Once a war of this magnitude begins, the casualties will be extremely heavy, regardless of whether they are friends or enemies. Since the Persians appeared on the battlefields of the Western Regions, the situation of human suffering was destined to be inevitable.

Compared with the soldiers who died heroically in the fierce battles, some unsung heroes who are not known for the time being, their deeds may be more moving.

In the dark night, a cavalry squad of more than 10 people walked through the Gobi hills dozens of miles away from Yumen Pass. They are Han scouts, responsible for transmitting enemy information and friendly forces in front at all times.

The head of the group is named Jiang Sheng, and he is only in his twenties. Since the beginning of the military situation in the Western Regions, Han scout teams like them have been sent out from the city several times. But to this day, Jiang Sheng did not know how many others were still alive, and it was a very difficult task to complete the task within the control of the Persians. It is not too much to describe it as a life of nine deaths.

In addition to the rigorous training that people who can serve as scouts, in addition to the ability to adapt to the battlefield, their own psychological quality and bravery and tenacity are of course indispensable. Even though he knew that this combat mission was extremely difficult, no one escaped or gave up halfway.

The team led by Jiang Sheng was lucky. In the ten days since they were sent out of the city, although they have also encountered several Persian teams in the process of collecting intelligence, they have been miraculously not discovered, so when they crossed the territory with the latest news of the Dunhuang fortress and returned to Yumen Pass, they were lucky at the same time, but also full of indescribable resentment.

The brutality and ruthlessness of the Persian army that they saw with their own eyes will be difficult for each of them to erase for a long time to come.

Jiang Sheng's mission this time was only to follow the general's order to investigate the situation in Dunhuang and Zhangye, as for Wuwei, Jiuquan and other places farther away, Yumen Pass had already known the news of the loss of the city in the first information they received, so their whereabouts did not reach there.

Even so, the tragic situation seen along the way is already shocking. The vicinity of Dunhuang has long been surrounded by Persian troops, and it is impossible to know the exact situation inside. But fortunately, the only thing that is certain is that this fortress is still in the hands of the Han army.

Although Dunhuang City could not completely block the horses' hooves of the Persians, it was like a nail, firmly rooted in the main road to the east into the Yumen Pass, so that the Persian marshal Nehegu had to divide a large number of troops to besiege this lonely city, to prevent the Han army trapped in it from breaking out and causing disturbance in the rear of the army.

Although I don't know how the soldiers in Dunhuang City defended the city, it has not been breached so far. But this news is undoubtedly very exciting for the Han army in Yumen Pass. Therefore, Jiang Sheng's team rushed back overnight, wanting to take the opportunity to break through the camp of the Persian army, and return to the city to inform the general that he knew, so as to better adjust the combat deployment against the enemy.

However, who knows, it is easy to go out, but it is difficult to come back! It's still dozens of miles away, but it can't break through the encirclement of the Persian army.

Jiang Sheng and the others hid behind a sand dune, quietly observing the endless enemy camp. I can't help but be secretly frightened. Looking at this number, I'm afraid there are nearly 100,000 people! Thinking of their turbulent momentum in the entire Western Regions, I really don't know how many Persians came to the east.

There's just one problem that makes them feel weird. Since the two counties of Zhangye and Dunhuang to the east, this area is within the scope of the cooperation of the Metropolitan Protectorate, not to mention nearly a dozen countries in the Western Regions. Even if they were all conquered by the Persians, they saw almost no living people except those who were slaughtered along the way. This is an extremely abnormal phenomenon.

Could it be that these people from the Western Regions who became captives were all escorted to the rear? Or were they all secretly killed......? Jiang Sheng and his subordinates secretly guessed several times, but they couldn't be sure after all.

However, such questions don't need to be kept for long, and they will know the answer immediately.

A few of his subordinates, who were secretly exploring the passage that could be lurked in the dark of night, approached quietly in some panic and told Jiang Sheng that they had just discovered a camp where Han prisoners were being held.

Jiang Sheng was taken aback. After sneaking for a few miles, he leaned over a grassy slope on high ground, and by the light of the torches, he saw that not far ahead was a place where the prisoners were being held.

"Boss! Do you want to take the opportunity to save people? ”

All the scouts clenched their knives, their eyes glistening in the darkness, anger and sadness.

Jiang Sheng's eyes also had two clusters of flames burning. Looking at the past from this angle, it is very clear. Dozens of Persian warriors guarded the area, most of whom roasted their game meat around a blazing fire. And the captives they were guarding sat in the open space in the middle. All were stripped of their shirts, tied shirtless, and held together with ropes. In this cold night, I shivered from the cold. There were about 200 people, and most of them had minor or serious wounds, dripping with blood, which was very miserable.

"These people should all be our soldiers who were unfortunately captured in the battle in the three counties of Jiuquan...... This place is a little far from the Persian camp, and there are few guards, so why don't we take the opportunity to save it! ”

Jiang Sheng was young and hot-blooded, and he didn't think too much about it, so he resolutely made a decision. And the rest of the people are all in the same mind. Although this camp, it also stretches far away. But I didn't see too many sword-wielding samurai. If they only dealt with the dozens of Persians in front of them, they could take advantage of the favorable conditions to kill them with one blow in the shortest possible time, and then save all their Han comrades.

"After a while, when the most opportune opportunity is available, everyone will listen to my orders, and they must hide their traces and touch them together...... After rescuing people, he immediately led them through the edge of this big camp, but the distance of more than ten miles was to the northwest corner of the city wall of Yumen Pass. As long as we rush there, it will be safe, and the crossbow arrows of the Han army on the city will be enough to cover our safe retreat! ”

Jiang Sheng finished speaking briefly, and everyone whispered together. The knife was gently unsheathed, and the crossbow arrow in his hand was fastened to the string. Everyone had a glimpse of what they were going to deal with in advance, and on the grassy slope, the night wind was whining, but no one felt the cold, but their palms seemed to be sweating.

Jiang Sheng's judgment was not wrong, this camp was the place where the Persians held their prisoners. And there are not many people in charge of guarding, just the dozens of people they see in their eyes. But when they started to act, they didn't expect that they would never come back after taking this step.

When the cold wind broke down at night, the Persians gathered around the fire, talking loudly and eating the meat they had cooked with their knives. The battles and gains that followed over the past few days satisfied all the Persians. Even when it was their turn to stay up all night guarding the captives, there was no resentment or complaint.

I don't know if it was because of hunger or pain, but some of the captives in the open space over there made painful noises. The leader of the Persian warriors frowned and waved his hand, and immediately several people drew their swords and walked over.

The painful sounds soon stopped. The Persian warriors walked back, wiped the blood from their swords, and continued to roast and cut the meat. The lives of these captives were as light as a feather in their eyes. If it weren't for Marshal Nehgu's order, it would be of great use to keep all the prisoners, and they would not have bothered to take care of these people. The easiest way is to unify and cut off.

More than ten Jiang Sheng, who quietly approached a few feet away, hid among the dry grass, watching the killing scene just now, all of them were stunned. The Han soldier, who was badly wounded, was beheaded by an impatient Persian warrior. He was killed along with seven or eight people who were shouting and cursing in his vicinity. Here and now, life is no different than mustard.

The knife in his hand was held tightly, and when he saw the opportunity, Jiang Sheng made a gesture, and several people sneaked in front of him, and suddenly attacked, and several samurai who were guarding were cut by the knife and fell down. Then, without mercy, they threw themselves at the warriors by the fire with their swords raised. Sparks flew everywhere, the sword light was bright, and the fight in the flames was extinguished, and life and death were decided in a moment.

Although the Persian warriors were powerful, they were suddenly attacked, and it was difficult to ask for a life. Soon, dozens of Persians on this side were killed. The Han captives were taken aback at first, and then immediately understood that someone had come to the rescue, and they all supported each other to their feet. Although they were all tied up with ropes, they still couldn't stop looking excited.

"Don't be afraid, we are the scouts of Yumen Pass! Everyone follow us right away......! ”

Jiang Sheng killed the last Persian warrior with a sword, and hurriedly whispered to everyone. Although he knew that there might be more captives elsewhere, it was already a great surprise that with their small strength, they were able to rescue these hundreds of people.

Their surprise didn't last long, though. The Han army captives who were being untied suddenly fell silent, they looked around with a terrible look, and then someone yelled at Jiang Sheng and the others who came to save them.

Jiang Sheng was swinging his knife to cut a thick rope when he heard someone telling him to flee for his life, and he raised his head in surprise...... He saw the huge figures that suddenly appeared in the reflection of the firelight.

"If you want to save people from the Persian army, you don't know how thick it is! Take them down for me...... Attack Yumen Pass tomorrow morning, and let these Han prisoners act as the first round of shields! Hum! ”

The Persian general, mounted on a tall camel, spoke as cold as a sword. Looking at the camel warriors who were like demon gods on all sides, like mountains and mountains covering everything, Jiang Sheng's face was pale, and his heart sank to the abyss.