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After Bi Xuan was killed in battle by Yi Huawei and Zhao Deyan was captured and killed, the Turks' arrogance was suppressed, but their fundamental nature remained intact.

Since the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, the Eastern and Western Turkic Khaganates, under immense external pressure and internal discord, exhibited a strange "unity" in the face of their common, powerful enemy, the Hua Empire. While the DTZ and its successors did not fully cooperate, they tacitly maintained a posture of harassment towards the Hua Empire, with small-scale incursions along the border occurring year after year. Furthermore, they secretly supported and sheltered the Tuyuhun, Tibet, and even the remnants of the earlier Tang and Dou Jiande armies, using them as pawns to disrupt the empire's borders.

The Turkic cavalry moved swiftly, relying on the vast grasslands and deserts to keep the imperial border troops constantly on the move, yet they were unable to capture their main force and deliver a fatal blow.

As the saying goes, "How can one allow others to sleep soundly beside one's bed?"

Ten years of building up strength, ten years of lessons learned. Now the empire's armor and weapons are sharp, its provisions are plentiful, and its soldiers are eager for battle. Taking advantage of this national strength, Yi Huawei is preparing to sweep away the northern desert in one fell swoop and eliminate border troubles forever!

This time, there were no more voices of opposition in the court. Ten years of prosperity and continuous victories abroad had thoroughly solidified the empire's will and shaped the desire and confidence of the court and the people to expand the territory and establish unparalleled achievements.

The destruction of the Turks was not only a military necessity, but also the strongest message that the Hua Empire, as the emerging hegemon of the East, was sending to the entire eastern Eurasian continent!

The war machine was once again running at peak efficiency. But unlike before, this time the Empire's preparations were more thorough, more comprehensive, and more... technologically superior.

The Tiangong Academy, headed by Lu Miaozi and comprised of the empire's top craftsmen, scholars, and even some "science prodigies," has long since transcended the realm of mere "machinery manufacturing" within a decade. Guided by Yi Huawei's visionary ideas and with massive resource investment, it has quietly undergone a silent "military technology revolution."

The tenth year of the establishment of the dynasty, February.

A secret martial arts exercise was held at the Beiman Mountain Grand Training Ground.

Yi Huwei, accompanied by key officials from the Privy Council and the Ministry of War, as well as generals about to embark on expeditions, observed the latest achievements of the Tiangong Academy.

First to be unveiled was the "Divine Crossbow Cart." Not a traditional ballista, but a repeating crossbow combining a precision gear set, eccentric wheel, and special steel springs! Powered by animal or human force, the crank could load twelve specially made short spear-like giant arrows at once, firing them continuously within a hundred breaths (about two minutes). With a range of three hundred paces (about 450 meters) and astonishing penetrating power, it was specifically designed to counter densely packed cavalry charges and rudimentary fortified settlements.

Secondly, there was the "Sky-Breaking Thunder." This was a gunpowder-launched weapon that had undergone numerous improvements, resulting in a more stable formula, greater power, and a rudimentary standardized casing (ceramic or iron). It could be launched by large catapults or buried by engineers. The deafening explosion, flash, and fragmentation from its blast had a devastating impact on enemy morale, horses, and rudimentary fortifications. Although limited by the era, its accuracy, range, and reliability were still somewhat restricted, but it represented a revolutionary deterrent force.

Then there was the "armored battering ram." It consisted of a sturdy, large four-wheeled frame covered with multiple layers of soaked raw cowhide and thin iron plates, with a giant siege spike at the front and soldiers inside. It could withstand ordinary arrows and rockets and was used to approach the city walls for demolition operations or to cover infantry assaults.

There were also improved "compasses", "telescopes", "self-heating ration packs" adapted to extreme drought and cold climates (using quicklime to react with water), and lighter and tougher "steel plate armor", etc.

These new equipment, combined with the Empire's already mature and large-scale cavalry, heavy infantry, engineers, and a wider "post-station-military-supply point" logistics network, enabled the Hua Empire's army to reach an unprecedented level of combat effectiveness, especially in attacking fortified positions, long-range strikes, and sustained combat capabilities.

Yi Huawei, along with core commanders such as Song Que and Li Jing, repeatedly rehearsed and formulated an unprecedentedly grand offensive plan. The aim was not to defeat or drive them out, but to completely destroy the political and military centers of the Eastern and Western Turks, annihilate their manpower, and bring their main areas of activity under the direct or indirect rule of the empire.

Six armies, with a total strength of over 500,000, including 300,000 combat soldiers and over 200,000 auxiliary and logistical troops, were launched simultaneously!
The Northeast Route, led by Duke Xing, Su Dingfang, consisted of 50,000 cavalry and 20,000 infantry. It traversed the Khitan and Xi regions, advancing directly into the eastern Mongolian Plateau to contain any potential Turkic tribes that might come to its aid, and to sever the Turks' connection with the Shiwei and Mohe tribes further northeast.

The central route was personally commanded by Duke Song Que, leading the empire's most elite Xuanjia Tiance Army, heavy infantry, and a large number of "Divine Crossbow Carts" and "Thunderbolt" troops, totaling 100,000 men. This was the absolute main force, advancing northward along the traditional ancient grassland road, heading straight for the Turkic stronghold (royal court) in the Orkhon River basin (around the Khangai Mountains), seeking a decisive battle with the main Turkic force!

The western route was led by Duke Xu Shiji of Yingguo, with 80,000 elite infantry and cavalry from Longyou and Hexi. They marched out of the Hexi Corridor, swept through the area south of Juyan Lake and Yanran Mountain (present-day Khangai Mountains in Mongolia), eliminated the eastern forces of the Western Turks, secured the flank of the central route, and joined forces with the northwestern route.

The Northwest Route was commanded by Wanwan, leading 70,000 cavalry from the Anxi and Beiting Protectorates, as well as some infantry from the Sichuan and Chongqing mountain regions, equipped with numerous guides and gear adapted to the desert and Gobi. They advanced from the northern route of the Tianshan Mountains, crossed the Junggar Basin, and went straight into the heart of the Western Turkic territory—the Suyab River (Chu River basin), destroying the Western Turkic strongholds and dividing their forces to control key locations such as the Ili River Valley.

The Southwest Route was led by Li Jing, Duke of Wei, with 60,000 elite troops from the Four Garrisons of Anxi. Starting from the western edge of the Tarim Basin, they marched south, crossed the Pamir Plateau passes (the Pamir Mountains), and entered the Transoxiana region of Central Asia (the Amu Darya and Syr Darya river basins). Their aim was to strike the wealthiest southern force of the Western Turks, which also had the closest ties with Persia and other Western powers, to block their northward reinforcements, plunder their resources, and demonstrate their national power.

The northern route, led by Lady Donghai Shan Meixian, consists of a part of the East China Sea Fleet and 30,000 marines. It will sail north from Dengzhou and Laizhou, along the coastline, advancing by both land and sea to harass the Turkic tribes along the Liaodong coast. If necessary, it will land at the mouth of a river in northern Mongolia (the Kerulen River or the Onon River) to provide support and implement strategic containment.

The six armies, from the east, south, and west, swept towards the Eastern and Western Turks who were entrenched in the Mongolian Plateau and the Central Asian steppes.

The strategic intent was clear: launch a frontal assault in the center to draw away the main force of the Turks; conduct large-scale flanking maneuvers on the east and west flanks to cut off their retreat and divide their forces; and launch naval raids in the north to prevent them from coordinating their efforts.

The tenth year of the establishment of the dynasty, April.

Spring grasses are just sprouting, and war drums are beating.

At the same time, six armies swore oaths and set off for battle at different locations along the long border! Banners blotted out the sun, and swords and spears were like a forest. In particular, the uniquely designed "divine crossbow carts" and the supply wagons carrying "heaven-shattering thunderbolts" under the command of Song Que in the central army aroused much discussion among the soldiers, who were curious and excited.

The war progressed unexpectedly smoothly in its early stages.

The Turks were clearly unprepared for such a large-scale, multi-pronged all-out attack by the Chinese Empire. They were accustomed to the passive defense or limited counterattacks of the Central Plains dynasties and never imagined that the other side would mobilize its entire national strength to launch such a strategic decisive war aimed at annihilation.

Song Que advanced steadily along the central route, encountering Turkic tribes that either scattered or offered token resistance before fleeing. Song Que did not rush to pursue small groups of enemies, but instead firmly controlled the advance route, built temporary outposts, and waited for the main Turkic force to assemble.

Su Dingfang's Northeast Road and Xu Shiji's West Road also went smoothly, clearing the flanks and maintaining connection with the central road.

The real upheaval came from Wanwan's northwest route. She fully utilized the mobility and resilience of her troops, traversing the supposedly impassable Gobi Desert with astonishing speed, appearing like a ghost in the heart of the Western Turkic Khaganate. The Western Turks hastily responded, engaging Wanwan's army in fierce combat on the steppes north of the Suyab River. However, the Chinese army was well-equipped, disciplined, and possessed the formidable "divine crossbow carts," which proved devastating in the defensive battle, repeatedly repelling several Western Turkic cavalry charges. Wanwan herself led her elite cavalry, employing classic flanking maneuvers to rout the Western Turkic central army, forcing their headquarters to flee westward overnight. Wanwan pressed her advantage, defeating several more forces, her advance pointing directly towards the Ili River Valley. Meanwhile, Li Jing's southwest route pierced the Central Asian river like a sharp dagger. The local Western Turkic forces had complex relationships with many Sogdian city-states and Persian border forces. Li Jing adopted a strategy of division, resolutely cracking down on those who resisted and appeasing those city-states that expressed submission or neutrality. He quickly controlled strategic locations and cut off the financial resources and reinforcements of the southern Western Turkic region.

Ten years after establishing the dynasty, in July. The decisive moment.

DTZ assembled approximately 200,000 cavalry (claimed) and deployed them on the upper reaches of the Orkhon River, intending to engage Song Que's main force in the central route and reverse their declining fortunes. They believed that as long as they defeated the main force of the Hua army in the central route, the other routes would naturally retreat.

However, they were facing the elite troops of the Chinese Empire, who were armed to the teeth and whose tactical thinking was a generation ahead of their time.

The Battle of the Orkhon River broke out.

The Turkic cavalry, relying on their mobility, attempted to use classic mounted archery harassment and encirclement tactics against the Chinese army. However, Song Que was prepared. He positioned heavy infantry and "divine crossbow carts" on high ground in the center and on both flanks, forming a solid defensive core, with light cavalry patrolling the perimeter for protection. When the Turkic cavalry entered the crossbow carts' range, a continuous barrage of massive arrows with terrifying penetrating power ripped through the Turkic charging ranks, instantly creating bloody trails! Never having experienced such dense and sustained long-range attacks, the Turkic cavalrymen were thrown into disarray, their momentum halted.

Immediately afterwards, Song Que ordered the launch of the "Thunderbolts." Despite their poor accuracy, dozens of "Thunderbolts" were launched into the Turkic army's ranks or front lines. The earth-shattering explosions, the scattering fragments, and the billowing smoke caused immense chaos and panic! Many warhorses were startled and lost control, and the Turkic army's ranks fell into disarray.

At this very moment, Song Que personally led his well-rested and prepared Xuanjia Tiance heavy cavalry in a massive frontal charge! At the same time, the cavalry of Su Dingfang and Xu Shiji, who had been lying in ambush on both flanks, also launched a timely attack, forming a pincer movement!

The Turkic army, inferior in equipment, training, tactics, and morale, could no longer withstand the thunderous blow of the Chinese cavalry after being bombarded with crossbow bolts and intimidated by "heavenly thunder." The entire army collapsed. Under the desperate protection of his personal guards, the Khan fled northwest with only a few thousand surviving cavalry.

The decisive battle in the central route was a great victory, and the backbone of the Eastern and Western Turks was completely broken.

From August of the tenth year of the reign to March of the following year.

The six imperial armies then entered the phase of pursuit, suppression, and occupation.

Song Que divided his forces to sweep across the Mongolian Plateau, capturing the traditional sacred mountain of the Turks (Yudujin Mountain) and many important pastures, scattering and relocating the core tribes of DTZ.

Wanwan continued to pursue the remnants of the Western Turks in the northwest, capturing the Ili River Valley and the Seven Rivers region (south of Lake Balkhash), with her forces reaching as far as the vicinity of Talas. The Western Turkic Khan led some of his loyal followers westward into the steppes north of the Aral and Caspian Seas (the Kipchak Steppe), while others fled south into Persia or Tokharistan (Afghanistan).

Li Jing established a foothold in the Hezhong region, set up tributary prefectures and states, and made contact with border generals of the Sasanian Empire of Persia.

Su Dingfang and Xu Shiji cleared out the remaining enemy forces in their respective war zones. The Northern Naval Force also completed several successful coastal raids and amphibious landings.

April of the eleventh year of the establishment of the dynasty.

The war to destroy the Turks, which lasted for a whole year, has basically come to an end.

The empire established three major protectorates in the former territories of the Eastern and Western Turks: Anbei (Mongolian Plateau), Beiting (from the Junggar Basin to the Seven Rivers region), and Anxi (from west of the Pamir Mountains to Transoxiana). These protectorates governed numerous prefectures, states, and counties, stationed troops and officials, relocated some inland soldiers and civilians to the border regions, built castles and post stations, promoted agriculture, and at the same time ruled over many nomadic tribes that had submitted to the empire through a policy of indirect rule.

The empire's territory extended north to south of Lake Baikal and west to the Aral Sea and the Pamir Mountains, facing the eastern border of the Persian Empire across the Amu Darya River.

The Turks have become a thing of the past in the East. Although their remnants fled westward, they are no longer a threat. Instead, they have become the tentacles for the empire to exert influence further west in the future.

The ripples of the Turkic Khaganate's demise extended far beyond the steppes. The military might and prestige of the Hua Empire spread rapidly westward and northward through word of mouth among merchants, envoys, and refugees.

The Kipchak tribes west of the Aral Sea, the eastern borders of the Sasanian Empire, and even the more distant Byzantine Empire all began to turn their attention to this suddenly rising Eastern behemoth.

...............

In the eleventh year of the establishment of the dynasty, in late autumn. Liaodong, at the mouth of the Yalu River.

The bleak autumn wind, carrying the salty smell of the sea and the icy chill of the river, swept across the dense forest of banners and camps on the plain at the river mouth.

The black banners bearing the character "Hua" and the banners bearing the character "Song" fluttered in the wind. The 100,000-strong Hua Empire's eastern expeditionary army, like a lurking black dragon, was coiled on the south bank of the Yalu River, gazing across the river at the rolling hills of Goguryeo on the opposite bank.

The Andong Protectorate (formerly Silla) had been established for ten years, and the empire's rule over the southern part of the Korean Peninsula was becoming increasingly stable, with Sinicization and assimilation deepening. However, Goguryeo in the northern part of the peninsula remained a stubborn thorn in the side of the empire's northeastern border.

Since Emperor Yang of Sui's three disastrous campaigns against Goguryeo, this mountainous kingdom, which occupied Liaodong and the northern part of the Korean Peninsula, became an insurmountable barrier for the northeastern dynasties of the Central Plains with its rugged terrain, fortified mountain cities, fierce folk customs, and the guardian deity Fu Cailin, who was known as the "Master of Chess and Swords."

At the beginning of its establishment, the empire focused on domestic affairs and the northwest, and mainly used deterrence, trade and diplomacy against Goguryeo. Fu Cailin also restrained King Go Geonmu of Goguryeo and did not dare to provoke him on a large scale.

However, with the fall of the Turks and the rise of Goguryeo's prestige in the northern deserts, Goguryeo's sense of crisis grew daily. Go Geon-mu secretly reinforced the Great Wall of Liaodong (built by Goguryeo), stockpiled grain and fodder, contacted the Mohe and Khitan tribes, and repeatedly allowed border troops to cross the border and plunder the territory of the Andong Protectorate.

Destroying Goguryeo, opening up land routes to Liaodong and even further, harsher regions, completely eliminating threats on the northeastern border, and firmly embedding the empire's influence into the peninsula had become an essential part of the empire's strategy. (End of Chapter)