Zhang Qian, the Marquis of Bowang, who served as the Sima in the army, was one of the earliest planners to participate in the opening of the Western Regions. It can be said that among all the people sent by the Han Dynasty to the Western Regions Protectorate, he understood better than anyone what the stability of this region meant for the rapid development of the Han Empire.

To this day, the young guard who took the initiative to ask for an envoy to the Western Regions in Chang'an has grown step by step into the general of the Western Regions after the baptism of beacon fire and the tempering of yellow sand, and all his honors are earned by his bravery.

In comparison, although there are not as many famous generals in the Red Fire Army as the Black Eagle Army, whether it is Huo Quzhi, or Li Kang and Zhang Qian later, their influence in this part of the Western Regions is extraordinary.

As the generals and Sima of the Western Regions Protectorate respectively, Li Kang and Zhang Qian have partnered for so long, and they trust each other very much. Li Dare believed that it would be foolproof to hand over the rear to Zhang Qian, and Zhang Qian also believed that Li Dang led the elite under his command, and there was no enemy under the iron hooves to stop him.

Therefore, after Li Kang led his troops out of Wuwei County, although Zhang Qian was also a little anxious in his heart, he did not think that Li Kang would be in any danger. On the one hand, he sent flying horses out to inquire about the military situation at any time, and on the other hand, he led the guards of the city to check around in case of accidents.

The night was long, and the four fields were deep. Zhang Qian looked west according to the head of the sword city, and calculated the strength level of the countries in the Western Regions over and over again in his heart, and in the end, he didn't believe that these people would have the courage to fight against the Han army.

Soon after, the scouts sent out began to send back news of the Red Flames' whereabouts and the situation ahead. At first it was smooth until Jiuquan. Then, almost unsuspectingly, the unexpected happened suddenly.

"Zhang Sima, Jiuquan is lost! General Lee is in ambush under the city, and the whole army is fighting against the Persian army that suddenly appeared! Winners and losers ...... unknown. ”

The scouts, who were as fast as fire, rushed back as soon as possible and reported what was going on. Zhang Qian was taken aback. He immediately realized that the Western Regions were really in big trouble!

As one of the people who knew the world outside the Western Regions best, Zhang Qian had heard about Persia several times from the people of the Western Regions and the merchants who came and went with him. It was a brutal and powerful country that had been constantly annexing and expanding in recent years. But I didn't expect that their appetite would be so big, and they came to the Western Regions!

"Organize people and horses immediately, and prepare to meet General Li!"

Zhang Qian didn't dare to slack off, and immediately gave a loud order. Although it is not known how effective the Persian army was, since they were capable of launching an eastward crusade, they must not be underestimated.

There are still more than 2,000 people and horses left behind in Wuwei, and when they heard the order, they immediately began to prepare swords, armor and war horses, and they were in a hurry, and then the urgent reports came one after another.

"Report! General Li Kang ordered Sima to lead all the people of Wuwei to abandon the city! Hurry up and retreat ....... ”

"Report to Sima! The enemy forces were outnumbered, and our troops suffered many casualties...... The battle is unfavorable! ”

Zhang Qian held the horse's reins tightly with his hand, and his heart was churning violently. How powerful is the Persian army? Even the elite of the Red Fire Army led by Li Dare himself couldn't stop them! If it weren't for the critical situation, Li Kang would never have sent back such an order. However, he did not want to retreat. Comrades for many years, at the critical moment, they should fight side by side, how can they retreat without a fight!

However, before he could give the order for the whole army to set off to support the front army, the earth-shattering news finally came. The scout, who had been driven back by several arrows, rolled off his horse and fell to the ground, crying bitterly.

"Report! The Red Fire Army was almost completely annihilated, and General Li Kang was killed...... The Persian army is sweeping everything and is coming! ”

All the soldiers were horrified. Zhang Qian spurted out a mouthful of blood, and his eyes were red. In any case, I never thought that it would be such a tragic result.

"Zhang Sima! We are willing to go to war on horseback and swear to kill the enemy to avenge this! ”

All the subordinates also had blood-red eyes and were angry. When did the Han army experience such a setback? The brothers in the army who were talking and laughing a few hours ago have become strangers in the blink of an eye...... Those who want to snow this hate, only the knife in the hand, the arrow in the pot!

The dawn of the morning in the east is about to blow away the darkness and bring the smell of blood. It seemed that the sound of a big earthquake like a landslide could already be heard in his ears, and Zhang Qian, who was pale, turned his head and faced all the soldiers to give orders.

"Abandon the city! Retreat to Zhangye County. ”

However, no one would turn their horses and run away. The captain's eyes were full of anger, and he raised his arms and shouted.

"I'm with General Lee! I would only like to defend Wuwei to the death, and I would rather die in battle! Don't make a living! ”

The rest of the people also raised their knives together and shouted for battle. However, Zhang Qian overshadowed all voices with just one sentence. "It's easy to die with the courage of a horseman, but it's hard to take revenge with a useful body! The enemy army is so strong that it is useless to die in vain. It's not too late for him to sacrifice his life to serve the country when he fights a decisive battle! ”

A quarter of an hour later, the whole army left the city and began to evacuate to Zhangye County. Zhang Qian finally glanced back at the gate of Wuwei City, and swore by cutting his arm with a knife and crying blood.

"Li Kang, as long as I don't die, one day I will follow the Han army to attack the Persian court and avenge you...... When the time comes, I hope that your heroic soul will not be far away and you will be able to hear the sacrifice! ”

Less than half an hour after the Han army left, the Persian advance arrived. The forward commander heard the report that Wuwei had become an empty city, and the guarding army was empty. His self-confidence swelled even more.

"His Royal Highness the prince said how powerful the Han army is, and the envoys of the countries of Da Shi and Gaya also spoke in front of the king of Persia about the advantages of the Han army...... Hum! The result? It's not the death that dies before us, the fleeing flees. Immediately send someone to the base camp to report to the king of Persia that in a few days, this marshal will set foot in the Western Regions and break through the Yumen Pass. Ha, ha, ha! ”

Marshal Nehegu of the Persian Eastern Route Army waved his scimitar and stepped on Wuwei, and the army did not stop and continued to march eastward. Iron hoofed scimitars, iron armor edges, strong iron arrows and shields, the cavalry of the brigade opened the way, followed by an overwhelming camel formation. The Persian legions, which were barely visible at a glance, finally showed their hideous faces in the morning light.

The next target, Zhangye, the second fortress of the Han Dynasty outside the Yumen Pass! After a day and a night, the fierce battle in Zhangye City officially began.

It was at this point in time that Chang'an began to receive flying eagle messages from the Western Regions Protectorate. Then, Zhang Ji, the general of the Han Army in the Western Regions, who rushed back to report the latest news almost desperately, finally rushed to Chang'an.

Zhang Ji brought back not only the casualties of the Han army, the scale and combat power of the Persian legion's attack on the Western Regions Protectorate, but also a broken sword.

Wei Qing and Dongfang Shuo did not send anyone to report these things to Yuan Zhao, but after reporting to the emperor, they went directly out of Chang'an and came to Changle Plateau in person. The matter is already so urgent that there is no room for delay.

The snow on the high part of Changle Plateau has not yet melted, Yuan Zhao, who was inspecting the new ship manufacturing at the Jianhu Dock, listened to the situation in the Western Regions without saying a word, he took the broken sword from Wei Qing's hand, and walked out with heavy steps, looking at the lake that had begun to freeze, at this moment, he couldn't tell what kind of emotions he was in his heart.

The difference between reality and memory is so different that sometimes it is so absurd. Yuan Zhao didn't know what went wrong, and the world he was in was different from the history he knew. In the far west, this should have been the time of the great Roman Empire, and the rise of the Persian dynasty would not be many years later. But now, it turned out that the king of Persia had become the hegemon of the West...... Is the famous Roman Emperor Caesar no longer there?

Although few people are still aware of the relationship, Yuan Zhao is deeply aware that whether it is the Roman Empire or the Persian Dynasty, their significant influence on the historical civilization and economic exchanges between the East and the West is incomparable to that of any other country.

If the confrontation between the two most important countries of the East and the West, begins at this very moment. Then there is no doubt that it will inevitably have an inevitable impact on the major political reforms that Yuan Zhao will comprehensively roll out in the entire Han territory. But even if he knew so, he had no choice.

The broken sword in his hand still had traces of blood remaining. In the silent air around him, Yuan Zhao wiped the placket of his clothes over and over again until it shone again. A thin layer of ice, the old man is not there, Si is sad, who can be with it!

"You...... Let me explain to General Li! ”

Yuan Zhao lowered his head, and his words were very soft, as if he was afraid of revealing the emotions in his heart, and as if he was afraid of disturbing the heroic soul attached to the broken sword.

Someone sighed and walked over to Yuan Zhao's side. I patted him on the shoulder with my hand and whispered something. Yuan Zhao turned his head, his eyes swept over Wei Qing's tall figure, and saw that on the shore of Sword Lake, the snow pressed the green pines, there were white-headed veterans, and his figure was sparse, and he didn't know how long he had been here.

Zhenbei Hou Li Guang has been ill for a long time. In the prime of life, the ambition was fierce, in addition to the world's fame, there were also old scars of swords and arrows all over his body. Since he unloaded his armor and retired from the army, he returned to the hidden mansion, riddled with injuries and illnesses, and could no longer pull the ten-stone hard bow.

Yuan Zhao hurriedly stepped forward and greeted him with a son and nephew courtesy. Li Guang stretched out his hand to hold his arm, Yuan Zhao felt the skinny bones of the wide palm, and his heart was even more sentimental, and when he was about to say something comforting, he heard Li Guang shouting angrily in his ear.

"When was this? The boy is still here as a child, will he live up to the hope of the heroes of the world! ”

Yuan Zhao solemnly underwent plastic surgery and hurriedly put away his grief. Li Guang took the broken sword from his hand, and his old fingers trembled and gently stroked the hilt of the sword, and a surname engraved on it had caused the enemy to flee in fear on the battlefield. The sword can be broken, but the bone cannot be broken!

"Where is Ling'er?"

The young man who was crying behind him quickly wiped away his tears and knelt down in front of the two people standing side by side.

"Grandpa, Master...... Li Ling is here! ”

Li Guang looked down at the only bloodline he had high hopes for, and he took back Li Kang's broken sword. The golden light flashed in front of him, and a sword was like cold waves and clear water, horizontal in front of the young Li Ling.

"This sword Qingge was given by your master Yuan Zhao back then. It's officially passed on to you today, so keep killing the enemy! Ling'er, I hope you will inherit the family Yu Lie, and don't live up to the edge of this famous sword! ”