Baidaochuan is the Chile River south of Yinshan Mountain. The reason why it was renamed Baidaochuan is because Daqing Mountain was called Baidaoling at this time, and the most dangerous pass of Daqing Mountain was white as lime, so it was called "Baidao"; Baidaochuan It is a strategic route leading north to the grasslands and south to the Central Plains. The famous Wuchuan Town is located at the southeast entrance of Baidao. The northern pass of Baidao is like a large city in the Central Plains prefecture, which is the Baicheng of the Eastern/Southern Turks Khan.
Qimin Khan sat on his horse and silently looked at the river flowing quietly in front of him. This river is called "Qianpan River". It passes through Baidao and heads to the Mobei grassland north of Yinshan Mountain. It twists and turns northward for more than two hundred miles and submerges underground. Wherever it passes, there are grasslands with rich pasture and fertile land. .
If we cross this river and go south for more than two hundred miles to Daqingshan Baidao River, we will reach the more fertile and rich Baidao River. Baidaochuan used to be the grassland assigned to him by Yang Jian for grazing. However, although Qimin Khan surrendered to the Sui Dynasty, he had been secretly expanding his power and silently hiding his strength. Although the Sui Dynasty felt a strong threat, but because of He needed to contend with Bujia Khan, so he had no choice but to remain superficially friendly.
However, the two sides were always hostile, wary of each other, and seemingly inseparable; until Yang Ji annihilated Bujia Khan's forces, Yang Jian asked him to take charge of the Eastern Turks, including the Mobei grassland, and at the same time asked him to give up returning the Monan grassland and immediately He led his troops back to the north of Yinshan Mountain. The powerful Qimin Khan was also extremely dissatisfied with the Sui Dynasty because of this incident. Feeling that his wings were stiff, he was so angry that he sent his second son Ashina Qilifushu to lead an army of 100,000 to attack the second expedition to the Great Lakes region. Yang Ji, but the Liangzhou army led by Yang Ji was too good at fighting. Not only did they destroy Murongbei in the Great Lakes area and defeated Ashina Qilifushe, they also took the opportunity to march in and kill the whole area of Madam Fan's city. Flow into a river.
After Yang Ji forcefully occupied the Great Lakes area between Jinshan Mountains and Yudujin Mountains, he also blocked the north-south "Southern Yudujin Mountains-Punu Water-Ulan Lake" and allowed Li Jing to move along it. Five cities were built in Punu River and Wulan Lake. Each of these five cities is located on the main traffic road, and they can look after each other from beginning to end. They play an important strategic role. In addition, there are a large number of beacons set up nearby, which together form a solid defense network that can be attacked, retreated and defended. From then on, not only were the Eastern Turks' passage to the Great Lakes area in the north, south to Liangzhou, and west to connect with the Western Turks completely cut off, but the Liangzhou army was also able to keep the northern and southern Khans at all times.
The powerful and prosperous East Turks, however, quickly declined from prosperity and continued rebellion because of the Great Lakes War. Qimin Khan saw the Sui Dynasty armies marching north one after another, and planned to forcefully expel them. He immediately tied his son to the court to apologize and asked himself to withdraw from Baidaochuan. But even though he retreated, the Sui court was already targeting him to death.
If he hadn't been as obedient and law-abiding as a loyal dog in recent years; if it hadn't been for the recent Goguryeo army attracting the attention of the Sui Dynasty, Yang Guang's northern patrol would most likely turn into a personal expedition to the East/Turks.
Whenever he thought about this, Qimin Khan broke out in a cold sweat. Moreover, he was extremely grateful to Gao Yuan for leading the Sui army away, and he wished he could secretly set up an immortal tablet for Gao Yuan.
Suddenly, Qimin Khan let out a long sigh, and withdrew his blue eyes from the far south. Seeing that the sunset was about to set, he returned to Baicheng under the escort of a gentleman.
As soon as he got off his horse and entered the palace, his eldest son Ashina Duji greeted him face to face from a distance.
Ashina Duji, who is over 10 years old, has a dark face, thick eyebrows like blades, a pair of blue eyes as sharp as a hawk, and a tall and well-proportioned figure. He strode forward with a vigorous momentum. He walked up to his father, put one hand on his chest, bowed and said, "Greetings to my father."
Qimin Khan nodded and asked casually: "Where are Qilifash and Dubi?"
Although his tone was very calm, Ashina Duji could hear the anger in his father's tone, and he quickly and respectfully replied: "Zilifushe, Duubi, and Chijishe each led a team of soldiers. Sheep hunting competition."
"A competition to hunt sheep?" Qimin Khan snorted coldly and said, "Why do you need to hunt sheep when you are so good? It is simply nonsense."
Ashina Duji said: "Father, Nan Shiwei sent thirteen beauties a few days ago. All three of them wanted to take them for themselves. It would hurt the harmony, so they planned to divide them into three. However, there was only one left. Everyone wants it, and no one wants to give it to others. Seeing that they were arguing, I suggested that they use thirty sheep to compete. Whoever hunts more sheep will win the thirteenth house.
Whoever owns it belongs to. "
"That's it, hahaha..." Qimin Khan laughed heartily, and then commented: "What the sages of the Han people said, "Don't worry about the scarcity but the inequality." The same applies to us. If you want to make people feel at home without worrying about it, The best way to deal with harm is to use the word "fair"! You suggest that your brothers use a competition to determine the winner, which is in line with our clan's way of respecting the strong and is also the fairest method. "
He paused and stared at Ashina Duji: "By the way, why don't you participate?"
Ashina Duji said disdainfully: "These thirteen beauties were sent by others. If I win against Qilifushu, Dubi and Chijishe, it will be like bullying the small and have no sense of achievement." . If I want it, I will lead the army to get it for myself. Then won’t I get more and better?”
"I, a Turkic man, should have such courage." The eldest son Duji is the heir of Qimin Khan. He is braver than his second son Tilifu and more resourceful than his third son Duji. He has always satisfied and appreciated Qimin. After hearing what Du Ji said, the admiration in his eyes became a little stronger: "Du Ji, is there any news from Liaodong today?"
"Yes!" Ashina Duji said, "I have just received military information and am preparing to report it to my father."
"Oh? Let's talk inside." Qimin Khan strode into the palace and sat on the main seat.
When his father sat down, Ashina Duji bowed solemnly and told everything he knew exactly: "Father, the Liaodong Campaign has ended. Yang Ji easily captured Liaodong City, and the Goguryeo general Lu committed suicide. Gao Gao died. Yuan was timid and cowardly. Not only did he not have the courage to commit suicide, he also surrendered to the Sui Dynasty in the most humiliating way and became a lackey of the Sui Dynasty in occupying and governing Liaodong..."
Seeing his father's serious expression and not saying a word, Ashina Duji took a deep breath and said very happily: "Yang Ji is really powerful. Fortunately, my father did not listen to my suggestion. If we allied with Goguryeo and attacked the Sui Dynasty at the same time, If you go to Korea, you will be in big trouble."
As early as the beginning of the war between the Sui Dynasty and Goguryeo, Ashina Duji and Ashina Dubi strongly suggested that Qimin and Gao Yuan form an alliance. The two countries would unite for warmth and attack the Sui Dynasty from the east and the north respectively.
However, the second eldest son Ashina Qilifushe, the fifth eldest son Ashina Chijishe, and the concubine Ashina Simo strongly opposed it. They believed that the Sui Dynasty had many soldiers and generals, a prosperous country and a strong people, and could mobilize millions of elite troops at any time. However, the troops mobilized by Yang Ji at this time were less than 20% of the total strength of the Sui Dynasty. The Sui Dynasty had always been eyeing the Eastern Turks and had evil plans. If the Turks sent out troops rashly, they would definitely be counterattacked by the main force of the Sui Dynasty. Based on the people and internal situation of the Eastern Turks at this time, they were no match for the Sui Dynasty. The best way is to stand still and watch the fight between the tigers and the tigers. It is not too late to make a decision until both sides have suffered a loss.
Qimin Khan had suffered heavy losses in the Great Lakes area and knew that the Sui Dynasty had already targeted them. He had no intention of swimming in this muddy water. Once he heard what Ashina Qilifushu said was reasonable, he chose to wait and see. Change.
Ashina Duji now looks back with fear in his heart.
As for the "incompetent" Goguryeo, he did not have any contempt in his heart. After all, Goguryeo was stronger than the Eastern Turks. The reason why they were defeated so miserably now was not at all that Goguryeo was incompetent, but that the Sui army was too strong. so good.
When Qimin Khan heard what his son said, he nodded and said, "Well, if you think so, you have not wasted my years of teaching. So what do you think we should do next?"
Ashina Duji understood that his father wanted to test him, so he communicated with the mastermind Shishu Huxi beforehand. After hearing the words, he immediately said: "The Sui Dynasty dominates the world and is unrivaled. When we interact with it, we should continue to pursue it." The strategy of showing weakness to the enemy and surrendering to the enemy, and the best way is to build the imperial road as quickly as possible in accordance with the requirements of the Sui Dynasty, and at the same time, take the initiative to build the white road connecting the north and the south into a flat and straight royal road."
"This method seems incompetent and wastes people's resources, but once the royal road is opened, we can transport a large number of slow-moving cattle, sheep, horses, and heavy leather and jade to the south, in exchange for a large amount of salt, silk, porcelain, medicinal materials, Gold, silver, copper and ironware, trading with the Sui Dynasty can not only paralyze the Sui Dynasty and obtain the necessary supplies, but also have the energy and strength to annex the restless Tiele, Mohe, and Shiwei tribes."
[In view of the general environment,
When Ashina Duji said this, his eyes suddenly became fierce and sharp. He continued to say to his father: "As long as the situation of different orders and independent military and political affairs is transformed into a unified military and political Turkic dynasty, the Turkic dynasty will surely fight with one heart and one mind." By doubling our strength, by that time, we will definitely be able to defeat the Sui Dynasty in one battle."
Qimin Khan couldn't help shaking his head: "Your idea is very good, and what you said before is also very good. The central government and local government system of the Sui Dynasty are the best and most outstanding existence in the world, but they are not suitable for the nomadic Turks." people."
"The methods of the Central Plains are not unusable, but the prerequisite is to stabilize the people. In fact, when I was still in Baidaochuan, I have been using the knowledge of Central Plains culture to change the living habits of the people. I hope everyone will slowly give up their nomadic ways. In the past few years, I have changed my knowledge of farming in the Central Plains. However, decades of work have been destroyed in a blink of an eye, and everything has returned to its original place. At this moment, if you copy it mechanically, you will definitely suffer."
Qimin Khan was silent for a long time, and sighed sadly: "As for those tribes that are unwilling to admit their will, we can conquer them by force, but we cannot eliminate them!"
Ashina Duji asked in confusion: "Why can't it be eliminated?"
"It still has something to do with the living habits of the grassland people!" Qimin Khan looked at the sky outside and said bitterly: "The grassland people live in the water and grass and live in no fixed place, unlike the people in the Central Plains who live in towns. We, the Turks, cannot control the millions of herdsmen scattered around with our own strength alone. Therefore, we need many tribal chiefs to manage these populations for us. Although they are not very obedient, they are intimidated by force and can only send the strong men away. Come to fight and bring your animals for food."
"The other thing is that the Sui Dynasty will never allow the grasslands to be unified again, and will never allow another powerful Turkic Khanate to appear in the north. If we launch a war of unification, the Sui Dynasty will definitely send troops to intervene."
After hearing his father's last words, Ashina Duoji was extremely angry, but his strength was not as good as that of the Sui Dynasty, so what could he do if he was not angry?
After a while, he asked, "Father, do you have any instructions?"
A cold smile appeared on the corner of Qimin Khan's mouth, and he said in a deep voice: "Go to Luoyang and tell the saint: In addition to building the imperial road from Liangzhou in the west to Raole County in the east, we will also work with various grassland ministries to build the white road into a flat road. A thick royal road was built for the saint to patrol the northern grasslands in the future. In addition, because the Sui army defeated its old enemy Goguryeo and won a brilliant victory, all our grassland tribes were extremely excited and admired the Sui Dynasty, and were willing to jointly donate five million sheep, ten Ten thousand cattle and one hundred thousand war horses to show respect.”
"Father, this is okay!" Ashina Duji's eyes lit up. The road construction and donations his father advocated were mainly for Turks. If Yang Guang agreed, they would be able to "fake power" and force the relationship to deteriorate. The various tribes of Tiele and the Northern and Southern Dynasties will produce a large number of strong men and livestock; if done well, not only will they not lose money, but they will be able to weaken each tribe, and they will also make a lot of money.
If Tiele's tribes and the Northern and Southern Dynasties do not agree, they can take the opportunity to launch an attack. As for the Sui Dynasty, not only did they get tangible benefits, but they also saw the constant disputes on the grassland, so they would definitely be happy to see the results.
After thinking about it, he asked worriedly: "Father, will this make you stronger?"
"You are thinking too much, Duji!" Qimin Khan glanced at his son angrily and explained patiently: "The Sui Dynasty was originally a country that was so powerful that it made us despair. Even if the Sui Dynasty obtained bribes, it would turn out to be Several times, dozens of times, we are still as desperate as now. Therefore, whether the Sui Dynasty becomes more powerful has no impact on us. But we can exploit others and weaken our opponents in the process of building roads and donating money. , an opportunity to launch a high-sounding war."
Ashina Duji suddenly understood, and said with admiration and shame: "After my father said this, I finally understood."
Qimin Khan chuckled and said, "Now that I understand, go ahead and make arrangements!"
"Yes!" Ashina Duji was about to leave when he suddenly thought of something and said, "Father, according to the report from the scouts, Bai Su, the chief of the Lin tribe, drove out our Tutun in the Lin tribe today. "
"Tutun" was derived from Rouran's "Tududeng". During the Rouran Khanate, this official title had a higher status and was held by the Yujiulu family. The Turkic Tutuns were the governors they sent to the conquered areas.
, tax collectors, are responsible for collecting taxes from the people they pay, and at the same time supervising whether the other chief/chief is loyal, so their status in various places is not that of chiefs, but better than chiefs. Now that he heard that the small Lin tribe dared to expel the Turkic Tutun, Qimin Khan's face suddenly turned pale, and he said coldly: "What is the reason? Who gave Bai Su the courage?"
Ashina Duoji said: "The Lin tribe decided to annex the Sui Dynasty. It must have been the Sui Dynasty that gave Bai Su the courage."
Qimin Khan was stunned for a moment, then waved his hand and said, "It's okay then! Go ahead and get busy!"
