In the first year of Diaolu[1], Pei Xingjian's army pressed on to the border and successfully quelled the rebellion of the twenty-four chieftains of the Eastern Turks. However, the Tang Dynasty's forces also suffered heavy casualties, with many high-ranking officers and soldiers perishing in battle, and most of them were buried in horse hide, their spirits left outside the pass. Among the personal belongings and letters returned to Chang'an, a silver wine flask patterned with a dancing horse holding a cup stood out. Surprisingly, the flask did not contain wine but rather a painting.
Some surviving soldiers said that the owner of this flask was rumored to be a high-ranking official's descendant and he volunteered to join the army to fight against the enemy. He often killed the enemy side by side with a young general in white armor, showing great bravery. However, during a surprise attack by the Turks, their unit strayed into a trap. Despite the two killing dozens of enemy generals, they eventually succumbed to the overwhelming numbers of the enemy, and the entire unit was annihilated. In an act of brutal vengeance, the barbaric enemy set fire to the bodies of the fallen Tang soldiers. It is said that the fire was so large that it burned for three days and nights, a truly tragic sight. Yet, this incident further fueled the morale of the Tang army. Everyone turned their grief and indignation into extraordinary bravery and defeated the Turkic rebels in the shortest time.
By the end of Zaichu[2], Empress Wu ascended to the throne, proclaiming herself Holy Emperor and changing the country's name to Zhou.
In the end, the Tang Empire of the Lis became a possession of Wu-shi[3].
Footnotes:
[1] Diaolu was the tenth reign title of Li Zhi, Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty.
[2] Zaichu is the reign name of Li Dan, Tang Emperor Ruizong, but in fact Wu Zetian had full control over the government and Li Dan (her 4th son) had no real power. It is generally regarded as Wu Zetian's reign. On the ninth day of the ninth month of the first year of Zaichu (October 16, 690), the name of the country was changed to Zhou. The Tang Dynasty was founded by the Li family and ruled from 618 to 907, with an interregnum between 690 and 705 when it was ruled by Wu Zetian.
[3] 武 氏: Wu shi. Shi is similar to née. It means (woman) with maiden name Wu.
No comments:
Post a Comment