Wang Yuan only brought 4,600 horsemen, one man and two horses, and advanced lightly.

3,000 Han cavalry, because of casualties and illness, only 2,200 people were left to fight at this time. The newly attached Ordos cavalry (Yibuci and Buerzi) also had 1,600 people to fight at this time. The cavalry of the general Yamulan fought more and more, and the Turpan cavalry that surrendered were all at his disposal, and there were already 800 people at this time.

As for the cavalry of the Seven Guards of Guanxi, Wang Yuan didn't bring any of them, and threw them all in Lamu City, Kunmo City and Chijin Fort. After preparing for the withdrawal of the army from Turpan, Xiao Liebald will run madly to rob.

However, most of the war horses of the Kansai Seven Guards were taken away by Wang Yuan, and he promised to return them with interest in the future.

Although these Kansai cavalry were nested, they were still very obedient. Because they had to listen, if Wang Yuan had not come forward to fight against Turpan, they would have been annexed by Turpan in a few years.

It's not just as simple as annexation, choose death or choose to convert!

Wang Yuan led his troops northward from the Balikun (Yumai in the eastern part of Tianshan) mountain pass, and immediately entered the Balikun grassland. This is the territory of Xiaoliebald, Wang Yuan has been here once, and he is familiar with the road.

As soon as he crossed the mountain pass, he scared the little column bald enough.

The Xiaolie bald tribe was fooled by Wang Yuan, and some time ago they ran to the ruined city to plunder. The harvest was a lot, but he was caught up by the troops led by Full Speed, and he retreated to the grassland after a small defeat and did not dare to move.

"Father, the herdsmen in the south came to report that the Han army had come to the grassland!" Weng Gaocha rushed into the big tent in a panic.

Ah Buliu reprimanded: "Nonsense, the Han army will only attack Turpan, how can it come to fight us now?" ”

"Truly, they went west," said Ongocha. ”

"West-facing?"

Ah Buliu was taken aback, and said suddenly: "What a ruthless Han people, they want to bypass the Tianshan Mountains and directly attack the rear of Turpan!" ”

"Bypassing the Tien Shan?" Weng Gaocha was dumbfounded.

Abliu said, "I am too old to withstand such a toss. You immediately gather a thousand cavalry, one man and two horses, and go to chase the Han army. ”

Weng Gaocha asked, "What am I doing chasing after the Han army?" ”

Ah Bu Liudao: "Catch up with the Han army and join the Han army." If the attack goes well, then it will be advantageous to follow the Han army to fight. If the attack does not go well, immediately withdraw from Yangji Bali, do not bring back the goods, and save the lives of the tribesmen! If you run out of food during the retreat, go to the nearest Heshute department for help. ”

"Okay, I'll go right away!" Weng Gaocha was inexplicably excited.

The marching speed of the ancient cavalry could reach up to more than 300 miles per day, but that was an abnormal forced march.

During the time of Genghis Khan, the normal marching speed of the Mongol cavalry could reach two hundred li per day.

Wang Yuan advanced lightly with one man and two horses, and only had more than 4,000 surprise attack troops, so the marching speed was comparable to that of the Mongol cavalry, and he advanced about 180 miles a day. After passing through the mountain pass, the road is easy to walk, all along the way are prairies, and with the Tianshan Mountains as the coordinates, you are not afraid of getting lost!

Evening.

Zhu Dangshu jumped off his horse and said to Wang Yuan with a smile: "Master Wang, if I hadn't fought with you, I wouldn't have experienced the joy of running thousands of miles in my life. Great! ”

"Isn't the prince tired?" Wang Yuan asked.

Zhu Dangshu said: "I'm so tired that I'm going to die, and my waist is about to break." But a good man should be like this, being idle at home all day long, but it makes people panic. ”

Wang Yuan took off the harness on Ah Hei's body, stirred salt water to feed the horses, and fed the horses beans. When the horse went to gnaw the grass by himself, he said, "Is the prince willing to be the lord of the Western Regions?" ”

Zhu Dangshu hurriedly said, "Don't talk nonsense, Master Wang. ”

Wang Yuan smiled: "I'm serious. This battle will destroy all the land west of Jiayuguan, with the Yeerqiang Khanate in the west and south, the Xiaolie Bald and Heshuote in the north, and the Yibu Cibu will also go to the West Sea to graze. At that time, even if Turpan is defeated, it will be alone and surrounded by groups. If only the guard is set up and the Mongolian prince is canonized, the Western Regions will definitely be eroded in a few decades. ”

Zhu Dangshu said: "Being able to stabilize the Western Regions for decades, Bachelor Wang has made immortal achievements. ”

Wang Yuan shook his head and said: "I want to emulate the heroic style of the Han and Tang Dynasties and set up the Western Regions Capital in Turpan, of course, it should be called 'Western Regions Capital Division' now." There must be a Han prince stationed in the Western Regions to ensure that this place is owned by the Han family. If the prince is willing, when this battle is over, I will ask His Majesty to canonize the prince as the king of Zhenxi, and concurrently serve as the chief military officer of the Western Regions according to the official regulations of the Qianguo Kingdom. ”

"This matter is inappropriate, and it will inevitably attract criticism." Zhu Dangshu waved his hand.

Wang Yuan said with a smile: "The king of Zhenxi is not blessed, the Han people in the Western Regions are scarce, and strong enemies are around. The prince is here, and he has to work hard for at least thirty years to achieve some results, and during this period, he has to guard against foreign invasions. Lord, are you willing to return to Shandong, to be a county king with no soldiers and no land, and you have to worry about the impeachment of civil officials if you get some land. Or are you willing to stay in the Western Regions and be a prince who expands the territory for the Ming Dynasty? ”

Zhu Dangshu was silent, in fact, his blood was boiling, who didn't want to be the lord of the Western Regions!

Wang Yuan said again: "If the prince is willing, I have even chosen the long history of the king of Zhenxi." The one in Hami named Zhang Zigao is insidious and vicious, and he is very suitable for assisting the prince to guard the Western Regions. ”

"Let's talk about it." Zhu Dangshu did not directly refuse.

Suddenly, the scattered sentinel cavalry rushed back: "General Wang, there are Mongolian cavalry chasing after you, and they have stopped three miles away. ”

Wang Yuan ordered the cavalry to prepare for battle, and said to the sentry horseman, "Go and ask about the situation." ”

Not long after, Weng Gaocha rode alone to meet him, knelt down on one knee and said: "I heard that the general system of the king has traveled thousands of miles to attack Yangji Bali, and the bald department of Xiaolie is willing to sacrifice his life to accompany him!" ”

"How many people did you bring?" Wang Yuan asked.

Weng Gaocha replied: "1,000 cavalry, 2,000 war horses!" ”

Wang Yuan smiled: "Then let's march together." ”

Four thousand six hundred horsemen, inexplicably became five thousand six hundred horsemen.

After running for half a day, Wang Yuan arrived at Beishi Bali City.

In the Tang Dynasty, the city belonged to the Jinman County of Tingzhou, and later became the seat of the Beiting Metropolitan Protectorate, and gradually evolved into the capital of the Gaochang Uighurs. The Yuan Dynasty was ruled by Mongolia, Qiu Chuji also used to be here, called this city "big city", there are many monks, Taoists, and Confucians in the city.

The Ming Dynasty called the Eastern Chagatai Khanate the Lost Bali Kingdom, which is actually a beautiful misunderstanding.

The city of Bali has been deserted, located on the edge of the bald territory of the small columns, and there are some scattered herdsmen who are nomadic here.

Wang Yuan ordered the whole army to rest for a while and carefully observe the situation near Beishi Bali City. There is snow water flowing from the Tianshan Mountains, which is very suitable for farming, and can be cultivated completely, no wonder it was once the seat of the Beiting Metropolitan Protectorate.

It's a pity that Daming's finances are too bad, otherwise Wang Yuan will definitely bring troops over and rebuild the Beiting Protectorate that belongs to Daming!

Hurry up, and after a few days, Wang Yuan came to Yangji Bali (Changji).

This is the last city in Turpan!

Along the way, I met several small tribes, all of which belonged to the Heshute tribe. Weng Gaocha came forward to negotiate, and these tribes not only let them go, but also offered a small amount of grain as a gift.

It is really that the Heshuo Special Department is too weak, formed by large and small tribal alliances, and occasionally fights with the Turghat Department in the northwest, or is attacked and plundered by Turpan, and does not dare to provoke foreign enemies easily. They not only sent Wang Yuan out of the country, but also sent guides to guide Wang Yuan to Yangji Bali by the nearest route.

Thousands of cavalry were tired and sleepy, Wang Yuan rested for half a day in advance, and then ran dozens of miles straight to Yangji Bali City.