Five days later, the 100,000-strong army broke out of camp and headed toward Xingxing Gorge, followed by 120,000 camels loaded with food and supplies.
There are grasslands on both sides, a river runs through the grasslands, and in the distance are vast mountains.
At this time, Li Cheng pointed to a large-scale military city by the river and said: "That's it. It was originally the military city of the Xizhou Huihe Army. There were about 10,000 troops stationed all year round, blocking the Xingxing Gorge."
Liu Qiongda looked at the curtain for a moment and said: "This is a good location, but it's a pity that there are no troops anymore."
"Exactly! This also shows that the Uighur troops in Xizhou have been stretched thin, and the troops stationed in various places have been withdrawn back to the capital."
"How far is Yiwu City from here?"
"There are still more than three hundred miles!"
Liu Qiong thought for a while and said: "It is eight hundred miles from Dunhuang to Yiwu. We must set up two supply stations in the middle. One is set up at Liuyuan, and the other one I think should be set up here. Governor Li
What do you think?"
Li Cheng nodded, "I'll arrange this!"
Li Cheng's army was responsible for logistical support. The Western Region was vast and they could not get support from the local people, so the logistical support from Dunhuang was extremely important.
In other words, there are military cities attached to the city wall within twenty miles, which may seem like a lot, but in fact, for the vast territory of Anxi, twenty miles is nothing at all.
Liu Qiong then led several Han officials to patrol outside the city. Outside were large grasslands, forests and low hills. A wide river flowed from the north. This was the Yiwu River. The sky was blue and the water was clear and blue.
, both sides are covered with swaying wild flowers, and groups of cattle and sheep drink water quietly by the river.
The architectural styles on both sides are also diverse, including Han Chinese cornices and brackets, Uighur domes, and flat-roofed earth houses of the local Wusun people.
The Uighurs are relatively tolerant of the Han people, unlike Tubo who treated the Han people as slaves. The Han people and the Uighurs joined forces to overthrow the Tubo rule, so the Han people have always been able to live in harmony with the Uighurs.
Yiwu County is a county town with a circumference of about 20 miles. Its style is slightly similar to that of the Central Plains. In fact, it was originally built in the Sui Dynasty and underwent many repairs in the Tang Dynasty. Since the Sui Dynasty, Yizhou has been the Central Plains Dynasty.
The counties and counties, like Shazhou, Ganzhou, and Suzhou, have officials and troops permanently stationed for governance.
According to the agreement signed between the Yong Dynasty and the Xizhou Uighurs, the land outside Yiwu City belongs to the Xizhou Uighurs, but Yiwu City belongs to the Yong Dynasty. However, both parties understand that this agreement is only a measure of rights and interests, and that the Xizhou Uighurs are facing the threat of annihilation.
, they had no choice but to make concessions to the Yong Kingdom. Otherwise, how could they give up a city with a concentrated population to the Yong Dynasty. There were not many cities here to begin with.
Once Xiliao is defeated, Xizhou Huihe will definitely turn against him and try every means to drive Yong's army back to the Hexi Corridor, but whether it still has the ability is another matter.
The official shook his head and pointed to the far north: "The pasture at the foot of Zheluoman Mountain hundreds of miles away in the north belongs to the Wusun people, and everything else belongs to the king."
Zhang Huang often came to Yiwu County and was very familiar with it. In addition to Zhang Huang, there were more than a dozen young Han Chinese recruited in Dunhuang County. They were fluent in Chinese and Uighur and served as translators in the army.
Liu Qiong pointed at both sides of the river with a riding crop and asked: "Whose land belongs to both sides of the river?"
It is precisely because they rely so heavily on Dunhuang's logistics that they must not go too deep in the beginning. It is most appropriate to set their first foothold in Yiwu County.
"Why don't the people here run away?"
Liu Qiong asked in confusion: "Aren't they afraid of the army entering the city and looting it?"
"The humble job must be done well!"
The Uighur officials in the county government office have left, but there are still some civil servants left, including Han and Uighur people. They are all natives of the city. The arrival of Yong's army made them panic.
Liu Qiong summoned more than a dozen civil servants and said loudly to them: "According to the agreement reached between the Yong Dynasty and the Xizhou Uighurs, the Yong Dynasty will re-establish the Protectorate in Anxi and establish five military cities in Anxi, that is, five counties.
, Yiwu is the first county. You can stay and become officials of the Yong Dynasty, or you can go home. We will not force you. If you are willing to stay, you need to sign a letter of allegiance."
The army continued westward. Three days later, the army arrived at Yiwu County. Along the way, there were Gobi, grasslands, forests, and magnificent stone forests formed by wind and sand erosion. The Hexi Corridor seemed so far away.
"I see!"
Zhang Huang said with a smile: "Reporting back to the general, if it was the Western Liao Army, they would have fled long ago if they were afraid, but the Yong Army is not afraid. Governor Li led the army before, and Qiu did not commit any crimes. The people all know it."
If the city wall is used as the boundary, the Xizhou Uighur Army can directly and legally approach the city.
"There are a total of one hundred and twenty hectares, and the capital is official land. The general may not know that there is no such thing as private land in our land. It is either owned by the tribe or the king. Even if the nobles occupy large areas of land, they still occupy it in the name of the tribe.
, there are hundreds or thousands of households in a tribe, and many of them are slave households.”
Of course, when the Yong Army obtained a military city, it would also include some surrounding annexed land. No military city would be bounded by the city wall. There must be surrounding annexed land. The reason is also very simple. Many people in the city have land outside the city. If
With the city wall as a boundary, the people and the land are separated.
More than a dozen officials did not hesitate and stepped forward to sign the pledge of allegiance. They also had to support their families. How would they live if they lost this job?
The officials in the city had already received the notice. They handled the handover of the city with Liu Qiong outside the city, and then hurriedly evacuated and returned to Beslopali. They also had to rush to report to the Khan that the Yong army had arrived.
Liu Qiong nodded and said to Zhang Huang: "I want to talk to the local respected elders, let's set the time tomorrow! It's in the county government office, I'll leave this matter to you."
Yiwu County has been constantly renovating and rebuilding on the original basis. It is not surprising that the style resembles a Central Plains city.
So mixed together, yet so natural and harmonious, without any conflict at all.
Liu Qiong entered the city under the guidance of businessman Zhang Huang. The city was very lively. People of all ethnic groups were coming and going on the streets. There were many shops, shouts and shouts. They didn't care about the arrival of Yong's army at all, as if they were with them.
No relationship.
But these Han people actually have their own position. They will become local civil servants in the military cities of the Anxi Protectorate.
The person who acted as their translator was a Han official whom Li Cheng recommended to Liu Qiong. He was a police officer in Dunhuang County. He was about 27 or 28 years old. His name was Zhang Huang. He was said to be a descendant of the famous general Zhang Yichao.
Therefore, the detailed rules signed by the Yong Dynasty and Xizhou Uighurs clearly stated that the military city of Anxi Protectorate included twenty miles around the city, and the road to Hexi was unimpeded.
Life is the most realistic, and belonging is unimportant. When Liu Qiong saw everyone signing, he nodded and introduced Zhang Huang to everyone. From now on, Zhang Huang is the magistrate of Yiwu County.
One hundred thousand troops were stationed outside the city, and three thousand troops were stationed inside the city. There happened to be a medium-sized military camp inside the city.
But after the Anshi Rebellion, Tubo captured the Hexi Corridor, and Yizhou was submerged by the sands of history.
"But I saw a lot of wheat fields in the west of the city. How many are there?"
For example, this Zhang Huang, who is the superintendent of Dunhuang County, will serve as the magistrate of Yiwu County.
Liu Qiong nodded, "So the cattle and sheep here are either raised for the king or for the government."
"In fact, they are all raised for the king. The government's grain, cattle and sheep are sold to ordinary people, and the money obtained is turned over to the king as taxes, and the king uses it to support the army."
Liu Qiong was actually thinking about the supply issue of the army stationed in Anxi. From now on, there would be 50,000 troops stationed in Anxi, and their military supplies would always be supplied by the court. It was too far away. The emperor meant that it would be better for the army stationed in Anxi to be self-sufficient in food.
Liu Qiong pointed to the river: "Both sides of the river will be used as military land for military farming."