Late Tang Dynasty Floating Life

Chapter 122

The new wind howled, and people shouted and neighed.The army has crossed Wushui (today's Naling River) to the east near the old course of the hot spring water.

The hot spring water is one of the tributaries of the Wuding River.In the past, there was a large amount of water. During the Helian period, hot spring water was brought into Xiazhou City, which was named "Black Canal".Heiqu runs on both sides of the road in the city, and many orchards have been built, which are magnificent.

After Shao entered Xiazhou, the black canal had dried up for many years, and the orchard was also deserted.Last year, he was still thinking about reorganizing the black canal and restoring the grand occasion of "Hua Lin Chi Zhao" after the Beizheng Grassland gained a large number of people and goods.

The hot spring water has stopped flowing, but it is not that there is no water, but several small unconnected pools have formed.Next to the water is an endless grassland, where the Dangxiang tribe grazes.

Shao Shude hated this Dangxiang tribe also surnamed Tuoba, only a few tens of miles away from Xiazhou City, but he was disobedient and refused to pay the tribute, so why not die?It just so happens that I need to break through a few tribes first, otherwise who will be honest and obedient?So with an order, more than a thousand cavalry went out first, followed by a large group of infantry, and headed towards this tribe of only about a thousand people.

In fact, this Tuoba collateral tribe had already discovered the arrival of the Xiazhou Army.But they didn't have time to leave. It was only April, and the grassland hadn't completely turned green. The cattle and sheep could only eat the forage that had been stored before. How could they escape?
A tribe of 1000 people can also draw two to three hundred adult males.Shao Shude stood on the high slope and looked down, he saw that these two hundred or so men had already drawn out their weapons, but it seemed that not everyone had them, armor was seldom seen.It seems that following Tuoba Sigong, he didn't become much richer!Although they all have the surname Tuoba, maybe it would be better if they didn't get as much benefits as Tuoba's big followers like the Zang family.

To be so stupid, to have today's ending, can be said to be to blame!
The cavalry of the Iron Forest Army did not charge directly.Although the number of these party members was small and their equipment was not good, they only defeated the enemy's only dozens of cavalry on the periphery, and then went around in circles to the back.

There was a line of murderous Xiazhou infantry on the front, and enemy cavalry behind them. Even though the morale of the Dangxiang herdsmen was relatively high in the state of defending their homeland, they still panicked uncontrollably.

"Woo!" The horn sounded, and most of the party members were a little at a loss, but the complexions of the experienced people suddenly changed, and they shouted something in nonsense.

"Buzz!" A cloud of feathered arrows flew over, easily piercing through the flimsy armor of the party member.They were like the reeds beside the water pond, and they all fell down when the strong wind blew.

The cavalry came back again.

Horse spears, knives and axes slashed and killed wantonly. Under the skilled skills of professional warriors, the herdsmen could hardly make any resistance.

The blood gurgled and flowed into the water.On the grassland, corpses were strewn all over the field, and the stench was overwhelming.

Shao Shude walked down the high slope under the guard of his own soldiers.The auxiliary soldiers have already started to clean up the battlefield, and all the Dangxiang herdsmen who were injured but not dead were given a knife.The old and weak women and children of the tribe were also picked out one by one by them, and they knelt on the ground trembling.

Tribal annexation wars are not so beautiful on the grasslands.You don't know how the victor will deal with himself. One thought of benevolence may save his life. If you are unlucky, all men who are taller than the wheel will die.

"Make an inventory of the cattle, sheep and goods." Shao Shude ordered.

"Obey." Li Yanling was too familiar with this job, and soon took people to work.

"People, take care of everything. General Zhou, you are in charge of this matter."

"Obey." Zhou Rong had [-] Xiazhou government troops under his command. It seemed that the king wanted him to do the job of guarding the prisoners.

"We will camp here tonight." Shao Shude looked at the sky and said.

The adult males of this Tuoba collateral tribe are basically dead, and the rest are only women and children.Regarding the disposal of these people, Shao Shude had a vague idea in his mind, that is, to send them to Chaozhong as wives to enrich the population of the town.

There are currently no less than 1 nesters in the town, and they are all strong and strong men. Most of them are building canals and reservoirs in Yinzhou, and a small part of them are renting land on military farms in Suizhou.Among these people, more than [-] people already have civil household status, but they have no wives, how can they be at ease?
There were not many people in the four prefectures of Xia and Sui. The Tielin army brought nine thousand soldiers, Zhuge Shuang brought three thousand soldiers, and the Chao people added them. This is thirty to forty thousand strong and strong men, which has greatly damaged the ratio of men to women.

Although I brought more than 1 households from Guanzhong, and more than a thousand families of sergeants moved here in a few years, overall there are still more men than women.Sergeants are rich and very popular in the marriage market. Basically, sooner or later they all marry wives and have children, but Chaozhong is not so attractive!

Their identities are not good enough, and they have no money, who would want to marry you?Shao Shude thought for a long time, and only these tribal women are "rightly matched" with them.

It doesn't matter if the women of the Dangxiang tribe have children. "Happy to be a father" is not a bad thing in this era.Agricultural production requires labor. When those children grow up, their daughters can be married off, and their sons will help with the farm work at home, and they will have a few more children. This will create a big family, and the population of the town will be greatly enriched. .

Do this first!
On the second day, under the leadership of the guide, the army marched northeast.

The auxiliary soldiers counted for a long time last night, and finally counted the spoils: more than 8000 horses, more than [-] cattle, and more than [-] sheep.Well, take them all, there are also carts in the tribe, filled with women and children, and under the supervision of Zhou Rong's subordinates, they follow the army all the way.

In the afternoon of the same day, the whole army arrived at the bank of Jiaolanshui (now Hailiutu River).

Shao Shude followed the Chinese army, a little slower than the forward.When he arrived at the riverside surrounded by his own soldiers, all he could see was chasing death and north.In the evening, with the last strong and strong man being decapitated by soldiers of Tielin, the whole battle has come to an end.

Another small tribe of more than a thousand people!According to Zheyao, a guide sent by Zhejia, this tribe claims to be Dangxiang Mibu Biezhi, but most of them are fake.This is not surprising on the grasslands, because Dangxiang is powerful, and many small tribes of miscellaneous Hu also like to pretend to be Dangxiang.But if you look carefully, they are likely to be "Hu", not "Qiang".

But it doesn't matter, I only look at the political position and don't ask about other things.Since he is determined to follow the Tuoba family, he must have the consciousness of being implicated by him.Marshal Shao has been in Xiazhou for more than half a year, why don't you come to offer cattle and sheep?Just paying tribute to the Tuoba family, and sending troops to help, who will kill if you don't kill him?
"Folding the medicine, the commander-in-chief has wiped out these two tribes, has the news leaked out?" An iron pot has been set up by the riverside, and Li Yanling personally roasts meat, cooks soup, and prepares food for the commander-in-chief. Shao Shude has nothing to do, so he looks for The guide speaks.

"Not yet." Zhe Yao thought for a while, and said: "The commander has more than a thousand elite riders cruising outside, so there shouldn't be any fish that slip through the net."

"There are still too few pawns." Shao Shude sighed.

Although the Dingnan Army has a lot of territory, it is only cheaper than the mainland feudal towns in terms of purchase and maintenance costs.Xiazhou was poor, and it was already a big headache for him to support the food and salaries of [-] sergeants. It was indeed a great pressure to raise more cavalry.The strategic army in Yudole City has [-] professional cavalry. It would be great if they could use it for themselves.

"Tomorrow, we will go north along the Jiaolan River, search for any tribes along the way, and then cross the river northeast to the old city of Wangao County, Hangao?" Li Yixian spread out a map beside him, and Shao Shude looked at the faint light in the sky on the map. Repeatedly review and implement the military line.

It has only been five days since the troops were dispatched, and there is still food and grass needed for nearly a month.The two Dangxiang tribes were wiped out, and more than 200 horses, more than 3000 cows, [-] sheep, and more than [-] women and children were combined and seized. There is no need to worry about supplies.It's just that there are either grasslands or sandy land along the way, and there is no change in the landform, which makes people a little upset.

Tomorrow's destination is Han Gaowang County, which has long been abandoned.Back then, Emperor Qinshihuang ordered Meng Tian to attack Hu in the north, collected all the land in Henan, and built 44 cities. The Han Dynasty also vigorously managed it, but unfortunately, most of them are gone now.

Next to the old city of Gaowang, there is a large water park with lush water and grass. It is inhabited by the Dangxiang Miwei Department, which has a good relationship with the Zhejia.When Shao Shude first found out, he was also annoyed for a while. This Miwei tribe was obviously in Xiazhou territory, but he actually went to the Zhe family. Since he took office, he has never donated cattle, sheep, horses and camels. It is simply unreasonable!
"Commander, in the past when Tubo invaded the bandits, the Miwei Ministry sent 500 people to help the Tang Dynasty army." Seemingly knowing what Shao Shude was thinking, Zheyao said softly.

"You're clever." Shao Shude scolded with a smile, "That's all. If the Miwei Department pays off the tax arrears over the years, I will ignore it."

Zheyao's face turned pale upon hearing this.

This Marshal Shao, why is he so interested in reminding the class?In the past, you commanders, I have never seen anyone so interested in money. This time, the Miwei Department is afraid to bleed heavily. Not only will they have to send troops to help the battle, but they will also have to feed the commander with cattle and sheep, bad luck!

"Where is General Zhe waiting for me?" Shao Shude asked again.

"Go straight north for Gaowang City and you will arrive in three to five days." Zhe Yao replied, "He is waiting for us on the Pangqingbu pasture."

"How far is it from Dijinze?"

"It's just a three-day itinerary."

"How big is Pang Qing?"

"There are more than eight thousand people."

"That's not small." Shao Shude nodded and said, "Let's do it this way. I heard that there is a Ma Nu department over there in Dijinze?"

"Marshal Mingjian, the Manu tribe has more than ten thousand people, they are big clans, and they are closely related to the Tuoba clan. There is also a Weicai nearby, which is at odds with the Manu tribe." Zhe Yao said.

"Very good, let's use this Ma Nu Department for surgery." Shao Shude said with a smile: "Okay, let's eat first, the meat and cakes should be ready."

On April [-]th, after resting overnight by the Jiaolan River, the army marched north along the river.

The grasslands live in mixed captives chasing water and grass.Jiaolanshui is a tributary of the Wuding River, so there are naturally many tribes on both sides.Except for the tribes pointed out by Zheyao who tended to be Zhejia, the rest of the tribes were really bad luck.Two were wiped out directly, four surrendered to show obedience, and one fled with his whole family, not even his family business.

When the army arrived at the Pangqingbu Grassland on April 22, the entire army had captured more than [-] people, including [-] horses, [-] cattle, [-] sheep, and [-] camels. Head, it can be said that the harvest is quite fruitful.At this time, the [-] Fan Han soldiers and horses brought by Zhezong were also waiting here for a long time.

(End of this chapter)