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Chapter 1281 Eastern Expedition
"Grand Commander, the situation in Tibet has changed somewhat," Kang Huai'en reported. "Tibetan President Trisong Detsen severely punished the local nobles after the previous loss of Gua and Sha prefectures."

Subsequently, additional troops were dispatched to Hexi, especially to key areas such as Suzhou and Liangzhou, greatly strengthening their defenses!

"I'm afraid the difficulty of recovering the Hexi Corridor has increased considerably."

However, Lin Hao remained unmoved upon hearing this, instead revealing a slight smile as he said:

"Abandoning the advantages of high-altitude field warfare and focusing on the disadvantages of defending cities, Tibet is courting its own doom!"

Lin Hao then continued his analysis: "The greatest advantage of the Tibetans lies in the geographical advantage of the plateau and the mobility of their cavalry. If they hold the plateau and wait for an opportunity to harass us, we will have to put in some effort."

"Now they dare to come down from the mountains and fight against my army in the Hexi Corridor, which is exactly what I want!"

"Let's take this opportunity to annihilate a large number of their troops! The more we kill, the less resistance we'll face when we launch a counterattack on the plateau!"

Seeing Lin Hao's confidence, Kang Huaien admired him and immediately bowed, volunteering for the task:
"Grand Commander! I was unable to accompany you on the last western expedition. I earnestly hope that you will allow me to join you on this eastern expedition!"

"I know the roads and towns in Hexi like the back of my hand, and I am willing to lead the army at the front, even at the cost of my life!" Kang Huaien said with a firm expression.

He witnessed Chang Shouzhen and others follow Lin Hao on his western expedition, accumulating a large number of military merits and rising in status. His desire for merit and his loyalty to the Tang Dynasty were rekindled.

Looking at this shrewd and courageous Sogdian merchant, Lin Hao naturally understood the value of his familiarity with the geography of Hexi, and immediately agreed:
“Approved. Go and prepare. You are exactly the kind of person we need: a staff officer, guide, and vanguard.”

After a period of rest and reorganization, an unprecedentedly large and highly motivated army set off for the eastern expedition in Tingzhou.

During the western expedition, Yang Xigu was stationed in Luntai to ensure the safety of the rear. This time, Yang Xigu will join Lin Hao on the eastern expedition.

Guo Xin, on the other hand, needs to guard the Ili River Valley, both to stabilize the territory he has just conquered and to provide timely support to Kucha and Luntai.

At this moment, Lin Hao, Guo Xin, and Yang Xigu, the three commanders of the Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty, stood side by side on the command platform.

Its forces include the elite Han Navy, Anxi Army, armored cavalry, Shatuo elite cavalry, and numerous auxiliary troops with newly equipped weapons.

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After the army set off, Guo Xin led 10,000 troops from Luntai to the Ili River Valley.

Lin Hao and Yang Xigu, on the other hand, led an army of 30,000 men, advancing eastward like an iron torrent.

The journey passed through the recovered cities of Yizhou, Shazhou, and Guazhou. The recovery of each city meant that the road to Chang'an was shortened.

The local soldiers and civilians welcomed the royal army with food and drink, their eyes filled with tears.

The army eventually arrived at the front line of the eastern expedition, at the city of Suzhou, where they temporarily set up camp and made final preparations for the battle.

Yang Xigu stood outside Suzhou City, gazing at this familiar yet unfamiliar land, his heart surging with emotion.

He and Guo Xin had long hoped to open up the Hexi Corridor and establish contact with Chang'an, but ultimately failed due to insufficient military strength.

Let alone successfully opening up the Western Regions corridor, even preserving Beiting and the Anxi Protectorate has become a pipe dream.

They originally thought they could only protect themselves in the Western Regions, but unexpectedly, an outstanding talent like Lin Hao emerged, who managed to contact Chang'an and re-establish the connection between the Western Regions and Chang'an by taking the Uyghur route.

Now they lead a large army, about to undertake the important task of recovering the Hexi Corridor and opening up Chang'an.

If they succeed this time, their names will surely be recorded in history, except for one thing.

Actually, both he and Guo Xin wanted to lead a large army on an eastern expedition, as this was their long-cherished wish, and it would be best if Guo Xin were the commander-in-chief.

Only by having this old minister, who comes from the Guo family and is deeply trusted by the court, preside over this eastern expedition can we reduce suspicion from Chang'an and some unnecessary political troubles, and facilitate future communication and coordination with the court.

However, after discussing it with Guo Xin, they finally decided that Guo Xin would stay in the Western Regions, Lin Hao would be the commander, and he would follow Lin Hao on the eastern expedition.

There are three reasons. First, the battle in the Ili River Valley has fully demonstrated Lin Hao's military talent that was ahead of its time, making Lin Hao's position as the Grand Commander of the Western Regions legitimate.

Secondly, the fact that Lin Hao was able to enter Chang'an alone and request reinforcements from His Majesty shows that Lin Hao was more likely to gain His Majesty's trust than Prince Guo.

Otherwise, His Majesty would not have merged the two major Protectorates of Anxi and Beiting, and appointed Lin Hao as the Grand Governor of the Western Regions, overseeing the military and political affairs of the Western Regions and the recovered Hexi region.

Finally, they speculated that perhaps His Majesty didn't trust the Guo family that much!

Getting back to the main point, the atmosphere in Suzhou City was completely different at this time.

The Tibetan garrison had clearly strengthened its vigilance, with patrols constantly moving back and forth, and the number of soldiers on the city walls had increased significantly, creating a tense and oppressive atmosphere.

In stark contrast are the Tang dynasty survivors within the city who were struggling to survive under Tibetan rule.

Despair and numbness used to be their norm, but recently, various hidden messages have been circulating like undercurrents in the streets.

"Have you heard? The royal army has inflicted a great defeat on the Karluks in the west!"

"I've heard he's a Grand General of the Western Regions, appointed by His Majesty, and a military genius!"

"Yes, and Guo Linggong's nephew, Prince Guo, also went on the expedition and utterly defeated the Geluolu!"

"The army has now reached the outskirts of the city..."

These fragmented pieces of news, like sparks, rekindled their long-frozen hearts.

Subtle ripples began to appear on his numb face, and a faint but tenacious glimmer of hope rekindled deep within his despairing eyes.

They dared not speak openly, but could only exchange a knowing glance as they brushed past each other, silently hoping for the arrival of the Tang army.

When the royal army returns, their hard times may really be coming to an end!

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Before Lin Hao even reached the walls of Suzhou, his scouts brought back news.

"Reporting to the Grand Commander, the walls of Suzhou are heavily guarded, with flags flying everywhere and logs and stones piled up like mountains. The Tibetan garrison has also increased its strength considerably."

Upon hearing this, Yang Xigu frowned slightly and looked at Lin Hao, his tone tinged with worry as he said:
"Grand Commander, Suzhou is a formidable stronghold in Hexi, with high walls and deep moats. If we launch a direct assault, our army will inevitably suffer heavy losses!"

Given the coalition's sustained combat capabilities, opening up the entire corridor would inevitably come at a heavy price.

Heading east from Suzhou, Ganzhou, Liangzhou, Huizhou, Lanzhou, and Weizhou were almost all fortified cities.

If every city had to be attacked head-on, even if the army's morale was high, by the time they reached Chang'an, they would have already lost more than half their troops and would be unable to continue.

Lin Hao gazed at Suzhou City, a smile playing on his lips, and said confidently:
"Great Protector, please rest assured. I made preparations before setting out. The breach of the city may not necessarily require our men to fill the gaps with their blood and flesh."

Lin Hao had long known about the Tibetan general's plans, especially since the defeat at Yizhou felt like yesterday. The other side had clearly learned their lesson and was determined to rely on the fortified city to wait for the enemy to tire themselves out.

Their goal was to turn Suzhou into a bloodbath, gradually wearing down the allied forces' strength and morale.

Meanwhile, according to previously gathered intelligence, the Tibetans had also deployed mobile forces around Suzhou, waiting for the allied forces to tire out before launching a fatal attack from within and without.

Inside the allied camp, cries for battle rose and fell, a stark contrast to the commander's composure.

Kang Huaien was the first to lose his composure, quickly approaching Lin Hao and bowing respectfully as he volunteered:

"Great Commander! During the last western expedition, I was unable to accompany you and achieved no merit. I am filled with fear and trepidation!"

"In this battle, please make sure that I lead the vanguard and fight to the death!" He said urgently, his eyes filled with a strong desire to consolidate his position.

His failure to participate in the glorious victory against the Karluks left him deeply uneasy, and he desperately needed a tough battle to prove his worth.

Before he could finish speaking, the Uyghur general, Gudulu, was equally eager to follow suit, clasping his hands in a salute and saying:

"Grand Commander! My men are itching for battle! The Tibetans are our Uyghurs' sworn enemies. We should be the vanguard in this battle and wipe away our shame!"

Like other Uyghur generals, he craved more spoils and honors to solidify his position within the Uyghur ranks and the Tang alliance. The other leaders of the auxiliary armies were even more enthusiastic, flocking to volunteer for battle.

In their view, fighting alongside the Tang Dynasty was almost equivalent to victory and gain; whoever could seize the vanguard would get the biggest slice of the pie after the war.

Inside the main tent, the air was filled with passionate shouts of volunteers eager to fight, their morale soaring to the heavens.

Faced with the generals' high desire for battle, Lin Hao raised his hand to quell the commotion in the tent and said:

"I am already aware of your desire for war."

"However, attacking a city is inferior to attacking a mind. A brute force attack is the act of a reckless man, not the choice of a wise man."

"I, the Grand Commander, have already devised a comprehensive plan for how to take Suzhou. You all remain calm and simply follow my orders!"

He rejected all requests for an immediate attack, which aroused curiosity and anticipation in everyone's hearts, wondering what brilliant plan the Grand Commander had in mind.

Then Lin Hao gave the order for the cavalry, led by Kang Huaien, Prince Ferghana, and Gudulu, to continue sweeping around Suzhou City.

Eliminate any possible small Tibetan troops and scouts to completely isolate Suzhou, while simultaneously creating the illusion for the city's defenders that the allied forces intend to conduct a prolonged siege.

Meanwhile, outside the West Gate of Suzhou, where the defenses were most heavily fortified, the main force of the Tang army began to form ranks.

Catapult parts, transported from the rear, were quickly assembled and erected high outside the city.

Dozens of towering cloud chariots were pushed to the front of the formation, their height even exceeding that of the Suzhou city wall.

Tang Dynasty archers, clad in iron armor and wielding powerful bows and crossbows, lined up on the platform atop the cloud chariot, giving them an absolute advantage in height.

"Fire!" With a command, the catapult roared, and huge stone projectiles ripped through the sky, crashing down on the walls of Suzhou with a deathly whistle.

At the same time, the crossbowmen on the cloud carts began to accurately snipe the Tibetan defenders exposed on the city walls.

In an instant, rubble flew from the western city wall of Suzhou, and arrows rained down.

The Tibetan defenders attempted to retaliate using crossbows and high platforms on the city walls, but their range and accuracy were far inferior to those of the Tang army.

However, if they were to launch a surprise attack outside the city, it would likely play right into the hands of the Tang army, who would be more than happy for the defenders to abandon their defensive advantage.

The defending troops were in an extremely passive situation, forced to hide behind the battlements and endure being attacked unilaterally.

Lin Hao further ordered the central army camp to be moved forward to a position only an arrow's throw from the city wall, adopting a posture of long-term confrontation and advancing step by step.

On the city wall, the Tibetan general looked out at the orderly and perfectly organized Tang army camp outside the city, as well as the long-range weapons that were constantly unleashing their firepower.

"Hmph! You think you can wear down our army with such paltry tactics?" After careful observation, the defending general sneered.
"You've come all the way from Guazhou, and the transport of your supplies has been difficult. Let's see how long you can hold out!"

"When your morale is exhausted, that will be the time for our army to launch a coordinated attack from within and without, and annihilate you all!" He was confident that by relying on the fortified city, he could wear down the Tang army until they revealed a weakness.

However, as one day passed, then two, the Tang army showed no sign of organizing infantry to scale the city walls, except for continuous long-range attacks.

This torment of being constantly attacked without being able to retaliate gradually eroded the patience and morale of the defending troops.

On the second night, during the military council, some hot-tempered tribal chiefs could no longer contain themselves and strongly demanded to go out of the city for a battle, in order to break the stalemate of being passively attacked and unable to fight back.

However, the commander-in-chief ultimately suppressed the matter on the grounds that he feared it was a trap set by the Tang army to lure the enemy.

But on the third day, the Lord himself began to have doubts and became suspicious.

What exactly did the Tang army want to do? Did they really think they could break down the city walls with catapults?
That's impossible! There must be a conspiracy! Yes, they must be trying to lure me out of the city!
But if we keep hiding and don't come out, the morale of the troops may collapse. The question now is whether to go out or not?

The Tibetan generals were caught in an unprecedented dilemma, and the atmosphere among the defenders on the city walls grew increasingly oppressive and anxious.

Lin Hao didn't give the Tibetan general much time to hesitate. On the morning of the third day, the drums and bugles in the allied camp changed dramatically!

The cavalry of Kang Huaien, Prince Ferghana, and Gutluh, who had been scattered around sweeping the surrounding areas, were all recalled and regrouped with the main force outside the West Gate.

Tens of thousands of soldiers, their helmets and armor gleaming, swords and spears raised, formed several massive attack formations. Their heavy footsteps and the clanging of armor created a chilling wave of sound as they rushed towards Suzhou City.

Siege ladders, battering rams, and other siege equipment were also pushed to the front lines, giving the impression that a general offensive was about to be launched!
Upon seeing this, the Tibetan general guarding the city wall was not alarmed but rather delighted, and his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, seemed to ease somewhat.

"Is it finally coming? Send the order! Move all the reserves to the west gate! Fortify the city defenses! Let these Tang dogs and their lackeys crash into the walls of Suzhou and bleed profusely!"

The commander roared and ordered his men to concentrate all defensive efforts on the western city wall, which faced the main force of the allied army.

In an instant, war clouds gathered and the air was thick with murderous intent both inside and outside the West Gate.

However, even at this tense moment when a great battle was about to break out, Lin Hao still did not give the order to attack.

Time passed slowly, and a stifling silence remained in the allied ranks, with only the battle flags fluttering in the wind.

Prince Ferghana and the others, unable to suppress their anxiety and doubts, came once again to the central army's banner.

"Grand Commander! The entire army is ready. When shall we attack?" Kutlugh couldn't help but ask.

Lin Hao gazed at a seemingly unremarkable section of the Suzhou city wall, a profound smile playing on his lips, and calmly said:

"It's almost here! The moment the walls of Suzhou collapse will be the moment for the all-out attack!"

"You must all be prepared. Once the breach is opened, launch a fierce attack immediately without fail!"

"The city wall collapsed?" Prince Ferghana and Gutlug looked at each other, both seeing confusion and disbelief in each other's eyes.

They couldn't help but look again at the tall and sturdy city wall of Suzhou. The wall was intact, the rammed earth solid, and there was no sign of it collapsing at all. Was the Grand Commander joking?
However, they did not notice that not far behind them, a Tang army engineer holding a special fuse torch quickly slipped into a seemingly ordinary marching tent at Lin Hao's almost imperceptible nod.

Beneath the tent, a hidden tunnel had already been dug, leading directly to the section of the western city wall of Suzhou that Lin Hao had targeted.

Buried there was a trump card that could change the course of the war: "Gunpowder!"

Lin Hao had already inspected the series of fortified cities along the Hexi Corridor when he went east to Chang'an to seek help last time.

Knowing that such fortified cities would be difficult to attack and that a direct assault would inevitably result in huge losses, they secretly prepared gunpowder during the land reclamation period.

After all, it's impossible for Lin Hao to personally storm the city walls every time he attacks a city, nor can he use his skills to make the people inside open the city gates every time.

That's why they thought of using gunpowder to make the victory seem less abrupt.

Just as all eyes were focused on the impending siege, the Tibetan defenders gripped their weapons, preparing to meet the first wave of enemy troops scaling the city walls!

"Boom! Boom!" A deafening roar, as if the sky were collapsing and the earth were splitting, swept across the entire battlefield in an instant.

The shockwave made everyone's eardrums ring, and even the ground beneath their feet trembled violently!
Under the gaze of countless horrified eyes, the section of the western city wall of Suzhou City that had been on which so much hope was placed was as if it had been struck hard by an invisible giant's hand, and suddenly arched upwards.

Then, amidst billowing dust and flying bricks and rammed earth, it collapsed with a deafening roar!
A massive gap, over twenty meters wide, appeared instantly on the city's defenses, like a hideous scar!
The shattered walls, the limbs of the defenders, and fragments of various defensive equipment were thrown into the air by the blast wave and then fell like raindrops.

The Tibetan garrison, which had been on high alert and densely deployed on that section of the city wall, was reduced to dust in a deafening explosion before they could even scream!
Amidst the smoke and falling debris, the once impregnable city of Suzhou was opened to the Tang army in this unusual way!

Prince Ferghana, Gutlugh, Kang Huaien, and all the allied soldiers stared dumbfounded at the huge gap, their minds blank, as if they were in the most absurd dream.

The city wall of Suzhou... it really collapsed?!

"Eternal Heaven! Buddha! Great Bright Lord! God of Light...!"

The vassal soldiers from different tribes completely forgot about attacking at this moment, dismounted and knelt on the ground, praying to their gods.