Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 5165: Small Country Concerns
Lu came from a prominent family and had been educated since childhood. She was not an ignorant fool. After listening to Fang Xuanling's explanation, she immediately understood.

At the moment, Erlang is not only "too powerful to be a threat to the emperor", but also a serious threat to the power structure of the empire. Including the emperor, countless civil officials and ministers are jealous of him, and even the military wants to restrict the Anxi Army for their own interests...

"Alas... It has always been like this since ancient times. People with ability will encounter various constraints when doing something, while some people only know how to scheme and are selfish. They only take power to consolidate their own interests and the interests of their factions. It is not uncommon to see people who harm the country."

Fang Xuanling shook his head: "Power and conspiracy are one and the same, why should we distinguish between them? Interests are always relative. If I have more, you will have less, and the disputes will never end."

Where there are people, there are classes; where there are classes, there are interests. Different classes and interests will naturally lead to struggles to determine who owns the interests.

"Great Harmony Under Heaven" and "Everyone Has His Own Job" can only appear in the legends of ancient books...

Madam Lu said, "Then why can't you help Erlang a little? Seeing Erlang struggling alone in the court, can you bear to stand by and watch?"

Fang Xuanling smiled and said, "Since he has chosen this path, he needs to face all of this one by one. If he encounters any difficulties, he needs the help of me, his old father. How can he be independent and powerful? Besides, how can Erlang fight alone? Not only will the talented people he has cultivated over the years advance and retreat with him, but there are also many like-minded people in the court. Don't worry."

To date, a huge group has already been formed around Fang Jun, and its influence on both the military and political sides is extremely strong. Otherwise, why would Your Majesty be wary of him?

It is understandable that some people choose to fight for their own interests, but if they go too far and affect the vital interests of others, a counterattack will naturally be launched.

In fact, in his opinion, the reason why Fang Jun chose to go to the Western Regions to take charge and face the Arab army directly was not necessarily because he deliberately wanted to stay away from the center and lure some people into taking action...

*****
When the embarrassed and dissatisfied Auf and Maslama went south along the Yaosha River and finally arrived at Kesan City, they looked back at the remaining 20,000 soldiers and horses who were ragged, pale and thin, and felt so angry that they wanted to cry but had no tears.

Along the way, the Tang army strictly implemented the "Parthian tactics", long-range shooting, flank raids, and retreating after one strike. They did not engage in a head-on confrontation with the Arab army, which had the advantage in manpower. They eroded the Arab army's rear and flanks bit by bit. Auf, who boasted of his outstanding strategy, did not even dare to stop. Every extra day of delay would result in an extra day of loss.

This feeling of being beaten without being able to fight back is really unpleasant...

The Sabao River is a tributary of the Wuhu River, and the capital of Kangguo, Aludi City, is located in the south of the Sabao River. When Afu arrived with his army, Yazid personally brought the King of Kangguo, Tong'e, and led the army to raise boats to help Afu cross the Sabao River and enter Aludi City for rest.

In the city lord's mansion, Yezid looked at the unshaven and haggard Auf and Maslama, and didn't know what to say for a moment.

Now the two armies have joined together, with a number of about 70,000 to 80,000. It seems that they can withstand a battle with the help of the strong city, but the army's morale is shaken and there is no morale. How can they fight?
But if we don’t fight, can we defend the city of Aludi?

Yezid looked at the King of Kang, Tong'e, and said in a deep voice, "Please prepare more food and medicines for the troops coming from the south."

Tong'e was over fifty years old and had a kind face. She nodded repeatedly when she heard the words and said, "Don't worry, Marshal. Food, fodder, medicines and tents have been prepared."

Yezid nodded and said, "The kindness of Kangguo in accepting us will never be forgotten by the Arabs, and we will definitely repay you generously in the future!"

Tong'e said hurriedly: "I dare not, I dare not. Dashi is the suzerain, and the people of Kangguo should do their best to support it."

Ye Qide praised: "Okay! Then let's hold the fortified city and fight the Tang army to the death!"

Tong'e said with a bitter face, very reluctantly: "The Marshal is the son of the Caliph and the future heir of the empire. The whole Kang country must be loyal to him!"

Yezid looked at Auf, full of hope: "Military Advisor, do you have any method to defeat the enemy?"

Aofu put down the cup and said calmly, "There is always a way, but we are exhausted after traveling all the way south. We need to rest well before we can discuss how to repel the enemy."

Tong'e stood up and said, "In that case, I will arrange a dinner and urge the officials in the city to quickly arrange for your army to rest."

After he left, Aofu said in a bitter voice, "The Tang army is cunning and unwilling to fight to the death with us. They only attack from the periphery and sneak attack. We are definitely no match for them in a field battle. We can only hope to block the Tang cavalry with the Sabao water. Once the city is broken, the consequences will be disastrous."

The situation of being chased and devoured by the Tang army all the way was like a nightmare that still left him with lingering fears.

Ye Qide was filled with sorrow again, and sighed, "Let's leave it at that for now, thank you for your hard work, Military Advisor."

……

On the other hand, Tong'e arranged officials to go outside the city to settle the army brought by Auf, supply them with food, fodder, medicine and tents, while also having people prepare a dinner.

After everything was settled, he returned to his study in the City Lord's Mansion.

Soon, a tall and handsome young man strode in. It was Tong'e's son, Fuhuman, the crown prince of Kangguo.

After greeting, Fuhuman turned around and closed the door, then walked over and sat opposite Tong'e, and asked in a low voice, "Father, do you know the strategy of the Arabs?"

Tong'e looked worried: "They are on guard against me, but according to my observation, I'm afraid they want to hold the city firmly."

Fu Human was shocked: "Hengluo City was razed to the ground, and Kesan City was a scorched earth. This shows how sharp the Tang army's siege was. If the Arabs planned to hold on to Aludi City, no matter who wins or loses, wouldn't Aludi City become a ruin?"

Originally, the Arab army had fled from Kesan City, and the father and son planned to offer them food, fodder, supplies, money and silk, and respectfully escort them out of the country.

Who would have thought that Yezid would refuse to leave and even turn the city of Aludi into a battlefield?

Being forced to become a vassal of the Arabs due to the powerful army of the Arabs and betraying the original alliance with the Tang Dynasty, it does not mean that the people of Kangguo were unaware of the strength of the Tang Dynasty. Even the arrogant Arabs were beaten back step by step. How could Kangguo compete with the Tang Dynasty?
Submitting to the Arabs was just a temporary solution. They were unwilling to fight the Tang Dynasty to the death with swords and guns...

Tong'e drank some tea to moisten her throat, rubbed her face, and said helplessly: "Who could have known that after Yezid's defeat in Kesan City, he would not flee to Damascus, but would instead take a detour to our Kangguo? He is simply a plague god who must lure the Tang army here!"

When Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty was in power, he sent envoys to Chang'an to sign an alliance with the Tang Dynasty and become good neighbors. Emperor Taizong was wise and brave, with a broad mind. He not only agreed to the alliance, but also reduced taxes for Kangguo merchants who went to the Tang Dynasty to do business, making Kangguo one of the important nodes on the Silk Road and becoming more prosperous.

However, after Muawiyah became the Caliph of the Arab Empire, he began to expand outward frantically, especially after the destruction of Persia. The Arab cavalry swooped down from the plateau and quickly brought the entire Transoxiana region under their rule. The nine states of Zhaowu, including An, He, Cao, Kang, Mi, and Shi, had to submit to the Arabs one after another.

Now that we are enemies rather than friends with the Tang Dynasty, the Tang army will definitely not show mercy. What awaits Aludi City is only the ruins of the city walls and a scorched earth...

Fu Human said angrily: "How can the Arabs not know that they are no match for the Tang people? They are not thinking of turning defeat into victory, but using our cities and lives to delay the Tang army's progress. When Aludi City is completely destroyed, they will continue to retreat. Anguo, Heguo, Caoguo... one by one will follow in the footsteps of Kangguo!"

Tong'e helplessly spread her hands and said, "Even if we know the Arabs' evil intentions, what can we do about it? Yeqide came uninvited, and we can't send him away."

Fu Human gritted his teeth and said, "Since there is no other way out, let's burn ourselves together!"

Tong'e asked curiously, "What do you want to do?"

"The Arabs are holding out, relying on the natural barrier of the Sabao River and the solidity of the city of Aludi. We might as well contact the Tang army in secret, gather boats to help them cross the Sabao River, and then open the city gates at night to welcome them in and annihilate all the Arabs!"

"How can this be so!"

Tong'e was shocked: "This move will certainly make friends with the Tang people, but it will also completely make enemies with the Arabs. If the Arabs retaliate later, how can we resist?"

The Tang Dynasty was known as a country of etiquette. It had a bottom line in doing things and showed magnanimity to the outside world.

The Arabs were a barbaric country that only carnaged, plundered, and robbed. If they took revenge on Kangguo, there would be countless heads and endless slaughter...

Fu Human was extremely dissatisfied with his father's indecision and said angrily: "Now that things have come to this, why is father still hoping for the best? Aludi City will be destroyed anyway, so why not just submit to the Tang Dynasty and become a prefecture of the Tang Dynasty and ask for the protection of the Tang army!"

He poured a glass of water for his father and said earnestly: "The Tang Dynasty is the strongest in the world. This battle in the Western Regions shows that it has long surpassed the Arabs. After this battle, the Arabs will not be able to launch a counterattack against the Tang Dynasty within a hundred years. It is inevitable that the Tang army will defeat Yazid and take control of the entire Central Asian region. Why don't we take this opportunity to swear allegiance to the Tang Dynasty? On the one hand, we can save Kangguo, and on the other hand, we can also eliminate the crime of betraying the Tang Dynasty."

Tong'e looked struggling and hesitant.

How could he not see that the Tang Dynasty was strong and the Arabs were in decline?
However, no matter how weak the Arab Empire is, Kangguo alone cannot resist it!

There was no need for the Arabs to send troops to attack Kangguo. All they needed was a command from the Caliph, and countless Hu people would come to attack with great joy...

Wars between great powers are often very restrained. They will not go all out and fight with the whole country. After one side achieves its goal, they will stop fighting and shake hands to make peace. During this period, the unlucky ones must be the surrounding small countries. A careless attack by a great power will make a small country disappear into ashes.