Tibet

Two days later, Pei Fang led his army to Xue's Yazhang, and Li Ye came to return the arrows to Pei Fang.

Li Ye said apologetically: "I have tried my best to protect the soldiers, but 278 soldiers were still killed and 235 injured, more than half of the casualties."

Pei Fang nodded, "With a thousand men fighting against six thousand enemy troops, not only was the entire army not destroyed, but more than two thousand men were killed, defeating the enemy. This record is brilliant enough. As for the casualties, they are normal. You don't have to apologize." !”

"But I still have selfish motives when I send troops to Xue!"

Li Ye then told the story of being offered a reward of 100,000 sheepskins by the chief of the Xue tribe, and finally sighed: "It was because I sent troops to the Xue tribe with selfish motives, and so many people were injured and killed, that I feel doubly guilty!"

Pei Fang pondered for a moment and asked, "Did you reward the soldiers?"

"Yes! I distributed all the captured property to the soldiers, and doubled the number of casualties."

Pei Fang patted Li Ye on the shoulder and comforted him: "That's it. Although you have your own ideas, it is true that the Xue tribe invaded Juyanhai and killed the herdsmen and Juyanhai defenders. We are counterattacking and not only expelled the enemy Leave the country and go deep into the enemy's territory to kill the culprits. Those who offend our prosperous Tang Dynasty will be punished even though they are far away. I believe that if you write this sentence in a report, you will only have merit but no fault.

As for your selfish motives, you can just talk about it in front of grandpa. Don't mention it again. You are attacking under my order. There is nothing wrong with it. I will explain it to the court. "

"Thank you grandpa for your help!"

Pei Fang smiled slightly and said: "I should be the one thanking you. Although there is a little risk, it is more of a credit. This time I have benefited from you!"

"It was the bloody battle of the officers and men of the Ganzhou Army and it has nothing to do with me. Grandpa is the commander-in-chief of the Ganzhou Army. The credit should go to my grandfather!"

Pei Fang secretly praised Li Ye for being able to speak. He smiled again and said, "Don't worry! You helped grandpa a lot this time, and I will naturally compensate you in other ways."

"Where's An Sishun?" Li Ye asked again.

"Don't worry about An Sishun. He has already sent me an eagle letter and agreed that I will decide whether to send troops. I guess he also received the order from the court and had to compromise!"

"Then I'll be relieved, and I have another suggestion."

"you say!"

"I suggest that we temporarily station troops in the Xue tribe. The main force of the Xue tribe has basically been wiped out. If we withdraw our troops prematurely, we will only benefit the Geluolu people in vain."

Pei Fang pondered for a moment and said: "This depends on Xue Bu's own wishes and the attitude of the court. It is not my decision."

"Xuebu wants us to garrison troops."

Pei Fang nodded, "Okay! I will report to the Jiedushi and the imperial court immediately. Before the imperial court decides, I will temporarily station 2,900 troops in Xue. Within 3,000 troops, it is my scope of authority."

At this time, a soldier reported outside the tent, "Report to the Commander-in-Chief, Xue Yaoluo, the chief of the Xue tribe, led a dozen Xue tribe leaders outside the tent to ask for an audience."

Li Ye explained: "Their chief Xue Feng has been shot dead by me on the battlefield. Xue Yaoluo is their new chief and he is a steady man."

"Well, you accompany me to meet them."

Outside the big tent, Xue Yaoluo, the new chief of the Xue tribe, led eleven tribe leaders to kneel down to Pei Fang and pay homage.

"See Governor Pei!"

"Excuse me, please come and take a seat in the big tent!"

Pei Fang invited everyone to sit on the floor in the big tent. Xue Yaoluo could speak fluent Chinese, so there was no need for Li Ye to translate.

Pei Fang glanced at Xue Yaoluo, smiled slightly and said, "Chief Xue, have we met before?"

Xue Yaoluo nodded, "Fifteen years ago, I often brought my tribe to Hexi to purchase salt and tea cakes. Governor Pei met me."

"You are indeed an old person. I remember you were still a young tribal warrior at that time. In the blink of an eye, you were the chief of the Xue tribe."

Xue Yaoluo is the leader of Yantuo Hexi, the second largest tribe in Xue tribe. He should have been the chief last year. However, Xue Feng got the secret help of the Geluolu people and robbed the chief. As a result, Xue tribe suffered this time. The heaviest loss in decades occurred. More than 6,000 young and strong men were killed by the Tang army. Only then did the deceived leaders of the various ministries wake up and unanimously elected Xue Yaoluo as the new chief.

It can be said that the Xue tribe has reached the stage of life and death. These tribal leaders are very pragmatic. Although the young and strong men were killed by the Tang army, that was not the responsibility of the Tang army, but the sin caused by Xue Feng. They all knew that the Tang Dynasty would not They will annex the Xue tribe and just run away. The real threat is the northwest neighbor Geluolu people.

Once they are forcibly annexed by the Geluolu people, all of them will become slaves.

Xue Yaoluo leaned over and said: "We were all deceived by Xue Feng. We didn't know that he stationed his army in Juyanhai. He kept telling us that the army would be deployed on the front line of Mielangling to prevent the invasion of the Geluolu people. We have lived in harmony with the Tang Dynasty for decades, and we will never send troops to live in Yanhai and bring disaster to ourselves. Now that Xue Feng is dead, the culprit has been eliminated. I beg Governor Pei to see that for the sake of our neighbors for decades, please do not continue. Punish the Xue tribe."

Pei Fang nodded, "Now that the evil has been punished, we will naturally not harm ordinary herdsmen again. You don't have to worry. I plan to withdraw our troops and return to Ganzhou tomorrow!"

Everyone looked at each other, a little anxious. Xue Yaoluo quickly said: "We have received news that tens of thousands of Geluolu troops are stationed in the north of Mielangling. Once the Tang army retreats, Geluolu will definitely annex the Xue tribe. Please ask the Tang army. If we continue to garrison the Xue tribe, we are willing to bear the logistical support of the Tang army stationed there!"

Pei Fang looked troubled and pondered for a moment and said: "I don't want the Geluolu forces to appear in the north of Ganzhou, but the Ganzhou army must get permission from the court to station in Xuebu, so be it! Please ask the chief to go to Chang'an. Apply to the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty and explain the situation clearly. I believe that the imperial court will consider Xue Bu's request as appropriate. Before the imperial court officially responds, I will station a part of the army. In addition, I will also write to Jiedu Mansion and the imperial court. Let's work together to win The Xue tribe was protected from the Geluolu people."

Xue Yaoluo immediately decided to go to Chang'an to meet the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty two days later. Pei Fang also wrote a detailed report and sent someone to Chang'an to report to the Ministry of War. At the same time, he sent a copy to Jiedu Mansion.

This time, because the Ministry of War directly issued orders to the Ganzhou Governor's Mansion, Pei Fang also had to report directly to the Ministry of War, of course, from both ends. While reporting to the Ministry of War, he also had to report to Jiedushi An Sishun.

Pei Fang ordered his second son, Pei Jian, to lead 2,800 soldiers to temporarily station in Xue, while he led his troops to return to Zhangye in triumph.

That morning, the army arrived at Juyanhai, and Pei Fang sent someone to find his eldest son Pei Jia.

Pei Fang pondered for a moment and said to his eldest son: "Maybe after returning to Zhangye, Ye'er will continue to advance westward. I have been thinking about it for two days. I want to lend three hundred soldiers to Ye'er. What do you think?"

Pei Jia is currently serving as Sima of the Governor's Office in Ganzhou. His wife is the daughter of the An family, the most wealthy family in Hexi. The An family is a descendant of An Xinggui, the founding hero of the Tang Dynasty, and is a Sogdian.

Pei Jia's brother-in-law is the current Governor of Ganzhou Governor Shi Anqiguan, and they are closely related to each other. Anqiguan's son is called An Taixuan, and he is also one of the five captains of Li Ye's expedition. Pei Jia's daughter Pei Zhen is engaged.

The relationship seems a bit complicated. In fact, to put it simply, the relationship between An Taixuan and Pei Zhen is that of Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu.

As his uncle, Pei Jia admired Li Ye's courage very much. He understood what his father meant and wanted to bet on Li Ye. What Li Ye lacked most was capable subordinates, and the Pei family could provide them.

"The child agrees with his father's decision, but will An Sishun disagree and order Suzhou and Guazhou to intercept it?"

"That's not true. The three hundred people are part of my Pei family and are not part of the Hexi military establishment. I won't let An Sishun catch me. Besides, Li Ye has the emperor's gold medal and he has the right to mobilize troops. As long as he shows his gold medal, the officials along the way will not dare to intercept him and will provide him with supplies."

Pei Jia nodded, "Then let Pei Xiu and An Taixuan follow Ye'er!"

Pei Xiu is Pei Jia's third son, and An Taixuan is Pei Jia's prospective son-in-law. Pei Jia also wants them to go to Anxi for training.

Pei Fang said happily: "That's it!"

[Note: An Taixuan is the famous general Li Baozhen of the Middle Tang Dynasty]