Turpan Basin, compared to the vast Western Region, is a place where wealth gathers.
In the Western Regions, oasis is only the stronghold of life, with an area of less than 1%, while in Turpan oasis occupies 30% of the land, where Gaochang Kingdom was located in history.
Although there is little rain here and it is the location of the famous Flame Mountain, it has abundant water resources and fourteen long rivers, allowing people to thrive in the oasis.
More importantly, because it is a mountainous basin with undulating terrain, the mining conditions for many minerals are extremely easy, which makes the ironmaking industry flourish.
This is why Turpan is so important.
After Gao Yigong captured Hami City, he was equivalent to occupying the gap on the east side of the Turpan Basin, commanding a commanding position. At this time, Turpan was undefeated.
"It's developed, General Soldier!" At this time, the generals under his command ran over and shouted.
"I heard that there is a salt lake in the southwest called Edin Lake."
"That's salt. How much does it cost to dig it out?"
"Salt Lake, is it another solution pond?"
Gao Yigong was overjoyed when he heard that there was iron, salt, and water. How could Turpan not be rich?
Compared with this, Guazhou and Suzhou in the Hexi Corridor are nothing at all.
He was walking around, no matter how much salt he had, he could still sell it. Wouldn't the Gansu feudal treasury be rich in this way?
Sending troops to the northwest can also provide some assistance.
"Let me see who dares to complain about our waste of military power."
Gao Yigong patted the table. After everyone stopped smiling, he laughed loudly: "The Western Region has been a prosperous place since ancient times. Hami is ours, and Turpan is also ours. These are all ours."
Who fights with only rewards and military pay? How can one make a fortune?
Especially the frontier troops were poor, tired and hardworking, so the court seemed a little lenient and turned a blind eye.
For example, when the army was stationed in Suiyuan, cattle and sheep were resold; when the army was stationed in the Hexi Corridor, tolls were collected.
But now that it is based on a salt lake, the soldiers don't need to do anything at all. They just need to leave a few gaps and recruit some workers to dig, and then they can be resold to businessmen.
By the time the imperial court sent someone to handle it, which would take at least a year and a half, they would have already made a lot of money.
Profitability can drive the army to fight for a long time.
At this time, Hami suddenly shook Turpan.
Although Turpan is large, it mostly has a herding economy, which is caused by the habits of the Mongols. Therefore, there are not many cities, only Anle City, Liucheng, and Huozhou.
Hami is the fourth city and the most important gateway.
Turpan Aqimu (similar to the governor) and Yarkant Khan's brother Sulitang were shocked:
"I want to form an alliance with the Ming army, why do they want to attack me?"
So I sent a letter asking questions.
Gao Yigong was overjoyed when he found out.
He was worried that he had no excuse to send troops to Turpan? He was so sleepy that he couldn't help but feel sleepy.
There is little rain or snow in Turpan in winter, close to none, which is a good opportunity to use troops.
Moreover, the existence of Aydin Salt Lake caused huge waves in the army. Everyone was sincere, morale was boosted, and the military morale was usable, which was perfect for the use of troops.
In fact, he also understands the legal dilemma.
The troops were sent to Hami because they had the excuse of recovering their homeland and reorganizing Hami. Although the soldiers complained, they were still able to mobilize the troops.
The legal principle is also valid in Hami, because Hami originally paid tribute to the Ming Dynasty and was only occupied for a hundred years. It also had close contacts with Gansu. Therefore, as soon as Hami City was reached, the nearby tribes surrendered one after another.
This is similar to when the emperor occupied Nanjing and the seven huge southern provinces surrendered without a fight.
When he sent troops to Turpan, he ignored the soldiers. Even if he captured the three cities of Turpan, the tribes would not be able to surrender easily, and it was unknown how much manpower and material resources were wasted.
And once Turpan takes the initiative to send troops, then after its defeat, the opponent's forces will inevitably become disengaged, and it will be logical for him to counterattack, and no one can find a typo.
"Maura, what does Suli Tang like best?"
Gao Yigong summoned a great scholar from the Peace Sect and asked about the situation of the Governor of Turpan.
A great scholar has a slender beard, and one can tell at a glance that he has solid knowledge and is a highly respected person.
He bowed first and then said: "Dear Commander-in-Chief, Suli Tang Aqimu is the most devout believer in the Holy Religion, but he cannot control his inner desires and likes beautiful women and drinks..."
When it comes to this, we have to think of the popular intellectual school of peace.
This faction is a faction that the government likes because it is not rigid, flexible, and has the "principle of choosing the good", that is, it is based on the opinions of the ruler.
So, very sensible.
As a result, the faction spread throughout the world and came to the Western Regions.
"Understood."
Gao Yigong nodded, then asked someone to write a very provocative letter, and sent ten roasted pigeons over for him to try.
Sure enough, Suli Tang was furious.
Rationalists don't eat birds.
This is no less than someone using the portrait of Saint Kong as a piece of paper to wipe their buttocks. Which scholar can bear it?
Akito not only humiliated him, but also dealt a blow to his prestige.
If he does not respond to such a provocation, it means that his faith is not pious and his prestige has not declined.
So, he must fight back.
Therefore, less than a month after Gao Yigong captured Hami with 20,000 men, Aqimusuli Tang of Turpan sent all his troops to Anle City, Huozhou and Liucheng in Turpan, gathering more than 50,000 soldiers and horses.
"It's about as good as I expected."
Gao Yigong sneered, Turpan only had three or four hundred thousand people, and fifty thousand was already the limit.
"Dear General, let's defend the city."
Most academics are afraid of war. Even Turpan people are bound to have irregularities.
"Defend the city?" Gao Yigong shook his head and said solemnly: "I just hope that through a frontal war, I can completely drain the courage of everyone in Turpan."
"As long as I defeat these 50,000 people, I don't need to attack the cities one by one and surrender the tribes one by one."
"Maura, you have not clearly seen the true strength of our Ming army."
The great scholar could only sigh.
At the beginning of October, Aqimu and Sulitang from Turpan gathered an army of 50,000 people and marched hundreds of miles, coming in force.
Gao Yigong glanced at it and shook his head.
Less than 20% of the soldiers wear armor, and most of them are leather armor, with almost no iron armor. The weapons in their hands are mostly scimitars, long hair, and some shields.
Due to the long distance, cavalry occupied 70%.
"Hussar!"
Although he is also a light cavalry, he cannot stand up to his equipment!
After sighing with emotion, Gao Yigong stopped talking and let the Ming army outside the city, which had been preparing for a long time, take the initiative to attack.
So, thousands of pioneers loaded up their gunpowder and moved forward quickly, their rifles shining brightly in the sun.
"Kill -" Su Litang didn't hesitate and raised his scimitar. Fifty thousand versus twenty thousand, the advantage was his.