The Imperial Age with the Resurgence of Han Style

Chapter 150 Junggar

December 12, Junggar Khanate, royal city Ili (now the ancient city of Hainuk, Qapqal County, Yining City).

"Who is it?... Dismount and check!" More than a dozen Junggar soldiers wielding swords and guns stopped a group of more than a hundred riders who braved the heavy snow to enter the city gate. They were on guard while staring at the knights with their eyes. A package carried on horseback.

Could it be that some caravan came to your door?

"Snapped!"

Suddenly, a knight swung his riding whip and struck the soldier at the front severely. The tip of the whip swept across his face, immediately leaving a trace of horrific blood.

"You're blind, you dare to block Batur Hutaiji's road!" The knight took off the thick windshield on his face and shouted sternly: "Get out of the way quickly, you missed Dataiji's military affairs. Carefully strip you naked and throw you into the wild to feed the wolves!"

"Batur Hutaiji!"

Hearing this, more than ten Junggar soldiers all looked at a noble man in the middle of the team wearing expensive fur clothes. They immediately put away their swords and guns, quickly pulled away the horses at the city gate, and then respectfully released the knights. Enter the city.

In an instant, the team of more than a hundred riders was as fast as thunder, picking up the snowflakes on the ground and driving quickly into the city.

More than fifty years ago, as the Junggar tribe continued to expand in the Ili Valley and became increasingly powerful, they moved the royal court from Buxer to the Ili Valley and began to build the capital of the Khanate in this lush land of water and grass. Later, the Junggar Khanate successively conquered the Yarkand and Kazakh Khanates, plundered a large amount of gold and silver, and brought back countless artifacts and Buddha statues from Uzang. They then built the Hainuke Temple on the south bank of the Ili River and the temple on the north bank. The Leza Temple was enshrined and became a holy place for the Mongolian tribes in the surrounding grasslands to worship Buddha, making Ili the largest political and commercial center in the Western Regions and Central Asia.

However, in the past two decades, as the Qin State successively occupied the northern part of the Western Region, the Junggar Khanate has increasingly felt severe military pressure.

Relying on its powerful national power and seemingly endless manpower, the Qin State built more than ten fortresses in succession along the valley at the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains to drive out the Junggar forces and migrate a large number of Han people instead, gradually extending their front to Sailimu Lakeside. The nearest Jinghe Fort is only separated from Ili City by the towering Borokonu Mountain. If it were not for the rugged terrain and steep mountains, the Qin people would not be able to launch a large army attack. In addition, the Junggar Khanate spared no effort to build a large number of strong roads in the mountains. Fortress, maybe someone has already taken care of their lair.

The Junggar Khanate slaughtered all directions in Central Asia. The surrounding Kokand Khanate, Bukhara Khanate, Kazakh Khanate, as well as a number of small states such as Kanjuti and Badakhshan all surrendered to the Mongols. Under sword and gun. Even the powerful Russians in the north were defeated by them several times and did not dare to turn around and look south.

However, after decades of fighting with the powerful Qin State in the east, the number of tribes of the Junggar Khanate was getting smaller and smaller, and its territory was shrinking. Not only was it unable to gain control of Monan Mongolia again, but also Moxi and Mobei (i.e. The nomadic areas of Khalkha Mongolia are also becoming increasingly difficult to control. Not to mention, in the Western Regions, the Qin people gradually reached the vicinity of the Ili River Valley and built a series of fortresses, like sharp swords, piercing into the heart of the Junggar Khanate.

The number of Qin troops stationed in these fortresses and cities varied from two to three thousand to one or two hundred. There were a number of artillery deployed in the city. Coupled with the sharp firearms held by the defenders, there were no thousands of soldiers and horses. move. Even if those fortresses are broken through siege and reinforcement by a large army, a very heavy price will be paid.

For the Dzungar Khanate, which has a sparse population, Taiji and the generals who lead the army generally will not easily touch the fortresses built by the Qin people, as it would be too much of a waste of troops. Even if one Mongolian warrior is exchanged for three Qin soldiers, it is extremely uneconomical.

You know, the population of Qin is a hundred times that of the Junggar Khanate. Even if their army loses 10,000 people, it can be quickly replenished.

It can be said that the Junggar Khanate would never be able to compete with the people of Qin in terms of consumption.

What frustrated the Junggar Khanate even more was the division and disunity within the Mongols. The Qin people recruited a large number of Mongols in Qinghai, Monan and Mobei areas, and after roughly arming them, they drove them as vanguards (cannon fodder) and launched attacks on their tribes under the control of the Junggar Khanate in the vast grassland areas. .

The Qin people would ruthlessly massacre any Mongolian tribe that resisted or refused to submit. All young and middle-aged men were beheaded, and women and children were treated as trophies and rewarded to the Mongolian scum who slaughtered their own people.

In order to obtain sufficient military strength, the Junggar Khanate also began to recruit a large number of cannon fodder from surrounding servant countries. Even believers of the True God Religion, who had been extremely suppressed by them, filled the army.

Well, as long as you can ride a horse and carry a sword, you can let go of serious religious issues as long as you can maintain the rule of the Khanate and deal with the military threats from the east.

However, this move also has some hidden worries, and it may come back to bite them in the future, allowing the imams and Bayi who have lost power to regain their power.

Come on, let's put these future hidden dangers aside for the time being. After the Mongols defeat the Han people in the east, it will not be too late to cut off these legacy poisons.

"Brother Dundobu, come back!"

The heavy door curtain was lifted, and Ce Ling Dun Duobu (that is, D Ce Ling Dun Dok), known as Batur Hutai Ji, strode into the house with a bit of cold wind. Galdan Celing, the eldest prince of the Junggar Khanate, who was sitting by the fire to warm himself up and drink wine, showed a happy smile on his face and threw the wine bottle in his hand to the other party.

"Come and sit down and warm yourself by the fire, and drink some spicy soju to warm yourself up!" Galdan Celing asked Celingdun Dobu to sit next to him and kicked the woman beside him away.

"I'm afraid the entire Yili River Valley will suffer from a white disaster." Ceringdunduobu sat down in front of the stove, held up the wine bottle and drank a few big mouthfuls. A hot fire surged in his belly instantly, "Others We don’t know the location yet, but it is estimated that the situation is not much better, with heavy snowfall everywhere. This winter will definitely cause us to lose a lot of people and livestock. By next spring, our Khanate may face a serious crisis."

"It's not like we haven't encountered white disasters before, why should we worry too much?" Galdan Celing listened to Celingdun Dobu's words. Although he felt a little worried in his heart, he still acted calmly, " At worst, when the spring comes, I can take the army to the Kazakhs' place, and I can always grab something and appease the affected tribesmen. It's okay, my brother Dundorb, everything will be fine."

At this time, the Kazakh Khanate was already in a state of fragmentation. Although the reigning Borat Khan was the supreme ruler of the Khanate, he only had a great name and was unable to integrate the various Kazakh tribes. The rulers of Great Yuzi were Zolbars Khan, the rulers of Middle Yuzi were Saima Khan and Kusik Khan, and the rulers of Small Yuzi were Abul Khair Khan.

Since the Junggar Khanate defeated the Kazakh Khanate in 1723 and captured its capital, it has been in decline and has been invaded by the Junggar Khanate almost every year.

As long as the Junggar Khanate suffered a military attack from the Qin State and suffered huge losses, it would definitely turn around and head west, attack Kazakhstan aggressively, and plunder their property and population to compensate and restore its own strength.

At this time, after Galdan Celing heard that there were snow disasters in various parts of the Khanate, he naturally thought of taking his troops to Kazakhs to find supplies in the coming spring.

"Brother Dunduobu, I have summoned you this time because I have important matters to discuss with you." After Celing Dunduobu drank some wine and warmed himself up for a while, and his body gradually warmed up, Galdan Celing He looked at the other party solemnly and said in a serious tone, "Our Khanate has reached the point of life and death. I need your support to save our Khanate and lead our people to enjoy the glory they once had."

"Eldest Prince, you call me brother. If you have anything to say, you should tell me directly instead of being so secretive." Celing Dunduobu drank the wine in the flask in one gulp, then threw it aside with a look in his eyes. He looked at Galdan Celing aggressively.

"King Khan is sick again."       "Is it serious?"

"The situation looks much more serious than it was a few years ago."

"Is Robuzang Shunu going to jump out again?"

"Haha..." Galdan Celing laughed, stretched out his right hand and patted Celing Dunduobu hard on the shoulder, with a look of disdain on his lips, "He thought he was Ayuqi (the leader of the Torgut tribe) His grandson, and his mother's favoritism, wanted to seek the throne of Huitai Ji (King Cewang Alabutan of Junggar Khan), and he also thought that all the Junggar tribes would support him...Huh, he has the qualifications. ?"

Norbu Zangshunu, the second son of King Cewang Alabutan of Junggar Khan, was born to his second wife Seterzabu (the daughter of Ayuqi).

As early as three years ago, after Cewang Alabutan's first wife died of illness, Seterzabu gradually became ambitious as his status improved, and he prepared to support his son Norbu Zangshunu as his wife. The next Khan of Junggar. For this reason, she began to make arrangements in the royal court, trying her best to win over the nobles of the Junggar tribe and the lamas to form an alliance, and married one of her daughters into her natal Turgut tribe to obtain foreign aid. Norbu Zangdanjin, the leader of the Heshuote tribe who was expelled from Qinghai by the Qin Dynasty, was dissatisfied with Cewang Alabutan and pushed him to the eastern front as cannon fodder. He also secretly formed an alliance with Seterzabu to support her son. Luobuzangshunu was the successor of King Junggar Khan.

A few years ago (1724), after the death of Ayuqi Khan of the Kalmyk Khanate of Torgut, his son Ceringdundok succeeded to the throne. Ministers with real power also began to strongly support Seterzab and Luobu Zangshunu tried to use them to influence Junggar as foreign aid to the Torgut tribe.

However, the reigning King of Junggar Khan, Cewang Alabutan, has always "loved" the eldest prince Galdan Celing, and always cultivated him as his successor. He also had great trust in him, but he did not care about the second eldest son, Norbu Zangshunu. Not very seriously.

Luobuzangshunu, who was ignored by his father, was extremely dissatisfied with this. He not only ignored his father's severe objections and married the granddaughter of the original Yarkand Khan (in the original history, this king married the daughter of Lhasang Khan), but also He once cursed his father so that he would not be able to live forever, and his soul would not be able to be saved after death. Even in conversations with some Dzungar nobles, they falsely stated that they would actively surrender to the Qin Dynasty and lead the Han people to defeat their Dzungar Khanate.

After the incident was revealed, Norbu Zangshunu was imprisoned for two years. It was not until Junggar launched a massive attack on Kazakhstan three years ago (1723), and his mother continued to plead, that he was released and appointed, from which he gained considerable credit. . This also made his reputation continue to rise, and he won the support of many Junggar tribesmen. "The people of Junggar are all convinced by Luobu Zangshunu."

However, in the ensuing battles, the arrogant Norbu Zangshunu suffered a big loss. At the gates of Tashkent and Sailimu, the Kazakhs used an old trick they always used - to feign surrender. After he relaxed his vigilance, , suddenly launched a sneak attack and lost many people. "More than 5,000 people were attacked and collapsed. Only 300 soldiers broke out. While escaping, they sent people to report to his father urgently, which broke the spirit of the Khanate."

This disastrous defeat not only caused Robuzangshunu to lose all the prestige he had finally accumulated, but also made the Junggar Khan King Cewang Alabutan disappointed with him, and he was increasingly not included as his successor.

However, considering the strong natal background and lofty status of Seterzab, the wife of the Khan, Cewang Alabutan did not have much trouble with this "incompetent" second prince.

In fact, compared with Luobuzangshunu's boat capsized in the Kazakh sewer and suffered a huge defeat, as the great prince Galdan Celing's record was not that good either. As early as 1710, he was sent north by his father to deal with the Russians and Qin people.

The Russians were limited by financial difficulties and did not invest enough in Central Asia. As a result, the Russian military strength there was not strong, and Galdance, who seized the opportunity, defeated them several times.

In 1716, Galdance led Dzungar troops to besiege the Russian Yameshevo Fortress in the upper reaches of the Irtysh River. At that time, nearly Russian troops were stationed in this fortress. Galdan Celing besieged it for three months, and successively repelled the Russian troops who came from the direction of Tomsk for reinforcements, and finally forced the Russian troops to retreat. They retreated in panic and lost most of their troops.

If the siege of Yameshevo Fortress is to be compared with the Battle of Yaksa in the later Qing Dynasty, it is definitely an enhanced version of the Battle of Yaksa. The Russian army stationed in Yaksa is not a regular army of Tsarist Russia, but a group of exploration teams composed of a small number of Russian adventurers and some Cossacks. The siege of the Ameshevo Fortress was a competition between the regular armies of both sides. The Ameshevo Fortress was much stronger than the fortress built with mud and wood in Yaksa, but the Junggar army was stunned. I had to put down this hard bone.

However, when Galdan Celing turned to face Qin, he hit the iron plate. In the early days, he also led the Mongolian cavalry in large-scale field battles with the Qin army. Although the Mongolian warriors relied on their skilled bows and horses and their familiar geographical environment, they won several victories. But when taking inventory of his own battle losses, Galdan Celing immediately vomited blood.

The Dzungar cavalry, equipped with nearly half of the firearms, can often beat the Khalkha Mongolian tribes into panic at a very low exchange ratio, and plunder a large number of Dingkou. However, when facing the Qin army with extremely high firearm equipment rate, the battle loss ratio between the two sides would often reach 1:2, or even 1:1. After defeating the Qin army several times, our own side also suffered heavy casualties, making it difficult to proceed to the next round. continuous attack.

But the problem is that Qin has a large population. Even if they lose more soldiers, they can quickly replenish them in a short period of time and continue to expand the size of their troops.

After only a few battles, Galdan Celing no longer dared to face the Qin army head-on to prevent his own military strength from being severely weakened. Instead, he continued to lead his cavalry in circles on the vast grasslands, waiting for opportunities to attack the Qin army's lone enemy. Small teams or weakly defended areas.

The Mobei and Moxi regions have vast terrain and are both grasslands and Gobi with unobstructed views. The Junggar army can still rely on its super mobility to deal with the Qin army.

However, in the northern part of the Western Region, especially the northern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains, due to the obstacles of mountains and rivers and the fixed oases, the Junggar army faced the Qin army with a steady and steady attack, supplemented by the combat mode of building fortresses, but it seemed a little helpless and difficult to parry.

If they do not gather a large army to confront the Qin army, then they will station the troops in strategic locations or key oases, and then recruit a group of masters and men to start building cities and fortresses, and move a large number of Han people to implement a half-military and half-quarters strategy. Tun, occupied there and stopped moving. Relying on this rogue style of play, the Qin army gradually approached the Ili Valley.

Galdan Celing also tried to destroy these fortress strongholds with a small number of soldiers stationed there, just like he attacked the Russian fortress of Ameshevo. But after the fight, it was still difficult to bear the heavy losses on our side. Fortresses with a radius of less than a few hundred meters generally store four or five months of combat supplies, supplemented by guns and artillery. They are quite difficult to attack. Even if they are attacked one by one regardless of the cost, how much time will it take and how much of their own reserves will be consumed!

Even if a certain stronghold is successfully removed, at best they can only capture and kill hundreds of Qin soldiers and seize a few supplies. If one is not careful and a large number of rescue troops from the Qin army come to attack, they will have to face the opponent head-on and suffer greater losses.

After fighting the Qin State for so many years, it can be said that Galdan Celing has not made many commendable achievements, let alone earth-shattering achievements. On the contrary, the Junggar Khanate has become increasingly passive militarily, and can only defend according to dangers. Temporarily block the Qin army to the north of Borokonu Mountain, and defend the core of the Junggar tribe - the Ili Valley.

Perhaps because he saw that Galdan Celing often failed and hit the wall when facing the Qin State, the second prince Norbu Zangshunu couldn't help but look down upon him. He felt that he was in vain for his father's favor, but he could not share the worries of the Khanate, and he had no idea at all. Qualified to inherit the throne of Khan.

"Datai Ji, what are you going to do?" Cering Dunduobu pondered for a while and asked in a deep voice.

"We want to eliminate the traitors in the Junggar Khanate and restore the normal ruling order of the Khanate." Dangar Dance looked at the other party with zero eyes.

"My troops are all in Issyk-Kul. With this heavy snow, we won't be able to get here for a while."

"Why use a large army to deal with a mere coward?" Galdan Celing showed a satisfied smile, "I already have a careful plan. When the time comes, you only need to express your support for me at the tribal meeting. .”

"Okay, I swear by the God of Immortality that I, Celingdun Dobu, will unconditionally and forever support all of Dadai Ji's actions." Celing Dun Dobu put his hand on his chest and said solemnly: "However, Dadai Ji is making a decision. We must not let the king's court get into trouble and let the Qin people in the east take advantage of the opportunity to attack us."

"No." Galdan Celing shook his head and said: "Although this white disaster is a huge disaster for our Junggar Khanate, it is also the best opportunity for everyone to Trapped indoors by this raging snowstorm, unable to move even an inch. This allows us to calmly clean up the debris and restore the confidence of our khanate."

(End of this chapter)