Sun Kewang learned that after the Ming army raided Yongliang, in order to meet the population and supplies transferred from Guanzhong, he personally led 10,000 cavalry from the Western Regions to Guanzhong.When the army arrived in Suzhou, it happened to meet the fighting Ming and Zhou armies, so they launched a surprise attack from behind and helped Wu Sangui clash and block.Originally, according to the plan of Wu Sangui and Hong Chengchou, the Zhou State would be transferred to the Western Regions, with an army of 180,000 and nearly a million people and dependents.In this way, the Zhou State will have the strength of the Manchu Qing when they were outside the Guan, even stronger than the Manchu Qing of that year.But now, Wu Sangui looked back at the dejected soldiers and horses behind him, plus the 10,000 people brought by Sun Kewang, I am afraid that it is less than 60,000 people, and most of the baggage and grain have been lost.In this way, counting the Zhou army left behind in the Western Regions, the total number of soldiers and horses of the Zhou army is only more than 70,000 people, and its strength has been greatly weakened.This made Wu Sangui worried, extremely depressed, and hated Zhao Ming at the same time."
Where are we now?"
Wu Sangui sat on his horse and asked hobbly.Sun Kewang smiled and said, "Your Majesty, it's almost Hami!"
”Wu Sangui frowned, "The widow was defeated this time, and Zuo Xiang doesn't seem to care about it, and he doesn't worry about the future!"
”Sun Kewang put away his smile and said in a deep voice: "Although the king was defeated, he escaped after all.Now entering the Western Regions is the dragon entering the sea.No matter how powerful Zhao Zamao is, his hand can't reach out to the Western Regions for a while, and the king doesn't have to worry about the threat of the Ming army, just to create a foundation. ”Sun Kewang glanced at Wu Sangui, as well as many Zhou generals, and said a little arrogantly: "And with all due respect, the countries surrounding the Western Regions are nothing more than local chickens and dogs to my Great Zhou."
Only Zhao Zamao can threaten us in this world, and now that we are far away from Zhao Zamao, without the containment of the Ming army, my Great Zhou can completely create a great cause like a stone in Yelu. ”Wu Sangui was silent, and many Zhou generals who were panicked in their hearts behind him heard the words, and their hearts were a little at ease, but someone still asked: "Zuo Xiang!"
We only have 60,000 or 70,000 soldiers, can we survive in this Western Regions?
”Sun Kewang said: "Back then, the Han Dynasty set up the Western Regions to protect it, but it was only a few thousand soldiers and horses, and the Tang Dynasty garrisoned here, only 20,000 or 30,000 people, but it was able to control the Western Regions.Today, I have 70,000 elite soldiers in the Great Zhou, can't I still establish a foundation in the Western Regions?
”Sun Kewang This is a stealing concept, Han and Tang have a strong Central Plains as the backing, while the Zhou State is rootless, without backing, and even suffers from the hostility of the Central Plains.However, after listening to his words, many Zhou generals were a little relieved, at least they didn't have to worry, they went to the Western Regions and were wiped out by the countries of the Western Regions.The generals discussed a few words, and Xia Guoxiang asked again: "In the Western Regions, the desert and Gobi are all over the place, the land is barren and barren, and the population is sparse.With 70,000 of us, plus hundreds of thousands of dependents and people, is there enough food to eat?
”Wu Sangui looked at Sun Kewang, and there were also questions in his heart, but he didn't ask questions with the generals.At this time, he had already seen that Sun Kewang was calming the army's heart.After all, the Zhou army was newly defeated, leaving Guanlong and heading to a completely unfamiliar place, and the soldiers must have many worries and worries in their hearts.These worries and worries, if not resolved, are likely to lead to desertions, as well as military mutinies and refusal to go to the Western Regions."
Naturally, there is enough to eat!"
Sun Kewang said with a smile: "In fact, since last year, the prime minister has been transferring grain to the Western Regions, and has relocated the tunhu of Hetao to Luntai Tuntian, and now hundreds of thousands of acres of land have been reclaimed. ”At this time, Hong Chengchou, who had not spoken, also helped: "After the Great Zhou destroyed Yaerqiang, the imperial court prepared to develop the Western Regions as the strategic depth and final retreat of the Great Zhou.For this reason, in the past two years, the imperial court has been sending people and grain to the Western Regions, and the grain stored in the Western Regions must be enough to eat. ”Sun Kewang took over and said: "Benxiang has established granaries in Luntai, Shanshan, and Shache, and now not only has sufficient grain storage, but also a large number of cattle and sheep to eat, so you don't have to worry about eating at all." ”Under the repeated boasting and appeasement of Sun Kewang and Hong Chengchou, everyone was reluctantly relieved.Guan Ning's family has been wandering all these years, and Guanzhong is not their homeland, but now it's just a change of place, as long as there is food, drink and women, they will accept it.For a while, Zhou Jun was no longer depressed, but began to look forward to a new life after arriving in the Western Regions, and even think about how to get a few beautiful women from the Western Regions with exotic customs.Seeing this, Sun Kewang immediately bid farewell to Wu Sangui and returned to the Western Regions first to arrange for the reception of the army.After Sun Kewang left, Wu Sangui led the army to walk for a few more days and arrived at Shanshan County, an important stronghold of the Zhou army in the Western Regions.Located in the Turpan Basin, the Zhou army saw herds of cattle and sheep here, as well as many fields.After Sun Kewang left, Hong Chengchou acted as a guide and introduced: "Thirty percent of the cattle and sheep herded by these herdsmen must be handed over to the imperial court.In addition, at the end of last year, the prime minister sent many craftsmen to the Western Regions, including many weavers.In the future, the wool on these sheep can be woven in the Western Regions and turned into carpets and clothing, so you don't have to worry about wearing them. ”When everyone saw the herds of cattle and sheep, they were relieved, and followed Wu Sangui all the way west, and when they passed by Moonlight Lake, they saw the salt field again, so they didn't have to worry about running out of salt to eat.At the beginning of September, tens of thousands of horses traveled long distances and finally arrived in Luntai County.Here, they saw the fields at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains, and the Han people who had come here first and were busy cultivating them.At this moment, everyone was completely relieved and ready to accept a new life, and even Wu Sangui regained his self-confidence.At this time, the newly arrived Zhou army camped outside the county seat, Wu Sangui was rarely interested, and together with Sun Kewang, who came to greet him, galloped out of the camp and went to inspect the results of Luntai Tuntian.Wu Sangui rode up the hill on horseback, and Hong Chengchou motioned for everyone to stop, and only followed up with Sun Kewang.The two of them, one on the left and one on the right, rode horses and stood beside Wu Sangui, Wu Sangui looked at the fertile fields that came out of the pit, and couldn't help but sigh: "The two prime ministers have done a good job."
The widow was also worried that after retreating to the Western Regions, there would be a shortage of materials, and the soldiers would not be clothed and hungry, but they didn't expect the widow's worries to be superfluous. ”Wu Sangui was in a good mood, and Sun Kewang said in a deep voice: "Your Excellency won't think that the land of the Western Regions really lacks anything." ”When Wu Sangui heard this, his heart sank, he turned his head to look at Sun Kewang, and then at Hong Chengchou, seeing the expressions of the two, he couldn't help but lose his voice and said, "Is it all fake." ”Hong Chengchou nodded, "Your Majesty, in fact, there is not much food, and the ministers said that the supplies are sufficient, just to calm the hearts of the army." ”Wu Sangui's face was full of disbelief, "What about the cattle and sheep?"
And these fields, are they also fake?
”Sun Kewang explained in a deep voice: "There are many deserts and Gobi deserts in the south of the Tianshan Mountains, and there are very few places suitable for grazing.As for the fields here, nature is true, but it will not be possible to harvest until at least next year. ”()