Water Margin people

Chapter 1476 Gaochang

Yumen Pass.

Sun Li couldn't stop smiling as he watched the army coming one after another. He had just received an imperial edict. He was now the vanguard general of the Western Expedition and he was in charge of some affairs on the front line before the army arrived.

"General Sun, these are the New Year's supplies sent by His Majesty! They include fine wine, tea, cotton clothes... and letters from home!"

Luan Tingyu looked at Sun Li and said with a smile.

"Why are you here too!"

Sun Li looked at Luan Tingyu in surprise. He didn't expect that the emperor would send him.

"I'm here to gain merit at the front line, too!"

Luan Tingyu smiled and said that the Western Expedition was the only remaining opportunity for Qi to make merit, and all the generals did not want to miss it.

"Haha, we brothers can fight side by side again!"

Sun Li said with a smile that he and Luan Tingyu had a common hidden friendship.

"I am just the vanguard. There are more than 10,000 troops in Dunhuang. They will arrive in a few days!"

Luan Tingyu smiled and said that he had brought his men here early because he wanted to deliver New Year supplies to the garrison at Yumen Pass.

"That's even better. We'll capture Puchanghai right after the New Year's Day."

Sun Li laughed and said that as the vanguard general of the Western Expedition, he had the right to expand the army's control.

The Western Expedition faced the vast Gobi Desert, and water resources were crucial to both sides.

It is winter now, but we still don’t realize the importance of water. When the ice and snow melt and the weather gets warmer, water will be the lifeblood of the army. We must control the huge water source like Puchang Sea.

"Haha, then I came at the wrong time! By the way, this is the letter from my brother's wife, and the clothes he made himself."

Luan Tingyu took a bundle and a thick letter and handed them to Sun Li.

Sun Li took it quickly. He felt the softness and warmth of the package of clothes, and excitedly took the thick letter from home.

The rest of the soldiers guarding the border were also receiving letters and supplies from their families. Some were clothes, some were jars of pickles, and some were gloves and shoes and socks...

The soldiers were trembling with excitement. The war had been going on for three months, and a letter from home was worth a thousand pieces of gold. Although there was no war in the northwest, the lonely life still made them miss their homes more and more, especially when it was almost the end of the year and it was time for family reunions.

Sun Lei would never pull the wool off a sheep, and the same goes for the army. He would not let some soldiers guard the border hard all year round. They were all soldiers from Qi State, and they had to take turns.

But now that the war is about to break out in the northwest, the soldiers guarding the border are unwilling to leave at this time. They are gritting their teeth and holding on, determined to return with military merit and glory.

Sun Li's eyes were blurred with tears after reading the letter. In the letter, his wife told him all the big and small things in the family, and the one she mentioned the most was their son.

"When I first left, my son could only crawl, but now he can run around the yard."

Sun Li wiped his tears and then looked at Luan Tingyu and smiled. Although he missed his wife and children, the more he thought about them, the more determined he became to achieve more merits and to ennoble his wife and children.

At Yumen Pass, supplies were abundant and the soldiers celebrated the New Year in advance, gathering their strength and waiting for the first battle of the Western Expedition.

On the windy Puchang beach, there was a long row of felt tents, some of which contained war horses.

"Why haven't the supplies been delivered yet? This winter is so cold, and the wind is cold and the dew is heavy here in Puchanghai. How can we hold on?"

An alien leader said to the armored general above him.

"I have asked someone to urge them. Gaochang should send someone over soon."

The general said soothingly. "General, it's not that we always complain, but our warriors have complaints. We have been stationed here for so long, and there has never been enough food and grass. Before, when the snow was not deep, we could fish and hunt, but now it is the middle of winter, and there is no prey at all. The Puchang Sea is also frozen. If this continues, people will starve to death!"

Someone else spoke up and said that they were unwilling to be stationed here. It was so comfortable to stay in the city. Who would want to come here to starve and freeze?

"Report, General, there are more troops coming to Yumen Pass, about 3,000 soldiers and a large amount of supplies!"

A soldier ran into the tent to report.

"What? More supplies! Didn't they just send a batch at the beginning of the month? They only have so many people, how could they use so many supplies?"

The information made many people in the tent jealous. They were hungry and cold due to lack of food and clothing, while the enemy was better off, hiding in the city and having no worries about food and drink.

"An additional 3,000 soldiers. Counting the previous ones, Yumen Pass probably has 10,000 soldiers now!"

The leading general frowned and said that under normal circumstances, a few thousand troops would be enough to garrison Yumen Pass, but now the number of troops has suddenly increased to 10,000, which obviously means a war is about to begin.

"Quick, send someone to report to the Khan that Qi is hoarding a large army at Yumen Pass and may attack us at any time!"

The general said to a soldier beside him.

The rest of the people didn't care about the shortage of supplies at this time, because the war was about to begin.

A small group of cavalrymen headed towards Gaochang City from Puchang Sea. At the same time, cavalrymen from the western foot of Jinshan also headed quickly towards Gaochang City.

King Bilege of Gaochang had just brought his troops to the outskirts of Gaochang City. After leaving Hu Siwoerduo, he hurried back, preparing to tell the people the news that Western Liao was going to send troops to deal with Qi, in order to stabilize the hearts of the various ethnic groups in Gaochang.

Bilege was in a good mood. With the help of Yelu Dashi and the other three Khans, defeating Qi should be a piece of cake.

Bilege knew that Qi was powerful, but Western Liao had just defeated more than 100,000 Seljuk cavalry with only 20,000 cavalry, and was even more unstoppable. Now they had a combined army of 500,000, which was enough to invade the Central Plains.

Bilego looked at his subjects who came to greet him at the city gate and waved happily.

"Report, Great Khan, Qi has more than 10,000 soldiers stationed at Yumen Pass, and they may attack us at any time..."

"Report, Great Khan, the Naiman tribe is asking for help, and the Mongolian and Wanggu tribes are beginning to march towards the western foot of the Jin Mountains..."

The two messengers who came to report the news happened to meet Bilege at the city gate. Since the matter was of great importance, they reported the news immediately.

Bilego's smile froze on his face, and his subjects who had come to greet him with laughter were also stunned. These two things were like bolts from the blue.

"Go back to the palace!"

Bilego didn't care about anything else and took his men to the palace, while the soldiers quickly went to find the nobles and leaders to go to the palace to discuss.

Bilege waited for a while and saw that all the city officials had arrived, and their faces were grim.

"Don't worry so much. I came from the royal court. Juer Khan has decided to send troops to the east. Our four khanates will also send troops together."

Bilego looked at the worried crowd and spoke.

"The royal court is sending troops? The Four Khans!"

The people who were full of worries just now were now filled with shock. They all knew how powerful Jurg Khan was. The powerful Seljuk army of hundreds of thousands was defeated. If the troops of the four khanates were added, they would be almost invincible.

"Our mission is to prepare enough food and fodder for an army of 500,000!"

After telling the good news, Bilege talked about the difficulties. The battlefield would be on the border of their Gaochang Uighurs. The royal court and the other three Khanates could not bring much food and fodder, so Gaochang would be responsible for the supply.