Big man: I am the Champion Marquis!

Chapter 82: Western Region Strategy (II)

I have always spoiled my little disciple, so now that he has developed such a fearless temper, I can only bear it.

Liu Che suppressed his anger and asked, "I have allocated troops, food and fodder, but General Ershi still cannot conquer Dayuan?"

"Of course we can conquer it! I didn't say we can't!" Huo Xian said truthfully, "As long as the general is not too mediocre, it would be a joke if such an army can't conquer Dayuan!"

The first expedition consisted of 6,000 cavalry, 10,000 infantry, and some followers, which was an absolute advantage in terms of military strength.

Li Guangli was defeated and suffered heavy casualties. This also made the court learn a lesson and continue to increase troops and horses while ensuring the baggage.

"According to your majesty, General Ershi will have at least 10,000 cavalry and 60,000 infantry." Huo Xian analyzed and said, "It is estimated that there will be some rangers and prisoners accompanying the army, so there will be at least 80,000!"

Liu Che and Wei Qing did not refute. The Han Dynasty now attached great importance to military achievements, and the people also responded very enthusiastically to this.

Therefore, even if they are not soldiers from the imperial court, there will be some knights who want to make achievements and bring their own dry food to follow the army, or prisoners who want to make meritorious deeds to atone their sins will also follow the army.

"Send troops to Dunhuang and Zhangye to support or guard the border, and then recruit civilians to transport supplies." Huo Xian continued, "To fight Dayuan, the court will need to mobilize at least 150,000 soldiers and horses!"

More than 150,000 is not just a casual number. Those who guard the border and transport food make up the vast majority of the population.

Liu Che had a cold face. He was aware of these things. But in order to conquer Dayuan and to make Li Guangli a marquis, he had no choice but to do so.

"I think General Ershi lost the first battle because he was confused!" Huo Xian said bluntly, "I know that the countries in the Western Regions do not submit to the Han Dynasty and are afraid of the Xiongnu, but what exactly is General Ershi doing?"

Huo Xian continued to analyze and said, "The troops have traveled thousands of miles, so their baggage is not enough. He is good at conquering the small countries along the way. If they don't provide food, he will attack them one by one. If he can't conquer them, he will withdraw his troops. What's the logic behind this?"

Liu Che was also a little embarrassed because what Huo Xian said was the actual situation.

Huo Xian continued to rant, saying, "The Western Regions countries are not supplying food, and they are all unwilling to submit. Let's fight, and fight to establish our authority, that's fine. But if we retreat halfway through the fight, that would be a joke!"

Wei Qing stood aside without saying anything. He still couldn't understand Li Guangli's battle strategy.

The purpose of sending troops was to attack Dayuan, so the goal should be clear. If there is a problem with the supply along the way, just choose a kingdom in the Western Regions to destroy and establish your authority. It is not a sin to attack one more country.

The problem was that Li Guangli was not determined enough. He had no resolve to fight those countries in the Western Regions and retreated when he failed to defeat them.

The Han army seemed to be like bandits, and they suffered many casualties from the constant fighting. When they arrived at Yucheng City in Dayuan, there were only a few thousand exhausted soldiers left, and they retreated after failing to take the city.

Liu Che suppressed his anger and asked, "If you were leading the troops, how would you fight?"

Huo Xian asked in return, "How many troops did your majesty give me? There are ways to fight 10,000 troops and 50,000 troops in different ways!"

Liu Che snorted coldly, "More than 50,000, 10,000 cavalry, 50,000 infantry, and no shortage of baggage, how can you fight?"

"I will fight peacefully. I will not only fight Dayuan, but also make the Western Regions countries submit to me!" Huo Xian said directly, "But even if the imperial court has enough supplies, I am afraid that it will not be enough to send tens of thousands of troops into the Western Regions."

This is also true. Although it seems that there are tens of thousands of cattle, horses and camels, it is definitely too much for the army to go all the way to Dayuan. Moreover, in ancient times, the biggest consumption of food and supplies in wars was on the road.

When food was transported thousands of miles away, for every pound of food a soldier received, he would have to eat ten pounds on the way while transporting the supplies.

"After I lead my army into the Western Regions, I will definitely divide my troops." Huo Xian said, "They are called the Western Regions countries, but apart from a few large ones, they are just a small city. Previously, Loulan, which was conquered by Marquis Xuye, had 1,570 households, 14,100 people, and 2,912 soldiers. No matter how you calculate it, the population is only a little over 10,000."

Huo Xian continued, "Let's talk about Loulan. When the Han Dynasty first opened up to the Western Regions, envoys passed through Loulan. Loulan repeatedly served as spies for the Xiongnu and attacked and robbed Han envoys. Now that they have surrendered to the Han Dynasty and are being attacked by the Xiongnu, they have sent their servants to pay tribute to both sides. There are many such situations in the Western Regions. We must make them obedient!"

Liu Che was naturally even more annoyed, because what Huo Xian said was also the actual situation. The Han Dynasty's control over the Western Regions was far inferior to that of the Xiongnu.

Even the Xiongnu, who were repeatedly defeated by the Han Dynasty, were not dared to be offended by the Western Regions. As the Han Dynasty became increasingly powerful, its envoys and merchant caravans were often intercepted and killed in the Western Regions.

"You are still too merciful!" Liu Che snorted coldly, "The people of the Western Regions are frightened by the Xiongnu's killing, so they submit."

Huo Xian said, "Some Western countries should be taught a lesson for fearing power but not virtue. If I lead my troops there, I will definitely take care of one or two Western countries besides Dayuan."

Liu Che looked at Wei Qing and said, "This is why I don't want him to send troops. He will definitely start a war."

Liu Ju next to him also advised, "Shan'er, how can you start a war without authorization? This will surely cause losses to the imperial court and alienate the countries in the Western Regions." Just when Liu Che was a little annoyed that Liu Ju had brought up some "righteousness and morality" arguments, Liu Ju changed the subject and said, "You should collect evidence and report to His Majesty, so that the royal army can be mobilized to attack!"

The war still needs to be fought, but there needs to be some legitimate reasons so that the Han Dynasty will send troops instead of raising an "unrighteous army".

Loulan deserved to be attacked because they worked for the Xiongnu and made things difficult for the Han envoys.

Dayuan deserved to be attacked because they refused to submit to the majesty of the Han Dynasty and killed Han envoys.

"Uncle, if I go to the Western Regions, I will definitely find some places in the Western Regions to start farming and storing grain." Huo Xian took out his trump card and said, "Set up a group of lieutenants in those places to support the Han envoys."

Liu Che's eyes lit up instantly. The imperial court sent troops against the Huns because they had always been a major threat to the Han Dynasty.

However, it was necessary to send troops to the Western Regions next because of some strategies of the imperial court. Controlling the Western Regions was not as simple as weakening and encircling the Huns.

Letting the Han army station in the Western Regions was something Liu Che had always been considering.

Now it seems that only his little disciple can understand his feelings best.

Huo Xian continued to talk, "This time I am sending troops, I not only want to defeat Dayuan, but also to terrify the countries in the Western Regions and make them send envoys to pay tribute! Previously, you could not get food without paying money and silk, and you could not get rides without buying livestock. This will never happen again!"

Pointing at the sand table, Huo Xian said, "In the past, these countries located at the intersection of traffic routes attacked and robbed Han envoys and blocked the roads with soldiers. Some of them should be settled. I plan to establish military farms in Yanze, Luntai, Quli, Gumo, Cheshi and other places."

Cheshi connects Dunhuang in the southeast, Loulan and Shanshan in the south, Yanqi in the west, Wusun in the northwest, and Xiongnu in the northeast, thus controlling the key point of the Silk Road.

Previously, when Zhao Po Nu conquered Loulan, he also defeated Gu Shi.

Gumo is in Aksu, Quli is in Korla, and Yanze is Lop Nur.

However, the Western Regions and other places are not full of sand and wind today. Lop Nur is also called Yanze, Mieze, Laolanhai, Furihai, etc. It is still a huge lake. After the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Zhubin River in the middle reaches of the Tarim River was diverted, causing Loulan to suffer from severe water shortage.

Even today, people still believe that Lop Nur is the upper reaches of the Yellow River, which was a mainstream view until the end of the Qing Dynasty.

This also led to the prosperous Loulan's silent withdrawal from the stage of history; the once prosperous Southern Silk Road was now covered with yellow sand, and travelers were reluctant to leave; the vast Lop Nur was also turned into a dried-up salt marsh.

"First, we will set up some military commanders to manage the land, and later we will set up a Protectorate General." Huo Xian continued, "When that time comes, the Western Regions will be under our control. Later, we will appoint officials, send troops to garrison and manage the land, count the local population, and implement the Han Dynasty's policies."

Liu Ju looked at Huo Shan and suddenly felt that this cousin was really too thoughtful.

Everyone was discussing the attack on Dayuan, but this cousin was thinking that he could use the opportunity of attacking Dayuan to plant some forces in the Western Regions. As long as the advance was smooth, the Western Regions would be controlled by the Han Dynasty in the future.

By then, all the countries in the Western Regions will no longer exist, and that will be the territory of the Han Dynasty!

"Now many Hu people are bringing some goods from the Western Regions, and they are also transporting our Han goods out." Huo Xian said, "From this point of view, the area outside the Western Regions is not a difficult place. I also know that the Xiongnu have set up servants and lieutenants in the Western Regions to extort slaves and property, and the countries in the Western Regions are also in great difficulty. After we conquer the Western Regions, it will be easy to fight the Xiongnu."

Both Liu Che and Liu Ju were suddenly stunned. They originally thought that Huo Shan had a long-term vision.

As a result, after going in circles, it became about taking over the Western Regions and setting up a Protectorate, and the original purpose was to fight the Huns!
"Short-sighted!" Liu Che, who was originally a little excited and full of emotions, scolded, "You have been with me for more than ten years, and your mind is full of nothing but war, don't you have anything else?"

Huo Xian looked innocent, "I was born to fight. I am a general of cavalry!"

"Okay, okay, I don't want to say anything more to you!" Liu Che was very disappointed and said to Liu Chuan, "If you don't have a prime minister in the future, you can find anyone else. Shan'er can't be the prime minister, otherwise he must be fighting or preparing for war."

Liu Ju said quickly, "Father, your majesty is wise and powerful. I dare not speak rashly about the affairs of the court."

Huo Xian still looked innocent, but he didn't necessarily think so. After a long journey, he came back to the war, not only because of his own ambition, but also because he was a minister, and even if he was favored and trusted, he had to be sensible.

Otherwise, it would be difficult to be awarded a title in the future. Now the fiefdom is being reduced from time to time, isn't it because it is too prominent now?

Huo Xian didn't need to hide his shortcomings or defile himself, because if you wanted to find faults with him, you could easily find them. He had a lot of bad habits. But when you need to be cautious, you still need to be cautious.

(End of this chapter)