Chapter 501 Ah Suan’s Rebellion

Tocharo Ayan City, the largest city in Tocharo and the capital of the Yuezhi Kingdom. At the beginning of the Tubo army's attack on Tocharo, they encountered strong resistance here. After Shang Xi Dongzan conquered Ayan City, he killed 30,000 surrendered generals here, and then massacred a large number of troops in Ayan City, plundering the people.

Although Ayan City is already full of holes, Shangxi Dongzan still set up the Governor's Office here because the vastness and favorable terrain of this city are most suitable for ruling Tochar.

Shang Xi Dongzan didn't care about the destruction of the houses, but his soldiers destroyed the palace in Ayan City, which made him regret it. The palace in Ayan City was the largest and most grand palace in Tochar. It happened to live in Zamp who came to Tochar when he visited him, but half of the palace was destroyed, which made Shang Xi Dongzan feel a little depressed. Fortunately, the foundation was not destroyed, Shang Xi Dongzan ordered the mobilization of 50,000 civilians from various countries in Tocharia to restore and expand the palace in Ayan City.

On the huge construction site, a magnificent palace had risen from the ground and the palace had been built, but Shang Xi Dongzan had a new idea. He wanted to pave a wide road with stones, from the palace to twenty miles outside the city. In this way, Ahn City would have a royal city momentum. He ordered another 50,000 civilians to continue paving the road until they were finished.

Driven by Tubo soldiers, 50,000 civilians began to build roads again. On the construction site that was about tens of miles long, the figures of 50,000 civilians were busy, with dust flying and sandstorms everywhere, and the sound of chiseling stones and the sound of civilians carrying stones. In the distance, a team of Luoluo and Luoyun came to the stones taken from the mountains.

On the construction site, five thousand Tubo soldiers acted as supervisors, monitoring the every move of 50,000 civilians. If they were slacking off, the whip would whip like raindrops. Time was too long. It is said that Zanpu had arrived at Dabolu. At most ten days, Zanpu would arrive at Ayan City. Shangxi Dongzan began to be anxious. He ordered that day and night, regardless of life and death, and that the road would be paved within ten days.

Fifty thousand people started building palaces two months ago. Under heavy labor and extremely harsh conditions, four or five thousand people had died of illness or exhaustion. The Tubo people did not consider the additional food supply of these 50,000 people, so they ordered them to bring their own food. However, the food they brought was not enough for two months. Some people brought more and some people brought less, so Tubo confiscated their food and cooked porridge for unified supply. There were only two meals a day, and many people died of illness and starvation.

That afternoon, at the construction site at the city gate, Zhou Mi and his companions were checking the flatness of the stones. Unlike others, Zhou Mi and others took the initiative to join the construction brigade. Alan, the deputy government official, greeted him, so their treatment was pretty good and they were assigned the easiest job: checking whether the stones were qualified, and Zhou Mi was also the chief leader of the 8,000 workers in the Wangting Kingdom.

Every kingdom has a labor leader. In addition to managing with a whip, the Tubo people also have to discuss some things with the labor leaders.

"Agano! Agano!" Someone was shouting not far away.

Zhou Mi raised his head and saw a Tocharian with bright clothes calling him on the side of the road. He was very familiar with him and was the confidant of the deputy government affairs officer Alan.

He immediately met, "What's the matter?"

The entourage pulled him aside and whispered: "Alan has something important to come to you, so go with me!"

"You wait a moment, I'll explain it."

Zhou Bi came back and ordered everyone a few more words before following the follower.

Alan, the second-rank official of Tochari, was originally a tax officer in the Yuezhi Kingdom. In the Yuezhi Kingdom, he was the third powerful minister, but in the entire Tochari, he was nothing. After the Tubo people came, the royal powerful families of various Tochari countries fled to Anxi or Shuye. Only Alan took the initiative to welcome Feng. Relying on his ability to speak Tubo, he was valued by the Tubo people and became the number one powerful minister in Tochari. In the eyes of the Tochari people, he was also the number one spitting traitor.

It is also interesting to say that the Tang army controlled Tochar and defected to the Tang army in countless Tochar princes and ministers, but they were not regarded as spitting and traitors. One of the important reasons is that Tochar has always been a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty. In addition, the princes and nobles also recognized the rule of the Tang Dynasty. They would never accept the rule of the barbaric and backward small country like Tubo.

In history, the Tubo people also occupied Tochariot for a time, but were soon defeated by the cannibals and drove the Tubo people out of Tochariot, largely because the Tochariots did not recognize the rule of the Tubo people. Since ancient times, Tochariot has been an extremely difficult place to rule. Tochariot is today's Afghanistan. Until today, it is easy to occupy this weak country, but it is difficult to conquer.

Although Alan is the number one rape, he has gained a lot of wealth from this position. Some people estimate that he has earned at least 100,000 silver dollars in this winter.

Although money is coming, Alan’s most worried thing is whether his wealth can last. He also understands in his heart that with a powerful Tang Dynasty in the north, the Tubo people cannot last long. Moreover, they are extremely unpopular in the Tocharians, and it is a matter of time before they are driven away. Therefore, finding a way out for himself is Alan’s most important thing.

He could not take his family to the Tubo Plateau. He was a Buddhist and could not take refuge in Dashi. The only way out was to escape to the Tang Dynasty. But could the Tang Dynasty tolerate him?

Just when he was anxious, his brother-in-law Popola brought him a glimmer of hope. Some merchants actually wanted to buy information about the whereabouts of Tubo Zampu. Popola might not understand, but Alan understood as soon as he heard it. No customer would spend 500 silver dollars to buy such information. This must be a spy from the Tang army. Only the spy from the Tang army would be interested in the whereabouts of Tubo Zampu.

This gave him a glimmer of hope. Perhaps the Tang army spy could become a bridge to his retreat.

At this time, a servant's report came from the outside of the question: "Master, Agano is here."

"Please invite him in!"

After a moment, the confidant entourage brought Zhou Ji in. Alan quickly met him and said with a smile: "I have something important to come to you."

He waved his hand, ordered his followers to retreat, and closed the door again, then said: "Person Zhou, please sit down!"

Zhou Mi had already changed into a robe with a delicate texture. He was not polite and sat down directly, smiling and said, "What important thing does the government official have to ask me for."

The two have met several times, and they are still in a tacit way to cooperate. Zhou Mi also promised him that if he is willing to help Tang Jun, he will definitely report his achievements to the truth. In this way, Alan has a way out. He is over 50 years old today and has seen through many things. He actually doesn't expect the Tang Dynasty to give him any official position in the future. He is a smart person. As long as the Tang Dynasty can allow him to spend his old age in Chang'an, he will be satisfied.

Alan took a document from the table and handed it to Zhou Bian: "This is this morning, I was having a meeting at Shangxi Dongzan and got accurate news. Tubo Zanpu had passed the Imperial Kingdom three days ago. At present, they were located west of Dabolu. He brought 80,000 troops to follow him. The food of the Tubo people was tight, so Shangxi Dongzan ordered me to collect 200,000 stones of grain and 300,000 sheep from the countries in Tochar in ten days, and one million sheep must be collected within two months."

Speaking of this, Alan smiled bitterly and said, "It was already very difficult for Tochar to provide for a 100,000 Tubo army. In one winter, it was almost exploited by the Tubo people. Now it is necessary to increase the supply of 80,000 people. The Tocharians cannot do it at all. I guess the Tocharians' resistance will begin."

Zhou Bi pondered for a moment and asked, "Then do you think the Tocharians' resistance will start first?"

Alan shook her head and sighed, "Actually, I don't know, I don't even know where to start? Three hundred thousand sheep! Now is the time when cattle and sheep are given their cubs in spring. Isn't it the people's lives to seize the sheep now?"

"Mr. Governor, I have a suggestion. I wonder if the government officials are willing to listen."

Alan was excited and hurriedly said, "You said!"

"The paving is almost completed. You can suggest to Shangxi Dongzan that reducing the two meals a day to one meal can save a lot of food."

"this...."

Alan was a little hesitant. He understood Zhou Mi's meaning and provoked the labor's rebellion. He said: "Now laborers are complaining that the food is very mean. If the supply is reduced, the rebellion will definitely be triggered at once. Shang Xi Dongzan is not stupid, and he cannot save much food. He is afraid that he will not accept this suggestion. It is better to change a strategy, which will have the same effect."

"Then tell me what strategy should I change?"

"When recruiting workers, Shang Xidongzan agreed that as long as the palace is completed as scheduled, he would pay each laborer two silver dollars. He was trying to deceive the laborer to build the palace. I knew he didn't want to give it at all, nor would he give it. Why not let the news go out, the laborer will definitely cause trouble, what do you think?"

Zhou Bi thought about it and said with a smile: "This method is good. I will spread this news, but you also have to use a channel to spread the news. You represent the ruler, and they believe more about the news you spread."

"I will, and the news will spread throughout the construction site tomorrow."

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After Zhou Bi left Alan's mansion, he did not go to the construction site. He went to an inn in the east of the city, where he found Wang Yiqing.

Wang Yiqing was the only one among the ten of them who did not work as a laborer, not because he had language problems, but because he was an eagle trainer. The information they sent to Sailie must be completed by Wang Yiqing, so Wang Yiqing must remain a free person.

Wang Yiqing lives in the innermost part of the inn, a separate courtyard with clear water in the room. He rarely goes out. When he sees the person knocking on the door, Zhou Mi immediately pulls him in and asks with gesture: "Is there anything wrong?"

Wang Yiqing has never spoken again since the cave incident. For nearly two months, he has always regarded himself as a deaf and mute person, which made Zhou Mi feel a little worried. If he returns to Thunder Ye in the future, will he still speak, but he also understands Wang Yiqing's determination. He is unwilling to harm other companions because of him. Zhou Mi sighed secretly, then sat down, put a piece of information in front of Wang Yiqing, and wrote on the table with clear water: "This is a hundred thousand urgent information, you can send it away immediately."

Wang Yiqian nodded. He took out a thin piece of white silk from a small box and copied the information with a special fine pen. He used Turkic words, which were the unique intelligence codes of the Tang army. After receiving the letter, the other party would convert the password into Chinese characters. In this way, even if the eagle was captured by the enemy, it would be difficult to understand the content of the letter. After writing it, he carefully checked it twice. Zhou Bi looked at it aside, and saw that he was meticulous, he couldn't help but admire him.

At this time, Wang Yiqing had already checked it. When the white silk dries a little, he took a red mailbox, folded the white silk into thin strips and stuffed it in, and put it tightly. He walked into the yard. On a tree in the yard, there were two falcons standing quietly. He took off one falcon and buckled the mailbox on the eagle's legs. He stroked the falcon's feathers with love for a moment, and threw it up suddenly. The falcon spread its wings and hovered, soaring northward.

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The resistance of 45,000 workers spread as the news that wages were to be refused payment. The Tocharians' long-suppressed anger finally broke out. For two months, they ate their own rations and took on extremely heavy labor day and night. Many people died of illness and starvation. They dared not resist. The two silver dollars are their self-comforts that they dare not resist, and they are their only spiritual pillar, but now, the last spiritual pillar has collapsed.

The news that two silver dollars would be refused payment has reached every worker's ears. Starting from the largest number of workers in Yuezhi, the general strike began. On the construction site that was nearly thirty miles long, the busy work situation was no longer visible. The construction site was full of laborers. Each of them was very silent and used silent protests to resist the cruel exploitation of the Tubo people by the Tubo people. Even a dog would give him a bone, but they got nothing.

The news of the strike also quickly reached the table of the Governor of Tochari Shang Xi Dongzan. Shang Xi Dongzan served as the prime minister of Tubo for two years, that is, the prime minister of Tubo. According to principles, he should know that toughness and gentleness are the way to do things for a long time, but what Shang Xi Dongzan did in Tochari was completely different from the style that a politician should have. His actions were only described in one word and conquered.

Conquest meant killing. As soon as he stepped onto the land of Tochar, he killed 30,000 surrendered soldiers, and washed Ayan City, Hunmo City, and Hualu City. All the Tubo army dared to resist were cleaned up, raped, burned and killed. They could no longer count how many people they killed.

Conquest also means exploitation. From the first day he occupied Tochar, he collected money and food from the Tocharians, followed by annual taxes, monthly taxes, and army winter taxes. There are many types of names, and endless taxes have already collected all the wealth of Tochar.

Perhaps Huairou's strategy of strengthening hardship is only applicable to Tubo locals. For aliens, he did not have the need to Huairou, only conquest and extinction. Before leaving, Zamp told him that in the future, Tocharo would likely become a new home for the Tubo people to move westward. In this case, reducing the indigenous population of Tocharo is one of their strategic plans.

Shang Xi Dongzan sat on the golden ivory chair of the King of Yuezhi, staring indifferently at the emergency report of the labor strike on the table. The Tocharians wanted two silver dollars, two silver dollars per person, and the fifty thousand people were 100,000 silver dollars. Could he give it? If he didn't say 100,000, he wouldn't give it even ten.

He actually had another plan. When these workers paved the way, he would send them to the silver mine of the Great Khanate, become mine slaves, and start mining and refining silver for Tubo. Unexpectedly, they actually rebelled. At this moment, a murderous intent flashed in Shang Xidongzan's eyes.

"Transfer my order to mobilize 10,000 troops to suppress the strike of laborers. If anyone dares to cause trouble again, he will kill him!"

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The labor strike lasted less than an hour. A large group of murderous Tubo army rushed into the sitting labor force. They used whips, smashed them with swords, punched and kicked the laborers. Those who resisted immediately cut off their heads with one sword. The bloody scene caused chaos on the road. The laborers rushed to flee, but the Tubo army had surrounded their escape route from all sides and began a bloody suppression.

"Kneel down! Kneel down!"

This simple Tochari word resounded over the top of the construction site. Any Tochari workers who refused to kneel down were killed on the spot, no matter what the reason was. The bodies were everywhere and blood was flowing into a river. The cruel killing scared the workers. Some people began to kneel down, and more and more people were kneeling down, but soon, even the kneeling down could not be spared. The Tubo soldiers who were red-eyed had no choice. Kneeling only made them more convenient for chopping off their heads with one sword.

A massacre began. At this time, tens of thousands of workers were forced to resist. They picked up iron picks and chisels, wooden sticks and crowbars, stones, and began to fight against the Tubo people. They often surrounded a Tubo soldier and beat him to death, or hundreds of Tubo soldiers surrounded a hundred workers and killed them in batches.

The city of Ayan was in chaos, with shouts of killing and screams everywhere, and even the Tubo people could not control the situation. The workers broke through the blockade of Tubo soldiers, and tens of thousands of Tocharis people escaped from Ayan City and fled to all directions of Tocharis.

The civil strife in Ayan City was just a fuse. They triggered the Tocharians' full resistance. The uprising began to rise and fall, and the storm of wind and clouds surging on the Tocharian land.

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At the same time when civil strife broke out in Tochar, the Tang army also began to take action. The Tang army's first step was to Xiaobolu.

Since the Tang army was conquered by the Tang army in the sixth year of Tianbao, Xiao Bolu has been firmly controlled by the Tang army. The Tang army formed the Guiren army here, with 3,000 people stationed. The first military envoy was Xi Yuanqing. However, after Gao Xianzhi left Anxi, Xi Yuanqing also followed him to leave Anxi. The second military envoy was Yu Guozhang, who was originally Xi Yuanqing's deputy general. A few months ago, he was promoted to Shule military envoy, and An Baozhen took over as the Guiren army envoy. At this time, the Guiren army had expanded from 3,000 to 8,000 people, and became a powerful Tang army.

The terrain of Xiaobolu is extremely dangerous. It is located in the mountains and ridges. It is necessary to climb over the towering snow-capped mountains to the north and west, and to the east, it is divided into two by the Poyi River Grand Canyon. It is only connected by a narrow vine bridge that cuts off the vine bridge, which blocks Xiaobolu's road to the Tubo Plateau. In the battle of Xiaobolu that year, the scout Li Qing'an shot Princess Jialan to death on this vine bridge.

Eight years have passed in a flash. Today, Xiao Bolu once again became the focus of Tang army's attention. The difference is that this time Xiao Bolu is not the end of the march, but the starting point of the march.

The eight thousand Tang troops stationed in Xiaobolu, except for one thousand guarding the city of Nieduo, the remaining seven thousand people had already gathered outside the city. They would, under the leadership of the main general An Baozhen, go out to fight thousands of miles away, cut off the return of Tubo Zanpu.

The Tang army had received news from Tochar, that Tubo Zamp had already passed through Dabolu and entered Tochar. It was time to close the door and beat dogs. Li Qing'an issued an order to march into Dabolu.

Under the blue sky, the seven thousand Tang troops had completed the army, with clear armor and swords and guns, soldiers were ready to beat their hands, and the war horses were neighing excitedly. The young Xiaobolu Queen Li Xuelian led thousands of Xiaobolu subjects to practice for the Tang army. She brought a glass of fine wine to the heroic general An Baozhen.

"General An, I wish you a victory and a triumphant return soon!"
Chapter completed!