Gan Province, Ho Chau, where the base camp of the Ma Jiajun is located. During the Ma Zhanao period, this was the ruling center of the Ma Jiajun. Now, although the Ma Jiajun has been divided into three, the Ma Jiajun in Hezhou is still the nominal boss.

As the Imperial Army pressed westward step by step, it also made the Ma Jiajun feel a great threat. Ma Anliang, the helmsman of the Ma Jiajun, summoned the leaders of the Qingma Army and the Ningma Army to discuss countermeasures with everyone.

On this day, Ma Anliang's mansion had three steps, one post, five steps and one sentry, and the entire Ma family entered the highest state of alert. The other two branches of the Ma family's army, Ma Qi, the leader of the Qingming Festival, and Ma Fulu, the leader of the Ningma army, have arrived here one after another.

"Now the situation in the northwest is becoming more and more tense, the Wu family father and son have unified the Central Plains, and the northwest is still left to resist. The 100,000-strong army sent by the Imperial Army had reached the junction of Shaanxi and Gansu provinces, and the offensive could begin at any time. Everybody talks, what are we going to do now? Ma Anliang sat on the main seat, and Ma Qi and Ma Fulu sat on both sides. The three of them constitute the supreme ruler of Ma Jiajun and decide all the affairs of Ma Jiajun.

"The Imperial Army is menacing, I'm afraid this battle will not be easy to fight!" Ma Fulu said with a sad face. The Imperial Army's prestige and defeat of the Japanese and Lao Maozi were simply impossible in the eyes of these local warlords in the country. Although, Ma Jiajun can be regarded as a hegemon in the northwest. But to make them fight against the Imperial Army, it still seems completely unsightly!

"If it's not easy to fight, you have to fight, the northwest is ours. If we don't fight, then we will lose the northwest. Ma Qi said in a deep voice.

When the Northern Army unified the whole country, Ma Jiajun also sent people to contact the northern government. They proposed that if the status quo could be maintained in the northwest, then they would accept the rule of the northern government. Of course, that's only nominal rule. As a matter of fact. The affairs of the northwest are still up to their Ma Jiajun themselves. Of course, Wu Haoxuan would not agree to such a request.

The northwest is very important to Wu Haoxuan. This is about the expansion of the future empire into Central Asia. Central Asia is barren, but it is rich in natural resources. In addition, the geographical location is very important, and to the north it can expand into the plains of the West Siberian Plain. To the west, it could attack the heart of the Russian Empire in Europe. To the southwest, you can access the Persian Gulf, which is the energy center of the future. To the southeast, it threatened India, Britain's most important colony. It can be said that as long as it can gain a foothold in Central Asia, the future empire can expand around this center.

However, Central Asia was too far away from the hinterland of the empire, and if it wanted to occupy Central Asia, the empire would have to build a solid bridgehead. The northwest is adjacent to Central Asia, and the empire needs to first manage the northwest into an iron barrel and build a series of infrastructure. When the time comes. Only then was the empire able to use the northwest as a springboard to advance into Central Asia.

Under such circumstances, Wu Haoxuan would naturally not allow variables to occur in the northwest. The empire must have full control of the northwest, and only then will there be no variables. All instability must be removed.

If Ma Jiajun really wants to join the empire, then they must accept the reorganization of the empire. 100,000 cavalry of the Ma family's army. The old and weak will be eliminated and the elite troops will be selected. The formation was 5 cavalry brigades, so that the cavalry of the empire would have a total of 20 brigades. In the future, whether it is in the Siberian battlefield or the Central Asian theater, these cavalry can come in handy. It's a pity that Ma Jiajun didn't accept the conditions of the empire at all.

"The Empire wants to dominate the world. They will not give up on the Northwest. And if we want to maintain our current position, we must fight them to the end. Only in this way can our interests be ensured. Ma Qi continued.

"But with the Imperial Army's prestige, can we defeat them?" Ma Fulu was a little worried. The territory of the Ningma Army. It is mainly in the town of Ningxia. This is just the case with the Imperial Army, and if the Imperial Army launches an attack, the Nyingma Army will most likely be the first to be attacked. Ma Fulu did not believe that his Ningma army could confront the Imperial Army.

"Hmph, that's just blowing it out. Who knows their true combat effectiveness? Besides, this is the northwest, and it's our territory. The Imperial Army is not familiar with the terrain here, and we can use the vast terrain of the northwest to deal with them. Ma Qi seemed confident.

In fact, Ma Jiajun is also full of contradictions. Although Ma Anliang is the nominal boss, he can't suppress Ma Fulu and Ma Qi. Especially Ma Qi, who is more than ten years younger than Ma Anliang, and has greater momentum. In addition, the Qingma Army was a little more west, and the Ningma Army and the Hezhou Majia Army were in the forefront. Let the Ningma Army and the Hezhou Majia Army go to the Imperial Army, while the Qingma Army can hide behind and reap the benefits. Ma Qi is a good calculation!

Ma Fulu looked at Ma Anliang, as if waiting for his reply.

"Let's meet the Empire's emissary first. It's been three days since I've been here, so I'm in such a hurry to let you come to Hezhou. In any case, our Ma Jiajun is a whole and needs to be unanimous with the outside world. Only in this way can we maximize our interests. Ma Anliang said.

Ma Fulu and Ma Qi both nodded, although they had different thoughts, they both had to admit that what Ma Anliang said was right.

Soon, a middle-aged man was taken to the study by two young soldiers from Ma Jiajun. He was ordinary-looking, wearing a coarse cloth coat, and he looked no different from an ordinary flat-headed commoner. But in reality, he was an intelligence officer of the intelligence bureau of the Northern Army in Gan Province. This time, he was ordered to negotiate with Ma Jiajun.

Although the imperial army is about to march into the northwest, if the Ma Jiajun can be subdued, this will make the imperial army easily sweep the entire northwest.

"Mr. Chen, what conditions the empire has, let's say it now. The leaders of our Ma Jiajun are here, and they will give you a very clear answer. Ma Anliang said expressionlessly.

"The Empire expects the generals to focus on the big picture. Now that the country has been reunified, it would be best to be able to value peace. Therefore, the empire hopes that the Ma Jiajun can accept the reorganization of the imperial army. The 100,000 Ma family army will be reorganized into five cavalry brigades. The commanders of these five cavalry brigades can all be appointed by you. However, mid- and lower-ranking officers need to rotate with the Imperial cavalry. The newly reorganized army will be under the command of the Imperial Army. Of course, the required weapons, equipment, provisions, and military salaries will also be the responsibility of the empire. This is very beneficial to the country and the nation, and even to yourselves. Mr. Chen said.

"Hmph, the Ma family army of our three families has a full 100,000 people, and only gives us the establishment of five cavalry brigades, which is only more than 40,000 people. We won't do this kind of loss-making business. Ma Qi snorted coldly.

"The equipment of the imperial cavalry is not comparable to the cavalry of the Ma family's army. The combat effectiveness of the five cavalry brigades after reorganization is definitely stronger than the current 100,000 Ma Jia Army. Mr. Chen continued.

"Don't be ashamed!" Ma Qi clearly didn't believe it.

"Mr. Chen, we are not satisfied with the conditions of the Empire. Ma Jiajun is willing to take the empire as his head and obey the orders of the empire. However, can we let the Ma family continue to govern the northwest? Sir may also know that the situation in the northwest has been very complicated since ancient times. Ma Anliang said. If the Ma family's rule over the northwest can be guaranteed and they continue to exist in the form of a 'country within a country', it is undoubtedly the best.

Mr. Chen shook his head: "General Ma, the empire will not allow such a situation to happen. Now that the empire has achieved the unification of government and military orders, it will no longer allow the existence of warlords. ”

"That's nothing, if you want us to give in, just defeat us on the battlefield. If you win the battle against us, then naturally everything is up to you. But if you are defeated, then you don't want to take this northwest. Ma Qi then said.

Mr. Chen frowned and looked at Ma Anliang and Ma Fulu. Ma Qi does not represent the entire Ma Jiajun, he can only represent the Green Horse Army.

"Mr. Chen, the empire is trying to force our Ma family army to a dead end! We, the Ma family, are unwilling to be enemies of the Empire. However, in order to defend our homeland, we had no choice but to take up arms and fight hard. Ma Anliang looked helpless. But in fact, it is simply for the sake of their own interests, and they are not willing to give up the benefits that are about to be acquired.

Ma Fulu's mouth opened, but in the end, he couldn't say anything.

"General Ma, if this is your answer, it would be a pity." Mr. Chen shook his head, looking a little regretful.

"Hmph, it's hard to say who will win in the end. Get out, go back and tell your master, our Ma family's army, undefeated in battle. If you dare to come, we will definitely make you pay a heavy price. Ma Qi said viciously.

If he followed his wishes, this envoy of the Imperial Army would not want to leave the Ma family intact. However, Ma Anliang didn't want to completely anger the empire. After all, the empire has an army of millions and is still armed to the teeth. Offending the empire ruthlessly will not do Ma Jiajun any good.

The envoy of the Imperial Army left the Ma family. Subsequently, he sent Ma Jiajun's reply back to the Intelligence Bureau by telegram. And after the Intelligence Bureau informed the General Staff, the General Staff gave the order to march into the army.

The 100,000-strong army of the Imperial Army crossed the border and officially invaded Gan Province. (To be continued......)

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