Chapter 3340: Stay Steady
Therefore, in addition to the lack of troops, the Tang army had stable morale, high morale, and extremely sufficient food and military supplies, which was enough to fight a war of attrition from winter to spring, and even from spring to autumn.
After resisting the strong advance of the Arab army at the beginning of the war, the Tang army gradually stabilized its position and gradually regained its disadvantage. The war has shifted from the comparison of the strength of the two sides to its essence - a battle of logistics and supplies.
Even if the war is dragged out until the end of the Eastern Expedition, hundreds of thousands of elite troops will return to Guanzhong. If only 100,000 people are deployed to aid the Western Regions, the Arabs will undoubtedly be defeated.
Therefore, the Tang army had the absolute initiative in time, while the Arabs were in urgent need of breaking the situation. The severe winter not only delayed the Arabs' attack, but it was also the Arabs' last chance. If the Anxi army could not be defeated this winter and invaded the entire Western Region, then after the coming of spring, the Tang army would send large-scale reinforcements, leaving the only way for the Arabs. It's a withdrawal.
At present, the Arabs are in a dilemma and are at a loss what to do.
……
A few days later, Tumido led 10,000 Huiheqingzhuang to rush to the Western Regions in the wind and snow, and joined forces with Fang Jun in Gongyue City, which greatly increased the strength of the Tang army.
Inside the Gongyue City Government Office, Tumidu took off his hat and threw it aside. He took a chopstick of mutton from the steaming hot pot and stuffed it into his mouth, chewed it and swallowed it. Then he took a big gulp of strong wine, and the hot smell of alcohol went down his throat. It entered his stomach, dispelling the cold air all over his body, and he let out a long breath of relief.
The dark red face was covered with sweat: "Good wine! In such cold weather, a pot of mutton and a pot of strong wine, sitting and watching the wind and snow in the sky, the enemy troops are at a loss, the commander really enjoys it!"
He really admired the Han people, who could endure the most difficult conditions, but also found ways to improve their enjoyment when the enemy was in front of them. A copper pot with a charcoal fire and a pot of not-so-palatable spirits were placed in the usual place. It is the simplest thing, but Fang Jun forcibly created a high style of "delicious food" and "bell-ringing food"...
Xue Rengui, who was holding a pot and pouring wine, said with a smile: "The Western Region is bitterly cold and the conditions are simple. I hope you won't mind if you treat the Khan too slowly. When you return to Chang'an after this triumph, you will definitely have a good time entertaining the Khan." ”
Fang Jun also said: "It's just a pot of mutton, not even a piece of mushroom. I really can't wait for the Khan... If we were in Chang'an at this time, cucumber, chicory, green vegetables were accompanied by mutton, which was fresh and soothing. That would be called Delicious.”
The navy brought back many new vegetables and fruits from Nanyang, and chicory was one of them. They were all cultivated in the greenhouse of Lishan Farm out of season. Today, the fruits are abundant, making the variety of dishes on Chang'an's winter table even more abundant. As a result, the Fang family gained another amount of income.
After all, winter vegetables are the top luxury goods at this time, and they require huge manpower and material resources to cultivate. Only the rich and powerful can afford these "green gold", and the prices are sky-high...
Tu Midu's face was dark and rosy due to the steam or the strong alcohol. Hearing this, his face looked full of yearning: "The ultimate ideal of every barbarian is to live in Chang'an for the rest of his life. I thought that this ideal was only for It was an extravagant hope, and it would be difficult for me to set foot in the gate of Chang'an in my lifetime, but unexpectedly... Things have changed, and now I really have the qualifications to go to Chang'an... I didn't say that I came to help this time, but I have an order, and no one dares to disobey it. The commander only needs to give the order. The Huihe people are brave and good at fighting. If One person takes a step back and I raise my head to see him!”
He is a smart man. Regardless of whether he was active or passive in the first place, since he has completely attached himself to the Tang Dynasty, he must attach himself to the Tang Dynasty wholeheartedly and completely. He cannot say he is attached but still have small calculations in private. Once Fang Jun is angered, the future of the Huihe people is uncertain...
Moreover, the Uighur people were hated by the Turks to the bone. If Pei Xingjian had not temporarily taken command of Luntai City and sent a team of cavalry to intimidate the Turks, Khan Yibi Shekui would have sent his wolf cavalry to chase them thousands of miles away. , killing all the Huihe people.
Since he couldn't look back, he naturally had to be loyal to the Tang Dynasty.
At least the current situation must be like this...
Fang Jun said happily: "The Tang Dynasty has a universal mind, and your majesty is ambitious and willing to become good neighbors with the Hu people from all over the world, help each other, and work together to advance together. Your majesty is now personally conquering Goguryeo. If you hear that the Khan abandoned the dark side and surrendered to the bright side, he will definitely be attached to the Tang Dynasty." Happy and happy, the dragon is very happy!”
"Haha! I dare not disturb His Majesty's state of mind."
Tu Midu said polite words, but he was madly complaining in his heart: It is certain that the Tang Dynasty had a universal mind, but it was only the land that had a universal mind, but it was definitely not the Hu people who had a universal mind. The people of the Tang Dynasty were the most proud. It can be seen from the regulations that do not allow intermarriage between Tang and Hu, especially Tang women who are not allowed to marry foreigners. Turks, Tubos, Arabs, and Uighurs are all inferior in the eyes of the Tang people.
Such annoying discrimination...
After chatting for a while, after having enough wine and food, the soldiers came in and removed the hot pot, made a pot of tea and put it on the table. When they left, they closed the door behind them. Several soldiers stood outside the door, not allowing anyone to come near.
Fang Jun took a sip of tea, squinted his eyes to feel the taste of the tea, and then asked after a while: "What's the reaction from the Turks?"
Tumidu sipped the tea cup and sighed: "This time I have offended Khan Yibi Shegui to death. I secretly sneaked back into the clan, blocked the news, and moved the clan south in only three days. Some people who could not Throw away everything you carry...even if In this way, before I arrived at Luntai City, the Golden Tent Wolf Cavalry followed. Fortunately, Pei Changshi led his army fifty miles out of the city in time to meet him. The Turks were unwilling to rashly start a war with the Tang Dynasty, so we arrived without any danger. Luntai City”
When he said this, he inevitably glanced at Fang Jun with resentment.
If this guy hadn't taken the risk and refused to provide support at the critical moment, causing Ashina Helu to break through the defense line and escape back to the Turks, how could there have been that scene of being chased and killed by the Golden Horde Wolf Cavalry?
Fang Jun was the smartest person. He only took one look at Tumidu's face and knew that he must be complaining in his heart, so he asked with a smile: "The Khan thought that I deliberately refused to reinforce him during the Alagou battle and let Ashina Helu go." Escape, is this what caused the current predicament of the Huihe people?"
Tumidu laughed twice and said against his will: "What did the commander say? Since I have decided to rely on the Tang Dynasty, I will never do anything inconsistent, otherwise humans and gods will abandon me."
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Fang Jun waved his hand and said: "Khan, you don't have to be like this. If the oath works, why do so many ungrateful and unlucky people in this world live happily?"
Seeing Tumidu looking embarrassed and at a loss, he explained: "A powerful Turk is not only unwilling to see the Tang Dynasty, but also unwilling to accept the Huihe and many Hu tribes. The Turks are ferocious and violent. Once Being powerful is a nightmare for all the surrounding tribes. Fortunately, the Turks are not monolithic. Although Yugushe Khan fled to Tocharo, at least he is still there in name. Now that Ashinahelu has returned to the Turks, he will be jealous of Yibi Shekui. With Ashinahelu's character, ability, and foundation, how can he be captured without hesitation? At present, internal fighting has begun within the Turks. Yibi Shekui will definitely execute Ashina Helu, but those tribes who want to set up a khan will definitely defend Ashina Helu. "
When I thought about it carefully, I couldn't help but become more frightened.
The Han people have a saying that "many wise men are almost demons". This Fang Jun looks rough and bold, and is even known as "Bang Chui" in Chang'an, but he is able to design a strategy to deliberately release Ashina Helu and cause internal strife among the Turks. The root cause, isn’t this too scary?
This is Fang Jun who is not good at strategizing. How terrible would it be if the ministers in the Chang'an court who were always scheming and scheming started to play tricks?
With such a wooden head like me, if I get to Chang'an in the future, will I be eaten alive?
Suddenly, the city of Chang'an, which had been worshiped and admired in the past, became a dragon's den that eats people without spitting out their bones.
How did Fang Jun know Tumidu's thoughts? Seeing the frightened look on his face, he thought he heard his words and felt awe-inspiring. He became more and more satisfied and nodded: "Although the enemy is still powerful now, the situation has quietly reversed. From now on, we will not Seek merit, but seek no fault. As long as you hold on to Gongyue City and occupy the last stronghold west of the Tianshan Mountains, you can switch from defense to offense at any time."
At this point, he paused and said solemnly: "Everyone, the safety of the Western Region is closely related to the stability of the country. It is a matter of life and death. There must be no negligence in the slightest. Stay steady and don't let it go." (End of this chapter)