Endurance Learning - The Great Wisdom for Chinese People to Survive and Thrive

Author: Shan Yin Zhen Ren
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: Those who lack a sense of proportion are doomed. Emperor Taizong of Tang faced the treacherous King Fu Yun of Tuyuhun and restrained his immediate anger. He kindly persuaded Fu Yun's envoys, explaining the benefits and harms, hoping to maintain friendly relations between the two sides. However, King Fu Yun of Tuyuhun remained stubborn and insincere, pretending to comply while secretly defying. In response, Emperor Taizong refused to be deceived by the stubborn and unruly, ultimately forcing him into a desperate situation and cutting him off in the desert.
In the eighth year of the Zhenguan era (634 AD), King Fu Yun of Tuyuhun, now old and senile, was incited by the powerful Minister Tian Zhu Wang to repeatedly launch invasions into the Hexi Corridor, cutting off the Silk Road from Chang'an to the Western Regions. Tuyuhun also deliberately provoked conflicts, detaining the envoys of the Tang Dynasty. Emperor Taizong sent more than ten envoys to negotiate, but Fu Yun ignored them and spoke wildly. When the envoys of Tuyuhun arrived in Chang'an, Li Shihmin personally received them, earnestly explaining the pros and cons, warning them of the dangers and benefits, hoping to improve relations and reopen the Silk Road. The Tuyuhun envoys outwardly agreed but had no intention of repenting. Fu Yun continued to harass the borders.
Emperor Taizong could no longer tolerate such hypocrisy and decided to reopen the route to the Hexi Corridor. He first sent General Duan Zhi Xuan, the commander of the Left Imperial Guard, to lead an expedition. Although the Tang forces won a few small victories, they did little damage to Tuyuhun, and Fu Yun became even more arrogant. Whenever the Tang army arrived, he would lead his troops to flee with their tents, but as soon as the Tang army withdrew, he would return.
Determined to launch a major offensive against Tuyuhun, Emperor Taizong appointed the veteran general Li Jing as the commander. In the ninth year of the Zhenguan era (635 AD), Li Jing was appointed as the supreme commander of the Western Sea Route Expedition, with Prince Li Dao Zong and Hou Jun Ji as his deputy commanders. When the Tang army reached Shanzhou, Fu Yun, upon seeing the large Tang army advancing, immediately led his troops westward, attempting to use the harsh terrain and unpredictable climate to his advantage, hoping to defeat the Tang army, which was far from its rear and struggled with food supplies.
Li Jing, based on this situation, formulated a strategy of "continuous combat and decisive victory." After the Tang army reached Kushan, they immediately divided a thousand cavalry to circle around Kushan and attack Fu Yun from behind. Fu Yun, caught between two fronts, fled in panic. To prevent the Tang army's pursuit, Fu Yun ordered the burning of supplies and grasslands, retreating toward the sandy deserts. When the Tang army chased after them, they found only scorched earth and a desolate wasteland. The Tang army, lacking grass and food, fell into a predicament. Some urged retreat, while others demanded battle.
Deputy Commander Hou Jun Ji argued, "Previously, when Duan Zhi Xuan arrived in Shanzhou, the enemy was already at the city gates. Now Tuyuhun has fled like rats and birds, and it is easy to capture them. If we don't pursue them now, we will regret it later when they regain their strength." He then ordered the army to divide into two routes, advancing north and south to encircle and attack the fleeing enemy. Li Jing led a northern force, sweeping through the enemy like a storm, defeating Tuyuhun at Mantou Mountain and then again at Niu Xin Dui.
Hou Jun Ji led the southern force across a 2,000-li uninhabited region, chasing them all the way to Wuhai (now Xinghai County in Qinghai Province), where they finally saw Tuyuhun's camp. The Tang army immediately stormed the camp and killed the enemy. Fu Yun fled in panic. The Tang army pursued relentlessly, winning battle after battle. Most of Tuyuhun's commanders were either killed or surrendered, and Fu Yun had no choice but to flee into the desert.
Li Jing led his troops in relentless pursuit, and the soldiers' lips and tongues were dry. They had no choice but to pierce horse blood and drink it to quench their thirst. In the evening of one day, they finally caught up with Fu Yun, who was preparing to set up camp. The Tang soldiers fought bravely, killing over a thousand enemies and capturing more than 200,000 livestock.