At noon the next day, the elders of the Loulan tribe held a banquet in the valley to practice the ritual for the guests from Chang'an. Later, the patriarch Kang Zhongxin personally led five hundred tribal warriors to escort the guests to Yanqi, the easternmost of the four towns in Anxi.
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According to the agreement reached yesterday between Wang Xun and the old fox Kang Zhongxin, the Loulan people kept 20% of the luggage as a reward for saving their lives. The military training minutes that Wang Xun silently wrote overnight were also solemnly collected by the old fox, like a treasure.
Offered in front of the statue of the God of Fire.
In order to show that the family leader kept his word, the Loulan tribe only left two of the twenty-seven flying dragon guards who were seriously injured and had not recovered. One lost his right arm forever in the bloody battle that night, and the other was trampled by a war horse.
The calf bone was broken. It was impossible for the two of them to go back to the battlefield in this life. Therefore, they voluntarily accepted the invitation of the Loulan tribe to serve as the tribe's military training instructor.
Of the 134 people who survived, the Loulan tribe only accepted the four most skilled ones. The other 130 people, along with the remaining 25 imperial guards, were returned to Wang Xun.
These people were not asked whether they wanted to stay.
The farewell team stretched for several miles.
After the source of the dispute disappeared, the Loulan Shepherd was reluctant to leave the Chang'an distinguished guests who had left countless surprises for him during this period.
And those girls from Loulan, who had already had a physical relationship with Minzhuang, grabbed their lovers' clothes and cried heartbrokenly.
The Minzhuang and the imperial guards who were pulled out of the gentle village all had red eyes. There was inevitably a hint of hostility in their eyes when they looked at Wang Xun.
However, Wang Xun couldn't explain at all that he had planned to keep all the people who planned to stay. Because if he announced this decision in public, the entire baggage team would probably fall apart immediately. Under the offensive of tears from the Loulan girl, he was still willing to continue
Not more than one-third of the brothers followed him to Shule to fight for their lives.
At the critical moment, the old fox came out again and promised everyone that once Wang Xiaowei and his brothers had a fixed foothold in Anxi. As long as he sent a letter back to the Loulan Department, he would immediately send someone to take care of the guards who had been with him these days.
The Loulan girls who have received the blessing of husband and wife are sent to reunite. No matter how far apart the two parties are by then, the Loulan people's promise will not be changed in any way. This promise will be made into an oath and will be supervised by the God of Fire Ahura Mazda.
.If there is any violation, you will not be able to pass the Judge's Bridge after death and will fall into darkness forever.
Regarding the old fox's way of keeping his promise, Wang Xun had already experienced it yesterday. Therefore, he suddenly became alert. "You want to take this opportunity to blackmail me again! I can tell you in advance that a captain like me, Anxi Army
Grab a handful. It’s impossible to give you any benefit at all!”
"Look at what you said. It's so hurtful, isn't it?! Do you think I'm like you and like to beat up mandarin ducks when nothing happens?" The old fox smiled and narrowed his eyes, and his gray beard trembled up and down with the laughter. "I'm like you.
I can't bear to see young people let down their good marriages, so I'm willing to fulfill them. If you are willing to do me a favor, and when you get rich in the future, just take more care of the Loulan Department."
"I know you never suffer!" Wang Xun was so angry that he pulled the handle of the hammer, wishing he could hit the old fox on the forehead immediately. The opponent's move was full of traps, no matter how big or small, every one caught was counted. According to the old fox,
Scheming, based on the information obtained from everyone recently, it is certainly not difficult to deduce that in a short period of time, whether Feilong Guards or Minzhuang, if they want to survive, they can only stay and serve in the Anxi Army.
In the army, it is easiest for people to surrender. One hundred and fifty-five imperial guards and minzhuang. As long as one of them can stand firm in front of Feng Changqing in the future, it will be equivalent to the Loulan tribe and the core class of the Anxi Protectorate.
A connection.
The Tang Dynasty's policy towards the nomadic tribes in the Western Regions was very relaxed. It only required each tribe to express their obedience to the central government, but did not collect any taxes from the tribes. Whenever a big celebration came, such as the new emperor's accession to the throne, the appointment of a prince, and the acquisition of foreign wars.
In the event of a decisive victory, precious items such as silk and tea were also given. And if a fight broke out between the nomadic tribes, the Tang court was impartial and rarely openly took care of any party in the conflict.
However, because the Western Regions are too far away from Chang'an, and battles between various tribes continue every year. Therefore, the process and results of most of the battles are not heard by the court. Even a few battles often attract the attention of the court because of their huge scale.
Before the regulatory envoy sent by the imperial court arrived, the outcome had already been decided between the two tribes. The winner annexed the pastures, livestock, and even most of the population of the loser. The loser either died out of his own accord, or fled to another country to join his tribe.
Even if the imperial envoy is full of sympathy for the weak, for the sake of local peace, he can only acquiesce in the interests of the winner.
However, it was not easy for the court to intervene. This did not mean that the local military governors would just let the behavior of the tribes under their rule go unchecked. According to everyone's preferences, the military governors would always support one group of tribes and suppress another group of tribes, either openly or covertly.
The most obvious example is in Hexi. Since Geshuhan replaced Wang Zhongsi as the governor of Hexi, the Turkic tribes have gained the upper hand in the battles with the Tiele and Uighur tribes. Before that, it was Tiele and the Uighur tribes.
The Uighurs have been suppressing the Turkic tribes until they can stand up.
As a result, a strange phenomenon occurred in various parts of the Western Region. Tribes that had a harmonious relationship with the military towns had a steady upper hand in the battles with other tribes for pastures and water sources. The governors of various regions did not need to appear in person.
, as long as they secretly fund some ordnance that the Western Region ministries cannot manufacture themselves, such as the cavalry-specific crossbows intercepted by the Loulan tribe this time, the already clear war situation can be turned around in an instant.
Thinking of this, the previous actions of the Loulan people became even more clear to Wang Xun. The reason why they treated the Feilong Imperial Guards and the Minzhuangs as honored guests was not only because the abilities displayed by the Imperial Guards and the Minzhuangs were impressive.
They were more directed at the Anxi Protector's Mansion behind them. The reason why Elder Loulan allowed himself to do whatever he wanted without paying attention was not because they were busy with official duties, but because he was directed at the two people standing behind him.
Personally, Feng Changqing and Gao Shi!
As if seeing the depression in Wang Xun's eyes, the old fox Kang Zhongxin smiled again and said in a low voice: "When friends are in a relationship, who suffers and who takes advantage, how can you tell clearly in a moment? Thanks to you, I have left so many riders behind.
Crossbow, I am very grateful. In order to prevent you from being unable to explain to your superiors, several of our elders put together a gift for you overnight. Look!"
After that, he opened his mouth wide and yawned, as if he really hadn't slept all night. The Loulan shepherd who had been waiting on the side came forward and presented Wang Xun with a sheepskin roll wrapped with a red string with both hands. Fang Ziling and others were curious
Under his gaze, Wang Xun casually removed the red rope from the sheepskin, and a gift list, which was hot-ironed on the sheepskin, was immediately displayed in front of everyone.
One thousand three hundred and twelve horses, two thousand sheep, and forty white camels. Even though he knew that livestock in the Western Regions was far less valuable than near the capital, Wang Xun was still frightened by the Tang characters on the gift list.
A jump. "The white-haired camels and one thousand of the horses will be counted as the discount of the 20% of the weapons and crossbows. If you hand them over, no one will blame you for not fulfilling your responsibility to protect the baggage. As for the rest
The horses and sheep are considered as the dowry for our daughters from us Loulan people." The old fox wiped the scratches on his beard and added with a smile, "Of course, the betrothal gift is also indispensable. According to the rules of your Central Plains, your mother's family must give you a penny.
If you give me a portion, my husband’s family will give me double!”
"Bah!" Wang Xun spat heavily on the ground, but the disappointment in his eyes was completely melted by the smile. No matter what the old fox had in mind, at least, so far, everyone has truly felt his kindness.
Perhaps this is the way of survival that Loulan people have adhered to for hundreds of years. They take advantage of every opportunity to strengthen themselves and budget carefully to the point where they spend every penny. At the same time, they do not hesitate to spend everything they have on the guests they recognize.
"Let's go, sons-in-law, get on your horses and get out of here. If you don't leave, I will put an end to my father-in-law's family!" The old fox turned his head away with a smile, and shouted at the top of his voice at the parting lovers.
The sad atmosphere was instantly broken by the good-natured laughter. A pair of young men and women blushed, released their hands, slowly opened the distance between each other, and turned around every three steps.
"Okay, okay. I really can't keep a female college student! Why don't you go back and weave blankets? Are you going to be empty-handed and bring nothing when you go to your husband's house in the future?" The old fox shouted again with a smile, his voice filled with emotion.
The kindness of the elders.
The girls immediately turned around and ran away in shame, with colorful veils flying in the sun. This place is only a thousand and a hundred miles away from Shule, so for two committed hearts, it is not too far anyway.
The guards and civilians also jumped on their mounts. In an instant, everyone's eyes were full of smiles. They had a good boss who had lived and died together, sufficient money to settle down, and a loyal team behind them.
Looking at it, the frontier of the Western Region may not be considered desolate.
"Let's go, let's go!" Mr. Kang laughed and urged his mount. As he moved forward, he assigned tasks to the warriors under his command. "Anmohe, you lead eighty people to be responsible for guarding the four sides. Each person has three
The horses are spread out for fifteen miles in front, back, left, and right, and they are driven every two miles, and they communicate with each other at any time by the sound of horns. He Heizi, you lead a hundred people in front to explore the road. Hu Xiuzi, you lead a hundred people to protect the team.
Finally, everyone else, together with the brothers from Chang'an, protect the carriage. Keep your eyes open, your knives sharpened, and be ready to deal with any unexpected situation!"
"Unexpected?" Wang Xun was startled by the old fox's half-truthful expression. "Didn't you always say that the Anxi Army's support team has arrived in Yanqi?"
"Yes!" The old fox narrowed his eyes and his nostrils twitched in the air, "But I smell the smell of blood again. And Yanqi is still more than six hundred miles away from here. Along the way, maybe there will be
