Chapter 5: The Purple Robe (Part I)

The truth was really told by the old fox's big mouth. The group had left the valley less than two days before a ranger in a black burqa had already come up like flies.

At first, there were a few scattered, and after a day they were in droves. They didn't dare to take the initiative to fight with the Loulan scouts scattered around the team, and after being discovered, they refused to leave. Whenever An Maha tried to lead people to annihilate them all, he would "coax" and scatter and flee. When the Loulan scouts gave up their pursuit, these ghostly creatures slowly turned back from the desert and fell not far behind the side of the group.

Because they were carrying a large amount of baggage, it was impossible for Wang Xun and the others to walk faster. Trapped in the harsh natural environment around them, it is impossible for everyone to easily change the route of the march. When walking in the desert, the most important thing is the water source. It is impossible to last too long, even if people drink it with livestock, and all the storage in the cowhide water bladder with them. Therefore, the course of the Season River and the underground dark river has become the only choice for everyone. As long as you follow the river, you will definitely not worry about the lack of fresh water replenishment. But at the same time, as long as you chase along the river, you will definitely not lose the target.

"What are those people?" Fighting but not fighting, rushing and leaving, and throwing away, Wang Xun's patience was consumed day by day. Taking advantage of the opportunity for everyone to camp on the road, he asked in a low voice like an old fox.

"The Tiele people, to be more specific, should be the bones of the Tiele clan. Only they like to cover their bodies with black clothes! The old fox narrowed his eyes and stared at the fire in front of him.

"Tie Le's bones?" Wang Xun couldn't figure out the names of these miscellaneous tribes in the Western Regions, and he didn't have the heart to distinguish them, "This road, isn't it you, you Loulan people, that or something?" Why don't they seem to buy your account at all? ”

"Could it be that in your Central Plains Green Forest, you have never crossed the boundary?" Hearing the disparity in Wang Xun's tone, the old fox fought back with a smile. "What's more, it's never been me who made a fortune on the Loulan Ancient Road! To blame, you can only blame the goods you carried this time are too valuable. A Mo knife can be exchanged for twenty ingots of silver, five yaks, and a piece of pasture. Tsk, at this price, even the old man will inevitably be moved! ”

"Then why don't you take off all the Mo knives?! I'm still too heavy with it! Wang Xun pursed his lips, dismissive of the old fox's threat. After a few days of getting along, he found that although the other party was a little disrespectful when he spoke, his heart was actually very good. At least along the way, the Praetorian Guards and the people were taken care of by him.

"No, I can't. Tibetan women never take a bath. When the old man smelled them, he immediately felt painful! The old fox Kang Zhongxin narrowed his eyes and began to find a way to open his mouth.

"You don't think it's been a long time since you've taken a shower!" Wang Xun shrugged his shoulders and unceremoniously revealed.

The old fox Kang Zhongxin smiled and did not respond. Some words can only rot in his own heart. As a small tribe with a total population of no more than 30,000, the Loulan people will sooner or later need to take refuge under the command of one of the major forces influencing the Western Regions. But the elders of the tribe have never been able to reach a consensus on how to choose. He himself and the other three elders surnamed Chen, Shi, and Zhang advocated moving closer to Datang. The other four elders were more inclined to the Tibetan or the newly rising Hui. The two sides have argued several times, but neither has been able to convince anyone. Including this time to take in Wang Xun and others, the other four elders also proposed that the Loulan Department simply swallow the goods in one gulp, and then take the opportunity to hand over the goods to Tubo. However, one is tolerant of the tribal rules, and the other is that the three elders surnamed Chen, Zhang and Shi are resolute in their opposition, which causes the elders to be unable to be ruthless. Subsequently, Feng Changqing sent his henchman Zhou Xiaofeng to Yanqi......

Seeing that the knife was held to the neck, the elders had no choice but to put away their snooping on the ordnance. Continue to fulfill the previous commitments made to the Metropolitan Protectorate of Anzai. However, it is impossible to quietly send the baggage team to Yanqi, and it is difficult to prevent thieves, and the black-clothed rangers who have appeared in the past few days have fully proved the crisis hidden within the Loulan clan.

Seeing that the other party suddenly became silent, Wang Xun vaguely regretted it in his heart. In fact, he didn't really want to embarrass the old fox. Looking around, he began to look for a new topic again, "You came out this time and transferred at least half of the elite warriors of your clan, right?" ”

"Hmm!" Kang Lao nodded, and replied a little absent-mindedly. Who exactly leaked the news? Didn't he know that by doing so, he might bring ruin to his tribe? The faces of several elders alternated in front of his eyes one by one, each of them not quite alike, but everyone was a little suspicious.

"Those guys, will they take advantage of your old absence, and fight the idea of the valley!" Pulling the leather robe on Kang Lao's shoulders with his hand, Wang Xun kindly reminded.

"No!" The old fox agreed. Then, he immediately took back his thoughts wandering in the sky. "That valley is hard to find and has only one entrance. Elder Chen also referred to the methods of your Central Plains people and built a few fortresses at the dangerous point of the valley. Unless the enemy comes with stone cannons, even if he drives an army of 100,000 to attack, it will be difficult to enter the valley mouth half a step! (Note 1)

"Oh! Looks like I'm talking too much! With a smile, Wang Xun laughed at himself. Since the fall of the Later Turks, no tribe in the steppe has ever had a stone cannon. And gathering an army of 100,000 to attack the valley where the Loulan people are hiding is a big joke. Not to mention that the Tang Anxi Protectorate could not tolerate a military operation of this scale under its rule. Food and drinking water alone for people and livestock were enough to consume the organizers of the attack alive.

Unexpectedly, this time the old fox suddenly became serious. After hesitating for a moment, Zhengse responded, "No, you reminded you correctly." It's always a good idea to be prepared. Otherwise, before you were sent to Yanqi safely, the old man's nest was served. Isn't it a chicken flying egg beat?! ”

After a moment's pause, he took a brass brass drill from the guard's hand and placed it on the fire in front of him for heating. Then he took a thin piece of sheepskin and burned several lines of words on it with a red-hot chisel. Immediately, the sheepskin is rolled into a bamboo tube, sealed with beeswax and stamped with its own seal. After repeatedly confirming that there were no omissions, he handed the bamboo tube to a confidant warrior beside him, "Mitun, you take twenty brothers, each with three horses, and rush back to the valley immediately." Inform Elder Chen and order him to strictly guard the valley mouth. No outsiders are allowed to enter until I return! ”

"Yes!" Mitun bowed, put away the bamboo tube, and jumped on his mount.

"Bring plenty of water. Each person carries a cavalry crossbow, and if they encounter interceptions along the way, they are not allowed to entangle. Straight through. In any case, before sunset tomorrow, deliver my letter to Elder Chen! Before Mitun instigated the war horse, the old fox ordered loudly.

"Come on a few people, hang your water bag on the saddle for him!" Shi Huaiyi, who was standing beside the old fox, added loudly.

The Loulan warriors, who were scattered around the fire, sprang into action. Or, as Mitun ordered, hop on horseback and go with him to deliver the letter. Or hang your own water bladder behind the saddle of the messengers. In the blink of an eye, a group of cavalry rushed out of the camp, leaving several clouds of smoke and dust in the desert.

"Do you want us to turn back immediately? Most of them protect that side, and I'll explain it myself later! Seeing that the surrounding Loulan people were all solemn, Wang Xun took the initiative to propose.

For the people of Loulan, the gains and losses in that valley are the difference between life and death. The oases were not plentiful, and the caravans alone could not accumulate enough supplies for the tribe. Therefore, it is only with several huge hot springs in the valley that the Loulan tribe can survive one winter after another. If suddenly, that evergreen valley is taken away by outsiders, at least half of Loulan's old and weak people will die on the way to migrate.

"Not necessarily!" Kang Lao smiled and declined Wang Xun's kindness. "As long as the stag has no problems, it will not be chased by wild wolves. I believe that in front of the god of fire, all darkness will be hidden. You, on the other hand, may have to be a little more careful in the future. Although the tiger is ferocious, the people who die in the tiger's mouth every year are less than 10% of the people who die in the mouth of the poisonous snake! ”

"You always say ......." was confused by the old fox's inappropriate words, Wang Xun frowned and asked.

"Boy, how much raw mutton do you have to eat before you remember the fishy smell!" was very dissatisfied with Wang Xun's woodenness, and the old fox punched him angrily. "Quite a clever person, why don't you open your mind here? Whose territory is this desert beneath your feet? On his turf, hit his baggage ideas? If there is no one behind them, how can those guys in the Bone Department be so bold? Forty miles away is the Stone Castle, I sent the news before leaving, but until now, I haven't seen the Stone Castle send half a person to answer! Could it be that in the eyes of the guards of the Stone Castle, these dozens of carts in your hands are not even worth a piece of money? ”

Who have I offended again? When he boarded, Wang Xun's eyes were pitch black. He was not familiar with the terrain of Anxi, the location of the various tribal forces in Anxi, and the composition of the structure. Now, even the images of Zhou Laohu, Su Shenxing, Zhao Huaixu and others, who have a deep friendship, have also blurred.

Everyone seems to have another face behind them. Everyone turned around and seemed to draw their knives. And he was the only one, who continued to go west, west, in a daze, without knowing what was waiting for him in front of him.

Maybe leaving Chang'an this time was really a wrong decision. In a daze, he couldn't help but think sadly. But suddenly there was a terrible horn sound in his ears, which interrupted all thoughts in an instant.

"Woo-woo, woo-woo-" The horn sounded from far and near, each more poignant than the other. The raiders hidden in the desert have finally struck!

Note 1: Stone cannons, i.e. catapults.

Note 2: In addition to the Turkic people, other Turkic peoples in the Western Regions are generally referred to. According to historical records, the Tiele people are distributed from Liaodong to the Aral Sea. From Hami to Yanqi in the vicinity of the Tianshan Mountains, there are Qiqi, Wuhu, Sugu and so on.