Updated: 2013-06-25

The merger of the ten northern provinces of the Western Regions into the Shang Prefecture of Dazhao did not cause much controversy for the various parts of the Western Regions. Originally, in this place, the prefecture and county system was already used as a local system. Now, the only thing that needs to be done is to have an administrative hierarchy at home, and in addition, under it, some county-level divisions have been added.

Of course, this is naturally good news for the Han people who have moved to the Western Regions. The northern part of the Western Regions was transformed into the new state of Da Zhao, which naturally became the direct jurisdiction of Da Zhao, which was naturally very different from the former capital of the Protectorate. In other words, this newly formed land of Shangzhou, like the states of the Central Plains, has an equal status and belongs to the territory of the Great Zhao, and is no longer a place controlled by the policy of restraint.

Naturally, the Han people here are not worried that they will become citizens of other countries because of the sudden change of the situation or the sudden change in the places in the Western Regions. In the past, some of the experiences of the Han people in the western part of Liangzhou and the countries living in the Western Regions could not help but make them worry about their future, but now, they are no longer afraid.

After the news of the establishment of Shangzhou reached the Central Plains, it also made some people of Zhao State move the idea of moving west. The Central Plains states have many people and little land, and many people are naturally willing to exchange their land for several times or even ten times the land in Shangzhou.

In particular, the people of Yanzhou and Yuzhou, because with the gradual expansion of the border territory, there was a lack of Han people in the border areas, so the Zhao army did not continue to confiscate the land of the local gentry on a large scale, but changed to levy high taxes on the land beyond the limited amount, and limited the amount of land rent collected by the landlord to the people who rented the land.

In this way, the landlords who occupied more land were forced to reduce the land rent in order to attract the people to rent their fields, and even the big clans in many places sold their fields to the people so as not to waste them. Of course, these families value business more. Although Da Zhao has stricter jurisdiction over merchants and levies a lot of commercial taxes, it is much faster to make money from commerce than from the fields.

Although the northern part of the Western Regions was merged into Shangzhou and incorporated under the Great Zhao, some people in the Western Regions were a little dissatisfied. However, most of the people in the Western Regions have no objection to this, and of course, it is impossible to talk about complete agreement, after all, from this moment on, the northern countries of the Western Regions will become history. The strength of Da Zhao is well known, and the changes here are also well known after Da Zhao implemented his rule here. Opposition, naturally, is impossible, and it cannot change the change of the situation. The surging trend, those who go along with it prosper, and those who go against it die.

Therefore, when it was incorporated into the Great Zhao, most of the people in the Western Regions were not dissatisfied. This is not only because of Da Zhao's strength, but also because of the changes in his life now. Since then, Da Zhao has been in charge of this place, and after the trade road was unimpeded, the life of the people in the Western Regions here has been much better, of course, provided that you obey the laws of the local government.

In addition, after Da Zhao ruled here, the horse thieves in the northern part of the Western Regions completely disappeared, and war was no longer the flavor enhancer of their lives. Coupled with some of the government's policies that favored the common people, most people were not opposed to becoming the subjects of Da Zhao. As it is often said, ordinary people do not care who is their emperor, they care about their stable life, clothing, and food. And this point, the Great Zhao Official Mansion has done a very good job.

"Great King, the situation in the northern part of the Western Regions is very good, in the past year and a half, we have completed the restructuring of the locality, so to speak, we have completed the control of the locality. There will be no resistance to the establishment of this commercial state. However, the southern countries have also redoubled their vigilance against us, and they have even begun to unite to fight against our Great Zhao. After talking about the situation in the northern part of the Western Regions, Li Chenfeng added with a wry smile.

"Oh? The Southern Kingdoms? What is the situation in the south? "For the southern lord to confront his side, Zhao Xun is also prepared. After all, the Great Zhao army has been active in the northern part of the Western Regions for nearly two years, completely dividing the entire Western Regions into two parts, and annexing them by soldiers, if the southern countries still have no reaction, it is abnormal.

"Since then, after we have taken the northern kingdoms, the southern kingdoms have begun to guard against us. But since then, after the king established the country this year and settled the monarchs of the three major northern countries in Youzhou City and gave them knighthoods, but did not let them return to the country, the actions of the southern countries have become bigger. Among them, led by Shule and Khotan, a total of 23 countries formed the Western Regions Alliance to jointly fight against the southward movement of our Great Zhao. Even, now it is much more difficult for our merchants to go south. Among the southern countries, many countries began to refuse the entry of merchants from our Great Zhao. Wei Zilin continued.

After listening to Wei Zilin's narration, Zhao Xun realized that he had originally given titles to the three major northern countries and settled them in Youzhou City, so that the monarchs of the southern countries understood that Zhao Jun was not here just to protect the Western Regions, but to completely annex the Western Regions. If it was the Protectorate of the Western Regions, it would still be accepted by them, but they would not be happy to be annexed by the Zhao army and reduced from a monarch to a lord with a title. The difference between a lord of the land and a lord is clear to them. No matter how senior this lord is, he is only a lord, how can he be more important to a lord of a country?

Therefore, after learning about the situation in the north of the Western Regions, the southern countries began to act one after another, and no one wanted to be destroyed by the Zhao army, and was escorted to Han by the Zhao army. A lord, how can a lord of the country be comfortable? In particular, the kings of several larger countries are the masters of one side in the land of the Western Regions, free and free, commanding the other. But what if it was annexed by the Zhao army? They will become prisoners with empty numbers. It's much better than the prisoners, but how can it compare to where they are now?

As a result, under the propaganda and call of several major powers, more than 20 large and small countries in the south were gathered together to prepare to resist the southern invasion of Great Zhao. Of course, many of these small countries have been 'forced'. Whether they defect to Da Zhao or attach themselves to the Southern Alliance, it is not up to them to decide. Even, even if many countries send troops, they are only two or three thousand soldiers, but they have to follow the alliance to fight against Da Zhao, if they don't do it, they will not be annexed by Da Zhao, but will be destroyed by the alliance first.

"My lord, three or four small countries have already complained to us, saying that they are 'forced' as a last resort. As far as we know, it does. There were two small countries that were reluctant to participate in the alliance and wanted to stay out of it, but they were both destroyed by the alliance. ”

"Oh? And small countries willing to be annexed by us? Zhao Xun suddenly became curious.

Wei Zilin said with a smile: "Actually, it is also the trend of the times. Although I, Da Zhao, forcibly occupied the northern part of the Western Regions, he still treated the people below very well. At the very least, the vast majority of the people and wealthy families, as long as they do not violate the laws of my Great Zhao, their lives are better now than before. And some small countries in the south, because of the caravans coming and going, learned about the situation in the north, from the monarch to the people, they were still extremely envious. ”

"These small countries are just trying to survive in the cracks of big countries, and even, many small countries are just a small tribe, which is not as good as a county in the Central Plains. For them, it is not unacceptable to be annexed by my Da Zhao. ”

In the Western Regions, part of it is semi-agricultural and semi-nomadic, and part of it is directly nomadic life, most of their livestock are taken away by the powerful, and the rest is only enough to provide for the needs of one family. However, since the arrival of Da Zhao, the people in the north have gained real benefits. In addition to the taxes due, the rest of the harvest of the people is their own. Among them, some livestock also have a market because of the arrival of Da Zhao. Livestock, the skin, the fur, and the tendons of the livestock are all profitable because of the merchants. For ordinary people, life is much better than before.

Naturally, these news also spread to the southern countries. For the lower-class people in the southern countries, it is natural that they also hope to be treated like this. Especially some small countries that survive in the cracks of big countries, they have long been dissatisfied with being asked by big countries on weekdays, and now they are merged into Da Zhao and have a knighthood, which is actually the life they want. Therefore, for some small countries, it is not unacceptable to merge into Dazhao.

Of course, for the great powers, they are naturally unwilling. Neither the monarch nor the powerful ministers in the country are willing to give up their current power and status. They are naturally only hostile to Da Zhao.

Zhao Xun smiled: "If this is the case, it is not very difficult for us to go south. Relatively speaking, I would rather have more enemy troops than the local people are hostile to us. Wars between countries are not just wars in the first place, and it is not easy to annex the territories of other countries. Since the people in the south yearn for the life of the people in the Western Regions in the north, this will be a great help to our soldiers in ruling the south in the future. ”

Zhao Xun naturally understands that it is easy to lay down a place, but it is a real problem to rule a place. Especially since the other side is already a whole country, which is even more problematic. At the beginning, the Zhao army ruled the north, or in the name of the former capital protectorate, first down and then up, slowly restructured, which also added the strong support of the puppet monarch.

But since then, after the south learned about the situation in the north, Zhao Xun's thinking about the expedition to the south was not as simple as he said. It is easy to defeat the enemy army, but it is not easy to completely dominate the place. But judging from the news I got today, the matter has been solved halfway through the process unconsciously.

"In addition, the details of the Eagle Eye Division also found traces of the Wusun people in the Shule Kingdom. In addition, the Wusun people have also provided the Southern Alliance with a lot of armor and equipment to fight us. ”

"Wusun?" Zhao Xun said coldly, "It seems that the Wusun people suffered a loss last time, and they were extremely unwilling to lose one-third of their troops and hundreds of miles of territory after losing one-third of their troops and hundreds of miles of territory." ”

Situ Liang said with a smile: "Although the Wusun people are unwilling, they don't dare to have any direct thoughts about us. Because we occupied the Suye River, after the soldiers established Suye City, we built five large cities in the west in a row, all of which were built with cement and iron rods, which were no longer something that the Wusun people could humiliate. Coupled with the fact that the caravans that came and went told me about the situation of Da Zhao, they did not dare to do anything to us. Now, they are beginning to prop up the Confederates against us, ready to make a profit. ”

Ling Xiao shook his head and said, "Fisherman profits? In my opinion, they will not get anything this time, and they will have to provide a large number of ordnance and food and grass supplies for the southern coalition army in vain. ”

"It seems that you are all 'quite confident'!" Zhao Xun smiled, "It's a good thing to have confidence, but you can't be proud of it." It is an eternal truth that arrogant soldiers will be defeated. ”

"What the king taught is that the ministers should remember." Several people's faces were 'pale', and they hurriedly said.

Zhao Xun said this in order to knock these people. The Zhao army won consecutive battles in the northern part of the Western Regions, which made the officers and men in the army a little arrogant. Zhao Xun didn't want to lose the battle again because of a moment of forgetfulness.

"What is the situation with the Southern Union now? How many soldiers did they have? Who is it dominated by? Zhao Xun asked people to spread out the map and ask about the situation in the south.

Situ Liang said: "Huiyu King, this Southern Alliance is mainly located in Shanshan, the southwest of Liangzhou, and the west of the two prefectures, Khotan to the north of Nanshan and Shule in the Green Mountains, of which there are twelve of them, respectively, with the two countries as the center, forming two groups, one west and one east, against us. In anticipation of the attack of Liangzhou from the east, the Mozhou Prefecture at the southwesternmost point of the former Qiuzi Kingdom attacked from the south and attacked from the westernmost Suye City, which is also located directly north of Shule, from the north and attacked to the south. ”

"The entire Southern Alliance, forming an ellipse, guards our offensive route from east to west, from Liangzhou to Suye City, which is a thousand miles away. It seems that it is very well guarded, but for us, there are also 'holes' everywhere. After all, they are not a country, an alliance, after all, just an alliance. ”

"The population of the Southern Union is similar to that of the North, if not a little more. The total population is about 500,000, and the number of soldiers and horses should be between 300,000 and 400,000. However, there are many war horses in its countries, so more than half of the soldiers are cavalry, and the overall strength is not small. ”

"Although we are from east to west, we can attack from the west of Liangzhou, Mozhou Mansion, and Suye City to the south. But because there is a Tianshan Mountain between the north and the south. Therefore, all the way to Suye City, you can't send a large army to the south. The rest can only attack from the west of Mozhou and Liangzhou. Because of the barrier of the Tianshan Mountains and the support of the Wusun people, this southern alliance focuses on Shule. ”

Although the Zhao army is now attacking the Suye River and the Yishu River in the north and the Balkesh Lake, the source of the Yizhu River, the army stationed in Suye City in the west is also difficult to go south because of the Tianshan Mountains. It can be said that the Southern Alliance, especially Khotan and its surrounding five countries, was very difficult to attack. It is also common sense to take Shule, who is located near the Green Ridge, as the leader.

Zhao Xun frowned, and said in a deep voice: "In this way, you can only go east and then west." However, the Wusun people are really hateful, and we must find something to do for them, so as not to always cause 'chaos' for us behind us. ”

"Let the garrison of Suye City march west? Although the Wusun Kingdom was defeated and lost in Yanqi last time, the Wusun Kingdom is indeed a very strong country in the west, even the Western Turks, and they dare not take it lightly. Although we are not afraid of it, with the garrison of Suye City alone, if we want to advance westward, we are afraid that it will be difficult. Situ Liang said in a deep voice.

Zhao Xun said with a smile: "It's not just difficult, just with the tens of thousands of garrisons in Suye City, if the enemy rushes in, it is very likely that they will be ambushed by Wusun Kingdom." In the west, we still take the Suye River and the Yishu River basin as the main basin, build a city around it, and completely turn this place into the territory of our Great Zhao, and completely integrate this place into the land of our Han people. To the west, it is impossible for us to expand outward. ”

Zhao Xun didn't think he could lead his army all the way to the west and sweep across the continents of Europe, Asia and Africa. With the productivity of the current era, even if the Great Zhao can fight through, the final result will be like the Great Yuan Dynasty in history, and it will soon collapse.

"It is impossible for the army to march westward, but we must vigorously encourage the slave hunting team to march west and enter the Wusun country to capture slaves. In this Shangzhou territory, there are still too many people in the Western Regions, and there are too many powerful people, which is not conducive to the rule of my Great Zhao. Now give them a chance to get rich, and go to the country of Wusun to catch slaves. Zhao Xun sneered.

"It's a good idea, and not only that, but we can also encourage the Western Turkic tribes to do it. Aren't they invincible to the three Eastern Turks, now let the people of the Western Regions tell them to go to the Wusun Kingdom to capture slaves in exchange for the armor and equipment left over from the Western Regions countries in the past. In this way, we will not only be able to put another enemy on the Wusun Kingdom, but we will also be able to solve the weapons left behind by the northern countries of the Western Regions that we have collected. Wei Zilin's eyes lit up and he said with a laugh.

Zhao Xun also smiled: "Yes, this idea is good." Now the western Turkic tribes are pressed and beaten by the eastern three tribes, whether they are willing to offend the Wusun country or not, if they want to win, if they want not to be annexed by the eastern Turkic tribes, if they want to obtain armor and equipment, they can only go to the Wusun country to capture slaves. ”

Situ Liang said: "Even if the big tribes of the Western Turkic tribes don't dare, those small tribes will definitely do it." We can even get the people of the Western Regions to come forward, not only to provide them with armor and equipment, but also to provide them with food and grass, and these small tribes who are struggling to live because of the war will definitely be willing. ”

Ling Xiao, who had not spoken for a long time, also said: "Not only that, but we can also send a small team of men and horses, pull some Western Regions soldiers, and pretend to be horse thieves in the territory of Wusun Country to loot places." Our Da Zhao caravan has not been banned from entering the country of Wusun, and these horse thieves can wait for a few days after our Da Zhao merchants sell their goods, and then loot in action. It is also possible to buy goods and loot them before they are 'traded'. In addition, we ...... "

As a result, several people said one sentence at a time, and all kinds of damage tricks emerged one after another, and cold sweat flowed on the foreheads of Li Chenfeng, Xu Ye and other generals who listened. If it is according to what they say, even if Zhao Jun is on guard, he will also break his muscles and bones and complain bitterly.