Side Story Chapter 29 (1/2)

Side Story Chapter 29: Two Years Later!

In the ninth month of the twenty-first year of the Tang Emperor, the Turks raided the border, at times penetrating deeply and plundering the livestock and wealth of the people. With the power of the ballistae, the Tang pushed the enemy back three hundred li.

In the same year, the Turks invaded Luntai. Pingle Prefecture’s Auxiliary General Zhang Shougui received a decree and set off with reinforcements. Midway, he encountered the Turks and struck first. After a bitter battle, one-thousand-some foes were killed and the enemy commander was captured alive.

In the twelfth month, Zhang Shougui came under Li Taiyi’s command and dealt the Turks a major defeat. The army headed north and joined together with Lingwu Circuit General Commander Wei Yuanzhong.

In the second month of the twenty-second year of the Tang Emperor, the Turks formally declared war.

In the third month, the two armies battled on the Turkic steppe. Li Taiyi used the suppressive power of the ballistae while his new commander, Zhang Shougui, who was skilled in horse archery, led the horse archers in attacking the right flank of the Turkic army. But the Turks had a vast army, particularly of cavalry, so this battle was a draw.

In the fourth month, the Turks used the Blue Wolf Formation, taking the Tang by surprise and winning a major victory. The Tang retreated one hundred li and reconsolidated.

In the fifth month, Wang Jiuling trapped the Turks in a mountain pass and led the spear cavalry in cutting off the Turks’ retreat path. This battle was a victory.

In the seventh month, the Tongluo were placed under Li Taiyi’s command. Abusi was commanded to lead the vanguard and fight against the Turks.

……

In the eleventh month of the same year, snow fell as the decisive battle was fought.

……

In the capital, large snowflakes descended from the sky. Though the civilians were not on the front line, the reports from the war were being sent back to the capital via messenger birds.

The mood was somber as everyone waited for the conclusion to this war.

As everyone worried, in the third month of the twenty-third year, the world began to come back to life with spring’s approach, and the final report came from the front line.

In the Yin Mountains campaign, the combined Turkic army had been routed, suffering losses of over six hundred thousand men. The armies of the Great Tang had joined together and taken the enemy by surprise, finally winning the ultimate victory.

The Tang Empire was victorious!

Bang!

As this news spread around, all of the Tang Empire erupted with heaven-shaking cheers.

No one had expected this war to take nearly eighteen months, and the combined Turkic army to reach one million soldiers.

But in the end, the Tang Empire had won, and when the Turks sent over the surrender documents, everyone’s respect for Li Taiyi experienced a qualitative transformation.

People in all levels of society were cheering Li Taiyi’s name.

This war had pushed Li Taiyi’s prestige to an unprecedented level.

……

Boom!

In the middle of the third month, Li Taiyi returned from the Turkic front on a carriage. On the day of his return to the capital, a sea of people had gathered outside the northern gate. Countless civilians had heard of his coming and had rushed out of the city.

“He’s coming, he’s coming!”

“It’s His Third Highness! Look there!”

“Hurry and light the fireworks!”

Before the carriage even got close, it was already possible to hear the cracking of fireworks and the thunderous cheers. Tens of thousands of civilians were excitedly cheering, infected by the mood, rushing at Li Taiyi’s carriage with red faces.

“He’s back! His Third Highness is finally back!”

Everyone fervently looked at the carriage and desperately tried to get close.

“Your Highness, we’ve arrived.” A voice came from outside the carriage.

“Mm.”

Inside, Li Taiyi nodded and raised the curtain. He looked at the massive crowd outside, and that enthusiastic cheering made him feel like he was in another world.

After eighteen long months in the Turkic war, Li Taiyi gave off a much greater aura, and he seemed like an entirely different person.

Mature!

Steady!

His face was infused with majesty!

It was like he had evolved.