Chapter 221: The famous general of Tubo

In Shancheng, in the Hehuang Governor's Office, Ma Chongying sat like a mud for half an hour. His face was calm, and there was still a cold smile on the corner of his mouth.

On the table in front of him, half of the table was filled with letters of help flying like snow, with as many as a hundred letters. The earliest letter was sent from Guangwu County ten days ago, but Ma Chongying was unmoved at all.

Ma Chongying had fought against the Tang Dynasty decades ago. Wang Zhongsi, Geshuhan, Huangfu Weiming, An Sishun and other Longyou, Hexi's successive Jiedushi were his opponents. He knew very well about these strong enemies, and even he had a deep study of the military tactics of the Han people.

Since returning from defeat in the Battle of West Fort last year, Ma Chongying no longer underestimated Zhang Huan, a young opponent. He has been paying attention to Zhang Huan's every move until he suddenly sent troops to occupy Longyou and replaced the Wei family. Ma Chongying, who was nearly 70 years old, knew that this would be his last opponent in his twilight years, and their battle would be inevitable. If Zhang Huan wants to get rid of political disadvantages, the best way is to attack Hehuang.

In fact, from the earliest knowledge of the Dangxiang rebellion in Longyou, Ma Chongying knew very well that Zhang Huan’s real purpose was to attack Hehuang, and the so-called attack on the Dangxiang people was nothing more than smoke.

The development of things happened one by one as he expected, but Ma Chongying was not worried. He was confident that everything was instability. He was concerned about the situation in Tubo. Recently, news came that Shang Jiexi and Na Nang clan were fighting for the left-behind. The two of them were in a bad mood. Na Nang clan led his army to leave Luo. Ma Chongying was very worried. If this matter was not handled well, it would become the root of the chaos in Tubo.

At this time, someone rushed to the distance, and a fierce quarrel broke out outside the door, "The Tang army was at the city, but your generals did not move. I want to question him."

At this time, Shang Zanpo, the envoy of the Tang Dynasty who had just returned to Shancheng yesterday, heard his anxious voice, and Ma Chongying couldn't help but smile coldly. Shang Zanpo was not aware of the general trend, so he was still the second person.

The more Shang Zan's yelled outside, the more fierce the guards were, and when they saw that they could not stop him, Ma Chongying immediately stood up and walked out of the door with his hands behind his back, "What's the noise?"

After Shang Zanpo arrived in Shancheng yesterday, he learned that the Tang army had launched a large-scale attack on Hehuang. He was shocked and angry. Not long ago in Chang'an, the Empress Dowager of the Tang Dynasty and the New Right Prime Minister also expressed his intention to be friendly to the Tang and the Thai countries for generations. He was about to go back and show his merits to Zanpu, but in this blink of an eye, everything changed.

The extreme disappointment and fear in his heart were intertwined, which was reflected in the appearance, which was Shang Zanpo's anxiety. When he saw Ma Chongying coming out, he immediately jumped up and said, "The vanguard of the Tang army has captured Huangshui City, less than 300 miles away, but you are not prepared. If Hehuang is lost, how can you explain to Zanpu!"

Ma Chongying looked coldly at Shang Jiexi's confidant, the villain who had slandered himself in front of Zanpu more than once. He snorted heavily: "I am the governor of Hehuang. All military and political affairs here are decided by me. Don't interfere in my military affairs."

"Interfere with military affairs?" Shang Zanpo was furious. He rebuked, "If you really resist actively, I won't ask, but you clearly intend to lazy the army. The Tuyuhun army, the Qiang army, you asked them to go up one by one, but they were eaten one by one. Before the Tang army arrived in Huangshui City, you asked the five thousand defenders to retreat on the entire line and handed over the Huangshui City to the enemy. Is this your military affairs?"

Ma Chongying was furious. He drew his sword and pointed it at Shang Zanpo's chest and said word by word: "If you dare to say something more, I will kill you on the spot!"

Shang Zanpo laughed in anger, "In front of his own people, he is a coward in front of the Tang army. You are still called the number one general of Tubo by Zanpu. I think you are not even as good as a three-year-old child." He said heavily to the ground and turned around.

Ma Chongying looked at his back disdainfully, and a murderous intent slowly rolled in his eyes. He immediately called the guard next to him and whispered to him: "This person will definitely get rid of it and escape. You can arrange it and let him die suddenly."

"Yes!" The guard agreed and immediately went to arrange the inside.

At this time, the deputy general Siddhazang next to him couldn't help but say, "Governor, the Tang army vanguard is very fast, three hundred miles away, they will arrive in just one day and one night. If we don't prepare early, we will be in a hurry."

Ma Chongying glanced at him coldly, "Are you worried about me?"

"I don't dare!" The deputy general was swept by his cold eyes, and was so scared that he was timid that he didn't dare to say another word.

Perhaps because he knew that his subordinates were worried, Ma Chongying's face cleared a little. He explained lightly: "I have fought for nearly fifty years. Can't I still deal with a young boy who has just debuted? Zhang Huan's every move was as expected by me. You understand now!"

Siddhazang thought for a while, and suddenly realized, "Is the governor luring the enemy deep?"

He bit his lip suddenly, not saying the following words.

"Things are not as simple as you think." Ma Chongying smiled softly, turned around and ordered her to go to the streets, "Follow me to go to the streets and see what's going on in the city."

After the news of the Tang army capturing Huangshui City came,

There was a mess in Shancheng. It is said that many Tubo people in Huangshui City were killed, which made the Tubo people in Shancheng even more panic. Every family was packing their things, and there were carriages full of items parked in front of every household. Carriages were running on the streets. Tubo people sat on the carriages and fled outside the city, shouting and scolding.

At this time, a fast horse rushed from outside the city and reported to Ma Chongying: "Governor, the 5,000 vanguard of the Tang army was less than fifty miles away from the city, and it will arrive in two hours."

Ma Chongying nodded and said to his subordinates: "Go to appease the Tubo people, just say that I have sent a large army to recover Huangshui City. The Tang army will not come, so that they do not have to be panic, nor do they have to leave the city."

After repeated explanations from countless soldiers, the panic Tubo people gradually calmed down. After all, the loss of fleeing in panic was too great. Since the governor said so surely, most people believed it and decided to wait and see.

Ma Chongying then came to the warehouse surrounded by hundreds of personal guards. The warehouse was full of food and was filled with copper coins. He looked around and ordered: "Close the warehouse. No one is allowed to move without my order!"

The warehouse gate rumbled and closed. The anxious deputy general next to him wanted to advise him to burn the warehouse several times, but when he saw the governor's face was gloomy, he suggested that he had to swallow it back.

At this time, the personal guard general came to report, "Governor, Shang Zanpo was so angry that he suddenly fell to the ground and died, the cause of his death is unknown!"

Ma Chongying nodded slightly, "It's done well. Remember to have a grand funeral before Tang Jun comes."

After giving the order, he turned his horse's head and came to the administrative office again. At this time, another fast horse ran from outside the city. The soldiers jumped off the horse and reported urgently: "Governor, the vanguard of the Tang army is less than thirty miles away. It will arrive in an hour. Please decide quickly!"

"I understand, go and explore again."

At this time, all the personal guards beside Ma Chongying were so anxious that they jumped, "Governor, the situation is extremely urgent, let's retreat quickly!"

"What's the hurry! Don't I know?" Ma Chongying glared at them and entered the administrative office slowly. Everyone had no choice but to follow in. The administrative office was in a mess, and more than a dozen civil servants were burning documents, and the rooms were covered in mess.

"Governor, do you want to inform them to evacuate?" Deputy General Siddhazang asked whispered.

Ma Chongying waved his hand and whispered: "Tell everyone not to show any panic and follow me to inspect."

Ma Chongying walked slowly in the office with his hands behind his hands, greeting everyone with a smile from time to time, "The Tang army will not arrive in two days, and there is still time. You must burn it thoroughly and not leave any useful information for the Tang army."

The governor's kind smile and the news that Tang Jun arrived only two days later seemed to give everyone a reassurance. Many people ran back into the house and carried out some documents that were about to give up and burned them one by one.

Ma Chongying inspected the area and talked and laughed with some civil servants about their future arrangements. Then he slowly walked out of the office. Suddenly, the horse's hooves sounded like thunder. A cavalry rushed towards the horse like crazy. Before the horse could stop, he rolled off the horse and said in a trembling voice: "Governor, the vanguard of the Tang army has reached ten miles away. It takes less than half an hour to kill. Please go quickly."

Ma Chongying finally breathed a long sigh. He turned over the horse and turned around and ordered Siddhazang to say, "Tell me my order, and the garrison will retreat immediately!"

After stopping, he gave the last order to the guards: "Go to our mansion quickly and kill all my women, without leaving any one."

A quarter of an hour later, the six thousand iron cavalry of the Tang army, led by the pioneer general Li Shuangyu, appeared black outside the east gate of Shancheng. They covered the sky and the sharp murderous aura permeated the world.

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Two days later, Zhang Huan personally led 30,000 main Tang army into the center of the Tubo people's rule in Hehuang, which was also the political and military center of the Longyou Jiedu of the Tang Dynasty.

The scavenging and killing had stopped, the body was buried, the blood was cleared, the city was martial law and seemed deserted, and there were patrol soldiers of the Tang army everywhere. Some Han slaves who had recovered their freedom were at a loss hide behind the door and corner windows, secretly looking at the army entering the city.

Zhang Huan's temporary headquarters was arranged in the Hehuang Governor's Office, which was the headquarters of the Tang Dynasty who served as the governor of Longyou. You can even see the well dug by Wang Zhongsi and the trees planted by Geshuhan. The past of the ancients, only people today can recall it. Zhang Huan walked slowly in the mansion with his hands behind his back. He walked through the small building where Huangfu Weiming's concubine had lived, and walked through the wine-collection cellar that An Sishun cherished the most. In just a few decades, the Tang Dynasty changed from extreme prosperity to extreme decline, and gradually recovered in extreme decline.

After a long visit, a personal soldier came to report, "Governor, the generals have arrived at the lobby and are waiting for the Governor to come."

Zhang Huan nodded and quickly walked back to the main hall of the headquarters. At this time, Li Shuangyu, Hu Cao Senjun Cheng Duo and some other generals had already received orders.

"Everyone sit down!" Zhang Huan waved his hand and sat down. He glanced at everyone and saw that everyone was excited. It was indeed an exciting thing to recover the Longyou Jiedu.

"I asked everyone to come, first, I want to hear the situation report in the city, and then I want to discuss the next action strategy."

Zhang Huan glanced at the military affairs of Hu Cao, Cheng Duo, and smiled and said, "Cheng Shanjun, you can talk first!"

"The governor, the Tubo people seemed to be unprepared. The warehouse was not too late to burn. I have sent someone to count it. There are 80,000 stones of grain, 200,000 stag, 150,000 pieces of cloth, and a large amount of gold and silver vessels."

Cheng Duo was very surprised by the generosity of the Tubo people. From Guangwu to the point where they fought, only one or two counties had their warehouses burned to white land, and the rest were intact and were not moved away by the defeated army. However, as an official who managed the money and grain, the more money and grain the Tubo people left, the better.

"Also, the soldiers seized a large number of documents and books in their official offices. The population, land and taxation situation in various parts of Hehuang are clearly clear, and there are exclusive accounts recorded in Chinese."

Zhang Huan nodded and asked Li Shuangyu again, "What's the situation there?"

Li Shuangyu half-kneeled and saluted, "It's indeed a bit strange. According to investigation, Ma Chongying didn't withdraw until a quarter of an hour before we killed. Many military supplies in the Tubo military camp did not have time to take them away. When we entered the city, the people in the city were as if they were awakened like a dream, which was really puzzling."

At this time, Zhang Huan glanced at Lin Jiuhan and wanted to speak but stopped, and then smiled and said, "Since you are asking everyone to come, I hope everyone can speak freely and gather thoughts and discuss. Lin Jiuhan, just say whatever you have."

Lin Jiuhan blushed and stepped forward to salute, "Governor, I think this is an obvious trick to lure the enemy into depth. We occupied Huangshui City a few days ago, and we did not encounter any resistance. We took a step back and said that even if Huangshui City was caught off guard, Ma Chongying should know that we will come soon and his warehouse should be moved away, let alone leaving a quarter of an hour ago. These are really unreasonable, so I think Ma Chongying is luring us into depth."

"I also agree with General Lin's opinion." Li Shuangyu said, "In fact, there are some strange phenomena. For example, Ma Chongying actually killed his wife and concubine, and he could have sent him away in advance. Many Tubo people were about to escape. Ma Chongying specifically told them that the army had gone to Huangshui to fight us. It was simply a trick to stay. It was too unreasonable."

"Those Tubo officials were also deceived by Ma Chongying. They were so angry that they gritted their teeth." Hu Cao Sen's military officer Cheng Duo added with a smile.

Zhang Huan didn't say anything. He lowered his head and walked in the lobby with his hands behind his back, "All signs are indeed very obvious strategies to lure the enemy into depth, but if it is just explained as lure the enemy into depth, it seems that he underestimated Ma Chongying. Is it the empty city plan he sang? In fact, he has no troops in his hand, and is afraid that our Xiliang army will chase him, so he arranged doubts to confuse me. Is this true? But the scout's information said that he still has 10,000 elite Tubo soldiers in his hand, so what explanation is this? There is also Wang Siyu, and they have no news yet. Could it be that they have seized the Stone Castle City and Ma Chongying retreated in a panic? This is impossible. If Wang Siyu seized the Stone Castle City, Ma Chongying's retreat had been cut off, and he would be even more unlikely to leave Shancheng. It is really puzzling!"

Just when Zhang Huan was puzzled, his personal soldiers shouted at the door, "Governor, Counselor Du is here."

Zhang Huan was overjoyed. Du Mei's arrival was just enough to give him some details. He walked quickly to the door and saw Du Mei strode in. As soon as he saw Zhang Huan, he shouted: "The Governor can send troops to chase him quickly. Ma Chongying used the empty city strategy."

"Why?" Zhang Huan asked in a deep voice.

Du Mei did not answer immediately. He walked to the desk and took out a map of Hehuang to expand it. He pointed to Dingrong City in the south and said, "I just intercepted the scout at the door. Ma Chongying had retreated to Dingrong City. It is less than five miles away from Shibao City. It can be said that he completely gave up Hehuang. Even if reinforcements come from Jiuqu area, we only need to control the three solid castles, Suirong City in the west, Linfan City in the middle and Suihe City in the east. Even if Jiuqu comes 50,000 reinforcements, it is impossible to break through the defense line. This is equivalent to returning to the Tang and Treasury situation eight years ago in Tianbao. Therefore, I dare to make a conclusion. Ma Chongying's strategy is to lay out suspicious troops so that we dare not go south to seize the fortress easily. He is waiting for the arrival of Jiuqu reinforcements."

Zhang Huan thought carefully for a moment, although there were still some puzzling places in the middle, such as why Ma Chongying only occupied one castle in Dingrong City without occupying several other castles together, and where did the 10,000 Tubo troops go?

But after thinking about it, it was only this one explanation. He was using the bold empty city plan to scare himself from going south. Thinking of this, Zhang Huan resolutely made up his mind, "Transfer my order, the army will set off immediately, and the troops will set off to determine Rongcheng!"

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Note: Shibao City, Shancheng, Huangshui City and other place names are all called by the Tang Dynasty. After Tubo actually occupied Hehuang, they have changed their names.
Chapter completed!