Chapter 407: Desert of Ashes

The situation in Shiva City was quickly brought under Tang control and soon stabilized. Arslan breathed a deep sigh of relief—there were no widespread acts of burning, killing, and rape as he had feared. Although Li Qing’an had promised not to let military discipline lapse, Arslan remained deeply worried. Twenty thousand Tang soldiers, brimming with murderous intent, rushed into the city. Would Li Qing’an keep his promise?

Yet reality left Arslan speechless. Tang cavalry raced through streets and alleys, swiftly encircling Shiva City. They did not loot or rape; instead, they had a clear mission: drive all residents out of their homes and search for food. That’s right—food. The Tang soldiers were not eager to seize wealth but rather food. Bags of wheat and bread were taken away, and sheep bleated as they were killed with a single strike and dragged away in carts.

Arslan’s heart was filled with concern. He vaguely guessed the purpose behind the Tang soldiers’ quest for food—perhaps it was aimed at the Arab army of a hundred thousand. If so, might the Khwarazmians become a tool for the Tang to fight the Arabs?

Arslan couldn’t bear to think any further. He whipped his warhorse hard and rushed toward the Khwarazmian palace.

The Khwarazmian palace now served as the Tang army’s temporary headquarters. The king and his concubines and children were detained, while over two thousand Tang soldiers were rapidly searching the palace for valuables. In a large hall, Li Qing’an and several Tang generals were urgently discussing the next steps.

On the table lay a huge, detailed map of Khwarazm. Li Qing’an had received the latest intelligence: the vanguard of the Arab army of ten thousand had temporarily halted west of the Amu Darya River. Clearly, they were already aware of the Tang army’s presence in Khwarazm. The situation was extremely delicate—one misstep could mean total defeat.

“I’m thinking, can we change our strategy? Instead of retreating to the river, we could confront the Arab army of a hundred thousand with thirty thousand Tang soldiers.”

Staring at the map, Li Qing’an said slowly, “I know it’s very difficult to face a hundred thousand with thirty thousand, and we’re not good at desert warfare. But we can defend the cities and engage in offensive and defensive battles—something we excel at. Moreover, I believe the Arab army has one major weakness.”

Bai Xiaode and Tian Zhen exchanged a glance. If Li Siyue were discussing tactics with them, they might have joined in the discussion. But it was Li Qing’an, the commander of Anxi. In front of him, the two had no chance to speak.

Both of them bowed and said, “Please issue orders, General. We will obey.”
Li Qing’an was momentarily stunned before smiling and saying, “Now is not the time for me to give orders. You two are both experienced generals who surely have your own opinions on the current situation. Otherwise, how could I trust you to take charge on your own? Cui Qianyou is in the northern deserts, Li Siyeh in Middle River Region, Feng Changqing in Xinde, and Li Guangbi in Turkestan. They can all handle things on their own. Next, it will be your turn. Speak up! Don’t hold back.”
Both of them smiled shyly. Bai Xiaode then said, “Then I would like to ask the General—Is the greatest weakness of the Abbasid army the lack of food supplies?”
“That’s exactly right!”
Li Qing’an nodded in satisfaction and smiled, “Having ideas but refusing to show them off—this isn’t what I expect. Go on. Why is the greatest weakness of the Abbasid army the lack of food supplies?”
Bai Xiaode sensed the approval in Li Qing’an’s tone. Knowing he was correct, he became more energetic. He picked up a wooden stick and pointed at the map, saying, “From the terrain surrounding Khwarezm, it can be seen that it’s surrounded by vast deserts, especially the Karakum Desert west of the Amu Darya River, which stretches for thousands of miles with no supply points. The Abbasid army of 100,000 troops is marching eastward with the goal of capturing Middle River Region. Therefore, they must carry a large amount of siege equipment, leaving them with limited food and water. In my opinion, this is why the Abbasid army doesn’t head straight for Middle River Region but instead takes a detour hundreds of miles away to Khwarezm. They need to obtain supplies there—not fresh water, but food. Thus, this is the most serious problem for the Abbasid army: insufficient logistical support for such a large force.”
Tian Zhen interjected, “If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be better for the General to burn all the food supplies and lead the army southward, leaving the Abbasid army trapped in Khwarezm without food?”
Li Qing’an nodded. “That was actually my initial plan. Since we still have four days, we could burn the food supplies and drive the people of Khwarezm southward. I calculated that there would be enough time. But the sudden arrival of 10,000 Abbasid vanguard troops disrupted my plan. If we had followed the original plan, perhaps those 10,000 troops wouldn’t have dared to chase after us. But then the main Abbasid army would have given up on obtaining supplies from Khwarezm and returned to Abbasid lands. By then, we might face an attack led by the Khorasan army.”
“Is the Commander afraid of the Khorasan army?”
Tian Zhen still seemed unconvinced. “The Khorasan army was defeated by us. Why should we fear them?”

Li Qing’an glanced at him and smiled slightly. “Lao Tian, this isn’t war—it’s politics. If the Khorasan army is completely destroyed, Mansur will only be grateful to us. But if the 100,000 Arab army in the north is wiped out, the Arabs might face division, and the situation in Transoxiana will stabilize. Only then can we shift our strategic focus to the east. So, under any circumstances, I need those 100,000 Arab troops in Khwarezm.”

Tian Zhen looked ashamed and bowed. “Your subordinate lacks insight. Please forgive me, General!”

Li Qing’an waved his hand and laughed. “It’s fine! One shouldn’t plan things beyond their position. This indeed isn’t something you could have considered. Go on with the tactics.”

Tian Zhen pondered for a moment before saying, “We’ve all seen how strong Khiva’s defenses are. With 30,000 troops defending against 100,000, as long as there’s enough food, we should be able to hold out for over half a year. Additionally, I suggest deploying a mobile cavalry unit outside to harass the Arabs’ supply lines. Without food, they’ll fall into chaos within a month.”

“What about water?”

Bai Xiaode stepped in. “There are underground rivers deep in the city that lead directly to the Amu Darya. We can dig wells for water. It will be difficult for the Arabs to poison them or cut them off.”

Li Qing’an laughed heartily. “Three humble craftsmen equal Zhuge Liang! Excellent! Excellent!”

At that moment, a soldier came to report, “General, Prince Arslan urgently requests to see you.”

“He’s just in time. Send him in!”

Li Qing’an turned to Bai Xiaode and said, “Go and oversee military discipline. Ensure no one takes advantage of the situation to plunder civilians or rape women. Focus on the wealthier Muslim families—seize all their grain and weapons. The Zoroastrians can be spared.”

He then said to Tian Zhen, “Lead your troops to support Li Fei Yuanli again. I’m worried his forces might be scattered. If they’re attacked by Arab vanguard troops, the consequences could be severe. Tell Li Fei Yuanli to bring back as much grain as possible. If that’s not possible, burn it all.”

Bai Xiaode and Tian Zhen bowed together. “Your subordinate will obey the orders!”

The two left. Then, Arslan rushed into the room, bowed to Li Qing’an, and asked anxiously, “General, when will the chaos in the city end?”

Li Qing’an invited him to sit and ordered someone to serve him tea. Then he smiled slightly and said, “Your Highness, don’t worry. I’ve ordered that the Zoroastrians who support you be left alone. Now, the focus is on the Muslims.”

Alarslan felt relieved. He took a sip of tea and asked again, “I wonder what the general’s next plan is. Why search for food? I heard there’s plenty in the warehouses, enough for the Tang army to use.”

Li Qing’an smiled and said, “Taking control of Khiva is just the first step. Next, we need to defend a strong fortress and confront the main force of the 100,000 Arab troops. That’s why food must be rationed. We need to prevent the Muslims from helping the Arabs. Only by holding their livelihood in our hands can we keep them obedient. Don’t worry. Since I’ve promised to hand over Khwarazm entirely to you, I certainly won’t break my word.”

Alarslan seemed uneasy and stammered, “General, that’s not what I meant. I’m just afraid it will intensify the conflict between the two factions, making reconciliation difficult in the future. I wonder how you plan to deal with Shifin?”

Shifin was the current king of Khwarazm. Alarslan wanted to kill him at all costs. After entering the city, he led his troops to the palace, only to find that Shifin was already under tight control by the Tang army. Alarslan was filled with worry—he feared that if Li Qing’an didn’t kill Shifin, he might become an obstacle to him in the future.

Li Qing’an understood his thoughts and smiled faintly. “Shifin can’t be killed for now. His presence helps stabilize the Muslims in the city. As for whether he’ll be killed later, I only hope you understand one thing: the Arabs will never allow a Zoroastrian state to emerge west of the Amu Darya. They may not dare attack the Tang Dynasty, but they can easily destroy you. Think about it yourself! Why shouldn’t I kill Shifin?”

Alarslan understood Li Qing’an’s meaning. He asked in a deep voice, “Does the general mean that there will be two Khwarazms in the future?”

“It’s inevitable that there will be two Khwarazms. If you can persuade the Khwarazmians who have already converted to Islam to return to Zoroastrianism, then I won’t have to worry about anything. Otherwise, even if I kill all the Muslim Khwarazmians, Mansur will still kill you all. Only by making Mansur cautious can he possibly spare you. Prince Alarslan, as a king, I hope you’ll learn to make necessary compromises.”

Alarslan remained silent. He knew Li Qing’an was telling the truth. After 54 long years, Khwarazm had long split apart and had almost forgotten him. If he could gain the support of the Zoroastrians and restore his kingdom, that would already be a great fortune for him. How could he dare hope that the Muslim Khwarazmians would return to Zoroastrianism? He didn’t have the ability to resolve religious conflicts, and civil war was inevitable sooner or later. Perhaps dividing it into two was the only viable solution.

He sighed and said, “I understand. Thank you, General, for your foresight.”
……
Walking about forty li north of the city of Shiva along the undulating sand dunes, the huge dunes disappeared, giving way to vast areas of semi-desert and semi-arid land. A few more li ahead lay endless fields of farmland. The banks of the Amu Darya were covered with fertile soil, with irrigation canals crisscrossing the land. This was the famous Aral Sea Delta—fertile land nourished by the abundant waters of the Amu Darya, making it the cradle of the Khwarezmian civilization. It was also the second-largest settlement of the Khwarezmians, with over a hundred thousand of them living across a vast plain stretching for more than thirty li.
Dawn was breaking. It was deep winter in December, with white morning mist covering the barren land and cold winds howling. The villages were dead silent; many houses still emitted smoke, clearly having just been burned. Ruins and broken walls were everywhere, presenting a desolate scene.
Five li further on lay Tucheng, the largest city in the delta. On the vast plains outside Tucheng, Khwarezmians driven from all directions had gathered—elders and children, wrapped in blankets. Women held their children, while men led their horses, carrying their meager possessions and food supplies. Among the crowd were wagons and carts transporting the elderly and children, along with some of their food and belongings. The cries of children, the curses of the elderly, and the noises of cattle and horses filled the air, while Tang cavalry urged them on with their spears.
The Khwarezmians shivered in the cold wind, their faces filled with fear and anxiety. They had been told that a war between the Tang and Arab armies was about to break out on their land, and everyone had to flee to Shiva for refuge.
In the open fields west of Tucheng, piles of excess food collected by the Tang army from house to house accumulated. The delta was a region rich in grain, and every household had some surplus. Apart from what they could carry, the rest was set ablaze.
The piles of food formed small mountains, and from time to time, cavalry would ride up and throw bags of grain onto them. Since last night, the Tang army had begun massing the Khwarezmians from the delta and collecting their food. This was the second group; the first group of about twenty thousand people had been sent away at midnight.
At that moment, Li Fei Yuanli led a squad of cavalry out of Tucheng and asked loudly, “How many are in this group?”
An officer stepped forward and reported, “General, there are about twenty-five thousand in this group.”

“Then let’s not wait. Send them away right away and order the brothers to each take a bag of grain.”
“Yes!”
The officer waved his hand. “Get ready to leave!”
The horn sounded, and a thousand Tang cavalry soldiers tasked with escorting the Khwarazmians rushed in from all directions. Each of them took a bag of grain before urging the Khwarazmians to set off. The convoy began its journey south, with the growing crowd forming a massive stream of refugees. They bid farewell to their homes in tears, carrying the old and the young, heading toward the city of Shihwa, with more Khwarazmians joining them along the way.
In the distance, a group of Tang cavalry rushed in from the south. The leading officer shouted, “Is General Li Fei here?”
“He’s at the entrance of Tu City,” someone replied.
The cavalry spurred their horses and rushed toward Tu City. The pile of grain at the entrance had already been set on fire by the Tang troops; flames shot into the sky and thick smoke billowed, causing Li Fei Yuanli great pain. It was all that precious grain—wasted like that was a shame.
As the cavalry arrived, the officer dismounted, knelt down, and reported, “General Li Fei, General Tian has come under the command of the supreme general to assist with transporting the grain. He’s almost here.”
Li Fei Yuanli was stunned and cursed loudly, “Damn it! If you had come earlier, I would have already burned the grain!”
Soon, Tian Zhen led five thousand Tang cavalry soldiers to the scene. At his command, the cavalry dismounted to rest, while Tian Zhen strode toward Li Fei Yuanli. Seeing the blazing flames not far away, with at least tens of thousands of bushels of grain consumed by the fire, he frowned from afar and shouted, “Old Li, we’re here to help you carry the grain. How could you burn it?”
Li Fei Yuanli, crouched on the ground, snapped, “Who asked you to come later?”
“You were too hasty!”
Tian Zhen stepped forward, reproaching, “The supreme general only said to burn it when it’s really impossible to carry it away, not to burn it right away.”
“Luckily, I only burned a part. Otherwise, you would have scolded me to death.”
Li Fei Yuanli stood up and pointed at Tu City. “What was burned were just some scattered grains seized from the Khwarazmians’ homes. There are still hundreds of thousands of bushels of official grain in Tu City. I plan to set the entire city on fire with one last blast.”
Hearing there were still hundreds of thousands of bushels of grain, Tian Zhen was overjoyed. “Then I’ll be responsible for transporting those.”
“Don’t rush. More people will be driven here soon. Then I’ll pick some strong men to help you carry it.”
At that moment, Li Fei Yuanli suddenly remembered something and asked worriedly, “Along the way, have you heard any news about the vanguard of the Abbasid army?”

Tian Zhen nodded and said, “Actually, we should have arrived long ago. We were just worried about the Persian vanguard, so we patrolled along the west bank of the Amu Darya River and found no trace of them. They must have retreated.”
“That’s good. I’ve been worried that the Persian vanguard might suddenly attack. My men are scattered elsewhere. If they did attack, things would get serious.”
“That’s exactly what the general was concerned about, which is why he sent me to support you. I’ve ordered Zhou Zheng to lead 5,000 troops to patrol along the Amu Darya River. If there’s any news, he’ll inform us.”
“Very well! You stay and guard Tucheng, while I go down to drive away the Khwarezmians.”
With that, Li Fei Yuanli led his troops northward.
……
The large-scale expulsion of the Khwarezmians from the Aral Sea Delta lasted for two days. Nearly 150,000 Khwarezmians were driven out of the villages and cities in the delta, gathered in Tucheng, and then transported in batches to Shiva City. Two days later, when Li Fei Yuanli set fire to Tucheng, the last group of Tang troops began to withdraw. The entire Aral Sea Delta became desolate; the villages and cities resembled dead lands. Flocks of stray dogs searched for food in the empty villages, crows cawed on the branches before flying away. The cold wind swept across the land, creating a desolate atmosphere.
Three days later, Tang scouts obtained accurate intelligence that the first batch of 50,000 Persian troops had arrived at Fengcheng, about 50 li west of the Amu Darya River.