Fan Lihua's Western Campaign

Su Baotong, the imperial uncle of the Western Fan Hami Kingdom and its marshal in the campaign to destroy Tang, repeatedly invaded the Tang Empire's borders and sent a declaration of war, sparking a conflict. Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Li Zhi, personally traveled west to encourage the troops. He appointed Fan Lihua commander-in-chief of the western campaign, gave Xue Dingshan the post of deputy commander at headquarters, and ordered Xue Dingshan and Fan Lihua to marry at once. Fan Lihua led her troops to Qilin Mountain, where Diao Yue'e and Xue Jinlian led the women soldiers in a beauty trap that finally lured the mountain's defenders, Man Ziya and Man Zihai, into their snare. When Man Zihai tried to rape Xue Jinlian, Dou Yihu arrived and slew him in a rage. The Tang army captured Qilin Mountain. At Luhua Pass, Su Baotong, the marshal of the campaign against Tang and the Hami Kingdom's imperial uncle, set up the Golden Light Formation. Fan Lihua studied the military text Ten Unique Formations and found a way to break it. She ordered Dou Xiantong and the others to disguise themselves as nuns and capture Su Baotong at a convent, bringing an end to the war he had started. The king of Hami hosted a banquet for Fan Lihua and promised to honor the peace agreement and pay tribute to Tang. Fan Lihua entrusted Princess Cuiyu to Crown Prince Han Ernian. The victorious Tang army returned home in triumph.