Tang Dynasty: Father, if you don't rebel, I will!

This is the Syrian province of the Byzantine Empire.

It was more than 100 kilometers away from Sassanid Persia, but it was the closest military city.

Durla-Oropos.

The city, situated on the alluvial plain of the Euphrates River, with its walls built along the river, natural sand dunes to the west and reeds covering the riverbank to the east, is now filled with unease.

"With this river, given the current water conservancy technology and agricultural level of our Great Tang, if it were to fall into our hands, it would become a fertile land in at most twenty or thirty years..."

Li Shimin, mounted on his warhorse, looked around through binoculars while smiling as he spoke to his deputy general, Ashina She'er.

Ashina She'er nodded emphatically in deep agreement.

“What the commander-in-chief says is true. I have seen the water conservancy in Longyou Road. Now, many lands that were originally unsuitable for cultivation are now planted with grain, and there are even specially designated pastures.”

He spoke very seriously, clearly considering himself a general of the Tang Dynasty.

Pointing towards the desert west of the Euphrates River: "If we capture this city, it will not only serve as a bridgehead, but also greatly deter enemy attacks. With the desert as a buffer zone, it will also increase the supply pressure on the enemy's rear supply lines to Palmyra and the Surin fortress..."

The Byzantine general who was guarding the city walls, Dajeus, had a barbaric beard similar to that of a Viking, wore Christian-style armor, and carried a longsword with a cross.

His face, however, looked terribly pale.

The Tang Dynasty had a lot of information about them, but the garrison knew very little about the massive cavalry force before them.

They could only tell from the flamboyant, fluttering flags that the visitors were from the Great Tang Empire of the East.

The specific approach remains unknown.

Li Shimin had his own unique way of fighting, a personal military strategy honed through countless battles and battlefield struggles, refined from theoretical plans and actual combat.

He beckoned, and the Sassanid Persian crown prince, who was a step behind him, immediately mounted his horse and stepped forward.

"General, what are your orders? Do you need me to lead a charge?"

The Sasanian Persian crown prince, Onas, looked serious, showing no sign of fear of battle.

Li Shimin greatly admired this family, whether it was their father, Yazdegerd II, the Sasanian Persian king, or their daughter who married his son as a concubine, or the young man before him.

Among all the vassal states of the Tang Dynasty, Sassanid Persia was undoubtedly the most courteous and reassuring.

Li Shimin smiled faintly: "No need. Most of our troops are cavalry. This is not how you attack a city... Just tell me how many troops are in the city, and it would be best if you could also tell me the location of the military camps in the city."

Wona was taken aback, and immediately blurted out everything he knew.

After that, he added a sentence.

"General, we fought several battles with the city's garrison before you arrived, and their strength is not that great!"

Li Shimin understood and immediately began to make arrangements.

In the city of Durla-Oropus, seeing the ten thousand Tang soldiers suddenly mobilizing, Dayeus's expression grew even more grim, but he still resolutely shouted to boost morale.

"Do not be afraid! God is with us!"

"They are all cavalry. As long as we don't fall into their trap and leave the city, we will definitely not be captured. We have enough food for at least half a year!"

His words certainly had some effect.

As a religious army, although these local garrison troops were not as deeply committed to doctrine as the elite forces at the core of Byzantium, the influence of religion did indeed make them calm and composed at this moment.

Unfortunately......

When the cannons, which were not heavy but were lightweight, were unloaded from the army wagons by Li Shimin's order and then assembled on the gun carriages.

Things began to change in a direction that was beyond the expectations of these religious believers.

Dayeus thought of the Tang Dynasty merchants, and those passing merchants from the Western Regions, who had mentioned the weapons the Tang Dynasty possessed that could shatter cities and even nearly collapse the walls of the former Gaochang Kingdom.

He couldn't help but swallow hard, then looked at the battlements reinforced with rocks in front of him.

"Listen up, garrison troops in the city! The God you worship has offended the highest truth. The wrath of the Tang Dynasty will condemn you to your deaths here. You will all go to hell today!"

"Your God cannot save you!"

"Your armor and weapons can no longer protect your honor!"

"Surrender the city immediately, and His Majesty the Supreme Marshal of the Great Tang Dynasty from the East will grant you forgiveness and give you the opportunity to share in the glory of civilization!"

Amidst the commotion, several fast horses galloped in, and a few Sassanid Persian cavalrymen shouted loudly in Latin, Greek, and Sogdian in the open space in front of their city.

however.

Those who have never witnessed the truth will ultimately remain foolish enough to believe that they are on God's side.

Li Shimin was not surprised: "Order...fire!"

"Ashina She'er! As soon as the city gates open, you must immediately lead your cavalry to storm in at top speed and capture one of the city gates!"

"Ge Lunqin!"

Gar Lunqinling, the son of Gar Dongzan, the former Grand Minister of Tibet, now has a new Han surname and the Han name Ge Lunqin.

His expression was full of wildness and excitement.

Li Shimin pointed to another gate of the city.

"Take your troops and wait outside the other city gate. If the enemy attempts to escape by opening the gate, intercept and kill them immediately, and seize the gate when the opportunity arises!"

The latter immediately accepted the order.

"Boom boom boom..."

Amidst the fierce cannon fire, one after another, jet-black shells crashed down on the city walls and into the city in the blink of an eye, much to the astonishment and uncertainty of the defenders on the city walls.

Several of the cannons were even aimed directly at the city gate.

"Boom!"

The heavy city gate, made of iron and solid wood, was blasted down on the spot in an instant.

"Kill!" Ashina She'er took the lead and charged out instantly.

That evening, Li Shimin was already sitting in the city lord's mansion in Durla-Oropus, humming a tune as he began to write a letter to his son, the emperor, who was in Chang'an.

"My dear Chengqian, I read your letter with good news. I have captured the first city, but this battle has brought me little joy. The enemy's weakness and despair are rarely seen in me. I hope that Heraclius, whom you speak of, will bring me some pleasure..."

The more Li Shimin wrote, the more uncontrollable the smile on his face became.

Suddenly, he couldn't hold back any longer and burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha! Good! This is the kind of life I, General Tian Ce, should live! What taxes, what population, what balance of officials! To hell with them all!"

"Ha ha ha ha......"