Song Sheng has not been promoted for a long time due to his health. The northwest military affairs are now mainly taken care of by his second son Song Hu and third son Song Ying. Today, with the help of the auxiliary Duke Xia Xun, he rushed to the Northwest Military and Political Bureau in Gansu Town to have a wedding banquet.
The officials were able to meet in the commander's tent.
Song Sheng did not wear a military uniform today, nor did he sit behind the commander's desk. Instead, two seats with several desks were arranged in front of the commander's desk. He sat side by side with Xia Xun. On the left and right sides, there were important officials from the Northwest Army.
Sitting upright and not squinting, Xia Xunyou looked sternly, seeing that the generals were not pretentious. This kind of strict military power was a habit developed over a long time. He couldn't help but secretly nodded: "Song Sheng is really good at governing the Western Regions. No wonder the veteran generals in the court praised him.
He can be called the Western Region Guard, Huo!"
Song Sheng was introducing Xiliang's defense to Xia Xun. He was already ahead of Xia Xun on many things. He was doing what Xia Xun thought of, and he also did what Xia Xun didn't expect. This is a truly famous general with a background in the military.
He has been operating in the Western Region for more than 20 years and is familiar with every castle, village, mountain and river here. It is natural that he thinks more carefully than Xia Xun. If Xia Xun, a monk who became a monk halfway, could read the sutras better than him,
Then Song Sheng was really useless, so it was impossible for him to stay in Xiliang for so long.
Xia Xun was very pleased. Since he became an official, he has experienced many dangers and difficulties. There are very few people who can help him share so many things. Sometimes, not only is there no one to help him share the burden, but he also has to guard against others holding him back.
Xia Jiuzi, this time he came west, although the enemy he faced was more powerful than any enemy he had ever conquered before, but with such a veteran by his side, he felt really relaxed.
"In the past ten years, there have been few strong enemies outside Gansu and Liang, and defense is more important than conquest. In the past ten years, Gansu's border defense has mainly relied on strong defenses such as forts, border walls, beacons, and passes to build layers of defense. Therefore, there are few cavalry,
There are many infantry. According to the imperial law, areas where the frontier army is short of food can have fewer soldiers and more troops. However, after years of development, the water conservancy facilities in our northwest are relatively complete, the land is fertile, and the output is rich, enough to maintain soldiers. Therefore, our northwest
The proportion of combat troops is higher than that in other places, and the ratio of combat troops to garrison troops is about 80 to 20..."
Xia Xun nodded repeatedly after hearing this. Song Sheng coughed twice and continued: "After learning that Tamerlane will march to the east, I have ordered all the guards to strengthen their rectification, reiterate military orders, and at the same time remove some soldiers who are not reliable due to their beliefs.
Important passes were cleared and moved to the rear. If the imperial court wanted to send another large army, the existing forts, border walls, beacons, and passes would be enough to accommodate them with only a slight expansion.
In the past ten years, although there have not been many opportunities to go on expeditions, I have never slackened on the training of Ganliang Jingqi. The total number of Ganliang Jingqi now is about 30,000. I am not boasting, this is an elite army that has fought in hundreds of battles.
!Soldiers should be elite rather than numerous. Ten thousand of these elite soldiers can play a huge role, not to mention the 30,000 elite cavalry brought by the Duke..."
Because they were discussing official matters in the commander's tent in front of all the generals, Song Sheng did not call Xia Xun brothers, but spoke according to the rank in the army: "I can send someone to lead the cavalry brought by the Duke. From now on
We have strengthened our training from the beginning and become familiar with the geography of Xiliang. I believe that since Tamerlane is busy with his troops on the expedition, we are firstly waiting for work at leisure, and secondly, we are occupying the advantageous location, so we should make full use of my strengths and focus on defense."
Xia Xun said happily: "What Song Shuai said is exactly what I want! To defend the enemy outside the border wall, it does not necessarily have to be a head-on attack. We have a strong border defense, why abandon it and not use it? He is sticking to the wood.
Since we dare to invade, we just make use of the long-established border fortifications to inflict maximum trauma on the enemy with minimal casualties! Haha, Song Shuai captured the Mongolian prince alive and besieged the King of Hami in the past.
To destroy the yellow dragon, I'm worried that Song Shuai is getting older and stronger, and he will use his old tricks again this time."
Listening to Xia Xun mentioning his two most proud battles of the year, Song Sheng couldn't help but smile and waved his hands: "Hey, a good man can't even mention how brave he was back then! What's more, this Tiemu'er didn't have his whole body tattooed. People like Wu Nashili can do it."
Comparatively."
If the invading enemy fights against the defenders, the attackers will surely suffer more sacrifices than the defenders. If you have a strong fortress, you should make good use of it. Xia Xun and Song Sheng did not have their heads kicked by donkeys.
Rather than playing chivalry with others, the two people's opinions coincided with each other.
The two discussed military matters again, and after listening to the reports from the generals of each guard station, they returned to the back office. In fact, the main purpose of this promotion was to allow Xia Xun, the supervisor, to meet with the generals of each military regiment.
, get to know each other, and have no other purpose. After arriving at Houya's study, Xia Xun asked: "Brother, don't lose Bali and Hami. They are also under the Ming Dynasty, but they are outside Jiayuguan. What is the current specific situation of these places?"
how?"
After hearing this, Song Sheng frowned slightly and sighed: "It's not very good. I have been traveling to Xiliang for more than 20 years, but I have only slightly restored the strength of my Han family! Outside Jiayu Pass, it is far inferior to that inside the pass.
Take control..."
Song Sheng asked Xia Xun to sit down and gave him a detailed introduction to the situation in the Western Regions. The Western Regions had suffered several gains and losses at the hands of the Han Hui people, and the situation was most severe when the Ming Dynasty took over.
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The Han Dynasty opened up the Western Regions, and in the Tang Dynasty it went further. When the Tang Dynasty was at its peak, its power reached Central Asia. Unfortunately, this was just a flash in the pan, and it retreated not long after. Following the Anshi Rebellion, the Tang Dynasty's vitality was greatly damaged, and its power
It shrank further and even the Western Regions were basically lost, so the two landowners, Tubo and Uighur, began to compete for dam springs in the Western Regions.
Tubo was the country where the Buddha returned, and Uygur was the Hui Islam. Later, after Tubo collapsed, the power of the Hui Islam expanded greatly.
Later, Zhang Yichao established the Guiyi jun in Shazhou. When his power was at its strongest, he once ruled the Hexi Corridor of the Silk Road. However, the good times did not last long. At that time, the Tang Dynasty was already in decline and could not provide any assistance.
, after the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, when the Song Dynasty was established, the Qiang people also established the Xixia Kingdom in the Western Regions and unified the Hexi Corridor. At this point, the connection between the Buddha in the Western Regions and the Central Plains was completely interrupted when he returned to Khotan.
At this time, the Black Khanate, which believed in Islam, launched the Holy Hui War and defeated Khotan. After the King of Khotan returned to the country, the entire Western Region was completely converted to Islam and extended to the Hexi Corridor. When Song Sheng was conducting a military expedition to the Western Regions
, there is no basis for Han Hui people in the Western Regions. The territory here was forcibly conquered by General Xu Da Jun with force. The local residents are all Mongolians who were forced to surrender under the force of General Xu Da Jun.
, Qiang people, Tubo people, and most of them believe in Islam.
In this land that has been lost for hundreds of years, Song Sheng has worked hard for more than 20 years, but he has only firmly grasped Gansu in his hands. Hami, Mongolia, and other places outside Jiayuguan.
We can only use both kindness and power, and use the local Uighurs and Mongols to achieve semi-independent control in the hands of the Ming Dynasty.
After hearing this, Xia Xun muttered: "Brother, those who come are not good, and those who are good will never come. Tamerlane is invincible in the west, and he is invincible. This time he comes to the east, the Ming Dynasty is sure to win. Yes, we
It is easy to wait for work, and it occupies a favorable geographical location. Our Ming Dynasty's soldiers and horses are also strong, but Timur not only has strong soldiers and horses, but also uses Islam as a Mongolian identity. In terms of people and people, we are in Hami and Mongolia. Don't lose the Bali area.
We don’t have an advantage, so if we fight this battle, even if we win, I’m afraid it will be a miserable victory.”
Song Sheng said: "Well! Brother, I also expected this! Judging from the information we have now, this Tiemu'er is a tough nut to crack!"
After a moment of silence, he raised his thick eyebrows again and said solemnly: "Never mind it! A man guarding the border and wrapped in horse leather is the right place to die! Isn't it just for this day that the imperial court has raised troops for a thousand days? How can I be afraid of him?"
Xia Xun smiled and said: "Of course you are not afraid. However, when Timur comes, it makes a big difference whether the road is smooth or muddy. If he spends more energy on the road, we will
The more energy he saves, the more soldiers he dies on the way, and we can save one more soldier. Brother, you have led troops for many years, you should understand that the battlefield is changing rapidly, and the outcome of the entire battle may be determined by a small gap.
Decide!"
Song Sheng narrowed his eyes slightly: "Brother, you mean..."
Xia Xun said in a deep voice: "If these places are loyal to me, the Ming Dynasty, they will be a thorn in front of Timur's horse. If they fall to Timur, they will be Timur's bridgehead. Before Timur arrives,
I want to take a walk outside the customs!"
※The newest
Above the snowfield, a continuous stretch of camps spread along the hillside, boundless.
The flags were flying in the cold wind, the archery towers stood tall, and the fighting was fierce.
In the wind, the sound of golden drums and horns can be heard faintly!
The new wind was howling, but it was very warm inside the tent.
Qiu Fu stood in front of a map hanging on the tent wall with his hands folded, looking at the mountains and rivers on it, as well as some places where the main Tatar army might be hidden, marked after the horse exploration report, with his thick eyebrows furrowed.
A school captain came into the tent and handed over an official letter. After Jingan Hou Wang Zhong opened it and read it, he walked to Qiu Fu and said respectfully: "General, Zhang Jun of Liaodong has sent news that the original Hou Dingyu and his three thousand elite cavalry of Liaodong can be dismissed.
Wu Liangha has two thousand elite cavalry, totaling five thousand elite soldiers, to assist the general."
Qiu Fu turned a deaf ear and still stared at the map with his hands behind his hands. Wang Zhong was still waiting to speak. Wang Cong, the Marquis of Wucheng, tugged on his sleeves and snorted coldly: "Forget it! Zhang Jun, who is Ding Yu? That's the assistant."
The people of Duke Yang Xu are helping us conquer Benya Shili? Humph! They sent five thousand soldiers to serve as nothing more than a bird, just to share the credit with us! Ignore them!"
The Marquis of Tong'an was really scorching the fire and said with a smile: "Hey, people always have good intentions, so it's hard to ignore them. So I replied to them, thank you for your kindness, and asked them to prepare for war. As soon as there is news, if more troops are needed, I will ask them to assist."
That’s it for encirclement and suppression!”
Wang Zhong looked back at Qiu Fu and saw that Qiu Fu had a calm face and said nothing, so he had no choice but to agree and hurried back to the desk to write a reply.
Qiu Fu was very anxious. This dispatch was a good opportunity for him to go out again and return to the center. He was very concerned about it. Especially after receiving Zhu Gaoxu's letter, he knew better how important it was to win a great victory. But he
He has led an army of 100,000 men and has been wandering outside the Great Wall for more than a month. He has spent a lot of food and grass, and many soldiers have frostbite, but he has not even seen the shadow of the Tatars.
The vast grassland is filled with heavy snow. If one deliberately hides and avoids fighting, millions of men and horses can disappear immediately. Where can one find it? Now Zhang Jun of Liaodong pretends to send troops to help. Qiu Fu becomes even more angry when he hears this.
, he is holding back all his energy and wants to show off with Yang Xu to see who is better at fighting. Not to mention that he has a hundred thousand soldiers and does not need help at all. Even if he needs help, he will not borrow a soldier from Liaodong.
A pawn has nothing to do with Xia Xun!
The more Qiu Fu thought about it, the more anxious he became. He suddenly turned around and said: "The snow is thick and it is difficult for the army to move. The enemy chieftains can escape freely, making it difficult to fight. I decided, Huo Zhen, Wang Zhong will lead the army and baggage and then move slowly. Wang Cong, Li Yuan,
Each of my commanders will lead a thousand men on horseback to coordinate with each other and search forward. If they encounter a small group of enemy chiefs, they will fight. If they encounter a large group of enemy chiefs, they will immediately call in reinforcements to respond. Otherwise, they will be fooled by the enemy and find it difficult to find their nest!"