The Zhou army annexed Yarkand and seized property worth more than 4 million taels, which seems to be a lot, but it was spent on the Ming and Zhou wars, and it was consumed in a few months, but it was used in the Western Regions, but it could do a lot of things.Sun Kewang saw that Hong Chengchou promised to leave 1.5 million taels, and he couldn't help but be overjoyed, with this money, he could vigorously restore the Western Regions and enhance the strength of the two protectorates of Anxi and Beiting.The two reached a consensus in the Ming and Zhou wars, and neither of them was confident in defeating the Ming army.If the Zhou State could not hold off the Ming army's attack, then there was not much time left for them.However, although both of them thought that the odds of victory were not good, they did not advocate and asked Wu Sangui to move west immediately.This is because if the court of the Zhou State moves westward on a large scale, it will inevitably cause internal turmoil in the Zhou State, and the whole of the Zhou State will understand that the court does not intend to compete with the Ming Dynasty for the world, but to escape.Those who were willing to follow the court of the Zhou State and were unwilling to fall into the hands of the Ming Dynasty would rush to the west first, while the other part of the people who did not want to go to the Western Regions, seeing that the Zhou State had admitted defeat, did not intend to defend the pass, and they would definitely turn their heads and throw themselves into the arms of Zhao Zamao.At that time, the Ming Dynasty attacked in advance, and it would inevitably sweep Guanzhong like a devastating sweep, and at that time, the Zhou State would not have time to transfer, not to mention, and the Western Regions would not be ready to receive it, and it would only be defeated in the end.Sun Kewang said in a deep voice: "Prime Minister Hong, this matter, it is not appropriate to make a noise at this time, when it is carried out in secret, the fewer people who know, the better." ”Hong Chengchou nodded, "I know this."
After I return to Chang'an, I will continue to encourage the government and the opposition to fight against the Ming Dynasty, but secretly I will transfer some people and craftsmen to the Western Regions, as well as materials, so that in case of defeat, the Western Regions can accept the imperial court and the defeated army. ”The two reached a consensus again, and while actively preparing for war, they secretly transferred a batch of people and materials into the Western Regions as a retreat for the Zhou State.And this escape plan, only Hong Chengchou and Sun Kewang know at the moment, and both of them can't help but feel that the burden on their bodies is a little heavier, and they have shouldered the mission of continuing the Great Zhou.A few days later, outside the city, a cavalry came galloping and reined in the reins of their horses at the gates."
Guanzhong messenger, open the city gate quickly!"
The leading cavalry carried a bamboo tube behind his back and shouted loudly.The defenders of the city saw that there were only three cavalrymen under the city, and they were all Han Chinese, and the officer immediately ordered: "Open the door!"
”The gates creaked open, the cavalry rode into the city, and after rushing into the gates, Lerma asked, "Where are the two ministers now?"
”The officer pointed in the direction, "The messenger went straight down the street, and the two prime ministers were in the palace. ”The cavalry immediately clenched his fists, and then rushed to the palace with his hooves clattering, hurriedly dismounted, and hurried towards the palace gate.A moment later, the messenger was brought to Hong Chengchou and Sun Kewang, took out the letter, and reported on one knee, "Xiangguo, the king is in a hurry." ”Hong Chengchou stood up, took the letter, unfolded it to read, and then handed it to Sun Kewang with a calm face, "The Ming army began to attack Sichuan, and the monarch asked the prime minister to return to Chang'an as soon as possible." ”Sun Kewang glanced at the letter, his expression was solemn, last year the Ming Dynasty had just experienced the Northern Expedition, civil strife, and the battle with the Zhou army Xingyang, Sun Kewang judged that the Ming army would rest for at least a year.Not wanting to attack so quickly, the Ming army really shocked him, and at the same time felt a trace of fear.Now that he has just occupied Yarkand, he has not yet digested and developed, if the Zhou army is defeated again at this time, then even if the remnants of the Zhou State flee to the Western Regions, without the blood transfusion and population transfer in Guanzhong, it will be difficult for the Zhou State to achieve great things in the Western Regions.Sun Kewang put the letter away and looked at Hong Chengchou, who also showed a trace of panic in his eyes.Hong Chengchou said in a deep voice: "There is not much time left for us!"
”Sun Kewang understood what Hong Chengchou wanted to express, and nodded, "Prime Minister Hong returned to China with the silver, so don't worry about it here." ”The next day, before dawn, carts full of gold, silver and jewels quietly left Shache City.After all, these are Yarkand's belongings, and if they are transported away directly and let the Yarkand people see them, they will definitely not feel comfortable in their hearts, so Sun Kewang arranged a vehicle to cover the night and leave the city.Hong Chengchou did not stay in Shache, and after saying goodbye to Sun Kewang, he took the mission of the wall-facing person and went to Guanzhong.By this time, Prince Bars, who had escaped from Shache, had reached the shore of the Aral Sea and entered the royal tent of Dzungar.Three years ago, Wu Sangui defeated the 100,000-strong army of Jungar with excellent equipment and forced the Jungar army to move west.In the process of moving westward, the Dzungar tribe defeated the Yuz Khanate and occupied the pastures on both sides of the Aral Sea.Although the Dzungar tribe was given a pasture to settle in, the life of the monk Khan here was not easy.In the middle of the river, to the northwest, was the rising Russian Empire, whose stronghold had reached the eastern bank of the Ural River; To the west, there is the Ottoman Turkish Empire, a super empire spanning the three continents of Asia, Europe and Africa, with enough strength to rival the whole of Europe; To the southwest were the Bukhara Khanate and the Safavid dynasty of Persia, which were in decline but not in good shape; To the east, it was the state of Zhou, which drove them out of the Jungar Basin.The place where Jungar is now located can be said to be between several powerful countries, and there are also two khanates of Yuz and Khiva here, which can be said to be extremely competitive.This makes the life of Jungar not easy, and I often think that one day, I can return to the Jungar Basin.For this reason, in the past three years, the monk Khan fought in the north and south, defeated Yuz, forced Yuz to submit, and then contacted Tsarist Russia, purchased muskets from the Russians, and contacted Yarkand, preparing to kill the horse pistol.But no, the monk's side is not ready, and Yarkand has been annexed by the Zhou State.At this time, in the Khan tent of Zungar, Prince Bars, who escaped from Shache, fled to the Sangha army after nine deaths, and tearfully recounted to the Sangha that the Zhou army had killed his father Khan, purged the Black Mountain and the White Mountain, and insulted the temple."
Sangha Great Khan, hurry up and raise troops to fight back, eradicate the Zhou army, recapture Moxi, and help Yarkand restore the country."
Bars said eagerly.The monk asked, "Prince, do you know how many soldiers and horses the Zhou army has invaded Yarkand?"
”Bars gritted his teeth and said: "That group of cunning Han people used trickery to occupy Yarkand, according to my observation, no more than 10,000 people, so the Great Khan must do it as soon as possible, and it will be too late for them to send troops over." ”The monk pondered for a moment and said, "Ben Khan will think about it, you go down and rest first." ”Bars was unwilling: "Great Khan, my father Khan was only eliminated by the Zhou army because of his contact with you, you can't sit back and watch Yarkand be annexed by the Zhou army!"
”The monk sank his face: "Come on, send Prince Bars down to rest!"
”Bars was taken, and the monk convened his subordinates to discuss the situation of the annexation of Yarkand by the Zhou army, and everyone was frightened and discussed, some said that they could not sit idly by and watch the annexation of Yarkand by the Zhou army, and some said that they would wait and see what happened.The monk's heart is alive, now he controls Yuzi, with 100,000 male soldiers, advance can be attacked, retreat can be defended, since there are only more than 10,000 Zhou troops to occupy Yarkand, why not gamble and take down Yarkand.()