On the Gobi Desert, there was a constant shouting of killing.
Bandits and soldiers from the Tang Dynasty came and went, their horses' hooves kicked up clouds of loess, stirred up smoke and dust, and even the sunlight dimmed a bit.
The knights kept waving their sabers, followed by roars full of wildness and murderous intent. Puffs of blood splashed out, dyeing the thirsty Gobi Desert red, and shrill screams sounded from time to time, every time.
It almost represents the passing of a fresh life.
Arrows flew everywhere with terrifying screams, and from time to time someone was hit by the arrows, screaming and being knocked down from their horses.
The Tang army gradually gained the upper hand with their sophisticated weapons, armor, and skilled battle formation skills, and soon turned the initiative into victory.
Under the leadership of officers, they clashed in the Gobi. Wherever they went, the bandits were killed one after another. The sturdy Tang army officers and soldiers showed their bravery to the enemy.
It only took less than half an hour to drive the bandits away in all directions. The soldiers of the Tang Dynasty were still angry. They took out their bows and arrows from their bags and shot the lagging bandits off their horses while galloping.
The fighting gradually subsided, Cheng Zhijie took off his mask, breathed in the air with a strong earthy smell, and touched his chest with lingering fear.
Someone had cut open a hole in the boss's body, revealing the dusty leather armor inside. Fortunately, old Cheng had a lot of luck. If it were cut upward this time, Cheng's bearded head might not be saved.
"Send the order, stop chasing, clean up, leave a few alive, kill the rest, let's go to their lair to rest for two days before leaving." Cheng Zhijie roared angrily.
Just two days after leaving Yumen, I was targeted by a group of unknown thieves. These bandits should be people from some tribes in the nearby oasis. They probably haven't done business for a long time and have gone crazy from poverty.
Otherwise, they would not attack Cheng Zhijie and his party.
Facts also proved that they had made a wrong calculation. Even if they summoned all the troops they could, they would still be vulnerable to hundreds of Tang army elites.
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Cheng Zhijie and his party walked for more than a month before arriving at Yumen from Fulu City. Although Cheng Zhijie and others felt that they had reached the end of the world, this place was still within the traditional sphere of influence of the Central Plains Dynasty.
From the Xia Dynasty to the Pre-Qin Dynasty, this was the territory of the Xirong, Xiongnu and other tribes. Until the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Yumen County was established and subordinated to Jiuquan County. This was undoubtedly the product of the Silk Road. The influence of the Central Plains Dynasty began to spread to Central Asia.
Regional extension.
From then on, to the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, and to the former Sui Dynasty, no one gave up here. More and more counties were established. Yumen City served as an important node leading to the Western Regions. As long as the Central Plains Dynasty could maintain its
, there will definitely be soldiers from the Central Plains stationed here.
When Cheng Zhijie and others arrived at Yumen City, they were greeted by Sun Shien, the lord of Yumen City. This man was in his forties and had accompanied the army to Yumen for eight years to garrison. At that time, he was just a captain in the former Sui army.
In the ninth year of Daye, Bai Yusuo launched a massive slave uprising in the northwest, and the areas west of Liangzhou were completely cut off from the Central Plains.
Today, the people stationed in Yumen City are former Sui veterans and some recruited herdsmen from nearby areas. The team members have all become city lords. The moment he saw the people from the Central Plains, Sun Shien burst into tears.
After learning that the Central Plains had changed, Sun Shien was deeply saddened. He solemnly held a ceremony and led his people to present the sun, moon and stars flag of the Northwest Frontier Army. He took over the flag of the Tang Dynasty from Cheng Zhijie and hung it at Yumen.
Above the city.
These soldiers stationed in the wilderness of the northwest taught Cheng Zhijie, Hou Junji and others a vivid lesson. Their loyalty is touching.
According to Sun Shien, they have been stationed in Yumen City for more than ten years, from 500 people at the beginning to dozens of people now. Plus the recruited tribal warriors, there are only a hundred people, and there are only more than 300 people in the city.
people.
Over the years, they had battled wits and courage with the surrounding tribes and sand bandits, and barely managed to survive. By the time Cheng Zhijie arrived, they were actually almost unable to support themselves. People were dying every year. After a while, Yumen City would probably be destroyed.
It will be buried in the yellow sand in the northwest.
They sent people to Chang'an several times to ask for help, but those who went out never came back. Later, they wanted to return with the whole army, but due to some opposition, they were unable to do so.
Today I finally saw the envoys from my motherland. I can't express my excitement at all.
After hearing this, Cheng Zhijie immediately patted his chest and told Sun Shien and others that everything would be fine in the future. The Central Plains was already under the control of the Tang Dynasty. They went to Dunhuang to have a look, and when they returned to Chang'an, they must tell the emperor about their achievements.
At that time, everyone will be promoted to a higher position and return to the Central Plains to enjoy their happiness.
Sun Shien and others were convinced by what this Henan thief said. They were so grateful that they even had a sheep killed to entertain Cheng Dabeard.
Cheng Zhijie and his party did not stop at Yumen for a long time. The road was still far away. They had to try their best to return to Zhangye before winter. Moreover, the people in Yumen City lived too miserable and were too enthusiastic, so he could not bear to bring harm to others.
After leaving Yumen City, Hou Junji said to Cheng Zhijie with emotion: "This generation is my Qiancheng of the Tang Dynasty. I hope that my elder brother will not forget what I said today so that they can return to their hometown with honor."
But they didn't expect that they would have a fight with bandits just two days after leaving Yumen City.
Cheng Dabeard was relatively angry. One of his ancestors who was blocking roads and robberies met a strongman who cut off roads and was stabbed. He couldn't just let it go, so he just went to raid their lair to rest.
Food and water were the next best thing. He hadn't met a female in several months, so he thought he might gain something this time.
I have to say that a guy like him is just right for such a wild place...
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One day later, Cheng Zhijie sat in a tent in an oasis. After taking a bath, Cheng Zhijie's beard looked completely new, but the plateau red on his cheeks could not be washed away in a short time.
The original owners of the oasis were sent to meet the gods they believed in. Nowadays, most people in the Hexi Corridor are influenced by Turks and believe in gods. They use the Ashina she-wolf as their totem. A small number of them believe in Buddhism. Of course, they are the kind who cannot help but kill.
.
The tribes in the Hexi area are of various origins, and there are people from all tribes, such as Xiongnu, Rouran, Xianbei, Tuqiang, Tuyuhun, Turks, Hu races from the Western Regions, Han people, etc., etc., etc., they can all be seen here, and they can intermarry with each other.
, it is already difficult to distinguish their race.
They were scattered along the rivers in the Hexi area, farming and herding while working part-time as bandits, living a miserable life without tomorrow.
Cheng Zhijie sat comfortably on a tattered blanket, drinking the wine that was supposed to be given to the Turks, while complaining about Hou Junji.
"You just remember too many rules. What does it mean if we kill a few people here and steal a few women? No one will know about it after we go back. Even if they know, can they punish us for this?
Do you know that hard work pays off? We have traveled such a long distance and endured so much hardship. There is still hard work without any merit. Who can talk to us about military discipline?"
The big thieves from Shandong educate the rigid Kansai hooligans...
Old Geluolu huddled in the corner of the tent like a real slave, watching his master's face all the time and secretly drinking his master's wine.
Hou Junji is a stubborn man who sticks to his principles, and he has always had a very high self-esteem. He was also from the regular army, which is different from Cheng Zhijie.
Military rules and regulations such as killing people but not touching women have been engraved in his bones, so when he was encircling and suppressing this tribe, he restrained the violent soldiers and killed several soldiers and guides who disobeyed his military orders.
.
At this time, even though he did not want to offend Cheng Zhijie, he still shook his head and said: "There are no rules. The Tang army has strict military discipline. It is said that when the Supreme Leader started the army in the early years, he had already made the soldiers memorize the military discipline before they could join the army.
The wisdom of the Supreme Being is beyond our reach, so even if we are thousands of miles away from the Central Plains, how can we just get by? Brother, please don’t blame me, we are going back after all.
Once this precept is opened, the people's hearts will be scattered. In such a chaotic place, the soldiers' lives depend on it. Once the people's hearts are scattered, we may not be able to go back."
Cheng Zhijie snorted dissatisfiedly, but said nothing.
Because he remembered that when he was in Liaodong, the abominable Li Canjun killed countless people, but he still strictly ordered everyone not to touch women. He probably had this consideration.
There aren't that many rules in the Henan Army, but when a war breaks out, some people turn around and run away, which is really not cool. Otherwise, Li Canjun probably won't conquer the world in the end.
Cheng Zhijie advised you that if you don't enjoy staying here, just keep on your way and get there one day earlier, and you will suffer one less day of suffering... Those bastards from the Western Turks have really caused great harm to your Grandpa Cheng.
After passing Yumen City, they have actually entered Dunhuang County. However, it will take at least a month to reach the Dunhuang Ancient City area. If there are a few more battles with bandits in the meantime, they have the idea of rushing back to Zhangye before winter.
That's all in vain.
So Cheng Zhijie was also very anxious. He didn't want to spend the winter in Yumen City on his return trip.
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What Cheng Zhijie didn't know was that this summer, Liangzhou was not peaceful either.
The Tubo people finally appeared north of Jishi Mountain. Guided by the attached Tuyuhun tribe, they entered Heyuan County and headed for Jishi Town.
Jishi Town was established in the third year of Daye. It was obviously the front station for Yang Guangxi's inspection tour of Zhangye. After Yang Guang traveled around, Jishi Town lost its role and became a quasi-military military station to maintain the stability of the Hexi Corridor.
The town is garrisoned all year round.
At the end of Daye, the soldiers fled and gradually became abandoned. At the end of Li Gui's regime, in view of the Tuyuhun people's northward migration, Li Gui sent people to garrison here again. However, it was attacked by the Tuyuhun people soon after, and it became a roadblock for the Tuyuhun tribe on their way to the north.