Late Tang Dynasty Floating Life

Chapter 726 Arrangements and Routes

There are shrines, but no temples for the Turks to offer sacrifices to gods.

Fuyundui Temple is nothing more than a pile of stones.

The priests lit the fire, brought horses, cattle, and sheep, and slaughtered them in front of the shrine pile.

Shao Shude and the chieftains bowed in the direction of the sunrise, and then faced east. The chieftains stepped forward in batches and muttered: "We would like to swear to the sacred fire/god of heaven/earth, and respect the King Khan as the Lord." , never betray each other. If there is a breach of oath, there will be such a sacrifice!"

A total of more than a hundred chieftains went back and forth for a long time, and it didn't end until it was three poles high in the sun.

Shao Shude held the Chashan sword in his hand, looked at the crowd, and said: "Your tribesmen, pastures, cattle and sheep, should be protected by me. If there are thieves who covet them, we can attack them together."

"Follow the Supreme Khan's order." All the chieftains bowed down one after another.

"Since that's the case, go down the mountain and collect soldiers and horses to hunt." Seeing that everyone was prostrating to the ground, Shao Shude put away his sword and said with a smile.

Yang Juan waited at the foot of the mountain for a long time, when he saw Shao Shude leading the crowd down the mountain, he immediately went up to meet him, and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, the customs of the Yin Mountains are very different from the customs of the Dangxiang?"

"It's not important." Shao Shude shook his head and said: "In the past, Emperor Taizong was the master of the Central Plains and Grasslands in the world. With so many tribes, which family's rules do you think should be used? The Weishui alliance with Jieli Khan is another What custom?"

At the end, he whispered again: "Anyway, I don't want to come to the custom of drinking blood."

Yang Jue laughed.

It was almost noon, and more and more troops arrived on both sides of the Yellow River under the shrine.

The magistrate of Anbei County was also very scared when he saw so many Qianghu gathered. Although he felt that most of them would not dare to make trouble, there were too many people, tens of thousands!

Shao Shude declined the county magistrate's suggestion to invite him into the city, and casually chatted with him about Anbei County's corn and wheat harvests, the number of cattle and sheep, and the prosperity and decline of pastures.

At the end of the day, the car driven by the princess Zhe Fangai drove over, and the chiefs of all tribes were in a hurry again, and they all paid a visit to Ke Dun.

After all, she was born in the Zhe family, the princess handles these things with ease and ease, so that Shao Shude suspects that it is true that she said that the ancestor of the Zhe family was born in the Yuwen family.

Emperor Taizong married Empress Changsun. Could it be that my old Shao married Empress Yuwen?
Yang Jue has already gone to discuss with the chieftains where to garrison troops and the order of marching.

Only the leader and a small number of relatives came to the sacrificial alliance, and the army did not gather here.Considering that they also brought a large number of cattle, sheep and horses, the furthest one was even in the Tiande Army City, which was two hundred miles away.

More than [-] soldiers from the Tielin, Heiyu, and Jindao armies brought by Shao Shude were all stationed on the north bank of the Dahe River near the shrine.

Zhe Siyu led the iron cavalry army, Tutuan villagers and Hengshan Fan tribe in Henan.

These people did not carry any cattle or sheep, and they all relied on the grain, dried meat and dairy products brought by boats on the river.

A total of 20 troops are scattered on the [-]-mile grassland. Once they move, it will be a grand sight to march and march.

If the military power is like this, it is enough to be comforted!
At a later time, Chen Cheng also rushed over from Lingzhou, and Shao Shude went out of the tent to meet him personally.

"Marshal, all the grain and grass have been supervised and prepared." Chen Cheng said: "Ling, Feng, and Sheng Zhucang have raised 100 million dendrobium grain beans, milk, and dried meat. Lin, Yin, and Sui also need to support some of them, and they will be transported to the cloud by water. County, and then changed to a boat and went straight to the dock in Jinhe County.”

"A new ship can transport 50 dendrobium, and it can transport [-] at a time. Are these ships the second batch?" Shao Shude asked.

"The soldiers and horses have not moved, and the food and grass are going first. Of course, it is the second batch." Chen Cheng said with a smile: "Your Majesty, please rest assured that the fleet will be transported before the freeze and return to Lingzhou safely."

"It's comfortable to fight in Guanbei." Shao Shude praised: "A Yellow River has solved my many troubles."

"Your Majesty, after leaving the Zhenwu Army, there will be no such good thing as water transportation." Chen Cheng reminded.

"At that time, we will eat cattle and sheep, and the master will transfer another batch, that's enough." Shao Shude said: "Now we have to decide the marching route."

"Just four words, repeat the old trick." Chen Cheng said with a smile: "One south and one north, two roads go side by side, okay?"

"Yes." Shao Shude said: "Let Zhe Siyu take the iron cavalry and some local peasants to Shuozhou. I will lead the main force and station myself at Woyang Palace and Yanchi. I will meet Li Keyong for a while."

In fact, this move is almost the same as last time, the difference is that this time the troops are stronger and what you want to do to Li Ke.

"This strategy is good." Chen Cheng said: "Your Majesty, there is one more thing that needs to be clarified."

"What's the matter?" Shao Shude asked.

"If there is a chance to capture and kill Li Keyong, what will you do, my lord?" Chen Cheng asked.

Shao Shude was silent for a while, and said: "Maybe it can be detained. However, I'm afraid Ke Yong won't give me this chance."

"Let's plan ahead." Chen Cheng said with a smile.

Shao Shude sighed, and said, "Since that's the case, let's act. Lu Siye, you come to draw up an order."

"Of course." Lu Siye, the always taciturn secretary of Jiedu, got up and responded.

……

Li Keyong has been in Yunzhou for quite some time.

There is nothing to do, the main thing is to frighten the motley tribes living near Yunzhou.

This is the dividing line between the grassland and the Central Plains. Over the past ten years, the grassland has changed hands frequently. The Shatuo, Tuyuhun, Uyghur, Dangxiang, and Tatar tribes all have their ups and downs. The people are very complicated.

Shi Shanyou, the military commander of the Datong Army appointed by Li Ke, has only a few thousand soldiers and horses under his tent, and has always held a soft and wooing attitude towards these tribes for a long time.

In fact, his means are not too bad.At least the relationship network is strong, and the relationship with the chiefs of the various ministries is good, so he can always benefit from his old face and help Li Keyong stabilize the situation here.

"In the past, Helianduo Township Yunzhou had a deep connection with the grassland, and repeatedly lured them to the south. The overwhelming momentum, there are no less than [-] riders." Li Keyong climbed to the top of the east city of Yunzhou and looked into the distance.

The mountains, rivers, and woods in the north are vivid.

Fangshan, Yangshui, Yuhe, Yanchang City...

The last time I met my righteous brother was also in Datong. At that time, there was a small-scale battle.

Many people said that Shao Shude's choice of meeting place in the area of ​​Yunzhou was absolutely malicious.Because only on the grassland can his strength be greatly increased, widening the gap with others.

Countless tribal soldiers can come from the grasslands inside and outside Yinshan Mountain to act as his minions.But if Heyang or Zelu were chosen as the meeting place, he would not be able to support the mobilization and maintenance of such troops.

Of course Li Keyong understands this truth, but——so what?
Now that the adopted brother has brought it up, can the elder brother still be afraid?

Well, this is Li Keyong's character.But how should I put it, after so many years of ups and downs, he is no longer the stunned young man he was back then.If you are beaten by reality a lot, people will always improve, don't they?
First of all, Li Ke brought a lot of soldiers this time, including 16 Jin soldiers, [-] Yan soldiers, [-] Tutuan peasants, and [-] Tibetan cavalry, with a total strength of no less than [-].

Secondly, it is not in one direction.

Some came from the direction of Guizhou in the east, led by Li Cunxiao; some went north from Lanzhou, stationed in the Caochengchuan area of ​​Shuozhou; Li Keyong led his own army and deployed near Yanmen Pass.

Last night, he entered Yunzhou overnight to observe the troops in Saibei and inquire about first-hand news.

"Commander, just now the scouts reported that there was a brigade of bandit cavalry in the area of ​​the Jingbian army." Shi Shanyou walked beside Li Keyong and said in a low voice.

The Jingbian army is called the Hedong side, and the Shuofang side is called Canhexing and Woyang Palace.

In the early days of the Anshi Rebellion, Gao Xiuyan, the envoy of the Datong Army ordered by An Lushan, was defeated by Guo Ziyi, and went eastward to take down the Jingbian army.

Afterwards, Xue Zhongyi, the military envoy of Datong, attacked the Jingbian army again.Guo Ziyi sacrificed a strong lineup, Li Guangbi from the left, Gao Jun from the right, Pu Gu Huai'en from the left Wufeng, and Hun Shizhi from the right Wufeng.

This is a battle to save the fate of the Tang Dynasty.God knows what will happen if An Lushan is allowed to attack Zhenwu Army and enter Turingwu in the early stage.

"It must be at the front." Li Ke lifted his spirits and said, "Explore again. My foster brother, who has won victories year after year, is defiant. He has a habit of living in a palace when he goes out. It's very grand. Woyang Palace That place should be his residence this time. The soldiers and horses he brought must also take this as the core and deploy layers of defense."

"Does Your Majesty want to send generals to attack?" Shi Shanyou asked.

Li Keyong hesitated for a moment, but still said: "It's not right. This time I came here to observe the soldiers, and I will observe the soldiers first."

In fact, I tried it at the last meeting.The effect was not satisfactory, defeating the silver gun capital of the Xia people, but was ambushed by armored cavalry, and the loss was not light.At the same time, more than [-] members of the Wansheng Army, who advanced lightly, were also besieged in Yanchang City.

In the end, it generally ended peacefully.Both sides are very restrained and try to avoid a big battle.Then go back to each house, each doing their own things.

It should be said that during that time period, this ending was beneficial to both parties.Not to mention Shao Shude's expansion, Li Keyong was also able to open up the situation in Hebei, and everything worked.

But the peace dividend seven years ago seems to have come to an end. As the situation evolves, the distrust between Xia and Jin is getting stronger and stronger. How will it end this time?
"Give my son Cunxiao an order to lead the army westward and seize Xuanhongchi." Li Keyong ordered suddenly.

"Send an order to my younger brother Kening to take down the Zhelu Army City."

Shuozhou is nominally Li Ke's territory.But his good brother has been occupying the most fertile Sanggan River Valley for many years, that is, the two counties of Shanyang and Mayi.Zhelu Army City belonged to the tacit understanding of both sides, and it was taken back as a buffer zone after Ningwu County used various means on the Hedong side.

The Shuozhou issue is also an important reason for the dissatisfaction of the Hedong side.Because Gai threatened the flank of Yunzhou, he could also go south to Lanzhou and Shierzhou via Caochengchuan.Although it is not the core hinterland of Hedong, even if it is a mountainous area, it is very uncomfortable to be looted by you.

"Madam said—ahem, I think, this way we can test the attitude of Shao thief first." Li Ke said: "I'll just watch here and see how Shao thief responds."

(End of this chapter)