A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Emperor Yuan Cong

Chapter 1184: Yellow Sand, North Wind, War Horses, Snow
Yellow sand and north wind rose, and they left the camp again in the middle of the night. The war horses stood in the snow, and the scouts walked on the water.

This winter was exceptionally long and cold for the people of the two tribes of Asijie, and it brought with it bone-chilling despair.

One winter pasture after another was destroyed by the Tang coalition forces.

Many tribes didn't even know why they were attacked.

The wind and snow isolated them from the outside world, and they had no idea what was happening. Some old herdsmen watched sadly as their tribe was attacked and the men, women, and children of the tribe were driven out of their sheltered tents by the coalition forces, standing shivering in the wind and snow.
They vaguely guessed that this was related to the fact that Dajijin had previously gathered tribal warriors to go to Jieshan to attack the Turks.

"You attacked us Asijie, our Dajijin will not let you go. We, the hundreds of thousands of Asijie people, will definitely retaliate against you." A young Asijie man shouted angrily.

In the snow, the Tang cavalry, who was wearing fur robes and thick cloaks over iron armor, understood what he said and said to him with disdain, "Your Daji Jin colluded with Bu Zhen to rebel, and now Bu Zhen has been beheaded and his head is hung on the top of Suiye City. And your Daji Jin, although he fled all the way to Shiguo, was still captured by our Great Tang Anxi Army."

"Now they have been sent to Chang'an. According to the time, they should have reached Hexi. Do they think they can escape by fleeing to the Stone Kingdom? They just implicated the kings of the Stone Kingdom and made them captives. They just have a companion on the way to Chang'an."

"Impossible," the young Ashiqi warrior roared.

"Hahaha, you guys are hiding in this mountain valley, and you know nothing about what's going on outside. Do you really think that if you dare to rebel against the Tang Dynasty again and again, the Tang Dynasty will tolerate and let you go?

Do you know this is how many Ashikabe camps our Tang army has conquered?

Do you know how many Ashkelons we have captured?

Did you know that the Khans of the northern and southern Turkic courts, as well as the Ten Arrows tribe, have already reached an agreement with my Prime Minister to exterminate you, Asiqie, and divide up your pastures, people, livestock, tents, slaves, and even your pots and bowls?"

The young man roared angrily and cursed, his neck veins bulged with anger and his face turned red.

But the old man next to him believed Tang Ren based on his experience.

I felt more and more sad. If what that Tang man said was true, then Asiqet would really be destroyed.

But who can be blamed for all this?

In the wind and snow, the old man suddenly fell headfirst into the snow. The Asiqi people beside him hurried over to support him, but the old man had already stopped breathing.

The young man who had just been cursing the Tang people was now kneeling on the ground, hugging the old man and crying. That was his grandfather, the patriarch of their tribe. Although he was old, he had taken him out hunting a few days ago and had ridden a horse in the wild for three days in the snow. When he was young, he was a famous warrior in the tribe and a great archer who could kill two birds with one arrow.

But now he suddenly fell to the ground and couldn't get up.

This old man was just like Asikya. He looked very strong, but suddenly he was gone.

······
Wu Huaiyu led his troops on an eastern tour, inspecting the Rehe Road from Suiye to Boda Ridge in Tianshan Mountains. This tour was also to inspect the locations of the three cities on the Rehe Road that he had planned for Jiang Xingben.

The winter in Atamido is really beautiful, as if you have strayed into a fairyland.

Rehai, also known as the Unfrozen Lake, has crystal clear water, like a pearl lost by the Emperor of Heaven.

This lake is very big. People here call it the sea. It is about 400 miles long from east to west and more than 100 miles wide from north to south. The lake is surrounded by mountains on all sides.

The Chinese call this lake Rehai or Qingchi. It is called Rehai because it does not freeze in winter, and it is called Qingchi because the water in the lake is clear.

The lake has a 1,300-mile shoreline and more than a hundred rivers flowing into it.

The south bank of the lake is relatively gentle and flat, especially the east side where there is more rainfall, making it very suitable for farming and grazing.

For a long time, the hot seawater from Qiuci to Suiye has mainly been transported along the south bank of Lake South. Although it is difficult to cross the mountain, it is a shortcut. Therefore, many merchants still pass through it during the season when the mountain is not closed.

There are also many nomadic tribes on the south bank.

On the north bank of the lake, there are mainly some Tiele people such as the Qibi tribe who migrated south that year, while on the south bank, there are Basai cadres.

Wu Huaiyu has reached an agreement with all the tribes.

The two tribes of Geshu and the Basaigan will all move to Suiye River. The Chumi tribe in the east of Tianshan, where Basaigan originally lived as a nomad, will move here to live as a nomad, while the Yuzhi tribe in the upper reaches of Yili River will move to Qianquan Mountain.

In winter,
The lake shore is covered with white snow.

But the lake water is still as clear as emerald.

Basagan Tunshabo Dashijin accompanied Wu Huaiyu in inspecting this lakeside area. After the spring, they will move to Suiyechuan. Although the new and old pastures are not far apart and were adjacent to each other before, the advantages and disadvantages of the two places are still very obvious. Suiyechuan is flat and can accommodate more tribes and graze more livestock.

“Can the lake water be used for drinking and irrigation?”

Jiang Xingben asked about the weight of the Tunshabo.
"The water in this lake is salty, so people don't drink it, but livestock can drink it."

Tunshabo said that the herders in Basaigan also grow some crops, but generally they are planted along the riverside, and most of them rely on rain from the sky, and they do not build special water diversion channels for irrigation.

There are dry grasslands and even black soil on the southeast coast, and alpine grasslands on the mountains, so the conditions for grazing here are quite good.

However, in winter, the herders have no choice but to take shelter in the winter pastures in the mountain valleys.

The most beautiful scenery here is in summer, and the most lively seasons are also in summer and autumn.

Wu Huaiyu and his friends think that the snow scenery in winter is beautiful, but they don’t have to worry about their lives.

Jiang Xingben actually went to the lake and scooped up a handful of lake water to taste it.

"Yeah, it's bitter and salty, but it's OK, I can still drink it."

Wu Huaiyu smiled and said, "Who would drink this bitter water? There are more than a hundred rivers flowing into this hot lake. There is no shortage of sweet drinking water here. Even if we build a city or a fort here, we can use river water for military settlement and cultivation. We don't need the water from the lake at all."

The lake does not freeze in severe winter and the water is slightly salty. For nomads, this slightly salty water is good drinking water for cattle and sheep.

"During the Han Dynasty, the boundary between Wusun and Kangju was Rehai. After the Western Expedition, Rehai became the center of the Wunushibi tribe. Jiedan Mountain in the north of Suiye and Qianquan Mountain in the southwest are both sacred mountains for the Ten-surname Turks and the Khan's residence. Suiye City was also an important town on the Silk Road."

"The Rehai Road connects Suiye City and Gumobohuan City in Qiuci, connecting the north and south of Tianshan Mountain, and is also an important transportation route."

Wu Huaiyu stood on the southern shore of the hot springs, pointing out the mountains and rivers.

Before coming here, I only looked at the map and thought that Atami was a mountain lake surrounded by mountains on all sides. But after coming here, I found that this lake is as big as the sea. It is true that it is surrounded by mountains, but the shores of the lake are very gentle and flat, especially the south bank, where there are many rivers and grasslands, and even a lot of black soil, and there are also alpine grasslands on the mountains.

It can be said that not only three large cities can be built on the South Bank according to the plan,
You can even build many settlements and engage in farming and grazing.

The lakeshore is more than 1,300 miles long, and the southern shore is 400 to 500 miles long. This lakeshore corridor has great development potential.

This means that after the Anxi Army's Suiye Town built three large castle strongholds here, they can also build more strongholds and settlements in the surrounding areas. And with the conditions here, it is completely sufficient for settlement and self-sufficiency.
As long as the problem of military supplies and food can be solved, the garrison can be maintained for a long time, and this important Atakado will be completely under the control of An Junxi.

On one side of Rehai Road is Suiye, and on the other side are Qiuci and Shule.
It can be imagined that by controlling the Ataka Road, not only can taxes be levied on commercial goods along this route, but more importantly, it can provide military deterrence to the countries south of the Tianshan Mountains.

The Tang army could not only come from the three states of Yi, Xi and Ting on the Tianshan Mountains through Yanqi, but also from Suiye behind them, crossing Lingshan and Bodaling.

If the Tang army had been able to appear directly behind Shule before, would Shule dare to follow Asijie in rebelling against the Tang? In other words, if Asijie had not been behind Shule, the three Shule states would not have listened to Asijie's rebellion against the Tang.

This is geopolitics.

Geographical location factors are important factors that influence national politics.

The Chinese also believe in making friends far away and attacking those near.
The Anxi Army captured Suiye and controlled Rehayi Road, and then a sword was placed at the back of Qiuci and Shule. In the future, any decision they made would have to take the Tang Dynasty into consideration, otherwise this sword would be stabbed at them.

Even if the Tang army did not move their swords,

It can be kept in the air without being fired, and it still has great deterrent effect.

This is what Wu Huaiyu wanted, and why he was willing to let Basaigan move to the better Suiyechuan and let Chumi come to the south bank of Rehe.

Basagan's strength remained intact during these turmoil, and he was still the only one among the Ten Arrows that had maintained its strength. However, Chumi was originally just one of the other tribes outside the Ten Arrows, and he had suffered a great blow when he joined Helu in the rebellion.
Their strength was far weaker than that of Basagan, and they had been severely punished by the Anxi army. Therefore, after moving to the south coast of Rehe, they would be more obedient, especially since the Tang army wanted to build castles and military settlements in the lakeside area, which actually meant taking away the lakeside area and giving Chumi mountain grasslands.

If Basagan did not move to Suiye, they might not be willing to accept the Tang army's request. But if Chumi came over instead, the territory given to them by the Anxi army would at least be bigger and better than the one they were previously assigned to in the north of Yanqi.

Even if the best lakeside area was given to Tang Jun, it would still be a good deal.

Besides, Wu Huaiyu also said that the Tang army had some vacant grassland by the lake, and they could also come there to graze.

"From the west of Kucha, go out of Zhejue Pass, cross the Baima River, and go 180 miles to Kubera Desert. Pass Kujing, and go 120 miles to Kubera City. Another 60 miles to Asiyan City, and another 60 miles to Bohuan City. Go northwest across the Bohuan River and Zhonghe River, and go to Sihun River, 120 miles to Xiaoshi City. Another 20 miles to Hulu River in the territory of Khotan, another 60 miles to Dashi City, and another 30 miles northwest to Suluo Beacon, and another 40 miles to Boda Ridge."

"After crossing the Boda Ridge, you will enter the Rehai Road and pass through Suiye City."

On the snow, Tunshabojijin drew the specific route for Wu Huaiyu and his team from the Tianshan South Road of the Silk Road to the Atakao Road.

Each journey is very detailed. The road from Qiuci is not easy to travel, but it is a convenient route from Qiuci, Shule, Khotan and other countries south of the Tianshan Mountains to Suiye and even Sogdia in Transoxiana.

From Qiuci to Bohuan, it is 560 li, and from Bohuan to Dashi, it is another 200 li, and from Dashi to Boda Ridge, it is another 240 li.

The distance is not a problem.
The most difficult part of the journey from Qiuci to Suiye is not the distance, but the need to cross Lingshan Mountain in the middle ridge of Tianshan Mountain.

Lingshan, also known as the Northern Plain of Pamirs, is a towering mountain covered with snow and ice.

Lingshan is the most difficult part to climb. Not only is the mountain closed with heavy snow very early every year, but the ice does not melt until summer. One has to climb an ice ladder to cross Lingshan. In some places, horses and goods can only be hung over the ice ladder. In midsummer, the ice melts into water, and the ice ladder becomes a waterfall. Neither humans nor horses dare to cross it.

There are only a few months a year when normal traffic is allowed.

After crossing Lingshan Mountain and passing Boda Ridge, it is still more than 400 miles to the eastern end of Rehai.

From the eastern end of Rehai to Suiye City, it is more than 500 miles.

Wu Huaiyu looked at the map,

It is nearly a thousand miles from Suiye City to Boda Ridge.

And from Bodaling to Qiuci, it is another thousand miles.

Along the way, there were icebergs, rock ridges, deserts, rivers, lakes, grasslands, and oases. It was really difficult.

But such a dangerous road to heaven,
It is actually a convenient road for traveling between the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains at this time.

"Can the army cross the Boda Ridge before the ice steps on Lingshan Mountain melt in midsummer?" Wu Huaiyu asked Tunshaboshijin directly.

"Yes, as long as you avoid the coldest snowy season and the melting ice season in midsummer, Lingshan Bodaling is passable. Although it is not easy to walk on, and you even have to cross an ice ladder, merchants can use horses and camels to sell goods, so it is no problem for soldiers to pass through."

Wu Huaiyu also thought it was okay.
After all, Gao Xianzhi was able to lead his troops across the Pamir Plateau, so the Anxi Army would certainly have no problem taking this trade route.

"After crossing Lingshan Mountain, it usually takes a caravan a month to travel from Bohuan City to Shule City."

It would take a caravan about a month to travel from Suiye to Bohuan City.

However, when an army marches and fights, its speed must be faster.

"Does Prime Minister Wu really want to send troops to conquer the three countries of Shule, Zhujubo and Kepantuo?" asked Tunshaboshijin.

"Well, whoever dares to offend the Han Dynasty will be punished, no matter how far away he is." Wu Huaiyu said a classic saying, and Tunshaboshijin's heart was shocked. He did not doubt this sentence at all.

Dulu Khan, Helu Yehu, Buzhen Khan, several Shijins who were given advances, Que Shijin and two other Asiji Shijins, and even two small kings of the Shi Kingdom,
But they have all used their own experience to verify Wu Huaiyu's words that even if the enemy is far away, he must be killed.

The Shi Kingdom simply refused the Tang army's request to enter their capital to search for Que Shijin and others. As a result, the Tang army directly broke into the royal city, the kings, both big and small, were captured, and the royal palace and the national treasury were looted.

Tunshabo Dashijin's awe for Wu Huaiyu and the Tang Dynasty is growing day by day.

"When the ice has not melted in the spring of next year, the Anxi Army will send troops across Lingshan Mountain to conquer the three kingdoms."

"When the time comes, please ask Tunshabo Dajijin to send someone to act as a guide." Wu Huaiyu said with a smile.

Tunshabojijin got goosebumps all over his body because of this smile. It always seemed that there was something dagger hidden in the smile of this martial minister.

"Please rest assured, Prime Minister Wu, when the Anxi Army invades the Three Kingdoms next year, I will mobilize the best troops to lead the vanguard."

(End of this chapter)