Chapter 164: |
The people of the Great Tang were undoubtedly proud. Their pride stemmed from the legendary might of the Tang military, which had remained undefeated in battles. However, despite the Tang army’s strength, they had never engaged in a total war that aimed to eradicate another nation.
Whether it was the Eastern Turk Khan in the past or the later Tu Valley, neither had been completely eradicated. Both ethnic groups had submitted to the rule of the Great Tang, retaining their ethnic names and territories to this day.
However, the war against Tubo was fundamentally different. In this battle, the Tubo Zanpu, Songtsan Gampo, was killed on the battlefield. Furthermore, the Tang forces directly occupied Tubo’s land. This marked a true war of annihilation, a feat unprecedented in Tang history.
The difference lay in the fact that the Tubo Zanpu had fallen in battle this time, and the Tang army had succeeded in occupying Tubo. This was a genuine war of annihilation, an accomplishment that had not been achieved before. No one could have anticipated that Su Li would bring such a huge surprise not long after the victorious news of the Battle of Song Zhou. Everyone was speculating about Su Li’s capabilities, which led to consecutive battle victories.
Moreover, the records of these battles were incredibly intimidating. The latter’s entire force was annihilated by fifty thousand against one hundred and fifty thousand. Furthermore, these troops were pitted against the entire might of the Tubo nation’s army, with a stark difference in strength, yet they managed to win. Astonishingly, this time, they directly wiped out the Tubo forces.
In the past, the citizens of Changan were accustomed to hearing about successes on the border. However, they had never heard of such unbelievable achievements. Why wasn’t the reputation of the War God Li Jing particularly resounding among the people? It was because every time he fought a battle, it took years as the unit of measurement. He frequently achieved minor victories today and tomorrow, winning again and again.
The citizens of Changan had become aesthetically tired from the continuous stream of victorious reports, so there wasn’t much excitement left when the final victory was achieved. Most likely, there were feelings of “it’s just like that.”
However, it was a completely different story when Su Li led troops into battle. There was either no news, or when there was news, it was earth-shattering. The ordinary citizens who listened for amusement didn’t understand the intricacies involved. They were just happy with the entertainment. But the military commanders who heard this news and the court officers who understood military matters were all utterly shocked. No one could imagine how Su Li achieved such astonishing battle records.
On this day, no military commander left their homes to drink as if they were all emulating Li Jing. They locked themselves behind closed doors, secluded in their studies. Countless people tried repeatedly to deduce the secrets behind it, yet they still couldn’t grasp the essence. Within the palace, the war reports received by Li Er were naturally much more detailed than those received by others. This particular war report was extremely lengthy.
There were ongoing conflicts among the top ranks of the military. Judging solely from the descriptions in the war report, it seemed that Su Li obstinately persisted in attacking Tubo even in the face of these unfavorable conditions. If this battle had failed, just seeing this portion would have been enough for Li Er to have Su Li’s head chopped off.
Stubbornly adhering to one’s own opinions was also a major taboo for a commander, especially when the visible power balance between the enemy and us was disparate. Su Li’s actions, in this case, would typically be seen as leading the entire army to their deaths. Following that, Li Er saw the complete process of the Battle of Great Fei River.
In that battle, the Tang army could only muster a mere ten thousand soldiers and horses, which made Li Er envision the peril of the situation. Later, the familiar scene unfolded – a lone individual charging the enemy formation, breaking through layers of encirclement, and ultimately publicly beheading Songtsan Gampo. Su Li, a solitary figure, forcefully pierced through the ranks of Tubo’s four hundred thousand-strong army. Witnessing this, Li Er couldn’t help but take a sharp breath of astonishment.
Being a seasoned general on the battlefield, Li Er had faced life-threatening situations countless times, understanding better than anyone that weapons spare no one on the battlefield. Many renowned commanders had lost their lives to a simple arrow. It was a daring feat for someone like Su Li, who frequently charged into the fray, deliberately placing himself amid encirclement, yet still managed to carve a bloody path out. Li Er wouldn’t dare even to imagine it, let alone just hear about it.
But a commander like Su Li, who could break through a siege of four hundred thousand soldiers and emerge unscathed, had miraculously appeared in reality. Furthermore, he cut through this massive army and emerged unharmed, which was astonishing. Li Er’s brows involuntarily furrowed slightly, and his heart was in a state of tumultuous shock.
Su Li’s displayed combat prowess in this battle exceeded any comparison to mere chance. With these achievements alone, he had far surpassed Li Er’s imagination. Looking at the war report in his hand, Li Er was filled with amazement and doubt. He then took out several confidential letters alongside the war report. After quickly scanning these letters, Li Er closed his eyes slightly and thought.
It’s not a rumor. It’s true…
At this moment, he inexplicably remembered the origin that Su Li had mentioned before, “In the heavenly white jade capital… in the heavenly white jade capital…” Opening his eyes again, Li Er’s expression was incredibly complex. If he really is a celestial being… How could anyone from the mortal world possibly stand in his way? He thought.
Quickly, Li Er set aside this thought temporarily. Regardless of everything, this battle directly destroyed Tubo and brought it under the rule of the Great Tang. It was Su Li’s military achievement but also an extraordinary accomplishment for Li Er.
The title of Emperor, known as the “Respected One of the Ninth Five,” naturally indicated that this position’s privileges and benefits were beyond ordinary people’s imagination over several lifetimes. Even those powerful ministers who wielded great authority and held supreme positions in court might not truly understand where the Emperor’s pleasures lay. Wealth, beautiful women, fame, and fortune were easily obtained in their shallow perception. What an Emperor could enjoy, they believed they could enjoy equally.
However, in Li Er’s eyes, how could others truly understand the advantages of being an Emperor? Just as it is now, the thrill of creating a massive accomplishment from scratch surged within him like a tide, making his body tremble slightly with excitement. The achievement of annihilating a nation! What does it mean to accomplish the destruction of a nation?
To put it plainly, concerning Tubo, as long as the Emperor of the Great Tang, Li Er himself was willing, he could completely exterminate its royal family, erase its lineage, and subjugate its people. In other words, with a single thought from Li Er, he could make Tubo, which was once a relatively powerful nation, disappear completely from reality. From then on, the only meaning of Tubo’s existence would be to highlight the martial achievements of the Emperor of the Great Tang, adding a bold and colorful stroke to his journey of becoming an eternal emperor.
Moreover, Li Er could intentionally depict Tubo as even more powerful in historical records. This would help to contrast his exceptional nature as an Emperor. To wield the tool of a nation, to hold the power of life and death over millions internally, and to control the fate of other ethnic groups externally – to have the freedom to act as one pleases – this was the power of an emperor. In the contemporary world, only Li Er could experience this feeling fully. How could he not be fascinated by it?