Xianxia version of Water Margin

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New Year's Day one year later.

Just as the people of Yuan Dadu of the Yuan Empire were celebrating the New Year happily, this joy was further enhanced by a piece of good news from the north.

The good news was that the Wanggu tribe announced its allegiance to the Yuan Empire.

The history of the Wanggu tribe can be traced back to the Huichang period of the Tang Dynasty, when the Uighurs were defeated by the Kyrgyz. One of their tribes moved south and settled in the Yinshan area, gradually forming the predecessor of the Wanggu tribe.

The nobles of these tribes, like the Gaochang Uighurs, respected Buguo Kehan ​​as their ancestor and passed it down from generation to generation.

As time went by, the Wanggu tribe and the Shatuo tribe led by Li Keyong had an indissoluble bond. The integration of some Shatuo people made the Wanggu tribe regard themselves as descendants of Li Keyong, the "King of Jin", and the "Shatuo Yanmen Jiedu".

In the torrent of history, the Wanggu tribe successively surrendered to the Liao Dynasty and the Jin Dynasty, and each change was accompanied by cultural exchanges and integration.

They absorbed the Uighurs from the Western Regions, the Khitans who died in Liao, and the neighboring Han and Xixia people.

The blood of these different ethnic groups converged into the unique cultural landscape of the Wanggu tribe.

However, in the northern desert, the rise of the Tatars made all the grassland ethnic groups named "Tatar", and the Wanggu tribe was no exception.

Therefore, during the Liao and Jin dynasties, they were more often called "White Tatars" to distinguish them from the Tatars or Black Tatars of the Mongolian language family.

This title not only reflects their uniqueness, but also reflects the complex ethnic relations at that time.

The surrender of the Wanggu tribe this time was not only an important expansion of the territory of the Yuan Empire, but also another milestone in the conquest of the grassland by the Yuan Empire.

What is particularly striking is that the Wanggu tribe also brought a generous gift - the Jin people of Wanyan Chang's tribe.

This move undoubtedly added a strong touch to the unification of the Yuan Empire.

It is said that the Wanggu tribe has a deep connection with Wanyan Chang.

As early as the Jin Dynasty, Wanyan Chang conquered the Wanggu tribe and established a deep connection with it.

Moreover, Wanyan Chang's wife was the eldest daughter of Alawusiqijihuli, the king of Beiping in the Wanggu tribe.

However, things are unpredictable. As the struggle between the pro-war and pro-peace factions in the Jin Dynasty became increasingly fierce, Wanyan Chang was able to escape Jin Wushu's pursuit because of his extraordinary agility.

However, this also made Wanyan Chang lose everything in the Jin Dynasty.

There was no way, Wanyan Chang could only wander on the grassland with thousands of people in his tribe.

On the eve of the decisive battle between Yuan and Jin, in order to stabilize the morale of the army, Jin Wushu ordered the families of all the participating soldiers to be sent to Shangjing City as hostages. Once defeated, he would let the daredevil kill everyone in the city and burn the city to die for the country.

This cruel decision completely angered the Wanggu people. They originally fought to support Wanyan Chang, not Jin Wushu.

Therefore, in the face of Jin Wushu's distrust and cruel methods, there were many unruly people in the Wanggu tribe. They decided to lead their families to escape in anger.

However, Jin Wushu did not show mercy. He decisively ordered the massacre of the men of the Wanggu tribe who supported the Jin Dynasty, and rewarded the women to the Tatar tribe.

These women were eventually sent to Shangjing City, waiting for an unknown fate.

After the defeat of the Jin army, Yuwen Xuzhong and others in Shangjing City rebelled against the Jin Dynasty and surrendered to the Yuan Dynasty. Most of these women of the Wanggu tribe fell into the hands of Jiang Hongfei, and some entered the harem, or were assigned to the soldiers of the Yuan army.

After Wanyan Chang learned about the experience of the Wanggu tribe, he resolutely led his people to surrender to the Wanggu tribe.

At this time, the Yuan Empire was at its peak. Jiang Hongfei sent many envoys such as Ma Zhi and Ma Kuo to the four directions to declare the majesty and determination of the Yuan Dynasty: "Those who obey me will prosper, and those who resist me will perish."

At the same time, Jiang Hongfei dispatched famous generals such as Yue Fei to the north to prepare for the expedition against the grassland tribes.

After quelling the rebellion in the northeast, Yue Fei was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the Western Expedition Army, and he and Zhang Jun jointly prepared the plan to march westward to the grassland.

Li Gang, Zhao Ding and other important officials were appointed as the Northern Envoys and Envoys. They used various means such as politics, economy, diplomacy and military to try to divide, disintegrate and conquer the grassland tribes in order to eliminate all the hidden dangers of the Yuan Empire in the north.

However, the expansion of the Yuan Empire was not smooth sailing.

The existence of Western Xia made it temporarily impossible for the Yuan Empire to completely control the Hexi Corridor and the areas to the west. For the remote and sparsely populated northwest grassland area, the power of the Yuan Empire was still insufficient.

But even so, the Yuan Empire did not stop its pace of advancement.

They first set their sights on several grassland tribes near the northeast region, especially the Wanggu tribe.

This is mainly because the area controlled by the Wanggu tribe is the only way for the Yuan Empire to move westward to the grassland. Without taking down the Wanggu tribe, the Yuan Empire's conquest of the grassland can only be empty talk.

Therefore, Jiang Hongfei sent Ma Zhi and Ma Kuo to the Wanggu tribe a long time ago.

After Ma Zhi and Ma Kuo arrived at the territory of the Wanggu tribe, this envoy, who was once known for his compromise diplomacy in the Zhao Song Dynasty, showed unprecedented determination and toughness at this moment.

Ma Zhi looked directly at the leader of the Wanggu tribe and demanded that they hand over Wanyan Chang and his tribe, unconditionally surrender to the Yuan Empire, and accept all kinds of changes under the rule of the Yuan Empire: change Chinese names, wear Chinese clothes, learn Chinese characters, etc.

Ma Zhi's voice echoed in the empty tent with unquestionable majesty: "If the Wanggu tribe insists on resisting, our Yuan cavalry will sweep in like a storm, leaving no grass, no tree, no man, and no animal."

Ma Zhi's words were like ice in winter, making every Wanggu tribe member present feel an unprecedented sense of oppression.

And Ma Kuo, with his unique gentleness and wisdom, played the role of easing the atmosphere.

He spoke slowly, with a hint of unquestionable firmness in his voice: "My Dayuan's determination to unify the grasslands is as unshakable as a rock. As the first tribe to face this choice, the Wanggu Tribe, your decision will become The benchmark for all grassland tribes. Surrender means peace and prosperity; resistance means only destruction and demise."

Ma Kuo further described the beautiful vision after the surrender: "If the Wanggu tribe understands current affairs, they will no longer be burdened by the division between Han and Hu, and your people will be free from hunger and harassment. My emperor promises to use his daughter's money to The sincerity of buying horse bones will move you to a prosperous land and grant you many preferential policies, such as tax exemptions, allotment of fertile land, and free houses, which will make your life completely new.”

However, the leader of the Wanggu tribe, Alagosi Tijihuli, was full of contradictions and struggles.

He was well aware of the power and irresistibility of the Yuan Empire, but he could not let go of the tribal glory and freedom that had been passed down from generation to generation.

That night, he wandered alone on the grassland, looking at the stars in the sky, with mixed feelings in his heart.

At this moment, the scout's urgent report was like a bolt from the blue, breaking the tranquility of the grassland.

Niu Gao and Zhang Xian, the generals of the Yuan Empire, each led an army of 50,000, and were rapidly approaching Wang Gu's tribe.

This news is like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples.

Alago Sitiji suddenly knew that the dark cloud of war had already shrouded the Wanggu tribe.

He quickly summoned the wise men in his ministry to discuss countermeasures.

Faced with the strong threat from the Yuan Empire, serious differences of opinion emerged among the Wang Gu tribe.

Some people advocate surrender in order to protect themselves, while others insist on fighting to the end and defend the dignity and freedom of the tribe to the death.

At this critical moment, Alagustijihuli decided to personally question Ma Zhi and Ma Kuo.

Full of anger and unwillingness, he walked into their tent.

As soon as they met, he asked sternly: "Your dynasty claims to be a country of etiquette, but it ignored the friendship between the two countries and took the lead in raising troops to invade. May I ask, why did the Yuan army come here?"

When Ma Zhi heard this, he just smiled faintly and replied: "Khan's words are wrong. Our Yuan Empire sent troops not without reason. It's just because your army did not listen to the advice and insisted on being an enemy of our Yuan Dynasty. We are waiting for this trip, first be polite and then send troops. It’s to save the lives of everyone in your department.”

Ma Kuo took over and continued to exert pressure: "The reason why the imperial court sent a large army was because it suspected that Khan was using a delaying strategy and intending to rebel. For the sake of the overall situation, the imperial court had to strike preemptively. I hope Khan will think twice before acting. Self-mistake.”

Facing the pressing steps of Ma Zhi and Ma Kuo, Alago Sitiji suddenly became furious. He threatened loudly: "How can you scare the eagle on the grassland? If you don't give me a satisfactory answer, you will never leave this place alive!"

However, Ma Zhi and Ma Kuo were not moved at all.

Ma Kuo even calmly replied: "If your department is unwilling to surrender, our Great Yuan Heavenly Soldiers will come. By then, whether your department can be preserved depends on God's will."

Ma Zhi even said bluntly: "We have put life and death aside during this trip. If the whole family of your family is buried with you, we will die without regrets."

As soon as these words came out, the entire camp fell into a dead silence.

Alagusti Jihuli was shocked by the decisiveness between Ma Zhi and Ma Kuo. He had never seen such an envoy who was not afraid of death.

He knew very well that continuing to resist would only accelerate the demise of the Wanggu tribe.

So, he fell into deep meditation.

At this time, the wise man from the Wanggu tribe who was eavesdropping outside came in and whispered to Alago Sitijihuli: "The envoy is so tough. If the Yuan army comes, how can our family be spared? Why don't we surrender?" , to save the lives of the people.”

When Alagosi Tiji suddenly heard the words, his heart felt as if the river was turning upside down.

After a while, Alago Sitiji suddenly sighed deeply, and immediately issued an order to tie up the Wanyanchang people who had been closely monitored by the Wanggu tribe for a long time. Then they carefully prepared a feast, especially Inviting Ma Zhi and Ma Kuo was intended to express the Wanggu tribe's willingness to submit to the Yuan Empire and its promise to obey all its arrangements unconditionally.

More importantly, he also gave three of his beloved daughters to Jiang Hongfei, including the one who had entered the Wanyanchang family, together with a hundred stunning beauties from the Wang Gu tribe, to show his sincerity.

After Jiang Hongfei heard the news, he immediately dispatched Li Gang, Zhao Ding, Liu Yanzong, Shi Liai and other important ministers to carefully layout Wang Gu's tribe, dividing it into ten parts, leaving only one part in place, and placed it directly with the Xuanfu Department in the north and Under the supervision of the Northern Expeditionary Army, the remaining nine tribes moved far inland and were dispersed as a precaution.

Within ten days, members of the Jin clan including Wanyanchang, Wanyan Youdai and their son Wanyanwudabu, as well as their family members, were escorted to Dadu of the Yuan Dynasty.

The royal family and clan members of the Jin Kingdom of the Wanyanchang tribe were imprisoned in Wanguo City as usual, and the daughters of the royal family and clan members were sent to Jiang Hongfei's harem.

Although those men in the Wanyanchang tribe who were not members of the royal family or clan were spared from death, they were sent to the railway construction site and reformed through hard labor, becoming the "lucky ones" among the Jurchens.

The reason why Jiang Hongfei was open to the Jurchens from Wanyanchang's tribe was that although Wanyanchang was one of the war criminals who invaded the Zhao and Song Dynasty in history, he was one of the architects of the Jingkang shame, and he also forcibly married Princess Rongde. Zhao Jinnu. But after being defeated by Zhao Li, he turned to become the peace advocate within the Jin Kingdom. There were even rumors that he had secretly helped the Southern Song Dynasty and returned some of the lost land. He was considered a pretty good figure among the Jurchens...

As an emperor, Jiang Hongfei could not always keep an eye on Wan Yanchang, a little Kalami.

In fact, as soon as Wan Yanchang was sent to Dadu in the Yuan Dynasty, Wu Jie gave Jiang Hongfei the "Pingxia Ce".

Wu Jie's "Pingxia Ce" is sharp and pointed at the problem of barbarians in the north. The nomadic people come and go without a trace like ghosts, making a living by plundering. The Central Plains dynasties were repeatedly disturbed by them, and had to exchange relatives and pay tribute for a few moments. Peace, this is undoubtedly a scar that is difficult to heal in the hearts of Chinese people.

"Your Majesty, you are wise and powerful, surpassing the Han, Wu and Tang sects. If you cannot eradicate this trouble in the north, future kings may no longer have the ambition to expedition, and the great legacy of the Yuan Dynasty may be cast into a shadow for thousands of generations.

Therefore, this battle is not only related to the peace of the world, but also to laying a foundation for future generations. It should not be taken lightly.

Our Yuan Dynasty has a vast territory. From the west of Chang'an, the Hexi Corridor stretches for thousands of miles, leading to the Western Regions in the west and Tubo in the south. It is vast and boundless. Its richness and magnificence are no less than those of our Central Plains.

The Hexi Corridor is the throat from the Central Plains to the Western Regions, and it is also the key to curbing the epidemic.

Without this place, the Hulu could freely shuttle between the Mongolian Plateau and the Central Plains, intruding arbitrarily.

If we want to restore the glory of the Han and Tang dynasties and renew our old friendship with the Western Regions and the countries west of Congling, the Hexi Corridor is even more indispensable.

The names of these four counties, Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiuquan and Dunhuang, carry the ambition of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty to expand the territory and demonstrate the courageous, open and inclusive spirit of our Chinese people. They are not only important military towns, but also hubs for cultural dissemination and exchange. How can they be allowed to be occupied by a small country like Dangxiang for a long time..."

Jiang Hongfei knew very well that behind Wu Jie's "Pingxia Policy", there might be hidden the ambition of the soldiers of the Northwest Army who were unwilling to be left behind and eager to make contributions. After witnessing the great achievements of the Northeast Army, they were naturally unwilling to be left alone and wanted to prove their strength with the battle of Xixia.

Jiang Hongfei further realized that Wu Jie might still have the ambition to rival Yue Fei and seal the wolf as his master.

However, reason told him that what Wu Jie said was true. Xixia was not only a military threat to Dayuan, but also a major diplomatic and strategic obstacle.

The Hexi Corridor, the diplomatic lifeline of the Chinese nation, once controlled by Xixia, would be like being strangled by the throat. Without seizing this place, it would be impossible to cut off the retreat of the grassland tribes, let alone to nip the potential threat of Mongolia in the cradle.

Jiang Hongfei knew very well that the Dayuan Empire not only wanted to become a sea power, but also a land hegemon. He conceived a grand blueprint: using the railway as a link, closely connecting the northwest of the Yuan Dynasty with the Western Regions, Central Asia, and West Asia, forming a new land Silk Road, influencing and even controlling the countries along the road from the land, and revitalizing the Han and Tang Dynasties. Magnificent.

Although the Yuan Empire was strong, it was still insufficient compared to the prosperous Han and Tang Dynasties. Especially in the reconstruction of the Overland Silk Road, Dayuan still needs to work hard.

Looking back at history, the prosperity of the Silk Road witnessed the glory of the Han and Tang Dynasties. Tang Taizong Li Shimin was revered as the "Khan of Heaven" for pacifying the Eastern Turks. Tang Gaozong Li Zhi even destroyed the Western Turks and established the Protectorate, which brought unprecedented prosperity to the Silk Road.

However, after the Anshi Rebellion, the Silk Road gradually declined. By the Song Dynasty, it was completely interrupted due to the southward shift of the political center and military weakness.

If the Yuan Empire could not recover Xixia and restore the overland Silk Road, how could it compare itself to the Han and Tang Dynasties? Why is it different from Zhao and Song?

Therefore, although Wu Jie's "Pingxia Ce" has complex motives, it plays into Jiang Hongfei's ambitions.

Jiang Hongfei immediately summoned Wu Jie, Wu Lin, Liu Qi and other northwest army generals to Beijing to discuss the plan to recover Xixia...

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