My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 457 The Great Victory of Tibet!

In the midsummer of the twenty-fifth year of the Zhenguan era, the sun blazed fiercely at the Baqiao drill ground outside Chang'an. Two thousand personal guards stood in neat formation, their black armor gleaming coldly under the scorching sun.

Li Chengqian, dressed in a purple robe, stood on the high platform, while Su Dingfang beside him held the sword at his waist, his beard swaying slightly in the wind.

This veteran general, who had pacified the Western Turks and led expeditions to Liaodong, was now taking over the command flag from Li Chengqian and was about to lead his personal troops to the Western Regions to join the Anxi army, which was already fully prepared, to conquer Tibet.

Below the high platform, the personal guards stood in gleaming armor. Though few in number, each of them stood tall and straight, all being seasoned veterans who had followed Su Dingfang for many years.

"General Su, on this journey to the Western Regions, I entrust these two thousand personal guards to you." Li Chengqian's voice was steady and powerful, echoing throughout the entire training ground.

"The 20,000 elite soldiers of the Four Garrisons of Anxi have assembled in Yanqi, the 5,000 strong men of the Longyou Zhechong Prefecture are rushing to Hexi overnight, and the 5,000 Qiang soldiers of the Jiannan Road Zhechong Prefecture are also ready to go. These soldiers have been guarding the frontier for many years and are familiar with the customs of the Tubo and the high-altitude climate. The medical officers have examined each of them. Those who remain are all tough men who can run at an altitude of 3,000 meters. They will surely help the general to achieve great things."

Su Dingfang knelt on one knee, received the commander's flag with both hands, and said in a loud and clear voice, "Your Highness, rest assured! This old minister will certainly live up to your trust and display the might of the Tang army in the snowy region!"

At the edge of the training ground, the firearms battalion was equipping its personal guards with improved gear.

Thirty light "mountain guns" have been disassembled and packed up, with the gun barrels shortened and fitted with detachable wooden wheels. The gunners are carefully inspecting the gunpowder.

The musketeers then checked each weapon one by one to ensure that every musket could fire properly after the long journey.

"The personal guards' firearms are ready," the captain in charge of logistics reported.

Li Chengqian nodded, and Su Dingfang added from the side: "This old minister has already made an agreement with the Anxi Protectorate that once the army has joined forces, they will immediately contact the Persian merchants in the Western Regions. If the Arab army dares to make a move, they will burn down the grain and post stations along the Amu Darya River to cut off their supplies. These merchants hate that the Arabs have occupied their homes and will definitely do their best to help them."

At this moment, an urgent report was handed over by an attendant: "The Tibetans are building five fortresses in Bolu. The Arab envoy is urging us to speed up the construction. We have already sent a hundred craftsmen to teach the Tibetans how to build walls. The Anxi Protectorate urgently requests that the general go there immediately to take charge of the overall situation."

Su Dingfang received the urgent report and sneered, "Too late! The Anxi army has already deployed defenses around Bolu. Their fortresses are barely under construction, and our artillery can already bombard the city walls."

He bowed to Li Chengqian and said, "Your Highness, this old minister requests that we break camp tomorrow and rush to Anxi overnight to join the main army and start the battle immediately. Before the Arab expeditionary force crosses the Pamir Mountains, we will catch the Tibetans off guard. The Anxi army will launch a frontal assault, while the Qiang soldiers will flank with artillery. Within ten days, we will surely break through Bolu and cut off the Tibetans' communication with the Arabs!"

Li Chengqian nodded, his gaze sweeping over the two thousand personal guards: "General Su, go forth and fight! The provisions and firearms from Chang'an will be continuously sent to the front lines through the Zhechong Prefecture. Remember, this battle is not only about defeating the Tubo, but also about showing the Arabs that the might of the Tang Dynasty can sweep across the Western Regions and pacify the snowy lands. Anyone who dares to interfere will taste the power of firearms! I will be in Chang'an, awaiting good news!"

"Your subject obeys!" Su Dingfang responded loudly, turned around, mounted his horse, and raised the general's flag high. "Personnel, listen to my command! We will break camp tomorrow!"

Two thousand personal guards shouted in unison, their voices soaring into the sky. Sunlight shone on their armor and firearms, reflecting a chilling sharpness. Li Chengqian stood on the high platform, watching Su Dingfang lead his personal guards away, knowing that the key to this battle lay not only in defeating the Tibetans, but also in intimidating the Arabs.

If General Su can successfully join forces with the Anxi army and quickly defeat the main force of the Tibetan army, showing the Arabs the speed of the Tang army, even if they have already sent troops, they may not dare to actually step into the battlefield.

The following morning, the sound of drums thundered outside the west gate of Chang'an. Su Dingfang led two thousand personal guards on their westward expedition, with a convoy of firearms and supplies following closely behind. The dust raised by the column gradually receded as they sped towards the Western Regions.
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In the autumn of the twenty-fifth year of the Zhenguan era, the valleys on the northern slopes of the Pamir Mountains were already getting colder. The Tang army's camps stretched for ten miles along the valley, their black tents like silent giants on the withered grasslands.

Su Dingfang reined in his horse and stood on the hilltop, his beard frosted with morning dew, and his whip pointed south.

There, the Tibetan fortress complex of Bolu can be vaguely seen, its black flags fluttering in the autumn wind.

After a two-month trek, his two thousand personal guards had joined forces with the Anxi army, and the thirty thousand elite Tang troops, like a sharpened blade, had finally approached the first pass of the snowy battlefield.

"General, the scouts report that the Tibetans have built five fortresses in Bolu. The outermost one, 'Wolf Howl Fortress,' is garrisoned by 3,000 troops and is personally guarded by the Zanpu's brother, Mangsong Mangtsen." Deputy General Pei Xingjian dismounted and presented a hand-drawn map of the fortresses.

"The Arab craftsmen were indeed inside the fortress. They taught the Tibetans to build walls using rammed earth mixed with copper sand. The walls were over ten feet thick and said they could withstand artillery fire."

Su Dingfang took the blueprints and traced the trenches and arrow towers between the fortresses with his fingertips: "Copper sand rammed earth? That's quite something. Fire musket battalion, test fire on the outer wall of Wolf Howl Fortress with 'mountain cannons' tomorrow morning, using only 30% of the gun's power. I want to see just how tough this Tibetan fortress really is."

He paused, then turned his gaze westward. "What about the Arab expeditionary force? Have they crossed the Amu Darya?"

"Still lingering west of the Pamir Mountains."

Du He handed over another intelligence report: "Their vanguard has probed twice, but both times they were repelled by our scouts with muskets. The Persian merchants have sent word that although the Arab Caliph has issued an order for an expedition, the army is wary of the Tang Dynasty's firearms, and the generals are arguing endlessly, making the march very slow."

Du He and Pei Xingjian were the vanguard, arriving earlier than Su Dingfang.

Su Dingfang sneered: "That's the right thing to do. Pass down the word: have the Anxi army practice firearms drills in the valley every day, the louder the better. Not only should the Tibetans hear it, but the Arabs to the west should also hear it. Tell them that the Tang Dynasty's cannons are already positioned on the Pamir Mountains, and anyone who comes will be sent to their death!"

The Tang army camp at the foot of the hill was already bustling with activity. Veteran soldiers of the Anxi army were checking the mechanisms of their muskets and applying antifreeze grease to the barrels.

The Qiang soldiers led yaks to carry cannon parts. Although these animals, which live on the plateau, are not as fast as warhorses, they can steadily carry the heavy cannon barrels on the rocky mountain roads.

The medical officers distributed frostbite ointment and blankets to each camp. The dried meat and roasted barley flour drying outside the tents emitted a dry aroma, which was the source of energy for the soldiers in the cold winter of the snowy region.

"General, the Qiang leader, Xinuoluo, requests an audience," a personal guard reported.

A moment later, a Qiang general dressed in dark blue woolen robes strode over, his scimitar inlaid with turquoise: "General, I am familiar with the terrain of Bolu! Wolf Howl Fortress may seem sturdy, but in reality, there is a narrow gorge behind it that can only be passed by one person and one horse. The Tubo people thought that no one could pass through this natural barrier, so they only sent fifty men to guard it."

"If we can send an elite force to infiltrate through the canyon and reach the rear of the fortress, we can definitely launch a pincer attack!"

A glint flashed in Su Dingfang's eyes, and he immediately summoned his generals to sit down for a meeting. He spread out the map of Wolf Howl Fort on a stone slab and used his riding whip to draw the route: "Qin Huaiyu will lead 5,000 Anxi troops in a frontal assault, using ten mountain cannons to bombard the main gate and draw away the main force of the Tubo."

"Xinuoluo led three thousand Qiang soldiers through the Yixiantian Gorge, carrying rockets and oil canisters. Once they reached the rear of the fortress, they immediately set it ablaze, creating chaos. I personally led the central army of twenty thousand to garrison the valley. Once the fortress was in disarray, the musket battalion would lead the vanguard to breach the city in one fell swoop!"

Du He hesitated for a moment, wanting to speak, but ultimately remained silent.

Su Dingfang looked at Fu Duhe: "We will attack at dawn tomorrow. Make sure the soldiers eat at 3 a.m. Each person is given two pieces of ghee barley cake and a pot of hot milk tea. They need to be well-fed to have the strength to fight. The gunpowder should be preheated and kept in a felt blanket to prevent it from getting damp and becoming a dud at low temperatures."

Du He gave a wry smile: "Yes, General."

After all, he had little combat experience, and he himself would feel uneasy leading troops directly into battle.

As night fell, the lights in the Tang army camp gradually went out, leaving only the clatter of armor from the patrolling soldiers echoing in the silent valley. Su Dingfang stood alone outside his tent, gazing at the lights of the southern fortress, his hand caressing the gilded token bestowed upon him by Li Chengqian before his departure. Two months of marching, traversing the Gobi Desert and snow-capped mountains, had left the soldiers weary, yet not one had retreated.

The Anxi army sought revenge for years of border skirmishes, the Qiang soldiers aimed to secure trade routes for their tribes, and this veteran general sought to add another solid foundation to the Tang Dynasty's western defenses.

"General, it's late, you should rest." A personal guard brought over a hand warmer.

Su Dingfang took the hand warmer, but his gaze remained fixed on the direction of the Bolu fortress: "Tell the soldiers that if we break through Wolf Howl Fortress tomorrow, each man will be rewarded with two sheepskins and a jar of wine. This first battle must be fought brilliantly, so that Songtsen Gampo knows that the Tang army has come through the snow, solely to punish the traitor!"

The autumn wind swept up the withered leaves on the ground, passing over the Tang army's camp, carrying the chilling atmosphere before the decisive battle. In the distance, the Tibetan fortress remained brightly lit; they were perhaps still dreaming, relying on the copper sand fortress and the guidance of Arab craftsmen, unaware that a sharp blade, tempered with the edge of a firearm, had already been quietly raised in the autumn night.

When the first rays of sunlight shine on the Pamir Mountains tomorrow, this contest spanning snow-covered lands and deserts will finally begin amidst the sounds of cannons and gunfire.

The next day.

Before the frost and mist of dawn had dissipated, the silence of the northern foothills of the Pamir Mountains was suddenly ripped apart by a deafening roar.

Ten "mountain guns" spewed fire in the morning light, and shells with 30% explosive power streaked across the sky with blue smoke as they slammed into the copper sand rammed earth walls of Wolf Howl Fortress.

Amidst the billowing smoke and dust, the seemingly indestructible city walls that the Tibetan soldiers were so proud of trembled violently. Bricks and stones mixed with copper dust fell like rain, and several bowl-sized gaps were blasted into the more than ten-foot-thick wall.

"What kind of sorcery is that?!"

On the arrow tower of Wolf Howl Fortress, Mangsong Mangzan gripped the scimitar at his waist tightly, his face paler than the morning frost.

He had personally witnessed Arab craftsmen directing Tibetan soldiers to build walls using copper sand mixed with rammed earth. The craftsmen confidently assured him that even Tang army cannons couldn't break through them, but the scene before him shattered all his confidence like a heavy hammer blow.

At the breach in the city wall, the Tang army's black armor was already faintly visible, and cold gun barrels were peering out from the gap.

"Fire!" Pei Xingjian's roar echoed through the valley. The vanguard general was already lined up and ready to go. Under his command, the five thousand Anxi soldiers were arranged in three ranks. The musketeers in the front rank lay down and pulled the triggers, and lead bullets rained down on the fortress gate like hail.

The middle rank soldiers immediately knelt and fired, the sound of gunfire becoming a thunderous roar. The musketeers in the rear ranks, firing from above, quickly filled the gaps, and the three volleys of fire created an impenetrable net of fire.

The Tibetan soldiers guarding the fortress gate fell in droves. Their leather armor was as fragile as paper in the face of lead bullets, and screams mingled with the sound of breaking arrow shafts echoed through the fortress.

The Tibetan cavalry attempted to charge out and counterattack, but were mowed down by volleys of grapeshot that came from the side as soon as they reached the fortress gate.

These cannonballs, filled with lead pellets, exploded in mid-air, creating a deadly metal storm. The warhorses, startled and neighing wildly, blocked the advancing troops from moving forward.

The fish-scale formation taught by the Arab craftsmen was completely ineffective against firearms. The soldiers, wielding scimitars, couldn't even touch the enemy and could only fall in despair amidst the whistling of lead bullets.

"Behind! There's a fire behind!" A desperate cry suddenly came from deep within the fortress.

Xinuoluo's Qiang soldiers had already crossed the Yixiantian Gorge, throwing oil canisters at the wooden towers. Rockets, trailing flames, shot into the fortress, instantly setting the dry tents and provisions ablaze.

The thick smoke choked the Tibetan soldiers, making it impossible for them to open their eyes. The once relatively orderly defense completely collapsed, and the soldiers fled into the depths of the fortress, stepping over the corpses of their comrades, not knowing where the safe corner was.

Su Dingfang stood on the hilltop, looking at the chaos inside Wolf Howl Fortress, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

He said to his personal guards, "The musket battalion advances and lets them experience the power of staggered firing."

Upon receiving the order, the Tang musketeers formed small squads, advancing and firing alternately, their lead bullets reaping the exposed Tibetan soldiers like deadly chains.

This relentless barrage of fire left the Tibetan soldiers with no chance to even raise their heads, let alone organize a counterattack.

The Arab craftsmen inside the fortress were also in a panic. They had thought that the fortress would be enough to hold off the Tang army, but they did not expect that the enemy's firearms could cause casualties at such a distance.

A craftsman tried to direct Tibetan soldiers to move stones to block the breach, but he was shot in the chest by a lead bullet as soon as he climbed the city wall. His blood splattered on the faces of the Tibetan soldiers next to him, completely crushing their last fighting spirit.

"The Tang army is aided by ghosts and gods! Run!"

Someone shouted, and the Tibetan soldiers who were still resisting suddenly scattered like a tide.

Mangsong Mangzan wanted to draw his sword to supervise the battle, but found that the army around him had already disappeared, leaving only a few personal guards trembling.

The roar of muskets still echoed in his ears, and the shockwaves from the shells hitting the tower made the ground beneath his feet tremble. He finally understood how ridiculous the Arab craftsmen's confidence was.

Faced with such a weapon that can kill from a distance, even the strongest fortress and the bravest cavalry are no match.

Driven by the instinct to survive, he threw away his sword and mingled with the fleeing soldiers, running wildly toward the valley behind the fortress.

In less than an hour, the black flag of Wolf Howl Fortress crashed down.

Tang soldiers rushed into the fortress, stepping over the still-burning embers. The smoke from muskets lingered in the morning light, and the ground was littered with the corpses of Tibetan soldiers and scattered weapons.

Su Dingfang rode his horse into the fortress, looking at the prisoners who were still trembling in fear. His voice was calm but carried immense power: "Send a report of victory back to Chang'an! Wolf Howl Fortress has fallen!"

The autumn wind whipped up the smoke of battle, scattering the cries of agony within the fortress. Other Tibetan fortresses were faintly visible in the distance, but the devastating defeat at Wolf Howl Fortress had sown seeds of fear in their hearts.

For the first time, the Tibetans truly experienced the terror of firearms.

The power to take lives without close combat, the roar that could shatter solid walls, completely destroyed their will to resist.

(End of this chapter)