Chapter 505: The Return of the Warriors

Khotan, also known as Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan today, is the only Khotan territory currently occupied by the Tang army. It serves as a wedge deeply embedded in Khotan’s lands. At present, the Tang army has assembled 120,000 troops here, with another 30,000 troops deployed in Kucha and Kashgar. With such a large army gathered, a major battle is imminent.

That afternoon, outside the city of Dali Bohe, a group of Tang army scouts on horseback rushed forward. They reached the city gates, took out their pass tokens, and shouted loudly, “Urgent military news! We must report to the general!”

The guards did not stop them and allowed them to enter. The scouts galloped straight to the military headquarters, dismounted, and said to several attendants, “Please inform the general of the urgent situation in Khotan.”

The attendants, not daring to delay, immediately went to report. Moments later, two attendants came out and said, “The general orders you to enter.”

The scout team followed the two attendants into the military headquarters. After passing strict checks at the entrance, they entered the command room. Inside, there was a huge sand table representing Khotan, surrounded by over a dozen generals and civil officials who were whispering among themselves. Several military advisors held red flags, marking the latest intelligence on the sand table.

By the window on the west side of the room, Li Qing’an stood with his hands behind his back, gazing outside. Three days earlier, he had received news that the Tubo king had been assassinated. Though he found it hard to believe, the Tang army’s scouts would not report such significant news unless they were certain. If true, this event could become a turning point in the entire war. In fact, within Li Qing’an’s overall strategic plan, Chisong Detsen was a crucial element. He needed two kings in Tubo, just as in history—after Chisong Detsen’s death, his sons fought over the throne, leading to continuous civil wars that gradually weakened Tubo.

But Li Qing’an also admitted that killing Chisong Dezan was a good thing as well. That man was highly talented and strategic, a key figure in leading Tubo to revival. His death would be a devastating blow to Tubo. In any case, those ten scouts had achieved great merits for Anxi. Li Qing’an couldn’t help but recall the time when he killed the Tubo king. The passion to be the first in the world had vanished; he had become increasingly rational and calm. Perhaps it was status that shaped one’s character—he was no longer himself. He was the representative of the interests of millions of soldiers and civilians in Anxi. Every word and action of his would determine the fate of many people, making him cautious in handling every matter.

Power had made him lose himself. When he heard the news that his scouts had killed the Tubo soldiers, a long-forgotten sense of emotion stirred in his otherwise stone-hearted heart.

“General, they’re here!” his personal guard whispered nearby.

Li Qing’an turned around. The scout leader stepped forward, knelt, and saluted, “Reporting to the general!”

“What news have you gathered?”

“Reporting to the general, the Tubo people are in mourning across the kingdoms of Toharistan. Their king is seriously injured and has died.”

It was true after all! Li Qing’an sighed inwardly and asked, “And then? Did they retaliate?”

“Yes, they did. It is said that all Toharistan officials who surrendered to the Tubo were purged, with most of them killed. In fact, A’huancheng was razed, with no less than 30,000 people killed.”

“What about our ten Tang army scouts? Were they killed too?”

The scout leader nodded and said softly, “Yes! We learned from a Tubo captive that the ten scouts refused to be captured and committed suicide. Their heads were displayed in the Tubo camp at A’huancheng.”

Li Qing’an fell silent. He waved his hand gently, signaling the scout leader to leave. Then he turned his back to the window, gazing at the horizon for a long time, filled with indescribable sorrow. The other generals in the room didn’t dare disturb him. They exchanged glances with Li Fei Yuanli, signaling him to comfort the general.

Li Fei Yuanli stepped forward, bowed to Li Qing’an, and said, “General, although the ten scouts have fallen in battle, their achievements are enough to ensure they rest in peace. We should treat their families well. Please rest assured, General!”

“The heads of those ten brothers are still on display in the Tubo camp. How can I rest assured?” Li Qing’an sighed and ordered, “Bring them here!”

After a moment, several bodyguards brought in a Tibetan official who had been captured in the battle of Qiemo City. His name was Lun Jiaxi, a commander of ten thousand soldiers, and he had a good relationship with the monk Xidongzan. Some of the Tibetan troops were forced to work as laborers in the mines of Yincheng, and this official was one of them.

“Kneel!”

The bodyguards pushed him down until he was kneeling. Li Qing’an glanced at him and said coldly, “You’re lucky to be sent back to Toharistan by me.”

The interpreter translated Li Qing’an’s words for him. The officer couldn’t believe his ears and asked hesitantly, “Why release me?”

“It’s simple. I want you to deliver a message to Xidongzan. I’m willing to exchange ten of my scouts for ten thousand Tibetan prisoners. If he agrees, he should send back my scouts, and I’ll release them. If not, ten thousand Tibetan prisoners will die in exchange for my scouts.”

After hearing the translation, the Tibetan officer was stunned. Exchange ten thousand people for one? Who could be that valuable?

“Does General Xidongzan know who this person is?”

“He knows very well. Better than anyone. Go! I’ll wait for your news.”

The Tibetan officer was taken away. Li Fei Yuanli stepped forward and whispered, “General, exchanging ten thousand people for ten corpses— isn’t that a bit too high a price?”

Li Qing’an shook his head. “Not at all. Xidongzan also needs to give an explanation to his people. If there are too few, he won’t agree.”

After a pause, Li Qing’an sneered and said, “Even if I give him twenty thousand, what does it matter? They’ll end up in my hands anyway.”

……

The young Tibetan king didn’t die from serious injuries but died on the spot when a highly poisonous crossbow arrow pierced his skull. In his panic, Xidongzan concealed the news for two days before he could no longer hide it and had to announce to the entire army that the king had died tragically. The Tibetan army was shocked; many people beat their chests in grief, and mourning filled the camps. Everyone was plunged into deep sorrow.

In his panic, Xidongzan’s mind was in chaos. He didn’t know what to do. If the king died in Toharistan, how could he explain it back home? Would the nobles and officials spare him?

Should he withdraw his troops or occupy Anxi first before leaving? For days, Xidongzan remained in a dazed state.

That morning, Shangxi Dongzan sat in his room as usual, lost in thought. The death of the king had left him unmindful of military matters, severely affecting the Tibetan army’s preparations. Suddenly, shouts from a group of officers came from outside: “Commander, we demand a northern campaign! We must avenge the king!”
Disturbed, Shangxi Dongzan slammed the window shut with a bang, darkening the room and reducing the noise outside. These past few days, Tibetan generals had come one after another offering their services. Though their morale was high, Shangxi Dongzan had no intention of sending troops, and their demands only added to his troubles.
“Commander!” someone reported at the door again.
“Enough!” Shangxi Dongzan snapped. “Can’t you let me be quiet for a while?”
“Commander, it’s Lun Jiaxi.”
“Who?” Shangxi Dongzan was stunned.
“Lun Jiaxi, the commander you sent to fight alongside Monk Jiasu.”
“W- wasn’t he captured by the Tang army? How could he return?”
After a moment, Shangxi Dongzan seemed to understand and ordered, “Bring him in!”
Soon, Lun Jiaxi was brought in. He was one of Shangxi Dongzan’s old subordinates, having served him for many years. Upon seeing him, he knelt down and wept bitterly. “Commander! I thought I would never see you again.”
“Stop crying!”
Annoyed by his tears, Shangxi Dongzan slammed the table and said, “If you cry any more, I’ll throw you out!”
Frightened, Lun Jiaxi stopped crying. Only then did Shangxi Dongzan relax slightly. He patted his shoulder and comforted him, “I know you’ve suffered greatly. I’ll make it up to you later, but first, tell me how you returned. Did Li Qing’an set you free?”
“That’s right! He let me go to deliver a message—he wants to make a deal with you.”
“A deal? What kind of deal?”
“He wants you to send back the bodies of those ten Tang scouts in exchange for ten thousand Tibetan prisoners.”
If Li Qing’an had offered just a thousand or a few thousand people in exchange, Shangxi Dongzan wouldn’t have even considered it. But ten thousand Tibetan prisoners indeed tempted him, and the current situation forced him to consider the deal.

At present, the 80,000-strong army brought by the Zanpu was not under his control. Before dying, the Zanpu merely pointed at Shang Jiasu, seemingly intending for him to take command of the army. This situation troubled Shang Xidongzan greatly. In fact, those 80,000 soldiers might not obey Shang Jiasu’s orders. But since the Zanpu had been assassinated in Ahuancheng, and the killer was hiding in the home of Alan, a Turfan official he had promoted himself, everyone in the army was highly dissatisfied with him. As a result, they instead obeyed his political rival, Shang Jiasu.

Unseen by anyone, the 180,000-strong army split into two camps: one led by Shang Xidongzan and the other by Shang Jiasu. The Tang army was not yet aware of this, but Shang Xidongzan understood that they would eventually find out the truth.

Now, Li Qing’an was willing to exchange 10,000 Tibetan prisoners for those 10 Tang corpses, which might not be such a bad deal after all. Shang Xidongzan had originally planned to hand over those 10 corpses to Shang Jiasu in a few days, but he changed his mind. Rather than letting Shang Jiasu reap the benefits, he decided to secure those 10,000 prisoners first.

Thinking this, Shang Xidongzan asked Lun Jiasi, “How does he plan to make the exchange?”

“Li Qing’an says that the commander should send the people back first, and he will release 10,000 prisoners in return. Commander, do you think he lacks sincerity?”

“No!” Shang Xidongzan shook his head. “If you think that, you’re wrong. There’s a saying among the Tang people: ‘A thousand gold pieces for bones.’ By using 10,000 people to exchange for 10 corpses, he’s actually doing it to impress his own soldiers.”

Seeing Lun Jiasi stunned, he sneered, “The political wisdom of the Tang people isn’t something an idiot like you can understand. Never mind. Even if I explain it to you, you won’t get it. Go back and deliver those 10 coffins to Li Qing’an.”

……

In the open fields outside Dali Bohe City, 120,000 Tang soldiers stood in neat ranks, solemn and ready. They formed two long serpentine formations, lining the path for miles. At the sound of a deep horn, the war drums began to beat—“Dong! Dong!”—as 500 Tang cavalry led the way. Behind them, ten chariots carrying ten coffins moved slowly, each coffin covered with the Black Dragon battle flag of Anxi. On either side of the coffins, 1,000 cavalrymen guarded them, holding long spears and keeping their horses in step with the chariots.

Wherever the ten coffins passed, the Tang soldiers bowed their heads in respect and silence. In the middle of the path, Li Qing’an had been waiting for a long time. He watched silently as the carriage approached. When the convoy was still thirty steps away from Li Qing’an, it stopped. Li Qing’an dismounted and strode forward quickly. He stopped in front of the ten coffins and suddenly knelt on one knee. Seeing their commander kneel, the 120,000 soldiers also knelt on one knee, creating a truly magnificent scene.

In the gentle breeze, Zhao Luchu, the military advisor, read aloud the inscription written by Li Qing’an himself: “At the beginning of the second year of Zhenzhi, the Ten Valiant Warriors of the Great Tang went to Toharistan as scouts to gather intelligence about the enemy and understand the local people’s sentiments. They worked diligently day and night… The Tibetan chieftains, seeing this, forced the Ten Valiant Warriors to sacrifice their lives. They gave their humble lives in exchange for causing avalanches in the Tibetan mountains, assassinating the enemy chieftains, and ensuring their names would be remembered forever… A commander should never abandon his soldiers just because of their humble status. Now, ten thousand prisoners of war have been exchanged for the souls of these Ten Valiant Warriors, who will be buried with great honor east of Suiye, to be remembered by future generations. The Ten Valiant Warriors were Zhou Bi, Wang Yiqing, Lu Ning, Amuti, Zhantar, Alosai, Wu Qilang, Gao Yi, Timuz, and Aqi. They were all granted the titles of General of Loyalty and Valor and Lords of Suiye County. Their parents, wives, and children would be supported by Suiye. Alas, these valiant warriors will live on forever…”

Li Qing’an stood up, removed his sword, and placed it on Zhou Bi’s coffin, bowing deeply before it. At that moment, the 120,000 soldiers were deeply moved by their commander. Many of them were moved to tears. Ten humble lives had received such grand honors. Their souls were redeemed with ten thousand prisoners of war—their lives had not been in vain. If they had the chance, they would also be willing to sacrifice their blood and lives for their commander and the Great Tang Empire.

The carriage continued moving forward. As the ten carriages gradually disappeared, Li Qing’an mounted his horse again and shouted to the 120,000 soldiers, “Soldiers of Anxi, although the Ten Valiant Warriors are gone, we still have 120,000 new warriors. You, me, and all of us are part of the Anxi army. This is your honor. Having warriors like you is also my honor. Soldiers, follow me! Let’s march on Toharistan and conquer the world!”

He raised his arms and cried out, “Our goal is not just Toharistan—it’s the whole world!”

“The whole world!”

The 120,000 soldiers raised their arms together, their voices roaring like thunder, echoing throughout the heavens and earth.