Chapter 123: By the Qinghai Lake

Since Tubo was a slave-based military tribal alliance, its military system followed the primitive tribal model of a militia system based on clan groups, where the tribe combined military, administrative, and production functions. Whenever war broke out, the entire tribe would participate in combat. While soldiers fought at the front, the tribe’s elders, children, and property followed closely behind. As a result, when the front-line troops retreated, the Tang army often captured their supplies, which became a major constraint for the Tubo tribes.

It was not until the An Lushan Rebellion erupted that the Tang forces in Longxi were weakened, allowing Tubo troops to seize millions of Han people and turn them into slaves. Only then did Tubo change its strategy of having the entire tribe fight, instead relying on Han slaves for logistics support.

In this battle in the Hehuang region, Tubo still relied on tribal units, but they had already captured many Han slaves, known as “yong,” who were also assigned to handle logistics tasks.

The Tubo people Nan Jiyun discovered were part of a small tribe living near Wuhai. They numbered around three thousand, with a thousand men stationed at Chiling, while women, children, and slaves lived on the grasslands west of Fusi City. Usually, these groups consisted of related families living together. The nearest group of tents to the Tang army was made up of thirteen Tubo families.

There were over fifty people in total: thirty Tubo women and children, and the remaining twenty-odd were Han people captured from Longyou, assigned as slaves to these thirteen families. Most of them were women, along with a few elders. The male slaves had been sent to build fortifications in Dafei Chuan.

Dusk was approaching. A dozen ragged Han female slaves by the river were herding sheep back to their pen, while other slaves were cooking and serving the Tubo masters in the tents.

These Han women had originally been respectable women from Longyou. Some were married with children, while others were unmarried. Their cities were captured by the Tubo, leaving them destitute—husbands dead, children scattered. Their fate was tragic. First, they were taken to the military camps as prostitutes; those who survived were assigned as slaves to various Tubo tribes. They had no freedom, forced to work like beasts for their masters. During the day, they endured beatings from their female masters; at night, they had to satisfy the sexual desires of their male masters. Their status was even worse than that of animals. The harsh living conditions meant they rarely lived beyond a few years, often dying from exhaustion and torture.

“Today is their important day. Sigh! I wonder if we’ll be able to drink mutton soup tonight?”

“Lu Niang, stop dreaming. It’s already good if we can eat half full of barley.”

At that moment, a few sheep ran away from the herd, causing the female slaves to panic and chase after them. Losing even one sheep could mean their death.

“The lamb has gone back!”
A young female slave rushed after it desperately. Suddenly, a thorny stick in the grass pierced her foot, causing blood to flow profusely. She fell to the ground heavily. The other female slaves quickly gathered around her, tearing pieces of cloth from their tattered dresses to bandage her wound.
“Hurry up and chase the lamb back! If it gets lost, we’ll be in big trouble!” the young slave cried anxiously, pointing at the white lamb in the distance.
Suddenly, her hand froze. She saw a group of soldiers on horseback approaching fast.
She screamed in terror, “Soldiers are coming!”
The female slaves were terrified. They knew all too well what would happen if caught by those fierce soldiers—they had all experienced that unbearable pain, which left them with unforgettable nightmares.
Ignoring the sheep, they fled in panic. The injured slave was helped by two of her companions as they ran south, but they couldn’t outrun the warhorses. Soon, the sound of thundering hooves filled their ears. Someone laughed loudly, “They’re Tubo women! Brothers, enjoy yourselves!”
“They’re Han people!”
The young slave stopped abruptly. Turning around, she saw a bearded Tang soldier charging at her on horseback. She screamed in excitement, tears streaming down her face.
“Save me!”
Li Fei Yuanli, who was charging at her, froze. This Tubo woman was crying and screaming, and she could even speak Han. What was going on?
One of the soldiers noticed first and shouted, “General Li Fei, she seems to be a Han woman!”
“Han?”
Li Fei Yuanli suddenly ordered loudly, “Tell the soldiers not to act rashly. Find out the situation first.”
He dismounted and went to the woman kneeling before him. Seeing her foot pierced by a thorny stick with bloody flesh, he took out a bag of medicine from his pocket and scattered it on her wound.
The female slave knelt on the ground, wiping away her tears. Li Fei Yuanli squatted in front of her and examined her, then said, “Speak! If you’re really a Han woman, Old Li won’t hurt you.”
“Sir, my surname is Zhao, and my nickname is Lu Niang. I’m sixteen years old. I’m originally from Fengxiang in Guanzhong.”
“Wait! If you’re from Fengxiang in Guanzhong, then how did you end up here?” Li Fei Yuanli scratched the back of his head, puzzled.

“Five years ago, I followed my parents to Songzhou to live with my uncle. There, my father cultivated a few acres of poor land to make a living. Three years ago, the Tibetans captured Songzhou, and everyone in the city was taken away. As we passed by a cliff, the Tibetans forced us to say goodbye to our hometown. My father and uncle, overwhelmed with grief, jumped off the cliff and died. My mother followed them. More than five hundred of us young women were taken to the Tibetan army camps…”
“Stop talking!”
Li Fei Yuanli suddenly stood up, anger flashing in his eyes. At that moment, about a dozen other women also gathered around. Li Fei Yuanli waved at them and said, “Don’t be afraid. We are Tang soldiers. We will protect you and send you back to your hometown.”
The dozen Han female slaves listened in shock. Suddenly, someone burst into loud crying, and soon everyone was crying. They cried as they told the Tang soldiers about their tragic fate after being captured by the Tibetans, about the years of suffering and longing for their families. They were desperate, waiting in pain for death. But at that moment, a group of Tang soldiers, their own army, suddenly appeared beside them.
The pain accumulated in the women’s hearts erupted at that moment. They covered their faces and cried bitterly, unable to speak further. Some women, thinking of their husbands and children killed, cried so hard they fainted.
Every Tang soldier’s face was covered in tears. They silently watched these sisters who had been enslaved by the Tibetans—each with tattered clothes, emaciated bodies, messy hair like straw, and faces filled with the pain of hunger. The Tang soldiers gritted their teeth and clenched their fists.
“Vengeance!” a soldier suddenly roared.
“Vengeance! Vengeance!…” The roar echoed across the fields.
Li Fei Yuanli suddenly raised his head, staring fiercely at the tents in the distance. He slammed his fist into the grass and said, word by word, “Charge! Go save our sisters! Kill every Tibetan, man, woman, old or young—leave none alive!”
More than two hundred Tang soldiers mounted their horses. Drawing their swords, they charged at the tents, roaring in fury. The fire of hatred burned fiercely in their hearts, and all their hatred condensed into one word: ‘Kill!’
Thirteen Tibetans who were eating were startled by the sound of horse hooves. They rushed out of the tents only to find the Tang soldiers attacking. Terrified, they turned and fled. Two Tibetan youths tried to escape on horseback but were pierced in the back by two flying arrows and fell off their horses, screaming in pain.
An angry tribal leader living there drew his sword and charged forward to fight, but was struck by a Tang soldier, whose sword severed his head. Thirty Tibetan women and children were instantly trampled under the Tang soldiers’ hooves.
…

As darkness fell, Li Qing’an’s troops slowly arrived by the river. A blazing campfire was lit in the center of the tents. Li Fei Yuanli was leading the Tang soldiers to slaughter sheep and roast meat. More than twenty women were placed in separate tents, to whom the Tang soldiers brought sheep’s milk and roasted meat.

Li Fei Yuanli’s anger still burned within him. He reported to Li Qing’an resentfully, “Seventh Brother, I am filled with indignation. I killed all the Tubo people here. If I’ve violated any military discipline, punish me.”

“I won’t punish you for killing them, but if even one person escapes, I’ll flog you a hundred times!”

Li Fei Yuanli was overjoyed. He immediately said, “None will escape. I guarantee it. We came from behind.”

At that moment, Nan Jiyun approached with an old man wearing a felt hat and having his hair shaved. “General, this old man is also a Han slave. He knows about the situation in Fusi City.”

The old man knelt down and wept, “General! I’m from Lintao. I’ve been captured for ten years. If I can return to my hometown, I will erect a memorial tablet in your honor and worship you every day.”

Li Qing’an felt sad and quickly helped him up, comforting him, “Old man, we will surely send you back to your hometown. Could you first tell me about Fusi City?”

The old man sighed and said, “I’m a blacksmith from Lintao. I’ve been forging iron for thirty years. Because I was useful, I wasn’t killed. Two months ago, I was sent to Fusi City to work. I only returned with my master three days ago. Fusi City is filled with grain. I counted—there are twenty-four large granaries. That’s a key grain storage area for the Tubo army.”

“How many Tubo soldiers are stationed there?”

“I’m not sure. I guess a few thousand! But my master said that the army in Fusi City isn’t very large. The Tubo’s main forces are concentrated in the south and north of Qinghai—around Chiling Dafeichuan in the south and the Datong Valley in the north. General, I had no idea you would come from behind.”

Li Qing’an’s brows furrowed. His greatest concern was about to become reality—how could they reach Hehuang? There were strong troops stationed both in the south and north of Qinghai, and they couldn’t bypass them. If the Tubo people discovered them, they would have to retreat to Dunhuang. Then what sense would it be for him to come to Hehuang?

He strode slowly with his hands behind his back, thinking over strategies. To go south, he would need to cross the Chiling Mountains. First, he couldn’t cross the Dafei River, so he would have to take the northern route, passing through the Datong Valley north of Qinghai. He had studied the map carefully—the Datong Valley was about a hundred li wide, and it was impossible for the Tubo people to guard every spot; there must be gaps. If they could also find a way to move some of the troops stationed in the Datong Mountains southward, there would surely be weaknesses in their defense. In that case, perhaps they would have a chance.

With this in mind, Li Qing’an summoned Nan Jiyun and He Yanming and said, “We are behind enemy lines, and intelligence is of utmost importance. Each of you lead a small group to Fusi City and the Datong Valley to gather information. Remember, under no circumstances must the Tubo people discover our presence—even ordinary civilians not allowed. If we are caught, kill everyone in the vicinity, regardless of gender or age, without exception. Show no mercy, or our lives will be in danger.”

“Your orders, sir!”

The two bowed and left in haste. Li Qing’an then had Zhao Luniang brought in and asked in detail about the situation in Jiannan. Suddenly, he had an idea: with the Tubo army concentrated in the Dafei River area, Jiannan must be unguarded. Why not take this opportunity to recapture the cities in Jiannan that had been occupied by the Tubo?

After dinner, the Tang army extinguished their fires and went to rest. Dozens of sentries were stationed within ten li around the camp. Although Nan Jiyun had already explored the area and found no one within thirty li, Li Qing’an still couldn’t afford to be careless. They were surrounded by hundreds of thousands of Tubo soldiers, and if discovered, the consequences would be disastrous.

The Tang soldiers soon fell asleep, their snoring audible everywhere. Li Qing’an couldn’t sleep either. He carried a bow and arrow and patrolled around the camp. Passing by several tents belonging to female slaves, he saw two sentries standing near them. When they saw Li Qing’an approaching, they stood up together.

“Is anyone disturbing them?” Li Qing’an asked, pointing at the tents.

“Report to the general, sir—no!” they replied.

Li Qing’an approached the tents and peeked inside through a gap. It was dark inside, but he could faintly see them huddled on thick blankets, all asleep, their breathing steady.

Li Qing’an sighed silently and said to the two sentries, “Keep a close eye on them. No one is allowed in. If anyone tries to break in, report to me immediately.”

“Understood!”

Li Qing’an left the female slaves’ tents and went to a low hill. He climbed up. Although the hill wasn’t high, it still offered a distant view. The cold night wind blew against his face.

He simply sat down with his knees drawn up. In his memory, this was a plateau at 3,000 meters above sea level, where the sky was exceptionally clear and vast, like an endless ocean or a canopy covering everything—so calm, without a single wrinkle, all in the same deep blue. Stars filled the sky above him, like gems embedded in the canopy, shining brilliantly. Suddenly, a streak of light moved toward the west—a star falling westward, quickly disappearing beyond the horizon…

It was so close to space that Li Qing’an suddenly remembered a science fiction documentary he had watched in his later life, which mentioned many mysterious alien traces around Qinghai Lake, such as the mystery of stone discs. A strange idea crossed his mind: could he encounter aliens who would help him find a time tunnel and send him back 1,300 years?

Li Qing’an shook his head with a bitter smile. How could that be? Even if there really was a time tunnel before him, would he have the courage to go back? It had been almost three years since he arrived in the Tang Dynasty at the beginning of spring in the fifth year of Tianbao; it was now September in the seventh year of Tianbao. He felt he had almost merged into this era, just like everyone else, striving hard to climb up the ranks, eager to become a military governor as soon as possible, to be appointed a great general, to rise to high office, live in a grand mansion, possess beauties like Yang Guifei, accumulate endless wealth, and become famous in history—sharing the same aspirations as all Tang Dynasty officers.

So, he desperately tried to make connections with powerful figures, won the favor of Gao Lishi, caught the attention of Li Linfu, joined the crown prince’s faction, and gained the emperor’s approval. He even seized 50,000 taels of gold through cunning tactics. So far, everything had gone smoothly. He even thought the position of governor of Anxi was within reach. He had become somewhat complacent.

Until today, when he accidentally witnessed and heard about the suffering of the Han slave women, it was like a blow to wake him up.

No, he should be different from ordinary Tang people. He had 1,300 years more of history behind him, knowing better about the Han people’s repeated tragic cycles and feeling their pain more deeply.

Li Qing’an couldn’t help but recall Zhao Luniang’s account: “The Tibetans captured Songzhou, and everyone in the city was taken away. When passing by a cliff, the Tibetans forced us to bid farewell to our hometown. My father and uncle jumped off the cliff in grief, and my mother followed them. More than 500 of us young women were sent to the Tibetan army camps…”

His heart twisted in agony as scenes of the Han people’s massacre flashed before his eyes. Just seven years later, the An Lushan Rebellion broke out, and the Tubo launched a massive attack on the Tang Dynasty. Millions of Han people were captured and reduced to slavery, treated like livestock. Their wives and daughters were raped, their parents killed, and their homes destroyed. They were forced to shave their heads, change their clothes, and forget their native language, remaining slaves from generation to generation.

Over the following decades, countless barbarian tribes ravaged and slaughtered the Han people. In the 15th year of the Tianbao era, Li Longji fled westward, and hundreds of thousands of barbarian soldiers invaded Chang’an. The prosperity of the Tang Dynasty was destroyed amidst their cruel laughter. The Central Plains struggled under the iron hooves of the barbarians; cities were captured and sacked, men killed, and women died one after another. The Baima Temple was set on fire, and Luoyang struggled under the lust of the Uyghurs. In the first year of the Guangde era, the Tubo captured the capital, looted it for half a month, and carried away all the wealth and women from Chang’an.

These histories gradually faded from the memories of later generations. People only remembered the friendship inscribed on the alliance stele and the texts praising virtue. But today, Li Qing’an experienced the cruelty of history vividly. Wasn’t the tragic fate of those twenty-some Han female slaves the true reflection of Tang-Tubo relations?

“The passes are blocked, no one can pass;
Barbarian riders enter Liangzhou at night.
The Han fight everywhere until they die;
In one day, all of Longxi is lost.
We are driven to the barbarians’ lands,
To herd cattle and sheep, eating millet.
Last year, we raised children in China;
Now we wear furs and learn barbarian tongues.
Who can send Li Qingche back to reclaim Liangzhou for the Han?”

He murmured this famous poem by Zhang Ji. That night, he thought too much, feeling emotions he had never experienced before. Tonight, by Qinghai Lake, he would stay awake.