In the Battle of Suifeng Fortress, 20,000 Persian cavalrymen of the Arab Empire were annihilated. The commander-in-chief, Saleh, and his deputies, Omar and Rashid, were killed in action. Two hundred bronze cannons and countless supplies and provisions fell into the hands of the Tang army.
After the war, Emperor Zhaowu of the Tang Dynasty, Chen Huai'an, who personally commanded the Tang army from Suifeng Fort, did not linger and rushed to Huoshiwan, another important town in the Warahan Corridor.
Another day passed, and the right vanguard general of the Arab Empire's eastern expeditionary army, Caesar, who was completely unaware that the imperial reinforcements had been completely wiped out at Suifeng Fort, led more than 20,000 imperial Persian war elephants and camel cavalry to the east side of Huoshiwan Pass.
When General Caesar, the Right Vanguard, saw with his own eyes ten Tang Dynasty naval warships lined up outside the walls of Firestone Bay, he was also so shocked that he was speechless.
His imperial army, which had been on a long and arduous expedition to the east, was greatly alarmed by this scene and dared not easily engage in battle.
However, Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an, who had already summoned a large army in Huoshiwan, did not give the enemy's right vanguard general Caesar a chance to breathe. He concentrated the superior forces in Huoshiwan and, with the red-clothed cannons of the Shenji Battalion as cover and deterrence, took the initiative to attack the enemy's Persian war elephants and camel cavalry outside the city.
Under the threat of the cannons, Caesar, the enemy's right vanguard general who knew he was no match for them, decisively ordered a retreat after leaving a detachment to cover their retreat.
Compared to the fierce Battle of Suifengbao, the Battle of Huoshiwan was much more uneventful.
The Tang army stationed at Huoshiwan ended the Battle of Huoshiwan almost effortlessly and without bloodshed, capturing over a thousand enemy war elephants and camels and annihilating several thousand enemy soldiers.
Ultimately, the Arab Empire's strategic plan to reopen the Warakhan Corridor, the land route connecting the Arab Empire and the Western Regions, with the help of approximately 50,000 troops from within and without, ended in failure.
The news of the Arab Empire's crushing defeat was brought back that very night to the central command tent of the imperial army by Caesar, the right vanguard general of the enemy forces who had fled all the way from Huoshiwan back to the Uyghur Black Tiger City, and was reported in detail to the Eastern Expeditionary General Turhong.
At this time, a full half month had passed since the 700,000-strong Arab army marched eastward to conquer the Uyghurs and fought a bloody battle in Princess City.
Meanwhile, the approximately 600,000-strong Arab Empire expeditionary force, along with the allied forces of the vassal states of the Western Regions, who were besieged in the three cities of Black Tiger, Meijian, and Qadin of the Uyghur Khanate, had completely run out of food after finishing their last supper this evening.
The overwhelmed Imperial General Turhong, who was leading the eastern expedition, not only failed to receive news of reinforcements reopening the Wallak Corridor, but also received news of the Imperial army's crushing defeat at Suifeng Fortress and Huoshiwan.
In an instant, thunderous anger erupted in the central command tent of the eastern expeditionary army, and shouts of rebuke rose from all sides.
"Caesar, what did you say? The Imperial army suffered a crushing defeat at Varahan, and the Tang Dynasty actually moved its naval warships to the plateau and equipped them with new bronze cannons?"
On the main seat inside the tent, the face of Turhong, the Grand General of the Eastern Expedition of the Empire, was contorted with a ferocious expression, and his eyes were glared like those of a bull, as if he wished he could devour Caesar, the Right Vanguard General of the army whom he had personally promoted.
Turhong continued his stern rebuke: "Caesar, tell me, there are neither rivers nor lakes on the Pamir Plateau. How exactly did the Tang Dynasty garrison at Huoshiwan manage to transport such massive naval warships to the plateau?"
"Could it be that the Tang Dynasty's naval warships, like their soldiers, are winged bird ships that can fly on their own?"
"General, I—"
Right Vanguard General Caesar knelt inside the central command tent, seemingly unable to believe what he had witnessed at the Firestone Bay Pass.
But it is indeed true that the Tang Dynasty naval warships equipped with "bronze cannons" were real and shone brightly on the battlefield.
After much deliberation, Caesar had no choice but to reply, forcing a smile, "General, I believe that the Tang Dynasty naval warships that appeared out of nowhere at Firestone Bay Pass were products of the Tang soldiers' tireless efforts to build day and night after they occupied Firestone Bay."
"After all, the hills around Huoshiwan are full of tall trees. The Tang soldiers guarding the city must be trying to use such a trick to disrupt the morale of our imperial army."
"Otherwise, otherwise this humble general really cannot think of any other possibility that would allow the Tang army stationed at Huoshi Bay to transport its naval warships to a plateau with neither rivers nor lakes in such a short time!"
Bang!
Upon hearing Caesar's reply, Turhong became even more furious and smashed the teacup in front of him on the table.
Then, he roared in uncontrollable rage: "Since you already know that the warships that appeared on the plateau were nothing but a trick by the Tang army, why did you retreat without a fight?"
"Don't you know that the army's food supplies are running low?"
Turhong, exasperated, continued, "Let me tell you, this very evening, after the army finished its last supper, the 600,000 troops in Black Tiger City, Meijian City, and Khatun City have run out of food."
"If we want to maintain the army's fighting strength, we will have no choice but to slaughter the warhorses!"
"As the Right Vanguard General of the Empire's Eastern Expedition, do you know what it means to slaughter warhorses for food?"
"This general..."
Turhong's rapid-fire rebukes made General Caesar, the Right Vanguard General who had already retreated without a fight at Huoshiwan, feel even more guilty, and he buried his head deeply.
While seated in the main seat, the enraged General Turhong, who was leading the eastern expedition, probably felt that sitting and cursing was not enough, so he got up and went to Caesar, who was kneeling on the ground, and pointed at him and cursed him.
If it weren't for the fear of demoralizing the army by executing generals on the eve of battle, Turhong would have already ordered the right vanguard general, Caesar, to be dragged out and beheaded.
However, for the imperial expeditionary army trapped in the Uyghur Khanate, the problem could not be solved simply by beheading a right vanguard general.
Finally, Turhong declared sternly: "Right Vanguard General Caesar retreated without a fight in the Battle of Firestone Bay, missing a crucial opportunity and causing the Imperial Eastern Expeditionary Army to fall into a passive and food-scarce predicament;"
"According to the military regulations of the Abbasid Caliphate, General Caesar's cowardice in battle warrants execution."
"However, considering your years of service to the dynasty in battles across the land, even if you haven't achieved great merit, you have still put in considerable effort. I will spare your life for now and allow you to atone for your crimes through meritorious service."
With that, Turhong roared, "You sinful general Caesar, heed my command!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
Turhong said expressionlessly, "I will immediately assign you to the suicide squad. Tomorrow, I will personally lead the army and the suicide squad to be the first to attack the Uyghur capital, Harabalgas. If we cannot break through the city, you shall end your own life on the battlefield, which will be your last contribution to the Abbasid Caliphate!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
"Step back!"
"Yes, General!"
Soon, General Caesar, the Right Vanguard General, who was utterly despondent, withdrew from the central command tent like a defeated rooster.
After he left, Turhun, the Abbasid Caliphate's general in the eastern expedition, finally calmed down and regained his usual wise and powerful demeanor.
Turhong addressed the other imperial generals present: "Gentlemen, whether you like it or not, the imperial army's campaign against the Tang Dynasty with 800,000 troops has ended in utter failure."
"The Tang Dynasty to the east of this empire is by no means an opponent that the Abbasid Caliphate has faced in its previous campaigns. Their Great Emperor Chen Huai'an is exceptionally capable in both strategy and military command."
Eh—
After a long sigh, Turhong continued, "In order to preserve some strength for the Abbasid Caliphate and prevent the entire 800,000-strong imperial army from being annihilated in the Western Regions by the Uyghur Khanate;"
"This general has decided that tomorrow morning, after the traitor Caesar leads the allied forces of the Western Regions, which are vassals of the Abbasid Caliphate, to launch an attack on the capital of the Uyghur Khanate, the 500,000-strong imperial expeditionary army will immediately retreat and fight its way back along the Warakhan Corridor!"
"As for the full responsibility for the Empire's failure in this eastern expedition, I, the general, will personally meet with the Caliph upon returning home and take full responsibility for the failure of the eastern expedition!"
"That's settled then. Everyone, go and make your own plans for the withdrawal of troops!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
......
Turhong, the great general of the Arab Empire's eastern expedition, naively believed that the Western Regions were a place he could come and go as he pleased.
But Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an, who was determined to conquer the east and plant the Tang Dynasty's battle flag on every inch of land reached by the Tang army's iron hooves, could not let him have his way.
This was a golden opportunity to "strike while the iron is hot" and annihilate the hundreds of thousands of Arab Empire troops trapped in the Uyghur Khanate. This was tantamount to cutting off one of Abbasid Caliph Safah's arms, thus reducing the obstacles for the Tang army's future eastward expedition.
After Chen Huai'an commanded the Tang army to achieve great victories at the battlefields of Suifeng Fort and Huoshi Bay, he immediately assembled a large force and divided it into three routes to advance towards the three cities of Heihu, Meijian, and Khatun, assuming a posture of encirclement.
"Report—"
"Your Majesty, Marquis Huo Qubing, following Your Majesty's orders, has led an army of 200,000 to the gates of Meijian City."
"Report—"
"Your Majesty, General Zhao Zilong, the commander of the Imperial Guards, has led an army of 200,000 men to approach Khatun City, as per Your Majesty's orders."
"Report—"
"Your Majesty..."
One by one, messengers rode up, bringing with them the latest intelligence from the Tang army in the Western Regions. The situation in the entire Western Regions had been completely taken under the control of Chen Huai'an and the Tang army, and everything was moving in a positive direction.
While Chen Huai'an was personally overseeing the battles at Suifeng Fort and Huoshi Bay, the thirty-five kingdoms of the Western Regions that had betrayed the Tang Dynasty and turned to the Abbasid Caliphate had all been conquered by the Tang army.
If the more than 600,000 troops under Turhong can be completely annihilated according to the predetermined battle plan, the entire Western Regions will become the actual control area of the Tang Dynasty.
Next, Chen Huai'an could implement the reform of separating military and political affairs in the Western Regions without any worries, and completely control the land Silk Road in the hands of the Tang Dynasty.
Chen Huai'an finally decided to personally travel to Black Tiger City to meet Turhun, the legendary first warrior of the Abbasid Caliphate and the great general of the Arab Empire's eastern expedition.
The next day.
The first day of the ninth month in the first year of the Zhaowu reign of the Tang Dynasty.
Dark clouds loomed over the Uyghur Black Tiger City, a chilling wind blew, and a murderous aura permeated the entire Arab Empire army in Black Tiger City before the decisive battle.
In particular, the soldiers of the vassal states of the Western Regions who were incorporated into the suicide squad all hung their heads and looked bitter and resentful, as if their fathers had died.
This included Tibis, the exiled king of the Wusun Kingdom.
Speaking of Tibis, he can be considered a figure who can "leave his mark on history." He was originally the king of a small, unknown country among the thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions, but by a twist of fate, he became a troublemaker who stirred up the winds and waves in the Western Regions. He was also the one who directly pushed forward the direct war between the Tang Dynasty and the Abbasid Dynasty, two super-powerful empires in the East and West.
However, Tibis was preoccupied with his own thoughts at the moment.
Yesterday, upon receiving General Turhong's order to have Tibis and the other soldiers from the Western Regions in Black Tiger City join Caesar as part of the vanguard (actually a suicide squad) to attack the Uyghur capital, Harabalgas.
Tibis knew very well that his soldiers from the Western Regions who had submitted to the Arab Empire had already been abandoned by General Turhong.
Nominally, they were to take the initiative to attack the Tang army in the Uyghur capital, but in reality, they were sent to hold off the Tang army's pursuit and buy time for the imperial army to retreat westward.
At this moment, Tibis, who was heartbroken, even felt a pang of nostalgia for the days when he had made the Tang Dynasty his suzerain state.
In fact, it wasn't just Tibis who missed it; the soldiers and officers of the vassal states of the Western Regions within the three cities of Black Tiger, Meijian, and Khatun also missed the days when they regarded the Tang Dynasty as their suzerain state.
Whether it was Chen Huai'an, the Prince of Jin, or Chen Huai'an, the Emperor Zhaowu of the Tang Dynasty who later established the dynasty, both adopted a policy of appeasement towards the Western Regions. They provided maximum convenience for various countries to collect taxes along the Silk Road in the Western Regions and never allowed the vassal states to send troops to assist the Tang Dynasty in its conquests.
At that time, the kingdoms of the Western Regions were filled with singing, dancing, drinking, and merrymaking every day, living a very happy life.
Now look at the Western Regions, which, under the threat of the Arab Empire's military might, had no choice but to betray the Tang Dynasty and turn to the Abbasid Caliphate. They have long since become a living hell.
Not only in the daily battles, but also in the deaths of brave men from all nations on the battlefield;
Even his home was confiscated by the Tang Dynasty's army, leaving him no choice but to rely on the Arab Empire's army during its eastward expedition to aid and abet evil, living a life like a walking corpse.
Looking back on all of this, it's all thanks to King Tibis of Wusun.
Everyone was peacefully enjoying hotpot and singing songs when you, of all people, had to go and interfere in the Arab Empire outside the Western Regions, claiming it was to avenge your wife, but instead dragged the rulers, subjects, and people of all thirty-six kingdoms in the Western Regions into an abyss of no return.
That damned Tibbins will be killed on the battlefield sooner or later by a thousand arrows and trampled by a thousand horses!
Before setting off, the vanguard soldiers, who were gathering on the training ground in Black Tiger City, cursed Tibis, the King of Wusun, who had brought disaster to the Western Regions.
Boom!
Suddenly, a thunderclap sounded over Black Tiger City, signaling that it was going to rain!
However, the bugle call to march was delayed, and the order for the vanguard to set off was also delayed.
Seeing that the time for the expedition had long passed, the vanguard army on the training ground remained motionless, which made the generals of the vanguard army begin to wonder.
Little did anyone know that Turhun, the Arab Empire's Grand General of the Eastern Expedition, who was sitting in the central command tent of Black Tiger City at this moment, was facing the darkest moment of his more than thirty years of military career.
Scouts ahead reported that a large number of Tang troops were rapidly assembling towards Black Tiger City.
Turhong knew that it was too late to withdraw his troops at this point!
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