The Han culture is spreading strongly in Southeast Asia

Chapter 684: Half of a Lifetime of Fame Becomes Snow
Between the Dayuan Basin (Fergana Basin) and the Hui people is the Tianshan Mountains, which stretch for thousands of miles and tower into the clouds.

To the south is the Pamir Plateau, and the Communism Peak, with an altitude of more than 7,000 meters, is not far away.

It is extremely difficult to climb these mountains, which are among the most terrifying in the world.

Moreover, the ice and snow above the halfway point of the mountain will not melt even in summer, so it is almost impossible to cross it in winter.

This is also an important reason why the Kokand people looked down on the Hui people. The Kokand people controlled several key fortresses built on the Tianshan Mountains, and every summer they sent troops to the Hui people to raid for grass and grain.

Once the fortress gate is closed in winter, only one or two hundred people are needed to garrison it, and the Hui troops will not be able to get in even if they try their best.

Historically, when the Central Plains dynasties conquered Dayuan, they mainly went north, crossed the Naryn River to Suiye, then went west to Talas, and finally went south from Talas to block the entrance of the Fergana Basin.

Gao Xianzhi took this path back then, but failed at Talas.

After the Tongzhi Rebellion in the Qing Dynasty, even Bai Yanhu, a desperate beast, chose to go north through Suiye instead of crossing the Tianshan Mountains, which shows how difficult the journey was.

But there was a way. Li Xingtai found a way, which was provided by several Kokand people he saved from the pile of dead bodies.

These Kokand people were originally border smugglers. They were forcibly conscripted by the Kokand Governor, Muhammad Aimar. In order to save their lives, they handed over the maps they had been smuggling for years and were willing to lead the way.

After Li Xingtai got the route, he immediately asked Qi Lin, who was from the White Lotus Sect, and General Baoning to go there.

It took these two men twenty-one days to reach the edge of the Dayuan Basin, at the cost of eleven men being killed in their team of two hundred. They then hurried back to report.

It's possible to survive in the summer, but not a few thousand people, because the noise will be noticed by the small tribes that go to the mountains to graze.

It is basically impossible to survive the winter, but there are no tribes grazing nearby, so you won’t be discovered.

If they had to leave, if they selected elite troops, they would definitely be able to get through even if a few hundred people were killed or injured along the way. This was the reason why Li Xingtai went to Asen to ask for people.

The specific dividing point of this road is near Urukqiati Township, Wuqia County, southern Xinjiang in later generations.

From Shule (Kashgar) heading west, follow National Highway 3013 to Wuqia County, then take Provincial Highway 309 to Kangsu Town, and finally arrive near Wuluqiati Township.

This journey is not difficult because there is a tributary of the Shule River, the Kizilsu River, which provides a clear direction for advancement. Later national and provincial highways were basically built along this river valley.

After arriving here, to go to the Dayuan Basin, you usually need to turn north and take the main road, passing the Kamancha Fortress controlled by the Kokand people.

But this is obviously not possible. A fortress that is more than 3,000 to 4,000 meters high and covered with snow is difficult to capture with only a few hundred people stationed there, because the troops cannot be deployed. Even if you have 100,000 people, only 40 to 50 people can fight head-on.

So after arriving here, the really difficult journey began. The team continued westward, crossing the Tieyerliyek Ridge where the snow was up to the knees in the cold wind, crossing the Kisar-Alai Mountains, and finally found an unnamed river.

This is a tributary of the Syr Darya River that runs through the Fergana Basin. If you follow the river, you can go directly to the city of Kokand without even going through Andijan.

At the foot of the mountain, Li Xingtai made a final mobilization, "All the mules and horses must be abandoned now, because they cannot cross this mountain.

Besides two rifles, two bayonets, and the corresponding powder, flint, and bullets, the only thing everyone could carry was a pot of strong liquor filled with honey and a bag of fried noodles like this."

Li Xingtai took out the fried noodles from the cloth bag and shook it. This was the same thing that the volunteer soldiers had eaten, except that there was no sorghum. It was all fried with wheat, salt, sugar and sesame seeds.

After all, when the volunteer army went abroad to fight, the country was in ruins and could not be so sophisticated. But Li Xingtai only had 3,500 people for the raid, so naturally he could have a higher configuration.

"We have a distance of 380 miles, which will take at least eight days. However, each person can only carry a maximum of six kilograms of fried noodles. If we finish eating, we will starve. If we fall behind, we will die in this icy and snowy world."

Li Xingtai's words were cruel and realistic, but that was not the end of it. If they really had to enter the Dayuan Basin with only two flintlock rifles, no heavy weapons, and no food, they would be doomed if they encountered a city that they could not conquer.

So, even if you can't bring cannons, you must bring explosives, at least you can use them for blasting.

In addition, if a soldier carries two guns, eight pounds of fried noodles and other miscellaneous items on his own, the burden will be very heavy, and there must be a way to reduce it.

Li Xingtai's method was that normal soldiers only carried a gun and rations, and the rest were pulled by others on sleds.

However, crossing mountains and rivers while pulling a sled is not an easy job. The weight of dozens or hundreds of kilograms must be carried almost entirely by manpower.

So it can be imagined that although those who were selected to pull the sleds would not have to undertake the most difficult combat tasks after entering the Dayuan Basin, a large proportion of casualties during the march would occur among these people.

With insufficient supplies, heavy physical exertion, no chance of rest, and having to face the ice and snow, it is not surprising that someone lost their life after eight days.

"Nothing much to say. One out of ten officers below the rank of Major will be drawn, and the one drawn will pull the sled. Even if you die on the way, you will still be credited with the first achievement. Two out of every ten officers above the rank of Major will also be drawn to pull the sled!"

After saying this, Li Xingtai personally put ten paper balls with the word "中" written on them into a ceramic jar containing ninety paper balls with nothing written on them, preparing to draw one for each of the hundred people.

But before drawing lots, Li Xingtai looked around at his soldiers and said in a deep voice, "If you are the eldest son of a family, step forward. If you are a brother in the army, the elder brother should step forward!"

The soldiers looked at each other, and finally about two hundred people came out, more than half of whom were the Yulin Guards he had asked for from the Crown Prince Mo Zhousen.

Those who can get close to the crown prince may be from the side branches if they are born into great noble families, but those who are from the outer vassal states, the relatives of the vassal states, or even the families of the prefects, basically have to be the legitimate sons.

Li Xingtai saluted them with his arms crossed. "We have come this far together, and I, Li Xingtai, bear witness that you have the courage and determination to participate in this battle. You are truly the heroes of China. However, I now order you all to return and take your troops and horses back to Shule."

"The Second Prince looks down on us and sends us back after arriving here?" Lin Fengjia, the eldest son of Lin Tonghuo, the Prince of Bandung in Nanyang Nanji Province, asked with dissatisfaction.

Li Xingtai waved his hand and said, "There is no room for bargaining in the army. The order has been issued, so please execute it, Prince.

I, Li Xingtai, will not do anything that will end my family lineage, just like my family will not let my brother take risks."

Li Xingtai pointed back and said, "Ye Enping, come out too. You don't have to go."

Ye Enping, who was pointed out by Li Xingtai, was very surprised and walked out of the team with a bit of dissatisfaction.

This person was from Daojiao, Dongguan, and his ancestors were anti-Qing heroes who followed Zhang Jiayu.

Before Mo Zibu was ready to fight back to Guangzhou, Ye Enping's father Ye Tingtai and uncle Ye Tingbao, together with Chen Zizhuang's great-nephew Chen Shaocheng, assassinated the Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, Baode, in Guangzhou.

Among them, Ye Tingbao and Chen Shaocheng sacrificed their lives. After completing his mission, Ye Tingtai successfully broke through the siege and was named General Zhenguo. Later, he made meritorious service in the Northern Expedition and was named Earl of Dongguan.

His deceased uncle Ye Tingbao was posthumously named Marquis of Boluo and given the posthumous title of Zhuang.

"Second Prince, don't get it wrong. I am not the eldest son. I have an older brother." Ye Enping said with a puzzled look.

Li Xingtai rolled his eyes at him and said, “I know that the imperial edict for the succession of your uncle, Marquis Boluo Zhuang, has come down, and you will be adopted soon. Get out of here now.”

Ye Tingbao was posthumously awarded the title of Marquis of Boluo. According to the laws of the Dayu Dynasty, those who were posthumously awarded the title without a son could only obtain a title and the specifications of a tomb, and no title could be passed down.

Therefore, the two surviving sons of Ye Tingtai, the Earl of Dongguan, were unwilling to be adopted because the Ye Enping brothers were twins. Strictly speaking, there was no eldest son and both of them could inherit the title, so the adoption issue was delayed.

In the end, Mo Zibu showed extra mercy. Not wanting Ye Tingbao to have no descendants, he rewarded Ye Tingbao's adopted son with the title of General Guarding the Country.

Although this was not a lordship, it was still the first-class civilian nobility below the earl, so the issue of adoption was put on the agenda.

After driving these guys out, Li Xingtai left behind a few hundred sheep that he had brought with him, killed them all and stewed them, and also took out all the wine and drinks that he couldn't take away.

More than 3,000 people had a hearty meal in the simple tents built in this valley. Everyone ate as much as they could because the rest of the journey depended on their fat.

The cold wind was as sharp as a knife. Even though I had covered my face, it still hurt. I stepped on the snow and it was over my calves. I had to use a lot of strength to lift it up.

The mountain path is even more rugged and dangerous, or it can be said that there is no path at all. You have to walk entirely on the gentle slope formed by the bare mountain.

Everyone's eyes were covered with black cloth, and only the person in the front was exploring the way with his eyes open.

The person behind would put his hand on the shoulder of the person in front and follow along, and then change people every hour to prevent snow blindness caused by the light reflected from the snow.

Eating was even simpler, a mouthful of fried noodles, and then a handful of snow. Each person only had a pot of honey wine weighing more than one pound. Everyone had to rely on mutual supervision and encouragement to stop the urge to drink to warm their bodies.

As the horns sounded, the front team stopped, the second team moved forward, then the third, and the front team would line up at the end again.

Clearing the way is also hard and tiring work. Not only do you have to trample the snow apart, but you also have to clear it as much as possible to make it easier for those behind you to walk, so you have to take turns.

Rest at night depends on the situation. If they can find a sheltered place, the army will rest. Those who are selected will sleep on the outside, followed by the officers, and inside are the soldiers who will take on the main combat tasks.

In this kind of place, with this kind of temperature, people have to be woken up and moved around after two or three hours of sleep to avoid dying from hypothermia in their sleep.

Of course, even so, there were still a large number of soldiers who were waiting to be awakened but it was too late.

As they walked more and more, even the boots made of fine fur could not prevent the snow and water from soaking through. After two days, everyone's boots were filled with ice flowers.

Every step they took felt like there was a sharp blade in their boots pricking their toes and insteps, and many people's toes even became ulcerated and blackened as a result.

On the fifth day, the guide in the team could no longer bear it.

The soldiers were able to hold on because this team was full of elites, including the imperial guards around the crown prince, the elite soldiers of the three guards of the Ningxia prince, the fanatical believers of the White Lotus Sect, the Vajra under the seat of Pudu Cihang, the Hui Liangren who was quite aristocratic and crazy, the fanatical warriors from the East, etc.

These people are not only strong-willed, but are also fed with a diet of rich fish and meat. They all have pot bellies, but they can last three days longer than others just by relying on fat.

But these guides were not like that. They were not as strong as the soldiers, and their willpower was not as strong. The fact that they could persist for a little more than half the journey was actually beyond Li Xingtai's expectations.

Looking at the two guides lying on the ground and unable to get up, Li Xingtai waved his hand and asked the bannerman Baoning to come forward to deal with it.

Bao Ning grinned cruelly, "Barbarians are barbarians. They don't even understand the saying 'a journey of a hundred miles begins with a single step'. You can't hold on even before you're halfway there, so you're going to die anyway. Let me see you off!"

As he spoke, Baoning drew out the long dagger with his right hand, which he had warmed with his body to prevent it from being frozen brittle in the extreme cold weather, and grabbed the Kokand man's hair with his left hand and pulled it up.

Pfft!

The scarlet blood suddenly spurted out, falling on the ground in spots, which was extremely eye-catching.

The other guide on the ground immediately got up. His waist and legs no longer felt sore, and he felt full of energy.

"I'm telling you, there's no turning back now. Be careful. The Celestial Empire's soldiers have conquered Dayuan. You will all be meritorious officials. Not only can you return home to reunite with your families, but you will also all become Baiyi."

The guides nodded in thanks profusely and became more motivated. Li Xingtai winked at Baoning and asked him to escort the guides to avoid any accidents.

On the sixth day, everyone's spirits were tense to the extreme.

Being tired was secondary. The main problem was facing a mountain canyon that seemed to have no end in sight. As far as the eye could see, it was all white. It felt as if I had reached the end of the world and could never get out.

Some people with weak willpower, unwilling to endure this torture, fell asleep and never woke up again. Their faces, frozen by thin ice chips, still had a strange smile on them.

Li Xingtai knew that the soldiers had reached their limit, and although he had also reached his limit, he was also wondering in his heart whether the guides had found the wrong way, or whether these guides deliberately wanted to lead the army to death.

But he still cheered himself up and encouraged his soldiers, because he knew that if his will as the commander was destroyed, the army would be doomed.

Therefore, although he was extremely tired, he still visited various military camps, telling the soldiers who finally had a chance to rest the story of Gao Xianzhi's expedition to Xiaoboluo, and encouraging the soldiers.

"During Gao Xianzhi's time, soldiers and horses had to carry heavy armor to fight, which was a much heavier burden than ours. They didn't do it, so there's no reason why we can't.

I, Li Xingtai, can tell you that if we succeed in this battle, wealth and glory will be within our grasp.

Those who are willing to stay in Dayuan will each get 3,000 acres of land, and those who are willing to stay in Hezhong Bodhisattva will each get three acres of land. If they want to return to the court, they will all have titles. Those who are willing to go to Southeast Asia will at least be Junnan.

We are now only one step away from taking this final step. Don’t lose heart and take that last step.”

Dong Shixing, Baoning, Qi Lin, Yamamoto Shengxian, and the clan member Mo Houde all looked at Li Xingtai and said in unison: "We swear to follow the general until death and will definitely take the Dayuan Basin for the court."

With the people's hearts united, the army continued to march forward. The number of people had been reduced from about 3,200 to less than 3,000. Everyone gathered their last bit of will and continued to move forward.

. . . .

The city of Kokand, at that time the Dayuan Basin (Fergana Basin), was actually one of the most important bases of the entire Transoxiana Muslim mysticism.

Because the Khanate of Kokand was split from the Bukhara Khanate by a group of Khojas who believed in mysticism, taking advantage of the weakness of the Bukhara Khanate.

Naturally, the process of division and unification by Kokand was long and turbulent. Even two years ago, there were still tribal chiefs in the Dayuan Basin who were unwilling to submit to Kokand and were ruling separately.

The current Khan of Kokand is Narbatu, who ascended the throne at the age of fourteen and has been in power for thirty years. He is a famous Khan in the history of the Kokand Khanate.

Of course, this fame is not because he basically unified the Dayuan Basin, but because Narbatu is the only Khan of Kokand who did not die in a rebellion by relatives or nobles.

However, his death was not a very pretty one. Seven years later, during the attack on Tashkent, Narbatu was captured and beheaded by Yunus Khodja, the great lord of the Khanate of Khiva.

However, at this time and space, Narbatu Khan was no longer able to continue seeking Tashkent, because he had to concentrate his troops in Andijan to guard against Dayu's punitive army.

Narbatu felt a little regretful at this time, because he knew that he should not provoke the Central Plains Dynasty, especially with the title of a vassal.

But he had no choice, because eight years ago, the warlike Khan had gone to war with the Bukhara Khanate, resulting in the annihilation of Kokand's 20,000-strong army.

You have to know that the total population of Kokand was only about 700,000, and 20,000 people were killed in the war. If the lords of Kokand were not unwilling to submit to Bukhara, the Kingdom of Kokand would have ceased to exist long ago.

So when something happened to the Hui people, Narbatu chose to send troops without hesitation in order to "recover blood".

Similarly, the frenzied looting among the Hui people was also for the purpose of recovering their losses, otherwise it would never be so direct and brutal.

Narbatu Khan knew the principle of combining kindness with severity, but Kokand needed to recover its strength quickly, so he had no choice.

"I wonder how well Alim is doing recruiting the Khartijin. Without them, we won't be able to stop the army coming from the east."

Narbatu Khan muttered that the Kharti people he was talking about were a part of the Kyrgyz people who lived in the mountains southeast of the basin. Although their number was small, they had always been one of the main sources of mercenaries for the Kokand Khanate.

Haha, what a coincidence.

The guide that Li Xingtai caught happened to be from the Kalti Jin tribe and the son of a small chief of the tribe. Otherwise, he would have had no chance to join the team that returned to the tribe.

The secret passage they used to evade taxes was from the Hui tribe directly to the Kharti Jin tribe.

(End of this chapter)