Tibet

Deep in the distant ocean in the south, the Tang Dynasty expedition team completed its preliminary exploration of the southern continent. The two most important points of the preliminary exploration were rivers and the establishment of routes.

The river is the most important. It not only means fresh water, but also land for planting. The land of this southern continent is as vast as the Tang Dynasty. The expedition team cannot explore deeply at all and can only find a foothold along the coast.

After nearly a month of exploration, the expedition team found more than 30 rivers. These rivers are relatively short, but there are large tracts of fertile land on both sides of the rivers. If the Tang people migrated over, they could establish more than 30 settlements first, and then Explore gradually inland.

What is gratifying is that the land here is very suitable for growing wheat, and more importantly, they have determined that there are no natives on the southern continent. At least there are no natives in the settlements they found, and there is no trace of any human habitation.

Yang Liangyao ordered the erection of monuments to indicate that this place was the territory of the Tang Dynasty. They erected thirty-four monuments and left search marks.

To mark, you need to find a big stone on the seashore closest to the settlement, and paint it red to make it more eye-catching, so that the big stone can be seen on the sea.

After a busy month, the fleet set sail towards Titicaca Island. They would rest on Titicaca Island for more than ten days, and then continue to the southeast to find Nanda Island.

In February, Liaodong is full of spring, with gurgling water and green grass everywhere, full of vitality.

One hundred thousand Tang troops are already in place. Together with the 20,000 troops from the Liaoxi Dudufu and the 20,000 troops from the Liaodong Dudufu, a total of 140,000 troops are available for deployment.

In the Liucheng camp, Ma Lin stood in front of the sand table and was discussing the upcoming battle to annihilate Wei Wei with his deputy general Yu Changyang, Zhang Dian, the governor of western Liaoning, and Shi Weifeng, the governor of Yingzhou and the governor of western Liaoning.

Ma Lin said slowly: "Everyone, my biggest worry is that Xi Shiwei and Dashi Wei found that they could not compete with the Tang army and avoided fighting and moved westward. This would defeat our strategic intention of annihilating Shi Wei, which is the last thing the emperor wants. The emperor would rather Shi Wei stay in Liaoxi than go to the grassland Mobei. The emperor thinks that is like a fish in the sea, and it will be difficult to annihilate them all. "

Zhang Dian smiled slightly and said: "Wei Changshi has been dealing with Shiwei and Duohe Grassland. This question should be answered by Wei Changshi."

Ma Lin's eyes turned to Wei Feng again, and Wei Feng said modestly: "I actually know very little about Shiwei and the grassland. I'm afraid I will disappoint the commander in chief!"

Ma Lin waved her hand, "Wei Shijun, you're welcome, please speak frankly!"

"Okay! Then I will just say a few words."

Wei Feng pondered for a moment and said: "Shiwei's migration to the west was affected by two factors. The first was their own wishes, and the second was whether there was room for them on the grassland.

Putting aside personal wishes, let’s briefly talk about the location of the grassland. The places Shiwei people most want to visit are of course the Soling Water and Xian’e River basins where the grassland has the richest water and grass. It is the vegetable center of the grassland, but currently it belongs to the Uighur people. turf.

Although the Uighurs suffered a heavy blow when they invaded the Tang Dynasty, most of their troops were redeemed and their strength did not decrease, far surpassing that of Shiwei.

Therefore, Shi Wei in Cai Xin's land didn't even think about it. Even if Huihe was destroyed, it wouldn't be his turn. Kunjian, Sijie, Qiqin, Pugu, and Baryegu had already divided it up.

Next is the eastern grassland, one in the upper east and one in the lower east. In the upper east there are the Juluobo tribe and the Beyegu tribe. They may support Shi Wei, but they will never allow Shi Wei to occupy their pastures.

Then there is the lower east, which is also the Bayegu tribe and the Qibi tribe. The Qibi tribe in the southeast is the weakest, but the Sijie tribe will come and fight with us. The role of the Sijie army is to block the gap in the southeastern part of the grassland. .

Therefore, we analyze from the grassland. At present, the Shiwei tribe has no place to move westward. "

"Where's the Kulob tribe?"

Ma Lin asked: "It is said that the Juluobo tribe is relatively weak. Can they stop the Shiwei people from moving westward?"

Wei Feng smiled slightly and said: "The Juluobo tribe is very weak, but the commander-in-chief needs to understand why they are weak?"

"Want to hear the details!"

"The land occupied by the Kulob tribe is located to the east of the North Sea. Most of it is vast virgin forest with very few grasslands. It is covered with heavy snow for eight out of twelve months a year. I believe that such a land is Shiwei Wouldn’t want to.”

Ma Lin nodded, "It really doesn't make any sense!"

"What about the Shiwei people's own wishes?" Yu Changyang asked.

Wei Feng smiled slightly and said: "The Shiwei people are Donghu people. The Donghu people are a little different from the grassland Hu people. They settled down instead of migrating. Their parents were buried in the ground after their death, unlike the grassland Hu people who set fire to ashes. People in the grasslands choose cremation because they have no fixed place to live, so people in Shiwei are generally unwilling to leave the land where their ancestors are buried, and will only choose to move westward unless they really can’t survive.”

At this time, Zhang Dian said slowly: "I have been thinking about a question during this period. Is it possible for the Beyegu tribe to join forces with me to deal with the Shiwei tribe? Or to station troops and defend the Shiwei tribe westward?"

"Why did Governor Zhang suddenly have this idea?"

Zhang Dian said with a smile: "Last autumn, I met a group of ancient merchants from Baye. After chatting with them, I learned that they have two khans. They are actually brothers. They are of equal strength. No one can devour the other. They are called the Great Khan and the Little Khan. The Great Khan is more cautious and gentle, while the Little Khan is warlike and has close ties with Shi Wei. I am thinking about whether I can take advantage of this relationship? "

Ma Lin also laughed, "Did Governor Zhang send a clear signal to the other party?"

Zhang Dian nodded, "I asked the caravan to send a letter to the Great Khan. I guess there will be a reply in the spring!"

In the morning, a group of businessmen came to the official road outside the west city of Liucheng County, driving tens of thousands of fat sheep and a batch of medicinal materials. Although there were rumors that the Tang Army and Shi Wei were fighting, these businessmen did not take it to heart. For them, The more war there is, the more profitable it is, especially the sale of post-war loot, which is simply too cheap.

Last year, a businessman picked up hundreds of thousands of cow dung cakes discarded by the Tang army, transported them to Bayegu and sold them, making a lot of money. This incident was widely spread among businessmen and inspired countless businessmen to rush to Liaodong. , looking for business opportunities.

This group of merchants are ancient merchants from Beye. The leader is called Asa, who is an 'old man' in his forties. For Han people, a man in his forties is considered middle-aged, but in the grassland, the life span of ordinary people is only over forty years. , of course he is an old man.

They often travel between Liaodong and the grasslands. Do they know what the Tang army needs?

Fat sheep are what Tang Jun needs most, followed by medicinal materials. They basically sell them to Tang Jun. Although the price is not high, they sell quickly, collect money quickly, and there is still time to make another trip.

When they arrived in Liucheng County, the businessmen went to the military supplies purchase station, but the team leader Asa came to the Governor's Mansion.

After waiting for a while, a soldier led him into the government office. Soon, he met the governor Zhang Dian.

Asa was the ancient merchant from Beye who had a conversation with Zhang Dian last year, and Zhang Dian asked him to bring a message to the Great Khan. After winter passed, he came back again.

"See Governor Zhang!"

Zhang Dian smiled and said: "How about it, have you met your Great Khan?"

Asa took out a letter and handed it to Zhang Dian, "This is the Great Khan's reply!"

Zhang Dian took the letter and was surprised to see that it was written in Chinese. "Is this a reply written by your Great Khan?"

"Reply to the Governor, this is a reply from the Great Khan. He studied in Chang'an and is proficient in Chinese."

Zhang Dian took the letter, read it without haste, and asked, "Is there any other news you want to tell me?"

Asa quickly leaned forward and said: "Reporting to the Governor, there is indeed important news. Last winter, a tribe of the Little Khan escaped from the snowstorm and got lost and entered the territory of the Great Khan. The Little Khan asked to return it, but the Great Khan refused. It’s very possible that the two families are going to war.”

Zhang Dian nodded and asked, "Do they often go to war?"

Asa thought for a while and said: "I remember we fought three times, but we couldn't tell the winner. Later, with the mediation of the Pugu Department, both of them named themselves khan. They didn't fight after becoming khan, but this time We really want to start a war!"

"I see!"

Zhang Dian smiled again and asked, "Any other news?"

"There is another news. Before I came here, I heard that an envoy from the Sijie Department came to visit the Great Khan."

These messages are very important!

Zhang Dian asked Asa's inn address and asked Asa to go and get busy first.

Zhang Dian immediately ordered: "Go quickly and ask Ma Shuai and Wei Changshi to come to my place!"