On the sunny day of July 7, Fang Chongyong integrated the soldiers and horses of Liangzhou, and transferred 3,000 elite cavalry and 2,000 cavalry infantry from the Chishui Army; 1,000 mounted infantry were drawn from the Great Dou Army. Together with the neatly replenished 3,000 silver-speared Xiaojie Army, they formed the Anxi Expeditionary Force.

Nine thousand elites, one person and two horses, drove from Liangzhou and went to Ganzhou to recuperate, and Guo Ziyi, the envoy of the Chishui Army, did not accompany him, but served as the deputy envoy of Hexi Jiedu, sitting in Liangzhou to preside over military affairs.

Fang Chongyong planned to select the elite with outstanding combat power from the Tang border army along the way to supplement the system. When they arrived to the west of the Green Ridge, the number of soldiers in the whole army was strictly controlled at between 15,000 and 20,000.

The reason why it was named the Anxi Expeditionary Force was because in the end, elite soldiers had to be drawn from the Anxi Metropolitan Protectorate and used it as the general logistics base. The name of Anxi was to give them face, and it was also to facilitate the withdrawal of the expeditionary force, and the military might of the Tang army continued to deter the countries of the Western Regions.

Hexi soldiers and horses set out to conquer the Western Regions, if there was no cooperation from the Anxi Protectorate, it would be unimaginable.

Because the area of the Western Regions has exceeded 2 million square kilometers. When Fang Chongyong was in his previous life, in a country of this size, seven or eight hundred thousand regular troops were not outrageous, and the final deployment was very scattered.

There were only more than 20,000 people in the Tang Army's Anxi Protectorate, but the territory under its management was so large that it was like sprinkling pepper noodles on a large cake with an astonishing area, and the white sand disappeared like Nirvana.

On the territory where the Anxi Protectorate is located, even if an inhabited oasis town evenly distributes 500 Tang troops, 20,000 troops are far from enough. Therefore, if Datang wants to make a difference in the Western Regions, it can't do anything big just by relying on the soldiers and horses of Anxi and Beiting.

Every time, the Tang Army needs to fight with one enemy and one hundred, and all the players can barely support the strategic needs.

From a tactical point of view, this is naturally the elite of the Tang Army; Strategically, however, this situation is very dangerous, and we cannot expect to guarantee strategic deterrence with every tactical victory.

Fang Chongyong's heart is very big, and he wants to do something before the world becomes chaotic. This trip is to buy at least 20 years for the Central Plains regime to control the Western Regions. As for the world twenty years from now, who knows?

As for why the expeditionary force had to arrive in Ganzhou first, because Fang Chongyong was not in a hurry to go to the front line of the Western Regions, he still had a big thing to do in Ganzhou!

……

"Zziz..."

The forged "iron bar" is put into cold water and makes a pleasant sound, and the head part of a hoe is beaten. Although it is true that the production efficiency is not high, it is easy to make and convenient to popularize.

The blacksmith who was hanging a cowhide apron and was forging farm tools saw Fang Chongyong coming, and hurriedly stepped forward to salute.

This is an ordinary blacksmith workshop in Ganzhou, and many such workshops have been established outside Zhangye near the shore of the small bridge, and they are basically all gathered together.

The coal mine near Shandan County was mined and sent to the outside of Zhangye City; Locally mined hematite is also sent here. Coal is first made into inferior coke, and then used to smelt iron. The iron tools manufactured are not of high quality and cannot be used as weapons.

But it is more than enough to make hoes and plowshares.

This is one of the secrets of the development of agriculture in Hexi in recent years, Fang Chongyong planted a seed that year, and then someone watered and fertilized, and now it grows saplings.

The carboniferous ore and iron ore that have been explored, and the Ganzhou Thorn History and the Hexi Jiedu Envoy behind are very concerned about this. With Ganzhou as the core, an iron-smelting center has been built, specializing in the manufacture of agricultural tools.

There is no way, it is really inconvenient to cut down trees in Hexi, and it is impossible to make charcoal, so I have to use the latest "coking coal" technology supported by the Ministry of Industry of the imperial court to smelt coke of average grade with coal, and then use coke as fuel to smelt iron.

In all fairness, the quality of the coke smelted in the end is indeed inferior to charcoal, but it is easier to use and less troublesome, and the cost is controllable, which can support the operation of the smelting center for a long time.

As for why it was chosen near Zhangye City, it is because it is almost the least water-scarce place in the Hexi Corridor! And iron smelting is indispensable for water in any case!

Since serving as the envoy of Hexi Jiedu, Fang Chongyong has issued a decree to make every effort to spread out the burning of coal for heating in Zhangye City, strictly prohibit any private felling of the surrounding sand willow forest, and consolidate water and soil to ensure the water resources in Zhangye area.

"If the army sets out, it will be too wasteful to carry all the food.

If you bring a batch of farm tools to the Western Regions, you can exchange these farm tools for food, and ...... Popularity.

What will happen? ”

Patrolling along the bank of the Zhangye River, Fang Chongyong asked Duan Xiushi beside him.

"Hui Jieshuai, this is very good. We hold a hoe in our left hand and a knife in our right hand.

As far as the last general knew, the iron production in the Western Regions was limited and there was a lack of agricultural tools. The limited output must be given priority to the supply of military supplies, and many people from small countries in the Western Regions are even using stone farming tools to dig in the field.

Wherever we went, we had to spread out the iron tools we had brought. After tasting the sweetness, once those people of the Western Regions lose the supply and support of the Tang Dynasty, survival will also become a problem.

If you want to take this trick, you must give it first, which is really wonderful! ”

Duan Xiushi exclaimed.

In the Western Regions, and even in the Anzai Prefecture and the Beiting Prefecture in the garrison, iron farming tools are very precious. Again, in the Western Regions, precious and limited iron is used to make weapons.

Under the current harsh living environment in the Western Regions, no one can have the luxury of using iron farming tools on a daily basis, unless it is the core control area of the Tang Dynasty.

This is a conspiracy that no one can refuse! The key is that this side of Hexi has the ability to continuously export iron farming tools! The farm tools will be broken after a period of time, and if they are broken, they will be replaced with new ones, and there will be rigid needs.

Duan Xiushi knew that this was Fang Chongyong's layout a few years ago, but he only felt that this person was really unfathomable, and he took ten steps to do things on weekdays.

"Thank you for your auspicious words, this section of Shuai went to the Western Regions just to spread the glory of my kindness of the Tang Dynasty.

In the future, the supply of military supplies in the army will be left to you to take care of, including the management of these agricultural tools. ”

Fang Chongyong waved his hand disappreciably and said.

During the Han Dynasty, there was a wave of large-scale smelting technology exchanges between the Western Regions and the Central Plains Dynasty, and it can be said that they had mutual experiences. At that time, there were still some "black technologies" in the Western Regions, such as "carbon powder steelmaking".

At that time, the stronghold of the Han army in the Western Regions also had a small iron-smelting center to build agricultural tools, and cooperate with iron agricultural tools to promote cattle. However, by the time of the Tang Dynasty, due to years of war, the destruction of productive forces, the destruction of the natural environment and other factors, the political forces in the Western Regions began to be fragmented, and one city and one country were extremely common.

The Tang Dynasty also gave up the Han army's cantonment system and changed to the system of supervising the capital of the Han army.

Without the full support of Datang, the smelting process of these small forces is actually a substantial regression or even a complete abandonment.

Due to the inability to provide charcoal for smelting and the shortage of water sources, the small countries in the Western Regions did not have the energy or heart to operate these troublesome things.

"The purpose of my Datang is to take me as the main family and the world as one."

Fang Chongyong looked at the other side of the Zhangye River, where a group of children were playing the game of "officers and soldiers catching robbers", and continued to sigh:

"In addition to Xizhou, Yizhou and other places, other cities in the Western Regions, although Datang has the name of jurisdiction, but it has not yet been organized into a household.

Although Datang is inclusive of the world, who is our friend and who is our enemy, this cannot be confused, and it is accepted in a big and general way.

Of course, we accept our friends with open arms, and when the enemy comes, they will be greeted only by lances and soldiers!

This section commander has a vision, in the Western Regions, so that our friends and our enemies will each go further. ”

Fang Chongyong said meaningfully.

Duan Xiushi was puzzled and asked, "Why do you want to go further?" ”

"That's naturally a friend of the Western Regions who has good intentions towards us, and we want to give them a chance to be a dog of the Tang Dynasty.

Well, you can understand it as serving before and after the saddle.

Those enemies who are hostile to us, if they have the opportunity, must be sent cleanly and mercilessly to the coal mines in Hexi for labor reform!

After they have figured out that it is wrong and undesirable to be an enemy of my Datang, and deeply reflect on their crimes, they will give them the opportunity to join the warm family of Datang wholeheartedly. ”

Fang Chongyong smiled, took out a piece of paper from his arms, and handed it to Duan Xiushi to read.

This is a common official letter in the yamen, but the seal has been stamped, and only the person in charge of the work and the party concerned need to sign their own names.

"It's ...... Paperwork for naturalization? ”

Duan Xiushi saw what was written on the paper, and somewhat understood Fang Chongyong's thoughts.

"When we pass through Xizhou, the cities we actually encounter again may not be wholeheartedly supporting Datang. It is not uncommon for even the magnates and even the people of those small countries to stand on the side of the Tibetans, or have bigger plans.

Once there, we still need logistical supplies, a servant army, and a place to stay.

The document of naturalization is the invisible hand of this section commander on the battlefield.

When the time comes, as long as people are willing to serve the Tang Army wholeheartedly, we will be able to do nothing in the autumn.

If he is willing to fight to the death to kill the enemy for us, and sell his children and daughters to raise military funds for us, we can give him the opportunity to become a naturalized Datang and protect their property from infringement.

This section commander believes that for those people of small countries in the Western Regions who are willing to stand by our side, the benefits we can give are sweeter and more fragrant. As for those die-hards, now the wrists of the Anxi Duhufu are too soft, and this section will be handsome when the time comes! See one and hit one! ”

So that's it!

Duan Xiushi couldn't help but give a thumbs up and said, "Jie Shuai's words can be described as an enlightenment!" If you can get this naturalization certificate, those people will wake up laughing when they fall asleep. ”

"It's not a naturalization certificate, but we accepted their application to join the Datang household registration. Since it's an application, there are still cases where it is not approved! Whether you want to pass or not depends on how well you perform in the future. ”

Fang Chongyong said with a slight smile, it's okay to say this, everyone who understands understands.

Although the Tang Dynasty is ostensibly a dynasty that "embraces all over the world", it is actually a country that clearly marks the price and discriminates, puts "looking down on you" in the clear place, and writes it into the law, so that the Hu people love and hate it.

After the Hu people entered the Tang Dynasty, although they settled down and had a household registration, it was clearly written on the household registration that you were a Hu person!

Since you are a Hu person, then locally, you are a member of the tribe near the city, collecting taxes and serving as a soldier according to the rules of the city. In a big city like Chang'an, the address is assigned according to the place where the Hu people live, and you are not allowed to wear Han clothes on weekdays, otherwise you will be found guilty of a crime!

The "naturalization form" given by Fang Chongyong, as long as it is approved, then the person concerned will be Han people instead of Hu people in Datang.

Just like Liangzhou An's who has broken through the political ceiling. This is not only a matter of reputation and identity, but also involves major matters related to one's own interests, such as daily behavior constraints, Juntian and tax standards!

Duan Xiushi suddenly stopped talking.

He already understands that "giving them the opportunity to be the dogs of the Tang Dynasty" is by no means just Fang Chongyong's words, but a three-pronged combination of material rewards, identity and force deterrence!

If you are a dog to Datang, you will have the opportunity to become a "human" in the future, and you will be your own person.

Standing on the opposite side of the Tang Dynasty, you have to bear the risk of being besieged from all sides, and even your subordinates will appear to lead the party.

This is a great hand!

Duan Xiushi thought deeper, what Fang Chongyong promised now was his own words, and he used the official position of the envoy of Hexi Jiedu as a guarantee. Once he loses his position, all the promises will naturally be counted, what will happen at that time?

He didn't dare to think about it anymore. Even if Fang Chongyong wanted to stop at that time, the people of the Western Regions countries who had a huge sinking cost in the early stage would not be able to accept it.

"Why don't you speak, do you think this section commander is too kind to them?

As a matter of fact, in the process of mutual exchanges between various ethnic groups and political regimes, it is the general trend that the world is one family, regardless of each other.

The same kind of household registration for the people of the world is the progress of the country.

At present, some of my Datang's policies are very problematic, and this section is just slightly adjusting. ”

Seeing that Duan Xiushi didn't speak, Fang Chongyong defended again.

The Western Regions are about to usher in a century of changes!

Duan Xiushi sighed in his heart, but asked quietly on his face: "The strategy of the commander is indeed good, and the last general also believes that you will do what you say." But the envoy of Hexi Jiedu also has a term of office. If you step down or transfer in the future, how will you fulfill your promises? ”

"The ancients said: In his position, seek his government.

Since this section commander was no longer in his position at that time, these matters were naturally worried about by the next section commander.

Do you want to bewitch these people and go to Chang'an collectively to force the palace saint and let the saint take back his fate? ”

Fang Chongyong glanced at Duan Xiushi with a strange look and said.

……

Bang blah!

Heavy rain in some areas of Guanzhong, and the same is true for the suburbs of Liquan. However, the water level of Jingshui not far away is okay, not to say that the flood will flood the camp of the Shence Army.

Fang Youde looked at the rainstorm outside helplessly, and saluted Brother Ji: "Sage, our army was going to pull out, but in this rainstorm, the bow and arrow can't be fired, and if you go north along Jingshui, I am afraid that you will be attacked by the enemy." Weichen suggested that it was better to postpone the attack on Pizhou, and it was not too late to march after the rain stopped. ”

The expression on Brother Ji's face changed several times, and finally he gritted his teeth and scolded: "That's just a bunch of Khitan slaves, where do you know what water attack!" You can lead your troops to attack Pizhou directly! There are countless elite soldiers and strong generals in the Shence Army, and they can't take down a group of anti-thieves? ”

It's raining heavily! Fang Youde has nothing to say.

The stubborn emperor is now full of "I don't listen, I don't listen", no matter how much he persuades, it's useless.

"Then Weichen will lead the troops and set off, please don't worry about the saint."

Fang Youde saluted Ji Ge's forked hand, turned around and sighed silently.

If Ji Ge fights like this, the annihilation of the whole army is inevitable, and it seems that he has to resort to some "tricks".

Fang Youde thought secretly in his heart.

(End of chapter)