mtl008 Chapter 208 Exchange of Interests
Chapter 208 Exchange of Interests
Guo Xin continued, "We must use this relationship to attract the Huihe cavalry into the Western Regions, and give them some benefits to tempt them to face the counterattack that Tubo may launch at any time."
As he spoke, Guo Xin looked at Li Chengqian, because he knew that the Crown Prince in front of him was the one who really made the decision.
"But I don't have any suitable candidates for the mission right now. Your Highness needs to send a team to go deep into the grasslands. Does Your Highness have any candidates?"
The envoy selection!
Li Chengqian raised his lips and said, "Pei Xingjian, the mission to be an envoy must be yours. Can you do it within three days?"
Pei Xingjian stood up immediately after hearing this: "Don't worry, Your Highness, I will definitely fulfill my mission!"
"Very good. You take Di Renjie and ten strong soldiers with five horses each, and some gunpowder to demonstrate the military power of the Tang Dynasty. You must persuade the Huihe to march south to the Western Regions."
"I accept your order!"
At this time, Guo Xin said again: "Your Highness, we should not only let the Huihe enter the Western Regions, but also lure them with the benefits of taking away several states in Hexi, so that the Huihe will attack the Tibetan forces in the Hexi Corridor.
I believe that under the temptation of huge benefits and the threat of gunpowder, the Huihe people will definitely be tempted."
Li Shimin and Li Chengqian looked at each other, both shocked by Guo Xin's meticulousness.
Although doing so may seem like selling out the country's territory.
But now the Hexi Corridor is in the hands of Tubo. If we can shake Tubo's rule in the area from this direction, we can greatly ease Tubo's pressure on the Western Regions.
They also believed that with the help of gunpowder, the Tang Dynasty would one day be able to take back the Hexi Corridor, fight back to the Western Regions, and even end the separatist situation of the Central Plains.
What's the point of giving up some interests at this time? It's just an exchange of interests!
Li Chengqian looked at Pei Xingjian: "Did you hear everything?"
"Don't worry, Your Highness. I understand!"
Pei Xingjian took Di Renjie away. Time was urgent and they had no time to waste.
Guo Xin continued, "Your Highness, in fact, the Huihe also has a small force in the Western Regions, and they even have people in Gumo Prefecture. Once the fighting starts, they will definitely come to watch.
Including the various vassal states in the Western Regions, there were corresponding envoys, merchants, etc. in Gumo Prefecture, and they had connections with the Tibetan officials stationed in the Western Regions.
In other words, this time when we attack Gumo Prefecture, we must take it down quickly with lightning speed and demonstrate the powerful military force of our Tang Dynasty to those forces in Gumo Prefecture.
This would not only deter the countries in the Western Regions, but also warn the Uighurs so that they would not dare to act recklessly after entering the Western Regions and would cooperate with the actions of the Tang Dynasty.
The key is to show the Han people living in the Western Regions that the Tang Dynasty has the confidence and ability to return to the Western Regions and let them regain their confidence in the Tang Dynasty.
As long as these Han people are willing to join the army, I can gather a Han army of at least 5,000 people, and with the assistance of the vassal soldiers of the Western Regions and the Uighur cavalry, I can restore the four towns of Anxi. I am confident that I can accomplish this even without the court sending troops."
Li Chengqian nodded: "In other words, the key to the battle of Gumo Prefecture is to win over the hearts of the people and let the old general gather more forces to guard and manage Anxi."
"That's right. In fact, the Tibetans' rule in the Western Regions was not stable. They only knew how to plunder but were not good at management.
Compared with the Tang Dynasty, they have lost the support of the people.
However, after the An-Shi Rebellion, the Tang Dynasty had no intention of governing the Western Regions, and the countries in the Western Regions were forced to submit to the Tibetan army.
At this time, if we can show the might of the Tang Dynasty in a battle in Gumo Prefecture, I believe that even the forces far away in Shule Town and Suiye Town will send envoys and rejoin the Tang Dynasty.
This way, we can crush Tubo in the overall situation. Even if Tubo sends a large army to support the Western Regions again, I will be able to deal with it. "
Everyone nodded again.
Li Shimin said: "The old general is very thoughtful. I admire him!"
Guo Xin cupped his hands and said, "I dare not. I just know more about the situation in the Western Regions than Your Highness does. These ideas have been in my mind for decades, but I have always suffered from not having enough power to implement them. I feel ashamed of the court!"
"Now, with the elite soldiers and gunpowder brought by Your Majesty and Your Highness, I will do my best to regain control of the Western Regions for the Tang Dynasty."
Li Chengqian stood up and said, "In this case, no prisoners will be taken in this battle. No matter if they are Tibetans or soldiers from the Western Regions who follow Tibetans, anyone who dares to resist will be killed without mercy!!"
"Yes~~"
Everyone stood up and obeyed Li Chengqian's order.
Guo Xin was surprised that everyone obeyed Li Chengqian's orders. He then looked at the smiling Heavenly Khan who was sitting steadily in the back.
Does Emperor Taizong trust the Crown Prince so much?
He actually allowed these famous ministers of the Zhenguan period to become the prince's wings!
Isn’t it said that the emperor and the crown prince are natural political enemies?
Why doesn't it work here?
And judging from the attitudes of Li Jing, Zhangsun Wuji and others towards His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, this situation seems to have become the norm.
Who exactly is this Crown Prince?
Why did history books record that his rebellion failed? And how could he, as the crown prince, gain the support of these famous officials of the Zhenguan period?
Even Emperor Taizong was happy to see it happen!
What exactly is going on? !
Guo Xin had endless questions in his mind, but he knew that there were some things he couldn't ask too much about, and there was no need to know too much.
He only needs to know that this battle must be fought well, and nothing is more important than the battle in Gumo Prefecture.
During the Zhenguan period, the Tang soldiers quickly assembled and, with Guo Xin as their guide, immediately set out for Gumo Prefecture.
Li Chengqian brought three thousand flintlock rifles and one hundred small steel cannons this time.
It’s a pity that one warhorse can only carry one small cannon, otherwise he would even want to bring all the small cannons.
During the attack on Gumo Prefecture, except for the 500 flintlock rifles and 50 small steel cannons taken with the army, all other firearms and gunpowder, including the food brought, were left in Qiuci City.
Although the Tibetan attack was repelled, the defense of Qiuci City could not be relaxed.
The Anxi veterans are not as strong as they used to be, so there is no need for them to join the army. They are just the right size to serve as the remaining force.
For this purpose, Li Chengqian left behind three people, Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and Chu Suiliang, as well as ten Tang Dynasty soldiers who were familiar with firearms.
They were responsible for assisting the veterans in changing their equipment, including teaching the use of compound bows and crossbows, practicing with flintlock rifles and small steel cannons, and collecting raw materials for making gunpowder.
These veterans will serve as instructors for Han recruits in the future, passing on their experience and new equipment.
Let those Han people who are willing to join the Tang army see that the Tang Dynasty is still there and its strength is still strong.
Let all Han people living in the Western Regions feel at ease.
Even though the Tang Dynasty experienced civil strife, it was still the superpower that dominated the world!
The army set out. Changsun Wuji and his two companions stood on the city wall and watched Li Chengqian and others disappear at the end of their sight.
"Lord Changsun, do you think we can successfully achieve our goals in this battle?" asked Chu Suiliang.