The capital of the Han Dynasty, Luoyang.
The majestic Luoyang Imperial Palace, after several years of continuous construction, has finally regained its former majesty.
Every time Bihapeng comes to Luoyang, he can feel the unparalleled magnanimity of this first city in the world.
Whether it was the strong and vast city wall or the majestic and gorgeous palace, they all gave him a deep sense of oppression in his heart.
But this time when entering Luoyang, this sense of pressure that made people dare not look directly gave Bihapen a firm sense of security.
As the first native of Nanzhong to be loyal to the emperor of the Han Dynasty, Bihapeng is now one of the prime ministers of Huanwen, King of Annan of the Han Dynasty. He can be regarded as a complete turned serf.
The masters who were doing business in the past had to bow down and salute when they saw Bihapeng today.
As a member of the Young Guards of the Han Emperor, Huan Wen became the first foreign vassal of the Han Dynasty to open up Nanzhong. Not only did he have the support of two Han armies, the Protector of Nanzhong and the Protector of Anxi, he also received the title of King Annan personally awarded by the Emperor of Han. title.
The entire Huanwen Group members were very happy about this title ban.
King Annan, didn't he say that as long as the land to the west is under the jurisdiction of King Annan?
Nowadays, the trade route between east and west has increasingly become a wealth road flowing with gold and silver.
Whoever occupies the longer trade route will gain more benefits.
Therefore, the soldiers under Huan Wen's King Annan tried their best to expand their territory.
The current Annan Commandery of the Ran family covers a vast area southeast of Kangju, Suyi, western Dawan, and Kushannia. If it weren't for the obstruction of the snow-capped mountains and plateau in the south, Huan Wen would have already sent his troops south to pursue Murong Xianbei. .
However, the control of the steep mountain pass was in the hands of Murong Xianbei, and Huan Wen's Annan army could only expand its territory elsewhere.
The expansionism of this emerging force soon brought trouble to itself.
Bihapeng came to Luoyang this time just for this time.
Within the palace.
Liu Yu, who had just finished the court meeting, finally let Bihapeng in, who had been waiting for most of the day.
After some salutes, Liu Yu asked first.
"Bihapeng, when you come to Luoyang this time, do you want to pay tribute in advance?"
This year's weather has been particularly cold since autumn. Liu Yu thought that the Annan Palace was afraid that the tribute team would encounter wind and snow, so he came to Luoyang in advance.
"Your Majesty, although this minister has brought tribute horses and other treasures this time, he is not just here to pay tribute." Nashi Pantou spoke fluently in Luoyin.
"Then what else is going on?" Liu Yu asked.
Liu Yu was very satisfied with the results achieved by placing Huan Wen on the west side of the Nanzhong Protectorate.
Liu Yu used the garrison army as the main force to control the two governorates in Nanzhong and Anxi. Only the garrison army with fixed cities and farmland could be well controlled.
As for the farther outer Nanzhong area, Liu Yu asked Huan Wen to recruit a large number of grassland nomadic tribes to conquer the Nanzhong barbarians.
These tough nomadic tribes are the nemesis against the Nanzhong Hu people who are city-states.
Huan Wen quickly established a new sphere of influence, which not only provided protection for the Han business travelers along the way, but also put an end to extortion, extortion, and even robbery and murder by the Hu people in the southern and central Hu city-states, allowing the Han business travelers to go further.
More importantly, Huan Wen regularly paid tribute to Liu Yu with a large number of Nanzhong horses, camels, cattle, sheep and other products every year, so that the official horse farm of the Han Dynasty received sufficient quality breeds.
Therefore, every time the tribute team sent by Huan Wen came, Liu Yu felt very comfortable.
This feeling of having a windfall come in while you are lying down is simply not very satisfying.
"Your Majesty should know that there is a Persian country to the west of King Annan's kingdom." Bihapon said cautiously.
"Persia? Of course you know that the Persian country at this time should be the most powerful country in the area, right?"
Liu Yu naturally knew about the Persian Empire in history.
However, the Persian Empire at this time was not the background of the ancient Greek power every second, but a real world power.
"Yes, Your Majesty, the current Persian state is called the Sasanian Dynasty. It has a territory of thousands of miles and an army of millions. Its expansion has already reached Kushannia in the east." Bihapon said with some worry. .
When Liu Yu heard this, he guessed a lot.
"Bihapen, don't beat around the bush, tell me quickly."
When Bihapen heard this, he didn't dare to make any more detours, so he told the whole story.
It turned out that Huan Wen's Annan Kingdom expanded crazily, and the cavalry, mainly from the grassland nomadic tribes, soon conquered a large number of Kushanian princes to the southwest.
These Kushanian princes and nobles are the remaining forces left after the split of the former Kushan Empire.
They were all misers guarding one-third of an acre of land. They were no match for Huan Wen's nomadic cavalry, and they quickly surrendered and paid tribute.
As a result, the Sasanian Persian Empire, which they originally loyal to, would naturally not give up.
Sasanian Persia sent an envoy to submit a fiercely written credential to Huan Wen. Backed by the powerful force of Sasanian Persia, he issued a request to Huan Wen to withdraw from Kushania and hand over the traitorous prince of Kushan.
"What's so hard to do with such a small request?" Liu Yu frowned and couldn't help but feel a little baffled.
It was definitely not the first time that Huan Wen encountered opposition to this kind of expansion. Is it necessary to send Bihapen to report it?
It would be better to just talk about the outcome of the war.
"As long as we defeat the Sasanians, wouldn't that be enough?" Liu Yu said.
"Your Majesty may not know much about the prestige of Sassanid Persia in the South Central area, but everyone must be afraid of it, especially in the Outer South Central area." Bihapon said.
"Is it more terrifying than the reputation of our big men?" Liu Yu asked.
Bihapen shook his head and said.
"Your Majesty, the two are not the same. The Han Dynasty's reputation was indeed brilliant in the past, but it has not been demonstrated in Nanzhong for nearly a hundred years. During this period, it was the time when these Sasanian Persians were expanding their reputation, especially Su Yi, In Kushannia and Khorezm, the princes and leaders everywhere are more afraid of the Sasanians."
"What does Huan Wen want to do?" Liu Yu asked.
"Your Majesty, the troops in the hands of King Annan are seriously insufficient. Especially when many city-state leaders heard that the Sasanian Persians were going to send a large army to fight, it is already a sign that their hearts are unstable. Your Majesty is urgently needed to send more reinforcements. Otherwise, not only Kushannia's If the land is going to be spit out, I am afraid that even the Kangju Dayuan area will be in rebellion." Bihapeng said.
When Liu Yu heard this, he naturally couldn't let Huan Wen's feudal state collapse. The most important source of good horses from Nanzhong was in the Kangju Dayuan area.
"How many troops are needed?" Liu Yu asked.
"Your Majesty, based on defensive warfare, at least one hundred thousand troops are needed!" Bihapen said.
When Liu Yu heard this number, he immediately had a dark look on his face.
"Bi Ha Peng, you have to know that it is absolutely impossible to have an army of 100,000, let alone 100,000. There are not even 50,000 field soldiers in the entire Nanzhong Protectorate."
Liu Yu didn't want to waste time on this issue, so he thought for a moment and then said.
"And the field soldiers of the Nanzhong Protectorate cannot leave too far. The only reinforcements I can send are the cavalry of the Western Xianbei tribe in Longxi and Xihai, which can number about 20,000 to 30,000 people."
After Bihapeng heard the number of reinforcements mentioned by Liu Yu, he immediately knew what was going on.
If there are another 20,000 to 30,000 grassland cavalry, it can basically ensure that the entire Annan Kingdom can defend the country, and there is no fear that anyone will be easily tempted by Sasanian Persia to rebel.
"His majesty's majesty will inevitably be broadcast all over the world with these soldiers!" Bihapeng commented in an unassuming way.
Seeing Bihapeng's confident look, Liu Yu suddenly felt something in his heart.
He asked Bihapen with some confusion.
"Bihapon, do you think the Sasanians will really go to war with you this time? Is it just verbal blackmail?"
As soon as he heard this, Bihapen suddenly became a little excited.
"Your Majesty, the ambitions of the Sassanid people are almost all over the world. They have been attacking frequently since the founding of the country. Especially now, Shapur II is an ambitious young king. They do not dare to expand to the Qin Kingdom in the west. , will definitely go to war with our Annan Kingdom, it’s just a matter of time,” Bihapen said.
"Oh, I ask you, is there any more information about this Sasanian?" Liu Yu suddenly became interested.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
After Bihapeng heard this, he immediately introduced this Sashapos to Liu Yu in more detail.
It turns out that this Sasanian Persian state was established for more than a hundred years. Since it replaced the Parthian Persian Empire, it not only inherited its territory, but also inherited its ambitions.
Sasanian Persia went to war with the Roman Empire almost every year. With the advantage of this cavalry, it once had the upper hand in the field battles.
However, as the ambitions of the Sasanians grew, the Sasanian army went too far and was repeatedly defeated by the Roman Empire.
Especially after a major defeat a few decades ago, the Sasanian Persian king's wife, children, and children were all captured by the Romans, and they even gave up all their previous territories in subsequent negotiations.
"Today's Great Qin State is at its peak. Although it is ruled by four emperors, it can always deal with enemies." Liu Yu nodded lightly, expressing his approval of the description of the Sasanian Persians.
The "Great Qin" in the words of Liu Yu and Liu Yu was what the Chinese called the Roman Empire in the south, central and extreme west at this time.
Although the Roman Empire and the Han Empire had almost no direct contact, it did not hinder the mutual admiration between the two thousands of miles apart.
"Your Majesty is right. Today's Sasanian Persia is unable to advance westward. It can only desperately try to find results elsewhere. Expansion to the east is really inevitable." Bihapon said.
"Then what exactly did this king of Sasanian Persia say in his credential to Huan Wen?" Liu Yu continued to ask.
When Bihapen heard this question, he was immediately embarrassed.
However, he thought for a moment and mustered up the courage to speak out.
"The Sassanid king Shapur II had a tyrannical attitude. He thought that King Annan was the monarch of the Eastern Central Plains and said that he was the king of the west. If King Annan did not want to fight, he would have to offer hundreds of thousands of white porcelain vessels and various silks every year. A thousand bolts of silk each, and then you can continue doing business with the Sasanians.”
When Liu Yu heard this, he immediately became amused.
It turned out that in the eyes of the Sasanian Persians, Huan Wen was regarded as the headquarters of the Han Dynasty in the East.
"Hmph, these Sasanians clearly think that Huan Wen is my Han army, but instead of being afraid, they make so many feeble and greedy demands. It's time to teach them a lesson."
Liu Yu was already a little unhappy.
Since several major porcelain kilns in the Central Plains broke through new technologies a few years ago, various porcelain technologies have advanced rapidly, and a large number of porcelains have quickly become popular items sold thousands of miles away.
Nowadays, the profit of porcelain is almost the same as that of silk and other commodities, or even more generous.
Therefore, in their blackmail against the Han Dynasty, the Sasanians specifically emphasized the need to pay tribute to porcelain from the Central Plains.
"They think that the Qin Kingdom is difficult to deal with, but our Han Dynasty is easy to deal with. This is simply ridiculous."
Liu Yu knew that in Central Asia, as the core region of the World Island, the influence of various forces came and went, and only the most powerful one could influence it more thoroughly.
In order to make the influence of the Han Dynasty solid in Central Asia, Liu Yu naturally wanted to use Sasanian Persia to establish his authority.
If Neng Huan Wen could defeat the invasion of the Sasanian Persians, it would not only be a victory for the Annan Kingdom, but also a victory for the Eastern Han Dynasty.
Because of the various states and tribes in Central and Western Asia, it was difficult to distinguish the difference between the Han Dynasty and the vassal states.
In their opinion, they are all oriental people with black hair and black eyes.
"If this is the case, then Huan Wen will not only need more cavalry, but also more elite soldiers."
Liu expected that one of the most famous characteristics of Sassanid Persia in history was the production of efficient armored cavalry.
The Sasanian cavalry, covered in heavy armor, is basically the same as the armored cavalry in the Central Plains.
The various nomadic light cavalry in the hands of Huan Wen basically swept across Central Asia, but it is really hard to say when they encounter the heavy armored cavalry of the Sasanian Persians.
"Since the Sasanian Persians are so arrogant, we must beat them thoroughly."
Liu Yu stood up and paced back and forth as he spoke. After thinking for a moment, he continued.
"I have thought about it, and will lend all the two thousand armored cavalry in Liangzhou to Huan Wen. I must let the Sasanians know the majesty of my great man."
When Bihapen heard this, he was even more excited and didn't know what to do.
Two thousand Liangzhou's armored cavalry are almost all of Liangzhou's elites.
These Liangzhou elite cavalry were all famous as the "Liangzhou Horses" back then, and their guard general Beigong Chun even fought against the Huns with a series of battles.
Even a Nanzhong Hu like Bi Ha Peng was well aware of the reputation of the 'Liangzhou Dama'.
Now Annan Wang Huanwen can get two thousand "Liangzhou Horses", which basically makes up for the last shortcoming.
When Bihapen embarked on the journey back to Nanzhong a few days later, he was almost confident of winning in the future.
At the same time, as another party involved in the upcoming war, King Shapur II of Sasanian Persia was equally confident about the future.
In the splendid palace of Sasanian Persia, the young king Shapur II, dressed in splendid royal robes, was listening to the teachings of his mother.
Shapur II, who is only seventeen years old this year, is the posthumous son of the previous king. His father and several brothers died when he was still in his mother's womb. A bunch of ministers and generals put the crown on his mother's belly, which was a declaration. A new heir.
From then on, the Queen Mother and the senior ministers became the rulers of the Sassanid Empire. It was not until this year that Shapur II executed the last few "auxiliary ministers" that the young king was declared in charge.
