Big man: I am the Champion Marquis!

Chapter 156 Be Careful

Thirteen thousand cavalry, twenty-five thousand infantry, a total of thirty-eight thousand people.

However, the slogan raised was 60,000 strong soldiers. This was the momentum created by the Han Dynasty after entering the Western Regions.

This is still relatively conservative, at least it is not claimed that the army is 100,000. It has not yet doubled, which seems to be relatively low-key.

The Han army was mighty. Such a powerful army entering the Western Regions naturally made many people feel trembling with fear, but it also made some people feel proud, as if they were taking advantage of the power of another.

Similarly, when facing such a powerful army, some people may have to make up their minds and no longer be indecisive.

After being taught a lesson, Loulan realized the strength of the Han army and that it was closer to the Han Dynasty. In the past two years, it has been getting closer and closer to the Han Dynasty.

But this was not enough to make them make up their minds. After all, the Huns had a long history of rule and brought greater psychological pressure to the people of the Western Regions. It was still difficult for them to change their ways immediately.

Zhang Gui'an brought an invitation from the Han Dynasty's Grand Marshal and General of the Cavalry to the King of Loulan, hoping that Loulan would send troops. As a guarantee, Loulan could seek help from the Han Dynasty's Guarding Lieutenant if it was in trouble in the future.

Don’t think that the Guardian Captain was just hoarding food and grass and cultivating farmland in the Western Regions. This was also a threat to Loulan, and it was the first stop for the Han Dynasty to enter the Western Regions.

The King of Loulan was reluctant, but facing the tough attitude of the Han Dynasty, he had no choice but to send a general with 2,000 men to join the expedition.

The Han envoy team consisted of less than twenty people, but behind the delegation were hundreds of Han cavalry guards, and not far from Loulan were tens of thousands of Han troops ready to fight at any time.

Zhang Guian was very happy. Although he thought it was a sure thing to persuade the King of Loulan to send troops, it was naturally one of his achievements if he really accomplished it.

Zhao Anguo was a little disappointed and said, "My Lord, the King of Loulan has always been a man who can't afford to offend anyone and is the best at fooling people. I was thinking that if they didn't send troops, I would destroy Loulan first!"

Huo Xian couldn't help but tease, "An Guo, Loulan is a country in the Western Regions after all. Why are they acting like bandits here? Loulan has offended your Zhao family, so you are planning to use them to gain more military achievements, right?"

It seems that there is nothing wrong with this statement. Zhao Po Nu regained his title by defeating Loulan, so it is normal for Zhao Anguo to have this idea now.

Zhao Anguo did not hide his thoughts and ideas, "Who doesn't want to have more achievements? If I can destroy a few countries, I can also increase my fiefdom. How great it would be to be the left general or the right general!"

It is normal to have such thoughts, people always want to move up. Although he is now a marquis and a general of the imperial court, this is not enough. Zhao Anguo's goal is to get a fief of more than 5,000 households even if he cannot become a marquis of ten thousand households.

He seems to be the General of the Imperial Guards, Yulin Army and Qimen Army, but he still hopes to have better development. It would be best if he could become a permanent general. He dare not think about becoming a general or a general of cavalry. He can also look forward to becoming a general of chariots and cavalry or a general of guards.

Huo Xian smiled and said, "It may be difficult to make you a permanent general. Besides the fact that you are my confidant, Uncle Zhao is here. But increasing your fiefdom is no problem. If His Majesty really wants to make you a permanent general, I will not approve it."

Zhao Anguo was anxious, "Sir, this shouldn't be the case, right? Is there anyone in the army who is more reliable than me?"

"I won't trust anyone else in the Qimen Army and Yulin Army. I will get you a position as a Weiwei when the time comes." Huo Xian said with a smile, "In the future, the defense of Chang'an City should be ours. And Cao Zong, that kid, he is guarding against me!"

Although Zhao Anguo had some simple thoughts of a military commander, and was basically thinking about fighting, he still had some basic political awareness, and he knew a little about the affairs of the court.

After all, I am in a high position now, so naturally I get more information.

Zhao Anguo thought for a moment and said, "Before the expedition, Cao Zong came to me to drink and asked for a fight, but His Majesty did not approve it."

"It will be difficult for him to go to the battlefield again in his lifetime, unless it is a decisive battle with the Xiongnu." Huo Xian had known this for a long time. "After all, he is the Marquis of Pingyang, and he is also the grandson of your Majesty. You wait and see, maybe in two years he will have a conflict with us, otherwise I will not be able to rest easy if his position is unstable."

They were playmates in their youth, and comrades who had worked together to build careers and achieve success on the battlefield. But now everyone has grown up and is in high positions. Even if they don't want to do it sometimes, they have to do something.

Although they have a good relationship, Huo Xian and Cao Zong and others should not always be as close as brothers.

The friendships of youth are real, but when you grow up there are all kinds of factors that will put these friendships to the test.

Zhao Anguo also knew this truth, so he complained, "I have always liked being in the army all these years, and that's why. I don't like going to the court, nor do I like interacting with the rich and powerful, but I can't avoid these things."

Zhao Anguo really had no way to avoid these things, because he was the General of the Central Army, because he was a Congpu Marquis, and because he was the son of Zhao Po Nu, the Marquis of Xuye, so he would inevitably be affected.

Huo Xian became proud, "I have understood this principle for a long time, so I will refuse whenever I am asked to go to court. I can have peace and quiet, but it is difficult for you." It would be a lie to say that he was not envious, but Zhao Anguo also knew that only the Marquis of Guanjun could have such treatment, and others should not have any extravagant hopes.

Seeing that the time was almost up, Huo Xian gave the order, "Order all troops to set up camp and send out scouts to spread out and guard."

Although they continued to march all the way, not only did they not see the Cheshi troops, but they also did not see any trace of the Huns. Only the Han army was constantly marching forward.

However, we still need to be vigilant. It is no secret that the Han army has entered the Western Regions to prepare for an attack on Cheshi, and even brought Loulan and Ruoqiang with them.

It was because they were close that the Han envoys invited them warmly. Faced with the kind invitation from the Han cavalry general, they naturally had no choice but to accept it. Those with more troops would send one or two thousand cavalry, and those with fewer troops would send a few hundred cavalry.

The attitude must be shown, otherwise it is very likely to end up like Luntai. The countries along the way also need to provide food and fodder, and send a certain number of slaves to help transport the baggage.

These are some of Huo Xian's requirements, and at present, some small countries have implemented them well. Although they may not necessarily submit to the Han Dynasty, they have still done something.

Huo Xian, who was shirtless, couldn't help wiping his sweat and complained, "This damn weather is a bit hot. If there are any green beans left, hurry up and prepare some for the boys."

It's a bit watery, but it's mung bean soup after all.

Chen Ju smiled and said, "This is considered good. Bailongdui is the worst. It is very hot during the day and very cold at night."

The Gobi Desert is the Gobi Desert after all, and the temperature difference between day and night is normal. However, Huo Xian was relieved because it was already late autumn, which meant that it was very hot at noon, and the army was basically resting at that time.

And there is one good thing about the Western Region. Although it is very hot when the sun is shining, you can feel the temperature drop significantly if you find a cool place.

Although there are deserts and Gobi in some places in the Western Regions, the army does not need to worry about the problem of drinking water for the time being.

If we continue to go north, we will soon reach a place with abundant grass and water. By conquering Cheshi and other places, the army can also get a certain amount of food and fodder.

Spending the winter in the Western Regions should not be a problem, but of course it cannot be a tug-of-war. If the food and grass of Cheshi and other countries are consumed, it will be a test for the Han army.

Huo Xian had already regarded Cheshi's food and fodder as a sure thing, an important supplement to the army's supplies for the next stage.

Huo Xian did not care about the people of Cheshi. What he needed to consider was preserving the combat effectiveness of the Han army. This was what he, the commander-in-chief of the Han army, needed to care about most. Everything else could be put aside.

The army slowly began to set up camp, and Huo Xian did not rest immediately. In the final analysis, it was necessary to remain cautious. Just because the camp had not been raided before did not mean it would not happen in the future.

Once an army of tens of thousands of people is dispersed, it may suffer a crushing defeat. It will be difficult to stabilize the formation after it is dispersed, and it is very likely that they will trample on each other.

Fortunately, the soldiers who went on the expedition were elite and most of them had experience in fighting on the battlefield. In addition, the training of the Han army itself was relatively strict, so the camping was done in an orderly manner.

Gongsun Ao hurried to the camp and could not help but complain, "Lord, we should reach Cheshi in ten days at most. Are these people really not going to come out?"

Zhao Anguo also said, "Is that so? We haven't encountered any scouts from the Cheshi people yet. Are they waiting for us to attack the city?"

The reaction of the Cheshi people was a bit abnormal. The Han army entered the Western Regions with great momentum and marched towards Cheshi in a mighty manner. Presumably, everyone in Cheshi should have known about this a long time ago.

But up to now there has been no response from that side, no troops sent to harass, no envoys sent to negotiate and make peace, etc., as if nothing had happened.

These are naturally extremely abnormal behaviors. The Cheshi people are either careless or have some hidden cards, so they appear to be relatively calm.

Huo Xian smiled and said, "With so many of our troops, it would be surprising if they dared to come out to fight us."

Gongsun Ao, Zhao Anguo and others obviously didn't believe it. Everyone would believe that the Cheshi people didn't dare to fight against the main force of the Han army. But the Cheshi people didn't react at all. They must be hiding something bad.

Then be cautious. The Han army has many cards in their hands, so let's see what kind of cards the Cheshi has!
Huo Xian was not in a hurry. "No matter how the Cheshi people react, our Han army will naturally destroy the city and the country. It's nothing more than fighting back and seeing how many reinforcements the Cheshi people can bring!"

(End of this chapter)