Western Regions, the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains.

On the bank of the Yili River, Yili, the new capital of Dzungaria, Dzungar Khan Batur led a group of people and horses to personally go out of the city for twenty miles to welcome the arrival of Heshuo Tegushi Khan Tulu Baihu and his party.

After the Dzungars controlled the northern and southern Tianshan Mountains and the Kipchak steppe, they moved the capital from the Junggar Basin to the Ili River Valley. Moved to this most fertile river valley.

The Mongol knights of Montan and his party had their armor polished early in the morning, and each of them bathed in the nearby river, changed into clean clothes, and trimmed their hair and beard. Now, at least they don't look that bad, it's just that the team is too small.

They looked a bit like an envoy or a contingent of relatives.

The sky was covered with dark clouds, and it seemed that Eli did not welcome the fleeing team of Heshute. There are countless mosquitoes hidden under the meadows outside the city, and although Montan killed a dozen mosquitoes along the way, he was still bitten by many large bags of mosquitoes that were pervasive.

In the distance, the two khans met.

Two years ago, Batur personally led his troops to send Tulu Baihu to Qinghai-Tibet, and two years later, Tulu Baihu only returned to Moxi with these few hundred horses. I haven't seen each other for two years, Gushi Khan is old and haggard, and he left Qinghai-Tibet that year, precisely because he, the leader of the Oirat Alliance, is unwilling to become a vassal of Dzungaria, and the two tigers are unwilling to fight each other and take a step back. He went to Qinghai-Tibet, and Batur sent troops to support.

"Brother, welcome home." Batur jumped off his horse and enthusiastically came up to hug Tulubaihu.

Gu Shi Khan stepped forward and hugged him, but the smile on his face was reluctant.

After two years, he was finally defeated, even far worse than two years ago, when he still had at least a few hundred thousand troops, but now, there are only five hundred. At that time, he was at least on an equal footing with Batur, but now he is just a loser who came to defect.

"I'm coming to you." Tulu Baihu said this with great difficulty.

"Why do your own brothers say such things, go, go back to the city, no matter what, you are still my brother, and you are still the Khan of the Dzungar Khanate." Batur took Tulubaihu's hand and smiled.

Meng Dan looked at the two of them so kindly, and he was amused.

Gushi Khan's army was defeated and surrendered, and Batur must have been happy. Although Gushi Khan lost Wusizang, which was also somewhat unfavorable to Dzungaria, Gushi Khan, who originally controlled Wusizang, was just a titular khanate khan. Now that he had been seized the throne by his own son, he came to defect, but it was the Khan of Heshute who was completely attached to him.

This name is still very important.

For the Dzungar Khanate, such a powerful prince as the Heshuo Ministry was actually a hidden danger of internal division, and now Gushi Khan was defeated and surrendered, which can be regarded as a fortunate thing in misfortune, at least Gushi Khan did not surrender to the Han because of this.

As the procession marched, Mundan followed the procession across the gates of Elisii and into the city.

Mundan carefully looked at the new capital of Junggaria, the city was built very large, the city was built of rammed earth, and there was a layer of earth blocks and bricks outside the earthen wall.

This kind of brick **** structure is also the structure of the original old capital, it is said that this kind of but can keep warm, and can resist the wind and sand here.

The Mongols were not entirely nomadic, they also built cities. Tumut Altan Khan, who was once prosperous, once built a very large city in ********, and made that city very prosperous.

Batur and Tulu Baihu stood side by side, and proudly introduced his new city to Gushi Khan.

"The wall is two feet high, three feet wide at the bottom, and eight feet wide at the top. There is a corner tower at the corner of the city wall, there are four gates in the southeast, northwest and northwest, and the red willow branches are specially added in the city wall, which can ensure that the city wall can stand for thousands of years. ”

It is a square castle with two sides, inside and outside. The inner city is the palace of the Great Khan of Dzungaria, and the outer city is the residence and market of military and civilian residents.

In addition to the Dzungar Department in the city, there are also Dulbert and Huite Ministries.

In addition, many tribes from the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains and many places such as the Kipchak steppe also migrated to the city. Although the castle has only been built for less than a year, it is already taking shape. The city is still under construction, but the city is already very lively, not only there are special markets, but also the streets are like the Central Plains, the streets are full of shops, and the shops sell all kinds of goods.

In addition to merchants from all over the world, there are also warriors from all over the world in this new capital.

Gu Shi Khan looked at all this, and his heart was very uncomfortable.

The Dzungar Ministry developed rapidly, but he was completely defeated.

In the palace of the Dzungar king, Batur set up a grand banquet for Gushi Khan and his party to wash the dust.

"Since the Han people have seized Wusizang, they will definitely invade the west in the future, and please prepare for the Great Khan as soon as possible." After drinking a few glasses of wine, Gushi Khan made a suggestion to Batur.

Batur smiled, "I don't need my brother to remind me that I know that the Han people's heart will not die." Their ambitions to get involved in Moxi have long been revealed, and as early as a year ago, they have been preparing for the westward invasion. Especially since more than half a year ago, at the western end of the Hexi Corridor, Jiayuguan in Suzhou, has been constantly gathering soldiers, horses, grain and grass, and my spies told Ben Khan that at least 100,000 troops were stationed there. ”

"The Mobei tribes have already gathered troops and horses, and a big war is just around the corner."

Batur took the mare's milk wine in front of him and drank it down, snorting, "But if he Liu Jiye thinks that this Great Khan is so easy to bully, then he is wrong." Ben Khan is not one of those soft-footed goods in the north and south of the desert, and the Dzungar department is not the Khalkha, Chahar, Tumut, Horqin and other departments. If Liu Jiye doesn't come, Ben Da Khan will lead his troops to the east sooner or later, but since he is in a hurry to die, Ben Da Khan will not stop him. ”

"The Han army is well-armed, the soldiers are strong and the horses are strong, and the Great Khan should be careful." Gushi Khan persuaded.

"Don't worry, Ben Da Khan has issued a military order and is mobilizing all his troops to come and prepare to kill the Han army." Batur smiled confidently, "It's cheaper than Yarkand, originally Ben Khan was going to destroy Yarkand first, but now I can only let them go for the time being." ”

Batur's fifth son, Seng Ge, said with a smile on the side, "Gushi Khan, please rest assured, this time the Great Khan has gathered all the troops and horses, and will gather 200,000 troops to fight the Han army." ”

"The Great Khan is ready to take the initiative to attack?" Gu Shi Khan was taken aback when he heard this, he was not surprised that Batur could gather 200,000 horses, but that he was so big at his movements. "If the Great Khan wants to take the initiative to attack Gansu, I don't think it's the best policy."

Hearing this, Galdan, the sixth son of Batur, put down the knife of mutton in his hand and looked up, "Why does my uncle grow up with other people's ambition and destroy his own prestige?" The 200,000-strong army marched eastward, not to mention a Gansu, even if it hit Chang'an City, it was nothing. ”

"The six princes must not underestimate the enemy, the Han army stationed heavy troops in Gansu, especially its gateway Jiayuguan, in recent years has been repeatedly reinforced and expanded, and now it has become a well-defended fortress, not only the city is high and strong, and the surrounding fortress is full of forts, everywhere are forts, equipped with countless cannons. Our Mongolian soldiers and horses are stronger than mobile field warfare, and it is not my fortification to attack fortifications, let alone a fortress like Jiayuguan. ”

"Gushi Khan has a point." Batur put down his glass and glanced at his sons, "You have to ask your uncle more for advice in the future, and when you fight, you have to make the most of your strengths and avoid your weaknesses." It was foolish to let the Mongol cavalry ram the heavily guarded fortresses. This time, we fought with the Han people, and we had to use our brains more. ”

"Bring me the map!"

The sheepskin map was laid out, and Batur pointed to Jiayuguan on the map.

The location of Jiayuguan is very special, this is the western exit of the Hexi Corridor, the towering Qilian Mountains to the south, and the desert to the north. To the east is the narrow Hexi Corridor, and if you want to go east, unless you detour to Qinghai-Tibet or Mobei, then the eastward expedition from the Hexi Corridor is the most convenient route.

But since Huo Quai's expedition to the Xiongnu and poured the wine from Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty into the river near here, this place has always become a bridgehead for the Han people to defend to the death.

The Ming Dynasty even built the Great Wall all the way here.

Jiayuguan has become an important gateway city of the westernmost Great Wall, and its importance in the west can be compared with Shanhaiguan in the east.

After the founding of the Han Dynasty, this section of the Great Wall was repaired and strengthened several times, especially many cannons were transported. Jiayuguan has been completely rebuilt into a huge fortress, and many fortress forts have been built around it, the style of the crown fortress, with a large number of artillery, so that this is no longer a simple fortress, but a real war fortress, and has become an important gateway to the westernmost part of the Han Dynasty.

To pass through the Hexi Corridor, the Jiayu Pass must be broken.

can be a perverted defense of Jiayuguan, even if there are 200,000 Mongolian troops, they don't want to take advantage of anything.

Originally, the Heshuo Department also occupied Wusizang, and the detour from Wusizang, although it was farther, it was still a road, but now the Han people occupied Wusizang, and the Mobei tribes had already surrendered to the Han people, so the Junggar people couldn't make a detour.

But Jiayuguan is so strong, and Batur has long broken off his plan to break through the pass. Instead of forcibly attacking Jiayuguan, it is better to directly cross Jinshan, hit Mobei, and then take the south to Monan. This is also the route that the steppe tribes often marched into the Central Plains in history.

It's just that now, the Han army has stationed so many soldiers and horses in Jiayuguan, and has taken Qinghai-Tibet and Mobei, and everyone knows that the Han army will take the initiative to move westward. At this time, it is impossible for Batur to lead the main force to Mobei, in that case, the Han army will directly march west from Jiayuguan, but it will directly threaten the core of Dzungaria.

Pulling a hair and moving the whole body, Jiayuguan has now become the core of the overall situation.

"The Han army is heavily stationed in Jiayu Pass, it is obvious that this is a large-scale westward attack, and as soon as they get out of Jiayu Pass, the first thing they have to fight must be Hami, then Turpan, and then all the way to the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains, and hit Yililai." Batur pointed to the map.

This route is also the northern route of the Silk Road.

The unique topography of the Western Regions enabled Batur to clearly grasp the direction of the Han army's attack.

Maybe the Han army will send troops from Mobei or Qinghai, but it will not be the main force.

"We don't take the initiative to attack Jiayuguan, we defend Hami." Batur finally said his battle plan.

"Great Khan, if you defend Hami, I'm afraid it will be difficult to hold, and the Han army's artillery is sharp." The monk said busily. The Han army was good at both defending and attacking cities, and the Mongols were the least good at attacking and defending cities.

"Guard, but not alone. We have 200,000 troops, and we are still waiting for the enemy to attack?"

Gu Shi Khan stared at the map, and at this time he also reacted, "From Jiayuguan to Hami, it is more than a thousand miles. It's been a long road. ”

Batur stroked his beard and laughed.

The Han army's Jiayuguan was strong, but they couldn't carry Jiayuguan on their backs. As long as they get out of the pass, there will be no defense of the city on this long road of more than a thousand miles.

"Fortify the walls and clear the wilderness, move back all the people in the vicinity of the more than 1,000-mile route from Jiayuguan to Hami, take away all the materials that can be taken away, burn everything that cannot be taken away, poison and bury the wells, throw sick and dead livestock on the road, in short, let them not get any supplies along the way, and it is best to create a plague for them."

Speaking of these vicious tactics, none of these people is worse than the other.

"It is also necessary to organize light cavalry to constantly attack and harass their marches, preferably capable of attacking their supply transports, burning their food, grass and ordnance, and destroying their artillery."

"That's right, that's it, our cavalry is the best at mobile field warfare, in this Moxi, that is their own territory, very familiar, the Han army is far away to fight, we can just continue to raid them, so that they will never be able to complete this thousand miles."

The monk said excitedly, "Even if the Han army barely reaches the city of Hami by then, I am afraid that it will be exhausted, and if we can completely cut off their supply transportation at that time, then none of these Han troops will think about going back." ”

"Hahaha! Exactly! ”

"In this way, I really hope that the Han army can come more this time, so that it will be enjoyable." Batur's other son, Chechnya, also laughed wildly.

Batur picked up his glass and drank another glass of mare's milk wine, as if he had seen the annihilation of the Han army advancing westward.

"As long as the Han army advancing westward can be annihilated, no matter how strong the defense of Jiayuguan is, it will only be an empty city if it is unguarded. At that time, we will take advantage of the victory to conquer the Eastern Expedition and break through the Jiayu Pass in one fell swoop, and then we can directly enter the Guanzhong area of the Han people along the Hexi Corridor, and even directly enter the Central Plains! ”

Mundan had been standing behind Gushi Khan and had listened to all their talk. He kept calm on his face, but he was shocked in his heart, this Batur was so sinister. He didn't know if this would happen to the court officials, but he felt that he should pass the news back.

The atmosphere of the banquet was very joyful, and everyone was immersed in the beautiful scene of the Eastern Expedition to the Central Plains.

"Report!"

An urgent report interrupted the joyous atmosphere of the banquet.

"Report to the Great Khan, Yarkand has gone north, has broken through Wuchi, and is now besieging Asu, the Asu defenders sent people to urgently report for help, saying that the Yarkand people are attacking fiercely, and they are equipped with many firearms, and even a lot of artillery, asking the Great Khan to send reinforcements!"

Batur was so shocked that he accidentally swept over all the cups on the table, and the precious Hetian jade cup fell to the ground and shattered into many pieces. But he didn't bother to look at it at all, Wuchi and Asu were both at the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains, on the northern edge of the Tarim Basin, which had always been the territory of Yarkand before, but the Dzungar army had just captured it not long ago.

After capturing these two cities, Dzungaria was already approaching Yarkand City, the capital of the Yarkand Khanate, and as long as they marched south along the Yarkand River, they could directly attack Yarkand City.

But now, Yarkand actually counterattacked and captured Uchi, and also surrounded Asu.

It was too much of a surprise.

"Ah Su must not be lost, immediately send troops to reinforce!"

Asu is not only an important advance base for the Dzungar conquest of Yarkand, but also an advance base for Yarkand to directly attack Yili once Asu is lost.

Ah Su is only 600 miles away from Ili City in a straight line, and there is only a section of the Tianshan Mountains in between. Although it was not easy for the army to climb the mountain, in fact, it had to go around a long distance to the north to cross the mountain through the mountain pass, and it could start from Asu, which could not only threaten Yili, but also Turpan, Hami and other cities.

Batur didn't want his hometown to be attacked by the Yarkand when he fought a decisive battle with the Han army.

"These damn Yarkands!" Batur cursed, no more drinking. (To be continued.) )