The reason why 50,000 troops are needed is because Shen Bing remembered that Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty first sent General Li Guangli of the Second Division to expedition to Dawan with 30,000 troops, but he could not attack for a long time and returned without success.
The Han army at that time was already not weak. An army of 30,000 could not capture Dayuan. Does this mean that the Qin army needed 50,000?
However, the countries in the Western Region had not yet been conquered at that time, and Li Guangli's journey to get food and water was not smooth, which might have affected the war situation.
Now Shen Bing's expedition is different. The countries in the Western Regions, especially Qiuci, will naturally become a strong backing for this battle.
On the day the army set off, Princess Ziyang and Fusu came together to see them off.
Fusu was arranged by Shen Bing to coordinate logistics and take charge of various countries in Dragon City... After all, the grassland had just fallen and the situation was not stable. Shen Bing was worried that something would happen.
If Fusu and Wei Yao led the Liang army to defend here, Shen Bing believed that Longcheng would be safe.
Shen Bing bowed his hands towards Princess Ziyang and said:
"The holy decree is here. Shen Bing dare not violate it. Please forgive me, princess!"
Princess Ziyang replied quietly:
"I'm afraid this imperial edict...is exactly what the general wants!"
Fusu glared at her and said:
“Zi Yang, don’t be rude!”
Princess Ziyang lowered her head, then took off the carved jade necklace hanging around her neck and put it on Shen Bing, and whispered:
"Zi Yang is waiting here for the general's triumphant return."
"When the time comes, I hope the general will no longer dislike Ziyang!"
Seeing Ziyang's expression of pity, Shen Bing didn't know what to say.
Fortunately, at this time Wang Ben came on horseback and shouted:
"General, the time has come!"
Shen Bing bowed to Ziyang and Fusu again, then got on his horse, waved his hand and ordered:
"Set off!"
The horns sounded a long sound, and the army lined up in neat formation, heading westward holding flags fluttering in the wind.
Princess Ziyang looked at Shen Bing's retreating figure and asked Fusu beside her:
"Sir, is Ziyang not worthy of a general?"
Fusu couldn't help but be stunned and said:
"You are the princess of Da Qin, why do you think you are not worthy of the general?"
"If you don't deserve it, who can?"
Ziyang sighed and replied:
"With the general's bravery, what can a princess do?"
"Zi Yang is so envious of Princess Wuyou."
Fusu was speechless.
He could actually understand what Princess Ziyang said, because it would be difficult to find another general like him who could not only lead troops to fight, but also govern the world, do business, farm, and run workshops...
Therefore, even Fusu felt that it would be her blessing if Ziyang could marry the general.
Fusu was now sure of Princess Ziyang's intentions, so he raised his head and said:
"Don't worry, Ziyang."
"Since this is what Ziyang wants, then this matter will be taken care of by the eldest brother."
"The general is a man of good temper, and he will never let you down!"
Shen Bing on the other side looked to both sides from time to time during the march. Every time a horse came from a distance, he couldn't help but hope that it was Princess Wuyou.
However, reality disappointed him again and again.
The troops advanced along Yanran Mountain and spent several days crossing the Gobi to reach Gushi.
Ge Yu's 10,000 Tu Ge soldiers were already waiting here to join the army. When they saw Shen Bing, they held their bows and arrows high and let out cheers like howling wolves.
Ge Yu stepped forward and cupped his hands to Shen Bing and said:
"My subordinates pay their respects to the general!"
"They are paying allegiance to the general with the custom of massacre!"
Shen Bing nodded, and then waved to Tu Ge soldiers, which immediately made Tu Ge soldiers scream louder.
By this time, all the 53,000-strong army had arrived, and the army continued to advance westward.
When passing through various countries along the way, cattle, sheep and drinking water will be prepared in advance...
This is Shen Bing's advantage at this time. Although the thirty-six countries in the Western Regions are not strong, without their support, it will be difficult to move forward in the Western Regions and it can even be said that they cannot fight for a long time.
Because the Western Regions are equivalent to the logistics of the Qin Army, both water and food must be provided by them.
But of course, this is not a free supply for them.
Because there is a saying that "there is no filial son in bed for a long time." If anything is okay in the short term, over time, there must be a stable system instead of relying on force or feelings and loyalty.
For example, now, if the Qin army has to fight for three years after leaving the Western Regions, what about five years?
Are the countries in the Western Region required to provide three or five years of supplies without any complaints and no return?
This is obviously unrealistic.
Therefore, Shen Bing ordered all the supplies, including drinking water, provided by the countries in the Western Regions to be recorded, and he would repay them in the form of cloth or silk the next day.
Countries in the Western Region are also willing to do this.
Because Qin's caravan came anyway, and they wanted to exchange these cattle and sheep with merchants for silk. At this time, they could even exchange for drinking water, so why not?
Therefore, Shen Bing actually transferred the logistical pressure to the caravan.
When passing by Kucha, Shen Bing went to visit the King of Kucha.
This time Shen Bing met with King Qiuci, the standards of reception he received as envoys were completely different.
King Kucha even used carpets in front of the palace corridors all the way to the palace gate, and sprinkled flowers along the way until he saw King Kucha.
This may be the highest-level reception ceremony in the Western Region.
Although Qiuci was angry with Shen Bing, how could he dare to neglect him as Shen Bing appeared outside the city with more than 50,000 troops.
When King Qiuci saw Shen Bing, he warmly greeted him and said with an apologetic smile:
"General, I didn't know that it was the general who came to Kucha before. I was so negligent. General, please forgive me!"
Shen Bing stopped being polite to King Qiuci and asked directly:
"I wonder if your Majesty knows the whereabouts of Princess Wuyou?"
King Qiuci shook his head and said:
"General, I am worried about you, but I have also been looking for the princess."
"It's just that this girl has been traveling around the world since she was a child. If she has other intentions, I'm afraid..."
As he spoke, King Qiuci shook his head and said:
"It's my fault in teaching that makes the general laugh!"
"If the princess returns to Qiuci one day, I will definitely ask her to apologize to the general immediately!"
Shen Bing said "Alas" and said:
"Wuyou must not want to see me again, so he didn't even come back to Qiuci."
"That's it!"
"Your Majesty, you can put up a notice and tell Wuyou that if you don't want to see Shen Bing, Shen Bing won't force anyone to do anything."
"She can just go back to Kucha. She doesn't have to suffer the pain of running around outside."
King Qiuci bowed and said:
"My king will do it right away."
Shen Bing said nothing more, said goodbye to King Qiuci, turned around and left.
On the contrary, King Qiuci looked at Shen Bing's leaving figure with a happy face.
The subordinates looked at King Qiuci a little strangely and asked:
"Your Majesty, we really don't know where the princess is. Why is your Majesty so happy?"
King Qiuci replied:
"What do you know?"
"Can you see that Shen Bing looks completely lost?"
"This means that he has a deep affection for Wuyou. In this case, are we still worried that he will run away?"