Under Xia Hongsheng's propaganda and the clear evidence of Tabuk City, the surrounding tribes began to believe that as long as they took the initiative to surrender, the Tang army would not be too harsh and demanding on them.

Several tribes have already sent envoys to Tabuk City, on the one hand, to see for themselves whether Tabuk City is really protected and respected as advertised, and has not been disturbed too much about its original life. On the one hand, after witnessing the current situation of Tabuk City, he began to contact the Tang army.

In this way, it is easier for the north than when the Tang army defeated the south, and it is more stable than the south.

If you think about it, there are historical reasons for this. Because this piece of land in the north has always been fought over by several countries. Persia occupied it, Eastern Rome occupied it. Even thirty years ago, it was under Byzantine rule. Later, Byzantium lost the war with the Great Eclipse and lost control of this land.

Originally, the tribes here had polytheistic beliefs, each with its own gods, and its own local religion.

When they were occupied by Persia, they were ruled by the Persians and followed the sects that the Persians believed in.

Later, the Persians were defeated and the area was ruled by the Eastern Romans. They were forced to adopt the Byzantine religion.

More than thirty years ago, after the Battle of Tabuk, it was occupied by the Medina army. The surrounding tribes, seeing the strength of the Medina army, signed a pact with the leader of the Medina army to submit to the rule of the Medina leader and convert to the sect he preached.

Now, it has been replaced by the Tang Dynasty. These tribes began to consider signing a contract with Datang again.

Again, there are no eternal friends, no eternal enemies, only eternal interests.

Just like Da Shi and Byzantium, they were still fighting to the death, but as soon as the Tang army came, they secretly began to cooperate again.

Unfortunately, the warships of the Tang Dynasty could not reach the Mediterranean Sea now, so they could not seize the sea supremacy in the Mediterranean. If Byzantium really wants to use troops against Datang, then all Datang can do is passive defense.

It's very irritating.

This meant that the Tang Dynasty had to make a strong defense on the coast of the North Sinai Peninsula, bordering the Mediterranean. After all, if Byzantium wants to disturb the Tang Dynasty at the moment, it can only start from there. The rest of the place was separated by a big food, and he couldn't disturb it if he wanted to.

Xia Hongsheng only hoped that he had guessed wrong at the moment, and he was too worried, and hoped that Byzantium would not be so fast and wait for a batch of reinforcements from the Tang Dynasty to come.

If you can get another batch of reinforcements, then don't worry too much.

But the next batch of reinforcements from Bombay, even the fastest, was three months away. If Byzantium had already decided to use troops against the Tang Dynasty, I am afraid it would not have waited another three months.

This news must be blocked. Xia Hongsheng realized that if the tribes around Tabuk City learned the news of the Byzantine war against the Tang army, they would probably have to regret it.

"Report-" The voice of the herald suddenly came from outside, and Xia Hongsheng's heart jumped for no reason.

"Come in and say." Xia Hongsheng said outside.

The herald came in and said to Xia Hongsheng: "Chief Qiqi, send back a letter from Sinai that the Eastern Roman fleet has indeed appeared near the coast of Sinai, but only a few dozen warships have been found. General Wu believed that if Byzantium really wanted to land, there would definitely be more than a few dozen warships, and this must be the vanguard to investigate the situation, so he was only secretly on guard and did not attack. If a large number of Eastern Roman warships approached, they would attack them with artillery and spread fire on the sea with oil. ”

Xia Hongsheng chuckled in his heart, frowned, and said, "It will be passed on to the big tent." ”

"Order!" The heralds went out to the tents.

After a short time, Su Dingfang and the others all arrived at the big tent.

Sure enough, Byzantium sent troops, and Wu Qi reported that traces of Eastern Roman warships had been found on the northern shore of Sinai, only a few dozen, and concluded that they were the ships of the first exploration. Wu Qi had already taken strict precautions, and if there was a large-scale attack by Eastern Roman warships, he was ready to bombard them with artillery first, and then spread oil over the sea to carry out a fire attack. Xia Hongsheng told Su Dingfang and others the report of the herald, and said: "It seems that what I am worried about has happened. ”

"Sinai left two thousand men in all. The guards and prisoners digging canals were not enough, and there were few artillery and ammunition, so if it was against the Eastern Roman army, I am afraid that it would be more than lucky. Su Dingfang frowned and said, "It's necessary to send reinforcements." ”

"If reinforcements are sent here, Tabuk will be difficult to defend." Xi Junmai said: "I'm afraid that the Great Food Army will be delayed, so let's send reinforcements to Sinai." As soon as we divide our forces and go to Sinai, they will appear immediately after and counterattack. ”

Su Dingfang snorted coldly and said, "Da Shi really took a good step. If we divide the army from the north to support Sinai, they will raise their troops to the north and retake the north. If they divided the forces of the south to aid Sinai, they would march south and retake the south. Originally, it was a dilemma for the Great Eater, but the intervention of Byzantium became our dilemma. ”

"Unfortunately, in the war with Byzantium, Persia lost the land on the Black Sea. Otherwise, if Persia sent a fleet across the Black Sea to attack Byzantium, it would besiege Wei and rescue Zhao. Xia Hongsheng shook his head and said.

"Brother Sheng, do you think Persia will lend us troops?" Su Dingfang asked, "If we can have an additional army to replenish Sinai, then we don't have to make trouble." ”

"Persia is in a big counterattack, and I'm afraid it's not easy to borrow troops at this time." Xia Hongsheng shook his head and replied. After speaking, he muttered again: "Additional army...... Extra......"

Suddenly, Xia Hongsheng raised his head violently and immediately said: "Send an order to Li Chongyi and them, let them take all the ships, and rush to Sanlan City and Shunai City as quickly as possible, first load all the weapons and ammunition in these two cities into the ships, and then order the defenders of these two cities, leaving only a hundred people on the city wall as an ordinary garrison, and the rest will all board the ships at night and send them to Sinai!" ”

Su Dingfang was stunned: "Leaving two empty cities?" You're going to give up these two cities?! ”

"The country of Sanlan and the country of Shunai are both overseas in the Great Food, and it is difficult to reach them without sea ships. Da Shi has lost the right to control the sea here, and even if there are still some warships, they can't survive in the Mediterranean. Those savages in the Sanlan Kingdom and the Shunai Kingdom, as long as they don't let them know that the two cities are empty cities, they may not dare to sneak attack. Regardless of the south or the north, once the Tang army divides its troops, it will inevitably make a mistake. If you want additional troops, you can only transfer the defenders of these two cities. Xia Hongsheng frowned and said: "It is better if these two cities can be confused and not lost, if they are really lost, then they must be occupied by the local natives, and it is not difficult to regain them in the future." ”

Su Dingfang thought about it, and finally nodded: "That's all!" ”