Chapter 387 Eight Thunder 1

The national site of Gaochang is located in the "Turpan Basin" known by later generations. It is located in the south of Tianshan Mountain, which is the transportation hub of the Western Regions. It is dry and windy here all year round, and it is extremely hot in summer. Because the basin is surrounded by mountains, the Tang people are used to calling it "Flame Mountain".

Originally, such a bad place should be the extreme of poor mountains and rivers. Just because it is located on the Silk Road and has a lot of business trips, it has generated extremely rich commercial profits, and at the same time makes it a must-have place for soldiers in the Western Regions!

At this time, on a hot summer day, the Western Expedition of the Tang Dynasty was unspeakable.

The main account of the Tang army camp is just like a steamer, but all the generals under the commander Qin Shubao are fully covered, and everyone is sweating.

"Marshal, why don't you take the opportunity to move the soldiers and horses into the city to escape the summer heat?" He Li said, "Since the Anxi Metropolitan Protector has been built, it is reasonable for soldiers and horses to enter the city. How can the general enter the city alone?"

"Yes, general, what General He Li said is reasonable." Other generals are also attached to the road.

Qin Shubao waved his hand, and the generals stopped talking. He said, "How can I not know the suffering of the soldiers in the hot summer? However, at this time, during the mourning period soon after the death of Gaochang King Ko Wentai, the people were panicked after the war. If we enter the city, one will disturb the people, and the other is against morality. Our army has gone deep into this, and the army's heart should be stable, and the people's heart should not be lost. In this Western Expedition, he attacked the city and pulled out the fortress, and convinced the people. Otherwise, what can we achieve with more than ten thousand soldiers and horses? Since Yu Zhisheng has led the country to surrender, he is the people of our Tang Dynasty. There should be no doubt about it. I hope that the generals and soldiers will put the overall situation first and be patient for some time. When the heat is over, let Gaochang's people know the sincerity and kindness of the Tang army.

"The general's military order has been issued, and I have nothing else to say." He Li hugged his fist and said, "But the last general still has a word, and I have to say it." The general wanted to station the soldiers and horses outside the city to show his sincerity and kindness, and the last general agreed. However, the general only led 500 people into the city to take charge of the protection of the capital, and the last general thought it was not workable!"

Uncle Qin Bao's eyes were slightly bright, and he stroked his beak and said, "Why?"

"General, please listen to the last general's details." He Li said, "Although Qu Zhisheng has led the country to surrender, Gaochang has always been a puppet country under the control of the Western Turks. Previously, the old king, Ko Wentai, also sent an envoy to the Tang Dynasty to submit to me, but it didn't take long for him to rebel against the whole country. What should he do? Just because the far water is not as good as the near fire, the strong dragon does not suppress the ground snake. The land of the Western Regions was originally the world of the Western Turks. The Western Turkic Khan's court sent Tutun (Tuxan official name) in Gaochang all year round. One was to supervise the king's actions, and the other was to collect and suppress taxes and wealth. Gaochang is a typical puppet country. In recent years, coupled with the stubbornness of Tibet, the iron hooves of the plateau stepped on the ground of the Western Regions and joined forces with the Western Turks to fight against the Tang Dynasty. Under the combined pressure of these three forces, the king of Gaochang cannot protect himself. In the Battle of Puchanghai, the combined forces of Tubo and Gaochang were defeated, and the Tubo forces temporarily withdrew from the boundaries of the Western Regions, but the Western Turks were not injured at all. At this time, Gao Chang quickly surrendered in the face of the threat of the Tang Dynasty, but this does not mean that it is out of the control of the Western Turks!"

"Are you trying to say that it would be a conspiracy for them to invite me to enter the city to take charge of the Anxi Metropolitan Protector?" Qin Shubao wrote lightly.

"Marshal, you must be defenseless!" Qiqi He Li said eagerly, "After Gao Chang surrendered, the general did not send a soldier and a horse into the city in order not to disturb the people. We almost knew nothing about what happened in the city. The last general can assert that a few months are enough for the Western Turks to react to our army. If entering the city this time is a conspiracy, the consequences will be unimaginable!"

"Qi He Li, it's good that you are thoughtful and thoughtful. But you only know one thing and don't know the other. Qin Shubao smiled and said, "In recent years, there has been chaos within the Western Turks, which has been divided into the two courts in the north and the south, and the hatred between the two courts is as deep as the sea to attack and kill each other for years. The southern court of the Western Turks, Shabo, Yehu Khan was diligent and diligently, and repeatedly sent tributes to me and was friendly to me. Guizi, Dushan, Qimo, Tuhuoluo, Yanqi, Shiguo, Shiguo, Heguo, Muguo, Kangguo, etc. are all subject to their seasons. Only the North Court is not convinced of me and has a feud with me. A few days ago, I received a letter of goodwill from Sha Boluo Yehu Khan in the Southern Court. He is willing to contain the troops of the Northern Court to assist me. Although his words can't be fully believed, it is indeed true that the Western Turks are at peace with the north and south. That is to say, at present, in the land of Gaochang, there are three forces fighting between the Tang Dynasty, the Northern Court and the Southern Court. No one can act rashly, otherwise there is a possibility of being attacked and defeated by the other two parties. What's more, now that Lanzhou soldiers and horses have come out of the second pass in the west, Xue Wanche personally led a large army to station in Puchanghai to echo me. Our army has the confidence when it has backup. Why are you afraid of his two courts in the north and south? Ben Shuai estimated that it was only after learning the news that Xue Wanche's army had left the second pass in the west that he officially invited me to enter the city to take charge of the capital. Even if there are Western Turkic Tutuns in the city, he must not dare to act rashly. Otherwise, the 100,000 army of Lanzhou under my son's command is more than enough to turn Gaochang into powder!"

"Marshal, don't take it lightly!" He Li hurriedly said, "Although the two courts of the north and south of the Western Turks have attacked each other for many years, they have always regarded the Tang Dynasty as a common enemy!" Moreover, Gaochang State is exactly the sphere of influence of the Beiting. Even if the Nanting is sincerely friendly with me, the Tang Dynasty, it is not as good as the near fire. It is said to be containment, but when it comes to the fight, they can sit on the mountain to watch the tiger fight and reap the benefits of the fishermen! The general's heart is like the sea, and he doesn't know how cunning he is. The last general is a barbarian, but he should also say a bad word about the barbarian - he must not use the kindness and integrity of Han Ru to measure the thoughts and belly of the barbarians! Although Nanting is friendly to me, as long as we lose power, he can turn around in an instant and take advantage of the fire! What's more, Gao Chang was not under the rule of Nanting. Nanting Khan sent a letter of goodwill, which seemed to recognize a cheap relative. At that time, if my Tang Dynasty grows up in the Western Regions, he will be protected; on the contrary, he is a hundred miles away, and it can be said that the whip is beyond the reach. In addition, the two courts of the north and south of the Western Turkic were originally strong in the north court, and the south court was not irresistible at all, so they showed their goodwill to the Tang Dynasty from afar and asked for shelter and rescue. At this moment, we can only be cautious. For Nanting, we can't overestimate or trust it.

"It's reasonable." Qin Shubao still nodded with his beard, and then said, "Qi He Li, you are the Hu chief who has lived outside the fortress for a long time, and you know a lot about this, far better than me. But why did my army come to fight thousands of miles? Have you forgotten?

He Li was stunned and nodded, "How dare the last general forget each other? Conquering the Western Region of Gaochang Weijia is exactly the purpose of my trip.

"That's it." Qin Shubao smiled slightly and said relaxedly, "Your Majesty, give me the protection of the capital of Anxi, and order me to establish the two states of Xiting and the protection of the capital here. From then on, I began to take care of the Western Regions. At present, Gao Chang has decided that Ji Zhisheng accepted the official title given by the Tang Dynasty and personally completed the construction of the Dadu Protectorate. Can I still find any reason not to take office? In fact, you don't need to say that I also know that the two courts of the Western Turkic north and south are staring at us with wide eyes, and our every move is under their supervision. I am in the dark, the more I shrink my head and shrink my tail, and the more I show my timidity to the enemy. At present, even if he knows that there is a conspiracy trap in Gaochang City, I must step in with his head held high!"

"General, don't be angry!" The generals were anxious and exclaimed together.

Qin Shubao raised his hand and waved his hand: "I have made up my mind! Don't be more swd!"

The generals were so angry that they didn't dare to say much, so they had to cry.

"Ren Gui." Qin Shubao suddenly called out.

"The last one." Xue Rengui, who had been standing quietly beside him without saying a word, hugged his fist and answered the promise.

"I only took Yuwen Hongtai and 500 Yi soldiers into the city. The soldiers and horses outside the city are handed over to you to command, and I ordered General He Li and others to assist you together." After saying that, Qin Shubao picked up the seal on the table and said, "Reprint!"

Xue Rengui stared at Qin Shubao with thick eyebrows and hugged his fist and said, "The last general - dare not receive the seal!"

"Do you dare to disobey the military order?" Qin Shubao was furious!

"Please listen to the last general's words!" Xue Rengui bowed on one knee and said in a low voice.

"Tell me."

"Please, the general withdraws!" Xue Rengui's words were as shocking as a stone!

Sure enough, there was an uproar.

Qin Shubao stared at Xue Rengui for a long time before he said, "Rengui, I know that you have always been brave and assertive, but what you said just now is actually unexpected. Tell me, why did you suggest that I withdraw troops?"

"The last general thinks that it is a good policy for our army to retreat at this moment." Xue Rengui said, "Gaochang has been decided, but it is at the time of national mourning. The Tang Dynasty ruled the country with benevolence and filial piety. You can't station troops in the city at this time. This is one of the reasons for retreat. Second, our army is exhausted by going deep into thousands of miles of soldiers and horses. The transportation of food and grass is quite difficult and lack of water. The soldiers are homesick and bitter. Third, although our army has long been drifting away. Life and death are aside, but it adds a great burden to Lanzhou. The general thinks that although Lanzhou is known as a large army of 100,000 troops, the front is surrounded by the enemy thousands of miles, but in fact, there are few soldiers in danger. The young commander's new leader Lanzhou is waiting to be prosperous. It is not easy to govern the people. How can he prepare for the construction of Anxi Capital Protectorate? At this moment, the most difficult thing is not the general, not our soldiers, but the young commander and the Lanzhou military and civilians. If the young commander comes to help Gaochang, he will consume a lot of money and food in Lanzhou. It goes without saying that the internal emptiness of Lanzhou will give the enemy an opportunity. If there is a mistake, the consequences will be unimaginable. If the young marshal does not come to help Gaochang, in the public, he will disobey the imperial edict and the imperial order. The crime of the young marshal is inesirable. In private, how can the young marshal put the general in danger? The ground is not moved? At this moment, it is the mourning of Gaochang. It is appropriate for the general to withdraw from the army for this reason, which not only loses the national prestige but also shows his kindness. Our army will either return to Puchanghai and join forces with Xue Wanche, or go east to the second pass and join the young commander, and then it will be a long-term plan. Gaochang is like chicken ribs. If you eat it tastelessly, you will lose the meat. If you don't break it, you will get rid of it. When I retreat, whether it is the Western Turkic North and South Courts or Tubo, as long as I dare to plot against Gaochang, I will take the initiative to make trouble and declare war on me. At that time, the soldiers and civilians of Gaochang will be dedicated to the Tang Dynasty, and our military division will be famous. At this moment, the general must not be angry and put the long-term situation first!"

Xue Rengui's words fell, and there was silence in the handsome tent.

Xue Rengui is not the only one who thinks of retreating from the army. Even Qin Shubao has long wanted to temporarily abandon the "chicken rib" of Gaochang; but only Xue Rengui is the only one who can see the key points and dares to say it.

For a long time...

"Big man, do something, do something..." Qin Shubao stood up and stroked his eyebrows and said in a long voice, "I have ordered it, and I can't change it. Xue Rengui, order you to take over the military seal! From now on, you will take charge of the whole army and take the position of commander!"

Outside the tent, the gale roars, and the drums are like thunder.