I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 697 I'm going to fight in the river!
The three of them were silent for a while, and Huo Bian asked, "Is the news reliable?

Tian Le, who was in charge of intelligence gathering, replied: "We recruited these locals from Khotan, Amdegan and other places. They have a feud with the Yarkand nobles and want to use us to take revenge.

Their families were also in our hands. They went into hiding in Hasihar and Yarkand. With the money we gave them and their previous connections, they went around gathering information.

These messages were cross-checked by the Intelligence Section of the General Staff Office and confirmed to be credible before being sent here at high speed. "

Huo Jing said at the side: "If our spies turn against us, what we need to do is to hide the information, keep us in the dark about the enemy situation, and then lure us into an ambush.

Now that they have found out all the information about the troops and marching routes led by Abdukhalin Khan, the leader of Yarkand, and Prime Minister Gilsa, how can they trick us?
Unless they want to scare us away. But I think this possibility is too small."

Huo Bian spread his hands and said, "Just as Brother Qiejin said, I only prepared a sheep and a jar of wine to entertain one guest. Now two guests have come. There is not enough mutton and wine. What should I do?"

Huo Jing took two steps forward, turned to the west, and pointed to the Fergana Basin in the distance.

"It is indeed a big problem. The battle array of the Yarkand State is now very clear. Prime Minister Gilsa led his troops to occupy Toyunbashi, blocking our way eastward.

Abdul Halin Khan, the king, led the main force to bypass the Nalin River and go straight to the west of Fergana along the river valley. By then, the east and west exits will be blocked, and there will be difficult-to-cross snow-capped mountains on both sides. We will be like mice in a bellows, unable to move forward or backward. "

Tian Le nodded in agreement, "What Juyanbo said makes sense. We are a foreign army, isolated and helpless. If we stay in one place, we will die. On the other hand, the East and West armies of Yarkand can obtain a steady supply of supplies and may also receive reinforcements, and their military advantage will become more and more obvious.

Chief Envoy, Deputy Envoy, we must make a decision as soon as possible."

Huo Bian also turned around and looked at the Fergana Valley under the moonlight, crossing his arms. "We are cavalry. How can we be trapped in one place? Of course, we should move quickly to an open area to facilitate outflanking and give full play to our mobility advantage."

"Then where should we move to? There are snow-capped mountains on both sides. The exit to the east is blocked, but the west is the only one that has not been blocked yet. We can cross the Huozhan River and escape from Fergana before Abdul Halin Khan blocks the western exit."

Huo Bian shook his head repeatedly: "If we jump out of Fergana and cross the Huozhan River, then we will enter the Transoxiana region. We are getting further and further away.

The mission given to us by His Majesty the Emperor is to contain the main force of the Yarkand State, wait for an opportunity to annihilate part of it, and relieve the pressure on the northern army. Now we are moving to the Central Plains, how can we complete His Majesty the Emperor's mission?"

Huo Jing spread his hands and said, "What do you think we should do? To the south is the Pamir Mountains, which are all high mountains. To the north is the snow-capped mountains. If we cross them, we will definitely suffer a great loss of vitality.

If we hesitate any longer, they will block both ends and we won’t be able to go anywhere.”

Huo Bian's eyes flickered, and he thought for a while, his face flushed with thought. In the end, his mind was still a mess, so he said angrily: "It's really too difficult. If we don't retreat west to the river, we have to choose between Jirsa in the east and Abduhalin Khan in the west.

But there are risks no matter who you choose, and you can't escape. If you are not careful, you will get into trouble and be surrounded.

Forget it, you guys decide where to go, I'm not going to Hezhong anyway. You guys take your time to discuss it, and let me know when you're done, and I'll gather the troops and get ready to go."

As he spoke, he turned and walked away. After a few steps, Huo Bian suddenly turned back and said, "Also, Abduhalin Khan is mine, remember to keep it for me."

Watching Huo Bian's back disappear into the darkness, Tian Le turned to look at Huo Jing, "Envoy, you should have made a plan a long time ago."

"Mr. Dongzhou is no exception."

"How about we talk about it together?"

"it is good."

The two of them said the names they thought of at the same time, and they were the same. They couldn't help but smile at each other.

"Mr. Dongzhou, we are heroes who think alike."

"Master, how do we fight?"

"Mr. Dongzhou, this is roughly what we are going to do. Do you think it's feasible?"

Tian Le thought for a moment and said, "This plan is exactly what I thought. But in some aspects, I think I should be cautious."

Huo Jing and Tian Le discussed for more than a quarter of an hour and finally reached a complete consensus.

Huo Jing looked up at the bright crescent moon, clasped his hands together, faced the east, and said in a resolute tone: "Buddha bless me, let me defeat these destroyers of Buddhism, and let the Western Region become a Buddhist country on earth again."

Toyunbashi (Tulugart Pass) is located at the eastern exit of the Fergana Basin. It is a mountain pass with a dangerous terrain.

Also because of the terrain, Toyun could only be built into a castle and could not be expanded into a town.

The Prime Minister of Yarkand, Jirsa, arrived here with 15,000 men after four days of marching. Five thousand of them stayed in the small city of Toyunbasi, and the remaining 10,000 were stationed in the wilderness east of the city.

Gilza himself lived in the main tent of the camp east of the city.

Jirsa wore silk clothes with gold embroidery and silver edging, with gemstones and jade accessories hanging around her waist. She wore a Sukalapak hat, a characteristic of Yarkand, with exquisite patterns embroidered with gold and silver threads, and a gold chain hanging with sapphires.

He stood outside the big tent, with his right hand on his waist and his left hand holding the handle of the dagger at his waist.

Seven or eight nobles stood behind him, holding their breath.

"Still no news from the west?"

A noble general stepped forward and reported: "Prime Minister, there has been no movement yet."

Gilsa turned his head and looked at the endless mountains in the southwest. The snow-capped peaks shining in the sun were particularly dazzling.

"Tell me, where did the Bukharans get these wild wolves from? They have caused chaos in our Ferghana. They have also burned the pearl of Yarkand, Andigancheng, to ruins.

Why don't these wolves from the west leave after burning, killing and looting? What are they doing in Fergana?"

One of the nobles immediately replied: "Your Excellency, I think these wolves are not full. They know Hashihar and the wealth of Yarkand, so they are lingering around, waiting for an opportunity to rob again."

Other nobles immediately retorted: "Do they think there is no one in Yarkand? They are so bold."

"The wild wolves must be very brave. And I think these wolves must have known that Abduhalin Khan led his troops to invade Turpan and we are short of troops, so they dare to be so arrogant?"

One nobleman said hesitantly, "Are you saying that we have a spy who is communicating with the Bukharans?"

"What traitor? The news that Abduhalin Khan led a large army to go to war has spread like wildfire. The whole of Hezhong knows about it. Does it need a traitor to tell us?
But there are many people in our country who do business with Bukharans."

Gilsa spoke up in time, “Okay, let’s not go off topic.

Fortunately, our great and wise Abdukhalin Khan conquered Turpan in one fell swoop. On his way back to Yilibali, he received our urgent report. He rushed all the way and would soon reach the lower reaches of the Narin River, blocking the western exit of the Fergana Valley.

This group of Bukhara mercenaries is about to be surrounded by us and will be destroyed in the near future." "This is all thanks to the prime minister's ingenious strategy. He first concealed the news of the Khan's triumphant return, allowed these vicious wolves to wreak havoc, and then blocked them in the Fergana Valley with thunder and lightning.

"With only six or seven thousand people, they dare to wreak havoc in our Yarkand State. Prime Minister, we must skin these evil wolves and then light them up as sky lanterns!"

Gilsa waved his hand. "I just wonder where these mercenaries come from. Why do the Bukharans hire them to cause trouble?"

An elderly noble said: "Prime Minister, I have the same doubt. Although the Bukharans often harass us, their eyes have always been on the south, on Kabul, on Peshawar, and on the rich and fertile India.

They all want to go there to make a fortune. Robbery there once is better than robbing us ten times, and the risk is very small. So why the Bukharans hired such a group of wolves to come to Fergana is really puzzling to me. "

"Master Chibulidu is right. Although this group of wolves is small in number, they are extremely ferocious and cunning. Although there are many wild wolves in the river, Khorasan, Afghanistan and other places, there are indeed not many as ferocious and cunning as them.

Why come to Fergana if we can invite them? How much gold, silver and jewelry can we bring back from India if we go there to rob people? "

"Maybe we can drive the Mughals away and occupy that good part of India. Wouldn't that be even better?"

Gilsa nodded. "Yes, I have been thinking about it for several days, but I still can't figure it out. But now that things have come to this, there is no need to think too much. We will just wait for the Khan to go back to the west of Fergana, and then we will close the door and kill these evil wolves!"

"Yes!"

An aristocrat standing on the periphery took the opportunity to speak up: "Mr. Prime Minister, there seems to be unusual movement in Khotan. I have sent several groups of people over, but there has been no response."

Gilsa shook his head nonchalantly. “These guys have very sharp noses. They must have smelled the urine of the Bukharians and had some ideas in their minds. Let’s ignore them for now.

Once we kill all the wolves in the Fergana Valley, they will be like fish on the mudflats.”

"Report!"

A sound came from the direction of Toyunbashi City, and a horse galloped out from the east gate of the castle and soon arrived in front of Jirsa.

"Mr. Prime Minister, there is movement in the mountains and valleys. A troop of soldiers is coming from the west."

Gilsa quickly asked, "How many people?"

"I don't know. I just saw dust rising from a distance. We sent two groups of people to investigate, but they were both killed."

"Toyunbashi City, be on alert. The entire army, be on alert. Immediately send an envoy to inform the Khan that we have blocked the wolves under Toyunbashi City. He can lead the main force from the west side of the valley to kill these wolves!"

The Naryn River was called the Zhenzhu River in the pre-Tang Dynasty. It is the upper reaches of the Huozhan River (Sir River) and an important water source for the Fergana Basin.

In the Fergana Basin, a large amount of the Naryn River is diverted into canals to irrigate farmland, so the amount of water flowing to the middle and lower reaches is not large, and the upper reaches are not worthy of their name.

Zhumuhan is the dividing point between the middle and lower reaches of the Naryn River.

Located in a series of valleys and basins between the Bakhtuhai Mountains (Kyrgyz Mountains) and the Tianshan Mountains, it cannot be considered a city fortress, but just a wall surrounded by wooden fences with dozens of houses inside, making it a market town in the area.

Today, there are more than 20,000 cavalry stationed here along the Naryn River. Countless tents and felt tents stretch along the river bank to the edge of heaven and earth.

The largest felt tent is nearly 100 meters in radius, like a city.

Abdukhalin Khan, the Great Khan of Yarkand, lived here.

He sat on a throne covered with white camel fur and looked majestically at the generals sitting on both sides.

“Just after Ben Khan conquered Turpan, a pack of vicious wolves hired by the Bukharans came over from the river and wreaked havoc in Fergana.

Now Gilsa is in the east, blocking the exit. Our 30,000-strong army will enter the Fergana Valley the day after tomorrow, advancing all the way from west to east. We must kill all these damn wolves here, and not let any of them escape!"

Abduhalin Khan spoke very harshly and did not give these Bukhara mercenaries any chance to survive.

The generals present all knew that the reason why the Khan was so nervous was related to the history of the founding of the Yarkand State.

Sayyid, the founding Khan of the Yarkand State, was the third son of Akhmad Khan, the Eastern Chagatai Khan.

At that time, Ahama Khan led the main force to the east to conquer Turpan, but died of illness just after occupying the place. His eldest son Mansur Khan ascended the throne on the spot. Seizing the opportunity, Sayyid took his second brother Helilie to rebel in Yilibali in the rear and established himself as king.

Mansur Khan led the main force back quickly and defeated the rebels. Khlile was killed, and Sayyid fled to Transoxiana and took refuge with his distant relative Babur Khan of the Timurid Empire.

Babur Khan could not defeat the Persians to the west, nor could he defeat the Eastern Chagatai Kingdom to the east. When he was in Transoxiana, he was badly defeated by the Uzbeks such as Bukhara.

In despair, they had no choice but to acknowledge the distant Ottoman Empire as their big brother and turned to India, where they carved out a kingdom and established the Mughal Khanate.

Sayyid had no one to rely on, so he had to lead 5,000 of his former men back to Fergana, ready to fight one last time, determined to die if he failed.

It happened that after the danger in the west was eliminated, Mansur Khan of the Eastern Chagatai Kingdom continued his eastward advance, launched a war against the Ming Dynasty, occupied Hami and Shaguazhou, and constantly harassed Suzhou.

The western border was handed over to the great nobleman, Babaek of the Dugrat tribe.

Babaek was cruel and ruthless, and levied heavy taxes, which made local forces extremely dissatisfied with him. When Sayyid led his troops to attack, local forces all "welcomed the royal army".

Sayyid surrounded Hashar, killed Babek, occupied Hashar and six cities of Yarkand, recaptured Fergana, subdued the Yilibali tribes, proclaimed himself Khan, and established the Yarkand Khanate.

Since then, the Eastern Chagatai Khanate split into the Yarkand Khanate and the Turpan Khanate.

Abdul Halin Khan is Sayyid's grandson. He is very clear about his grandfather's history of making a fortune. Now an army has come from the poisonous insect breeding ground of Transoxiana and swept across the Fergana Valley.

This is simply a replica of my grandfather's path to success, and it must be nipped in the bud.

So when Abduhalin Khan received the battle report, he was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat.

If I continue to fight in Turpan and cannot escape, this desperado might repeat his grandfather's stunning counterattack, and the Eastern Chagatai Khanate would be split into two countries, the East and the West.

With the blessing of my ancestors, I have conquered Turpan and am leading my army back. I suddenly had an idea and decided to return from the north to destroy Turpan and give the Yilibali tribes a good shock.

After receiving the urgent report, he simply forcibly recruited nearly 8,000 young and strong men from the Yilehe and Beshbaliq (southern Junggar) tribes and incorporated them into the army.

Now he has 25,000 cavalrymen and 15,000 soldiers on the east side of the valley, a total of 40,000 soldiers. A mere 6,000 to 7,000 bandits can be captured easily!
May Hu Da bless you!

I have just made a great contribution in the east and was awarded another merit in the west for wiping out this group of bandits. I want to be able to bring an army to hold the Braha people accountable!
I'm going to fight in the river!
(End of this chapter)