Chapter 3 Yangguan (Fourth)

The weather was fine. There was no wind, no clouds, and the red sun was falling little by little at the end of the desert, pulling the shadows of people and horses long, long.

After only half a day after leaving Yangguan, Wang Xun began to regret why he chose such a path. Although judging from the map, the distance from Yangguan to Shule through Puchanghai is hundreds of miles shorter than going north out of Yumen and taking the Yiwu Road commonly used by business travelers, but it is not said on the map why business travelers are willing to go near and seek far.

The road under your feet cannot be called a road at all, and it is a deep and shallow sand nest, and every step that makes people and horses take twice as much effort as before. Countless undulating sand dunes have just climbed one and the second one is in front of you. Most of the dunes are twin brothers, the same shape, the same color, and even the texture of the surface. If it weren't for the fact that the footprints of the caravan could be seen between the dunes, everyone would almost suspect that they had been circling in circles. There is only one result, which is to die of thirst, dry, and become a zombie.

Something more difficult to endure than exhaustion is loneliness. One hundred flying dragon guards, three hundred people, placed in any city in the Central Plains, it is a lot of excitement. But walking on the boundless yellow sand, it becomes a string of small ants. Crawling, crawling, crawling slowly, a few hours later, the impression of the abandoned beacon tower that should have been left behind a long time ago is still close at hand. Shouting loudly, no echo can be heard. Singing loudly, not getting any attention. Occasionally, I saw a lively village, and a veiled girl of different races beckoned gently to people, and hurried over, but could only see endless yellow sand. Girls, villages, and wells have all disappeared without a trace.

"Stop chasing, it's a ghost market." The guide, Lao Yue, was well-informed, stopped the people standing on the sand dunes and reminded them in a low voice.

"It's a mirage! You're running with your tongue again! Fang Ziteng still remembered the hatred that he was frightened by the other party yesterday, glared at Lao Yue, and unceremoniously pierced it. The so-called mirage, according to legend, is condensed by the breath of a mirage. In the few books he has read, there is a description of this.

"My military master, alas! There's not even a ditch here, where is the mirage? The guide Lao Yue shook his head and asked in a long voice. A ghost market is a ghost market. A place where the souls of the dead come out to buy things. In that year, General Hou Junji went west to Gaochang and captured 1.2 million prisoners, and when he came back, he brought not enough food to eat, and he was ruthless, so he buried all the prisoners alive in the desert. ”

"Net nonsense. If 1.2 million people are buried alive, how many soldiers will have to be sent to dig the pit? Besides, under the big sun, how dare the ghost come out! Listening to the guide's words, Elder Zhou also joined the chat team. His mouth retorted to the former's words, but his hand unconsciously tightened his collar.

Cold. There was no wind, but the cold easily blew through the silk robe sandwiched in the middle. Through the skin, muscles, bones, all the way into the heart of the person.

"Do you still need to dig a pit to bury people in the desert?" The guide Lao Yue's voice was also low, faintly cold, "Tie your hands and feet with a cowhide rope and push them into the depression." After a strong wind, it is immediately covered with sand, and it is guaranteed that no trace will be left! ”

This explanation does make sense. At this time, it is not too far from the Zhenguan period, and after Hou Jun destroyed the ancient kingdom of Gaochang, the story of wanton slaughter of prisoners has been heard by everyone. And the power of the storm in the desert, everyone happened to have learned it once a few days ago. After hiding in a large sand dune in advance, he surrounded a fortress with a horse-drawn carriage, and the people hid in it, and they were almost buried alive by the yellow sand. If you tie your hands and feet and don't allow you to dodge, I'm afraid you'll .......

One million 2,000 Gaochang men, women, and children were buried in a sand nest under their feet. It's chilling to think about. However, the guide Lao Yue didn't look at it, and Wu Zi continued to chatter, "If it is in a densely populated place, of course Lord Yama does not allow the little ghosts to come out during the day. But there are no people in this vicinity for hundreds of miles, and what ....... are there during the day and night! ”

"Shut up!" Before he could finish speaking, an angry shout came from behind, startling everyone. Turning his head to look, he saw Wang Xun pressing the handle of his knife and glaring angrily at the guide Lao Yue, "If you dare to talk nonsense and disturb the hearts of our army, I will bury you under the sand dunes first." ”

"Master Jun, look, look at what you said, I, how dare I!" The guide Lao Yue shivered again, grinned widely, and explained with a sneer. "Aren't I afraid that everyone will walk boring? That's why ......."

"You just lead the way. You don't have to worry about how to boost morale! Wang Xun frowned and ordered coldly. I don't care about the other party's face at all.

also said that now that he has a straight face, he does have a little bit of the majesty of the commander of the first army. The guide Lao Yue didn't dare to deal with it anymore, grinned, and walked towards the front of the team with his head drooped.

"Lao Zheng, you take two brothers and keep an eye on him for me. If he dares to pretend to be a ghost again, he will be whipped in the mouth! As if he had suddenly changed his character, Wang Xun's voice sounded as cold as a knife. It's not at all like the other day, polite to everyone.

"No." The gang elder Zheng Leng shook his head and bowed his hand at Wang Xun.

"Old Zhou, you take your brothers to the back of the line. If there's any movement behind you, warn me in time! Waving his hand to signal Lao Zheng to leave, Wang Xun continued to give orders.

The other group elder Zhou was also confused, hesitated to agree, and led his brothers to the end of the team. Immediately after, Wang Xun ordered Fang Ziteng to lead a few brothers with good riding skills to act as scouts, guarding back and forth two miles to the left and right of the team. Immediately, he called several leaders of the people to him and gave them a face-to-face lecture.

The captain was suffocating. All those who were assigned to the task whispered in their hearts. In the desert, except for this team transporting baggage, there is not even a shadow of anyone else. Why make people's hearts panic like facing a great enemy?

If it is said that in the sphere of influence of Goshuhan, this kind of move is easy to understand. After all, at that time, everyone was not sure-footed, and they were always afraid that Ge Shuhan would be instructed by Yang Guozhong to kill people for the latter. But a few days ago, the captain didn't take the danger seriously at all, and when the crisis was resolved, he began to fight again, not because he was suffocated by the lonely journey, but why?

Slander is slander, but everyone easily does not dare to disobey Wang Xun's intentions. After all, whether everyone can return to the Central Plains safely in this life, they are still counting on him now. Moreover, after walking thousands of miles along the way, everyone witnessed Wang Xun becoming more mature day by day at a speed that could be seen, and he was slowly regarded as the real backbone of this team. is not a half-grown child who relies on his ancestors to gain fame.

Facts have proved that Wang Xun's move is really not a whim. Soon, Lao Zhou, who was on guard at the end of the team, sent someone to send a warning that there was a group of pale yellow wolves, who didn't know when they started, quietly fell behind everyone. People stop, they stop. People keep going, and they keep going. Always maintain a distance of about 200 paces.

"Regardless of them, unless someone is alone, the wolves will not dare to take the initiative to attack us!" With the knowledge that Gao Shi temporarily filled his stomach this morning, Wang Xun ordered in a deep voice. "Stay in formation, take care of each other, and no one will be left behind!"

"Howler!" There is a way to be a general, and it is the courage of the three armies. Although Wang Xun was not as old as the weak crown, seeing his unhurried appearance, the Flying Dragon Guards suddenly felt bold, opened their throats, and agreed in unison.

The wolves following the group were startled by the shouts of the crowd, and actually stopped, hesitating not to continue walking. Seeing this, Elder Zhou immediately had an idea, rode his horse back to Wang Xun's side, and offered his advice in a low voice: "It's better to let everyone sing together, one can relieve fatigue, and the other can also strengthen the momentum!" ”

"Hmm!" Wang Xun hesitated for a moment and agreed with a smile.

As the forbidden army of the Son of Heaven stationed in Beijing for a long time, the brothers may not be good at fighting, but in terms of poetry and miscellaneous songs, no one is ambiguous. Under Wang Xun's organization, soon, a rough song sounded in the ranks, "The border court is frightened, and the feather is recruited at night." Shao Hao Teng Jinqi, Wenchang will be a star. The long drive to the north of the Khan pointed directly at the ....... of the Lady City" (Note 1)

This poem is a song made by the Sui Dynasty poet Xue Daoheng. Because it is simple and easy to understand, and the tune is generous, it is widely spread in the army. Not only did most of the Wyvern Guards sing, but after a while, even among the people, there were people who hummed along. The morale of the whole team was immediately boosted.

As Gao Shi said this morning, wolves, like dogs, are natural snobs. Seeing that the team in front of him suddenly became arrogant, he became more and more afraid to approach rashly. When everyone heard the good news from the end of the team, they sang harder, and where they rose, they simply walked while knocking the golden stirrups with a horizontal knife, "Three autumn twilight in the desert, and thousands of miles of poverty." The lamentation of the cold night, the sound of the broken bird on the frosty day. Even its deer stops, stacking drums to ..... Longting"

In an instant, the entire team changed dramatically. The exhaustion was swept away, and there was a faint hint of fierceness. When the wolves heard this, they hesitated even more. Reluctantly watched in place for a moment, he actually drooped his head and fled in disgrace under the leadership of the wolf king.

By this point, the team no longer cared who was following them. The soldiers and the people were strong, singing and harmonizing with each other, almost forgetting the fatigue of the journey, and only feeling that their bodies were hot from head to toe. Born as a Tang boy, what is it to suffer a little and be tired? There are no scholars on Lingyan Pavilion, and he became famous after a hundred battles. If you can make peace and joy for those who care about you and those you care about, it is worth paying a higher price.

"The demon clouds fell into the array, and the moon was faint. Zuo Xian was stunned, and Shan Yu was already tied. The silk horse is in the Xuanque, and the hook Kun is in the north. When Huo Hussar is known, Gao Di starts from Xijing. The song grew louder and more agitated, and gradually, rushing into the clouds, resounding through the desert that had been silent for decades.

Note 1: This poem is a song made by the Sui Dynasty poet Xue Daoheng.