On the advice of Ugqi Hashha, Handu led the army to march south along the plain.
At the same time, Han Du also guessed why the Timur Empire only paid tribute once and then stopped paying tribute to the Ming Dynasty.
This is obviously because Timur's mentality changed after his strength increased dramatically. In addition, he slaughtered all directions in Central Asia and destroyed countless countries. No one was his opponent. So he took it for granted that the Ming Dynasty, which used to be a giant in his eyes, might not be anything more than that now.
In this case, Timur would certainly no longer be willing to recognize the status of the Ming Dynasty as the suzerainty, and he would no longer send people to pay tribute.
As for where the Ming Dynasty’s mission went, why was there no news from two missions in succession? It was obviously detained by Timur. Now in the entire Western Region, only Timur's empire has the courage to detain the Ming Dynasty's mission.
If it wasn't him, who else could it be?
...
Also inside and outside.
This was the capital of the Eastern Chagatai Khanate a few years ago, but since Timur drove away the three sons of the old Khan and annexed the Eastern Chagatai Khanate into the Timur Empire, it has been lost. acquired the status of the national capital.
However, although Yilibali is not as good as Samarkand, the capital of the Timurid Empire, it is also the largest city in the Timurid Empire after Samarkand. If we only talk about economic prosperity, it can be compared with Samarkand, or even surpass it.
Because Yilibali is not only located on the Silk Road, but also its surroundings are rich in camels, horses, gems, leather goods, etc. Even businessmen from Samarkand, many people come to Yilibali every year.
The mist had just dissipated, and the bright sunlight penetrated the clouds, forming beams of light that fell on the pearl of the oasis.
Sunlight shines through the windows on the sandy walls, illuminating the room.
This was like a signal, and the whole Yili Baoli crawling on the horizon seemed to come alive in an instant. The stall for baking naan was set up, and as a pair of dexterous hands continued to roll it, pieces of roasted and fragrant naan were piled in front of the stall.
For a time, there were the neighing of horses, the moaning of camels... moo moo... baa baa, and people talking to each other. The sound was endless, and it looked like a noisy market.
The businessmen from Timur woke up from the inn one after another, went downstairs and ate grilled naan, while thinking about whether they would make more money by buying some fur goods back home, or buying some horses and camels, given the current prices of various goods. ?
Others thought they might as well buy some gems and go back. Not only is it easy to carry, but you can also quickly escape if you encounter sand thieves along the way.
Of course, it’s not like no one has thought about it. If you are lucky enough to meet a businessman from the Ming Dynasty, that would be even better. Whether it is through coercion or inducement, or through plunder, as long as you can bring silk, porcelain, tea and other things from the Ming Dynasty to Samarkand, you will really make a fortune.
Not only the merchants thought this way, but also the soldiers patrolling the city walls. His idea is even more direct. Whoever the businessman of the Ming Dynasty discovers first belongs to him. And they were standing on the city wall patrolling, looking far away, and no one had an advantage over them.
Even gradually, all the soldiers who boarded the tower to patrol could not help but glance eastward. What if luck runs out and a Ming businessman really comes?
But now this has become a thought. Since the opening of the sea route, only a few merchants will continue to follow the Silk Road.
After all, Yilibali was once the capital of the Eastern Chagatai Khanate, so naturally it had a big wall and high walls.
Although the importance of Yili has been reduced now, no efforts have been made to repair the city wall. But it has been able to stand firm for so many years in the midst of war and war, and naturally it has its own merits.
All the soldiers standing on the city wall focused almost entirely on the Silk Road to the east. They did not realize that to the north of them, a black line was approaching towards them.
In the wine shop, several people were sitting together, drinking muddy wine, and talking and laughing.
At this time, a person lowered his head and reached out to grab another naan in front of him to eat, but unexpectedly saw
The wine in the silver cup kept vibrating slightly. He thought someone's feet were shaking against the table, and said something with a smile to the others.
The other three people were slightly stunned, looked at each other, and all said no.
In an instant, the four people were stunned. They stood up suddenly and left the table, looking at the wine glasses on the table. It turned out that they all left, and the wine in the wine glass not only did not stop rippling, but actually vibrated even more.
A man suddenly screamed and ran out of the wine shop. Regardless of the gorgeous robes on his body, he just lay down on the ground and listened.
In an instant, everyone in the wine shop and on the street noticed this man's strange behavior.
Before anyone could open their mouths to laugh, the man stood up suddenly and shouted: "Cavalry, cavalry! A large number of cavalry are coming here!"
These words were like a boulder falling on the lake, instantly causing a huge wave that shook around.
That person is not the only one who knows this skill. In order to avoid the sand bandits, almost everyone who dared to come here knew this trick. No, the sand thieves had already robbed all the goods and buried them in the sand.
Some powerful people can even tell how many cavalry are coming.
A wave of panic instantly exploded from the middle of the city, rushing in all directions like a storm.
Such movement naturally attracted the attention of the guards patrolling the city wall.
But although they noticed it, they didn't think there were cavalry anywhere. Only merchants from the Ming Dynasty would come along the Silk Road, so how could there be cavalry? He glanced east again, but still couldn't see even a camel, and all the guards looked disappointed.
Wuwu~wuwu~wuwu...
The shrill horn sounded rapidly!
Emergency military information... superlative...
No! ! !
Even higher than the highest level?
The guards looked to the north one after another, and couldn't help but curse in their hearts that the people there were crazy for daring to sound the highest-level emergency military signal!
The guards in the north were indeed crazy, especially when they blew the horns but did not wait for a response from the other three parties. In the eyes of these guards, they were shocked by the endless cavalry as far as the eye could see.
The maroon and black war horses galloped on the green ground, like a strange black carpet, constantly swallowing up the green of life.
Shasuchagan was drinking and having fun in the palace. He was Timur's younger brother. Since Timur annexed the Eastern Chagatai Khanate, he was sent here to guard Yili.
While he was raising and lowering his hands on the singer, he was startled by the sound of a horn and the gold wine glass in his hand fell to the ground, and the wine inside spilled all over the floor.
Sha Suchagan's expression became gloomy for a while, and he raised his eyes to look outside the palace.
The singer next to her who had been flirting with Sha Suchaqian just now was so frightened that she hurriedly backed away.
Shasu Chagan was not a merciful general. The number of singers he killed on the spot in this palace ranged from a hundred to fifty. As long as any singer makes him slightly unhappy, there will only be one end, death!
Although Shasu Chagan was angry, he did not vent his anger on these singers. He stood up and put on his bright red jersey with a wave of his hand. Although he didn't think there would be any enemies, he still decided to go to the city wall to see what was going on.
If any timid fox blows the horn by mistake, he will also let him know what the wrath of a monarch is. That's right, in Shasu Chagan's heart, he was not a general, but a monarch.
...
Han Du was riding a horse and saw the densely packed heads on the city wall in the telescope starting to tremble. He chuckled and said, "It seems that they have discovered us. This is Yilibali, the former capital of the Eastern Chagatai Khanate? It seems like that. , some pretty good looks.”
After hearing this, Xu Chengfei shook his head slightly, feeling very speechless about the garrison who was just inside. This place is only five or six miles away from the city wall. It is surrounded by a flat green grassland without any obstruction.
. It’s only now that I realize that I and others can be said to be a bunch of trash!
On the other hand, after hearing Xu Chengfei's report, Ugeqi Hashiha bowed and said to Han Du: "Honorable Marquis of Zhenhai, this is Yilibaili, the pearl above the oasis!"
"Pearl on the oasis? This place is well-deserved!" Han Du glanced around, and the city in front of him was indeed like a pearl inlaid on a green carpet, shining brightly.
...
Sha Suchagan looked at the black cavalry, and his heart trembled violently, as if he was seeing the tide of Hades.
However, he still stood on the city wall, bravely standing there calmly.
Instructing the guard beside him to take the bow and arrow, he wrote a handwritten letter, tied it to the bow and arrow, and shot directly towards the opposite side.
Seeing an arrow shooting from the city wall to the ground, a cavalryman rode forward. The soldier on top of the rapidly running horse only leaned over slightly, took the arrow branch in his hand, and left quickly.
As the saying goes, outsiders watch the excitement, while insiders watch the door.
The scene where the cavalryman easily pulled out the arrow made Shasu Chaqian's face become a little more solemn.
Although he didn't know how to peek at a leopard and see the whole body, he knew that if any cavalryman could do this on horseback, then his newly aroused idea of using cavalry to decide the outcome could be achieved by himself. Choked to death.
Han Du finally opened the letter sent by the cavalry and saw that it was full of winding ghostly symbols.
"What the hell is painted on this?"
Seeing Han Du's frown, Xu Chengfei couldn't help but take a look. Then he said: "This is Uighur text."
"Uighur text? Do you know it?" Han Du said in surprise and handed the letter to Xu Chengfei casually. Since he knew her, it was naturally best to show him.
Xu Chengfei took it and nodded, "Of course."
"How do you know this ghost?" Han Du was very surprised. Seeing Xu Chengfei's expression looking up, he quickly explained: "I mean, how can you know so much? And you can speak Mongolian. , do you know Uyghur people again?”
Xu Chengfei glared at Han Du angrily and said, "Mongolian language is originally derived from Uighur script. To learn Mongolian language, you must learn Uighur script."
