Water Margin people

Chapter 1458 Yumen Pass

Northwest, Yumen Pass.

The once dilapidated pass has now been completely renovated. The walls have been reinforced and raised, and are covered with various shooting holes, making it look like an indestructible fortress.

Sun Li was standing on the highest observation tower, looking around with a telescope, but there was nothing in the vast white space next door.

"General, what is there to see? There is nothing to block the view. You can see dozens of miles away at a glance. There is no way the enemy can approach secretly."

A soldier looked at Sun Li and said that when rebuilding Yumen Pass, Sun Li required a tall tower, so a twenty-meter-high tower was built in the middle. Standing on the top of the tower, one could see the entire area within dozens of miles.

"Haha, General Ding is here to deliver supplies again!"

Sun Li said with a smile, a black spot appeared on the ground far away in the east, and through the telescope it could be seen that it was a pair of people.

"Supplies are arriving so soon?"

The sentinels were all excited. Ever since they were stationed at Yumen Pass, their logistical supplies had never been interrupted, which made them less afraid of guarding the border. There was plenty of food, and the fortresses were strong. Apart from being a little lonely, it seemed that there was nothing wrong with guarding the border.

"It's a pity that we haven't received much news so far."

Sun Li felt a little ashamed. He knew how difficult it was to transport supplies to the northwestern border. Qi had paid so much, but he could not provide any valuable information.

The logistics team was getting closer and closer to Yumen Pass, and the flag of Qi State fluttering in the wind looked very majestic.

"General Han? General Ma?"

Sun Li looked at the team leader in surprise. It was not Ding Desun who was stationed in Suzhou, but Han Shizhong and Ma Lin.

"General Sun is not welcome?"

Han Shizhong asked while looking at Sun Li with a smile.

"How dare I! General Han, General Ma, thank you for your hard work! It's windy outside, let's go into the city quickly."

Sun Li smiled and bowed to Han Shizhong. Han Shizhong's sudden arrival also made him realize that he might have a new task.

The ice and snow in the northwest will not melt for half a year in winter. In order to facilitate the transportation of food and fodder, a large number of sleds were made. Equipped with local war horses that have long been accustomed to the ice and snow in the northwest, transportation is much faster than with horse-drawn carriages or ox-drawn carts.

"These are what His Majesty asked you to bring. There is a lot of meat and food. These are fodder and feed for the war horses! Please count them!"

Han Shizhong took out a document with a seal on it and handed it to Sun Li, and pointed at the sleds lined up in a row and said, since they are transporting food and fodder, they must be delivered seriously.

Naturally, Sun Li couldn't count the supplies himself, so he gave the list to his personal soldier and asked him to lead the people to count the supplies. If there were no problems, he would also have to sign the receipt himself.

"General Han, General Ma, let's go have a drink! It's freezing cold and nothing can warm you up better than a glass of hot wine."

Sun Li looked at Han Shizhong and Ma Lin and invited them.

The two men agreed with a smile. They were tired after walking all the way. Transporting food and fodder was equivalent to marching and fighting, and drinking was not allowed.

The three of them came to the hall inside the pass, where the fireplace had been lit and the room was as warm as spring.

"There is a lack of trees in the northwest, but we have coal. It can be used in fireplaces without having to worry about poisonous gases."

Sun Li said with a smile.

Soon a whole roasted lamb was served.

"Haha, you two, there's nothing else to eat in the winter, so you can only eat some mutton and drink some wine!"

Sun Li looked at Han Shizhong and Ma Lin and said that if such a banquet were held in the Central Plains, it would be quite shabby, with only one dish at a banquet.

"Your Majesty also asked us to bring a lot of fried tea this time. It has a rich aroma and is the best for relieving greasiness!"

Ma Lin said with a smile.

"Oh, there's tea!"

Sun Li was overjoyed when he heard this. There was no shortage of meat in the northwest. Not to mention the looting of the tribes, there were plenty of yellow sheep, deer, horses, and cattle when they went out hunting. "Don't worry, there's enough for the army to drink for half a year!"

Ma Lin nodded. There is a lot of tea produced in Jiangnan.

A few people laughed and started drinking and eating meat.

"General Sun, I wonder how Yelu Dashi's Western Liao is doing to the west?"

After three rounds of drinks, Han Shizhong looked at Sun Li and asked.

"That Yelu Dashi is quite capable. Not long ago, the Western Liao conquered the Eastern Karakhanid Khanate, destroyed the Western Karakhanid Khanate, and moved the capital to Balasagun, changing its name to Husiwoerduo. The territory has further expanded, and it has bordered the Khwarezmian and Seljuk Turks in the west..."

Sun Li was talking about the intelligence he had collected during this period. He did not need to send anyone to investigate. Merchants from the Western Regions could not bypass Yumen Pass if they wanted to go to the Central Plains. If they wanted to go here, in addition to giving some benefits, they also had to send intelligence from the West.

"Khwarezm? Seljuk? Your Majesty's letter mentioned these two countries, especially the Seljuk Turks, who are said to have a large territory!"

Ma Lin said.

"Your Majesty also knows?"

Sun Li was a little surprised, as he had just learned the news from a group of merchants from the Kimak Khanate a few days ago.

Ma Lin smiled and recounted the story of the emperor's southern tour.

"Your Majesty is truly the wisest ruler of all time! But those Arabs are damned for daring to rebel! They have not yet been defeated by the Seljuk Turks!"

When Sun Li heard that the Arabs dared to gather pirates to rebel, he immediately said in a cold voice that the Turks were extremely cruel and conquest meant massacre. According to the intelligence obtained from the Kimak Khanate, the entire desert was stained red with the blood of the Arabs and the Black Sea was full of Byzantine corpses.

"You two, have you heard about the news about Western Liao? Are they preparing for war?"

Sun Li looked at Han Shizhong and Ma Lin and asked.

"Haha, the two of us are going to go to the west to gather some intelligence!"

Ma Lin said with a smile.

"you?"

Sun Li then realized that something was wrong. Ma Lin had the appearance of a barbarian, and once he changed into barbarian clothes, he looked absolutely genuine.

Han Shizhong also grew his hair in a bun, a common style among the barbarians, which made him look a little rough.

"Haha, we're going to pretend to be merchants and go west!"

Han Shizhong said with a smile, and touched his sideburns. He had been preparing for this beard for several months.

"Your Majesty agrees?"

Sun Li looked at the two people in front of him and asked.

"Of course! This is His Majesty's order!"

Han Shizhong took out a handwritten warrant, saying that Sun Li was now guarding the border and was also responsible for checking people entering and leaving the border.

Sun Li checked it carefully and handed it back after confirming that it was correct.

"There is constant war in the west, and Yelu Dashi hates us to the core. You better be careful!"

Sun Li looked at Han Shizhong and Ma Lin and said that if Yelu Dashi knew their identities, the entire Western Liao would surround them.

"Haha, don't worry, we are prepared! Besides, the enemy is in the open and we are in the dark, so it's not that easy to find them!"

Han Shizhong said with a smile.

"I have been in Guanzhong for the past few months and have become very familiar with merchants from the Western Regions. I have learned a lot about the customs and practices of the Western Regions from them. Now it is not a problem for me to pretend to be a Western Regions person."

Ma Lin explained with a smile that he had been preparing for a long time and only asked the emperor for permission when he was sure. However, it was not so easy to get the emperor's permission. It required detailed plans and regulations, as well as emergency plans.