Chapter 169: Fight without bloodshed

As soon as Li Heng arrived in Shanzhou, he heard the bad news and felt a headache.

Gao Xianzhi was stunned for a moment, and asked Ma Zhenghui, the deputy historian of Longyou Jiedushi: "Deputy Marshal Ma, when did this happen?"

Ma Zhenghui was a native of Maoling, Fufeng, Tang Dynasty, and the ancestor of Ma Lin.

"Half a month." Ma Zhenghui answered first, and then explained: "We didn't know that the Anren Army surrendered to the enemy until five days ago, when we received the military report from the Anren Army and sent people to inquire, and then we learned the whole story."

Gao Xianzhi asked: "How many soldiers and horses did the Anren army surrender?"

"Five thousand soldiers and two hundred horses." Ma Zhenghui replied.

Gao Xianzhi asked, "Did Tubo send someone to take over?"

"Not yet." Ma Zhenghui shook his head. "The Anren Army mutinied first, and then sent people to contact Tubo. Now is the time to contact them."

Li Siye next to him said, "It's wrong to mutiny, why do you want to surrender to the enemy?"

Ma Zhenghui sighed heavily and said, "The imperial court has not made any move for several months, and the Anren Army is the vanguard, so they are suffering terribly. After the Tubo plundered Longyou, they often used money to shake the morale of the Anren Army."

"You have no integrity!" Li Siye spat, saluted to Li Heng and said, "Your Highness, give me two thousand soldiers and horses. I will definitely take back Suirong City and kill all those who surrender to the enemy!"

Zhang Guangsheng, who had been silent the whole time, heard what Li Siye said and said, "Your Highness, I once fought side by side with the Anren Army. When they captured Shibao City, they were also brave enough to lead the charge. Although it is hateful that they surrendered to the enemy this time, there are reasons for it, and they were probably deceived by Zhou Xin. Therefore, I think that the main culprit can be eliminated, and some soldiers still miss the Tang Dynasty. I hope Your Highness can give them a chance and let them return to the Tang Dynasty."

Li Heng did not answer in a hurry. He turned to Gao Xianzhi and asked, "What do you think, General Gao?"

Gao Xianzhi said: "A war is imminent. Forcibly attacking the city will only cause internal friction and loss of manpower. Surrender is the best strategy. However, the Anren army has rebelled. They must be afraid of being liquidated after returning to Tang. Unless Your Highness personally steps forward to promise, they may not dare to return to Tang easily. But if Your Highness goes in person, it will be somewhat dangerous."

"Then we should try to persuade them to surrender first. If that fails, we can attack them by force." Li Heng made the final decision.

"Yes." All the generals received the order in unison.

Gao Xianzhi continued, "Your Highness, Dingrong City is only thirty miles away from Suirong City. When we go there to solicit surrender, we must consider not only the possibility that the soldiers in the city will not surrender, but also the support of the Tibetan soldiers in Dingrong City."

Li Heng nodded and asked Ma Zhenghui, "How many soldiers are there in Dingrong City?"

Ma Zhengyun said: "There are about 6,000 Tibetan soldiers in Dingrong City, about 2,000 Tibetan soldiers in Shibao City, and the Tibetan army is at Qinghai Lake and the Nine Bends of the Yellow River."

Gao Xianzhi said: "In this case, I have two options."

"Which two strategies?" Li Ying asked.

Gao Xianzhi said: "The first strategy is to send a large army to pacify the Anren army in Suirong City while attacking Dingrong City to block the enemy reinforcements. Another strategy is to rush to Suirong City with light cavalry and persuade them to surrender or capture Suirong City before the Tibetan enemy army can provide support. As long as our army takes Suirong City, we can use it as a stronghold and hold it temporarily."

Li Heng said: "If we go with a large army, it will be a major battle. The current situation is not suitable for a major battle. It is better to attack with light cavalry."

Gao Xianzhi said: "A light cavalry attack would be more dangerous."

Li Ying said: "When two meet on a narrow road, the brave one wins. There is no reason for a soldier not to take risks."

"Yes."

Gao Xianzhi also hoped that Li Heng would choose the light cavalry for the attack, but as the deputy general, he had to tell Li Heng all the strategies and let Li Heng make the decision.

……

After deciding on a strategy, Li Heng personally led 6,000 soldiers and horses and attacked all the way to the city of Suirong.

When they arrived at the foot of the city, Li Siye first stepped forward to greet them, saying, "Your Highness Prince Shou is here, the soldiers in the city are listening."

When they heard that it was Li Heng, all the soldiers in the city were shocked. Some of those who had seen Li Heng shouted "Your Highness, Prince Shou". Li Heng then reined in his horse and said loudly: "Everyone, you are all citizens of the Tang Dynasty. Your relatives and friends are all in the Tang Dynasty. I know that you surrendered to the enemy out of helplessness. As long as you open the city and surrender and return to the Tang Dynasty, I promise that I will never pursue your crimes."

Zhou Xin on the wall was shocked and frightened, and replied: "In the previous battle, 30% of the Anren Army was killed or wounded, but the court not only did not consider providing relief, but also refused to pay for food and wages. The Tang Dynasty has abandoned us. How can we go back? Your Highness Prince Shou, I know that you only want this city, not our Anren Army!"

"That's wrong!" Li Heng retorted, "The court has always been concerned about the Anren Army. This time, I came with enough food and money to reward the army, but I didn't expect you to betray the court. I am willing to give you a chance. If you open the city and surrender and return to the Tang Dynasty, I will not pursue it. Otherwise, when the city is broken, I am afraid you will not be able to survive."

Zhou Xin didn't believe what Li Ying said and didn't reply.

However, Zhou Xin didn't believe it, but the soldiers behind him did.

Li Heng is now well-known and even more prestigious in the army. Most of the soldiers in Longyou know that Li Heng's words are trustworthy and he keeps his word.

Moreover, even if Li Heng lied to them, they felt that Li Heng would be able to capture Suirong City sooner or later, given his previous record of never losing a battle.

When the time comes, you will definitely die.

So the soldiers became restless.

Zhou Xin saw that Li Heng had affected the morale of the army and knew that he could not let Li Heng speak anymore, so he drew his bow and arrow and aimed at Li Heng.

Seeing this, Mu Chengyun, the deputy general next to Zhou Xin, made up his mind and stabbed Zhou Xin to death from the back.

Zhou Xin's arrow didn't have time to shoot.

Zhou Xin's personal guards were startled and wanted to fight back, but they were killed one after another by other soldiers.

Mu Chengyun dealt with Zhou Qi, and took the city officers with him, opened the city gate, came to Li Ying's horse, and kowtowed, saying, "We are guilty of a serious crime, please punish us, Your Highness!"

Li Heng got off his horse, helped Mu Chengyun up, and said, "Since I have already promised, you are innocent."

Mu Chengyun stood up and thanked Li Ying again.

Li Ying took a look at Mu Chengyun's appearance and combined it with his surname, and knew that he was a Hu person.

But Zhou Qi is an out-and-out Han Chinese.

Li Heng sighed in his heart and led his men into the city.

Not long after entering the city, reinforcements from the Tibetan Dingrong City arrived.

When the Tibetan reinforcements arrived at the city, they found out that Li Heng had already captured Suirong City without bloodshed.

The leading Tibetan general Shangzang Rela could only sigh and rein in his horse to go back.

Li Ying, who was on the tower, saw the horse that Shang Zanrela was riding and exclaimed, "There are many fine horses in Tibet, and the horse ridden by this Tibetan general is also a rare fine horse."

Li Siye, who was standing by, heard Li Heng's sigh and said, "If Your Highness likes him, I will go and get him."

"Okay." Li Heng wanted to see the fighting power of the enemy in Dingrong City, so he did not refuse and asked, "How many troops does General Li need?"

Li Siye said: "A thousand cavalrymen will be enough."

Li Heng said, "I'll give you three thousand cavalry."

"Yes." Li Siye took the order and led three thousand cavalrymen to rush out of the city.

(End of this chapter)