Chapter 1,184: Stay steady and stay away from the waves
Therefore, in addition to the lack of troops, the Tang army had stable morale, high morale, and extremely sufficient food, fodder, and military supplies, which were enough to fight a war of attrition from winter to spring, and even from spring to autumn.
After resisting the strong advance of the Arab army at the beginning of the war, the Tang army gradually stabilized its position and slowly regained its disadvantage. The war has shifted from the comparison of the strength of the two sides to its essence - a battle of logistics and supplies.
Even if the war is dragged out until the end of the Eastern Expedition, hundreds of thousands of elite troops will return to Guanzhong. If only 100,000 people are mobilized to aid the Western Regions, the Arabs will undoubtedly be defeated.
Therefore, the Tang army had the absolute initiative in time, while the Arabs were eager to break the situation. The severe winter not only delayed the Arabs' attack, but it was also the Arabs' last chance. If they could not defeat the Anxi army and occupy the entire Western Region this winter, then in
After the arrival of spring, the Tang army made large-scale reinforcements, and the only way left for the Arabs was to withdraw.
At present, the Arabs are in a dilemma and are at a loss what to do.
…
A few days later, Tumidu led 10,000 Huihe young men, braved the wind and snow, rushed to the Western Regions to aid, and joined forces with Fang Jun in Gongyue City, greatly increasing the strength of the Tang army.
Inside the Gongyue City Government Office, Tumidu took off his hat and threw it aside. He took a chopstick of mutton from the steaming hot pot and stuffed it into his mouth, chewed it and swallowed it. Then he took a big gulp of strong wine, and the hot smell of alcohol went down his throat.
It entered his stomach and dispelled the cold air all over his body. He let out a long breath of relief.
The dark red face was covered with sweat: "Good wine! In such cold weather, a pot of mutton and a pot of strong wine, sitting and watching the wind and snow in the sky, the enemy troops are at a loss, the commander really enjoys it!"
He really admired the Han people, who could endure the most difficult conditions, but also tried their best to improve their enjoyment when the enemy was in front of them. A copper pot with a charcoal fire and a pot of not very delicious spirits were placed on ordinary days.
It is the simplest thing, but Fang Jun forcibly created a high style of "delicacies" and "food with bells and cauldrons"...
Xue Rengui, who was holding a pot and pouring wine, said with a smile: "The Western Region is bitterly cold and the conditions are simple. I hope you won't mind if you treat the Khan too slowly. When you return to Chang'an after this triumph, you will definitely be able to entertain the Khan."
"
Fang Jun also said: "It's just a pot of mutton, not even a piece of mushroom, I really can't wait for the Khan... If we were in Chang'an at this time, cucumber, chicory, green vegetables were accompanied by mutton, it was fresh and greasy, that would be called
tasty."
The navy brought back many new vegetables and fruits from Nanyang, and chicory was one of them. They were all cultivated in the greenhouse of Lishan Farm out of season. Today, the fruits are abundant, making the dishes on Chang'an's winter table more abundant.
As a result, the Fang family gained another amount of income.
After all, winter vegetables are the top luxury goods at this time, and they require huge manpower and material resources to cultivate. Only the rich and powerful can afford these "green gold", and the prices are sky-high...
Tu Midu's face was dark and rosy due to the steam or the strong alcohol. Hearing this, his face looked full of yearning: "The ultimate ideal of every Hu people is to live in Chang'an for the rest of their lives. I thought that this ideal was only for
It was an extravagant hope, and it would be difficult to set foot in the gate of Chang'an in my lifetime, but unexpectedly, things have changed, and now I really have the qualifications to go to Chang'an... I didn't say that I came to help this time, but I have an order, and no one dares to disobey it. The commander only needs to give it.
The order is, all the Huihe people are brave and good at fighting. If anyone takes a step back, I will raise my head to see you!"
He is a smart man. Regardless of whether he was active or passive in the first place, since he has completely attached himself to the Tang Dynasty, he must attach himself to the Tang Dynasty wholeheartedly. He cannot shout attachment on the lips but still have small calculations in private. Once Fang Jun is angered, Huihe will The future of man is uncertain...
Moreover, the Uighurs were hated to the core by the Turks. If Pei Xingjian had not temporarily taken command of Luntai City and sent a team of cavalry to intimidate the Turks, Khan Yibi Shekui would have sent out his wolf cavalry to chase them thousands of miles away. , and killed all the Huihe people.
Since he could not look back, he naturally had to be loyal to the Tang Dynasty wholeheartedly.
At least the current situation must be like this...
Fang Jun happily said: "The Tang Dynasty has a universal mind, and your majesty has great ambition. He is willing to become good neighbors with the Hu people from all over the world, be friendly and help each other, and advance hand in hand. Your majesty is now personally conquering Goguryeo. If you hear that the Khan abandoned the dark side and joined the bright side, he will definitely be attached to the Tang Dynasty." I am very happy and the dragon is very happy!"
"Haha! I dare not disturb His Majesty's state of mind."
Tu Midu said polite words, but he was madly complaining in his heart: It is certain that the Tang Dynasty had a universal mind, but it was only the land that had a universal mind, but it was definitely not the Hu people who had a universal mind. The regulations that allowed Tang and Hu intermarriages, especially the regulations that strictly prohibited Tang women from marrying out of other races, show that Turks, Tubos, Arabs, and Uighurs were all inferior in the eyes of the Tang people.
Such annoying discrimination...
After chatting for a while, after having enough wine and food, the soldiers came in and removed the hot pot, made a pot of tea and put it on the table. When they left, they closed the door behind them. Several soldiers stood outside the door, not allowing anyone to come near.
Fang Jun took a sip of tea, squinted his eyes to feel the taste of the tea, and then asked after a while: "What's the reaction from the Turks?"
Tumidu sipped the tea cup and sighed: "This time I have offended Khan Yibi Shegui to death. I secretly sneaked back into the clan, blocked the news, and moved the clan south in only three days. Some people who could not Throw away all the things I carried... Even so, before I arrived at Luntai City, the Golden Tent Wolf Cavalry followed me. Fortunately, Pei Changshi led his army fifty miles out of the city in time to meet him. The Turks did not want to rashly start a war with the Tang Dynasty, so they Only then did we arrive at Luntai City without any danger."
When he said this, he inevitably glanced at Fang Jun with resentment.
If this guy hadn't taken the risk and refused to provide support at the critical moment, causing Ashina Helu to break through the defense line and escape back to the Turks, how could there have been that scene of being chased by the Golden Horde Wolf Cavalry?
Fang Jun was the smartest person. He only took one look at Tumidu's face and knew that he must be complaining in his heart, so he asked with a smile: "The Khan thought that I deliberately refused to reinforce him during the Alagou battle and let Ashina Helu go." Escape, is this what caused the current predicament of the Huihe people?"
Tumido laughed twice and said against his will: "What did you say, Commander-in-Chief? Since I have decided to attach myself to the Tang Dynasty, I will never do anything inconsistent, otherwise both humans and gods will abandon me."
Fang Jun waved his hand and said: "Khan, you don't have to be like this. If the oath works, why are so many ungrateful and unlucky people living happily in this world?"
Seeing Tumidu looking embarrassed and at a loss, he explained: "A powerful Turk is not only unwilling to be seen by the Tang Dynasty, but also unwilling to be accepted by the Uighurs and many Hu tribes. The Turks are ferocious and violent. Once Being powerful is a nightmare for the surrounding tribes. Fortunately, the Turks are not monolithic. Although Yugushe Khan fled to Tochara, at least he still has the name, and Yibishegu's name is unjust and unjust, so it is difficult to overwhelm all parties in the tribe. Tribe. Now that Ashina Helu returns to the Turks, he will definitely be jealous of Yibi Shekui. With Ashina Helu’s character, ability, and foundation, how can he be captured without hesitation? If I expected it to be true, the Turks are now already in trouble. If internal fighting begins, Yibi Shekui will definitely execute Ashina Helu, but those tribes who want to set up a khan will definitely defend Ashina Helu."
When I thought about it carefully, I couldn't help but become more frightened.
There is a saying among the Han people that "many wise men are almost demons". Fang Jun looks rough, bold and majestic, and is even known as "Bang Chui" in Chang'an, but he is able to design a strategy to deliberately release Ashina Helu and cause internal strife among the Turks.
The root cause, isn’t this too scary?
This is still Fang Jun who is not good at strategizing. How terrible would it be if the ministers in the Chang'an court who were always scheming and scheming started to play tricks?
With such a wooden head like me, if I get to Chang'an in the future, I will be eaten alive by others?
Suddenly, the city of Chang'an, which had been admired and admired in the past, became a dragon's den that eats people without spitting out their bones.
How did Fang Jun know Tu Midu's thoughts? Seeing the frightened look on his face, he thought he had heard his words, so he felt awe-inspiring. He became more and more satisfied, nodded and said: "Although the enemy is still powerful now, the situation is still
It has been quietly reversed. From now on, we do not seek merit, but no fault. As long as we hold on to Gongyue City and occupy the last stronghold west of the Tianshan Mountains, we can switch from defense to offense at any time."
At this point, he paused and said solemnly: "Everyone, the safety of the Western Region is closely related to the stability of the country. It is a matter of life and death. There must be no negligence in the slightest. Stay steady and don't let it slip."