In April of the fourth year of the Yanning era, after a long period of preparation, a large number of Da Ganjun soldiers had gathered in the Guazhou and Suzhou areas.

In addition, the telegraph lines have been laid.

Even the logistical supplies were prepared enough for 200,000 people to use for five months!

The preparations were extremely thorough!

In addition, the Western Regions Reclamation Army, which was expanded after the New Year, has reached a massive size of 170,000 people.

These Western Region reclamation troops are currently stationed in the Suzhou area, reclaiming wasteland and awaiting further orders.

After everything was ready, Zhao Bingzhang received a telegram from His Majesty in the capital at the Western Expedition Headquarters in Ganzhou City.

Looking at the contents of the telegram, Zhao Bingzhang said, "Immediately send telegrams to the front lines in Suzhou and Guazhou, informing them that His Majesty has approved the westward expedition! The Northwest Military Region Commander Zhao Chun and others will be in charge of the frontline operations. We can proceed!"

Immediately, the telegraph operator sent the order for the westward expedition to the front lines in Guazhou.

At the Guazhou front, the army, having received orders, began to assemble.

With a command from Zhao Chun, commander of the Northwest Military Region, Zhao Chun personally led three divisions—the 11th Infantry Division under Li Maoxue, the 13th Infantry Division under Yu Linfeng, and the 8th Cavalry Division under Luo Mingliang—as the vanguard, setting off towards Yizhou.

The army set off, crossing the vast desert of the Moheyanqi, and began its march.

On the third day after Zhao Chun's troops began their march, Lin Shaozhang, the chief of staff of the Northwest Military Region, also led four divisions—the 36th Infantry Division, the 37th Infantry Division, the 38th Infantry Division, and the 11th Cavalry Division—as the second batch of troops on their westward expedition.

Meanwhile, in the vicinity of Guazhou, the forces of the 39th Infantry Division, the 40th Infantry Division, and the 12th Cavalry Division were also on standby at all times.

Meanwhile, the 13th Cavalry Division, together with the militia forces that had arrived in Guazhou and other places, served as a logistics and supply transport team, responsible for escorting food and other supplies.

After the army set off, the entire 800-mile stretch of Gobi Desert from Guazhou to Yizhou was bustling with people.

Tens of thousands of soldiers carved a path through the desert.

This road, winding and turning, leads to Illinois City.

As the main army set off, the telegraph personnel at the Guazhou front, along with the second batch of troops, carried the pre-prepared wires, telegraph machines, and other equipment, laying telegraph lines as they marched.

After all, the Samanid Khanate in the Western Regions was a long way away.

In addition to ensuring adequate logistical supplies and security, it is also important to keep timely communication with the rear regarding news from the operations on the western front.

In case of an emergency, the communication via telegraph lines would enable a rapid response.

At that time, whether it is Suzhou, Guazhou, Shazhou, or even Ganzhou, Liangzhou, Longyou City and other places further in the rear, they will be able to respond in a timely and rapid manner!

Even though the telegraph lines had been fully laid, His Majesty Li Xin still gave other instructions regarding the western expedition.

Frontline operations were under the overall command of Zhao Chun, commander of the Northwest Military Region.

In case of an emergency, Zhao Bingzhang, the director of the General Political Department, would act on behalf of the Privy Council to make temporary transfers or changes, and could then report to the Privy Council for record-keeping afterward.

Such comprehensive arrangements demonstrate that Li Xin's planning for the western expedition was extremely thorough.

The vast desert stretches for eight hundred miles, with flying sand and stones obscuring the sky and the sun!

The army is marching, and the journey is arduous!

As the vanguard, Zhao Chun and others carefully examined the route map drawn by the scouts, holding compasses and other tools, and meticulously discerned the directions.

They had been walking for four or five days and were still traveling through the Gobi Desert.

Fortunately, Zhao Chun's advance troops were well-prepared with logistical supplies, including ammunition, food, and even plenty of fresh water.

The journey was smooth and unobstructed!

News of the large-scale westward expedition was naturally detected by scouts from the nearby Samanid Khanate.

News from the Moheyan Desert also reached Yizhou City, hundreds of miles away!

Izhou City!

On the city wall!

The two men stood side by side on the city wall, gazing out of the city and quietly listening to the news reported by the scouts.

"Your Highness, General, the main force has already entered the Moheyan Desert and is expected to reach the walls of Yizhou in three or four days!"

A scout clasped his hands and said, "The vanguard has more than 30,000 men, and two days' journey behind them, there is another army of more than 40,000 men."

Upon hearing the scout's report, General Tuli nodded slightly.

However, General Tuli did not speak at this moment, but turned to look at the person next to him.

Sitting next to him was none other than Khalkha Beile of the steppe khanate.

After Karhanabele's words in the city of Saman moved the Great Khan of Saman, Karhanabele and General Tuli were appointed as the garrison commanders of Yizhou City, and the two were jointly responsible for the defense of Yizhou City.

Moreover, important matters should be decided by Karhanabele!

Such an arrangement is enough to show how highly respected Karhana Beile was in the eyes of the Saman Khan!

This time, in addition to the 30,000 steppe bandits under the command of Karhana Beile, there was also the 40,000-strong army of the Saman Khanate under the command of General Tuli.

In addition, Karhana Beile and Tuli also carried a large number of thunderbolts, imitation flintlock muskets, and even two cannons weighing three thousand catties each!

This arrangement was naturally made to defend Yizhou City!

After arriving in Yizhou City, Khalhanabele, together with General Tuli, began digging a trench defense system near the city.

The two mobilized all the garrison troops and the people of the Samanid Khanate near Yizhou City, totaling one to two hundred thousand people, to dig four trench defense systems outside Yizhou City!

They even built a large number of above-ground fortresses, stockades, and barricades.

Even inside the trenches, anti-artillery ear holes were dug!

Thunderclap grenades and flintlock muskets were also distributed to the front-line trenches.

The people of the Samanid Khanate near the city of Yizhou were also organized to serve as soldiers and stationed in the trenches to participate in the defense of the trench system!

After all these measures were in place, Karhana Beile wore a smug smile.

Karhana Beile nodded slightly and said, "Continue to gather intelligence on the movements of the main force and report back promptly!"

"in addition,"

Karhana Beile looked at General Tuli and said, "Brother Tuli, from now on, the defense of Yizhou City will be raised to the highest level. We must be on high alert, remain vigilant, and be ready to fight at any time!"

"Yizhou City is the first gateway to the Samanid Khanate, behind which lies its vast territory. If Yizhou City falls, the gates will be wide open, and the Samanid army could split into several routes to harass other cities at any time! Therefore, Yizhou City is of paramount importance!"

"Brother Tuli, I don't think I need to say more about this!"

Hearing what Khalhana Beile said, General Tuli nodded slightly and said, "Beile, rest assured, everything is ready in Yizhou City. We just need to wait for the main force to come to our door!"