Late Tang Dynasty Floating Life

Chapter 991 Difficult Decision

On the vast grassland, a group of cavalry is marching fast.

This is the intersection of forest and grassland.In the south are majestic mountains that stretch far and wide, separating the Central Plains from the grasslands.On the high hills, there are beacon towers that have weathered the wind and rain, there are guards who have weathered the wind, frost, rain and snow, and there are Han people grazing and farming.

They don't want to touch those places, there's no need.

But when the surging wave of cavalry flashed by, the column of smoke that soared into the sky could still be seen.

Yelv Xienechi smiled happily.

It's been many years, and I haven't shown off so much in front of Tang people.Don't you feel aggrieved by always being a man with your tail between your legs?
If it wasn't for Yi Lijin's order, he would have found a mountain pass to rush in, burn, kill and loot wantonly to vent his anger.

It's a pity that they don't have time, and business matters.

A crumbling earthen city appeared ahead.

Tucheng occupies a large area, and it looks like it has been abandoned for many years.Under the erosion of wind and rain, most of the city wall has already collapsed.

The city is overgrown with weeds, and there are even foxes and rabbits living in it.Occasionally, some broken tiles and broken porcelain bowls can be found, which seem to tell people about the past glory of this city.

Anzhou ancient city.

It was built during the Later Wei (Northern Wei Dynasty), and it has been more than [-] years.

The vicissitudes and changes of 400 years are enough for literati to pay tribute to it for a long time and write magnificent poems.But Yelu Xie Niechi and Yelu Yuwen are big bosses, they don't understand these romances, they occupied Tucheng, people shouted and shouted, noisy and chaotic.

One of the sergeants went out to guard, the other rested in the city and ate some dry food, and the slaves went to select pastures outside the city to graze.

Along the way, even if the people are not tired, the horse is also tired.

One person and three horses can travel more than a hundred miles a day.It's not to go desperately, why run to death and waste the horse?Once the Xia people garrisoned a large army, they would have no choice but to run away if they didn't spare their horsepower.

Yelv Xienechi climbed up the end wall, overlooking the mountains, rivers, and grasslands in the distance.

"This is the real grassland. Compared with it, the place where we graze horses can only be regarded as a grassland in the forest." Xie Niechi sighed.

Of course, it is not completely free from the influence of mountains.As far as Anzhou City is concerned, there are even mountains on all sides.If you want to encounter the truly endless grassland, you have to go west, which is the territory of the Shao thief.

"Actually, these grasslands really have our grazing land?" Yelv Yuwen also climbed up.

The city wall soil was supposed to be free from insects and weeds, but after many years, weeds have grown on it one after another, which makes people feel deeply moved.

Yeluyu tugged at the grass stems boredly, and continued: "We have continuous mountains where we can collect herbs and mountain products. There are deer all over the land, so we can hunt. The rivers are densely covered, and we can fish. There are also many open spaces. , can be used to grow millet. There is no shortage of pastures for grazing, isn't it much better than the west?"

The Khitan people graze, farm, hunt, fish, smelt iron, and build cities. They have their own clothing and culture. Apart from not having their own writing, they are much better than the Uighurs. What else is there to be dissatisfied with?
Yelv Xienechi smiled, and said, "That's right. Abaoji called those tribes 'Southwest Barbarians', and I think it's appropriate. They are too stupid, and they are only worthy of being conquered by us."

"They have been conquered by the Shao thief now." Yelu Yuwen said: "Maybe they didn't really surrender, but given time, they can be subdued. I don't object to Abaoji's conquest of the southwestern barbarians, not because of how many people and how many livestock they have. It's because I don't want Shao thief to get them."

This is indeed the truth.

The position is there, if you don't occupy it, the enemy will occupy it, and then transform it into the enemy's strength.Under the ebb and flow, the disadvantages are not small.

Since the Northern Dynasties, the monarchs of the Central Plains have liked to actively intervene in grassland affairs, sometimes even without face.

The 50-year-old Gao Huan married the 16-year-old Princess Rouran in a daze, and he didn't know if he was still capable at the time.

Shao Shude is also a shameless person, even worse than Gao Huan.

When Gao Huan was seriously ill, he forced a smile on his face and accompanied Princess Rouran to go out archery and hunting. Shao thief probably enjoyed it.

"Let's set off tomorrow. The troops will be divided into two groups. I will lead [-] cavalry and take the southern route. You will lead more than [-] people and take the northern route. If I fail in the battle, you should not go south and go back directly." Yelv Xienechi Said.

Yes, their strength has increased, because they went to the Xiren pasture temporarily and recruited thousands of cavalry from the Aoshi tribe. The current total strength exceeds [-].

With so many soldiers, they have to be divided into two groups, and they have to be tested first. This is completely different from the Khitan people's routine when they attacked the Bohai Sea.It can only be said that they have not yet established enough self-confidence, and their strength is not strong enough.

Yeluyu took a steady look at Xie Niechi and stopped talking nonsense. He nodded heavily and said, "Bring more horses. If the enemy is prepared, they will retreat. Yi Lijin didn't even think about destroying the southwest allies now." Yi, let's fight slowly. The Central Plains is in such chaos and so many people have died, as long as you have patience, there will always be a chance. It is still too early for the Shao bandits to unify the Central Plains."

"Okay! Wait for my news." Yelv Xienechi subconsciously stroked the handle of the knife at his waist and said.

A strong wind blew in the wilderness.

In the barren meadow, which is almost half the height of a person, horses are happily running around.

Autumn is high and the air is crisp, and the horses are fat and strong. It is the time for the grassland people to use their troops.

******
In the charcoal mountain, a palace with a rough style has been completed.

The scenery here is beautiful, the water and grass are abundant, and the mountains are also very cool. Duandi is an excellent summer resort.

Tuoba Jin and Qu Zhu were very loyal and brave. After settling down in the Ruyuan area, they conscripted manpower, or excavated mountains to fetch stones, or felled large trees, to build a palace for King Xia.

After the palace was completed, Shao Shude named it "Xianyou Palace", and planned to live here for several months if he had the chance.

Tuoba Jin and Qu Zhu's flattery was right, and they were very excited.This time there was a large-scale conscription in the Rouzhou camp. They sent [-] men, plus the men of other tribes, making up [-]. This society is besieging Yunzhou.

The Xianyou Palace Department has also received a lot of benefits in the past two years.There are not only people, cattle and sheep from the assorted tribes that were conquered, but also the old and weak left over from the Central Plains.

In comparison, King Xi Quzhu's strength is much inferior.He has been enticing for a long time, and so far there are only more than [-] households, scattered and grazing in the Ruyuan area.

Ruyuan has already built a city, which is near the original old city of Yuyi Town in the Later Wei Dynasty.King Xi lived in this city on weekdays when he went to Zhuzhou, but today he came to Tanshan.

"How can you believe this person's empty words?" Qu Zhu questioned his soul.

A random person came here, claiming to be Gao Siji's personal soldier, and said that the Khitan Eight tribes Yili Jinyeluyi would send people to attack Ruyuan, would you believe it?

Yes, this matter is indeed possible, but how does this person in front of him prove his identity?Besides, even if he could do this, it would be meaningless, because no one knew Gao Siji.

No matter how it sounds, it feels weird.

"You are so nasty!" The envoy who came to inform the news was angry and cursed: "I was traveling all the way in a hurry, sleeping in the open air, non-stop, and almost even eating and drinking. You don't believe it? Even if you don't believe it, do it in advance. How about some preparations?"

Qu Zhu Leng snorted, and said, "Do you know how much this preparation will cost? Everyone is grazing outside at this time, and they can't recruit so many people in a hurry. What's more, they have to arrange fortified walls to clear the fields. Years of accumulation will be destroyed once. You pay for it." give it to me?"

Generally speaking, life on the grasslands is relatively difficult, and there are endless things to do on weekdays.If there is no war, they will be scattered and herded in various places, and it will be very difficult to gather them together in a short time.

It can be said that if the Khitan soldiers really had the [-] troops mentioned by the envoy, they would not be able to defeat them, and they would have no chance of winning.

There is a wall outside Xianyou Palace, relying on it for defense, it can last for a while.But the Xinggong is so big, it is impossible to fit everyone in it, not to mention there are living things, cattle and sheep, fodder, etc. There are so many things, how can a small Xinggong be enough?

Yuyi City is a little bigger, but it is a big deal to pack thousands or even ten thousand people. If there are too many supplies, 1 people will not be able to fit in.

If the Khitan brigade came, and they took some people to hide inside the city wall, they could only watch the Khitan people burn, kill and loot wantonly outside, and the loss would be too great.

In order to avoid this kind of loss, the only way is to fortify the walls and clear the fields in advance, slaughter the livestock that cannot be brought into the city, and try not to stay to serve the enemy.At the same time, gather as many people as possible as quickly as possible, the sooner the better, the more the better, to prevent the enemy from coming.

The price is very high, and the determination is very difficult.

"I believe it!" Just when the envoy was about to be furious, Tuoba Jin said, "Last year Yang Du attacked the Khitan's vassal tribes, and it's not unusual for them to come back with revenge. Besides, we have dispatched so many people to go west, we can't I hope the Khitan people don’t know anything about it.”

Qu Zhu heard the words, and his face looked a little anxious.

He knew too well what would happen if the Khitan people really came. Tuoba Jin was now betting, if the bet failed, they would suffer heavy losses, and could only count on King Xia to help them.

Of course, if the Khitans really came, then these losses would be worth it.

"This envoy speaks clearly and has something to say. Last year, the Jin people wantonly abolished the military towns outside the Guanwai. This year, the Khitan people moved southward with such a big movement, and the remaining strongholds are bound to be insecure. If I were Yeluyi, I wouldn't mind making money again. Put it." Tuoba Jin said.

Qu Zhu opened his mouth wide, wanted to say something, but didn't say anything, and finally said dejectedly: "You are Ruyuan staying behind, you have the final say."

"Okay!" Tuoba Jin was not polite, and directly ordered: "There are a few things that are urgent. One, immediately select warriors who are good at riding and archery to search eastward, and once they encounter the enemy, they will immediately harass and delay. To do it. Two, send envoys to Yunzhou, report to Yang Dutou to know, and I will handle this matter. Three, immediately send people to various pastures and gather manpower. Cattle and sheep can be brought into the city If it is brought into the city, it will be hidden if it is too late. If it cannot be hidden, it will be slaughtered and buried on the spot, and it must not be left to the Khitan. Fourth, show righteousness to the troops and inspire them to fight to the death."

"The four matters are very important, and there is no room for delay." Tuoba Jin finally said: "The Khitan army set off half a day earlier than the envoys, one man and three horses, and the marching speed is very fast. I wonder if they will Sanzangkou is in the area around the ancient city of Anzhou, so it’s almost two days at most.”

"Okay! I'm going to gather people now." Now that Tuoba Jin had made a decision, he no longer hesitated.

After finishing speaking, he left Xianyou Palace in a hurry, headed southward on a horse, and headed for Yuyi Town.

After leaving, Tuoba Jin took down a long horse spear from the weapon rack, and stared at it for a long time.

(End of this chapter)