Chapter 997 The decision of Samarkand city - start early
On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, the New Year's holiday officially ended, and Yunxi returned to the never-ending work.
Because there were increasing signs that Timur would send troops after the beginning of spring, apart from the normal time for criticizing and responding to memorials, Yunxi devoted the rest of his time to organizing the dispatch of troops to the northwest. The Ming court also focused more on sending troops.
Things are running smoothly. Everything seems to be prepared step by step.
But what Yunxi didn't expect was that the development of things was once again out of his control.
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August 4, 806 Hijri, Samarkand city.
The city of Samarkand, covered in white snow, looked particularly enchanting. The houses were covered in pure white, and the branches turned into silver bars. The heavy snow dressed the branches of the poplar trees like beautiful corals and strange antlers.
The wheat field was covered with a thick cotton quilt. The sky was connected to the ground, the ground was connected to the sky, and the white snow was boundless. The entire land turned into a world of jade and silver sculptures. Even pedestrians who went out early in the morning could not bear to turn this dream into a dream.
The world is being destroyed like this, walking cautiously on the road.
But a "da da" sound ruined this beautiful picture. I saw a group of more than ten horses riding from far to near, the horses' hooves kept lifting and falling, trampling the crystal clear snow beyond recognition, causing people on both sides of the road to
Pedestrians raised their heads and glared at the dozen riders.
But when they saw the logos on these dozen people, the expressions on their faces quickly turned to admiration.
"What does the pattern of the epaulettes on their shoulders mean?" asked a big cannibal who had just come to Samarkand from a big food place to make a living.
"That is the sign of the great and invincible guard of the Great Khan!" the person next to him replied.
After hearing this, the big cannibal suddenly exclaimed: "They are the guards of the Great Khan!"
"Yes, the Great Khan commanded them to conquer the north and south, and they were invincible in every attack!"
"They were in such a hurry. Did something happen that required the Great Khan to deal with personally? Could it be that the Golden Horde luckily escaped the Great Khan's army in the first half of this year, and then sent people to harass the Great Khan after he returned with his troops?
People? Or is the Sultan of Delhi in India disobeying the Khan’s orders again?”
"Who knows? But even if it does happen, don't worry. The Khan's guards will defeat them all again, just like they did before."
The pedestrians who were on their way didn't know that two pedestrians were talking about the reason why they rushed into the city in such a hurry, but even if they knew, they wouldn't care. They just kept using riding whips to urge the horses under them to ride faster.
They were moving forward at a fast speed. They had been riding horses for more than ten miles, and the horses could no longer bear it, and foam formed at the corners of their mouths.
A young man raised his head and looked at the towering cloud-like palace in the center of the city. He turned around and said to the majestic old man wearing a general's uniform beside him: "Father, you have already entered the city, so there is no need to be too anxious. And
The horses are going to be exhausted, so it’s better to go slower.”
"No! We must rush to the palace as quickly as possible!" The old general said in a deep voice: "The Great Khan sent someone to call me back in such a hurry. There must be something important to tell me, and I must rush back as soon as possible!"
"And your father and I have a high position, and I don't know how many people are jealous. If I wait until the Great Khan enters the meeting hall and the meeting has already begun, I don't know what these jealous people will say in front of the Great Khan."
"The Great Khan is very wise and will not believe these slanders." His youngest son added.
The old general opened his mouth, but in the end he said nothing. Of course the Great Khan was wise. How could he be invincible if he was not wise?
But the Great Khan is already old after all. The Great Khan, who was born in 736 (Hijri calendar), is already seventy years old this year (sixty-eight years old according to the Western and Chinese calendars). Although he is not old and confused, he does not look young either.
He was wiser and more paranoid at that time. If he delayed something very important to him, it would not be impossible for him to lose part of the power he now has.
But you can't say this to others, not even your own children and grandchildren. Even his children and grandchildren admire the Great Khan very much. If you quarrel with yourself and let others hear it, even if the Great Khan doesn't mind it, he will be
Many people attack and lose everything they gain.
"To say that the thing that the Great Khan has been most concerned about in the past two years is the Eastern Expedition to the country called Ming Dynasty. This time I hurriedly called my father here to talk about this matter." His youngest son added.
"Most likely. But why are you calling me back in such a hurry? Now is not the best time to send troops." The old general replied with some doubts.
Although the specific strategy for the Eastern Conquest of the Ming Dynasty has not yet been fully determined, it is not the most suitable time to send troops due to the cold weather. According to the climate in previous years, it will take about another month to thaw, and another month before the climate changes.
Warm and suitable for marching.
Of course, his youngest son could not answer this question. The father and son stopped talking and just hurried to the palace, which was getting closer and closer to the center of the city.
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The main hall of the tallest palace in the city was already bustling with people. Countless people wearing brocade clothes, waistcoats, and white hats were sitting on both sides, talking loudly to the people around them.
"The Great Khan suddenly asked me to bring troops back. Why? I was in Tashkent before." "Don't say you are in Tashkent. I came from Ashgabat. It's not much farther than you? There's more over there.
Some of them are rushing back from Kabul." "The Great Khan has called back all of us generals who have been sent to other places. Where are we going to fight?"
While everyone was making a noise, the old general who came back with his young son came in and sat in a very front position. At first, everyone didn't pay much attention to another person walking in, but when everyone saw clearly who this person was,
When the time came, they all came together.
"General Jesib, what is the purpose of the Great Khan suddenly calling us here today?" "Yes, Jesb, what is the matter with the Great Khan?" they asked loudly.
Jesb shook his head. Although he had some guesses, it was better not to say anything before the Khan spoke.
Of course, everyone was unwilling to let him go. Jesb was a close aide of Timur Khan, so he must know something.
But they had just asked a few words when they heard a eunuch with a sharp voice running in and shouting: "The Great Khan is here!"
After hearing this, everyone did not dare to ask any more questions and hurriedly returned to their original seats and straightened their bodies.
Immediately, a man with a very ordinary appearance but extraordinary aura walked in, stood in front of the seat on the high platform, turned around to face these people, raised his right hand slightly and said: "My dear generals and ministers
, may Allah grant peace to you.”
"May Allah grant peace to the Great Khan!" Everyone stood up and saluted.
Of course, this man is Timur, the great Khan of the Timur Khanate. He waited for all the ministers and generals to finish saluting, sat down on his seat, glanced around, coughed twice and said: "Today I will send you
I called you, I have something to tell you."
"For more than a year, I have been preparing to conquer the Ming Dynasty. Originally, I planned to wait until the weather got completely warmer at the end of September and early October before sending out troops. It took about three months to walk to Beslopali and defeat the Eastern Chagatai Khan.
The country’s army occupied Beslopali City and the fertile Gurbantunggut Basin to the north of it.”
"Then after the two hottest months have passed, we will send troops east to attack Hami and capture Hami before discussing the next decision."
"But recently, new news came from Beslopali City, which forced me to advance the timetable. Yes," looking at the slightly commotion in front of the people, Timur said in a louder voice: "I decided to give it to you again.
All generals have ten days to assemble their armies, and ten days later they will send troops to attack the Ming Dynasty!"
After hearing this, someone suddenly couldn't bear it anymore and stood up and asked: "Great Khan, the ten days have been a bit tense. My army has just returned from Kabul, and there are still some troops on the way who have not reached the city of Samarkand, at least
It will take another seven or eight days to complete the gathering. After that, we have to prepare the items we need to carry for the expedition, so I'm afraid it will be difficult to complete the Great Khan's order."
Although Timur was a little paranoid in his old age, he was still very tolerant when discussing not 'should we do something' but 'how to do it' and was willing to listen to the opinions of his subordinates. So at this time he heard this
The general's words were not angry. Wen Yan said: "Balma, your soldiers, no, not just your soldiers, but the soldiers of all the generals here, do not need to prepare their own food and daily necessities for the expedition."
"I have discussed with several tribes not far from the city of Samarkand. They will send 200,000 people carrying thousands of carts and driving hundreds of thousands of cattle and sheep to follow you and your people.
Soldiers provide food."
"I have also sent people to the tribes north of the Syr Darya River to the south bank of Lake Balkhash to tell them to prepare their population and cattle and sheep. They will provide at least 100,000 people and hundreds of thousands of cattle and sheep. You don't have to worry about running out of food."
"There will be many traders who will follow the army eastward. They will sell daily necessities to the soldiers, and they will also buy the trophies taken by the soldiers. Of course, they will not buy things that are difficult to carry. You must also remember to tell your subordinates
Soldiers, don’t rob these vendors. If you are discovered by me, I will punish you severely!"
"All the way to the south shore of Lake Balkhash? Great Khan, so the march route is to bypass the entire Tianshan Mountains and enter the Eastern Chagatai Khanate from Alashankou?" Yesib said.
"Yes. I originally planned to cross the Pamir Plateau and enter the land of the Eastern Chagatai Khanate, but after thinking about it, I decided to bypass the Tianshan Mountains and enter through the Alashan Pass." Timur replied.
