Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 114: Breaking through the Turkic King's Tent
In the 22nd year of Zhenguan, the Tang Dynasty conquered Qiuci and built four military towns in Qiuci, Yanqi, Yutian and Shule, named the Four Anxi Towns.

To the southwest of Qiuci Town, there is a river called Chihe River, which stretches westward for two hundred miles and meets Yuhe River, another river extending north from Kunlun Mountain.

Looking down from the air at this time, you will find something amazing.

An army was marching westward along the Chi River.

Another army headed north along the Yu River.

Both armies were marching at a great speed, without sending out scouts.

However, half an hour later, the two armies met at the confluence of the two rivers, in the city of Bohuan.

One army was the Tang army, but the other army did not raise any flags.

The Tang army had only 5,000 cavalry, led by Su Dingfang.

He deliberately went around to the south of Qiuci Town and asked Wang Wendu to lead the infantry to lure the enemy head-on in order to launch a surprise attack on Helu's royal tent.

Who would have thought that they would encounter a mysterious army in Yuhe.

Su Dingfang did not hesitate at all. He only knew that the other party was not the Tang army, but the enemy.

At a command, the Tang army rushed towards the enemy.

The mysterious army's reaction was obviously slower, and they were not prepared for battle. Most of the soldiers were not wearing armor.

During this period, the Tang army under Su Dingfang was the most powerful existence in this land, not to mention that they had the advantage.

The battle ended quickly. In less than two hours, the enemy was defeated, leaving their baggage all over the ground and fleeing in all directions.

Pei Xingjian rode up to Su Dingfang and said with a smile, "General, this battle is truly baffling. Judging from the baggage they left behind, they must be troops from a certain country in the Western Regions. Should we pursue them?"

Su Dingfang said sternly: "No need to pursue, and don't worry about the baggage on the ground. Order the army to rest for 25 minutes and continue marching!"

Pei Xingjian's expression grew serious, and he bowed and said, "Understood!"

……

In King Helu's tent, there was singing and dancing.

Before every major battle, the Turks would hold a grand fire banquet.

Inside the royal tent, Helu sat at the head, with the leaders of the ten Turkic tribes on his left and right.

The leaders drank and ate meat with big gulps, and each of them was served by four half-dressed beautiful Hu girls.

Helu leaned sideways in the chair, two Hu girls helped him massage his legs, two Hu girls helped him massage his shoulders, and two Hu girls cut the mutton, filled it with liquor, and brought it to his mouth.

Helu took a sip of wine and laughed loudly, saying, "Chiefs of all tribes, when the Tibetan army arrives at the designated point, we will immediately launch the most fierce attack on the Tang army!"

"When we engage the main force of the Tang army head-on, the Tibetans will appear behind them and bite them hard."

"No matter how powerful the Tang army is, they will be defeated when attacked from both sides. They have few horses and cannot escape back to Chang'an. Let us chop off their heads and use their blood to sacrifice to the gods of the grasslands!"

One of the leaders of the five Dulu tribes shouted, "Great Shaboluo Khan, Tian Khan has passed away. You will surely become the greatest Khan of the grasslands!"

Helu laughed and said, "Once we defeat this Tang army, I will lead you to Chang'an and let you have a taste of Tang Dynasty women."

One chief laughed and said, "I heard that the Tang Dynasty emperor's harem had tens of thousands of women, all of them stunningly beautiful. He really knew how to enjoy himself."

Helu laughed and said, "That's not difficult. Once we capture Chang'an and kill the Tang emperor, we can all enjoy those women together."

Everyone laughed in unison, as if they could already see those beautiful and charming Tang Dynasty women.

Only Di Yun knew that even if the battle was won, the Tang Dynasty could always mobilize hundreds of thousands of troops.

It was a good thing that the Western Turks were not destroyed by the Tang Dynasty. It would not be so easy for them to attack Chang'an.

To defeat the Tang Dynasty, it can only rely on the joint efforts of several generations of descendants.

At this moment, a Turkic general rushed into the king's tent with a panicked look on his face, knocking over a brazier.

Helu said angrily, "Why are you so panicked?"

The general said anxiously: "Great Khan, this is bad! The Tibetans have been wiped out by the Tang army!"

Helu suddenly stood up and asked angrily, "How did the Tang army know of their existence?"

The general just shook his head and couldn't answer at all.

A guard beside Helu murmured, "I heard that the Tang people are blessed by the gods. Is that true?"

Helu was furious. He drew his scimitar and chopped off the guard's head with one blow. Blood splattered all over his face.

Helu's face was grim as he shouted, "Don't be afraid! Since the Tang people have started fighting with the Tibetans, it means they have divided their forces again. Chiefs of all tribes, listen up! Gather your tribal soldiers immediately. Diyun, go gather your cavalry and follow me to attack the main force of the Tang army!"

Everyone responded in unison and withdrew.

Helu took off his felt coat and was about to put on his armor when he heard bursts of exclamations from outside.

Helu angrily asked, "What's going on?" Diyun rushed into the tent and said anxiously, "Father, this is bad! The Tang people are attacking the king's tent!"

Helu was shocked and angry. He rushed out of the tent, jumped onto a horse, and looked up. He saw countless Tang cavalrymen charging towards him on the grassland in all directions.

The Turks had no time to gather and could only meet the enemy in small groups, but were crushed by the torrent in an instant.

Diyun rode his horse to Helu's side and shouted, "Father, run away quickly, or it will be too late!"

Helu roared to the sky and fled to the west with dozens of personal soldiers!
……

Pei Xingjian strode through the abandoned royal tent of the Turks. Looking around, he saw the corpses of Turks everywhere.

The military merits of the Tang Dynasty were calculated by beheading. The heads of the Turks were chopped off and pinned to the soldiers' belts.

Turkic women were gathered together and kept in a pen like sheep.

In addition, there were many Turkic slaves in the royal tent, such as Tang people, Tiele people, Shi people, etc.

All Tang people will be specially accommodated in tents, provided with water and food, and will be sent to the four towns of Anxi after the main force of the Tang army arrives.

Slaves from other countries were kept in the open air like the Turkic women.

Pei Xingjian searched each tent where the Tang people were imprisoned.

At this time, a Tang army soldier came to report, saying, "General, there is a man who claims to be the governor of Fengzhou and wants to see General Su."

Pei Xingjian was overjoyed and said, "Take me there quickly!"

After a while, the soldier brought him to a tent. After entering the tent, he saw many Tang people in the tent, all wearing Turkic clothes, talking in low voices.

One of the men, with a full beard, stood straight and looked directly at Pei Xingjian.

Pei Xingjian stared at him carefully, a hint of excitement on his face, and walked over quickly to hold his hand.

"Captain Yuan, is it really you?"

The man laughed heartily and said, "County Magistrate Pei, I never thought you could still recognize me after not seeing me for so many years, even though I look like this again."

When the Uighurs rebelled, Runpo asked the Tang Dynasty for help. Yuan Lichen, the deputy protector of Yanran, led his troops to suppress the rebellion and helped Runpo become the leader of the Uighurs.

The big man with curly beard was Yuan Lichen.

In the fourth year of Yonghui, the Turkic leader Zhenzhu Yehu wanted to surrender to the Tang Dynasty and jointly attack Helu.

Yuan Lichen was ordered to carry the imperial edict to enthrone Zhenzhu Yehu, but he was kidnapped by Helu on the way and no news of him was heard from him. There were rumors that he was imprisoned in the royal tent by Helu and treated as a slave.

Pei Xingjian and Yuan Lichen knew each other in Chang'an. After breaking into the king's tent, he immediately looked for Yuan Lichen.

Now that I have found it, how can I not be happy?

At this time, another person rushed in from outside the tent. He was a tall, thin, thirty-year-old Hu general. He looked at Yuan Lichen intently, then suddenly knelt on one knee and said, "Mr. Yuan, Runpo is late!"

This person was none other than the Uighur Khan Runpo.

Yuan Lichen was overjoyed and said, "I didn't expect General Runpo to come too."

Pei Xingjian smiled and said, "This time when our dynasty attacked Helu, General Runpo volunteered to bring food and supplies to join the battle. Even the saints praised him highly."

Runpo smiled and said, "I am leading the troops to help in this battle, firstly to serve the Saint, and secondly to save Lord Yuan."

The three of them looked at each other and smiled.

Pei Xingjian and Runpo took Yuan Lichen to Helu Ya's tent to meet Su Dingfang.

Su Dingfang had no friendship with him, so after exchanging a few pleasantries, he said to Pei Xingjian, "Keep your promise. The scouts have reported that Helu has fled towards the Shi Kingdom. General Xiao Siye has led his troops in pursuit. You should also lead your men in pursuit."

Pei Xingjian knew that Su Dingfang was giving him a chance to make a contribution, so he bowed and said, "I will obey your command."

Runpo shouted, "General Manager Su, I am very familiar with the Western Regions and know the King of the Stone Kingdom. Please allow me to lead my troops and pursue Helu!"

Su Dingfang glanced at him and said, "Okay."

A soldier suddenly ran into the tent and shouted, "Report!"

Su Dingfang said, "Speak."

The sergeant said, "Military news has arrived from Yancheng: General Xue Rengui has captured Yancheng and beheaded 30,000 people!"

Runpo was shocked and said, "Thirty thousand beheadings? Doesn't that mean most of the Turkic people in Yancheng have been killed?"

The sergeant said, "That's what the military newspaper said."

Runpo was shocked and thought to herself, "Good fellow, among the Tang people, there are such vicious generals."

Su Ding's expression remained unchanged as he said, "What are you still standing there for? Lead your troops and pursue Helu immediately!"

Pei Xingjian and Runpo responded in unison, left the tent, each selected their own troops, and pursued in different directions.

(End of this chapter)