Tibet

Chapter 244 War Between the Two Countries ([-])

Not long after Zhang Xian left, the cloud of war gradually appeared over the country of Rahana.

On the Pearl River, about a hundred miles away from Kesai City, hundreds of large leather rafts are slowly sailing eastward, and the large leather rafts are all pulled by horses.

On the north bank of the Pearl River, 5000 troops lined up, including the 5000 Shi Guo army, and the Dashi Tocharian Army and the Sogdian Army with [-] soldiers each.

The entire army is under the unified command of King Kundushi of the Stone Kingdom. This is the authority given to Kundushi by Abu Muslim. There are five legions under it, each with [-] soldiers.

The Shi Kingdom and the Bahana Kingdom were originally brother countries. They both belonged to the Dawan Kingdom in the Western Han Dynasty. The royal family has been married to each other for hundreds of years.

But since the current king, Kundushi, came to power, the relationship between Shiguo and Bahana has been deteriorating day by day. The fundamental reason is that Kundushi is ambitious and wants to unify the nine kingdoms of Sogdia and establish the Sogdian Empire.

But Kundu Stone did not have such a great ability, he began to look for leverage from outside, and Dashi was also looking for a strategic fulcrum in the Hezhong area at the same time, Kundu Stone's unification ambition naturally integrated with Dashi's eastward expansion strategy.

The annexation of the Khanna Kingdom is the common strategic goal of the Shi Kingdom and the Dashi. The Shi Kingdom needs to expand its territory and population, and the Dashi needs to establish a strategic barrier in the east to separate the Hezhong area from the actual control area of ​​​​the Tang Dynasty. The country fits the needs of both.

Just last autumn, just a few months after the founding of the Abbasid Dynasty, the Governor of Khorasan, Abu Muslim, and King Kundushi of the Shi Kingdom reached an agreement that the Abbasid Dynasty would fully support the Shi Kingdom in its attack on Bakhanna.

Kundushi was riding on a horse, staring at the distant grassland with gloomy eyes. Of course, he also sent spies to Kesai City. According to the news from the spies, the strength of Bahana increased to about 8000 people, and there were 1 people left. However, what annoyed Kundushi even more was that the walls of Kesai City had doubled in height, which was beyond his expectation.

The fact that he built hundreds of siege weapons was not aimed at Kesai City. The one-foot-high city wall of Kesai City was enough to build hundreds of ladders, so there was no need for any large siege weapons.

The large siege weapons he built were actually prepared to attack the city of Samarkand, but the height of Kesai City disrupted his plan, and he had to transport some of the large siege weapons to attack Kesai City.

"Your Majesty, is it true to hear that there are Tang troops in Kesai City?" Airot, the leader of the Sogdian Legion, stepped forward and asked.

The Sogdian Legion was composed of [-] Sogdians who believed in the Dashi Cult, mainly from the Huoxun Kingdom, and the leader, Airot, was a Dashi general who followed Abbas in the southern and northern wars.

"It's a small group of Tang troops. The origin is unknown. It is said that there are about 20 people. The leader's surname is Li, and he is very young."

Kun Dushi really didn't know much about Tang Jun in Pullhana, and he didn't pay much attention to it. The main reason was that the opponent's number was too small, so he felt that the influence would not be great.

But if he knew that his son Shi Du died at the hands of this Tang army leader, I'm afraid he would have a different attitude.

At this time, Eguri, the new leader of the Tocharian Legion, said slowly: "I know their details, they should be the scouts of the Broken Leaf Army, and they killed a hundred of my men in the Wuhu River Grand Canyon. Look down on them."

Kun Dushi suddenly remembered something, and asked, "Have you got the ten caliph gems in the treasury of Bahan?"

Eguri glanced at Kundu Stone vigilantly and said: "I promised the Governor, I will personally get the Caliphate gem and hand it over to the Muslim Governor. Please don't destroy my plan, Your Majesty the King."

Kun Dushi said coldly: "Let's take down Kesai City first!"

Kun Dushi didn't pay any attention to him, and urged his horse to shout: "The whole army speeds up!"

The war finally came. In the morning, the spies of Bahana sent news that the main force of the enemy army had appeared thirty miles to the southwest, had turned from the Zhenzhu River to the Bahana River, and was heading towards Kesai City.

King Murdo immediately ordered: "The whole army goes to the city!"

Numerous soldiers rushed to the city. The Khanna Kingdom made full preparations for this war against the country. In addition to the 8000 regular army, it also recruited [-] civilians to assist the army in combat. They were mainly responsible for transporting supplies and wounded soldiers. Logistics and food support, and manipulating trebuchets.

The houses in Kesai City are all flat-roofed stone houses, and the eighteen trebuchets are placed directly on the houses close to the west city wall.

Basically, it is certain that the Shiguo army will attack the west city wall. First, there are no gates on the north and south walls. Secondly, if you attack the city from the east, you will be worried about being attacked by the Tang army from behind. Moreover, the Bahana River is on the west side, and the opponent needs water for stationing.

More importantly, they don't have many troops, so there is no need to disperse the attack, but there must be troops stationed on the other three walls to prevent the opponent from attacking.

Near noon, the enemy army finally appeared in the southwest direction. Numerous large leather rafts were slowly moving on the river. On the bank was a black army, like a long black dragon, with no tail in sight.

The Shiguo army began to set up camp along the river. They set up large sheepskin tents, one after another, just like the nomads' tents. The king's tent was in the center, surrounded by thousands of other large tents like stars holding the moon. With the king's account.

The biggest advantage of the sheepskin tent is that it is not as flammable as the wool tent, otherwise the enemy will burn dozens of them, and this kind of situation will basically not happen.

The Shiguo army did not install camp fences, but they directly rammed low walls with mud and wood to enclose the entire camp.

Li Ye stood on the top of the city and watched the enemy army busy three miles away. He turned his head and asked Prince Alorie, "His Royal Highness told me that the army of Shi Kingdom is about 5000 people, but there are at least 5000 people in it." , Where did the extra [-] troops come from?"

A Luolie thought for a while and said, "There are about 5000 people in the Dashi Tucharian Army. They will definitely join the battle. The other 5000 people are either Dashi Army or Tuqishi people!"

Li Ye was stunned, "Didn't the Tuqi Shiren be wiped out?"

"The tribe of Tuqi benefactors in Rehai has been exterminated, but there are still some Tuqishi people scattered in the north of Qianquan Mountain, in the area around Ashbulai City, and they have been eyeing Ba Khanna all the time, wanting to occupy our grassland."

"It's not a Tuqishi!"

General Solan stepped forward and said with a smile: "Our spies discovered that they were praying. They should believe in the Great Food Cult, but the Tuqishi people are the same as us. If I guessed correctly, these 5000 people should be from the Huoxun Kingdom. Sogdians."

Li Ye asked again with a smile: "Three different armies, which army will launch the offensive first?"

Solan said indifferently: "There are rules in this regard, they should draw lots according to the rules to decide!"

When the Sogdians made a choice, they needed to draw lots, including the distribution of benefits and mediation of conflicts. They would call the parties together and ask them to draw lots to make a decision. The signing party felt that it was unfair, and had been wronged, and could only admit it. No one dared to question God's will.

At this time, in the king's tent, Kundushi put five identical copper sticks into a silver tube. Kundushi gently shook the silver tube, and all five pairs of eyes were fixed on the copper sticks, except for the leader of the Tocharian Legion. In addition to Eguri and Airot, the leader of the Sogdian Army, there are also three leaders of the Shiguo Army.

Although the theory of lottery determinism originated from Zoroastrianism in Persia, it is now recognized by the Sogdians and the Great Cannibals.

"please!"

Kundu Shi put the silver tube heavily on the table.

"I'll come first!"

Eguri, the leader of the Tocharian Legion, stretched out his hand and pulled out the first one. In fact, the probability is the same, depending on their luck.
It was an all-bronze lottery, and Iguri was secretly relieved because he was not drawn. No one wanted to be the first to play.

Immediately afterwards, Airot, the leader of the Sogdian army, also drew a full bronze lot, but he did not win.

Kundu Shi felt a little uncomfortable. He originally hoped that the Tucharian army would take the lead in the battle, but now the remaining three are generals of the country of Shi. No matter who is drawn, it will be the same for him.

General Larry stepped forward to draw the third bronze lot. His face turned pale. The top of this bronze lot was painted black, and he won it.

(End of this chapter)