2. The image of the first side is very important (Part 1)
"It's really quite spacious. It's been a long time and I haven't seen a single person there."
"Because it was the marching route of the Han army, and after Yiwu was abandoned, ordinary business travelers, except for a few exceptions, didn't seem to like walking here. In fact, personally, I think this route is actually quite good.
"
"Yes, if the wind and sand were not too strong and there were too many Gobi deserts, this route would not be bad. Although there is no big water system, we can still find many places where we can supply supplies. Perhaps in the future this route will replace the one from Dunhuang via Loulan to
The route to Yanqi will become a must for business travelers, and then Yiwu's role may not only be that of a military fortress or a farming point."
"Really? Although I also think that Yiwu is very important to the big man, I never thought that it would be so important. But... why did your Excellency make such a judgment? Ban is very touched by this.
Interested."
"Haha, I'm ashamed to say it. I just heard that the quicksand in the deserts of the Western Regions is very powerful. Sometimes it can move a long distance overnight. So I was thinking that the course of the Yellow River can be changed several times. I wanted to come here
The sand dunes in the Western Region should also be able to divert the river water. By then, Puchang Sea will probably turn into sourceless water, and this route will become in danger."
"There is some truth in what you say, but I'm afraid it won't be too short in this world."
"Yes, maybe when the river changes its course, you and I may no longer know where we are, or who is sitting on that throne in the Central Plains."
"My lord, you should be careful what you say."
"It doesn't matter, as long as the people of the Western Regions are still willing to return to their homeland, the people's happiness is the foundation."
"It seems that your Excellency admires Meng Ke's remarks very much. Is that why your actions are so...different?"
"Haha..." Regarding Ban Fu's question, Li Shushi could only smile and avoid it. After all, there was a big generation gap between his soul and the ideological concepts of this era. Although it had been bridged a lot, it had never been completely healed.
As for Ban Fu's appearance when he saw Li Shushi, he did not continue to delve into this issue. Although Li Shushi's thoughts were slightly disrespectful to the imperial power, at least he was still a good person who wanted to do something for the people.
In this way, the group of people basically hurried on their way, and after more than eight days of trekking, they finally reached Iwulu City.
It has to be said that the Han Dynasty still has a certain influence in the Western Regions. After all, it has only been twenty years since the Han Dynasty returned from the Shulebu expedition and evacuated the Western Regions. It is not short, but it is only one generation.
Although the northern part of Yiwu is the Pulei Kingdom, and the population of Yiwu is only about 200 or 1,000 people, it is still under the control of the Han people. It is just like the situation Li Shushi saw in Xihe.
, although this place is controlled by the Han people, it can almost be called an "undefended city."
Although a city with a small population can be said to be basically undefended, these people are, after all, the descendants of the Han Dynasty's field troops. They have received enough training from their parents since they were young, and even the supreme commander of this stronghold once served in the Han army.
So when Li Shushi's troops appeared nearly twenty miles outside the city, the rapid ringing of copper bells rang throughout Yiwu City. Everyone retreated into the city in an orderly manner according to the actions they had long been accustomed to, and soon there was no one outside the city.
There is one more person left.
Even though they were quite unfamiliar and curious about the army that had never appeared in the south.
Of course, there is still some food and a small amount of property left outside the city. Basically, the nearby small countries in the Western Region will be quite satisfied with these things. If they are greedy and want to continue to do something, the resistance in the city will also make the greedy bandits feel painful.
Therefore, until a larger country appears in this land, Yiwu City will probably still stand like this on the land of the Western Region.
Li Shushi looked quietly at the dark city in front of him.
The size of the city is actually not that small. After all, it was once a very important stronghold of the Han Dynasty in the Western Regions. Judging from the size, even with the 3,000 soldiers stationed in the camp, as well as their families and some affiliated personnel, there is still a little surplus. It should have gradually grown over the past hundred years.
As a result of the additional construction, but precisely because of this, it is really difficult to defend this fortress that can accommodate ten thousand people with a thousand people.
It is not easy for the city lord of Yiwu to be able to maintain the independence of this place under such unfavorable circumstances.
In fact, the people in Yiwu City were also very curious about the sudden appearance of the Han army.
Most of them are descendants of the Han army who stayed here. They have heard about how huge the Han army is and how majestic its military appearance is since they were young, but there is no memory related to it in their memories.
, on the contrary, Cheshi people, Pulei people, Xianbei people, Dingling people...these various races from foreign races filled their lives.
The only memories that may be related to the Han Dynasty are that there are not many Han Dynasty standard weapons and armor left here that are not damaged, and there are only the occasional goods from the Han Dynasty brought by caravans traveling to and from the Western Regions.
It's just that for these people, those products are basically high-end gadgets, at least not something that the people struggling to live in their dilapidated military fortress can afford.
Therefore, at least the big men added a "rich" label in their minds, because they can afford goods that are quite expensive for people here. As for the real value of those goods, they are really completely
I don't know.
Therefore, when they saw the group of people outside the city wearing familiar armor and holding weapons that they were envious of, although they looked gray because of the long journey, they seemed to be more powerful than before.
Every troop they had ever seen looked like it was overpowering, and many people's legs even started to tremble a little.
Although they didn't mind dying together with the invaders who planned to destroy their last home, they really hadn't experienced a real bloody battle for too long, and the summons came from the descriptions of the big men in their memories.
As for the story of the powerful army, these people obviously did not think that their defenders, who were more like farmers than soldiers, could resist the opponent for how long.
"Is this Yiwu? It's really run-down. Since we're not welcome here, let's get acquainted with it a little bit."
Since the other party did not want to have a relationship with us, Li Shushi had no intention of wasting time. Although Ban Fu said that he was not familiar with the journey here, from now on he is still a bit humble. At least the nearly 3,000-strong army did not
Non-combat attrition or loss of horses occurred due to things such as wandering in the desert along the way or failure to find water sources.
And going west from here is the range of the Cheshi people. Although the relationship between the Cheshi countries is a bit complicated, at least one thing is certain. It is very easy to capture some indigenous people to serve as guides. There is no need to worry too much.
.
However, just when Li Shushi was about to leave with a group of war horses, the gate of the black fortress in front of him suddenly opened.
Walking out of the city was an old man with white hair and a wrinkled face. He was leaning on a wooden stick and walking a little staggeringly. It made people feel as if a strong wind could blow the old man away.
Seeing the old man, Li Shushi suddenly realized that he had not found the old man's figure at the top of Yiwu's city. Although the distance was a bit far away and the line of sight was not very clear, all Li Shushi could see were heads with black heads moving back and forth from time to time.
With.
"Are these people coming from my big man's army?" The old man's voice was a little hoarse, and his eyes seemed to be evasive but also filled with determination. He thought that as long as he got a negative answer, he would die here, at least in the fortress behind.
The people inside would never put everyone in the fortress in danger for an old man, and the old man himself knew this very well.
"Yes, we are border soldiers from Dunhuang. We came to the Western Regions on His Majesty's orders. I wonder if the old man has any advice."
At Li Shushi's signal, Ban Fu rode out to answer the opponent's question. Although Li Shushi was almost the same as an adult in terms of height, he was still not as imposing and convincing as Ban Fu.
"Really...really?" The old man seemed to be in disbelief, but the excitement he deliberately suppressed made him tremble all over. But even like this, the old man still stood there stubbornly, looking extremely cautious.
To the point of timidity.
"I'm going back to Dunhuang."
"Is...is...is he Marquis Dingyuan, a descendant of Lord Protector?" The old man seemed to be even more excited.
"Yes, at this point I can swear to God without any guilt."
At this moment, even if Li Shushi couldn't see Ban Fu's expression, he could guess the proud expression on his face, because Ban Fu, the eldest son of Ban Fu, who came out to the front row as Ban Fu rode his horse, also held his chest high at this moment.
He looked up, with the word "proud" written all over his face.
"Sure enough, the Ban family has become a legend in the Western Regions."
Seeing the old man confirming Ban Fu's identity and stumbling all the way back to Yiwu City regardless of his old body, and his expression of ecstasy that could not be concealed when he turned around, Li Shushi looked at Ban Fu riding his horse back with a smile.
.
"So as a descendant of the Ban family, I cannot bring shame to my ancestors. This time, I have risked my life to make my descendants say 'this ancestor is worthy of the honor of the Ban family' when they mention me."
"
"Hey, hey, hey, don't say that. I'm still pointing you to work in the Western Region. Don't die so early."
"That's natural. How can I die easily if I'm not satisfied?"
While Ban Fu raised his chest and raised his head proudly and uttered such an oath, Li Shushi noticed that Zhang Gong, Wang Kai and others who were also from Dunhuang County showed envy and secretly clenched their fists. Apparently they also felt this.
The atmosphere of legend, they also hope to carve their own legend on the land of the Western Regions.
This is really a great ambition.
Li Shushi turned his head slightly and looked at Jia Xu beside him, and what greeted him was Jia Xu's mysterious and confident smile.
PS: Today is the day when the first Zhili-Fengtian war broke out. Because of this war, the originally good situation in Outer Mongolia finally came to nothing.
Therefore, please always remember the greedy and wild nature of the old man from the north. He can be a strategic partner, but he is definitely not a friend who can trust his back. Moreover, we must remember that being weak on the international stage is the original sin, even if this person is already known as
An era when the colonial era has long ended.
PS2: Today is the day Cai Tingkai passed away. From what happened to this general, we can see how ridiculous it is for those who try to overturn the verdict of President Chiang Kai-shek for his performance during the Anti-Japanese War - indeed, there are many patriotic generals in the country/military, and they also wrote
Even the frontal battlefield is more difficult and more difficult than the battle behind enemy lines. But President Chiang alone can be compared with Li Hongzhang for losing power and humiliating the country. Well, I will mention him next.
PS3: "San Francisco Peace Treaty with Japan", without President Chiang who was bent on fighting a civil war, Ryukyu's problem would have been a domestic issue rather than an international issue.
