Chapter 363: Achilles' Heel

In the capital city of Kang State, Samojian, beside the fountain pool in the inner garden of the royal palace, the plainly dressed Abu Muslin sat under a tree's shade, discussing with his senior general Qi Yade Sali the recent night raid by Gao Xianzhi on the Great Arab camp outside Juzhan Ti City that led to a crushing defeat of the front army.

The bad news: thirty thousand troops and horses were lost, weakening the numerical advantage.

The good news: the most elite ten thousand troops under Qi Yade Sali remain intact, not among those unlucky ones hit by the night raid.

The lost units were mostly hostile tribal forces that had been incorporated since the Shiite uprising.

Abu Muslin assigned them to the vanguard as a preliminary deployment, partly because he was uncertain about the Tang army's combat ability and wanted to test these tribal forces.

He didn't expect those people to be so useless; they were shattered by a night raid of light cavalry under Gao Xianzhi on the main camp.

The elite under Qi Yade Sali is a well‑structured force mixing heavy infantry, infantry archers, heavy cavalry, and mounted archers. Moreover, it is the core unit that originated from the Black‑clad Great Arab, having endured numerous fierce battles and gained extensive experience.

It is no exaggeration to say that losing those thirty thousand tribal troops would not threaten the state's foundation, but if the ten thousand elite Great Arab troops were lost, it would be uncertain whether the Black‑clad Great Arab could still hold Huo Luoshan Province.

At this moment, Abu Muslin's expression was calm as he listened to Qi Yade Sali's report on the casualties, his brows furrowing from time to time.

"Those thirty thousand front troops were wiped out, right? The King of Kang State originally agreed to send forces to cover the flank, but now refuses to send troops, is that correct?"

Abu Muslin asked softly. The impact of the defeat was already becoming evident, and small states like Kang State began to waver.

"Indeed so, Governor, we can now erase those tribes from the main army's roster. Kang State, Shi State and other small states also refuse to cooperate in sending troops; they were frightened by Gao Xianzhi."

"We must also guard against their betrayal at a critical moment."

Qi Yade Sali said with a worried tone, clearly having seen that Abu Muslin had already accepted the reality of the setback.

Qi Yade Sali's words carried a hint of contempt, insisting that even those thirty thousand troops could not match his own ten thousand iron army!

Those tribal forces did not actually lose thirty thousand lives in the raid; each unit recovered some troops and horses. However, their morale was shattered, and the tribal leaders refused to go back to the battlefield.

These units that had defected since the Shiite uprising were never highly loyal, and after this crushing defeat they are now completely unresponsive to command.

As for Kang State, the so‑called fence‑sitter, need not be elaborated. Their loyalty depends on the battlefield situation.

"They side with whoever holds the advantage!"

"Gao Xianzhi truly is a capable commander; we underestimated him."

Abu Muslin said with some emotion.

He had long roamed the lower ranks; his rise had not taken many years, and he lacked the arrogance that often accompanies the powerful.

Abu Muslin was keenly aware: the Tang army's combat power was on a completely different level from any opponents he had previously faced!

"Governor, what do you think are the weaknesses of Gao Xianzhi and his Western Army?"

"If they have no weakness, then how could we approach this battle?"

Qi Yade Sali asked in confusion. The two were discussing strategy, but also sparring in technique, serving as both teacher and friend.

"No, we have many troops and ample supplies; that is our greatest advantage.

Gao Xianzhi has few soldiers, and his supplies are likely scarce; that is his greatest disadvantage.

When the two armies clash, using numbers against fewer is the most basic rule, isn't it?"

Abu Muslin said with a smile.

In fact, his point was spot on.

Their core control area lies in Anxi, Mulu, and Guishuang northwest of Kang State; Abu Muslin himself was once a slave in the Mulu region (likely born there), which is also where the Black‑clad Great Arab originated.

These locations are only a day or two's ride from Kang State, Shi State, etc., so calling them nearby is not an exaggeration. By contrast, the Tang army's supply line is truly remote—calling it a thousand li would be generous.

If measured from Jinman City in the Northern Frontier, the distance to Kang State is at least two thousand li.

"My supply line is two hundred li; yours is two thousand li. Are you trying to out‑logistics me?"

Abu Muslin's confidence stems from this!

"Governor, forgive this junior officer for speaking plainly. For instance, Gao Xianzhi this time is using a small force against a larger one; having many troops is useless unless they can demonstrate their strength.

If a large force cannot exert its power, it only adds to the burden of maintaining troops.

I understand what you say, but relying solely on these factors still cannot defeat Gao Xianzhi."

Qi Yade Sali retorted bluntly.

Abu Muslin is the commander‑in‑chief, directing troops, arranging formations, and planning strategies. Qi Yade Sali, as the commander of the elite units who must lead them into battle, shares some viewpoints with Abu Muslin but also has considerable disagreements.

No matter how excellent the strategy, how strong the logistics, or how massive the forces, they must ultimately be realized in the word "combat".

Gao Xianzhi excels at fighting on the spot, using absolute battlefield performance to overturn strategic disadvantages.

Abu Muslin's analysis is indeed sound, but if you still cannot defeat the enemy on the battlefield, what use are those advantages?

"How many days left until the freezing period?"

Abu Muslin suddenly asked an unrelated question.

"Soon, probably very soon. Then all surrounding lakes and rivers will briefly freeze at night."

Qi Yade Sali said it was no secret; anyone who lived west of Congling for a few years knows that even the desert is not scorching year‑round, and there is a brief but extremely cold winter night.

Take Shi State as an example: after winter arrives, frozen rivers and lakes at night are common, and one can even ride horses on them.

"It is time for a full‑scale attack, to besiege Shi State. Transfer as much grain to Kang State for stockpiling; we will act once winter comes."

Abu Muslin nodded slightly.

Seeing Qi Yade Sali's incredulous expression, Abu Muslin patiently explained:

"After winter, the poison water becomes as easy to tread as flat ground at night; Gao Xianzhi cannot defend along its banks and tributaries, making a hold on Zhezhi City impossible.

Of course, if Gao Xianzhi chooses to leave Stone Country with his baggage, he must be ready for a half‑cross attack. The road from Zhezhi City to Dalosi City has passages on the east and west and mountains to the north and south; once pursued, the route becomes difficult!"

"But if the junior officer is Gao Xianzhi, he will continuously harass the northern Juzhan Ti City of Kang State and even Dong Cao City, forcing us to battle him!

Without defeating us, Gao Xianzhi cannot leave Stone Country with his baggage."

Qi Yade Sali, as a commander of troops, better understands a general's mindset. In his view, Gao Xianzhi is not really a commander‑in‑chief but rather a hardened frontline general. The Tang's operations west of Congling are not particularly brilliant, which is why these states now lean toward the Great Arab.

Gao Xianzhi is merely leveraging superior tactics to compensate for strategic shortcomings.

Following the principle "fight as much as possible," Qi Yade Sali believes Gao Xianzhi's next plan is to continuously harass the Great Arab forces in Kang State, forcing Abu Muslin into a decisive battle!

"Then we should dig deep trenches and build walls, avoid a direct battle with Gao Xianzhi, and wear him down slowly!"

Abu Muslin said in a deep voice, he was angry too!

Our forces are strong and the supply lines are short; what is there to fear! If we cannot engage directly, we will simply waste time.

"What if Gao Xianzhi abandons his baggage and runs away?"

Qi Yadesali, unwilling, pressed further, and after speaking he laughed at his own words. Abu Muslin said nothing, merely shook his head and smiled.

If Gao Xianzhi withdrew without his baggage, then given the length of the Great Tang supply lines, the Tang army could not strike Stone Country again until at the earliest next summer.

Next year, will the Tang army still have a chance to grapple with the Great Arab Kingdom? How much grain, manpower, and treasure will that require? After a retreat without fighting, how many small Western Regions states will still side with Great Tang?

In fact, many things are laid out plainly; once we pass this village, this shop will be gone.

If Gao Xianzhi were to abandon his baggage and retreat, Abu Muslin would certainly send troops to see him off, which would mean the black‑clad Great Arab troops could pacify the nine‑surname kingdoms west of Congling without shedding blood—a strategic triumph!

The Tang army's lost prestige from a retreat without fighting can only be reclaimed by sweeping the Great Arab army in the future. It seems Gao Xianzhi also understands this.

"Understood, then we will go immediately to coordinate battle preparations and defenses."

Qi Yadesali bowed, turned, and left.

…

"Jiedushi, I think this battle is already extremely perilous. Even counting the Western Expeditionary Army, our forces are still estimated to be fewer than the Great Arab troops.

Moreover, their stronghold is so close to Stone Country that replenishing baggage and personnel is very easy."

Inside a side room of Dayun Temple, Wang Nande, worried, said to Fang Chongyong.

Among the Western Expeditionary Army, successive generations of commanders doubted Gao Xianzhi; they found his previous overwhelming victory over the Great Arab troops unbelievable, and argued that those so‑called "Great Arab troops" were merely a tribal army alliance from West Asia, whose combat ability was average and far from elite.

In fact, the news brought by Che Guangqian also indirectly confirms this. Conversely, if Gao Xianzhi truly battered the Great Arab troops severely, the most scent‑sensitive small Western Regions states would have already sent envoys to beg for mercy.

"At both ends of Hot Sea we have already established ferry ports and shortened the transport distance by several hundred li. Moreover, the camels we acquired from the three prefectures of the Northern Court have all arrived near Broken Leaf City.

Now the Great Arab troops can afford it, and we are not merely sitting idle."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand and said, clearly confident.

Play tactics with the Great Arab troops?

No, no, no, this is too risky; we cannot expect our troops to perform supernaturally each time.

Along this route Fang Chongyong did not command many sieges or conquests; he mainly focused his efforts on logistical supply.

He transferred the baggage from Jinman City, the capital of the Northern Court, to the Ili River Valley, mainly livestock.

Then he moved those supplies to the ferry port on the east bank of Hot Sea, shipped them via canal transport to the west bank, and finally transferred them to Broken Leaf City, not far north of the port.

This logistical route greatly ensured the army's abundant provisions!

But the logistical improvements Fang Chongyong and the Western Expeditionary Army could make ended here. The fragile transport line composed of a series of abandoned towns north of Broken Leaf City had to rely entirely on camels, moving several hundred li before reaching Daluosi City.

"Jiedushi, General Wang's words have merit; should we seize the current abundance of grain and march straight to Stone Country, join forces with Gao Xianzhi, and then battle the Great Arab troops?"

Feng Changqing, beside Fang Chongyong, suggested.

"It's possible, but the Great Arab troops could retreat to Anxi City or Mulu City; should we chase them there? Don't you know how far those places are from Broken Leaf City?"

Fang Chongyong retorted irritably.

Hearing this, the generals who had been eager to show off at the meeting fell silent.

Indeed, the Great Arab troops might truly be unable to defeat the Tang army when the two forces combine.

But if they can't win, does that mean they can't retreat?

They have fortified the passes at Anxi, Mulu, Shuangui and other locations north of Kang Country, preparing strong defenses; the Tang army cannot gain an advantage for a while. Moreover, the supply line is too fragile, forcing a hit‑and‑run tactic!

If the Great Arab troops can hold this wave, then after the Tang army retreats due to lack of food, they can pursue them, and all the generals present would likely lose their lives on the road.

"We must lure the Great Arab troops to Daluosi City for a decisive battle.

It is already far from the Great Arab's core control zone, and not especially far from Broken Leaf City, making supply convenient.

Fang Chongyong looked at Feng Changqing and ordered, "In two days go yourself to Zhezhi City and deliver a letter to Gao Xianzhi. If possible, lure the enemy in without being reckless. Of course, he handles Stone Country affairs, so he need not obey this envoy's orders; after all, I do not know his exact situation."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the meditation hall, including Bian Lingcheng, wore a meaning‑laden expression.

Feng Changqing, without doubt, quickly crossed his hands in salute and said, "I will faithfully obey the Jiedushi's command; I can depart at any time."

Fang Chongyong gave a slight nod in acknowledgment, saying no more.

What he meant, the assembled people could only say that those who understood, understood.

"He Laohu, keep a close watch on the front at Ashi Bulaicheng; the Great Arab troops generally use camels to transport baggage, and their advance speed is definitely faster than we anticipated.

We cannot rule out the Great Arab troops bypassing Zhezhi City, circumventing Gao Xianzhi, and attacking Daluosi directly.

Fang Chongyong instructed He Changqi, who had hurried back to Broken Leaf City for the meeting.

"Please, Jiedushi, rest assured!"

He Changqi quickly gave his word, slapping his chest with a loud 'pa‑pa'.

"Old Duan, the ferry ports at both ends of Hot Sea must be secured. The supplies shipped to Broken Leaf Town must never be cut off.

As long as we can ensure a steady flow of grain, arrows, and similar supplies, we can match the Great Arab troops in endurance!

The Great Arab interior is also unstable; the white‑clad Great Arab forces still control some areas. If Abu Muslin is defeated here, or if the delay becomes too long, whether the black‑clad Great Arab can still hold control is uncertain.

Logistics, the top priority, must never be broken.

Fang Chongyong instructed Duan Xiushi.

"It's on me."

Duan Xiushi clasped his fists in salute and said.

"Alright, disperse. Tell the troops that the chance to achieve glory is coming, and have them prepare."

Fang Chongyong stood, announced the meeting's adjournment, and turned to leave.

The official business is finally done; it's time to attend to personal matters.

(End of Chapter)