In the early autumn of Tianbao 9, Fang Chongyong, the ambassador of the Western Regions, sent an envoy to the Western Regions Shiguo for accountability on the grounds of "disrespect to the Tang Emperor".

Not long after the envoy set out from Beiting Jinmancheng, Fang Chongyong used 2,000 elite cavalry in the Han Navy who were familiar with the people in the Broken Leaf area to open the way for the front army, and he personally led 3,000 silver spear filial piety troops to follow the Chinese army.

Through the "Gongyue Ancient Road", drive from Tingzhou to Broken Leaf Town, which is controlled by the pro-Tang forces of the Tuqi Shi.

The rest of the Anxi Expeditionary Force was divided into two, with 5,000 people each, which were managed by Guan Chongsi and Wang Yuan. One of the palaces, one man and two horses, did not leave until five days after the departure of the front army.

The other part is to replace all the mounts with camels, one person and three camels, to carry grain and grass baggage.

Why didn't the army go out in one go?

Because between Broken Leaf Town and Tingzhou, there is only one large supply point in Gongyue City. Troops of more than 10,000 people, carrying horses and livestock on the road, the logistical pressure is too great, and it is extremely troublesome for the army to find water.

Splitting and attacking together is the right way to open.

I have to say that the climate in northern Xinjiang is much wetter than that in southern Xinjiang. The area where Tingzhou is located is one of the few places in the Western Regions where agriculture can be maintained by precipitation. Datang's strategic support point for the Western Regions is located in Tingzhou, which is actually a choice based on local conditions.

Along the way, Fang Chongyong saw a series of forts established by the Tang army on the "corridor" of Tingzhou, the largest and the closest one to Jinmancheng, which was the Tang Luntai mentioned in Cen Shen's poems.

Luntai East Gate sent Jun to go, and when he went, the snow was full of Tianshan Road. That's what I'm talking about.

It is a small town on the side of a lake, on a relatively high hill.

It is said to be a "small city", but it is actually as big as the inner city of Jinmancheng, and it is a rectangular castle with a length of about 1,000 meters and a width of about 600 meters. Although there are only two layers of nested structure, the walls are unusually tall and difficult to defend.

This stronghold, not far from Jinmancheng, is a horn to each other, watching each other. Its role in defending against the invasion of northern nomads is irreplaceable. It is the second largest town in Tingzhou.

In addition to Tang Luntai, a series of other forts, which can accommodate hundreds of people at most, are all small cities in the name of "guarding and capturing". From the nearest to Jinmancheng, Zhangbao guarded, to the westernmost Donglin guarded.

This series of small cities were all built on the riverside to prevent the northern nomads from infiltrating Tingzhou along the river. The line of points formed by the two directions of Tingzhou's defense in the northwest was formed.

Fang Chongyong had heard from Fu Meng Lingcha that the situation in Beiting was a bit special, or that the garrisons in the Western Regions were relatively special, and the garrison of its fort was not to fix those defenders in one place. Generally speaking, it is a fixed establishment of only a few dozen people per guard, stationed in the fort day and night, maintaining the daily operation of the fort and the beacon tower.

Only in the face of an emergency, will the surrounding herdsmen also enter the fort and participate in the defense of the city.

A large number of regular army troops are used to ensure the security of the surrounding area through daily patrols and "punching cards" in the form of "mobile posts". Therefore, the relationship between these guards and the Han Navy is not that they are at the same level as the Hexi side, but that their soldiers are all from the Han Navy.

There are also some from local military households, which are not in the account books of the Tang Military Department.

When there is no war, they divide their troops and garrison them. When the war was fought, it was concentrated and turned into a field army, which was more like the standard establishment of the border army in the Han Dynasty.

After marching for many days, Fang Chongyong came to the edge of a lake with three thousand silver spears and filial piety troops. The water and grass here are abundant, and there are birds roosting on the tidal flats everywhere.

He turned over and dismounted, then frowned slightly, looked at the huge wooden sign inserted on the shore of the lake, and couldn't help but sigh.

I saw that the wooden sign read: The salt lake here is not drinkable by humans and animals.

The payment is the Hanhai Pioneer Army.

This is the vanguard of the Anxi Expeditionary Force, after they arrived here, they were worried that Fang Chongyong was a foreign guest and did not know the local situation, so they deliberately left a sign here.

If there was no insider reminder, who would have thought that this place with abundant water and grass would actually be a salt water lake!

"Feng Changqing, you go to the surrounding area to look for it, see if there are any small rivers and streams flowing here, the lake in front of us will be living water."

Fang Chongyong instructed Feng Changqing, who was serving as a member of the army.

"Ambassador Fang, there are 23 rivers around this lake, which can be used for drinking horses, so there is no need to worry about the lack of water sources. The last general will now direct the army to the nearest river bank and camp there.

Well, that river is called Twin Rivers, and it's not far to the west. ”

Feng Changqing, who was short in stature, pointed in the direction of the west and said, still holding a booklet in his hand, and said while reading.

Huh?

Fang Chongyong glanced at Feng Changqing with some surprise, and he suddenly found that this one seemed to be very qualified as a staff officer!

"That's not busy, this ambassador wants to test you."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand and continued to ask: "On this expedition, grain and grass are indispensable, but along the way, there are not many places that can be replenished, and it is very important to maintain the grain route. This ambassador wants to find a grain transit place between Tingzhou Jinmancheng and Xiaye Town, where do you think it is better? ”

This question may seem easy to answer, but it's not.

This is because the transit of grain and straw itself involves strategic thinking and the planning of using troops. If he couldn't guess what Fang Chongyong was thinking, then he wouldn't be able to choose the location he liked.

Feng Changqing thought for a while, and then replied with a calm face:

"Jieshuai, if you follow the ordinary method, it is naturally chosen in the inherent supply point since the Han Dynasty, that is, the location of Gongyue City.

However, the last general inquired, not to mention that Gongyue City in that area has long been abandoned, and now only the ruins remain. It is said that the nearby rivers are also in a state of seasonal water cuts.

If the grain and straw transit place is set here, I am afraid that something unexpected will happen after the autumn. ”

Hearing this, Fang Chongyong nodded slightly noncommittally, waiting for Feng Changqing's next words. At the same time as you ask a problem, you have to have a solution to the problem, otherwise it will be useless.

He believed that Feng Changqing would not fail to understand this truth.

"To the south of Gongyue City, there is the Ili River. This section of the river runs from east to west, and we choose a good place to build a city somewhere on the east bank of the Ili River. I heard that the water and grass here are abundant and the trees are numerous, and it is a treasure land of feng shui.

Keep cattle, sheep and horses here, not only will they not be dragged thin, but they will also be fattened! With this as the logistics fulcrum, this westward expedition to Shiguo is not a problem. ”

The more Feng Changqing spoke, the more excited he became, and he couldn't wait for Fang Chongyong to immediately order the construction of Ili City.

"It turned out to be the Ili River Valley, so it's no wonder."

Fang Chongyong folded his arms and muttered to himself.

Who comes from a thousand years later doesn't know what the Ili River Valley is!

This is the essence of Xinjiang and even the entire Western Regions, but it is currently in the gap between the forces of Tuqi Shi and the Tang Dynasty, which happens to leak this piece of feng shui treasure!

The topography of Xinjiang is a situation of "arms embraced". Mountains such as the Altai Mountains, the Tianshan Mountains, and the Kunlun Mountains envelop a huge basin in it.

To the south, the westernmost mountains of southern Xinjiang are towering, blocking the monsoon winds on the Mediterranean side, preventing rainfall.

In the north, although the westernmost part of the northern frontier is also blocked by mountains, it is not completely blocked!

Not only are these mountains absolutely low in elevation, but they are also like an old lady's teeth, leaking wind on all sides.

As a result, in some places, the monsoon from the Mediterranean Sea in the west leaked in, forming rainfall zones in some areas. Among them, the Ili River Valley is the best of these areas, with superior natural conditions.

I have to say that Feng Changqing still has a bit of strategic vision. It is more important to focus on field visits and intelligence gathering.

Topographically speaking, the Ili River Valley is not like Gongyue City, stuck on the node before the mountain, and the role of military defense is not so obvious. But considering the Tang Dynasty's control over the Western Regions at this time, this flaw can also be ignored.

"Do you build a city in Ili......

Fang Chongyong weighed the pros and cons in his heart.

If you build a city, even if more than 10,000 hills and eight start together, it will take a month to build it completely, right? And I don't know if we can find suitable materials for building the city.

But if the city is built, it will be equivalent to advancing the battle line forward for hundreds of kilometers! The logistical benefits of this speak for themselves!

"Well, you don't have to follow the team. Now return to Jinmancheng, take the military order of this ambassador, mobilize all the craftsmen around Jinmancheng, and come to the Ili River Valley to join the army.

It's okay for the Qiu Ba to die hard, but building a city is not something that can be built by brute force, and craftsmen are needed.

Go ahead, go now, and take a few of your own soldiers with you! ”

Fang Chongyong wrote a military order on the spot, and asked Feng Changqing to take his golden fish talisman and leave the team and go to Jinman City.

After Feng Changqing left, Fang Chongyong breathed a sigh of relief.

The strategic collapse of Datang in Broken Leaf Town has not been completely relieved, so that even places like the Ili River Valley are not actually controlled. Of course, from the point of view of future generations, Broken Leaf Town is too far away from the center of Xinjiang, and it is even more outside the terrain surrounded by arms, so it is geographically disadvantageous.

However, the Ili River Valley is within the range of power radiation. Because the crumbling Qing government did not give its strength, even if Zuo Zongtang tried his best back then, he only saved half of Yili.

Can building a city in Ili now affect the fortune of a thousand years from now?

Fang Chongyong didn't know what would happen in the end, he only knew that although many things were very troublesome, they also needed someone to do them.

Anyway, it's all here, so it's better to build a city.

Secrecy in the military is a top priority, and Fang Chongyong has not told anyone what he really thinks.

Don't look at him angrily issuing a "diplomatic edict" to Shiguo, and he is rushing to lead troops to Shiguo, it seems that everything is so eager.

But in fact, he had no intention of attacking Shiguo.

Those dirty jobs are tiring, although Fang Chongyong didn't say it explicitly, but Gao Xianzhi will take care of it. If he couldn't even see this, Gao Xianzhi wouldn't need to mix in the Western Regions.

Fang Chongyong's goal has always been to eat in black.

Therefore, this march cannot go too fast. Of course, he must not be able to say this clearly, so that the morale of the army will be scattered.

The construction of the city in Ili is indeed a good excuse to stall for time. Che Guangqian has already led people to continue to reconnoiter westward, and the information over there will continue to come.

When Gao Xianzhi appeared in the south of Shiguo, Fang Chongyong felt that it was not too late to make a move at that time.

"Ah Lang, there are a lot of herbs here, I'm going to pick them."

Anaye suddenly leaned over and whispered.

"This is a salt lake, don't go to the lake to bathe."

Fang Chongyong confessed casually.

"Ah Lang thinks of the concubine as someone! I want to collect more medicines, and if something happens later, I can provide some medicinal materials to the army. ”

Anaye grimaced at Fang Chongyong and left with He Changqi and the others.

"Well, the beauty, plus the divine doctor, plus the character of the princess, is very stable. The goddess descended from the sky, Pudu is good, good. ”

Fang Chongyong stared at Anaye's back, thoughtful.

Shiguo was in turmoil, and the people were struggling to make a living. Anaye, who understands medical skills and is of royal blood, appeared in the capital of Shiguo, like a goddess descending to earth to save the common people.

It's a good story.

Without Gao Xianzhi's cooperation, Anaye was just a puppet in the eyes of the people of Shiguo; With Gao Xianzhi smashing and robbing all the way, Anaya is a living bodhisattva.

Who is good and who is not good is set off by peers, and there is no identification without comparison.

"The order went down, and the whole army marched westward, and camped on the banks of the Twin Rivers."

Fang Chongyong instructed Duan Xiushi.

……

"Are you telling the truth?"

The crown prince Li Xuan's face was calm, and he looked directly at Cheng Yuanzhen and asked, not angry and arrogant.

"Back to the prince, it is true.

The two handsome gentlemen who are good with Mrs. Qiuguo, these two people recently, one was poisoned by eating puffer fish, and the other was hit by a carriage and died in a trouble, only one day apart.

It is rumored that Mrs. Yu Guo was reluctant to give up their beauty and dragged them to the underworld. ”

Cheng Yuanzhen whispered.

"What's the latest news?"

Li Xuan continued to ask.

"Back to the prince, there are many and chaotic things among the people. But if you want to talk about the major events in the court, only Zheng Shuqing was crowned by the saint and the third grade of the same Zhongshu door. But he did not interfere in the affairs of the prime minister, and still served as the head of Dali Temple.

Zheng Shuqing recently sent many central petty officials to prison on the grounds of accepting bribes, and I don't know what he is doing. ”

Cheng Yuanzhen said with a puzzled look on his face.

What does it mean to have three products under the door of the same book?

In fact, it can be translated directly from the literal version, that is, it is the same column as the two Sanpinzai under the Zhongshu Gate, but the official position is not this, but it is only qualified to participate in politics.

To put it simply, the emperor told the prime minister: This is my dog! My eyes and ears, you have a bright spot!

"Well, what else did you hear?"

Li Xuan nodded slightly and continued to ask.

"The slave also heard that Mrs. Qiu Guo did not die of drinking too much, but because of her inappropriate life and some strange disease.

It is rumored that this is to cover up its ugliness, of course, this is just a rumor, a rumor. ”

Cheng Yuanzhen was stared at by Li Xuan, his heart was furious, and his voice trembled.

In fact, if these things are taken out separately, there seems to be no problem at all.

Zheng Shuqing is the Zhengqing of Dali Temple, and it is normal to add three products under the same Chinese book.

Mrs. Qiu Guo's life was disorderly, and it was not uncommon for her to die of a strange illness in that area.

As for the accident in her face, it is not something that pierces the sky, it is just a coincidence.

But if you connect all these things together, the conspiracy in it is too heavy.

Where are there so many coincidences in the world? If there are too many coincidences, it means that there is an invisible hand at work!

"You go and check if there are any unbearable rumors between those officials who have recently been imprisoned by Zheng Shuqing and Mrs. Qiuguo.

I heard that many people do not hesitate to give generous gifts in order to have a night with Mrs. Qiuguo, you can check it, how are these people now! ”

Li Xuan pinched Cheng Yuanzhen's wrist tightly, and his tone was quick and heavy!

"Got it, got it! Please rest assured, rest assured! ”

Cheng Yuanzhen's wrist was pinched so painfully that he hurriedly assured. When Li Xuan let go of his hand, he left the Prince's East Palace as if he had been amnestied and went to inquire about the news.

After he left, Li Xuan showed a mysterious smile on his face, and said to himself: "Old beast, let me catch your fox tail!" ”

(End of chapter)