Putao City was originally the hometown of Loulan. It is believed that the ancient country of Loulan that disappeared in the Lop Nur desert is known to many people.

In the Han Dynasty, it was named Shanshan. The topography of the Western Regions, east of the Green Ridge, can be simply summarized as three mountains and two basins. Namely, the Kunlun Mountains, the Tarim Basin, the Tianshan Mountains, the Junggar Basin, and the Altai Mountains.

Shanshan is located in the south of the Tarim Basin, and during the Han Dynasty, it was the power of the southern provinces. Ban went beyond the Western Regions, that is, he was stationed in Khotan (present-day Hotan region), gathering the power of the southern provinces and influencing the Western Regions.

Dunhuang goes to Khotan, one of the four towns of Anxi, along the narrow strip between the Altun Mountains and the Lop Nur Desert, passing through Putao City and the last city.

The caravan of the Guo family, perennial to the area west of the Green Ridge, this time, due to the chaos in the Western Regions, chose to return to Dunhuang from the south road, Ganghe and Cheng Yu and others who sent an envoy to Khotan encountered.

Putao City is an important town in the south of the Silk Road, and it is the only way to pass. To the west, you can go as far as Khotan, and cross the green ridge. To the north, along the edge of the Tarim Basin, through the desert, you can reach Qiuzi. As a result, the city is prosperous.

Of course, it is not as good as the scale of commerce in Dunhuang. Most of the people in the city are Qiang and Han people. In the war in the Western Regions, because it was relatively close to Dunhuang, it was still controlled by the Zhou Dynasty.

The two caravans met in the trading market in the south of Putao City, and went to an inn (named: Di) where goods could be stored, sat down to eat, drink, and talk in detail.

"Second uncle, how have you been for a year? Where do you go? Have you received your father's letter to you? In the main hall of the small courtyard of the hotel, Guo Lun's third son, Guo Guan, followed by Cheng Yuanwai, Lou Leng, Han Tang and others, and talked to the second uncle Guo Wei with emotion and joy.

In the east and west wings, a group of guys are busy placing goods and accommodation. The noise came in the afternoon with the sound of the winter wind.

Guo Wei is a man in his fifties, of medium height, with half-white hair, who has worked hard all year round because of his perennial business, and his face has a frosty color. Dressed in a gray cotton coat and a hat, he said strangely: "What letter?" Something at home? ”

Guo Guan sent Guo's family to supply the army with food, and Hu Shangguli forced the Guo family, but he said everything about being killed, and sighed: "It's not Senator Jia, how can my Guo family have the situation of the Dunhuang clan today?" Senator Jia has an old relationship with the Shi family, and entrusted his father to inquire about the news of the Shi family. My father sent a message to my second uncle. ”

Guo Wei was slightly stunned, half loud, and then sighed: "Brother Guan'er, I didn't expect so many things to happen when I went out for more than a year. It's hard for E-niang's child. Speaking of Shi family, I heard from her in the Hezhong area at the end of this summer. She was the guest of honour of the king of Shiguo at that time. Kang Guo and An Guo both intended to invite her to perform her skills. It's hard to say where she is now. To the west, the Persian state was plotting the Transoxiana region. ”

Guo Guan sighed slightly when he listened. Slightly disappointed. It would be nice to have definite news.

Cheng You shook his head with a slight smile.

In Dunhuang City, the rumors of Jia Ziyu and Guo Xiaoniang were not extinguished, but unexpectedly, on the way to Khotan, he heard the story of Jia Huan and Shi again.

The reputation of Shi Yuhua, a famous singer in the world, he naturally heard it in the capital. also knows the relationship between Jia Huan and Shi Yuhua. It's just that in this vast yellow sand county town in the west, hearing this news still makes him feel weird.

Lou Leng's eyes were dripping, he knew that their trip, in addition to preaching the order to kill Hu, also wanted to listen to the news of the Shi family.

In the main hall, several people were talking, exchanging their respective information. Because of the secrecy of his identity, Cheng You, who was known as Cheng Yuanwai, inquired in detail about the news of Khotan Town. He single-handedly lobbied the Weichi family who occupied Khotan. Self is in need of detailed information.

At this time, a big guy who followed Guo Wei came from the wing room and said, "Second master, the location is not enough, how can those women be placed?" ”

What's going on? In the hall, several eyes looked over. The Guo family has always been careless about human trade, but recently, in the spoils of the Battle of Beishan, Jia Huan allocated a group of slaves.

It's not that the slave trade was not very profitable, but that the water was too deep. The Guo family did not use force to protect it.

Guo Wei sighed and said to the big guys: "Let's ask them for another courtyard." After arranging it, he explained to a few people: "Alas..., this is a long story. At the end of the summer, we returned from the river, passed through Gloling, and arrived in the town of Shule. I met these women there..."

…

…

In the spring of the eighteenth year of Yongzhi, at the beginning of February, the Gumo War. Zuodu Governor Niu Jizong was defeated at the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains. Retreat to the turtles.

Hu rode out in all directions and captured the Han land. People have been displaced. Hermes-Epitek was slaughtered. Or become a slave. Wealth is in vain.

From Gumo to the west, it is Shule Town, one of the four towns of Anxi, now Kashgar City. The Hu cavalry coalition army sent the general Baye Gu Xiaode to the west to attack the city and occupy Shule.

By the end of summer, the once prosperous and prosperous city of Shule withered away. But there is one business in the market west of the city that is extremely popular: the slave trade.

In late summer and early autumn, the weather is slightly cool in the morning. On the fourth day of the eighth month, Guo Wei took the Guo family caravan and arrived at the familiar and unfamiliar Shulexi City. Camels and horses carried goods transferred from the river and walked slowly through the long streets.

Several Hu brokers wrapped in turbans had already come over to talk, speaking in a proficient Turkic language: "Where did the guests come from?" Do you want Han female slaves? A batch of goods has just arrived in the West Market. Only 3 silver dollars each. ”

One of the guys in the caravan said strangely, "How can it be so cheap?" ”

Where did the Han female slaves come from, there is no need to ask. They had heard the news as early as their journey to the river. The imperial court was defeated. Under normal circumstances, a woman is worth at least 20 silver dollars. This is already an extremely low price. Human life is like grass.

The bearded broker pointed to a weaker stall two meters away, and said with a smile: "These women are all from the army of the old men of the ancient tribe of Baye. ”

The man looked in the direction he was pointing, and suddenly his anger could not be suppressed, and his breathing became heavy. In the bleak morning breeze, a group of ragged women stood on the makeshift steps, their eyes glazed over. They are on average about thirteen or fourteen years old, and there are younger... Girls.

What a cruel word to come out of the army! They're just kids! These beards, these beasts!

Guo Wei sighed, "Let's go!" "There's nothing he can do. These teenage girls and girls have been ruined. Life is better than death.

Seeing that Guo Wei had no intention of buying, several brokers quickly left. There was also a red-haired broker who said with a smile: "If the guest wants to look at the goods, you can take a look here." As he spoke, lead the way ahead.

The Guo family caravan walked through the slave market.

In the stall on the left, in a cage, a man clutches to an iron railing, screaming desperately that his wife and daughter have been bought by a Hu merchant. The lovely daughter cried loudly, "Daddy, Daddy..."

The middle-aged man knelt in the cage and kowtowed, bleeding from his forehead, "This master, it's okay, buy me too." I will farm. I can do anything. ”

However, in response to his disdainful eyes, Hu Shang was dressed beautifully, held his stomach up, and said, "I bought your wife and daughter to give to your nobles to enjoy." What did I buy you for? We don't need to farm! We only let the horses go. Ha ha! ”

There was a burst of laughter around. "Haha!" All kinds of nonsense rushed out, like a group of demons dancing wildly.

The middle-aged man howled. He hates! At that time, why not pick up a knife! Why hide in the cellar?

This heart-wrenching scene and tragedy are common in the west market of Shule City.

Further on, there is a very popular stall, where young Han women are constantly brought to the stage and then bought by Hu merchants in the river. In the Hanaka region, there has always been a tradition of keeping slaves.

The broker enthusiastically introduced: "Here are all high-quality goods. Would you like to take a look? ”

The Han female slaves were bought, and they were branded as slaves on the stage. A strong man took out a red-hot soldering iron from the stove and burned them directly on the women's bodies, and the various parts were designated by the guests. Leave indelible wounds and marks on the body and soul!

They may have been good wives and mothers, working day and night, working hard and thrifty, with husbands and children. They may have been beautiful girls, the women of the dreams of the young people of this city... Now, all women are unclothed, and they are watched and bought and sold like goods.

The screams of the Han slaves, the cries of pain, the cruel laughter of the Hu people in the audience, the obscene whistles, the laughter of the people, greed, all the voices, just mixed together!

Guo Wei stopped.

…

…

"I saw that among those people were well-known slave traders in the river, and that when they fell into their hands, they were almost all dead. If you can save a few, count a few. I bought 40 women. Along the way, there are people who can't think of committing suicide, some who die of illness, and now there are 14 people left. ”

Guo Wei's voice was low.

The atmosphere in the main hall froze.

The smile on Cheng You's face slowly faded. He was in a relaxed mood and listened to stories. Slave girls always associate something else. However, at this time, my heart hurts very much. If the court can't protect its own people, people, and compatriots, what else is it called?

Hu'er should be killed!

Lou Leng's mind was flexible, but at this moment, he was gloomy. Because, this is his compatriots. He also bought slaves from the Hu people. But that's the spoils of war, and who let your men invade and attack us? This is the price of defeat.

But what about his kindred who was betrayed? Those miserable women of Shule! What about them? He's Han! Where is the position? Hu'er should be killed!

Han Tang remained silent. However, there is blood surging in my heart. He has read books for several years, and he is also a reader, who understands right and wrong, black and white, and truth!

Kill Hu Ling: Violent and cruel, kill the people and people of my Great Zhou. From now on, the Han people in the Western Regions have the obligation to slaughter and kill all the four tribes such as the Baye Ancient Tribe! My Great Zhou soldiers are headed, among the four clans, anyone who dares to hold a weapon will be killed! The people of the Western Regions, whoever beheads the people of these four tribes, asks for merit from the governor's palace with their heads. 10 silver dollars per head!

He once thought that Master Jia was a ruthless person. It's cruel. It is not in line with the way of forgiveness. However, now he thinks: Hu'er should be killed! If you don't kill them all, then your wife, your children, and your children will be sold.

Damn it!

This is the voice of everyone in the entire caravan that preached and killed Hu Ling in the Western Regions! Stir in the inn of Putao City.