area51novel Page 336
Page 336
"Not only did he demand three thousand warhorses, but he also wanted us to help him kill Li Chang'an."
In the past, Shanshan would send troops from two routes: Liangzhou and the Western Shu Road.
This year's barbarian army was also deployed in the same way.
However, as the Shanshan tribe grew stronger, Murong Fuyun's thoughts changed.
“Fu Shun, we have never gained much benefit from Beiliang.”
"The troops of Beiliang are far stronger than those of the Liyang Dynasty."
"Instead of suffering losses in Beiliang, we should combine two armies to take Jianmen Pass!"
"Moreover, Xu Xiao's two conditions are not difficult to meet."
Murong Fushun said, "Father, Jiange Pass is strategically important, easy to defend and difficult to attack."
Murong Fuyun laughed and said, "Son, we have become rich and powerful over the years."
"We have quite a few spies and scouts infiltrated the Western Shu Road!"
Seeing Murong Fuyun's meaningful smile, Murong Fushun suddenly said, "So Father has been planning this for a long time!"
Murong Fuyun said, "I raid Liyang in two separate routes every year to lull them into a false sense of security."
“We used to station troops at Jiange Pass frequently, but we never attacked it.”
"I sent people to infiltrate the Western Shu Road long ago, all for this big operation."
"Son, do you know where your father's goal lies?"
Murong Fushun walked to the huge cowhide map and examined the map of Western Shu once again.
"Many cities behind Jian Ge can be plundered to capture a large number of civilians."
Murong Fuyun said, "That's right, abducting people has always been our goal."
"Look further east!"
Murong Fushun looked at the map and suddenly said, "Father, do you intend to plunder Liyang's granaries?"
Murong Fuyun said, "The people we've captured can be used to transport this grain."
"With this population and food, Shanshan can continue to grow stronger!"
"The granaries in Qingfubao, Lueyangtai, Wuzhangyuan... have just received their autumn harvest!"
Li Chang'an had barely left Qingzhou when he received news from the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
The Shanshan barbarian army that was attacking Beiliang quickly changed direction and headed south towards Jiange Pass!
In other words, this military operation in Shanshan is by no means a small-scale skirmish.
Murong Fuyun might be planning something big!
Sure enough, the news came seven days later.
The 150,000-strong army of Shanshan has launched a fierce attack on Jianmen Pass!
Inside the military tent, Sweet Potato was reporting the latest battlefield intelligence.
"The first wave of the attack in Shanshan was launched without regard to casualties, resulting in the loss of more than 30,000 people in three days!"
The terrain at Jiange Pass is not open, so the fact that they died so quickly shows that Shanshan was indeed attacking with all its might.
What are the casualties among the defenders of Jiange?
Hongshu replied, "Of the 60,000 defenders, 20,000 have been killed in action! We have already requested reinforcements from the imperial court and the Western Shu army!"
At this moment, Zhuge Liang said, "Western Shu needs to be on guard against barbarians all year round, so the number of troops in the government forces should be more than in other provinces."
"However, at most there are only about 20,000 people, and their combat strength is not comparable to that of the Jian Ge garrison!"
Gu Dazu said, "The Jiange garrison is Gu Jiantang's subordinate. They are not as good as the prince's elite troops, but they are not much worse than the Beiliang infantry."
The Northern Liang army numbered 350,000, including 140,000 cavalry and 190,000 infantry.
Sweet Potato continued, "The Western Shu army has learned of the military situation and has already dispatched more than 10,000 men to Jiange."
"Besides the government troops, there are two other troop movements being mobilized around Jiange!"
Xu Weixiong astutely remarked, "Could it be that the Northern Liang army has marched south?"
"That's unlikely. Beiliang won't help Gu Jiantang's old subordinates guard Jiange."
"It would be best if they didn't come. If they do come, we might have to be on guard against them!"
Sweet Potato replied, "They are not soldiers from the Northern Liang!"
"The road started from the mountains near Mianzhu, and there are probably five or six thousand people on it."
"These people are few in number and have no banners. The Embroidered Uniform Guard is investigating them."
"The other route, however, lies outside Jiange Pass, far behind Shanshan!"
Li Chang'an asked with some surprise, "So it's within the territory of the Shanshan tribe?"
"Shanshan can mobilize 150,000 troops, which should be the limit."
Sweet Potato said, "This army is not barbarians, but Han Chinese!"
"They now number over ten thousand, and their banner reads 'Return to Han Army'!"
Everyone was somewhat surprised to hear the name Guihan Army.
Zhuge Liang exclaimed with emotion, "The Zhang family's army in the Northwest that returned to Han is still here!"
When the seven prefectures of Shazhou originally belonged to the Northern Han Kingdom, the prefecture capital was located in Dunhuang City.
The four prefectures, including Dunhuang City, were taken away by the Hu people and the barbarians.
More than a decade later, the Zhang family, a powerful clan in Dunhuang, raised an army and briefly recovered four counties in Shazhou.
At that time, the banner raised by the Zhang family was called the Northwest Return to Han Army!
Because Liangzhou had already been occupied by Xu Xiao, the Zhang family and the Northern Han court were effectively cut off.
However, the Guihan Army always recognized the Northern Han as the legitimate dynasty and refused to submit to Liyang.
At that time, the wars between the states of Spring and Autumn had not yet ended, and Xu Xiao was still attacking Western Chu.
The Gui Han army was isolated and without support, and was eventually defeated by the combined forces of the Northern Mang, the Western Rong, Shanshan, and Waleng.
More than a decade has passed, and everyone thought that the Guihan Army had long been wiped out by the Hu and Ba people.
Zhuge Liang said with emotion, "Although General Zhang Yichao of the Returning Han Army failed, he is a role model for us!"
"Unexpectedly, more than 10,000 of the original 100,000 who returned to Han are still alive!"
Hongshu said, "After the defeat of the Guihan Army, they were driven out of the three counties of present-day Shazhou by the Northern Liang Army."
"They have been hiding in the deep mountains between Yumen County and Gantai County."
"Over the years, we have been waging guerrilla warfare against the barbarians in Waleng and Shanshan."
When Shanshan attacked Jiange Pass, they followed far behind, probably intending to take the opportunity to launch a surprise attack on Shanshan.
Li Chang'an sighed, "In the Northwest, there is a loyal man; the Zhang family has returned to the Han army."
"The other army near Mianzhu should be from the Qingyi Alliance."
The Green Robe Alliance, organized by Cao Changqing, was mainly composed of remnants of Western Chu and Western Shu.
Because of the complex terrain of Western Shu, and because it borders Western Chu.
Therefore, the power of the Green Robe Alliance has always been hidden in Western Shu.
The old minister said, "The Gui Han army is the mortal enemy of the Western Region barbarians!"
"They must be looking to see if they have a chance to take a good bite out of Murong Fuyun this time."
"But what exactly does Cao Changqing's Green Robe Alliance want to do..."
Li Chang'an smiled faintly, "Master Cao, you've come for me!"
Xu Xiao had already spread the news that Jiang Si was in Li Chang'an's army.
Therefore, Li Chang'an could almost conclude that Cao Changqing had come to rescue Jiang Si.
Xu Xiao's attempt to frame someone turned out to be a lucky accident.
The Northwest Han Army has been fighting against the barbarians in Yumen and Jingyuan counties.
With the Northern Han gone, these people were essentially a leaderless army.
The Guihan Army harbors deep hatred for the Hu and Ba peoples and possesses formidable fighting strength, making them entirely worthy of being won over.
Li Chang'an has already reclaimed Yumen County, so it shouldn't be difficult for him to subdue the Gui Han army.
During this time, Li Chang'an had already cultivated the Six Gods Technique to its peak.
In fact, Li Chang'an's rankings had improved considerably when he left Yongzhou.
Because of his mastery of the Six Gods Technique, Li Chang'an directly advanced to the mid-stage of the Finger Profound Realm.
Furthermore, news of Qingniao returning to his heart, seizing Wang Linquan's wealth, and playing chess with the renowned player Lu Xu also spread.
Therefore, Li Chang'an's rankings in terms of romance, wealth, and artistic talent all improved.