The horse bandits retreated, taking away the danger of death. What was left behind was a mess. In the car formation, corpses fell everywhere. The scene was shocking. Perhaps it was because the weather was too cold. The blood splashed around seemed to have solidified, deep and deep.
And depressed.
Less than half of the nearly 300-person mission survived. In addition to the escorting soldiers, the slaves and followers suffered more serious casualties. Killing and death seemed to be commonplace, and there was not much joy in the aftermath of the disaster.
.The living people spontaneously packed up while still maintaining vigilance.
Amidst the moans of the seriously injured, the old man who had been taking command could not help but breathe a sigh of relief and looked around. Although he suffered heavy casualties and huge losses, at least his life was saved.
"Her Majesty, are you okay?" An attendant who was in a mess and stained with blood came up, supported the old man who was a little stiff, and asked with concern.
"I'm fine. Let's take a look at the guards, count the casualties and losses, and try to treat the injured as much as possible!" the old man ordered, and asked: "How is the situation of the Uighurs?"
"The casualties are not small!" He then replied, pointing to the approaching Han cavalry in the east, and said: "Fortunately there are reinforcements from the Han, otherwise we will die here!"
Mentioning this, the old man also turned his gaze to the east again, and sighed: "Yes! We have found the Uighur envoy, and we should go and thank the Han cavalry for coming!"
"yes!"
This old man is not tall in stature but has a calm demeanor. His name is Cao Yuangong. He is the brother of Cao Yuanzhong, the governor of the Guiyi Army. He is the governor of Guazhou. He is the person in charge of the eastward envoy and has represented Guazhou for many years.
, Sha contacted the court to pay tribute to the person with the highest status. Of course, this was also the first time such a big accident happened.
Soon, I found Pule, the accompanying Uighur envoy from Xizhou. He was a tall and handsome Uighur. When faced with the attack by the horse bandits, he showed great bravery and led the accompanying Uighur warriors to fight to the death.
During the fight, he was also injured. He was hit by two arrows, one in the thigh and one in the buttocks, which was quite embarrassing.
But when he was found, he told the Han cavalry who wanted to thank him for coming to help. The envoy Pule showed great enthusiasm and ignored his injuries. After simply treating them, he found Cao Yuangong.
Pule came east this time, naturally with an important mission, and asked for help under the orders of the Uighur Khan Wuguzhi in Xizhou. More than a year has passed since Yelv Xiezhen led his army on the western expedition last year. Here,
In more than a year, the situation in the Western Regions was naturally turned upside down. Under the powerful attack power of the Liao army, the Gaochang Uighurs naturally lost their troops and lost their territory. They were already praying for help from the east, which showed that they were in a critical situation.
Of course, the Xizhou Uighurs themselves probably knew that it was obviously unrealistic to ask the Han army to cross two thousand miles to the Western Regions to rescue them who had no close relationship with them. Therefore, Pule's original goal was to ask for help from the Guiyi army. After all, compared with
Compared with the Han Dynasty, which is thousands of miles away, the Guiyi Army is within easy reach, which is much more convenient. In addition, the two parties are related by marriage.
It must be mentioned that the Guiyi Army, which occupied Guasha, was gradually declining after entering the tenth century. After all, it had always been cautious and cautious to survive in the cracks of its own forces.
Therefore, when the Liao army's cavalry invaded the Uighurs in Gaochang, the Guiyi army was also frightened. They stocked up food and weapons, repaired city defenses, and gathered troops to prepare for war, fearing that it would affect themselves. Therefore, Pule, the envoy of the Uighur Khan, found the place where the Guiyi army
When he saved Cao Yuanzhong, he received sufficient courtesy, but he sent troops. To put it bluntly, the Guiyi army was not enough to protect themselves, so how could they dare to go against the Liao army.
However, we also understand the truth behind the death of lips and teeth. If the Xizhou Uighurs are really destroyed, it will not take much effort for the Liao army to turn around and deal with a Guiyi army. As for the Han army, there is a Han army of Ganzhou Uighur forces across the road.
, cannot give them much strong support. For half a century, the Guiyi Army has relied on itself to gain a foothold in Guasha. At critical moments, it can only count on itself.
Although he had many concerns, he still expressed his request for help from the Xizhou Uighurs. After thinking about it for a while, Cao Yuanzhong told Pule that the Guiyi army was weak, and even sending three to two thousand soldiers and horses would not help. On the contrary, the Ganzhou Uighurs in the east
There are hundreds of thousands of households, and they come from the same source, so they can ask for help. He is preparing to send another envoy to the Central Plains. If you go with him, you can escort him all the way to Ganzhou.
Pule thought about it, and it made sense. Asking for help from the Guiyi Army was a helpless approach. He hoped that Cao could make some noise from the rear and contain the Liao Army. In comparison, the Ganzhou Uighur population was larger.
The military strength is stronger. If troops can be sent for rescue, it can play the same role, and the effect will be better.
The gifts from the east were all bought by Cao's helper Pu Le. However, the result was naturally disappointing. After arriving at the Khan's tent, he expressed his intention to Jingqiong, the Uighur Khan of Ganzhou who had only succeeded to the throne a few years ago.
, Jing Qiong also received Pule pleasantly, but when it came to sending troops to the Western Regions, he began to look around and talk about other things, and ultimately the lobbying failed.
In fact, Ganzhou Uighur Khan Jingqiong was also helpless, because his life was not easy either. There were internal conflicts and external pressures, and all the pressure came from the Han Dynasty in the east. This is the case with geopolitics. There is the Han Dynasty.
When powerful neighbors rise, surrounding forces will naturally feel threatened.
Especially for the Ganzhou Uighurs, who are considered the dominant force in the Hexi Corridor, the sense of crisis is increasing day by day. After all, with their power, it is exaggerated to say that for today's big men, they can be destroyed with just one finger.
.
In addition, the Han Dynasty has never stopped marching westward in the past ten years. Although it is not advancing like a storm, it is encroaching step by step, like a net covering it, which is suffocating.
Within the Ganzhou Uighurs, some voices of resisting the Han and protecting the country began to rise. Under such circumstances, Pule asked, how could the Ganzhou Uighurs have the heart to send troops westward to drain the muddy waters of the Western Regions and offend the Khitan people?
?
The inner reflection of the Uighur Khan Jing Qiong is that in today's world, only the Khitans can barely compete with the big men. If they offend the Khitans, wouldn't they cut off their own escape route?
The request for aid to Ganzhou failed, and the envoy Pule was naturally disappointed and even a little desperate. His mood at that time was as cold as the winter in Hexi, and he had no other choice. He had already walked to Ganzhou and Xiedan, so he simply
Following Cao Yuangong to Kaifeng, perhaps the great, tolerant and benevolent Emperor of the Han Dynasty would remember his hard journey, feel sympathy for him, and send troops to rescue him?
Even though Cao Yuangong reminded him, it didn't take long for the Han Dynasty to make peace with the Khitans. However, Pule still decided to go eastward, even if it was relatively slim. Of course, he knew that at this time, returning westward was probably the future.
Not sure yet, might as well try your luck in Kaifeng.
Pule's journey to ask for help was not easy. Starting from the beginning of summer, he secretly headed eastward. There were only a few roads in and out of the Western Regions. Yelv Xiezhen took the north road in his westward expedition, and Pule's eastward aid took the middle road. Then
At that time, it was also intercepted by the Khitan army.
Therefore, in order to avoid the Khitan blockade along the way, we were delayed a lot of time and almost got captured. There were more than a hundred people when we set out, but only twenty-three people were left when we arrived in Guazhou. Now, after an attack
, and ten more people were injured or killed.
On the Han cavalry side, the leader of the Han cavalry had a high status. He was the commander of the Hexi capital, Wang Yansheng, the Marquis of Pingxi. When the news of the request for help reached Guzang through the garrison, Wang Yansheng was in the military camp. When he heard the news, he felt bored.
Wang Yansheng immediately became interested, ordered five hundred Han cavalry and headed west.
"Cao Yuangong, the governor of Guazhou, met the general. I don't know his surname. Thank you very much for your life!" When he saw the powerful Wang Yansheng, Cao Yuangong suppressed some doubts in his heart and bowed.
"This is the General of the Han Dynasty in Hexi Province, Marquis of Pingxi!" Wang Yansheng did not reply, but a soldier beside him said loudly.
After saying this, Cao Yuangong's expression suddenly became more respectful.
"This is the envoy of the Guiyi Army. The official dialect is quite good. Why did you choose to come east at such a season?" Wang Yansheng looked down on him and looked a little arrogant. He looked at him and asked.
"According to the order of Duke Xiping, I have important matters to go to the court and see the emperor!" Cao Yuangong replied.
"Who are you?" Wang Yansheng cast his eyes on Pule again, having already noticed how special this person was.
Upon hearing this, Pule hurriedly spoke his half-familiar Chinese and responded: "I am an envoy from the Uighurs. I came east on the orders of the Khan of Xizhou to meet the emperor of the Han Dynasty and to build friendship with us."
Wang Yansheng had a hard time listening, but he finally understood it and understood its meaning. He couldn't help but said in a teasing tone: "Xizhou Uighurs? If you, Khan, are not busy resisting the Khitans, do you still have the heart to send envoys to communicate with you?"
Hearing this, Pu Le felt embarrassed for a moment.
