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Chapter 1272 The Eastern Expedition Takes a Break, An Agreement

It's not that we can't continue eastward, it's that Lin Hao doesn't want to immediately open up the Western Regions corridor; he needs to continue developing.

On the city wall of Shazhou, the smoke of battle had not yet completely dissipated. A tattered Tibetan flag was trampled underfoot, and in its place stood a slightly worn but still majestic and solemn Tang Dynasty battle flag.

Lin Hao stood with his hand on his sword, his gaze sweeping over the troops below the city who were clearing the battlefield.

His army, composed of servants from various tribes, was now wounded and exhausted, yet their eyes burned with an unprecedented fervor.

With ample supplies, Lin Hao's auxiliary troops were actually not much weaker than the Tibetan army.

With the encouragement of the Tang people and the fertile grasslands, the auxiliary army unleashed 120% of its fighting power.

Just when the Tibetan army was about to encircle the main Uyghur force and the battle was in dire straits, they managed to tear a gap in the flank.

After all, they defeated the Tibetan army in one fell swoop, saving the Uyghur army from a predicament.

They then pressed on with the fleeing soldiers and stormed into the city gates of Shazhou, capturing this key city on the road to the Hexi Corridor for the allied forces.

The inventory and distribution of the spoils of war are underway. Lin Hao kept his promise and divided the wealth and livestock equally, including a share for the Uyghur Grand Chancellor, Jieyujiasi.

However, as he watched the Tang soldiers carrying their share of spoils with great excitement, and listened to them discussing the future plans for the grasslands in broken Chinese, Jieyujias's face showed little joy; instead, it grew increasingly gloomy.

The victory was real, and the spoils were plentiful, but the core glory of this victory was once again taken away by the Tang army, and even by the "miscellaneous barbarians" under the Tang army's command.

His Uyghur elite cavalry's prowess was completely overshadowed, which made him feel extremely frustrated and humiliated.

This pent-up anger found an outlet in the subsequent Battle of Guazhou.

Jieyujiasi resolutely rejected the joint operation plan proposed by Lin Hao and Yang Xigu, and insisted on leading the Uyghur army to launch a strong attack on Guazhou.

"You were the first to conquer Shazhou, but as for Guazhou, let's see how the Uyghurs do it!" He wanted to save face with a pure victory won by the Uyghurs.

Since Jieyugas actually weakened himself, Lin Hao and Yang Xigu were naturally happy to agree, so they did not offer any assistance during the Battle of Guazhou.

The defenders of Guazhou put up a stubborn resistance, and the battle was extremely fierce. Fortunately, the Uyghur army, with its overwhelming strength, finally managed to break through the gates of Guazhou.

But the price paid far exceeded expectations. The bloodthirsty Jieyujias vented all his anger and pent-up humiliation on the surrendered Tibetan prisoners, ordering their massacre.

Yang Xigu originally wanted to stop it, but Lin Hao stopped him.

“But what about those Tibetan prisoners?!” Yang Xigu was truly reluctant to part with those prisoners.

These prisoners were the elixir of youth for their white-haired veterans from the Western Regions; it's such a pity to slaughter them like this.

"Jieyugas is completely out of control right now. He won't be able to hear anything until he's vented all his resentment!" Lin Hao continued to advise with a smile.

"Besides, it's just a few prisoners. The Western Regions lack everything, but they certainly don't lack these barbarians!"

Besides, Jieyujias's massacre of the Tibetans would inevitably deepen the hatred between the Uyghurs and the Tibetans. When two tigers fight, one will surely be injured. This is exactly what Lin Hao wanted. How could he let Yang Xigu stop the other side for the sake of a few prisoners?

Amidst the pervasive stench of blood on the walls of Guazhou, Jieyujias finally let out a long sigh of relief, as if he had regained his dignity.

However, the brief thrill of the good news was quickly replaced by the cold reality.

The numerous casualty figures, both minor and major, presented by the military advisor, along with the report on grain and fodder reserves, caused his recently relaxed brows to furrow again.

"Your Excellency, our army has suffered considerable casualties. More importantly, our supplies are running low. Moreover, the supplies we transported from Yizhou across the vast sea to this location have been severely damaged along the way, making it difficult to continue resupplying." The military commander's voice was heavy.

Another general added: "North of Guazhou, although it is Uyghur territory, the mountains block the way and the roads are extremely difficult, making it impossible to transport grain and supplies on a large scale."

To the west of Guazhou lies the vast desert, while to the north it borders the territory of the Uyghurs. However, the area is separated by numerous mountains, making it impractical to transport grain across the mountains.

Why is the Hexi Corridor called a corridor? It's because this road is located between two mountains.

To the south lies the northern branch of the Qilian Mountains, while to the north, from west to east, are the Mazong Mountain, Jinta South Mountain, Heli Mountain, Longshou Mountain, Hongya Mountain, and Alagu Mountain, among other mountain ranges. Only a narrow corridor connects the Western Regions and the Central Plains.

This is why it was only during the height of the Central Plains that the Western Regions could be occupied; relying solely on such a narrow corridor to maintain logistics was simply too difficult.

If something goes wrong in the Central Plains, the Hexi Corridor can easily be cut off. If this road is cut off, the only option is to go north to the Uyghur royal court and then south, which would more than double the logistical pressure.

After taking Guazhou, the next stop to the east is Suzhou. The distance between Suzhou and Guazhou is not much shorter than the distance between Yizhou and Guazhou.

Moreover, Shazhou and Guazhou were newly captured, the cities were dilapidated, and the population was sparse, making it impossible to provide continuous supplies for the army.

The next target, Suzhou, is still in the far east.

Therefore, Jieyuqis understood that, whether he liked it or not, this eastern expedition had to end here.

Despite his immense reluctance, he knew that if they continued forward, once their supplies ran out or their retreat was cut off by Tibetan reinforcements, the Uyghur army would face annihilation.

Of course, there was another reason he couldn't ignore: his confidant had brought another secret message from the yamen (a secret office).

After the new Khan ascended the throne, the power structure was not stable. Although he, the Grand Chancellor who held a large army in the field, diverted the conflict through the war against Tibet.

However, due to his absence from the military camp during this period of fighting, he has become a thorn in the side of some people.

If the battle drags on and we do not return, or if we suffer too many losses, we may lose our position upon our return.

After considering all factors, Jieyuqis decided to withdraw his troops.

Since they couldn't attack Suzhou, staying in Guazhou wasn't a good thing either. If the Tibetans cut off their supply lines, they would be in danger.

Anyway, the main purpose of this trip was to fight against Tibet, to divert domestic conflicts, and incidentally to avenge himself. Now that he has already taken half of his revenge, it's time to go back.

Because of Lin Hao's influence, Jieyuqis did not replace the Uyghur Khan as was done in history. After the new Khan ascended the throne, a power struggle was inevitable. He had just returned from a great victory and could take advantage of the momentum to fight for power.

After making his decision, Jieyugas immediately went to find Lin Hao.

"Grand Commander!" he said wearily.

"Guazhou has now fallen, and the Tibetan army's momentum has been dampened. However, our army has suffered heavy losses, and our supply lines are strained. We fear that advancing eastward to Suzhou will be beyond our capabilities."

Upon hearing this, Lin Hao naturally understood the other party's situation and concerns, and was also aware that the allied forces had reached their limit. Therefore, he slowly nodded and said:
"What the Grand Minister said is very true. In fact, being able to recover the two prefectures of Sha and Gua is already a great victory. We should indeed proceed cautiously and steadily."

"In that case, I will lead my army back to the camp!" Seeing this, Jieyuqias stretched out his large hand and said:
"When the grass grows tall and the horses are fat next year, let's join forces again to attack the Karluks. Let's remove this thorn in our side first, and then we can deal with the Tibetans!"

"Alright! It's a deal then!" Lin Hao extended his right hand and gave Jieyugas a resounding high five to seal the agreement.

The last time the Uyghur and Tang allied forces were defeated and the Beiting Protectorate was captured, it wasn't just the Uyghurs and Shatuo people who defeated them, but also the White-Clothed Turks and Karluks.

This time they defeated the Turks and subjugated the Shatuo people, so next time they will definitely go after the Karluks.

Otherwise, if you have an enemy behind you, who would dare to launch a bold eastern expedition?
If I lead my troops to Ganzhou and Liangzhou, and we are about to make contact with the Tang Dynasty, but the Karluks send troops from the Western Regions to cut off my rear, then the joke will be too big!

If this problem is not eliminated, it will indeed be difficult to feel at ease when the army launches its eastern expedition.

Watching the vast Uyghur army marching north, Yang Xigu stood atop the city wall of Guazhou, silent for a long time, finally letting out a long sigh:

"Alas! What a pity! Liangzhou and Ganzhou were just around the corner, but..."

Lin Hao walked to his side and said calmly:
"Why should Governor Yang sigh? Of the seven prefectures in Hexi (Liang, Gan, Su, Gua, Sha, Yi, and Xi), Xi, Yi, Sha, and Gua are now in my hands."

"To achieve such results in just a few months is already a blessing from heaven for the Tang Dynasty. We must eat one bite at a time and walk one step at a time. We must first digest what we have gained, consolidate our foundation, and then we will have a long future ahead."

"I understand, but I'm still unwilling to accept it!" Yang Xi was well aware of this, but he couldn't completely let go of his feelings.

"As long as the land of my Great Tang remains in the hands of the Tibetans, I, the Protector-General, cannot have peace of mind for even a day!"

"Whenever I think of my people, the subjects of the Great Tang, still suffering under the iron hooves of the Tibetans, dressed in barbarian clothes and speaking barbarian languages, my heart aches as if it were being torn apart. I wish I could immediately lead my troops eastward and recover all the lost territories!" As he spoke, he looked eastward, as if he could hear the cries of the people in the occupied areas.

The allied forces thus split up. The Uyghurs returned north, and the Tang army also began its westward retreat.

On the way back, the army marched in a grand procession, but Lin Hao remained deep in thought.

The military operation has temporarily come to an end, but the work of rescuing the survivors, building up strength, and gathering intelligence cannot stop; on the contrary, it needs to be intensified in another form.

"Go and call Kang Huai'en over!" On the way back, Lin Hao thought about the things he needed to deal with when he got back.

After that, in addition to cultivating land in places like Yizhou and Tingzhou, there were many other things to do.

Soon, Kang Huaien rode up at a trot, reined in his horse a head's length away from Lin Hao, and respectfully bowed, saying, "Grand Commander, did you call me?"

Lin Hao sized up his typical Sogdian features—deep-set eyes and a high nose—and asked directly:

"Huai'en, you look a bit like a Sogdian. I remember that among the nine Sogdian surnames, there was one surnamed Kang. So you are a descendant of the Kang state? How did you end up in the Gobi Desert?"

Lin Hao deduced this conclusion based on Kang Huaien's appearance, hairstyle, and surname.

The Sogdians are known in Chinese historical records as the Nine Sogdian Clans. They established several small states in the Western Regions, including Kang, Shi, An, Mi, Cao, and He.

Among them, Kang State was the largest suzerain state, and its surnames were mainly An and Kang, including Cao, An, Shi, Kang, Shi, Luo, Bai, Mi, He, etc.

For example, historical records mention An Lushan, Shi Siming, Kang Jinde, Cao Lingzhong, Cao Yena, He Fudiyan, Mi Fu, and others.

Lin Hao saw that Kang Huaien's appearance and hairstyle were exactly the same as those of a Sogdian, and coupled with the fact that his surname was Kang, he made this guess.

Kang Huaien nodded quickly, a hint of reminiscence and emotion on his face, and said:
"Great Commander, you are wise! My ancestors were indeed from Kangguo. My great-grandfather and grandfather followed the Great Tang army in battle and later ran a caravan."

"But by my father's generation, the trade route to Chang'an was cut off by the Tibetans, and the family fell into decline. They had no choice but to wander into the Gobi Desert to survive."

When talking about the rise and fall of his family, his tone inevitably carried a sense of desolation. The Sogdians relied on commerce to build their society, and the severing of the Silk Road was tantamount to strangling their lifeline.

"Savvy merchants will go wherever there is profit!" Lin Hao nodded, knowing the characteristics of the Sogdians as a commercial people, and then said:

"Huai'en, there is a matter concerning the revival of the Tang Dynasty, and we need to rely on the strength of your clan. I wonder if you would be willing to return to your old profession and trade for the Tang Dynasty?"

"Grand Commander!" Upon hearing this, Kang Huaien's expression changed slightly, and he immediately became somewhat anxious:
"I, I have always been at the forefront of every battle, fighting to the death without retreating, and have already met the qualifications for the Han Navy reserve!"

"I only want to stay in the army, fight and make contributions for my Great Tang, and earn a Tang identity!" He was afraid of being excluded from the military system and losing all hope of becoming a Tang citizen.

Lin Hao understood his concerns, and was actually quite pleased with his own strategy. He then smiled calmly and said:

“Huai En, you misunderstand. In fact, doing business is also a battle, a fight on another front. If you do it well, the merits you make may not be inferior to killing generals and capturing flags on the battlefield.”

"At that time, not only you, but all those in your caravan who have made contributions will be rewarded according to their merits, and may even have priority in obtaining the status of citizens of the Tang Dynasty."

Realizing that Lin Hao wasn't trying to get rid of him, but rather to give him an important position, Kang Huaien's eyes lit up instantly, and he quickly said:

"Is this really true? May I ask, Grand Commander, what kind of business do you intend for me to engage in?"

Lin Hao had already planned this out, so he said:
"My Western Regions Grand Commander's territory produces a great variety of goods. Whether it's grain, new-style iron pots, or even weapons and armor, they can all be traded."

Regardless of whether the herders settle down, these goods are in high demand and valuable trading tools. Next, you will organize caravans to sell them to the various kingdoms and tribes of the Western Regions. Is there a chance of profit?

After the establishment of military settlements, Luntai City had a variety of products available for trade, such as grain, iron pots, and even weapons.

Of course, items such as iron pots, weapons, and armor have all undergone special treatment, so there is no need to worry about them falling into enemy hands.

It would certainly be dangerous to let the people of the Tang Dynasty do these things.

Moreover, with the need to continue land reclamation, there is a shortage of manpower, and Lin Hao is reluctant to let the people of the Tang Dynasty do these things for the time being.

So it came to mind that the Sogdians, who were skilled in commercial activities, seemed quite suitable to have Kang Huai'en do these things.

Kang Huaien, as expected of a descendant of Sogdian merchants, immediately sensed a huge business opportunity and excitedly rubbed his hands together, saying:

"Amazing! Absolutely amazing, Grand Commander! Whether it's weapons and armor or food supplies, you can exchange them for a large number of livestock!"

"That's not all!" Seeing that the other party didn't understand the deeper meaning of McGrady, Lin Hao solemnly instructed:
"Your primary purpose in leading this business trip is not to make a profit."

You must take advantage of the caravans' travels to secretly search for and redeem Tang Dynasty refugees scattered throughout the lands.

"Many of your people are involved in the slave trade, so it is the least suspicious of you to do this."

He looked sharply at Kang Huaien and continued:
"I will reward you with a share of goods or even a franchise based on the number of people you redeem."

“For every certain amount redeemed, I will fulfill my promise and grant you and your capable subordinates the identity of the Tang Dynasty.”

"In addition, during your business trips, you must pay close attention to any news or military developments and report them to me promptly."

Kang Huaien fully understood the immense value and profound significance behind this mission.

This allowed him to better utilize his strengths than being a foot soldier on the battlefield, and it opened up a completely new path for the Tang Dynasty and for himself.

He could almost see the grand scene of caravans coming and going in an endless stream, wealth flowing in, and Tang people being rescued and returning home one after another.

The Sogdians have always been adept at attaching themselves to certain political forces and gaining a certain political status, which has facilitated their commercial activities.

For example, the Sogdian Maneak represented the Turks and served as an envoy to Persia and the Eastern Roman Empire, while Hu Anuopantuo of Jiuquan in the Western Wei Dynasty served as an envoy to the Turks.

Famous Sogdian merchants during the Tang Dynasty, such as Kang Yandian, Shi Wannian, Kang Fudanyan, and He Fudiyan, all held the title of city lord.

There are countless other examples, such as Cao Lingzhong being appointed as the Grand Protector of Beiting, Kang Gansu being appointed as the Governor of Liangzhou, and Kang Jinde being appointed as the Commander of the Anxi Grand Protectorate.

In order to conduct business, the Sogdians were relatively flexible in their religious practices, having followers in Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, and Manichaeism.

Therefore, it was very convenient for them to deal with the various small countries and tribes in the Western Regions. Sending them to redeem the citizens of the Tang Dynasty was much more convenient than Lin Hao sending a Tang Dynasty merchant caravan.

The idea of ​​Tang Dynasty people redeeming their citizens might arouse suspicion, while it was common practice for Sogdians to engage in this trade.

They can find their own people everywhere to help them. Perhaps after the news spreads, other Sogdians will also participate in this trade for profit, which would make the rescue of the Tang people much more efficient.

Kang Huaien immediately straightened his back on horseback, solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said in a slightly trembling voice due to excitement:
"I understand! I obey your orders! Rest assured, Grand Commander, I will handle this matter perfectly! I will not fail your trust!"

"During our business trip, we will gather intelligence from all sides and report back promptly!"

"Okay." Lin Hao nodded, smiled, and patted Kang Huaien on the shoulder, saying:

"Go ahead and make good preparations. The people you choose must be reliable and their mouths must be kept shut. The necessary capital and goods can be obtained from the treasury in Luntai City later."

"Remember, you are also part of the Tang army, an invisible banner and sword."

"I obey! I will definitely do this well!" Kang Huaien replied loudly, his face beaming with unprecedented brilliance and enthusiasm.

He then turned his horse around, eager to select men and plan the route.

The blood of commerce was rekindled within him, and this time, his business acumen would be closely intertwined with the greater good of the nation, which filled him with immense pride and motivation.

Lin Hao's gaze was deep as he watched Kang Huaien's departing figure.

Military expansion is currently on hold, mainly because we have already captured enough prisoners. We need to continue farming and accumulate more strength.

Similarly, through commercial networks, the Tang Dynasty could conduct population redemption and intelligence infiltration, which would silently nourish its power in the Western Regions, accumulating a deeper foundation for the next swift and decisive attack.