Bashishagun, or Suiye City, as the intersection of the two main Silk Roads, the Central and Northern Silk Roads, has always been a must-go for merchants and envoys from the East and West. With this unique geographical advantage, it has never lacked nutrients for development.
At the same time, because it is located in the Suiye River Valley and is nourished by nearby snow water, the land is fertile, the climate is pleasant, and the products are rich. It is extremely attractive to the Central Asian regimes, and it has also been a battleground for Central Asian hegemons in the past.
In the past few decades, the rise of the Black Khanate has also absorbed a lot of nutrients. In the construction of Suiye City, the Black Khanate was also more careful and spent a lot of money.
And its status as the capital of the Black Khanate has only happened in the past ten years. Initially, the Black Khan was stationed in Kashgar, which is close to the Western Regions and adjacent to Khotan. It is very convenient to move eastward or southward. However, in the past thirty years, the Black Khan's main focus was on moving eastward. As a result, How, there is no need to repeat it.
Because it is located south of the Tianshan Mountains, compared to the entire Black Khanate, Kashgar is actually a protruding part. When the country is strong, it is a bridgehead for expansion. Once the power is weakened, it is difficult to guarantee security.
The Han Dynasty was too aggressive in its several expansions after unification. When part of its attention shifted to the Western Regions, the Black Khanate felt great pressure. After some difficult choices, Alimusa Khan finally It was then that he made up his mind to move the capital north to Ba assassinating Gun.
With the arrival of Liu Min's Western Expedition, the results also proved the foresight of the decision to move the capital that year. Otherwise, after the Battle of Qiuci, the Han army advanced rapidly and swept across Mobei, and the Heihan people who were defeated and suffered a huge defeat would have to make a move in advance. A battle to protect the country.
However, many things are unpredictable. Alimusa valued the solid prosperity of Eight Assassins Gun and the mountain and river barrier. However, Yang Yanzhao's two-thousand-mile roundabout sneak attack made his plan fail. Not only did Eight Assassins Gun have little ability to resist The land was recaptured by the Han army, which also led to the collapse of the frontal battlefield. He also fell on the battlefield and died at the hands of an unknown soldier of the Khotan army.
The Suiye River rushes out of "Zhuhai" and turns to the northwest. Suiye City, a large city in the Western Regions, is located in the north of the mountains and the south of the water. However, the once prosperous and lively city has become a bit more desolate in the winter wind. , if the army hadn't gathered together, I'm afraid it would have been even more deserted.
There are devastated scenes everywhere inside and outside the city. The damage caused by the war is huge and tragic. Even though it is the beacon of mankind in this world and the representative of the most advanced civilization, in the process of external expansion, it is also accompanied by bloodshed, and it brings killing, death and fear to the conquered countries and tribes.
The original population of Suiye City was more than 30,000, which is not small, but now, it is only over 20,000. After the city was broken, in order to suppress the rebels and control the city as soon as possible, Yang Yanzhao completely let go of his hands and feet, controlling the field with iron and blood, and then Coupled with the Turks who served as minions and reasonable looting, the blood naturally flowed more.
Of course, the city was full of beauty, not for the Black Khans who died under the butcher's knife. The news of the Queen's death also reached the Suiye Army. Yang Yanzhao was fully prepared without Liu Min having to take the initiative to mention it.
Who among them, the noble sons and daughters of the upper class, had not experienced Empress Fu’s love and teachings? What’s more, Yang Yanzhao was still the prince-in-law of the dynasty. Feeling so moved, he paid tribute to Beng’s passing away in the most pious manner thousands of miles away. The Queen expresses her deepest condolences.
In the desolate cold wind, Liu Min led the army and entered Broken Leaf City. Yang Yanzhao and a few surrendered Turks under his command greeted him respectfully. Seeing Yang Yanzhao at the head of the crowd, Liu Min did not even bother to take a closer look at Suiye City. He dismounted from a distance and walked forward.
Seeing this, Yang Yanzhao also came forward. The two came close and hugged each other fiercely. Liu Min punched Yang Yanzhao twice on the back and said, "Yuan Xian, thank you for your hard work!"
Hearing this, Yang Yanzhao also felt something: "Your Highness, thank you for your hard work!"
There is not much to say in this scene, and no amount of words can explain the emotions surging in the two people's hearts.
After hugging for a long time, the two of them let go and stood at the foot of the city. Witnessed by the three armies, the two laughed several times in unison. The laughter contained countless emotions. Seeing each other's mourning clothes, they both showed a little suppressed grief. It means not only the collapse of Empress Fu, but also the soldiers who died since the Second Western Expedition.
In this war against the Black Khanate, although the Han Dynasty won a complete victory and basically wiped out the main army of the Black Khan, the Black Khan died in battle and seized a large amount of urban land from the Black Khan, including the enemy capital. It can be said that the Black Khanate has been defeated and collapsed. , this is even more miserable than the black Khan who was bullied by the Samanid Dynasty and lost Talos decades ago.
But corresponding to the glorious victory, it came at a heavy price. The Southern Route Army led by Liu Min alone suffered more than 4,000 direct casualties in more than ten battles. In terms of casualties, it seems to be even more. painful.
Due to the intensity of the war and the inability to fully provide medical treatment, many injured soldiers were unable to receive treatment and died of their injuries.
The ashes of the first batch of cremated soldiers have already been transported back to the country. At least they have a chance to return to their roots and give their families a little thought. But for those soldiers whose bones are buried in other places or even have no bones left, it is even more cruel.
In terms of casualties during Liu Min's two-year expedition to the west, the number is even greater. The casualties have exceeded 20,000. Expansion is never just words. Such achievements and land were obtained with the lives and blood of Han soldiers. .
After invading the territory of Black Khan, both Liu Min and Yang Yanzhao deliberately indulged their soldiers and even violated some military disciplines. Among them, they not only let the soldiers vent their grievances, but also searched for wealth in the shortest time to make up for it. losses caused by expansion.
There is already a lot of domestic support for the Western Expedition, but if the court and soldiers cannot see the benefits, it will be difficult to persist for a long time. Some of the benefits obtained in the Black Khanate were fed back to the court, and some were distributed to the soldiers as rewards and pensions to reassure the soldiers.
Serving as a soldier to eat food and fight to make a fortune is the fundamental reason why the Han soldiers are willing to follow the expedition. Talking about fame and great achievements does not mean much to ordinary soldiers.
Of course, this is contrary to the military and political principles that the Han Dynasty has always adhered to, especially the reward policy. However, for the central court, which is seven or eight thousand miles away, to have complete control over the Western Expeditionary Army is fanciful and even nonsense. This is also an inevitable impact caused by expansion.
What the imperial court can really do is to control the logistics of the garrison and the appointment of generals, but even so, it is difficult to predict how effective it will be.
For the conquered Black Khans, it is foreseeable that they will inevitably face greater security problems in their later rule. There are always pros and cons in everything. Take the benefits and bear the harm. Liu Min naturally chose to take care of the soldiers of the Western Expedition first.
After the army was stationed, Liu Min had time to observe Suiye coming out. He waited at the top of Suiye City with the generals of the two armies to enjoy the beautiful scenery from a high position.
Stopping for a long time, looking at the Suiye River flowing in front of the city, Liu Min suddenly raised his arms, pointed at his feet, and said with emotion and determination: "Suiye, since Emperor Wu of the former Han Dynasty, has been my great Han Dynasty's expansion to the west. Extremely, after a thousand years, we descendants have returned to our hometown again. We, the people, cannot fall away from the mighty virtue of our ancestors. This should not be just the end, but the beginning!"
Liu Min's words were loud and full of pride, and it was clear that his intention to conquer the West was still unfinished. However, when the generals following him heard this, their expressions varied.
(End of chapter)
