Guide to Traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty.

Chapter 1053 1048 [Relief for Women and Children]

When Empress Gantian of Western Liao and her generals received the news of the Ming army's attack, their first reaction was that it must be a mistake.

The expedition from the Hexi Corridor to Gaochang must have been launched after the snow melted in spring, and the war would have been fought for several months before the snow fell in autumn and winter.

It's been delayed until now, and it's snowing again before the decisive battle.

That is why they were completely defenseless.

After confirming the military intelligence was true, generals such as Xiao Worila were overjoyed and quickly summoned the troops of various vassal states to go into battle.

However, it was too late in the month, and even if they were to send troops immediately, the troops from more distant regions would not be able to join the war, such as Khwarezm, Karuluk, and most of the Western Karakhanid Khanate.

Because it takes time to mobilize troops and collect food and fodder, by the time these vassal forces actually send out their troops, it is estimated that by the time they reach the Seven Rivers area (or the Pamir Mountains), the mountains will have been blocked by heavy snow!
At least half of the Central Asian troops that Western Liao could recruit would not be able to arrive at the battlefield this year.

Xiao Wulila certainly couldn't wait foolishly, so he personally led the troops and civilians in the capital area to rush to Gaochang as quickly as possible. At the same time, he ordered the troops from all over the country to assemble quickly, in case there was less snowfall this year, there was a small chance that they could participate in the war.

In addition, the reinforcements from the Naiman tribe in the north arrived faster. After receiving Xiao Chala Abu's request for help, they quickly headed south.

The north wind blows the ground and the white grass turns, and Hu Tian snows in August.

There is no snow in Gaochang (Turpan) area, as the snow season here is relatively late.

It was snowing in Yizhou (Hami) occupied by the Ming army. The temperature dropped sharply overnight, and the snow became heavier and heavier, reaching ankle depth.

The fourth batch of Ming troops that arrived were mainly civilians, and they brought a large number of cotton clothes and quilts.

Tens of thousands of Ming troops wearing cotton clothes advanced towards Gaochang territory in the snow.

Using cavalry to explore the way and chariots to lead the way, they marched quickly for 300 miles and everything would be fine once they arrived at the territory of Shanshan.

In fact, there was no snow in the Gobi Desert halfway through the journey.

There is very little snowfall here throughout the year, and it often doesn't snow until the twelfth lunar month.

Gaochang (Turpan) is similar. Although snowfall may occasionally come earlier, it usually snows near the twelfth lunar month.

Shanshan, the ancient Loulan Kingdom.

"I would like to draw the sword from my waist and kill Lou Lan!"

Du Jushi, the interpreter of the Honglu Temple, stood in the army, looking at the Shanshan City ahead, drawing his sword and shouting with great excitement.

Aksuhe didn't understand why his translator was yelling, so he quickly asked, "Du, have you been here before?"

"I once sleepwalked here when I was young, but I never expected the scene to be like this!" Du Jushi said it even more mysteriously.

What's the scene?
There are starving people everywhere!

Shanshan City was also burned down, and the suburbs were looted by the rebels. Countless refugees gathered in and around the city, starving and waiting for help from kind-hearted people.

This was the most commonly used model of clearing the countryside in ancient times.

Since the grassroots organizations were not well organized, it was impossible to relocate the lower-class people. So they just let the soldiers go everywhere to rob all the money and food they could see, leaving nothing for the enemy.

Xiao Chala Abu's strategy is very clear -

Not only did he fail to win the battle in the field, he could not even guarantee to hold the city. So he gave up Yizhou and Shanshan, set up the main battlefield near Gaochang City, and stretched the Ming army's supply line by nearly a thousand miles in one go.

In addition, it snowed earlier in Yizhou, making it more difficult for the Ming army to transport food, which made it easier for him to fight.

Chen Ziyi gave the order: "The whole army will camp outside the city first. Before setting up camp, drive the hungry people here to the west. Send two thousand soldiers to protect the civilians, enter the city to clean up the ruins after the fire, and rest for three days to wait for the follow-up friendly forces."

Faced with the Ming army's expulsion, the refugees were almost in despair, and their pleas and cries were deafening.

Du Jushi no longer had the excitement of "going straight to kill Lou Lan". He truly felt the cruelty of war and could not face the eyes and expressions of those refugees.

Instead, it was Aksuhe who comforted him: "Du, this is how war works. Our army's supply line is too long, and there is a very difficult section in the middle. It is impossible to allocate precious military rations to help the refugees. It was not us who caused all this, but the Black Khitan army robbed them all."

"Of course I know all this...Alas!" Du Jushi let out a long sigh.

He hesitated for a while, then ran to see Chen Ziyi: "General Chen, those people..."

Chen Ziyi interrupted: "Don't ask me for help."

Du Jushi said, "I see many women with children among the refugees. We may be able to save some of them. When the war is over, the women can marry Han immigrants. The children can also marry with their mothers and become Han Chinese stepchildren. We can teach them to speak Chinese from a young age and they will be able to become Han Chinese. This will be beneficial to the long-term governance of the Western Regions in the future, and it will also be a great achievement if we report it to the court."

Chen Ziyi thought carefully for a moment, nodded in approval and said, "You scholars are smart. I'll leave this matter to you. I'll give you the command of the several local nobles and 3,000 soldiers who have surrendered to me."

"Thank you, General!" Du Jushi bowed and retreated.

Soon, several small nobles who fled to join the Ming army and three thousand cavalry were transferred to Du Jushi.

He called over a few minor nobles and gave them some instructions, then led his army towards the refugees who were being driven westward.

All I could hear were the little nobles shouting along the way: "You were robbed by the rebels and lost your homes and food, all thanks to the hateful Liao people. They couldn't defeat the Ming Dynasty soldiers, so they could only take it out on you. The Ming Dynasty's Heavenly Soldiers are kind-hearted and can't bear to see you all starve to death or freeze to death, but the Heavenly Soldiers don't have enough rations..."

"Only save young women and children. If you are willing, please say goodbye to your family and follow me back to the outskirts of Shanshan City to get food to survive!"

Shouting these words over and over soon caused a commotion among the refugees.

Some men were clamoring for food, but the insignificant Ming army was too lazy to care and when too many troublemakers gathered, they simply rushed over and killed them.

After killing two or three hundred people in a row, the remaining refugees became completely obedient.

Then, the wailing became louder. Countless young women, with their children, wiped their tears and said goodbye to their families, and followed Du Jushi to the outskirts of the city to wait for relief.

Three thousand Ming cavalrymen were on constant alert, blocking the road to stop the remaining refugees.

With the help of the laborers, the women and children set up camp separately.

Du Jushi's work was not yet finished. He took a few young nobles with him to deliver food to the women and children.

The oat porridge was cooked in a pot and women and children lined up to get the food.

Every time a woman came over, the little noble would ask, "Who destroyed your family?"

The woman stood there in a daze, not knowing how to answer.

The young noble said, "It's the Liao official who can't defeat the Ming soldiers, so he bullies you civilians. Do you understand? Who caused your family to be destroyed?"

The woman took a look at the porridge, swallowed her saliva and said, "It's the Liao people's fault."

The young noble asked again: "Who feeds you and prevents you from starving to death?"

The woman said weakly, "Han master?"

"That's right," the young noble said with a smile, "Teach these to your children and have them repeat them as well."

The woman hurriedly educated her children.

In order to eat oatmeal, the hungry children learned quickly.

Du Jushi watched all this expressionlessly. Although he offered suggestions and saved many women and children, he still felt bad.

Aksuhe sighed and really disliked this scene.

Because he was born a Turkic slave and was abducted by the Eastern Roman army when he was young, he had completely forgotten what his family looked like.

Faced with the temptation of food and cruel punishment, he could only pretend to be honest and obedient, and always mentioned his loyalty to the Roman emperor.

He showed great intelligence and loyalty, and finally stood out from a group of slave children and was chosen as the close companion of the young prince. He studied with the prince, practiced martial arts with the prince, and when the prince grew up and succeeded to the throne, he also became a noble lord.

Aksuhe was indeed very loyal to the Roman emperor, but his childhood experiences would always be a thorn in his heart.

Gather the women and children, clean up the city, and rest for three days.

The Ming army, having regained its strength, continued to move forward, leaving only 3,000 men to defend Shanshan City, which had become a Ming army stronghold. They wanted to capture the next stronghold and eventually fight a decisive battle near Gaochang City.

After two days of marching, the commander-in-chief Li Yanxian caught up with them, bringing with him three thousand elite cavalry and two thousand light cavalry.

The Ming Dynasty announced that it would send 500,000 troops during the Western Expedition, but in fact, there were only 80,000 actual combat troops.

The remaining hundreds of thousands of civilians and auxiliary soldiers did not all run to the Western Regions. Many stayed in the Ming territory, responsible for transporting food and grass along the way, and would not even enter Xingxing Gorge.

After asking about the situation, Li Yanxian sighed: "Xiao Chala is also a veteran general, but he fought so calmly and ruthlessly. If he dared to defend Yizhou to the death, we would be much more relaxed, but this guy actually retreated to Gaochang with a strong defense."

Chen Ziyi said: "From Yizhou to Shanshan, many small nobles have come with their tribes to surrender. The Western Liao's policy of fortifying the city and clearing the countryside is unpopular, and the former nobles of Gaochang are extremely dissatisfied. We can start with them when the decisive battle comes."

"It is better to rely on yourself than on others. Kill them first." Li Yanxian said.

……

Gaochang City is not located in the urban area of ​​Turpan, but in the south of Huoyan Mountain.

During the Tang Dynasty, the surrounding area was mainly engaged in grazing, but now it has basically become an agricultural area.

At the same time that Li Yanxian personally rushed to the front line, Taiyang Khan of the Naiman tribe also led 8,000 cavalry to come to the rescue.

Among these Naiman cavalry, only a handful had iron armor, and even light armor was not common, most of them only wore leather coats. They were not even fully equipped with iron arrowheads, and half of the cavalry were still using bone arrowheads.

Taiyang Khan was the hereditary title bestowed by the Liao Dynasty on the leader of the Naiman tribe.

It is purely a transliteration, also called Taiyanghan and Tayanghan.

"Why did you retreat all the way to Gaochang?" Taiyang Khan asked in surprise when they met.

Xiao Chala Abu certainly would not show his weakness: "The Ming army has come from a long way. If they retreat from Yizhou to Gaochang, they can extend the enemy's food supply route by a thousand miles."

Taiyang Khan nodded: "That's a solution? The elite troops of the Liao Dynasty haven't arrived yet?"

Xiao Cha La A Bu said: "It's almost there."

The Naiman tribe came from afar to support us, so naturally we had to treat them well.

After eating and drinking, Taiyanghan returned to his military camp and called his two sons over: "I always feel something is wrong. You should go to the friendly forces more often tomorrow and find out what happened before. Remember not to make it public and pretend to be chatting casually."

His eldest son, Narheshi, asked, "Father, are you afraid that you can't defeat the Ming army?"

Taiyang Khan said: "If Yelu Dashi were still alive, I would fight to the death for the Liao Dynasty. But Yelu Dashi is dead, and it is difficult for an orphan and a widow to do anything. The generals of various tribes are no longer united. We are in a difficult situation now and cannot afford to make any more sacrifices. If all else fails, we will just surrender to the Ming army."

Although the Naiman tribe was nominally subject to the Western Liao Dynasty and even lent troops to Yelu Dashi to start his business, this relationship quickly turned cold after Yelu Dashi's death.

If there were no members of the Naiman tribe serving as officials in Western Liao, Taiyang Khan would not even bother to lead his troops to help this time.

(End of this chapter)