In late autumn, most parts of India are still as warm as summer, but in the Khyber Valley leading to the Afghan plateau, it is already being chilled by a cold wind. Although the autumn wind was biting and winter was approaching, the heavy snow that could block the road had not yet fallen, so the march went smoothly. In the Khyber Valley west of Peshawar, a long light green dragon is rolling forward. Infantry, cavalry, heavy baggage troops, Armstrong breech-loading cannons and water-cooled machine guns pulled by Indian folding horses, and dark-skinned low-caste slave laborers driving carts with mules and horses, all the way to the west... .Go straight to Afghanistan, the graveyard of empire!
Of course, the officers and soldiers of the East India Company and the Sikh State Army who are currently marching westward through the Khyber Valley do not know that Afghanistan is the graveyard of empires. If they had known they wouldn't be striding forward so cheerfully. The commander of this army, Major General George Cotton, also didn't know. Even if someone told him the heavenly book handed down by King Zhuge Wuzhong, he would not believe it.
Because his military fortune is now booming, everything has been going smoothly since he sent out troops this time, and he has not encountered any setbacks.
First of all, the leader of the Sikh State, Ranjit Singh, expressed his 100% support for the British heavenly troops to pass through the territory of the Sikh State and to recruit Sikh soldiers to assist in the war. Without saying a word, he sent 20,000 elite Sikh soldiers to assist in the battle, and also provided a large amount of food, livestock and untouchables to help transport food.
Immediately afterwards, Shah Mahmud of Peshawar wisely handed over the city and a small number of troops, and went to Delhi with only a few followers and dozens of boxes of gold and silver treasures - to become an Indian native on annuity. The prince of the state.
As soon as Dost Muhammad Khan, who had been coveting Peshawar, heard that Shah Mahmud of Peshawar had gone to Delhi to lie down, he immediately sent his brother Ali Khan to Peshawar with gifts to pay homage. . He also reported an important military situation to Major General George Cotton - Emperor Daoguang had personally led his army to the Amu Darya Camp on the south bank of the Amu Darya River not long ago.
This Amu Darya camp is located in an oasis on the south bank of the middle reaches of the Amu Darya River. It was a large stronghold left during Qianlong's southern expedition. When Emperor Qianlong learned that the Mughal dynasty in India was about to end, he planned to Take advantage of the chaos and rush into India to grab a handful. As a result, the army of the Sadozhayi Dynasty, which was relatively powerful, blocked it. Before Qianlong could break through the Salang Pass and invade Kabul, he learned that the British East India Company had controlled most of India... Da Jin Kingdom is late!
Knowing that he had lost a good opportunity, but unwilling to lose the opportunity to "print and steal money" forever, Qianlong, who was already living a tight life in poverty at the time, still gritted his teeth and invested in building the Amu Darya Camp as a base for future invasion of India. stronghold.
But until Qianlong's death, he did not wait for the opportunity to invade India, so he could only pass this dream on to his descendants...
After learning that Emperor Guang had personally arrived at the Amu Darya camp, Major General George Cotton made a prompt decision and issued an order to dispatch troops - no matter what, he had to enter Kabul first before Emperor Daoguang's army entered Afghanistan. It's autumn now, and the severe winter is approaching. Afghanistan is not a warm India. If we don't hurry up, it will be difficult to enter Afghanistan when the heavy snow starts to fall.
So Cotton is competing for time with Emperor Daoguang now. As long as his army can enter Kabul, Kandahar, Ghazni, Herat, Kunduz and other cities built around the Hindu Kush Mountains before the Golden Army of Emperor Daoguang, Emperor Daoguang can only wait until spring comes next year. After the snow melts, we can march again. By that time, George Cotton's army had already established a foothold in Afghanistan. This was actually not that difficult. They just needed to follow the practice of the Mughal Dynasty and provide some subsidies to the tribes in the Afghan mountains.
And as long as the tribes in the Afghan mountainous areas are bribed by the East India Company, even if Emperor Daoguang's army reluctantly comes in, it will only be defeated in disastrous defeat.
As long as Emperor Daoguang suffers a disastrous defeat in Afghanistan, the prestige that Dajin has accumulated over the years in Central Asia will disappear in a short time. By then, the nobles and tribal leaders of Samarkand, Bukhara, Khwarezm and other places will Everyone will rebel...
When George Cotton was planning how to incite and use the Tianfang Sect nobles and tribal leaders in Samarkand, Bukhara, Khwarezm and other places to rebel to expand the sphere of influence of the British Empire, a rapid sound of horse hooves suddenly came from the front. came. He quickly looked up and saw a group of knights wearing white clothes and black turbans on their heads galloping towards him. The first rider was Ali Khan, the younger brother of Dost Muhammad Khan.
This young Afghan nobleman in his early twenties once went to school in Delhi. He is one of the only people in Kabul who can speak English. He should also be fully aware of the power of the British Empire, so his attitude towards George Cotton Very respectful.
I saw Ali Khan reining in his horse in front of George Cotton, then bowing and saluting on the horse, and said respectfully: "Dear General, my brother Dost got Kunduz yesterday morning. According to the governor's report, Emperor Daoguang's army is moving along the Kunduz River and may soon launch an attack on Kunduz City. So yesterday afternoon, he led his soldiers to leave Kabul and go to the Salang Pass to set up defenses. Therefore We cannot welcome you and the coalition forces you lead in Kabul."
"Oh," George Cotton frowned slightly, "This light came so fast! Can Kunduz be defended? Will there be any problems at Salang Pass?"
Ali Khan frowned, his face a little solemn: "Your Excellency General, although Emperor Daoguang's Eight Banners soldiers are outdated noble cavalry, they are still very powerful. In Central Asia, any tribe that dares to oppose Dajin will be punished. They smashed them ruthlessly, without exception! The Sadozhai dynasty was also defeated by Emperor Qianlong's Eight Banners soldiers in Kunduz... However, Salang Pass was not so easy to defeat, because the terrain there was very high. , the air is thin and the temperature is so low that people on the plains can hardly breathe after going up there. So my brother will definitely be able to hold the Salang Pass before your army arrives."
"Okay!" George Cotton relaxed his brows, "Ali Khan, don't worry, the British Empire's 50,000 troops (actually only 40,000) are enough to defeat the 200,000 Eight Banners soldiers!" After bragging, he deliberately He raised his voice and gave a loud order: "Pass my order, the whole army speeds up and marches towards Kabul at a rapid march!"
As loud bugles sounded in the Khyber Valley, the marching team that could not be seen in the valley began to speed forward, galloping towards the city of Kabul dozens of kilometers away.
...
Just as tens of thousands of British and Indian troops were marching towards Kabul at a rapid march, Zhuge Daozheng and several of his subordinates, including Ling Zongjun, Wang Wen, Yu Yang, Ye Wu, Ma Xuchen, Li Kezhi, etc., returned to their place talking and laughing. The temporary residence in Xianmen Pass.
He did not follow Daoguang to the Amu Darya Camp, but stayed at Xianmen Pass to train the airborne troops of the Daikin Navy... In fact, there was nothing to practice, just a landing movement, don't Just break your leg.
Zhuge Weidao also practiced by the way, and this morning he parachuted with Wang Wen - he is a "flying military advisor", and it looks like he will become an admiral of the naval aviation force sooner or later, even if he can't parachute. no.
Judging from the excited look on his face now, you can tell that today's parachute jump went very smoothly.
As soon as I walked into the courtyard, I saw a beautiful Taoist nun coming out to greet Zhuge Weidao, and then said happily: "My slave Nalandili wishes my master a blessing."
Congratulations?
Before Zhuge Weidao could react, his confidant Yu De had already come over with a piece of paper, "Dong Weng, I wish you good luck... Third Yiniang is happy."
The "third concubine" he refers to is Nalandili. She started her career with Natalie, so she should be the second concubine. However, Zhuge Weidao had already made a lifelong commitment to Daheikong, so Dahei's ranking should be right. Before Nalandili.
"Really?" Zhuge Weidao looked at Nalandili with joy on his face - he now believes in "more children, more blessings"! Anyway, you don’t have to worry about your children’s study, work, or buying a house... You don’t have to worry about having as many children as you want. Otherwise, how could there be “eight hundred Zhuge”?
"Yes." Nalandili's smile almost blossomed... She was a fairy from the Nalan family, how could she not give birth to a baby?
"Dong Weng, you are blessed with double happiness today!" As Yu De spoke, he handed the paper in his hand to Zhuge Weidao.
Zhuge Weidao took the paper and looked at it. It turned out to be a copy of a telegram. When he looked at the content again, he was delighted again - tens of thousands of British troops had entered Kabul!
