, he invited Lin Hao and Yang Xigu to come and discuss the matter.

Firstly, he wanted the Tang troops to attack first, and secondly, he wanted to assess their strength and weaknesses before deciding on the next steps after capturing Beiting City. "Grand Protector!" Outside the Uyghur camp, Lin Hao greeted Yang Xigu, who was looking in the direction of Beiting City with a rather complicated expression.

Lin Hao could guess what he was thinking. This place was originally the location of the Beiting Protectorate. At its peak, the Beiting Protectorate had more than 20,000 troops and governed three counties: Jinman, Luntai, and Pulei; three armies: Hanhai, Tianshan, and Yiwu; as well as sixteen tributary states including Yanzhi and Yanlu.

Now, Yang Xigu has only two thousand soldiers left under his command. He has even lost the capital of the Beiting Protectorate and can only hide in Xizhou. Seeing Beiting City again now, he can't help but feel complicated.

"After this battle, Beiting City will surely return to the hands of our Great Tang!" Lin Hao said resolutely.

"Hey, Jieyugas is not someone you can easily deal with!" Yang Xigu said with some worry.

Having dealt with Jieyujias many times, I know that this man has always been greedy. If Beiting had been conquered by the Uyghur army, he probably wouldn't have handed it over to me.

In fact, with Lin Hao's abilities, he could lead his men and fight his way out, and even conquer a large territory.

Unfortunately, at this time, the Tang Dynasty's power in the Western Regions was insufficient and its sphere of influence was too small. Currently, the Tang Dynasty's power in the Western Regions is in the process of recovery.

If we were to engage in unrestricted warfare, the result would certainly be a thankless task. It would be better to let the Uyghurs and the Tibetans clash first, giving them some time to develop peacefully.

After being informed, Lin Hao and Yang Xigu entered the main tent, where Jieyujias had already prepared a banquet.

A campfire was lit in the middle of the camp, and a slaughtered sheep was roasted on the rack. A circle of seats was scattered around the fire, with fruits and wine laid out.

After exchanging greetings, Yang Xigu and Lin Hao sat down, ready to wait for the banquet to begin.

Jieyugas sat in the main seat, his gaze sweeping over Lin Hao like a hawk's, then he laughed twice and said:

"Haha, I've heard before that the Tang emperor appointed some damned Grand Governor of the Western Regions!"

"I don't know what your emperor was thinking, that Grand Commander Lin is so young, yet he is already holding the imperial insignia to lead the army."

"It must be His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty who truly has discerning eyes and extraordinary courage!"

This seemingly flattering statement actually contains a hidden barb, pointing out Lin Hao's lack of experience, implying dissatisfaction with the Tang emperor, and questioning the influence of the Tang Dynasty.

Lin Hao sat down calmly, his expression serene and unwavering, seemingly oblivious to the implied meaning, and simply raised his glass in response:
"You flatter me, Your Majesty. I have been entrusted with this important task by His Majesty's trust. I, the Commander-in-Chief, will do my utmost to live up to His Majesty's grace and the expectations of the thousands of soldiers and civilians in the Western Regions who still yearn for the Tang Dynasty."

"It is the Grand Chancellor who, despite holding power over the Uyghurs and managing countless affairs at home, still labors tirelessly to launch expeditions to this remote land to plan and wage war. That is the real hardship."

He spoke at a steady pace, but subtly steered the conversation back to the other person, both stating that his own position was that of the legitimate Tang Dynasty and implying that the other person hadn't even sorted out their own home before waging wars everywhere.

Although Lin Hao knew that the other side was using war to divert internal conflicts, it did not stop him from using it to satirize them.

In their first encounter, Lin Hao held his own against Lin Hao.

Just then, a guard standing next to Jieyujias suddenly spoke in broken Chinese:

"Such fine armor is wasted on this little child."

Lin Hao followed the gaze of Gas's personal guard and discovered that the person the guard was looking at was actually his own personal guard.

At this moment, the other party was staring intently at his personal guard, or rather, at the armor on his personal guard, his eyes filled with jealousy and longing.

Looking at his body, he was only wearing a tattered suit of armor, which was extremely shabby compared to the new armor that Lin Hao had made.

"Boy, only a warrior is worthy of wearing such fine armor. You might as well take it off and give it to me!" The guard walked up to the guard in a nonchalant manner and reached out to peel off the armor.

It's no wonder he was so jealous; if he had a good suit of armor, he would have the opportunity to achieve greater merit and gain a higher status.

For them, a good set of armor is as precious as life itself, and if well maintained, it can be passed down for two or three generations.

Lin Hao and Yang Xigu exchanged a glance. Their subordinates were acting so recklessly, and Jieyujias didn't say anything to stop them. It was clear that he wanted to give them a warning.

No, to be precise, it was to give Lin Hao a warning, so Lin Hao decisively gave his personal guard a look.

Having received the Grand Commander's hint, the personal guard snorted coldly, gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, and then said indifferently:
"Well said, only a true warrior deserves to wear fine armor, but do you even deserve to be called a warrior?"

"You can have my armor, but only if you can defeat this sword in my hand!"

Lin Hao's personal guards were newly recruited soldiers from Chang'an. However, under Lin Hao's training, or more accurately, with the enhancement of his qi and blood, their physical fitness was more than three times that of ordinary soldiers.

This body, far exceeding that of an ordinary soldier, was just looking for a place to vent its frustrations when this bastard dared to provoke it.

"Hahahaha!" Laughter erupted from the Uyghur army. In their eyes, one side was a strong, burly man in his early thirties, and the other was a pale-faced bodyguard. Was there any need to ask who would win or lose this battle?
"Tuoba Hai really got a good deal. Such a fine suit of armor can be passed down through generations!" Many people began to envy Tuoba Hai's good fortune in getting a suit of armor that could be passed down as a family heirloom.

"Grand Commander, it's not good for warriors to gamble without a prize. How about we two place a bet?" The Uyghur Grand Chancellor, Jieyugas, also thought this was a good opportunity to get something for nothing, so he deliberately approached Lin Hao for a bet.

A hint of resentment flashed across Yang Xigu's face. Lin Hao was the Grand Governor of the Western Regions, yet Jieyujiasi dared to speak like that.

Would he dare to speak like this when the Northern Protectorate was at its peak?
If his subordinates had dared to provoke the Tang soldiers back then, he probably would have taken care of them himself before he even had a chance to speak.

"Ahem!" Lin Hao coughed lightly, gave Yang Xigu a reassuring look, and then said:
"Since the Prime Minister is so hospitable, we cannot refuse his kindness. Since the Prime Minister wants to gamble with me, let's add some chips!"
"Oh, what kind of bargaining chips does the governor want? And what kind of bargaining chips do you have?" Jieyugas asked, intrigued.

Lin Hao smiled faintly and said confidently:

"If the warriors of Da Xiang win, we will send two hundred suits of armor to Da Xiang. If we win, after we take Bei Ting, this city will belong to us!"

After speaking, Lin Hao cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Jieyugas: "What does the Grand Minister think?"

After conquering Beiting, the ownership of the city became a problem. Since he had this opportunity, Lin Hao wanted to solve this problem as soon as possible.