In a time of chaos, bones are exposed in the wild.
The common people in the northwest of the Han Dynasty were like weeds.
Half were trampled and destroyed by horses' hooves, and the other half rotted peacefully in the ground.
Since the Second Emperor Huan Ling, Qiang wars have broken out frequently in the west. Countless common people howled under the hoofs of horses and swords and spears, leaving only their white bones to be beaten away by the wind and rain.
At that time, Yinping County was still called Guanghan State.
There was also the experience of being captured by the Baima Qiang (Di) outside the territory of the Han Dynasty. It can be described as a river of blood and desolation.
All the grain, cattle and sheep were taken away, and those who could not be taken away were burned and killed.
Countless young Di people lay dead on the ground, countless young men were taken back as slaves to work as sheep slaves, and women from the towns were taken away and used as tools to vent their desires and give birth to offspring.
However, this is a thing of the past.
Today's Yinping County has been peaceful for several years.
Next to a Di town on Jinggu Road, an old Di man was riding tremblingly on a horse that was as old as himself, slowly driving the sheep to herd.
A face full of ravines bloomed with a faint smile.
King Di forcibly killed the generals of the Han Dynasty and attached themselves to the dead king of Wei. Many Han people in Yinping County were moved away, making the fields and pastures of the Di people much larger.
No official from the government came to collect the leather from cattle or sheep.
Every year, some cattle, sheep or war horses were provided to King Di, and the remaining produce survived the winter, and there was still a surplus.
It has been several years since I heard of any town where old and weak people froze to death and starved to death in the winter.
Of course, there are things to worry about.
This place is next to the Baishui Pass of the Han Dynasty. From time to time, one or two groups of Han army scouts sneak in, seize them, old and weak men who are herding sheep in the wild, and ask about the military situation at the bridge.
However, the Han army was more benevolent and righteous than King Di's followers.
There was no such violence as wanton whipping or killing, or plundering the sheep.
As long as they answered truthfully, the Han army scouts released them and allowed them to welcome the sunrise and sunset the next day.
It is good to be alive and have enough food and clothing.
The old Di man drove the sheep to a place with abundant water and grass, then slowly slid off his horse, sat cross-legged and looked at the scenery of the pasture.
As he looked at it, his eyes became blurred and a smile quietly appeared at the corner of his mouth.
The midsummer season in Yinping County is very exciting.
Under the clear blue sky, mountains surround the yellow-green wilderness, and white clouds bloom on the ground amid cheerful sheep.
A gust of northwest wind, which has brought the slightest bit of coolness, roars in, picking up the grass seeds and dead leaves that have turned yellow too early, swirling and flying. It seems to have also brought the shepherds further away.
Ethereal singing.
It is a kind of quiet beauty.
It is also a yearning for a leisurely and contented life, just like the paradise in the complicated world.
It's a pity that beautiful things often don't last long.
A burst of muffled thunder struck from a distance, shaking the earth.
The old Di man was startled. He turned his head and looked eastward following the sound, then opened his mouth, which had lost many teeth, and was dumbfounded.
About a hundred riders, rising sharply from the eastern horizon!
The high-raised ring-headed sword and spear reflected the sunlight in various colors, stinging his eyes.
It seems like the sun growing on the ground.
Angry Sun.
Dragging the scorching light, it whizzed past the elderly Di man, and with lightning speed, drove straight into the city behind him.
It prompted the mournful cries of countless women and children, and made the frightened screams of countless cows and horses resound throughout the earth.
Occasionally, it is also mixed with the angry shouts of the Qingzhuang people.
But it was short-lived and disappeared after a few breaths.
However, the hundreds of Di people in Xiaoyiluo were unable to resist the sudden attack of the cavalry.
They had no time to gather the tribesmen together to form a formation to resist; they also had no time to drive cattle, sheep, horses and food, and rush to the bridge to garrison to avoid plunder.
Only a quarter of an hour later, thick smoke billowed into the sky from Yiluo behind the old Di man.
Many tribesmen mixed with cattle and sheep, and were driven away by gleaming spears and ring-headed knives. They were crying and sobbing step by step towards Baishui Pass.
Is this the once benevolent and righteous Han army?
But, when did the Han army at Baishui Pass have hundreds of cavalry?
The old Di people had a dull look on their faces. They couldn't believe it when they saw the towns where they lived were burned down and the people were driven away and wept on the road.
When more than a dozen horsemen came roaring in scattered directions, driving away the sheep he was grazing, he became angry and angry.
He heard that these ten riders were speaking Qiang and Diyan!
He saw that the clothing and hair accessories of these ten riders were all similar to his own!
Therefore, he also had the answer.
The only person who could come from Baishui Pass controlled by the Han army and have the same origin as him was the former Baiqing Di King Yang Ji!
The Baima Qiang who migrated into Wudu County from outside the territory of the Han Dynasty!
Therefore, he also felt as if he was dead.
He is about to spend sixty years in his life. He is one of the few Di people who has lived a long life. He is also a survivor of the Baima Qiang's attack on Yinping County.
I originally thought that that nightmarish memory would dissipate with the passage of time.
Now, it is happening again.
"No~~~~~"
With his face covered with ravines, he screamed miserably and closed his cloudy eyes in pain.
Let the two lines of clear tears seep into the huddled facial features and spread into the messy beard.
But no one paid any attention to him.
He is too old and no one considers him a threat.
No one wanted to listen to his screams.
I do not know how long it has been.
Maybe just a few breaths, or maybe hundreds of years.
The old man opened his eyes again, and his cloudy eyes were already red.
He clenched the old spear in his hand, kicked hard the horse that was as old as himself, and rushed towards the dozen or so white horses who were driving his tribe, cattle and sheep.
He also used an old voice to shout out a mixture of crying and a charging whistle full of emotions such as despair, desolation, and anger.
"Hoo~ho!"
"Hoo~ho!"
One man and one rider, shouting at the top of their lungs.
Even men and horses can act like slaves, but they are absolutely fearless.
Amid the cries of women and children and the neighing of cattle and sheep, he held his old spear high and moved forward indomitably.
The old charging whistle attracted the attention of the white-horse Di people who were driving away prisoners, cattle and sheep.
However, still no one paid attention to him.
With the speed of the old horse and his haggard body, even if he rushed forward, it would only be a matter of swinging a sword.
However, the general who was urging Baima Di to retreat turned his head following the sound.
The look in his eyes was first a little surprised, then a little full of admiration, and finally turned into a little pity.
It's Zhao Guang.
He has been skilled in bow and horse since childhood, and is the only Han Chinese among more than a hundred horsemen.
Originally, in Zheng Pu's schedule, there was no intention for him to come with him.
Yang Ji led more than a hundred of his troops to ride on white horses, and the people who came to plunder cattle, sheep and war horses returned. This was Zheng Pu's plan to "relocate", and he claimed that this was a prerequisite for leading the Qiaotou garrison to fight.
Zheng Pu did not say what the subsequent measures would be and how they would be planned.
But Zhao Guang also doesn’t want to know.
He knew that when Zheng Pu made arbitrary arrangements for "relocation" as a military governor, Yang Ji's face was filled with joy and he readily agreed.
Supervisor Liu Min twitched the corners of his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but ended up silent.
Huo Yi sighed inaudibly.
Only he himself caught up with Zheng Pu and argued for a long time.
Because he knew what the so-called "relocation" meant to Li Shu.
In the past, when he was still a young man, his father, Zhao Yun, the general who conquered the south, once told him and his brother Zhao Tong about the various things in Changshan in the hometown they had never returned to. How his father was obviously from Jizhou, but why
He led the villagers to join Gongsun Zan.
Because Gongsun Zan attacked Hu.
During the reign of Emperor Ling, Youji merged with the three prefectures, but was repeatedly invaded by Xianbei and Wuwan invaders, plundering property, grain, crops and common people.
That is also a kind of "relocation".
The only difference is that Baima Di is now subject to Zheng Pu's general order. He can only use his sword to attack those who resist, and is not allowed to burn or kill prostitutes at will.
But, how big are the differences?
These Yinping Di people are also the people of the Han Dynasty.
Wouldn't it be detrimental to the benevolence and righteousness of the great Han Dynasty to allow Baima Di to force him to move?
When the Han Dynasty launches its Northern Expedition in the future and the Qiangdi tribe in Yongliang hears about today's events, will they be able to come and join them?
Zhao Guang, who was known for his virtuous character, was puzzled and argued with Zheng Pu about this.
However, Zheng Pu's counter-examination left him speechless.
The first is to ask the former emperor Liu Bei, who was quite benevolent and righteous towards the Yinping Di people and never used violence or cruelty to them. Why were Wu Lan and Lei Tong robbed and killed on their way home?
On the other hand, when the Han Dynasty launches its Northern Expedition in the future, will these Yinping Di people raise their swords and fight against the Wei Dynasty?
Zhao Guang knows the answer.
Therefore, there is no answer.
It's just that the feeling in Yu Yu's heart cannot be resolved for a while.
It also contributed to the reason why he came with Yang Ji.
It's not that he is compassionate and pedantic to the point where he can't even distinguish between the enemy and our side.
But Zheng Pu finally asked again, "Do you know whether Emperor Wu will intervene?"
During Emperor Wu's lifetime, he established four counties in Hexi and four counties in Han; he expanded into the Western Regions, Fujian, Yue, and the Southwest. His illustrious martial arts skills shocked hundreds of barbarians. I wonder who in the world doesn't know this?
However, Zheng Pu told him another fact.
Every time Emperor Wu opened borders and every time the Han Dynasty expanded its territory, they all cultivated it in a "slash and burn" method.
When the corpses of disobedient people nourish the soil and make it fertile, and when the blood of rebels irrigates the fields, they will turn into the Xingde religion that uses literature and etiquette to "intensive farming"!
If power cannot be demonstrated, virtue cannot be established!
The same is true today for the Yinping Di people who rebelled against the Han Dynasty.
After Zhao Guang heard this, he was silent for a long time, thinking a lot.
My elder brother Zhao Tong is a virtuous man who can support the family reputation. Why not try to choose another path?
The Prime Minister also knows that Governor Zheng's plans and actions are ruthless, but he still grants military power and promotes him as a separate governor. I am not as smart as the Prime Minister, so why bother myself?
If we want to conquer the Central Plains and regain the Han Dynasty, we should sacrifice our lives to serve the country. Why should we be stingy about our reputation?
Finally, Zhao Guang, who was determined, asked for orders to follow Yang Ji.
Just seeing the old Di man holding a spear, screaming and charging desperately, he couldn't help but tremble slightly in his heart.
After thinking about it, he casually placed the spear across his knees, took off the two-stone strong bow at his waist, attached the arrow without even taking aim, and casually pulled the string in a semicircle before releasing the string.
The arrow was not hasty or slow, and directly hit the old Di man's horse.
He fell off the horse and hit the ground hard, even his arms were bent back at a weird angle.
However, he still worked very hard and decisively, trying to stand up again with the spear.
It's just that people are old and weak, and they lost their temper for a while.
I tried several times but failed.
In the end, I could only beat the ground with my hands and cry in despair.
The sound is like a night owl crying for blood in the deep mountains and old forests.
Zhao Guang, who was not far away, glanced at him with a faint look in his eyes.
To rebel, to rebel.
With different positions, there is no right or wrong.
He told himself this in his heart.
Immediately, he put away his strong bow and galloped away.
On this day, a total of three Di people were attacked in Xiaoyiluo. Yang Ji happily led the white horse Di people back home with a full load.
These Yinping Di people who were forcibly relocated, as well as their cattle, sheep and war horses, would be "escorted" by 600 soldiers arranged by Zheng Pu to Yang'ankou early the next morning, and Ma Dai would be asked to move them to Hanzhong County for resettlement.
The cattle, sheep and war horses naturally belong to the imperial court, but whether the prisoners belong to Yang Ji depends on how the prime minister thinks about it.
This was his reply to Yang Ji.
Yang Ji had no complaints.
He knew that no one could make the decision without the approval of the Prime Minister.
He also knew that having served the Han Dynasty for many years, the Prime Minister would be more or less concerned about the decline of his tribe.
As for whether Ma Dai would confiscate these cattle, sheep and war horses.
But there is no need to worry.
There was a prime minister who strictly enforced the law, not to mention Ma Dai, even if he was highly accomplished and unruly like Wei Yan, he would not dare to test the law himself.
Fu Qian, who was standing on the pass, looked at the Di women and children crying on the road, as well as the herds of cattle, sheep and horses being driven into the pass. He couldn't help but turned his head and asked in a low voice, "Sir, our army captured the people and plundered supplies. How about that?"
Will the troops garrisoned at the bridge abandon their advantageous location and go out to fight in the field?"
"Won't."
Zheng Pu, who was looking at the mountains in the distance, withdrew his gaze, turned around and slowly walked down the pass.
ah?
Since the rebel army cannot be induced to leave the siege, why bother to "move"?
Fu Qian couldn't help but be surprised when he heard this.
Seeing that Zheng Pu was already far away, he couldn't help but hurriedly followed up and continued to ask, "Sir, how can the bandit army go to war?"
"Relocating will only arouse their anger."
Zheng Pu said in a calm tone, "If they want to go out to guard the bridge, they need to let down their guard and feel that there is no danger. Don't talk too much, think about yourself, just watch quietly."
"promise."
After reaching the pass, the Xuanwu Army had already formed a formation under Huo Yi's supervision.
But, not all.
There are two schools, with only 1,600 soldiers.
"Xian Shao, I know you act cautiously, but you still have to say more."
Zheng Pu solemnly handed the military flag embroidered with the word "Xuanwu" to Huo Yi. Su Rong warned, "This is the first battle of our army. We can win but not lose! We would rather return without success than act rashly!"
"promise!"
Huo Yi took over the military flag with a high-spirited face, "Don't worry, Overseer, Yi will definitely live up to the majesty of our army!"
After saying this, he turned around and led his army out of the pass.
He was about to rush to the surveyed mountain depression and lie dormant, waiting for Zheng Pu to lure the garrison at the bridge to attack.
As for how to lure him, Zheng Pu did not say, but he had a vague guess. Because Zheng Pu only had two hundred soldiers left and more than a hundred of Yang Ji's cavalry.
It’s nothing more than using your own life as bait!
Therefore, Huo Yi was quite anxious when he rushed to hide in the mountain col.
He knew that if the troops of the two schools he led could not hide their traces, they would betray Zheng Pu's hard work and the trust he placed in his life!
