Two days later, Li Bing returned from the northern mines with 13,000 Han slaves and thousands of horses carrying refined pig iron and copper on their backs, as well as a small amount of gold.
Guo Song looked at the pig iron and copper unloaded from the horse, and couldn't help but smile and said to Li Bing: "If I were you, I would find a way to transport them by water instead of using horses to carry them back. I know there is a river over there.
, don’t say you didn’t see it!”
Li Bing said angrily: "Water transport requires a raft, but the raft happened to transport a batch of pig iron to the royal city. There is no such thing in the mine."
Guo Song shook his head and smiled: "If there is no leather raft, can't you build a wooden raft?"
Li Bing was stunned for a moment, then patted his head with a wry smile, "This brain has not been used for a long time and is a little rusty. I didn't even think of building a raft. There are obviously woods over there, but the pig iron and copper blocks have been brought back, and there are still tens of thousands of taels."
gold."
Guo Song arranged for a lieutenant general to greet the miners for a break and dinner. Thousands of craftsmen were busy building sheepskin rafts. Transporting the supplies back to the Central Plains was also a huge project. It was impossible to rely on more than 10,000 camels. Water transport must be used.
, the water system near the royal city is very large, stretching for thousands of miles. The longest Hungu water flows southward, about 800 miles away from the border, and flows into a lake and swamp.
Then use animal power to transport the 800-mile journey, all the way to the Yellow River in Yulin County, and then switch to water transport. This is the best transportation plan.
That night, Yao Jin also returned with his army. He did not send the Huihe nobles to the east. His men only walked more than a hundred miles when they met Princess Ye coming with an army of five thousand. Yao Jin's men took the Huihe Khan and a group of troops.
More than a thousand nobles were handed over to Princess Ye, who then led everyone to Kedun City, which was also a ruling base of Uighur.
The three armies converged, and Guo Song led the army to escort hundreds of thousands of Huihe women and children, as well as countless cattle, sheep, war horses and supplies, back to the royal city in a mighty manner.
Yao Jin followed Guo Song and said to Guo Song: "Princess Ye also mentioned some other things."
"What's going on? Is it related to Zhang Yun?" Guo Song said with a faint smile.
"I did mention Zhang Yun. I told her that Zhang Yun returned to the Central Plains first. She seemed very disappointed. Your Highness, what is the relationship between her and Zhang Yun?" Yao Jin asked puzzledly,
Guo Song smiled slightly and said: "If she didn't have such a strong ambition, then she would probably follow Zhang Yun back to the Central Plains. As Zhang Yun's wife, she will sit next to your wife at the year-end appreciation party."
Yao Jin was stunned for a moment and couldn't help laughing, "It's incredible, Zhang Yun has never been close to women."
"Yes! He was originally a peach tree, but once it sprouts and blooms, it becomes a large piece of rotten peach blossoms."
Guo Song smiled and asked, "What else did you mention?"
"I also mentioned the members of the Yaoluo Ge Tribe, the hundreds of thousands of old, weak, women and children."
"What did she say?"
"She wants redemption."
Guo Song thought for a while and smiled: "You know what I plan to do with these Uighurs. I am going to auction and replace them in Yunzhou. One Han slave will be replaced by one Uighur. There are also a large number of Han slaves in other Uighur tribes. Princess Ye
If you want these people, then exchange them, there are many in the Servant Bone Department, it just depends on her sincerity."
"There are some young and beautiful ones inside, can you leave them to the brothers?"
Guo Song's face sank, and Yao Jin saw that the situation was not good and quickly explained: "The meaning of humble position is to let the brothers marry back."
Guo Song's face softened a little and said: "It's not impossible to marry them, but you have to think about it yourself. First of all, the language barrier is a troublesome thing. If they are not used to the life in the Central Plains, they might even escape back to the grassland. If they feel that these are all
It doesn’t matter, you can marry her.”
At this time, Li Bing stepped forward and said with a smile: "If I can marry, I would like to marry one and take him back as a concubine."
Guo Song chuckled, "Go ahead and pick one, Yao Jin will pick one too?"
Yao Jin was so frightened that he shook his head quickly, "My house will not let Hu Nu in."
Everyone laughed.
Guo Song pondered for a while and said: "In fact, it is better for soldiers to marry prairie women than to marry rescued female slaves. At least they are Han Chinese and most of them are relatively young. When they are reborn, they will definitely cherish their hard-won families even more."
Li Bing immediately said: "It is indeed possible. I know that many soldiers are tempted, so I will simply act as a matchmaker for the brothers to solve the problem of marrying a wife that is difficult for some soldiers."
Guo Song immediately said to Yao Jin: "Let Hu Tong handle this matter. He has joined Cao Cao in the military, so this matter falls under his control!"
Yao Jin quickly bowed and said: "I'll make arrangements for you!"
A few days later, everyone arrived at the Royal Court. The seven thousand soldiers who stayed behind at the Royal Court had packed and packed all the supplies in the warehouse.
The main general who stayed behind in the royal city was Ma Weijiang, the general of the rear army. Although he did not participate in the frontline operations, he was under considerable pressure. It was his logistical support that laid a solid foundation for this northern expedition.
Guo Song returned to the main tent, and Ma Weijiang followed him in, "There are a few things I want to report to His Highness."
"What's the matter? Just tell me!"
"There was news from Taiyuan that Zhu Tao led 10,000 troops into Feihu Road, stayed in Feihu County for one night, and then withdrew his troops."
Guo Song smiled lightly, "This is what I expected. It only shows that Zhu Tao is not stupid. What about other news?"
"Also, Princess Ye sent an envoy over. He arrived last night and he is waiting for His Highness."
"Who is it?"
"He is a Manichean priest. He seems to be her national advisor. He is a very shrewd Sogdian."
"Other than that, what other news is there?"
"Then there are those female slaves. Many of them are homeless. They are very anxious and don't know what to do. I am thinking about whether I can build a military uniform workshop in Taiyuan and let them make military uniforms and marching sleeping bags.
Provide them with dormitories."
Guo Song nodded, "This plan is feasible. In addition, I am considering that some of these young women can marry our soldiers. Hu Canjun is already counting the number of people. It seems that there are many interested people. I think it is best to marry between fellow villagers. You go to the women
We will investigate over there and find out if they are willing to marry soldiers, they can choose their husbands."
Ma Weijiang was overjoyed, "This is a good thing! I immediately started asking questions."
"Before you go to inquire, bring Princess Ye's envoy to see me."
Ma Weijiang almost forgot, he quickly said: "I'll make arrangements right now!"
........
Princess Ye's envoy is called An Chong, a Manichaean priest from Sogdian Anguo. He is about fifty years old. He has lived in Uihe for nearly ten years and also spent many years in Chang'an. He is proficient in Sogdian, Turkic and Chinese languages.
This man has a long and thin face, and he looks like a shrewd and sophisticated person at first glance. As Manichaeism was gradually accepted by the upper class of Uighurs, especially Princess Ye and her tribe, An Chong's status in Uighurs became higher and higher.
An Chong entered the tent and saluted with a smile: "See His Highness the King of Jin!"
"Please sit down!"
Guo Song's first impression of this person was not very good. He had triangular eyes, a hooked nose, fleshless cheeks, and a cunning look on his face.
Of course, the two parties only exchanged interests, not any friendship, so Guo Song was still quite polite to him.
An Chong sat down and said: "This time His Highness led the army to severely damage Uighur!"
Guo Song smiled lightly and said, "Huihe often visits the Tang Dynasty. Wouldn't it be rude if I didn't pay a return visit?"
"Your Highness is really good at talking. I came to see Your Highness on the order of Princess Ye. I hope Your Highness can leave the old, weak, women and children of the Yaoluoge tribe in the grassland. We are willing to redeem them in accordance with the rules of the grassland."
Guo Song walked a few steps with his hands behind his back: "There is no problem in redeeming people. The best way is to exchange people for people. I know that the Uighurs still have many Tang slaves. Use them to exchange, one for one. If there are not enough Uighurs,
, as well as the Servant Bone Tribe and even other tribes.”
"I understand. I wonder when your highness will leave?"
"I'm going to leave soon. This deal can be completed in Yunzhou. You send people to Yunzhou and then take them back."
The two parties only talked about the redemption of slaves and no other topics. Obviously Princess Ye did not want Guo Song to interfere too much in Uighur. Guo Song did not ask more questions. He had fulfilled his promise. As for whether Princess Ye could become the number one in Uighur.
It's none of his business to be a female Khan.
An Chong said goodbye and left. Two days later, Guo Song led the army to set off. The Tang army used rafts loaded with supplies and brought rescued Han slaves with them, and the army marched southward.