Gaochang is an ancient place name, located in today's Turpan, Xinjiang. This is a local regime of the Han nationality in the western regions. Why did Gao Chang finally meet the Tang Dynasty? Why did the Tang Dynasty attach so much importance to a small Gaochang country with a population of only 30,000 that it sent 200,000 troops to attack? The final result of this expedition was surprising, but it laid the foundation for the development of the Tang Dynasty to the west.

In Gao Changguo during the reign of Emperor Taizong, the king's name was Mi Wen Tai. Wen Tai began to maintain good relations with the Central Government of the Central Plains in the Tang Dynasty. In the fourth year of Zhenguan, Mi and his wife also went to Chang 'an. Emperor Taizong received Mi Wen Tai with high standards and made his wife a princess. From then on, the relationship between the two sides quickly entered the honeymoon period, and all the movements of the Western Regions and Thailand were reported to the Tang Dynasty in time.

However, a huge shadow hung over the western regions, and no one expected that it would affect the relationship between Gaochang and the Tang Dynasty. What is that? The problem is the western Turks.

After the death of Tong Yehu, the leader of the West Turkic, his heirs were not convinced of each other and finally divided into two factions to fight. The war lasted for several years, from two to six years. All countries in the western region are not immune. They have to face two factions within West Turkestan to make a choice. Of course, they can't choose more. Which faction controls which faction you can only follow.

At the same time, the two major factions of West Turkistan are striving for the support of the Tang Dynasty. In the twelfth year of Zhenguan, the last thing the Tang Dynasty wanted to see happened. The western Turkic faction supported by Emperor Taizong is getting weaker and weaker, while the faction that Emperor Taizong does not support is getting stronger and stronger. Its leader wants to establish a valley, not only to defeat his opponent, but also to unify the whole western region. While the influence of the School of Desire Valley increased greatly, it gradually had a serious friction with the Tang Dynasty. After all, the Tang Dynasty supported its opponents. Want to control Gaochang in Guji and jointly attack Yanqi with Gaochang. Yanqi is located at the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains, just across the Tianshan Mountains from Gaochang. At the same time, the desire to set up a valley blocked the communication between the western regions and the Tang Dynasty, which is called blocking the road of tribute. In the past, some Zhongyuan people fled to the western regions, but now they are not allowed to go back if they want to. The attack on Yanqi was a great shock to the Tang Dynasty, because both Yanqi and Gaochang were vassals of the Tang Dynasty, and Emperor Taizong sent messengers to ask Gaochang to put the Yanqi people back.

But Gaochang disagreed, because Gaochang was controlled by the West Turkic Valley. To set up a staff supervisor near Gaochang Valley, it is called Ashina Moment. Nominally, he is General Gao Chang, but in fact, he controls Gao Chang on behalf of the Valley of Desire. Emperor Taizong seemed to know this situation, so Emperor Taizong specially asked Ashina to come to Chang 'an. Of course, Gao Chang could do nothing, so he had to send messengers to Chang 'an to explain.

In fact, the contact between the envoys of the two sides is to communicate their positions and get to know each other. When the envoy of the Tang Dynasty arrived in Gaochang, Wen Tai was in a difficult situation. The messenger asked him why he attacked Yanqi. Wen Tai's answer is: "The eagle is flying in the sky, the pheasant is flying in the wormwood, the cat is swimming in the hall, and the mouse is at home. Is it not alive? " This answer means that no one cares about anyone. This is obviously not paying attention to the central government of Emperor Taizong.

Why did Gao Chang Wang Wentai have so much courage to fight against Tiankhan Taizong?

Wen Tai once told his friends that he had been to the Sui Dynasty and also to the Tang Dynasty. He always thought that the sui dynasty was stronger than the Tang dynasty, and the powerful sui dynasty had no right to send troops to the western regions. Even if the Tang dynasty sent troops, it would not be too much, because with more troops, it would be difficult to supply military supplies; If he sends less than 30 thousand troops, his strength is not enough to defeat Gao Chang; Tang Bing crossing Mohe Rock Moraine (the famous Gobi Desert) will make Tang Jun exhausted, and Gaochang will wait and wait. Of course, for Mi Wentai, he also has an important backer. The West Turkic Valley was stationed in Khan Futu City (the northern court of the Tang Dynasty, now Jimsar, Xinjiang), and it was in a corner with Gaochang. West Turkic is the most important weight for Gao Chang, and it is the decisive force for Gao Chang to resist the central government of Tang Dynasty.

At the same time, what about the court of Emperor Taizong? What should I do in the Tang Dynasty?

All peace efforts failed, and Emperor Taizong was faced with the question of whether to go to war.

There were two completely different views in the Tang Dynasty. The hawk school thinks that the patience of the Tang Dynasty has reached its limit, and the issue of the Western Regions can no longer be allowed to develop. From a long-term strategic point of view, sending troops is imminent. The other faction opposes the use of force in the western region. Their view is that the burden of sending troops for a long distance is too heavy to pay such a heavy price for the western regions. Supporters of the latter view did not leave a clear record, but from this point of view, it is consistent with Wei Zhi's consistent thinking.

So, will the expeditionary force come out or not? No, these problems can't be solved, and the consequences are very serious. Mi Wen Tai said that this problem does exist and it is difficult to investigate. The harsh natural environment makes it difficult to supply troops. Less troops may not solve the problem; The more troops are sent, the heavier the national financial burden.

Continue to endure or meet the challenge? Emperor Taizong decided to fight resolutely.

The key to this war is not the Tang Dynasty's crusade against disobedience. If it's just Gao Chang, it's too simple. The key is the western Turkistan behind Gaochang, and what the Tang Dynasty must seriously consider is whether it can resolutely fight against the western Turkistan. If you fight, you must be prepared for the West Turkistan to participate in the war. The west Turkistan wanted to set up a valley, and just won successive victories, and most countries in the western regions were conquered by him. The greatest preparation for pacifying Gaochang in the Tang Dynasty was to fight in an all-round way. No matter from the overall strategy or international politics, we should consider this point. If you don't fight, you will win. We can't take any chances with the west Turkic behind Gaochang.

The Tang Dynasty sent troops. The imperial edict to Wen Tai issued by Emperor Taizong is full of stories about crimes committed against Wen Tai, and the reference to West Turkistan only means that Wen Tai provoked the civil war in West Turkistan, and the conclusion is that Wen Tai should be punished. This shows that the crusade against Wen Tai is an internal affair of China, and it is the emperor's crusade against Wen Tai who failed in courtship, not a foreign war. The implication is that I don't want outsiders to intervene.

However, if outsiders intervene, is the Tang Dynasty afraid? Of course not. Emperor Taizong prepared for a great war.

Hou Shangshu, the official department, is the marching general manager, Niu Jinda and Xue are the deputy general managers, and there are many general managers. In addition to government soldiers, there are also many ethnic arms, including Xue Yantuo's army, the Turkic soldiers led by Ashnashel, and the Tiele soldiers commanded by Chekhov Hurley. Just a few examples. How many troops did the Tang Dynasty send? According to "Biography of Gao Chang in Old Tang Dynasty", the total number is about 200,000.

History is sometimes so meaningful and seemingly absurd. Isn't it ironic that Wan Li, not far from the Tang Dynasty, was able to win easily with such a mighty invasion? In fact, this is the truth of defeating the enemy without fighting in ancient times. This is almost the greatest victory with the least cost. Therefore, the pivotal position of the Tang Dynasty in the Western Regions provided the most basic guarantee for international cultural exchanges. What's the population of Gaochang? 37738 people. This is obviously not Tang Jun's main goal. Tang Jun's huge army is for the West Turkic Valley. And the result? Desire Valley detected Tang Jun's strength and knew the determination of Emperor Taizong. Finally, before Tang Jun arrived, Yumu set out ahead of time and ran a thousand miles to the west in one breath. The western Turkic generals stationed in Khan Futu surrendered. When Wen Tai heard that the troops of the Tang Dynasty had crossed the Gobi and appeared in Yiwu, he was so nervous that he died without coming up.

When the old king died, Wang Zhisheng, the new king, sent a letter to Hou, saying that the old king had offended the kingdom, and now he was punished and died. I am the new king, and I know nothing. Please have pity on me. Hou wrote back: As long as you surrender, everything will be fine. However, Mi Zhisheng didn't want to surrender, so Hou Jijun attacked. In Hou's army, there were a group of skilled craftsmen who first arrived in Hami and made many siege equipment with trees on Tianshan Mountain, and now they are finally used. Mi Zhisheng had no strength to fight back and had to surrender.

History is sometimes so meaningful and seemingly absurd. Isn't it ironic that Wan Li, not far from the Tang Dynasty, was able to win easily with such a mighty invasion? In fact, this is the truth of defeating the enemy without fighting in ancient times. This is almost the greatest victory with the least cost. Therefore, the pivotal position of the Tang Dynasty in the Western Regions provided the most basic guarantee for international cultural exchanges.