At the end of June in the third year of Yuanzhen of the Tang Dynasty.
Twenty thousand elite cavalry walked through the dust in the sky, swarmed westward into Wannian County, and stationed themselves at a predetermined place. They would only stay here for two days, and then set off to continue westward.
Yin Yuanlang of Jingzhao led Shi Fangxuanling and others, the ministers of the Ministry of War Wang Qing and Dou Gui, and the minister of the Ministry of Hubu Dou Dandu led the Ministry of War, and the officials of the Ministry of Hubu met at the left side of the road.
Xu Shiji, the general of Zuowuhouwei, led the Zuowuhouwei General Pei Xingyan, and Xiao Siye, the commander of the Zuowuhouwei Mansion, and others were already waiting in Wannian County.
They will lead three thousand cavalry to join the army and go to Liangzhou together.
There are more than 20,000 cavalry, which will expand to more than 30,000 when they arrive in Liangzhou. No matter where such a large-scale army goes, it will mark that the horn of war has sounded.
This will also be the first formal foreign war since the founding of the Tang Dynasty. Needless to say, its importance. Compared with this, the local anti-bandit wars are trivial.
There were many people to welcome the arrival of the army, which showed that the troops were well prepared for this time. Soldiers, armor and food were piled up in Wannian County. This was only part of it. The other part had been escorted to Liang by General Dou Cong of Youtunwei.
state.
On the way west, imperial edicts had already arrived at the place, instructing local officials to prepare for the arrival of the army and prepare barracks, food and other things for the army to be stationed.
Officials from the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Household Affairs also made several plans to ensure that the army could reach Liangzhou smoothly and defeat the preset opponents.
This is different from the previous wars. After the army sets off, it no longer has to worry about other things. It can only focus on marching and preparing to fight the enemy.
The army was basically formed in Hongnong, rested, and practiced for more than a month. After recharging its energy, its morale was high, and its desire to fight was already extremely eager.
Most of the army was composed of people who had experienced hundreds of battles. Even the eight thousand Turks who were recruited had been practicing in the north for a long time. Everyone could speak Chinese and were very familiar with the military rules and regulations of the Tang army. They could
Integrate into the army to the greatest extent possible.
Moreover, their desire to fight was even better than that of the Tang army soldiers. After rounds of brainwashing, they had long forgotten that Yunzhong Grassland was their hometown. They were filled with a sense of honor in serving the Tang Dynasty and killing people for the Tang Dynasty.
Enemy passion.
Leading them were the Cangshui City Guards, Li Po's most loyal henchman Li Ya, and Mayi County Prime Minister Huang You. Compared with those generals with outstanding military exploits and great power, they were nothing.
But in terms of qualifications, he is not much inferior to others.
Huang You was an old man who had followed Li Po to Liaodong, and Li Ya was a slave that Li Po picked up from the grasslands. He had been looking after the Turkic tribes attached to him in Mayi for Li Po.
The two men led the army to Wannian County without meeting anyone else, so they left their men and went to Chang'an to meet the emperor. As for whether they would be left in Chang'an, follow the army to the northwest, or return to Mayi, it was all a matter of course.
The emperor has the final say. This is how the old people were treated back then, and others cannot envy them.
Although his official position was relatively small, he was still the emperor's private person, and he would receive preferential treatment no matter where he went. This was an advantage that later ministers could not match.
……………………
In the evening, in the Manna Hall.
In the midst of his busy schedule, Li Po entertained two of his former subordinates in his palace.
As a result of being pampered and pampered, Huang You is a bit stockier than before, and there are signs of gaining weight.
Li Ya was still so thin and small. He was very excited to see his master. He bowed to the ground as if he were worshiping a god. He cried loudly: "I thought I would never see my master again..."
Well, at that time Li Po had black lines all over his head and wanted to kick this guy a few times.
Of course, although the words may not sound nice, they are truly sincere. In Li Ya's mind, the master is a being greater than that bullshit god.
Listening to the two chattering about the changes in Mayi, Li Po was also quite emotional. Speaking of it, it felt more like his hometown. As for Fufeng... he hadn't been there yet, so he didn't want to talk about it.
The palaces of the Northern Wei Dynasty on the Yunnei side have been demolished, and the cemetery is much spacious. Everyone lives there very well.
Cangshui City has been established for several years, and the population in the city has gradually increased. Of course, most of them are Turks. They graze on the Yunnei grassland. After years of calm, the number of horses, cattle and sheep has become so crowded that it seems crowded.
If a batch is not sent to the south every once in a while, the Yunnei Racecourse will not be able to accommodate it. Well, these are all boasts. Even if you listen to them, they cannot be taken seriously.
After so many years of war, it would be strange if Yunnei Racecourse could still be so prosperous.
The Detachment of Women in Mayi City is working hard to maintain it, but as time goes by, it only has a name at most. After all, it was established by the emperor and cannot be completely disbanded.
The life of the Turks has also changed. The nobles have gone to live in the city and are no longer willing to mix with the tribesmen. Ordinary herdsmen are also looking for a way out besides grazing.
The best choice is naturally to join the army. The young and strong Turks have turned into soldiers and got rid of their status as slaves. Daily training never stops.
When Qu Tutong took office as the general manager of Daizhou last year and began to set up Zhechong Prefecture in Daizhou, the Turkic people living there had formal military status.
Forget about returning to the grassland, the attention of the Turkic tribesmen inside has turned to Jinyang, Yanmen and other big cities. Most of them have changed their Chinese surnames. Except for the most noble ones, most of the others have emigrated.
Jinyang.
Although many of what these two people said are exaggerated, the three counties of Daizhou have generally developed steadily in recent years. As long as the Turks do not attack, people will be able to live a good life just around the corner.
It’s not in vain that Li Po has been operating there for many years. It seems that his efforts have been in vain...
Then there are the old troops who followed Li Po in raising troops. Many of them were left in the north by Li Po, firstly to take care of the Turkic prisoners, and secondly to prepare for the Turks' use.
In other words, even if Li Po didn't defeat Li Yuan, he could still survive for a while by running back to Mayi. The people there would obey him from top to bottom, and the people would treat him as a benefactor.
Then he was worshiped as a god.
If you try to change things in Mayi without putting in any effort, that is simply a delusion.
Chen Sanlang, the "sharp shooter" in the army at that time, is now a Sima of the Daizhou Governor's Office and has joined the army. Zhang Erlang, a junior official whom he met in Mayi, is also a member of Mayi.
And when Liu Wuzhou wanted to assassinate Li Po, Zhang Liudong, who informed Li Po in advance, had also grown up. He studied in Jinyang for several years and went to Shenwu to become a county magistrate.
These little people back then have already achieved great success, not to mention the soldiers who followed Li Po through life and death.
It can be said that one person attains enlightenment, and chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.
This chapter has been completed!