got off the train and traveled west with Zhao Zi. Seeing that the yellow sand was widely spread along the way, and there was occasional green grass, Zhang Sheng said: "General, this road is so desolate? ”

Zhao Zi said: "Deputy envoy, this is the case all the way. If it weren't for the black water flowing north, and a Juyan Sea was injected into the desert, this road would still be unpopular. It's good that there is a railway now, as long as there is a water spring, you can make a station without delay. Without the railway, this road would not be very tight. There are many springs of water in Juyan, as long as the grain and grass can be delivered in time, tens of thousands of troops can rest in peace. ”

Zhang Sheng nodded, only then did he know how difficult this road was, no wonder Zhao Zi was full of resentment when he talked about Ju Yan.

I walked for several more days before I arrived at Juyan. From a distance, it was a lonely city, not tall, lying next to the river. The city was surrounded by tents, which were the garrisons of the army. There are more elms and willows on the side of the road, and poplar forests stretch along the river in the distance.

"The bicycle wants to ask the side, and the subject country lives extends. Wang Maha's poems really bring to life the lonely city in this desert. It's just that the train passes through here, and it's better to go north and not build a bridge over the river. In the middle of the desert, this river must be changing its course back and forth. ”

After listening to Zhang Sheng's words, Zhao Zi said: "Deputy envoy, this river is not as stable as the mainland, swaying around. If you look at the width of the river, it is not the same as the inland river. The marshal is right, this place is not suitable for reclamation, and it is better to graze. ”

Zhang Sheng nodded again and again, speechless. The scene here is too different from what he imagined, and he needs to get used to it.

Entering the city, Zhao Zi breathed a sigh of relief and said: "This road is no less than three thousand miles, it is really hard, and you have to rest well." Lieutenant, you will live in the city, and whatever you will tell me is. Out of this city, not far from the north is Juyanhai, one east and one west, but it is a good scenery. ”

Zhang Sheng said: "The yellow sand here is thousands of miles, but it is not like the mainland, what good scenery should be left for later." ”

While talking, the two rode into the official office, and Zhao Zi arranged a place for Zhang Sheng to live. In the evening, a wine feast was set up in the back office, and he did not open up the wind to catch the wind.

The city was full of garrisons, there were no civilians, everything was barracks. Zhang Sheng stayed for a few days, and then felt that it was too monotonous, so he asked Zhao Zi for a small team of people to go out of the city to relax.

Take the people out of the city and follow the river all the way north. It's spring, and the river is green, with unknown wildflowers and waterfowl flying. The further down the river became, the wider it became, and it slowly became a large area, and finally merged into a large lake.

When he arrived at the lake, looking at the lake that could not be seen at a glance, and from time to time there were reeds glowing green, Zhang Sheng felt that his body and mind were much more open.

The guard Jia Xu said: "Taiwei, there are many fish and shrimp in the lake here, and they are very easy to catch. Since it's here today, it's better to catch a few fish and go back, and have a feast with Taiwei Zhao in the evening. Juyan is surrounded by yellow sand, and there is no caravan from here, which is extremely boring, and there is only this kind of fun. ”

Zhang Sheng nodded and said, "Okay, you send a few people to catch fish." Remember to be careful and don't get an accident. ”

Jia Xu agreed, sent a few soldiers, and chose a place to catch fish. They already have nets with them, and they are familiar with doing this.

Zhang Sheng rode a horse and saw that there was a sand pile next to him, which was the highest place in the vicinity, so he led people up. When I got to the sand, I saw a blue water in front of me, boundless, and I don't know how many birds were flying nearby. The neighborhood is full of wild grass, and it is glowing green.

After watching it for a while, I couldn't help but praise: "What a good place!" In the future, when you enter the Western Regions from here, this place must be a landscape! ”

Jia Xu said: "This place is actually a very good scenery, but the surrounding area is sparsely populated, the roads are impassable, and no one comes. When the railroad is opened in the future, it will be different, and many merchants will inevitably prosper at that time. ”

Zhang Sheng nodded. There is such a place, Juyan can live here for a long time, otherwise it is too monotonous.

Zhao Zi sat in the official office, dealt with some official documents, walked outside, and looked at the blue sky in the distance, a little distracted. In the past, in the army, it was not as tiring as it is now. At that time, everything was ignored, and a few strong officials around him dealt with everything, and he was happy. After Du Zhongxiao's military reform, officers had to deal with official business every day, and in addition to the soldiers in the army, they were not allowed to leave idle and miscellaneous people. If there is no help, there will be no entertainment.

Zhao Zi is a capable soldier, and he is not suitable for the current army. There was nothing in the mainland before, but since I arrived in Juyan, there is not a single person within hundreds of miles, and the days are so monotonous that people are panicking.

With a sigh, Zhao Zi walked back and forth in the courtyard for a while, and then returned to the house. The army is stationed here, and every day is a daily affair, and there are their own yamen to deal with it, but Zhao Zi's affairs are not much.

After sitting for a while, Zhao Zi asked the soldier on the side: "Deputy Envoy Zhang went out of the city to relax today and went to Juyanhai?" ”

The soldier said, "Back to the captain, I heard so." ”

Zhao Zi sighed: "It's a pity, I knew that I would go with him." It's too boring to stay in the city. ”

The soldier shut up and did not dare to answer.

Zhao Zi said: "You go and order the army, set up a banquet tonight, and drink two glasses of wine with Deputy Envoy Zhang." ”

When the soldiers left, Zhao Zi held his cheeks and looked out the window, a little distracted. I am a soldier and am not afraid of marching and fighting, but this kind of dry sitting life is too boring. Suddenly, Zhao Zi hoped that Chen Ximing, who had arrived in the capital, would be able to covet the prosperous world of the capital and not return to Yizhou.

As long as Chen Ximing is willing to give up Yizhou, the imperial court will inevitably order Zhao Zi to lead the army westward and re-enter the Western Regions. This opportunity to reproduce the time of the Han and Tang dynasties, the imperial court will not give up. With the railway, transportation is not a problem, with an army of 50,000 people, no one in the Western Regions is an opponent at all.

Thinking of this, Zhao Zi sighed again, stood up, and walked to the window to look at the blue sky. The blue sky and white clouds in the sky are extraordinarily melodious, and they appear quiet and lofty. Occasionally, a few eagles swirled in the air, and it was not known what they had found.

This kind of monotonous days, Zhao Zi has been going on for nearly a year, and he is really a little tired. Although the scenery is good, there is always a day when you get tired of seeing.

In Shengzhou City, Du Zhongxiao was on duty. Sitting in the official office, looking at the official documents.

A soldier walked in quickly, crossed his hands and said: "Jie Shuai, the official document from the imperial court wants you to open it in person!" ”

"Oh-" Du Zhongxiao raised his head, "show it to me." ”

After receiving the official document, Du Zhongxiao went to cover the skin and saw that it was from the Privy Council. Inside the door, he said that Chen Ximing had promised to settle in the capital and not go back to Yizhou. A few days later, Chen Xizhi and Hu Shang, who had gone to the capital, would go to Shengzhou and order Du Zhongxiao to send troops to enter Yizhou with them.

Looking at the official document, Du Zhongxiao was stunned for a while before putting it on the desk.

This is the best result, but for Du Zhongxiao, this result came too quickly. At this time, the train had not yet arrived in Juyan, and even if Zhao Zi led troops into Yizhou, he could only move forward in small amounts, and the army could not go. One or two thousand people, will they be able to receive Illinois in their entirety?

In Du Zhongxiao's heart, he had no bottom on this matter. For Hequ Road, Yizhou is to the ripe fruit, sooner or later, always its own. Now that troops are stationed, the army cannot follow, and it is a bit risky. If Gaochang suddenly attacks, the one or two thousand soldiers and horses who go there will suffer.

Shaking his head lightly and sighing, Du Zhongxiao closed his eyes and thought idly. After thinking about it, don't take the risk, let Chen Xizhi and others live in Shengzhou for a while, and wait for the railway process. The railway was repaired to Juyan, and then Zhao Zi led the army to occupy Yizhou.