Back in the study, Yang Hao took out the wide-faced gold ring that had been washed away from the blood and looked at it again. This ring was thrust into his hand by Master Huisheng before he passed away. It was of average workmanship, but it was a huge pure gold ring.
, it looks very grand when worn on the hand. There are no gems inlaid on the front of the ring, and a kind of tadpole-style text is engraved on the front and back.
He didn't recognize this kind of writing, but in his previous life, he often saw plaques with similar writing hanging in certain hotels. He also saw this kind of ring on Talib and his accompanying guards. He
I know that what is engraved on it is scripture or hadith.
The place where the incident occurred, Talib's origins, and the ring were all connected, and it was clear who the murderer was.
Yang Hao let out a long breath. He never expected that a businessman could be so devout to his faith. He was not afraid of offending himself and took huge risks to kill people. The power of faith is really terrifying. Perhaps, Tully
Bu was relying on his close relationship with him and thought that he, Yang Hao, would definitely not break up with him for a few unrelated outsiders, so he was so unscrupulous, right?
When Master Huisheng settled in the "Huyang Pavilion", he saw with his own eyes the negotiation between Linghu Shangshan and Talib, and he politely asked Talib to give up an upper room for them to live in. Naturally, he understood the close relationship between them.
Master Huisheng did not tell the public who the murderer was until his death, but just secretly stuffed the physical evidence he grabbed into his own hands. Perhaps it was also out of this fear that he was afraid of causing trouble and increasing the number of variables for Yang Hao to send troops to help.
Just as he was thinking about it, there was a sound of footsteps outside the door. Yang Hao put away the ring and raised his head slightly. The footsteps stopped at the door, and the guard shouted loudly: "Don't drive Mr. Linghu to Shazhou."
"Please."
Linghu Shanshan stepped inside and bowed to Yang Hao: "Lieutenant, my subordinates have been disposed of properly. The three envoys from Khotan have all been collected, and spices have been built to preserve the bodies. They are now stored in the 'Desheng Temple'."
Yang Hao nodded and said solemnly: "I asked you to mobilize the garrison officers and soldiers to trap the Populus Populus Pavilion to arrest the murderer and investigate the case. No one is allowed to come in or out until the truth is known. Is that done?"
Linghu Shangshan said: "Yes, as ordered by the Taiwei, the Populus euphratica Pavilion has been completely surrounded. No one is allowed to be let go until the case is settled for one day."
Yang Hao smiled coldly, nodded and said: "Very good! I want to see if he can still keep his composure..."
…
A group of bodyguards, all with tall heads and horses, carrying swords on their belts and carrying bows on their shoulders, wearing scarlet and red clothes, galloping from a distance like a red cloud. Throughout Dunhuang and outside, they were so impressive and sensational that no one except Ai Yihai, the leader of the horse bandits, would
There is no second one.
Ai Yihai led a group of light cavalry into the city and headed straight for the palace without stopping.
Ai Yihai was originally supervising the construction of fortifications and repairing beacons at Yumen Pass. After receiving the order from General Yang Hao, he immediately rushed back to Dunhuang without stopping. When he got to the palace, he got off his horse, lifted up his cloak, and rushed straight to the middle hall. As soon as he entered Yang Hao's study
, and couldn't wait to shout: "Commander, we have to send the generals back quickly, but is there a battle to be fought?"
Yang Hao smiled and said: "You are like a thunderbolt. Come on, sit down first. How is the defense at Yumen Pass?"
Ai Yihai wiped his sweat, sat down on the wooden chair, and said with a grin: "There are many decayed and collapsed places in Yumen Pass. Fengsui Ancient City has been in disrepair for a long time. It is currently being repaired and reinforced. There is nothing else.
That's easy to say. Commander, you want Lao Ai to charge
There is no need to say that we are trapped in the battle. This kind of work for women is really boring. When it comes to repairing fortifications and strengthening city defenses, Lao Ke is good at doing it. Why not transfer him over to the Taiwei? If there is one somewhere
The battle is about to begin, so Commander, it would be nice if you sent me there."
Yang Hao laughed and said: "Very well, I, my commander, have a tough battle for you to fight now!"
Ai Yihai jumped up and said excitedly: "Seriously? Sure enough? Hahahaha, finally I don't have to stay in Yumenguan to drink from the northwest wind. The Taiwei is really my close friend, Hahaha, Marshal, let's go Who are we going to hit? Where are we going to hit? Please give me instructions, Commander-in-Chief, Lao Ai will leave immediately."
Yang Hao smiled and said: "Don't be anxious, drink a cup of tea first and take a breath before talking."
Ai Yihai grabbed the tea cup and drank it all in one gulp. He took two deep breaths and said impatiently: "Commander, can you talk now?"
Yang Hao couldn't laugh or cry and said: "Why are you so anxious? I will explain it to you in detail when Mu En and Li Huating arrive."
After a stick of incense, Mu En and Li Huating also arrived respectively. Yang Hao then corrected his attitude and told what happened before and after the Khotan envoys asked for help from Shazhou, as well as the four reasons for sending troops based on his analysis of Zhu Yun yesterday. After saying it again, Mu En and Li Huating listened attentively, but Ai Yihai looked around and didn't take it to heart at all. This kind of intrigue made him feel headache if he thought about it for a while. He only knew that there was a battle, and one My heart was racing, and those who were gearing up there were just waiting for Yang Hao to give the order to send out troops.
Mu En and Li Huating were much calmer than him. After Yang Hao said this, Li Huating frowned and thought for a long time, and couldn't help but said: "Commander, now that the Shagua states in Liang, Gansu, and Gansu have just surrendered, let's attack their troops. Their control is still limited. If they are transferred to the Eastern Front at this time and asked to face the imperial army, there is no guarantee that someone will not defect before the battle.
It would not be appropriate to leave them in Hexi. If the remaining opposition forces in various states take advantage of the imperial court's attack on our Lin Mansion to confuse the military and fan the flames, it is difficult to say that some people will not mutiny and rebel. If we want to restrain them, we must go east before heading east. We have to keep a large number of troops. Now transferring them to Khotan will, on the one hand, increase the prestige of our army in the Western Regions, and on the other hand, it will also draw fuel from the bottom of the cauldron. With Kara Khan's troops to contain them, those in the Hexi states with ulterior motives will not be able to stir up any trouble. , this is indeed a clever plan..."
Yang Hao smiled and said: "You are a military general. You should speak openly and don't go around. Whatever you want to say, just speak up."
Li Huating was slightly embarrassed, smiled, and then said: "My subordinates are worried about the specific situation of the war between the Kara Khanate and Khotan. How many troops will be sent? Who will lead the army? What is the combat strength? How will the troops be deployed? We don't know anything. And We don’t know the current situation in Khotan at all. Can we afford the food and grass baggage during the expedition? From now on, we will go to Khotan, with thousands of miles of yellow sand and bumpy roads. Can we guarantee transportation? This is all a question. What if we eat it? The defeat will only weaken the prestige of the commander-in-chief, and the countries in the Western Regions that have just grown in awe of the Taiwei will inevitably feel a sense of neglect again."
Yang Haodao: "I have naturally thought about this. Kara Khan and Khotan have been at war and peace for more than ten years. How many troops are there in Kara Khan? What is their combat power? There are not all famous generals and Shazhou officials." I don’t know. As for the specific deployment of troops and the current war situation, haha, even if the Khotan envoy explained these clearly, what is the use?
The situation on the battlefield was changing rapidly. When they arrived at Shazhou, the situation in Khotan had already been turned upside down. It was completely different from what they knew. By the time our troops arrived, everything in that country had already changed beyond recognition. If we are limited by our calculations, we will send troops. If we had previously formulated a strategy based on what we now understand, drawn a battle plan, and fought the battle in the same manner, wouldn't it be just a matter of paper? If we were so rigid, how could we have any chance of winning?"
Mu En agreed and said: "What the commander said is true. We only need to estimate their approximate strength and understand the basic situation. What I am worried about is that the queen of Khotan King Li Shengtian is the daughter of the Cao family. If
Today, the three envoys of Khotan have died in Shazhou. How can the Khotan court not have grudges about all this? We have rushed to send troops, and we have a hot face but a cold butt. Or secondly, if Khotan is hostile to us again...
"
Yang Hao laughed and said: "Is it possible? When Khotan is in danger, the army comes to help from afar. Is the king of Khotan crazy? Will he choose to refuse aid and perish?"
"this……"
Yang Hao added: "I have learned from Zhang Ci about the situation in Khotan. The leader of Khotan, Li Shengtian, has passed away for more than ten years. His son Li Congde just passed away last year. Now the Khotan state is owned by Li Shengtian's eldest grandson Yuchi.
Bodhidharma is here
After the new king came to the throne, the country was unstable, so he suffered consecutive defeats, and had to urgently ask for help from Shazhou. The foundation of the country, and the personal grudges of the other country's empress dowager should be ignored. I think this Yuchi Bodhidharma is still
Clearly distinguishable.
What's more, the prime ministers who now hold the power in Khotan are Li Congde, and Zhang Jinshan, an important minister in the two dynasties of Yuchi Bodhidharma and his son. Zhang Jinshan is said to be a descendant of the Zhang family in Shazhou. In the past, Li Shengtian was married to the Zhang family of the Shazhou Guiyi Army.
When marrying a daughter-in-law, a junior member of the Zhang family became the consort of Khotan and stayed in Khotan. Zhang Jinshan was his descendant. In terms of seniority, Zhang Yu, the governor of Shazhou, was from his clan.
Uncle, what position do you think he will take?"
Speaking of this, Yang Hao smiled softly: "In the past, the King of Khotan had a good relationship with the Zhang family and they were also related by marriage. After the Cao family replaced the Zhang family as the leader of the Guiyi Army, what did the King of Khotan do? He married the Cao family.
, has he ever become hostile to the Cao family because the Cao family replaced Zhang?
Meaning? So, there is no need to worry about this matter. As for the assassination of the Khotan envoys, if they were killed by me, it would be an open declaration of war on Khotan. However, I, Yang Hao, sent reinforcements to relieve the siege of Khotan.
The King of Khotan is not an idiot, why can’t you tell the difference between good and bad?”
At this point, Yang Hao's expression became serious: "In fact, there is only one thing that we really need to consider, and that is how to conduct an expedition."
Yang Hao turned back and opened the curtain on the wall. There was a very crude map of the Western Region hanging on the wall. Yang Hao was still young at this time and had limited knowledge of the situation outside Yumen Pass. He had not yet made a clear sand table map.
.
"Three generals, you see, let's talk about marching and logistics first. If we want to go to Khotan to aid, there are only two ways to go. One is out of Yangguan and along the Altyn Mountains directly to the city of Yuechang in Khotan. This way
The road is a straight line, the shortest, but there are either mountains or deserts along the way, so the supply side
The road is very problematic. The second road is to leave Yumenguan in the west, arrive at Lop Nur first, take the road through Gaochang State, and go straight to Yuechang City along the Ruolchen River. This road is a little further, but if you really want to walk, it will be faster than the first road.
The road is easy to travel, and after arriving in Lop Nur, the supply problem can be solved nearby."
General Ai Yihai jumped up and said: "Okay, let's take the second route and leave Yumen Pass in the west. My army is at Yumen Pass. The commander-in-chief gives the order and the general will send out troops immediately."
Yang Hao stared at him and said, "How are you going to replenish food and grass?"
Ai Yihai said confidently: "Robbing his mother! Old Ai has done this all the time. Don't worry, Commander. My soldiers are very slick. They come and go like the wind, and their whereabouts are unpredictable. Gaochang
No one from the country can block our way."
Yang Hao snorted angrily and said, "Do you think your five thousand rangers are the only ones who are going to rescue Khotan this time?"
Mu En frowned and said: "General, I heard that the Gaochang people and the Karakhan people are both Uighurs. Is it feasible to take the road to Gaochang?"
Yang Haodao: "They belong to the same clan, but they are also different countries. Gaochang worships Buddhism, while Kara Khanate worships the sun and moon gods. In order to promote their doctrines, those who obey me will prosper, and those who go against me will perish. They act very tyrannically. Today
They sent troops to attack Khotan, of course, to expand their territory, but also because of their faith. How could Gaochang not be afraid of it?
Furthermore, the Gaochang Kingdom is a small country surrounded by Khotan, Shazhou, and Karakhan in a Z-shaped pattern. It is a small country and has little power, so it has always been content with its own status and does not dare to cause trouble. When it comes to Khotan, the rebel army and the
Karakhan and Gaochang have always focused on making friends. Every time a new dynasty is established in the Central Plains, they will try their best to send envoys to pay tribute, so they will not take the initiative to stir up trouble with us.
Of course, if it is under the coercion of the Kara Khanate, the Gaochang Kingdom may not be hostile to us. If we pick up the tail and take the Altyn Mountains and rush to Yuechang quietly, it will only strengthen its thief's heart and take advantage of it.
Dao Gaochang can actually show off the power of our army and dispel their delusions. Hey! Among the countries in the Western Regions, which one does not bully the weak and fear the strong?
Once they take advantage of me, they will take a step closer to me. To put it simply, they will no longer surrender to the Kingdom of Karakhan. At the same time, I plan to send a trade mission to go with the reinforcements, a stick and a carrot, haha,
In other words, it means to use both soft and hard tactics..."
Yang Hao had done enough work in advance, and he was confident when he said: "Gaochang makes a living by raising animals. The king, queen, and prince of Gaochang each have their own territory and horse farm. In their place, a good horse is worth a piece of silk, and a poor horse is only worth a pound of silk."
Meat is provided, and each horse is only worth ten feet of silk. The nobles eat horse meat, and the common people eat sheep, wild ducks, geese, etc. Because the surrounding countries have their own horse farms, their horses have little market, so their lives are extremely poor.
Through Yixiaolou, I bought a large amount of silk from the Central Plains at a low price. It was originally intended to be used as military pay. It comes in handy this time. I can send an envoy to bring the silk, porcelain, tea, and salt that Gaochang State is short of.
trade, in exchange for their horses, cloth, mink skins, jades, amber, chamber knives, iron swords, medicinal materials, etc., while frightening them with military force, and at the same time restraining them with the sweetness of trade, Gaochang can become the leader of my expeditionary force.
Logistics supply base. After arriving in Khotan, the military supplies will naturally be borne by Khotan, so there is no need to worry about this. As for how to fight..."
Yang Hao turned to the three of them and smiled slightly: "The Karakhan army came from the west, but Jochang is the easternmost city of Khotan. It is impossible for the Karakhan people to attack Jochang. How come they have already hit Jochang?"
Chang, then Khotan will be destroyed, and we can just go back home. Therefore, there will be no danger in this first foothold after the expeditionary army enters Khotan. The next step is to obtain victory from the Khotan people.
Contact us, fight together, and face the Karakhan Army."
When Mu En heard this, he nodded slightly, took a step forward, and raised his voice to ask for orders: "General, I understand, I am willing to lead the army to aid Khotan..."
The sea monster Ai Yi shouted: "General Mu, you can't snatch it from me. The commander-in-chief has already promised me this."
"oh?"
Mu En and Li Huating looked at Ai Yihai, and then at Yang Hao, with a somewhat surprised expression. Ai Yihai was good at fighting fierce battles and was a very difficult character on the battlefield. They naturally knew this, but Ai Yihai
This man has a violent temper, a wild style, and has always been reckless. Who can trust him to lead an army thousands of miles away alone?
The two of them didn't quite believe that Yang Hao would appoint Ai Yihai as the commander-in-chief of the three armies to rescue Khotan, so they both looked at him. Yang Hao smiled and said: "This time we go to Gaochang and Khotan, we naturally need an envoy.
An envoy is coming from the Zhang family. As for the commander-in-chief, yes, I do belong to General Yiai."
Li Huating was a demoted general and had little qualifications, so it was hard for him to express his opinions. However, Mu En took a step forward and said, "Commander, General Ai..."
Yang Hao waved his hand and said: "We are fighting alone in a dangerous situation, and our opponents are the brave Karakhan people. Under this situation, General Ai is the best candidate. If our army is here, if we can become the leader of the Karakhan people,
The nemesis, the powerful general in the Western Region, is none other than General Ai."
Ai Yihai was very proud when he heard this. He glanced at the two robes with a smug expression on his face.
After Yang Hao finished praising him, he straightened his face and said to him: "General Ai, for this expedition to Khotan, I have handed over to you all the elite soldiers from Liangzhou, Suzhou, and Guasha. In a foreign land, both people and land
Life, it is not easy to win the war. How to protect our soldiers as much as possible?
It's even more difficult. Don't just think about the merits of fighting. Think carefully about how to win a great victory and bring back our army intact. I entrust you with this important task.
The soldiers are entrusted to you, and you must not let me down."
Ai Yihai cupped his fists and responded loudly: "Don't worry, Commander, Ai Yihai will never let the Commander down."
Mu En said blankly: "Commander, what will General Ai do when he conquers Khotan?"
Yang Haodao: "You have to guard Yangguan and Yumenguan for me! As soon as General Ai is on the road, I will have to return to Ganzhou. If General Ai is defeated in Khotan and dies in a foreign country, maybe the war will burn directly.
When I come to Yumen Pass, at that time... the important task of guarding the two passes for me, preventing foreign enemies from invading, and preventing my commander's backyard from catching fire, is all up to you."
Ai Yihai was very angry when he heard it. He was about to retort a few words, but when he said the words, his heart suddenly turned over. He thought about Yang Hao's words carefully, and the arrogant and arrogant look on his face gradually faded away and replaced with a new one.
With a cautious and solemn expression, he said in a deep voice: "Commander, Ai Yihai will be careful when he leaves and will not disgrace his mission!"
Yang Hao smiled happily and said: "That's the best. If I don't trust you, I won't entrust you with this important task. You can go back and prepare yourself now. In three days, General Ai will go on an expedition to Khotan, and General Li will follow.
I am returning to Xiazhou to see how the two fronts are fighting and see who can win the battle beautifully!"
In the court of Ganzhou Khan's tent, the heated debate between the two sides had reached a fever pitch.
Prince Ali and Princess Aguli criticized and belittled each other, completely disregarding their identities as mother-in-law and prince. The leaders of the Puguhun clan, the Baryegu clan, the Tongluosijie clan, and the Dongluoge clan also joined in slightly.
They formed a war group, each supporting one side, facing each other tit for tat, and showing no weakness.
Princess Aguli flushed with excitement and said loudly: "Khan, it turns out that Ali's guess was completely wrong from the beginning. The Xiazhou army is bluffing and cannot fight for a long time. If we hold on to the city, Xiazhou
The army had already retreated in despair
Okay, but what did Prince Ali say? He blindly encouraged the Khan to abandon the city and flee into the desert, and repeatedly urged my troops to break out of the encirclement. If he hadn't insisted on his own way, he would have consolidated the Hun tribe, and the Luoge tribe would have been under the butcher's knife of the Xiazhou army.
How could the losses be so heavy?"
When Princess Aguli said this, the clan chiefs and leaders of the tribes in Guhun and Dongluoge immediately echoed. Suman, the leader of Guhun, burst into tears. Both of his sons died tragically when they broke out of the encirclement.
The Xiazhou Army's Mo Dao formation fell. Under the Mo Dao, both men and horses were smashed to pieces. The condition was horrific. It was common for a man in the desert to have his body wrapped in horse leather, but this sacrifice could have been avoided. How could he not die when he was old and lose his son?
Tears of sadness.
Ye Luohe Khan sat cross-legged on the white bear skin throne, his eyes seemed to be closed but not closed, and he never said a word.
Over the years that Ye Luohe has occupied Ganzhou, he has gradually accepted some living habits of the Han people. Although he still has a felt tent in the city, he has already built a splendid palace. This palace is naturally more comfortable to live in than a felt tent, so
The Great Khan of Ye Luohe usually lives in the palace, and the Khan's felt tent is just for show. He has not set foot inside it for several years.
This palace was built by Han craftsmen. It is not only magnificent, but also has excellent sound effects. Princess Aguli stood in the court and spoke, and her voice spread far away. People standing in every corner of the hall could hear clearly. Some people
After speaking out in response, some people naturally objected. The leaders of the Baye Gu clan and the Luo Sijie clan who were on Prince Ali's side immediately stood up to refute.
Prince Ali said with both yin and yang: "Although the besieging army has retreated, Yang Hao's main force is still over there in Guasha. Who knows that on his way back to the army, he won't steal my Ganzhou City? Yifu Khan
I bet my safety with the lives of one hundred thousand soldiers and civilians in Ganzhou City. This bet is really too big. The Seventh Princess may not care about it, but as the son of my father Khan, I, Ali, cannot care about it."
Princess Aguli said angrily: "How can I not care about the safety of the Great Khan and the safety of the soldiers and civilians of Ganzhou?"
Prince Ali sneered, raised his hands, looked up at Chengchen on the top of the palace, and said leisurely: "Father Khan ordered you to enter Yang Hao's camp to assassinate you. They actually saw through our plan, and instead used it to ambush us. The commander of their camp can
Does a fight count? And you... Princess Aguli, since her identity has been discovered, you can still escape from the thousands of troops without getting hurt at all. This ability is even more remarkable. "
Aguli was so angry that her delicate body trembled, and she retorted: "In Yang Hao's camp, no one can figure it out, but if someone makes a clumsy plan, why can't they see through it? It's not uncommon for me, a woman, to pretend to surrender and escape in the chaos.
, but you, Prince Ali, were injured and captured in the chaos, but you were able to seize the horse and escape alone. This is really incredible."
Prince Ali was furious and yelled: "What do you mean by your words? I am the son of my father Khan, how can I betray my father Khan?"
Princess Aguli puffed up her breasts and retorted in a sweet voice: "I am the princess of the Great Khan, am I going to defect to the Han people?"
"Okay, okay, how unbecoming is it to make such a noise!"
Ye Luohe shouted loudly and stood up. He slowly walked a few steps in front of the throne, looked back and asked: "Agul, in your opinion, what should I do now?"
Princess Aguli hurriedly said: "Great Khan, if the enemy has not yet arrived, we have abandoned the city and fled. How can we dominate the Western Regions after losing our prestige? If Yang Hao can successfully win this empty city and send a troop to garrison it, we will
If we want to get it back again, wouldn't it be as difficult as climbing to the sky? Now the Song Dynasty's attack on Lin Mansion is our God-given opportunity. Although Yang Hao has a large number of troops in Guasha, his foundation is under attack, how can he not be anxious
Are you rushing back to Xiazhou in such a hurry? How can you have time to attack me in Ganzhou again?
In my opinion, we should ask all the ministries in the region to raise more food and garrison in Ganzhou, and based on Ganzhou, we can view the situation in Hexi. When Yang Hao rushes to aid Xiazhou, we can send troops to intercept his retreat. If Yang Hao takes strict precautions, we will not
If we have the opportunity, after he retreats, we can use our hands to attack the West Road and help the powerful families in the Su, Gua, Sha, and Liang states who are unwilling to surrender to Yang Hao, and incite them to rebel against Yang Hao and restore the old power of Hexi.
For the east road, you can wait and see the progress of the war in Xiazhou. Although Yang Hao is powerful, compared with the powerful Song Ting, he is like a wolf fighting a lion, with no chance of winning. When Yang Hao is at a disadvantage, he will be defeated.
, we can immediately march into the army and annex the Ling, Xing, Shun, and Ding states while he has no time to take care of himself. By then, the Great Khan can replace Xiazhou and become the overlord of Hexi."
Ye Luohe's heart skipped a beat when he heard this: From a subjugated Khan who was about to abandon the city and live in the desert, to suddenly become the overlord of Hexi, is it possible? Can you seize this opportunity? Such a thing has never happened before.
It's not like he's never done it before... As he thought about it, his heart gradually warmed up.
Prince Ali said angrily: "Most of your tribe members are engaged in industry and commerce in Ganzhou, so naturally they don't want to stay away. What a stupid woman. Are you going to put your father in endless danger for the sake of your pots and jars?"
Princess Aguli said without showing any signs of weakness: "The prince is stationed in the land of Gongyong, and now you are blindly trying to persuade the Great Khan to abandon the wealth of Ganzhou and move to the desert. What is your intention? Could it be that you are blackmailing the Great Khan to gain self-respect?"
Prince Ali was furious after hearing this. He suddenly pulled out his machete, pointed it at Princess Aguli, and shouted sternly: "You dare to sow discord between me and my father Khan?"
Ye Luohe shouted: "That's enough! How unbecoming is it to draw a sword in front of me? Do you still see me as a father in your eyes?"
Prince Ali hurriedly put away his knife and apologized: "Father, I was angry for a moment...Father, you must not believe her words. There are risks in staying in Ganzhou..."
Ye Luohe's face was as dark as water, and he said coldly: "I mistakenly believed you last time, do you still want me to believe you this time?"
Prince Ali looked up in fear. When he saw Ye Luohe's cold eyes, his heart suddenly sank into the abyss...