Chapter 155
Li Er displayed remarkable generosity this time. He sent three distinguished generals to help Su Li and instructed various provinces and countries to gather substantial provisions and supplies for Su Li’s upcoming endeavors. With Tang’s abundant food resources, Li Er’s ambition to expand his territory was evident and unrestrained.
Three days after Cheng Yaojin and the others arrived, the army began its preparations in Song Zhou. Following that, under Su Li’s leadership, the entire army headed directly for Tubo. After marching for just five days, they reached the western border of Tubo.
As the army traversed Tubo’s territory, the Tubo King, who had recently established a marital connection with the Tang Dynasty, cooperated harmoniously. Tubo was a formidable adversary, and the Tubo King understood that without the Tang Dynasty’s assistance, Songtsan Gampo’s unification of Tubo would not tolerate another power on the plateau. Prudence during times of safety was something the Tubo King grasped well. If this continued, Tubo would eventually succumb to the Tubo forces.
Furthermore, Tubo and the Tang Dynasty were still in the honeymoon phase of their relationship. The Tubo King dispatched numerous guides to lead the Tang army through their lands and offered advice on dealing with the challenges of the high-altitude environment. Unfortunately, these tips had limited effectiveness.
During this era, general living standards were quite low, and issues like night blindness were common due to malnutrition, even among elite troops, not to mention the more severe problem of altitude sickness. Consequently, as the Tang army prepared for battle near the border, the reports from various officer ranks were far from optimistic.
Inside the command tent, several high-ranking Tang officers were in a meeting. Cheng Yaojin appeared frustrated, his expression deflated. Wei Chi Gong’s usually dark complexion had a slight purple hue, indicating his struggle with altitude sickness. Su Dingfang’s condition was somewhat better, but he still struggled with heavy breathing. Li Daozong and Hou Junji had milder symptoms. At the head, Su Li observed their condition without needing to inquire about the overall army’s situation.
“The entire army is not faring well. Altitude sickness is affecting most soldiers more severely than we expected,” Li Daozong said, adding with some puzzlement, “Interestingly, the young recruits we brought from Song Zhou seem to be handling it better.”
Su Li nodded in agreement, explaining that altitude sickness typically affected those with better physical conditions more severely due to their stronger cardiovascular systems. He even suspected that his current physical condition might remain unaffected in the vacuum of outer space.
This expedition had a larger Tang army despite having fought a previous battle. In Song Zhou, Su Li enlisted local laborers, who were attracted by the opportunity to earn money by helping transport provisions and supplies for the army. With the farming season over, these laborers had no better options at home.
Joining Su Li’s expedition meant a chance to earn extra income, especially after the impressive Tang victory at Song Zhou. This opportunity was enticing, and 30,000 out of the 50,000 soldiers in the expeditionary force were Song Zhou laborers, a remarkable ratio.
At this moment, due to the effects of altitude sickness, only a few soldiers in the army remained combat-ready. Surprisingly, several thousand laborers were still in good shape. However, for Su Li, this difference didn’t matter much. He was a one-man army capable of taking on tens of thousands alone. During the battle at Song Zhou, he even worried that Lu Dongzan might abandon his principles and flee. Now, in the heart of Tubo territory, where could Songtsan Gampo possibly run to? Su Li could easily defeat him even if they cornered him at Tubo’s doorstep. His force of 80,000 was essentially there to clean up the battlefield, and he didn’t expect them to play a decisive role in the actual battle.
Therefore, altitude sickness was not a genuine concern for Su Li. As long as the soldiers could move, its impact was minimal. Having reached his conclusion, Su Li asked, “I intend to launch an attack into Tubo territory tomorrow. What are your thoughts?”
Li Daozong and Su Dingfang readily agreed, witnessing Su Li’s god-like prowess firsthand. Su Li’s immunity to altitude sickness and the core combat strength of the Tang army remaining intact made them confident. Cheng Yaojin and Wei Chi Gong, renowned fierce generals, had no objections. Su Li’s reckless fighting style aligned with their preferences.
However, Hou Junji voiced dissent, expressing concern about the diminished military strength due to altitude sickness. He believed that launching a strong attack might play into Tubo’s hands. Li Daozong challenged him, asking when they should go into battle if they waited for recovery. Hou Junji suggested waiting for at least two months, citing information from Tubo guides.
Su Li firmly declared, “My decision is made, General Hou. No need to say more.” He had confidence in conquering Tubo in a single battle and had broader objectives beyond Tubo. He couldn’t afford to spend two months on one campaign.
Hou Junji was shocked by Su Li’s direct refusal. He sneered and warned, “You’re the Grand Commander, and you can make decisions regarding military matters, but if the battle goes south, don’t blame me for changing my attitude.” With that, he left, unfazed by the surprised gazes of others.
In the capital city of Tubo, known as the City of Patriots, Songtsan Gampo gazed intensely at the war report. His frustration was palpable as he read about the recent entry of the entire Tang army onto the plateau. He could easily deduce their intentions.
For the past few days, his sole focus had been ordering conscription. Tubo operated under a primitive feudal system, with remnants of slavery. Over seventy percent of the population were slaves, while the nobles comprised less than thirty percent. Even the private soldiers maintained by nobles were effectively considered slaves.
Tubo had suffered a devastating loss in a previous battle led by Lu Dongzan, with 150,000 elite troops perishing. Songtsan Gampo’s heart ached at such losses. With just 250,000 troops remaining, he had mobilized the entire nobility, offering substantial incentives for recruitment. The result was a reorganized army 400,000, though it paled compared to Tubo’s former glory.
Please bookmark the NovelFire.net website to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
If you find any errors (non-standard content, ads redirect, broken links, etc..), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible.
Report
