The night is quiet. In the post house in the east of Shule City, Chen Wu stood silently in the shadow of the corridor, his waist knife hanging from his waist.

Shule is an enemy territory here. For several days, the brothers have maintained a high degree of vigilance, escorting Master Cheng in and out.

He was a Han soldier in Dunhuang, and because of his bravery, he was selected to the Beijing camp in last year's training and became a qualified cavalryman. The monthly salary is generous. He took his military merits as his family and purchased 100 acres of fertile land in Dunhuang. It is farmed by his parents and wife. Work harder, after a year, there is still a surplus of rations. The days will get better and better.

He thought about taking a leave of absence next spring and returning to Dunhuang to visit relatives. Just in time for the summer harvest. My son is only two years old. When he left Dunhuang, his son called "Dad" and couldn't speak clearly. He thought about letting his son study in the future...

The cold wind was cold, and Chen Wu's heart was hot. Sudden change. The front yard of the post house suddenly burst into flames. Suddenly the shouts of killing rang out in the silence of the night.

"Enemy attack!"

"Quick!"

…

…

Cheng You was sitting in the main room of the courtyard and pondering.

He came to Shule these days, and had a rough deal with the local nobles and merchants. Something basic is known: the Persians are suspected to have conquered Transoxiana. I am afraid that this will cause the position of the local heroes in Shule Town to waver.

However, he consulted ancient books. Since ancient times, no enemy country has crossed the green mountains. Back then, in the battle between the Tang Dynasty and the black-clothed Great Food, the influence of the Black-clothed Great Food was only limited to the river.

Tibet came down from the plateau, which does not count.

Similarly, it was very difficult for the Han dynasty to control the area west of the Green Mountains. For example, the dynasty. The military front of the national dynasty was prosperous, and the Tocharian region implemented the policy of detaining the state and Tusi. The rule of the prefectures and counties in the river was only a few short years.

He couldn't figure out the reasoning. But I know the bottom of my heart: this is a place where great powers play a game, and there are more political factors than force factors. He was still confident in persuading Shule to surrender. Because, the army of the dynasty must be much closer to Shule.

Suddenly, Cheng You's train of thought was interrupted and awakened by the shouting in front of the post house. He heard the words "enemy attack" clearly. His face suddenly turned a little pale. He came to Shule with only a hundred men! If it's an enemy attack...

The sound of killing outside was getting closer, as if the footsteps of the Grim Reaper were approaching. The sound of Zhou Jun's guns rang out violently in the middle of the night.

"Bang!" "Bang!"

Everything happened in a very short period of time.

The Persian Musa led a mission of no more than thirty people. From the number of this mission, it can be known that he boasted in front of Pei that the governor of the Persian Empire could easily send an army of 100,000 to Shule, and how much water there was.

Even, the prestige of this governor of the river in the river region is difficult to say.

However, Musa was not the only one who attacked the Zhou army. They had the cooperation of Sogdian merchants: caravans in the Western Regions were generally armed with force. After Musa led these two or three hundred men to the post house, he suddenly attacked the Zhou army. Even if the Zhou army was well-trained and had a hundred elite soldiers, it was very difficult to organize effective resistance at the very beginning with such a short distance and several times the number of people.

After about a cup of tea, Cheng You and more than 20 Zhou troops were besieged in a small courtyard not far from the stables.

The night moon shines with a cold glow. In the small courtyard, Cheng You was asking Chen Wu about the situation. He was a scribe and had no judgment on the battlefield situation.

"How's it going? Can you break out? ”

At this time, Cheng You no longer cares whether he is afraid or not. Fear often stems from the unknown. That's what happened in the bedroom. He didn't know the situation. And now being hunted down by the Persians, he is only nervous. It's as if a string has been tightened to the extreme! What's next, who knows?

Chen Wu had blood on his face, all of them were Persians. He had just taken the lead, armed with a steel knife, hacked two people to death, and rushed out with Lord Cheng and his brothers, and went around the courtyard, where he was blocked near the stable.

It's definitely faster to escape on horseback than on foot! However, the other party saw through his intentions.

Chen Wu was silent for a while, shook his head, and said, "It's difficult." Lord Cheng, the brothers have firearms in their hands, and they can support it for a period of time relying on the courtyard wall. But when the medicine runs out. If we don't have reinforcements, we're afraid we'll be..."

Cheng You clenched his fists hard, and his knuckles were a little white. He didn't expect that he would encounter danger when he came to Shule. Finally, he took a deep breath and said slowly, "I know." ”

Around the courtyard, the gunfire continued. There were Zhou troops, and there were Persians. When Chen Wu and Cheng You were talking, a Zhou soldier who was lying on the wall of the adobe courtyard and shooting was shot in the forehead by a Persian, screamed miserably, and fell to the ground with a "bang".

The moonlight shone on the blood in the courtyard.

Chen Wu's eyes showed a sad look.

Cheng You witnessed this, slowly stood up, and asked in a loud voice, "Is there anyone outside who understands Chinese?" Below is Cheng You, the envoy of the Zhou army, who dares to ask who is from Persia on the other side? ”

…

…

"Your Excellency...!"

In the post house, there are many courtyards for officials to live in. Musa was a few dozen paces away from the small courtyard besieging Cheng You, directing the battle. Hearing the shouts from within, a Sogdian merchant acted as an interpreter, and Moses' own soldiers asked him for instructions.

Moussa nodded, with a victorious smile on his bearded face, and said, "Tell him." I am Musa, a general under the command of Jalali, the governor of Khorasan in the Persian Empire. He was ordered to send an envoy to Shule. Let the people of this place serve His Majesty the Emperor of our dynasty. ”

Sogdian merchants translate loudly.

…

…

With the response of the Persians outside the courtyard, Cheng You walked from the house to the courtyard, raised his voice, and said righteously: "What is the reason for the general to attack and kill the envoy of the Great Zhou for no reason?" Great Zhou and Persia, did they declare war? The general is not afraid of the thunderous wrath of my army? ”

However, Cheng You's questioning had no effect: "The two countries are fighting each other, and they are doing everything they can, so how can they say that they are unjust." Your envoy has gone. It's better to surrender early and don't make useless protests. ”

Chen Wu said excitedly: "Master Cheng, Hu people are too deceitful!" Fuck it. There are more than 20 of our brothers, one earns two, enough for this! "He doesn't want to die, he still has a wife and children at home. But what bullshit did the Persian general say? If they hadn't attacked at night, would they have been pressed and beaten by the Persians?

Yes, there is no excuse for losing on the battlefield. However, he was not convinced!

Come on!

Cheng You shook his head lightly at Chen Wu, and then responded loudly: "There is no envoy of surrender in the Great Zhou Dynasty!" ”

Again: "The general's meaning is already clear below. Kill me and you'll be there. The soldiers under my command are innocent, and I ask the general to allow them to leave Shule. Otherwise, the trapped beast will still fight. Please think about it! ”

Outside the courtyard, Musa, who was surrounded by everyone, listened to the interpreter's words, the smile on his face slowly faded, and he inserted the Damascus scimitar in his hand back into the knife, and commanded in a deep voice: "Promise him." ”

This is a respectable opponent! The elite of the Zhou army, he has already seen it, and he doesn't want to increase the number of casualties.

…

…

Half a pillar of incense, the horses are all brought. The soldiers of the Zhou army are about to evacuate. And Cheng You will stay.

"Master Cheng..."Chen Wu and the others knelt down to say goodbye, tears couldn't help but stay. This scene is too humiliating. But if they were among the tribes of Hu'er, they would all be put to death when they returned.

Cheng You smiled hard and said, "Manly man, what are you crying about?" People will die! That's the best I can go. Alas..., the gentleman is ill and unworthy of his name! I read the books of the sages and would like to leave a name in history. I don't want to become a figure like the Xiongnu envoy killed by Hanban Dingyuan today. Hateful. Hateful! ”

The Sogdian merchant Alibov was on the side of the courtyard, looking at the tall and thin man in front of him. The moonlight fell on his emaciated figure. However, this emaciated body made him feel a sense of strength.

Chen Wu and the others cried goodbye. Aripov told Musa and the others outside the compound to come in.

Facing the Persians' swords and guns, Cheng You faced it directly, stretched out his arms, and smiled bitterly, "Come on!" He once heard Jia Ziyu say a sentence, and he admired it very much: a true warrior dares to face the bleak life and face the dripping blood!

"Bang!" "Bang!"

Gunshots sound like beans.