On August 26, every soldier in the scout battalion and the siege battalion who set off first received several vials before setting off.
One bottle contained medicine for treating altitude sickness, one contained pepper, one contained Sichuan peppercorns, and There is a bottle of chili peppers.
No one knows how long this battle will last or how long it will last.
Therefore, before setting off from Xinjing, Zhao Ziliang specially ordered the Ordnance and Equipment Department of the Military Academy to prepare a set of cotton-padded clothes, cotton trousers, snowstorm hats, and thick Shoes and socks for soldiers to carry with them in case of emergencies.
The main force still stayed in Kathmandu for a day's rest.
The scout battalion moved quickly.
There was a distance of 240 miles from Kathmandu to the boundary river.
It only took one day for the scout battalion to arrive at the boundary river.
It was now late August.
The temperature was still slightly higher, and the river was deep and fast-flowing.
The soldiers could only cross the river one by one on small soft bridges supported by ropes.
Fortunately, there were no Tibetan soldiers stationed on the other side of the river, and the Tubo people did not know that the Western Qin army would come from here. attack.
The scout battalion crossed the river smoothly.
Two thick and long hemp ropes were led from the Niboluo River bank to the Tibetan side.
This hemp rope was used to strengthen the soft bridge and prepare for the erection of a large bridge after the arrival of the siege battalion. .
The mission of the scout battalion did not stop there.
After they made preliminary preparations for the siege battalion, they left some people to garrison the bridge, and the remaining people quickly moved northward and controlled the small village on the hillside twenty miles away to the north.
They had to The Tubo people in this village were unable to dispel the news of the arrival of the Western Qin army.
After that, the scout battalions will be dispersed to quickly investigate the distribution of troops in the following areas on the left and right of Tubo, especially Langketang, Dingri, Malatang, Gongtang, Sidazang, and Qusang.
Check out the garrison situation in these major Tibetan settlements.
On the morning of the 27th, the main force of the Western Qin Army was preparing to set off from Kathmandu to the boundary river.
King Nibala led hundreds of civil and military officials and brought thousands of cattle and sheep to the outside of the military camp to ask for a meeting.
After Zhao Ziliang received the report, he asked people to invite them into the military camp.
After seeing Zhao Ziliang, King Kama saluted and said: "Your Majesty, most of the people in our country believe in Brahmanism and believe that all things have animism and all living beings are equal.
Some people are unfortunate enough to be reborn as livestock.
According to It is the custom of our Nibolu country that before the army sets off for battle, it should slaughter Killing livestock is, firstly, to pay homage to the military flag and pray to God for blessing; secondly, it is to help them give birth to children as soon as possible.
This is an act of great mercy.
Today, the army is setting off.
Xiao Wang and all the civil and military ministers came to see the army off, especially bringing cattle and sheep.
One thousand heads are used to pay homage to the military flag and wish the army a successful victory.
I also ask for your majesty’s permission.”
Niboluo Kingdom is a country with a very strong religious atmosphere.
It is said that "there are more gods than people and more temples than houses".
Whenever festivals come, the people of Niboluo Kingdom will slaughter cattle and sheep to pay homage to the gods.
After the expedition against Tubo, Niboluo, in order to show his solidarity with the Western Qin Dynasty and fulfill his obligations as a vassal, sent an army of 3,000 people to prepare to fight with the Western Qin army.
Zhao Ziliang waved his hand when he heard this: "The flag ceremony has been approved, and our army from the Western Qin Dynasty will also participate."
Kama said quickly: "Thank you, Your Majesty.
But this way, the number of livestock is not enough.
According to the regulations of the ceremony, each big flag requires at least two cows and eight sheep to be sacrificed.
According to the trees of the big flag, at least three more are needed."
Thousands of cattle and sheep, please allow your majesty to allow Xiao Wang to order another three thousand cattle and sheep to come over."
"Okay, hurry up and get it done.
The army will set off before noon this afternoon.
The flag ceremony must be completed before noon.
Don't delay the auspicious time of departure," Zhao Ziliang waved his hand and ordered.
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"It's Your Majesty" An hour later, another three thousand cattle and sheep were driven into the camp and surrounded by soldiers.
Before the ceremony officially started, the sound of "dong dong dong" drums rang out in the camp.
At this time, all the preparations for the ceremony had been completed.
The soldiers of the army gathered in the open space of the camp in accordance with the order and started to prepare the equipment for the ceremony.
The three sides are arranged in a neat square formation on the south side, and the stands are on the north side, with a large area of empty space in the middle.
In the open space, Zhao Ziliang, King Kama, and military generals and officials from both sides filed in, and took their seats in the stands one by one.
Zhao Ziliang sat on a large throne in the middle, and King Kama sat on the right side of him, behind him.
He is the civil and military minister of Niboluo Kingdom.
On the left side of Zhao Ziliang are the civil and military officers of the Western Qin Army.
There are many large flags on the ground, all of which are military flags of battalion level or above.
These flags are constantly fluttering in the breeze.
Each military flag is decorated with some winter melons, wheat seedlings, red powder, cakes, etc., as well as various exquisite silverware. ,bronze.
There was a strong smell of incense in the air, which made all the soldiers of the Western Qin Army feel a bit mysterious and desolate before the ceremony officially began.
There is a thick wooden stake stuck next to each big flag.
The wooden stake is tied with straw.
A priest stands aside, and there are several shirtless, muscular and powerful men standing next to it.
On the other hand, they are butchers who slaughter cattle and sheep.
They are basically brave soldiers in the army.
When the time came, an official from Nibolu Kingdom came to Kama and whispered a few words.
Kama nodded, stood up and saluted Zhao Ziliang and said: "Your Majesty, the time has come.
Can the flag sacrificial ceremony begin?"
Zhao Ziliang raised his hand and waved: "Let's get started."
"Yes," Niboluo official agreed, shouting loudly: "The auspicious time has arrived, and the flag sacrificial ceremony has begun."
An old priest wearing a monk's robe and hat, with a skull hanging on his chest, a skull on his wrists and ankles, and three gray lines painted on his forehead, sat cross-legged in the middle of the open space, with his hands clasped, and the priests squatted In the open space beside him, he was mumbling words, blowing conch shells and ringing bells.
The old priest opened his eyes and stood up.
He took a handful of incense from a priest, lit it and inserted it into the incense burner.
He also grabbed a handful of flower petals from the silverware and threw them into the basin.
At this time, soldiers were bringing cattle and sheep over one after another.
The old chief priest grabbed some flower petals and stuffed them into the ears of a sheep while muttering something in a low voice.
Seeing this, Zhao Ziliang pointed to the old chief priest and asked Kama: "The chief priest is following you."
What did the livestock say?”
Kama replied respectfully: "The general idea is to tell the livestock that they are working as livestock in this life to repay the sinful debts of the previous life.
Today, send them to be reincarnated again and be good people in the next life.
In addition, let them carry food to the gods in the Paradise of Paradise.
Go and send a message to bless my army and make it invincible all the way."
Zhao Ziliang couldn't help but said: "I didn't expect that there are quite a lot of details in this ceremony."
The goat was dragged by two strong men to a big flag and pressed on a wooden stake wrapped in straw.
A big butcher with a round waist came over with a scimitar.
He reached out and touched the goat's neck.
He raised the knife and dropped it.
His head was suddenly in a different place, and the drummer immediately beat the drum rapidly, "Dong dong dong", the two strong men holding the sheep immediately dragged the sheep's body and quickly circled the military flag next to it three times in a clockwise direction.
The sheep's head was placed under the military flag, and the sheep's eyes were half-opened.
Half closed, the ears trembled slightly, and the petals in the ears fell out.
The goats that had been instructed by the officiant were taken away by the soldiers and slaughtered under each big flag.
The officiant was very fast and did not spend more than five seconds on each sheep before the sheep was taken away and slaughtered.
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After all the more than 3,000 sheep were slaughtered, the highlight of the flag-sacrifice ceremony began.
From now on, the cattle were slaughtered.
The first buffalo was brought over.
It was an old cow, and it was already trembling when walking.
Trembling, a pair of eyes dripping with tears kept looking at the surrounding crowd miserably.
The old chief priest did the same thing as before.
The cow was led to a wooden stake next to a big flag and tied up.
The butcher came on again.
This time he changed to a heavy and sharp machete, and surrounded it first.
The cow turned twice, stood still, raised the machete above its head, and instantly exerted force on its legs, waist, abdomen and arms, slashing The knife drew an arc in the air, like a breeze blowing.
The cow's head fell to the ground with the light of the knife.
A large amount of blood spurted out from the cow's neck.
The cow's body fell to the ground.
Several strong men immediately dragged the cow's tail and the cow.
After retreating and circling the big flag three times, the cow's head was quickly placed under the big flag and breathed out its last breath.
The scene of slaughtering livestock continued until noon.
The flags of each army were filled with cattle and sheep heads.
Every time an animal was slaughtered, the priests chanted incantations, and the drummers and musicians played drums and played music.
It was as if another soul had ascended to heaven.
When all the cattle and sheep were slaughtered, Zhao Ziliang asked King Kama: "What to do with these cattle and sheep?"
Kama said: "Your Majesty, of course you will cook and let the soldiers have a good meal before setting off on the road."
Zhao Ziliang immediately ordered: "Okay, please pass on this king's order to cook beef and mutton immediately so that the soldiers can have a full meal.
The uneaten meat will be handed over to the supply camp to be made into dried meat and taken away as dry food for the soldiers."
"Yes, Your Majesty" Thousands of cattle and sheep meat provided the soldiers with a delicious meal this time.
Everyone was given enough meat and a large bowl of bone soup.
Some felt pity and said: "Such delicious and rich meat, It’s such a pity that there is no wine.”
Someone next to me laughed and scolded: "Just be satisfied.
Now you are preparing to fight and fight hard.
If you want to drink, wait until the battle is won."
At the end of the day, the army set off on the road.
This time, the Western Qin Army dispatched 12,800 people from the Ninth Army, 3,000 people from the mountain camp, and more than 5,000 recruited veterans to form the temporary 99th Army.
Niboluo Kingdom sent 3,000 mountain infantry to follow the battle, with a total strength of 25,000, including 3,000 ordinary infantry, 6,000 mountain soldiers, and 16,000 cavalry.
On August 28, the siege battalion arrived at the boundary river and quickly began to set up camp.
Then they cut down trees and began to build a large bridge.
Before leaving, the scout battalion had made preliminary preparations and reinforced and widened the original cork bridge. , which greatly facilitates the operations of the siege camp.
On the 29th, the army arrived and crossed the boundary river.
After passing the boundary river, it camped in a village twenty miles away to rest for three days.
Mentally and physically, the soldiers of the Western Qin Army did not need to rest, but the altitude suddenly increased.
At such a height, Zhao Ziliang believes that it is still necessary to leave a certain amount of time for the soldiers to adapt.
As the saying goes, sharpening the sword does not waste time cutting firewood.
Only by adapting soldiers to high-altitude areas can the occurrence of altitude sickness be minimized
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