Chapter 40: The Great Tang's Regret (For Magic Power ~ Xiu He)

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  This time's victory in the southern expedition was hard-won!

  Since the small Boer rebellion betrayed the Tang Dynasty and defected to Tubo, the situation of the Tang Dynasty in the Western Regions has been extremely unfavorable. Tubo restrained the Tang Dynasty from the east, making it impossible for the Tang Dynasty to concentrate its forces to compete with Dashi for Central Asia.

  To solve this hidden danger, the Tang Dynasty had launched several southern expeditions without success. This time, the Tang Dynasty finally succeeded in cutting off Tibet's access to the Western Regions, making the situation in the Western Regions better than ever before.

  What great joy!

  The Tang army officers and their families were overjoyed, their cheers shook the heavens and the nine skies trembled!

  Whether familiar or not, they will hug each other, jumping and bouncing, shouting and screaming, freely releasing the joy in their hearts.

  This is too infectious, whoever it is, no matter how rich and restrained he is, will shout out loud.

  Gao Xianzhi was also excited, jumping off his horse's back, waving his arms and shaking his fists, looking up at the sky and shouting loudly. The blue veins on his neck bulged out like an old tree's twisted branches, his face full of intoxication.

  To lay the foundation for Xiao Bolu, Gao Xianzhi was heartbroken and shed blood, preparing for several years, he paid the most. When the work was done, Gao Xianzhi's suppressed emotions finally burst out, like a volcano erupting, unstoppable, excited to the point of being drunk with joy.

  It wasn't until half a day had passed that the exciting scene finally calmed down, and Gao Xianzhi gave an order for the Tang army to withdraw from the battlefield.

  Half a day later, the Tang army finally returned to Suole.

  Today's Shule is filled with joy everywhere, every household is decorated with lanterns and couplets, red decorations are hung everywhere, the sound of firecrackers echoes through the sky, what a lively scene.

  The next thing was much simpler, which was to record military achievements and prepare to report to Li Longji to ask for rewards for the soldiers.

  Li Changguo's merit is the greatest, and with his military achievements, being promoted to general is no longer a problem. However, Gao Xianzhi has no right to appoint generals, and must go through Li Longji's approval.

  Apart from this, of course, is a grand celebratory feast, to reward the soldiers.

  For several months, they had been fighting without a single good night's sleep or a decent meal. This treat was well-deserved. As they savored the steaming hot and delicious food, the soldiers felt it was a feast of delicacies from mountains and seas, and they couldn't help but feel grateful.

  Li Changguo felt that this was the most enjoyable meal he had ever had in his life. Firstly, it was a celebratory banquet, filled with joy and good cheer, which naturally made his appetite better and the food more enjoyable. Secondly, because he hadn't had a decent meal in months, his taste buds had long been numb.

  The celebration banquet lasted for three days before it finally stopped.

  The celebration banquet was where the soldiers rejoiced together, without distinction of rank. The commanders, captains and soldiers all gathered together to eat meat and drink wine, telling stories of their heroic exploits in the southern campaign, each one feeling carefree and exhilarated.

  The celebration banquet was over, and Gao Xianzhi set up another banquet to entertain the meritorious generals and officers. The generals and colonels gathered together.

  After three rounds of wine and five flavors of dishes, Gao Xianzhi scanned the crowd with a glance before slowly opening his mouth to say: "This time we marched south, finally resolving the issue of Lesser Bolu, cutting off the Tibetans' passage into the Western Regions. From now on, the Great Tang can focus its military strength on competing with Dashi without worrying about its rear."

  The strategic goal of the expedition against Little Bokhara was to better dispute with Great Bukhara for Central Asia, and this campaign fully achieved this goal.

  Gao Xianzhi recalled the hardships he had endured for this southern expedition, and his emotions became agitated, his chest heaving violently. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to calm down and said: "How to contend with Dafu, you all speak your minds freely, I will choose the good and follow it!"

  With their worries settled, they should discuss how to deal with the Great Food. The crowd nodded slightly, showing their appreciation. At the same time, everyone was excited and eager, with a strong desire to battle in their eyes, wishing they could immediately send troops to fight a great war against the Great Food.

  After a brief pause, Gao Xianzhi continued: "Whoever speaks the best will be rewarded! A generous reward!"

  "Deputy Commander, what reward is there?" A glint of light flashed in Feng Chang's clear and bright eyes.

  "I've thought it over, this time the southern expedition is victorious, we need to send someone to Chang'an to report our triumph. Whoever speaks the best will be sent!" Gao Xianzhi's eyebrows rose, like a sharp sword being unsheathed, extremely powerful and authoritative.

  "Going to Chang'an?"

  Gao Xianzhi's words were like sparks falling into a barrel of gunpowder, and they immediately exploded. All the officers were stirred up, their eyes filled with admiration.

  Chang'an is the capital of the Tang Dynasty and a sacred place in the hearts of warriors. If one can make a trip to Chang'an, it would be a great honor.

  Not to mention, it's even more glorious to report this specially. This is the combination of two great honors, who wouldn't want it? Who wouldn't be excited?

  Even the normally calm Fang Changqing's eyes were shining with a sharp light, and it seemed he couldn't help himself. It looked like he was going to join in the competition after all. He had great talent, and if he joined in, the other generals' hopes wouldn't be high. Li Xizhao and the others felt somewhat disheartened.

  "Going to Chang'an?"

  Li Changguo's mind was enlightened, and he secretly thought to himself: "The Anshi Rebellion is still a few years away from happening. The Tang Empire will decline from prosperity, causing countless future generations to lament. I should prevent the Anshi Rebellion from occurring! As long as there is no Anshi Rebellion, even if Emperor Xuanzong of Tang abdicates, the Tang Dynasty will not decline and will remain strong. The Tang Dynasty will not decline and will continue to expand westward, capturing Central Asia, and even advancing into the Middle East, occupying the Middle East is also possible. If this really happens, the glory of the Tang Dynasty will be elevated to a higher level!"

  "Now that I have achieved great merit and gained a certain status, although it is far from enough to stop the An Shi Rebellion, there is still hope. This time, I will be promoted."

  Just as Li Changguo was about to change his mind, Gao Xianzhi looked at Feng Changqing and said: "General Feng, you say it. You are wise and resourceful, with exceptional talent, and you seem eager to try, it seems that the others have no chance."

  As they spoke, he couldn't help but glance at Li Changguo with some regret. His implication was that although Li Changguo was exceptionally brave, when it came to strategic planning, he was far from being a match for Feng Changqing, and this matter was hopeless for Li Changguo no matter what.

  "Ah!"

  Gao Xianzhi's words brought a sigh from the crowd.

  Who doesn't want to go to Chang'an? But with the cunning and scheming Feng Changqing around, who can get this wonderful job?

  "Thanks, Vice!" Fēng Chángqīng first rushed to Gāo Xiānzhī and paid his respects, then spoke clearly and slowly, saying: "The conflict between the Great Tang and Dáfàn did not start today, but has a long history! As everyone knows, as early as the Zhen'guan era, when Dáfàn rose up and attacked Persia, Persia was no match for them. They sent an envoy to Chang'an, asking the Great Tang for help and requesting that they send troops. Emperor Taizong summoned Wei Zheng, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Longsun Wuji, Li Jing, Xu Maogong... These meritorious officials discussed it repeatedly and finally decided not to send troops!"

  The Arab Empire conquered at a whirlwind pace, quickly conquering the Mediterranean coastal regions and then sending troops east to attack the Persian Empire.

  The Persian Empire was no match, and the envoy entered Chang'an to request that the Tang Dynasty send troops. At that time, Emperor Taizong of Tang was on the throne, a wise and capable ruler who had great interest in expanding his territory, but unfortunately, the conditions were not yet ripe, so he politely declined.

  "What a shame for the Tang Dynasty!"

  Feng Changqing's tone suddenly turned high, which was quite regrettable.