Although it is already the middle of winter, November in the Fergana Basin is not too cold.
The climate in the basin is like this. It may be quite hot, but not too cold, because the surrounding mountains block most of the cold air.
While this war with ulterior motives is still going on, Zhang Zhao has already razed all the fortresses around Kesai City, turning the former capital of Bakhanna into an isolated city, but that's all.
Because the garrison of Kesai City is also more than 20,000, and the military strength of the two sides is not much different. Zhang Zhao can surround Kesai City only by relying on his highly mobile cavalry. It seems that it is not too early to attack the city.
Reality.
Because even if his soldiers are far more powerful than the defenders of Kesai City who suffered a great purge, the opponent's solid city defense can completely erase these advantages.
Therefore, Zhang Zhaozhen had only two ways to take over Kesai City. One was to use the defected Beishan troops as cannon fodder and attack by force regardless of casualties. The second was to use gunpowder to explode.
"Your Majesty, it's not that difficult to blow up the city wall. This city is located near Yaosha Water, and the basin has rain and fog all the year round. The foundation shouldn't be very strong. At least it's much easier than blowing up Shule City."
Cao Yanming said softly, and then glanced at Shi Chongmin, the general who shared the gold capital next to him.
Shi Chongmin coughed lightly, "But in this environment, it is difficult to dig tunnels. The soil is soft, so a large amount of roof wood and roof boards must be used, and groundwater must be prevented from being dug.
It would take less than three months to dig such a tunnel without attracting attention from the city."
Three months, Zhang Zhao estimated in his mind, three months is probably the best for Shi Chongmin.
Moreover, even after three months of digging, if the Persians still stood still, he would not dare to attack the city in a large scale.
A hundred miles away, as long as there are enough horses, he can reach it within three days. Then it will be a troublesome thing to attack him from both inside and outside.
"Let's dig first. You can relax a little on the progress! On the 14th, you are also preparing to use gunpowder, and pay special attention to moisture-proofing."
However, Zhang Zhao still planned to dig a tunnel. Although it may not be useful, it is idle anyway, so he should let the people of Jindu practice digging in soft soil conditions.
.....
"It is indeed Ju'er Khan from Broken Leaf! It is indeed! He was also the one who defeated Bugla Khan Saktu of the Kara Khanate! He was also from the royal family of the Khotan Kingdom! Father, this man is not easy to mess with!"
Sparse snowflakes fell from the tent of the Saman Persian army. Adulal's son Alput opened the curtain of the commander's tent and rushed in. His hands were red from the cold and he yelled loudly.
"Most of those prisoners were members of the Bashmi tribe. They said that the commander-in-chief of the Khotanese army on the opposite side was Ju'er Khan of Suiye!"
In fact, for people in this era who are very passive in receiving information, Zhang Zhao's identity is far more scary than what he sees.
Even the elite cavalry of the Bashmi tribe recruited by Zhang Zhao only knew that King Zhang was from the royal family of Khotan and was the Ju'er Khan of the Suiye people.
Graham Saktu.
No matter how you look at such a person, all these major events can only be matched by a famous grassland khan!
They could not imagine at all that the real wealth of King Ju'er Khan Zhang was actually two to three thousand soldiers and more than ten thousand people.
"Are these words credible?" Adulal's expression immediately became solemn. Unexpectedly, he had guessed the worst outcome in advance. This King of Khotan was really Ju'er Khan from Broken Leaf.
"It's credible. The boy personally interrogated eleven people and got similar information. Moreover, they also said that the queen and children of Bugla Khan Saktu have all become the trophies of Juer Khan." Arp
He said with certainty.
It is said that the queen of Bughlahan Saktu was originally from the Tocao royal family. When the Kara Khanate attacked Bakhna five years ago, it used the queen's status twice to recruit the Sogdians in Juzhanti.
At that time, Adulal was serving as an officer in Suduishana City, where Tosao was located, so the two father and son knew this relatively well.
Adulal pondered for a moment, "His Royal Highness Prince Hamid must be informed of this news immediately.
I suspect that the tens of thousands of Khotanese troops here are just forwards. The large army will definitely wait until the sowing is completed next year. This is not a powerful enemy that we can fight against alone. Reinforcements must be transferred from Bukhara.
"
Zhang Zhao never imagined that the fact that my charming Queen Cao Yanmian of Karakhan was taken into his harem would be over-interpreted in other people's minds.
He originally just wanted to lure out the defenders of Samampos in Juzhanti, so that he would have to go to Juzhanti after defeating the city of Kesai.
As a result, they were so frightened that they all went to Bukhara to fetch reinforcements.
He didn't even think about it. Before Zhang Zhao stabbed him twice in the waist, the Kara Khanate was a great khanate with 600,000 to 700,000 people.
The person who can beat such a powerful Khan to the point where he cannot save his wife and children must be at least a powerful Khan who controls tens of thousands of strings, right?
In the boring winter, people who cannot go out for production and business at any time always need to find something to do in their boring life.
Sometimes it's village-level rumors about people from east to west, and sometimes it's secrets from big-city nobles from places like Samarkand and Bukhara.
Of course, the most widely spread news was the news that Emir Nasr II had converted to the Shiite sect, which almost made everyone immersed in the anger of being betrayed.
Persians and Arabs are a pair of entangled enemies. Although many times, people think that they should be similar, in fact, the two groups are very different.
Persians are Aryan people belonging to the Indo-European language family.
Arabs, Europas, Mediterraneans and mixed descendants of various North African races.
In history, the Persians established many powerful empires and ruled the Arabs for a long time.
Because in the eyes of many Persians, the Arabs are relatively powerful younger brothers in their cognitive world, much like the ancient Chinese viewed ancient Japan.
Therefore, although the Arabs accumulated a lot of wealth as second-hand traders on the Silk Road, and after Mahmud invented the Tianfang religion and conquered them in turn, the Persians were not truly convinced.
Even today, after most people have converted from Zoroastrianism to Tianfa religion, Persians still maintain their pride deep in their hearts.
That’s why the Shiite sect grew in Persia, and the Samanid dynasty began to rule Persia instead of the Abbasid caliphate, because the Samanid dynasty originated from Sasanian Persia, and to the Persians, they were their own people.
This is actually caused by the national pride of the Persians, who want to show their differences from the Arabs.
But Nasr II did not see through this. In other words, he saw it, but he was already paralyzed by the compliments around him. He thought that even if he changed his religion, it would not matter, and no one would dare to resist.
But is this really the case? Fifteen days after announcing his conversion, Nasr II felt something unusual.
His second son, Crown Prince Hamid, who has never stated whether he will convert to Shiite Islam, is suddenly full of people at his house.
In Bukhara, in the Alka Forbidden City, the royal palace of the Samanid Dynasty, Nasr II was wrapped in a warm wool blanket and his eyes were cloudy.
He is sixty-three years old this year, but apart from being a little fat, he has no health problems.
"Your Highness the Emir, this is the birthday gift account book sent by the governors of the provinces and regions and Hakeem. Prince Sadid specially sent his handwritten ancient Southern Sutra from Herat, using the highest quality peach blossom stone.
Wait for the paper to be as white as the finest jade."
Nasr II's sixty-fourth birthday will be in a few days. According to tradition, various nobles in Bukhara and the governors of various places, Hakeem, need to pay tribute to Nasr II on his birthday.
Ahmad, the palace steward who was responsible for handling this matter, carefully handed the gift account book and the Ancient Southern Scripture to Nasr II.
Nasr II took the account book and briefly looked through it a few times, but Ahmed lowered his head with some guilt.
The first name Nasr II turned up was that of his second son, Prince Salar Hamid.
Nasr II nodded with satisfaction. Hamid's gifts had increased a lot compared to last year, at least 30% more.
The second name was Prince Sadid, the sixth son. Nasr II was even more satisfied, with an increase of 50% compared to last year, and he even thoughtfully hand-copied a copy of the Ancient Southern Sutra.
Although he somewhat disagreed with Sadid's always coveting the status of the crown prince, Nasr II still felt very comfortable seeing his son being so filial.
However, as he continued to read, Nasr II's face became increasingly ugly, because except for a few sons and the great Wazir Bala'ami, the gifts from everyone else were reduced compared to last year.
It is not that Nasr II does not allow reductions, because the level is getting higher year by year, and there will always be times when the people below cannot hold on.
But what do you mean by reducing it by 30 to 40%? You want to save even this little money?
"Your Highness the Emir, the weather this year is even colder, the wheat harvests in various places have failed, and the people below are not having a good time."
Ahmed replied cautiously, seemingly trying to explain, but in fact he was trying to make a fuss.
Because Prince Hamid just celebrated his 41st birthday a few months ago, at that time the number of dignitaries and local officials also received congratulatory gifts. Not only did the number not decrease, but it generally increased a lot.
A burst of anger suddenly surged from Nasr II's heart to his head. What does it mean? I think the emir is getting old and is eager to please the crown prince, right?
However, although he was furious, Nasr II quickly calmed down, and then found a few names that he was very familiar with. These people were allies and confidants of the palace steward Ahmed.
It has been reduced by more than 30%. All of these names have reduced their gifts, and the number of gifts has been reduced the most.
Nasr II took a deep breath. It seemed that Ahmed did not deliberately use this to attack his political opponents. He also believed that Ahmed did not have the courage to tamper with the gifts given to him.
.
"Huh? Ju Zhan Tiha Kem Adulal only presented twenty sheep and one camel as tribute?"
Nasr II suddenly discovered the most conspicuous name and couldn't help but pronounce it aloud.
Because this is not a reduction of 30% to 40%, it is a reduction of 80%, not even the 30% that was given to Prince Hamid as a gift.
"Back to His Highness the Emir, it is indeed the case. I also asked the envoy of Adulal Hakem. He said that drastic changes have taken place in the country of Bukhan. An army of 20,000 people came from the east and is attacking Yusupu in the city of Kesai.
, most of the supplies in Juzhan Ticheng have been mobilized to prepare for war and rescue!" Ahmed explained quickly.
"Rebellion! Rebellious villain!" Nasr II stood up angrily because he had secretly received the envoy from Kesai City just the day before yesterday.
The former governor of the Kara Khanate, Bakhna, sent his brother to complain. The city was in dire need, but Tihaqim was afraid and refused to go to the rescue.
"Have Balaami send Diwan to Kuchanti to find out what happened?"
Nasr II suddenly became soft-spoken, as if the exposure had never happened, but the palace steward knew that this was a sign of the emir's anger.
"Don't disturb the place, go secretly, don't let the Gulam Guards protect you, just choose from the Royal City Forbidden Army!"