"If this is true, I will be willing to be scolded for a thousand years!" Niu Shizhao was so excited that he slapped the table with his hands.

Some of the generals here who are about the same age as Niu Shizhao also have their eyes lit up, and everyone is excited.

The desert north of North and the Pamir Mountains westward was the lifelong dream of Niu Shizhao's generals. Because in their youth, the north of the desert to the snow-covered wastelands, west of the Pamir Mountains to the uninhabited Aral Sea were all the territory of the Tang Dynasty. And there was also Persia, because it admired the culture of the Celestial Dynasty and took the initiative to join the Tang Dynasty, and the Tang Dynasty did not send a soldier to it. (Note: In fact, Persia could not stand the invasion of the Great Food, so she joined the Tang Dynasty and asked for help.)

What accompanied their generation of generals grew up gradually was the news that the Tang Dynasty had been losing its city and land. The Turks rose again, and their troops crossed the Yellow River several times. Gumozhou of the Tang Dynasty moved more than 2,000 miles east from the Wuhu River and rebuilt on the banks of the Bachang River.

The main reason for the loss of large areas of land was of course that the Tang Dynasty itself fought in internal struggles and could not make any moves to fight against foreign enemies. Another important reason was that the Tang army fought against the enemy west of the Pamir Mountains and north of the Yellow River. Whether it was losing or winning, it was a loss business based on the books.

To the west of the Pamir Mountains and to the north of the Yellow River, it is very far away from the grain-producing area of ​​the Tang Dynasty. When the food and supplies are transported to the front line, 30% can be consumed on the road alone! The Tang army has always regarded itself as a benevolent and righteous army, and rarely robbed. After defeating the local chiefs, it is difficult to obtain any material compensation. Later, the imperial court needed a lot of expenses to reward soldiers who were successful in combat.

Therefore, as the national treasury became increasingly empty, the Tang Dynasty court became increasingly unable to get energetic towards the Western Regions and the frontiers. Last year, Soge broke Ye, Gumo and other big cities, and then led their troops to attack Kucha. The court sent Niu Shi to reward Niu Shi with only more than 15,000 troops. Zhang Ren wanted to build a city along the Yellow River, and asked for two consecutive years of money, but the Ministry of Revenue was not penalized.

If the Tang army could turn war into a business that would make sure to make a profit and lose money every time, the situation would definitely be completely different. Those Qingliu, who kept talking and "suppressing people with virtue" in the court, would also keep their mouths shut. Niu Shizhao had a deep understanding of this, and his experience in Kucha in the past two years is a clear proof.

When he led his lonely army to defend Kucha last year, more than one "smart man" in the court advised Emperor Shenlong, asking the Tang army to abandon the four towns of Anxi and retreat to Yanqi and Shazhou. He appointed Soge as the Khan of the fourteen surnames, and used the thunder cavalry as a buffer between the Tang Dynasty and the Dashi. Even until Soge Zhang Qian was killed and abandoned the four towns, the sound of abandoning the four towns did not calm down.

As Zhang Qian sent troops to seize Bahanna, he forced Shiguo to sign a compensation agreement that lasted for fifty years. If he gave up the four Anxi towns, no one would dare to mention it again.

If this battle to eliminate Turkic rebels not only made a fortune, but the Shuofang army did not increase any burden on the court, then it would make a new consensus among the civil and military officials of the court that fighting against the outside world could actually make money. Recovering the old land west of the Pamir Mountains may not be a loss-making business.

In this way, Niu Shizhao, the Anxi Protectorate, may have personally taken his brothers to kill Abumi (Anxi Prefecture) when he was alive. He let Gumo Prefecture move back to the former site from the mouth of Sanchahe River. He let the Anxi Protectorate return to the scale of 40 years ago. He let the fertile lands such as Persia, Kunxu and Saifeng return to the territory of the Tang Dynasty again! (Note: Abumi City was called Anxi Prefecture during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang Dynasty. Saifeng, Kunxu and Persia were nominally under the jurisdiction of the Tang Dynasty at that time.)

Once a person has a goal and believes that this goal can be achieved, he will become full of energy.

The Anxi Grand Capital Protector Niu Shizhao led his brothers to remove the tumor of Gelulu, and the speed of the march suddenly accelerated. It took only ten days to cross the Jinshan Mountain and appeared at the site of the Basimir tribe, the Zabuhan River. Here, the Tang army received warm hospitality from the three tribes of Basimir, Dubo, and Wutiande, and the grain and supplies offered by each tribe were piled up like a mountain.

In order to thank the Khans of various departments for their support, Niu Shizhao personally took action and "identified" the Tang Governor's seals brought out by Khans of various departments. In front of Khans of various departments, he wrote memorials to the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, recommended Khans of various departments to inherit the position of the Tang Governor of their respective ancestors. Then he and several governors swear together to send troops to attack the ungrateful Turkic Khans!

So, when the Anxi Army set out from near the Basimi King's tent, the team expanded to 34,000 people. Suddenly, nine thousand warriors of each unit were added, and they were divided into two battalions by Niu Shi Award. One battalion with a large number of more than 8,500 people collectively acted as auxiliary soldiers, transporting food, grass and supplies for the Tang army, and taking care of the animals presented by the various units along the way. Another battalion with a small number of people was composed of more than 500 carefully selected warriors of various races, and was responsible for acting as scouts, together with the original scouts of the Anxi Army, clearing the way for the army and inquire about the movements of the Turks.

Turkic dialect has always been the common language of all tribes in the northern part of the Mo, and the scouts in each tribe were familiar with the terrain. With their help to explore the way, the Anxi Army of course went smoother. After more than ten days, Yanran Mountain was already far away.

Compared with the Tianshan Mountains in the Western Regions and the Jinshan Mountains that the Anxi Army had just crossed, Yanran Mountains can only be considered a younger brother. However, this mountain has a great significance for the soldiers of the Central Plains. Back then, Dou Xian led the Han army to the north to the desert. It was near this mountain that completely wiped out the main force of the Huns, which allowed the Han Dynasty to completely cut off the dangers of the Huns. Since then, Yanran has become the highest honor of the military generals in the Central Plains.

Since the Han Dynasty, as long as the Central Plains army marched north, the word "Seal Yanran Four" will inevitably be re-recommended. In the dreams of countless literati and poets, letting the horse at the foot of Yanran Mountain is also the most exciting scene.

Now, Niu Shizhao has led his brothers to go around the mountains and deserts, and fought from north to south to the foot of Yanran Mountain. How could the old general not be excited? Therefore, before the scout came back to the enemy's situation in Yanran Mountain, he decisively ordered the three battalions of Saiye, Shule and Yutian to quickly move closer to the main force. He clenched the 25,000 Tang troops into a fist, preparing to take down the mountain with lightning speed and give a heavy blow to the Turkic defenders who were fighting stubbornly.

However, what disappointed the old general was that before he could discuss with Zhang Qian, which battalion of brothers should be sent as the front line. Chang Shuxin, who was in charge of all scouts, had sent people to send good news: the Turkic defenders stationed at an important pass on Yanran Mountain, the locals called the Tiger Pass, suddenly set fire to burn all the food and supplies, and abandoned the pass. The door to the Turkic royal court opened, and after the fire was extinguished, the Anxi army could go straight to the Turkic Khan's tent along the main road!

"What? Abandon the Pass?" It seemed as if the hammer hit the cotton, Niu Shizhao was so uncomfortable. He frowned on the horse's back and asked loudly. "Did the scout see clearly? What was Mo Chuo's idea? He isn't afraid of being attacked from both sides?"

"I can see clearly that the Turks were indeed lit by the Turks themselves. According to the Gelulu people, after passing this pass, leading to the Turkic King's tent, it was a flat river!" The scout did not dare to neglect, and found out the situation and reported to Niu Shizhuo in all aspects. "According to rumors of local shepherds, the Turks seemed to have just suffered a defeat. Most of the troops were transferred to the south to fight against the Shuofang Army, and there were only five or six hundred people stationed at the Hukou."

"A defeat is in the hands of Zhang Renyuan? [Biquge www.boquge.co]" Niu Shizhuo was stunned for a while, and hesitated for a while before nodding gently, "If he had suffered a great loss in Zhang Renyuan's hands, the Turks gave up the Tiger Pass, it would make sense. But, does Ashi Mo Chuo want his tent? I don't believe it. If he can't even stop the Shuofang army, he will be sure to stop the attacks between the Anxi army and the Shuofang army from north to south!"

"Anyway, after the fire is extinguished, you will pass the gate first!" Zhang Qian was also confused by the Turks' actions. After thinking about it, he whispered to the side, "However, after passing the gate, please stop the team and repair it immediately, and send someone to contact Zhang Dadu, the Shuofang Army. Inquiry about the next strategy for the cooperation between the two armies."

"Stop, we are less than 600 miles away from the Turkic King's tent?" Niu Shixuan quickly turned his head and asked in a low voice with a little surprise.

"The Turkic king's tent will not be moved, and once we suffer a heavy blow, all the previous achievements will have to be spit out. Even this plan to work together to pacify the Turks will fail!" Zhang Qian changed his usual boldness and responded with a cautious look on his face.

In this era, there were neither telephones nor telegrams nor networks, and information transmission was very slow. Therefore, the situation of Shuofang Army in his hands with Niu Shizhao was sent by the messenger of Shuofang Army more than 20 days ago. The messenger mingled in the caravan, crossed the grassland and arrived at the bank of Xuanchi, and delayed the road for more than half a month.

In other words, the news about the Shuofang Army that Niu Shizhao and Zhang Qian, which are known to him, happened a month and a half ago. As for where the Shuofang Army has reached? What victory has he won? And whether he encountered the main force of the Turks, he knew nothing about it.

It is said that you know yourself and your enemy and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles. At present, everyone cannot understand the situation of the Turks, nor the situation of friendly forces. It is absolutely not a rational behavior to continue to advance rapidly. Stopping the team at Yanran Mountain without moving, although you miss the opportunity to raid Mochu's nest, it can ensure that the army will always remain invincible.

"The Protector, the marching chief said very much. We already have the power to defeat Geluo, so there is no need to take risks!"

"The Turkic people are strange in their behavior, and the majority of the Protectors have to be careful!"

"The current situation is better than to have no success. Even if our army does not move in Yanran Mountain, it will not affect the Shuofang Army's continued pursuit and attack. Once our army is eager to make contributions and is taken advantage of by Mo Chuo, the morale of the Shuofang Army will definitely decline greatly."

...

Not only Zhang Qian, but other generals, such as Wei Bo, Guo Hong and others, also felt that the Turks' performance was too incredible. They spoke one after another, and advised Niu Shizhuo to do it with caution!

"Well, the season is not yet Mid-Autumn Festival, and there is still some time before the snow falls!" Seeing that everyone's opinions were more stable, Niu Shizhao's impulse was slowly suppressed by him. After pondering for a moment, the old general made a solemn decision. "Come here, I will send me the order to Chang Shuxin and ask him to take the scouts to put out the fire. Then use Tiger Pass as the starting point to investigate all the situations within fifty miles around. I was in Yanran Mountain and was exhausted with Mo Chuo. Seeing that he was anxious, I was even more anxious!"
Chapter completed!