Dunhuang and Guazhou are oases located in the desert. Guazhou is located next to the Shule River, and the Beishan Mountain Range is to the north, which is blocked from Hami and Rouyuan.

Such a terrain, in addition to the human factor, in the spring when Qiuzi was lost, after the collapse of the situation, Dunhuang and Guazhou can be defended, not for nothing.

The Beishan Mountain Range extends to the west bank of the weak water in the east, wedges into the eastern edge of the Lop Nur depression in the southwest, starts from the Gobi remnant hills on the north bank of the Shule River in the south, and reaches the Altai Mountains (now the border between China and Mongolia) in the north. The highest peak is 2583 meters. The climate in the mountains is cold and rainfall is low. There are no perennial rivers and lakes. After heavy rainfall, there will be water accumulation in dry riverbeds and depressions.

At the same time, low-lying areas with springs form oases. Common vegetation includes false horsetail, overlord, ephedra, small halophylla, needlegrass, caragana, artemisia and so on. The vegetation coverage here in Kitayama is minimal. But it is much stronger than the surrounding desert areas, and it is still an important pasture.

On the night of August 13, a small oasis in the brown desert of the North Mountains was dotted with military camps. All kinds of flags fluttered.

If there were elite scouts of the Zhou army here, they could immediately tell that this was the cavalry and coalition army of Bayegu's headquarters. Distinguished by flags, a total of 20 flags, a total of 200,000 people.

At the end of the Ming Dynasty, the Jurchens rose in Changbai Mountain and Liaodong. Raid the Central Plains. Shenzhou is almost on the land. Zhou Taizu raised troops in Jiangxi, possessed Jiangnan, expelled the Tartars, and recovered the mountains and rivers. And the barbarians outside the Saiwai once submitted to the Jurchens. He was organized as a flag soldier. Deeply influenced by the Jurchens.

Therefore, its military establishment is trained by flag soldiers. It integrates military, production and politics. However, the base number of people in one flag will be expanded to 10,000 people. The leader of the army is called the capital. Basically, they are filled by generals of various ethnic groups. At the same time, because the Zhou Dynasty had strong soldiers, there were many victories and few defeats. The steppe barbarians did not have firearms troops, they were all cavalry. Therefore, the old yuan system was restored: there were thousands of households, hundreds of households, and ten masters under the banner.

In the big tent of the Chinese army, more than a dozen Hu generals were gathering together to drink and have dinner. Bonfires are roaring. The roasted lamb is golden brown and crispy, with grease dripping onto the rosin wood. Bowls of goat's milk wine were poured out. The smell of milk wafts through the air.

The people sitting here to dine tonight are all the generals of the headquarters of Bayegu, and the generals who are relatively close to him. Such as: Tongluo, Xue Yan, Hui Hui and other generals.

Sitting in the center is a middle-aged man, about 50 years old. The beard and eyebrows are half-white. Wearing a green silk robe, he sat behind the desk, his eyes were calm and calm. This is the royal family of the ancient tribe of Baye, the ancient earth gate of Baye.

And the leader of the Baye Gu Army, who is rumored to be in the outside world, is sitting on the lower side of his left hand. In fact, Baye Gu Xiaode is only 15 years old this year, although he is good at riding and shooting, how can he lead the army?

Hu'er has a cunning temperament, and he is not a lie. Baye Gu Xiaode was pushed to the front of the stage, which was the reason for the suspicion.

In the autumn of the sixteenth year of Yongzhi. Wang Ziteng, the chief soldier of Yulin, led 40,000 elite soldiers out of the fortress and attacked the Chahar Department in Monan. Beheaded 12,000 people. The Chahar Department was greatly injured and fled far away from the desert north. The tribe to which Baye Guxiaode belonged belonged to the Chahar Department. followed and moved to Mobei.

However, Baye Guxiaode was favored by the princess Wanguo, the third daughter of the Ilin Khan of Baye Gubu, who was located in Mobei. As a result, it can be promoted and reused.

In the seventeenth year of Yongzhi, the ancient tribe of Baye contacted Tongluo, Xue Yan, and Huifu, attacked Beiting, and conquered the Tiele tribes. He then crossed the Tianshan Mountains and fought with the Great Zhou at the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains, and then captured Qiuzi. With the strength of the four divisions, it is not enough to conquer the entire territory of the Western Regions.

However, Zhou lost its deer and competed. In the seventeenth and eighteenth years of Yongzhi, the whole territory of the Western Regions was in turmoil. The Bayegu coalition army, which sought the greatest benefit of defeating the Zhou Dynasty, tried to seize the last strongholds of the Zhou Dynasty in the Western Regions: Dunhuang and Guazhou.

First, the water and soil here are abundant, and the humanities are gathered, which can be used as a place to raise soldiers.

Second, strategically forced the Zhou army back to Jiayuguan. The ancient tribe of Baye can confidently compete for the hegemony of the grassland with the Chahar, Fugu, Khalkha and other departments.

Baye Gutumen gulped mare's milk wine, his beard was stained with wine, and he grabbed a leg of lamb with his left hand and chewed on roast sheep. Listening to the generals' discussions, the upcoming big war. All the generals are asking for help. Take the first credit.

A Hu general said cautiously: "The Zhou people have sharp firearms, and we can't underestimate them." "There were several battles, but there were additional reasons to win. Mounted firing against firearms, there is only the advantage of range and maneuverability.

A big-nosed bearded general next to him laughed and said, "Po Shi, when did your guts become so small?" We waited for the coalition army to cross the North Mountain to defeat the Zhou people, and it was very easy. You're still worried about whether you and Luo Bu can grab enough Han women. ”

The generals in the tent laughed, "Haha! ”

A cruel smile appeared on the face of Bano Kotaka. That night, before going to Mobei, he swore that he must let the Zhou people taste the pain in his heart. Since his invasion of the Western Regions, he has killed a great deal.

Baye Gutumen smiled and said, "Po Shi's concern is reasonable. Mohe's courage is also worth encouraging. The generals can rest assured that we don't need to go head-to-head with the Zhou people. This was the case with the Battle of Gumo. As he spoke, he looked at Po Shi.

The Battle of Gumo was a decisive battle in the south of the Tianshan Mountains. At that time, the Tiele cavalry rebelled, and Bano Furube was able to defeat the battle of Kyoying.

The general of the Tongluo Department breathed a sigh of relief, lowered his head, and said, "Taiji is high." ”

Baye Gutumen smiled and raised his glass.

More than a dozen Hu generals raised their glasses, and a knowing smile appeared on their faces, "Hehe." "Gumo and Qiuzi have made breakthroughs in this way. Dunhuang and Guazhou are also mixed with Hu and Han. It is mainly composed of Tuyuhun, Yueshi and Qiang people.

…

…

The night passed quickly. Compared to the cold August in the Western Regions, the climate in Beijing is much milder.

In the golden autumn of August, the cinnamon is fragrant.

After Zhang Anbo, the imperial historian of Zuodu, got up, he asked in the hall to greet his son, "Bo Miao, does Ziyu have a letter?" ”

Zhang Chengjian was chubby, wearing a green shirt, and said with a smile: "Father, where does he have time to write a letter to Beijing." But there were several letters from home. "Before the battle, I was still thinking about the beauty in the family, Ziyu's style, it was really an amorous seed, and Jia Tanhua, who was famous all over the world!

Zhang Anbo smiled gently, nodded, and said, "Calculate the time, he should arrive." "The official documents in the court, he naturally knows.

Zhang Chengjian groaned slightly. The father's words were full of concern.

I think so, the most outstanding disciple of the academy chose to serve in the army. Start your career. Instead of waiting for the death of the Son of Yongzhi in peace. Serving in the military is risky. Especially in today's situation in the Western Regions. In the recent official documents of the imperial court, it can be felt that the Western Regions War is about to start, how can this not be worrying?

Zhang Anbo chatted with his eldest son for a few words, had dinner, and went out to the court with a heavy heart.

After many years in the sea of Huan Hai, he has already felt a sense of turmoil and the end of the dynasty. Outside, there are strong enemies fighting, and inside, there are civil unrest, and the contradictions are sharp. The Son of Yongzhi died early. Otherwise, the longer the court continues in this state, the more the situation will collapse.

…

…

Dunhuang City, the morning light is sprinkled.

Jia Huan got up early in the morning and moved around the yard for a while, doing radio gymnastics and moving his hands and feet. Then, the official at the post station brought breakfast, a bowl of gruel, and a few white-flour steamed buns.

Dunhuang is just a small city, and the post station is not big. While Jia Huan was eating breakfast, he could hear the conversation between officials and family members in the courtyard next door.

"Master, the slave family is homesick. When can I get out of here? ”

"Master, I am all in Dunhuang, where are you going? Keep it! ”

Conversations like that. There is a rush to escape, as well as the helplessness of staying here, and the confusion about the future. There are 28 state capitals and military towns in the Western Regions, and there are thousands of officials. However, most of the people evacuated to Dunhuang were officials from the former Qiuzi Town. The Western Regions were in turmoil, and many officials appointed by the Zhou Dynasty were killed.

Zhou Suiming system. It is the duty of the magistrate to guard the land. It is not allowed to escape, but it is only loyal to the country. Otherwise, the court will definitely be held accountable afterwards.

And the officials in Qiuzi Town can be withdrawn, or the order of Niu Jizong, the chief soldier of the Western Regions. He was determined to defend himself in the turtle and be ashamed. All kinds of materials and documents of civil officials and the Western Regions were moved to Dunhuang to keep the seeds.

Jia Huan groaned and drank porridge in small sips.

Perhaps, this is a certain idea of the official class in the entire Dunhuang city. After all, the myth of Jingying's invincibility has been broken in the Western Regions. And it's not just weapons that determine the outcome of a war. In other words, at this time, Da Zhou needs a victory to boost morale!

However, on the front line, Jia Huan paid flawless attention. He also did not understand military affairs. His attention was on tonight's banquet: the preparation of grain and grass, and there was still a gap of 70,000 stones. He has silver dollars in his hand, but will he be able to buy food at the right price?

Just as he was thinking about it, the chief came in with Qian Huai from the door, holding an invitation in his hand, and said, "Third master, Master Wang is here to hand over the post, and ask you to have a drink in the restaurant in the city at noon." ”

Jia Huan put down the porridge bowl and took the post, slightly surprised. Wang Lan, a former scholar of the Hanlin Academy, asked him to eat wine in Guiyun Tower.

is also in the same vein of Hanlin, and it is natural to meet in the Western Regions and have a glass of wine. However, when he went to Dunhuang, the city was full of wind and rain, and Wang Lan asked him to meet for wine at this time, was it just to eat wine? The answer is not asked.

Bachelor Wang is now demoted to the experience of the Western Regions Political Secretary (from the sixth grade), and a lot of inside information is difficult to know.

What he was strange about was what Wang Lan was going to talk to him about.

"You reply to my post." In Jia Huan's bedroom, he took out a pen and ink, wrote a reply on his name post, and asked Qian Huai to send it over.

…

…

In Dunhuang City, there are only two main roads, the official yamen and the restaurant are all on these two streets. The rest are large and small streets, scattered in the middle of the city.

Jia Huan came out of the post station in the south of the city, with Qian Huai and Huang Guan by his side. Pang Ze was still resting in the post house. Shen Qian went out early, checked the geography of the surrounding mountains and rivers, and met acquaintances. The Qingguo Mansion has been honored for generations, and there are many old ones in the Western Regions Army.

On the 14th, the atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn Festival in Dunhuang City was not very strong. The breeze blows the flags of the pharmacies on the streets. The horns of the flag are rolling and grinning. The pace of war is approaching. diluted the festive atmosphere. On the streets, you can see bearded people with high noses and blue eyes everywhere. They are all dressed in Hu clothes. The city is full of exotic atmospheres.

"Third master, look at it. What a big fat man! ”

Jia Huan looked in the direction of Qian Huai's finger, and happened to see a fat man like a pig riding on the soft public opinion, swaggering through the market.

The canopy of the soft umbrella is rounded and shades the sun. In front of the soft public opinion, there are two curvaceous and pretty Han girls. Two warriors in Hufu opened the way with scimitars, and the soft public was followed by seven or eight Hu'er who accompanied bows and arrows and waist knives, with arrogant expressions.

Jia Huan frowned slightly. I don't like it in my heart. Is Dunhuang a Han land or a Hu land? Hu Er dared to show off his might on the street?