Just as Zhao Muyun was working hard to develop his farming business, Tang Yanhai and Pei Lun used a strategy to outsmart Timur.
In Shangjing, the royal court of Zuoxian Wang Wuzhu is now shrouded in a suppressed anxiety.
The war with the Koreans was like a ball of wet taffy stuck to the sole of Wuzhu's boots, which he could not get rid of or tear apart, making him upset.
The charcoal fire crackled, but it couldn't dispel the gloom between Wuzhu's brows.
He suddenly threw the silver wine glass in his hand to the ground, and the mellow kumis splashed on the precious Persian carpet.
"Trash! They're all a bunch of trash!"
Wuzhu's roar echoed in the empty hall. "A mere Goryeo, with a few ruined strongholds built on the mountain, has left my men stranded! If my main cavalry were here, they would crush those ravines like ants!"
His chest heaved violently; the stalemate on the Eastern Front had exhausted his patience and resources.
Large amounts of food, arrows, and his most beloved soldiers were all thrown into that unfamiliar forest, but there was no sign of victory.
He knew that he was firmly nailed here for a short period of time.
In order to persuade the Chanyu to lead his troops south again, he could only suppress it temporarily.
The war on the eastern front must be ended as soon as possible, and these cunning Goguryeo people must be driven into the cold sea.
Wuzhu's eyes were cold and terrifying. If he could kill people with his eyes, the Goguryeo people would have died hundreds of times.
at the same time.
Deep in the Mobei grasslands, inside the huge ivory tent of the Right Wise King Wuhan, which was decorated with more wolf skins and skulls, the atmosphere was completely different.
There is no sense of frustration on the Eastern Front here, but instead a wild and restless eagerness to try.
In the center of the tent, a charcoal fire was blazing in a huge copper basin, roasting a whole fat sheep. The fat dripped into the fire, sizzling, and the aroma mixed with the smell of milk wine and leather, forming the unique scent of the grassland.
Wuhan sat high in the main position. He was not as big and strong as Wuzhu, but his eyes were more sinister and deep, like an old wolf lurking in the shadows.
At the lower left sat the sturdy Prince Loufan and his think tank Han Yanshou.
He was skillfully slicing the mutton with a knife, his eyes gleaming with desire for wealth.
On the right is the sturdy Wuliangha, who drinks silently, but his eyes are as sharp as an eagle.
"Wuzhu is in the east, entangled in the Korean mountains and forests, like a buffalo stuck in a quagmire, unable to pull himself out for a while."
Wuhan picked up the silver bowl inlaid with gems and took a big sip of kumis. His voice was low and carried a hint of imperceptible pride.
He put down his wine bowl and glanced at Prince Loufan and Wuliangha. "What about the south? I heard that Zhao Muyun is tightening his grip on Shuozhou. His troops are strong and his weapons are sharp, like a porcupine with sharp quills."
"If we fight him now, even if we win, we'll lose a few teeth. It's not worth it."
Prince Loufan stopped his sword, raised his head, and asked with a frown, "So what does Prince Youxian mean by that...that we can't go anywhere this winter and just sit there and starve?"
A sinister smile appeared on Wuhan's lips. He stood up and walked to the huge sheepskin map hanging on the wall of the tent.
This map was much rougher than the one Zhao Muyun had, but it also roughly outlined the vast and vague areas of Mobei, Monan, Central Plains and the west.
His finger pointed heavily at the west side of the map, an area representing countless oases, city-states, and trade routes.
"We can't just focus on this tough nut to crack in the south."
Wuhan's voice was bewitching. "Look to the west! The vast Western Regions, where there is an oasis flowing with honey and milk."
"There are cities piled high with gold and silk, skilled craftsmen, and vassal states as docile as lambs!"
"Their warriors can't ride fast horses or draw strong bows. They can only hide behind earthen walls and tremble!"
He turned around suddenly, with ambition burning in his eyes:
"I just got the news that Zhao Muyun's men are in Chechi Kingdom to the west. They slaughtered Timur like they were strolling in their own backyard, and the king of Chechi Kingdom didn't even dare to fart!"
"What does this mean? It means that the countries in the Western Regions are weak and can be bullied! This is the opportunity that Changshengtian has given us!"
Wuliangha frowned, put down his wine bowl, and said in a hoarse voice, "Your Highness, the Western Regions are great, but the road is too long. In between are vast expanses of deadly desert and snow-capped mountains. There's no water or grass, so it's difficult to get supplies."
"Our warriors are seasoned warriors, but crossing that land of death will severely damage their vitality. Moreover, although the nations in the Western Regions are weak, they are as numerous as grains of sand. If they unite..."
"That's why wisdom and planning are needed! I'm not asking you to just charge in like wild bulls!"
Wuhan interrupted him, walked back to his seat, and said in a firm tone, "We don't have to attack the big countries in the Western Regions right from the start, such as Khotan and Gaochang."
He sat down again, leaned forward, lowered his voice, and outlined his blueprint:
"First, King Loufan, you approached the tribes to the west and, under the guise of nomadism and trade, sent your most astute men to infiltrate the west."
"Your mission isn't to fight, but to find the safest route through the desert, locate every spring that can replenish water, and draw a detailed map!"
"At the same time, find out who has grudges against whom in the Western Regions, which king is greedy, which general is incompetent, and which tribe can be bribed!"
Then he looked at Wuliangha and said, "Uncle, send out the best hunters and scouts in your tribe, disguised as caravan guards or wanderers, to follow the Loufan people."
"The focus is on investigating the troop deployments of various countries, the strength of their city defenses, the routes of major caravans, and their escorts."
Finally, a cunning glint flashed in his eyes. "At the same time, I will send eloquent envoys, carrying gold, silk, and our promises, to contact those tribes and small countries that are dissatisfied with the status quo."
"For example, the Chechi Kingdom, which was just frightened by the Shuozhou Army, would its neighboring countries want to take advantage of the opportunity to bite it?"
"We can promise to help them expand their territory and share their wealth! We just need to light a few fires in the Western Regions and let them start a chaos themselves!"
Wuhan slammed the table and said, "When the roads are clear and the water source is found, and chaos breaks out in the Western Regions, it will be time for our cavalry to march west!"
"When the time comes, my uncle will lead the royal court's elite troops and sweep across the Western Regions with the force of a mountain crushing an egg! We will seize the wealth, craftsmen, and land there, and our strength will grow even greater!"
"Then I'll go back and deal with Zhao Muyun, or..."
He paused meaningfully, "...it might not be impossible to compete with that guy in the east for the position of common ruler of the grassland!"
These words made King Loufan's heart surge with emotion, and his eyes sparkled with gold, as if he had seen mountains of gold, silver and jewels.
Even the usually cautious Wuliangha was impressed by this huge plan and the opportunities it contained, and nodded slowly.
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