Chen Xizhi pointed to a small town in front of him and said: "That is the town under the Horsehair Mountain, the main road for merchants to travel between east and west." After here, the next stop is Xingxing Gorge, and after Xingxing Gorge, you will enter the territory of Yizhou. ”

Zhao Zilema, looking at the town with only a few families in front of him, said: "After walking nearly a thousand miles, this town of less than ten households is actually the most lively and prosperous place, it is really alive!" Where should this town belong? ”

Chen Xizhi said: "It is said that it should be under the control of Guazhou. However, since the party captured Guazhou, no one has ever been to this town, and they have not even collected taxes. ”

Zhao Zi said: "Guazhou is still hundreds of miles away, and the tax money is not enough to collect taxes here, and the tax money is not enough for the tax collectors' travel expenses." ”

After speaking, he lifted the reins of the horse and said, "Let's go, go to the town for the night!" Take a good rest here and make your next stop at Star Gorge! ”

Everyone agreed, drove their horses quickly, followed behind Zhao Zi, and headed towards the town in front.

The vanguard of the Song army has already controlled Xingxing Gorge, and there are men and horses stationed within hundreds of miles, and this town is no different. When Zhao Zi arrived, the officers stationed here went out early to greet him, and let Zhao Zi, Chen Xizhi and others to the best house, and the brigade camped outside.

This time, Zhao Zi, together with Chen Xizhi and others, took 3,000 soldiers and horses to Yizhou. There are still more than 2,000 people stationed along the road, more than 5,000 people are transporting supplies from Juyan to Yizhou, and the rest of the troops are led by Zhang Sheng and are still stationed in Juyan County.

From Juyan to Yizhou, all the way is a trade route that has long been opened, and there are water springs on the road, but there are no residents. Merchants who take this road to traffic need to bring their own dry food, and it is extremely difficult to walk through this road of nearly 1,000 miles.

Zhao Zi went to the residence to clean up, walked to the courtyard, looked at the mountains in the west, and said to Chen Xizhi: "Is that the Horsehair Mountain?" ”

Chen Xizhi said: "The general is right, that is Horsehair Mountain." In fact, you can also go from the north of the mountain, but there is no trace in this area, so you will go to the south of the mountain, and when you go to Xingxing Gorge, it will coincide with the road of several counties in Hexi to enter the Western Regions. The important place of Horsehair Mountain is Xingxing Gorge. ”

Zhao Zi nodded, and said in his heart, what more land do you need in this kind of place. If there was no railway, the Song army would not have been able to take the northern route at all, and could only enter the Western Regions from several counties in Hexi. Railways have changed many things, and they have also changed geography.

The guard officer came in and said to Zhao Zi: "The little one has prepared a thin wine, and he will catch the wind for the general tonight." ”

Zhao Zi said: "Simple, let's have a dinner party in this courtyard tonight." I have traveled nearly a thousand miles this way, and there is no place to rest, which is really unlucky. Although you are humble here, you still have a family, and it is an important place. ”

The officer said: "There is a road to the south here, leading directly to Guazhou, and the subordinates are stationed here to prepare for the party." ”

Zhao Zi turned his head to look at the yellow sand in the south, and said disdainfully: "The army of the whole country, one is stationed in Shanheguan and the other is stationed in Lingzhou, and it is preventing this dynasty from attacking them." When we arrive in Yizhou, the Hexi counties of the party will not be at peace, and they will still have the courage to provoke! ”

This area is vast and sparsely populated, and it can't support the garrison of the army, and there are not many garrisons in the two states of Gua and Sha in the party, and they don't have the courage to fight against Zhao Zi's tens of thousands of troops. Although it is nominally under the jurisdiction of Guazhou, after Zhao Zi occupied it, the party did not even send a letter, but it should not be seen.

In Zhao Zi's heart, he was not interested in entering the Western Regions, but he really wanted to go south from Juyan and attack Suzhou and Guazhou, which were party items. However, now that the Song army of Qin Fenglu has not yet completed its training, it is not the time to attack the party, so it can only advance westward first and occupy the Western Regions.

Seeing that the sun was about to set in the western sky, the garrison officer ordered his soldiers to set a table in the courtyard, set a charcoal stove, and prepare a dinner party. Said to Zhao Zi: "General, the night here is cold, and it is better than in Juyan. It's September, and it's very cold after the sun sets. ”

Zhao Zi said: "I have traveled nearly thousands of miles from Juyan to here, and I have been walking for so long, I already know." Rest assured, as long as the wind does not blow, the soldiers can resist it. You order a few more campfires around the table, and then it's lively and warm. ”

The officer promised and took his soldiers to clean up.

Zhao Zi said goodbye to Chen Xizhi, took his entourage, went out of the courtyard, and rode on a horse to inspect the barracks. There were 3,000 soldiers and horses, including the avant-garde, the Chinese army, and the rearguard soldiers and horses, and the entire team was separated by more than ten miles. Zhao Zi rode a horse and inspected the barracks of various departments, and when he saw that everything was normal, he came back again.

At this time, the sun had set, and Chen Xizhi and several members of the staff were on a fire around the fire. Seeing Zhao Zi, they hurriedly saluted together.

Sitting down at the table, Zhao Zi said, "Where's the wine?" Let's start with the drink! The road is boiling, drink a glass of wine first, and go to get rid of bad luck. ”

When the soldier came to drink, Zhao Zi raised his glass and said to Chen Xizhi: "Envoy, drink a drink!" This time to go to Yizhou, the city lord is not there, it all depends on your words! ”

Chen Xizhi said that he didn't dare, raised his wine glass, and drank it all with Zhao Zi.

Putting the cup on the table, Zhao Zi said: "At the beginning of last year, outside Hezhou City, I took 10,000 soldiers and horses, swept through the rear of the White Horse Supervision and Military Division, and went down to Lou Bobei. It's just that it was Yang Wenguang who fought head-on in that battle, and I just picked him cheaply. Freely training in Suizhou, that battle was the biggest battle I fought. Later, he stayed in Yan, and there were no traces for hundreds of miles around, which was very difficult. This time I went to Yizhou, which is an important place in the Western Regions, and it can be regarded as the place where this Dingyuan army really fought. ”

Chen Xizhi said: "General, Yizhou is not a big place, and there are only thousands of households in two counties under the rule of one state. ”

Zhao Zi said: "Although there are few households, it is the gateway to the Western Regions, which is not comparable to ordinary places. The envoy returned to Yizhou and handled the family property for the city lord, did he live in Yizhou or go to the capital? ”

Chen Xizhi said: "The city lords have all gone to the capital, what else do I mean in Yizhou?" Naturally, I went to the capital to find the city lord. ”

Zhao Zi nodded: "What the envoy said is also right, how can a remote place like Yizhou compare to the prosperity of the capital." Now in the capital, there are all the treasures in the world, all kinds of benefits. Being there is the real life. ”

As he spoke, a sheep was already roasted, and the soldier unloaded the meat, put it on a plate, and brought it to the table.

Zhao Zi pointed to the mutton and said: "Although it is remote here, there is no shortage of cattle and sheep!" Come, while the meat is hot, let's drink and eat meat together! ”

After eating for a while, Zhao Zi said: "Envoy, now in Yizhou City, I don't know how many powerful people there are?" When the army is stationed, what will these people do? Although the city lord's family has ruled Yizhou for nearly a hundred years, I wonder if the people under his rule will obey his orders? ”

Chen Xizhi said: "The lonely city of Yizhou, since the destruction of Khotan and the fall of Shazhou, it has been difficult to communicate. The big business has already moved away, and now the rest are small households. The general led the troops into the station, and in addition to their military service, naturally everyone was happy. ”

Zhao Zi smiled: "The envoy said that everyone is happy, and it is better to be so." Don't let the army go to the city of Yizhou, but the city gate is hanging high and you can't enter the city, that's not good. I'm not prepared to fight in Illinois. ”

Chen Xizhi waved his hand again and again: "General, don't worry, I have the city lord's warrant with me, and when I arrive in Yizhou, I will inevitably welcome you into the city." ”

Zhao Zi nodded: "It's best to have this outcome." If they are kept out of the city, the firearms of the army will not have eyes. It has been more than a year since the party was confronted in Hue last year, and you people don't know how powerful firearms are. ”

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