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Chapter 1251 A Letter Home from Afar

Although Yang Xigu had decided to defend Xizhou to the death and wait for Lin Hao to go to Chang'an for help, he was prepared to sit and wait for death.

Instead, he led Lin Hao and others, along with a group of officers, to discuss the future of Xizhou and how to deal with the current situation.

"With Beiting lost and Kucha besieged, Xizhou is like a nail driven into the gap between Tibet and Uyghur."

A scarred captain muttered, his finger tracing the map between the Uyghur capital in the north and the Tibetan plateau in the south. "Jieyujias is unreliable; the Tibetans would love to wipe us out."

“More than that.” Another elderly man, who looked like a civil official, pointed to the west of the map. “Although the Abbasid Caliphate was blocked by Tibet to the west of the Pamir Mountains, its power is growing day by day, and it is eyeing Transoxiana (Central Asia) with covetousness.”

"Last year, its Eastern Governor-General Fadler began attacking Tibetan vassals. Tibet had no time to focus its efforts on the east, which was a chance to catch its breath, but also a source of new trouble."

He paused, then pointed northeast and said, “The Karluks, who joined forces with the Tibetans last year to capture my northern territory, occupied Suyab and Talas, and are very ambitious. Their chieftain calls himself Yabghu, and he does not submit to the rule of the Uyghurs. His relationship with the Tibetans is only superficial.”

He then pointed to the east and north of the map: "The White-Clothed Turks (the predecessor of the Shatuo tribe), the Shatuo Turks (who were allied with the Uyghurs but sometimes switched sides), the Kyrgyz (the Jiankun, who were sworn enemies of the Uyghurs)... a pack of wolves surrounds us, all wanting a share of the spoils. If we join forces to attack them today, we can turn against them tomorrow. Here, the might of the Great Tang Dynasty, which once commanded all people, is gone!"

Silence filled the hall. The territories of power outlined in vermilion on the map resembled a giant spider web, tightly binding the isolated Western Regions to its center. Each name represented a memory of blood and fire.

“Therefore, Prince Guo’s warning was correct.” Yang Xigu broke the silence, his voice carrying a resigned weariness, yet also a hint of resentful fierceness:
"To join forces with the Northern Court is to walk into a trap; if we do not unite with the Uyghurs to defend the Western Regions, we will be trapped in a hopeless situation!"
"There's absolutely no way out. Once they finish their final battle, we'll be next!"

Lin Hao shook his head, then looked at Yang Xigu firmly and said:
"Once I return from my journey east to seek reinforcements, we can take this place!"

Lin Hao suddenly pointed his finger at an inconspicuous mark on the map, "Luntai!"

All eyes were focused on a river valley on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains, which was only marked as "Shuixigou" on the map.

"Luntai was an important military settlement during the Han and Tang dynasties, rich in water and pasture." A glint of light flashed in Lin Hao's eyes as he continued:

"More importantly, some businessmen have explored this area and found coal and iron of excellent quality! If we can restart the furnaces, and given that this place is a major transportation route, we can definitely set up checkpoints to collect taxes!"

Lin Hao didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear: this place was a major transportation hub, and it was entirely possible to collect taxes to generate revenue, manufacture weapons and armor, and achieve self-sufficiency in military equipment!
When Lin Hao was in Xinjiang Province, these were the main areas he investigated, and they were also the core resource points for the future industrial blueprint!

Yang Xigu's heart stirred upon hearing this. If what Lin Hao said was true, then they could establish themselves in the Western Regions based on this.

The other generals, of course, were not lacking in insight and immediately understood Lin Hao's ambition. Since the Tang Dynasty could not provide support, the only way to establish a foothold in the Western Regions was to become self-sufficient.

Seeing that Yang Xigu and the other generals were interested, Lin Hao prepared to elaborate on his future plans:

"Protector, you are wise. What Kucha and Xizhou lack is not only reinforcements, but also sustained strength! If we have fine iron, we can forge strong soldiers and armor, make agricultural tools for land reclamation, and mint coins for circulation, thus achieving complete self-sufficiency."

"Hiss~!" Everyone gasped upon hearing this, Lin Hao making no attempt to conceal his ambition.

Having been out of contact with Chang'an for a long time, they were unaware of the various bizarre actions taken by the Tang emperor, the loss of central authority, and the further fragmentation of local power.

At this time, they still had some loyalty to the Tang Dynasty, but because they had not communicated for a long time, their loyalty to the central government was limited.

Of course, this doesn't mean they don't trust the central government, but rather that the current situation in the Western Regions forces them to pay more attention to their local area.

What attracts them most at this moment is Lin Hao's methods of establishing a foothold and becoming independent. If they can achieve what Lin Hao said, they will have no need to worry too much in the Western Regions.

The only uncertainty is that most of them did not reproduce here and were unable to leave more bloodlines here. As long as they disappear one day, this place will eventually return to its original state.

Therefore, they need more Tang subjects to fill this area, but this brings us back to the previous problem: the Western Regions route has been cut off by the Tibetans, and they must find a way to open up this route.

Getting back to the main point, the old clerk shook his head and said:
"However, restarting Luntai is easier said than done. Shuixigou is hundreds of miles away, separated by the Gobi Desert and sand dunes, and is also frequented by Tibetan cavalry and Karluk bandits! We need elite troops, provisions and equipment, and most importantly, time!"

"Therefore, we have no choice but to hold Xizhou!" Yang Xigu slammed his fist on the map, marking the location of Xizhou, and then said to Lin Hao:
"Hold on until Lin Sima tears through the Tibetan blockade, hold on until the furnace fires are reignited in Luntai! Hold on until... reinforcements arrive from Chang'an!" His last sentence was low and heavy, filled with a sense of uncertainty that even he himself didn't quite believe.

But they had no other choice. Sending troops would mean certain death, and holding out in Xizhou would mean a slow death. But Lin Hao was their only hope, and even if it was slim, it was better than despair.

Yang Xigu and his subordinates discussed future development, and Lin Hao offered a suggestion from the sidelines, revealing some of the future arrangements.

And so, the next morning, Lu Shisi said to Lin Hao, "Lord Sima, when shall we set off to return to Chang'an? I want to send the letter back to Chang'an as soon as possible."

Lin Hao looked at Lu Shisi and sighed inwardly, knowing the urgency in the other's heart. In fact, it wasn't just Lu Shisi; he himself was also carrying many letters from Kucha soldiers.

There are probably many people in Xizhou City who want to communicate with their families. After thinking about it, Lin Hao decided to take Lu Shisi with him to see Yang Xigu.

"Let's go see Protector Yang together first!" Lin Hao said.

"Thank you very much, Lord Sima!" Lu Shisi said excitedly.

After finding Yang Xigu and explaining Lu Shisi's situation to him, Lin Hao cupped his hands and said:
“Great Protector, Anxi, Beiting and Chang’an have been cut off from each other for more than twenty years. I’m sure your comrades are also missing their families. Why don’t you have them write a letter home, and we can take it back with us?”

This was a good thing that could boost morale, and Yang Xigu certainly wouldn't refuse. So he ordered the military clerks to help the soldiers write letters home, and he also highly praised Lu Shisi's actions.

"Xuanwei Army, it has been thirty-four years since the fall of Li Niu City. You have managed to protect your comrades' letters home. That is truly remarkable!"

Lu Shisi trembled, lowered his head even further, and said in a dry voice, "Protector, I am just a deserter. I am already flattered that you will not punish me. I do not deserve such praise!"

“You deserve it!” Yang Xigu interrupted him, saying, “To survive in a besieged city is to live! To protect the books is to uphold integrity! To travel thousands of miles with your heart set on Chang’an is to be loyal!”

"In our Anxi and Beiting armies, when have we ever judged heroes by their mere survival? Those who live to do what they are supposed to do are heroes!"

He turned his gaze to Lin Hao: "What Lin Sima said is very true. It's been twenty-five years. It's time to send a message home to our brothers!"

He took a deep breath, as if suppressing a pent-up emotion, and raised his voice:
"Issue the order! All clerks in the army, as well as soldiers who can write, are to write letters home for all the officers and soldiers in the camp!"

Military orders are absolute, and the news spread throughout Xizhou City, as if an undercurrent had been injected into the entire city. White-haired veterans gathered from the dilapidated barracks and city wall sentry posts, surrounding the rough clerks who had spread out paper, pens, and inkstones. Their lips trembled, and their eyes held a complex mix of anticipation, fear, and even numbness.

"Father and Mother, your son is unfilial. The Western Regions are still well, do not worry about me!"

"My wife, if you have remarried, you will have forgotten your husband. If not, I'm sorry to have caused you so much suffering!"

"My child, you must be all grown up by now. Can you read? Father is far away, guarding the border for the Tang Dynasty!"

Amidst whispers and the soft scratching of ink, the sound echoed in the desolate city, heavy with the weight of a thousand armies.

As the day passed, the two wooden crates that were originally used to store military funds were filled with densely packed family letters with different inks, and the seals were heavy.

As Lu Shisi watched the two boxes being carried up, his face paled slightly, and he subconsciously clutched the more worn-out bundle to his chest.

He already felt the weight of the more than three hundred letters inside was immense, but these two boxes probably contained two thousand! His lips moved, but he didn't dare to utter a sound.

Yang Xigu saw this and also felt that there were far too many letters. It would be difficult for Lu Shisi to send all of them back to Chang'an by himself alone.

Knowing that this journey to Chang'an was thousands of miles away, and the road ahead was fraught with danger, it was uncertain whether they could return safely, let alone with so many letters in tow.

Yang Xigu's face showed a bitter expression: "It was my oversight. You have already embarked on a long journey of thousands of miles, facing a life-or-death situation. If you bring these things with you, I'm afraid they will be a burden to you."

He waved his hand, his voice weary: "Fine, leave the letter from Xizhou behind!"

"Protector!"

"General!"

A chorus of pleading voices immediately rose from the generals below the hall, and even from the soldiers who had not yet dispersed outside the door.

They had been cut off from their families for many years, and today, having finally had a chance to communicate with their families, no one wanted to miss it.

Those letters home were a thread they desperately tried to grasp before sinking into the abyss of despair.

Seeing this, Lin Hao stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said:

"Grand Protector, there's no need to worry. We were on a mission to escort letters when we returned to Chang'an to seek help. We'll just help our brothers in Xizhou deliver a few letters as well. It's really nothing!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Xigu and his soldiers' eyes lit up. After quickly exchanging glances with several trusted generals, Yang Xigu said in a deep voice:
"Alright! Then I'll trouble Commander Lin!" After thinking for a moment, Yang Xigu added:
"The journey to Chang'an is tens of thousands of miles long, and it is already difficult for only twelve of you to travel. Now that you have two more boxes of letters, I will also send a cavalry squad to escort you and travel with you!"

As he spoke, he walked to the desk and personally wrote a document for Lin Hao, affixing the seal of the Beiting Jiedushi. Although it was not very useful, it would save Lin Hao a lot of trouble when he returned to Chang'an.

"Thank you very much, Protector-General!" Lin Hao accepted it solemnly.

Over the next two days, Lin Hao began preparing for his return to the east. In addition to preparing enough fresh water using his spatial storage, he also brought a lot of cooked military rations, which he stored in his enclosed spatial equipment.

When you're on the road, you won't need to cook; you can just take something hot from your space and eat it, saving you a lot of trouble.

Of course, none of these are the most important things. In fact, Lin Hao only went to meet the envoy of Jieyuqis once, and then looked through the other party's memories to find out the location of Jieyuqis's camp.

Then, taking advantage of the night, he used his Leap Forward skill to dash across the sand dunes and found Jieyugas's army.

Lin Hao then stealthily entered the camp, found several generals, and reviewed their memories, eventually locating Jieyugas's tent.

The Uyghurs nowadays are devout followers of the Ming Cult, so after Lin Hao sneaked in, he used his illusion skill to warn Jieyujias in his dream.

Let him see the inevitable failure of attacking Beiting, hoping this method can slow down his advance or even make him give up attacking Beiting.

The primary objective now is to preserve Yang Xigu's army, including Jieyujiasi's Uyghur army, as they also need to continue fighting against Tibet for the time being.

After completing all this, he left a spiritual mark on Jieyugas before quietly leaving and returning to Xizhou City before dawn.

Once everything was ready, including provisions and water bags, Lin Hao led two cavalry squads and several boxes of letters from Kucha and Xizhou, preparing to return east!

······
Outside the east gate of Xizhou, Yang Xigu personally saw them off. The two heavy book boxes had been divided into four parts and firmly tied to the spare horses, to be carried by the cavalry accompanying them from Xizhou.

"Take care!" Yang Xigu only said two words, patted Lin Hao's shoulder hard, and everything was understood without words.

"Please rest assured, Great Protector! Even if it costs me ten thousand lives, I will deliver the message and seek reinforcements for the Western Regions!" Lin Hao clasped his hands in a fist salute, then mounted his horse.

The two cavalry units then followed Lin Hao and quickly disappeared into the dim yellow dust.

Subsequently, the group of more than twenty people traveled day and night. Relying on Lin Hao's extraordinary vigilance and accurate judgment of the timing and location, they were always able to pass through the gaps in the Tibetan patrols.

As dusk fell on the first day, the dilapidated outline of Puchang City appeared in the distance, and there seemed to be a troop of Tibetan cavalry inside.

"We won't enter the city!" Lin Hao then reined in his horse and said to the others, "Let's find a place to rest outside the city and avoid being noticed!"

Finding a sheltered spot in the Yardang landform, the group began to gnaw on dry, hard flatbreads.

"Sir, please rest first. Our two teams will take turns keeping watch at night," Guo Yuanzheng reported.

"No need!" Lin Hao took out enough food for more than twenty people and handed it to Guo Yuanzheng, saying:

"Let the brothers eat and drink their fill first. In an hour, we'll launch a surprise attack on the garrison in the small town ahead!"

"Huh?" Guo Yuanzheng was taken aback. He glanced around and then asked in a low voice, somewhat puzzled:
"Commander Lin, our goal is to return to Chang'an. We only need to bypass the ruins of the small town tomorrow. Why should we confront the Tibetans head-on?"