Chapter 347 Once and for all

Hexi, a new construction site.

More than a thousand captives were tamping earth to build a four-story earth fort, and Black Bear led more than a hundred cavalrymen passing by here.

There was a well near the construction site. More than a hundred riders dismounted near the well, some fed the horses, some prepared meals, and some went to collect fuel.

Zhang Xiu followed him around. He always felt that the Grand Marshal would always leave some energy when doing things, and could usually do things to perfection. However, the Grand Marshal would always be prudent and save that last bit of energy, and just sit back and watch the opportunity to fight dissipate.

For example, at this moment, Mingming has already intimidated the Western Rong and issued proclamations to counties and chiefs of various tribes, so he can naturally achieve a great unification in terms of the situation.

Even if we take a step back, we can still complete the reorganization of the four Hexi counties.

In the four counties of Hexi, the powerful became stronger and stronger, and the various tribes of the miscellaneous Hu people encroached on the mountains and fields. This had been going on for nearly two generations, and the various tribes of the miscellaneous Hu people were almost becoming local natives.

Even so, each of the four counties in Hexi still has a recognized county governor, and under the county governor is a team of county officials composed of powerful clans, who still maintain the operation of the county government.

Zhang Xiu found this annoying and wanted to take advantage of the current great victory to march straight into the four counties of Hexi. He would win over the Han nobles with his left hand and the miscellaneous Hu people with his right hand, and use the two hands to pull together. Whoever did not obey would be destroyed by the help of the other force.

After getting rid of two or three powerful and assorted Hu tribes with improper attitudes and establishing his prestige, he naturally straightened out the four Hexi counties.

As long as the orders can be enforced, when the expedition is launched against the Hehuang Qiang, the four Hexi counties, regardless of how many troops they provide, can at least block the Hehuang Qiang's escape route to the west.

It must be blocked. A large Qiang tribe in Hexi is fleeing very quickly and is estimated to have passed through the Hexi Corridor.

If no further efforts are made to stop them, once the Hehuang Qiang tribes reach a consensus, gather together and swear to resolve their old feud, and form a force to begin migrating westward, the importance of the Hehuang Battle will be greatly reduced, and it may even be a loss.

If it is estimated that this war will result in losses, then it is very likely that the Eastward Movement Faction will rise up and turn to fight the Xianbei or Wuhuan in Liaodong.

Zhang Xiu was the main leader of the westward expansion faction. How could he allow something like the eastward expansion to happen?

So during the lunch break, Zhang Xiu came to the black bear's umbrella with a pot of hot water and said, "Your Majesty, I heard that a group of rebellious Qiang people in Yuzhong migrated west with their entire clan, and there were also mixed-race Hu people in the surrounding areas who followed them, about a thousand tribes in total."

Zhang Xiu finished brewing the tea, handed the copper kettle to the others, and continued: "If we cannot unify the four counties in Hexi, in my opinion, the Qiang people in Hehuang will probably flee westward before winter."

While listening, Black Bear approved the official documents transported from Guanzhong.

Seeing Zhang Xiu's concern, he said, "Since the beginning of the Han Dynasty, the Xiongnu have dominated the north, enslaved the Western Regions, and collected heavy taxes. The city-states and nomadic countries in the Western Regions have suffered greatly from the Xiongnu, but they are often willing to be their minions. Why is that?"

Zhang Xiu was from Wuwei and was familiar with the affairs of the Western Regions. He said, "It is because our Han army has not been able to penetrate the Western Regions and has not been able to inflict heavy damage on the main force of the Xiongnu. Therefore, other countries are watching the situation and are unwilling to raise troops to resist."

The Western Regions countries were essentially very welcoming to the Han army.

Because the Han army's sudden military settlements showed signs and signs of taking root and developing, and competing for precious land, but the Han army officers and soldiers generally lacked a sense of belonging to the Western Regions. They settled in the military only to fill their stomachs, and they did not have the perseverance to purchase and operate industries for a long time.

Therefore, the Han army, which felt a sense of belonging within Yumen Pass, would never encroach on the lower-level farmland and pastures of all the city-states and nomadic countries in the Western Regions; nor would they plunder or seize the status of the upper-class nobles of these city-states and nomadic countries.

The stationed Han troops could help them expel the Huns, mediate conflicts among them, and check and balance the large city-states, ensuring the survival of many small city-states.

As Zhang Xiu was speaking, he saw Black Bear lowering his head to concentrate on annotating official documents, and he suddenly guessed, "Your Majesty, do you hope that the Qiang people will migrate westwards, forcing the states in the Western Regions to send envoys for help? In this way, if our army penetrates deep into the Western Regions, the states will be in danger of life and death, so they will all be willing to fight to the death? This will not only quickly wipe out the Qiang people, but also make the states sincerely convinced, saving a lot of trouble?" "General, you are half right. The other half depends on how the Qiang people are dealt with."

Black Bear pointed at a group of Qiang people digging and carrying soil in the distance and said, "General, take a close look at these Qiang people. What is the difference between them and you and me? The Qiang people worship the God of Fire because they are descendants of Shennong the Yan Emperor. The Han and Qiang people are actually of the same origin. The Qiang people are the vanguard. As the general said, it can indeed save a lot of trouble."

Zhang Xiu narrowed his eyes, then gradually widened them: "What do you want, Your Majesty?"

"It's just the old story of Hexi."

Black Bear spoke in a normal tone, tilting his head to look at Zhang Xiu: "I stayed here before the Hehuang Qiang moved west. During that time, I returned to Guanzhong once. This is their only chance, and I hope they can seize it."

"Yes, I will understand!"

Zhang Xiu stood up from his knees and bowed solemnly.

This granted him the unique diplomatic power to send envoys as spies. With this diplomatic power, doesn't it mean that the future conquest of the rebellious Qiang in the Western Regions is likely to be entrusted to him?
The city-states and nomadic countries in the Western Regions were vassal states of the Han Dynasty. When the Western Qiang people rebelled, they should naturally be suppressed.

Seeing Zhang Xiu's expression, Black Bear couldn't help but chuckle: "You understand, but it's hard for you to do it well. When the Qiang people migrate west and the Western Regions ask for help, you will temporarily serve as the governor of Hexi and cooperate with the Protector of the Qiang to send troops. Just send troops and wait and see. I will lead the troops to help with the specifics of what to do."

Zhang Xiu couldn't help but reveal disappointment. He was really reluctant to cooperate with Ma Chao.

Black Bear was too lazy to explain this. Zhang Xiu was not a ruthless person. If he wanted to solve the problems in the Western Regions and the Qiang people, he had to use Ma Chao.

Among the generals in the late Han Dynasty, Ma Chao also had some divine qualities. Not only was Ma Chao adept at doing such things, but it was also very consistent with the characteristics of those divine qualities in Ma Chao.

As long as the war in the Western Regions is fierce enough, the various Hu peoples around the Western Regions will be scared and will be able to buy a dozen years of peace and rest to raise their families.

If you want to increase the intensity of the war, Ma Chao, who possesses the power of destruction, must be the first choice.

After the tea was brewed, Black Bear ate wheat cakes, drank tea, and occasionally ate a piece of dried corned beef. Soon lunch was over.

The Hexi region is really too large. I will go to the west in a few days to see the legendary Xiutu Lake.

Xiutu Lake can be regarded as the dividing line between the Hexi Corridor and the Hexi region. As for more detailed route reconnaissance, you need to find an opportunity to make a trip there yourself.

In order to advance quickly into the Western Regions, he wanted to try to go around the northern grasslands and take the Altai Mountains.

If you can’t walk, just go along the Hexi Corridor.

Anyway, the intensity of the war in the Western Regions must be increased; if the intensity is to be increased, it is necessary to pursue, ambush, plunder and destroy the herds of Qiang people migrating westward.

After the Qiang tribes, who lacked means of production and food, entered the Western Regions, if they did not want to starve to death, they had no choice but to seize the local people's means of production.

Given the conditions in the city-states and countries, it would be difficult for you to survive even as a hired worker or a slave, let alone get married and have children.

The population that can be supported is limited. Why should the locals allow you, the outsiders, to multiply and grow?
You can't even be a slave!
The herds of Qiang people migrating westwards must be destroyed to cut off their possibility of peacefully passing through the Western Regions and going further west.

(End of this chapter)