The storm is rising

Author: Gongsun Wujiu

The storm is rising

Cai Ting thought for a while and then said, "After the Huns annexed Xianbei, their power regained strength. I thought that I should add 7,000 more soldiers from various countries to ride into Zhenwu Town..."

"If we add 7,000 cavalrymen from various countries, what will be the logistical burden?"

Cai Ting said, "Your Majesty, don't worry. Now the Chi Road from Punei to Luntai has been completely connected, and there are no logistical problems!"

Zhang Yue thought about it and said, "In that case, yes!"

Then he added, "Beiting Town can also deploy an additional five thousand cavalry from various countries!"

After some calculations, Cai Ting asked Wang Hu, "If there are another five thousand cavalry from various countries, how much food and grass gap will Beiting have?"

After some calculation, Wang Hu said, "We in Beiting Town can be self-sufficient in normal times, but in times of war, we need additional supplies from Luntai..."

Cai Ting pondered for a while and then said, "If we add another five thousand cavalry from various countries to Beiting, once a war breaks out, it may not be able to sustain it for a long time!"

Zhang Yue said, "Can other countries share the burden for our great Han?"

Cai Ting said, "There is no shortage of food, grass and goods, but the Chi Road from Beiting to Luntai has not yet been completely connected... Supplies are not easy during wartime..."

Zhang Yue lowered his head and thought for a while before asking Han Jiang, "Mr. Han, is there anything unusual happening on the right side of the Xiongnu now?"

Han Jiang said, "All the kings on the right side of the Xiongnu seem to have the intention of marching westward!"

Zhang Yue nodded when he heard this and continued to think in his heart.

Han Jiang said at this time, "The prince and Cai Gong have a high opinion. Can the cavalry of the various countries be replaced every six months, and they can carry food and grass during the rotation... This can reduce the pressure and ensure the combat effectiveness of the soldiers of the various countries..."

Zhang Yue did not answer directly but first asked Cai Ting, "If the road is connected, can the logistics support the war?"

Cai Ting said, "After the Chidao is connected, the logistics capacity can be tripled, so there will be no pressure..."

Zhang Yue said, "When will Beiting Road be completed?"

Cai Ting said, "It will take at least eight months!"

At this time, Zhang Yue said to everyone, "What do you think of the plan of the Marquis of Han?"

Geng Shu agreed, "I think Han Gong's plan is feasible!"

At this time, Yuluo also said, "Our soldiers in Qiuci can follow this strategy!"

After Qiuci, the most powerful among the countries, expressed his support, representatives of other countries also expressed their agreement.

Zhang Yue finally decided to act in accordance with Han Jiang's policy before Beiting Road was connected.

Everyone then discussed other aspects of reform in the four towns.

These details took more time, and everyone discussed it for seven days before basically reaching an agreement.

According to the results of the final meeting, the future configuration of the Han army's standing army in the Western Regions will still focus on Luntai.

Luntai and its surrounding areas will have a standing army of 30,000 Han troops, 5,000 volunteers, and 8,000 soldiers from other countries, with a total strength of 43,000.

Among them, the Han army had 20,000 cavalry, 6,000 officers, and 4,000 chariots.

The Yi Cong were all cavalry, while the troops from other countries were divided into half and half infantry and cavalry.

In terms of economy, Luntai Region even outperforms the four towns.

Luntai has 70% of the population of the Western Region Protectorate and 80% of the fiscal revenue...

Most of the weapons and armor required by each town also need to be provided by Luntai.

Under Luntai, the most powerful force was the Zhenwu Army.

The Zhenwu Army had 20,000 Han soldiers, 7,000 soldiers from various countries, and 3,000 Yicong cavalry. The total strength was as high as 30,000.

The Zhenwu Army has a strong military but also the worst economic conditions.

Army food, grass, and military supplies all need to be provided by Luntai.

In addition, Zhenwu Town also needs to build a town and a series of defense and warning facilities.

In the next three years, the Western Region will need to invest huge manpower and material resources in Zhenwu Town.

However, Zhang Yue believes that these investments are worth it.

In Zhang Yue's plan, Zhenwu Town was the base for future troops from the Western Regions to attack the Xiongnu Shan Yuting.

What's more, the area under the jurisdiction of Zhenwu Town can be developed in future generations with harsh natural environment.

In this era, this place is still warm and humid, with abundant water and grass. As long as it is developed, it will be a treasure land no less than Luntai.

The military strength of Beiting Town ranks third, with 20,000 Han troops, 3,000 Yicong cavalry, and 5,000 soldiers from various countries. The total military strength is also as high as 28,000.

Although the Beiting Army has slightly fewer troops than the Zhenwu Army, the economic conditions of Beiting Town are better than those of the Zhenwu Army.

The area where Suiye City itself is located is very suitable for farming.

In addition, there are strategic materials such as iron ore, copper mine, and coal mine.

There are now 150,000 Han people in the controlled area who are all registered as households.

At the rate of development of Beiting Town, it should be able to become completely self-sufficient within five years.

Therefore, although Beiting Town has fewer troops than Zhenwu, Beiting Town is actually the first of the four towns.

Ranking fourth is Hezhong Town. Although Hezhong is now a small area, there are currently only two cities, Ershi and Yucheng.

Even if the original Yuezhi Wuxihou Zhongxiu Mi tribe is included, the area is far less than that of the other three towns, but it will be the main expansion of the Han army in the Western Regions in the future.

After completing the army expansion in Hezhong, there will be 12,000 standing troops of the Han army, 3,000 righteous followers, and 2,000 soldiers of other countries.

The total military strength will also reach 17,000. Moreover, troops from Dawan and Kangju can also be recruited, so the military strength cannot be underestimated.

Economically, Hezhong also has unique geographical advantages. It is a node of east-west trade, and its fiscal revenue is second only to Luntai.

Its shortcomings are simply due to the relatively late development and the fact that Ershi City experienced a brutal massacre.

Naturally, the one at the bottom is Anxi Town. According to the plan, Anxi Town will have a standing army of 10,000 Han troops.

However, Anxi Town can also recruit soldiers from Yarkand, Khotan, Xiuxun... various countries.

Therefore, Zhao Guanghan actually had a lot of troops at his disposal.

Moreover, Anxi is backed by Luntai, and the enemy it faces is nothing more than the weakened Jibin Kingdom, so it is also the safest.

In terms of finance, although the land directly under the Han army was relatively poor, the two countries under its jurisdiction, Yarkand and Khotan, were both wealthy places, so the financial pressure was not great.

It is precisely because of this that Xi'an Town was the most enterprising in a short period of time.

Zhao Guanghan was already gearing up and eager to give it a try. After the army expansion plan was completed, he would send troops to attack Ji Bin who disrespected the Han Dynasty.

The kings of Jie and Khotan also supported its expansion plan.

After the meeting, Zhang Yue summoned the Jiedushi envoys of the four towns, Pang Yi, Cai Ting, and Fu Jiezi alone to the Chariot and Cavalry General's Mansion to hold a small meeting.

At the meeting, Zhang Yue first asked Pang Yi about the situation of the camp.

According to the current expansion plan of the Han Army in the Western Regions, the Han Army in the Western Regions needs to recruit 42,000 new soldiers.

To arm so many new soldiers, a huge amount of money, food and equipment would be required.

In terms of money and food, it's easy to say that the Western Regions guard the Silk Road trade, and the fiscal revenue has always been good.

But for a consumable item like armored soldiers, you can imagine how stressful it is.

This is only in normal times. If a war breaks out, the consumption will be even greater.

In a large battle, each soldier will lose 2.6 weapons on average.

As the emperor's edict to change the Yuan Dynasty came, Zhang Yuecai suddenly remembered that in the first and second years of Yuanfeng, the Huns launched wars against the Han Dynasty.

In addition, judging from what Zhao Guanghan revealed, he should have been ready to take action against Ji Bin.

As a result, the Han army's demand for weapons and equipment will be extremely huge in the next year.

"Don't worry, Lord, I was already preparing for this three years ago..."

"Currently, the general camp has 27,000 collars of cotton-iron composite armor, 36,000 collars of pure cotton armor, 2,124 collars of fish-scale armor, and 21,300 collars of leather armor!"

"There is no shortage of weapons. The general's camp currently has 29,000 ring-headed knives, 7,600 long knives, more than 116,900 spears, and more than 48,600 lances...

…”

"In addition, there are 21,000 bows, 19,700 crossbows... 600 bed crossbows... 300 large counterweight trebuchets... 1,680 small trebuchets, each

1.2 million arrows..."

Everyone was overjoyed after hearing Pang Yi's report.

Zhao Guanghan rubbed his hands and said, "There are so many armored soldiers... Mr. Pang needs to take more care of them in the future!"

Cai Ting also said with satisfaction, "In this way, we have enough money, food, armor and soldiers in the Western Regions, and we only need to recruit soldiers!"

Zhao Guanghan calculated, "With two months of recruitment and two months of training... four months later we will be able to form combat effectiveness... In this way, we can punish Ji Bin next year..."

Zhang Yue was not as optimistic as everyone else. He said to Pang Yi, "Pang Gong, we have suspended the production of other items recently and are fully committed to the production of lances and various arrows!"
To be continued...