Chapter 502: Cut off the way back

The Big and Big Bolu is the actual control area of ​​Kashmir Bafang today. It is located in the mountains and canyons, stretching for thousands of miles. Xiao Bolu is in the north and Da Bolu is in the south. In the traditional geopolitical pattern, Xiao Bolu is in the Tang Dynasty, while Da Bolu is in the north and Da Bolu is in the south.

Although both the big and the big Bolu are steep, there are also roads connected. After the Xindu River, which originated from the Xiangxiong of Tubo, flowed north for 2,000 miles, turned to the Tochar in the west, and then turned south to flow into Xinde, and finally entered the sea in Punjab.

Turning around and going westward, the Xindu River flowing into Tochar became the dividing line between the Big and Big Bolu, and it was also the first obstacle that the Tang army needed to overcome.

It was mid-January of the second year of Zhenzhi. Although the breath of spring began to appear in the plains, the high-altitude plateau mountainous areas are still a world of ice and snow. The snow here does not melt all year round. The Xindu River flows through the bottom of the canyon. The water is turbulent and difficult to freeze all year round. The river water is deep and urgent here, so it is impossible to cross the river at all. If you are not familiar with the terrain, you can only take a detour of thousands of miles, cross the river from Kendra to the Kingdom of Imperial Palace, and then enter Dabolu from there.

The seven thousand Tang army came to the edge of the Grand Canyon under the guidance of two guides. The Xindu River is also called the Shiquan River in this section. The guide knew that there was a small path that could go down to the bottom of the valley, and then crossed the turbulent river with the help of a rope bridge.

However, the rope bridge was cut off by Xiaobolu people eight years later, in order to prevent the Tubo people from attacking Xiaobolu again through Dabolu. However, even if the native hunters did not have the rope bridge, they could cross the rapids and dangerous shoals.

The seven thousand Tang troops struggled to get down from the cliff to the bottom of the valley, and the war horses followed. The water mist at the bottom of the valley was filled with white waves, and the roar of the huge torrent was deafening. The two guides were both local hunters. They set up a raft and drifted in a rapid flow about two miles long and ten feet wide. They had only a short cup of tea. If the raft was overturned, they would definitely die, or if they missed the opportunity, the raft hit the huge rocks in the river, and they would also die.

But God favored the Tang army, and both guides crossed the river without any danger. At this time, they found two abrupt giant rocks, walked the long rope around the giant rocks, and began to tie the rope bridge. In fact, they just built a few ropes, and they couldn't do the real bridge crossing the river.

Soon, more than 300 Tang military craftsmen climbed the long rope to the other side and began to quickly build the cable bridge. On the other side, three hundred military craftsmen were also working together to build the bridge.

If it was a local person to build a bridge, it would take at least one month, but with the efforts of five hundred professional Tang military craftsmen, a bridge with a length of thirty feet long and a length of cable was built in just three days, with wooden boards laid on it. Seven thousand Tang soldiers crossed the Lion Spring and drove towards Dabolu.

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The capital of Dabolu is called Balesti. It is located on the west bank of Shiquan River. It is a city built on a mountain. It is called a city of mountains. The residents of Dabolu are relatively scattered and distributed in the mountain canyons everywhere. However, there are not many residents in Balesti, with only more than 10,000 people, and the city is not big. Even the smallest county in the Central Plains cannot be compared. Under the sunshine in the snow, it is like a dream castle.

Dabolu first surrendered to the Tang Dynasty. As early as the Kaiyuan period, it sent envoys to Chang'an to meet Li Longji three times. However, due to the long journey, the Tang court could not provide Dabolu with shelter. Dabolu was eventually controlled by the Tubo people and became a vassal of Tubo. After the Battle of Xiaobolu in the sixth year of Tianbao, the Tubo army withdrew from Xiaobolu, but still controlled Dabolu. This time, the Tubo army marched into Tocharo by Dabolu. It can be said that Dabolu was the most important bridge for Tubo to go to Tocharo. After occupying Dabolu, it cut off the return of the Tubo people.

The Tubo people also knew the importance of Dabolu, so they also left 5,000 troops stationed in Dabolu. The 5,000 troops were slightly less than the 7,000 Tang troops, but the Tubo army occupied the favorable terrain, had sufficient supplies, and had the advantage of plateau combat. The difference between the two thousand troops could no longer make up for the fact that the Tang army was at a disadvantage.

Sometimes the war is about the trick, but more often it is about strength and morale. An Baozhen also knows this principle. After crossing the Shiquan River, An Baozhen got the actual garrison of the Tubo army from the scout, and he ordered the Tang army to stop advancing and station troops in a valley 120 miles away from the capital.

At this time, the Prime Minister of Xiaobolu, Yaxin, who came with him, was led to meet An Baozhen by soldiers. Yaxin was a middle-aged man in his fifties. He was the younger brother of King Tingsu of Dabolu and was in charge of Xiaobolu's government affairs. This time, the Tang army sent troops to Dabolu, and what they wanted to deal with was not Dabolu's army, but the Tubo army stationed in Dabolu. Winning the support of Dabolu's country was an important guarantee for their victory.

Yaxin lived in Chang'an for ten years when she was young and could speak fluent Chinese. He came to An Baozhen and bowed to him and said, "See General An!"

An Baozhen replied with a gift, handed the handwritten written by Li Qing'an to King Dabolu to Yaxin, and said sincerely: "I'm going to bother you sir."

"No problem, I'll convince my brother later to understand the current affairs, understand the overall situation, and cooperate with the Tang army to protect the national destiny of Dabolu."

"I don't know how confident the sir is to convince the king."

Yaxin thought for a while and smiled, "Originally, he was only five points, but with His Highness Zhao's handwritten letter, he should be seven points. I know that my brother is also suffering under the oppression of the Tubo people. If the Tang army had enough strength to drive away the Tubo people for him, he should be happy to cooperate with Anxi, and I know that."

"Okay! Please sir."

Yasin immediately left the canyon and took several people to Balati City to carry out Anbaozhen's orders.

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The Big and Big Bolu were originally from the same clan and family, both of whom were from Bolu. After the Bolu was defeated by Tubo decades ago, it split into Big and Big Bolu. Although it had been split, the relationship between the two countries has always been very close. Queen Xuelian of Xiao Bolu had also betrothed to Prince Da Bolu. It was only because of the sixth year of Xiao Bolu Battle in Tianbao that Xiao Bolu was controlled by the Tang army, while Da Bolu was still controlled by the Tubo army. It is precisely for this reason that the two countries lost a chance to be unified. Although there had been no official exchanges between the two sides for several years, civil exchanges were still continuous, with blood thicker than water, and both sides were still brotherly countries.

The king of Dabolu is Tingsu. He is in his early fifties this year and has been in control of Dabolu for nearly 30 years. From pro-Tang to pro-Tubo, the changes in the current situation have enabled him to see through the game between large and small countries. Dabolu has no choice. The Tang Dynasty is strong and dependent on the Tang Dynasty. Tubo is strong and dependent on the Tubo. Only in this way can Dabolu not be destroyed. This is his helpless choice. But if Tingsu really wants to choose, he would rather choose the Tang Dynasty. The reason is very simple. The Tang Dynasty does not want him to pay a penny, but on the contrary, he will give him generous gifts. Tubo cannot do it. Five taxes and one sinking

They have paid the taxes for more than ten years. The exploitation of the Tubo people and the restrictions on doing business have kept the Dabolu people in a state of extreme poverty, and their brother country Xiaobolu is much richer than them. In recent years, many Dabolu people have crossed the Shiquan River to make a living in Xiaobolu, which has caused Xiaobolu, who was originally inferior to them, to leave them far behind. Whether it is population or economic prosperity, the gap between Bolu is getting bigger and bigger, which makes Tingsu heart full of helplessness, and he has no choice but to have to bow his head under the eaves.

When he woke up early today, he felt a split headache and always felt that something might happen today. At this moment, the servant reported that his younger brother Yaxin was here.

Tingsu was stunned. Their brothers had not met for three years, and these days were not a special day. Why did he come? Tingsu changed his mind and vaguely guessed that his brother's arrival was probably related to the current situation. This matter could not be known to the Tubo people. He immediately instructed a confidant: "Take him into the palace from the side door and don't let others discover it."

Not long after, Yasin entered the room under the leadership of two guards. The two brothers had not seen each other for three years. They were particularly intimate when they met, and they hugged each other tightly.

"Why are you here?" Tingsu sat down with his brother's hand.

Yaxin smiled and tentatively said, "I'm going to look at my brother to see if he's been doing well recently. I heard that Tubo Zanpu has brought any benefits to Dabolu?"

“Affordable?”

Tingsu smiled bitterly and said, "Besides bringing me endless troubles, I can't see any benefits at all. Once he comes, my treasury will become empty."

Tingsu sighed again, "The Tubo people are like locusts, wishing to swallow everything about me. The people hate me and the nobles blame me, but who knows my suffering?"

"That brother hasn't considered cooperating with the Tang army?" Yaxin tentatively said again.

"Shh!"

Tingsu looked out, and he went up to lock the door, then pulled his brother to the inner room, and then whispered: "Tell me the truth, why did you come here."

"Of course I came to save my brother."

As he said that, Yaxin took out Li Qing'an's handwritten letter and handed it to his brother: "This is the handwritten letter written by His Highness Zhao, the governor of Anxi. Please take a look at it yourself!"

Tingsu also knew Chinese. He looked carefully twice, then remained silent for a while, and suddenly asked, "Where is the Tang army now?"

"Ten thousand Tang troops have crossed the Shiquan River, and now they are less than two hundred miles away. I'm here to save my brother."

Tingsu paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, without saying anything. He fully understood that he knew Li Qing'an's purpose, but it was not important. If Li Qing'an had no purpose, of course he would not come to him. What he cared about was what Li Qing'an's purpose could bring to him in the end?

Tingsu was still wandering between Tubo and the Tang Dynasty. He knew the price of betraying Tubo very well, that was, his head would hang at the highest point of the castle, but returning to the Tang Dynasty meant that Dabolu would completely get rid of Tubo's enslavement.

Yaxin also saw his brother's concerns and advised: "The situation in Tochar is now very clear. The Tang army will fight against the Tubo army in Tochar. The reason why the Tang army wants to attack Dabolu is also very obvious, which is to cut off the return journey of the Tubo army. The Tang army wants to wipe out the Tubo army in Tochar."

"But Tubo has an army of 180,000!"

This is what Tingsu is most worried about. Tubo has 180,000 troops gathered in Tochar. This is a force that has never been available before. Could the Tang army be the opponent of the Tubo army?

"I think it's because my brother was too worried. If the Tang army was not sure, then when Tubo just occupied Tocharo last year and still had a stable foothold, the Tang army would take action. Why wait until now, brother, in the sixth year of Tianbao, Dabolu had lost one chance. Now another chance appears in front of Dabolu. Brother, brother, can't lose this opportunity again."

The brothers' persuasion finally made Tingsu, who was already moved, make up his mind. Yes, they can no longer lose this opportunity. Since the 10,000 Tang army troops have crossed the river, the end of the Tubo people has also arrived.

"Bang!" He punched him hard on the desk and said resolutely: "Okay! I'll listen to your advice."

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The Tubo army was stationed in two parts in Dabolu, one with two thousand people stationed on the east bank of Shiquan River, and the other with three thousand people stationed on the west bank. This was the lesson learned by the Tubo people in the six years of Tianbao. At that time, 20,000 Tubo troops were stationed on the east bank of the Poyi River, but there were no troops stationed on the west bank, which led to the Tang army cutting off the vine bridge and they were unable to cross the river.

This time, the Tubo army stationed at the same time on the east and west banks to defend against the Tang army's sneak attack. The Tubo general in Dabo was named Luncha Dezan, a Tubo 1000-strong commander, about 40 years old. He was only an ordinary general in the Tubo army and had no reputation. Moreover, Luncha Dezan was extremely addicted to alcohol. At twelve hours a day, he spent at least eight hours in drunkenness. That's why he could only stay at Dabolu and could not go to Tochar to participate in the war.

The military camp of the Tubo people was five miles east of Baleti City, Dabolu's capital. It was a small castle with a dangerous terrain, which strangled the only way to go east. At noon that day, King Tingsu of Dabolu sent people to inform Luncha Dezan urgently and found a Tang army patrol fifty miles north of Baleti City, with about 400 people. Dabolu's army did not dare to go, so he specially asked the Tubo army to wipe out the patrol.

Luncha Dezan had no doubt about Tingsudi's news, and he also believed that Dabolu's army did not have the courage. How dare he deal with the Tang army? There were only 400 Tang soldiers, and it was really a matter of fact that Luncha Dezan considered it. In the end, he personally led 1,55 people to wipe out the Tang army patrol.

The vast Tubo army ran on the plateau. Their combat capability on the plateau was far stronger than that on the plain. The thin air on the plateau had no effect on them. They could travel for a long time and remained in full physical strength after running for two or three hours.

It was already dusk. At this time, the Tubo army had discovered the traces of the Tang army. There was indeed a Tang army patrol team ten miles away. They were fleeing north. At this time, Luncha Dezan, who was eager to make contributions, no longer cared about the darkness of the sky. He immediately ordered: "Start the pursuit, be sure to catch up with the Tang army and annihilate them all!"

The Tubo soldiers accelerated their pace, and five hundred cavalry and one thousand infantry were chasing north like a long black dragon.

The sky gradually darkened, a bright moon rose on the plateau, the sky was like a pure black crystal, and snow peaks were shrouded in a dreamy crystal color under the moonlight.

At this time, 1,500 Tubo troops passed through a canyon. The canyon was not high, but it was straight and steep like a knife slashing on both sides, and the light in the canyon became dim.

The canyon was about five miles long. When the Tubo army reached halfway, Cha Dezan began to feel uneasy. The Tang army had always had strange battles. Will there be ambush? But when I thought that the Tang army had only 400 people, even if there were ambushes, it would not have much lethality.

He raised his wine pot and poured more than a dozen sips of wine in a row. The alcohol evaporated in his body, which doubled his courage. On the plateau, it was the world of Tubo people. What is the Tang army?

At this moment, he seemed to hear a rumbling sound like thunder. The sound became louder and louder. Not only him, but all the Tubo army heard it. He looked up everywhere and suddenly found dozens of huge black shadows suddenly appeared in front of them, with extremely fast speed, rushing towards them with a strong wind in the wind.

The Tubo army was so scared that they had already seen clearly that each piece was a huge rock weighing more than a thousand pounds. Before the Tubo army could react, dozens of huge rolling stones rushed into the team, and screamed loudly in an instant, and the sound of "crack!" of the bones broke and the sound of being smashed into meat pies came one after another. At this moment, hundreds of Tubo troops had died on the spot.

Immediately afterwards, dozens of huge rocks rolled down from the tops of the mountains on both sides. The Tubo soldiers were frightened and ran away. Lun Cha Dezan was also stunned. He turned his horse's head and fled, but a huge rock hit his horse's hind legs. The war horse neighed and fell to the ground. He threw Lun Cha Dezan more than ten steps away. He escaped by luck. Two soldiers quickly helped him up and ran towards the valley entrance when he was here. Nearly a thousand Tubo soldiers followed him and ran to the valley entrance. Another two hundred people ran towards the valley entrance on the other side.

The sudden attacks and extremely disadvantaged terrain made the Tubo army unable to follow, and they didn't even see the shadow of the enemy, but there was one thing that everyone knew very well that if they did not escape from the valley, this would be their place to die.

Lu Cha Dezan was so angry that his heart was bleeding. He vaguely guessed that he was deceived by Tingsu. He had only one idea now, and he would escape and skin the damn king and make a drumbeat.

Just when they were less than a hundred steps away from the valley entrance, a clapper sounded, and thousands of arrows were fired at the entrance of the valley. The powerful crossbow arrow shot through the leather armor and chain armor of the Tubo soldiers, and shot through their wooden shields. The wailing sound suddenly started, and a large area of ​​Tubo soldiers fell down. This time, Lun Cha Dezan was not so lucky. An arrow shot through his head and shot him to death on the spot.

The Tubo soldiers turned around and fled. During the escape, hundreds of people were shot down from behind by the Tang army's crossbow arrows. In the end, five or six hundred people escaped from the range and ran towards the other side. Thousands of Tang soldiers were calm and their steps were as heavy as mountains, and they rushed into the valley step by step.

On the other side of the valley entrance, more than 200 Tubo soldiers were also ambushed. A group of more than 1,000 Tang cavalrymen rushed out, slashing their swords and spears, heads rolling, dead bodies everywhere, and wailing sounded throughout the valley. In just a moment, all the more than 200 people were killed.

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Chapter completed!