On the eve of Xu Huai's decision to leave Shangluo and return to Biyang before the refugees evacuated eastward, the news that Xiao Yanhan, Zhang Xiongshan, Wu Sanrong, Xiao Xuan and others led 8,000 troops south via Taoyuan reached Shangluo City.
Hearing the news, Dong Cheng was very shocked and felt incredible.
Xu Huai had formally submitted a petition to the imperial court years ago, recommending Dong Cheng to serve as a prison official in Jingxiang Road.
In addition to overseeing the criminal and prison affairs involving officials and civilians in the prefectures and counties, Xu Huai hoped to have a figure who was easily accepted by the scholar-officials to be responsible for liaison and supervision of officials at all levels appointed by the imperial court in Beijing and Xiangzhou——
This involves the issue of the connection between imperial regulations and the Chushan New Deal. Apart from Dong Cheng, Xu Huai could not find a more suitable candidate for the time being.
Emperor Shaolong has not relented yet to accept Xu Huai's recommendation. Dong Cheng is currently advising Xu Huai as a guest. Except for a few secret matters such as Xiao Yanhan giving birth to Xiao Bai, the little prince, Dong Cheng has also been involved.
Discussion and formulation of major political strategies for Beijing and Xiangzhou to defend against enemies.
Zhang Xiongshan went to Longxi to persuade the remnants of the Khitan to move from the north of Minshan to the Lushui area. It was not top secret in the production department; Xu Huai was also sent to Jianye more than once
The memorial mentioned that once the Chihu people were blocked from the frontal battlefield, they would have the possibility of attacking Dali and other countries in a roundabout way.
Although Dong Cheng knew about this, he thought that there was no way the remnants of the Khitan could be easily persuaded, so he was especially shocked at this time:
"The Khitan sent 8,000 troops in advance, most of them women and children, and they went south from Taoyuan to Lushui in two months? Is the news true?"
Lushui is located to the west of Dali and is the main source of the Yangtze River. Zhuge Liang, the prime minister of the Shu Kingdom in the late Han Dynasty, once mentioned Lushui in a sentence in "Shi Shi Biao", "Crossing Lu in May, going deep into the barren land" and it is widely known to the world; and Taoyuan is located in Long.
On the right side of the Tao River, between the Min Mountains, from the source of Tao to the Lushui River, it will pass through the eastern part of the Xibo Highlands controlled by the Tubo tribes.
Dong Mature read historical materials and knew that the middle and early dynasties of the previous dynasty were the most prosperous and powerful times in the history of the Central Plains:
In the middle and early stages of the previous dynasty, after unifying the Central Plains and becoming the world leader, they successively annihilated the Eastern and Western Turks, Gaochang State, Xueyantuo, Zhongtianzhu, Ruren, Khitan, Baekje, Tiele, Goguryeo and other countries.
Even in the Xuanzong era, the former dynasty's national power had shrunk, but it still successfully annihilated the Southwest Barbarians, Tu Qi Shi, Hou Tu Jue, Big and Small Bolu, and Shi Kingdom.
However, the previous dynasties were never able to truly conquer or defeat the Tubo dynasty.
Not only were Hexi, Longyou, Anxi and other places annexed by Tubo for a long period of time, the capital Chang'an even fell to the hands of Tibetan cavalry.
A key reason for this is that the Tibetan Highlands, which later generations called the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, faced a natural chasm that was difficult for birds to cross in front of the elite cavalry of the Central Plains.
The previous dynasties had many large-scale battles with Tubo. Although they won more than they lost, they were mainly focused on the struggle for control of the Hexi Corridor and the Western Regions. The battlefields were mainly concentrated in Hexi, the Western Regions and surrounding areas, and did not involve Tubo rule.
The core of Tibetan Highlands.
A great battle in which the elite infantry cavalry of the Central Plains penetrated most deeply into the Tibetan highlands was only a few hundred miles south of Qinghai Lake. In that battle, the 50,000 or 60,000 elite infantry cavalry of the Central Plains were still equipped to train the disadvantaged Tibetan cavalry to fight.
Had to fail miserably.
Although the Tubo dynasty also fell into disintegration and warlord rule in the later period. So far, no regime has been able to unify the Tubo tribes again. However, from Minshan and Jishishan to the south, all the way to the coast of Lushui, there are large dynasties scattered thousands of miles away.
There were countless Tubo separatist forces, large and small, and it was not easy for the remnants of the Khitan to conquer them easily.
Not to mention the huge obstacles on the terrain that look like natural chasms.
The remnants of the Khitan army, an advance guard of eight or nine thousand men, most of whom were women and children, set out on their journey south like this?
Dong Cheng's first thought was that the Khitans were crazy, but when he calmed down, he couldn't help but wonder if Xu Huai had other means to convince the Khitans to take such a risk.
Zhang Xiongshan was in Taoyuan two months ago planning to go south. It was difficult to explain all the subtle things in the secret letter in a hurry. Xiao Yanhan did not go into detail about the conflicts within the remnants of the Khitan clan, but after seeing the secret letter
As mentioned above, it is not difficult for Xu Huai to imagine the difficulties faced by Xiao Linshi and others.
After all, it is not easy to share wealth and adversity, nor is it easy to share adversity.
The remnant Khitan tribe has less than 100,000 people. After years of wandering, they have not been able to find a place where they can truly settle down and recuperate. Next, they have to embark on a journey to a new world.
No army in history has ever gone through this difficult journey. How many people have no fear in their hearts, and who has such high power that the tribe can advance this matter without any doubts?
To be honest, it was difficult for Xu Huai to do this in Beijing and Xiangzhou.
"I thought that Commander Xiao would first send an elite cavalry team to explore the road south to Lushui, and then make the final decision after all conditions are relatively mature," Han Gui frowned and said, "Commander Xiao would directly send a group of tribesmen ahead.
Going south is indeed something I never expected before, and this exploration will be much more difficult than imagined..."
Not only will the journey be difficult along the way, but you will also encounter various Tubo separatist forces, large and small.
When the remnants of the Khitan retreated to the Taoyuan area, they had fierce and bloody conflicts with the Tubo tribe near Jishi Mountain. It is difficult to imagine that the advance troops were crossing the border. Along the way, the Tudong separatist forces, large and small, would be very polite and polite to lend the road.
It was necessary to predict the fate of the advance troops, most of whom were women and children. Han Gui believed that the greater possibility was that the entire army would be destroyed halfway, rather than that some of the people successfully reached the banks of the Lushui River.
Xu Huai didn't say much, and told Han Gui, Dong Cheng, Wang Ju, Fan Zongqi and others to go and have a rest.
Early the next morning, although there were more than a thousand horsemen approaching Shangluo City, Xu Huai just summoned Fan Zongqi and other generals to him and once again warned him about avoiding the battle. After that, he ate some breakfast and left the city surrounded by more than a hundred horsemen.
Passing through Wuguan, Xixia and Neixiang, we traveled day and night to Biyang and back.
…………
…………
"If we form a large business group, how soon can we reach the shore of Lushui River?"
Xu Huai returned to Jingshenghou Mansion and immediately summoned Shi Zhen, Su Laochang, Xu Wuqi and others to directly raise the issue.
Although Dong Cheng had the opportunity to participate in this discussion, he was a guest, and secondly he was not very familiar with the real core secrets of the production department, so he maintained restraint and mainly looked at Shi Zhen, Su Laochang, and Xu Wuqi.
How others can make plans.
Of course, he was still quite confused deep down.
Regardless of whether Beijing and Xiangxiang lobbied for it or not, the risk taken by the remnants of the Khitan was also an internal decision made by them, and the production company does not need to bear any responsibility for this.
Once again, there were more than 8,000 advance troops, half of whom were women and children. Without full army coverage on the way, the possibility that some of them could reach the bank of the Lushui River was really not very high.
The production company has now set up a large business group to go to Lushui for support. The cost is too high and it seems unnecessary.
"When Shi Xun was serving in the Ministry of Household Affairs in his early years, he was fortunate enough to have contact with the Dali envoy who came to Bianliang to congratulate him. He was a deacon of the merchant group. I also wrote to Shi Xun, asking him to return to Biyang in advance and wait for the envoy.
"Move," Shi Zhen said, "In addition, the escort troops and horses must not be weak. You can use Shi Hu and Su Miao as generals, and choose the vanguard army. Each rear army will send a thousand elites to accompany them. They may be able to reach Lu in four months."
By the water…”
Dong Cheng looked around blankly at the people sitting in the hall.
Where is the business delegation sent to Lushui?
This is obviously to form a small-scale elite division and rush to the banks of the Lushui River to join the Khitan advance troops heading south from Taoyuan!
Besides, four months is too short - how long will it take to ask the imperial court to agree to send envoys to Dali to coordinate everything?
Is this the plan to send an armed merchant group directly to Dali Kingdom via Jingnan and Guangxi without asking for the consent of the imperial court?
And if the imperial court did not send envoys to Dali to coordinate everything, and the merchant group only brought a letter from the Jingxiang Road Department, how could Dali easily allow the merchant group to pass through its territory and go to the bank of Lushui River?
The Dali Kingdom did not agree to allow the merchant group to enter. From the beginning, Shi Hu and Su Miao were appointed as generals, and Shi Xun was appointed as the deacon. Are they planning to lead the merchant group to fight all the way?
If this was the plan, it would not be difficult to understand why two thousand elite guard merchant groups would be mobilized from the front army and rear army.
As Shi Zhen's eldest son, Shi Xun was serving in the Qingtian Division in Jingzhou and joining the army. Shi Zhen wrote a letter in advance to call Shi Xun back. Did he expect that Xu Huai would definitely go to war over this matter?
"Before this winter, there won't be any tough battles in Rucai and Caizhou. I'd better go to Lu River!" Wang Ju said.
The business group went all the way south and entered Dali via Guangnan West Road. The things they encountered along the way may be extremely complicated, and they must make decisions quickly and independently when encountering anything. It is impossible to stop halfway and send someone back to Biyang to ask for instructions.
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As for the Khitan advance troops, even if some of them were lucky enough to reach the banks of the Lu River, how could the indigenous tribes who had previously lived there give up their habitat so easily?
How could the Khitan advance troops still have enough strength at that time? The struggle with the local indigenous tribes who fought to the death would be extremely bloody and cruel. The purpose of the armed merchant group was to meet and join forces, so the struggle would also be cruel and bloody - Wang Ju
Just thinking about him personally leading the armed merchant group to Lushui thousands of miles away.
Xiao Yanhan alone will definitely not be able to enjoy such high-level treatment, but Wang Xuan and Liu Qiong'er have not yet given birth to children. Xiao Bai, the little prince, is currently the only child born to Xu Huai, even if he does not receive Biyang in the end.
, we must do everything possible to keep him safe and sound by the Lushui River...
"Then it's hard work for Uncle Qi to make this trip! One day, I would also like to conquer the Western Tibetan Highlands, and Uncle Qi's trip will be regarded as a pioneer!" Xu Huai said in a loud voice, and decided that Wang Ju would personally lead the armed merchant group south to Lushui...
