Chapter 122: Preparations in Longyou

In July, Anxi remained unbearably hot, though it was slightly cooler in the mornings and evenings. That day, an army of nearly a thousand men arrived from afar outside Kucha City. They were the soldiers from the Jiangdu and Shouchun battalions who had traveled thousands of miles from Chang’an. Although this army from the Jianghuai region was visiting Anxi for the first time, months of rigorous training and trials under the scorching sun and sandstorms had endowed them with some of the ferocity and combat spirit typical of Anxi soldiers. Yet, their expressions still retained a touch of the grace and refinement characteristic of men from the Jianghuai region, setting them apart from the Anxi soldiers.

Having been away from Anxi for over half a year, Li Qing’an was filled with emotion upon returning. No matter how prosperous Chang’an or wealthy Yangzhou might be, it was Anxi that gave him a sense of belonging. It was through Anxi that he entered the Tang Dynasty, and it seemed his fate was tied to this place.

“Young men are willing to risk their lives, traveling thousands of miles to join the army, crossing icy rivers at Yumen, and donning iron armor in the desert…”

Li Qing’an turned and saw Pei Yu reciting poetry aloud. He couldn’t help but smile and say, “Young Master Pei, you seem in high spirits!”

Pei Yu had set out from Chang’an with Li Qing’an, traveling thousands of miles. He had become dark and thin. When asked by Li Qing’an, Pei Yu replied with a smile, “The entire journey was through deserts and wastelands, making me feel drowsy. But once we passed Yinshan and saw the vast grasslands, my mood improved immediately.”

Li Qing’an nodded and said, “The Kucha area is the heart of Anxi. The land here is fertile. Since the Tang Dynasty began to develop the Western Regions, large areas of farmland have been cultivated here, enabling the Anxi army to be self-sufficient. Since you’re here, Young Master Pei, why not explore around and study the local customs? Write a meaningful book—it will be very beneficial for your future.”

“But my grandfather sent me to Anxi to assist with military affairs and handle documents for General Li, not to travel around.”

“That’s fine! Assisting with military affairs still requires traveling with the army, which won’t prevent you from writing a book.”

Hearing this, Pei Yu became somewhat tempted. Writing a record of his travels in Anxi might not be a bad idea. He made up his mind and said with a smile, “Then I’ll give it a try.”

Li Qing’an pulled back the curtain and looked into the distance. He could already faintly see Kucha City. He hurried toward the center of the army. The army included over a hundred wagons loaded with various supplies from the Central Plains. Additionally, a few wagons carried more than a dozen young and beautiful women—women taken by various Anxi generals in Chang’an. There was Rushi Ruopi, like Li Qing’an’s, Qian Niang belonging to Li Fei Shouyu, two dance sisters freed from the imperial dance troupe by Li Fei Yuanli, and several concubines and maids purchased by Li Siyeh and Tian Zhen.

These dozen or so women had followed them for thousands of miles and were clearly exhausted. At that moment, He Yanming pointed at the distant city of Kucha and said loudly to the women, “Do you see it? That’s Kucha City! We’re home!”
The women immediately cheered. Their joyful mood infected the other soldiers, who all pointed at Kucha City, laughing and becoming increasingly excited.
Ruhua was the happiest. Since passing through Tiemeng Pass, she had been chattering nonstop. She gazed at the white clouds in the sky, the blue sky, the sapphire-like snow-capped peaks in the distance, the lush green grasslands, the crisscrossing rivers, and the herds of cattle and sheep everywhere. By the rivers, groups of Hu women were washing clothes, occasionally standing up to wave and laugh at them.
She was overjoyed—this was the home she wanted: free, without a humble status, where she could soar freely like a bird.
“Sis, do you like it here?”
Rushi nodded gently, her beautiful eyes shining with joy. She liked it too—she could stay away from the powerful people in Chang’an.
“I wonder what our home will be like?” Her eyes were filled with longing for her new home.
“Rushi Jie, don’t worry!”
Xiaolian smiled and said, “There’s a special settlement for Han people in Kucha City. The houses are just like those in Chang’an. The generals in Anxi hold the highest status there and usually have spacious residences. Didn’t Big Brother say he already asked Brother Duan to help him buy a house? It must be ready by now.”
At that moment, the sound of horse hooves came from afar. A red figure was riding fast toward them. As the red cloud approached, Xiaolian recognized her at once and exclaimed in delight, “It’s Miss Gu!”
Rushi had heard Xiaolian talk about Gao Wu countless times. Although Xiaolian only spoke highly of her, a hint of concern still flashed in her eyes.
Ruhua, however, snorted disdainfully. It wasn’t even the husband of an prince—what was there to fear?
The woman rushing over was indeed Gao Wu. Having heard that Li Qing’an was approaching, she couldn’t contain her excitement any longer and rushed out of the city to greet him. She wore a red military uniform that accentuated her tall figure with full breasts and a slender waist. She carried a sword at her waist and a long bow on her back, looking particularly heroic on horseback.
“Miss Gu, over here!” Xiaolian leaned out of the carriage window, waving at her excitedly.
Gao Wu’s warhorse rushed up to the carriage. She smiled and pinched Xiaolian’s cheek. “You little girl are getting more and more beautiful.”

“Miss Wu is getting more and more beautiful too. Miss Wu, let me introduce them to you,” said Xiao Lian, pulling Ru Shi and Ru Hua over with a smile. “These are Ru Shi and Ru Hua—those I mentioned in my letter to you.”
Gao Wu glanced curiously at the twin sisters, a hint of surprise in her eyes as they indeed looked exactly alike.
“Which one of you is Ru Shi and which one is Ru Hua?”
Ru Shi quickly bowed and said, “Miss Wu, I’m the elder sister, Ru Shi. This is my sister, Ru Hua.”
“Oh! You have different hairstyles.”
Gao Wu reached into her bag and took out two gem-encrusted daggers, handing them to the two of them with a smile. “I’ve heard about you from Xiao Lian before. She said you’re Qi Lang’s treasures. Seeing you in person, I really feel sorry for you. These Shule daggers are my gifts for meeting you. If Li Chou Gong dares to bully you, use these against him.”
“Thank you, Miss Wu!”
Ru Hua, seeing that Gao Wu wasn’t as fierce as she had imagined and even gave her gifts, began to like her a bit. She quickly took the daggers and pulled out a blade, revealing its sharp, gleaming edge. She exclaimed in surprise, “Wow! These are real weapons!”
Gao Wu smiled proudly and said, “Of course I’m giving you real weapons. Would I give you decorations?”
Suddenly, she sensed something and turned around to see Li Qingan smiling at her from about ten steps away. It had been over half a year since they last met, yet his smile remained as playful as ever. Gao Wu’s nose stung, and her eyes reddened slightly. She tried to control her emotions and scolded him with a smile, “Li Chou Gong, you’re so unreliable! You said you’d come back right away, so why did it take you half a year?”
“Hehe! I went to Jiangnan again.”
Li Qingan looked at Gao Wu from head to toe and saw that she was even more beautiful and graceful than half a year ago. He smiled and said, “Sister Wu, have you married a good man? You look even prettier now!”
Gao Wu’s expression darkened, and she replied coldly, “Do you want me to get married?”
At that moment, Li Fei Yuanli stepped forward with a smirk and said, “Sister Wu, let me tell you—this Li Chou Gong has pursued many women in Chang’an. He’s extremely promiscuous. Whenever the girls in Chang’an hear about Li Qi Lang from Anxi, they all light up with joy and want to throw themselves at him right away. I’ve told him so many times, but he just won’t listen.”
Xiao Lian hurriedly interjected, “Miss Wu, don’t listen to this bearded guy’s nonsense. Our elder brother isn’t that kind of person.”
Gao Wu glanced at Li Qingan, seeing that he was still smiling mischievously. She glared at him fiercely, got off her horse, and opened the car door. “Xiao Lian, I’ll talk to you guys. Who wants to deal with these disgusting men?”

She got into the carriage and slammed the door shut. Then, her voice was heard from inside, laughing, “It’s like a poem or a painting. Share your impressions of Anxi.”
Li Fei Yuanli rolled his eyes and turned to Li Qingan, shrugging his shoulders. “See? I told you you’d end up in trouble when you came back!”
Li Qingan laughed and gave him a slap on the back of the head, scolding playfully, “I was missing you when I wasn’t with you in Yangzhou. Now I understand what it means to ‘want chaos to reign.’”
Li Fei Yuanli chuckled. “I’m just helping things along. You know exactly what I mean.”
Li Qingan didn’t bother responding and instead called out, “Everyone, speed up and enter the city so we can rest early.”
The group accelerated. Just then, dust billowed on the road ahead as an army of several thousand people rushed toward them.
“It’s the commander-in-chief!”
Li Qingan immediately recognized the general leading them—it was Gao Xianzhi, the governor of Anxi. He quickly turned to Li Siye and shouted, “Siye, the commander-in-chief is here!”
Li Siye rode forward and waved at Tian Zhen and the others, joining them as they went to greet him.
It was indeed Gao Xianzhi and his troops. He had come out of the city specifically to welcome Li Qingan and the others back. Since becoming the governor, Gao Xianzhi had enforced strict military discipline and fair rewards and punishments, putting an end to the chaos under Fu Meng Lingcha’s rule and revitalizing the Anxi army. His long-time rival, Cheng Qianli, had also been promoted to governor of Beiting. With Cheng Qianli gone, Gao Xianzhi faced no obstacles anymore. Using both force and persuasion, he made all the Anxi officials who opposed him submit to him wholeheartedly.
A few days earlier, Gao Xianzhi had received an urgent order from the imperial military department, ordering him to dispatch three thousand elite troops to Longyou for the Battle of Hehuang. Soon after, he received a secret letter from Li Linfu, instructing Li Siye and Li Qingan to go to Hehuang.
Not daring to neglect this, Gao Xianzhi began mobilizing his troops, recalling Li Qingan’s scouting unit stationed in Bahuan City to Kucha. Now that everything was ready, he was just waiting for Li Qingan and Li Siye to arrive.
Li Qingan and the others rode up to Gao Xianzhi, dismounted, and knelt down, offering a military salute. “Your humble servants pay their respects to the commander-in-chief!”
Gao Xianzhi quickly dismounted as well and helped Li Qingan and Li Siye up, smiling. “This time, you two have brought great honor to me in the capital, making the Anxi army famous throughout the Tang Dynasty. I must reward you properly.”
Li Qingan also smiled. “Since we are part of the Anxi army, its honor is our honor.”
“Well said!”
Gao Xianzhi gave Li Qingan’s shoulder a light punch and said to the two of them, “Come here for a moment. I have something important to tell you.”

Gao Xianzhi’s personal guards immediately set up a small tent by the road. Gao Xianzhi led the two of them into the tent, took out a map, and unrolled it on a small table. Pointing at the Hehuang region, he said, “I’m sure you’re aware that the imperial court plans to launch a campaign in Hehuang. I’ve received orders from the Ministry of War to send 3,000 troops from the Anxi Army to participate. After some consideration, I’ve decided to send 2,000 Mo Dao soldiers and 1,000 archer-cavalry troops. You two will lead these troops. Li Siye will lead the Mo Dao soldiers, and Qi Lang will lead the archer-cavalry troops. They’ll head to Hehuang along two separate routes.”

He then pointed at the Qilian Mountains and said, “Li Siye’s Mo Dao soldiers will find it difficult to march, so they’ll take the Hexi Corridor along the northern foothills of the Qilian Mountains, while Qi Lang will follow the southern foothills, taking the ancient Qiang path straight to Qinghai. Do you understand?”

“I understand, sir.”

Li Qing’an quickly added, “General, I’ve brought 500 soldiers from the Jiangdu Camp this time. I’d like to take them along to fight. I wonder if you’ll permit it?”

Li Siye also said, “I share the same idea. Please grant our request, General!”

Gao Xianzhi nodded and smiled. “You’re now also lieutenant generals. I plan to officially appoint you as military commanders once you return. Qi Lang will be the military commander of Bahuancheng, and Li Siye will be the military commander of Yanqi. In that way, you’ll have your own personal troops. I’ll officially hand over these two Jianghuai Camps to you, which you can use as your personal guards.”

Li Qing’an and Li Siye exchanged a look, overjoyed, and bowed together. “Thank you, General, for your kindness!”

Gao Xianzhi waved his hand and said, “The timeline for this Hehuang campaign is tight. I hope you’ll set off as soon as possible.”

“When shall we start marching?”

Gao Xianzhi replied, “You go back to Kucha to rest for three days. Three days later, the Anxi Army will march toward Hehuang!”

……

Starting in May of the seventh year of the Tianbao era, the Tang Dynasty’s war machine began to gear up. With Guo Shu Han as the main commander and General Dong Yanguang as his deputy, in addition to the more than 70,000 troops already stationed in Longyou, another 30,000 troops were dispatched from Hexi and Shuofang, along with support from the Turkic Abu Si tribe. At the same time, Emperor Li Longji ordered 3,000 elite troops from Anxi to join the campaign in Hehuang.

By late August, nearly 180,000 Tang troops had gathered in the Hehuang region. Meanwhile, large quantities of food were transported to Longyou from Bashu and Guanzhong. The Tang court mobilized 500,000 conscripts from the five provinces of Shan, Lan, Yuan, Jing, and Long, as well as from Guanzhong, to serve as support. Two hundred thousand wagons and ox carts were sent to the army. Along the Tang-Tibet Road, wagons and ox carts stretched for a hundred miles, carrying food, hay, military equipment, tents, and various other supplies to Shanzhou.

The negative effects of this war were also evident. As large quantities of grain were sent to Longyou, grain prices in Guanzhong rose from 50 wen per dou at the beginning of the year to 80 wen. The grain stored in the Taicang granaries was reserved for military purposes and could not stabilize prices. By August, the price per dou exceeded 100 wen. Rising grain prices led to a surge in overall prices, with housing costs doubling. Cui Ping, the governor of Sizhou who planned to buy a house in Chang’an, lamented, “When will I have my own home?”

While the Tang army was massing in the Longyou and Hehuang regions, Tubo was also preparing for war across the country. The young Tubo king, Trisong Detsen, sent envoys to Chang’an to seek peace while mobilizing 120,000 troops from Tubo and Tuyuhun regions such as Wuhai and Jiuku, along with 300,000 family members, attached slaves, and 500,000 sheep and horses to head to Dafei Chuan for the battle. Together with the 30,000 troops already stationed at Chiling, this totaled 150,000 soldiers and hundreds of thousands of family members gathered on the south side of Qinghai.

Trisong Detsen appointed Prime Minister Shangxi Dongzan as the governor in charge, ordered Dalun Dazhalugong as the commander of Dafei Chuan, and assigned General Tieren Xinuoluo as the governor of Shibao City, commanding 2,000 troops there. The great battle was imminent.

……

At the beginning of September, strong north winds blew west of Qinghai. Sand and stones flew, and the cold was biting. Outside a forest about 200 li west of Fusi City, a key Tubo stronghold on the west side of Qinghai, a group of Tang cavalry arrived. This group of 100 cavalrymen was clearly on patrol. Leading them was a tall Tang general, around 30 years old, with a heroic appearance and a stern expression. He held a large iron spear and carried a wolf bow on his back. He was Nan Jiyun, the deputy commander under Li Qing’an. He had followed Li Qing’an to Anxi and then joined him in marching eastward to Hehuang to fight.

Having been on patrol for two days, he was about to return. Nan Jiyun lifted the curtain and looked south and around for a while. To the south, the vast Dafei Chuan stretched for thousands of miles, blocking the road southward. To the east lay endless grasslands and pastures. A river divided the grasslands, and on both sides, herds of cattle and sheep could be seen grazing leisurely. Tubo people also appeared in this area.

With a wave of his hand, the 100 cavalrymen turned their horses and rushed northwest along the edge of the forest. After traveling over 50 li, they gradually reached the edge of the forest. Under a few large trees, several Tang sentries suddenly jumped down from the trees. One of them was Lifi Yuanli.

This time, the Anxi forces supported the Battle of Hehuang. Although their numbers were small, they were all elite troops from Anxi. In addition to the 2,000 spear soldiers led by Li Siyeh and Tian Zhen, there was also Li Qing’an’s scout camp of over 500 men, along with 500 Jiangdu soldiers he brought, totaling 1,000 archers and cavalry, accompanied by 3,000 warhorses. Li Qing’an was the commander of the scout camp, with three other senior generals under him, including Bai Yuanguang and the Li Fei brothers. They set out from Kucha, crossed the Puchang Desert to Dunhuang, then headed south to the entrance of Dangjin Mountain, marching east along the southern foothills of the Qilian Mountains (the northern edge of today’s Qaidam Basin). This was the route opened by the Qiang people during the Pre-Qin period to reach the Western Regions; the Xiongnu in the Han Dynasty also used this route to communicate with the Qiang tribes in Hehuang.

Li Qing’an’s scout camp traveled thousands of miles and finally arrived by the shore of Qinghai Lake at the beginning of September. Meanwhile, Li Siyeh’s Anxi spear soldiers took the Hexi Corridor, bypassed Wushaoling, and entered Hehuang from the east.

Li Fei Yuanli stepped forward and asked in a low voice, “Are there any Tibetan family members ahead?”

Nan Jiyun smiled and replied, “Yes! We saw dozens of tents, all belonging to Tibetan military families. They have large herds of cattle and sheep, and there are no Tibetan military camps within thirty miles around here.”

Li Fei Yuanli was overjoyed. He knew that the Tibetans would mobilize the entire tribe for battle—men fighting while the elderly, children, and women herded livestock to support the troops. Since Nan Jiyun had seen tents, there must be women there.

He laughed heartily and gave a thumbs up, praising, “Not bad! Young man, you’ve been in Anxi for only a short time, yet you’re already capable of serving as a scout. No wonder Li Chou Gong looks at you differently!”

Nan Jiyun bowed and smiled, saying, “I’m new here. I hope Brother Yuanli can give me more guidance.”

Li Fei Yuanli put his arm around Nan Jiyun’s shoulder and said cheerfully, “Since you can find women, it means you suit Old Li’s taste. Staying with Old Li is the right choice. Back in the day, when Li Qilang first came to guard the fortress, he also followed me and learned under my guidance…”

They passed through a forest, and before them appeared a deep blue lake. There were few people around the lake, but nearly a hundred tents were stationed on the east shore—this was the temporary camp of Li Qing’an’s Anxi scout camp.

Nan Jiyun dismounted and rushed quickly toward Li Qing’an’s command tent.