Control your ancestors and create an immortal family starting from the Eastern Han Dynasty

Chapter 155 The Battle of Juyan Lake, Aiming at the Western Regions (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

—The flames of war are rising again!
The Tang Dynasty is like an incomparably sharp sword, impeccable in every aspect in this era.

Li Shimin still entrusted the position of commander-in-chief of the three armies to Li Jing.

But everyone also understands that the Gu family will still be a variable in this battle!
Clouds move in all directions.

Under Li Shimin's absolute will, the speed of the entire Tang Dynasty's government operations reached its absolute limit.

Soldiers and horses; provisions.
All parties worked together, with their ultimate goal being the Western Turks and the Western Regions.

The news spread like wildfire throughout the world.

Such news could not be suppressed, not to mention that Li Shimin never intended to hide it from the beginning.

And this time——

The people of the land were completely indifferent to the imperial court's intention to launch another military campaign!

Not only because this battle has no impact on them.

The most crucial factor was Li Shimin's prestige. The combination of a holy emperor and the Gu family members would reassure the entire nation.

As far as the people of the world are concerned, they will not think that the Tang Dynasty's conquest will fail!

This is the biggest change in the world in just a few years!

The news kept spreading.

—The edict from the Emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty, the Heavenly Khan, continued to spread throughout the grasslands and the Western Regions.

Fear gripped all sides!

No one dared to ignore the attitude displayed by the Tang Dynasty!

Including the Western Turks!
Although the Western Turks were indeed much stronger than the various small kingdoms in the Western Regions, they were not an opponent that the Tang Dynasty could not underestimate!
However, the main problem was that the internal issues of the Western Turkic Khaganate were never resolved.

Gu Quan was undoubtedly involved in this.

Although he was in the Hetao region, he was secretly preparing for everything.

Li Shimin gave all the tax revenue from the various tribes on the grasslands to Gu Quan in order to support him in doing these things. Whenever a tribe within the Western Turkic Khaganate showed signs of unification, Gu Quan would secretly provide support to the other tribes.

This is the tacit understanding between the ruler and his minister.

It is precisely because of this that the chaos within the Western Turkic Khaganate has not diminished at all, but has instead become even more severe.

During this period, Gu Quan never gave up his infiltration of various tribes.

Among the many tribes, there will always be pro-Tang tribes!
Although the Tang Dynasty's current system is not so easy for the surrounding tribes to accept, so what can be done?
Compared to a life of constant warfare and no security, what's so unacceptable about integrating into the Tang Dynasty?

This is what Gu Quan is preparing for the upcoming battle!

Clouds move in all directions!

Upon hearing the news released by Li Shimin, the entire world seemed to fall into complete silence at that moment!
Their so-called internal struggles were no longer worth mentioning at this moment.

The atmosphere across the land suddenly became somewhat somber at this moment.

This is an invisible pressure!

Especially after realizing that the Gu family had also taken action in the Hetao region, this inexplicable sense of oppression reached its peak.

The banners of the Gu family and the Tang Dynasty still flutter in Yudujin today.

This was a deep pain in the hearts of all the Western Turks, and it also completely awakened the fear in their hearts—the legends passed down from their ancestors!
But who would be willing to surrender without a fight?
Interests and rights have always been the most deadly poisons in human emotions.

Under the influence of the Gu family.

The benefits that the Silk Road can bring today far exceed those of its original history.

Faced with such benefits, who would be willing to give them up easily?
What's more, there's the power they hold.

This is an easy choice to make; the human tendency to take chances never easily disappears.

Even if the prestige of the Tang Dynasty resounded throughout the world, so what?

Even if there are people from the Gu family, what can they do?

This is the human heart!
Under these circumstances, a rapid peace talks were launched within the Western Turkic Khaganate, with various tribes deciding to temporarily join forces to resist the Tang army.

They can indeed gamble.

Unlike the Eastern Turks, the Western Turks faced significant challenges in supplying the Tang Dynasty during this major war.

As long as they can hold out, they will eventually bring down the Tang Dynasty.

This is their chance!

March of the eighth year of the Zhenguan era;
The Western Turkic tribes, including the Chumukun and the Geluolu, launched a counterattack against Juyan Lake with a combined force of nearly 30,000.

The resolution was to seize the initiative and cut off Gu Quan's strategic location first.

The great battle has officially begun!
At the same time, Li Jing also mobilized his troops, marching straight through the Hexi Corridor, intending to fully cooperate with Gu Yan to launch a two-pronged attack.

The whole area was in an uproar!

This battle was destined to be extraordinary, and even Gu Yi was paying close attention to it.

He knew very well that this battle would not be easy.

With the various tribes of the Western Turks joining forces and the controlled Western Regions kingdoms serving as a source of strength, their power, though not comparable to that of the Tang Dynasty, was not entirely without any means of resistance!
As for the Tang Dynasty and the entire Kyushu region...

This battle was a turning point in history.

If they could win, history would be completely changed from that moment on, and the Tang Dynasty would embark on a different path.

But if we are defeated, even if it doesn't put Kyushu in danger.

The national strength restored over the years will vanish in an instant.

Even if the prosperous Zhenguan era were to return in the future, it would certainly not surpass the original historical record by much.

The prestige that the Gu family had built among foreign tribes over the centuries would eventually vanish completely with this defeat!

He couldn't help but feel nervous.

Juyan Lake.

The sounds of galloping warhorses and clashing weapons filled the air.

The Western Turks have clearly gone all out this time, determined to obtain Juyan Lake and the sacred mountain.

Qu Yanhai needs no further explanation; it is not only a fertile grassland, but also a strategic location, which will be the key place for Gu Quan's westward expedition.

As for Yudujin Mountain—

The goal is to restore morale!
The lie will eventually be exposed, and only by reclaiming the Holy Mountain can the people under his command be fully restored.

This is something they must take back.

But they underestimated Gu Quan. Since he had already seen that Li Shimin was preparing to take action, how could he not strengthen the defenses of Juyan Lake?

No, ever since he occupied Juyan Lake, he has always maintained a strict defense of the area.

There's absolutely no way we'll give the enemy even the slightest chance!

The war continues!

Gu Yi, who was stationed here, held a weapon and led his men in a charge on the battlefield.

"How dare you try to teach a fish to swim in front of the Gu family?"

On Surprise Attacks—

"Who in the world dares to look down on the Gu family?"

As the youngest member of the nineteenth generation of the Gu family, Gu Mu is now in the prime of his youth, full of youthful vigor.

They were utterly disdainful of the Western Turkic tribes that had come to launch a surprise attack.

He remained completely calm and composed.

His martial prowess attribute is a whopping 78 points. While this attribute may not be comparable to that of top-tier generals, it still makes him a formidable warrior.

He thrives on the front lines of battle.

The key is--

His surname brought him many advantages, both in deterring the enemy and in maintaining morale within the army.

The surname "Gu" has a natural advantage.

"Humph!"

Enraged by Gu Mi's arrogant words, the Turkic general roared and led his troops forward, brandishing his sword: "You brat, how dare you spout such nonsense!"

Zheng! ! !
Zheng! ! !
In an instant, the sound of metal clashing against metal reverberated through the sky. Gu Mi's lips curled into a cold smile, and the weapon in his hand danced, emitting a dazzling light, each parry precise and powerful.

As he nimbly dodged and weaved, he shouted taunts, "You little brat? You dare call me that?"

"Hmph—" Gu Mi abruptly deflected the enemy's blade, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, and shouted, "In the past, General Huo Qubing, at the age of twenty-one, sealed the Wolf-Dwelling Mountain and pacified the borderlands!"

"My ancestors were outstanding young men who were renowned throughout the land!"

"You barbarians are nothing but frogs in a well, how dare you laugh at my youth?"

He suddenly feinted, forcing everyone back, then pointed his sword at the sky, his voice booming across the battlefield: "Do you still remember the Tang Dynasty banners that fluttered on Mount Du?"

"That will be your burial ground!"

Gu Mu's arrogant and unrestrained words, coupled with his fierce offensive, fully demonstrated the heroic spirit of a young man.

He led his men in continuous battles, putting pressure on the enemy.

Gu Quan left behind only his elite troops here, and he was also entrusted with guarding this place because of his flamboyant personality.

—This battle must be a victory unlike any other.

Only in this way can their illusions be completely shattered and a split be created from within them.

Gu Quan is the commander.

Fighting was not what he wanted. What he needed to consider was the same as Li Shimin's: how to maximize the benefits for the Nine Provinces and the Tang Dynasty with the least cost!

The battlefield became increasingly brutal.

Juyan Lake is mainly divided into three parts: Juyan Sai, Juyan Lake Oasis, and the Black City Ruins.

And these three places were the main battlefields of this great battle!

There was no need for any strategy, just a simple battle.

The news continued to spread.

Although the surprise attack failed, at this point, the various tribes of the Western Turks had no intention of retreating and continued to send troops towards Juyan Lake.

Gu Quan also led his army toward Juyan Lake.

Although the war has only just begun, its intensity is by no means diminished.

The Western Turks are unlikely to retreat.

If they can recapture Juyan Lake, they can say that they have cut off Gu Quan's path to advance, which is crucial for them to defend the Western Regions.

Meanwhile, in Beiting.

As the Tang army advanced deeper into enemy territory, Li Jing also encountered enemy forces.

However, compared to the brutal Battle of Juyan Lake, the enemy forces he encountered were far inferior.

Everyone understood perfectly.

It must have been the Gu family that drew away the enemy's main forces.

This is for sure.

The soldiers were all somewhat unwilling to accept this.

"We are indeed far from being able to match the Grand Tutor's abilities, but as generals, we should fight on the battlefield and make meritorious contributions immediately."

Are you all willing to serve as assistants?

In the camp, Li Jing looked solemnly at the generals present and spoke in a resounding voice.

"No way!!!"

In an instant, thunderous shouts echoed throughout the air.

The current civil and military configuration of the Tang Dynasty is at its peak.

Even when facing the Gu family, no one wanted to be a mere supporting character.

"Good!" Li Jing nodded in satisfaction, his eyes shining even brighter. "Now the enemy has sent all their elite troops to meet the Grand Tutor."

"This is underestimating us!"

"but--"

"This is also our opportunity. As long as we can seize every opportunity, why can't we sweep across the land?"

With each word he spoke, the soldiers' fighting spirit reached its peak.

Then——

Li Jing then formulated a complete plan in front of the geomantic map!

He's determined to keep moving forward!
Even if we can't wipe out all the foreign enemies, we must make the Western Turks take them seriously and help Gu Yan share the burden.

He knew exactly how many men Gu Yan had under his command.

As a commander, he was ultimately different from generals who only thought about fighting, and this was something he had to take into account.

Juyan Lake.

—The battle is becoming increasingly fierce.

With both sides sending troops to Juyan Lake, the situation there can no longer be described as a mere surprise attack.

The Western Turks would never give up this opportunity.

If they retreat, the morale they have painstakingly built up will completely crumble, and everyone understands this.

It is precisely because of this that Juyan Lake now has the feel of a decisive battle in the first engagement, a battle that will determine the fate of the nation.

Gu Quan, of course, would not give up.

Even if the enemy had a massive army, he could not possibly abandon Juyan Lake at this time.

His army was indeed small.

But what can we do about it?

The Gu family name brought him a great deal of support.

Although the help provided by such prophecies is indeed reduced in this kind of head-on confrontation, it is still enough for Gu Quan!
As long as they cannot win, the Turkic offensive is destined to weaken over time.

Not to mention that he still holds a slight advantage now.

Whether it was the Western Turks or the Eastern Turks, their alliance system had inherent disadvantages.

On the battlefield, their orders were difficult to coordinate, especially since even the habits of tribes that were originally enemies in the north and south had changed.

This gave Gu Quan far too many opportunities!
As time goes by, these seemingly insignificant opportunities will eventually bring about qualitative changes.

Twenty-eight days in total!

The battle at Juyan Lake lasted for a full twenty-eight days, and as Gu Quan had predicted, the Western Turks' offensive weakened as time went on, and in the end they could only retreat in defeat.

As for Gu Quan—

This battle, from this moment on, completely transformed us.

The gates of the Western Turks have been wide open!

No, it's not just the Western Turks, it includes the entire Western Regions!
------

"On the day of Jiazi in the first month of spring in the eighth year of the Zhenguan era, Emperor Taizong held court and showed the map of the Western Regions to his ministers, saying, 'The Han dynasty established protectorates; the Tang dynasty should follow suit. The barbarians are like jackals and wolves, fearing power but not gratitude.'"

He then issued an iron edict stating: "The Western Turks, Yipi Dulu, have repeatedly resisted the royal army. Now I have dispatched heavenly troops to punish them. Anyone who dares to carry weapons will have their tent slaughtered; those who kowtow and submit will be rewarded with gold and silk. Those who do not surrender will be killed without mercy!"

The sound shook the tiles of the Taiji Hall.

Upon hearing the news, the Western Turkic Khan Yibi Dulu and the Khan of Nishu ceased hostilities and made peace, jointly plotting to resist the Tang Dynasty.

On the day of Gengwu in the second month, they gathered 30,000 troops, intending to launch a surprise attack on Juyan Sea.

On the day of Bingxu in the third month, the enemy cavalry approached Juyan Pass.

Grand Tutor Gu Yan was well-versed in military strategy and, anticipating the enemy's plans, secretly selected elite cavalry here.

The two armies clashed, from Juyanze to the north bank of Ruoshui, with Hu and Han forces attacking each other, and weapons and armor stretching as far as the eye could see.

In twenty-eight days, they won five battles in a row, leaving corpses strewn across the fields and blood staining the wasteland.

They ultimately beheaded 50,000, captured 6,000 yurts, 30,000 foreign horses, and twelve wolf-head banners.

The Weak River turned red, the white grass was stained ochre, camel and horse skeletons lay piled together, and the stench of carrion lingered for miles.

—From the Biography of Gu Yan in the Book of Tang

(End of this chapter)