Chapter Seventeen: The Difficult Advance

  The onion peak is majestic and powerful, like a giant dragon, ready to break through the sky at any moment.

  On the rugged mountain path of Congling, a team was marching, which was the Tang army led by Gao Xianzhi.

  The Tang army completed its assembly in Shule and, after a brief rest, Gao Xianzhi set off from Shule and embarked on the road to conquer Little Balur.

  The small Bo law was originally a subordinate country of the Tang Dynasty, but it betrayed the Tang Dynasty and surrendered to the Tubo, which made the Tang army extremely angry. This time, the southern expedition against the small Bo law is what the soldiers wish in their hearts. It is with high morale that the soldiers' march is exceptionally easy, although the mountain paths between the onions are not easy to walk, but it cannot stop the soldiers' firm footsteps.

  The one walking at the front of the team was none other than Li Changguo. At this time, Li Changguo wore a bright armor, held a long spear in his hand, carried a strong bow and arrow on his back, rode on horseback, like a moving iron tower, exceptionally majestic and powerful.

  This suit of bright armor was personally selected by Gao Xianzhi for Li Changguo.

  For Gao Xianzhi, on the eve of the war, he had Li Changguo, who was highly skilled in martial arts, brave and resourceful, and even more surprisingly, familiar with the paths of Congling. Gao Xianzhi was overjoyed. Although Li Changguo had not yet reached the rank of owning a Ming Guang armor, Gao Xianzhi specially approved an exception for him, and personally selected one for him, which can be said to be exceptionally valued.

  The armor of light flashed and shone, at a glance, Li Changguo was like a shining steel monster.

  Kang De saw it with his own eyes, both delighted and admired Li Changguo.

  Ming Guang armor was the top-level armor of the Tang Dynasty, and it was the best armor in the world at that time. However, due to its difficulty in manufacturing, there were not many Ming Guang armors made, only the elite among the elite or military schools could own one. Owning a Ming Guang armor was a symbol of status and identity, who wouldn't be envious?

  Li Changguo's first task as the pioneer officer was to form his own team. Li Changguo's first choice was the garrison soldiers of Weiburg. Firstly, Li Changguo was familiar with them and it was convenient to mobilize them; secondly, they were stationed in Weiburg and were familiar with the paths of Congling, although not as familiar as Li Changguo.

  It was precisely because of this that the garrison soldiers became Li Changguo's subordinates. As for this matter, from Kang De to ordinary soldiers, everyone was overjoyed. Li Changguo had not been in the garrison for a long time, but he made everyone establish military merit, and following Li Changguo would lead to a bright future.

  Li Changguo gazed at the fort, his heart surging. Although he hadn't been in the fort for a long time, it held special significance for him: firstly, they had taken their first solid step here, laying an exceptionally strong foundation; secondly, Kangde and the others treated Li Changguo like family, like a brother, which was more important than anything else to someone who had lost their loved ones in the crossing.

  At this moment, Li Changguo is about to leave his garrison and enter a foreign land, with a sense of loss for his hometown once again.

  Taking a deep breath, Li Changguo composed his emotions, and the light in his eyes flashed as he charged towards Kang De and the others: "Brothers, the rebels of the Great Tang are just to the south, and we will soon embark on our southern expedition! The Onion Mountains have thousands of peaks and cliffs, with countless difficulties and dangers that far surpass any other place. Are you afraid?"

  "I'm not afraid!"

  The answer to Li Changguo's question was only two loud words, exceptionally heroic, making people's blood boil!

  Li Changguo swept his gaze over the crowd of soldiers, seeing that each and every one of them had their eyes wide with excitement, shining with fierce light, their battle spirit soaring to the skies. Li Changguo was extremely satisfied with their reaction, his right hand waving grandly, his voice like thunder, his passion bursting forth: "Men of Great Tang, shed your blood on the battlefield! Wrap your corpses in horse hide!"

  It's not long since Li Changguo came to the Tang Dynasty, but his feelings about the Tang Dynasty are exceptionally profound, and he has already integrated into the great Tang. The Tang Dynasty is a dream dynasty in Chinese history, with brilliant military achievements and resplendent culture, making later generations admire it, and just reading about it makes people yearn for it, making their blood boil! Not to mention that Li Changguo is living in the Tang Dynasty, constantly feeling the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty, with its countless phenomena, and taking pride in being a Tang person.

  These words came from his heart, and were spoken with extraordinary sincerity, having a moving power. The soldiers all shouted in unison: "Men of Great Tang, shed blood on the battlefield! Wrap our corpses in horse hide!"

  "Let's go!"

  Li Changguo pulled the reins, and the warhorse let out a long whinny in response to the shouts of the garrison troops. It spread its four hooves and galloped southward.

  Kangde and his men followed on horseback.

  It wasn't long before they entered what is now Afghanistan. At that time, this place belonged to the Tang Dynasty and was Chinese territory, but now it has become a foreign land. Li Changguo couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy, for the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty no longer existed!

  A very famous mountain warfare in Chinese history, and even in world history, has thus begun!

  This time in the southern expedition, the Tang army marched on a plateau with an average elevation of 4,000 meters and won a major victory after several months of marching, which is rare in world military history.

  Because of this, Gao Xianzhi was called "The King of the Mountains" by Western historians!

  This time's expedition to the south is slightly different from the historical one, with an additional Li Changguo. What changes will occur?

  Entering Congling, the real test has also begun.

  Congling is now the Pamir Plateau. "Pamir" means "the roof of the world", with high altitude, it is a famous plateau. Its elevation ranges from 4,000 meters to 7,700 meters, with countless peaks and gullies.

  Generally speaking, Congling is divided into three parts: east, middle and west. The eastern part is the highest part of Congling, with an average elevation of 6,000 meters. The eastern part of Congling was the main route for the Tang army to march, and it can be imagined how difficult it was to march on such a high plateau.

  Fortunately, Gao Xianzhi was cautious and chose to march through the wide mountain valleys, which reduced the elevation. Even so, the Tang army marched in the mountain valleys at an altitude of approximately 3,500 to 4,000 meters.

  For this expedition to the south, Gao Xianzhi made extensive preparations, and the Tang army was extremely well-prepared. Each soldier had two war horses, and logistical supplies were abundant. Overall, the march went relatively smoothly.

  Although marching on such a high plateau, the Tang army was still like dragons and tigers, with momentum like a rainbow, and high morale.

  In a valley in Congling, two mountain peaks are almost connected, leaving only a small gap. A little sunlight shines down from the gap, and the whole valley is very dark.

  The Tang army marched through the valley, like a long dragon, with no end in sight.

  "This place is really dangerous!"

  "If it weren't for Li Huo's familiarity with the terrain here, we would never have thought that there was a road here."

  "Yes! According to the original route of the deputy commander's march, we have to go around here and it will take five or six more days."

  Several military school students who participated in the pre-expedition ceremony whispered to each other, admiring Li Changguo more and more.

  This mountain valley is just like a cave, if it weren't for people familiar with the terrain, they would have no idea that this place can be passed through, and they wouldn't be impressed.

  "What a high mountain peak!" A soldier looked up at the sky, raised an eyebrow and said thoughtfully: "You guys think that if we don't tie down our helmets, will they fall off?"

  "Give it a try!"

  There were Tang army soldiers who started shouting and making noise.

  "Bang!"

  The curiosity of these soldiers was greatly aroused, one soldier untied the strap on his helmet, looked up at the sky with his head raised, and the helmet fell to the ground without any hesitation, making a crisp metallic collision sound.

  "Haha!"

  Tang Jun burst out laughing, and the atmosphere suddenly became a bit lighter.