I Can Control My Ancestors

Chapter 628: Chapter 89: Pioneering Through Hardship, Advancing with Blood (Part 2)

The growth during this period is perfectly reflected under such circumstances. Once Gu Yi understood all this, his heart would no longer waver.

If it were at the beginning of this situation, he would not have acted this way, but merely gone with the flow, watching quietly.

He observed the cycle of life and death of the Gu Clan across generations,

yet weren’t the spirits of the ancestors also silently watching from the other side of the river of time, these descendants carrying their burdens forward?

Since the Gu Clan had embarked on this path, there was only one way—

Press forward, unwavering!

From this day forth, Gu Xuan appeared in the military camps for increasingly extended periods.

Moreover, within the camp, under the personal direction of Gu Yi, a solemn and mournful ritual was performed.

On the altar, there was nothing but this:

The heroic spirits of successive emperors of the Great Tang and the loyal souls of the Gu Clan’s ancestors across generations.

Gu Xuan stood before the billowing dragon banner of the Great Tang and the banner of the Gu Clan, his voice resounding in all directions:

"We beseech the spirits of our forebears and past emperors, protect the valiant sons of the Great Tang, grant us victory in this battle!"

Though it was but a thought, in the direst of straits, sometimes the power kindled by this transmitted belief surpassed gold and medicine.

Just as now—

When the Tang soldiers gradually began to adapt to the plateau’s environment, their fighting power too gradually recovered over time.

After this ritual, soon the soldiers noticed that the rising casualties suddenly ceased.

The first year of Zhìdé, late July.

The key passage of West Incline Mountain, beacon fires reignited.

After an intense battle concluded, the battle report swiftly spread through the camp:

The Tang Army lost more than four hundred, while Tubo had nearly five hundred casualties!

As this simple number reached the camp—

Silence!

Immediately followed by cheers like a landslide or tsunami, bursting forth from every tent, every corner, soaring straight to the skies!

From the armored and sharp commanders to the ordinary soldiers weathered by wind and frost, all were stunned by the battle report and then utterly overwhelmed by the flood of joy!

"A manifestation! It’s Emperor Taizong’s manifestation! It’s the manifestation of the Gu ancestors! They’ve borne the curse of these mountains for us!!"

"Bah! What damn mountain curse! Can it stop the spirits of the past heroes of the Great Tang and the immortals of the Gu Clan in the heavens?!"

"It must be the Gu Clan’s immortals watching over us! This battle will be victorious!!"

"...."

The feverish shouts, like a prairie fire, instantly swept through the entire camp. Many iron-willed men embraced each other, crying in excitement.

There was no way around it; the Tang Army was under immense pressure.

Under the altitude sickness, the number of soldiers able to maintain fighting strength was already few, and the Tubo attacks were relentless.

The tremendous pressure of these recent days had even made Gu Yi waver a bit.

Let alone these men?

Now upon hearing this news, how could they not be excited?

At this moment, inside the main tent.

Seeing the jubilant expressions of the soldiers, Gu Yi also couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief, controlling Gu Xuan, he nodded in satisfaction and said:

"What do the generals think?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the generals from all over immediately saluted Gu Xuan without hesitation.

"The Grand Tutor is wise, this humble general is full of admiration!"

"Our army’s momentum is now like a rainbow, Grand Tutor!! This humble general suggests an attack!!"

"..."

In days past, the main tent had grown increasingly silent, but now it slowly revived with life.

Guo Ziyi stood at the forefront of the generals, and after their voices settled, he cupped his hands and spoke, "Grand Tutor, this humble general also believes our army should prepare."

"This matter, leave it to General Guo."

Gu Yi did not hesitate, immediately entrusting the power to Guo Ziyi.

He had long provided a specific strategy.

This tug-of-war was not only to help the soldiers adapt to the plateau but also to nurture the enemy’s confidence.

As long as the Tang Army could endure successive defeats, they could then arrange a false surrender.

The plateau’s terrain was not solely advantageous to Tubo.

The Gu Clan was never short of maps.

For decades, countless merchants had thoroughly mapped the terrain of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

What’s left would be handed over to Guo Ziyi and his people.

"Remember."

Controlling Gu Xuan, Gu Yi’s piercing gaze swept across each general in the tent: "Do not rush! Wait a while longer, let the soldiers recover their vitality."

"Yes! This humble general will strictly follow the Grand Tutor’s orders!!!"

The generals, with solemn expressions, cupped their fists and received their orders, their voices reverberating throughout the tent.

...

The flames of war still raged on all across the plateau.

Tsri Songtsen Gampo and the Tubo nobles paid no heed to the subtle changes in the battle situation, merely thinking that the Tang Army had finally been forced into a desperate situation.

They too had heard the rumors of the ritual in the Tang Camp.

But this did not waver their faith rooted in the Snowfield Plateau.

In their eyes, if the past emperors of the Great Tang and the ancestors of the Gu Clan could truly contend with the mountain gods, why hadn’t past heroes like Gu Jing or Li Shimin come to crush Tubo before?

For this reason, Tubo’s attack strategy remained unchanged, as always.

Tsri Songtsen Gampo had already planned it out.

As long as he could nibble away at the elite Tang soldiers little by little, as they continued deeper into the mountains, when the "curse of the mountains" grew worse, it would be time for him to close the trap and complete his conquest in a single move!

By then, his ambitions were not limited to the mere land of Guanzhong.

Even the vast and rich span of Kyushu might not be beyond his reach!

He even quoted an ancient maxim known throughout Kyushu:

"Weigh the lightness of the nine cauldrons!"

Though times have changed, this phrase might seem outdated in the current context, yet the immense ambition of dominating the world and seizing the Divine Artifact contained within it had not diminished in the slightest!

From this alone, one can see how Tsri Songtsen Gampo’s ambition had swelled to an extraordinary extent.