It's like the death of Huo Chihaer caused a huge stir in the situation in the Western Region, and it's also like the ripples in some women's hearts...
This is May 11th.
Uluru Hunai was still stationed at the oasis west of Yangguan, sending out scouting horses every day to gather information.
Duo Siman felt very puzzled.
She didn't understand what her mother wanted to do, so she took advantage of the day when mother and daughter were strolling by the lake to find out.
"Eji, I promise to marry Li Xia...if it will be good for Eji."
"What's the use of your promise?" Wu Luhu said calmly.
Duo Siman looked at the lake, straightened her hair, and whispered: "He is also willing to marry his daughter..."
"Do you know the difference between the side wife and the main wife?"
"As long as he can help Eji, as long as he can be nice to me."
After Duo Siman finished speaking, she felt that her cheeks were a little hot, and she covered her face before remembering to answer her mother's words, saying: "Didn't Eji say that he will definitely become emperor in the future and can make me his concubine? Yes.
Does this mean? Just like Princess Hulan, although she is not the eldest queen of Genghis Khan, because she is favored, her son is treated like his legitimate son."
"Silly words." Uluru said, "Does the concubine Kuolejian have his own khanate?"
Duo Si said anxiously: "But my daughter really wants to marry Li Xia more than marrying another ugly and old Ma Suhu."
Wu Luhu did not answer.
She doesn't care too much about her daughter's emotions, and has her own way of considering gains and losses.
Duo Siman said again: "Eji, my daughter doesn't care about being a concubine."
"That's because you are too young." Uluru Hunai said: "The main wife is a marriage between two families of equal strength and shares the wealth with her husband; the side wife is a vassal and belongs to the husband's wealth."
"But my daughter is willing..."
"You are willing, but the Chagatai Khanate is not."
Uluru crossed his arms, turned his head, and looked at Yumen Pass in the northeast.
It became less and less like she was talking to Duo Siman, but like she was talking to herself.
"Do you think what Li Xia wants is you? What kind of woman has never had a man like him? What he wants is for the Chagatai Khanate to surrender to him."
Duosi didn't understand.
She only has the love between a man and a woman in her mind, and does not understand the meaning behind this marriage.
"But Eji is still waiting here, isn't it because he wants his daughter to marry him?"
"It's an alliance, and alliances don't necessarily involve marriage. Li Xia said that there is more than one way to trust each other, either to accept you as a concubine, or for me to tell you my military strength and plans. He knows that it is impossible for me to agree to marry you to him.
As a side chamber, he is forcing me to be "sincere and frank" to him, do you understand?"
"not understand!"
"He wants honesty, not you."
After hearing these words, tears welled up in Duo Siman's eyes.
She still didn't understand why Li Xia agreed to marry her as his concubine, but her mother didn't agree. She also said that what Li Xia wanted was frankness. Is frankness more important than a princess?
Alu suddenly wanted to marry Duo Siman to the financial minister Hui Hui Renma Suhu.
It was precisely because of her extreme reluctance that she begged Uluru Hunai to take her out. Unexpectedly, this was the result.
Duo Siman thought about it and finally burst into tears.
"woo woo woo woo......"
Uluru Hunai didn't pay much attention to his daughter's cries.
She came to Li Xia to form an alliance, not to join him.
Marrying his daughter to Li Xia as his official wife was an attempt to control him. But he did not accept this trick, and what he said made sense. It was more meaningful for both parties to openly show their strength and show sincerity when discussing the plan.
Uluru Hunai was waiting for Li Xia to show his strength before considering how to have a chat with him and formally form a blood alliance.
As for the daughter?
Of course, it was impossible for a dignified princess of the Chagatai Khanate to be Li Xia's concubine.
I would rather be betrothed to Ma Suhu, at least I can use this to control the financial minister.
Thinking of this, I finally saw Tan Ma running back from afar.
...
"Ketun."
"explain."
"Li Xia defeated Huo Chihaer's eight thousand troops and killed Huo Chihaer..."
"How many troops does he have?"
"It should be no more than two thousand."
Uluru Hunai was still calm on the surface, but in fact he was very shocked inside.
"Is the news true?"
"It's true. We took a look at it on horseback. Huo Chihaer's head is still hanging outside Yumen Pass. He has been dead for at least ten days."
"so long?!"
This time, Uluru Hunai could not hide his surprise.
Because this news was found by her scouts running back and forth, and if Li Xia was willing to tell her, the news could be delivered to Yangguan in two days.
If it's quick, it won't take two days.
Li Xia should have told her that this was a good opportunity to show her strength.
She has been waiting at Yangguan just to see Li Xia's strength so that she can continue the alliance. Now is the time for Li Xia to raise conditions.
But why didn't he say a word?
Rarely, Uluru felt panic for a moment.
She licked her chapped lips and told the maid: "Go and see if there is any messenger coming."
"yes."
"You keep talking."
"yes......"
"Excuse me, there is no messenger."
Wu Lu suddenly became more and more uneasy.
She stopped following her subordinates, walked away alone, and began to bite her fingers and whisper to herself.
"Why didn't he contact me to form an alliance? Did he see through my situation and know that I don't have many troops?"
"No, he can't possibly know that just over ten days are not enough to send someone to Khotan and back."
"Then what if he had sent someone there earlier? He could have made an alliance with Alibaba... or even Aruhu?"
"No, he did it on purpose. That's what negotiations are like. He deliberately showed an attitude of not wanting to form an alliance and wanted to get more benefits from me."
"In case he contacts Aruhu..."
"No, no, Aruhu doesn't have this kind of wisdom. With Aruhu's arrogance, you can't see what Li Xia is capable of."
"Two thousand people defeated eight thousand people and beheaded Huo Chihaer. Aruhu couldn't see how powerful Li Xia was? What would be the consequences if Aruhu contacted Li Xia? Give Li Xia more benefits, and
What are the consequences?"
"..."
"Li Xia is stronger than you expected. Form an alliance with him as soon as possible. Don't wait until he becomes stronger. Trust your own vision."
Gradually, Uluru calmed down.
She took a few deep breaths and walked towards her subordinates again, towards her tent.
"Send a messenger to Yumen Pass." She ordered...
~~
Yumen Pass.
After more than ten days of rest and recuperation, the people of Desuamu tribe recovered from their injuries. Horses and camels for transporting goods were also prepared at Yumen Pass, and they were preparing to settle in Suzhou in the past few days.
Li Xia is arranging this today.
He was looking eastward from the top of the city, and saw Desuamu walking around hesitantly below the city, as if he had suddenly made up his mind and summoned a few people to explain things, looking very long-winded.
Afterwards, Desuamu patted them on the shoulders, turned around and walked towards the city head.
"Kings."
Desuamu walked up to the top of the city, imitated the behavior of the Han generals, raised his hands, and said: "I want to bring two hundred soldiers to stay and fight for the king."
"Why?" Li Xia said, "Tell the truth."
"I want to follow the king." Desuamu immediately responded.
He was also afraid that he was not honest enough, so he added: "I think the king is a great hero in the world, and I want to follow the king to make contributions. If you don't know how to seize such an opportunity, then the herdsman Desu Amu will be too stupid.
Too short-sighted.”
Li Xia turned around and looked him up and down. His eyes were a little different from before.
"Aren't you worried about your people? Aren't you afraid that they will be wronged without your care?"
Desuamu said: "I believe that under the king's governance, they will not
They will be treated unfairly. When Brother Ali's butcher's knife is raised, even if I take care of them, it will be difficult to change their tragic fate. But now I follow the real strong people, and my people are far away from them.
No matter how far away others are, they will respect them."
Li Xia smiled slightly, feeling some appreciation for Desuamu in his heart.
According to his original plan, he intended to use this tribe to buy horse bones for a large sum of money and recruit more Uighurs. But now it seems that Desuamu may be worthy of his reuse.
"Go get two hundred pieces of armor and train under Hullgen."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Desuamu was overjoyed.
At this time, some soldiers rushed up to the tower and reported: "Your Majesty, a messenger is coming."
Li Xia nodded.
In fact, he breathed a sigh of relief and said to himself.
"finally come......"
~~
In recent days, Li Xia has sent messengers to see Brother Alibu and Aruhu.
Not because he thought they were sincere in forming an alliance, but because they wanted to disrupt the situation in the Western Region.
He did not send any news to Ulukhunai.
Because what he is really waiting for, the first ally he wants to confirm is Uluru Khunai. By not giving information, he is preparing for the negotiation and setting his posture first.
In fact, this negotiation is crucial.
What was the situation like in the Western Region at the beginning?
Kublai Khan had more than 200,000 troops, but he only had a few thousand to deploy.
But the more than 200,000 troops may not be completely loyal to Kublai Khan.
Last time, a thousand people from Desuamu were brought over, and the gap between the two sides was reduced by two thousand.
If we can win over another 50,000 people from Uluru Khunai this time, the strength gap between the two sides will be reduced by 100,000... Assuming that Uluru Khunai has this strength.
The next time is Gaochang City. Controlling Gaochang can not only divide Hedan's forces, but also serve as a buffer with the Chagatai Khanate in the future.
Although the situation in Gaochang City has not improved at all, the idea is this: divide and win over, support good-will forces in the Western Regions, and drive away Kublai Khan.
In short, a battle has been fought, and it is time to make a covenant and reap the spoils...