Chapter 308 The Demise of the Tibetan Kingdom
After the fall of the Nanzhao Kingdom, Rumo led his army of over 300,000 men northward to the plateau in three routes, forming a pincer movement with the Shenchu Rong tribe, which had been fighting fiercely in eastern Tibet for some time, and launched a final general offensive against Tibet.
Shen Churong employed a steady and methodical military strategy, relying on the terrain in the Hongyuan Valley area to engage in a series of fierce battles with the main force of the Tubo.
Despite the fierce fighting of the Tibetan army, they suffered heavy losses and their morale plummeted in the six large-scale battles.
Shen Churong, together with several Tibetan nobles who had surrendered to the Great Qi, launched a pincer attack from both inside and outside the country, winning six battles in a row and destroying the main force of the Tibetan eastern defense line.
At the same time, Rumo led his army to overcome numerous difficulties and obstacles that were unimaginable to ordinary people, and launched a surprise attack on Lianyun Fort, which the Tubo had painstakingly built and was located in a very strategic and dangerous area.
This completely disrupted Yangjin's defense plans, leaving him unable to coordinate his efforts.
Under the offensive of the Qi army's two armies in the southeast, most of the Tibetan cities fell in less than half a year.
Yangjin led the last 100,000 soldiers to retreat to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, preparing to rely on the city's strong defenses for a final, desperate struggle.
Just as the two armies were about to encircle and kill Shen Churong's army, the Tubo nobles of the Molu clan, who had long since surrendered to the Qi dynasty, betrayed their promise and sent troops to ambush and kill Shen Churong's army.
Shen Churong was hit by several arrows in the melee, one of which penetrated deep into his lung, causing him severe injuries.
With their commander seriously wounded and the ambush launched unexpectedly, the Qi army was thrown into chaos and suffered heavy losses.
The Lu family's move was intended to "rescue Zhao from the siege of Wei".
They hoped that Rumo would abandon the siege of Lhasa and instead retreat eastward to rescue Shen Churong.
In this way, the siege of Lhasa was lifted, giving Tibet a chance to catch its breath, seize the opportunity to counterattack, and prevent the tragedy of national annihilation.
But to everyone's surprise, after receiving the battle report that Shen Churong had been ambushed and seriously injured and that the eastern front was in danger, Ru Mo concentrated all his forces and led his army to directly attack Lhasa.
She knew that the city of Lhasa was now in a state of panic, and it was the perfect time to breach the city.
The opportunity to fight is fleeting, and if there is any delay, the cost will be incalculable once the central bank recovers.
Yangjin led the remaining troops in a desperate resistance, and the battle was exceptionally fierce.
Finally, after holding out for half a month, the city of Lhasa was breached by Qi soldiers due to running out of ammunition and food.
Yangjin was exceptionally brave and fought to the very end.
She was stabbed more than twenty times, yet she fought on relentlessly until she exhausted her last bit of strength and collapsed to the ground.
The Tibetan king Yangjin died in battle.
From then on, the Tibetan Empire was destroyed.
However, Shen Churong also passed away suddenly half a month later due to the severity of his injuries.
When the news reached the capital, it was deep winter.
The entire capital was originally decorated with lanterns and filled with cheers due to the great victory at Lhasa, the death of Yangjin, and the destruction of the Tibetan kingdom.
The palace was also filled with joy. The Court of Imperial Sacrifices had already prepared a celebration banquet, just waiting for the army to return to the capital.
But when the news of Shen Churong's death arrived, the boiling joy was instantly frozen.
The Shen family produced two heroes, both of whom died for the Great Qi.
Shen Churong was only twenty-two years old, unmarried, and had no children.
Although the Shen family had "one emperor and one king," and enjoyed great glory and outstanding achievements, it was nominally "extinct."
Such a tragic scene would surely move anyone to tears.
Upon receiving the urgent report, Li Yuanzhao dismissed all his attendants and sat alone in the Yanying Hall for two days and two nights.
In the past two days, she refused to see any court officials or people in the harem, and even when Su Qingci requested an audience, she was still stopped.
She didn't touch the food that Pei Huaijin sent her.
Her mind kept replaying the last time she saw Shen Churong before she sent him to Youzhou.
At that time, the incident involving Zheng Wenkai was still fresh in her mind, reminding her that the defense of the capital region must not be entirely in the hands of one person.
The path to becoming an emperor is destined to be lonely. Former allies and partners may become hidden dangers that need to be guarded against once the country is stable.
Therefore, she was not comfortable letting Shen Churong continue to command the Imperial Guard.
Moreover, Youzhou is an important town in the northern frontier, and the sudden death of Shen Guojiu has caused unrest among the troops in Youzhou.
If a new person is suddenly sent to take over, it could easily cause unrest if not handled carefully.
Shen Churong is the biological son of Shen Guojiu, so having him take over is the safest and smoothest option.
Therefore, he had no choice but to go to Youzhou.
She still remembered that when he heard her decree, a barely perceptible hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes.
She brought up their previous agreement and asked him, "You promised me that, whether in times of peace and prosperity or amidst bloodshed and danger, you would fight for me with your sword until death. Do you still remember that?"
Shen Churong knelt on one knee and replied firmly.
“Your Majesty, of course I remember. It is not that I covet the prosperity of the capital, nor that I fear the hardships of the border; it is simply that I do not wish to leave Your Majesty’s side. And now that Your Majesty has given the order, how dare I disobey? I am willing to defend Your Majesty’s empire and expand its territory until my death!”
No one expected that he would actually die, fulfilling his words, "I will not rest until death."
Having lived for over twenty years, Li Yuanzhao had experienced court intrigues and power grabs, and had long since developed a cold and hardened heart.
This was the first time she had felt a strange, heavy sadness because of someone's death.
When Shen Churong was around, she was wary of him, used him, and regarded him as a "hidden danger" that needed to be weighed and controlled.
Now that he is dead, he is just that vivid cousin who once looked at her with adoring yet subtly passionate eyes.
With his loyalty, his bravery, and his young life, he forcefully pried open a corner of her heart.
On the morning of the third day, the doors of Yanying Hall were finally opened.
Li Yuanzhao came out, his expression as usual.
However, the faint blue shadows beneath her eyes betrayed the turmoil within her heart.
She regained the composure and decisiveness expected of an emperor, and issued a series of decrees.
The court bestowed great honors upon the Shen family, posthumously conferred upon Shen Churong the title of "Loyal and Valiant Prince," and held his funeral with the highest honors befitting a prince. He was granted special permission to be buried in the imperial mausoleum and his memorial tablet enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. The entire nation mourned him, and he was honored with the utmost respect and respect.
The fifth princess, who was only nine years old, was adopted by the Prince of Ruyang to inherit the title and the throne, so as to continue the Shen family's ancestral worship.
The descendants of the Shen family will inherit their titles for generations and enjoy the imperial favor and glory forever.
At the same time, he ordered the extermination of the remaining Tibetan nobles, leaving no one alive.
Properly arrange all matters related to the pacification, appointment of officials, and garrisoning of troops in the Nanzhao and Tubo territories...
Everything was handled in an orderly and efficient manner.
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