Li Chengqian of the Tang Dynasty: Please say long live His Majesty

Chapter 452: Victory in Chang'an, Killing the Zamp with a Spear (Part )

West of Chang'an City, Jinming Gate.

A swift horse rushed through the city gate and galloped along the road towards the palace, shouting, "Victory news, victory news, victory news from Lanzhou! Zhang Shigui, the Grand General of the Imperial Guard and Duke of Guo, led his troops in a great battle in Lanzhou, beheading 15,000 people and capturing 20,000 prisoners. This is a victory. Long live the emperor!"

The news of victory spread throughout Chang'an City in an instant, and the entire city was suddenly filled with jubilation.

In one battle, 15,000 people were beheaded and 20,000 were captured, which means 35,000 people!

In this battle, the Tang Dynasty won.

Then cheers were heard from all directions.

The prosperity of the Tang Dynasty continues.

……

In the Liangyi Hall, Li Chengqian looked at the memorial in his hand with a flickering look in his eyes.

Under the city of Lanzhou, the exact number of beheadings was 12,000, the number of prisoners was 18,000, and the total number was 30,000.

The problem is not whether it is 30,000 or 35,000, but that this number does not match the number they expected.

In other words, Songtsen still had 5,000 people who had not participated in the battle.

In other words, Songtsen still had an army of nearly 20,000.

This battle is far from over.

Although this point was not explicitly raised in the memorial, both Zhang Shigui and Liu Rengui's memorials mentioned it implicitly.

"Your Majesty, we congratulate you on the victory in the first battle." Zhangsun Wuji was the first to stand up and bow, followed by the ministers and the six secretaries of state.

Li Chengqian smiled. Although there were some hidden dangers, there was no need to mention them now.

"Everything is thanks to the efforts of you gentlemen," Li Chengqian said with a smile. "Issue an order to lift the curfew in Chang'an for three days. The people will celebrate. The palace will send out three hundred jars of wine."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The ministers bowed with a smile.

In recent years, except for banquets, wine was rarely seen in the palace at other times. Li Chengqian himself did not like wine.

The leaders set an example and the subordinates followed suit, saving a lot of money.

"Also, we need to send someone to the front of the army to verify the military achievements and provide comfort." Li Chengqian's expression calmed down a little and said, "Gentlemen, who will go?"

The ministers raised their heads slightly, seeming a little surprised.

Zhang Sun Wuji raised his head, cupped his hands, and asked, "Your Majesty, are you worried about the upcoming battle?"

"Yes!" Li Chengqian nodded and said, "The most terrifying thing about fighting on the plateau is the plateau miasma. When Liu Rengui left for Lanzhou, I told him to remind the generals of the plateau miasma at critical moments. But to prevent the generals from being too impulsive, we should send someone to take a look."

"Your Majesty, I will go." Li Ji stood up and bowed.

Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "Although this battle is an initial victory, the battle on the plateau will be the final decision.

From Lanzhou and Shanzhou, to Tuyuhun, then Kuhai and Baihai, and possibly even to Tongtian River, it's over a thousand miles. The transportation of food and fodder is crucial, so we can't neglect it. Duke Ying should stay in Chang'an."

"Yes!" Li Ji bowed and then returned to the train.

Li Chengqian looked at Cui Dunli and said, "Mr. Cui!"

"Your Majesty!" Cui Dunli stood up and bowed.

"Let Han Yuan, the Assistant Minister of War, go." Li Chengqian smiled and said, "His father, the Duke of Yingchuan County, and the Dukes of Guo and Chao, were all colleagues on the battlefield together. He'll be easier to talk to if he goes."

"Yes!"

"Tell him that the soldiers going to the plateau must be primarily from Shanzhou. After entering the plateau, they should advance steadily from Qugou. At the same time, they should contact the Duke of Wei and provide support." Li Chengqian raised his head slightly and said, "The Duke of Wei's soldiers have been trained in Shazhou for several months, so fighting will not be a problem."

"Yes!" Cui Dunli bowed and saluted.

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "The court has been planning this war for nearly half a year. Songtsen is coming here in a hurry, so defeat is inevitable. We just need to be cautious, and victory will be assured!"

Li Chengqian said it lightly, but the ministers were already on guard.

A great victory in this battle is inevitable. If anything goes wrong, whoever is not careful will be blamed.

"We will obey the imperial edict!" All the ministers bowed.

"Victory in this war is inevitable; the key is how to conclude it." Li Chengqian looked at everyone and said, "For this battle, the plan I and you have envisioned is an initial victory in Lanzhou, a decisive victory for Tuyuhun, and then the strangulation of Songtsen at Tongtian River. But that's all. We are not yet prepared to annihilate all of Tubo in one battle. How should we conclude this battle to ensure the greatest possible victory? Go back and think about it."

"Here!"

"Okay, we have won a great victory today. There will be a grand banquet in the palace. Don't go home until you are drunk." Li Chengqian waved his hand.

"Your Majesty and the Tang Dynasty congratulate you on your great victory. Long live your Majesty!"

……

After all, I was a little drunk.

Li Chengqian lay on the imperial sedan chair with a hint of joy on his face.

As long as we are careful in this battle and don't let anyone turn the tables, victory is inevitable.

After all, the current commander-in-chief of the army is not Xue Rengui.

Moreover, after careful consideration, almost all the investment in this battle can be recovered.

But Li Chengqian still didn't allow himself to be too happy. He didn't want to see such a thing as a mid-game collapse.

Songzan is not someone to be trifled with. Who knows if he has any backup plans?

Will more troops be dispatched from Subi, Yangtong, and Tubo? This war is far from over.

The imperial carriage landed at Yixing Hall and Li Chengqian stepped in.

Cui Luan, dressed in a bright red skirt, immediately stepped forward and, together with two maids, supported Li Chengqian.

"Your Majesty, why have you drunk so much today?" Cui Luan quickly helped Li Chengqian to a seat on the short couch in the inner hall, then instructed the twin maids, Huanhuan and Xixi, to prepare some hangover soup. "We had a great victory today, and I'm so happy that I've had a few more drinks with you all." Li Chengqian leaned back slightly, then raised his head and whispered, "My beloved, do you know how much I hate Songtsen? He's a mean man. He asked for someone's wife, and when they refused, he sent his troops to force them to marry his princess. He even invaded their kingdom and plundered their wealth. What a mean man!"

"Yes!" Cui Luan served Li Chengqian the sobering soup and began to understand a little.

What the emperor was talking about was actually the story of Princess Wencheng.

When Songtsen failed in his first attempt to marry a Tang princess, he assembled an army of 200,000 to attack Shanzhou, but was defeated in the first battle.

After that, he married Princess Nepal and, after absorbing a large amount of Nepal's manpower and financial resources, he turned his attention to Chang'an.

At that time, the Tang Dynasty had already begun preparing for war with Goguryeo.

In addition, there was the Xueyantuo in the north and the Western Turks in the west, both of whom were restless. Finally, the Tubo agreed to marry the princess in exchange for a large sum of money.

However, the princess married into the Tibetan kingdom, but after eight years, she still had no children.

Songtsen's evil face has been exposed to everyone.

Li Chengqian's hatred for him was obvious.

"If we can capture him alive this time, I will use him to offer sacrifice to the Taimiao." Li Chengqian's eyes were slightly cold. Using the son-in-law to offer sacrifice to the Taimiao was something the Tang Dynasty had done before.

In a sense, Qu Wentai was the son-in-law of Princess Changle Yuwen Yubo, who was canonized by the Tang Dynasty.

In the Tang Dynasty's clan book, Princess Changle Yuwen Yubo was given the surname Li, and her name was Li Yubo.

Therefore, the Tang Dynasty finally destroyed Gaochang, Qu Wentai was frightened to death, and his son was presented as a captive to the Taimiao.

"Okay, I'll listen to Your Majesty in everything!" Cui Luan couldn't help but smile. She didn't care what the emperor said, but it was good that the emperor was willing to say it in front of her.

Li Chengqian stood up and looked at Cui Luan in front of him. He put his right fingers on her skirt, then flipped his hand, picked her up directly, and strode to the bed.

……

The night was quiet, and two maids stood in the outer hall.

It was not until a long time later that the inner hall became quiet.

At this time, Li Chengqian walked out of the inner hall and came in front of the two maids.

He couldn't remember their names, he only knew that they were Qi Zhixuan's cousins, and now they were named Huanhuanxixi by Cui Luan.

He hasn't touched them in all these years.

But now, he is the emperor.

If their clan wants to turn things around, they have to be obedient.

Li Chengqian reached out, grabbed the palms of the two people, and then placed them on each other's buttons.

Huanhuan and Xixi's faces turned pale...

The next moment, Li Chengqian pulled the two of them into the tent.

The fire in his heart was finally released completely.

……

On the Tuyuhun Plateau, five thousand cavalrymen rushed from the direction of Xinghai on the east side of Dafeichuan.

Su Hegui, a thin Tuyuhun minister, rode up to the lion-elephant banner and stood before Songtsen, who was wearing a black mask. He bowed and said, "Zanpu, there has been no news from Shanzhou for three days. We sent people to investigate but received no response. Should we send someone to check now?"

"Wait a little longer." Songzan coughed twice, then said hoarsely, "Wait for the army from Fushi City. They sent word yesterday that they've taken Fushi City. Tens of thousands of troops should be arriving today."

"Yes!" Su Hegui breathed a sigh of relief. He was very familiar with the situation in Fuqi City. Compared with the Tang Dynasty, the nobles of Tuyuhun were more afraid of Tubo.

Tubo would really kill them, but even though the Tang Dynasty destroyed Tuyuhun, it eventually restored Tuyuhun, and they were still Tuyuhun nobles.

Songzan glanced at Su Hegui, then looked towards Shanzhou. He had a bad feeling.

It seems that something big has gone wrong in Shanzhou and Lanzhou.

He didn't understand, how could this happen?
Everything should be within his calculations. Why is the Tang Dynasty more resilient than he thought...

The rumbling sound of horse hooves appeared on the grassland in the northwest. The Tuyuhun army was coming, and Songtsen's face was immediately filled with smiles.

It was at this time that a large number of soldiers appeared in the direction of the Nanshan Pass in Qinghai.

"Zanpu, it's the Tang army." Su Hegui's face immediately became solemn. The appearance of the Tang army at the Nanshan Pass meant that they were defeated in Shanzhou.

"Order all the troops to set out immediately and attack towards the Nanshan Pass." Songtsen looked at Su Hegui and said, "If that fails, lead them deeper into the plateau."

"Yes!" Su Hegui bowed, then immediately headed towards the Nanshan Pass.

"Send a message to Kuhai and ask them to come down the mountain." Songtsen looked at the guards beside him and immediately waved the lion and elephant flag heavily.

Songtsen breathed a sigh of relief and was about to lead his troops to catch up, but at this moment, he suddenly discovered that the Tuyuhun army from the northwest did not turn east, but was killing towards him.

Songtsen's expression changed completely.

……

The sky was covered with dark clouds. On the plateau, Songtsen, wearing a black mask, fled madly towards Tongtian River with hundreds of defeated soldiers.

Tongtian River is just ahead, but at this moment, the look under the black mask changed.

A Tang Dynasty general in red clothes and golden armor rode his horse and blocked the Tongtian River.

It was none other than Li Junxian.

Li Junxian pointed his spear, and the next moment, thousands of cavalrymen rushed towards them.

And Li Junxian was at the forefront.

As the look of astonishment filled his eyes behind the black mask, the cold spear had already pierced his throat.

　This is a fake
　　
　
(End of this chapter)