Wang Jian's plan was to send the remaining 1.3 million soldiers back to the Mongolian battlefield and change the direction of their attack to the Ogedei Khaganate.
The Privy Council objected to this.
In Du Ruhui's words, after the Tubo war, the 1.3 million soldiers were considered the regular army of Great Xia before the imperial court officially disbanded them.
They had just fought to the death in the Tubo war. Although it was for survival, they had done their best for the empire and deserved the respect and treatment they deserved.
"How can we use them as consumables and send them to the Mongolian battlefield?" Du Ruhui couldn't understand.
Du Ruhui's words made sense.
In response to the Privy Council's request, Ouyang Shuo took a compromise and stated that the 1.3 million soldiers were only responsible for attacking the Ogedei Khaganate. After conquering the Ogedei Khaganate, they would immediately rest and reorganize to get rid of the stigma of being a 'consumable army'.
During the Tubo war, it was unknown who leaked the news or if outsiders guessed correctly, but some people in the imperial court called the two million soldiers sent to the Tubo war a 'consumable army'.
Such an insulting title really made one's heart turn cold.
When Ouyang Shuo received the news, he immediately ordered his men to investigate and arrested a group of rumormongers. Only then did the storm calm down. If the storm was allowed to continue and spread to the frontlines, it might cause some trouble.
Speaking of which, Ouyang Shuo was the one who made the final decision on the 'meat grinder plan'. He was the one who started it. Now that he stood out to refute the rumors, it was really like 'being a whore but still wanting to maintain a chastity archway'.
But that was politics.
As an emperor, Ouyang Shuo often had to face such contradictory choices.
His hands were no longer clean.
Ouyang Shuo's ultimate goal was to have a clear conscience.
The Ogedei Khaganate was garrisoned with the armies of Ogedei, Borchu, and Tsarawin. Because they suffered some losses during the attack on the Persian Empire, they had a total of around 500,000 soldiers and most of them were cavalry.
1.3 million against 500,000, the Ogedei Khaganate had no chance of winning.
As for the reinforcements from the Mongolian Empire, Great Xia had already considered it. When Ouyang Shuo agreed to Wang Jian's battle plan, the Privy Council had already sent a secret order to the Soaring Eagle Army, Hedong Army, Beijiang Army, and Fengxiang Army. Once the Mongolian Empire sent reinforcements to the Ogedei Khaganate, they would immediately send troops to the Mongolian Empire.
Now, it all depended on Genghis Khan's choice.
…
On the tenth day of the eleventh month, Wang Jian led his troops to break through Khantan Pasha Castle and led his troops into the Tangfan Ancient Road, announcing the official start of the Battle of Ogedai.
Next, the 1,300,000 soldiers would split into four groups and head north to the Ogedai Khaganate.
When Ogedei received the news, he was not nervous at all. He ordered his troops to organize the defense while running around the Mongolian Empire, trying to incite the warmongers to fight against the Xia Kingdom.
For a moment, the Mongolian Empire was in a state of panic.
At this time, the First Prince Chishu, the Second Prince Chagatai, and the Great General Borchu, one by one, submitted a memorial to Genghis Khan, requesting for reinforcements for the Ogedei Khaganate to fight to the death with the Xia Kingdom.
"Mongolian men can only die standing, we can't live kneeling." Chi Shu made such a bold statement.
For a moment, the Mongolian Empire was in an uproar, and the voices of people asking for war grew louder and louder. At this point, even Genghis Khan couldn't control the situation.
Chi Shu's words, 'You can only die standing, you can't live kneeling', for a time, unexpectedly became the Mongolian people's mantra.
12th of November, Hala Horin Palace.
Genghis Khan's expression was unprecedentedly solemn. He didn't expect the imperial court to be so hostile to the Xia Kingdom, and the waves of people asking for war almost overturned the palace.
If this dragged on, there might be a mutiny.
Opposite Genghis Khan, Tolui also had a complicated expression. When the decision was made to pass the throne to Tolui, Tolui was summoned back from the Southern Border to the capital of Hala Horin.
"Tolui, what do you think?" Genghis Khan asked.
Just as Genghis Khan asked this question, the father and son could faintly hear the shouts coming from the streets outside the palace. It was the people asking for war.
Tolui gritted his teeth and said, "Father, the people's will cannot be changed."
Genghis Khan's eyes narrowed. "Why, even you agree to go to war with the Xia Kingdom? You don't even want the throne anymore? "
"Father, I am just a martial artist. I don't really want the throne, but I am forced by the situation. Compared to the throne, I don't want to lose the backbone of the Mongolian people. "
"Can only die standing, can't live kneeling?" Genghis Khan's expression was unpredictable.
Tolui nodded solemnly. "Can only die standing, can't live kneeling!"
At this moment, Genghis Khan seemed to have aged a few years in an instant. He showed a rare look of fatigue and slowly closed his eyes. Tolui, who was opposite him, saw this and felt uneasy.
The four princes surrounded the generals. There was no one who was not afraid of Genghis Khan.
After a long time, Genghis Khan slowly opened his eyes. Within his slightly muddy eyes, there was no hesitation, no exhaustion, no weakness, and no choice. There was only an unswerving determination that was like steel.
"If that's the case, then let's fight!"
Genghis Khan got up and looked out the window at the leisurely white clouds. "Let the blue sky and white clouds witness the legend of the Mongolian people. Let us use our blood to defend the glory that we have never lost!"
"Yes!"
Tolui nodded heavily, the blood in his body boiling.
… …
On the 13th of November, the Mongolian Empire took the initiative to terminate the negotiations with the Xia Kingdom. This also meant that before winter, the remaining two empires in the Huaxia region would start a life and death war.
Without hesitation, the well-prepared Soaring Eagle Army, Hedong Army, Beijiang Army, and Fengxiang Army split into four groups and brazenly attacked the Mongolian Empire.
In Ouyang Shuo's words, the Xia Kingdom would never allow enemies to attack the Mongolian Empire again. "Defend the country from the enemy" was the most basic requirement Ouyang Shuo had for the Xia Kingdom.
In an instant, the north was once again covered in smoke.
Ouyang Shuo was optimistic. As early as a month ago, he faintly felt that this war was inevitable. Therefore, he ordered the four armies to make early preparations.
The rations and fodder were already in place.
Other than the 500,000 soldiers of the Ogedei Khaganate, the Mongolian Empire had 800,000 soldiers distributed in the north, east, south, and center. It was impossible for them to compete with the four armies of the Xia Kingdom.
Needless to say, behind the four armies, there was the Leopard Army and the Brave Tiger Army as reserves.
It was impossible for the Mongolian Empire to win this war. The only suspense was the price Great Xia had to pay to conquer the Mongolian Empire and truly unify the whole of Huaxia.
Because the war was taking place in the north, it was already November, and there was already a hint of coldness. This war was destined to not last long. Otherwise, when winter arrived, both sides would not be able to get any benefits.
"Let's just suffer. This is the only time."
Ouyang Shuo sighed as he finalized the plan to deal with Tubo.
After a proposal from the cabinet and a search of historical records, it was decided to change the name of Tubo to Xikang Province. The provincial government would naturally be located in the former capital of Tubo, Luoge City.
South Sichuan Province's Xunzhou Prefectural Governor, Bao Shuya, was promoted to Xikang Governor-General.
Bao Shuya was also an old minister of the empire. He had once competed with Fan Zhongyan for the position of South Sichuan Province's Governor. Whether it was experience or ability, he was qualified to be Xikang Governor-General.
Those who were observant realized that following Bao Shuya's promotion, among the five Prefectural Governors of South Sichuan Province, there was no longer a talent in history. His Majesty's third uncle, Wuzhou Prefectural Governor, Ouyang Huan, suddenly shone in South Sichuan.
"Is this a coincidence, or is His Majesty's intention?" The ministers only dared to speculate in their hearts.
Following the empire's conquest of Tubo, it was finally time for Ouyang Shuo to fulfill his promise to Lao Ai. He decided to establish the Western Frontier Protectorate with Lao Ai as the Protector-General.
Lao Ai stepped down from the position of Jiangchuan Province's Prefectural Governor, Sima Guang, was promoted. With Sima Guang's talent, it was not a problem for him to take charge of Jiangchuan Province.
For the time being, the Western Frontier Protectorate only had jurisdiction over the newly established Xikang Province and the neighboring Xihai Province. The administrative center was also located in Luoge City, covering the entire western region.
As for the Shu Province, according to the empire's long-term plans, it was impossible for it to be included in the Western Frontier. In fact, according to the empire's map, it was considered half of the central region. Thus, it was not included in the Western Frontier Protectorate.
Following the establishment of the Western Frontier Protectorate, Mulan Yue, Bai Hua, the Siege Lion, and Lao Ai all received their due rewards. Next, it was Feng Qiuhuang's turn.
As for Xiong Ba, he naturally had to wait.
Following the establishment of the Western Frontier Protectorate, the headquarters of the northwest war zone would also move west from Chengdu to Luoge City. Correspondingly, the Flying Bear Army led by Zuo Zongtang would also be stationed in Xikang Province.
The Flying Bear Army's primary task was to watch over the one million prisoners of war.
Ouyang Shuo had already ordered to immediately disarm the prisoners of war and send them to build the two official roads between Shu and Xihai to Luoge City.
The two official roads were the lifeline of the empire's governance of the Western Frontier, so no amount of attention could be paid to them.
Thus, the one million prisoners of war were the best labor force. Although they could not be treated as slaves, as long as they were given basic food and clothing, they could be forced to work.
In addition to the two official roads, Ouyang Shuo also planned to take advantage of the opportunity to build the two official roads from Xikang Province to the Ashoka Dynasty and the Peacock Dynasty, in preparation for the empire's future attack on Tianzhu.
In Asia, Tianzhu was a target that Ouyang Shuo had to conquer.
For this, Ouyang Shuo had already quietly buried a big mine for the Peacock Dynasty and the Gudo Dynasty.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
