Chapter 426: The Strange Troops of the Northern Desert

The grasslands in early summer were covered in lush greenery, resembling a vast carpet spread beneath the sky. The Yinshan Mountains in the south looked like a giant coiled dragon, stretching for thousands of miles. Here, at the end of the mountain range, lay the southern edge of the northern desert grasslands, adjacent to Yunzhong Commandery of the Tang Dynasty. The area was rich in pasture, with blue skies, white clouds, and rivers as clear as jade belts. Herders’ tents dotted the landscape like mushrooms, smoke rising from them, along with flocks of sheep, hunting dogs, and women milking cows—everything exuded vitality.

Suddenly, as if dark clouds had suddenly appeared, a black line appeared at the edge of the endless grasslands, accompanied by faint thunderous noises. It wasn’t thunder in the sky but the sound of thousands of horses galloping. The herders were terrified and panicked, too busy to gather their belongings as they fled north with their families. In moments, the black line grew closer—it turned out to be a cavalry force of ten thousand men. They rushed forward like a storm, engulfing the green grasslands in an instant. Yet they did not kill the fleeing herders but passed by their tents and headed east. Judging from their equipment, they were clearly Tang cavalry, about eight thousand strong, each with two horses, armed with swords, spears, bows, and shields. They were well-equipped, with military blankets and sleeping bags for long marches on their horses. Although they did not pursue the herders, thousands of sheep on the grasslands suffered, being seized by the rushing cavalry as fodder for their journey.

This army was Anxi Tang forces that had come from Juyan Lake twenty days earlier, led by General Lei Wanchun. They had traveled day and night, relying on plundering herders’ flocks for food over thousands of miles. Their goal was Fanyang in Youzhou, thousands of miles away. Now they had reached the northern desert grasslands parallel to Yunchou in Hedong. A few hundred more miles, and they would turn into the interior and enter Hebei territory. At that time, An Lushan’s forces were all in Hedong and within the passes, leaving Hebei undefended. This strange troop would determine the outcome of the entire war in the interior.

At that moment, a group of scouts from the south rushed over and blocked the army’s path eastward. The scout officer rushed to Lei Wanchun and reported, “General, Yunchou, 200 miles south of the Yinshan Mountains, is undefended. Its garrison numbers no more than a thousand, and each pass has less than a hundred soldiers.”

The defenders of Yunchou were Wu Yong’s troops, who had surrendered to the Anxi army and had deep ties to them. Their families still lived near Yunchou, making it the best route to enter the interior. Lei Wanchun pondered for a moment, recalling Li Qingan’s orders to create a show of force without killing enemies. He immediately ordered, “The army shall turn south and enter through Yunchou!”

The 8,000 Tang troops immediately turned their horses and rushed toward the Yin Mountains, hundreds of miles away, disappearing in an instant at the edge of the world. It was May 20th, the second year of the Dali era in the Tang Dynasty, and battles were raging in the Guannei region.
…
After entering Yanzhou from Qingzhou, the Anxi forces halted their advance. At that time, they were less than a hundred miles away from An Lushan’s army—a one-day’s journey—and only about 130 miles from the Yellow River. Li Qing’an ordered his troops to camp on the spot; he was not in a hurry to engage An Lushan’s forces and was waiting for news from the north. An Lushan’s army also stopped retreating and stationed itself near Yanchuan County. The two armies had been facing off for ten days.
The Anxi camp was set up on a high, open plain, covering a vast area. Behind it flowed a shallow river originating from a hill three miles away. The water was clear enough to serve as drinking water for the entire army. The camp was surrounded by thick fences, with watchtowers ten zhang high at each corner and along the sides, offering a wide view spanning over ten miles. A temporary beacon tower was also built on a ridge 20 miles to the east, so that if An Lushan’s army appeared 30 miles away, the Anxi camp could be alerted. In addition to the watchtowers and beacon tower, the Anxi army, which valued scouts highly, sent a hundred teams of nearly a thousand scouts to various parts of the Guannei region.
The camp was bustling with activity, with bursts of cheering and the sound of drums like thunder. In the middle of a 50-zhang long and 30-zhang wide open area, two horseball teams were competing fiercely, surrounded by a sea of soldiers watching. This was a match between the Suiye Horseball Team and the Beiting Horseball Team, representing the highest level of horseball in Anxi, with nearly 40,000 soldiers cheering them on.
Horseball matches were a tradition of the Anxi army, having served as the best means to maintain morale during external campaigns for a century. Back then, Li Qing’an was the best shooter for the Anxi horseball team. During campaigns in Guannei and when facing An Lushan’s army, the soldiers’ lives were monotonous, and horseball matches could indeed boost their spirits. For this reason, Li Qing’an introduced a league system inspired by the Chang’an horseball competitions. Matches started within the camp, then progressed to higher levels within the army, ending with seven teams competing for the championship. The prize for the champion was extremely generous—3,000 Anxi silver coins. Even the lowest-ranking soldiers who participated received two silver coins as a reward, attracting many soldiers to take part. Thus, the Anxi army’s campaigns in Guannei almost turned into a horseball league.
In the northwest corner of the horseball field, Li Qing’an and a dozen senior generals were also watching the match with great interest.

At that moment, with the sound of a gong, half of the match came to an end. The players would switch horses to rest before continuing the game. The current score was 4 to 3, with the Suiye Polo Team temporarily in the lead. Just then, someone shouted first, “General, step down!” Soon, hundreds of people joined in, then thousands, until the entire crowd was chanting, “General, step down!” The generals around Li Qingan laughed and said, “General, your comrades want you to show us what you can do!” Seeing the high enthusiasm of his troops, Li Qingan laughed loudly and said, “Fine! I’ll give it a try!” He strode out of the field on his horse. In moments, the polo field erupted in excitement—roaring applause and thunderous drumbeats filled the air. A cavalry unit rushed in, led by a general wearing a golden helmet and black robe, tall and robust, riding an exceptionally fine warhorse. It was their commander, Li Qingan. He held a polo mallet high in the air, and the soldiers immediately started shouting loudly, their voices echoing across the sky. Li Qingan had once been the best shooter in Anxi Polo. His record of shooting from 50 steps away remained unmatched. In the hearts of Anxi Polo players, he was like a god. The soldiers rushed forward eagerly, waving their arms and shouting at the top of their lungs. Li Qingan galloped across the field, and with each step he took, the cheers grew louder. His Arabian horse sped faster and faster, as if flying through the clouds. He rushed to the center of the field, heading straight for the 40-step line. At that moment, a red polo ball was thrown toward his horse. He slightly shifted his body, swung his mallet, and with a crisp sound, the ball flew in a straight line—fast and powerful. It hit the net instantly, triggering thunderous applause. A shot from 40 steps was already considered a top-tier shot, but the cheers weren’t intense enough. The soldiers were all eager for the long-rumored shot from 50 steps, a shot they had never seen before. Li Qingan turned his horse around and trotted to beyond the 50-step line. The field fell dead silent as everyone stared intently at their commander, not daring to blink or breathe. Just then, rapid drumbeats started, growing faster and faster, making it seem like the hearts of tens of thousands of soldiers were about to burst out of their chests. Suddenly, the drumbeats stopped. A golden polo ball flew toward him at high speed, slightly angled backward. The shooter was nervous—this was clearly a missed shot; it was impossible to hit the ball from 50 steps away. But Li Qingan didn’t give up. The moment the ball was thrown, he began adjusting the angle. His horse kept stepping back, and at the exact moment the drumbeats stopped, he swung his mallet.

Eye coordination, touch, strength, and control of the horse—all combined in one seamless motion. With a crisp “bang!” and a cry of shock from the soldiers, the ball traced an arc and shot swiftly toward the goal, hitting the hole with perfect accuracy.
The flag bearer raised the red flag to signal that the ball had gone in, and the stadium erupted in deafening cheers. Li Qing’an had just fired the ball from sixty steps away, setting another new record for Anxi.
This unparalleled shot completely captivated the Anxi soldiers who adored polo. The cheers grew louder and louder, lasting for a long time. Many soldiers who had rushed over too late were frustrated, stomping their feet in annoyance.
Li Qing’an raised his mallet high, and thunderous applause filled the stadium once again.
……
Unlike the excitement in the Anxi army camp, the Fanyang army camp, a hundred miles away, was eerily quiet, filled with a tense and uneasy atmosphere. For some reason, rumors that An Lushan had sent the Khitans to attack Fanyang had spread among the soldiers, causing widespread panic.
In fact, in straight-line distance, they were only a few dozen miles from Hedong, but the Yellow River seemed to widen the psychological gap between them, as if they were separated by vast distances. Most of An Lushan’s troops were from Hebei, veterans who had followed him for years. Their homes were mostly near Youzhou. Although An Lushan’s officers repeatedly explained to the soldiers that the Khitans were not coming, they remained worried. It was well known that Hebei was defenseless.
Though the rumor of the Khitans attacking Fanyang was a lie concocted by An Lushan, the atmosphere in his main tent was even more tense. Inside, An Lushan paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, his brows deeply furrowed in concern. Although the invasion by the Khitans was his fabrication, he had just received urgent news that a Tang cavalry force of over ten thousand men had entered Yunchou from the northern deserts and was heading toward Fanyang along the Sanggan River.
This news stunned An Lushan. Tang troops coming from the northern deserts was simply inconceivable. There were only the Uyghurs and Turks in those regions—where were the Tang troops? It felt as if he had encountered a ghost in broad daylight.

He originally had 200,000 troops. After spending a year in Hedong, he recruited another 100,000, bringing the total to 300,000. Apart from the troops stationed in various provinces of Hedong, he led 90,000 of the troops from Hebei into the interior, with 30,000 more attacking the city at Tongguan. Additionally, General Li Guiren led 50,000 troops south to Xiangzhou, pressing down on the Henan route, while 20,000 more were stationed in Lulong to defend against the Khitans. Only 10,000 troops were left in Youzhou, under the command of his third son, An Qing. With such a weak force, the military strength there was extremely weak. If the Tang army coming from the northern deserts were to capture Youzhou, the consequences were beyond his imagination.

Inside the main tent, besides An Lushan, there were advisors like Gao Shang, generals such as Shi Siming, Tian Qianzhen, Xue Song, and An Shouzhong. This sudden appearance of an unexpected army also left them puzzled. No one could have expected Tang troops to come from the northern deserts.

Gao Shang sighed and said, “Commander, if I’m not mistaken, this army is the Anxi Army. They must have come from Juyan Lake. I’ve calculated that after more than 20 days of marching, they can indeed reach Yunchou.”

“But why haven’t they encountered the Uyghurs?” Shi Siming asked in surprise.

Gao Shang smiled bitterly. “Those Uyghurs were ambitious last year and tried to attack the Tang Dynasty, but were attacked from behind by the Anxi Army in their own territory, suffering heavy losses. They’re still struggling to recover. I heard they’re hiding around the Dule River. Since the Anxi Army isn’t bothering them, they’re already grateful. How would they dare to provoke the Anxi Army? So, this Anxi cavalry must have come unimpeded all the way.”

“Li Qingan is truly bold to launch a surprise attack on Youzhou from the northern deserts. Impressive!” Tian Qianzhen also expressed his admiration.

At that moment, An Lushan sighed and said, “Stop boosting others’ morale. What should we do now? Do you think we should fight or retreat?”

Shi Siming bowed and said, “Commander, I believe Li Qingan is avoiding battle with us, likely waiting for news of this unexpected army. But his information in Hebei isn’t as fast as ours. He probably still doesn’t know yet. I suggest we retreat as soon as possible before the news reaches our troops.”

“General Shi simplifies things too much. Retreat? How?” It was Tian Qianzhen who spoke. He and Shi Siming had always been bitter rivals, and he would generally oppose Shi Siming’s suggestions. He stepped forward slowly and said, “Li Qingan’s troop positions are clearly well-planned. They’re less than 100 li from us and 130 li from the Yellow River. We can catch up to them in just one day, while it will take us at least three days to cross the Yellow River. That means Li Qingan will attack us when we’re halfway across. You can imagine what will happen then.”

“What then? What do you suggest?” Shi Siming said discontentedly.
Tian Qianzhen turned to look at An Lushan and said, “General, my opinion is to fight. After all, we have 10,000 more soldiers than the Anxi Army, giving us a numerical advantage. We also have 10,000 Youzhou Iron Cavalry, whose combat strength is no less than theirs. With the right strategy and the soldiers fighting bravely, we might not lose this battle. General, if we defeat the Anxi Army, our names will be renowned throughout the world!”
Though Tian Qianzhen spoke passionately, An Lushan’s blood did not heat up in response. Full of concerns, he waved his hand and said, “You all go back first! Let me think it over carefully.”
…
Everyone left, and An Lushan stood by the tent door, sighing deeply. He really shouldn’t have acted on impulse and crossed the river to Guannei Road. Now he faced the most difficult moment of his life. What should he do? He had thought more than once about challenging Li Qingan, but now, at this moment, he felt timid. The Anxi Army’s Moadao troops and Tianhuolei forces were all strengths he dared not confront. Yet Tian Qianzhen was right—they really couldn’t cross the river; doing so would surely lead to defeat. Perhaps he could still fight Li Qingan.
An Lushan racked his brains, torn to the extreme.
At that moment, a soldier reported from outside the tent, “General, Mr. Gao requests an audience.”
“Let him in!”
Earlier, he had seen Gao Shang hesitating to speak. Only now did he realize he should listen to Gao Shang’s advice. Although Gao Shang’s plan wasn’t perfect, it had successfully lured Li Qingan out. Circumstances were indeed strange—when Li Qingan was stationed in a strategic location in Pinggao County, he had tried every means to draw him out, but after succeeding, he regretted it. It would have been better if Li Qingan were still in Pinggao County.
A moment later, Gao Shang entered, smiling and saying, “Is the general still struggling to make a decision?”
“Yes! I really don’t know what to do. Should we fight or not?” An Lushan held his pumpkin-like head and lowered his head in pain.
Gao Shang advised him, “I’m worried that the general hasn’t fully understood the situation, so I’ve come to advise you.”
An Lushan raised his head and asked, “Sir, please tell me what the situation is now.”
Gao Shang sighed slightly and said, “The general already knows that the Anxi Army is launching a surprise attack on Fanyang. So, within another day or two, Li Qingan will surely also find out. Once he spreads this news, his morale will soar, while ours will plummet. Therefore, the general must make a decision right away—whether to fight or not. If you can’t decide, I’ll propose three options for you to choose from.”
“Speak, I’m listening.”

“Let’s first discuss the worst option, which is Shi Siming’s suggestion: withdraw the troops immediately. The commander can leave first. Based on Li Qing’an’s current pace, out of our 80,000 troops, 30,000 can successfully cross the river, while the remaining 50,000 will either be killed or forced to surrender.”
“No!” An Lushan firmly opposed it. “I will never adopt this worst option.”
“Then fine. Let me present the middle option. My middle option is to send 20,000 troops to pretend to be the main force and confront Li Qing’an’s army, while our main force retreats north overnight. The Anxi army will surely pause for a while—half a day or a day. If it’s a day, we’ll have two days to cross the river. We can quickly retreat to Yanfu County in Suizhou to cross the river, which has the best crossing point in the Jin Gorge. In just two days, we can cross with 60,000 troops. Although we lose 20,000 troops, we preserve our main force.”
An Lushan remained silent and said, “Please present the best option.”
“Commander, the best option is quite simple—it’s Tian Qianzhen’s strategy. Fight against the Anxi army and strive to become the best army in the land through strength.”
An Lushan pondered for a long time before finally saying slowly, “I lean toward the middle option.”
……
That night, the moon was dark, the wind was fierce, the stars were dim, and the sky was covered with dark clouds. It was as if nature itself was conspiring to help—complete darkness covered the land. A 20,000-strong army left the Fanyang camp and marched boldly toward the Anxi army’s camp, a hundred miles away. The army had fluttering banners and a grand appearance, pretending to be a 60,000-strong main force led by General Tian Qianzhen.
Half an hour after this army left the camp, An Lushan’s 60,000-strong army quickly set off northward. They left in great haste, not taking any supplies or tents. The soldiers only carried two days’ worth of rations, traveling light and fast.
But as soon as An Lushan’s army moved, it was immediately detected by the Anxi army’s scouts. They sent dozens of carrier pigeons to rush back the news to the camp.
The situation changed rapidly, and war was on the verge of breaking out.