Lanzhou.
Lanzhou City is located on the south bank of the Yellow River, which is the Longxi region.
The altitude of Longxi is extremely high, and the arable land is sparse and fragmented, with no farming environment. To the west is Tubo and to the south is Bashu.
It has the smoothest road leading to Bashu, Qishan Road.
Although Gansu is a poor place, as the capital of the province, Lanzhou City is not only tall and solid, but also has very developed commerce in the city.
Businessmen from the Western Regions, Hu and Tubo can be seen everywhere on the streets. On both sides of the street, there are many wine shops with orchids.
Hu Ji is scantily clad, singing and dancing.
The whole city is full of exotic customs.
Located in the center of the city, the heavily guarded Governor's Mansion Yamen.
Houya, in the study room.
Han Laocheng and his nephew Han Lin are discussing things. An official came in from outside and bent down to report: "Mr. Governor, there is a situation in Chang'an."
After listening to the official's report, Han Laocheng and Han Lin both looked solemn. Han Laocheng waved his hand and asked the officials to go down.
Then, he got up and walked to the corner, opened a box, took out a topographic map, spread it on the desk, and called his nephew over.
"Lin'er. Wu Nian is a master of attacking in the east and in the west. But from the overall point of view, Wu Nian only defended against the Slavs and never attacked. His purpose is very clear. He will first conquer China and then fight to the death with the Slavs. Now Wu Nian suddenly sent troops to the north to attack the Hetao area. I think it was a scam. He wanted to attack Gansu from the east to the west."
Han Laocheng stretched out his hand and pointed on the map with a very firm tone.
"Uncle is right, we can't take it lightly." Han Lin nodded slightly, thinking the same as Han Laocheng.
"Just guard the street pavilion." Han Laocheng showed a smile on his face, pointed to the location of the street pavilion, then raised his head and said to Han Lin: "Lin'er, I don't trust leaving this place to others."
"You lead our eight thousand cavalry, and I will give you ten thousand elite infantry. After you lead your troops to the street pavilion, immediately strengthen the street pavilion's defense. I will send you supplies and food to defend the city."
"If the Han army reaches Jieting and attacks the city, you will defend the city. When the Han army passes, you will lead the cavalry to attack the Han army's grain road."
"As long as the street pavilion is defended, the Han army will be unable to do anything."
"Yes." Han Lin bowed in response.
The uncle and nephew discussed it for a long time before Han Lin turned and left.
"Wu Nian, Wu Nian. Although you are a master at attacking in the east and west, I, Han Laocheng, am not a fool. My nephew is brave and good at fighting, and has well-equipped soldiers. He is guarding the street pavilion to see what you do."
Han Laocheng was quite proud, pinched his beard, looked up in the direction of Chang'an, and sneered.
The ambition of the King of Guanzhong is a dream. But the King of Gansu will not let go.
Under the coordination of Han Laocheng, the entire Gansu took action and turned into a war machine. Gansu soldiers are brave, good at fighting and very powerful.
For a time, the sky above Gansu was filled with murderous aura.
.........
Wu Nian was aggressive in the east and west, but kept a low profile in Gansu. Even the activities of the spies are like snakes in winter, entering hibernation.
Accordingly, he knows nothing about the current situation in Gansu.
On the Loess Plateau with crisscrossing ravines. The Han army is marching hard.
The road is not bad.
This time, we are providing relief work and moving mountains to clear roads. The people of northern Shaanxi have opened up a north-south highway, so marching is not a problem.
Food is not a problem either.
Water is the problem.
Since the beginning of autumn, it has rained several times. However, the entire northern Shaanxi Province is still in a state of water shortage. Hundreds of thousands of troops are marching all the way north. The soldiers have to endure hunger and thirst while marching, which is very hard.
But the problem is not big. The Han army has strict military discipline and cannot cause trouble.
Under heavy protection. Wu Nian was wearing heavy armor and riding a horse forward with the large group of people.
Accompanying him were Wang Gui, Zhang Sheng, Hojo Ushimasa and other important ministers.
"Although our goal is Gansu. But since it is a mighty Northern Expedition, we can't let the thunder be heavy and the rain be light. We have to fight the Slavs."
"The Slavs are strong enemies, and you should not be careless when fighting against them. Of course, if there is a chance, I won't mind taking the Loop first."
While Wu Nian was speaking, he reached back with his right hand, took out the bamboo kettle, and took a gulp of water.
"Of course I will do it if I have the chance, but the Hetao is not easy to fight. The Slavs have been working in the Hetao and Datong Prefecture for many years, and they have the right location and people."
Wang Gui shook his head slightly.
"But there are also many Han people in Hetao. We also have people. Just like His Majesty said, do your best. Maybe you can make it?" Zhang Sheng said with a smile.
The Han army formed a long dragon formation, and Wu Nian's rear army was still marching in the ravines. Forwards Zhang Zhen and Lu Yanxun have already arrived at the Great Wall.
Zhang Zhen turned over and dismounted, put his left hand on his hips, pointed to the Great Wall in front of him with his right hand, and said to Lu Yanxun: "Brother. In the past, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty sent General Wei Qing to the north to capture the Hetao area."
"General Huo Qubing took over the Hexi Corridor, which is now Gansu."
"The Huns said: If we lose the Qilian Mountains, our six animals will be without vassalage; if we lose the Yanzhi Mountain, our women will be colorless."
"The Chu State was incompetent and lost the Hetao. Although we are attacking in the east and west this time, we will do it if we have the chance. We will take over the banner of Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, regain the Hetao, and clean up the barbarians."
"Come here. Cut open the Great Wall and get out."
"Yes." The soldiers on the left and right shouted in response, leading the troops and horses, using tools, to open the Great Wall and clear the road.
"That's what my brother said. A real man should learn from Wei Huo and raise a hundred thousand troops to march across the desert." Lu Yanxun and Zhang Zhen had the same mind, and said enthusiastically.
The Great Wall here is very crude and is very easy to cut. After cutting a large gap in the Great Wall, Zhang Zhen gave the order, and the Han army left the Great Wall and entered the traditional Han land that Chu State had lost for many years.
Loop.
.............
In the Hetao area, beyond the Great Wall, the land is very barren. Its true essence is the plain where three Yellow Rivers flow.
They are the west set in the west, the front set in the north, and the back set in the north.
These three large plains with abundant water sources were firmly occupied and managed by the Slavs. Originally there were no white people here.
But now the population here is made up of Caucasians far more than Han Chinese. Plus Datong Mansion east of the Loop.
This entire large area was the forward base for the Slavs to attack the Han Dynasty.
The Slavs are very powerful.
Of course, among the Slavs, there is no such thing as a front jacket, a back jacket, or a Western jacket. They have other names. Among them, the Houtao area is the Grand Duchy of Bavaria.
It is the territory of General Charles, Archduke of Bavaria.
General Charles built a majestic city full of Slavic style in Bavaria.
In the Archduchy of Bavaria.
People are divided into different classes.
Nobles, Imperial citizens, commoners, slaves.
Most of the Slavs were nobles and citizens of the empire. Most of the Han people and some other yellow people are civilians and slaves.
Most of the Han people were serfs.
After all, the Han people have been dealing with the land for thousands of years. No other nation is better at taking care of crops than the Han people.
Of course, there were also a few Han people who managed to get along and became citizens of the empire.
News of the Han army's Northern Expedition soon spread to the Grand Duchy of Bavaria.
