Chapter two hundred and seventy-eight of the soldiers
Time flies to early February. Jinshan Mountain in early February is still covered with snow, but most of the thick snow has receded, leaving only a thin layer of cold snow.
The weather is still very cold, but the warm and moist breath blowing from the south has caused the tender grass on the grassland to sprout quietly.
In a small pasture in the northwest of Jinshan Mountain, there are more than 3,000 herdsmen households living. These herders are a branch of the Xue tribe. Their pastures are not large and there are no rivers. They are pastures with relatively poor conditions.
But two years ago, they lived in a rich pasture in the south of Jinshan Mountain, living a prosperous life without worries about food and clothing. However, their tribal leader Xue Chake led his army to plunder Fengzhou and suffered a disastrous defeat, losing more than 15,000 people.
, so that he was severely punished after he returned. Not only was he removed from the position of captain of ten thousand men, but the best pasture left to him by his father was also confiscated and distributed to other tribes to make up for the losses.
He moved more than 3,000 herdsmen from his tribe to the northwest and settled in this pasture with relatively difficult conditions.
Xue Chake has been waiting for the opportunity to make a comeback. Last autumn was an opportunity. The Khan had decided to send 10,000 cavalry to sneak attack Fengzhou. Unfortunately, Sijie's army pressed on the border, and the Khan had to cancel the sneak attack plan again.
What about this spring?
This spring is also an opportunity. Will Khan send troops again?
In the past few days, Xue Chake has been anxiously waiting for the news from the Yazhang. If the Khan sends troops, he will definitely lead his tribe's cavalry as the vanguard and sweep across Fengzhou to wash away the shame and humiliation of the year before last.
Xue Chake was upset inside the tent and couldn't sit down, so he simply rode around on horseback in the pasture.
Three thousand families of herdsmen all live together, and their pastures are within dozens of miles of their surroundings. Spring is coming, and the herdsmen are also extremely busy. They mainly take care of the ewes that are pregnant and will soon give birth to lambs. In addition,
, all the sheep are in the sheepfold and need to be artificially fed every day, which is very tedious and tiring.
At this time, Xue Chake faintly heard the sound of clanging blows. He immediately turned his horse's head and ran towards the big tent where the sound of iron was coming from.
In a small camp, the fire was burning brightly in the stove. A young Han-looking man was working hard to blow the stove. In front of the chopping board, a sturdy man who was at least six feet six tall was naked.
Work hard with your upper body.
Six feet six is today's two meters. This big man is not only tall, but also physically strong, like an extremely strong bull. However, his pupils are slightly blue, his eyes are deeply sunken, his nose is high and straight, and his face is chiseled. He is a Western Sogdian.
appearance.
If Guo Song saw him, he would definitely be shocked. When he first arrived in Lingzhou, he defeated the Sogdian Li Ande in a martial arts competition and exchanged the ironwood sword for the freedom of this sturdy man.
Yes, this big man is Kang Bao, Li Ande's slave at that time. His real name is Ash Darhan. He was born into a noble family of Kang State. He was once the deputy commander-in-chief of Sogdian's 100,000-strong coalition. However, the army was defeated by the black-clad army.
, Darkhan became a captive and sold into slavery.
The army of Dashi conquered Samarkand and looted it. His family was also destroyed, and his wife and daughter were taken captive to the far west.
After Darhan was freed, he immediately rushed back to Samarkand and used various clues to find the whereabouts of his wife and daughter. He searched for four full years but found nothing in the end. His wife and daughter were probably trafficked to more distant Egypt as slaves.
Or just die on the sea.
Unable to find his wife and daughter, Darhan was homeless, so he decided to return to the Tang Dynasty to repay his kindness. He could hardly remember his benefactor's appearance, but he kept his benefactor's name firmly in his mind. His name was Guo Song.
In Lingwu County.
In November last year, he encountered a snowstorm when passing through Jinshan Mountain, so he temporarily settled in the tribe in front of him. With his superb blacksmithing skills, he obtained a tent and food for the winter.
Xue Chake opened the curtain and walked in: "Darkhan, can't you leave a few days later? We still need you to fight three hundred more swords."
Darhan was unmoved and said coldly: "I have helped you fight a thousand swords in one winter. Isn't that enough?"
"It doesn't matter in normal times, but we will soon go to war with the Tang army. We don't have enough weapons and blacksmiths. I hope you can stay for another two months and I will give you a generous reward."
Darhan raised his eyebrows and said after a while: "When you talk about starting a war, are you going to attack Lingzhou?"
When he was in Lingwu County, he also encountered Xue Yantuo's army attacking Lingzhou twice. He heard that they would attack Lingzhou every spring.
"I won't fight Lingzhou anymore. I'm going to fight Fengzhou. To be precise, I'm going to take revenge!"
Xue Chake gritted his teeth and said: "Fifteen thousand of us died in Fengzhou. I must kill Guo Song with my own hands and use his head to worship the souls of the dead."
Darkhan's hand trembled suddenly, and the hammer knocked crookedly.
At this moment, a low horn sound came from outside, 'woo-woo--' echoing on the grassland.
Xue Chake was overjoyed. This was clearly the clarion call from the Khan to call for war. The Khan finally made up his mind to start a war. He ignored Darkhan and turned around and ran out of the big tent.
Darhan was confused. He heard clearly that the other party was talking about Guo Song. That was the name of his benefactor. Could it be that his benefactor was in Fengzhou now?
...........
"Woo--" The horn sounded on the grassland, and large groups of cavalry poured out from various tribes, converging on Xue Yantuo's tent at the foot of Jinshan Mountain from all directions.
Chief Xue Yantuo proclaimed himself Jinshan Khan, named Xue Mantou. He was about forty years old, not tall, but generous and strong. This time he decided to take revenge on Fengzhou out of necessity. The disastrous defeat in the autumn of the previous year made Xue Yantuo's tribe lose control of the grasslands.
Their status was greatly reduced, and many small Tiele tribes that originally relied on them changed their clans and switched to relying on the Sijie tribe, seriously damaging the vital interests of the Xue Yantuo tribe.
In order to restore his reputation, Xue Yantuo urgently needed a battle. It was unrealistic to attack the Sijie tribe. Even if he defeated the Lingzhou Shuofang army, he would suffer heavy losses. Attacking the surrounding small tribes would only push them further towards the Sijie tribe, and the effect would be counterproductive.
.
After repeated consideration, Xue Mantou decided to attack Fengzhou. Compared with other forces, Fengzhou was weaker and the attack effect would be better.
In the tent, the chiefs of various tribes gathered together. An old man said in a loud voice: "The spoils of the attack on Fengzhou are nothing more than population, food and property. I think the distribution plan should be finalized first. Everyone will have confidence in their hearts, and then they will work harder in the war."
."
The old man's suggestion was unanimously agreed by everyone. Another tribal chief stood up and said loudly: "The more you work, the more you will get. I suggest that the spoils should be distributed according to the number of troops sent."
"It's not just about the number of troops sent! We also have to consider the final number of casualties."
In the midst of the noise, Xue Mantou waved his hands and everyone became quiet. Xue Mantou said: "The final distribution of spoils will take into account not only the number of troops sent, but also the level of contribution. It will be dealt with fairly, but now I want to know, who
Are you willing to send troops as a vanguard and take the first step for the army?"
All eyes of the crowd were looking at Xue Chake. Xue Chake had no choice but to stand up and said, "I am willing to lead my two thousand cavalry as the vanguard."
Xue Mantou smiled slowly and said: "As long as you perform well, I will consider returning the ranch to you after the war."
Xue Chake immediately cheered up and said loudly: "My humble position will definitely not disappoint the Khan!"
.........
The snow had not completely melted, and two thousand Xue Yantuo cavalry rushed eastward under the leadership of Xue Chake. Dalhan was finally persuaded by Xue Chake and followed Xue Yantuo's army to Fengzhou.
Xue Chake promised him that if he captured Fengzhou, he would be rewarded with three thousand guan of money and two young women.
That morning, two thousand cavalry arrived on the west bank of the Yellow River. The Yellow River had begun to thaw, the ice cracked, and large tracts of ice were floating on the river. It was a huge test for the army to cross the river.
Xue Yantuo's army was very experienced in crossing glaciers. The bottom of their sheepskin rafts was wooden rafts. A large sheepskin raft could transport five cavalrymen and horses. Even if there were ice floes, it would not have much impact on them.
Darhan was sitting in the sheepskin raft, looking up at the circling eagle in the sky. He prayed silently in his heart, "Oh God Ahura Maz! Please bring spirituality to this eagle, so that it can quickly go to its benefactor."
Send the message!"
The eagle circled twice in the sky, then suddenly let out a long cry: "Chirp--", it flapped its wings and flew towards Jiuyuan County in the east.