Clenching his fist tightly, Guo Xiaoke raised his arms on horseback and shouted: "Gentlemen, this is your chance to make a great contribution! What does it matter to a mere Turkic cavalry invading Yizhou? Yanqi and Qiuci are the real meritorious deeds! Please follow me Let's go to Yanqi together, knock down the dragon's tug-of-war, wipe out Yanqi, and then wipe out Qiuci. Then we will be able to achieve unparalleled feats, be granted the title of marquis, worship the general, and be promoted to a noble rank. Wouldn't it be great to do so?"
Tiele and other generals attached to the Tang Dynasty were so excited by Guo Xiaoke's passionate declaration that they were all screaming and waving their weapons on horseback, vowing to defeat Yanqi and Qiuci. Make great achievements and become a noble general!
Guo Xiaoke saw that people's hearts could be used, so he decided to strike while the iron was hot. He gathered his troops and marched to Yancheng, the capital of Qiuci Kingdom. At the same time, he ordered each tribe to send people back to mobilize soldiers and prepare to attack Tiemenguan, the southern gate of Yanqi Kingdom.
That night, Guo Xiaoke led his army from Yizhou to the east and raided Kucha Kingdom overnight.
*****
Yancheng, the capital of Qiuci Kingdom, is called Yiluolu City by local people.
It is five or six miles around and has a three-story city. The palace is magnificent and looks like a divine residence, and the outer city is comparable to the city walls of Chang'an.
The mountains outside the city are towering, alternating with red and black, and are rich in copper and iron ores. With the introduction of Zhongyuan's iron smelting technology, Qiuci's iron smelting scale and product quality have reached a considerable level. "There is a mountain two hundred miles north of Qiuci. It is lit by fire at night and smoke by day. People take the rocks from this mountain and smelt iron from this mountain, which can be used by the thirty-six countries."
During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Ban Chao established the Western Regions and established the Western Regions Protectorate here, where he established garrison and opened canals. Agriculture flourished and the economy developed. The remains of the "Han Canal" during this period, the Kizilgaha Beacon Tower and other beacon sites are evidence of the Han soldiers' settlement and resistance to the Huns.
However, as the dynasties of the Central Plains changed, prospered and fell, the control over the Western Regions has been reduced to an unprecedented level. Even though the Tang Dynasty is now rampant in the world, it is still too far away from Qiuci and is far less of a threat than the Turks who are just around the corner...
In the magnificent and luxurious palace of Yancheng, the king of Qiuci, Helibu, was in panic after his death. He was like an ant on a hot pot, and kept complaining about the prime minister Nali who was sitting calmly in front of him.
"The Prime Minister's move was indeed inappropriate. The soldiers of the Tang Dynasty were powerful and invincible. How could we rebel against the Tang Dynasty and join the Turks? You see, the Turks captured Yizhou, which was short of major generals, and were defeated by the Tang Dynasty. Now the Turks The Tang army has already turned eastward, and Guo Xiaoke, the governor of Anxi, has vowed to use my king's head in exchange for his promotion. How can I withstand it with the mere strength of Kucha's troops?"
Nali's ancestor, who was nearly fifty years old, was once a wealthy Han businessman. He fled to the Western Regions for committing crimes in the Central Plains, took root in the Kingdom of Qiuci, and gradually became a wealthy businessman here.
He was born with an elegant and handsome appearance, and his face was white and beardless. At this moment, he turned his head and looked at the decaying trees and glazed roofs in the palace, not paying attention to the thoughts of Qiuci King Helibushibi...
Opposite him, the Qiuci General Jielie Dian had a bronze square face with no expression at all, his eyebrows were lowered and his eyes were downcast, as if he was distracted.
Helibushi finished talking about it for a while, and then looked at the two jade pillars and the golden beams that held the sea in front of him, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of powerlessness in his heart.
Is this the Qiuci Kingdom of Helibushibi, or the Qiuci Kingdom of Prime Minister Nali?
As the general of Qiuci, Jie Lietian's loyalty was not to him, the King of Qiuci, but to the Prime Minister Nali. His orders fell on deaf ears in Jie Liedian's ears, but Prime Minister Nali's orders were the golden rule!
Fortunately, Prime Minister Nali had no intention of replacing him. Otherwise, he and the entire royal family might have been withered bones in the grave many years ago, and Nali would have been replaced by Nali on the throne of Qiuci...
This man strategizes and wins thousands of miles. He has the style of a national scholar, but he has no ambition.
When Helibushi finished speaking and his mouth was dry, Na Licai said calmly: "Your Majesty, don't worry, I have already made a plan in my mind. I will keep it safe so that Guo Xiaoke can come and go!"
Helibu was overjoyed at the loss and asked quickly: "What's the plan?"
Nali smiled slightly and said slowly: "Without him, it's just to lure the enemy deeper."
Then, he glanced at the general Jie Liedian and asked calmly: "Is the general ready?"
Jie Liedian, who had just lowered his eyebrows and looked indifferent, immediately sat upright and said respectfully: "Prime Minister, don't worry, all the armies have been notified, and their respective tasks have been clarified to ensure that they can retreat without chaos and can launch the attack in the shortest possible time. Fight back.”
Nali nodded: "Very good, I'm here to help you, General."
Jie Liedian said respectfully: "The Prime Minister has spoken seriously. This is a matter of humble duty. I dare not take credit for it."
The king of Qiuci, Helibushibi, was depressed when he saw this. Are you my minister or the prime minister's minister?
Prime Minister Nali has always shown sincerity in assisting, which made Haribushibi very relieved. However, no matter how generous a monarch is, it is impossible for him to ignore his ministers and turn a blind eye to him, but to pay attention to the powerful prime minister.
If one day Nali feels that the position of prime minister is boring and wants to have a taste of the king of Qiuci, or even wants to sleep in his harem with all kinds of concubines from various countries in the Western Regions, it will be easy to murder him...
But Halibushibi didn't dare to have the slightest intention of getting rid of Nali.
Nali himself is a resourceful and resourceful person, very vigilant, and most of the country's military is loyal to him, and the family behind him is one of the most powerful in the Qiuci Kingdom. Now Nali is content with the status quo. If Nali has to attack him because of his recklessness...
That's the tragedy.
Just as he was worrying about gain and loss, a guard trotted in from outside the main hall and shouted loudly: "Your Majesty, Prime Minister, the Tang army has arrived thirty miles west of the capital, and it is coming with a fierce force. Various tribes attached to the Tang Dynasty have also sent troops together, and the strength is not less than 100,000. Thousands of people!”
Helibu was almost frightened to death. His face turned pale. He grabbed Nali's hand and cried sadly: "The Tang army is indeed here! Prime Minister, what should we do now?"
Nali smiled faintly, patted Helibushibi's hand, and whispered softly: "Don't worry about going up, just pack up and take the concubines in the harem eastward to exit the capital. It will take three days. After that, I guarantee that I can repel the Tang army and welcome you back to the capital."
His expression was calm, and his words and demeanor were calm and confident. It seemed that facing the wolf-like Tang army and the elite soldiers and generals of various tribes was like facing a group of ragged horse bandits. Completely destroyed!
Helibu had long since lost his mind. After hearing this, he hurriedly said: "Then leave everything to the Prime Minister! If we really defeat the Tang army, I will certainly not hesitate to reward you." After that, he quickly walked into the back hall to arrange his arrangements. The beauty followed him out of the capital to avoid the Tang army's attack. He didn't want these delicate beauties to become the playthings of the wolf-like Tang army once the capital was breached, and he would be put on countless cuckolds...
Seeing Helibu's missing figure disappearing into the apse, General Jie Liedan's eyes were filled with contempt. He snorted softly and said to Nali: "Why should the Prime Minister submit to the subordinates of such an incompetent person? As long as the Prime Minister Nod your head, I will humbly lead the Hu troops on the left and right to kill the imperial city with a three-foot sword, and help you ascend the throne of the King of Kucha! We, warriors of hundreds of battles, only obey the wise and wise Prime Minister, but we really dare not surrender here. Under people!"
This is simply the Western Region version of "Yellow Robe Adding Body". At this time, Nali does not need to give any instructions. As long as he remains silent, Jie Liedian, who has the military power in hand, can do everything for him.
Afterwards, you will get an excuse that "I have to do it because of my subordinates' persecution." If I can treat the royal family well again, I will leave a good name in the history books as a kindhearted person who never forgets salvation...
Nali looked indifferent, shook his head slowly and said: "It's not the time yet."
The fire in Jie Liedian's eyes suddenly ignited!
It’s not “no”, it’s “not the right time”!
It turns out that the Prime Minister also has ambitions to reach the sky!
The Prime Minister Nali was an outstanding strategist, and none of his plans went wrong in his life. Who wouldn't want to follow such a person and sweep through the thirty-six countries of the Western Regions with victorious battles, conquer a large territory to compete with the Tang Dynasty, and leave a name in history that will shine brightly for generations to come?
Compared with Nali, Helibushibi is simply an incompetent and stupid stallion who only knows how to collect beauties for his own enjoyment...
Jie Liedan knelt on one knee, put his right fist on his chest, and said solemnly: "I swear to be loyal to the Prime Minister to the death!"
Nali nodded with satisfaction, looked up at the luxurious decoration in the hall, and sighed softly: "After this battle, I wonder if the luxury here will still exist safely, or will it become a ruins? Quickly Go and command the army, remember, you cannot just flee in defeat, you must fight and retreat to lure the enemy deeper!"
"Your humble command!" Jie Liedian shouted and stood up.
Na Li rarely put away his usual calm expression, his face was serious, he stared into Jie Liedian's eyes with full energy, and shouted in a deep voice: "Only defeat, no victory! Go, our great achievements will start from this moment. start!"
"promise!"
Jie Liedian shouted loudly and strode away.
He firmly believed that under the strategic planning of Prime Minister Nali, the mere 10,000 Tang troops would be like chickens and waggots!
The time when Qiuci rises and sweeps across the Western Region is definitely not far away!
