Li Congde, like his father Li Shengtian, is a fanatical Chinese lover, otherwise he would not have given such a Chinese name.

Of course, this is also the result of being influenced and praised by Buddhist culture after receiving a large number of remnants from the four towns of Anxi.

Unlike the corrupt Buddhism in the Central Plains, the Buddhist culture of the Western Regions has always maintained a strong influence and a spirit of independence due to the unique dispersion of the Western Regions, as well as the influence of Green Buddhism, Manichaeism, etc.

Therefore, the Kingdom of Khotan itself likes Chinese culture and Buddhism, so naturally took advantage of the influence of Buddhism to unite forces such as Gaochang Uighurs, Tubo people, Guiyi army, Xizhou Uighurs and other forces, and never maintained Khotan's hegemony in southern Xinjiang.

Naturally, the Karakhan dynasty established by descendants of the collapsed Turkic Uighur Khanate also became a stumbling block for Khotan, but at least they all belonged to Buddhist forces and lived a stable life.

However, the Saman dynasty of the Persian Empire born in Iran maintained strong combat power and continued to invade the Karakhan dynasty of the north to Central Asia. The loose tribal alliance of Karakhan naturally could not deal with the Green Cult dynasty. The capital Talas was occupied, the queen was captured, and the capital was forced to move to Kashgar...

Since you can't beat it, then choose to join!

In 960 AD, at the request of Musa Arslan Khan, the Karakhan dynasty converted to the Green Church and realized the nationalization of the country.

Sure enough, the close Green Cult made the Karakhan Kingdom centralize the power all at once. Under the fanaticism of faith, they fought back and forth with the Saman Dynasty.

Due to the powerful aggressive nature of the Green Cult, the Uighurs of the Khotan, Guiyi Army, Tubo and other forces began to unite and form an alliance against the Green Cult.

In history, the war between the Khotan-Karakhan Dynasty, which lasted for half a century, kicked off.

With the heavy infantry in Anxi and the light cavalry of Gaochang Uighurs, the Buddhist alliance almost crushed the Karakhan Dynasty to the ground and rubbed it.

However, the Green Cult was fanatical and the Karakhan Dynasty could not defeat it. It immediately recruited volunteer troops in the Green Cult country. It recruited a large number of soldiers from Khwarezm and the rivers, and the Turkic Gazeni Dynasty in the south also sent an army.

The *** saints of the *** religion, Muhaidin, the religious leader of the Bukhara, and four other imams, recruited 40,000 (some say 24,000) *** volunteer army, and also joined the Eastern Expedition.

A national hegemony turned into a Green Cult Eastern Expedition.

Helplessly, Khotan summoned the Gaochang Uighurs, Xizhou Uighurs, and Tubo to form a Buddhist alliance, but it still could not defeat the Karakhan dynasty with a steady stream of troops.

Great defeat, Yutian was destroyed.

At this point, Khotan still has the advantage, and the Saman Dynasty is still there, which involves a lot of energy from the Karakhan Dynasty.

"The Kashgar region is too big, our troops are too small, it is difficult to capture it, and the Kashgar city was not even captured. The Karakhanate still has the ability to counterattack!"

Li Congde smiled. Although he did not conquer Kashgar, it was still a great victory in the Buddhist alliance: "Empress, I need you to tell the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty thousands of miles away that our vassal states have won an unprecedented victory."

“This is natural!”

Di Jian nodded. This victory was very symbolic.

This is the first time that the Buddhist forces in the Western Regions took the initiative to attack. The cooperation of the Tang infantry and Turkic cavalry caused heavy losses to the Karakhanate. The future counterattack will naturally be put on the agenda.

"What reward do you need? My envoy!" Li Congde said affectionately: "Tonight you were rejected by the Uighurs and could not rob the spoils of war. You have made contributions and dispersed thousands of cavalry."

"Your Highness, you are waiting for the Western Regions not for money, but just to retain the remains of Anxi. Kashgar is the location of Shule Protectorate. A large number of Tang people have become slaves. I ask Your Highness to rescue these poor people."

Di Jian thought about it and said seriously and solemnly.

Millions of Tang people immigrated to the Tang Dynasty during the pre-Tang Dynasty and became slaves for several years, with countless bitter tears.

"This is a legitimate request!"

Li Congde nodded, then hesitated a little more, and then said seriously: "Tang envoy, I'm afraid you don't know that the Tang people who have become slaves for more than a hundred years have either died or had already been Hu Hua, just like the Turks, and even believed in the Green Sect."

"If you look for them at this time, I'm afraid that there will be no one who admits that he is a Tangren, and will hold a grudge against you."

Hearing these words, Di Jian was silent.

Of course he knew that these words were true and very likely. He had seen too much, but he still wanted to try it. He didn't want to give up with a chance of one in ten thousand.

Only after leaving the Central Plains and coming to the Western Regions did he truly feel the sorrow of the Tang people and the pride that he brought.

"Your Highness, I still want to try it!" Di Jian said resolutely.

"Okay!" Li Congde waved his wide robe and smiled: "In addition, I also reward you five hundred good horses in the river!"

"This—" Di Jian said in surprise: "I'm afraid the Uighurs don't have any objections?"

The horses in the river have always been handsome and are extremely cherished war horses.

"We Khotanites are good at infantry and have few cavalry. Instead of letting the Uighurs go, it is better to send them to you!"

As he said that, Li Congde blinked, and the meaning was very obvious.

Obviously, the Khotan people did not want them to grow too strong and challenge their position as the leader of the alliance.

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Di Jian said gratefully.

"Your Majesty, the Holy Monk Nogutresiti asks for a visit-"

"Let him come in!" Li Congde immediately said seriously.

"Then the foreign minister will leave!" Di Jian immediately said tactfully.

"No, you'd better stay. This person may be helpful to you!" Li Congde said with a smile.

Seeing this, Di Jian could only stay.

He had some understanding of the holy monk Nogutresiti. He used military force to seek help through letters. To put it bluntly, he was the leader of Buddhism in the entire Kashgar region.

Power, no surprise.

Nogutresiti was a monk in his forties or fifties. He was wearing a yellow robe and dark skin, but was shrouded in a holy atmosphere. At this time, his face, which was as bark as old as trees, revealed a sense of joy from the bottom of his heart.

"Your Majesty—" Nogutresiti saluted slightly.

"Holy Monk!" Li Congde also clasped his hands together and bowed in great respect.

"Now Kashgar has regained several cities, I wonder when His Majesty will attack Kashgar?" Nogutresiti asked eagerly.

"Holy Monk, it's not time yet!"

Li Congde stood up and said seriously: "Now the coalition forces are not fully prepared. When they wait until the next time, they will definitely capture Kashgar City."
Chapter completed!