Chapter 1237: The Last Glow of the Great Yuezhi
Just as Dian Wei thought, there was no hope of peace on the Kushan side.
With Yuan Shu spending all his wealth and Chen Xi's unremitting support, a marching route connecting the Central Plains and Cao Cao appeared.
The quality of this road is very worrying. It is estimated that it will be abandoned again in one or two years.
But... the Han Dynasty did not forget the existence of its original life after enjoying a few years of good times.
If Chen Xi hadn't been around back then, would there have been no wars and no food transported?
So when the standards are lowered, many things can be achieved by force.
Counsellors pave the way and disperse the water vapor in the high altitude to ensure that the environment does not change, and strongmen pave the way and ensure that the road is compacted.
Shortly after the large forces of White Horse, Wolf Cavalry and Iron Cavalry arrived, mecha shield guards and a large amount of food were transported to Cao Cao.
"Has the Han Dynasty gone crazy?" Atel looked at the information in his hand in disbelief. The Han Dynasty actually planned to forcefully break through the Beigui Pass.
You know, this choice was completely impossible in the eyes of the Kushans .
If the Han Dynasty did not have other strategic purposes for such military mobilization, then this behavior would mean that the Han Dynasty intended to gamble its national destiny with the Kushans. Either the Kushans would rise to power in one battle, or the Han Dynasty would decline in one battle.
"No, they are not here to cause trouble for us!" Barak expressed a different opinion.
"The defense of the mountain pass is impregnable. Even if all the troops coming from the Han Dynasty are elite imperial guards, they can't break in. At that time, the mountain pass will be turned into a complete meat grinder battlefield!"
"What's more, the terrain here is definitely not suitable for driving. The enemy's White Horse Volunteers and Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry are not suitable for frontal assaults!" Barak analyzed rationally.
"You mean, the Han Dynasty is going to use military force against Rome?" Atel nodded after hearing Barak's analysis.
Just as Barak said, if the Han Dynasty only mobilized the shield guards and cavalry, it might be said that they were planning to use troops against the Kushans. After all, the survivability of these two legions is invincible, and frontal assault is a very advantageous type.
However, although the Wolf Riders and White Horses are powerful, they are definitely not suitable for breaking the formation. If these two legions enter the mountain pass, they will only become the souls of the dead washed underground by a massive rain of arrows.
Therefore, the two of them had similar ideas and turned to Rome. Rome had recently been fighting with Great Britain on a small scale, and they knew very well that if the Han Dynasty intended to get involved, it was not impossible.
After all, the Han Dynasty had taken such actions before, and it is not impossible that it now plans to suppress Rome together with Great Britain and provide some space for the development of forces in Central Asia and Eastern Europe.
"No , we can't be so optimistic!" Kapil calmly interrupted their analysis.
In a calm state, Kapil was able to compete with the clerk Zhu Helai, so he clearly saw the problem here.
However, even wise men cannot avoid falling into inertial thinking. In Kapil's actual experience and strategic planning, Yamaguchi is indeed an impregnable type.
"The Iron Cavalry and the new group of shield guards were most likely mobilized for us. The Han Dynasty has the capital to fight on two fronts, and the speed of the white horses is enough for them to travel back and forth between various regions. We should continue to strengthen our defenses and request reinforcements from the rear!" After analyzing the situation, Kapil gave his own suggestions.
"There are not many forces left in Peshawar. Do you mean to transfer those people from the Royal Guards over here?" Barak frowned.
"No, he should be talking about the elite of Dayuezhi." Atel nodded slowly. Kapil's analysis was very reasonable from the perspective of seeking stability.
If that's the case, it does make sense, but the question is how to get these people over here.
The so-called Great Yuezhi had a total of five branches, which were actually the five great nobles that made up the Great Yuezhi. Originally, the position of the leader was rotated by these five nobles, but after the Kushan branch of the Great Yuezhi established the Kushan Empire, the other four nobles did not rotate much. Xiumi and Shuangmi did not care much about it, so they had a good relationship with the Kushan branch. Xidun and Dumi were a little unhappy.
The five branches of the Great Yuezhi were very powerful. The Xiumi branch produced Sethi, the Shuangmi branch produced Arvind, and the royal branches of the Kushans, Dumi and Xidun, were not well-known. However, they lived in the northern part of the Kushan Empire and in the future they defected to Ardashir. After a dispute over the distribution of interests, they united with the Sakas to produce the Hephthalites, also known as the White Huns.
The fighting power of the Huns was recognized from East Asia to Central Asia, and the fact that they inherited this name was enough to show how strong their fighting power was. At their peak, the Hephthalites even defeated the Sassanid Persians and forced them to pay tribute. It has to be said that the fighting power of these guys who came out of East Asia was more or less outrageous at times.
The Xitun and Dumi branches have always been in a semi-closed state and do not have very close ties with the Kushans themselves. Although they are also considered royal families, due to their poor relationship with the main branch of the Kushans, they generally have no sense of presence and rarely participate in Kushan meetings.
Although because of the Kushan Emperor Vasudeva I, the two tribes of Xitun and Dumi both contributed some manpower and resources to a certain extent, which can be regarded as an appreciation and investment in the Kushan Emperor Vasudeva I.
But it is still a long way from paying off the original capital. Even Xiu Mi and Shuang Mi have not paid off the original capital.
After thinking about it, Atel sent his and Barak's analysis and suggestions to the rear.
"The North also needs reinforcements?" Weisutipo I was a little troubled. Ever since the war on two fronts broke out, the South had been frequently asking for support.
After forming alliances and making various plans, he used American immigrants and Roman barbarians to fill the gap in the Beigui Pass, sent Oswald and others to the south, and did achieve some results.
At least on paper, Rahul's war in Southern Guizhou was extremely effective, but another problem it brought was that Southern Guizhou had accumulated too many soldiers.
In addition, even Temujin was transferred there, and Vasudeva I wanted more, so he continued to increase the Kushan's bargaining chips in southern Guizhou.
However, Weisutipo I did not expect that the Northern Gui, which had always been impregnable, would actually ask for reinforcements .
Although it is just a theoretical analysis, would Vasudeva dare to gamble?
The Han Dynasty increased its troops, so he had no choice but to follow suit. The Southern Gui side still had some strategic depth, but the Northern Gui side had none at all. If they were defeated, they would be completely defeated.
"Are there any good options?" Vasudeva I thought with a headache. The power of the Great Yuezhi is not so easy to control.
If Nangui is the force he conquered, although it has a rebellious nature, he can indeed use it freely because this is the value he gets after winning.
Then Beigui is his partner. Although he is the foundation for him to conquer the South, he cannot do it freely. He often needs to consider the other party's reaction. This is a headache for Weisutipo I.
But he recognized Atler's ability. Although it was just a rational analysis, the fact that Atler sent all these things back made the tendency he represented very obvious.
So no matter what, he should give some support, which can be considered a wise move.
But Weisutipo I was very troubled. Although Xiumi and Shuangmi had not yet spent their original capital, they had already spent all the money except for the original capital.
It is a bit unrealistic to expect to completely drain the two families and get anything. He is the emperor of Kushan, but also the king of Yuezhi. This act of complete swallowing and annexation is likely to cause backlash among Yuezhi.
As mentioned before, Southern Gui was a complete loser, and even if they wanted to rebel, they had no choice but to surrender, but Northern Gui did.
It was not a difficult choice for them to choose between being completely annexed and giving up the foundation of the Kushan Empire.
They also had the opportunity and choice to defect to other empires, which was also the biggest headache for Vasudeva I.
He couldn't force the Xidun and Dumi families. If he pushed them too hard, they would most likely choose other paths directly. That would be a tragedy for their loved ones and a joy for their enemies.
However, after careful consideration, Vasudeva I decided to visit the territories of the Yiton and Dumi families in person.
Although the relations between Xitun and Dumi were not very good with the main branch of Kushan, they did not completely resist Kushan. Wasn't it because of the very clear royal dividends under this feudal system?
"Greetings, great uncle!" Weisutipo I kept himself very humble because he wanted a lot.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" The elders of the Xidun clan understood what Vasuttam I meant, so they bowed to him indifferently.
When he heard the other party address him as "Your Majesty", Vasudeva I understood that the other party was reminding him of his identity as the King of Dayuezhi.
However, even if he understood it, Vasudeva I could only pretend that he didn't hear it and chat with the elders of the Xidun lineage.
The tactic of keeping the old man busy was very successful. The elders of the Xidun family were obviously not as young and strong as Vasuttipo I. They were soon distracted by Vasuttipo I's rambling, and their attention became increasingly exhausted.
"Well, your Majesty, if you have any requests, just make them known!"
Finally, the old man couldn't stand it anymore. They originally wanted to rely on their status to make Weisutipo I give up, but they didn't expect Weisutipo I to be so shameless and directly use the tactic of enduring the old man.
This let the old man know that if he didn't take out something today, Weisutipo would not leave, so he just asked straight to the point.
"The Han Dynasty has sent additional personnel to Beigui, and I would like to ask the Xidun clan to send someone!" Weisutipo I raised the question high, and then put it down gently.
"Twenty thousand elite troops!" said the old man from the Xidun faction. Hearing what Weisutipo I said, he did not resist too much.
They were also aware of the situation in Beigui. While the city was impregnable, it was probably Nangui that could not hold out in the south, so Weisutipo I planned to transfer northern troops to the south. Their elite troops guarding the entrance of Beigui were just a change of place to be stationed, which was harmless.
So the old man asked for 20,000 elite troops and planned to send Vasuttipo I away directly.
However, the old man underestimated Vasuttipo I's ability to fleece the sheep. When Vasuttipo I realized that there was indeed money to be made from the Yidun clan, Vasuttipo I continued to outlive the old man without any hesitation.
Anyway, the content of his confession was basically how difficult his life was and how critical the situation in Kushan was.
After defeating the Han Dynasty this time, maybe they can propose a marriage alliance with the Han Dynasty. Their skills in making big promises almost made even the old man excited.
But an old fox is an old fox. Even if Weisutipo I said a lot of nonsense, he just held on to the 20,000 elite troops and refused to let go.
Until the old man fell into a coma and pretended to be dead, Weisutipo I was unable to get anything more out of him.
Weisutipo I knew in his heart that the old men from the Xidun faction could at least mobilize twice as many elite troops, but the other party's attitude was so firm that Weisutipo I could only settle for the second best.
Without pursuing elite troops, he stole dozens of young officers from Xidun's faction. These young people did not have as many evil intentions as the old man, and Weisutipo I easily instigated these people.
After hearing about what happened to Xidun's clan, Dumi simply closed the door to visitors and gave only 20,000 elite troops, not even giving Weisutipo I a chance to enter.
But even so, Vasudeva I still managed to win over a dozen outstanding young people from Dumi with his excellent speeches.
"Why do you do this?" The old man from the Dumi family found the old man from the Yidun family at night.
"Just give him a chance. He is indeed the best King of Dayuezhi in recent years!" said the old man from Xidun's faction indifferently.
"You should know what I'm talking about!" The old man from the Dumi clan said calmly while holding up the wine bowl.
"Do you think we still have a chance?" The old man from the Xidun family sighed.
"No!" The old man from the Dumi family also sighed.
Yes, they all have no chance. Even though the Kushans now have a resurrection system, the two old men are very clear that the Kushans are beyond salvation.
They all knew very well that although the Kushans were winning victory after victory, they were all insignificant victories and everything now was just a last gasp, so the most sensible thing for them to do was to surrender and become the guides.
But old man Xidun was unwilling to accept this, and neither was old man Dumi. They were both old men who had witnessed the rise of this empire.
The long-cherished wish of the Great Yuezhi has become hopeless, but they do not want to see the fall of the Kushan Empire.
So the two old men said that they would not give it, but they still gave all the young people and strength who were willing to resist and contribute to the country to Vasudeva I.
Just like a noble family, they divided their property into several parts and sent them to the Han Dynasty, Rome and Kushan respectively.
From today onwards, there will be no more Xidun and Dumi.
"Respect the Great Yue Clan!"
"Respect the Great Yue Clan!"
When people found the two old men again, they had completely lost their voice. No one knew what they saw in the last moments, but their faces were filled with smiles.
