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

Originally, such a place with a bad climate should be the extreme of poor mountains and bad waters, just because it is located on the Silk Road to rush to and from a lot of business travel, which has produced extremely rich commercial profits, and at the same time made it a battleground for soldiers in the Western Regions!

At this time, it was a scorching summer, and the army of the Tang Dynasty's westward expedition was miserable.

The main tent of the Tang Army's barracks was like a steamer, but all the generals from the commander Qin Shubao and below were all draped, and everyone was sweating.

"Marshal, why don't you take advantage of the time to move the soldiers and horses into the city together, so as to escape the summer?" Qi Bi He Li said, "Since the Anxi Metropolitan Protectorate has been built, it is reasonable for soldiers and horses to enter the city, how can the marshal enter the city alone?" ”

"Yes, Marshal, what General Qibi He Li said is reasonable." Other generals also chimed in.

Qin Shubao waved his hand, and the generals stopped, and he said: "How can this commander not know the suffering of all the soldiers in the hot summer?" However, at this time, the death of the king of Gaochang was not long after the death of the people during the funeral, and the people were panicked after the war. Our army has gone deep into this place alone, and the military spirit must be stable, and the people's will must not be lost. In this westward expedition, the siege of the city and the uprooting of the village are the bottom, and the heart is to obey the people. Otherwise, what can we accomplish with just more than 10,000 soldiers and horses? Since Koji Zhisheng has led the country to surrender, he is a subject of my Tang Dynasty, and there should be no doubt. I also hope that all the soldiers will put the overall situation first and endure for some time. When the heat is over, I will also let the people of Gaochang know the sincerity and trust of our Tang army. ”

"Now that the commander's military order has been issued, I have nothing else to say." Qi Bi He Li hugged his fists and said, "But the last general still has a word, I have to say." The commander wanted to station his troops and horses outside the city to show his sincerity and gratitude, and the general agreed. However, the marshal only led 500 men and horses into the city to take charge of the capital protectorate, and the general thought that it was absolutely impossible! ”

Uncle Qin's dragon eyes were slightly cold, and he stroked his beard and said, "Why? ”

"Commander, please listen to the general." "Although Koji 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 Lu Wentai had also sent an envoy to the Tang Dynasty to declare himself a vassal to me, but it didn't take long for him to rebel with the whole country, but what? Just because the far water is not as close as the fire, the strong dragon does not suppress the head snake. The land of the Western Regions was originally the world of the Western Turks. The Western Turkic Khanate sent Tutun (the name of the Turkic official) to serve in Gaochang all year round, one to supervise the actions of the monarch, and the other to collect and suppress tax wealth. Gaochang is a typical puppet country. In recent years, coupled with the stubbornness of Tibet, the iron hooves of the plateau have stepped on the ground of the Western Regions, and united with the Western Turks to fight against the Tang Dynasty. Under the combined pressure of these three forces, the monarch of Gaochang State could not protect himself if he existed in name only. In the Battle of Puchanghai, the combined forces of Tubo and Gaochang were defeated and lost, and the Tubo forces temporarily withdrew from the Western Regions, but the Western Turks were unharmed. At this time, Gaochang quickly surrendered in the face of the threat of the Tang Dynasty, but this did not mean that it was out of the control of the Western Turks! ”

"Do you want to say that it will be a conspiracy for Koji Zhisheng to invite me into the city to take charge of the Anxi Metropolitan Protectorate, and they want to murder me?" Qin Shubao said lightly.

"Dashuai, the heart of defense is indispensable!" Qi Bi He Li said eagerly, "After Gaochang surrendered, the marshal did not send a soldier and a horse into the city in order not to disturb the people, and we almost didn't know what happened in the city. The last general can assert that a few months is enough time for the Western Turks to make any response against our army. If this entry into the city is a conspiracy, the consequences are unimaginable! ”

"It's good that you're thoughtful and thoughtful. But you only know one thing, you don't know the other. Qin Shubao smiled and said, "In recent years, there has been internal turmoil in the Western Turks, and it has been divided into two courts, the north and the south, and the enmity between the two courts is as deep as the sea and has been attacking each other for many years. The Western Turkic Nanting Shabo Luo Yehu Khan Bo Bo Bo was diligent and repeatedly sent tributes to me to be friendly with me. Qiuzi, Dushan, Jimo, Tocharo, Yanqi, Shiguo, Shiguo, Heguo, Muguo, Kangguo, etc., are all subject to its moderation. Only Beiting disobeyed me and had a grudge against me. A few days ago, Ben Shuai had received a letter of goodwill from the Khan of the Southern Courtyard, and he was willing to contain the troops of the Northern Court as our auxiliary wing. Although his words cannot be fully believed, it is indeed a fact that the Western Turks are at odds with the North and the South. In other words, in the current land of Gaochang, there are three forces fighting against the Tang Dynasty, the North Court, and the South Court, and 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 the soldiers and horses of Lanzhou have gone west to the second pass, Xue Wanche personally led a large army to garrison Puchanghai to echo with me, and our army will have confidence when it has backup, so why be afraid of his north and south courts? Ben Shuai estimated that it was only after learning the news that Xue Wanche's army went west to the second pass that he officially invited Ben Shuai to enter the city to take charge of the capital protection mansion. Even if there was still the Western Turkic Tutun in the city, presumably he would not dare to act rashly. Otherwise, the 100,000 troops of Lanzhou under my son's command will be more than enough to turn Gaochang into powder! ”

"Dashuai, don't take it lightly!" Qi Bi He Li hurriedly said, "Although the Western Turkic North and South Courts have been attacking and killing each other for many years, they have always regarded Datang as a common enemy!" Moreover, Gaochangguo is the sphere of influence of the North Court, and even if the South Court is sincerely friendly with our Datang, it is far from being close to the fire. It is said to be contained, but when it really comes to fighting, they can sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight, and reap the benefits of the fishermen! The handsome man is like the sea, and he doesn't know how cunning he is. The last general is a Hu person, but he also has to say a bad word about the Hu people - you must not use the kindness and integrity of Han Ru to measure the thoughts and stomachs of the Hu people! Although Nanting is friendly with me, as long as we lose power, he will be able to turn his face in an instant and take advantage of the fire to rob! What's more, Gao Chang was not under the rule of Nanting, and the Khan of Nanting sent a letter of goodwill, which was like recognizing a cheap relative. At that time, if my Tang Dynasty grows strong in the Western Regions, he will be able to be sheltered; On the contrary, he is a hundred miles away, and it can be said that the whip is beyond his reach. Moreover, the Second Court of the North and South of the Western Turks was originally a powerful court in the north court, and the south court was irresistible at all, so they showed favor to our Tang Dynasty ministers from afar, asking for shelter and rescue. At this moment, we can only be cautious, for Nanting, we must not overestimate or be credulous. ”

"It makes sense." Qin Shubao nodded in agreement, and then said, "Qi Bi He Li, you have lived outside the Fortress for a long time, and you know the subtleties of this very well, far better than Ben Shuai. But why did our army come here after a thousand miles of war, have you forgotten? ”

He Li was stunned for a moment, nodded and said, "How dare the last general forget?" The conquest of the Western Regions of Gaochang Weijia is exactly the purpose of our trip. ”

"That's it." Qin Shubao smiled slightly, and said easily, "Your Majesty's holy decree, grant me the protection of the capital of Anxi, and order me to establish the two states of Xiting here and set up the protection of the capital, and from then on I will begin to guide and govern the Western Regions." Now that Gaochang has decided, Lu Zhisheng accepted the official title given by the Tang Dynasty and personally completed the construction of the Dadu Protectorate, can Ben Shuai find any reason not to take office? In fact, there is no need for you to say it, Ben Shuai also knows that the Western Turkic North and South courts are staring at us with wide eyes, and our every move is under their surveillance. The more I shrink my head and tail and hold back, the more I show the enemy to be cowardly. Right now, even if he knows that there is a conspiracy trap in Gaochang City, Ben Shuai must step into it with his head held high! ”

"Commander, don't be rash!" All the generals were anxious and exclaimed together.

Uncle Qin suddenly waved his hand: "I have made up my mind!" No more admonition! ”

The generals were anxious and did not dare to say more, so they had to cry out in a muffled voice.

"Rengui." Qin Shubao suddenly called.

"The end will be." Xue Rengui, who had been standing quietly beside him, hugged his fists and promised.

"This marshal only brought Yuwen Hongtai and five hundred soldiers into the city, and the soldiers and horses outside the city were handed over to you to command, and General He Li and others were ordered to assist you." After that, Qin Shubao picked up the seal on the table, "Take the seal!" ”

Xue Rengui stared at Qin Shubao with thick eyebrows, hugged his fists and said, "The last general-don't dare to take the seal!" ”

"You dare to disobey military orders?" Qin Shubao was furious!

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

"Speak."

"Please, the commander withdraws his troops!" Xue Rengui was stunned by a word, like a shock!

Sure enough, there was an uproar.

Qin Shubao looked at Xue Rengui for a long time before he said: "Rengui, I know that you have always been brave and resourceful, but what you said just now was actually beyond the expectations of this handsome. Tell me, why do you suggest that Ben Shuai withdraw his troops? ”

"The last general thinks that at this moment, it is a good policy for our army to retreat as the way forward." Xue Rengui said, "Gaochang has been decided, but it is a national mourning, and the Tang Dynasty governs the country with benevolence and filial piety, and it is not allowed to enter the city at this time to garrison troops, one of the reasons for this withdrawal; Second, our army is extremely tired from going thousands of miles of soldiers and horses alone, and the transportation of grain and grass is quite difficult, and there is also a shortage of water and heat, and the soldiers are homesick and miserable; Third, although our army has long put life and death out of the way, it has added a great burden to Lanzhou. Imagine that although Lanzhou is known as a 100,000-strong army under the rule of Lanzhou, the battle line is surrounded by enemies for thousands of miles, but in fact, the danger is full of dangers, and the troops are scarce. The young marshal's new leader Lanzhou is in ruins, and it is not easy to govern the people and peace, so how can he make efforts to build the Anxi Protectorate? At this moment, the most difficult thing is not the marshal, not our soldiers, but the young marshal and the Lanzhou army and civilians. If the young marshal comes to the aid of Gaochang, it will cost Lanzhou soldiers and horses countless money and food, not to mention the loss of labor and money, and then the internal emptiness of Lanzhou will give the enemy an opportunity to take advantage of, and if there is a mistake, the consequences will be unimaginable; If the young marshal does not come to the aid of Gaochang, Yu Gong, disobeys the holy decree and the imperial court order, the young marshal cannot be relieved of his crimes, and for personal gain, how can the young marshal put the marshal in danger and not be moved? At this moment, it is the national mourning of Gaochang, and it is appropriate for the marshal to withdraw the army first on this ground, which not only does not lose the national prestige but also shows his gratitude. Our army either returned to Puchanghai and joined forces with Xue Wanche, or went east to the second pass to join forces with the young marshal and then plotted a good plan, which is a long-term plan. Gaochang is really like chicken ribs, and the food is tasteless and the meat is discarded, so it is better to retreat decisively. When I retreat, whether it is the Western Turkic North and South Court or Tibet, as long as I dare to plot against Gaochang, I will take the initiative to cause trouble and declare war on me. At this moment, the handsome must not be rash, and should focus on the long-term overall situation! ”

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

Xue Rengui was not the only one who thought of retiring from the army, and even Qin Shubao had long wanted to temporarily abandon Gaochang's "chicken ribs"; But only Xue Rengui can look at the overall situation and dare to say it.

Long......

"Husband, there is something to do, there is something to do, there is something to ......" Qin Shubao stood tall and stroked his eyebrows, and said in a long voice, "My order has been issued and cannot be changed." Xue Rengui, order you to take over the military seal! From now on, you will be in charge of the whole army and act as the commander! ”

Outside the tent, the gale roared and the drums of war thundered.