Chapter 401: Expedition to the Tanguts
Chapter 401: Expedition to the Tanguts
Although Xiao Xia had just returned, Heyuan was the end of his campaign and he had to handle it well, otherwise the battle against Tuyuhun would be a failure.
After returning to the mansion, Xiao Xia told his wife about Chang Sun Sheng. Cui Yu supported her husband. This was her husband's first battle after being crowned king. If he left any tail unhandled, it would be difficult to record it in history.
Two days later, Xiao Xia set off with an army of 30,000 and 20,000 camels. He handed over Hexi to the temporary management of Deputy Governor Yin Shishi.
Two days later, the team arrived at Jincheng County, and the army rested for a day in the military camp outside the city.
Inside the big tent, Changsun Sheng introduced the situation of the Dangxiang people to Xiao Xia.
"Your Highness, the Xianbei people who came to the Hehuang West Sea together hundreds of years ago were mainly the Murong and Tuoba tribes. But for some reason, perhaps fighting for the throne, or for some other reason, the two Xianbei tribes became enemies. Later, the Murong tribe defeated the Tuoba tribe. Some of the Tuoba tribe joined Tuyuhun, while the other part of the Tuoba tribe retreated to the south of Heyuan with their people and lived together with the Qiang people there. They are the current Dangxiang Xianbei people."
"Didn't these Tangut Xianbei people establish their own dynasty?"
Chang Sun Sheng shook his head. "They were too few in number to form a dynasty. Although the Dangxiang people, like the Tuyuhun people, were also the Xianbei people ruling the Qiang people, their ruling methods were different. The Dangxiang had eight tribes, seven of which were Qiang people and one was the Xianbei Tuoba people. The Tuoba tribe was the most powerful, and the other seven tribes had to pay tribute to the Tuoba tribe.
Moreover, their armies are also separate. The Xianbei are the Xianbei, and the Qiang are the Qiang. They will not mix together. If they want to fight against the Tuyuhun, the Tuoba chief will give the order, and each tribe will send out troops separately, and finally be unified under the command of the Tuoba chief. So it is actually an opportunity for us to send out troops now."
"Why?" Xiao Xia asked puzzled.
"Now is the non-wartime state of the Dangxiang people. All the tribes live separately. As long as we concentrate our forces to annihilate the Tuoba tribe, the Dangxiang people will be gone. The other seven Qiang tribes are exactly the same as the Qiang tribe of Tuyuhun. Their leaders are all Qiang people, and there are no Xianbei people."
Xiao Xia nodded, "I see!"
Five days later, the army arrived in Xiping County in a mighty manner. Coincidentally, at this time, Zhang Wei, the censor sent by the court, also arrived in Xiping County. In addition, more than a dozen officials sent by the court to Heyuan County were also in Huangshui County.
In the main hall of the Shanzhou Grand Commandery, Xiao Xia said to Zhang Wei and other officials in great dissatisfaction: "I am the Grand Commander of Hexi and Longyou. Shouldn't you come to see me first before investigating the officials in Longyou and taking office in Longyou? Without my consent, you can act on your own?"
Supervisory Censor Zhang Wei hurriedly said, "Your Highness, please calm down. This investigation is not an official one, but a secret one. Of course, if the investigation finds any major problems, I will go to Hexi to report to Your Highness."
The Censorate's investigations were divided into open and secret investigations, or in today's terms formal and informal investigations. For example, Xiao Xia's investigation of Maitreya Buddhism in Luoyang was a secret investigation, which did not require the approval of local authorities. Open investigations were different. A formal document had to be issued first, and then the investigation team would come down and meet with the chief official before the formal investigation could begin.
Therefore, it was not wrong for Zhang Wei to conduct the secret investigation through Xiao Xia.
Xiao Xia nodded, and then asked the Heyuan County Chief Officer: "Why didn't you report to me first?"
The new chief steward of Heyuan County is called Wu Lian. According to the rules, he must first report to Xiao Xia before he can go to Heyuan to take office.
Wu Lian also bowed and said, "Your Highness, I arrived in Huangshui County more than a month ago. Before we set out, we learned that Your Highness had not returned to Hexi. Later, when we arrived in Jincheng County, we specially sent a subordinate to Wuwei County to inquire about the situation. If Your Highness had returned, we would go to Guzang County, but it turned out that Your Highness had not returned yet, so we turned around and went to Jiaohe County first. Unexpectedly, the general manager Wang Long told us that most of Heyuan County was in the hands of the Dangxiang people, saying that General Changsun had taken credit and deceived the court. We were at a loss as to where to go, so we wrote a memorial to the court."
At this time, Qi Fuhui, the chief official of the Grand Military Governor's Office, also said to Xiao Xia: "Your Highness, we are also helpless about the situation in Heyuan. I believe General Changsun has also told Your Highness the reason. I implore Your Highness to resolve the dilemma as soon as possible."
Xiao Xia said calmly: "Does the Chief Secretary also agree with General Changsun's request?"
Qi Fuhui bowed and said, "Your Highness, I have also sent people to investigate. Wang Long is very cunning. He did send a supply team, but the supply team stopped after entering Heyuan. So I went to Jiaohe County to investigate and found that all the procedures were complete. There were also witnesses and evidence to prove that Wang Long sent a logistics supply team, and even the people could prove it.
But in fact, General Changsun did not receive any supplies, and Wang Long had good reasons, saying that he was ambushed by the Tangut army, or that General Changsun refused to send anyone to support him, etc. Anyway, you can't find any fault with him."
Xiao Xia nodded. "I am not here to pursue responsibility this time, but to complete the last battle and destroy the Dangxiang. I am here with 30,000 troops, plus the 20,000 troops in Longyou, a total of 50,000 troops. I want to know, how much food is in the Longyou warehouse?" "Your Highness, there are still 500,000 stones of food that should be returned to the Jincheng warehouse, but it has not been transported away yet."
There was enough food, so Xiao Xia asked again, "Where's the transportation?"
"Your Highness, there are still 10,000 camels and 10,000 carts, and more than 20,000 war horses, but all the livestock have been handed over to the court, and the carts have been requisitioned from the people."
Xiao Xia turned back and asked Chang Sun Sheng, "Is Mantou City still in our hands now?"
Chang Sun Sheng bowed and said, "Your Highness, it is still in our hands."
"That's it. General Changsun will lead 20,000 troops and 10,000 camels of supplies to Chiling. I will lead 30,000 troops to Jiaohe County. We will meet at Mantou City. Please ask Qifu Changshi to serve as the logistics manager and provide us with supplies from Jiaohe County."
Qi Fuhui asked quickly, "What should we do with Wang Long?"
"He led five thousand soldiers to go with me!"
Qi Fuhui heaved a sigh of relief and said quickly: "I will definitely ensure the logistical supply!"
Two days later, Xiao Xia led an army of 30,000 to Hejin County, Jiaohe County, also known as Guide County. Wang Long, the governor of Jiaohe County, went out of the city to welcome the arrival of King Jin Xiao Xia.
"I, Wang Long, pay my respects to Your Highness!"
Wang Long had a flattering smile on his face, and completely forgot that he had sent people to hunt down Xiao Xia.
Xiao Xia did not mention the past. He ordered the army to go into the city to rest, and casually sent someone to invite Wang Long to his tent.
Xiao Xia smiled and said, "Manager Wang should know why I led the army here!"
Wang Long bowed and said, "Of course I know that the Tanguts are too despicable. They actually took the opportunity to occupy Heyuan. If I were not so few and weak, I would have sent troops to deal with these thieves!"
Xiao Xia pointed at the map and asked, "How much do you know about the Dangxiang people's military strength?"
Wang Long was speechless and said, "I don't know!"
Xiao Xia estimated that he didn't know either, so he nodded and said, "I don't have many troops. I want to take the 5,000 troops from Jiaohe County with me. If Chief Steward Wang is willing to follow me south, of course, if he wants to stay, that's fine too."
Five thousand troops were Wang Long's only capital, so he certainly couldn't hand them over to Xiao Xia. He had to lead the troops himself. He hurriedly said, "I am willing to follow Your Highness south!"
"very good!"
Xiao Xia nodded and said, "Pack up! The army will set out early tomorrow morning!"
(End of this chapter)