Chapter 379: The Blood Battle Against the Yuezhi (Part 2)

In the darkness of the night, the Tang army carried torches, their blazing light turning the sky red. Tens of thousands of men, women, and children were driven out of the city by Tang soldiers. They stumbled forward, crying out loudly. Women held their children, the elderly supported each other, while young men clenched their fists, their eyes filled with despair and rage. Dali Bohe City had become a sea of fire—homes destroyed, food and property stolen. Now, death was approaching them, and everyone realized the Tang army intended to massacre them.

Li Guangbi rode atop a tall horse, surrounded by hundreds of knights. He stared coldly at the driven-out men, women, and children, without a trace of pity in his eyes.
There was no need for pity. War was always about killing people and fighting over land. He had given them a chance, but they had given it up themselves. Now it was time for them to bear the consequences.

A group of cavalry led over a hundred men and women toward them. They were dressed in fine clothes, all nobles of the Jiesu Kingdom. The old man at the front was King Smithuo of Jiesu. His gaze was vacant as he walked forward mechanically. His heart was filled with regret. He had thought that since the Tang cavalry had come from afar without siege weapons, they could hold out until reinforcements arrived. But he never expected to suffer such a crushing defeat. The Tang army had easily broken through his city gates, leaving him and his people trapped in the impending massacre.

“Kneel!” Two Tang soldiers pushed him to kneel before Li Guangbi. Smithuo lay prostrate before Li Guangbi’s warhorse, trembling violently. At that moment, fear of death made him forget his dignity as a king.

“Are you King Smithuo of Jiesu?” Li Guangbi bent down to look at the trembling old man. He sensed none of the dignity expected of a king, only weakness and selfishness.

“I am indeed!”

“Why call yourself a humble servant? Is that to show submission to me? Hmph!”

Li Guangbi snorted and said coldly, “Do you think showing submission to me will save your life? No! Your life is already over.”

Smithuo slowly raised his head. Li Guangbi’s words deeply hurt him. He bit his lip and said, “I am willing to die to exchange for the general’s mercy toward my people.”

“Your people? You no longer have any people.”

Li Guangbi pointed at him with his whip and said, “Listen carefully to what General Li, the Governor of Anxi, orders.”

He straightened up and said to a soldier, “Read it to him!”

The soldiers carried out Li Qing’an’s order and read aloud, “In the kingdoms of Tokharistan, those who surrender to the Tang Dynasty and voluntarily lay down their arms will be pardoned. Their countries will become vassal states of the Tang Dynasty, required to pay taxes and perform corvée labor on schedule, thus becoming subjects of the Tang Dynasty. Those who resist the Tang army by force will be killed without mercy. All men and women of those countries will be relocated to Boshan Mountain to work in mines, and their descendants shall remain there, unable to change their status.”

“This is my responsibility; it has nothing to do with the people. You may kill me, but please spare them,” Smithuo said in a trembling voice.

“Be content! The great general is unwilling to kill women, children, and civilians—this is already an act of great mercy. Yet your crime of resistance cannot be forgiven. Otherwise, how can we convince others?”

After saying this, Li Guangbi coldly ordered his attendants, “Drag him down and hang him!”

A few soldiers dragged Smithuo away. Li Guangbi mounted his horse, pointed his whip at the crowd illuminated by the flickering flames in the darkness, and issued the order to relocate them: “Give them food to eliminate any possibility of resistance. Send troops to transport them to Boshan Mountain and register them in Yinzhou. Completely destroy the city of Dali Bohe.”

……

Dawn gradually broke. The last section of the wall surrounding Dali Bohe City collapsed in the morning light. Tens of thousands of people from the Jiesu Kingdom glanced back at their hometown with reluctance before setting off toward the distant Boshan Mountain under the escort of Tang cavalry……

Li Guangbi’s gaze turned south. He knew a fierce battle awaited him. At this moment, his heart was filled with excitement—his ambitions would finally be proven through the conquest of Tokharistan.

……

The Kingdom of Yuezhi, once the heart of the ancient Kushan Empire and the largest country in Tokharistan, governed twenty-five provinces with a population of nearly one million. In the first year of the Longshuo era, the Tang Dynasty established the Yuezhi Governorate here, with Ahuancheng as its capital. After the Abbasids expanded eastward, Yuezhi was the first to be occupied by them, becoming a vassal state forced to bear heavy taxes. After the Battle of Xiaobolue in the sixth year of the Tianbao era, Yuezhi was deeply shaken and wished to return to the Tang Dynasty. However, due to its deep entanglement with the Abbasids, it was unable to fulfill this desire. In the eighth year of Tianbao, Gao Xianzhi, riding on the success of his victory over Xiaobolue, launched an attack on the kingdoms of Tokharistan. But due to military intervention by the Abbasids, Gao Xianzhi suffered a crushing defeat, forcing the Tang Dynasty to withdraw from Tokharistan.

Four years later, the Tang Dynasty launched another attack on Bactria. By then, the various Bactrian states had also been preparing for four years. The five major Bactrian kingdoms—Yuezhi, Wangting, Gaofu, Dahan, and Gumo—each sent troops numbering from 10,000 to 30,000, forming a combined Bactrian army of 100,000 men. This army was led by King Qu Zhaomu of Yuezhi, who contributed the most troops, with Sa’id, the vice-governor of Khorasan, serving as the chief military instructor responsible for training the forces.

Inside the Yuezhi palace in A’huan City, Qu Zhaomu paced back and forth in the room, his hands behind his back, deeply worried. He had just received the latest news: the state of Jiesu no longer existed. The Tang army had destroyed the city of Dali Bohe and taken nearly 50,000 Jiesu people to the distant north. In just one day and night, Jiesu had perished. Of course, Jiesu was a small state with a population of less than 100,000, far smaller than that of Yuezhi, but the speed of its destruction still shocked Qu Zhaomu greatly.

In fact, as soon as the Tang army began attacking Jiesu, Qu Zhaomu had received pleas for help from Jiesu. While mobilizing his troops, he also sent people urgently to seek aid from the Abbasid Caliphate. However, the various Bactrian states were divided on whether to rescue Jiesu. Gaofu, being adjacent to Jiesu, demanded immediate assistance, but Wangting, Dahan, and Gumo did not want to engage directly with the Tang army. It was this internal discord that allowed the Bactrian coalition to watch helplessly as Jiesu was swiftly destroyed, leaving Qu Zhaomu both heartbroken and deeply concerned about the future of Bactria.

Beside him, King Luo Pi of Gaofu sighed and said, “I still say the same thing: the Tang army advancing south does not have a large force. If we continue to hesitate and let them destroy another country, it won’t be long before fear of the Tang army spreads throughout Bactria. By then, if we try to fight them, our soldiers may no longer know how to fight.”

Gaofu was located south of Jiesu. Once the Tang army destroyed Jiesu, their next target would surely be Gaofu. This filled King Luo Pi with extreme fear, prompting him to come to Yuezhi personally for help.

Qu Zhaomu nodded and said, “I certainly understand the current situation. We really can’t delay any longer. But as you know, the final decision on the army does not lie with me; it depends on that person.”

Both fell silent. The “that person” Qu Zhaomu referred to was Sa’id, the vice-governor of Khorasan. The 100,000-strong coalition was actually under his control. Without his approval, not a single soldier could move.

“Then why isn’t he taking action?” Luo Pi asked, somewhat resentfully.

“I guess he also needs to consult Qiyad. Before being sure of the Tang army’s true intentions, he wouldn’t dare to attack them on his own. The Arabs are no longer as powerful as we thought.”
Qu Zhaomu sighed. This was precisely their dilemma. When the Arabs were strong, they betrayed the Tang Dynasty and sided with them. But now that the Tang Dynasty was regaining strength and the Arabs were weakening, where should they turn? Return to the Tang Dynasty? That would be unbearable for them.
At that moment, a guard rushed in and reported, “Your Majesty, General Said has arrived.”
The two kings exchanged a glance and stood up together. Said’s arrival likely meant the Arabs had made up their minds.
A moment later, accompanied by two guards, Said strode into the palace. Around forty years old, he had originally been a general in Damascus’s imperial guard. After Mansur executed the Muslims and made major personnel changes, Said was transferred to Khorasan as deputy governor, in charge of Bactria.
When the Tang army launched a massive attack on Bactria, Said immediately reported to Governor Qiyad. As of now, Qiyad’s reply had not arrived, but news of the destruction of the Jisu Kingdom had reached him. He could no longer stay idle. Even though Qiyad’s orders hadn’t come, he knew that if another kingdom was destroyed and he still took no action, Mansur would spare him no further. Moreover, he feared that the destruction of the Jisu Kingdom might inspire other Bactrian states to surrender, leading to even worse consequences.
“Your Majesty, I have decided to send troops to fight. We can’t remain passive any longer.”
Said was decisive. As soon as he entered, he announced plans to wage war against the Tangs. Qu Zhaomu quickly said, “We share this intention and are willing to follow the general into battle.”
“Excellent! Immediately issue orders to the Bactrian states. The allied forces will officially declare war on the Tang army.”
…
Three days after the destruction of the Jisu Kingdom, driven by Arab general Said, the Bactrian alliance officially decided to declare war on the Tang army. One hundred thousand Bactrian troops split into three groups and charged at the Tang forces stationed along the border of the Gaofu Kingdom.

Gaofu Country was the name used by the Tang Dynasty for it, while the locals called it Gudushi Country. It was one of the five major kingdoms of Toharistan, with a population of hundreds of thousands. By this time, it was already the fourth day since the destruction of Jiesu Country. Li Guangbi’s army was stationed in the city of Wus, west of Gaofu Country. Wus was the third-largest city in Gaofu Country, with a population of over fifty thousand people. It was an important agricultural area in Gaofu Country, known for its wheat production. It was also the first city to surrender to the Tang army. The destruction of Jiesu City left the population of Wus almost extinct, with fewer than ten thousand people remaining. When Li Guangbi’s army arrived at the city’s gates two days earlier, the ruler of Wus, fearing a similar fate to Budaliboh City, opened the city gates and surrendered to Li Guangbi.

The Tang army immediately took control of the city and fortified it. At that moment, scouts brought news that a hundred-thousand-strong army from Toharistan was approaching from three different directions. The Tang army prepared itself to face this combined force.

Night had fallen, and the stars shone like brilliant gems, adorning the dark velvet sky and illuminating the night brightly. The cold night wind made the Great Tang dragon flags on the flagpoles flutter loudly. Under these flags, over a thousand Tang soldiers patrolled the city walls, vigilantly watching the distant horizon.

Li Guangbi also stood on the city wall, gazing deeply into the south. Dressed in silver armor and a silver helmet, he stood tall like a poplar tree, emphasizing his resolute and unyielding military spirit. He was considering his next strategic move. His army was only one-third the size of the enemy’s. Although the Tang army was brave and skilled in battle, this did not mean he could underestimate his opponent. He knew well the truth that overconfident armies would surely fail. Having received no information about the combat strength of the Toharistan army, he could not assume that the combined forces would be defeated in one battle. On the contrary, if the Toharistan army had even 60% of the Tang army’s combat strength, the Tang army might very well lose the battle. In that case, General Li Qingan, who had already advanced deep into Sindh, would be in great danger.

Li Guangbi was fully aware of the consequences of defeat and dared not be careless. He was lost in deep thought.

“General Li, are you really planning to engage in a siege battle against the combined forces of Toharistan?”

It was Li Guangbi’s deputy, General Helou Yurun, who spoke. He had received Li Qingan’s orders late. By the time he led five thousand soldiers to Toharistan, the battle against Jiesu Country had just ended. He had also heard the news of the approaching hundred-thousand-strong army, which filled him with concern. So he strolled onto the city wall, where he happened to meet Li Guangbi.

“No! A siege battle is not my intention.”

Li Guangbi was awakened from his thoughts by Helou Yurun’s loud voice. He turned around and smiled slightly, saying, “The best strategy is to strike at the enemy’s plans. Wus City is merely a bait I’ve set to lure the Tocharian allied forces into a trap.”

Helou Yurun had been worried that Li Guangbi would defend the isolated city alone. Hearing this, he felt relieved. He stepped forward and said with a smile, “I think General Li isn’t the kind of person to be so passive. Concentrating all his troops in Wus City—if the enemy besieges the city and the people inside cooperate with them, the Tang army will be in great danger!”

After pondering for a moment, Li Guangbi looked at Helou Yurun and said, “But defending the city is necessary. General Helou, I’ll give you six thousand troops. Can you hold Wus City for me for three days?”

“Are you sure it only takes three days?”

“Yes! Just three days. If you can hold it for that time, I’m confident I can defeat their hundred-thousand-strong allied forces in one battle.”

…

As dawn approached, sunlight pierced through the heavy clouds, casting a brilliant golden glow over the walls of Wus City. Alarms rang out from the city walls, “Dang! Dang!” Five thousand soldiers rushed to the walls, armed with bows, arrows, and crossbows, ready for battle.

Outside the city, the vast Tocharian allied forces were approaching in large numbers. They were divided into four large formations, coming from four directions toward Wus City. Trumpets sounded, drums boomed like thunder, and the army of infantry, cavalry, and camel riders—hundreds of thousands strong—moved like rolling waves before gradually stopping about three li away from the city.

The Tocharian soldiers wore headscarves, leather armor, and wide lantern-like pants. Their weapons included curved swords and spears, along with numerous bows and arrows. Although the kingdoms of Bactria and Kushan had once created a glorious civilization here, there was clearly a gap in cultural continuity. Their civilization was not passed on to their descendants; instead, it was replaced by the backwardness and barbarism of their conquerors.

The hundred-thousand-strong army had only a few hundred simple ladders—no siege towers, no ballistae, no battering rams, and no siege engines. They resembled barbarians from the steppes, armed only with the most primitive weapons.

The Tocharian allied forces also realized the urgency of the siege. A few hundred ladders were not enough to take down Wus City. Sa’id immediately sent hundreds of men to cut down a thousand-year-old tree. They needed its thick trunk to break down the city gates.

Sa’id stared coldly at the distant city, its walls covered with flags and packed with dense Tang army soldiers. Behind them stood dozens of massive trebuchets, towering high on the city walls. Sa’id had participated in the battle to capture Damascus and knew well the power of trebuchets. It was the Umayyad trebuchets that had inflicted heavy losses on the Abbasid forces, forcing them to besiege the city for months until the monstrous battering rams appeared, finally allowing Damascus to be taken.

Unfortunately, he had not expected the Tang army to launch a sudden attack on Turfan, nor had he anticipated that they would occupy the city, leaving the Turfan forces unprepared for an assault and without those monstrous battering rams, which filled Sa’id with concern.

“General Sa’id, the battering ram is ready!” an officer rushed over to report.

Sa’id turned and saw hundreds of camels pulling a huge tree trunk—seven zhang long and six feet in diameter—requiring thousands of people to move such a massive object.

Although he still harbored doubts about the Tang army’s trebuchets, he wanted to see just how powerful they really were.

“Order the Third Legion to attack!”

The Third Legion, also known as the Gaofu forces, was already on their territory, so they felt it was their duty to take the lead in this attack.

“Boom! Boom!” The drums of attack sounded as the Third Legion outside the northern city launched their first assault. Ten thousand Turfan soldiers surged forward like a tide, carrying dozens of ladders, waving sabers and spears, and charging toward the city gates while shouting. Arrows rained down from hundreds of paces away, shooting at the city walls, but to no effect—instead, many of their own men were injured.

Behind the surging army, an enormous battering ram was slowly moved toward the city gates by over a thousand strong men.

On the city walls, ten Tang trebuchets began to creak as they were set in motion. Since they attacked from above, the Tang engineers adjusted the arm distances and installed a clever lever system, reducing the number of people needed to operate them from two hundred to just fifty.

Stone blocks the size of grinding mills were loaded into the throwing bags. At He Lou Yu Run’s command, all ten trebuchets fired simultaneously. Ten massive stones were thrown high into the air, rolling through the sky in an arc before crashing down onto the dense crowd.

With a loud “boom,” screams filled the air. Several Tokharian soldiers couldn’t dodge in time and were crushed to pieces by the boulders. The immense momentum caused the stones to roll rapidly through the crowd, traveling over twenty steps at a time. The Tokharian soldiers tried desperately to dodge to the sides, but still fifty to sixty of them died under the impact of the stones, while hundreds more were injured with broken bones and torn muscles, their cries of pain echoing everywhere.

Immediately afterward, the second, third, and fourth waves of catapults fired, along with the Tang army’s bows and arrows. Arrows rained down from the city walls, causing heavy casualties below. Each boulder that struck killed or injured hundreds of people. It was nothing short of a machine for mass slaughter, bringing utter devastation to the Tokharian army.

The role of catapults in defending a city was unparalleled. During the An Lushan Rebellion, Li Guangbi, who had limited troops, used dozens of giant catapults to kill over seventy thousand rebels, securing a glorious victory in the defense of Taiyuan.

The same was true here. The Tang army employed the most advanced catapults in the world, inflicting massive casualties on the advancing Tokharian forces. The battlefield was littered with corpses—crushed bodies and shattered heads everywhere, with blood flowing like rivers, turning the fallen boulders red.

At that moment, the battering rams were gradually approaching the city gates. The Tang army brought in five more medium-sized catapults and ignited fire oil bombs. Five blazing fireballs were thrown at the battering rams twenty steps away.

The fireballs crashed into the crowd, instantly turning it into a sea of flames. Countless people caught fire from the oil and became living torches. They spread their arms and ran around in agony, only to collapse to the ground after a few steps, burned to a crisp by the flames.

The Tang army’s fire oil bombs dealt a fatal blow to the battering rams. As the fire spread, the massive rams also caught fire. Many of the soldiers carrying them fled, and the rams crashed to the ground, engulfed in the raging flames.

After losing nearly 40% of their forces, the Tokharian army retreated in disarray. The large battering rams proved useless as well, destroyed by the fire. Sa’id stared blankly at the city walls. Though he knew of the power of catapults, he had not imagined they could be so devastating, nor had he expected those terrifying fire oil bombs.

He slammed his fist against one of the battering rams and growled, “Pass my order: halt the attack. The entire army shall surround the city of Us.”

Just the day after the Toharan coalition surrounded the city of Us, Li Guangbi led more than 20,000 troops of the Tang army and suddenly appeared at the gates of A’huan City. Under the moonlight, A’huan City was eerily quiet, with only a small garrison present. Faced with the well-prepared 20,000 Tang cavalry, this largest city of the Toharans, with a population of over a hundred thousand, was practically defenseless.

This was Li Guangbi’s strategy: use a small force of Tang troops to hold off the enemy’s main forces while he led his main army out of the battlefield, using highly mobile cavalry to sweep through the enemy’s undefended rear, cutting off their supply lines, and ultimately exhausting their massive army.

With a cold gaze, Li Guangbi watched A’huan City in the darkness. He had already sent 3,000 men to launch a surprise attack on the city, waiting for news from the vanguard.

Suddenly, a blaze of flames erupted atop the city walls, and the city gates opened. Li Guangbi raised his battle axe and shouted, “Charge into the city!”

“Kill!”

With the roar of ten thousand horses, the Tang army stormed through A’huan City. More than 20,000 troops poured into the city, turning it into an ocean of fire.