Chapter 7: The Decisive Battle of a Thousand Miles

Ma Juan's face turned slightly pale, and she smiled sadly: "No, I won't go, I just want you to be safe and ......" Geng Gong was inexplicable, looking at her in a daze, and didn't know what to say.

At this time, a white-haired old man walked slowly with his waist bent, his eyes were bloodshot, and said, "Huzi, who are you talking to?" My mother waited for you for a long time last night, and I didn't see you come back. Geng Gong hurriedly stepped forward, bowed down to support him, and said softly: "Mother, let's discuss the matter of the western expedition against the Xiongnu." When the old man heard this, his wrinkled face shone brightly, and he nodded again and again, his voice full of joy: "Okay, good, good man is ambitious, you can do this, my mother is very happy, your father's spirit in the sky should be gratified......"

The old man said, shedding cloudy tears, and she staggered away. Ma Juan said: "Brother Geng, can you bear to leave your old mother alone and go to the Western Regions alone for the sake of fame?" If there are three longs and two shorts, what will your mother do? ”

Geng Gong looked at his mother's departing back with pity, and sighed: "The horse leather shroud is the supreme glory of the soldiers!" My father died in battle, and although my mother was very sad, she understood the righteousness and often used it to inspire me. The eldest husband is born as a hero, and he is also a ghost when he dies, and he stays at home all day long, what is the point? This mission to the Western Regions, nine deaths, if I die in battle, I have no regrets! Brother Engraved, at that time, I will hand over my mother to you, okay? ”

Crystal clear tears rolled in her eyes, Ma Juan wanted to speak and stopped, she looked at the passionate Geng Gong, standing like a mountain. She suddenly knew that men belonged to the distance, warriors belonged to the battlefield, and they were getting farther and farther away, leaving only their backs, and all persuasion was in vain...... She nodded blankly, thinking sadly in her heart: "Brother Geng is gone, I am alone, what should I do?" A feeling of emptiness welled up from the bottom of her heart, like a huge torrent that washed her soul into chaos, and she bit her lip and tried desperately to hold back.

Zhengde Hall is brightly lit.

Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty was wearing a dragon robe, embroidered with a red dragon embroidered on the robe, with teeth and claws, shining with golden light. He sat high on the dragon chair and looked down on the ministers. Dou Gu, Geng Bing, Liu Zhang and a group of Western Expedition generals wore iron armor and stood solemnly at the foot of the steps. Zhong Chang's face was pale, and he stepped forward, pulling a sharp voice, and shouted in a long voice: "The topic of today's court discussion is that between Geng Gong and Ban Chao, it has been decided to send an envoy to the Western Regions!" ”

Geng Gong glanced at Ban Chao beside him, and saw that he was eight feet long, a little shorter than himself, his face was white and beardless, and his literary quality was polite, but his eyes revealed a trace of dazzling light, Geng Gong was slightly stunned, and thought: "This Ban Chao looks like a coward, but between Gu Pan, there is a murderous aura in his eyes, it seems that this person is really not simple." Hmph, just a scribe, I don't have to be afraid of him. ”

"Ladies and gentlemen, the western expedition is imminent, send one person to the southern part of the Western Regions, use both grace and power, and subdue the countries of the Western Regions. This class is super bold and careful, strategic, and has many feats after throwing a pen from Rong; Geng Gong, from the general's gate, although he has not galloped on the battlefield, he is also brave and proficient in the art of war. Both of them are rising stars, and they are the fighters who will support the future of my big man. How to compare the two, General Dou, you can talk about it. ”

Dou Gu flashed out and said: "Your Majesty, the ministers are thinking about the way to choose generals day and night, but Douwen is not good for Geng Gong, and Douwu is not good for Ban Chao. ”

Ma Fang said: "Your Majesty, the trip to the Western Regions, the safety is unpredictable, of course, choose a person who is both wise and brave, both civil and military, although Geng Gongwen is not as good as Ban Chao, but he was born in Jiangmen, full of poetry and books, the art of war, not an incompetent person, the minister thinks that there is no need to take the test, just choose Geng Gong." ”

Geng Bing looked at Ma Fang in surprise, he wanted to see some clues from Ma Fang's face, but Ma Fang's face was expressionless. Liu Zhang flashed out from the side and said: "What General Ma said is extremely true, Geng Gong advised his brother to advise his relatives not to pawn soldiers, but it can be seen that his knowledge is extraordinary; His brother is in trouble, Geng Gong would rather replace his brother with his body, which shows that he is deeply righteous. Such a knowledgeable and righteous person, the minister thinks that he can be reused! ”

Geng Gong was secretly happy, he looked up at the emperor, and then looked at Ban Chao next to him, Ban Chao was not sad or happy, he was graceful, Geng Gong admired this scholar a little. At this time, Dou Gu took a step forward and said: "The minister heard that he was planning to fight against the army, this time he sent an envoy to the Western Regions, even if he was armed with force, there were only a few people, how could he defeat thousands of soldiers from the countries of the Western Regions?" It can be seen that compared with bravery, eloquence and wisdom are more important! The year before last, Ban Chao went out with his ministers to conquer the Xiongnu, and he was the best candidate to go to the Western Regions! ”

Emperor Ming of Han nodded and said, "Geng Bing, everyone has expressed their opinions, what about you?" Geng Bing hurriedly flashed out: "Your Majesty, Geng Gong is a younger brother, and there are many inconveniences in the minister's words; But Ban Chao's talent, but for Wei Chen to see, the previous expedition to the Huns, Ban Chao repeatedly made strange plans, but also bold and careful, it is indeed a rare good general, send him to the Western Regions, the most suitable. ”

Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty was silent, pondered for a while, and then walked to the map hanging on the side of the hall: "Shangyuan County and Wugu County have always been the important towns of our Han Dynasty. Geng Gong and Ban Chao are both generals, and it is difficult to distinguish between the two and the middle, and today they order one person to attack Shangyuan County, and one person to attack Wugu County, whoever conquers it first will send an envoy to the Western Regions! When Dou Gu and the others heard this, of course they didn't dare to say anything, so they bowed their heads together and said, "Obey the holy decree." Geng Gong was overjoyed, he played with the sand table all day long, studied the art of war, if it was about attacking the city and dialing the wall, although he had no actual combat experience, he had a hundred times more confidence.

Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty said: "Ma Fang, you come to write lots." ”

Ma Fang received the order, retreated to the side, grabbed the pen, the dragon flew and the phoenix danced, and wrote down the "five grains" on a cloth brush, and when he was writing on the plain, he suddenly did not move, and there was a smile on his face that was not easy to detect, and he thought: "The original has few soldiers, and it is easy to attack; There are many soldiers in the five grains, and the city is dangerous and strong. Hmph, Geng Gong, you want to go to the Western Regions so much, okay, I will fulfill you, and then you will die under the sword of the Western Regions, don't blame me! Then he wrote "five grains" on another cloth as well.

Ma Fang wrote it and put the two lots on a silver plate. A eunuch came to the main hall with a silver plate and said, "Your Majesty, the lot has been written, please take a look at it." Emperor Han Ming waved his hand and said: "Don't look at it, Geng Gong, Ban Chao, the lot is in front of you, you two are resigned to fate, each grab a lot." ”

Geng Gong and Ban Chao received the order. Geng Gong was anxious, stretched out his hand to take it, Ma Fang raised his eyebrows, and said: "Who is Geng Gong!" Ban Chao has military exploits and is a civil servant, so he should be caught first. Geng Gong forked his head and had to withdraw his hand. Ban Chao was not in a hurry, stretched out his hand to grab it, and took a look at the silk, and the word "five grains" was written on it. Ma Fang didn't wait for Geng Gong to catch it again, took the lot caught by Ban Chao, and said: "Your Majesty, there have been results, Ban Chao attacked Wugu, and Geng Gong attacked Shangyuan." ”

Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty brushed up the dragon robe and stood up, the red dragon on the dragon robe was majestic, and Emperor Ming said in a deep voice: "Okay, two Aiqing, I will give 1,000 soldiers, and I will leave tomorrow!" I hope that the two Aiqing will cherish their soldiers, march into the army with their hearts, start a victory, and live up to my expectations! ”