Wentang

Chapter 813
The happiest thing for Yuan Gai Su Wen to serve as the governor of Gaochang is the group of generals from Goguryeo.

So far, Datang has not had a precedent for a general from Goguryeo to serve as the coach, at most he served as the deputy commander.

Everyone understands the reason. They just surrendered and have not really gained the trust of the court.

Yuangai Suwen served as the governor of Gaochang, which represented far more than the actual power of this position, because it meant that the court began to reuse generals from Goguryeo.

Over the years, they have fought bravely and fearlessly in every battle, didn't they just want to express their heart to the court, and now they have finally succeeded.

After the letter of appointment was issued, Liu Rengui quickly completed the work handover and set off for Ningyuan. Yuan Gai Suwen and Wang Xuance also set off together.

Because the relationship between Yueshan and the three of them got along very well, they exchanged views on the Western Regions and the Western Expedition Plan, and everyone felt that they had gained a lot.

In particular, Liu Rengui and Yuan Gai Suwen reached an agreement on governance, which laid the foundation for Gaochang and Ningyuan to be in step with each other.

All the way to Gansu, they encountered a group of people with strange movements, and the pioneers who cleared the way immediately controlled them and reported them.

Liu Rengui: "Duke Bian, Marquis Yichang, why don't you come with me to have a look?"

"Please." Yuan Gai and Su Wen could do nothing.

The three came to the front together, and saw thirty or fifty people surrounded by soldiers.These people actually carry knives and crossbows with them, which is extraordinary.

Liu Rengui's expression became serious: "Call their leaders over here."

Immediately, a personal guard came over to shout out, and after a while, two disgraced people came over and said, "Qian Baojiu and Feng Huaiyou from a certain museum have seen some generals."

Liu Rengui was taken aback for a moment, and said, "Are you from the museum? Do you have proof."

Qian Baojiu took off a cloth bag from his waist and said, "Yes, this is my seal."

Liu Rengui personally took it over to inspect it, and it was indeed the seal of the museum, and immediately said:

"It's really flooding the Dragon King Temple and the family doesn't recognize the family. My subordinates are all rough people. Please forgive me if I offend Qian Yuanwailang."

Even Qian Baojiu was surprised by this level of politeness, he was only a sixth-rank official, and this big boss who looked like a third-rank or above had no reason for him to make amends.

"Don't dare, we are also at fault. Dare to ask this general?"

"A certain Liu Rengui, this is Yuan Gaisuwen, Duke Bian, Governor of Gaochang, and this is Xuance, Marquis of Yichang."

"Ah? So it's General Liu..." Qian Baojiu was very surprised, but also understood why he was so polite.Xia Guogong's apprentices can really be said to be a family.

"Haha... It's just a misunderstanding. What's wrong with you? You look quite embarrassed." Liu Rengui laughed.

"Hey, I made the general laugh. Duke Xia planned a railway from the Central Plains to the Western Regions, and we are surveying the terrain to determine the route." Qian Baojiu said.

It was the first time for Liu Rengui to hear about this matter, and he was both admiring and surprised: "Everyone worked tirelessly all the way, so I admire it. However, the terrain of this road is complex and changeable, can the railway really be built?"

Qian Baojiu said: "In the past, it was naturally impossible. Later, Duke Xia came up with the idea of ​​a viaduct, and many deep valleys can be crossed, making this plan possible."

Liu Rengui said in admiration: "Teacher is as wise as the ocean, and can always turn the impossible into the possible."

Qian Baojiu thought deeply, "Yeah, the more I get in touch with him, the more shallow I feel."

Liu Rengui asked again: "How long will it take for this railway to be completed?"

Qian Baojiu said: "It will take at least five years."

Seeing Liu Rengui's disappointed expression, he said, "However, we will adopt the method of segmented construction. Although the train cannot go directly to the Western Regions, some sections of the road will be accessible by train next year."

Liu Ren Orbit: "What is the segmented construction method?"

Qian Baojiu said: "It is to determine the route of the entire railway first, and give priority to building sections with flat terrain and low construction difficulty."

"Then open up the hard-to-repair sections little by little to connect all the sections. Although you still have to reverse, at least half the distance can be saved."

"For example, the section of road under our feet will start to be built next month, and it will be put into use in March next year."

Liu Rengui said in surprise: "This section of the road is more than five hundred miles long. It would be great if we could get through it."

Yuan Gai Suwen also said: "It takes at least half a month for the food transport team to travel more than five hundred miles, and it takes only ten hours to travel by train. The time to travel to and from the Western Regions can be shortened by more than ten days, which is really a great blessing."

Since it is a family, everyone's attitude has naturally changed, from the original vigilance to a family.

Liu Rengui entertained Qian Baojiu and his party with the delicacies he had brought, and talked with him about the Western Region Railway in detail.

He also promised that when he went to the Ningyuan area to explore the terrain, the Ningyuan Governor's Mansion would send people to assist Yunyun with all his strength.

Anyway, after resting here for one night, Liu Rengui and his party continued on the road, while Qian Baojiu and others continued to stay and make detailed railway construction plans.

……

Looking back at the capital, the preparations for the Western Expedition are proceeding in an orderly manner, and the first batch of materials collected will leave for the Western Regions soon after.

There is also a batch of materials going south along the Grand Canal to the Nanyang Fleet, who will form an ocean-going fleet to transport them from the sea to the Sasanian Dynasty.

The [-] West Expeditionary Army has also been formed and is undergoing intense training, mainly to let them understand the situation on Sassan's side, so as not to be confused.

As for why it is [-] troops instead of the planned [-].

The reason is very simple. It is impossible for all of the [-] Western Expeditions to be troops from the Tang Dynasty. Half of them are retinues from Western vassal states.

For example, the Tocharians, the Sogdians, the Kang Kingdom, and other forces, every family has to send people and supplies, otherwise what do they want to do.

These vassal forces sent a total of 5 troops, plus the [-] people from the Tang Dynasty, for a total of [-].

Don't think that [-] retinues are too many. In the original history, Datang relied on a small number of local troops and a large number of retinues to rule the Western world.

It's just a pity that Tang Xuanzong was too stupid in the later period, and the entire Anxi Protectorate only had 8000 to [-] troops.After removing the troops stationed in various places, Gao Xianzhi could mobilize only about [-] troops left.

This force is too small, so small that the Western princes have lost confidence in Datang.You must know that Dashi dispatched 20 people at that time, and there will be a steady stream of reinforcements in the future.

With a gap of more than ten times, it would be hell if those retinues who were relocated did not turn back.

Therefore, in the crucial Battle of Talas, the retinue army rebelled, and in turn attacked the Tang army's position.Tang Jun was caught off guard and defeated by the army of the retinue army and the big cannibal.

Even so, the casualties of the cannibals were more than three times that of the Tang army.

But the ratio of casualties is meaningless in the face of the final result, and the footsteps of the Central Plains Dynasty have never crossed that line for thousands of years.

If Tang Xuanzong hadn't been so stupid, he didn't need to give Gao Xianzhi some more troops, even if it was just one or two Zhechong Mansions.

Those retinues never dared to rebel, and the Battle of Talas could not have failed. Unfortunately, there is no if in history.

Li Shimin is not stupid, on the contrary, he is one of the best military masters in the entire history of mankind, so naturally he would not make the mistake of Tang Xuanzong.

Besides, there was Yue Shan reminding him that he would not make such a mistake. The [-] troops of the Tang Dynasty were enough to sweep all the small countries in the west.

Besides, these 5 people are only the troops of the Western Expeditionary Army, and there are tens of thousands of people hoarding in the Ningyuan area, and they will not dare to turn against them even if they have ten guts.

The [-] elite Tang army plus [-] retinues, together with the cooperation of the Sasanian army, is enough to deal with the Arab Empire.

Taking ten thousand steps back, even if it fails, there will still be Liu Rengui in the Ningyuan area to respond, as well as the sea support of the ocean-going fleet.

Although the purpose of this battle was to test, Datang also used most of his hole cards.

The commander-in-chief of the Western Expeditionary Army still has not been announced. Instead, the candidate for the deputy commander-in-chief, Bi Guogong Ashinasheer, was announced first.

He will command the retinue army and cooperate with the Tang army to fight.

There is another matter that is not paid attention to by everyone. The prince recommended several generals from the East Palace to join the Western Expeditionary Army.

They are Xue Rengui, Li Xiaoyi, Wang Fangyi, Pei Xingjian and others.

Here, Xue Rengui officially fought with the army, and also participated in the battle against Goguryeo.

In the original world, Xue Rengui became famous all over the world in this battle, and got the nickname of a young general in white robe.

Because of Yueshan's relationship in this life, the Battle of Goguryeo was fought without any surprises and dangers, and Xue Rengui lost a chance to perform.

Although he performed very well in the follow-up battles, Li Ji praised him many times, but because he missed a key opportunity, he was never promoted.

This time Li Chengqian recommended him to join the Western Expeditionary Army, which was somewhat of a kindness, and from then on he would be labeled as the direct descendant of the prince.

Because of Yue Shan, Li Xiaoyi was well-known in high-level circles, after all, there were not many people who could be evaluated by General Yue Shan.

But Li Shimin has been suppressing him consciously, until now he has not been given the opportunity to lead troops to fight.

Pei Xingjian is a serious Jinshi, but his official position is still relatively low. Li Chengqian's getting him to the East Palace is also a kindness of knowing him.

Although he turned a good civil official into a military general, it can be regarded as a shortcut to the south.Not to mention Wang Fangyi, if not for Li Chengqian, he would still be growing crops in the countryside.

It can be said that after going through this procedure, they all became the direct descendants of the prince.No matter how much credit he makes in the future, he doesn't have the capital to play veteran in front of Li Chengqian.

……

At this time, another important news came. A [-]-meter-long iron-clad warship was going upstream from the Yellow River into the Weishui River, and it was about to reach the pier in the near future.

The people of Chang'an City can be regarded as people who have experienced countless big scenes, from the earliest heavenly punishment to the transformation of a hen into a male, to the train... But they are still surprised to hear that there is such a giant made of steel.

This time they did not directly doubt the authenticity, but inquired about who built the ship.After hearing that Xia Guogong Yueshan designed it, no one doubted it anymore.

So countless idlers flocked to the Weishui Wharf to see the true face of the iron-clad ship.

Li Shimin also led more than a hundred civil and military ministers to Weishui Wharf by train, preparing to visit Datang, which is also the world's first official iron-clad warship.

At around ten o'clock in the morning, the whistle of "Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooolizing" is sounded, followed by the cheers of mountains and tsunami.

Li Shimin and his party, who were resting in the train station, guessed that the boat was coming, got up and went out, and met the person who came to report the letter as soon as they arrived at the door.

A group of people came to the pier and saw the huge warship docked in the center of the Weihe River.

Countless gasps sounded.

It's not that they haven't seen such a big ship. There are many wooden hull ships in Datang that are no smaller than it, but the metal texture and heaviness that steel warships bring to people are incomparable to wooden ships.

"What are you doing in the middle of the river? Why don't you stop at the pier?" Someone asked in confusion.

"The water on the shore is too shallow, and boats can only sail in the middle of the river." A knowledgeable person explained to him.

The people of the navy built a bridge with wooden boats, and let Li Shimin and his party walk on the bridge to board the iron-clad ship.

Li Shimin first inspected the soldiers of the ship and said some words of encouragement. The excited soldiers were so excited that they wanted to go into battle and kill the enemy for the country immediately.

As soon as Yue Shan's heart moved, he reminded him: "Why don't you choose a name for this ship, a sage?"

Li Shimin was stunned for a moment and said, "Give the ship a name?"

Yue Shan said: "That's right. There will be more and more ships in the navy in the future. If you don't give them names, it will be very troublesome to command. Small ships are fine, and slightly larger ships are vital forces. It is best to have a name."

Li Shimin pondered for a while and said, "You're right." He realized something at this point, waited for Yue Shan to glance and said, "Did you already have a plan for this? Just tell me how to name it."

Yue Shan sneered and said, "Sage, Shengming, I can't hide anything from you. In the future, armored battleships will be divided into three classes, battleships, destroyers, and cruisers."

"Battleships are the main battleships with a length of [-] meters. Destroyers are inferior battleships. They cooperate with battleships."

"Cruisers are more inclined to protect the role of patrolling the sea, escorting merchant ships, and providing support to battleships, such as defending battleships against enemy shelling and impact at critical moments."

Li Shimin interrupted him and said, "Wait, is there a navy stronger than this ironclad ship in the world?"

Yue Shan said: "No, Datang's naval strength has already dominated the world."

Li Shimin said: "Then what are the battleships, destroyers, and frigates?"

Yue Shan said: "But others will learn. Although the manufacturing method of the steam engine is still strictly kept secret, one day foreign countries will find out the manufacturing method."

"At that time, they will also build ironclad ships to compete with Datang, so we must plan ahead and get everything ready."

"Also, a fleet doesn't mean that the larger the ship, the stronger its combat effectiveness. Only when various functional ships cooperate with each other can they exert their maximum combat effectiveness."

"You are a soldier, you should understand this truth better than me."

Only then did Li Shimin nod his head and said: "I was so excited that I forgot about this incident. What you said makes sense. Continue."

Yue Shan said: "These three tiers can be regarded as capital ships, and should have separate names. I have two plans, naming them after people's names... For example, this ship is called the battleship Gaozu."

(End of this chapter)