It's snowing again.

Pieces of snowflakes flew down from above the nine heavens and landed in the courtyard of the county government.

It's already cold and shivering.

Even in the daytime, it can turn into ice.

Inside, charcoal fires are blazing, and pieces of fresh beef float up and down in the boiling soup base.

In such weather, there is nothing more pleasant than staying in the government office, eating hot soup together, and Kan Dashan.

"General, Juyan's recruits have already entered the camp...... Hu Zheng chewed a piece of beef in his mouth and asked vaguely, "Do you want to take a time to take a look?" ”

Although it is said that the scholars and doctors of the Zhuxia nation pay attention to food and do not speak, and sleep without speaking.

But, in fact, there are few who seriously abide by it.

Especially in private, except for a few moral gentlemen, who wants to wear a mask all day long and put on a shelf?

Just like Liu's Tianzi, his favorite has always been to go out on patrol in civilian clothes.

The vast number of nobles and scholars, when they meet in private, I don't know how many of them are profligate.

After all, if you have to serve a shelf, you will have no friends......

And in Xinfeng, with Liu Jin and Chang Hui, they both fell in love with this style of talking about things while eating hot soup.

The majority of officials also quickly accepted this setting.

The hot soup culture is instantly popular.

Now, even the guards talk about official business, all around the hot soup table, eating and talking.

"Don't be in a hurry," Chang Hui took a sip ......of wine and said, "In two days, I will go with Duhu to see ......"

The selection of recruits in Juyan ended three days ago.

Although the intermediate process was a little troublesome, it ended quickly under the three rigid standards of height, weight, and skills.

After the selection of recruits, of course, recruit training is to make these recruits familiar with the rules and survival rules of Juyan.

This, Chang Hui will not star.

It was all handed over to the officers who had already been trained.

It's a must-do!

Otherwise, how to train qualified officers? How can you quickly replicate the pattern of the security song?

Really learn Zhuge Liang, no matter how big or small, do it yourself, even if Chang Hui is open, I'm afraid he won't live to be sixty.

How does this work?

Therefore, Chang Hui let go of all the specific recruit training.

He just had to see the results.

The recruit training of the security song is mainly divided into three contents.

Internal training, basic military skills training and simple literacy.

It's not that hard.

Chang Hui had already taught the officials of the entire Juyan upper and lower levels.

A preparedness plan has also been prepared, detailing and explaining.

It can't be done, so ......

Retire as soon as possible and become a civil official!

Listening, but nodded thoughtfully.

Ye He, who was next to him, took the opportunity to say, "General, the road has been closed by heavy snow recently, and there is a shortage of fuel in the city...... I don't know if the county government has any way? ”

Chang Hui listened and said with a wry smile, "What else can I do, let's repair more storage warehouses next year!" ”

Pre-AD roads were the most susceptible to weather.

Fortunately, the quality of the projects in the Qin Dynasty is comparable to the key projects of later generations.

Even 2,000 years later, some remnants of this ancient road still exist on the surface.

It's simply horrible!

But no matter how strong the road is, there is nothing you can do in the face of heavy snow.

The carriage couldn't move at all, let alone transport goods!

And the workshop park can't be stopped easily.

The money and plans lost by the heat cut off are still on the second side, and thousands of people are starving and cold, and there is nothing to do in this city, which is terrible!

So, Chang Hui thought for a while and said, "That's it...... Ju Yanling went to Ding Lingzhi and asked Ding Lingzhi to find a way to recruit more people.

"Let's ensure the supply of raw materials as much as possible!"

"No!" Ye He also nodded helplessly, and it was only like this.

"What about the heating problem of the people's houses in the county?" Chang Hui looked at Huang Ba and asked, "The county government must be careful on this issue, and no one must freeze to death!" ”

Huang Ba listened, and hurriedly said, "General Hui, the county government has made fuel reserves as early as a month ago...... It is enough to ensure the needs of the residents of the county and the military for two months! ”

"That's good!" Chang Hui nodded and said, "The county government must be careful in this matter!" ”

"Don't let anyone die of cold this winter!"

This is a political task that must be accomplished.

Otherwise, if there is a large-scale freezing death in winter.

How can all the stable painting skin of the Western Regions be blown down?

"No......"

The crowd was about to continue talking, when there was a sudden sound of hurried footsteps outside the door.

Chang Hui's face suddenly became serious.

In the past year, God blessed, the wind and rain in Hexi were smooth, and there were not many pests and diseases.

Corn grows fast and well!

The faces of the people on the street were all filled with happy smiles!

The four counties in Hexi are not better than the inner counties, because most of the population are immigrants or family members from the army.

Therefore, the tax burden of conscription here is relatively light.

Moreover, there is no exploitation and oppression by big landlords, most people have their own families and land, and it is a standard one-man man who rules all fields!

However, the development of the Hexi region is insufficient, water conservancy facilities are lacking, irrigation conditions are insufficient, and land fertility is relatively limited.

Therefore, grain production has not been able to rise.

Even if the yield per mu is only a little more than two stones, if you go to the field, the yield per mu may only be one stone, or even less.

In addition, fallow is often required to restore the soil.

However, the people of Zhuxia have always been industrious and wise.

The people of Hexi, after long-term practice, have found that soybeans, mung beans or sunflower can be planted appropriately on fallow land, which will not only speed up the recovery of land fertility, but also get some extra food or money.

Wang Ji's family is like this.

Of his family's more than 130 acres of land, 60 acres of fallow this year were all planted with soybeans.

Soybeans can be harvested after the corn is harvested.

Sixty acres of beans can be made into various foods such as tofu, tofu brain, and tofu skin (this is the production method that came from Chang'an last year).

Not only can you use it as a dish for your family, but you can also sell it for money, buy some fabric for your wife and children, and sew a new set of clothes.

Thinking of this, Wang Ji only felt full of energy!

He buried his head and worked silently to harvest the corn, completely ignoring the pain caused by the sharp corn and straw hurting his face and body.

But......

At this moment, a crisp gong sound came from afar.

Then, the bell rang!

Bang Bang Bang!

Wang Ji raised his head and followed the sound, only to see a horse galloping out in the direction of the village, and the knight had on his back the crimson order flag that all the people feared most in this season, which represented urgency.

"Police! Alarm! Alarm! The knight walked along the road and shouted: "There is a police on the side wall, there is a police on the side wall!" On the order of the general of the second division of Haixi, the police were sent to the four counties of Hexi: Xiqiang and the Yue's thieves colluded to conspire against me Sangzi, Hexi's husband, who is over 18 years old and under 50, and has no disabilities, should be recruited as pawns! ”

Wang Ji listened, and the sickle in his hand fell involuntarily.

Then, he clenched his fists and gasped for air in his nose.

"Xiqiang!" He scolded loudly: "The thief of the Yue clan! ”

Then, he walked up to the ridge, and at this time, on the vast field, countless men like Wang Ji walked out of the corn field shirtless.

Each of them had a deep anger on their faces and in their minds.

Autumn harvest!

The most important and important thing in the hearts of every Zhuxia people!

It's about whether the family will be full or hungry when they are one year old!

But......

But there are thieves, but they choose such a moment to commit crimes!

This is a naked provocation, insult and contempt for everyone!

It is the biggest threat to their family and their wives and daughters!

Most of the immigrants who live in Biansai, in Hexi, are no strangers to war.

They know how cruel war can be.

Therefore, they understand that those Qiang people and Yueshi people who intend to enter the Qiang people are here to do something?

The answer is - to rob their wives and children, to kill their brothers and sisters, to rob them of food and clothing, to destroy their homeland!

"My wife!" Wang Ji shouted loudly, called his wife in front of him, and said, "There is a police officer on the side wall, I should be conscripted into the army, you quickly go back and prepare clothes and armor for me, and feed the horses!" ”

The land, houses, seeds, and farming tools of the Hexi immigrants, especially those near the border walls, were provided by the Shaofu.

The levy tax on conscription was also reduced to a theoretical minimum.

But there is one condition - all strong men must bring their own weapons and horses, and serve the country for two months every year.

Therefore, every migrant village behind the border wall is a prepared military camp!

Previously, Zheng Jineng, the general of the Second Division, successively launched the Battle of Tianshan and the Battle of Yuwushui in Hexi, relying on these high-quality militiamen.

When Wang Ji's wife heard this, she was a little hesitant and a little scared.

Because, everyone in Hexi knows how dangerous it is for her husband to go to war!

After the battle of Yuwushui, the four counties of Hexi wore filial piety almost everywhere.

However, she didn't hesitate for long, just gritted her teeth and nodded: "Husband, I know!" ”

In the past 30 years, it is not only the men of Hexi who have sacrificed, but also the women of Hexi who have paid a huge price.

I don't know how many people have lost their fathers and husbands, and then worked hard to bring up their sons, and then sent them to the battlefield with tears in their eyes!

From generation to generation, only they understand their suffering.

But, very few people have fled here.

And not just because it's their home.

All the more because, under this land, the blood of their husbands, fathers and brothers is shed, and their bones are buried!

……………………

An hour later, Wang Ji had already put on his set of chain mail.

This is the legacy left to him by his father, and it is the standard armor of the Han army, which is well-made and well-maintained.

It is the treasure that his father exchanged for military exploits when he followed the second division general to fight Dawan!

His wife took her sword and bow from the wall and waited for him to put them on.

The children are here too.

The eldest is already fourteen years old, but the younger one will only follow his older siblings, behind their butts.

"Da Lang!" Wang Ji looked at his eldest son and said, "After I leave, the family will be handed over to you, you have to take your brothers and sisters, and listen to your mother!" ”

"No!" The fourteen-year-old child obediently knelt down and kowtowed to Wang Ji: "Adult's teachings, my son remembers!" ”

Wang Ji nodded, stepped forward, kissed his children on the foreheads one by one, and finally picked up his young son and kissed the latter's cheek heavily.

In his memory, his father kissed his cheek like this, and then walked out of the house, leaving only a burly figure far away!

He took a deep breath, barely suppressed his emotions, put down the child, and strode out of the house.

"Your Excellency!" The children's voices came from the room.

Wang Ji turned around and saw the eldest son gritting his teeth and yelling at him: "Come back early!" ”

"Howler!" Wang Ji grinned, took his war horse, and then turned over on the horse.

At this time, all the men in the entire four counties of Hexi have been mobilized.

Countless people, along the road, converged into the nearest military camp.

The Han family's war machine in Hexi is in full operation!

Knock knock! Knock knock!

The hanging bell hanging in front of the Xuanshu Hall of Weiyang Palace was struck by the guards.

Then, the war drums hanging on the north gate of Jianzhang Palace were also beaten by the guards.

Knock knock knock...... Knock knock knock......

"What's the situation?" Huo Guang, the prime minister on duty, led people up to the city tower in the north of Jianzhang Palace and asked hurriedly.

"Northern Wolf Smoke Warning!" The captain guarding the castle tower pointed to the northern skyline and said.

Huo Guang turned his head and saw that in the northern sky, a puff of wolf smoke had already swept straight into the air, even if it was at least dozens of miles away, this wolf smoke was still clearly visible!

"Go and inform all the two thousand stones and liehous in Beijing immediately!" Huo Guang's expression was frozen, and he immediately ordered: "I'll go and report to Your Majesty!" ”

The wolf smoke is coming, and the war is up!

And there is a warning that the enemy is taking the initiative to attack the territory of the empire and attack the important cities of the empire!

Since the first emperor, Chang'an has not seen wolf smoke for almost twenty years.

In the past 20 years, only the Han army has fought others, and no enemy has ever dared to take the initiative to attack on a large scale.

Although, in fact, this matter has been foreshadowed for a long time, and the Han family court is also ready.

But when this moment really came, Huo Guang only felt panic in his chest!

It's like going out to visit relatives during the New Year's holidays, but being slapped in the face, hot and painful, embarrassing!

Even if Huo Guang's cultivation was good enough, he still felt full of anger!

……………………………………

Thousands of miles away, on the top of the Lingju Plug, Zheng Ji stood on the wall, looking out at the world in the distance.

The fields beyond the mountains are densely packed, and countless people are coming!

The number of these people is simply impossible to estimate.

Tens of thousands?

Or tens of thousands?

They were either on horseback, with bronze weapons, or in iron and leather armor, or shirtless and barefoot, holding sticks and stone hammers, or even holding nothing, and wearing tattered sheepskin clothes, shouting and mingling with the crowd.

"This is chaos!" Zheng Ji sighed with emotion: "For hundreds of years, there has been endless chaos! ”

This is the first time Zheng Ji has seen the legendary Qiang Chaos with his own eyes.

When he took office as the general of the Second Division, among the various Qiang people, those thorns had basically been driven out of Hexi by the Han army with butcher knives and horses' hooves.

There are only a few remnants left, hiding in the mountains, the number of those people is only tens of thousands, Zheng Ji took them to train the army, and it only took a few years to completely eliminate these Qiang people who lacked food and clothing, and had already been attacked by the Han army.

The captive population was taken back to Hexi, bridges and roads were built, or used as labor for the border walls.

Honest, loyal and reliable people were screened out in this process, and then dispersed and distributed to mature Qiang tribes with a relatively high degree of sinicization, such as Guqiang and Quqiang.

The rest of the people were treated as 'beasts' and were brutally consumed in the construction of the city fortress and the construction of roads.

Therefore, Zheng Ji has almost never seen Qiang Chao.

But he had heard that it had once been chaotic in the whole Hexi.

It was in the mouth of the Huns, second only to the terrible disaster of the White Plague and the Locust Plague.

Hundreds of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of Qiang people, not afraid of life and death, swept through the pastures of Hexi, eating, killing, robbing, and burning everything they saw.

It was not until the main force of the Xiongnu arrived that they scattered and fled into the mountains, leaving only the vast land and countless dead corpses.

Looking at it now, just by the momentum and the number of people, Zheng Ji knows that the destructive power of the Qiang Chaos is not exaggerated by the Huns.

If they break through the side wall and enter the world behind the side wall.

Zheng Ji knows that countless families and countless villages will be reduced to ashes!

So, as a general, his duty should be to keep all these guys out of the side wall, and even take the initiative to disperse them when they are close to the side wall.

But......

Zheng Ji looked back to the west, looked at the other end of the mountain and river, he held his hand tightly, and then gave an order: "Pass my general's order: Those who attack without an order will be punished with chaotic military law!" ”

This order means that the main force of the Han army has lost the ability to take the initiative to attack, and can only passively defend.

This was to lure the Huns to bite the hook and create fighters for the Battle of Luntai.

And only in this way, Zheng Jicai

To be able to achieve a big victory, a big victory of stepping on the corpses of the Huns, not under this Lingju, playing with the Qiang people and the Yueshi people - defeating the Qiang people and the Yueshi people is not a victory at all!

………………………………

Chang'an, Jianzhang Palace, Penglai Pavilion.

"The overlord general Liu De has arrived!"

Surrounded by more than ten generals, Liu De wore armor and a long sword around his waist and walked into the main hall of Penglai Pavilion.

"Zongzheng ......"

"Meet the General......"

"The general is well......"

Countless courtiers stood up one after another and bowed their hands to Liu De.

Liu De bowed his head slightly in response, but he went straight all the way and walked to the opposite side of Prime Minister Huo Guang, and said, "Prime Minister, the general is well!" ”

"Zong Zheng is fine!" Huo Guang nodded and said.

Liu De sat down with a smile, and then, behind him and on both sides, there were full of generals.

More than a dozen generals wearing crimson armor and red robes, but they are basically captains and captains, in this hall that starts from 2,000 stones and enters the king, it is indeed a bit eye-catching.

But no one dared to take it lightly.

Fools know that among these people, after a while, I'm afraid all of them will be nobles with a base of 2,000 stones, and the marquis of Guannei and above!

And it is a noble who holds the power of the army and has a record of war!

"Prime Minister ......" Liu De sat down and asked, "Has the situation in Hexi been reported back?" ”

Huo Guang shook his head and said, "The messenger of the front line, I'm afraid he is still on the road now, it will take at least three or five days to arrive in Chang'an and report the specific situation of the front line to His Majesty!" ”

Liu De listened and nodded thoughtfully.

In my heart, the situation in Hexi and the things I had heard in the past surfaced one by one, and gradually sketched in my mind the basic landform, geography and the approximate location of the main rivers, rivers, cities, and fortresses in the Hexi region today.

…………………………………………………………

The capital of Qiuzi Wang, Yancheng.

A silk cloth is pulled apart, and the map drawn on it is displayed in front of the person.

"Han has three stops, for my Huns' heart!" Li Ling stood in front of this map and talked eloquently: "The Luntai Fortress of the Western Regions, the surrendered city of Heshuo, and the Light Lusai of the Five Plains!" ”

Luntai is a by-product of Li Guangliva Dawan.

The surrendered city is on the periphery of Yinshan Mountain, northwest of Gaoquesai, blocked in the boundary between the Yellow River and the grassland.

Guanglu is the eternal pain point in the hearts of the Huns!

Erdan Yu died under this fortress, and with him died under this fortress city, there were thousands of Hun cavalry, including more than a dozen core clans of the four major clans!

It is precisely for this reason that the Xiongnu have not dared to approach this fortress located on the periphery of Shuofang County and Wuyuan County.

In today's situation, especially after the Han army once again sealed the wolf Juxu Mountain, for the latter two, the mentality of the Huns basically no longer cares.

Because it is simply impossible to threaten those two fortresses in the short term, let alone take revenge.

This wheel alone is like a thorn stuck in their throats.

In particular, the nobles of the ancestors, each of them stared at the Han Dynasty fortress located on the outer side of the Northern Western Regions Road, stuck in the south of Qiuzi, standing on the banks of river valleys and lakes.

Everyone knows that as long as this fortress exists for a day, it is impossible for the Han people to be cut off from the countries of the Western Regions!

Over the years, relying on the Luntai Fortress, the Han Dynasty used merchants and envoys to hook up with the nobles and kings of various countries in the Western Regions, and cultivated batch after batch of pro-Han factions.

Now among the countries of the Western Regions, the pro-Xiongnu forces are actually on a par with the pro-Han forces!

This was still established under the condition that the Xiongnu army was stationed in the oasis basin of the northern province of the Western Regions.

Without the suppression of the army of the king of the day, no one dares to imagine what would have happened.

Even so, now, there have been two countries, Loulan and Dawan, which have defected and become the periphery under the direct control of the Han Dynasty.

Like Wusun, there are not a few forces that have eyebrows with the Han people, and even Qingqing and me.

For example, you who once destroyed the country for the Huns!

Even in countries that were absolutely controlled by the Xiongnu, such as Cheshi, Pu Zhuguo, Shache, and Yuli, there were countless nobles and even kings who shouted 'Long live the Great Huns' on the surface, but in fact returned home and secretly obsessed with the culture of the Han Dynasty!

The king of the previous generation was such a lackey of the Han Dynasty who was picked out by others!

Therefore, the Huns burned their kings with blazing fire!

Now, a monarch of the Western Regions like that King of the Western Regions must still exist.

And all of this is because of the existence of Luntai and Loulan.

The Loulan Kingdom was too close to the border wall of the Han Dynasty, and it was close to the area where the main forces of the Han Dynasty were hoarding, so even the most arrogant Xiongnu nobles did not dare to provoke it.

But......

It's not the same with the wheel.

It is an enclave, at least six hundred miles away from Yumen Pass.

Even cavalry would take days to arrive.

Moreover, the route is very simple - unless the Han cavalry dares to cross the desert and risk dehydration to rescue, the only thing they can walk is on both sides of the Peacock River.

And these situations, you don't need to look at the map, you don't even need to listen to Li Ling's introduction, everyone already knows it in their hearts.

Li Ling also knew, so he skipped it directly and focused on the wheel stopper.

"According to the intelligence of Outuo's reconnaissance, Han now has a total of two cavalry captains and one infantry captain in Luntai, with a field strength of about 3,000 people...... In addition, there are about 4,000 people in its Tuntian militia, exiled criminals, and convicts......" Li Ling said shallowly: "It seems that there are not many troops, but Luntai, like all Hansai, is not its garrison, but its defense!" ”

He pointed to the location of Luntai City on the map, and then said: "The main city of Luntai City, the city wall is more than three zhang high, the city is built with rammed earth, there is a moat on the outside of the city wall, and the moat leads the lake to irrigate it, in spring and summer, when the water rises, the river is several zhang deep, even if the water depth is now I am afraid that there are more than ......."

"In addition, on the city walls and inside the city, the Han army has hoarded a large number of materials to defend the city!"

"According to the past reconnaissance of spies and meticulous work, the Han people arranged at least three or more bed crossbows on each side of the city wall of Luntai City, and built at least thirteen or more arrow towers, and there were a large number of arrows on the inside of the city wall!"

"On the inner periphery of the city wall, there should still be a daily stockpile, enough to use the rolling stones and sassalwood more than ten times!"

"As long as the defenders are energetic, to attack such a fortified city, it will take at least 50,000 troops, and the number of dead and wounded may exceed 20,000 after a siege of more than a month!"

Listening to Li Ling's words, the sages and his nobles were all a little stiff.

The Huns have never understood the twists and turns of these Han Dynasty fortresses, otherwise, they would not have been able to be easily taken down by Wei Qing in that year, and the high fortress that was built with countless painstaking efforts.

Now, listening to Li Ling's introduction, they know for the first time the tightness and horror of the Han Dynasty's city defense system.

"A month is impossible!" The sage shook his head and said, "We don't have so much time! ”

One month?

Even if the offensive starts now, it will be September to take it.

By then, the Han Dynasty reinforcements would probably have arrived.

Even more troublesome is the weather - the sages know that the Western Regions will continue to cool down after late September, and the first snow may start in late September or October.

In the colder hinterland of the Northern Western Regions, the situation may be even worse.

In that case, it would mean that the Xiongnu army might have to retreat with wounded soldiers under the pursuit of Han reinforcements, braving heavy snow and severe cold.

At that time, the weather will be the best helper of the Han Dynasty.

"We only have a maximum of ten days!" Xianxian stood up and said to Li Ling: "Within ten days, we must take Luntai, and then withdraw the army!" ”

"This ...... I'm afraid the price to be paid......"

"Nothing about that!" Xianxian Yan had a cold face and sneered: "Even if you kill the entire army of Qiuzi, Cheshi, and Shache, Ben Tu Xuan will take Luntai within ten days!" ”

"King Jiankun, you just need to tell Ben Tu Lu if you are sure that you can win Luntai within ten days!"

For the Xiongnu, the servants of the Western Regions were like the cattle and sheep they raised.

Although they may value it, when faced with a crisis or need to make a choice, they will not hesitate to kill these fattened animals to fill their stomachs and keep themselves alive through the harsh winter.

It's a big deal, at the beginning of spring, go find a new batch of livestock to raise!