Many people may be unfamiliar with the name Tang tribe.
If you mention its other names, perhaps everyone would suddenly understand.
Many people have likely heard of the Xiongnu and Xixia names.
Yes, the Xiongnu were indeed the ancestors of the Tang tribe.
The Xixia was the kingdom established by the Tang tribe later on.
The Tang tribe is an ancient northern group, belonging to the Western Qiang tribe, also known as "Tang Tangqiang".
The main body of the Xiongnu originated from "Zizhi" or "Xizhi", which is the southeastern part of the Yellow River in Qinghai today.
During the Han Dynasty, the Xiongnu migrated in large numbers to the He Long and Guanzhong regions.
At that time, the Tang tribe lived as a primitive nomadic tribe, not knowing how to cultivate crops or keep track of years based on plants.
They divided themselves into units based on tribes, using family names as tribe names, gradually forming the famous eight Tang tribes, among which the Tuo family from the Xianbei ethnic group was the strongest.
During the Tang Dynasty, after two migrations during the reigns of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty and Empress Wu Zetian, the Tang people gradually concentrated in the eastern part of Gansu and the northern part of Shaanxi, still mainly consisting of scattered tribes.
The Tang government often set up tributary states to manage the gatherings of the Tang people.
The chieftains of the Tang tribes who had contributed were appointed as prefectural governors or other official positions.
At the end of the Tang Dynasty, during the Huang Chao rebellion, the Tang emperor issued an edict throughout the country to call for national assistance.
The Yao prefect of the Tang tribe, Tuo Siqing, mobilized his troops, and Tang Xizong bestowed Tuo Siqing with the title of "Jingnan Military Governor," which was later promoted to "Xia Guanpublic," and granted the surname Li.
With this, the Tuo family group of the Tang tribe had their territory, which included five states: Xia, Yin, Sui, You, and Jing. They had military power and became a real fiefdom in name.
After entering the "Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms," the Tang people, although officially allegiance to the Later Liang and Later Tang dynasties and receiving their titles, maintained a continuous offering, in fact, they have kept relatively independent.
In the fourth year of Chao Tang's Chao Xing period, Emperor Li Zizun of Chao Tang always secretly eyed the Shaxiu state.
Therefore, the party chief of the Tang people, Li Renfu, the military governor of the Dingnan Army in Shaxiu state, was at odds with each other in words but not in heart.
Therefore, it provided an opportunity for the Khitan.
Thus, the Prince Regent and Commander-in-Chief of the Khitan Army, Li Shiduo, led 50,000 cavalrymen in a continuous offensive against the Tang people.
The Khitan iron cavalry, in their attacks, knew no defeat.
Within just over a month, Li Shiduo broke down several cities in succession and approached the Tang people's core Shaxiu state.
The city walls of Shaxiu were originally built by Helian Bohu, and they were as solid as iron and stone, impervious to being breached. Furthermore, with the intervention of many shamans, Han Buddhist monks, and Tibetan Buddhist lamas in Shaxiu, the Khitan cavalry was forced into a stalemate.
The Khitan camp outside Shaxiu city.
At this time, the Prince Regent Li Shiduo was discussing how to break through the city walls with his general officers like Zuo Weiyangshou Li Zhashaqe and numerous Shamanic priests, Confucian scholars, Buddhist monks.
Li Shiduo sat facing the desk, furrowing his brow and saying, "We have been blocked from breaking through the city for more than ten days. What should we do if we continue to hold out and the military supplies run out?"
Li Zhashaqe sighed helplessly, "Although the city walls of Shaxiu are as hard as iron, it is not the most difficult thing to solve. There are many high-level figures in this Tang army, especially the master Dama, and the fire god priest of Shamanism Huzhe. Although they do not intervene in our mortal affairs, they cast a bewitching spell that confounds my army and prevents it from launching an attack. It is truly frustrating."
"Yes."
"They really are formidable."
"Our priests, masters, and many scholars are unable to break their spells."
A group of officers were sighing there.
Several Shamanic priests, a few monks, and several Confucian scholars were looking at each other, as if they had decided something.
A Shamanic priest suddenly stood up and said, "General, I have a way to break it."
Li Shiduo and Li Zhashaqe, along with other officers, hurriedly looked towards this person.
"Gentleman, what method can you offer to break the bewitching spell cast by Master Dama and Fire God High Priest Huzhe?" Li Shiduo asked with great respect.
Li Shiduo was brutish by nature and acted recklessly.
That he could show such respect to this Tengli priest indicates only one thing: the priest's cultivation is truly remarkable.
Indeed, Tengli priest is not an ordinary person. He is one of the rare people in the Khitan Shamanic religion who has reached the late stage of cultivation, and is considered the first among the three after the three main leaders of Khitan.
Tengli priest spoke slowly, "It is said that the bell must be untied by the one who tied it. It is true that we cannot break the spells cast by Master Dama and Fire God High Priest Huzhe. But if we kill these two, will we not be able to break their spells?"
Li Zhashaqe was somewhat speechless. "You can't even break the other person's spells, and you want to kill them?"
Li Shiduo also thought the same way.
Or, all of the Khitan officers present were thinking the same way.
"Tengli priest, you have spoken wisely," said an elderly monk who stepped forward from the crowd. Smiling, he continued, "Master Dama and Fire God High Priest Huzhe are indeed highly skilled in their cultivation. It seems very difficult to kill them. However, we have a dozen fellow practitioners here. If we unite, there is actually a chance."
Li Shiduo asked with interest, "Master Yeno, is this really true?"
Master Yeno laughed heartily, "Of course it's true. Tengli priest is in the late stage of teaching master realm, and I am also in the late stage of teaching master realm, as well as Master Zhu Wan, who is also in the late stage of teaching master realm……"
As he spoke, an elderly Confucian scholar in his sixties nodded and smiled beside him, who was the Confucian cultivator Zhu Wan.
Master Yeno was still speaking, "In addition to the dozen high-level teachers who have reached the early stage of teaching master realm, there are also several other high-level teachers who have reached the initial stage of teaching master realm. It is not difficult for us to surpass Dama and Huzhe if we can lure them out, rather than giving them an opportunity to secretly cast spells."
Li Shiduo humbly asked the scholars, "Gentlemen, is there a way to lure out Master Dama and Fire God High Priest Huzhe?"
"Mountain dwellers have their own clever plans," said Zhu Wan slowly. "However, it will require the assistance of Tengli priest. Please send the Taoist family under the hall to pretend they want to flood Shaxiu city. Master Dama and Fire God High Priest Huzhe will surely intervene."
Tengli priest hesitated and said, "Master Liu has already ascended to the celestial realm. The Taoists under his hall are all practicing demon immortals, and according to heavenly laws, they are not allowed to intervene in mortal affairs. If we really let the Taoists under Master Liu's hall flood Shaxiu city, it may violate heavenly regulations."
Master Liu is a snake who achieved enlightenment. The numerous demon immortals under his hall are all snakes that have cultivated to become celestial beings.
However, they are different from genuine demon immortals who rely solely on their own cultivation. Their strength is weaker as they also rely on the power of faith in addition to their own cultivation.
Of course, nothing is absolute.
For example, Master Liu has the strength of a peak earth immortal, but he generally does not interfere with ordinary matters as he is responsible for managing the hall.
The remaining Taoists are definitely weaker than Master Liu, but their strength ranges from that of high-level masters to upper-level immortals.
"Ah," Zhu Wan laughed. "Tengli priest, you've forgotten that the edict of deifying heroes has been issued. The Taoists participating in the war of deification will not be punished by heavenly laws."
Tengli priest still felt some hesitation, "It's true that what you said is not incorrect. However, if Master Liu sends his Taoist family over, the Taoist deities and sacred beings of the Tangmin school will likely send their assistance as well, perhaps even some from Tibet. In that case, it will become a battle among countless immortals, and the consequences will be unimaginable."
Li Shiduo, Li Zhashaqe, and the other officers nodded lightly to one another.
They of course knew that to provoke a war among immortals was terrifying, as it could bring about a world-shattering calamity.
No one wants to involve true immortals in the war unless it is absolutely necessary, as it could lead to unimaginable consequences.
This is one of the reasons why Chen Yun was so highly regarded by Emperor Shun of Liao.
Because as long as the immortals do not join the battle, Chen Yun is the most powerful combatant in the world.
Zhu Wan, however, said, "Tengli priest, your words are incorrect. I only meant to have the Taoist family sent by Master Liu pretend to prepare to flood Shaxiu city, but not to really involve the immortals in battle. Moreover, the Taoist family sent by Master Liu will not be very powerful, and it is unlikely that many Taoist deities and sacred beings from Tangmin school, or even some from Tibet's Buddhist sages, will intervene. Hmm, they are stronger than us but not human-immortals. I wonder if there will be any problems then. As long as Master Liu's Taoist family can lure out Dama and Huzhe, you can retreat safely. The rest will be left to us. Will the Taoist deities and sacred beings from Tangmin school and those from Tibet's Buddhism interfere?"
Tengli priest thought about it and agreed, "That makes sense. I will write a letter to Master Liu and see if he is willing to send his Taoist family."
Li Shiduo, Li Zhashaqe, and the other officers saw the high-ranking scholars discussing strategies, and they all showed joy on their faces.
Later, Tengli priest burned the book and reported to Master Liu.
Soon, the blue smoke condensed into a snake-like shape.
The snake-shaped smoke spoke in human voice, "Can do!"
Just as the words were finished, the blue smoke dissipated.
The incense ceremony had just ended, and it had not even been an hour.
Tengli priest, Zhu Wan, Master Yeno, and others saw a rolling cloud of thick dark clouds coming from the northeast.
As the cloud covered Shaxiu city, a colossal, indescribably large green snake fell from the sky, as if a celestial snake descending to the ground, transforming into a middle-aged man with a long beard.
Tengli priest immediately approached and kowtowed to greet, "Tengli greets the Second Lord of Long."
The Immortal Liu is generally classified as either a "normal immortal" or a "python immortal" based on their physical size before achieving enlightenment.
That is because the current Grand Master of the Diao branch, Master Liu, achieved immortality as a python.
Therefore, python immortals generally have the surname Liu, while those who have become immortals as other types of snakes usually have the surname Chang.
This Chang Second Lord is no ordinary figure. He is the first among the ten messengers, second only to the Grand Master of the hall, the two vice masters, the ten branch hall masters, as well as the Chief Courier and Chief Guardian. He is a celestial messenger of great importance.
It is said that Chang Second Lord's cultivation is so profound that he is only second to human immortals. He is much stronger than the average master at the late stage of the hall.
That's why Tengli priest was trembling in his presence.
Not to mention Tengli priest, even those like Master Yeno and the great Confucian Zhu Wan, who have little to do with the Shamanic religion, would dare not even breathe heavily upon seeing this immortal descending here.
Chang Second Lord gave Tengli priest a cold glance and spoke in a hoarse voice, "The Grand Master has already agreed to what you have reported. You do not need to go through such trouble. I will directly destroy Dama and Huzhe myself. If they dare to send other immortals, the many immortals from my northeast region are united, and they will certainly repel them. The Grand Master said that if necessary, he will invite Hu San's Master to come together."
What... what.
When necessary, he will invite Hu San's Master to come together.
Master Yeno, Zhu Wan, and Tengli priest all drew a sharp intake of breath.
Perhaps others may not know the status of Hu San's Master in the Shamanic religion, but these people certainly do.
Hu San's Master is different from ordinary immortals. He practices the authentic Daoist teachings, which are true divinity, even surpassing the cultivation of Hu Da's Master.
It is said that Hu San's Master holds a position in heaven, although not very high, it is indeed a true immortal. He once remotely seen the Emperor of Heaven!
Li Shiduo, Li Zhashaqe, and the other Chidian soldiers naturally knew of the formidable reputation of Hu San's Master. Each one was secretly startled, truly unable to imagine that if necessary, Hu San's Master would personally come to the battlefield.
Everyone's hearts shook inside, thinking that if Hu San's Master was willing to intervene, then the battle to break Shaxiu city was a sure thing!
(The end of this chapter)
