Chapter 65: Tibetan Invasion of Xiaoboluo

The next day, it was already noon.

Gao Xianzhi, Feng Changqing and An Sishun were sitting in the lobby, waiting for Li Heng.

But Li Heng hadn't woken up yet.

Yang Yuhuan asked the servants to serve soup to Gao Xianzhi and the other two, and said, "I've kept you waiting for a while. Drink some hot soup to warm yourself up. Your Highness hasn't woken up yet. If the three generals have urgent matters, I'll go wake him up."

"Thank you, Princess." Gao Xianzhi took the lead in thanking. "Your Highness is not feeling well, but you are still working so hard for the country and the people. It is really admirable. There is no rush at this moment, but I am worried that Your Highness will wake up and not see our response. We will wait here, but we are just bothering you, Princess."

Yang Yuhuan said, "The three generals are here for official business, so it's not a bother. Please wait a moment, I'll go see His Highness."

Yang Yuhuan came to the inner room and saw Li Heng just opening his eyes and standing up to stretch.

Yang Yuhuan walked to the bedside and said, "My dear, are you awake?"

"Hmm," Li Heng yawned, "What time is it now?"

"It's noon." Yang Yuhuan replied as she found clothes for Li Heng.

"Why are you serving me?" Li Heng got out of bed.

"I am pleased."

Yang Yuhuan smiled slightly, helped Li Heng put on his clothes, and then said, "General Gao and the others are waiting in the lobby."

"Oh?" Li Heng was slightly stunned. "When did they come?"

"It's been more than half an hour."

"Then why didn't you wake me up?"

"My dear, you are a patient. It's nothing urgent. Just let you sleep a little longer." Yang Yuhuan said with a smile.

Li Heng hugged Yang Yuhuan and said lovingly, "How do you know it's nothing serious?"

Yang Yuhuan said seriously: "I guess what they reported is some cases. Of course, the most urgent thing for you now is the invasion of the Tubo Kingdom by the Small Bolor Kingdom. But even if the war has already started, if the Small Bolor Kingdom does not send people to ask for help, you will not be able to send troops. But I have not seen anyone from the Small Bolor Kingdom."

"You are quite smart." Li Heng pinched Yang Yuhuan's face.

Yang Yuhuan helped Li Heng tie his clothes and said, "I have been following you for so long, you must have learned something. Now, go ahead."

"Yeah." Li Heng kissed Yang Yuhuan before leaving the room.

Arriving at the lobby, Li Heng saw Gao Xianzhi and the other two and said, "I'm sorry to have kept you three waiting for so long."

Gao Xianzhi and the other two quickly stood up and saluted Li Heng, saying, "Your Highness is so tired, and we shouldn't disturb you, but now Gai Jiayun has been imprisoned, and Your Highness is the envoy of the Four Towns. All matters in Anxi need Your Highness's decision."

"Please take a seat, generals. I am only making the decision on your behalf."

Li Heng asked Gao Xianzhi and others to sit down, but he did not sit down because he had not washed his face yet.

If he didn't sit, Gao Xianzhi and the others wouldn't dare to sit either.

At this time, three maids had entered the room, one was holding a washbasin, one was handing Li Ying a face towel with both hands, and another was holding a washbasin.

Li Heng took the face towel and saw Gao Xianzhi and the others were still standing. He smiled and said, "Generals, there is no need to be so polite. If you have anything to say, please sit down and talk."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Gao Xianzhi took the lead and sat down, saying, "Your Highness, all the people involved in the case have been arrested. According to Your Highness's wishes, local officials want the Kucha Judicial Bureau to jointly try the case, but today I have seen that the Kucha Judicial Bureau is also involved."

After washing his face, Li Heng threw the towel into the basin and said, "The administration of officials in Kucha is really rotten to a certain extent. If the judiciary is involved, let the deputy director act as the deputy director, and the rest of the matters will be handled in the same way."

After saying this, she rinsed her mouth with the help of the maid.

"Yes." Gao Xianzhi replied.

After Gao Xianzhi finished speaking, An Sishun stood up and presented a document with both hands, saying, "Your Highness, the personal guards who originally followed General Gai have admitted their guilt and have written a petition to make amends for their crimes."

Li Ying rinsed his mouth, looked at the document in An Sishun's hand, and said, "I won't read this. Since General An has been appeased, let everyone do their job."

If Li Heng read this document, it would mean that Li Heng had a great grudge about this matter. He did not pursue it for the time being for other purposes. In case he remembered a few names, he might settle the score later.

At the same time, he was also worried about An Sishun.

Trust the people you employ; don't employ people you don't trust. Since Li Heng plans to employ An Sishun, he must give him full trust.

When An Sishun saw that Li Heng didn't look at him, he felt closer to Li Heng.

After Li Heng finished washing up, he came to the hall and sat down, saying, "Although these two matters are official business, it is not necessary to ask the three generals to come here so early. What else is there?"

Gao Xianzhi stood up and said, "Your Highness, the spies I sent here report that Tubo has already invaded the Kingdom of Xiaoboluo and has captured four cities in three days."

"Oh?" Li Heng was slightly surprised. "Did the Little Bolor Kingdom send anyone to ask for help?"

"It hasn't come yet," Gao Xianzhi shook his head, "but I believe it will be here soon."

Li Heng nodded and thought to himself, "My lady's prediction is correct."

After being stunned for a moment, Li Heng asked, "What do the three generals think should be done?"

Gao Xianzhi said: "In the early years of the Kaiyuan period, King Meijin of Xiaoboluo personally came to Chang'an to pay tribute to the saint. Over the years, our Tang Dynasty and Xiaoboluo have a deep friendship. Moreover, Xiaoboluo is in an important position. If Tubo invades, it can threaten Anxi, and if it retreats, it can block the key road for our Tang Dynasty to enter the south of the Western Regions. Also, if we sit and watch Xiaoboluo being swallowed by Tubo, the countries in the Western Regions will definitely think that our Tang Dynasty is no longer reliable, and it is very likely that they will all turn to Tubo. If this is true, Anxi will be in danger! Therefore, I think we should march immediately."

Gao Xianzhi listed three reasons, the last two of which directly concerned the interests of the Tang Dynasty.

Historically, Tubo attacked the Kingdom of Lesser Bolor in 736 and captured it. They married the Tubo princess, the sister of the Zamp, to the King of Lesser Bolor as his consort, and then through several years of operation, they completely controlled the Kingdom of Lesser Bolor.

During this period, the Anxi Jiedushi appointed by the Tang Dynasty, Gai Jiayun, Tian Renwan, and Fu Menglingcha, all tried to advance to the Little Bolor Kingdom, but all ended in failure.

It was not until the sixth year of Tianbao, in 747 AD, that Li Longji sent Gao Xianzhi to lead an army of to capture the Kingdom of Xiaoboluo.

However, at this time, the Kingdom of Xiaoboluo had completely turned to Tubo, and the Tang army's battle was no longer a rescue, but purely for Gao Xianzhi's latter two interests.

Therefore, after the Tang army conquered the Kingdom of Xiaoboluo, they killed its king, and the rift between them and Xiaoboluo deepened. Before they could repair their relationship with Xiaoboluo, the Anshi Rebellion broke out, and Tubo, together with the countries in the Western Regions, swallowed up the four towns in Longyou Road.

After listening to Gao Xianzhi's analysis, Li Heng agreed with it in his heart, but he did not show it. He then asked An Sishun and Feng Changqing, "What do you two generals think?"

Feng Changqing said: "I second General Gao's proposal."

Li Ying looked at An Sishun.

An Sishun said, "I agree to send troops, but this expedition requires a lot of troops. For such a large-scale march, shouldn't we first report it to the Ministry of War and ask the emperor for help? And although Anxi has more than 20,000 soldiers, we dare not send out all of them. Otherwise, if the Turks and Arabs attack, I'm afraid the rear will be lost."

What An Sishun said makes sense.

(End of this chapter)