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On the New Year's Day of the third year of the Dragon Era, the ministers entered the table to invite the emperor to be honored, and the prime minister Zheng Congyan led hundreds of officials to enter the honorific title of 'Shengwen Longwu God Emperor'. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 ｉｎfo

On the eighth day of the first lunar month, Emperor Wu issued an edict, Jin Linwei, Wang Chong, Cui Anqian, Zhang Zimian, Zeng Yuanyu, Zhao Li, Gao Shunli, Xin Yan and other eight generals added the rank of marshal!

In the south study, Zhang Chengye played in front of the hall: "Your Majesty, wait to see you outside the palace of the eight generalissimos!" ”

Li Jing got up to greet him and gave him eight handsome seats.

"I invite you to come, do you know what is going on?"

"Flatten the four razes!" As the head of the eight marshals, Lin Wei took the initiative to say.

After the ceremony just now, Lin Wei and other eight generals have become the top generals in Datang, and no one can be the right of these eight people. Originally, speaking of it, Yu Xuan, Zheng Zheng and others also commanded ten thousand armies and made many meritorious achievements, but the new system of the imperial court, the separation of civil and military, only military generals and active military generals can be awarded military ranks, therefore, only these eight generals can finally obtain the title of the top marshal.

"Qing really understands, Qing will tell me how to level the four razes?"

Since the founding of the new dynasty, it took two years to completely sweep away the feudal domains and unify the four seas. However, in the surroundings of Datang, it is not too peaceful. In addition to the northeast, which conquered various tribes in the early years and began to immigrate to Tuntian, there are many small forces in the rest of the country.

Lin Wei said: "During the years of Qianfu and Zhonghe, the Central Plains was in turmoil, and the desert land was not peaceful. Decades ago, the Uighurs were wiped out by the Uighurs. However, the forces of the Tunja were not enough to dominate the grasslands, and finally retreated to the foot of the Golden Mountain. In the eastern steppe, there was no overlord, and a large number of tribes such as the Murwei, Xi, Turkic, Uighur, and Khitan migrated westward, making this place a mixed habit. After the Battle of the Hundred Tribes in the Northeast, some of the Khitans, Murowei, and Ya tribes that we defeated began to flee westward on a larger scale. In the past few years, we have been using troops in the Central Plains, and we have not pursued the Hu people who fled westward. Now, years later. The grassland tribes recuperated, and their strength and life recovered a lot. The Hu people are all horseback peoples, and they are naturally brave and good at fighting. The Office of the Ombudsman estimates that there are no less than millions of herders of various tribes in the eastern and western steppes. There are no less than hundreds of thousands of people who control the strings, although now they are scattered and do not unite, on the contrary, there are tribes attacking each other from time to time, but these tribal cavalry come and go like the wind, and the fierceness is abnormal. If you leave it alone, I am afraid that within ten years, there will be a strong clan in the grassland, and then it will be a disaster for the Central Plains! ”

So to speak. The imperial court should be the first to strike? Li Jing furrowed his brows, obviously a little dissatisfied with Lin Wei's theory of grassland threat. Lin Wei is the newly sealed marshal, and his words at this time must be the result of communication with other marshals. This shows that the generals of the imperial court. The eyes are still on the north and the west, and this is still on the traditional strategic pattern. The defense of the imperial court was focused on the west and north directions. This is contrary to his ideas.

Li Jing clearly remembers that in history, the Great Wall built in successive dynasties was actually built along the 400 mm rainfall line.

400 mm contour rainfall line. It is a dividing line between dry and humid areas.

In the history of China, there were periods when the agrarian society of the Central Plains was prosperous and strong, and the northern nomads were subjugated, such as the strong Han and Tang dynasties. There were also times when northern tribes entered the Central Plains, such as the Wuhu and Sixteen Kingdoms. In most cases, however, this only temporarily changed the boundaries between agrarian civilizations and nomadic tribes, and did not fundamentally eliminate the existence and interaction of the two societies.

Historically, no matter how powerful Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was, no matter how brave Wei Qinghuo was and how brave Li Guang was, no matter how holy Taizong of the Tang Dynasty was, and how fierce Li Jing and Li Ji and others were, although they once pushed the boundaries of the actual control area to the north to the extreme, it was difficult to implement long-term governance in the end. At one time, there were still Xiongnu and Turks further north against it. Even if the few tribes who entered the Central Plains tried their best to sinicize like the Xianbei of the Northern Wei Dynasty, when they adapted to life in the Central Plains, the Hu tribe, who still lived a nomadic life in the north, would challenge and try to replace them. Such a situation has happened repeatedly in the long river of history.

Therefore, for thousands of years, dynasties have changed and history has advanced, but the steppe nomads and the agricultural civilization of the Central Plains have never really merged.

Why?

Li Jing knows exactly why.

This is first of all because of the difference in the climatic and geographical environment of the steppe and agricultural areas. Historians have come up with the famous 400 mm isorainfall line. The northern part of this line, with less than 400 mm of rainfall, is a semi-arid area that is not suitable for growing crops, so it is nomadic and therefore nomadic; In the south, it is a semi-humid and humid area with more than 400 mm of rainfall, which is suitable for agriculture, so it has become an agrarian society.

A comparison will show that this boundary is about the southern boundary of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, which is in a downward curve; It is also roughly in line with the direction of the Great Wall. The downward bend is because the further inland you go, the less rain falls at the same latitude. This is different from what many people imagine, in the minds of many Central Plains people and nomads, farmland and pasture land are homogeneous, and can be used as both farmland and pasture. But in reality, the land and climate in the north and south of the 400 mm rainfall line are not homogeneous.

In this way, farmland and pasture will continue to be divided by whoever first takes possession of the land, and whether the ownership of the land is later changed through war or trade. If the farmer buys or occupies the steppe north, farming is not as good as grazing, and he can only be most efficient if he becomes a herdsman; However, herders have purchased or occupied farmland to the south, and grazing is not as good as farming, and it is only a rational choice to become farmers.

Historically, many of the Hu people who went south eventually either retreated to the grassland, or Sinicized and assimilated into the agricultural civilization of the Central Plains. At the same time, many Han Chinese entered the northern grasslands, but in the end, these people basically became herdsmen.

Li Jing is deeply aware that this boundary cannot be changed by force.

If Datang puts the direction of attack in the north, then this is a detour. History tells Li Jing that for the Central Plains civilization, opening up territory to the northeast and southwest is the real merit of the present and the benefit of the future.

However, Lin Wei's words are not entirely unreasonable, the characteristics of nomads make this inherently aggressive race. Once their strength grows, they will inevitably invade the south. The Central Plains civilization can't really occupy and control the grassland, but they can't ignore it, otherwise, they are the biggest threat to the Central Plains.

Li Jing frowned, this is really a money-losing project. If the war is won, it will not be possible to occupy the grasslands. But. Even if it's a loss-making business, you have to do it.

"How is the Senate going to fight?"

With the establishment of the new dynasty, the General Staff, the highest military body, was also partially changed. There are general staff envoys under the General Staff Yuan, and there are left and right staff envoys below. Then there are the commanders of the horse army, the infantry army, the sailors, and the marines.

The general staff envoys, the left and right staff envoys, plus the commanders of the four arms, the core layer is these seven people.

The four are all commanders, and they are also known as Ma Shuai, Bu Shuai, Shui Shuai and Lu Shuai. Under these four marshals, each has a deputy commander and a marquis of Duyu. Duties and powers of the General Staff. It is much stronger than the original, much higher than the second government and the military department in the north and south. Responsible for the military strategy deployment of the imperial court, as well as the right to transfer troops.

An Guogong, Marshal Lin Wei. At present, he is the first general staff envoy of the founding of the country. As an envoy to the General Staff, he was also the Emperor's Chief Military Advisor.

Lin Wei replied: "The meaning of the General Staff is that the Tang Dynasty has a wise and virtuous minister, a brave general, and one heart. This is my best in the Hu tribe. However, when the country was first established, the world was decided, and it was not appropriate to make a big move, but to be cautious. ”

It is necessary to fight, but it does not have to be a big fight. Lin Wei's words made Li Jing breathe a sigh of relief. I'm really afraid that as soon as their brains are hot, they will come up with a plan to fight and completely conquer the grassland. Now, he only played early, but he had to be cautious about the results, which made him very satisfied. The initial plan made by the General Staff was very good, and they proposed that to deal with the grasslands, they could follow the tactics of the Northern Zhou and Sui dynasties in those years, supplemented by military affairs, and mainly strategic. To deal with these scattered tribes that have not yet become stronger, we can implement the strategy of uniting the weak and separating the strong, and attacking from afar. Instigating these tribes to attack each other, so that the imperial court only needs to invest the least amount of force to achieve the greatest effect, ensure the security of the border, and weaken and suppress the power of the steppe.

Li Jing got up and picked up a secret note, "I will show you marshals a report!" ”

Lin Wei took it with both hands, and it was the performance of Sun Lan, the prince of the Supervision Department. According to the above, the intelligence of the steppe obtained by the Supervision Office is still the most powerful in the steppe, then the Uighurs, and then the Tatars and Khitans who migrated westward. Although the current power of the Khitan tribe is not as strong as the previous tribes, after they moved westward, they have united many westward tribes in recent years, and have gained a firm foothold in the grassland. Even in the last year, the Khitans united the Tatars and Tibetans to attack the Uighurs and won a great victory, and now they have grown in power, acquiring large areas of abundant pastures and a large number of looted slaves and livestock. According to such a force, this tribe, which was once beaten by Li Jing in the northeast and became a lost dog, will have the possibility of turning over in a few years.

Eight marshals took turns to see the piece.

"The emperor wants to use soldiers, please serve!"

Li Jing laughed and said, "With the support of the marshals, my heart has been decided!" ”

In March, the Uighurs of Ganzhou in Hexi took advantage of the opportunity of the Guiyi Army in Hexi to enter the Central Plains and launched a rebellion against Gan, Su and other Hexi prefectures. The Khitans and Tatars in the northwest immediately responded by sending troops into the western region of the Tang River. In May, the Uighur, Tatar, and Western Liao allied forces advanced to Su and Gan, approached Liangzhou, and were repulsed by the Tang border guards.

Lin Wei stood in front of the big sand table in the staff courtyard, looking at the groups of staff officers who kept working on the drawings and sand tables, "The time has come to send troops!" Lin Wei said to the left and right staff envoys and the four marshals of the General Staff.

Things are just as Lin Wei said.

The next day, Li Jing summoned all the generals and commanders into the court, and above the main hall, the General Staff Academy, the two yas, and the military headquarters all marched into the army, and the army was ready to send troops, and the logistics baggage, grain, and grass were also prepared. Li Jing immediately issued an order to send troops, and ordered Liu Xun to be the commander of the first army and set himself to enter the grassland. With Zhou Dewei as the commander of the Second Army Corps, he entered the grassland from the Yueda Xing'an Mountains in Lingbei Province. Guo Chongtao was the commander of the three army corps and marched west from Lingwu. Guo Zhenshan was the commander of the Fourth Army Corps, and advanced northwest from Yunzhong in the north of Jin, and Li Wei was the commander of the Fifth Army Corps, advancing westward from Yingzhou across the Yanshan Mountains.

The five-way army, a total of more than 100,000 horses. The entire offensive line stretched from the Great Xing'an Mountains in the northeast to Yanshan in western Liaoning, Yinshan in Shanxi, and Helan Mountain in Hequ, a long battle line thousands of miles long, and the Five Route Army attacked at the same time. Although the enemy soldiers who committed the border were in the Hexi Corridor, the momentum of the imperial court's dispatch of troops was obviously not only intended to treat headaches and foot pains, but to comb the entire prairie from east to west.

Although the Fifth Route Army did not dispatch any marshals, Li Jing dispatched the most powerful brave generals in the Tang Dynasty today, as well as the most elite forbidden army and military guard troops.

In August, the Qin Army's Black Eagle Battle Banner appeared on the prairie, and the tribal herdsmen on the grassland were all panicked and frightened when they saw the overwhelming Tang cavalry. Have you finally made it to the prairie? "In September, dozens of troops joined the crowd. In front of the powerful Don army, they did not dare to resist.

December. Several armies attacking from the east had swept the entire eastern prairie, and the soldiers and horses had reached the Jinshan Mountains on the east and west borders. The Five Route Army successfully joined forces.

"Report to the general, the former army has broken through the Tatar tribesmen's soldiers and horses, and the Western Liao soldiers and horses are retreating to the west of Jinshan!"

Liu Xun pondered for a moment, in the Five Route Army, his first army was the main force of the Chinese army, so he was also the head of the generals this time. He said in a deep voice: "Pursue Yelu Abaoji, and never let this kid go!" ”

"General. The other ministries are still behind, are they waiting for them to follow? ”

"The military situation is urgent, I can't wait, chase!"

Yelu Abaoji as early as last year. He has succeeded to the throne as the Khan of the Western Liao State, and under his leadership, the Western Liao State has gained a foothold under the Jinshan Mountain and has gradually expanded. This time, they contacted the Tatars, who had migrated westward, and the Ganzhou Uighurs, one of the three tribes that had separated from the Uighurs after their annihilation. Join forces together. As a result, in the blink of an eye, he was defeated by the fierce counterattack of the Tang army. Seeing that the situation was not good, Yelu Abaoji immediately left behind the Tatar army of his allies and quickly fled westward himself.

It didn't take long to cross the gold mountain. The most powerful tribe under the Golden Mountain, the Tunjas, who had once destroyed the Uighur Empire, suddenly slaughtered. They have long been wary of the Khitans, and now they have already received an edict from Emperor Wu of the Tang Dynasty, inviting him to join the Khitan.

When Liu Xun arrived all the way, the blood of the two tribes was flowing like a river. Liu Xun led the troops to kill, and in the roaring sound of the horn, he waved his army and rushed straight into the battle.

The soldiers and horses of the Western Liao were affected by this impact, and they were suddenly defeated, fleeing, scattered, and in the blink of an eye, they were defeated like a mountain, and finally Yelu Abaoji did not escape from the encirclement, and was surrounded by the cavalry of the Huangjiasi, and captured and dedicated to the Tang army.

A month later, Liu Xun and other five generals had completely defeated the combined forces of the three tribes of the Ganzhou Uighurs, the Western Liao Khitan, and the Western Migration Tatars, and re-stabilized the Hexisha, Gansu, and Su prefectures.

Li Jing's class teacher's edict arrived.

Guo Chongtao entered the account, "Your Majesty has ordered the class teacher to return to the dynasty?" ”

"The edict is written like this, what does the general think?"

"It's not a truce."

"Well, the Western Liao, Ganzhou Uighurs, and Tatars have been destroyed, and if they withdraw their troops here, I am afraid that from now on, there will be no one to suppress them, and they will soon dominate the grassland!"

"The Legacs have just helped us destroy the Khitan, Uighur, and Tatar coalition armies, and if we use troops against them at this time, I am afraid that it will affect Your Majesty's prestige."

"Your Majesty is not fit to give this order, but we can."

"Now that the soldiers know the edict of the class teacher, how can they lead the crowd?"

"Will be outside, the king's order will not be granted, in order to do it once and for all, it is worth doing."

The five corps commanders gathered in one tent and discussed secretly in the middle of the night, and finally agreed to continue to use troops and surrender to the Quegas.

The plan was decided.

Liu Xun and others took advantage of the night to send troops to raid the camp tent of Huangjiasi, but Huangjiasi was caught off guard and had no vigilance. When the people of the Gang were panicked and found that Tang Qi had appeared, Guo Chongtao, who was rushing to the front, was only a few miles away from the camp at this time.

The people of the Hujia people were defeated, and the 30,000 light cavalry were gone, Liu Xun and others took advantage of the victory to advance westward, and divided their troops to attack the camps of the various tribes of the Hujia people.

More than 30,000 were beheaded, more than 200,000 men and women were captured, millions of miscellaneous animals were captured, and the noble leaders of the Gang people were all wiped out, and most of the elite soldiers were captured. After this battle, the powerful Tunus was directly pulled out of the backbone and knocked down into the dust.

In March of the fourth year of the Dragon Era, it started from the Great Xing'an Mountains in the east, reached Yanshan and Yinshan in the south, Helan Mountain and Jinshan in the west, Dunhuang in Shazhou, and reached the desert in the north, all under the jurisdiction of the Tang Empire.

In June, the chiefs of the Western Regions, the Uighurs of Xizhou, the nine surnamed Wuhu, the Qarluq, the Turgish, and other ethnic groups all came to Shenjing to meet the Emperor Shengwen Longwu of the Tang Dynasty.

The monarchs of all ethnic groups said in unison: "Please ask the Son of Heaven of the Tang Dynasty to be the Supreme Khan." ”

When Emperor Wen of Sui intimidated the Turkic Empire, he was honored as the Sage Khan, and after Li Shimin's defeat of the Turks, he was honored as the Heavenly Khan. Now Li Jing has defeated the tribes of the grassland, especially the hand of the generals Liu Xun and Guo Chongtao who finally sent troops to the grassland and the Western Regions without authorization.

Sage Khan, Heavenly Khan, Supreme Khan, which one is more honorable, it is estimated that these Hu people themselves do not know, but this title is to show their surrender to be completely conquered at this time.

Li Jing couldn't help but feel a burst of surprise, and laughed for a while, which can be regarded as accepting the sycophants of the chiefs.

"Long live the Supreme Khan, long live, long live!" The chieftains of all Hu bowed down in unison, and the sound shook the temple.

Li Jing is high above and full of supreme authority.

For such a result, he couldn't help but be happy in his heart. Although Liu Xun and others made their own decisions and raided the Husi people, the Hu people were not only shocked, but they couldn't help but have some slander about the style of the martial emperor of the new dynasty. But today's results show an irrefutable truth, justice and justice are within the range of artillery.

Didn't those unruly Hu people finally surrender after seeing the powerful strength of the new Tang Empire.

Supreme Khan is just a title, but this fully reflects the deterrent power of the Tang Empire today.

This war was fought well, and the First World War set the stability of the northern frontier for 20 years!