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Chapter 105 Success (Please Subscribe)
The western front campaign ended in a rather absurd manner, much to Guo Ziyi's displeasure. The battle wasn't even over yet, and the enemy had already backed down?
However, he knew when to stop. After all, he himself knew that those mysterious heavenly thunder and earthly fires were no longer enough to sustain a large-scale bombing like before. Well, the word "bombing" was something he'd learned from that Imperial Guard general. It was said to originate from the Grand General Lu Xuan. Guo Ziyi felt that this word was simply too wonderful.
The Tibetan withdrawal was most frustrating for the Uyghurs. They had agreed that the Tibetans would attack from the west, and they would attack from the north. But before they even started fighting, the Uyghurs had already withdrawn?
At this time, all the countries surrounding the Tang Dynasty were eyeing it covetously. However, one thing must be acknowledged: they could only plunder the borders. No one dared to risk their entire nation's fate in a full-scale war. Even the strongest powers, Tibet and the Uyghurs, would only dare to consider such a move if they joined forces.
But now one side has fled, leaving the other side in an awkward position, unsure of what to do. Crucially, news of the Tibetan retreat spread rapidly, reaching the ears of the Uyghurs. Their morale instantly plummeted.
The world's campaign against Tang turned into a joke. The two main forces, Tibet and the Uyghurs, retreated one after another. The remaining smaller tribes, naturally, dared not linger and hastily fled. Unfortunately, none of them produced a Richard the Lionheart. This siege ultimately became a farce.
The global campaign against Tang thus ended in a dismal failure. From that moment on, the position of the powerful Tang emperor was unshakeable.
Whether they were Tibetans or ambitious Uyghurs, they all knew clearly that although the Tang Dynasty was currently peaceful and harmonious, in a few years it would inevitably bare its fangs. By then, everything would be beyond repair.
Unfortunately, while they could see the big picture, they lacked a transmigrator like Lu Xuan. They couldn't mobilize the smaller tribes who had begun to enjoy this lifestyle. This invisible war was even more unbearable for them than a direct invasion of the capital by the Tang Dynasty. Because they couldn't find the enemy...
The Tang Dynasty's victory in this battle subdued all sides, and Li Heng's status rose to an unbelievable level. Even Guo Ziyi, who won the only major victory, became a new generation's war god. Wang Zhongsi has something to say about this.
It's all the Tibetans' fault for retreating too quickly. I had barely begun when they came rushing back. He didn't get much of a victory. Otherwise, the title of "Great Tang War God" would still be mine.
Although Guo Ziyi was somewhat emboldened by the praise, he knew in private that his victory was due to the Tang Dynasty's secret weapon, Heavenly Thunder and Earthly Fire, as well as the promotion by the Grand General.
There is another person who is currently in a dilemma: An Lushan. This is because the Khitans have submitted a letter of allegiance...
In one swift move, the Tang Dynasty routed the Tibetans, and a single glance was enough to frighten the Uyghurs into retreat. Such power terrified the Khitans, who promptly submitted a letter of submission, promising to pay tribute annually and pleading for an end to their attacks.
An Lushan understood one thing perfectly well: without war on the frontier, these military governors became superfluous. For years, he had constantly provoked the Khitans and instigated wars, all to create a situation of constant border conflict and to entice the court to increase its support for him.
But now, everyone in the Tang Dynasty knows that the two great steppe empires have become like stray dogs. They can no longer recreate the chaotic situation they once had.
With no more fighting on the border, there would naturally be no more support. His own ill-gotten gains would also disappear. But that was secondary. What he truly feared was that the court would use this opportunity to consolidate its power. He feared that his life's work would be wasted.
Sometimes, An Lushan harbored a fleeting ambition. He commanded an army of 200,000, all elite field warriors. He might as well rebel and teach the Tang Dynasty a lesson. But the thought of the Tibetans being utterly routed from the start made him uneasy.
He knew a little bit about it; it was said that the Tang Dynasty used some kind of new weapon in that battle. The key point was, he had never seen it.
The two fronts were at odds. On the western front, they used new weapons and won a major victory. However, on the northern front, he had never even seen these so-called new weapons. What does this mean? It means that the Tang Dynasty was already on guard against him.
The mighty Tibetans were utterly defeated and didn't dare utter a sound. He himself was still on guard; what would happen if he were to actually raise an army? An Lushan dared not think further. But he knew that raising an army was essentially hopeless.
He couldn't fight, but holding out would only lead to a slow death. An Lushan was caught in a dilemma.
And reality unfolded much as he had predicted. Less than six months after the campaign against Tang, the imperial court took action. First, they demanded that An Lushan hand over double the number of warhorses. Then, they severely reprimanded him for his unauthorized construction of a city.
Taking this opportunity, he was directly relieved of his posts as military governor of Fanyang and Hedong, retaining only the title of military governor of Pinglu.
An Lushan was furious, but there was nothing he could do.
In fact, besides him, all the other major military governors also began to be weakened without prior arrangement. Almost everyone knew that the central government was consolidating power.
This was part of the military reforms of the Tang Dynasty. With the continuous advancement of gunpowder technology, the Tang military's equipment was bound to change accordingly. The introduction of firearms-equipped troops would inevitably replace a large number of older military units.
At the same time, the Tang Dynasty began to adopt a strategy of building up its elite troops. Local warlords began to reduce their troop numbers, but they were supplemented with Tang grenadiers.
This military reform will last for ten years, or even decades. With the continuous advancement of gunpowder technology, firearms will one day appear. At that time, the entire military of the Tang Dynasty will enter a new period of downsizing and replacement.
These discharged soldiers will return to agricultural work and infrastructure construction in the Tang Dynasty, contributing to the people's livelihood and strengthening the Tang Dynasty's foundation. By then, perhaps the Tang Dynasty won't even want to spend money on buying wool.
Everything began to fall into place as Lu Xuan had envisioned. Lu Xuan also felt that it was time.
He went to the palace to attend court.
Heavens have mercy, this is his first time attending court since being appointed Grand General Protector of the Nation. The court officials are all extremely excited. They wonder what this legendary God of Literature has come down to in order to do.
After years of fermentation, some news still managed to get out. For example, the firearms of the Tang Dynasty, the wars involving wool, and the agricultural reforms, water conservancy reforms, and forging reforms, etc., were all actually the work of this great general.
In a sense, this general had reached the point where his achievements threatened the emperor's authority. However, because the general had adopted an attitude of having no interest in power, the emperor had not taken any action.
However, it seems that this time, the relationship between the emperor and his minister is about to come to an end.
"General, what brings you to the court today? I thought you'd forgotten the way to this hall." Li Heng had anticipated Lu Xuan's purpose, so he was relatively relaxed.
"Your Majesty, I have come here to ask you for something."
"General, just say what you want. As long as it exists in this world, I will grant it to you."
“A few years ago, the late Emperor granted me a minor county title. However, the details of the fief have never been finalized. Today, I would like Your Majesty to confirm it.”
"That's easy to say. General, just name your wish. Even if you want the county magistrate of Wannian County, I will grant it today."
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Chapter 106 Retreat (End of Volume) (Please subscribe!)
On this day, nine out of ten houses in Chang'an were empty. Almost everyone had left the city. Because one person was leaving that day.
Lu Xuan is leaving. In this best of times, an era in which he could ascend to the position of prime minister at any moment if he so desired, he has decided to depart.
Li Bi: "As long as you stay, the position of prime minister is yours, I will not fight for it."
Lu Xuan: "Forget it. Sitting in that kind of position would be such a hassle. I prefer to be free."
"Hehe, you're the only one in the world who would say that, and I feel you're sincere. Are you really not a god descended to earth?"