Chapter 193: The soldiers come to the five cities

‘In the summer, the vegetation of the country is growing. Horses and birds are flying, and the sky is poor and the sunset is setting. The new guru will be launched. In September, there will be two million soldiers. The golden light will fall. The flag will be raised to browse Kunlun, and the drums will be used to boost Puchang. Taibai will lead the official army, and the power of the sky will be facing the great wilderness.’

Beiting in September has entered a season of alternating cold and warmth. The sun is toxic during the day, and the north wind blows everywhere at night, making the cold air rush.

Early this morning, the sun rose, and the sun in the east rose from the white mist, smearing the Yuegong City and the surrounding woods with a golden color. Afar, an army came from the edge of the forest. There were about 3,000 Tang troops, each with bright armor and bright swords and bows, and behind the tall horses were armoured with military blankets and sleeping bags.

Li Qing'an is located in the middle of the team. He set out from the tenth day of September. After a seven-day march, he is about to arrive at the destination of the march: Yuegong City.

On the surface, he was a routine patrol, with a small number of troops, only three thousand cavalrymen, but if the forces of the newly built five cities were added, Li Qing'an's troops deployed north of Saiye had exceeded 18,000, which was enough for him to launch a battle.

The dispatch of troops to Yuegong City was decided on the night of the tenth day of September. That night he received a pigeon letter from the Han and Tanghui in Chang'an. The court had officially approved Gao Xianzhi to use troops to the Imperial Army. This was the signal that he sent troops to Saiye.

In fact, since May, he has been actively preparing for the war and stationed the recruits in the three states. The main force of Beiting gradually moved to the new five cities in the form of a replacement defense. By mid-August, there were already 15,000 troops stationed in the new five cities, and there were also a large amount of food and military supplies that were passed by with the soldiers. The food stored in Fengming City alone was enough for 10,000 troops to eat for a year.

Yuegong City was originally a small city. In a sense, it was more like a large fortress, which could only accommodate up to 600 people. However, its unique geographical location made Li Qing'an choose it as the first of the five cities. Yuegong City is located on a cliff north of Cheling. It has a high terrain, easy to defend and difficult to attack. After several months of construction by thousands of craftsmen, Yuegong City has expanded five times more than before. Not only that, four sub-cities have been built around, so that the Crescent Yuegong City can hide 8,000 soldiers.

In addition to Yuegong City, Fengming City, Longwei City, Baiseok and Yibo City were built in turn northwest, like a string of pearls, distributed on the thousands of miles of grasslands and Gobi. The farthest is Yibo City, built close to Yibo Sea.

At this moment, the army was marching among the mountains of Cheling and heading west along the Yili Valley. This was a difficult road. It crossed the mountains and ridges all the way, and from Beiting to Shuye, then headed to Talas seven hundred miles westward. This is the northern line of the famous Silk Road. Since the Han and Tang Dynasties, this road has been filled with exchanges of wealth and culture between the East and the West, and followed the sound of camel bells and continued to the distant West.

After walking through this woods and climbing a high hill ahead along a stream, Yuegong City can be vividly remembered. Li Qing'an put his hands on the curtain and looked at a cliff south. There was a beacon tower of the Tang army on the cliff. He saw three pillars of smoke ignited from the beacon tower. This was the news that the army was coming.

"Please look!" A soldier pointed to Gaogang in the distance and saw a group of small black dots appear on the hill, about a hundred people.

Li Qing'an's eyesight is beyond ordinary people. He has seen that the black spots are all Tang army cavalry, and they should have come to greet him from Yuegong City.

The cavalry also discovered them, rushed down the hills, and rushed to them in a moment. The leader was Li Fei Yuanli, the lord of Yuegong City.

Li Fei Yuanli was originally a military envoy of the Hanhai Army. As the main force of the Beiting Army moved westward, he also came to Yuegong City as the chief general. At present, there are 6,000 troops stationed in Yuegong City, all of which are the original Hanhai Army.

Li Fei Yuanli stepped forward to pay tribute: "I will meet the envoy with Li Fei Yuanli."

Seeing that there was a small black green on his right forehead, which was quite fresh, Li Qingan smiled and said, "Is your wife also in the city?"

Li Fei Yuan Li Lai married Shi Sanniang shortly afterwards. At first, the couple was in love, and they were in a similar position. But a few months later, Shi Sanniang gradually revealed the other side of the not-so-gentle. She strictly controlled Li Fei Yuan Li, not allowed to drink alcohol, and not allowed to enter brothels. She established several family rules. Shi Sanniang also had a lot of tricks to clean up Li Fei Yuan Li, who was brave and fierce, and she was obedient. Li Fei Yuan Li had multiple bags on her head and her dough was caught and gradually became commonplace. At first, everyone laughed at him, but later she became commonplace.

Seeing that Li Qing'an's eyes were so vicious, Li Fei Yuanli couldn't help but curse, and could only say with a bitter face: "She tossed me all night and went to Fengming City early in the morning."

Li Qingan smiled slightly, stopped making fun of him, and asked, "Have you received the order I sent?"

"The humble position has been received, the army has been prepared and can set off at any time."

"Okay! Take a day off, and tomorrow morning, the army gathers in Fengming City."

Half an hour later, the army entered Yuegong City, which is today's Horgos. There are mountains covered with snow all year round and large plateau meadows. Since ancient times, it has been the main throat on the Silk Road. Yuegong City was originally a place for merchants to walk and rest, but with the rise of Tuqi Shiren, Yuegong City gradually became a military center to defend Tuqi Shiren.

Yuegong City is not all stationed by troops. Among the four sub-cities, there is a sub-city built on a low hill for commercial use. There are more than 100 merchants in the city, most of which are inns and brothels. Soldiers can also go after they are approved.

The soldiers all went into the city to rest, but Li Qing'an stood on the castle and looked into the distance. The castle was towering, as if looking down from the clouds. In the distance, you could see the endless plateau meadow, which was like a washing of blue sky, and huge white clouds floated in the air. On the grassland, you could faintly see a white tent, and there were huge haystacks beside the tent. The nearby herders were cutting autumn grass to prepare for the winter.

This is Horgos. A thousand three hundred years later, this place is called the Oriental Bridgehead. Li Qing'an looked at this land with some emotion. He had been here in his previous life, and neither the mountains nor the grasslands changed.

"It's so fucking like a dream?" Li Fei Yuanli sighed loudly beside him.

Li Qingan glanced at him and smiled, "Why does it look like a dream?"

Li Fei Yuanli sighed, "Every time I stand here, I will think of the fortress I used to be. Lao Li had only fifty people under him, but in just over three years, Lao Li led 6,000 people, which was absolutely unexpected three years ago."

"What you can't imagine is the nameless boy who was rescued by you and fed the horses, but he actually became your boss, right!"

"That's right, I knew people with keen eyes and promoted you to be the chief of fire."

Li Fei Yuanli scratched his head and asked with a smile: "Where are you from? I am still confused now. I believed you were from Luoyang, but now it seems that you are not."

"I don't know where I am from, and I have been wandering around since I was a child."

Li Qingan sighed softly and smiled bitterly: "Maybe I am really a broken Ye Han."

"You? The Ye Han people." Li Fei Yuanli looked at him in confusion.

"The Ye Han people should be able to speak Turkic language, but you learned it later."

"I don't know, don't ask."

At this time, Li Qingan suddenly saw a team of camel business trip coming from afar. He smiled at Li Fei Yuanli and said, "Go and have a look!"

This is a Sogdian caravan from Kangguo. He traveled thousands of miles to the Tang Dynasty. Their numbers were not large, only more than 200 camels and about 100 merchants. It was considered a medium-sized caravan. From a distance, they had already arrived at Yuegong City. The merchants urged the camels to speed up the speed.

"Uncle, there is an army coming in front of you."

A businessman was sharp-eyed and saw a team of cavalry running towards this side. The merchants slowed down the camel speed one after another. The leader of the caravan was Toto, an experienced old businessman. After seeing the visit for a moment, he waved his hand to everyone and said, "Don't be afraid, it's the Tang army."

The Hu merchants were not afraid of the Tang army, but were afraid of the Tuqi Shi people, especially the Black surname Tuqi Shi people on the south side of the Shayeye, who were plundering. In recent years, their great chief Dumozhi was indulged, and the Tuqi Shi people even more violently killed people and robbed people, which made fewer and fewer Hu merchants from Anxi to the Tang Dynasty, and most of them chose to enter the Tang Dynasty from the northern line.

From the northern line to enter the Tang Dynasty, Yuegong City was their first level to enter the Tang Dynasty.

In a moment, five hundred Tang army cavalry rushed over and surrounded the caravans, and the merchants were crowded together nervously.

The team separated, Li Qing'an and Li Fei Yuanli urged to step forward, and Li Qing'an asked in Turkic words: "Who are you? Where did you come from?"

The old businessman urged the throne to step forward and saluted respectfully, "General, I am the leader, I came from the city of Kangguosamma."

"I'll ask you, you've come all the way east, but don't you come to the city after passing Ashi?"

"Pass! Pass!"

“When did it pass?”

"Report to General, ten days ago."

"What changes will happen if Ashi doesn't come to the city? I mean the army. Have you added the army or have the inspection strictly investigated?"

"Well! It's an increase in the army. When we came here, we encountered a Shiguo army of nearly 10,000 people. Moreover, Ashi didn't come to the city and checked it very strictly, especially for the Han people. This was not the case before. I heard that it started in the last month."

Li Qing'an nodded and asked with a smile: "Is the Great Food Civil War over?"

"It's not over yet. Abbas, the leader of the black, promised that as long as we help him fight, he would allow us to restore the original Zorocratic religion after the war was won, so many people in Kang Country went to the war. I heard that the war was about to end.

"I see!"

Li Qing'an bowed and smiled, "You guys go!" There's nothing wrong."

The Tang army made a way out, and the merchants urged the camels to go to Yuegong City. Li Qing'an turned around and said with a smile: "It seems that the people of Shi are also ready to attack Saiye, Humph! They thought of it with us."

The next morning, Li Qing'an left only a thousand people to guard Yuegong City, and the remaining eight thousand troops marched towards Fengming City.

Fengming City is located on the north bank of the Yili River, two hundred miles away. It is also built on the mountain. It is tall and sturdy, easy to defend and difficult to attack. Since it is closest to Suye City, it has become the logistics headquarters of the Western Expedition Beiting Army, with 3,000 troops garrisoned.

Fengming City not only stores a large amount of food and military supplies, but also has a new institution here, that is, the Beiting Army Western Expedition Hospital. If the Tang army who attacked Ye was injured, after bandage on the spot, they would be sent to Fengming City for healing and recuperation.

Not only are there 100 military doctors here, but also the garrison of the female guards of the Beiting Army. Establishing field hospitals and female guards with the army has become one of the biggest characteristics of the Beiting Army. In the era of cold weapons, most soldiers would not die on the spot, but more died of injuries and excessive bleeding. In the Battle of Chiling, Li Qing'an successfully established a female guards. After coming to Beiting, he recruited 500 strong women from his military family and established a female guards. Li Fei Yuanli's wife Shi Sanniang was the first lieutenant of the female guards.

Two days later, Li Qing'an led a large army to Fengming City. At this time, Fengming City was already a gathering of wind and clouds. In addition to Yuegong City, the troops from the other three cities also arrived one after another in the past two days. The Tang army had gathered 15,000 people.

Fengming City could not accommodate so many troops. The Tang army, who arrived early, set up camp next to the city, dug deep trenches, erected thick fences, and tents were neatly distributed, and the barracks were orderly.

The arrival of the main force of the Tang army made the barracks particularly lively. Han Zhi, the governor of Yizhou who had just come from Longwei City, and Shatuo generals Zhu Xie Jinzhong and Zhu Xie Shengyi came out together.

"The envoy is the last one to arrive. Use tea instead of wine, and you will be fined three cups first!" Han Zhi smiled and punched Li Qingan.

Li Qingan held his hand and smiled, "I came from thousands of miles away. I can't compare to you, so I'll come from nearby."

He nodded at Zhu XieJianzhong and smiled, "When did General Jinzhong arrive?"

Three thousand people in Shatuo Camp were stationed in Longwei City and Beise City respectively. They were controlled by Han Zhi, the governor of Yizhou. Zhu Xie Jinzhong hurriedly said: "Report to the general, you will arrive early this morning."

"Okay! Everyone rest for an hour first. After one hour, all officers above Guoyi Captain will come to my tent to gather."

The soldiers entered the camp to rest. At this time, Han Zhi stepped forward and whispered to Li Qing'an: "I just received news from the scouts. Shiguo may also attack Ye."

Li Qingan glanced at him. The news should be that Li Fei Shouyu from Fengming City came to report to him. Which scout did he receive?

Li Qingan didn't ask much and smiled and said, "When we came, we met a team of Hu Shang, and I also got news from them. It's so lively now."

At this time, Li Fei Shouyu brought Bai Xiaode and Bai Xiaojie's brothers came up to him, and said apologetically from afar: "Eunuch, I am dealing with camping. It's too late to welcome me. Please forgive me."

"What's wrong with the tent? Isn't it enough?"

"No! No! It's Shatuo Camp that must insist on living together. They have too many people. I originally divided them into two places."

"I mean to let the Shatu live together."

Han Zhi next to him hurriedly told Li Qing'an: "My mother is from Shatu, so I know that Shatu people gather and live together, and are generally unwilling to live separately. Please let you understand their customs."

Li Qingan smiled, "This is just a small matter. Besides, we will only stay in the camp for two days at most."

Han Zhi was shocked, "Will you use troops so soon?"

"Soldiers are very fast. The reason why I deployed five cities in advance is to seize the initiative before the other party discovers our strategic intentions. If everything is arranged slowly, what's the point of building five cities?"

When Han Zhi heard Li Qing'an's tone was a little stern, he couldn't help but wipe the sweat from his forehead and said, "It's because Bei Zhi has thought it simple."

"It's nothing, Governor Han will do it first! I have to discuss some military affairs with Shouyu."

Li Qing'an sent Han Zhi away, and he immediately asked Li Fei Shouyu and said, "What's going on? Why did this Han Zhi send a scout?"

Li Fei Shouyu smiled bitterly and said, "I was about to report this to you. I just learned that Han Zhi secretly sent a scout to Ashibu City a month and a half ago to investigate. As a result, the scout was caught, exposing the situation of the troops stationed in Longwei City. Therefore, the Shi Kingdom launched a large-scale increase in Ashibu City, just to seize the Broken Leaf before the Tang army."

Li Qingan was furious, "What do he want to do this bastard?"

"If I guess correctly, he should want to win the credit. He wants to be ahead of you and lead the headquarters to take Ashi Bulai City first."

"He dreams!"
To be continued...