After the first Northern Expedition against the grasslands, in order to strengthen the deterrent effect on the grasslands.
Zhao Huan not only invested heavily in establishing the Northern Army on the grasslands, but also stationed 100,000 elite troops there.
Furthermore, a wide highway was built between Heishui City and Beifu, which runs straight through the grassland, making the transportation of grain and fodder more convenient.
Meanwhile, the highway from Liangzhou to Heishui City has also been completed.
This highway runs through the desert, connecting the previously isolated Heishui City in the north with Xuanhua Prefecture, Liangzhou, and Pingxi Prefecture in the south.
This also strengthened the connection between the northern region and the south.
With the highway as a guarantee, the construction of Beifu also boosted the entire economy from Heishui City to Beifu, forming an economic belt.
Furthermore, as Khara-Khoto was a vital stop on the Silk Road, its commerce was more vibrant. Many merchants from the Western Regions chose to open trading companies in the northern part of the city, which also indirectly attracted caravans from the south.
Therefore, every day, caravans would travel in an endless stream from Xuanhua Prefecture and Liangzhou in the south to Heishui City, and then sell their goods in the northern prefecture.
However, recently, caravans have been turning back frequently.
The road north of Blackwater was blocked by the army, and all caravans were not allowed to pass.
The caravan headed south with great anxiety.
A few days later, rumors began to circulate in the towns south of the Hetao Road.
The once peaceful people began to stir.
News of the northern barbarians pressing in spread like wildfire throughout the Hetao region.
This caused widespread panic among the people, and everyone in the Hetao region felt insecure.
The war had only been going on for a few years, and the Hetao region was recovering from its previous wounds. The imperial court also invested heavily in Hetao to build roads, schools, and granaries.
The fertile fields destroyed in the war against Xia were gradually restored.
The men all had jobs, working on road repairs, building houses, and cutting down trees, earning at least two strings of cash each month.
With new clothes for their children, women who had no rice to cook no longer worried about having no rice in their rice bins.
Wangcai, the dog at the edge of the village, can finally sleep soundly.
But all of this became uncertain after news of the barbarian army's imminent advance arrived.
The shadow of war loomed over the Hetao Road.
Caravans have stopped transporting goods northward, and people have noticed that the government has recently increased its purchases of grain from the people.
On the main road, one could see the local militia transporting large and small carts of grain northward to Heishui City.
On the streets of Xingqing Prefecture, many people were discussing the southward migration of the barbarians.
Behind the Marshal's Mansion in Xingqing Prefecture, there is an elegant garden with an antique charm, where the spring breeze in May turns the banks of the pond green.
Tang Ke, the military commissioner of the Hetao Road, had dark circles under his eyes; he hadn't slept well for the past few days.
A barbarian army of 500,000 is pressing in and besieging Beifu. The situation at the front is urgent!
At this time, Yue Fei was not in Xingqing Prefecture, so he had no authority to mobilize the troops of Xingqing Prefecture and Heishan City.
Fan Chunren, the transport commissioner of the Hetao Circuit, said, "Prime Minister Tang, how about we transfer Liu Qi's army from Xuanhua Prefecture to the north to support the Northern Army?"
"Liu Qi is already waiting to advance westward." Tang Ke sighed. "The power to mobilize troops is not in my hands; it is up to Yue Fei."
"Has General Yue replied?"
In his letter, Yue Fei said: "No need to worry, just fortify the walls and clear the fields."
Fan Chunren's expression immediately changed: "What do you mean there's no need to worry? The barbarian army of 500,000 is pressing in, and Beifu is in imminent danger! Now all the heavy troops in Hetao have been transferred to Xichui. If Beifu falls, Heishui City will be in danger, and the barbarian army will advance unimpeded. The Hetao region, which the court has worked so hard to develop, will be handed over to them. In this way, Longyou will also be exposed to the barbarian cavalry. The court's efforts in the northwest will be in vain!"
Tang Ke was quite uneasy after Fan Chunren's words. If the matter was really that serious, he would also be held responsible.
After much hesitation, Tang Ke picked up his pen and began to write a memorial to the emperor, bringing up the matter to Tokyo and letting Tokyo make a decision.
Just as he finished writing a few words, a voice came from outside: "Report! Report! Great victory at Beiyuan Village! Great victory at Beiyuan Village! The Third Army of the Northern Army has routed a barbarian army of 120,000, beheading 70,000 and capturing 30,000!"
The guards at the gate did not dare to stop the messenger dressed in the Imperial City Guard uniform, who rushed over in one breath.
In his hand was Gu Changting's report.
Tang Ke and Fan Chunren exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.
Tang Ke picked up Gu Changting's report, glanced at it quickly, and his anxious expression turned into shock.
This...this...
Tang Ke's hands trembled uncontrollably.
"Excellent! This young master is no ordinary person! Very good!"
Beiyuan Village, with only 10,000 troops, managed to rout the barbarian army of 120,000.
Those who didn't know the situation might have thought that Yue Fei had fought this battle.
Fan Chunren took the report from Tang Ke, and his expression completely changed.
Tang Ke quickly erased the memorial he had just prepared to write to the emperor and then began writing the battle report for Beiyuan Village.
"Lord Lu has raised a fine son. Not only can he compose poems with a pen, but he can also take the head of an enemy general amidst a vast army!"
After finishing the battle report, Tang Ke's anxiety vanished, replaced by a surge of heroic spirit.
The battle report naturally credited the entire Third Army of the Northern Army with its achievements, as well as Lu You's contributions, but Tang Ke's contributions were also acknowledged.
With the barbarian army pressing in, it was Tang Ke who remained calm and composed, commanding the troops effectively from behind the scenes, stabilizing logistics and morale, which enabled the front lines to achieve victory!
Of course, one cannot write so directly to the emperor; one must be a little more subtle.
It briefly describes how brave Gu Changting and others were, and then half of the text describes how the entire army and civilians of Hetao Road cooperated with each other, remained calm and composed, stabilized the overall situation, and provided full support to the front line.
In short, while not mentioning his own contributions, almost every word in half the text is about his own achievements.
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