Datang: Starting from a fortune-telling stall, Wu Zetian was suddenly abducted

Chapter 142 Conquest of Kucha
After everyone finished speaking, Guo Xiaoke spoke again:

"General Feng, the monk who led us into the trap is currently only known to be from the same sect as the monk Jiu He Guo from Gaochang. I would like to trouble you to investigate the other information."

"After the banquet is over, I will write a letter to General Geng and ask him to focus on investigating this person's origins."

Feng Xizhi naturally agreed enthusiastically.

When the wine was half drunk, Sheng Xin toasted Yuan Shouwei alone, and his admiration was beyond words.

That night, the host and guests enjoyed themselves.

The next day, the army set off for Gaochang City.

Guo Xiaoke sympathized with the sufferings suffered by the soldiers in Loulan Ghost Town, so the march was slow.

Four days later, we finally saw the city wall of Gaochang.

And Qiao Shiwang had already led all the officials in the city to greet him and greet him.No longer.

At noon, Qiao Shiwang held a banquet in the mansion to entertain Guo Xiaoke and everyone. After the banquet, Guo Xiaoke left Qiao Shiwang, Yuan Shouwei, and Yuan Tiangang alone.

Qiao Shiwang knew that there must be important matters to discuss, so he ordered the people on his left and right to retreat, leaving only the four of them in the hall.

Only then did Guo Xiaoke take out a piece of yellow silk from his arms. Everyone took a closer look and saw that it was the imperial edict.

Guo Xiaoke unfolded his words with a serious expression:

"The decree has arrived."

"My disciples, pass on His Majesty's will, order the captain-in-law Qiao Shiwang to assist General Zuo Xiaowei and Guo Xiaoke, the chief protector of Anxi's Protectorate, to attack Kucha."

"Chin this."

Qiao Shiwang was shocked and solemnly accepted the imperial edict.

Looking at Guo Xiaoke, he said:
"Please also ask the Protector to elaborate."

Yuan Shouwei and Yuan Tiangang beside him were also very surprised, and turned their questioning eyes to Guo Xiaoke.

Guo Xiaoke motioned for everyone to sit down and said:
"Everyone knows that the reason why the princes and generals attacked Gaochang that day was because it blocked the 'Silk Road' caravan."

"Now it has been found out that it was actually Qiuci who was behind this."

"Queen Gaochang can also confirm this."

Queen Gaochang confirmed?This must have been the result of Li Shimin being tortured on the bed. Yuan Shouwei secretly cursed in his heart.

Guo Xiaoke continued:

"This time the conquest of Kucha is different from the conquest of Gaochang."

"Because there were many monks in Kucha in the Tang Dynasty, and many of them had good relations with the powerful people in the court."

"That's why His Majesty ordered me to send troops in the name of stationing in Gaochang, and I have given Qiuci a thunderous blow."

After hearing this, Qiao Shiwang frowned and asked:
"Did the Protector mean that there is collusion between officials in the court and the Kucha people?"

Guo Xiaoke nodded and said:

"There are many Kucha monks not only in the court, but also among the people and the army."

"I'm afraid they have a lot of plans."

Relevant to the fact that Guo Xiaoke once commanded the Nanya Army, everyone believed in his news.

After hearing this, Qiao Shiwang turned to look at Yuan and Yuan and said:
"Now that General Guo has said this, I have some information for you."

"I have long felt that Kucha seems to be up to no good and has been sending people to investigate secretly."

"It has now been found out that when we asked for support from Gaochang Rat, when we asked for support for Qiuci, they did not provide support at all, and they even pretended to be attacked."

After hearing this, Yuan Tiangang recalled the scenes of rats running rampant in Gaochang City and the people dying tragically. He couldn't help but shook his head:
"Hypocritical benevolence and righteousness, deceiving oneself and others."

Qiao Shiwang continued:

"I have also found out the person behind the contact with the Turkic wanderers and the interception of medicinal materials along the way."

After hearing this, Yuan Shouwei couldn't help but feel refreshed, and immediately asked:

"Could it be that the Kucha people are also giving instructions behind this?"

Qiao Shiwang nodded and said:
"At first I thought it was two groups of people, but later it was confirmed that they were instigated by the same person. This person was Jiu Heguo who was killed by Taoist Yuan in Gaochang City."

Yuan Shouwei frowned, "When we get to him, the clues are gone?"

Qiao Shiwang shook his head and continued: "After I combined the two clues of Qiuci's fake support and Jiuhe's, I felt that there should be another hidden story behind it."

"I asked people to investigate the origins of Jiu Heguo. The investigation really revealed the problem."

"This Jiu Heguo is the current national master of Qiuci Kingdom, and Jiu Heyou's junior brother."

After everyone heard this, they all recalled their own experiences, and suddenly found that there was a shadow of the Kingdom of Qiuci behind them.

Yuan Tiangang said:

"If that's the case, then Monk Jiu from Loulan Ghost City must also be a fellow disciple of the Kucha Imperial Master."

"Yuan Shouwei, didn't you ask him his name that day?"

A walk-on character, it's not worth asking his name. Yuan Shouwei cursed and shook his head slightly.

At this moment, Sheng Xin's voice sounded outside the door:

"Captain, there is a flying pigeon in Loulan City delivering a message, please report urgently."

Master Qiao looked at the others and looked at each other. Could it be that something happened again in Loulan Ghost Town?

He said solemnly:

"Sheng Xin, bring the letter."

After hearing this, Sheng Xin strode in and handed the letter in his hand to Qiao Shiwang.

Qiao Shiwang opened it, looked at it for a moment, and then said to everyone:
"Masters, the identity of the monk in Loulan Ghost City has been identified."

"His name is Jiu Hesi, and he is the junior brother of Jiuci State Master Jiu Heyou."

Yuan Shouwei didn't react at all, but Yuan Tiangang and Guo Xiaoke both frowned.

Guo Xiaoke took a deep breath, thinking of Jiu and Si's methods in Loulan Ghost City, he suddenly felt pain in his back molars.

He looked at Yuan Shouwei and said:
"Taoist Priest, you said we would send troops to Qiuci this time. Will Jiu Hesi come forward to stop us?"

Yuan Shouwei smiled and said,

"The general of the defeated army, I see this thief as if he was trying to sell Seoul."

After hearing this, Guo Xiaoke immediately stopped breathing in cold air, his back molars no longer hurt, and his whole body was full of strength, as if he had taken high-calcium tablets.

Said confidently:
"I'm relieved by the words of the Taoist priest. This time, you must join me in conquering Kucha."

Then he looked at Qiao Shiwang and said:
"Captain Qiao, the information I got here is that there are 3 troops in Kucha."

"I wonder if you have any latest information?"

Qiao Shiwang spoke confidently:

"Thirty thousand troops are correct, and their combat effectiveness is very poor."

"Don't look at it as a siege. Ten thousand of us are more than enough to defeat them."

"However, I'm afraid that the Gucha Guoshi and his younger brother will become a variable. It's better to recruit some people from the surrounding cities to act together."

After hearing this, Guo Xiaoke was a little silent. After thinking for a moment, he said:

"As far as I know, every city in the surrounding area has 1000 defenders."

"If I smoke too much, I'll be in trouble if another foreign enemy invades."

Qiao Shiwang said solemnly:

"If this Qiuci area is not eradicated, I'm afraid Gaochang and its surrounding areas will never have peace."

"If we deploy more troops in the surrounding areas, we will have an extra layer of protection to ensure that we can capture Kucha in one fell swoop."

Guo Xiaoke stopped being pretentious and nodded:
"Captain Qiao's words make sense. I wonder how many troops you can assign to me?"

Qiao Shiwang opened his mouth and said:

"Anxi, Dunhuang, Loulan, Hami, Yiwu, and Turpan can each deploy 500 troops."

"Beiting and Gaochang can each mobilize 1000 troops."

"I can guarantee these are cavalry."

(End of this chapter)