Ban Chao was heartbroken, lowered his head, and said softly: "If I don't return at this time, I'm afraid I won't be able to return again in this life!" The king rest assured, after I return to Luoyang, I will definitely persuade the emperor to go to the Western Regions again! I hope that the king will be sympathetic, treat the people well, repair the armor diligently, motivate the soldiers, and stick to the city wall. ”

Ban Chao said again: "I don't know how my brother Geng Gong is in Luoyang?" ”

The messenger bowed his head and remained silent. Ban Chao repeatedly asked, and he encountered Geng Gong and came out one by one. When Ban Chao heard this, he couldn't help but mourn and mourned: "My brother is brave and loyal, why did he suffer so much? His temperament is too upright, and he is not suitable to be an official in the court, if our brothers are all in the Western Regions, why worry about the Western Regions not being restored? ”

Li Dang roared angrily: "My brother was locked up in the edict prison before, and he suffered a lot, but I didn't expect that this time he was locked up again, those things that are not as good as pigs and dogs, if you don't kill my brother, you won't stop!" Hmph, if my brother has three longs and two shorts, I will immediately run back to Luoyang and kill all those traitors, even the emperor Lao'er! ”

Chen Shu also hated: "General Geng was guarding Shule at that time, and he was exhausted of food and water, and he was determined not to exceed it, but he went to Luoyang, but he was calculated by the traitorous ministers in every way!" General Ban, when we go back to Luoyang, aren't we afraid of traitors plotting to kill us? It's better to stay in Shuleli! ”

Everyone said: "Yes, yes, it's better to stay in Shule and save yourself from being calculated by those traitors!" ”

Ban Chao sighed: "I and Geng Gong are sworn brothers, if I don't return, I'm afraid he will have another sin!" You don't have to say more, I've made up my mind! Go pack up and salute! ”

The crowd was so angry that they had to retreat.

On this night, the moon was dark, the wind was bleak, and the grass and trees were sad. In Shule, there was a wail, and Ban Chao lay in the tent, drinking with the messenger, and did not dare to go out. The messenger said: "I have seen not a thousand, but eight hundred, but I have never seen someone win the hearts of the people like the general, come, I salute you!" ”

Ban Chao shook his head and smiled bitterly, and silently drank all the wine in the cup!

Suddenly, the curtain opened, and a group of people walked in, but it was Cheng Da who led the Shule civil and military officials. When they saw Ban Chao, they bowed to the ground and begged: "General Ban, for the sake of Shule people, can you stay here for a long time?" When the Western Regions are leveled, then return to Luoyang, okay? ”

How can Ban Chao agree? Just silent. When the officials saw it, they kept kowtowing, and the sound of banging was endless, until the forehead was dripping with blood, and someone fainted! Ban Chao hurriedly got up, helped up several people, and said, "If I don't return, it's disloyalty!" Besides, the emperor doubts me, if I don't show my heart, even if I stay in the Western Regions, I won't be able to make achievements! ”

Cheng Da said slowly: "Is General Ban really hard-hearted?" I will give up the throne to you, but I ask you to stay! With you, Shule will have tomorrow! ”

Ban Chao shook his head: "I have made up my mind, the king doesn't need to say much, how can I be a person who covets wealth and nobility!" After speaking, he paused, took another arrow, folded the arrow and swore an oath: "One day, I will go to Shule again!" ”

Cheng Da saw that he couldn't be persuaded, sighed, led the civil and military officials, and retreated.

Shule Guo extinguished the last light, everything fell into darkness, Ban Chao sat at the table, his hand pressed to his forehead. The wars in the Western Regions over the years, bit by bit, are all on my mind. Suddenly, there was the sound of hurried footsteps outside the tent, and a man broke in. Ban Chao didn't look at it, and sighed: "Li Kang, don't you really want to go back to Luoyang?" ”

That person was really Li Kang! He said in a rough voice: "Brother nerd, I don't want to go back to Luoyang in this life!" Don't go back, if you go back to Luoyang, you will be like my brother, one day, you will be killed by others! ”

Ban Chao was silent, he knew that Li Dare was telling the truth, but without the emperor's permission, could he not reply? Li Dang said again: "I know, you are loyal ministers like my brother, you will do whatever the emperor wants you to do, how can you not go back!" I came to persuade you tonight, and it was in vain! After saying that, Li Dang turned around and left.

After walking a few steps, Ban Chao called him and said, "Li Kang, are you really not going back?" ”

Li dared to turn back: "Don't go back!" One day, if I go back to Luoyang, I will kill those traitors, otherwise, I will never return to Luoyang! ”

"Li Kang, Shule has no brave generals, after I leave, you have to obey Chengda's edict, defend Shule well, and don't let my Han lose the last stronghold. You have to believe that I will come again, even Brother Geng Gong will also come! ”

Li Dang said excitedly: "Brother, don't worry, as long as I am here, I will never let Shule lose!" He stepped out without looking back! Ban Chao looked at his back and thought: "Life is short, why don't you be like Li Kang, be a person who dares to love and hate?" Don't be shackled by power, don't be burdened by mundane things, have a wide heart, and be at ease! However, how many people can do this? ”

The next day, the wind was beautiful and the breeze was gentle. Thirty-six cavalry soldiers, silent, passed through the streets and alleys of Shule, and slowly left the city. The people of Shule lined up, carrying ox wine, and saw them off in the middle of the road. A gray-haired old man, bowing to the road, cried: "Is General Ban really abandoning Shule? You must know that as soon as the general is farewell, the turtle will invade, and at that time, how can I be the enemy in Shule? ”

Ban Chao hurriedly dismounted, picked up the old man, and said with tears: "How can I bear to leave?" However, the emperor has decreed, and I have to go......"

The old man wept in a low voice, and the people of Shule couldn't hold back any longer, and they also cried. Suddenly, only a wail was heard. When Wang Chengda of Shule thought of the hardships in the future, he was panicked and couldn't help shedding tears. Suddenly, one of the Shule officials rushed out, ran to Ban Chao, and said loudly: "General Ban, Shule has left you in the whole country, do you still want to leave?" ”

Ban Chao looked up, but it was the Grand Captain Li Yi. Ban Chao shook his head and said: "I am Hanchen after all, the emperor summoned me, and I have to pay it back!" ”

Li Yi sobbed and said, "Is Jun really so ruthless? ”

Ban Chao shook his head and said nothing. Li Yi brushed out the knife and said sadly: "Shule is not dead, relying on the general of the class, the general of the class abandons us and others, and the general of the class will be destroyed by the turtle!" Instead of watching the country die tomorrow, it is better to die today, and the soul will follow General Ban and escort General Ban all the way back! After speaking, he drew a knife to kill himself, Ban Chao hurriedly dissuaded, and said: "Although I left Shule, I have laid a million troops here, what do you have to worry about!" ”

Where is Li Yi willing to believe, with a strong hand, his body is divided into two parts, and he falls to the ground, and a stream of blood gushes out, staining the ground red.

Ban Chao sighed and muttered, "Why bother, why bother......"

Cheng Da hid his face and said, "General Ban, do you really want to leave?" The people of Shule fell to their knees and cried. When the messenger saw this, he could not bear it. The thirty-six Han soldiers all jumped off their horses and cried: "General, let's stay in Shule......