"Is this Igo City?"

At sunset, a small city appeared in front of the team, and Chongyong asked with a horsewhip pointing in the direction of the city.

This city is an outer city with an inner city, and there is a low city outside the outer city, a nested shape that is very common in this era, and the outermost low city has a visual width of more than 1,000 meters.

After many days of marching, the Anxi expeditionary force led by Fang Chongyong has arrived at the center of Yizhou, which is also the city of Yiwu, and has come to the entrance of the Zhongtian Mountain corridor.

This is the dividing point of the two major roads, which divides a "East Tianshan Corridor" and a "Middle Tianshan Corridor".

The East Tianshan Corridor includes part of Yizhou and all of Tingzhou, corresponding to Hami and Urumqi in Chongyong's previous life.

That's right, Yiwu City in the Tang Dynasty was the urban area of Hami City, and Yiwu County in Fang Chongyong's previous life was a new settlement formed by the diversion of the river due to the later diversion of the river.

If you walk along the corridor to the northwest from Igo Castle, you will arrive at Tingju. Of course, Fang Chongyong didn't need to take this road, because they were going to Anxi Duhufu Tunza, and they needed to take the Middle Tianshan Corridor.

At the end of the corridor of the Middle Tianshan Mountains is Xizhou, which corresponds to Turpan in Chongyong's previous life.

The northwest of Seokju is connected to Tingju, and the road to the southwest of Seoksu leads to Kuqa City, where the Anzai Prefecture is located.

To put it simply, the Anxi Expeditionary Force, after repairing in Yizhou, will continue to go to Xizhou from the Zhongtianshan Corridor, continue to supply there, and then set off from the southwest road of Xizhou to Qiuzi. Finally, set up camp in Qiuzi and wait for the opportunity!

The previous steps can be "withdrawn", and what is lacking can be made up, and it is a big deal to retreat all the way back to the Hexi Corridor. However, once you leave Qiuzi and continue westward, there is basically no way back.

"Hui Fang Jieshuai, the front is indeed Yiwu City. This is an area controlled by the Tang Army, and it is very safe, should we enter Yiwu City? ”

Wu Chengen, who served as the pioneer guide, asked as he rode two steps forward.

"No need, give the order to go down and camp the whole army."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand and said, then turned over and dismounted.

The Anxi Expeditionary Force came from the south, and there were many small-scale oases along the way, which were basically water sources formed by underground rivers, and there were no rivers exposed outside the surface! Having said that, there are quite a few shallow ravines washed out by small streams on the ground, much like the river channel during hydrological changes, but unfortunately only yellow sand is left now.

But thinking about it, Fang Chongyong remembered that the geography magazine introduced that the annual evaporation in the Hami area was 3,000 milliliters, and the rainfall was only 50 milliliters. The gap can be described as frenzied.

As long as the length of the river is a little longer, it will dry up directly, and there is no room for small rivers to live here.

Of course, Yizhou is backed by the Zheroman Mountain (another name for the Middle Tianshan Mountain, any mountain in the Western Regions is called "Tianshan", which is part of the Tianshan Mountain Range), and there is definitely no shortage of water. The snow melts from the mountains and flows through Igo Castle from a high place, nourishing the people here.

Since the Han Dynasty opened up the Western Regions, the unique "ditch" technology in Guanzhong has been carried forward here according to local conditions, forming an artificially dug underground river system "karez", forming a pattern of "water is not exposed" in the city.

Looking at a round of red sun hanging on a fort abandoned by the predecessors, the abrupt hills, the yellow sand all over the ground, and the strange rocks blown by the wind, as the sky gradually darkened, the color turned from yellow to black, and became lifeless, like the scenery in hell.

It was a sense of oppression that was full of magnificence.

Compared to the vast Western Regions, the power of human beings is too small. Such a bold statement as sweeping the Western Regions, under such a view, seems to have become a joke after dinner.

Fang Chongyong held his hand on the Wind Phantom Knife, and the whole person seemed to have a solemn expression, like a sculpture.

He Changqi cautiously leaned over and asked, "Is the festival marshal worried that the people of the Beiting Metropolitan Protector Mansion will not listen to the order?" ”

"Does anyone dare to disobey the order?"

Fang Chongyong was stunned, he didn't think that anyone would dare to be a thorn in the head at this juncture.

Even if the entire army of the Beiting Protectorate rebelled, the soldiers and horses of the Anxi Expeditionary Force would be enough to destroy it, and one or two thorns would not be enough.

But then again, if there is really such a stupid person, Fang Chongyong wants to ask him why he relied to live so far without being beaten to death.

"Fang Jieshuai, don't you know, although the capital protection mansions of Anxi and Beiting are similar to Jiedu Mansions, they are still slightly different.

These two are more like the Lingnan Five Mansions.

When the real fight broke out, not only the Tang army stationed in the area had to be dispatched, but also the soldiers and horses of the local tribes should be mobilized depending on the situation.

Hehe, although the soldiers and horses of these tribes also obey the order, their leaders may not be able to command like the generals in the army.

Yiwu's army in Yizhou, Zahu also.

The Han Navy of Tingzhou is also Hui.

Only the Tianshan Army in Xizhou was dominated by Han people.

The miscellaneous soldiers in Yizhou may not make trouble, but those tribal leaders can really provide the festival marshal? ”

He Changqi asked rhetorically with disdain.

What he said is not unreasonable, just as there are many Tuyuhun people in the Shazhou Doulu Army and the Guazhou Moli Army, there are also a large number of Hu people in the Yiwu Army and the Han Navy. And unlike Shazhou and other places, many of them come from tribes near the city and are so-called "tribal soldiers".

It's not a government soldier, it's not a Long March athlete, it's not even a Tuntian soldier.

In the Tang military system, the general term is government soldiers or recruitment, and a certain period of time is mainly in a certain form. But in fact, when it comes to a certain detail in a certain place, the origin of its Tang sergeants is very complicated.

It can even be said that "the eight immortals cross the sea to show their magical powers", and everything is practical.

The origin of the soldiers and horses in Anxi is complex, this is an objective phenomenon, and there is no need to investigate the reasons for its formation now, it is clearly placed in front of us.

"I have already sent Duan Xiushi to contact Yiwu City, you can take someone to patrol the night first."

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly and said, noncommittal to He Changqi's statement, but kept a heart in his heart.

A trip to the Western Regions may not seem as simple as imagined.

He sighed secretly.

The question of who is our friend and who is our enemy is the beginning of all affairs, and it is impossible not to figure it out.

Fang Chongyong's face was calm, as if nothing had happened, and after the army had set up a simple camp, he entered the tent to check the letters sent by the messenger.

Who is the protector of the North Garden Metropolitan Protectorate now?

is a person who surprised Fang Chongyong very much, his name is Li Xuan! That's right, it's the current prince. Of course, this is just a remote leader, in fact, the Beiting Metropolitan Protectorate does not have a leader, and it is the deputy Metropolitan Protector who is managing the military affairs of the three states.

In order to control the Western Regions, the imperial court was very concerned about the division of military and political affairs between the two towns in the Western Regions, that is, Anxi and Beiting.

So, who is the current protector of the Anxi Metropolitan Protectorate?

is also a person who surprised Fang Chongyong: Li Linfu, the right minister!

is also a remote leader, and like Beiting, the actual military affairs of the Anxi Metropolitan Protectorate are also managed by the Deputy Metropolitan Protector.

Fang Chongyong understood very well that Brother Ji didn't want anyone to get in the way, so he deliberately did not appoint a new protector, and he did not give him, the ambassador of the Western Regions, a chance to shirk his responsibilities. In short, this game of expanding the territory was not played well, and Fang Chongyong couldn't even find a chance to shake the pot, nor could he find anyone to take the pot.

But correspondingly, although he could not command all the troops and horses in the Anxi Empire, he could move them at will and control them strategically.

At this time, someone jumped out to find fault...... Unlikely, right?

When Fang Chongyong was secretly thinking in his heart, he saw a young officer in the costume of a Tang Army general, who looked no more than twenty years old, followed Duan Xiushi, who was wearing a mask, into the tent. Fang Chongyong put down the letter in his hand, looked at the young officer, and asked softly, "Who are you?" ”

"The last general, Ma Lan, visited Ambassador Fang, and it was the deputy capital of Fumeng Lingcha who escorted the last one. He had already prepared a banquet in the city to wash the dust for the ambassador.

Please bring the ambassadors and the generals to the city with the last general for a banquet. ”

Ma Lu said calmly.

"You're from the Igo Army?"

Fang Chongyong asked thoughtfully, his face unrecognizable to see what he was thinking.

"No, the last general is from the Tianshan Army, from Xizhou, and he is just under the protection of the deputy capital."

Ma Lan replied with an embarrassed face.

In fact, this is not surprising, because the Yiwu army is a small formation, with a full strength of only 3,000 people, most of whom are miscellaneous soldiers, and their combat effectiveness is not strong. The Tianshan Army of the Beiting Protectorate was mainly mounted infantry, while the Han Navy was mainly cavalry, and these two forces were the main force.

Well, it is not possible to do without horses in the Western Regions, so whether it is cavalry or infantry, they are all on horseback when they march.

Even sometimes the mounted infantry is also cavalry, and it is only a matter of tactical needs, and it is not so detailed in actual combat.

"Alas, when we first met, I shouldn't have told you these frustrating things.

It's just that when I was marching before, my ambassador burned his feet on the sand, which made it really inconvenient to walk.

You say that this ambassador was carried to the city of Iwu, which is insulting;

Riding into the city without dismounting is rude and arrogant;

If you don't go to Yiwu City, you look down on the generals and soldiers of Beiting; If he goes, the ambassador is worried that his injuries will worsen and delay the saint's passage through the Western Regions.

This is really a dilemma for this ambassador.

Why don't you go back and ask the deputy capital protector to see if he can come to the ambassador's camp and discuss where to hold this reception banquet and what to do.

In other words, the generals and colonels of the Anxi Expeditionary Force also have to participate, and it will be more lively if there are more people.

In the near future, we will all have to work together to contribute to the country and to the saints, and these things cannot but be considered.

Of course, this ambassador is not only a good talker, but also a person who has something to discuss.

If you go back and just say it, this ambassador will definitely not do anything like that, nor is he deliberately making things difficult for you.

What do you think of this? ”

Fang Chongyong asked with a smile, his attitude was very kind, and he could be described as approachable.

Hearing this, Ma Lan was dumbfounded.

How else, does this still need to be asked? Of course, I'm going back to report the news!

This kind of major event can be decided by a partial general!

Ma Lan hurriedly clasped his fists and saluted: "The last general will go back to tell you!" Ambassador Fang, please wait a moment! ”

After saying that, he left in a hurry.

After Ma Lan left the tent, Duan Xiushi stepped forward, and the other party said in a heavy and yin rubbing:

He met this man on the way, and after a few casual conversations with him, they turned back together. Fumeng Lingcha wanted to invite the marshal into Yiwu City, as if he wanted to test the depth of the marshal. I haven't figured out my status yet.

When the husband Meng Lingcha comes, Fang Jieshuai must give him a dismount! ”

Fumeng Lingcha is a Qiang ethnic group who lives in Guanzhong, and like many border generals in the Western Regions, they are all from Guanzhong.

However, it is worth mentioning that he is a Fumeng, surnamed Ma, and the family still maintains the "surname" system during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. According to the custom of the Tang Dynasty, it is not necessary to call him Ma Lingcha. This person was a border general who was active in the Anxi court in the middle of the Kaiyuan Dynasty, and he slowly got started.

Of course, he is not a "localist", he is an out-and-out Guanzhong. People of similar origins are very common among the border generals of the Anxi court.

"This section commander came to the Western Regions with more than 10,000 people, and the local military and political officials, of course, will feel unaccustomed to it and can't figure out whether they are friends or enemies.

It's normal for them to be tempted like this, and there's no need to make a big fuss. ”

Fang Chongyong waved his hand indifferently and said.

Fu Meng Lingcha looks "ill-intentioned", but it shows that he is not an old coin, and his Taoism is still very shallow.

"Come, sit, this section commander will discuss with you the strategy of the Western Regions."

Fang Chongyong asked Duan Xiushi to sit opposite him.

"Commander, please speak."

Duan Xiushi sat down calmly and nodded slightly.

"Well, this section marshal asks you, what are we doing here in the Western Regions?"

Fang Chongyong asked very casually.

This question seems simple, but it actually involves the core question of the expedition to the Western Regions: what is the significance of this war?

"Hui Fang Jieshuai, west of Xizhou, and even the station of the Anxi Metropolitan Protectorate, are places that cannot be defended for a long time. Once Datang's national strength weakens slightly, it is the limit to be able to keep the three states of Beiting.

Our expedition this time is just to strengthen the control of the Tang Dynasty in the Western Regions, and to defend the frontier. If you march blindly, I am afraid it will backfire. ”

Duan Xiushi said affirmatively.

The Western Regions are thousands of miles away from Chang'an, and they are actually defending the frontier when they go out to fight here! In the eyes of the average person, and even in the eyes of most people in the Anxi Expeditionary Force, this is no less than a fantasy!

It's almost analogous to preventing thieves from going into the neighbor's bedroom.

However, Fang Chongyong nodded slightly and said:

"That's true, you can see it clearly.

Originally, the imperial court implemented a three-stage defense system in the Western Regions, so it doesn't hurt to talk to you.

The first section of the defense line is the three states of Beiting, where the households are all in the people, the Han people are many, the Tang army is directly controlled, and each city has a garrison. Fighting a war here can be said to be like an arm's command.

The second line of defense is Qiuzi Town, where the Anxi Metropolitan Protectorate is located, and it can barely include Broken Leaf Town. Here, the Tang army only camped in the core city, and in other places, the lords of small countries were granted as governors, and when they were fighting, they were called on to send troops and food.

As for the third section of defense, that is, the twenty countries west of the Green Ridge and the Persian Protectorate, where there is no longer a single Tang army. The Tang Dynasty only begged them not to fall to Tubo and the Great Cannibals, once someone rebelled, the Tang army needed to go thousands of miles, and if they were far away, they would be punished!

What we have to do is to strengthen the first paragraph, repair the second paragraph, and move forward with the third paragraph.

We didn't come to the Western Regions to burn and loot, although outsiders don't understand, but we came here to defend the frontier. Cause and effect cannot be reversed, and ends and means cannot be reversed.

Therefore, we can grasp the big and let go of the small things for the various forces in the three states of Beiting, as long as they are oriented to the Tang Dynasty, and we don't need to stare at those red tape and small things.

Be sure to let them feel the warmth of spring, and let them know that we are here for their benefit.

This is true for other forces, let alone the military and political leaders of the Tang Army in Beiting.

Fu Meng Lingcha has a small belly and chicken intestines, and this section is handsome and does not care about him in general. ”

Fang Chongyong shook his head with a smile.

"Fang Jieshuai, you have thought it through so clearly, you don't know how to persuade you!"

Duan Xiushi couldn't help but flatter.

"If you don't understand this, then this section commander is really going to take you to hell."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand disappreciatively, Duan Xiushi's sycophant was really blunt, so it was okay not to mention it.

"Fang Jieshuai, Fu Meng Lingcha is here! Riding a fast horse into the camp, he was almost mistaken by the sentry for a camp robbery, and even his hair bun ran away along the way, and now he is so embarrassed that he is wearing a mantle outside the military tent! ”

He Changqi hurriedly rushed into the handsome tent and said, and couldn't help laughing out loud while telling him.

"What are you laughing at, be serious!"

Fang Chongyong glared at He Changqi and scolded in a low voice.

(End of chapter)