"Li Yuanhao occupied Kucha and expanded westward with the foundation. All the materials and craftsmen he had plundered were placed here. It seems that his goal is quite large, and the target is probably the Karakhan further west!" In the side hall, Li Zhang pointed at the newly built Western Regions sand table with a long stick in his hand and analyzed.

Since learning that Li Yuanhao entered the Western Regions, the Song Dynasty has been paying attention to his activities in the Western Regions. After Li Yuanhao plundered in Gaochang, he quickly settled down in Kuz. After all, he brought so many people, plus the looted materials and craftsmen, he had to use a fixed station, and Kuz just met his requirements.

To the west of the Uighurs in Gaochang is Karakhan. They are also dynasties established by the Uighurs. The land area is very vast. In general, most of the areas of the Beiting Protectorate of the Former Tang Dynasty and the Anxi Protectorate of the Anxi Protectorate were quite powerful.

The main ethnic group of Karakhan was the Uighurs, who had often married the Tang Dynasty for many years, so Karakhan always regarded him as his uncle to the Central Plains dynasty, and also called himself a nephew. The same is true for Gaochang Uighurs. They have always maintained a good relationship with the Song Dynasty. Although they had once surrendered to it because of fear of the Liao Kingdom, they have now cut off contact with the Liao Kingdom and strengthened their ties with the Song Dynasty.

However, just a few years ago, the internal division of the Karakhan Khan was divided into two Karakhan Khans. Among them, the Western Karakhan became a vassal of the Seljuk Empire, and later even depended on the Western Liao Dynasty, and was finally destroyed by the Huarazmo Dynasty.

In contrast, the Dongkara Khan retained the main part of the original Kara Khan. After the split, he sent envoys to the Song Dynasty and requested the enthronement of the Song Dynasty. The exchanges between the two sides were quite close. However, the alternation of new and old nobles within the Dongkara Khan led to great chaos in their country. In name, they were ruled by two great khans, but in fact, they had long split into more than a dozen forces of large and small.

"The internal chaos of Dongkara Khan is in chaos. Even though we mediated before, it still failed to resolve the internal conflicts. Now that we are invading Li Yuanhao, a strong enemy, is afraid..." Zhao Zhen also showed a solemn expression at the end. Li Yuanhao chose Dongkara Khan as his target, and he probably had already considered it clearly. After all, the other party is a huge but weak Khanate, which is simply a god-given country for Dangxiang.

Li Zhang also frowned at this time. He originally hoped that Li Yuanhao would not be able to go to the army, and it would be best if he could suffer a big loss in the Western Regions. Even if he could gain a firm foothold in the Western Regions, it would have to take decades. Li Yuanhao would be old by then, and his successor would probably be difficult for Li Yuanhao to have the ability. By then, the Song Dynasty should be able to extend his hands to the Western Regions, which would just solve the Dangxiang problem.

However, it seems that Li Yuanhao's plan is very smooth now. Gaochang Uighurs were beaten to pieces by him. Although the capital of Gaochang City was preserved, almost all other important cities were captured. The materials and craftsmen in the city were looted. In addition, Gaochang's army was already killed by the Dangxiang people, so he no longer had the intention to resist.

"Have our envoys been sent out? Have you contacted the countries in the Western Regions?" Li Zhang thought for a moment and finally asked. The problems within the Eastern Karakhan were too serious, so Li Zhang did not intend to expect them to block the Dangxiang people. The only hope now is the coalition forces of the Western Regions.

"Gaochang Uighurs and Huangtou Huihe are both willing to send troops, but Huangtou Huihe is too small and Gaochang is newly defeated. Even if the troops of the two countries are united, it may be difficult for them to resist the cavalry of the Dangxiang people. In addition, the Qiangtang tribes are still hesitating, and the envoys are still lobbying them, and they may have hope of sending troops. However, the hatred between the Western Karakhan and the Eastern Karakhan is too deep. They wish that the Eastern Karakhan will be unlucky, so they will definitely not send troops." Zhao Zhen said this time the envoy's lobbying situation in the Western Regions.

"Even if the Qiangtang tribes agree, they may have to barely protect themselves when they join forces with Huangtou and Gaochang. Moreover, all three are in the east, so it is probably difficult to rescue Dongkarakhan in the west!" Li Zhang shook his head at this time and said, relying on these countries or tribes in front of him, it is impossible to achieve the strategic purpose of extermination of the Dangxiang.

"I also know these, but apart from these countries, other Western Regions are either too weak or not close to our Song Dynasty. The most powerful Dongkarakhan has many internal conflicts. In fact, if they can resolve internal conflicts and unanimously go against them, Dangxiang may not be able to gain any advantage when they face them!" Zhao Zhen sighed again at this time.

"If we want to resolve the internal conflicts in the East Kara Khan, it is probably more difficult than sending troops to destroy the Dangxiang. After all, our interference in the Western Regions is only diplomatic and has no big impact on them. Those Dong Kara Khan nobles cannot listen to us. Now my only hope is that when they face external threats, they can temporarily release the internal conflicts and jointly exert external forces. This may preserve some of their strength like Gaochang." Li Zhang smiled bitterly at this time.

Regarding this Karakhan, Li Zhang had a description of ancient Central Asia. In the original history, after the Karakhan split into two parts, the civil strife of the Dongkarakhan never stopped. The nominal Khan and the deputy Khan could not rule the country at all. The remaining aristocratic separatist forces were divided into more than a dozen countries and fought endlessly. Although there was a period of prosperity, the early wars caused serious damage to the Dongkarakhan.

Later, the Liao Kingdom was destroyed by the Jin Dynasty, and some of the Khitans fled to the Western Regions to establish the Western Liao Dynasty and conquered the two Khans, which also made the East and West Karakhans become vassals of the Western Liao Dynasty, and later it was destroyed almost at the same time as the Western Liao Dynasty.

"Although the coalition forces of Gaochang, Huangtou and Qiangtang are a little weaker, with our support, we may be able to restrain Dangxiang. Then look at the performance of Dongkarakhan. If the other party can really unite, the situation in the Western Regions may turn around!" Zhao Zhen said optimistically in the end.

Li Zhang nodded when he heard this. Their influence on the Western Regions is still too weak, and they have done everything they can do now. As for which direction the situation in the Western Regions will develop in the next direction, it is not something they can control, so being optimistic can at least make them less worried.

"By the way, the navy has arrived in Goryeo? Have you found the exiled Wang Heng?" At this time, Li Zhang suddenly thought of another thing and asked.

Some time ago, news came from Goryeo again that the capital of Goryeo Kaijing was finally unable to defend it and was once again captured by the Liao army. Goryeo King Wang Heng escaped from the city and his whereabouts were unknown. The Navy of the Song Dynasty also rushed to the coast of Goryeo to accept Goryeo's exiled nobles and make plans to restrain the Liao Kingdom in the future.
Chapter completed!