Chapter 299: Geluo Ren

In early June, the Tang army took Yiwu as the center and advanced westward in two groups. One by the general Li Zhiyuan led 20,000 people to march along the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains towards Jinman. Jinman was Tingzhou and the location of the Beiting Protectorate. The other 50,000 troops were led by Zhang Huan himself to march along the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains, and capturing Gaochang, which blocked the road for the Uighur army to return to the north.

Gaochang is today's Turpan area. In the ninth year of Zhenguan of Emperor Taizong of Tang, King Shule sent envoys to Beijing three times to request to surrender to the Tang Dynasty, which prompted Emperor Taizong of Tang Li Shimin to resolutely make up his mind to establish a Protectorate in Anxi. In the 14th year of Zhenguan, Li Shimin sent troops to Anxi, and occupied Gaochang that year, establishing the Anxi Protectorate, and Qiao Shiwang was the first Protectorate. Two years later, the second Protectorate in Anxi Guo Xiaoke attacked Yanqi in the south, defeated the Turks in the north, and stood at the northeast of Tianshan Mountain. The Western Turkic army was forced to retreat to the south of Tianshan Mountain to stand firm and wait and see.

After seven years of hard work, the Tang army continued to work hard and regained Kucha, Shule, and Khotan from the Turkish soldiers. The Turkish army surrendered, and the lost land south of the Tianshan Mountains was recovered by the Tang Dynasty. Emperor Taizong of Tang immediately ordered the escort Guo Xiaoke to move the Anxi Protectorate from Gaochang to Kucha, restoring the old system since the Han Dynasty, and at the same time announced the formal establishment of the four armies of Kucha, Yanying, Shule, and Khotan, and the Anxi Protectorate.

About one hundred and fifty years passed by the annual rings of time. When the Tang army once again set foot on this land that once recorded the glorious history of the Tang Dynasty, countless soldiers of the Tang Dynasty couldn't help but burst into tears.

This day was the tenth day of June. After Zhang Huan led 50,000 Tang troops to carry out a brief renovation in Puchang County, he set out again and marched towards Gaochang.

The southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains is a rich and beautiful land. The abundant iceberg melting water has brought a continuous source of life to this thirsty land. Oasis is like pearls scattered in the world falling in the desert and the Gobi.

Zhang Huan rode on the horse and looked at the sapphire-like ice peaks in the distance. It shone with magnificent light under the reflection of the morning glow. Not far ahead is an unknown small river. The water flows rapidly, and the clear and sweet river water also winds and turns to the south with the chill of the snow-capped mountains. On both sides of the river are large areas of plump and tender grass, blooming with colorful wild flowers, swaying gently in the wind.

"The army will rest for half an hour!" Zhang Huan ordered, the Tang army soldiers who had marched all night and cheered and thundered. They all got off their horses and rushed to the river to wash their faces and drink water, and even jumped into the river, allowing the cold river water to drive away the heat and wash away the fatigue. The river and the two rivers were suddenly filled with black Tang army soldiers and horses.

Zhang Huan was also exhausted. He turned over and dismounted, walked to a big rock and sat down. Soon, his personal soldiers brought him a pot of water from the upstream. He took a sip. The river water was sweet and there was a trace of unique fragrance of wild flowers in the grass.

He ate a bite of dry steamed buns with water. Seeing that the soldiers' eyes were red, he waved his hand and smiled, "You all go and rest!"

The personal soldiers ran towards the river. Zhang Huan was so clean that he lay down. There was a soft grass under his body, emitting bursts of fragrance. He felt so comfortable that he almost moaned.

Suddenly, a grasshopper jumped on his nose. Zhang Huan reached out to catch it and pinched the back of the little thing. Seeing that the grasshopper seemed to look embarrassed, he couldn't help but become childish and tickled his lower abdomen with his hands and smiled: "Do you think you are Jiegangas? You dare to jump on my nose and act wildly."

"Cough! Cough!" A cough suddenly came from beside him. Zhang Huan immediately sat up. Seeing that it was his marching Sima Guo Shiqi, he was looking at him awkwardly. Zhang Huan put the grasshopper in his hand and smiled and said, "Why don't Mr. Guo rest for a moment?"

Guo Shiqi was from Jingzhao Hua County. He was a Jinshi in the third year of Qingzhi. He was once the chief clerk of Xiangwu County, Longxi County. He was dismissed from office for offending the Wei family. Later, he had been traveling in various parts of the Western Regions. Three years ago, he went to Bai Guangyuan's mansion to be a Qing Guest. Because of his skill in planning, he was recommended to Zhang Huan. He was first appointed as the deputy of Luo Guangping, the marching army of the Western Liang army. With the growth of the Western Liang army, he was transferred to Hexi and became the Sima of the Hexi Army, and in charge of the money and grain of the army. This time, Zhang Huan also came with the army in the Western Expedition. He was well-organized and managed to ensure the logistics supply of more than 100,000 troops. He was deeply appreciated by Zhang Huan, so he brought him to Gaochang and prepared to order him to take over the city.

He stepped forward and bowed, "I have some idea to report to the governor."

"Come on! Sit down and talk."

Zhang Huan patted Dashi and asked him to sit down, "Tell me! Is there anything I have to report to me?"

Guo Shiqi sat down halfway and murmured: "I am a little worried about Tingzhou."

Zhang Huan's smile disappeared, and he stared at Guo Shiqi solemnly and said, "Mr. Guo, please speak directly."

After sighing, Guo Shiqi finally expressed his concern, "The subordinates are worried about the Geluo people. The Uighurs went south and the Beiting was empty. Will they also take advantage of the situation? If Li Zhiyuan was not prepared, he would probably be attacked by the Geluo people."

Guo Shiqi's words reminded Zhang Huan that although the Geluo people were scared back to their nests by the Uighurs, how could they not find a way out under the national policy of the Uighurs advancing westward? Besides, this nation has always been a despicable and despicable person in the eyes of the Tang people. The battle between the Tang Dynasty and the Dashi was caused by the betrayal of the Tang army, which caused the Tang army to be defeated by the betrayal of the Geluo people. They did not forget the past and the army of the subsequent affairs should not ignore them when making decisions. However, from the perspective of the journey, Yiwu to Jinman is closer than to Gaochang. If things were about to happen, they had already happened. In order not to affect morale, they could only let the Geluo people go first.

Thinking of this, Zhang Huan said decisively: "Now we are less than a hundred miles away from Gaochang, but we are thousands of miles away from Jinman. I know which one is more important."

He stood up and immediately ordered: "The rest time has come. I ordered the army to set off immediately and march into Gaochang. Before dark, we will go to Gaochang City to rest."

The soldiers packed up one after another, and the army started, and the team that could not see the border was heading west.

On June 12, a 50,000 Tang army was approaching Gaochang City, and the 1,000 Uighur troops stationed in Gaochang surrendered to the Tang army. At dusk, the Tang army lined up into this ancient city.

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Just as Guo Shiqi was worried, just when Zhang Huan was two days away from Gaochang, the vanguard of the Tang army on the northern route of Jinman was attacked by the Gelulu people in Pulei County. Nearly half of the five thousand Tang troops were injured and killed and returned in a crushing defeat. This was the first defeat that the Tang army suffered when entering the Western Regions. The general of the Northern route of the army Li Zhiyuan made a great attempt to explore Gelulu people and stopped marching and immediately sent a quick horse to report the sudden military information to Zhang Huan.

On June 14th, several fast horses rushed into Gaochang City like lightning.

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Zhang Huan's mansion was located in the old palace of Gaochang. When did Gaochang's homeland disappear, the royal family became a commoner, the palace became an inn, and it became a book that records the competition for interests of the world. The Tang Dynasty left, the Tubo came, the Tubo went, the Uighurs came, and the coming and going, and the old palace was written full of the bright moon of the Tang Dynasty and the stars of Huma.

The war horse that reported the news stopped in front of the palace. A lieutenant turned over and dismounted, ran up the steps and took out a letter and said to the guard: "Please report to the governor, General Li sent us to report something big!" Seeing that the situation was urgent, the guard did not dare to delay, and immediately turned around and ran into the palace.

Zhang Huan was not used to living in this exotic palace. It was not just that it was too old, and the magnificence of the past had been mottled and faded, but that these halls were filled with too much killing history. The black blood stains on the walls that had not yet been painted are shocking. Although he had seen countless deaths, the depression brought by this palace still made him feel irritated, especially at night, his side seemed to be filled with the crying and appeals of unjust souls. Waking up was an endless loneliness, just like the long night that a boy faced after waking up at night.

He had only lived here for three days. At this moment, he was packing his luggage and preparing to return to the military camp tent. At this moment, a rapid run came from outside the hall, and it echoed in the empty hall.

Zhang Huan stood up straight, feeling an ominous feeling in his heart.

"Governor, General Li Zhiyuan is in a hurry." The personal soldiers ran into the room and handed the letter to Zhang Huan.

Without reading the letter, Zhang Huan already understood that it was probably what Guo Shiqi said. Sure enough, the letter directly explained that the vanguard of the Tang army encountered the Geluo people's malicious hand in Pulei County, killing and injuring more than 2,000 people.

But the more you look down, Zhang Huan's expression becomes more serious. Finally, he accepted the letter and walked slowly into the yard.

The 50,000 Gelu Army was much more serious than he thought. In a few days, it occupied a vast area north of the Tianshan Mountains and inserted a lot of things into the chaotic Anxi situation. This was the Gelu people who were all out. Zhang Huan suddenly realized that the Gelu people were no longer the native dogs that were built by the Tubo people to disturb the rear of the Uighurs. It had evolved into a wolf and became the fourth gamer in the Anxi chess game. If he was a little careless, he would be bitten by the evil wolf, and he would be resentful of withdrawing from the Anxi game. Zhang Huan's brows were furrowed, and the sudden incident disrupted his Anxi plan.

Joining the battle was no choice. Zhang Huan pondered for a moment and resolutely decided to adjust his strategy, temporarily give up his plan to go south, and concentrate his troops against the Geluo people.

He turned around and ordered: "Transfer my order and immediately send 800 miles to Longyou to order Hu Yong to increase his troops by another 50,000 to Xingxing Gorge."
Chapter completed!