The first three years of the Han Dynasty were a very important year in history in every respect. Since this year, several major events have occurred one after another, which not only have a profound impact on this extremely powerful country, but also directly change the direction of the whole world.

As a contemporary Taishi Ling, Sima Qian, with his keen observation ability, had a premonition of the great significance of this Han army's westward expedition very early. Therefore, he worked tirelessly and went to the Western Regions. After coming back this time, he only stayed in Chang'an for a few days, and when Yuan Zhao left, he followed behind him inch by inch and went west together.

The magnificent historical picture needs a huge pen like a rafter to record the inscription, who else can give up this burden?

"Yuanhou, everyone in the world says self-cultivation, Qi family, governing the country, and leveling the world, but throughout the ages, countless sages have exhausted the rest of their lives, and how many people can reach this realm? At the age of Yuanhou, he has already done this...... Alas! I'm afraid this is beyond the reach of manpower, and it is a godsend! ”

Sima Qian's eyes were complicated. Over the years, he had been secretly observing everything Yuan Zhao had done, but even if he wanted to break his head, he really couldn't think of how he could lead the development of a huge empire and era with the power of one person.

Yuan Zhao smiled bitterly and rubbed his forehead involuntarily, feeling a little headache for this tireless and tireless historian who likes to get to the bottom of it. This is Sima Qian! Didn't he know that he would become an idol to be worshiped by countless people in the future? How can you be so sharp-eyed like a paparazzi and want to see through all the details...... Oh, and forget that he can't predict the future.

"Huh! Taishi has made the adults overrated. I'm just trying to do better. Speaking of which, Chinese civilization has a long history, and the sages have made great contributions. All the achievements we have made today come from their inheritance! ”

"Yuanhou is too modest. In the eyes of the people of the world, they can't rub the sand! …… What kind of victory will be achieved in the Western Expedition, everyone is looking forward to it. Hehe! ”

After leaving Chang'an, Sima Qian and Yuan Zhao talked several times and solved a lot of doubts. And the more he understood Yuan Zhao, the more he felt that this person was unfathomable. If at the beginning, he, like many people, still had different ideas about the necessity of the western expedition, then now, he only has the same passion as the soldiers.

Since there is such a great talent by his side, of course, it cannot be wasted. Some urgent military reports and correspondence documents, Yuan Zhao handed them over to him to take care of. "Secretary Sima" rolled up his sleeves and did a good job. Yuan Zhao laughed secretly, with such a secretary assistant, his heart was full of a sense of achievement!

In order to save time, Yuan Zhao took a warship this time, tracing the river up to the plateau. The latest fleet built from the Sword Lake Dockyard, carrying 80,000 soldiers, day and night, wearing the stars and the moon, rushed to the glorious battlefield of their fate.

Today, the belief of making meritorious contributions to the national war has long become the lifelong goal pursued by every soldier in the army. On the deck, listening to the raging waves in my ears, watching the countless green hills flying by on both sides of the strait, and the scorching stars in the night sky overhead. In their hearts, there is only galloping blood and endless pride.

"Whoever I wish, this battle is decided! If we can minimize the casualties of these good men, and seek peace in the world from now on, it will be the greatest comfort. ”

The river breeze blows, and the night is as cool as water. Yuan Zhao, who was standing on the bow of the boat, let out a long breath and answered Sima Qian's last question.

Whether it is a large number of generals and colonels around him, or Sima Qian and those young officials who have been trained in the army, they all admire the compassion in the words of this figure who is expected by the world.

"Yuanhou rest assured! We should do our best to succeed in the first battle! ”

The mighty river goes east, this ironclad force representing the spirit of the empire is going upstream, and there is no need for heroic shouts, the firmness in every word is already full of confidence in victory.

Under this same firmament, after a short period of calm in the Western Regions, the Persian army began its last brutal plundering of all the countries in the Western Regions before the decisive battle with the Han army.

On this main front, there are actually more than 400,000 Persians in force, and the daily logistical consumption is very staggering. Not only do the combat troops need excellent supplies, but even the needs of a large number of war horses and camel fodder are also a very laborious matter.

What's more, the king of Persia and the nobles and generals who accompanied the army also needed to maintain comfortable enjoyment. Even during the war, it is necessary to put on a show, as well as wine, food, and beautiful songs and dances.

Originally, in the battle plan of the Persian king, the wealth and food of the countries of the Western Regions were enough to ensure the use of the Persian army during this period. This was true when we first took control of the area. However, as the war progressed, especially after the successive defeats in the Battle of Yumen Pass and the Battle of Dunhuang, things suddenly changed.

With the exception of a few countries that had long taken refuge in the Persians, the people of the conquered regions of the Western Regions began to adopt a hostile attitude towards them. Even if the royal families had to submit in order to survive, the resentment buried in their hearts because of the brutal killing of the Persians would have been extremely serious once ignited by the news of the victory of the Han army.

The most immediate effect was that the logistics of the Persian army began to be insufficient and lacking. But at the beginning, no one dared to mention this situation to the king of Persia. For, in the consciousness of this great king, within the reach of his scepter and sword, there would be no resistance except submission and death.

If there is a revolt, it will naturally be a dereliction of duty on the part of the generals. And this was undoubtedly a detriment to the authority of the Persian king. If the self-righteous and moody king of Persia gets angry about it, then someone will be unlucky.

However, to the relief of the Persian nobles who were in charge of these things, the Han Dynasty actually sent millions of military rations in a very timely manner, which immediately relieved the urgent need.

During this period of armistice, after hundreds of thousands of troops had been well rested, the generals unanimously decided to carry out a complete sack of the entire Western Regions conquest after several military meetings. In order to accumulate sufficient logistical support, a decisive battle with the Han army was launched.

The king of Persia soon approved the operation. As a result, the people of the Western Regions suffered. The Persian army began to move in turns, and within a few days the large area west of Wuwei County became a no-man's land.

The bones were full of bones, and the blood was flowing in the wilderness. Countless people of all ethnic groups in the Western Regions died in this catastrophe, and many prosperous towns became a dead silence, with yellow sand and desolation everywhere.

After thousands of people from the Western Regions who escaped death fled to the Han-controlled area through various canals, they fell to the ground crying, wailing loudly, and begged the Han army to avenge them with their heads.

Zhang Qian, the Marquis of Bowang, and Li Ling, the general of the Flying Dragon Army, who stayed in the camp of the Han army in Dunhuang, although they wanted to go out for a surprise attack. But remembering the order Yuan Zhao left before leaving, they forced them to suppress their restless mood. The overall situation is important, and no one dares to destroy the overall combat layout of Yuan Zhao for the sake of momentary will.

Fortunately, it was only the people of the Western Regions who suffered the calamity. Although Yuan Zhao has always advocated the equal treatment of foreign races, as long as they are willing to attach themselves to the Han Empire, they will be protected by the Han army. But under the current special circumstances, the soldiers have less empathy in their hearts.

Whether it was Zhang Qian or Li Ling, they all knew very well that the day of a decisive battle with the Persian army would not be too far away. An unprecedented large-scale battle is about to be staged on the vast battlefield of the Western Regions. Although it is said that 50,000 to 400,000, the difference in strength is too great. But there was not the slightest hint of fear in the hearts of all of them.

Yuan Zhao hurried back to Chang'an to do something, the two of them, as absolute henchmen, knew very well. What this open-minded man wanted was not just a battle victory, what he wanted was to use this fighter to justifiably open the passage of the Western Expedition and win a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the expansion of the Han Empire.

The so-called famous teacher has always been the tradition of the Chinese nation. And when Yuan Zhao issued the famous call of "everything that shines on the sun and the moon is the Han land, and the rivers and seas are all the Han streams", everyone understood his undisguised ambition.

After the generals in Dunhuang City appeased those people from the Western Regions, they all gritted their teeth. Let the king of Persia and his army run rampant for a while longer! It is believed that before long, this raging land will be the place where they will be buried.

And the current king of Persia has no sense of crisis at all. He was listening to the generals' reports with pride. The plundering of the Western Regions yielded a lot of gains, but the Han army camp on the opposite side could not shrink, and not a single soldier dared to act rashly. He personally rewarded the dispatched general with a large cup of wine, and then said with a laugh.

"It is clear that the Han army was not very aggressive. Even if Yuan Zhao came to the army in person, I am afraid that his mission was only to regain the original territory of the Western Regions Protectorate. Hum! Now that our samurai have recuperated and fed and drunk, it is time for them to loosen their muscles and bones. Prepare y'all, and I hope to hear good news before patience runs out...... The windswept sand in the Western Regions is too dry. Chang'an is where we should rest our horses! ”

The energetic generals did not dare to slack off. The battle horn sounded again. The target, the outer garrison of the Han army camp in Dunhuang City.

Just before Yuan Zhao returned, in just a few days, the Persian army dispatched a total of more than 100,000 elite soldiers and fought three fierce battles with the Han army. In order to preserve its strength, the Han army only adopted conservative tactics, and the battlefield situation became somewhat unfavorable. The Persian army, which had tasted the sweetness, once again flew up and became arrogant.

When Yuan Zhao finally landed from the source of the river, reorganized the team, and rested for a while. That's what he received. At the same time, there are several letters of Flying Eagle Rush from different directions.