As early as the end of the Qin Dynasty and the beginning of the Han Dynasty, more than fifty countries, large and small, were once active in the vast land of the Western Regions.
However, with the continuous wars and annexations, by the time Zhang Qian went to the Western Regions, there were only thirty-six countries left. Later generations called it the "Thirty-six Kingdoms of the Ancient Western Regions".
They use some oases or areas bordering grasslands as units, forming tribes as production units. Strictly speaking, they are not really a 'country'.
Among them, Qiuci, Gumo, and even Loulan are all powerful countries among the thirty-six countries.
In addition, countries such as Loulan and Pulei have closer ties with the Xiongnu due to geographical location and other reasons.
With the support of the Huns, they successively annexed small neighboring countries and enjoyed the benefits of being attached to the Huns.
Under such circumstances, it was of great historical and strategic significance for Kucha to bring the Gumo envoy to Dahan.
So even Emperor Liu Che paid special attention to it.
The main reason for his mission was that the Han Dynasty had been able to continuously defeat the Huns in recent years.
In the study, Huo Qubing had some time to relax and said:
"Loulan and Pulei relied on the support of the Xiongnu to annex the surrounding small countries.
In a sense, they were more worried about the alliance between the Western Regions and the Han than the Xiongnu.
Because once the countries in the Western Regions join forces with the Han, the Xiongnu will still have a way to retreat to the grassland. Countries such as Loulan and Pulei had to bear the bitter consequences of relying on the Xiongnu and oppressing other countries, and suffered backlash.
With such a powerful relationship, they actually have no reaction to your coming to Han.
There is only one possibility, that is, the master behind them gave them an order to not take action for the time being. "
Roshna asked: "Huo Hou means that the Huns have follow-up means to deal with me, Qiuci and Gumo?"
Huo Qubing said: "When you come east this time, other countries in the Western Region are waiting and watching.
If the Xiongnu ignored it, what would the other countries think? They essentially gave up control of the Western Region. "
As early as when he invited Roshna to come to Han, Huo Qubing had made judgments about the subsequent changes in things. Knowing that once he comes east, it may be the prelude to another confrontation between the Han and the Xiongnu.
This is a strategic conspiracy, and the Xiongnu must respond, otherwise they will lose the entire Western Region.
Roshna can be respected by all the countries in the Western Region, and she is not lacking in intelligence and knowledge.
She could also see the key. She followed the trend and agreed to come to Han. The purpose was to further see the strength and weakness of both sides during the next confrontation between the Xiongnu and Han, so as to make the choice most beneficial to the Western Regions.
As for the risks to be endured, they are unavoidable.
This kind of thing can't be without risk.
But what Huo Qubing said next made Roshna change her face.
"Based on some signs, the Xiongnu may strike at Kucha or Gumo with lightning speed to warn other countries and prevent them from following the example of You and others when they came to the Han Dynasty," Huo Qubing said.
Roshna expected that this coming east might arouse conflicts between the Han and the Huns.
But she did not expect that the Xiongnu would directly send troops to attack Qiuci without hesitation.
The reason is that Kucha is located in the middle of the countries in the Western Regions. If the Xiongnu wanted to attack Kucha and Gumo, they would have to pass through several countries in the Western Regions.
In terms of geographical location, including the current confrontation between the Xiongnu and the Han, and the situation of containing each other, this is not easy.
However, when Huo Qubing said this, Luo Shina dared not ignore it.
She stood up suddenly: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I need to immediately try to contact my Kucha side to take precautions."
Gumo, the envoy from Kucha also stood up.
However, the two were not as eager as Roshna.
The two of them did not believe everything Huo Qubing said. From a standpoint, they had reason to suspect that Huo Qubing was spreading alarmism and deliberately creating a sense of crisis for them to push them to defect to the Han Empire more quickly.
The emperor said: "Just wait and don't be busy leaving.
Qu Bing, since you have judged the Huns' reaction, do you have any relevant arrangements? "
Huo Qubing said: "When I asked Zhao Ponu to invite Roshna to come to Han, I thought that the Huns might have something to do and warned Zhang Jun, the prefect of Xiguan.
In the past few days in Beiguan, I heard the news from Xiuyi, saying that Roshna and others arrived in Chang'an safely without any troubles along the way. Only then did I further confirm that the Xiongnu might launch a more direct revenge.
While returning to Chang'an from Beiguan, I had asked Zhang Cigong to lead six thousand troops and advance westward along Beiguan.
If the Xiongnu sends troops from the north to the western region, Zhang Jun and Zhang Cigong's troops can block them on the way. "
"In addition, the day before I returned to Chang'an, my uncle had gone to Dingxiang and Shuofang in Beiguan.
The Huns have mobilized troops and horses, and my uncle is stationed in Beiguan. How to use the troops can ensure that nothing goes wrong. "
After hearing this, the ministers thought about it. Huo Qubing, as Lang Zhongling, and Wei Qing, as the general, both had the power to mobilize troops and horses at the border, and the number of people Huo Qubing mobilized was only a few thousand. At this moment, they told the emperor that it was not necessary to send Zhang Cigong to Xiguan. Violation of regulations.
Because the matter so far is still at the stage of Huo Qubing's prediction, speaking out in advance would appear to be unsteady.
Roshna was slightly relieved when she heard that Huo Qubing had made arrangements. But he still felt uneasy, so he stood up and bowed out, eager to return to the post house and learn about the situation in Qiuci through some means.
Everyone in the Western Region left the study in a hurry.
The residence arranged by the Han Dynasty for them was on Gao Street inside the south gate of Chang'an City. When foreign envoys visited Chang'an, their embassy buildings were always located here.
The group of people left the palace and prepared to return to the hotel.
Before boarding the car, envoy Gumo frowned and said, "Dazun, don't be so anxious, the words of the Han generals may not be trustworthy.
He is a Han general, so he should increase the threat from the Xiongnu to our Western Regions and increase our worries. His purpose is nothing more than to seek benefits for the Han Dynasty. "
The envoy from Kucha echoed: "I also think that Dakze's judgment is correct. If the Xiongnu wanted to use troops to attack Kucha and Gumo, they would have to go through many countries to get there. Under the current situation, how could it be so easy? ?”
"Exactly." Gu Mo nodded.
Roshna raised her eyebrows and said: "If the Xiongnu really wants to launch troops, I believe there will be movement soon, and then we will know the authenticity."
The envoys from Gumo and Qiuci exchanged glances. Out of respect for Roshna, they did not continue to refute, but they clearly disapproved of it.
When they decided to send envoys to Han, they had studied and judged the situation beforehand. Of course, Huo Qubing's words will not change his previous judgment.
"We are in Han Dynasty. Do you have the means to contact Qiuci and inquire about the situation?" asked the envoy from Gumo with a serious face.
"You should be able to use the sand tower," Roshna said.
Weiyang Palace.
After Roshna and others left, the ministers also left one after another.
Liu Che glanced at Liu Qing next to Huo Qubing and said with a smile:
"During your absence, Ping Xian will come to ask you where you are every day. Since you are back from the expedition, let's go back to the house first and discuss the rest later."
Huo Qubing and Liu Qing stood up to perform the ceremony and left the emperor's study.
After the two left, Liu Che asked Dong Xu to come in: "Open the new map of my country's borders and show it to me."
Dong Xu agreed and hurriedly unfolded a new sheepskin map.
On the new map, Fuyu, Wuhuan and other places have indeed been included in the scope of the Han Dynasty, which is the location of the northeastern provinces in later generations. Currently, only the easternmost part is missing.
And some areas in the north direction have to be exceeded.
The territory of the Han Dynasty will thus increase by four to six counties.
This is a new map that some ministers tried to figure out the emperor's thoughts. After Huo Qubing led his troops to capture Fuyu, Wuhuan and other tribes, they immediately prepared a new map and presented it to the emperor.
"When all the tribes of Xianbei surrender, we will take over the Western Region and defeat the Xiongnu. At that time, all the barbarians will surrender and we will open up thousands of miles of territory. I wonder if my achievements and the fortune of the country I have accumulated can break through those shackles." The emperor thought brightly.
When Huo Qubing and Liu Qing came out of the palace and returned to the Champion House, the sunset was shining.
The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the sky red.
Dong Zhongshu came to visit soon after.
Huo Qubing changed out of his military uniform and wore dark Hanfu. He received Dong Zhongshu in the front hall of the mansion and asked, "Master, why are you so urgent?"
Huo Qubing was dissatisfied with the long separation between husband and wife, and was interrupted by an old man coming to talk about something.
"Huo Hou, during your expedition, I asked the officials in charge of recording all kinds of captured materials at the border to record every detail of the expenses and even the various types of captured materials for comparison."
Dong Zhongshu's eyes flickered on Qingjun's face, and he sighed: "Huo Hou's consumption in the war is indeed much lower than I expected."
"so what?"
"I want to tell Huo Hou that you want to pacify the barbarians and build a strong Han Dynasty. From today on, I am willing to fully support you."
He said last time that civil and military affairs should be harmonious, but he was not as sincere as he was this time.
Huo Qubing's thoughts moved slightly and he quickly figured out the reason.
Dong Zhongshu in history was a person who could accurately identify the current situation and make the best use of it.
When he understood the emperor's ambition, he wanted to continuously conquer new territories to strengthen the Han Dynasty while centralizing power.
Dong Zhongshu is also trying to change his thinking and behavior.
Through constant observation, he discovered another path that, like the previous one, could not only leave his name throughout the ages, but also break through his own master realm.
It is to fully promote Liu Che to become an emperor and a hero rarely seen in the ages. In the great process of Wei Qing and Huo Qubing opening up territories and establishing a strong Han Dynasty, he also participated in it and shared the fortune of expanding the world.
Of course, this luck is not lost if someone takes it away, but Dong Zhongshu is added to the original basis.
So he believed that Huo Qubing would agree and realize his sincerity.
The old master's mind turned very quickly and he realized that this was a better way to leave a name in history and earn luck than the previous idea, so he wanted to really participate.
Dong Zhongshu did not express his thoughts too directly, and left after a brief expression.
Huo Qubing thought for a while in the front hall. When he returned to the inner house, Liu Qing had just come out of the shower.
She has long hair, fair skin, long legs, and is charming and enchanting.
Liu Qing imagined that her husband should first take a bath and change clothes after returning from an expedition, and then cuddle up with her to watch the sunset. When the love is strong, he should do whatever he should do.
But in reality, when Huo Qubing came back, his first step was similar to what Liu Qing had imagined... except that he took a bath very quickly.
He came out in less than half a teacup and returned to the couch with his naked upper body.
The two people soon turned from light to strong, and started to communicate about returning home from the expedition.
It wasn't until the bright moon rose into the sky that Liu Qing had the opportunity to stretch his legs and complete the research on the contents of the secret volume. Lying on her side on the couch, she revealed her ambitions to Huo Qubing...
By early morning, Her Royal Highness the Princess entered the resting stage of the phoenix's body and fell into a sound sleep.
Huo Qubing took a nap and got up in the early morning and came to the study.
He had previously beheaded the Bing Zun and sealed his Yin body within a ball of national destiny purple energy.
At this time, take it out and check it.
Ps: Please give me a vote, thank you
