Dawn of the Empire

Chapter 166 Sweeping the Floor and Borrowing a Long Whale (2)

In the morning, the dewdrops were still tremblingly hanging on the leaves of the grass. If it had been usual, the hooves of the shepherds of Merbo would have been rolling like thunder in the sky.Today is different, the woman who started pounding cheese before dawn, singing with a little sadness, and most of the grazing are underage children.It was rare to see men busy, and the huge camp seemed a little empty and deserted.

After more than 2 soldiers set out for the battle, Haidu Khan Tuolle Mierbo was extremely cautious. He told his confidants: "Be careful, ten thousand times is not too much. If you are careless, one time is enough." He sent Yelu The tea, cloth and other supplies brought by Bijie were evenly distributed to the warriors who went out, and the men who stayed behind also gathered together and scattered far away to patrol around the tribe.

Fortunately, with the power of the Khitan, the nearby allied tribes were forced to send out their men to fight.Otherwise, there is no guarantee that these white-eyed wolves will not sneak in.Toul Mierbo squinted his eyes and looked down. The eldest son Bo Shenghuo looked worried.

"Yelü Dashi said that as long as you fight with him, all the looted wealth will be distributed to the warriors." Haidu Khan was illiterate, and Bo Shenghuo sat cross-legged at the bottom of the head, reading the secret letter brought back by Tachi, "You don't need to hand it over to the tribe. Also, no matter how high or low you are from, you can be promoted as long as you make meritorious service." He paused, then raised his head and said, "Father Khan, Yelu Dashi is here to dig the foundation of our tribe."

Toul Mierbo knew in his heart that it would be strange if Yelu Dashi didn't make up his mind to hand over the [-] warriors.Although the eldest son looks stupid, but his mind is no less than others, he is just cowardly and timid.Haidu Khan shook his head and said with a smile: "Don't worry, the Mierbo tribe is stronger than other tribes because it treats heroes well. The wives and children of the tribe are all staying in the tribe, and they will not betray easily." He sighed , "Compared with ordinary fighters, generals with higher positions are more likely to be bribed and betray the tribe. If Yelu Dashi turns around to lure them, you have to be careful."

Haidu Khan picked up the silver tea bowl, sprinkled Xia Guo's powdered sugar into it, stirred it with two fingers, and drank the tea in one gulp. He felt the heat coming out from every pore, and his mind became clearer. .He pondered over the dispositions of each commander, and said in a deep voice, "Tell Tachi and Urgon that commanders above the commander-in-chief are not allowed to contact the Khitan people without permission. After defeating Yelu Yanxi, No matter what Yelu Dashi says, I will bring my warriors back to the grassland." The generals sent out to lead the troops this time, except for their sons and grandsons, are mostly heroes who are indistinguishable from the tribe's center.

"Yes, Father Khan." Bo Shenghuo Mi Erbo agreed.

"As promised by Yeluda, as soon as the warriors of the Mierbo people go out to fight, the four prefectures of Yunying Huanshuo will give it to us. I will give you [-] warriors and go south to Yunzhou immediately. The Krebs have been grazing there for several years. You can I will be your assistant." Haidu Khan's eyes sparkled with excitement, the Khitan people are a living example, from a powerful tribe to the overlord of the northern barbarians, it has a lot to do with the continuous supply of food and grass materials in the sixteen prefectures of Youyun. "As soon as you get a foothold over there, send someone to send a message, and I will arrange for the tribe to migrate south." He was quite pleased, "With the support of Yunzhou City, the grassland in Monan is also the place where our Mierbo Ministry."

"However, if we send another 1 warriors out," Bo Shenghuo Mierbo worried, "there will only be more than [-] men who can fight in the tribe, and the emptiness will be even greater."

"Five thousand Mierbo people can also deal with those rats with ulterior motives." Toul Mierbo's eyes showed a cold light, and the great reputation of Kaidu Khan was accumulated on the bones of countless tribes.He sighed, and said, "The only thing to worry about is that the Xia people are coming to attack. We should find out the news early and stay away from it. The Xia people are just preventing us from 'harassing' the shaded households' autumn harvest crops and pastures. "

During the Tonghe period of Daqidan, Xiaguo sent the Duhan Army and the Tongqiu Army to the vicinity of Xiaohai to recruit all the shady households, build the city, reclaim and graze. The Mobei Grassland has been troubled since then, and it has been more than 120 years.Among the Xia people, the Khitan people, and the nomadic tribes, numerous wars of all sizes occurred.Because Mobei is vast and sparsely populated, it is difficult for the Anbei Army Division to take care of both. There are always no shortage of desperate nomadic tribes to plunder the settled farms and pastures, and the Anbei Army Division has never stopped luring the tribe's herdsmen to join them.

For decades, the Xia Guoan Northern Army Division has made every effort to consolidate the sphere of influence west of Xiaohai, not only dividing the grassland into countless pastures, but also relocating some Han farmers to small-scale settlements in Duhancheng and Hengzhaibao.Autumn is high and horses are fertile. Whether it is planting grain or grass, it is the harvest season. It is also the most nervous time for Xia Guo's cavalry army. It is also the main precaution for the Mobei tribe.After winter, the livestock of nomadic tribes can hardly survive the cold winter, so they can only avoid the wind and snow in a few Dongwozi pastures.It is difficult for tribes to migrate at will like in spring, summer and autumn. This is the time when Xia Guo cavalry launched an attack and revenge on grassland tribes.Over the past few decades, it has become a rule that you come and go.The vast grassland is also more fertile and attractive because of the blood of countless warriors.

Transporting food supplies from Guanzhong to Mobei cost a lot of money on the way, and none of the ten arrived.This is also the concern of the military government that it is difficult to launch offensive operations in autumn.At this time, in the Du Han army camp, there was a surge of excitement. "It's going to be a big fight." The captain mysteriously conveyed the orders of the military government to the sergeants. Although the detailed plan is still being kept secret, due to the delay in the autumn harvest, the supplementary grain has been transported to Cangcheng one after another.Before the start of the war, the sergeants will be assigned to the names of the shade households according to the cavalry roster.There is less barrier between the sergeants and Yinhu in Mobei than in other places. They have made progress before the war, and everyone is happy. If they make more meritorious service this trip, next year's salary will rise again.In the cold city, the fire was raging, the blacksmiths were sweating profusely, and the sound of hammering iron and sharpening knives could be heard everywhere.

At this moment, outside the city of Shule Prefecture on the North Tianshan Road, it was a different scene. The soldiers of the Chengying Camp who had just arrived looked strangely at the bursts of cheers erupting in the city.It was getting late, but the gates of the city had not yet been closed, and many farmers living nearby drove their carriages to the city.The large carriage carried a laughing family. The adults put on rare silk robes, while the children wore hay hats, wielding small bows and wooden knives.Pedestrians on the road with their sleeves fluttering, carrying lanterns, their faces looking extraordinarily festive, rushed towards the city in an endless stream.

"Excuse me, brother," Zhao Xing drew a middle-aged man with a happy face, his robe was embroidered with the badge of his official status, he seemed to be a retired sergeant, "What festival is being celebrated in the city?"

The middle-aged man was held back by Zhao Xingde, and his wife and children also turned their heads to look at the group of soldiers on horseback. The middle-aged man caught a glimpse of the emblems of centurion and concubine embroidered on the chest of Zhao Xingde's army robe, and Wang Tong beside him Deng is also a shuchang, and other sergeants have no titles lower than those of officials.Mrs. Xia's title is mostly obtained from military achievements. The middle-aged man was immediately in awe, and first called his wife and children to come over to his side so as not to be scattered by the crowd, then he cupped his hands and said with a smile: " My lord, this is a celebration of great victory. General Anxi Xu Wenhu led his army into the capital of Ross and captured all the royal family of Ross. General Lu Qingzong of Anbei fought a decisive battle with King Musti of Ross and killed more than [-] people and captured the king. Thirty thousand Ross troops surrendered. The curfew was lifted in Zhoucheng, and on the third day of Daqing, the chamber of commerce and the military government paid for food and drink, and we all went to catch up with the excitement.”

"What?" Zhao Xingde was taken aback. Over the past few days, he hadn't seen the latest military report when he crossed Congling Ridge. Such a big thing happened. It is conceivable that after defeating Ross, the situation in the West will be different for Xia Guo immediately, and Lu Mei can't help it either. Don't rely on Xia Guo's aid any more.

"The news spread so fast?" Wang Tongdeng frowned.

"The military newspaper of the military mansion has not yet been announced, but the Chamber of Commerce in Kangju spread the news with pigeons first," the middle-aged man said with an excited expression, "There are already a group of caravans, and we can't wait to celebrate the victory , first brought the goods to Congling, and the big trading houses have to rush to deliver the goods as much as possible before the heavy snow closes the mountains, and go to Ross to open a branch.” Many Shule people are partnering on the Congling trade route, No matter how the imperial court dealt with the aftermath, the price of all the tea and porcelain hoarded in Shule Prefecture would rise anyway.

"Oh, what a loss," Wang Tongdeng said with a bit of heartache.Recalling the words that General Xu Wenhu of Anxi said about where to use them. "If I had known this before, I should have been transferred to the Anxi Military Division." Looking up and seeing Zhao Xingde looking at him with a half-smile, he couldn't help calling out to the sergeants under his command, "Take two quick steps and go to the station to read the military newspaper."

Although everyone was enthusiastic about fame and titles, they were not as impatient as Wang Tongdeng. There were so many people on the road, and when they arrived at the station, it took another incense stick. The military newspaper that the officials could read felt even more thumping. "There are borders! Seal the eight founding princes at once! They haven't been out for many years." The faces of the soldiers also changed. The Xia Kingdom's promotion to the ranks is getting harder and harder. The founding princes have fiefs. The hereditary title of the emperor not only requires the emperor's conferment, but also the consent of all five houses.It has been rare for more than ten years. After the Clinker War, Emperor Chen Xuan canonized the eight founding princes at once.

Zhao Xingde frowned and thought about it, based on what he knew before, the court of Xia Kingdom was very cautious about awarding hereditary titles, so he didn't know why he was so generous this time.He took the military newspaper from Wang Tongdeng and read it carefully. When he saw General Anxi Xu Wenhu invaded the city of Ross King, he first rescued more than a dozen brothers who were imprisoned by King Ross. He was extremely grateful to the Xia** team, and even took his relatives and Xia** team to attack the back of King Ross before he realized it.

"It's not easy for these eight marquises," he reported to Du Chuanjiao, and sighed, "This is the nail I drove into Ross's territory. This fief may have to be defended with blood from generation to generation."

"That's also a fief!" Wang Tongdeng still looked heartbroken.Xia Guo strictly enforced the land system, and those who privately gave and received the land were assigned small navy former envoys, who had no family property, and those who did not report the knowledge would be imprisoned, and those who bribed officials would be executed.There is only one way to obtain large tracts of land, and that is to be conferred the title of Founding Duke. Not only is the status noble, but also a large tract of fiefdom is obtained, which can attract refugees to cultivate in shade.

Zhao Xingde looked around, the other soldiers nodded one after another, even the most mature and prudent Du Chuijiao was no exception. "This is a fiefdom!" Du Chuijiao's eyes were about to burst into sparks, "The hereditary and unreplaced founder of the country will be worth it in a few lifetimes." As he said, he rolled up his sleeves and rubbed his fists, as if he was about to draw a knife. The same as the battlefield. "In a fiefdom, there is a group of desperate people standing out." Zhao Xingde sighed secretly, the eight nails that had been driven into Ross's country were hard to pull out.