Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 324 Give them a chance to be Datang’s dogs

On a sunny day on July 7, Fang Chongyong integrated Liangzhou's troops and horses, and transferred 3,000 elite cavalry and 2,000 mounted infantry from the Chishui Army; he also transferred 1,000 mounted infantry from the Da Dou Army. Together with the fully replenished three thousand Silver Spear Xiaojie Army, they formed the Anxi Expeditionary Army.

Nine thousand elite troops, one man and two horses, set off from Liangzhou and went to Ganzhou to rest and recuperate. Chishui military envoy Guo Ziyi did not accompany them. Instead, he served as the deputy envoy of Hexi Jiedu and was in charge of military affairs in Liangzhou.

Fang Chongyong planned to select elites with outstanding combat capabilities from the Tang Dynasty's border troops along the way to supplement the establishment. When they arrived west of Congling, the number of soldiers in the entire army was strictly controlled between 15,000 and 20,000.

The reason why it was named the Anxi Expeditionary Force was because in the end, elite troops had to be drawn from the Anxi Protectorate and used there as the main logistics base. Naming them after Anxi was to give them face, and also to facilitate the Tang army's military power to continue to frighten the countries in the Western Regions after the expeditionary force withdrew.

It would be unimaginable for Hexi soldiers and horses to go to the Western Regions without the cooperation of the Anxi Protectorate.

Because the area of ​​the Western Region has exceeded two million square kilometers. In Fang Chongyong's previous life, for a country of this size, it was not outrageous to have a regular army of 700,000 to 800,000, and the final deployment was still very scattered.

The Anxi Protectorate of the Tang Army only had more than 20,000 people, but the territory it managed was so vast that it was like sprinkling pepper noodles on an astonishingly large flatbread and the white sand disappearing into nirvana.

On the large territory where the Anxi Protectorate is located, even if an inhabited oasis town is evenly distributed with 500 Tang troops, the 20,000 troops are far from enough. Therefore, if the Tang Dynasty wanted to make a difference in the Western Regions, it would not be able to accomplish anything big with just the troops of Anxi and Beiting.

Each time, the Tang army needed to fight one against a hundred, and all members had to play Wushuang to barely support the strategic needs.

From a tactical point of view, this is naturally a case of the Tang army's elite fighting against a hundred; but from a strategic point of view, this situation is very dangerous, and we cannot expect to use tactical victory every time to ensure strategic deterrence.

So what? "

"Huijie Commander, this is very good. We hold the hoe in the left hand and the knife in the right hand. Only by giving kindness and power at the same time can we be kings.

Duan Xiushi praised.

To be fair, the quality of the final smelted coke is indeed not as good as charcoal, but it is easier to use, easier to use, the cost is controllable, and it can support the operation of the smelting center for a long time.

The coal mines and iron ores that were explored later, the governor of Ganzhou and the governor of Hexi Province were very concerned about this. With Ganzhou as the core, an iron smelting center was built specifically to manufacture agricultural tools.

Jieshuai's move is so wonderful that if you want to take it, you must give it first! "

Fang Chongyong is very ambitious, and he wants to make a difference before the world goes into chaos. This trip will buy at least twenty years for the Central Plains regime to control the Western Regions. As for the world twenty years from now, who knows?

As for why the expeditionary force had to go to Ganzhou first, it was because Fang Chongyong was not in a hurry to go to the front line of the Western Regions. He still had a big thing to do in Ganzhou!

……

The blacksmith, who was wearing a cowhide apron and was forging farm tools, saw Fang Chongyong coming and quickly stepped forward to salute.

As for why we chose it near Zhangye City, it’s because it’s almost the place with the least water shortage in the Hexi Corridor! And iron smelting is indispensable for water!

Since taking up the post of Hexi Jiedushi, Fang Chongyong issued a decree to fully promote the burning of coal for heating in Zhangye City. It is strictly forbidden for any private party to cut down the surrounding salix forests, and to consolidate water and soil to ensure the water resources in Zhangye area.

This is an ordinary blacksmith workshop in Ganzhou. There are many such workshops built on the shore near the small bridge outside Zhangye, and they are basically concentrated together.

As far as the general knows, the iron production in the Western Region is limited and there is a lack of agricultural tools. The limited output must be given priority to supply military supplies. Many people in small countries in the Western Regions even use stone farm tools to dig food in the fields.

While patrolling along the bank of Zhangye River, Fang Chongyong asked Duan Xiushi beside him.

This is one of the secrets of the development of farming in Hexi in recent years. Fang Chongyong planted a seed back then, and then someone watered and fertilized it, and now saplings have grown.

If you bring a batch of farm tools to the Western Region, you can exchange these farm tools for food, and... people's hearts.

There was no choice. It was really inconvenient to cut down trees and make charcoal in the Hexi area, so we had to use the latest "coking coal" technology supported by the Ministry of Industry of the Imperial Court to smelt coke of average grade from pebbles, and then use the coke as fuel to smelt iron.

The forged "iron bar" is put into cold water and makes a pleasant sound, and the hoe part of a hoe is finished. Although this kind of production efficiency is indeed not high, the advantage is that it is simple to make and easy to popularize.

Wherever we go, we must spread out the iron farm tools we brought. Having tasted the sweetness, once the people of the Western Regions lost the supply and support of the Tang Dynasty, their survival would become a problem.

"Zizzzi..."

“It would be too much of a waste of transportation capacity if the army set out with all the food.

But it is more than enough to be used as a hoe and plowshare.

The coal mines near Shandan County are mined and sent outside Zhangye; the hematite mined locally is also sent here. The coal is first made into inferior coke, which is then used to smelt iron. The iron produced was of low quality and could not be used as weapons.

In the Western Regions, even where the Anxi Protectorate and the Beiting Protectorate were stationed, iron farm tools were very precious. Again, in the Western Regions, precious and limited iron was used to make weapons.

In the current harsh living environment of the Western Region, no one has the luxury of using iron farm tools on a daily basis, unless they are in the core control areas of the Tang Dynasty.

This is a conspiracy that no one can refuse! The key is that Hexi has the ability to continue to export iron farm tools! Farm tools will break after being used for a period of time. If they are broken, they must be replaced with new ones, which will create rigid demand.

Duan Xiushi knew that this was Fang Chongyong's plan a few years ago, but he felt that this person was really unfathomable. He usually took one step at a time and looked at ten steps.

"Thank you for your kind words. This commander's trip to the Western Regions is just to spread the glory of our Tang Dynasty's kindness.

From now on, the military supplies for the army will be left to you, including the management of these farm tools. "

Fang Chongyong waved his hand indifferently and said.

During the Han Dynasty, there was a wave of large-scale smelting technology exchanges between the Western Regions and the Central Plains Dynasty, and it can be said that each other learned from each other. At that time, various countries in the Western Regions still had some "black technologies", such as "charcoal powder steelmaking."

At that time, the Han army's settlement strongholds in the Western Regions also had small iron smelting centers to manufacture agricultural tools and promote cattle farming in conjunction with iron agricultural tools. However, by the Tang Dynasty, due to years of war, destruction of productivity, damage to the natural environment and other factors, political power in the Western Regions began to fragment, and it was extremely common for one city to have one country.

The Tang Dynasty also abandoned the Han army's reclamation system and changed it to the Jisi Dudu Supervisory System.

Without the strong support of the Tang Dynasty, the smelting technology of these small forces has actually been substantially regressed or even completely abandoned.

Due to natural constraints such as the inability to provide charcoal for smelting and the scarcity of water sources, the small countries in the Western Region did not have the energy or inclination to deal with these troublesome matters.

"The purpose of Datang is to make the world one family with me as the leader."

Fang Chongyong looked across the Zhangye River and saw a group of children playing the game of "officers and soldiers catching robbers" and continued to sigh:

"Except for Xizhou, Yizhou and other places, although the Tang Dynasty has jurisdiction over other cities in the Western Region, they have not yet registered all the people.

Although Datang is tolerant of the world, who is our friend and who is our enemy cannot be lumped together and accepted in a broad and general way.

Of course we welcome our friends with open arms, but when our enemies come, we can only welcome them with arms and arms!

In this section, Shuai has an idea. In the Western Region, let our friends and our enemies take one step further. "

Fang Chongyong said meaningfully.

Duan Xiushi asked in confusion: "Why should each of us take a step further?" "Of course it's our foreign friends from the Western Regions who have good intentions towards us. We want to give them a chance and give them a chance to be Datang's dogs.

Well, you just need to understand that you can serve before you are on the saddle and behind the horse.

Those enemies who are hostile to us, if they have the chance, we must cleanly and ruthlessly send them to the coal mines in Hexi for reform through labor!

After they have figured it out that it is wrong and undesirable to be enemies of Datang, and deeply reflect on their crimes, they will be given the opportunity to join the warm family of Datang wholeheartedly. "

Fang Chongyong chuckled, took out a piece of paper from his arms, and handed it to Duan Xiushi to read.

This is a common official letter in yamen, but it has already been stamped, and only the person in charge and the person involved need to sign their names.

"Is this... a naturalization document?"

Duan Xiushi saw what was written on the paper and somewhat understood Fang Chongyong's thinking.

"After we pass through Xizhou, the cities we encounter may not wholeheartedly support the Tang Dynasty. Even the dignitaries and even the people of small countries are on the side of the Tubo people, or they may have bigger plans. , not surprising.

After we get there, we still need logistical supplies, an army of servants, and a place to stay.

The document of naturalization is the invisible hand of this commander on the battlefield.

At that time, as long as those who are willing to serve the Tang Army wholeheartedly, we will be able to make no mistakes.

For those who are willing to risk their lives to kill our enemies and sell their children and daughters to raise military funds for us, we can give them the opportunity to become naturalized in the Tang Dynasty and protect their property from infringement.

This section commander believes that the benefits we can give to those people in the small countries in the Western Regions who are willing to stand on our side are sweeter and more fragrant. As for those die-hards, the Anxi Protectorate's wrists are too soft now, and the commander will hit hard in this section! Hit every one you see! "

So that’s it!

Duan Xiushi couldn't help but give a thumbs up and said: "Jie Shuai's words are an enlightenment! Those people will wake up laughing if they can get this naturalization certificate."

"It's not a certificate of naturalization, but that we accepted their application to join the Datang household registration. Since it is an application, there is still a chance that it will not be passed! Whether it is passed or not depends on how it performs in the future."

Fang Chongyong said with a slight smile, that's all. I understand everything.

Although the Tang Dynasty appeared to be an "all-inclusive" dynasty, in fact it was a country that clearly marked prices and engaged in discrimination. "Looking down on you" was clearly stated and written into the law, making it a country that the Hu people loved and hated.

After the Hu people entered the Tang Dynasty, although they settled down and had household registration, it was clearly written on the household registration that you were a Hu person!

Since you are a barbarian, then locally, you are a member of the tribe next to the city, and you collect taxes and serve as soldiers according to the rules of the city. In big cities like Chang'an, residential addresses are allocated according to the areas where the Hu people live. You are not allowed to wear Han clothes unless you have anything to do, otherwise you will be convicted if you are discovered!

With this "naturalization form" given by Fang Chongyong, as long as it is approved, the person concerned will be a Han citizen in the Tang Dynasty and not a Hu.

Just like the An family in Liangzhou who has broken through the political ceiling. This is not only a matter of reputation and identity, but also involves daily behavioral constraints, land equalization and tax standards, and other major matters related to one's own interests!

Duan Xiushi stopped talking immediately.

He already understood that "giving them the opportunity to be Datang's dogs" was by no means just a word from Fang Chongyong, but a three-pronged combination of material rewards, identity recognition and force deterrence!

If you work as a dog for Datang, you will have the opportunity to become a "human" in the future, and one of your own.

If you stand on the opposite side of the Tang Dynasty, you will have to bear the risk of being besieged from all sides, and even the risk of leading the party among your subordinates.

This is a great move!

Duan Xiushi thought more deeply that what Fang Chongyong promised now was all his own words, guaranteed by his official position as the governor of Hexi Province. Once he loses his official position, all of his promises will naturally cease to count. What will happen then?

He no longer dared to think about it anymore. Even if Fang Chongyong wanted to give up by then, the people of the Western Regions who had huge initial sunk costs would not be able to accept it.

"Why didn't you say anything? Do you think the commander in chief was too kind to them?

In fact, in the process of exchanges between various ethnic groups and political governments, it is the general trend that the world is one family, regardless of each other.

Only if all people in the world share the same household registration is the progress of the country.

At present, some of our policies in Datang are very problematic. This section is just a slight adjustment. "

Seeing that Duan Xiushi was silent, Fang Chongyong defended himself again.

The Western Region is about to usher in a century of changes!

Duan Xiushi lamented in his heart, but asked calmly on his face: "Jie Du's strategy is indeed good, and I believe that you will keep your promise and do what you say. But Hexi Jiedushi also has a term of office. If you resign or are transferred in the future, , how to fulfill these promises?”

"The ancients said: in his position, he will seek his own government.

Since the commander-in-chief of this section is no longer in his position at that time, these troubles will naturally be taken care of by the next commander-in-chief.

Do you want someone to bewitch these people and go to Chang'an to force the saint to take back his life? "

Fang Chongyong looked at Duan Xiushi with a strange expression and said.

……

Blah blah blah!

There were heavy rainstorms in some areas of Guanzhong, as well as in the suburbs of Liquan. However, the water level of the Jingshui River not far away was not bad, and it would not be said that the flood would submerge the Shence Army camp.

Fang Youde looked helplessly at the heavy rain outside, and saluted Ji Ge: "Sage, our army was ready to move out, but in this heavy rain weather, bows and arrows cannot be fired. If we go north along the Jing River, we may be attacked by the enemy's water. . Wei Chen suggested that we should postpone the attack on Pizhou and wait until the rain stops before marching again."

The expression on Brother Ji's face changed several times, but he finally gritted his teeth and yelled: "They are just a bunch of Khitan slaves. Who knows what water attack is! Just lead your troops to attack Pizhou directly! The Shence Army has countless elite soldiers and generals. Still can’t take down a group of rebels?”

It’s raining heavily this time! Fang Youde had nothing to say.

The stubborn emperor, all he can think about now is "I won't listen, I won't listen." No matter how much he tries to persuade him, it will be of no use.

"The minister will lead his troops and set out now. Please don't worry, saint."

Fang Youde bowed to Brother Ji with folded hands, turned around and sighed silently.

If we fight like Brother Ji, the whole army will be annihilated. It seems that we have to use some "ingenious tricks".

Fang Youde thought secretly in his heart.

(End of this chapter)