"What's the name of this sword?"

"Cadre."

"Who are you?"

"Yuan Zhao."

These were the two questions that the king of Persia asked when he was captured that day. And the person who cut him off his horse with one move answered him very calmly.

It was from that moment that the king of Persia began to fall into a long silence. When he finally saw the appearance of the commander of the Han Dynasty clearly, he understood the gap between himself and the other party.

The momentum that flashes and disappears suddenly is as thick as the ice and snow of the Tianshan Mountains, and as majestic as the Qilian Mountains. The power of mortal kings in the world, before this invisible sense of oppression, there is no room for resistance at all. If you continue to fight to the death, it will only be a humiliation.

The king of Persia hung his arms feebly and threw his golden sword to the ground. It took him a long time to get up with difficulty, and if he could die by the bloody and fiery Jiuquan River, it might be the last way to maintain his dignity as a king.

However, unexpectedly, Yuan Zhao had no intention of killing him. With a wave of his hand, a special prisoner cart was pushed over, and the king of Persia became a prisoner. Stainless steel chains, iron fences, big and small, everything is just right.

"Original...... You knew we would be here?"

The king of Persia shook the shackles from his body. Even the iron hoops at his wrists and ankles were just right, and they were polished very smoothly, and his thick and powerful limbs were firmly bound inside, and it was even more difficult to get out than to climb to the sky.

"Of course, be prepared. As a distinguished guest like you, you will always get special treatment. Hehe! ”

The king of Persia ignored the taunts. Now he has lost the capital of anger. He knows his weight. Of course, Yuan Zhao and these Han Dynasty generals would not let him die easily, they would definitely escort Chang'an with great fanfare, and then go to the emperor to ask for merit.

"Since you don't dare to kill me, send me some food! If you starve to death, then the great credit you have received will be greatly reduced. Hahaha! ”

The king laughed out loud, and since he could not die, he began to regain his unruliness. However, he soon sensed sarcasm and pity in the eyes of many people around him.

"Of course there will be food. We Orientals have always been particular about not letting the enemy be starving ghosts. Within half a month, you can eat as much as you want. ”

Yuan Zhao looked at his prey calmly, and his tone was meaningful. The king of Persia sat cross-legged in the prisoner's cart and asked a question in amazement.

"Half a month...... What do you mean? Will you send me to Chang'an to see your emperor in half a month? ”

Yuan Zhao looked up to the sky and laughed. He shook his head slightly, seeing that the overall situation had been decided, and the soldiers were clearing the battlefield. He said to the king of Persia before he finally mounted his horse and left.

"You're thinking too much. Half a month later, the Western Expeditionary Army will swear in Jiuquan, and then it will be your death. I will build a guillotine for you alone, and in the eyes of countless witnesses, your head will be cut off, your blood will be sacrificed, and your body will be buried in the place where the army of the Western Expedition set out, until it decays ......! ”

With that, he rode away, ignoring the prisoner. The king of the West, who was left alone, slammed his head against the prisoner cart in pain, letting out a beastly roar. If he had known that this would be the end, he would have stuck that knife in his chest earlier. However, from now on, he has no more options. Even wanting to commit suicide has become a luxury.

The final battle of Jiuquan ended like this. The Han army left all the Persians behind. Sure enough, not even a horse was put back.

In four major wars, the Han army won all. The hundreds of thousands of Persian soldiers and horses that came in the past were all wiped out in the vast land of the Western Regions. Such a brilliant victory, not to mention in the history of the Han Empire, is also a proud record that is second to none in the thousands of years of Chinese history.

And Yuan Zhao, who commanded all this, did not have the slightest hint of pride. In his eyes, after clearing these military obstacles, a great journey has just begun.

"Yuanhou, since you have been captured alive, why don't you sacrifice the king of Persia to Chang'an to show the world? He was only killed in the army...... It seems that the gains outweigh the losses! ”

Xiao Wangzhi and these people were a little confused by Yuan Zhao's actions after all. In their consistent cognition, capturing the enemy, facing the sky, the Son of Heaven praises and proclaims, and the world knows it...... That's the best way to do it.

Yuan Zhao read the latest urgent report he received, and his face showed a look of relief. Then he raised his head, and a hint of cunning flashed in his eyes. Said with a deliberate sigh.

"Alas! Why wouldn't I want that? His Majesty the Emperor looked west day and night, and countless people looked forward to it. are all waiting for the good news of the Han army's victory. And the capture of the Persian king alive was undoubtedly the greatest victory in the Western Regions War. This is the most important opponent captured by the Han Dynasty after the Xiongnu Shan Yu over the years. If he is escorted to Chang'an, he will be dedicated to the high temple. I'm afraid that even a few former emperors will be happy if they know about it! ”

Xiao Wangzhi and several people nodded again and again, this was exactly what they thought in their hearts. It seems that Yuan Zhao also knows these truths, since this is the case, they have to persuade well. If the king of Persia can really be escorted to Chang'an, then such a grand event will definitely cause a sensation. When the time comes, it will inevitably be written in articles, and the glorious ceremony will be passed down in history! Excitement flashed in their eyes, and they were about to say something more, but when they heard Yuan Zhao's words, their heads turned and they looked a little heavy.

"However, you don't know the complicated situation on the Western Continent! The races that live there are very savage and difficult to domesticate. Especially like the Persians, there are a lot of people. The army is about to set out from the Western Regions to open up the Western Continent. However, I thought about it, but I still haven't thought of the safest way to stabilize the situation in the shortest possible time! ”

There were not many people who listened to him in the Yuanzhao tent. Sima Xiangru lowered his head and drank tea, but listened quietly and did not interject. He knew Yuan Zhao very well that Xiao Wangzhi and these people were likely to fall into Yuan Zhao's routine. I can't help but laugh secretly, and I'm happy to watch the excitement.

"But...... Yuanhou, what do you say have to do with killing the king of Persia? ”

Xiao Wangzhi, Lu Boyan, Xiahou Kuan, and Zou Huaiyuan are all very influential doctors of literature, and there are not a few of their disciples and followers. This time I came to the Western Regions to be entrusted by Dong Zhongshu to follow the army to investigate. They hoped that no matter how powerful the Han army was, it would always be the army of kings. And they don't want them to be instruments of violence. Listening to Yuan Zhao for a long time, he was always a little confused.

"Oh, I mean, the Persian army is almost dead, though. But there are still their roots on the Western continent, and those who remain there are full of hatred in their hearts. After all, they and our Chinese people are incompatible, and their hatred is irresolvable. Do you understand that? ”

A few people nodded. They somewhat understood Yuan Zhao's intentions. Sure enough, I listened to him continue.

"The Persians have a very strong faith. As long as the king of Persia does not die, he is their eternal spiritual support. Therefore, only by publicly killing the king of Persia in front of the people of the world can he destroy their will to the greatest extent. In order to stabilize the situation in the future, the most favorable prerequisites were obtained. ”

"Then why not in Chang'an...... Do you have to kill him in this land of the Western Regions? ”

"Chang'an is too far away. I want the death of the king of Persia to have the greatest impact. The Western Regions is the meeting point of the Eastern and Western worlds, and it is also the most suitable place. General Wei had already won a complete victory in the northern steppes, and the remnants of the Persians retreated at the foot of the Tien Shan Mountains, where they could not hold out until autumn under the attack of wolves and the Huns...... Soon after, the Han armies on the North and West Routes would meet at Jiuquan. At that time, the most elite Western Expeditionary Corps will be formed and the Western Expedition will officially begin. Hehe! How many gentlemen, can you deliberately follow and educate the common people with what you know and learn?"

After Yuan Zhao finished speaking, he restrained his smile and his expression became very solemn. Xiao Wangzhi glanced at the others and finally asked.

"How important is the role we play to the Chinese nation?"

"Thousands of years, meaningful!"

"Good! A long time ago, I heard Yuanhou say that the world rises and falls, and the husband is responsible! Since there is a drive today, dare not obey your fate! ”

"A few gentlemen are worthy of being national soldiers! Yuan Zhao admired. ”

Yuan Zhao stood up, although these people were all literary Confucians, but the generosity in their chests even moved him. It's not that they don't know how many hardships and hardships they will face if they abandon the prosperity of the Central Plains and go to that wild place. But he still made such a promise without hesitation, and it is worth his bowing.

Sima Xiangru applauded and admired again and again. And Xiao Wangzhi hurriedly took the lead in thanking him, saying that he didn't dare to be. Making such a decision is not a whim, but the responsibility and pride of being a Chinese person all the time, and the responsibility that must be made in their hearts.

In the following days, Yuan Zhao, who was in Jiuquan, became extremely busy. The correspondence with Chang'an, as well as various preparations, material scheduling, and personnel arrangements before the expedition, must be comprehensive and cannot be omitted.

Naturally, the rest and recuperation of the officers and men of the whole army must not be relaxed. In successive battles, although the preparations were well prepared, the casualties of the Han army were not too serious, but some losses were still unavoidable after all. There are many hot-blooded men who are shrouded in horse leather and return to their hometowns.

Time flew by, and when the first heavy rain fell in the entire Western Regions, the river outside Jiuquan City also washed away the traces of blood and fire.

The general Changping Hou Weiqing, led the Black Eagle Army fighting on the northern front, across most of the grassland, and finally came to the base camp of the Han army in Jiuquan.

The most elite cavalry unit of the Han Empire met here.