On the third day of August, the Feilong, Golden Sword, Flying Bear, and Iron Cavalry troops marched southward, passed through Dushan Shouchu City, crossed the Tianshan Pass, and entered the Turpan Basin.
In the evening of the same day, Shao Shude met with several tribal leaders from Shatuoqi (today's Gurbantonte Desert) and further north, expressed their condolences, and assigned them the duty of evacuating Jin.
These tribes were not very strong. The big ones had ten thousand people, and the small ones only had one or two thousand people. I heard that there was once a big tribe that could send out five thousand troops, but it was killed by Zhu Jin in a sneak attack at night. The reason was that he needed to raise cattle and sheep.
For miscellaneous animals to spend the winter, it is better to pick the largest ones and beat them, then scare the small tribes and donate a few, then the storehouse will be rich.
At present, the number of tribes that have come over one after another is more than 60,000. The disadvantage is that there are fewer men, making it difficult for them to take on large responsibilities.
On the fourth day of August, Shao Shude left Tingzhou and headed straight for Xizhou with more than 7,000 Yinanzhi troops, 2,000 Tielin army cavalry, and 8,000 Tibetan soldiers.
At this time, in Gaochang City, the third generation Pugutian King Pijia was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot, not knowing what to do.
Shao Yuanzhu sat on the bed, twirling his beard and thinking silently.
On the table in front of the monarch and his ministers, there is a form of apology written in Chinese. The form has been stamped with the treasure of Yi Duhu and the words "The Treasures of the Prime Ministers of Great Fortune and Great Uyghur Kingdom.
print".
"Dafu Da Uighur Kingdom" is the name of the Gaochang Uighurs and the official name of the country.
The monarch and the prime minister have all used their seals, which means that the apology form has taken effect. The only suspense is when it will be sent out.
"Has the Great Khan made a decision?" Lian You asked.
He and Sha Yuanshu were the left prime minister and the right prime minister, and they were the Khan's right-hand man.
Moreover, as one of the few wealthy families in the country with heirlooms of poetry and calligraphy, they are also quite capable, manage the country in an orderly manner, and are highly regarded by the public.
The three people present can be said to represent the entire Dafu Uighur Kingdom.
"Is Beiting really completely lost?" Pijia asked.
He is only twenty-five years old this year and has only been in power for a few years. He is naturally ambitious. Otherwise, he would not have personally led an army to march eastward to Yinzhou and fight against the Xia people.
But the result was very disastrous. Three battles, three shameful defeats, tens of thousands of warriors lost their lives in the desert mountains, which greatly shaken his status.
"Even if there are still remnants of the army resisting, they can't hold on for more than a few days. Xia's army is 300,000. Even though it is said that there are still more than 100,000 people, and the total number of men, women, old and young in Beiting is less than 100,000, how can we
Resist?" Lian You shook his head and said.
He sighed a little.
When the Anxi Uighurs were not yet divided, they numbered 200,000, which should have been the time when they were most powerful. However, after so many years of internal fighting, their strength has declined greatly. The entire Dafu Uighur Kingdom has less than 300,000 people.
Beiting and Yinzhou were also destroyed. It was basically impossible to stand up to Gaochang, Qiuci, Yanqi and other places alone.
"Can Gaochang still be defended?" Pijia asked unwillingly.
"What does the Great Khan want to do?" asked Shao Yuanshu.
Pika's expression was uncertain, and he was obviously struggling fiercely in his heart.
In fact, it was not that no one suggested to him to move westward.
They originally came from the grassland, migration is normal, and running away is not shameful. But he didn't expect that after he said a few words in a roundabout way, the two prime ministers firmly refused, which made him unbelievable.
After thinking about it later, I understood.
Are they still a nomadic family? The Hao family and the Lian family own a large number of farmlands outside the city. They also read poetry and books from the Central Plains and believe in the idea that men farm and women weave, so they have long since wanted to leave.
At this time, Pijia Khan was about to laugh at them. After all, I still look like a Han. You two take a look in the mirror. Apart from clothes, how do you look like a Han?
Another factor that makes them unwilling to run away is probably that the Hao family and the Lian family have been a Manichaean family for many generations. If the diocese doesn't run away, they probably won't run away either.
Pika vaguely heard that Manichaeism was not having an easy time in the west, and now this eastern diocese seems to be developing the best. In the many documents written by the priests in Sogdian, the Great Uyghur Kingdom of Great Fortune is often called
The "last paradise" for Manichaeism.
Are they willing to run?
Pijia Khan believes in Buddhism and does not believe in Manichaeism. The more he thinks about it, the more angry he becomes. He wants to crush those people into ashes.
"If the Great Khan wants to fight, then let's fight." Shao Yuanzhu sighed and said: "There are still more than 20,000 soldiers in the city. Although their morale is low, they are not vulnerable. If the war goes against us, we will
I will support you to the lost city of Zaili."
Lian You glanced at Hao Yuanshu in surprise.
Pijia was a little moved and kept saying: "It is better to be the right prime minister or the right prime minister! But how should we fight this battle?"
"It all depends on the Khan's self-determination." Shao Yuanzhu cupped his hand and said.
"This..." Pijia Khan was speechless.
Isn't he out of ideas? He wanted you to come up with some clever ideas, but this is what happened?
His eyes fell on the apology form again, and then he quickly turned away as if he had been burned.
How can the inheritance that has been passed down for two generations be lost to oneself? Without Gaochang, can we find a better place to stay?
"Peng!" Pijia Khan slapped his palm on the table, raised his fingers, and scratched the apology form into pieces.
******
On the tenth day of the eighth month of the fourteenth year of Jianji, the flags outside Gaochang City were like a forest, and the crowns were like clouds.
Shao Shude, surrounded by palace guards, patrolled around.
"Your Majesty." Zang Dubao stepped forward in person and bowed in salute.
"It's a good fight." Shao Shude commented briefly, and then asked: "My son is in Yinzhou?"
"Yes." Zang Dubao replied.
He did not bring all the troops to Gaochang. In fact, less than 30,000 people came. The main reason was that the cost of supplies was too great. The troops staying behind were led by Zhao Wang Shao Siwu and others, and they frantically transferred supplies day and night.
"How are you going to fight Gaochang?" Shao Shude asked.
"The general's strategy is to use attacks to promote surrender," Zang Dubao said.
"How to do?"
"First, we can harvest food outside the city. This will greatly reduce the consumption of our army. When the rebels see it, their morale will become even lower."
So people are said to have strong adaptability. The Uighurs originally "dwelled in no permanent place, chasing water and grass, were ferocious and tolerant, and were good at riding and shooting." However, after acquiring such an inheritance as Gaochang, they actually turned into a dualistic country.
The north of the Tianshan Mountains is basically nomadic, and the south of the Tianshan Mountains is mainly farming. They repaired and expanded the old irrigation facilities, and used spring water and ice and snow melt water to irrigate the farmland. They are rich in wheat, barley, fruits, especially grapes, and are very famous.
"Secondly, capture more prisoners and gather them under the city. The thieves will be upset when they see them."
Gaochang City is not omnipotent. It can only protect the people living in the city. But there are more than 70,000 people in this state, and only a few of them live in the city?
"Third, if the general hears that some sergeants are coming from elsewhere, he may send the general to attack with his cavalry and capture some prisoners, so that the thieves will know that the city is full of traps and that a prosperous and isolated city cannot last long."
Xizhou cannot afford to raise too many soldiers and horses. The Uighurs spent more than a month hastily gathering soldiers and horses in Beiting, Yinzhou, Xizhou, Yanqi, Qiuci and other places. If these soldiers are allowed to
Knowing that his hometown has fallen, the morale of the army will definitely be in chaos.
"You have rules for fighting, so feel free to do it." Upon hearing this, Shao Shude knew that Zang Dubao was a sensible man with sophisticated methods. He was well versed in the military principle of attacking the city first and attacking the heart first.
Thinking of this, he waved, and Achu, Abusi, Aligu and the newly arrived Tatar who were looking not far away immediately stepped forward to salute.
"Go, take your people and go out for a cruise outside the city." Shao Shude said: "Tell the soldiers guarding the city the situation in Beiting, every word, and explain everything clearly."
"As ordered." Several people responded one after another.
"Ah Chu, you take people to harvest wheat, fruits and vegetables. Xu Hao is still in Trobao, under Gaochang City, and you come to serve as a military envoy. This is my first time to test your abilities. If you can do this without leakage, in the future
You can join the Lifan Academy as an official." Shao Shude said again.
"Thank you, Khan." Ahchu Meilu was happy and immediately took the people to work.
They have now formed a small group, with Shao Shude as the core, A Chui responsible for finance and taxation, logistics and transportation, Ali Gu responsible for commanding the war, and seven or eight Yili Jin, including A Si and Mo Chui, are responsible for providing soldiers.
Shao Shude feels that they are getting along well. If the structure is further clarified, the efficiency can be improved.
After a while, hundreds of riders left the camp and circled around Gaochang City.
"In May, the Supreme Khan, who was born wise, made an alliance at the Holy Summit. Everyone was happy to join the alliance and elected the Khan as the leader."
"In July, Khan came to Beiting. Like lightning, he conquered various tribes."
"He caught us and let us go. He said, "Bring me fruits, bread, and wine, and I will accept your surrender."
"In August, the Beiting tribes presented the title of Jianwen, Shenwu and Jianwen to the Khan. No one wanted to live under the happy rule of the Khan."
"We declare that the supreme Khan Jianwen Shenwu, who is born wise and wise, is the ruler from Yinzhou in the east to Nuchi Basakan (Yinseke Lake) in the west."
"Come out, descendants of Aslan's Uighurs, offer wine and bread and accept the Khan's forgiveness in the happy Year of the Water Dog."
"There is no need to hold on. In a while, Qiuci and Yanqi will also fall. Then you will not be forgiven so easily."
The knights all came from various tribes in Beiting and shouted loudly in various languages. Some even called out their own tribe and name to prove the authenticity of their words.
On top of the city, people were running around and shouting, and there were signs of commotion.
Shao Shude burst out laughing when he saw it.
Some things are completely conspiracies. When he fights, he never engages in conspiracies and tricks. Just like this, it doesn't matter whether you accept it or not.
He was not in a hurry, just took his time.
At this point, the pressure on the Uighurs is also very high. They now have two choices, one is to go out of the city and fight to the death, the other is to surrender directly. There is no third way.
He climbed onto the high platform set up in the camp and vaguely saw the towering temples, magnificent palaces and row upon row of shops in the city.
Soon, this will all be yours.
On August 14, as the first batch of prisoners captured from four miles and eight villages were taken to the city, crying and shouting, the Uighurs finally couldn't bear it anymore. In the afternoon of that day, the city gates opened with a bang, and one team after another
The cavalry of the team came out of the city and got into position.
With eyes blazing, Pega Khan stood in front of the formation with his saber in hand, accompanied by his bodyguards.