Chapter 78: Reunion after a long separation (Fourth update)
"Okay."

When Li Ying heard that Gao Shi wanted to write a poem, he happily agreed.

If Gao Shi's poems and essays were passed down, his expedition would be famous for generations to come.

After getting permission, Gao Shi immediately improvised and the Tang army generals present sang along.

……

……

……

The next day, after waking up from the drunkenness, a group of generals found Li Heng who was in deep thought.

Everyone seemed to have something to say, but they all declined to speak. Finally, Gao Xianzhi came out and asked, "Your Highness, now that the Tibetan army has been driven out of the Little Bolor Kingdom, what are our army's plans for the next step?"

Li Heng did not answer, but asked: "What do you think, General Gao?"

Gao Xianzhi said: "If we really want to cross the river to attack Tubo, our army will be alone and deep in the territory without food and grass, so I am afraid it will be difficult to succeed."

Li Ying asked others again.

Feng Changqing said: "It is not easy to attack Tubo. If we attack Dabolü, we do have some chance of winning. However, if Tubo sends troops to intervene, the outcome will be unpredictable."

Li Siye said: "The Tubo was just defeated, I am afraid it will be difficult to send troops to support."

"No." An Sishun expressed a different opinion, "The Tibetans have been operating in Dabolü for a long time. If we really attack Dabolü, even if the Tibetans put all their efforts into it, they will have to fight us."

"..."

After listening to what everyone said, Li Heng understood a little.

These generals did not agree to attack Tubo directly, but they had some differences on continuing to use troops against Dabolü.

Li Heng thought for a moment and said, "Our army has been marching for nearly five months. If we want to attack Dabolü, we need Xiaobolü to provide us with food and fodder. However, Xiaobolü has just suffered a disaster and is unable to provide us with food and fodder. In addition, our army is already exhausted and will not be able to fight again. Even if we manage to capture Dabolü, we will not be able to stop the Tubo invasion."

The generals thought for a moment and said, "Your Highness is right."

Li Heng said: "My intention is to cut off the Teng Bridge on the border river between Xiaoboluo and Tubo to prevent further invasion by Tubo. Our army will take a short rest, choose an auspicious day to commemorate the spirits of our fallen soldiers, and then return to Anxi."

"Yes."

The generals received the order and then dispersed.

After leaving the tent, Gao Xianzhi exclaimed: "Your Highness is a young talent. Not only is he extremely intelligent, but he is also experienced and calm."

An Sishun said, "Yes, if I were the same age as Your Highness and had the same status and position as Your Highness, I would be so proud and high-spirited if I could accomplish this feat. But looking at Your Highness's expression, it seems as if nothing happened."

Inside the account, Li Heng was indeed not happy.

Firstly, he knew that this victory had a historical template in mind, and compared to the template, he also had the advantage of Xiaobolü's people and the advantages that had been anticipated in advance.

So this victory was not such a surprise to him.

Secondly, his original purpose was just to gain a place to settle down through this battle. This was only the first step in his long journey, and the road ahead would be even more dangerous than this.

……

……

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Anxi, Qiuci.

The Turks besieged Qiuci for several days but failed to capture it.

The commander who came to besiege Qiuci was Mohedagan, one of the two major generals under the Turkic Khan Sulu.

Seeing that he could not take the city, Mohedagan resorted to psychological warfare and widely spread the news that Li Heng was defeated in Tubo and the Tang expeditionary army was completely wiped out.

As soon as this news came out, the whole city of Qiuci was in turmoil and people’s morale was low.

At this time, Yang Yuhuan was sitting on the main seat, biting her lips tightly.

Xin Yunjing said: "Princess, this must be false news deliberately spread by the Tuqishi, with the intention of disrupting the morale of our army."

Yang Yuhuan didn't know whether it was true or not, but there was no point in panicking at this moment. She forced herself to remain calm and said, "In this case, General Xin should go and appease the soldiers in the city."

"Yes." Xin Yunjing stepped back.

Hongyue on the side stepped forward and said, "Princess, don't worry, His Highness will not lose."

"Yes." Yang Yuhuan nodded and said, "You go tell General Lu to go into the city and tell the people that His Highness has won a great victory and will be back soon." "Yes." Hongyue also retreated.

With the comfort of Yang Yuhuan and Xin Yunjing, the people in the city were temporarily calmed.

After a few more days, Qiuci still did not wait for Li Heng to return, but waited for Zhang Song, the governor of Beiting.

Zhang Song led the Beiting army to support, and together with Xin Yunjing, they attacked Mohedagan from both inside and outside, and repelled him.

The two of them went into the city together and told Yang Yuhuan the news.

Zhang Song said, "I had already been assisting in the defense, but the Turks sent Dumoxi to lead troops to harass Beiting. I only led my troops here after I defeated Dumoxi."

Yang Yuhuan said, "Thank you, General Zhang. When Your Highness comes back, I will recommend the two generals for merit."

Although Yang Yuhuan said this, she was not sure whether Li Heng could really come back.

However, before she heard any news, she could only choose to believe it.

Another three months passed in the long wait.

At this time, it was already September, the golden autumn.

Finally, the Yuhou soldiers in front of Li Heng reported that Li Heng had won a great victory and was leading his army back, and was expected to arrive in five days.

Hearing this news, Yang Yuhuan's heart finally settled down and two lines of tears fell from the corners of her eyes.

Five days later, Li Heng led his army to Qiuci, and the people lined the streets to welcome him.

Li Ying, wearing golden armor and riding a tall horse, returned to the Chubu Embassy Post.

When he arrived at the gate of the inn, he did not see Yang Yuhuan to greet him. Li Heng was puzzled and asked Hongyue and Zhang Mujin at the gate, "Where is the princess?"

Hongyue and Zhang Mujin told Li Heng that the Turks had besieged Qiuci in recent months and that they had spread rumors that he had been defeated and died.

After hearing this, Li Heng felt a little apologetic and hurried inside.

In the yard, Yang Yuhuan stood under a tree with a smile on her face, looking at Li Heng.

Li Ying walked forward and noticed that Yang Yuhuan's eyes were still slightly red, as if she had just cried.

From this, Li Heng guessed that Yang Yuhuan did not come to greet him probably because she was trying to calm herself down.

Yang Yuhuan smiled and said, "My dear, you are back?"

"Yeah." Li Ying nodded, reached out and stroked Yang Yuhuan's face, saying, "Thank you for your hard work."

Yang Yuhuan shook her head and said, "My dear, you are on a long expedition, and it is really hard for you. I have done nothing. By the way, does my dear miss me?"

"Yeah." Li Ying nodded and asked, "What about you?"

"I don't want to." Yang Yuhuan smiled mischievously, "I am accompanied by music, singing and dancing every day, and I don't have time to miss you, my lover."

"I don't want to be bad." Li Ying smiled dotingly and hugged Yang Yuhuan in his arms.

Yang Yuhuan leaned against Li Heng's chest, and after a while, she said, "Ah, my dear, your armor hit me."

Li Ying smiled and said, "Who told you to stick so close to me?"

Yang Yuhuan said: "No, it's obviously my husband who is holding me tightly."

"is it?"

Li Heng simply held Yang Yuhuan in his arms like a princess and asked, "What now?"

Yang Yuhuan said: "My dear, you don't look like a sick person at all. I remember that on our wedding night, you hugged me like this, like..."

At this point, Yang Yuhuan chuckled, and after laughing for a while, she said, "It looks like he wants to eat me."

Li Heng had already learned from Zhang Mujin and Hongyue that Yang Yuhuan had been calm, resolute and strong in the past few months in Qiuci.

But now Yang Yuhuan looks like a naughty girl.

Li Ying was puzzled and said, "I know everything that happened in Kucha in the past few months. The you they talked about are not what you are now."

"Because I have you." Yang Yuhuan leaned on Li Heng's shoulder, "With my husband by my side, I can make trouble without any worries."

　To be clear, Zhang Song and Zhang Xiaosong are two different people. I will explain the "surname" of the Turks and the affairs of the Turks later.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)