The melted snow water from the mountains merges into a trickle and meanders into the Daxia River, turning the wilderness into green.
Outside the abandoned pavilion by the river, a clean open space was cleared on the grass, a fire was lit, and a clean lamb was held. The tongue of fire kept licking the plump young meat, causing the grease to drip on the red lamb.
The white and white charcoal fire was sizzling, and wisps of green smoke kept rising.
The fragrance permeates people's noses and makes people salivate.
There were two or three servants dressed as attendants waiting in front of the fire, sometimes turning the lamb to make the flames lick more evenly, and sometimes adding some dead branches to keep the fire light and not dry.
Two people were sitting on the ground, drinking wine from leather wine bags and laughing and chatting.
They are now the kings of Shaodang Qiang, Mangzhong and Zhuyi.
Although their appearance is not similar, their appearance is exactly the same.
For example, both of their faces are quite dark, with a hint of maroon on their cheeks.
A gold hoop adorns the forehead, and some strands of hair are draped over the shoulders. The body is covered with a gorgeous felt, with a belt around the waist and a dagger on the side. The belt and scabbard are both decorated with red and green decorations.
Glazed jade and other items.
The Qiang people who used to be happy when they had enough food and clothing, after hundreds of years of influence from Han family etiquette, have also developed the custom of extravagant living by the upper class.
The only thing similar to those of lower rank is that they have a vague smell about them.
It is the unique smell of not bathing for a long time and living in confinement with cattle and sheep. It is also the imprint of the nomadic gene that has not yet escaped.
If you want to integrate culture and education into our Han family's clothes, it will not happen overnight!
As soon as he arrived in front of the fire, Zheng Pu's nose was tickled by the smell, and he thought to himself.
Then, with a smile on his face, he bowed his hands and uttered pleasantries.
Perhaps, it was due to the relationship of common interests that the two parties were quite harmonious when they first met. They laughed and talked while sharing mutton and wine, just like close friends reunited after a long separation.
Everyone praised the Han's initiative in planning how to send troops.
Before Zheng Pu came here, he discussed with the Prime Minister how to attack Tang Fan at the head of the river.
Instead, Zheng Pu's general Hu Zhong led his Banzhenman tribe to the south bank of the Daxia River to set up camp, and Ma Dai led the Xiliang Iron Cavalry into the river head to cause chaos and attract Tang Fan's troops.
Let the defenses to the north and west of other river heads become weak, allowing Shaodangzhong Qiang to enter the river head smoothly.
For example, the Qiang King Zhuyi who lives in the Huangshui River Valley can allow his tribe to advance from Jishi Gorge to Heguan County in one fell swoop; for example, the Qiang King Mangzhong who is entrenched in the Xihai River can take advantage of the situation and advance from Baishi County to Pohan.
However, after the plan to send troops was decided, differences arose on how to distribute the war gains.
King Qiang's Zhuyi is not bad.
Since all his tribesmen were under the attack of Wei Wei, they only dared to secretly send troops and thousands of cavalry to assist in the battle. Therefore, they did not ask for much benefit after the war. They only hoped that the Han Dynasty Shujin tea could be supplied as scheduled and that the tribesmen could take the road from the West Sea to the four counties of Hexi.
It can flow smoothly without any blockage.
But Qiang King Mangzhong was a bit greedy.
Under the instructions of the Prime Minister, after Tang Fan was destroyed, the land at the head of the river belonged to other tribes to live there, while the prisoners of war and the population of the three counties belonged to the Han Dynasty.
As for the cattle, sheep, horses, property, etc. obtained in the battle, they were divided in half.
However, Qiang King Mangzhong also wanted to get his hands on the prisoners on the battlefield and the local population.
"The Han army only sent more than a thousand cavalry, but our people have to send tens of thousands of troops, and they have to attack the city and plunder the land, and there will be many casualties. If we can't take prisoners and distribute them to various commanders, I'm afraid everyone will think that the Han is too greedy, and in the future
It’s hard to be attached wholeheartedly.”
He said so.
In the words, there is a vague basis for threatening the two sides to jointly send troops: the Shaodang Qiang tribes that migrated to the land at the head of the river must be dominated by the Han, regularly contribute cattle, sheep and horses, and send appropriate troops to assist the Han army in conquering the Wei Dynasty.
At this, Zheng Pu couldn't help but laugh out loud.
He asked softly, "I dare to ask King Qiang, if I, General Gao of the Han Dynasty, were not stationed in Daxia County, how could the rebel Wei not save the traitor Tang Fan? If King Qiang thought that attacking the city would cause too many casualties, why not
How about your army guarding the incoming reinforcements from Siwang Gorge against the Wei Dynasty, while I, the great Han, captures the three counties of Heshou alone?"
After saying this, Qiang King Mangzhong responded silently.
Compared with the well-equipped and disciplined Wei army, the various troops under Tang Fan were easier to deal with.
In particular, he and Tang Fan were both Qiang people, and each other was familiar with the "Qiang fighting" technique. When attacking each other, there was no need to worry about tactics such as the Central Plains Dynasty's use of Wuhan Iron and Steel chariots to form strong crossbow formations.
The powerful crossbow array of the Central Plains Dynasty, which used foot to defeat cavalry, was the nightmare of the Qiang and Hu tribes.
Even if there was a tenfold disparity in military strength between the two sides, Qiang King Mangzhong did not dare to claim that he was sure of victory.
"King Qiang's eyesight is covered by a leaf."
Seeing that Mang Zhong was silent for a long time, Zheng Pu spoke up again and said, "With the land of three counties, and our great Han general Gao to guard against the incoming Wei attack, even if the people of the Qiang King tribe suffer battle losses, the advantages will outweigh the disadvantages."
Also, if I, a big man, provide Shu brocade tea and other things to King Qiang, the tribe of King Qiang will definitely have abundant resources. The pastures are vast and there will be more wealth. By then, there will be countless small tribes coming to rely on them without the King of Qiang raising their arms.
Why should King Qiang compete with me, a great Han, for temporary gain?"
Well.
After hearing this, Qiang King Mangzhong felt a little moved on his face.
As Zheng Pu said, it is difficult for many Qiang and Hu tribes to survive in the barren soil of the northwest.
If he encounters a white disaster or something else, he will become a horse thief or a traitor, going to the government with swords and spears to find food to feed his belly. And since he is based in the Western Sea, he already has the advantage of fishing and salt. If he adds
The benefits of the Silk Road were shared, so it was not difficult to hoard grain, fodder and other supplies.
It will not be difficult to annex other Qiang tribes in the future.
"Don't hide it from Zheng joining the army."
However, he hesitated for a while, then shook his head and refused with regret, "If we don't take prisoners to benefit our people, our power will decline, and I'm afraid that other Qiang tribes will have evil intentions and attack me. At that time, if I
The clan lost the land of the Western Sea due to the outnumbered troops, and was left to be bullied and annexed by others!"
Ha, he is indeed a handsome man.
The thoughts and concerns are quite long-term.
With a secret praise in his heart, Zheng Pu no longer persisted.
Then he revealed the conditions promised by the prime minister: if Mangzhong does not take the population of the three counties and prisoners, the Han Dynasty can reduce the price of Shu brocade tea and other items to 80%.
Anyway, Shu brocade is produced in Bashu, so the cost is not high, so there is no harm in giving up profits.
Furthermore, when a conflict breaks out between them and the Shenlang Qiang tribe, the big man will be waiting to reap the benefits, and will naturally take back the benefits he gave up today.
And it’s calculated in multiples!
With an additional 20% of Silk Road benefits, Qiang King Mangzhong could no longer refuse.
It also allowed the three parties to finally join forces and prepare for war.
But after Zheng Pu returned, he handed over all matters such as cooperating with Ma Dai's troops to fight at the head of the river to Zhang Ni and You Chu, and rushed to Ji County.
The prime minister summoned him to discuss matters.
It was Sun Quan, who was named King of Wu by Wei Cao Pi, who proclaimed himself emperor!
The former Han Dynasty eventually evolved into the Three Kingdoms.
