Chapter 627: Chapter 89: Pioneering Through Hardship, Advancing with Blood (Part 1)

The wars grew more frequent.

Seeing that the Tang Army had no intention of retreating, Tsri Songtsen Gampo became even more agitated and began to attack the Tang Army’s vanguard more frequently.

In fact, if judged solely from the surface situation.

Tubo could absolutely be said to hold the upper hand now, after all, these people are originally from the highlands.

Compared to the Tang Army, they are more adapted to the plateau.

Even though their equipment is somewhat outdated, it can compensate for the gap during battles. Although they have not won a decisive victory, they have always maintained the upper hand.

If it were the usual, or if it were other forces invading.

Tsri Songtsen Gampo would undoubtedly not have held back and would have launched a full-scale attack.

But after all, these are members of the Gu Clan.

Under the succession of legends, the Gu Clan has long donned the cloak of "prophecy" in the eyes of these Foreign Races.

As the Zanpu of Tubo, Tsri Songtsen Gampo must consider more things.

However, despite this, he would not stop the movement of troops.

As for the other Tubo nobles, they were not shaken in the slightest.

Their belief in the mountains gives them absolute confidence.

Even if facing the Gu Clan, they are not afraid in the slightest.

....

Both sides thus engaged in absolute tug-of-war.

Luckily, the reputation of the Gu Clan was still strong, and Gu Xuan had defeated An Lushan openly and treated the soldiers very well, which helped stabilize the situation.

If it were any other commander.

They would not be able to stabilize such a situation.

Enduring prolonged rotational battles, always at a disadvantage, and constantly facing physical anomalies.

Such battles, no one else could maintain the morale.

Only the people of the Gu Clan could do so.

But even so, Gu Yi had to command Gu Xuan to leave the camp every day to stabilize the soldiers’ morale.

Gu Xuan didn’t need to do anything.

Just following what Gu Chen did in the past, simply staying with the soldiers, telling them what the ancestors of the Gu Clan did for generations.

"Endure hardship... Die without regret..."

The stories of those ancestors can ultimately move people’s hearts.

And every time at the end, Gu Xuan would firmly declare: "We of the Gu Clan always do not fear life and death! I, Gu Xuan, vow before you all, this battle will be won!"

"I will lead you to conquer the mountains and achieve unprecedented success!"

"Otherwise, I, Gu Xuan, will die in battle before all of you!"

Simple words always work, spreading quickly throughout the camp, allowing everyone to feel Gu Xuan’s determination immediately.

Gu Yi didn’t make Gu Xuan promise anything.

It was completely unnecessary.

Since the rise of the Gu Clan, the treatment of soldiers under them has never changed, which has long been a universal understanding.

Why would the soldiers be willing to fight alongside the Gu Clan?

The generals might seize glory, but for the most basic soldiers, this is what they pursue.

There’s no need for Gu Yi to emphasize this, the soldiers naturally always remember it in their hearts.

Under such circumstances.

The atmosphere in the entire Great Tang military camp, though not particularly fervent, gradually began to stabilize...

...

In the first year of Zhizhi, on June 27.

The two sides fought again in the West Incline Mountain.

At the cost of nearly five hundred soldiers, the Tang Army finally protected their provisions and supplies; while on Tubo’s side, casualties were but two hundred.

After burying the bodies of their companions in the cold mountains, the lives of these five hundred only secured a difficult advance of less than five miles for the Tang Army.

Subsequently, facing the severe challenges of higher altitudes, the army had to camp at a place easy to defend and hard to attack for rest and recovery.

The flames of war reignited immediately——

For ten consecutive days, the Tubo army, like a persistent parasite, harassed repeatedly with fierce attacks, determined to destroy the Tang Army’s vital supplies. Tang Army soldiers had to fight desperately, soaked in blood, to repel the strong enemy time and again, barely preserving their lifeline.

In ten days of bloody battle, thousands of casualties accumulated on both sides.

The majority were from the Tang Army.

Only when the soldiers gradually adapted to the hellish environment and pace could the army break camp again, moving forward.

Every step was steeped in blood, sweat, and hardship.

Upon hearing the casualty reports submitted by the commanders time and again, even Gu Yi could not help but waver.

"Am I perhaps being too hasty?"

What he was doing now could completely be considered one of the most impactful actions of the Gu Clan to date.

Its difficulty and peril far surpassed the past operations in the Western Regions.

Fundamentally —he wanted Tubo to be fully integrated into the territory and bloodline of Huaxia centuries in advance.

And now is the period of Tubo’s greatest strength!

But in an instant, Gu Yi suppressed any wavering thoughts.

In this world, is there really absolute right or wrong, or a perfect timing?

Since the Gu Clan is bound to Kyushu.

Then this path shall always be trodden by someone.

Although it did cause the Great Tang to lose quite a few commanders as it stands now, compared with the original history, these people are still a minority.

And don’t forget, the Gu Clan has changed history once again.

The An Lushan Rebellion, although it has happened, is still vastly different from the original history.

One can only imagine the immense pressure the Gu Clan will face next.

And who knows how long until another chance comes....