Shang Donglin thought for a while and said: "The food and grass in the three towns can last until April. If the supplies are insufficient, there are only two ways to solve our urgent need."
Yun Zhongchen slowly raised his eyebrows and asked quietly: "Tell me and listen."
Shang Donglin sighed and said leisurely: "The soldiers on the grassland said that the southern Xinjiang army once opened wasteland and cultivated land outside the three towns. I took a look before winter and found that those fields were still the same."
"If we don't find a way to farm here, we can only collect grain from the grassland tribes. But I believe they don't have enough grain themselves. How can they provide us with more grain?"
As a military strategist, Shang Donglin naturally understood that the grassland army was all nomadic people, and they were just waiting for the spring to graze to survive.
How can there be enough food and grass to feed and drink the current army of more than 200,000 people?
When it came to the matter of food and grass, even Duanmu Ruolan frowned. She also understood that the army could not fight on an empty stomach, let alone war horses.
Thinking of this, she also said in a deep voice: "Back then, the southern Xinjiang army could open up wasteland and cultivate land outside the three towns, why can't we?"
Shang Donglin then said: "At least we save the effort of clearing wasteland. If we can grow food outside the three towns, we can be self-sufficient if we persist."
Feixian Island is too far away, and even Shang Donglin, as a military advisor, understands that it is beyond reach and is afraid that if his own side's food and grass are cut off, there will be no need to fight this war.
"Then let's decide."
Yun Zhongchen said expressionlessly: "Continue to send people back to the South China Sea to collect grain, and make demands to the two Khans. They will give you whatever they can. After the spring begins, allocate a team of people to farm outside the three towns."
In just a moment, Yun Zhongchen made a three-pronged decision.
In his opinion, no problem can arise on either side. The grassland can give as much as they can, and the supply of Feixian Island cannot be stopped.
The last hope is to grow food on thousands of acres of land outside the three towns like the southern Xinjiang army did.
If he planted two crops in spring and summer, he wouldn't have to worry about food until next summer.
Shang Donglin sighed and said helplessly: "God is not as good as man, and we did not expect that they would build so many trenches in the wasteland."
Duanmu Ruolan said quietly: "It's meaningless to talk about these things now. We will build one after another. Southern Xinjiang is only so big. Is it possible that they can hold on for another year?"
Shang Donglin nodded and said: "We are torturing each other in the same way. This battlefield will depend on who can persist until the last moment."
Yun Zhongchen shook his head, frowned and said, "It's not wrong for everyone to be cautious. Let's solve the troublesome matter in Yelu Palace first."
Shang Donglin squinted his eyes and said: "The young island master is a smart man. Don't be impatient because of some setbacks in front of you. Let's move forward steadily towards Nanyun City."
Duanmu Ruolan gently placed the tea cup on the table, thought for a while and said: "When we occupy Nanyun City, it will be equivalent to occupying one-third of the land in Southern Xinjiang. It will be easier to do things in the future."
This time Yun Zhongchen remained silent. After fighting several tough battles, he only looked forward to the arrival of spring.
…
It was a windy and snowy day, and countless cavalrymen set out from the three towns to the snow-covered grasslands.
For example, the winter solstice has passed, but it has been a long time since Chunyi, and the wind and snow are still blowing on the wasteland.
Compared with the vast world, the team of 1,500 people only seemed so small.
This time the team was led by Yun Zhongchen's deputy general Wang Danian and another monk who had transcended the realm of tribulation.
Wang Danian, who was on the horse, touched the snowflakes on his face and looked at the three towns in southern Xinjiang behind him. There was no emotion in his eyes, let alone hatred, just a touch of indifference.
In his opinion, even if it was windy or snowy, it could not stop his group's progress, regardless of whether the two hundred people who went first were ambushed by the other party.
But he won't. He is a careful person and can sail the boat carefully.
Glancing at the vast snowfield, Wang Danian's face showed no emotional change. He knew very well the purpose of his trip, to bring five to ten thousand war horses.
Requesting King Yelu to send at least 10,000 soldiers to participate in the Southern Xinjiang War was a mission he must accomplish.
It would take three days to get to Yelu Palace from Kaiyang Town. He believed that he could bring back enough people from there on the fourth day.
Not for anything else, because he is a great monk who has transcended the seventh level of tribulation and has already seen the eighth level.
He believed that he would be able to survive another calamity and stand above the eighth level of cultivation. It wouldn't be long before he could ascend.
Under such circumstances, he really couldn't imagine who else in this world could stop him?
However, his brows frowned slightly in the blink of an eye.
Because he thought of the soldiers who had followed five companions to the Yelu Palace. If not for an accident, they would have been on their way back at this time.
As the commander and deputy general of the young island, he is aware of his responsibilities.
After the beginning of spring, they would have to fight again with Southern Xinjiang. At this time, they could not afford to lose no matter how many men and horses they had. He was confident that he would bring all his brothers back from the grassland.
After settling the matter at King Yelu's Court, he will lead the army to continue to Nanyun City, where there are still several trenches waiting for him to conquer.
Thinking of this, the corners of Wang Danian's lips raised slightly, as if he was very satisfied with his plan, but at the same time he seemed to be a little uneasy and worried about this trip.
Because he didn't want to conquer the Yelu Palace.
He knew that at this juncture, everyone needed to negotiate rather than fight to the death.
If he were allowed to fight against these 1,500 soldiers, even if he brought back 10,000 horses from King Yelu's court, it would not help.
…
In the tent of King Yelu, King Khan.
Watson was guarding a pot of hot tea, and the second elder Yelu Baoming sat in front of him. King Khan and the fifth elder went to inspect the pass, and Xiao Hei was hiding in his sleeping bag and dreaming.
Watson rubbed his tired brows, thinking back on the combat decision he had made, and was convinced that there should be no problems.
He said to Yelu Baoming: "Second Elder, I hope we can successfully win the battle before us this time."
Yelu Baoming thought for a moment and said, "I'm not afraid that I won't be able to win the war in front of me, but I'm worried about the future safety of the royal court."
"Young Master will definitely leave Yelu Palace after this battle. If they get angry and send out a large army again, can we continue to fight them?"
After sighing, Yelu Baoming said leisurely.
He is different from King Khan and the three elders. He is thinking about the future of Yelu Palace.
After all, no matter how you look at it, Yelu Royal Court looks like a frustrated child, caught between the Five Domains Dynasty and Feixian Island in the South China Sea.
Unlike the Yuezhi Royal Court, the Yuezhi are very far away from the three towns in southern Xinjiang, so far away that even Feixian Island in the South China Sea is unwilling to go to them to cause trouble.
The Royal Court of Yelu is only three days away from the three towns. If the other party is determined to fight with us, I am afraid that the Royal Court of Yelu will never have peace again.
Watson was stunned. He had only thought about digging holes and burying people in order to extinguish his opponent's arrogance, but he had forgotten that the Yelu Palace was actually not that far away from the three towns in southern Xinjiang.
Just like Yelu Baoming said, if he and Xiao Hei leave, who will provide sufficient protection for Yelu Royal Court?
The task given to him by his godfather was not just to protect Yelu Chucai and Yelu Royal Court.
Thinking of this, I couldn't help but look at him and said, "If the second elder has any clever ideas, let me tell you."
Yelu Baoming thought for a while and said quietly: "Since you and King Khan have decided to send the other party five thousand war horses, why not negotiate with the other party before the war begins?"
In his opinion, even if Yelu Royal Court can achieve a decisive blow against Nanhai's cavalry, there is still a prerequisite, that is, the other party dares to rush down the pass!
If you can fight your opponent before the pass, or scare them off, you can send five thousand war horses, which will at least buy you a few years of health.
At least after getting five thousand war horses, the people from Feixian Island in the South China Sea would not immediately start to cause trouble for Yelu Palace.
After the beginning of spring, the opponent wanted to cause trouble to Yelu Royal Court again for other reasons. By that time, the entire Royal Court had moved to the foot of Yin Mountain.
By that time, the Nanhai army, which could not find anyone, would have to give up the trouble of searching for Yelu Palace for the time being.
Yun Zhongchen led the Nanhai army to go south, determined to win the Five Regions Dynasty, but Nanyun City was not so easy to win.
As long as the South China Sea Army lets go of causing trouble to Yelu Royal Court, it is impossible for the South China Sea Army to continue to cause trouble for itself for its own benefit.
After all, the Yinshan Mountains are so vast that not even the grassland soldiers can cover all of its mountains, let alone the soldiers of the South China Sea.
At present, except for the Yelu Royal Court, no one from the other four royal courts dares to enter the Yin Mountain.
The depths of Yinshan Mountain are now a paradise for Yelu Palace.
Watson thought about it silently, and finally sighed softly.
Killing two thousand Nanhai troops on the grassland will not bring substantial changes to the entire war situation. As Yelu Baoming said, he wants to ensure the safety of the entire Yelu Royal Court.
Everything in front of me has nothing to do with others, but only to the Royal Court of Yelu.
After thinking for a while, Watson said: "In that case, Xiaohei and I will meet with them for a while before the pass. We hope that the generals who return this time can come back alive."
His voice was not loud, but he had already thought about the cause and effect in his heart.
As long as the person who came was reasonable and couldn't defeat him, he would be willing to take five thousand war horses back to the three towns. He would also be willing to let his opponent go for a while.
After Yelu Baoming was silent for a long time, he suddenly said: "This is just my personal opinion. I haven't told King Khan yet. Do you think you should discuss it with him?"
Watson looked up at the sky outside the tent and said calmly, "I'll tell you."
Yelu Chucai, who came back, couldn't help but sigh heavily after listening to Watson's analysis.
Obviously he was very satisfied with the analysis of Watson and the second elder. In any war, people would die, and the Yelu court was always a child who suffered from anger.
And he’s a stuck-up child with no choice.
No matter which side wins, Yelu Royal Court will have to pay a heavy price in the end, because the people of Feixian Island in the South China Sea will not let them go.
If Watson could persuade the other party to retreat this time, he would have to spend at most five thousand war horses to buy peace for the next ten or even twenty years.
After all, he can completely explain away what happened before. After all, it is normal for someone to get lost and be in danger during a storm.
"In this case, we will do as the second elder has discussed with you. For the long-term safety of Yelu Palace, it is worth the pain of giving up five thousand war horses."
Yelu Chucai looked sad and said leisurely: "After the beginning of spring, the war in southern Xinjiang will begin. When the time comes, will you go to Nanyun City, or will you look for trouble from them from behind?"
Watson glanced at Xiao Hei who was snoring, and sighed softly, thinking that solving the troubles in Yelu Palace was only a small part of his mission.
Bigger troubles are still waiting for him. Maybe with the help of Xiao Hei, he can find some big trouble for those guys on Feixian Island in the South China Sea.
Thinking of this, Watson smiled lightly and said: "I want to go to the sea because sister Mingzhu has already been there."
