"The Western Region Uighurs are divided into the Gaochang Uighurs and the Kucha Uighurs. Of these two branches, the Gaochang Uighurs are pro-Liao, while the Kucha Uighurs are pro-Liao and pro-Song. It was the Kucha Uighurs who sent envoys to the Song Dynasty a few years ago."
Di Qing reported what he had learned to Zhao Jun: "Last year I sent someone to inform the Uighur King of Gaochang, asking Gaochang to submit, but they sternly refused."
"What do the Kucha Uighurs say?"
Only then did Zhao Jun realize that it was actually the Kucha Uighurs who had been sending envoys to the Song Dynasty to offer tributes in the past few years.
He had previously thought that the Western Region Uighurs had come to pay tribute all year round. From the Tiansheng period to the fourth year of Jingyou, they had come five times in fourteen years.
After defeating the Western Xia and Liao Kingdoms, they paid tribute every year. It seemed a bit unethical to send troops to destroy them directly. As a result, only a branch of them paid tribute, and the main force, the Gaochang Uighurs, had no intention of paying attention to the Song Dynasty at all.
"The Kucha Uighurs expressed their willingness to submit."
Di Qing said, "Even in their situation, they are also part of the Western Region Uighurs and are subject to the King of Gaochang, so they have no way to directly express their intention to submit to the Song Dynasty."
"That's quite interesting. It seems that this Kucha Uighur should be a regional governor of the Gaochang Uighurs, a type with a high degree of autonomy."
Zhao Jun smiled and then asked, "Have you investigated their situation?"
"Um."
Di Qing said, "The exact number of people is unknown, but it should be around 300,000 to 400,000. They also annexed the Ganzhou Uighurs who were defeated by the Western Xia that year, so their army should have numbered in the tens of thousands."
"With only 340,000 men and a few tens of thousands of troops, you dare to resist the Song Dynasty?"
Zhao Jun narrowed his eyes and said, "This King of Gaochang is quite interesting. Doesn't he know how confident the former King of Gaochang was when facing the Tang Dynasty, and how he was eventually destroyed by Hou Junji?"
Di Qing said, "The Uighurs don't keep history books, so I think they probably don't know these things. Moreover, the Central Plains dynasty is so far away from them, so maybe that's why."
"How is the business in the Hetao region going? How is the food and fodder storage?"
Zhao Jun asked.
He had long had ideas about the Western Regions, but he had not yet taken action because he had just conquered Western Xia and still needed to manage it.
Otherwise, it would be too costly to mobilize food and supplies from Chang'an in the rear to fight the Western Region Uighurs, a distance of more than 2,000 kilometers. Even the Tang Dynasty waited until its peak and defeated the Turks before it began to seek control of the Western Regions.
"There are now over 400,000 people living in Hetao, mainly engaged in farming and grazing. We tried to attract people from Guanzhong, but it's too far away."
Di Qing said helplessly, "Many people are unwilling to move even if they are given land. Moreover, the population of Guanzhong has been recovering in recent years. It is too difficult to move people to further places."
"Well, there's no rush. The country has plenty of food now, and the population will grow very quickly. The main issue is transportation."
Zhao Jun thought for a moment, then said, "Starting next year, we will officially conquer the Western Regions. When I return, I will order the transfer of grain from all over the country to the northwest. Then you can proceed step by step, first stationing troops in Ganzhou and Shazhou, and then attack Xizhou."
"yes!"
Di Qing agreed.
Zhao Jun raised his head and looked outside the door of the inn hall. The door was open because charcoal might cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
I don't know when it started to drizzle outside the door, and the raindrops were floating in the air.
He whispered, "The Western Province Uighurs are overestimating their own capabilities, and they deserve to perish. We must control the Silk Road to ensure peace of mind. When the time comes, you must win the battle in one go. Don't drag out a protracted war against a small Western Province."
"yes!"
Di Qing nodded firmly and seriously, he knew what the dean meant.
(End of this chapter)
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