Chastity Layman

"Duke Zhai Yang galloped for eight hundred miles, doubled the road, and captured Yanqi at night, magnificent!" Gao Shilian praised.

But Changsun Wuji was somewhat skeptical about the number of beheading seven thousand, "When Yan Qi was attached to the family earlier, he once presented the books. The city was no more than nine, the household was no more than four thousand, and the population was less than thirty thousand."

"The beheading of seven thousand people in this royal city means killing all the young and old in the city? Since the internal response has already been broken, there is really no need to slaughter the city."

Li Shimin smiled, but he explained to him, saying that when Yanqi was enclosing the booklets, it was true that there were nine cities with four thousand household registrations and three thousand soldiers.

But in fact, King Yanqi deliberately falsely reported the figures at the beginning. In fact, the Yanqi Kingdom had more than this large population when it was connected to the Western Regions in the Western Han Dynasty.

Yanqi covers an area of ​​600 miles, and occupies a very fertile oasis in the south of the Tianshan Mountains. Only the capital city of Yanqi, according to the previous report of the Governor's Mansion in the west of Zhenxi, is extremely large, in the north of the sea (Bosten Sea). On the east bank of the big river (Haidu River), there are mixed streams and surrounded by mountains, which is extremely dangerous and solid.

Its capital city is thirty miles away!

Of course, Yanqi King City, which has a circumference of 30 miles, cannot have a population of 10,000.

In contrast to the Gaochang Kingdom in the east, Datang has now completed the annexation and occupation of Gaochang, cleared the fields, registered the household registration population, and found out the actual population of Gaochang earlier, which is much larger than what they reported to Datang, even more than theirs There are also a large number of people with their own registered permanent residence.

The reason is also simple. The household registration is the household registration, and the population is the population. The population of the Tang Dynasty also includes the registered population and the non-registered population. The important towns on the Silk Road in the Western Regions such as Gaochang and Yanqi not only have a large number of mobile merchants, etc., but also have a large number of slaves, mercenaries, etc.

In fact, there were 7,000 registered households in the city of Yanqi, plus those who were not registered, there were actually tens of thousands of people in the city, so Guo Xiaoke beheaded 7,000 households, but did not massacre the city.

It was just that the anti-Tang soldiers and horses under King Long Tuqizhi, the Zhaowu Sogdian mercenaries he recruited, and the Western Turkic soldiers left in Yanqi were chopped off.

Basically cut it all off.

Guo Xiaoke admitted this very honestly, the reason is that these people are not often rebellious, so they must be killed to deter the Western Regions.

Guo Xiaoke beheaded 7,000 people, killing countless heads, which really greatly shocked the people of Yanqi. After breaking through the royal city, Guo Xiaoke asked Su Pozhun, Jiebi and other Yanqi kings to take Tang Qi to Zhucheng to surrender.

Cities surrendered one after another, and no one dared to resist.

Guo Xiaoke also stated that Su Pozhun was the governor of Yanqi, and used Su Pozhun's identity to help Datang control this newly returned Western Region country.

Then Guo Xiaoke asked the imperial court to formally set up the Yanqi Army. He left 1,000 soldiers and horses, and then recruited 2,000 people from Yanqi to form the Yanqi Army to stay behind. More than 20,000 people, including the royal family and those who were beheaded for resisting the Tang Dynasty, returned to Gaochang.

Guo Xiaoke planned to take these people back to Gaochang and then break up some of them and distribute them to various military towns in the Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty, while others were escorted back to the Central Plains.

"Guo Xiaoke made a mistake!"

"He shouldn't be in such a hurry to return to Gaochang, he should stay in Yanqi."

The son-in-law of King Long Tuqizhi of Yanqi is the younger brother of Yugushe's important minister Qu Lichu. Yugushe has established himself as Yipidulu Khan. He is now attacking the Zhaowu kingdoms who rebelled against him in the river. He is just on the way to attack Kangju , The United States was destroyed.

Although Yugushe was beaten from Mobei to the Western Regions by Xue Yantuo's barbarians, and was settled in the Jinshan area by the Tang Dynasty by relying on the Datang Tian Khan, but he was too ambitious and wanted to be the Great Khan of the Western Turks. I also want to marry Princess Datang.

If the emperor didn't allow it, he rebelled.

After the failure of the first rebellion, he fled to Hezhong, but after arriving in Hezhong, he was able to make a quick comeback. He also defeated the two Great Khans who were canonized by the Tang Dynasty, Tongru and his brother. A profuse sweat, still being pressed and beaten by him.

There is no one in the Western Turks, and they want to set up a hegemony, so many countries in the Western Regions such as Yanqi have switched to it.

Among the 7,000 people Guo Xiaoke killed, there were 1,000 Western Turkic soldiers who were Qu Lichu's subordinates.

Even the leader of the army was Qu Lichu's younger brother, the son-in-law who married Princess Yanqi, who was killed in this battle. Could it be that Qu Lichu didn't come here?

Therefore, Li Shimin believes that it is very good for Guo Xiaoke to take advantage of the once again powerful Yugu to set up a western expedition to Kangju, and choose the tactic of attacking Yanqi with only 3,000 fine horses. Suddenness is guaranteed.

He also got internal support from King Yanqi's younger brother, so this was a perfect beheading tactic, and he directly took down the king's city and captured the king alive.

But after the victory, Guo Xiaoke did nothing wrong by beheading 7,000 rebels and moving away the royal family of Yanqi and the families of the soldiers who were beheaded, but he did not need to personally escort the people back to Gaochang.

It is enough for Gaochang to have Hou Junji in charge, and Guo Xiaoke should continue to stay in Yanqi instead of handing over the newly acquired Yanqi to Su Pozhun. Although it is beneficial to use Su Pozhun who is close to the Tang Dynasty, but now he has to guard against Western Turks and Qiuci.

"Then quickly issue an order to Guo Xiaoke, let him return to Yanqi to guard, or transfer Hou Junji to guard? Then send more troops to enrich Yanqi's army?" Changsun said.

"It's nearly ten thousand miles away, and it will take a long time to pass it on a fast horse. I'm afraid it will be too late."

Since Qu Lichu didn't set up a western conquest of Kangju in the Valley of Desires, he would definitely come to fight for revenge after he found out that Yanqi was attacked and breached and his brother was killed.

"Now I am not only worried about Yanqi's loss, but also worried about Guo Xiaoke, who has less than 2,000 troops and is holding ten times as many Yanqi prisoners. If he is chased by Qu Li on the way, he will be in danger."

After thinking about it, the emperor decided to order Zhenxi to let Guo Xiaoke return to Yanqi. Although he may not be able to catch up with him, he will treat a dead horse as a living horse doctor.

On the other hand, the emperor decreed to send his brother-in-law Li Sheer, the captain-in-law who had shown incomparable bravery on the Liaodong battlefield, to the Western Regions.

Li Sheer is the son of Chuluo Khan, that is, Qin Guozhong's brother. He once guarded Mobei with Yugushe and was named Tuoshe. Later, he was driven to the Western Regions by Xue Yantuo together with Yugushe. Khan Futu City settled down.

Later, he insisted on attacking Xue Yantuo, recapturing Mobei, avenging his blood hatred, and wanting to set up a refusal to join him. Ashinasheer organized the Eastern Expeditionary Army to fight back to Mobei, and fought with Yinan for more than a hundred days, but no Win or lose.

As a result, Yugushe took the opportunity to occupy Ashinasheer's Khan Futu City in the rear, which led to the instability of the frontline army, and many troops withdrew without authorization, and finally Sheer was defeated.

But Khan Futu City was also occupied by Yugu, and Sheer was homeless, so he had to return to the Tang Dynasty. With Qin Guozhong's guarantee and introduction, Sheer was deeply liked by Li Shimin, and he served as the general of the Forbidden Army. After marrying the princess, he was named the county king in the end, which can be described as a winner in life.

And Li Shimin also once said that Ashina Simo, Zhishisili, Ashinasheer, and Qibi Heli were the four naturalized generals, and even compared them with the fierce general Xue Wanche, saying that they dumped Xue Wanche a few times. street.

On the Liaodong battlefield, these few generals did indeed perform outstandingly. Some scored 8 million, some broke 40,000. Killed.

Anyway, they are all first-class fierce people.

"She'er and Yugu are brothers. They used to guard Mobei, and there were old grievances back then. If I use She'er to go to the Western Regions, I will be able to make meritorious service!"

Sheer went to Mobei to seek revenge from the barbarian, but Yugushe not only refused to help, but also stabbed a knife in the back and took the opportunity to seize the land and seize the livestock. Sheer's tone was also remembered for many years.

Let him go to the Western Regions, and he will definitely have a deadly confrontation with Yugu.

The emperor adjusted the deployment of the Western Regions.

Hou Junji was still guarding Gaochang, serving as the governor of Xizhou and the military envoy of Tianshan, Guo Xiaoke was the history of the Governor's Mansion in the west of Zhenxi, and the governor of Yanqi, the military envoy of Yanqi, and Su Pozhun was the governor of Yanqi.

Li She'er, the commander-in-chief of the county king's son-in-law, was the general manager of the Kunqiu Road, the governor of Kucha Prefecture and the envoy of the Kucha army.

Kunqiu, that is, Kunlun Mountain, Li She'er's official title has added a marching officer, who is to be sent to personally defeat the Kucha Kingdom that has rebelled against the Tang Dynasty, and guard Kucha.

The emperor did not approve Guo Xiaoke's invitation to make Su Pozhun the governor of Yanqi. He no longer retained the governor's mansion of Yanqi.

This is the case with Gaochang, so will be the case with Kucha, and even after taking Kucha, it will be the same with Shule, Jutipo and other countries south of the Tianshan Mountains. The emperor has no patience to take his time. Just stop being polite.

Thoroughly reform the land and streams in the area south of the Tianshan Mountains, fully Sinicize the rule, and no longer give the opportunity to repeat it.

"She'er's trip is not only to win Kucha, but also to beware of Yibi Shekui Khan."

The eldest grandson was a little puzzled. Yibi Shekui Khan was the Western Turkic Khan who was just canonized by the Tang Dynasty.

His father, Yibishaboluo Yehu Khan Bobutqin, like his uncle Helishi Khan, was defeated by the self-reliant Yibidulu Khan Yugushe.

Compared with Yugushe, who is now powerful and making a comeback, Yipishekui Khan's power is much weaker. Only by being completely attached to the Tang Dynasty can he support under the oppression of Yugushe.

How dare he disagree with Datang?

"Why not? Aren't Gaochang, Yanqi, and Qiuci all ready-made examples, even Yugushe, didn't they surrender twice at the beginning?"

In today's Western Regions, forces from all directions coexist.

The Great Governor’s Mansion in the West of Datang Town where the dragon crossed the river, the self-supporting Yipidulu Khan Yugushe who made a comeback, and then the Yipishekui Khan who was conferred by the Tang Dynasty, and the other is the small countries in the Western Regions.

Yipi Dulu Khan and Yibi Shekui Khan belonged to the Ashina family, both Turkic people. Although they competed for the position of Khan, they were originally a family.

The Turks have controlled the Western Regions for many years. These years, they have been caught in internal strife, and the situation is not as good as before. But no matter who they are, they definitely want to restore their former glory and become the overlords of the Western Regions.

As for Datang, who doesn't know about Datang's ambitions?

That is almost already on the table. When the Tang Dynasty first came to the Western Regions, it only said that it was to open up the Silk Road. What it asked for was the respect of all parties in the Western Regions. All right, nothing else will interfere.

However, these years have completely changed. Troops have been sent to defeat Mohe Tuo Khan and Siyehu Khan successively. Khan et al.

They sent troops to wipe out Gaochang completely, and then turned to other countries such as Qiuci in the south of the Tianshan Mountains. The idea is already extremely clear.

Although Yibi Shekui Khan is relatively weak, he was also established by the Tang Dynasty. His father, and his two uncles and grandfathers, the three generations of Khans, were also registered by the Tang Dynasty. I also want to get rid of Datang's control, and I also want to restore the glory of my ancestors.

If there is an Eastern Turkic people in Yugu, why can they be defeated in the Western Regions and rise again?

That's because the banner he played was anti-Tang, to drive out the Tang people in the Western Regions, and to restore the glory of the Turkic overlord of the Western Regions.

So the tribes of the Western Turks are very active about this. They used to be the masters of the Western Regions. Now that the Tang people have come and they have become subjects, these Turkic people are naturally not very happy. They always want to give it a try if they have a chance.

Everyone is in their own interest.

Just like Gaochang, Yanqi, Kucha and other countries in the Western Regions, they also want to preserve them and are not willing to be annexed.

It was okay when the Tang Dynasty ruled Gaochang and other countries before, and there was still room for both sides. After the Tang Dynasty wiped out Gaochang forcefully, even the pro-Tang Western Turkic tribes began to be vigilant.

Now that Tang Dynasty destroys Yanqi again, the next one is Kucha, and what comes next?

Will Datang stop after taking over the south of the Tianshan Mountains?

After the Tang Dynasty fully entered the Western Regions, is there still room for the Western Turks to survive?

In other words, the current situation of the former grassland overlord East Turkic is a lesson for them. Datang has already completely canceled the title of Eastern Turkic, and Eastern Turkic has completely perished.

That's why Li Shimin said that not only should we guard against Qu Lichu, who stayed at home in Yugu, but also against Yiduo Shekui Khan, who might attack Yanqi or Qiuci.

This kind of sober cognition can be said to fully demonstrate the vision of Li Shimin, the emperor on horseback.

In the face of absolute interests, there are no absolute allies.

Because of interests, friends can become enemies, and enemies can also become allies.

"I have been in battle for a long time, and I am quite accurate in predicting the situation on the battlefield. Since I have sent troops this time, I have to solve some fundamental problems."

"If Yanqi is captured by the Turks before She'er goes to the Western Regions, don't attack Yanqi and Qiuci first, but first gather the soldiers and horses of the Western Regions, gather all the tribes, and first attach to Yugushe and nomadic at the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains. The two tribes of Yue and Chumi were wiped out first, and the heads of these two tribes are vacillating at both ends, and rebellion is not frequent. If our army marches into Kucha and Yanqi, Gaochang may be attacked by them, and they must be eliminated first."

Eliminate Chuyue and Chumi, stabilize the rear, and attack Yanqi and Qiuci soon.

And if Yanqi is not lost after Sheer arrives in the Western Regions, first stabilize Yanqi, then attack the second division of Yuechumi, and then attack Kucha after the second division is settled.

The emperor thought this order was very important.

One wrong step may result in a wrong move.

"The situation in the Western Regions is very complicated now. We must be very careful in every step, and we must not make mistakes, otherwise all previous efforts will be wasted."