History books record that when the nomadic tribes were strong, they really killed gods when they stood in the way of gods, and killed Buddhas when they stood in the way of Buddha.
It's like destroying the heaven and the earth, destroying everything in the world without any problem.
This was naturally the case when the nomadic people were strong and when the Central Plains dynasties were declining.
It’s like a period that cannot be mentioned, such as the Huns, Rouran, Turks, Khitan, Jinmeng, etc., all of which had their highlights.
However, over thousands of years, these nomadic people have only a few glorious days, even if they are added up.
In a real sense, the mainstream was dominated by the Central Plains dynasties that defeated the nomadic peoples.
For the people of the Tang Dynasty, they were lucky because the Tang Dynasty was at its peak at this time.
But for the Huihe, Tuqishi, Geluolu and other tribes, life was gloomy.
Because Datang’s oppression was too serious.
The number of cattle, sheep and horses required by the Tang army every year has been increasing, which is no longer affordable for them.
Moreover, in these years, both Gao Xianzhi and Guo Ziyi were very keen on recruiting them for military service and fighting, even to the point of mobilizing them to fight horse bandits.
Not to mention the heavy losses suffered by the young men in the tribe, there is basically no benefit at all, and at most they can be given some trivial rewards.
If anyone dares to complain, the Tang Dynasty will cut him off immediately.
For example, here in Tuqishi, two envoys were cut off within three years who came to intercede in the hope of reducing the amount of tribute.
Whether it is Gao Xianzhi or Guo Ziyi, they are both ruthless people in the true sense. They never have a chance to show mercy when they attack. They are completely different from those big headscarfs who don't know their last names after hearing three kind words.
They never bothered to explain anything to the tribe, they just issued orders. If they couldn't do it or didn't listen, the army would just move over.
It was precisely because he knew the tyranny of the Tang Dynasty and also knew that the tribes on the prairie were undergoing the terrible reduction.
Under strong fear, they did not dare to offend the Tang Dynasty, and they could only have their teeth knocked out and their blood swallowed.
But the anger in my heart is gradually accumulating.
On this day, Ye Hu (honorary title, similar to Khan) of Geluolu came to the Tuqishi tribe in person and visited the fire-spitting fairy Khan.
"Khan."
After a simple and nutritious reminiscing about the past, Geluolu Yehu entered the topic very straightforwardly: "The Tang Dynasty has been too oppressive and the Geluolu tribe can no longer bear it. I want to rebel against the Tang Dynasty. I wonder if the Khan is willing to help?"
"
Tuqishi can be regarded as the successor of the Turks, or the successor of the remaining ashes of the Western Turks after they were destroyed by the Tang Dynasty.
They were at war with the Tang Dynasty before the Tang Dynasty was established, and they have been fighting for more than a hundred years now.
Needless to say, there is no need to say much about hatred. The entire Turks were destroyed by the Tang Dynasty.
But after hearing what Geluolu Yehu said, the fire-breathing fairy Khan jumped up without joy and shouted, "Brother, let's go together~~~"
But he asked very calmly, "Can you beat me?"
This is the most critical issue.
The Geluolu people are not wallflowers, because wallflowers only fall to both sides.
But they are divided on three sides.
The Tang Dynasty was strong and prosperous with the Tang Dynasty. When Tubo came, he followed Tubo. When the Dashi came, he immediately switched to the Dashi camp.
I have never heard of propriety, justice, integrity, diplomacy and credibility. I will follow whoever is stronger.
No one is born to be a slave of the third surname, the only reason is that they can't beat them.
Tuqishi, who had fought wars with the Tang Dynasty for so many years, certainly knew Ge Luolu's strength. Even with Tuqishi, he was no match for the Tang Dynasty.
Geluolu Yehu lowered his voice mysteriously, "The man-eating governor of Khorasan sent an envoy and agreed with me to form an alliance to attack the Tang Dynasty. If the Khan is willing to join, then everything south of the Tianshan Mountains will belong to the Khan."
"Big food?"
Fire-breathing Khan's eyes lit up.
Dashi's strength is strong enough. Although he has been defeated one after another in the war with the Tang Dynasty over the years, he is still qualified to compete with the Tang Dynasty.
"Emperor Tang is also here this time."
Geluolu Yehu smiled like a profiteer who could be seen everywhere in the Western Regions: "As long as we wait for the war to begin, I will wait for a blow from behind. If we can capture the Tang Emperor, let alone the Western Regions, it is not impossible to even move directly to the Central Plains."
matter."
These words moved the fire-breathing fairy Khan, and the two quickly became warm and passionately discussed how they would divide the spoils after conquering the Tang Dynasty.
Speaking of his passion, the fire-breathing Khan couldn't help but raise his arms and shout, "I want to rebuild the Turkic Khanate and become the greatest khan~~~"
"good!"
Geluolu Yehu, who was serving as the host, immediately clapped his hands and applauded. Just when he was about to deliver a eulogy, someone outside the tent loudly announced, "The envoy from the Tang Dynasty is here~~~"
For a moment, the atmosphere in the tent suddenly became quiet.
Ye Hu and Khan looked at each other in confusion. After looking at each other for a while, Ye Hu nodded and turned around and hid in the back tent.
The fire-breathing fairy Khan also put away the arrogant smile on his face and invited the envoy of the Tang Dynasty in.
The Tang envoy walked in with a cold face. He didn't salute or say anything nonsense. He just conveyed Guo Ziyi's order.
"The fire-breathing Immortal Khan is required to bring no less than 50,000 horses to Talas before the fifteenth day of the seventh month to assemble and await orders."
After finishing speaking, the messenger took out a military order and put it in his hand and stretched it to the fire-breathing fairy Khan, "Khan, take the order!"
Facing Datang's attitude of completely treating himself as a vassal and giving orders, the fire-breathing Khan shivered all over.
He wished he could call someone in right now and chop down the messenger.
Anyway, they had killed Tang envoys before, so it was not a big deal.
But when he thought of the terrifying Tang army, this idea was quickly dismissed.
It's no problem to kill the Tang Envoy now, but after he kills the Tang Envoy, the Tang Army will come. Will he be able to kill all the Tang Army by then?
If I really had this ability, I wouldn't be what I am today.
Suppressing the anger in his heart, the fire-breathing fairy Khan lowered his head and took the military order: "I understand."
Tang Shi was obviously a little confused. He didn't expect that Tu Qishi, who was so indifferent before, would change his gender today?
He had been prepared to be killed before he came, and the army in Beiting had been assembled and ready to come at any time.
But I didn’t expect that Tu Qi Shi would actually become cowardly?
How can you be cowardly? My name will go down in history, and the chance of my family being reused will be gone!
The Tang envoy was unwilling and was kicked out of the king's tent while cursing.
When Ge Luolu Yehu came out, his face was extremely ugly.
Seeing his expression, the Fire-breathing Immortal Khan was stunned for a moment and then realized that Talas was the core place of the Golulu people.
Obviously, the Tang army planned to fight Dashi at Talas.
No matter who wins or loses, the Geluolu people, as landowners, must suffer heavy losses.
Fire-breathing Immortal Khan, who had been feeling angry before, suddenly felt much better when he looked at Geluolu Yehu's twisted face.
After a few words of pretense of comfort, he sent his confidants to go back with him to discuss cooperation with the envoys of the governor of Khorasan.
Not only the Tuqishi people received the mobilization order from the Tang Dynasty, but actually all the tribes in the entire Western Region, big or small, were mobilized by the Tang Dynasty and drove their cattle, sheep and horses to gather in Talas.
In July of the tenth year of Tianbao, the Nuo Prairie near Talas had become a super huge military camp.
It was not until this time that the main force of Li Yunze's Chinese army set off from Anxi.
But before going to Talas, Li Yunze went to Broken Leaf City first.
During the rebellion of the Tuqishi people more than ten years ago, Suiye City fell into the hands of the Tuqishi people.
Of course Li Yunze cannot tolerate this kind of thing.
This time we sent out troops and recovered Suiye City along the way.
The Tuqishi people who stayed behind were immediately fooled. They never expected that when their Khan led the army to help Datang fight, Datang backhandedly raided his nest.
In fact, Li Yunze has no intention of letting the tribes who went to Talas return to the Western Region this time!
After recapturing Suiye City, Li Yunze teased Li Bai and asked him to write a poem for Suiye City, and then continued westward across Congling and headed straight for Talas.
The specific location of Talas is near the Talas River, north of Congling and west of Suiye City.
The area here is open and is a large area of fertile grassland.
When the time came to early August, after Li Yunze personally led the main force of the Chinese army to Talas, including the troops from the Anxi and Beiting Protectorate who had arrived earlier, the total strength had exceeded 100,000.
In order to provide logistical supplies for this large army, long supply lines were transported from Anxi and Beiting with countless civilians and livestock with great difficulty.
But it’s still not enough!
By this time, Li Yunze finally missed the train.
If there was a railway, the supplies transported in one trip would be enough for the army to last for many days.
Li Yunze started preparing for this many years in advance and provided supplies from the nearby Western Regions.
If it had been shipped from far away Guanzhong, it would have been eaten up by now.
This is also the reason why every time the Tang army went out to fight, the number of soldiers and horses was always small.
It's not that the Tang army couldn't send more soldiers and horses, but that the logistics couldn't support so many soldiers and horses fighting outside.
Just like the Battle of Talas, Gao Xianzhi only brought 20,000 people.
It's not that Anxi doesn't have more troops, it's just that there's nothing we can do.
Faced with the lack of supplies, Li Yunze's response was very simple. He directly asked for supplies from the surrounding vassal tribes.
Cattle, sheep, horses, fodder, food, everything.
Not giving?
If you don't give it, the army will directly drive over and pull back everything.
Facing more than 100,000 Tang soldiers, no tribe dared to resist.
The Tang army, with almost everyone wearing iron armor, put too much pressure on the tribes.
Of course, doing so will definitely arouse dissatisfaction and anger among the various tribes.
It's just that Li Yunze doesn't care at all, he just wants to fight against these unstable factors.
Time came to the tenth day of August, and the mighty Dashi Army passed through the Kang and Shi Kingdoms and finally arrived at the Talas Prairie.
The most intense collision of this era is about to begin.