Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 453 The Great Zhou Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire (Special thanks to book friend 2018…6923 monthly votes!)
Yang Ye said in a deep voice:
“Now, the war between our Great Zhou Empire and the countries of the Star Religion world has entered the final stage of complete victory.

After the demise of the Samanid, Ghaznavid and Khwarezmian Empires, the only remaining major Islamic power was the Black Caliphate.

When the war first broke out, the Starry Sky Sect had an alliance of more than 20 countries, and its momentum was extremely powerful.

In order to increase the chances of defeating the Star Religion world, His Majesty sent Lord Kou to the Eastern Roman Empire to form a strategic alliance with it to jointly fight against the countries in the Star Religion world.

In the previous few years of war, our Great Zhou and the Eastern Roman Empire were fighting in the east and west respectively, and the distance between them was still far.

Now, as our Great Zhou has won victory after victory, we have occupied the territories of various Star Religious countries and have bordered the Eastern Roman Empire. There is a possibility of a territorial dispute between the two countries!
This time, Your Majesty sent us to attack and destroy Khwarezm. The imperial edict clearly instructed:

The territory of Khwarezm that the Eastern Roman Empire could occupy was limited to the five northwestern provinces with which it had long been at war.

The Eighth Corps of the Longxiang Army took great risks and besieged the city for half a year before conquering the Khwarezmian capital of Kot and destroying its court. In the bloody battle, more than 10,000 soldiers died for their country. How could we allow the Eastern Roman Empire to easily take over the five western states? "

Hu Yanbiqiu slapped his thigh and said:
"I understand!

It turns out that Commander Yang led us to go on a large expedition to prevent the Eastern Roman Legion from being dissatisfied with the five states in the west of Khwarezm being acquired by our Great Zhou, and the two countries from going to war! "

Zhe Weixing hesitated and said:

"The Eastern Roman Empire has been allied with our Great Zhou Empire to fight against the Star Religion world for many years. Its emperor Basil II also offered his sister, Princess Anna, to Your Majesty as a concubine. I heard that she is also quite favored by Your Majesty.

Commander Yang, His Majesty's decree now only limits the Eastern Roman Empire to taking at most the five western states of Khwarezm, but our army is now heading forward to seize these five states.

If this leads to a war between the two countries, I am afraid that Your Majesty will be furious and blame us, the soldiers of the Eighth Corps!"

Yang Ye smiled and said:

"Your Majesty has great ambitions and has expanded the territory of China. His achievements far surpass those of the Qin Emperor and Han Emperor.

If we, the soldiers, can capture the five western states of Khwarezm, although His Majesty may blame us openly due to his alliance with the Eastern Roman Empire, how can he not be happy in his heart?

In the past, Emperor Taizong of Tang was humiliated by the "Wei River Alliance" of the Eastern Turks. After only seven years of military training, he sent General Li Jing to lead an army to attack the Eastern Turks. In the first battle in Dingxiang, he defeated Jie Li Khan and beheaded tens of thousands of people.

Jie Li Khan was horrified and moved his troops to the mouth of the He River.

In the subsequent battles, Li Jing continued to be unstoppable and defeated Jie Li Khan for the second time in Yinshan.

Seeing that the Tang army was very strong and that it was winter, which was not a favorable time for the Turkic cavalry to fight, Jie Li Khan sent an envoy, Zhishisili, to meet with Emperor Taizong of Tang to ask for peace. This strategy was just to buy time. When the grass grew and the horses became fat, he would return to the northern desert to regroup and attack the Tang again.

At that time, envoys of Emperor Taizong of Tang had arrived in Eastern Turkestan to negotiate peace with Jie Li Khan. Li Jing, who was stationed in the desert, ignored the opposition of other generals and led 10,000 cavalrymen to raid Jie Li and defeated him. He then captured Jie Li and destroyed Eastern Turkestan.

After receiving the report, Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty reprimanded Li Jing a few words in the court, but he was actually very happy about it. He first demoted Li Jing and then rewarded him.

The current situation of our army is similar to that of Li Jing back then, but your Majesty's wisdom, prestige, and achievements are far superior to those of Emperor Taizong of Tang!

In this era of a holy ruler, we are expanding the borders for our country, so why should we doubt it? ! "

Zhe Weixing and Hu Yanbiqiu said excitedly: "We are willing to follow Commander Yang to expand the country's territory! So that Your Majesty will not have to worry!"

Yang Ye nodded repeatedly, and after the entire army had lunch, they broke camp and set off.

After six days of marching, the army arrived at Donkhowo State, the center of the five western states of Khwarezm and also the largest state, on May 6, the 33rd year of Kaixi.

When Yang Ye arrived with 60,000 men from the Second Army of the Eighth Corps, the general guarding the city confirmed that they were the Great Zhou army and immediately opened the east gate of the city to let Yang Ye and his entire army in.

After the two sides exchanged greetings, Yang Ye reiterated that "according to the military discipline of the Great Zhou Dynasty, only those who resist will be killed, and those who do not resist or surrender will never be killed indiscriminately", which calmed the Khwarezmian defenders.

After taking over the entire city and resting for a day, on the morning of May 8, the 33rd year of Kaixi, Yang Ye, accompanied by his generals and the surrendered Khwarezmian generals, climbed up the west gate tower, intending to persuade the Eastern Roman army besieging the city to withdraw.

It was with great difficulty that we found a big businessman who had businesses in both the Great Zhou Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire and was proficient in both languages ​​to serve as the interpreter.

After the personal guards waved the Great Zhou Dragon-Xiang Army flag on the city wall for a while, the more than 100,000 Eastern Roman Empire soldiers under the city gradually quieted down.

Yang Ye, heavily guarded by his personal guards holding shields, walked to the city wall and looked down.

In the early morning sunlight, more than 100,000 Eastern Roman soldiers under the city were divided into several phalanxes, with spear infantry phalanxes forming the majority and a small number of cavalry phalanxes on both sides.

The Roman soldiers were all wearing plate armor, exposing some body joints. They held a round shield in one hand and a two-meter-long spear in the other, looking quite mighty and majestic.

Yang Ye said loudly:
"I am Yang Ye, the commander-in-chief of the 8th Longxiang Army, serving under the Emperor of the Great Zhou Empire!
Who is the commander of the Roman army under the city? Please come out and answer. "

The Khwarezmian merchant standing next to Yang Ye tremblingly and loudly translated Yang Ye's words several times to the Eastern Roman Empire soldiers under the city.

After a slight commotion among the Eastern Roman army phalanxes below the city, a general from the center of the army, escorted by a hundred personal guards with shields, rode on horseback to a place about 200 meters below the city.

The general said loudly:
“It turned out to be General Yang of the Longxiang Army of the Great Zhou Empire!
I will be polite!
I am Naibadas, the current commander of the Roman Empire's Eastern Expedition Army. When did Commander Yang arrive at Dunkvo? What advice do you have for me?"

Yang Ye said:
“Marshal Badas, ever since our emperor took your princess Anna as his consort and our two countries formed an alliance to fight against the Star Religion world, we have had a pleasant cooperation over the past few years.

Now, our Great Zhou Empire has destroyed the three great Star Religious powers, the Samanid Empire, the Ghaznavid Empire and the Khwarezmian Empire, and is about to conquer the Star Religious world!

His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Zhou heard that your country's 300,000 troops were fighting hard in the five states of Donkwo, so he specially ordered me to lead the Eighth Corps of the Longxiang Army to defeat the enemy.

Now the five states of Donkwo have sincerely surrendered to our Great Zhou, and the five places are now part of our Great Zhou’s territory!
The soldiers of the Roman Empire do not need to fight hard in these five states. Marshal Bardas, please lead your army back to Constantinople as soon as possible and report to your emperor Basil II!"

After a commotion among the more than 100,000 Eastern Roman legionaries below the city, Badas's expression changed drastically, and he said in astonishment:

"Commander-in-chief Yang, our two countries are allies and relatives by marriage. Your emperor has sent you to lead the army to help the Roman Empire conquer the five states of Donkovo. Three of these states were originally the territories of the Roman Empire, and I have led my army to attack them for many years.

It is reasonable for Governor Yang to hand over these five states to the Roman Empire!"

(End of this chapter)