After receiving Zhang Renyuan, Li Tong immediately reported the information about Anxi to Heichi Changzhi on the front line, especially the military trends of Tubo in Anxi, which had a direct impact on the military operations in Longyou in the future.

Both Anxi and Longyou can start wars, and there are reasons to start wars. However, if Tubo directs the main force in Anxi, the strategic situation will undoubtedly be more beneficial to the Tang Dynasty.

According to Zhang Renyuan, Tubo's military numbers invested in Anxi were 50,000, but based on various signs, it was relatively more practically analyzed and its military force should be about 30,000.

Don’t think that 30,000 people are very small. Although the Tubo regime is quite military and national, it is known for its strong military mobilization capabilities. It invested 400,000 troops in the battle of Dafeichuan alone. But in fact, Tubo’s mobilization capabilities were also different at different times, and they were far less powerful than imagined, especially in long-range combat outside the local area.

If the Tubo army wanted to enter the Western Regions, they either passed through Xiangxiong's old path and came out of the Bolu Kingdom, went straight to the west of the Pamir Mountains, and entered the Tocharian countries. But at this time, this road was blocked.

First, during this period, the rebellion continued in the former place of Xiangxiong in Tubo, and the situation was very unstable. Second, both the Tang Dynasty and Tubo are not in high positions in the Western Regions.

During the reign of Emperor Gaozong, the last Persian prince, Balus, asked for help from the Tang Dynasty. The Tang Dynasty once sent troops to escort him to Tocharo to form the restoration army. But the same thing still said, the Tang Dynasty at that time had made every effort to defeat Goguryeo, and there was no idea of ​​further operation in the Western Regions. Balus was defeated into the Tang Dynasty and died in a foreign country.

Not to mention Tubo, it took only a few years to walk down the plateau. Although he was full of tricks, he didn't know where to reach out.

Before, if Tubo wanted to reach the Western Regions, he had to travel through Qiangtang and cross Kunlun Mountain. Just listening to these geographical terms, you would know that this is not a path that people can walk on.

Fortunately, Tuyuhun was captured in Tubo, and he could go west along the Shule River from Haixi to reach Qiemo City in the southern part of the Western Regions along the Qilian Mountains, thereby entering the Anxi area.

Although this road is relatively smooth, the road is also far away, and there are many mountains and ravines. The logistics mobilization method of Tubo in its local area is of no use. The baggage is also a huge test, and it is even higher than the transportation cost of the Tang Dynasty through Longyou to Anxi.

The Tubo heritage is like that. Thirty thousand people went to the Western Regions to fight, which can even be called the investment of the whole country. Under such circumstances, even if Qin Ling did not lead his army to the Western Regions, but instead personally took over Tuyuhun, the power that could be called in Qinghai would be greatly reduced.

Previously, there was something strange about the Tang army conquering the Wuling Hengbao on the western foot of Chiling. Li Tong and Heichi Changzhi suspected that Qin Ling's plan was hidden.

After understanding the movements of Tubo in the Western Regions, it seems that although Qinling cannot rule out the possibility of Qinling's strategy, Tubo's strategic contraction in Qinghai is indeed due to strategic needs. The current foundation of Tubo is still shallow, and the contradiction between the monarch and the ministers is profound, and it cannot support long-term operations where both sides invest heavily.

After receiving this information, Heiqi Changzhi from the western foot of Chiling also responded quickly, saying that he would send You Yi to try his best to grasp more situations around Qinghai. At the same time, Heiqi Changzhi also said that after the initial construction of the defense matters on the western foot of Chiling was completed, His Highness Yong could also take a look.

Li Tong was naturally very happy to receive this news. Although he did not have any outstanding military talent, he naturally yearned for the passion of the golden swords and iron horses in this life. Especially Tubo, a great enemy who had been entangled with the Tang Dynasty for two hundred years, if he had the chance, Li Tong would of course want to see the person and his situation with his own eyes.

So he stayed in Huangyuan Camp for a few days, during which time there were affairs related to the Shancheng area that King Yong needed to be handled. Li Tong also assigned some of the affairs related to the Ministry of Hu to Zhang Renyuan.

The Western Regions are also complicated. Zhang Ren is willing to supervise the army and deal with some state chiefs. He has accumulated a lot of experience in this area, and his talent is outstanding and resourceful, so he gets started quickly.

Even Zhang Renyuan has started to enrich many details that Li Tong had not taken into account because of his energy, and has put the next action of Xihexing Club on the agenda. Only when the strength of the Hu soldiers is in place can the next step of development be carried out.

Li Tong felt relieved with such a capable subordinate to share the affairs. At present, in Longyou, Lou Shide is in charge of land management and government affairs, while Heichi Changzhi is mainly responsible for war affairs. Even the business and business logistics he created himself were Liu Youqiu, Zhang Renyuan, Song Bazi and others in charge.

Everything has its own obligations, and you don’t need to do it yourself. You just need to take the overall situation into consideration and take into account the general situation. This is the treatment that the superiors should receive.

After getting idle, Li Tong was waiting for news from the western foot of Chiling, while also organizing some self-entertainment activities, such as playing polo and having friendship with You Yi soldiers who had just returned from the front-line battlefield.

After about seven or eight days of this kind, in mid-April, Heichi Changzhi finally reported that the base camp on the western foot of Chiling had been initially built, and His Highness Yong could go to inspect at any time.

Li Tong was also very happy when he heard the news. He immediately threw away his pole and prepared to travel. The Youyi people from Heyuan Jun were so frightened. He said that His Highness Chongmu was said, but they were more cruel on the court. Many times, a polo game was played, and Li Tong could hardly even grab the ball.

Zibaishuigou, that is, the Shibao City is located, crossing Chiling. The road is relatively smooth and not as wide as the plains and valleys. However, as early as the Tuyuhun period, this road was the main way to communicate between the east and west.

Especially when Emperor Yang of Sui was here, the carriages and horses were more than enough to pass. Only in some dangerous places, the wheel axles needed to be removed and materials were transported with grinders noose.

Li Tong and his party set out early in the morning and meandered forward between the Chiling Mountain Road.

This road has been completely controlled by the Tang army. There are as many as a dozen beacon passes of various sizes along the way, and there are endless chariots, horses and garrisons on the streets. This is the main force of the Tang army is increasing its troops to the western foot of Chiling. The number of troops is still increasing, but the difficulty is the transportation of various materials. Even if it is transported day and night, it will take at least half a month to be busy.

In the middle of the journey, Li Tong stayed in the beacon castle along the way for a night and continued to set off the next day. In the evening, he finally arrived at the Wuling Hengbao where the army was in front of him. The generals such as Heichi Changzhi had already lined up outside the fortress to greet him.

Although he was exhausted along the way, Li Tong did not rush to enter the city, but climbed up to look out and observed the terrain around the fortress.

Wuling Hengbao has not been named in history. It is probably because it has not been used for a long time and there has not been a tragic war like Shibao City, so it is submerged in the long river of history.

"Wuling Ridge is also known as Yin Ridge. It is named after the sunset shines, and the light is not very bright..."

Black-toothed Changzhi followed King Yong and introduced the surrounding geographical situation.

Chiling was also known as Sun and Moon Mountain in later generations. Because its mountain is composed of purple sandstone and is red under the sunshine, it is called Chiling in ancient times. The two peaks are almost parallel, with sunrise on the east side and moon facing the west side. This is the origin of the name Sun and Moon Mountain in later generations. Wuling Hengbao is a fortress, or fortress group located on the west side.

Judging from the terrain alone, Wuling is not as steep as Shibao City on the east side. Although it is also surrounded by Qilian Mountains, the mountains are fragmented and there are many valleys and passes, and there is no military geography that guards the entire region.

Standing on the top of Chiling Mountain and looking west, you can already see Qinghai, which is located across the plateau. Under the sunlight, it seems to be a flat mirror with golden light.

The sky was cloudless and the vision was wide open. Looking at this scene, Li Tong couldn't help but sigh: "Such magnificent mountains and seas are for my own view, so I should take it in my pocket. Can I bear to take it for the foreign countries?"

After hearing this, all the generals such as Heichi Changzhi crossed their hands and said in a low voice: "The last generals must be brave enough to fight against the traitors, and drink from His Highness the horses in Qinghai!"

I saw the scenery and shouted Haoyan. Then Li Tong went downhill and went straight into Wuling Hengbao.

This fortress is made of mountains, with artificially dug open channels connecting Yuchichuan outside the mountains and traveling hundreds of miles west to connect Qinghai.

Although the fortress is large in size, the buildings inside are simple, and it is just a stronghold for the soldiers of the Fan Kingdom who were stationed here before. As for the Tubo soldiers, they were still stationed in Yuchichuan outside the mountain. Of course, after the Tang army attacked Baheng, the Tubo army stationed in Yuchichuan were also expelled.

The Tang army captured the fortress for only a few days, so the transformation of the fortress itself was not big. The main reason was to add some supporting remote defense around the fortress. For example, on a slope on the southeast side of the Hengbao, quarries gathered. Once the Tubo army gathered under the ridge, they could roll stones to kill the enemy.

Of course, the Tang army knew how to do this, and Tubo, who had previously stationed here, would naturally not ignore such geographical advantages and had similar settings. Therefore, Heichi Changzhi also prepared many plans for attacking the Bawuling Hengbao and prepared for heavy losses, but he did not expect that Tubo would give up the fortress.

"Qinling left this stronghold in my hands, and it was nothing more than just strengthening my ambition and tempting me to enter lightly. Now that I don't leave, I wonder if he regrets it?"

When entering the fort, Li Tong couldn't help but laugh and said. If you can control the entire Chiling Passage at a very small price, it will be profitable no matter what. It is easy for Tubo to give up. If you want to retake it in the future, you have to fill in your life.

Hei Ya Changzhi heard King Yong's words, his lips opened but hesitated. After considering for a moment, he said: "It is a blessing for the army to be able to guard this Qingming Festival. There are a few things left in the fort, which should be kept by Qinling for your Highness. I hope your Highness can see it normally."
Chapter completed!