Chapter 1,402 Gui Zhang’s Strategy

"With the Qingtang in hand, and then driving the Yellow-headed Uighurs to Gaochang, the Song Dynasty only needed a small number of troops to garrison Tiehou Pass, Yumen, and Biandu to occupy the entire Xingsheng place."

"Then set up inns along the way and recruit farmers to complete the protection of the small countries in the Western Regions such as Khotan, Shule, Qiuci, Yanshi, Gaochang, and Yizhou."

"I have asked Jiduo Living Buddha to send monks to these countries to recruit monks to translate scriptures in Dunhuang, Shazhou. We must transform the influence of Buddhism into the influence of the Song Dynasty in the Western Regions."

Zhao Man tapped the map on the table with his fingers and fell into deep thought. After a while, he asked: "Does your Majesty know?"

Su You looked at Zhao Man, and after a while, he said seriously: "If Mr. Zhao succeeds, this is what His Majesty meant; if Mr. Zhao fails, then you and I will be blamed."

Zhao Man licked his lips: "This area is twice the size of Hexi. It is a bit difficult to rely on only 6,000 new troops."

Su You said: "When Mr. Zhao goes to Miaochuan, the three tribes of Qingtang can join; if you capture Qingtang City and force Aligu to pass through Biandukou, Chaogu can join; and if you force them to cross Guasha, they can join."

Tong Guan can join."

"But this road is long. Which step we can take depends on the evolution of the battle situation. Take the first step first."

Zhao Man thought of another question: "How do you know that Xinmo Qinzhan will definitely block Ali Gu's retreat? Force him to turn northeast?"

Su You said: "Because Wen Xixin is in Yak City now."

Zhao Man was surprised and said: "Wen Xixin? Wasn't Wen Xixin forced into Qingtang City by Ali Gu, and the father and son were imprisoned and then killed?"

Su You nodded: "He entered Qingtang City. Everyone saw it when he entered, but he disappeared afterward... Of course, that is another story, and it cannot be made public yet."

Zhao Man finally came to his senses. The whole change in Qingtang was caused by someone secretly and was not caused by circumstances at all!

Horrified and horrified: "Did you plan this, my lord?"

Su You shook his head: "No, this is the strategy developed by Wang Chudao after he took over Wang Xueshie's planning results. The long-term strategic goal is to control the Western Regions and influence Tubo; the short-term strategy is to capture the entire Qingtang."

"As for me, I just added some tactical details."

Li Xian was not too worried. He knew how rich Lanzhou's hoarding was now. Lanzhou's defenders wore sweaters, cotton robes, and woolen cloaks. The officers also had down vests and woolen coats. The whole army was equipped with one person.

I was given a dog-skin hat.

Leather boots, leather gloves, fur leggings, Hexi horses, and a full set of standard cowhide leather goods, they are not a bit better than the hard-fought Western Army equipment in the past.

What's more, now he has Wang Hou and Liu Shiheng with 6,000 new troops, and Miao Chuan, Lin Bubi and Wen Xixin alone have recruited 40,000 Tibetan tribes. Li Xian feels that there is no problem in fighting.

Su You said: "After passing Miaochuan, it will be difficult to transport supplies. If you have to bring more yaks, camels, and carriages, you may not be able to count on them."

"There is little rain in winter, so the Thunderbolt Cannon will use a narrow-wheeled carriage. It will be easier once you pass the Piandu Pass. Chaojie Du will receive your supplies there."

Li Xian smiled and said: "Don't worry, Lord, this battle is actually not difficult to fight."

After speaking, he pointed to the map: "But after this battle is over, I will run to the front of Tong Guan?"

Su You nodded: "If you can finally capture the city of Yuechang and connect it to Khotan, you will be 1,600 miles further west than Shazhou, where Tong Guan is located."

General Zhao Man rolled up the picture and put it back into the leather tube: "Take one step at a time, and you can't make any hasty progress."

When the general's plan was handed over to his staff, Zhao Man handed over Su You and said, "This achievement is no less than the recovery of Hexi. Zhao Man thanks the Duke for this."

Su You said meaningfully: "Mr. Zhao, remember to collect more evidence of yellow-headed Uighurs robbing merchants, lest someone in the court make a noise and miss a great opportunity."

Zhao Man nodded: "I understand."

…

In December of the sixth year of Yuanfeng, Zhao Man, Li Xian, Wang Hou, and Liu Shiheng entered Miaochuan. Lin Bubi, the legitimate son of Dong Xiang, Bawen, the youngest son of Wen Xixin, the chief leader of Miaochuan, and Wen Nawen, his nephew, tried their best to complain to the Song Dynasty.

Ali was unethical and asked Master Wang to punish him.

When they heard that the Heavenly Army had arrived in Miaochuan, chiefs from various tribes on Qingtang South Road came in droves, demanding that the Song Dynasty send troops to Qingtang City to question Ali Gu's guilt.

Zhao Man sent an envoy to write a letter to Aligu, asking him to take care of Dong Fei's life and death, imprison Wen Xixin and his son, assassinate his elder brother Si Wen, force his younger brother Lin Bubi away, seize the former Xia princess, and kill the minister Sunan Dangzheng without permission.

, slaughtered his tribe and a series of crimes, and made a self-defense.

At the same time, Li Xian gathered his troops in Miaochuan.

In addition to the 6,000 new troops brought this time, there was also an army of 40,000 from Lin Bubi and Wen Xixin in Miaochuan itself.

Soon, Xibawen brought 30,000 troops from the Liuling tribe, Jie Yaomi brought 20,000 troops from Jishi City, and Lu Zun brought 10,000 troops from Kuozhou.

The Qing-Tang War is about to break out.

…

Qingtang City, the old palace of the Zu family.

Blind Zheng came in carrying a bloody human head and threw it on the ground: "Both the Song Dynasty and the rebels have gathered in Miaochuan, but my father is still hesitating. Apart from a battle! What else is there to hesitate about?"

Ali Gu stood up in shock: "You traitor! Did you kill the Song envoy?!"

Blind Zheng knelt down and said, "Father! The Song Dynasty is coming in a menacing manner. It is clear that they want my father's life. How can they still surrender it?"

Ali Gu was angry and anxious: "You know nothing! The Song Dynasty is now very powerful! Is the Xia Kingdom easy to deal with? Five hundred thousand troops and twenty-six counties were all wiped out by Yixi Weishe. How dare you do this?

rash?!"

Qingyi Jieguizhang said quietly: "My lord, what the little prince did was actually right."

"What?!" Ali Gu turned around and said, "Now the Song Dynasty will definitely raise an army to fight against it. How should we deal with it?"

Qingyi Jie Guizhang said: "It's the middle of winter now, it's snowing heavily, and we have the right time and place in our hands. Do the Song people dare to fight?"

"According to what I have seen, Zhao Man and Li Xian are just bluffing to unify Miaochuan and Henan."

Ali Gu asked: "Then when they win over Xibawen and Jie Yaomi and come back in spring, how should we deal with it?"

Qingyi Jie Guizhang fiddled with the riding whip in his hand: "If I send the head back to the Song people now, won't it just provoke the Song people to attack?"

"What all the tribes rely on is that the Song people support them, and they can break their backs in one battle!"

Ali Gu frowned: "If we know, the Song people must also know. What if they don't come?"

Qingyi Jie Guizhang smiled and said: "If you don't come, the Song Dynasty will be a coward. I, the son of Qingtang, admire heroes and dare not pursue the envoys who are killed. How can we calm people's hearts?"

"It is not that there are no old grudges among the various tribes. When the Song Dynasty loses its prestige and cannot win over the various tribes, we can separate them."

"So the little prince's killing of the envoy was not only faultless, but also meritorious. This summer, our Qingtang army of 40,000 troops was able to change their uniforms without losing a single person. Now their combat power is equivalent to that of the Song people. Where did they come from?"

Qingyi Jieguizhang and Duqiao Grandpa returned without passing through Lanzhou this time. Li Xian was still commanding all the old troops at that time, and Qingyi Jieguizhang had not seen with his own eyes the power of the new army of the Song Dynasty.

In fact, based on the analysis of the strength of the old army of the Song Dynasty, it is not wrong for Qingyi to form a ghost chapter. Six thousand Western troops with a hundred thousand mobs attacked Qingtang City in the middle of winter. Think about it, it is a way to die.

Therefore, in the eyes of Qingyi Jieguizhang, the possibility of Song Dynasty attacking is extremely small, and it is nothing more than a false threat.

If they are really mad and dare to come, Qingyi Jie Guizhang will be happy to deal with these chickens and dogs.

Ali Gu still felt uneasy: "Where is Yak City?"

Qingyi Jie Guizhang sneered and said: "Xin Mou Qinzhan has always had different ambitions. The Party's campaign in Southern Jiangsu would have been impossible without his scheming."

"But now we can't spare any time. Once we finish dealing with Da Song, it will naturally be his turn."

Ali Gu thought for a while: "This battle is not easy to fight. The most fearful thing is that it will be delayed for a long time. There are many fewer merchants coming to Qingtang this year."

Qingyi Jie Guizhang also sighed: "Yes, Yixi Weishe takes 30% of the goods, and people from the Western Regions are flocking to it. We only take 10%, and they are not willing to come. Now that the Miaochuan channel has been cut off, the Song Dynasty people will no longer fight with us.

If we trade, it will be more difficult next time.”

"There are only two strategies for now. One is to attack forcefully and regain control of the Qingtang Dynasty, and then, from a high position, threaten the Song people to reopen the market."
Chapter completed!