Chapter 699: Preparations on the Western Front

Hunting the proud in the lands outside Juyan City,
Wildfires burning across the grasslands that reach the sky.
Driving horses through the twilight clouds over the deserts,
The autumn plains are ideal for hunting eagles.

Since ancient times, Juyan Lake has been a brilliant gem in the grasslands of the northern frontier. With abundant water, beautiful grasslands along its shores, fertile land, and lush vegetation, farming here dates back to the Han Dynasty.

Juyan Lake serves as a vital route through the Badain Jaran Desert and the Great Gobi to the northern deserts. It has always been a strategic location contested by military forces. As early as the Han Dynasty, Han troops built fortresses here. After the Sui Dynasty, it fell under Turkic control. During the prosperous Tang Dynasty, many foreign merchants used Juyan Lake as a transit point, traveling south along the Zhangye River to trade with the Tang Dynasty.

A few years ago, Li Qing’an, the governor of Anxi, attacked the Uyghurs and drove them deep into the northern deserts, bringing Juyan Lake under Tang control. It became part of Beiting, with three thousand Tang troops stationed there to build fortresses and cultivate farmland.

Starting from the previous year, the Shatuo and Tongluo tribes gradually left Beiting. Abus, the leader of the Tongluo tribe, regained his former status and led his people westward to a fertile grassland north of Suiye and west of Yibohai, close to the Khazar Khanate. Abus realized Li Qing’an’s hostility toward the northern tribes and, learning from the downfall of the Göktürks, moved far away from the Tang Dynasty, preferring to compete with the Khazar Khanate instead.

Li Qing’an supported the Tongluo tribe’s decision to migrate westward. The Tang court appointed Abus as Khan of Jinshan. At the same time, Li Qing’an ordered Suiye to secretly provide weapons and food aid to the Tongluo tribe to help them resist the Khazar Khanate.

In contrast, Zhu Xia Jinzhong of the Shatuo tribe lacked Abus’s foresight. They accepted the Tang army’s invitation, led their people eastward, left Beiting, and moved to the area around Juyan Lake, where they herded livestock and lived there.

In March, Juyan Lake was full of vitality—vast expanse of blue waters, green grass and trees, a blue sky with white clouds, and herds of cattle and sheep grazing leisurely on the grasslands. Herders from the Shatuo tribe could be seen everywhere in their tents.

At that moment, a Tang cavalry force of about five thousand men rushed in from the west. Their warhorses were strong, and their knights were valiant, creating a mighty momentum. The leading general wore a silver helmet and iron armor, had a long face, and his triangular eyes sparkled with cunning. He was Cui Qianyou, the commander of Beiting’s military camp and governor of Tingzhou.

Cui Qianyou was de facto the governor of Beiting, commanding 15,000 troops stationed there. Juyan Lake also fell under his jurisdiction. Over the past few years, he had faithfully carried out Li Qingan’s orders to Sinicize Beiting, persuading the two major Turkic tribes there—the Tongluo and Shatuo—to leave. He gradually moved the herding nomads scattered throughout Beiting to the former lands of the Shatuo, using their original lands to settle the Han immigrants who kept moving westward. This time, he led his troops to Juyan Lake upon receiving Li Qingan’s order to launch a war against the Uyghurs. By then, the area around Juyan Lake was crowded with troops. In addition to the Tang forces, there were over 15,000 Shatuo cavalrymen and nearly 20,000 Tongluo cavalrymen who had come from the west to provide support; all had gathered around Xihai City, where the Tang forces were stationed. Moreover, the Khaganate of Khazars had also sent 15,000 cavalrymen toward Juyan Lake, though they had not yet arrived. Xihai City was a fortress newly built by the Tang and Shatuo forces the year before last, roughly the size of a small county. Nearly a thousand military families lived there, all being the dependents of the troops stationed at Juyan Lake. They made a living through farming. Since Juyan Lake was also a transit point for Western merchants entering Hexi, many astute families opened inns and taverns, gradually giving Xihai City a commercial atmosphere. At noon, Cui Qianyou’s troops arrived at Xihai City. The military commander there was the same person who had attempted to assassinate Si Han back in the day—a Göktürk prince who had changed his name to Yan Sihan. After the Göktürks were destroyed by the Uyghurs, Yan Sihan led his people westward beyond Yibohai but suffered heavy losses at the hands of the Khaganate of Khazars. With no other choice, he led the remaining 10,000 members of his tribe back to Beiting and formally adopted Han culture, marking the ultimate disappearance of the Göktürks. Yan Sihan himself had half Han ancestry. He married the daughter of Yang Fengche, the chief secretary of Beiting, and was appointed as a lieutenant general and military commander of Xihai City, leading troops to guard Juyan Lake. Upon hearing of Cui Qianyou’s arrival, Yan Sihan went out to greet him ten miles away and accompanied him into Xihai City, while 5,000 Tang troops from Beiting were stationed outside the city. “Go and invite Abusihuo and Zhuya Jinzhong over; I want to discuss military matters with them,” Cui Qianyou said. Yan Sihan agreed and went to summon them. Cui Qianyou entered the military headquarters and, without resting, immediately unfolded a map to study the route for the campaign. This time, Li Qingan decided to destroy the Uyghurs by launching operations across three fronts. Cui Qianyou was the commander of the third front. The slight difference was that his army was a coalition of Han and non-Han forces, including Han, Shatuo, Tongluo, and Khazars—nearly 60,000 troops in total, with the Tang forces as the core.

Li Qing’an had dealt with the Uyghurs for many years. He knew that to destroy them, the most effective method was to use wolves to hunt other wolves—using the Hu people to fight the Hu people. They would be more ruthless, have stronger search capabilities, and almost never leave any survivors, wiping them out completely.

Soon, hurried footsteps were heard outside the door. Someone reported, “Commander, they’ve arrived!”

“Let them in!”

The door opened, and Abus and Zhu Xia Jinzhong entered. Since fleeing to Beiting in the tenth year of the Tianbao era, Abus had pretended to be dead, posing as his younger brother. It was not until Li Qing’an seized power in the Tang Dynasty that he revealed his true identity and was appointed Khan of Jinshan by the Tang court. Now that the Tang Dynasty intended to destroy the Uyghurs, he personally led 20,000 elite Tongluo cavalry to assist in the battle.

Although the destruction of the Uyghurs would leave the grasslands of northern deserts empty, Abus decided not to return. He understood Li Qing’an well—how could one allow others to sleep peacefully while lying in one’s own bed? Li Qing’an would never tolerate strong neighbors around the Tang Dynasty. After destroying Tubo, driving out the Arabs, and annihilating the Khitans, it was now the turn of the Uyghurs.

Clearly, if the Tongluo people entered the grasslands, they would never become strong, as they would also be dealt with by the Tang Dynasty. Abus preferred to compete with the Gesar tribe for the western grasslands, where the grass was more lush and the land more fertile, making it more suitable for their survival.

Unlike Abus, Shatuo Ye Hu Zhu Xia Jinzhong was still young. His father, Guduzhi, had already passed away, and Zhu Xia Jinzhong took over his father’s role as the chief of the six Shatuo tribes. Guduzhi was a mature and steady man who refused to leave Jinshan and had no ambitions other than to allow the Shatuo people to live and thrive peacefully in Beiting.

But Zhu Xia Jinzhong was full of ambition. He aspired to become the ruler of the grasslands and to make the Shatuo people the eagles of the steppes—wherever the eagles flew, the Shatuo people would be there.

It was precisely because of his excessive ambition that when Cui Qianyou invited the Shatuo people to leave Jinshan and migrate eastward to Juyan Lake, Zhu Xia Jinzhong readily agreed. He led 100,000 members of his tribe away from Jinshan, their ancestral home, to the fertile grasslands of Juyan Lake. Zhu Xia Jinzhong eagerly awaited the Tang army’s attack on the Uyghurs, believing that would be their chance.

Because of his eagerness, he was the most enthusiastic during this Tang army’s northern expedition, with the entire tribe joining in.

The two entered the room and bowed together. “We pay our respects to Commander Cui!”

Cui Qianyou was an old friend of theirs. He laughed and said, “It’s been a long time since we last saw each other. Please, have a seat!”

The three sat down, and Cui Qianyou first asked Abus, “How are things with the Tongluo tribe? Have they gone to war with the Khaganate of Khasar?”

Abu Si bowed and said, “Thank you for your concern, Governor Cui. Last autumn, we fought against the Gesa people. The two sides were evenly matched, but the Gesa have agreed to give us the Ural River region. We signed a ceasefire agreement. After this campaign against the Uyghurs, we plan to move west officially.”

At this point, Abu Si sighed and added, “Perhaps because I’ve lived in the Tang Dynasty for so long, I’ve convinced my people to gradually give up a nomadic lifestyle and settle down to farm…”

As he spoke, Zhu Xia Jinzhong couldn’t help but snort lightly. He truly despised Abu Si for wanting to abandon nomadism for farming. Although Zhu Xia Jinzhong’s snort was soft, Abu Si heard it. He secretly sneered—this young chief was foolish! He couldn’t see through Li Qing’an’s true intentions. If Li Qing’an wanted to destroy the Uyghurs, did he really need their help?

It was sad that Guduzhi had been cautious his whole life but failed to choose a successor. The Shatuo people would surely perish at Zhu Xia Jinzhong’s hands.

Feigning not to have heard anything, Abu Si continued to report to Cui Qianyou about the Tongluo tribe’s plan to attack the Gesa. At sixty, Abu Si was as cunning as an old fox. He knew that the Khaganate of Khazaria secretly supported the Uyghurs, posing a great threat to the Tang Dynasty in Hexi and Suiye. Thus, the Tang Dynasty needed him as a strategic ally to exert pressure on Khazaria from behind, containing its threat to Suiye. At the same time, he convinced his people to give up nomadism and become an agricultural people, thereby dispelling the Tang Dynasty’s wariness of nomadic tribes and allowing them to fully support their growth.

Abu Si’s goal was to establish a Tongluo Khanate and replace the Khaganate of Khazaria within fifty or a hundred years. To achieve his ambition of founding a nation, gaining the support of the Tang Dynasty was crucial.

Since occupying the Ural River region, Abu Si’s vision had broadened. He realized how vast the world was and knew there were even more extensive lands in the west. They had no need to compete with the Tang Dynasty in the east.

After listening to Abu Si’s report, Cui Qianyou nodded and smiled at him, “It was very wise of you to lead an army here personally. I just received a secret order from the General. It’s likely that this campaign against the Uyghurs will be led by the General himself. I’ll arrange for you to meet with him. I’m sure the General will be willing to discuss things in detail with you.”

Abu Si was overjoyed. If he could talk to Li Qing’an in person, it would be of great significance for the development of the Tongluo tribe. He immediately stood up and bowed, “Then I beg the Governor to arrange this for us.”

At this moment, Zhu Xia Jinzhong beside him couldn’t help but ask, “Commander Cui, is the General willing to give Han’erdu Balì to the Shatuo?”
Hearing him reveal his thoughts, Cui Qianyou smiled slyly. “General Zhu Xia, don’t you know the General’s temperament? When it comes to rewarding merit, if the Shatuo people want Han’erdu Balì, that’s fine, but they must prove their bravery by fighting hard to defeat the Uyghur army. As long as they achieve great feats, even if they don’t ask, the General will still grant Han’erdu Balì to them.”
Zhu Xia Jinzhong was overjoyed and expressed his gratitude deeply, saying, “The Shatuo warriors are willing to die for the General!”
Cui Qianyou waved his hand and smiled again, “Now is not the time to show loyalty. First, listen to the General’s orders.”
Both of them immediately sat up straight, and then Cui Qianyou slowly said, “This time, you are there to assist in the battle, and the court won’t give you any rewards. As for the Tongluo army, the court will support you in fighting against the Khaganate of Kievan Rus’. That will be your compensation. Any questions?”
Abu Si replied immediately, “No questions!”
Cui Qianyou then said to Zhu Xia Jinzhong, “The court’s reward for the Shatuo people is land; nothing else. General Zhu Xia, any questions?”
Zhu Xia Jinzhong hesitated for a moment before asking, “What about cattle, sheep, horses, and so on…”
“That’s exactly what I want to make clear. All of the Uyghur’s cattle, sheep, horses, and people will belong to the Tang Dynasty. For this northern expedition, every household in the Tang Dynasty has contributed money and grain, so the spoils of war will be distributed among the Tang people. There will be no consideration for your rewards.”
Cui Qianyou stared at Zhu Xia Jinzhong and said slowly, “If the Shatuo people think the rewards are unfair, you can choose not to fight.”
Zhu Xia Jinzhong lowered his head and pondered for a while before saying, “Seizing spoils has always been the tradition of the Shatuo people. If we are to give up spoils, then we need the best pastures. I hope the General will consider our request.”
A cold murderous intent flashed in Cui Qianyou’s eyes, but it disappeared quickly. He said indifferently, “I already said that the court will definitely give the Shatuo people land and pastures as rewards. But if the Shatuo people want the best pastures, or even Han’erdu Balì, then they need to earn it through their own military achievements.”
Zhu Xia Jinzhong sighed. “I understand. We will do our best to earn rewards through our efforts.”
Cui Qianyou’s gaze turned to Abu Si. Abu Si knew better than anyone that they had no room to bargain with the Tang army. The Uyghur’s spoils were nothing but cattle and sheep. Even if given to them, they couldn’t take them back. It was better to give up outright and seek the Tang Dynasty’s greatest support.

“We are assisting Luo Jun in the battle to thank the Tang army for their support; we will go back as we came.”
Cui Qianyou couldn’t help but praise Abus for his eloquence. The same outcome, expressed in different words, created a different impression—Luo’s approach seemed far more sincere than that of the Shatuo.
“Since that’s clear, let me bring up the second point. This attack on the Uyghurs is meant to prevent them from recovering. There’s a secret rule that I can only tell you privately: in this campaign, aside from women, any man who is taller than the stirrup must be killed.”
Cui Qianyou’s gaze turned extremely cold and fierce, even Abus shuddered.
……
After the meeting, accompanied by Yan Sihan, Cui Qianyou inspected Xihai City. Its construction took a full year. Besides the Tang army and the Shatuo, the Tang also spent money recruiting thousands of Tangut people from within the passes to help. The city walls were built entirely of huge stones, making the city strong and large enough to accommodate over ten thousand soldiers and civilians.
“General Yan, in this northern expedition against the Uyghurs, all your troops must participate in the battle. At most, only a hundred men will be left to guard the city. Think about it—if Uyghur scouts launch a surprise attack, can you protect your troops?”
Yan Sihan pondered for a moment before shaking his head. “No. I plan to have them move to Zhangye temporarily and return after the battle against the Uyghurs is over.”
Cui Qianyou glanced at him and smiled. “You’re smart. You never put yourself in danger.”
Yan Sihan knew Cui Qianyou was referring to his decision to submit to the Tang. He sighed. “In this vast world, only the strong survive. I led thirty thousand of my people westward, hoping to create a new world. But I was too weak. How could the Khaganate allow me to survive? Either I’d be conquered and become part of them, or I’d submit to the Tang to save my people’s lives. The Göktürks are doomed to perish. How can I defy fate?”
Cui Qianyou nodded. “You’re right. The Xiongnu were once extremely powerful, but now they’ve vanished. The Xianbei once dominated the Central Plains, but now they’re nowhere to be found. The Rouran were once domineering, but they were eventually wiped out from the steppes. The Turks once challenged the Tang Dynasty, with vast territories, but now they’re fragmented and dying out one by one. Only the Han people have survived for thousands of years. Though they’ve suffered many defeats, they’ve always remained unbroken. Have you ever thought about why?”
Yan Sihan pondered for a moment before saying with a bitter smile, “Those who eat meat grow flesh but not brains; those who eat grains grow brains but not flesh.”

Cui Qianyou laughed heartily. He patted Yan Sihan’s shoulder and stopped laughing, saying, “Though the words are rough, there’s some truth to them. In this vast world, the strong reign supreme. Our Tang Dynasty was too lenient toward foreign tribes in the past, which led to the rebellions of An Lushan and Shi Siming, causing great suffering among the people in Hebei. That won’t happen again. It was wise of you to lead your people to submit to the Tang Dynasty. It was also wise of Abusi to lead his people far to the west to avoid the Tang’s might. Only the Shatuo are ambitious, wanting to become the second force behind the Uyghurs—that’s how they invite disaster upon themselves.”

Cui Qianyou walked to the edge of the city wall with his hands behind his back. He gazed at the dark mountains in the distance, as if speaking to Yan Sihan as well as to himself. “Our Han people have long been gentle rather than strong, overly kind and lacking in firmness, which has led to repeated oppression by stronger enemies and humiliation by smaller nations. It’s self-inflicted blame! Fortunately, the Tang Dynasty has generals like the Supreme General who destroy powerful enemies and conquer smaller nations, leaving no lingering threats or room for error. This is the way of a strong nation, and it gives hope for the revival of our Tang Dynasty. The Supreme General told me that combining strength and gentleness is the foundation for both personal integrity and a nation’s prosperity. Indeed, these words are true!”

……

Three days later, the Khagan of the Khazars, Arelie, also led 15,000 cavalry from the distant north to assist the Tang army in battle.

The Khazars were the Jienkun tribe of the Han Dynasty, living in the middle reaches of the Yenisei River today. They were white-skinned and the ancestors of the modern Kyrgyz people. Tall in stature, most of them had red hair and blue eyes, while a few with black hair claimed to be descendants of the Han general Li Ling. Having long been oppressed and enslaved by the Uyghurs, breaking free from their rule was the greatest desire of this people.

When Li Qingan was in Beiting, they sent troops to help in battle. Unlike the Shatuo and Tongluo tribes, who relied more on the Tang army, the Khazars were more independent. Their loyalty to the Tang Dynasty stemmed more from gratitude, with no extra demands—only the wish to escape Uyghur oppression.

This time, when Li Qingan decided to launch a northern campaign against the Uyghurs, he hadn’t originally planned to have them assist, but merely sent messengers to inform them, and the Khazars immediately sent their troops.

By then, the Tang army had 8,000 cavalry, 20,000 elite troops from the Tongluo, 15,000 cavalry from the Shatuo, and 15,000 cavalry from the Khazars—a total of 58,000 men gathered by Lake Juyan.

After two days of preparation, 60,000 cavalry left Lake Juyan, crossed the grasslands between Jinshan and Wudijian Mountains, and headed northwest along the Wudijian Mountain range.