Chapter 36: Starting the Attack (5)

The granary on the west side of Fusi City was already in flames. Thick plumes of black smoke spiraled upward into the sky before spreading out in all directions with the wind. The intense smell of burning sulfur drifted far and wide, causing tears to stream from people’s eyes even miles away.

When Li Kuo led two hundred Tang soldiers to the scene, there wasn’t a single guard at this crucial supply depot of the Tubo army. The young man waved his hand and ordered his men to cover the Tubo army’s food stores with thick layers of felt, then pour buckets of fire oil over them. A lit torch was thrown into the grain-filled warehouse, instantly igniting a massive fire. The flames grew taller and taller, writhing like demons dancing in the wind, devouring everything in their path.

What troubled Li Kuo was that Jie Yuchan, the defender of Fusi City, had received news when the Tang army breached the city walls and had already fled through the back door with his troops.

“Damn it!”
Li Kuo had devised this plan to capture Fusi City secretly and wipe out all the defenders inside. Yet even so, they had let Jie Yuchan, that old fox, escape. Losing him wasn’t the biggest concern—what was worse was that the defenders in the Dafei Valley and Datong Gully would soon hear the news. By then, if the Tubo army attacked from both sides, would anyone have a chance to escape?

“Go call Pu Dachui, Zhang Yanji, and Zhou Wucui and order them to bring their troops to gather west of the city at once!” Li Kuo instructed one of his guards, rubbing his forehead in frustration. It seemed impossible to stay in Fusi City any longer. So which direction should they flee?

To the north of Fusi City was the Datong Gully, and it wouldn’t be long before the defenders there heard the news. It would be impossible for his six hundred men to pass by unnoticed. As for heading south, they would have to cross the Dafei Ridge and take a detour back to Longyou via Dingrong City. While this might make it easier to avoid the Tubo troops, it would greatly increase the distance they had to travel. Moreover, he was carrying so many women from Longyou who might not be able to endure the arduous journey through the mountains.

Soon, Zhang Yanji, Pu Dachui, Zhou Wucui, and other trusted officers arrived with their troops west of the city. Li Kuo spread his hands and sighed deeply. “I’ve set the granary on fire. The Tubo army will surely struggle to find food for their troops for a while. But we need to leave here quickly. Jie Yuchan has fled with his remaining men through the back door. It’s possible that a large Tubo army could gather on the west side of Qinghai at any moment.”

Zhang Yanji nodded. “Brother Kuo is right. But even if we encounter those Tubo barbarians, we’re not afraid!”

Zhou Wucui gave him a disdainful look and said, “Do you think all Tubo soldiers are as weak as the defenders of Fusi City? These are just some inexperienced recruits who haven’t seen real battle. If they encountered seasoned veterans, I doubt you’d still be able to smile. Mortals… truly mere mortals.” His chubby cheeks trembled as his mouth opened and closed, infuriating Zhang Yanji to the point where he wanted to rush over and twist his neck hard. “Heh, General Zhou really knows how to boost the morale of the barbarians and undermine his own prestige. If you’re scared, just wash your neck and wait for death. Why bother chasing after us and enduring such humiliation?” Zhang Xiaolangjun wasn’t one to suffer losses and retorted with threats. “I’m not holding grudges against you because that would make me as childish and ignorant as you.” Zhou Wucui shook his head and glared fiercely at Zhang Yanji. “You!…” Li Kuo waved his hand and said, “Enough, let’s get back to business. Can’t you two calm down for a while?” Xianyu Yucheng stepped forward, bowed to Li Kuo, and said, “Commander, while scouting the area around Fusi City, I happened to discover a bay on the west side of Qinghai where a dozen or so Qiang families live. They make a living by fishing. If our army could use all their fishing boats, we might be able to cross Qinghai and reach Shanzhou via the Shenwei Army.” (Note 1) Li Kuo’s eyes lit up. “Is this true?” Xianyu Yucheng nodded. “I saw it with my own eyes. There are more than a dozen large fishing boats, enough to carry our entire army. If this is a lie, please punish me according to military law!” “Great! This is heaven’s blessing for our army, for our Tang Dynasty!” Li Kuo paused before ordering firmly, “All troops, advance quickly to the camp on the west side of Qinghai, rescue the displaced people, and force our way across Qinghai!” “I shall obey!” The generals bowed one after another, giving their commander the firmest response. On the west side of Qinghai, over a dozen large fishing boats were neatly moored. After rescuing the displaced people, the Tang army reached this bay following Xianyu Yucheng’s directions. Here, a dozen or so Qiang families had lived by fishing for generations. Seeing so many Tang soldiers suddenly appear before them, the Qiang people knelt down and bowed repeatedly, fearing that the Tang army might mistake them for Tubo people.

The Qiang people were not as warlike and profit-driven as the Tuyuhun. Except for a very small number of strong men captured by the Tibetans, most Qiang people lived in seclusion in mountain valleys or bays, leading a self-sufficient and peaceful life. When the Tang Dynasty went to war with Tibet, it was the Qiang people who suffered the most. Since they did not clearly side with either country, the commanders of both sides suspected them. As a result, the Qiang fishermen, who relied on fishing for a living, dared not sell their fish and shrimp in the towns around the Tang and Tibetan territories, fearing they would be captured by military officers as spies. Thus, any excess fish had to be dried, leaving their lives in dire straits. (Note 2) Although such a life was hard, it was still bearable. But suddenly, over 600 Tang soldiers invaded their lives, intending to cross Qinghai Lake. The Qiang people were in a dilemma: if they refused the Tang soldiers’ request, their fishing boats might be forcibly taken without any benefit; if they agreed, the Tibetans might cause them trouble later. It was because they could no longer tolerate the exploitation by the Tibetans that the Qiang people moved to the west side of Qinghai Lake. They had given up large areas of grassland and livestock to the Tibetans, and if they were also barred from fishing in Qinghai Lake, they would truly have no way to survive.

“Elderman, we are requisitioning all these dozen fishing boats. Rest assured, we will give you generous compensation once we cross Qinghai Lake.”

Chen Xu took on the responsibility of communicating with the Qiang people. Having lived in the Guozhou area for many years, he often interacted with some of the local Qiang fishermen. Although his Qiang language skills were not as fluent as his Tibetan, he could still handle simple conversations.

The old Qiang man bowed his head repeatedly and said, “We dare not refuse. It is an honor to serve the Tang army.”

Chen Xu nodded and went to Li Kuo, bowing and saying, “Commander, they have agreed to carry us across Qinghai Lake.”

Li Kuo was overjoyed and ordered, “Tell the men to board the boats quickly. We must set sail before the Tibetans arrive.”

The Tibetans were not skilled at building ships, so as long as they managed to reach the waters of Qinghai Lake, he wasn’t worried that the Tibetans could catch up to them.

The Qiang fishermen laid wooden planks along the shore and stood respectfully aside. The Tang soldiers formed ranks and crossed the planks skillfully; sixty men boarded each fishing boat, just enough to fit. As for Cuihua and the other Tang survivors, they were placed on a large ship with generals like Li Kuo. From the moment they stepped onto the fishing boats, the girls cried nonstop, pounding on the wooden poles. They had thought of escaping more than once, but the snow-capped mountains and the vast Qinghai Lake stood like insurmountable barriers, leaving them only to sigh and weep. After crying for so long, their tears dried up, and they gave up on the unrealistic idea of escape. By day, they endured their mistress’s whips; by night, they suffered their master’s lust. They had become numb and desperate, letting fate control their bodies and souls.

But when they finally set out on their escape, years of pent-up emotions erupted instantly—excitement, agitation, resentment—mixed together, so much so that even they couldn’t explain why they were crying. They had truly escaped! They no longer had to endure inhumane abuse!

And it was all because of General Li Kuo! Compared to the emperor, who was distant and revered, they preferred to place this savior at the highest place in their hearts. It was because this young man had reached out to help them in their most desperate times, because he had lit a lamp for them when their world was plunged into darkness. Where was the emperor, sitting in his palace, when they were suffering? Didn’t he see double? How could he not notice his people in distress? (Note 3) “Thank you, General, for saving our lives!”

Cuihua suddenly knelt on the boat, repeatedly thanking Li Kuo. Soon after, more than twenty Tang female slaves also knelt down, expressing their gratitude.

Li Kuo was initially stunned, then stepped forward to help Cuihua up. “Everyone, get up. This is what we should do. If we can’t even protect our own women and homes, what kind of men are we?”

Looking back, the young man saw thick black smoke rising above Fusi City.

But this was just the beginning. We had only protected our women. We wouldn’t put down our swords. There were still our homes to defend.

This was the responsibility every Tang man should bear, wasn’t it?……

Note 1: Qinghai: During the Tang Dynasty, Qinghai Lake was called Qinghai, meaning sea.

Note 2: Compared to the Tubo and Tuyuhun peoples, the Qiang were considered a relatively friendly ethnic group, as they placed less emphasis on power and territory. Having land for grazing sheep and waters for fishing were their greatest aspirations. Of course, this refers to most of the Qiang people.
Note 3: “Double-pupiled imperial gaze”: In ancient times, double pupils were seen as a mythological sign of sharp vision and exceptional wisdom; it was believed that wise emperors all had double pupils. The term “double-pupiled imperial gaze” is used to praise an emperor’s discerning vision in handling affairs.