"Why should the Qiang flute complain about the willows, the spring breeze does not pass the Yumen Pass", in the days when he was in Changle Plateau, Huo Quzhi also heard the master chant a few times.

She had forgotten what kind of situation Yuan Zhao said casually. However, the desolate and heroic meaning hidden in these two sentences left a deep impression on her, so she kept it in her heart. I didn't understand what it meant, but I didn't forget it.

But today, Huo Quzhi finally understood what kind of feelings were contained in these two verses. Looking around, in the endless desert smoke, not to mention the greenery of the willows, even the warmth of the spring breeze, it seems that you can't feel a little.

The land of the Central Plains, spring is as deep as the sea. Outside the Yumen Pass, it is still changing several times a day, and the chill hits people.

After leaving the Jade Gate, there were two Western Regions states that were the first to block the front. The small country six hundred miles southwest is called the country of Jimo. Moreover, Mexico is small, and the whole country has a population of only tens of thousands. The national strength is weak, and naturally it does not dare to make enemies of its powerful neighbors to the east. Whenever a Han Dynasty delegation passed by, they were received respectfully and admired the oriental culture.

The shadow of the Han Dynasty's westward expedition army is still a hundred miles away, and the monarch of Mo has already sent envoys to visit him with rich rewards. The hussar general was never interested in these foreign affairs, so he handed over such matters to Zhang Qian, the Marquis of Bowang, who accompanied the army on the expedition.

Zhang Qian has been on several envoys and has been very familiar with dealing with various countries in the Western Regions. He naturally handled these things with ease. After some conversation, both sides were happy. Although the country of Mexico is small, it is rich in minerals, and after contact and negotiation, the Han merchants who went out with the army also made great achievements. Trade and the exchange of goods followed.

And the other country that stands in the way of the west is not good. This is the country in the northwest direction that was renamed Loulan after its original name Shanshanguo.

The Loulan Dynasty has a long history, and its national strength is already relatively strong compared to the surrounding countries. Moreover, their weapon smelting technology is very advanced, and the armor and war knives they produce are very popular even among the Huns, and they are often customized in large quantities as a common practice.

As the eyes and ears of the Huns, Loulan blocked the road from the Han Dynasty to the west, and became the first target that had to be eradicated. Moreover, in the past few years, the Loulan cavalry often attacked and slaughtered the envoys and merchants of the Han Dynasty, and committed a lot of blood debts on their hands.

The military order issued by the hussar general to the vanguard General Zhao Ponu was to attack Loulan, step on the royal city, and those who dared to block it would be killed!

After several battles along the way, all the generals and colonels of the Red Fire Army obeyed the orders of the commander. What's more, when Zhao Ponu and Huo Qubing led a hundred Han troops to protect the return of the Han mission for the first time that year, he had a mortal enmity with the Loulan people who intercepted and killed!

The vanguard of the 3,000 Red Fire Army, like a whirlwind rolling by, in less than two hours, beat the Loulan cavalry that was organized to meet the battle and could not find the north, the Loulan people suffered heavy casualties, almost the entire army was annihilated, and the remaining remnants of the army were defeated and returned, and they were unable to fight again.

From the day the Red Fire Army was formed, it has set up an indomitable edge. If you don't fight, you will win, if you don't win, you will win, and if you win, you will be a complete achievement.

Zhao Ponu took advantage of the victory to pursue, and as Huo Qubing ordered, he took the lead in ascending, stepped on the royal city, and captured the king of Loulan under the horse in one go, and made the first contribution to the westward expedition! It can be described as a neat victory.

The wealth of Loulan is not comparable to that of Mexico, and the country is most famous for its abundance of gold. After Huo Qu's sick army arrived, without the slightest hesitation, he immediately ordered that all the treasury mansions in the royal city be sealed, and immediately loaded after the inventory was completed, and the mighty convoy was transported back to the Han Dynasty day and night, along the road that had been opened.

Looking at the people and horses who were escorting the king of Loulan to the east, Huo Qubing swung his sword in the direction of the sword, non-stop, and commanded the Red Fire Army, which had turned into an invincible edge, and successively swept over the nearby Ronglu Kingdom, Qule Kingdom, Pishan Kingdom, and Xiye Kingdom...... and other small countries within a distance of seven or eight thousand miles. Hundreds of miles a day, as long as the Han army is reached, it is invincible, invincible, and all look forward to the wind and surrender, and no one dares to resist.

Finally, in the twilight of another setting sun, in the desert sand, the galloping horses' hooves stopped. Ahead, behind the endless sand dunes with a windy wind like a knife, the name of that country was Xiqiang, and among the countries in the Western Regions that passed along the way, the army was the most powerful, and it was the most staunch ally of the Huns and the supplier of materials in the rear.

Perhaps just ahead, one of the fiercest battles of the Western Expedition is about to blow the horn!

The army set up camp for a temporary rest. After combing through the various news obtained by the horses, it can be learned that the Hun cavalry finally came from the direction of the northwest grassland like a tide. Based on this, it can already be judged that the war is about to break out, and it is in the territory of Xiqiang.

For some unknown reason, the supply of grain and grass in the rear has been a little sluggish for the past two days. However, the problem is not big, and the army can still cope with it in three or five days. Huo Quzhi didn't care too much. It is understandable that with the gradual lengthening of the battle line, there are some difficulties that need to be overcome by the baggage troops of the rear army.

Zhang Qian, Li Wang, and Zhang Jier looked at each other, and they all had some doubts and dissatisfaction with the rear army in their hearts, but then they thought of the current good situation of the Prancing Horse, and swallowed the words that came to their lips. After all, there is no shortage of food in the army at present, so there is no need to make a fuss.

The quartermaster was ordered by several generals to take a serious inventory of the grain stockpile, and within three days it was still very rich, and he was slightly relieved. Seeing ten jars of sealed wine neatly stacked in the corner, the quartermaster licked his lips and seemed to have smelled the wine in the jars. There is a slight joy in my heart, this wine is the joy of the Marquis of Changle! I didn't expect Hou Ye to think so thoughtfully, even their brothers in the army who were once stationed on Changle Plateau did not forget, although they were far away, they still sent their friendship.

These ten jars of wine were transferred from the Great Moon Clan a few days ago. The wine is made in spring, and it is pasted with a bright red blessing charm. According to the person who transported it, the date of Changlehou's wedding had been set, just a few days later. Therefore, the speedboat was sent up the river in advance to this side, so as not to leave behind these brothers who had been together for several years, so that everyone could be happy and talk about the pain of the war.

When the whole army heard the news, they were naturally very happy. Yuanhou's happy wine, that must be drunk! Even if you can only drink one sip per person, you will be happy from the bottom of your heart. Tomorrow's bloody battle on the battlefield must be contaminated with Yuanhou's luck, and victory will be easier!

It's just a pity that this wine is not drinkable now. The hussar general has already issued an order that ten jars of wine should be kept intact by a special person. Wait until the day of the opening of the altar is the time of great victory!

What a victory! Everyone knows what the general means by the great victory. These countries in the Western Regions, before the absolute edge of the Red Fire Army, were simply vulnerable. The opponent they are looking forward to is the upcoming elite Hun cavalry!

Only when the Hun cavalry entrenched in the western steppe is completely defeated, then the task of the western expedition can be regarded as completed. Before that, even if they conquered more small countries in the Western Regions, it would have no effect. Once they miss the contest with the Huns, then the dozen or so small countries that have been tamed behind them will immediately turn their faces and ruthlessly rejoin the Huns. If it really comes to that point, not only will the previous efforts be abandoned, but the Red Fire Army will face the catastrophe of annihilation, and it will be surrounded by many sieges in this desperate land, and the result can only be that the entire army will not survive!

It can be seen that the next big battle with the Hun cavalry will be very critical. Maybe tomorrow, maybe the day after tomorrow, maybe the day after tomorrow...... King Hutu and King Hun Evil have a total of nearly 100,000 cavalry, and they have stepped out of the edge of the grassland, eyeing each other. Since the establishment of the Red Fire Army, the real test is coming. Beacon fire quicksand, elite soldiers duel, life and death in this battle!

As if he had already felt the impassioned aura of the soldiers and the coming iron-blooded breath, in the deep night, the dragon horse that had returned to the place where it grew neighed in the sky, like the sound of a dragon's groan spread far away. It pierced the deep night sky and woke up the contemplative master.

Next to the blazing fire, the hussar general in armor put away the map in his hand, raised his head and looked at the starry sky, the cold light was infinite, and the plain was vast. She had already chosen the battlefield of the decisive battle in her mind.

"Master, this topographic map is really useful. The movements of the Huns are the same as you expected before you set off...... Maybe after dawn, I will lead all the warriors of the Red Fire Army to fight. This first real battle for independence with the Huns, I hope it will live up to your expectations and teachings...... After the victory, it may not delay your big day. I will send the news to you as soon as possible, but I don't know if you are holding your beauty at that time, and will you have time to pay attention to these inconsequential things of Xiaoice? ”

When she thought of this, her mood inevitably gradually lowered. Holding the Red Fire Sword tightly in her hand, her lips cracked by the wind and sand trembled a little, and although she knew that no one would dare to disturb her, she still murmured almost inaudible.

"The wine...... Received them all! I've never been good at drinking, but this time I had to drink if I was alive after the war...... Be sure to get drunk! Whether we can see each other in the future or not, you, you have to be good! Master, you know, Xiaoice'er likes you so much......! ”

Heaven and earth were silent, only the wind and sand rose, obscuring the moonlight and starlight. The long grass whimpered among the dunes, as if mourning in advance the ...... of the warriors who would die in the war.

At the same moment, a hundred miles to the north, in the animal skin brocade tent surrounded by tens of thousands of Hun troops, King Hutu, who was the first to set off, looked at the Han army envoys who came secretly in ordinary clothes, and a smug smile appeared on his face.