Chapter 56: Take the initiative to Hu Hua

After the people rewarded the army, Murong Guiying, on behalf of Cao Jianjin, sent Zhang Mai to the ten-mile long pavilion. When they were about to leave, Murong Guiying sighed: "I hope Hexi will bring peace as soon as possible."

When Zhang Mai heard his tone was not much the same as Kang Long, Yan Su, etc., he shouted in secret. Murong Guiying said again: "In Jinchang City, the second young master is a person who is very wise. Although the genius Murong Teng is not a pillar, he also has the intention to serve the country. Now they are all trapped by Di Yin, so the Protector of the Great Guardian has tried to rescue him. The Fourth Young Master is also a loyal and brave person. He will definitely help the Protector of the Great Guardian when he is in a hurry." After hearing this, Zhang Mai felt that he seemed to have something in his words.

After saying goodbye, Guo Zhang walked up several miles and said, "Major Protector, Murong Guiying's grandson came over quietly just now. While no one handed me a package, I asked me to submit it to Major Protector in person." As he said that, he presented the package. Zhang Mai immediately opened it and looked at it. It was a map of Guazhou. There were more than a dozen pages of manuscripts, all written in small characters on fly heads. Zhang Maixian briefly read it, but the manuscript was divided into three parts, one was "The Essentials of Guazhou People's Contemporary", the second was "Guazhou Geographical Endings", the third was "The Place to Eat", and the last page was "The Rest".

Zhang Mai looked at it for a few times and was ecstatic. He came to discuss with Yang Yi. Yang Yi said: "If all these information is true, then this old Murong obviously intends to get closer to us!"

It was impossible to read carefully immediately, and Zhang Mai immediately put the manuscript away. It was too late when he walked under the old site of the Great Wall that day. Zhang Mai ordered the camp to rest, but secretly discussed the strategy of entering the military with Yang Yi and Shiba. They first compared Murong Guiying's "Guazhou Geographical End" with the geographical map of the 11 Hexi Prefectures presented by Zhang Yi, and found that the mountains, rivers and rivers were roughly in line with each other, and the artificial facilities were easier - this was also a natural thing.

This time Zhang Mai went to fight against Di Yin, but there was no independent chapter on the manuscript given by Murong Guiying. He only took it with one sentence: "The Battle of Guazhou is inside and not outside". He also said: "The Battle of Guazhou must be no major danger. If you break the enemy, you must first gain the Gua people to strengthen themselves." The third sentence says: "The Battle of Guazhou is a rule, not a stop to the battle." It has been pointed out that the Battle of Guazhou is actually a political action rather than a pure military action, and this sentence is deeply loved by Zhang Mai.

Yang Yi nodded and said, "Now it seems that this old general Murong is not only sincere to us, but also has excellent knowledge. If this battle is really just a sudden report to Jinchang City, why should most of the people protect themselves? It would be more than enough to lead the generals and soldiers of a mansion to go there." He changed his words from "Old Murong" to "Old General Murong", and obviously he had respect in his heart.

The Murong family has been guarding Guazhou for decades, and their understanding of the people in Guazhou is beyond the reach of the world. Although Murong Guiying is not young, his ideas are still clear. Although his manuscript only talks about a few pages, the complexity is simplified, which allows Zhang Mai to quickly gain an in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the situation in Guazhou.

Guazhou is different from Shazhou. If Shazhou has developed this land into a comprehensive state with comprehensive development of agriculture, industry, business, education and religion due to the migration of a large number of people from Hexi from the east, then Guazhou is responsible for more military functions.

Shazhou is surrounded by mountains in the north and south, and a desert to the west. Although desert areas are not inaccessible, it is nearly a thousand miles away from Kucha Yanqi to Dunhuang, and Khotan is naturally farther here. Therefore, there are natural barriers in the north, south and west of Shazhou, which are basically safe. The two biggest threats of the Guiyi army - Gaochang Uighurs and Ganzhou Uighurs must pass through Guazhou in the east to enter Shazhou, so Guazhou has become a major buffer between Shazhou and the Hulu.

Guazhou is the strategic positioning, and its economic and cultural development status is far less than that of Shazhou. In China, the level of economic and cultural development is usually closely related to the proportion of the population of Hu and Han. Where there are many Han people, the economy and culture are generally more prosperous, while those with relatively backward economic and cultural are usually places with a higher proportion of Hu and Man population. Although this relationship is not 100% correct, it is still almost the same. As for the reasons, readers also have their own ideas. If the proportion of Hu and Han in Shazhou is about the proportion of the Han Dynasty, then Guazhou is almost the six and four Han people, and the Hu people are tough and good at fighting. If their assistance is a code of law, it will greatly help Guazhou's defense. If it is in chaos, it will cause Guazhou to fall into internal and external troubles. Therefore, the key to treating Guazhou is how to deal with the relationship between Hu and Han in Guazhou.

The territory of Guazhou is an irregular trapezoid with wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, long at the north and short at the east and west. It is located inland and has sparse precipitation. It is mainly based on rivers originating from the Qilian Mountains in the south as the source of life for this area. The largest inland river in Guazhou, the River Styx, flows into an inland lake called Guazhou Daze near the old Yumen Pass. This lake is the dividing point between the north and south of Guazhou. There are irrigated farmland in the south, and Jinchang City is located in this area and is also a settlement for the Han people. The north of the north is more deserted, with fewer Han people and more Hu people.

Murong Guiying said in the manuscript: "The south of Daze is the land of our Han people. There are two departments north of Daze, one is the Hundred Tent. The Hundred Tent goes north, which is the Leopard Wenshan tribe. The Hundred Tent and Leopard Wenshan are not tribe names, but are named according to the place."

This manuscript tells Zhang Mai that Baizhang and Baowenshan were originally two military garrison places established by the Tang Dynasty in Guazhou - Baizhangshouzhang and Baowenshan. After the Anshi Rebellion, Hexi changed drastically, and Guazhou's social order also collapsed completely. During the social unrest, the more impact the central area was, the more peaceful it would be. Instead, remote areas could be protected. People and tribes in remote areas defended themselves. The Han people who originally lived in the southern part of Daze flocked to Zebei to take refuge, and the garrison troops who were attached to Baizhangshouzhang and Baowenshan were gathered.

Because the geographical situation here is not conducive to the development of the agricultural handicraft economy familiar to the Han people, the Han people who flowed into it were forced to adapt to the local natural geography and change to nomadic or even fishing and hunting for a living. Decades have passed, and the Hundred Tents, which are mainly nomadic and the Leopard Wenshan, which are mainly hunting. The languages ​​of these two tribes still use Tang Yan, but they have been mixed with Hu language, which has deteriorated in economic and cultural levels, and has become Hu in terms of national customs. This is an example of the Han people turning into Hu people in a special period - but it is definitely not the only example in history.

When Cao negotiated the Jin Dynasty and pacified the samurai, the people of the Hundred Treasures had long been accustomed to life here and were willing to be Hu. Cao negotiated the Jin Dynasty because of the policy of following the law and only wanted to maintain the status quo and did not have enough courage to turn Hu into Han. Therefore, the Hundred Treasures only won over the Hundred Treasures, and transported some grains and rice from the Zenan area to them every year, but in fact, they bought the surrender of the Hundred Treasures.

When Yang Yi saw this, he remembered the Xinshuoye City and sighed: "These Hundred Tents and the Baowenshan Tribe are so similar to the fate of our Xinshuoye City!" Shi Ba also felt the same and said: "They are the same as our people in Tibetan Monument Valley."

However, Zhang Mai said: "No, it's different. It's different!"

Yes, different.

Most of the Han people who flowed into the Hundred Tents were lower-class people and lacked strong organizational power. Although there were garrison troops in the Hundred Tents, the rank was too low and it was impossible to compare with the senior generals like the four major families of Anxi. The cultural level of the officers was not far from that of ordinary people. Therefore, Hu Hua was Hu Hua, and he could not persist for a long time like Xin Ruiye City. But they were different from the Tibetan Monument Valley people, because the Han power here was far greater than that near Yibohai, so the Hundred Tents did not be enslaved by the surrounding Hu people like the Tibetan Monument Valley, but under the threat of nature, Hu Hua independently.

When Zhang Mai read this, he looked at the Great Wall that had become a landscape in the dim evening scenery and suddenly remembered: "During the Han Dynasty, it seemed that the Huns in the southern and northern desert areas had been scattered. However, when there was turmoil in the Central Plains, the population of nomadic people in the southern and northern desert areas suddenly increased. It seemed that the rise of the Jurchen tribe of the Qing Dynasty also seemed to have suddenly increased a lot of people for a while. Could some of the Hu people in the northern desert, southern desert and even northeast of the north were transformed by Han people who escaped?"

He just suddenly had this feeling. Because of his lack of historical knowledge and no specific historical materials in his mind, he could not confirm the matter. However, an impulse surged in his heart: "Although these people became Hu Min, they were all forced by the general situation. But since the original situation could turn them into Hu Hu, is it possible to turn them into Hu Han today?"

And just as this impulse arose, Shi Ba was already excitedly shouting: "Brother Mai! Let's go find them!"

He didn't say what to do for them, but Zhang Mai understood the eager meaning in his eyes!

Yang Yi turned a page and saw that Murong Guiying wrote: "Cao Linggong was unable to turn the world back, but with the talent of the Great Protector, he might be able to conquer his people and return to his mother's family. The so-called "Hu people" in Hexi are like the hundreds of tents who forget their ancestors because of the evil deeds of heaven. If the Great Protector can correct the chaos and turn Hu into Han, this is a great cause of the Great Protector."

Zhang Mai saw this and felt more confident in the thought in his heart: "It seems that in terms of bloodline, many of the ancestors of the Hu people in remote areas are Han people who fled here from the Central Plains."

He slapped his thigh and said, "Okay! In addition to trying to save Jinchang this time, we can also find a way to meet the leader of the Hundred Treasures."

After the camp was completed that night, Zhang Mai summoned the generals, including Cao Yuanzhong, to discuss countermeasures for advancement. Cao Yuanzhong said: "We have few soldiers and Di Yin has many soldiers. It is impossible to win 4,000 to 50,000. I think we only need to hold Di Yin back in this battle, boost morale for the military and civilians of Jinchang, and give them confidence to defend. As for the decisive battle, it will be possible until the Shazhou army gathers."

Zhang Mai said: "Fourth Young Master, we are a guest army. We are not as familiar with the geography and military information as the fourth Young Master. This battle must be dominated by the fourth Young Master. I wonder if you have a plan to fight the enemy."

It would be fine if someone else said this. Zhang Mai has now established a great reputation in the northwest. Speaking of the limelight, Cao Yijin, Li Shengtian, Di Yin and others are all inferior. Viga and Satuk are his defeated generals. Although Cao Yuanzhong is famous in Shazhou, how can he compare with Zhang Mai who is famous? He was very satisfied with Zhang Mai's words. He was actually two years older than Yang Yi, but he grew up in good times.

In terms of age, he is much younger than Yang Yi. When he was young and energetic, he did not humble to Zhang Mai. He said: "Jinchang is a strong city. At that time, the original intention of my Guiyi Army to station heavy troops here was to defend Viagra in the north and Diyin in the east. The people in the city also had such psychological preparations. Now, although some of the troops were drawn to Yizhou and suddenly surrounded, I think it should not be captured so easily. So I don't think there is a need to worry about this battle, you can make a decision before taking it."

Zhang Mai heard that he was not impatient or impatient, and his mind was clear. He thought that Cao Yuanzhong was indeed a talent, but at the same time, he felt a little difficult to resolve Cao Yijin's intention. He thought that if he really had evil intentions, why did he send such a son and such a powerful team to him? You must know that people like Cao Yuanzhong are definitely not good choices for using secret tricks.

Yang Yi saw Zhang Mai pondering and asked, "Did the Fourth Young Master have a plan in his heart?"

"I dare not take responsibility for the plan," Cao Yuanzhong said after a little modest sentence, "But I think we should advance to Changle first. Changle is one of the two major granaries in Guazhou. As long as the military and civilians of Jinchang know that we have arrived in Changle, they will definitely have the courage to defend. Di Yin has many soldiers and horses and is out, and the cost will be great. We have few soldiers, but we can drag them with him."

Yang Yi said: "I just drag it all the time, I'm afraid I'll be afraid of being timid in the fight."

Sun Chao said: "The enemy is numerous and we are few. We will attack ten times more with four thousand soldiers. How can we advance forward?"

During this meeting, Zhang Mai did not express his opinion, so he decided to "mart urgently and slow down the enemy" strategy according to everyone's resolution.

Cao Yuanzhong asked himself to be the vanguard and set out from the former site of the Great Wall. The light cavalry walked 350 miles a day and one night. Six of the ten people fell behind were occupied. Four hundred people rushed to Changle City in one fell swoop. Changle City was located 90 miles west of Jinchang. There were only 1,200 defenders and more than 6,000 households in the city. In addition, there were countless refugees. When Cao Yuanshen saw the Uighurs' powerful force, he immediately sent Murong Teng to attract hundreds of people to take over, so he has not yet fallen. However, the soldiers and civilians in the city were already panicked because of Di Yin's offensive. Seeing Cao Yuanzhong coming, he was overjoyed and hurried out to greet him.

Before Cao Yuanzhong entered the city, he heard the dust flying behind him. The soldiers and generals in Changle City were shocked. Murong Teng shouted: "Fourth Master, come to the city quickly! I'm afraid the Uighurs are coming!"

Cao Yuanzhong looked after him and saw that the army came from the west and said, "Don't worry, it's reinforcements."

After a while, hundreds of people approached, and it was indeed Zhang Mai. Cao Yuanzhong said with sincerity: "Their journey is so fast." He invited Zhang into the city.
Chapter completed!