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

Chapter 212 A Pioneering Journey, Paved with Blood (Part 1)

The fighting is becoming more frequent.

Seeing that the Tang army showed no sign of retreating, Trisong Detsen was further provoked and began to launch increasingly frequent attacks on the Tang army's vanguard.

In fact, judging solely from the surface appearances...

The Tibetans now have the upper hand, after all, these people are originally from the plateau.

They were better adapted to the high altitude compared to the Tang army.

Even though their equipment was somewhat outdated, this could make up for the gap. Although they had not achieved a decisive victory in several battles, they had always maintained the upper hand.

If it were any other time, or if other forces were to invade...

At this point, Trisong Detsen would definitely not hold back and would launch a full-scale attack.

But these are, after all, members of the Gu family.

Through generations of rumors, the Gu family had long been shrouded in the guise of prophecy in the eyes of these outsiders.

As the Tibetan king, Trisong Detsen had to think things through.

Of course, even so, he would not stop his military campaigns.

As for the other Tibetan nobles, they remained completely unmoved.

Their faith, rooted in the mountains, gave them absolute confidence.

Even when facing the Gu family, they showed no fear whatsoever.

The two sides then engaged in a fierce tug-of-war.

Fortunately, the Gu family still had enough prestige, and Gu Xuan had publicly defeated An Lushan and treated the soldiers very well, which was enough to stabilize the situation.

Otherwise, any general would have been in the same position.

It's impossible for any of them to stabilize this situation.

The long-term rotational combat, the constant disadvantage, and the constant abnormal physical condition.

In this kind of battle, no one could possibly keep the morale of the troops stable.

Only someone from the Gu family could do that.

Even so, Gu Yi had no choice but to make Gu Xuan leave the camp every day to stabilize the morale of the soldiers.

Gu Xuan didn't need to do anything.

All you need to do is follow the example of what Gu Chen did in the past, and simply stay with the soldiers and tell them about the deeds of the Gu family ancestors.

"Through hardships and arduous struggles, even unto death, I have no regrets."

The stories of those ancestors, generation after generation, can ultimately move people's hearts.

And at the end of each speech, Gu Xuan would always declare in a resounding voice: "The descendants of the Gu family have never feared death! I, Gu Xuan, hereby swear to you all that we will win this battle!"

"I will lead you all to conquer mountains and achieve unparalleled feats!"

"Otherwise, I, Gu Xuan, will surely die on the battlefield before all of you!"

Simple words always have an effect and quickly spread throughout the entire military camp, allowing everyone to feel Gu Xuanji's attitude.

Gu Yi did not ask Gu Xuan to make any promises.

This is totally unnecessary.

Since the rise of the Gu family, the treatment of its soldiers has remained unchanged across generations, a fact that is widely acknowledged.

Why were the soldiers willing to follow the Gu family into battle?

While generals might try to claim credit, this is exactly what the lowest-ranking soldiers are after.

Gu Yi didn't need to emphasize these things at all; the soldiers naturally kept them in mind.

Under these circumstances.

Although the atmosphere within the Tang army camp wasn't particularly enthusiastic, morale was at least gradually stabilizing.
The 27th day of the sixth month of the first year of the Zhide era.

The two sides clashed again in the Xiqing Mountains.

The Tang army, at the cost of nearly 500 soldiers, managed to protect the grain and supplies; while the Tibetan side suffered no more than 200 casualties.

After burying the bodies of their comrades in the cold mountains, the five hundred lives they sacrificed only resulted in the Tang army's arduous advance of less than five miles.

Subsequently, facing the severe challenge of higher altitude, the army had no choice but to set up camp and rest in a place that was easy to defend and difficult to attack.

The war soon reignited—

For ten consecutive days, the Tibetan army harassed the Tang army like a leech, launching repeated attacks with fierce momentum, determined to destroy the Tang army's vital supply lines. The Tang soldiers had no choice but to fight to the death, battling blood and sweat, to repel the powerful enemy time and time again and barely manage to preserve their lifeline.

After ten days of bloody fighting, both sides suffered thousands of casualties.

The Tang army comprised the majority.

After the soldiers had adapted to the hellish environment and pace, the army was able to break camp again and move forward.

Every step was soaked in blood, sweat, and hardship.

Listening to the reports of casualties submitted by the generals time and time again, even Gu Yi couldn't help but begin to waver.

"Am I being too hasty?"

What he is doing now can be considered one of the most influential things the Gu family has ever done.

The difficulties and obstacles encountered were far greater than those faced in the past when managing the Western Regions.

Ultimately, he wanted to bring the entire Tibetan Empire into the territory and bloodline of China several centuries ahead of schedule.

And now is the most powerful period for Tibet!

But in just a moment, Gu Yi completely suppressed his wavering thoughts.

What in this world is there absolute right or wrong, or absolutely perfect timing?
The Gu family has already bound themselves to the Nine Provinces.

That means someone will always have to walk this path.

Although it is true that he caused the Tang Dynasty to lose a lot of generals in retrospect, these people were still only a minority when compared with the original history.

And let's not forget that the Gu family has once again changed history.

Although the An Lushan Rebellion had already occurred, it was still far different from the original history.

One can imagine the immense pressure the Gu family will face next.

But who knows how long it will take to wait for the next one?

This period of growth was perfectly demonstrated in this context, and once Gu Yi understood everything, his heart would no longer waver.

If he had just entered this situation, he would never have acted this way; he would have simply gone with the flow and observed the changes.

He was watching the births, aging, illnesses, and deaths of generations of the Gu family.
But aren't the spirits of those departed ancestors also silently watching over their descendants who are carrying heavy burdens from the other side of the river of time?
Now that the Gu family has embarked on this path, there is only one option left—

Go ahead!

From that day on, Gu Xuan spent increasingly longer periods of time in the military.

Furthermore, a solemn and sorrowful sacrificial ceremony was held within the main camp, personally overseen by Gu Yi.

There was nothing on the altar.

Only the heroic spirits of the past emperors of the Tang Dynasty and the loyal souls of the ancestors of the Gu family can be remembered.

Gu Xuan stood before the fluttering Tang Dynasty dragon flag and the Gu family banners, his voice resounding throughout the surrounding area:
"We earnestly beseech our ancestors and the spirits of the late emperor to protect our brave warriors of the Great Tang Dynasty and grant us victory in this battle!"

Although this is a source of spiritual sustenance, in dire straits, the power inspired by this unwavering belief can sometimes surpass even the most potent medicine.

Just like now——

As the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty gradually adapted to the high-altitude environment, their combat effectiveness also gradually recovered over time.

Immediately after the sacrificial ceremony, the soldiers noticed that the ever-increasing casualties suddenly stopped.

The first year of the Zhide era, at the end of the seventh month.

The strategic pass of Xiqing Mountain is once again ablaze with war.

A fierce battle has ended, and the battle report has been sent to the main camp:

The Tang army suffered over 400 casualties, while the Tibetan army also suffered nearly 500 casualties!

The moment these simple numbers reached the main camp—

Dead!

Immediately following was a cheer as loud as a landslide and a tsunami, which suddenly erupted from every tent and every corner, soaring straight into the sky!

From the armored generals to the ordinary soldiers with weathered faces, everyone was stunned by the battle report, and then completely overwhelmed by a torrent of ecstasy!
"It's a miracle! It's Emperor Taizong's miracle! It's the ancestors of the Gu family's miracle! They've shielded us from the curse of this high mountain!!" "Bah! What nonsense about the calamity of this high mountain! Can it withstand the spirits of the heroes of our Tang Dynasty and the immortals of the Gu family in heaven?!"

"It must be the Gu family immortal protecting us! We will surely win this battle!!"

"."

The fervent shouts spread like wildfire, instantly engulfing the entire camp. Many tough men were so moved that they embraced each other and wept.

There was no way around it; the pressure on Tang Jun was simply too great.

Due to altitude sickness, there were not many soldiers who could maintain their fighting capacity, and the Tibetan attacks were constant.

The immense pressure of these recent rotations has made Gu Yi somewhat waver.

Let alone these people?

Now that they've heard this news, how could they not be excited?

Inside the main tent at this moment.

Seeing the jubilant expressions on the soldiers' faces, Gu Yi couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. He controlled Gu Xuan and nodded in satisfaction, saying:

"What do you generals think?"

As soon as he finished speaking, all the generals and generals immediately bowed to Gu Xuan without hesitation.

"Grand Tutor, you are truly wise! I admire you greatly!"

"Our army's morale is now unstoppable, Grand Tutor!! This humble general proposes an attack!!"

"."

The once increasingly quiet main tent is now gradually coming back to life.

Guo Ziyi stood at the forefront of the generals and soldiers. After they finished speaking, he cupped his hands and said, "Grand Tutor, I also believe that our army should be prepared."

"This matter will be entrusted to General Guo."

Without hesitation, Gu Yi immediately handed over power to Guo Ziyi.

He had already provided a specific strategy.

This protracted battle was not only to get the soldiers used to the high altitude, but also to bolster the enemy's confidence.

If the Tang army can withstand the successive defeats, they can arrange a feigned surrender.

The terrain of the plateau was not only used by the Tubo people.

The Gu family had no shortage of geomantic maps.

Over the decades, countless merchants have thoroughly explored the terrain of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

The rest can be left to Guo Ziyi and others.

"Remember."

Gu Yi, controlling Gu Xuan, scanned each general in the tent with piercing eyes: "We must not be too hasty! Let's wait a bit longer and allow the soldiers to recover some of their strength."

"Yes, Your Majesty! This humble general will obey the Grand Tutor's orders!!!"

The generals stood solemnly, clasped their fists in unison to receive the order, and their voices resounded throughout the tent.

The flames of war continue to burn throughout the plateau.

Trisong Detsen and his fellow Tibetan nobles paid no attention to the subtle changes in the battle situation, believing that the Tang army had finally been driven to a dead end.

They had naturally heard the rumors about the sacrificial ceremony held at Tang Camp.

But this did not shake their faith rooted in the snowy plateau.

In their view, if the former emperors of the Tang Dynasty and the ancestors of the Gu family could really contend with the god of the mountains, then why didn't powerful rulers like Gu Jing and Li Shimin come to conquer Tibet?
For this reason, Tibet's offensive strategy remained unchanged.

Trisong Detsen had already made up his mind.

As long as he gradually erodes the Tang army's elite forces and continues to penetrate deeper into the mountains, the "mountain calamity" will become increasingly severe, and then he will be able to close the door and defeat them in one fell swoop!
By then, what they will be after will be far more than just the Guanzhong Plain.

Even the rich and vast land of China may not be beyond our reach!
He even publicly quoted that ancient saying that has been passed down through the land of Kyushu:

"Ask the weight of the Nine Tripods!"

Although times have changed and this saying may seem outdated in the current context, the overwhelming ambition to look down on the world and seize the divine weapon contained within it has not diminished in the slightest!

This alone is enough to show just how far Trisong Detsen's ambitions have grown.

The seventh day of the eighth month of the first year of the Zhide era.

The two sides clashed again.

The Tibetans finally gained something from this battle, destroying a significant portion of the Tang army's supplies at the cost of nearly a thousand lives.

Under this tremendous victory

These people didn't even realize that the Tang army had lost fewer than two hundred men in this battle.

Clearly, as they gradually adapted to the high-altitude environment, the advantages of Tang army equipment became increasingly apparent.

But nobody cared about that at all.

Even upon hearing this, they completely dismissed it as evidence that the Tang army no longer had the courage to fight to the death.

People tend to think in the direction they want to go, without being able to control themselves.

Especially under the current circumstances.

They don't understand altitude sickness, but have blind confidence in it, which is their biggest weakness.

The Tang army continued to advance slowly, just as they had imagined, driven mad, and kept moving towards the city of Lhasa.

August 17th.

The first rays of dawn finally pierced the long, cold night on the plateau. After months of arduous marches filled with blood and fire, the vanguard of the Tang army had already approached the breathtakingly high summit of the Xiqing Mountain Road!
How could Trisong Detsen allow the Tang army to easily reach the summit?

He immediately launched another fierce surprise attack!

In this battle, the Tang army still suffered heavy losses.

The grain supplies that Trisong Detsen and other Tibetan nobles valued most were once again taken away, and Tibet did not pay much of a price.

Even more alarming was the fact that, for the first time, deserters had appeared in the Tang army camp, abandoning their armor and weapons!

This is the first time such a situation has occurred since the two sides began their protracted conflict.

Trisong Detsen was extremely excited about this.

The Tibetan nobles, like hounds spotting their prey, urged Trisong Detsen to launch a large-scale attack.

These supplies are all sources of profit.

Regardless of whether they can ultimately conquer the entire Kyushu as Akamatsu Tokuzan predicted, for these people, seizing immediate gains is the most crucial thing.

Everyone wanted a piece of the pie.

This time, Trisong Detsen did not hesitate. Since the Tang army had lost their courage, why should he wait any longer?
If he could simply break through the Tang camp, whether by killing the head of the Gu family or capturing him alive, his achievements in this life would surpass those of all previous Zanpu (kings of the Tang dynasty).

And considering the attitude of those people in the Tang Dynasty towards the Gu family.

This is also a trump card!

The decision was made in an instant!
The 28th day of the eighth month of the first year of the Zhide era.

"My lads—!!!"

Trisong Detsen, high atop his warhorse, his scimitar gleaming in the cold light of the rising sun, stood before an altar shrouded in black smoke and exuding a mysterious aura, his voice booming like thunder:

"The god of the mountains is watching over us! His power will protect us and make us invincible!!"

"If we can annihilate the Tang invaders in this battle—"

"The fertile lands of the Nine Provinces are yours for the taking!!!"

"Roar--!!!"

A deafening roar erupted from the mouth of his personal guards, instantly igniting the entire plateau!

The sound was like the fierce cries of thousands of eagles soaring in the sky, and all the Tibetan soldiers' eyes were filled with an almost insane greed and bloodlust!

The scimitar in Trisong Detsen's hand seemed to carry the force of a thunderbolt as it slashed down into the void ahead!

"Woo-hum-!" The desolate yak horn resounded through the sky.

next moment--

Countless Tibetan cavalry and infantrymen, covering the mountains and plains, charged directly towards the Tang camp!
The great battle has officially begun!
(P.S.: It's the last day of the month, so I'm begging for monthly votes! Please support me, brothers. I'd be extremely grateful. There will also be a month-end summary later, brothers, you can check it out.)
(End of this chapter)