I really became a king.

Chapter 372 Western Frontier Corridor
After leaving the East Demon Realm Pass, it is still a barren and dry land.

To the east, within a range of nearly 10,000 kilometers to Humen Pass, there is not a drop of water, and it is more desolate than a desert.

After entering the Demon Realm Pass, he saw that Jiang Yi had tried before to bring water from the East Demon Realm Pass into this drought-stricken land, but failed.

No matter how much water there is, it will disappear completely once you pass the East Demon Realm Pass, and this dry land is still a barren land as before.

In response to this, Jiang Yi took Fulong, Zhang Zhiyuan from the Xingwu Yamen, and Dong Chengyang, the fourth ancestor of the Wenzong Mansion, to investigate several times, but found nothing.

The entire drought-stricken land seemed to be shrouded by some force, without a drop of water.

Jiang Yi could only let it go for the time being. Fortunately, compared to before, there was now sufficient water supply inside the Demon Realm, and survival was no longer a problem.

The only thing that needed to be solved was the food problem for millions of people. Before Jiang Yi took over the Demon Realm Pass, everything in the Demon Realm Pass, including water, food, and even travel expenses, basically relied on support from the Dali Imperial Capital.

But Jiang Yi knew very well that he had to solve the most important problem of food. Otherwise, even if he truly took full control of Western Xinjiang, it would be difficult for him to achieve true self-reliance.

Fortunately, after a period of rectification, all the horse bandits in the drought-stricken land have been incorporated and gathered together, and many large and small underground canyons have been cleared out.

In these underground canyons, a crop unique to the arid land can be grown, a kind of dryland onion and wheat. It is also magical. This is the first time that Jiang Yi has seen a crop that dies when it comes into contact with water. From the beginning to the end, the entire growth process does not require any water irrigation. Even if it is touched by a drop of water, a large area will wither.

Jiang Yi made use of all the underground canyons that could be used and sent a group of soldiers and civilians to carry out military reclamation there.

However, Jiang Yi knew in his heart that this was not a long-term solution, as it was equivalent to being indirectly strangled by the Dali Imperial Capital.

Once the two sides reach the point of tearing each other apart, the Dali Imperial Capital can send out an army at any time to launch a surprise attack on these underground canyons, and the food supply in the Demon Realm Pass will be cut off.

Of course, it usually doesn't come to this.

Just like now, the news of his taking control of Demon Realm Pass had already been passed back to the Dali Imperial Capital, but military aid supplies from the Dali Imperial Capital were still being transported to Demon Realm Pass in a steady stream.

Each transport team has an easier job than before because they no longer have to transport large amounts of water. They only need to transport food and other supplies necessary for survival.

In addition to these transport teams, there are also teams of merchants traveling back and forth in this vast, dry land.

Before Jiang Yi arrived, there were also many merchants traveling in this arid land, but most of them were ordinary peddlers.

Any larger business would not set foot in this forbidden commercial area.

Yes, from Humen Pass in the imperial capital of Dali to Demon Realm Pass in the western border, this vast area of ​​land has been designated as a commercial restricted area by all businesses, big and small.

There is even a saying circulating among all businesses: It is better to go to hell than to enter the Western Frontier.

The Western Frontier Demon Realm Pass was extremely prosperous during the time when the Dali royal family was stationed there. Although it was a difficult road without water, it was the only way to Xifan, the northern part of the Baiyue Dynasty, and the southern part of the Quanshi Dynasty. These regions had their own unique specialties, which could earn huge profits after being transported to the four central dynasties.

If you don't go through the Demon Realm Pass, you will need to go around the Demon Realm Mountains in a big circle. Although there is water on this road, it takes several times longer and is extremely dangerous along the way.

Therefore, during the period when the Dali royal family was guarding the area, the business in Demon Realm Pass was extremely prosperous.

But after the era of separatist regimes, especially during the reign of the Chi family, not only did they have to suffer from endless looting and extortion by horse bandits along the way, but after reaching the Demon Realm Pass, they had to pay huge taxes and suffer layers of exploitation. The profits they earned were almost gone, and it was even very likely that they would lose everything they had.

Therefore, all the merchants gave up this commercial route and chose to go south or north around the Demon Realm Mountains to enter the Western Frontier. Only a few individual merchants chose to stay because they could not stand such a long and dangerous journey.

Now that the Dali King's flag has regained control of the Western Frontier, the entire Demon Realm Pass has become a water town, and the horse bandits along the way have basically disappeared, so some businesses are trying to return to this commercial route.

After leaving Humen Pass to the west, they trekked for more than half a month, entered from the East Demon Realm Pass, exited from the West Demon Realm Pass, followed the Western Xinjiang Corridor, entered the Heishui Pass to the west, and entered the Western Tibet Dynasty.

Trek several hundred kilometers southwards and enter the northern part of the Baiyue Dynasty through Niangzi Pass, or trek thousands of kilometers northwards and enter the southern part of the Quanshi Dynasty through Hanshan Pass.

Of course, only a few businesses have returned to this business route. Most businesses are still observing in secret. They are not sure whether the new Lord of Western Frontier will be the same as the Chi family.

However, most businesses are still looking forward to this. After all, Jiang Yi's reputation in the Manghuang Continent is not bad. Apart from some romantic affairs, he is still very prestigious.

As for those romantic affairs that may seem messy to some people, they are just minor details.

Jiang Yi did not disappoint them. He inherited the royal tradition of Western Xinjiang from two thousand years ago and was even more tolerant.

There is no heavy tax collected from this. One only needs to pay a small amount of tax silver, or even transport some food, to pass through the Demon Realm Pass. Moreover, in the tens of thousands of kilometers of red drought land, one will also be protected by roaming cavalry.

After the news spread, a large number of trading companies began to pour into Western Xinjiang, and many trading companies of ethnic minorities from the border areas also stayed at the Demon Realm Pass. The two sides exchanged goods here, saving a lot of tedious processes.

Therefore, Prince Yi's Palace also specially planned an area as a trading place for both parties.

On this day, Jiang Yi walked out of Prince Yi's Palace and went down Kongtong Mountain. This was also the first time he walked out of Prince Yi's Palace after he took control of Western Xinjiang.

It is because there is a group of important visitors today, coming from the imperial capital of Dali.

Jiang Yi counted on his fingers and found that more than two months had passed since he led his troops to "rebel" against the Dali Imperial Capital. The Dali Imperial Capital, or to be more precise, his royal grandfather, had finally responded.

"Your Highness, the capital of Dali seems to be too peaceful this time..." Lin Yizi, who was accompanying them, said on the way to the East Demon Realm Pass.

"Yeah, it's a little too calm." Jiang Yi nodded. Not only was it too calm, but the reaction was also too slow.

It has been more than two months since they reacted. If I am not mistaken, they must be secretly investigating how I appeared in the Western Frontier Demon Realm without anyone noticing.

"Let's go and see what the message is."

Jiang Yi said this and rode his horse towards the East Demon Realm Pass. Lin Yizi didn't say anything else and followed him silently.

The control of Western Xinjiang has become a fact this time, but it is not enough. He also needs the recognition of the imperial capital of Dali. Not only that, Jiang Yi also wants the power of a vassal state in a legitimate way.

Jiang Yi silently felt the Sumeru Palace of Shanshui Martial Realm, seeing no reaction, and sighed secretly.

Although they successfully escaped from the quagmire of Dali Imperial Capital this time, the price they paid was a bit high.

Not to mention that his overall cultivation was weakened, it recovered after a while, but the Sumeru Palace in his body also became quiet.

No matter how hard he tried, he could not enter the Yinshan Realm again.

In other words, he could not go to the Taimang tribe for a while, and this time could be short or long. Fortunately, the connection was not completely cut off, and messages could still be transmitted through the Xumi Palace. When Jiang Yi used the power of various parties to refine the stone plate to transform the Demon Realm Pass, he tried to take this opportunity to open up the passage between the Demon Realm Pass and the Taimang tribe, but failed.

It's not that the stone plate's refining grade is not high enough. The stone plate's grade is high enough, but it lacks some necessary conditions. As for what is missing, Jiang Yi has been thinking about it for some time, but he still can't figure it out.

"Too reckless..." Jiang Yi chewed on these two words lightly in his mind, his expression a little solemn.

Originally, the Taimang tribe was his last retreat, so he wouldn't have to worry at all even if he really couldn't survive in the Manghuang Continent.

But now, the Taimang tribe can no longer go there.

"Maybe I have to make some compromises..." Jiang Yi murmured to himself.

We cannot completely fall out with the Dali Imperial Capital now, otherwise the tiny enclave of Demon Realm Pass alone will not be able to resist the huge Dali Dynasty.

Moreover, when the Demon Realm Pass was first built, the purpose was to prevent alien races from the border areas, so the construction center was placed on the West Demon Realm Pass. As for the East Demon Realm Pass, although it is also a strong pass, it is far inferior to the West Demon Realm Pass.

If the Dali Imperial Capital is really determined to take back the Demon Realm Pass, it will not be able to hold out for long with the hundreds of thousands of troops it has, even if they are all gathered at the East Demon Realm Pass.

What's more, they have to guard against sudden invasions from border aliens at the Western Demon Realm Pass, and a mere few hundred thousand troops are simply not enough to take care of everything.

Looking at the East Demon Realm Pass that was already in sight, Jiang Yi suddenly asked, "How long will it take to rebuild the East Demon Realm Pass?"

Besides Fulong, the others who followed closely behind him were Ding Ren and Lin Yizhi. Fulong always kept silent in front of outsiders, and Ding Ren had a relatively low status and identity, so he couldn't get a word in on such an important matter. The only one who could answer this question was Lin Yizhi.

Lin Yizhi glanced at the East Demon Realm Pass in the distance, and understood what his prince meant. After thinking for a while, he spoke: "My prince, rebuilding the East Demon Realm Pass is time-consuming and laborious, and involves too many things. It is too sensitive, and I am afraid it will be difficult to achieve."

Jiang Yi shook his head and smiled, knowing that he was a little too fanciful. It was simply unrealistic to want to build the East Demon Realm Pass into a natural fortress like the West Demon Realm Pass.

You know, when the Western Demon Realm Pass was built, the entire Dali Dynasty spent a lot of money, and it lasted for more than ten years, and countless prisoners and laborers were conscripted.

Moreover, the Dali Imperial Capital would not allow him to rebuild the East Demon Realm Pass. By then, the relationship would be completely broken off.

Therefore, the most urgent task is to stabilize the imperial grandfather in the imperial capital of Dali and consolidate his position in the western border.

Of course, Jiang Yi is not Chi clan, and he will not hide in the Demon Realm forever.

His target was the vast grassland outside the Western Demon Realm, where the grass and water were lush and it was an ideal place to raise cavalry.

This grassland is connected to the Baiyue Dynasty in the south, the Quanshi Dynasty in the north, and extends westward into the territory of the Xifan Dynasty, giving birth to countless powerful cavalry.

The reason why the cavalry of the three dynasties of Xifan, Baiyue and Quanshi were so powerful was precisely due to this vast grassland.

Even the northern border of the Dali Dynasty, with only a small piece of grassland, was able to form a powerful cavalry. Of course, it does not mean that cavalry cannot be formed without this grassland. The four central dynasties all have countless pastures and countless cavalry.

However, compared with the border ethnic groups who have been on horseback all year round, they are still a little inferior. Fortunately, the four major dynasties have many ace cavalry of their own.

The vast grassland outside the Western Demon Realm is Jiang Yi's long-term goal. Before that, he must first expand his own power.

As mentioned before, the Demon Realm Pass is a tiny place, too small, so Jiang Yi’s first step is to walk out of the Western Demon Realm Pass.

After passing the Western Demon Realm Pass, next to the Demon Realm Mountains that run across the north and south is the narrow Western Frontier Corridor.

The Western Frontier Corridor connects Baiyue in the south, Quanshi in the north, and Xifan in the west. It is a strategic location. At the beginning of the Dali Dynasty, it controlled the Western Frontier Corridor.

But they did not control it for long as it was taken back by the foreign tribes on the border. For thousands of years, Bingfeng had never left the Western Demon Realm.

"Western Xinjiang Corridor..."

Murmuring quietly in his heart, Jiang Yi understood that if he wanted to gain a foothold in Western Xinjiang, the Demon Realm Pass was only the first step, and the next step was to control the Western Xinjiang Corridor.

In order to control the Western Xinjiang Corridor, the three border passes must be controlled.

The first is the Heishui Pass of the Xiban Dynasty, the second is the Niangzi Pass of the Baiyue Dynasty, and the third is the Hanshan Pass of the Quanshi Dynasty.

Otherwise, even if he really controlled the Western Xinjiang Corridor, it would not last long, as he would always be under the control of the three military forces.

Hanshan Pass was easy to deal with, and the journey was long, so it was simply unrealistic to take it with the troops in hand. The most urgent task was to take Heishui Pass and Niangzi Pass, and these two natural barriers must be taken.

By then, when we have control of the two passes, we can defend them and block the military advances of the two great dynasties of Xifan and Baiyue.

But how to get it? Jiang Yi had a headache. After all, the troops he had were too few. The only way seemed to be to borrow troops from the Dali Imperial Capital, and not a small number.

However, it is easier to invite a god than to send him away. Today, the Demon Realm Pass is no longer the bitter and cold place it used to be, but has turned into a water town. It won't take long before it will become the Jiangnan area outside the Great Wall with lush grass and water.

There must be many people in the Dali Imperial Capital who are jealous. If they really want to borrow troops from the Dali Imperial Capital, they will definitely borrow them, but it is tantamount to inviting a wolf into the house.

Therefore, this soldier must not be borrowed!
Not only can they not borrow it, but they also have to find a way to prevent Emperor Dali from sending reinforcements to the Demon Realm Pass. After all, Western Xinjiang is still nominally under the jurisdiction of the Dali Dynasty.

Previously, because it was a bitter and cold land with a lack of water, the border tribes had strict control over the entry of water, which could only be transported from the distant imperial capital of Dali. Apart from its important strategic location, it was impossible to station too many troops there.

But now that it has become a water land, all problems no longer exist. The only issue is food, which can be guaranteed by a large logistics army.

In other words, Demon Realm Pass has now become a big piece of fat meat. Even Jiang Yi's great-grandfather is probably thinking about how to swallow it all in one gulp.

"Time is running out..."

Jiang Yi sighed, turned his head slightly and looked back, and Ding Ren, who was following behind him, immediately rode his horse to come over.

"Has anyone who sneaked into the Western Frontier Corridor sent back any news?"

Ding Ren shook his head: "There is no news yet. I think there will be news today."

Jiang Yi nodded, hoping that the information provided by Moro was true, so that controlling the Western Xinjiang Corridor would be just around the corner.

(End of this chapter)