Chapter 390 Chess Players and Chess Pieces

Author: Gongsun Wujiu

Chapter 390 Chess Players and Chess Pieces

"With a sharp weapon in his possession, he has a murderous intention!"

The same goes for having power and strength.

Li Ling's Jiankun tribe was originally just an inconspicuous small tribe among the Huns.

But after absorbing 6,000 Xianbei and more than 10,000 Parthians, it became a medium-sized tribe with 30,000 members.

Li Ling calculated that in just three to five years, the Jiankun tribe would have four thousand cavalry.

Although such power cannot participate in the struggle between great powers, it is still enough to carve out a niche in the world.

Li Ling, who was in a happy mood, had quietly looked over the mountains and towards the land further west.

"Zhang Yue is nothing more than a mere pawn, but he can still capture a huge guard. Why can't I, Li Ling, build a kingdom of my own in the west?"

The flame called ambition burned brightly in Li Ling's heart, making him feel full of strength.

After this battle, Wujiitu also had different ideas.

As the son of Wusun Kunmoweng Guimi, Wujiutu naturally has the right to inherit Wusun.

He is now secretly planning how to get rid of the control of the Huns and establish an empire of the Wusun people.

"The Parthians can build a powerful empire from one place to another, why can't we Wusun people?"

After a banquet, he took Ni Mi and looked at the vast surface of the Caspian Sea and revealed his thoughts for the first time.

Ni Mi looked at Wu Jiitu with a complex expression, "Compared with Kun Ji, the eldest brother feels inferior... If Kun Ji desires it, the eldest brother will definitely help him!"

Wujiutu's face turned red and he said, "With the help of a big brother, there is no need to worry about everything happening!"

Ni Mi also felt agitated at this time, and he asked, "Does Kun Ji already have concerns in his heart?"

Wujiitu pointed at Caspian in front of him and said, "Brother, do you know where the other side is?"

Ni Mi looked ashamed and shook his head.

Wujiitu said, "On the other side of the Caspian Sea is Armenia, which was just conquered by the Parthians!"

Ni Mi said thoughtfully, "Kun Ji wants to conquer Armenia?"

Wujiitu said, "What does it mean to be a mere Armenia..."

Ni Mi said: "Kun Ji has great ambitions, so my brother will naturally help him, but now he still needs to get rid of the Huns first..."

Wujiitu looked back to the east and asked, "What do you think, brother, of the big Han Yunyang Marquis?"

Ni Mi sighed, "The Marquis of Yunyang must be the hero of the world, and he will be the one who destroys the Xiongnu the next day!"

Wujiitu shook his head and said, "From a certain perspective, Marquis Yunyang may not destroy the Xiongnu... The Xiongnu and I are just pawns in his eyes..."

When Ni Mi heard this, a look of confusion appeared on his face.

Wujiitu looked at Xi Mian and said, "Didn't your elder brother realize it after all these years?"

Without waiting for Ni Mi's answer, Wujiitu continued, "In these years, Zhang Yue has clearly been deliberately guiding, forcing and even encouraging me to move westward..."

Ni Mi was reminded by Wu Jiutu, recalling what happened after the battle in Chigu, and finally came to a realization.

He stared blankly towards the east in the direction of Luntai City, and shuddered unconsciously.

"Marquis Yunyang is so terrifying..."

Wujiitu laughed and said, "Brother, he looks like a chess piece. What's wrong with being a chess piece in the hands of a strong man..."

"I dare to say that if I, Wusun, are willing to march westward, then Marquis Yunyang will definitely help me..."

…

While Li Ling and others were digesting the results of the Battle of Nissa, Zhang Yue also began to adjust the military administration of the entire Western Region.

The first thing to do is naturally the setting up of the four major festival towns.

According to the emperor's order, the main body of the future Great Protectorate of the Western Regions will be the Si Dajie Town and Luntai Region.

In order to complete this reform faster and better, Zhang Yue ordered to recall all officials above Qianshi in the Western Regions.

Even Fu Jiezi and Feng Fengshi, who had just participated in the Salt and Iron Debate, rushed to Luntai City quickly.

If the emperor had not allowed it, even Liu Yi would have rushed back to Luntai.

"Gentlemen, this meeting will determine the overall construction and development of the Western Region in the future. Don't worry, I hope you can speak freely..."

As soon as Zhang Yue came up, he raised the status of this meeting very high.

When everyone heard Zhang Yue's words, they cheered up.

They knew the importance of this meeting from Zhang Yue's tone.

In particular, Guo Kai, Han Jiang, Zhao Guanghan, and Geng Shu, who were about to officially serve as military governors, were even more energetic.

However, the first one to speak was not the four of them, but Shi Caiting, the Western Region's Chief Logistics Manager.

"Everyone, it has been more than twenty years since we followed you to the Western Regions... After twenty years of hard work, there are now 1,427,809 registered households in the Western Regions..."

"Ding six hundred and seventy-six thousand six hundred and eighty-one... There are more than 48,200 standing Han troops in the Western Region, including more than 33,000 cavalry, 11,000 officers, and 4,000 chariots and siege troops.

More than two hundred...

There are 18,300 righteous soldiers... There are 37,000 soldiers from various countries... There are more than 190,000 soldiers in the fields and barricades..."

"The Great Protectorate has 780,000 hectares of cultivated land under its jurisdiction, with an annual grain production...taxes are levied every year..."

After Cai Ting informed everyone about the situation in the entire Western Region, everyone sat down with their hands crossed.

At this time, everyone in the hall was extremely excited. No one expected that the Western Region now had such huge financial and human resources.

Especially Fu Jiezi and Feng Fengshi, who had just arrived in the Western Regions, were even more surprised.

Although the two of them had long heard about the prosperity of the Western Regions, they thought it was just compared to the Southwest Yi and Jiangnan lands.

I never thought that the wealth of the Western Regions was no less than that of Guandong.

Feng Fengshi couldn't help but sigh, "I'm afraid the land in the Western Regions is no less than in Shu."

The Shu region in this era was second only to Guanzhong and far more prosperous than Guandong.

Fu Jiezi also agreed, "Although it's not as good as it is, it's not far away!"

Feng Fengshi shook his head and sighed, "The virtuous literature of Guandong actually wants to abandon such a prosperous place. It's really..."

When the two of them were talking quietly about the virtues of Guandong, Guo Kai had already stood up.

"Your Majesty, since I am now the Protector of the Western Region and have enough money, food and personnel, we should expand our standing army!"

Zhang Yue smiled and said, "You have this intention, how do you think Marquis Guo should expand your military strength?"

Guo Kai was obviously prepared for this. He took out a plan from behind his back, first had people distribute it to everyone, and then began to introduce it.

"Your Majesty and Lords! Some people think that our Western Region is so vast now that our current troops are no longer sufficient... at least it should be expanded to more than 90,000..."

When Guo Kai said this, he looked at everyone's reactions and then said:

"In my opinion, there are three main opponents facing the Western Regions today. The first is the Xiongnu; the second is the Kushan; the third is Anxi... all three are big countries..."

Everyone nodded when they heard this.

Guo Kai continued, "The Huns are the enemy of the Han Dynasty and must be guarded against for centuries. Now Beiting and Zhenwu towns will face the Huns directly, so they should deploy more cavalry..."

"Anxi Town is located on a plateau with many mountains, so we should focus on talent officials!"

"There is Anxi in the west of the river, and there are Guishang and Jibin in the south. There are half and half of them on foot and horseback..."

"Among the four towns, Hezhong was the site of the Four Wars. It currently has the smallest number of troops, so I thought we must increase immigration and garrison troops as soon as possible..."

At this point, Guo Kai did not continue, but looked at Zhang Yue quietly.

Zhang Yue did not speak immediately, but motioned for Guo Kai to sit down and cast an inquiring look at everyone.

At this time Han Jiang stood up, "Your Majesty, what Guo Hou said is true... The river is the key to the Silk Road trade. With less than ten thousand soldiers now, it is too dangerous. I think it should be expanded to at least eighteen thousand

Above people…”

"Your Majesty, the subordinates are against it!"

Just after Han Jiang finished speaking, Hua Zhu first expressed his objection.

Zhang Yue said, "What does Hua Gong have to say?"

Hua Zhu bowed his hands to everyone and said, "The land in the river that belongs to the Han Dynasty now only has two divisions, and there are two places in Yucheng...

If we support such a large number of soldiers, they must be supplied from Luntai... These two cities are separated from me by high mountains... Although roads are accessible now, it is still difficult... If things go on like this, it may be unbearable..."

After Hua Zhu finished speaking, Cai Ting also agreed, "What Hua Gong said is true. If supplies are supplied from Luntai to the river, at most only 20% of the grain and grass can actually be sent to the Second Division..."

Zhang Yue frowned when he heard this. He thought for a moment and asked Pan Hong, "How much army food and grass can the land in the river support?"

Pan Hong was well prepared for this, and he said without thinking, "The river can support up to 16,000 soldiers in normal times, but in wartime it will be reduced by half!"
To be continued...