(Thanks to Dameng, Xiaopang, Tongle Village, Lai Yu Filling, All Things Born Y, Human Love, Flying in the Sky, South Xun and North Burning)

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Under the dark blue night sky, the snow-capped mountains stand thousands of walls, towering into the clouds. The cold wind runs through the canyon wantonly, the whistling sound makes the scalp tingle, and all kinds of chilling strange howls are emitted from time to time in the deep mountains and dense forests.

Such a night, such a gorge, waiting for idlers will not walk.

At this moment, Zhuma Peak, overlooking the canyon, dotted with torches, illuminated the three winding westward processions, passing through them in an orderly manner. The sound of people and horses, rumbling wheels, crisp whips, and all kinds of shouts make this inaccessible gorge extremely lively at this moment.

On the peak, a group of knights in armor seemed to merge with the lead-gray mountain rocks, silently watching the endless marching procession below.

Zhang Fang was one of them, and from time to time he stroked the horse's neck to calm it down, occasionally exhaling a white breath and moving his somewhat numb fingers—it was hard to imagine that it was an early morning in the middle of a summer in August.

"In the land of the West Pole, the snow flies in June, the frost in August, and all kinds of weather, not to mention the Central Plains, it is also very different from the Western Regions!" Chen Tang wore a thick jacket and a fur cloak, as a native of Shanyang, even if he had lived in Chang'an for nearly ten years, his cold tolerance was not as good as that of Zhang Fang, Gan Yanshou, Guo Xi, Du Xun and other Kansai people.

Zhang Fang looked at Chen Tang, who was red, his eye sockets were deep, and his expression was haggard, and he couldn't help but be a little worried, but now was a critical moment, and Chen Tang, who was the main general, couldn't collapse.

Chen Tang saw Zhang Fang's worries and said with a smile: "Don't worry, this is the last leg of the expedition, the goal is imminent, and I will never be fine." Hehe, I knew this was the case, I should have learned to discuss Cao like that, with a snow bath body, ice pool diving. ”

Zhang Fang smiled helplessly, knowing that Chen Tang was deliberately avoiding the important and trivial. After all, it's August, and the daytime temperature is actually very high, but it's just cold at night. But no matter how cold it is, it can't be compared with 39 days, and Chen Tang can still bear it. What is really worrying is the high intensity of the work, and it is continuous rotation. An army of 30,000 or 40,000 people, including more than a dozen large and small kingdoms and tribes, is absolutely heartbreaking to command.

Chen Tang patted the back of Zhang's hand and said with emotion: "With the help of Cao, the soup will definitely be able to support it to the end." ”

Chen Tang's words are not casual, Zhang Fang has been trying his best to share the pressure for Chen Tang in the past few months. In addition to collating and analyzing a large amount of information for him, he also appeared in various tribal camps from time to time to coordinate the contradictions of all parties.

With his excellent eloquence, flexible skills, and the royal background of the Han Dynasty, all the kings will have to sell him some face, and I don't know how many disputes have been resolved. Sometimes language really can't solve the problem, so Zhang Fang "released" Yan Qijun and Lusse and asked him to "persuade peace", and the results often had miraculous results.

Chen Tang was not surprised by Zhang Fang's ability to solve problems, the children of the Chang'an Gongqing were already good at dancing with long sleeves, and the future Fuping Marquis should be even more so. What amazed him really was the young man's energy, no matter when he saw it, he was full of energy and did not show any fatigue. Just like now, in order to avoid the eyes and ears of the Huns, he marched overnight, and his body was as strong as Gan Yanshou, Du Xun and others, all of whom could not hide his exhaustion, and Zhang Fang, who was also busy all night, except for his wrinkled clothes, his hair was a little messy, his expression was as usual, and he was full of energy.

Chen Tang and others, except for lamenting that being young is good, really don't know what to say.

Gan Yanshou let out a breath of turbidity: "This road is really secret, if it weren't for the Kangju people to lead the way, our forward guide might not be able to find it." ”

Du Xun looked ashamed: "The subordinates are incompetent, and they all protect their expectations." ”

Gan Yanshou waved his hand: "General Du Bai doesn't need to blame himself, your striker has done a good job." ”

Zhang Fang also smiled: "General Du really doesn't need to blame himself, if you can lead the way to defeat the Kangju people, what else do we do with the Kangju people?" ”

Everyone laughed. Although everyone knows that the alliance with the Kangju people is not only to lead the way, they will laugh at Zhang Fang's statement.

Du Xun was also relieved by the laughter, bowed down, and left in a hurry.

After Kaimu successfully "rescued" back to Yinu Poison, he also fulfilled his agreement and personally acted as a guide to lead the Western Expeditionary Army through Wusun Mountain, bypassing the northern defense area of Kangju, avoiding many Kangju rangers, and advancing into the hinterland of Kangju. According to Kai Mou, if everything goes well, at the latest tomorrow afternoon, when you walk out of this road, you can see Dulai Shui, and under the valley on the other side, is Zhizhi City.

"Report, Kangju Zuo Qijun sent news. The vanguard of our army has stepped out of the road and entered Dulaishui. ”

"Yay!" Everyone struck the saddle and rejoiced.

"Tu Mo, the little king of the Kangju Xiyue Department, sent an envoy to tell the capital guard and deputy lieutenant that he had sent troops to intercept and kill the three groups of messengers sent by Khotan to Zhizhi City to report the news, and completely cut off the source of information from the Huns."

"Good, well done!"

Everyone was overjoyed, you know, this expedition, not afraid of Zhizhi hard bar, afraid of Zhizhi running away. After a hundred years of fierce war between the Han and the Huns, the most headache for the Han Dynasty army was not the combat effectiveness of the Huns, but the mobility of the Huns. The Western Expeditionary Army came from afar, and the soldiers were tired and short of food, so they had to fight quickly. The most afraid is that the Huns got the news in advance, the soles of their feet were oiled, the vast grassland, the vast desert, where to find someone?

Tu Mo's hand is equivalent to covering the battlefield for the expeditionary force, and this alone makes this alliance worthwhile.

In the procession of long snakes, in an inconspicuous carriage, a thin figure leaned against the wall of the carriage, unaware of the swaying of the carriage. Suddenly, the body of the car shook slightly, the curtain was lifted, and a head poked in.

The thin figure was shocked, the hand on his waist moved, and the cold light flashed in the darkness - and the person who got into the car seemed to be prepared, and grabbed the other party's wrist first.

The thin figure let out a soft sound, quickly put away the knife, and bowed to the ground.

The person who came found a position, crossed his knees and smiled: "The alertness is good, the eyes are good, I know it's me before I open my mouth." ”

It's Zhang Fang.

The thin figure said suddenly: "The little maid wanted to wait for the son to come back, but the car shook and the drowsiness swelled, so she ......."

Well, it's Qingyan.

The military law of the Han army strictly forbade marching with women, but the Hu people couldn't help it. In this Han-Hu joint expeditionary force, there were many female slaves and female soldiers. Due to the absolute proportion of the armies of the countries in the coalition army, they marched and fought on other people's territory. Chen Tang and Gan Yanshou thought about it again and again, and finally acquiesced to this situation.

It is precisely because of this that Qingyan was able to accompany him.

Zhang Fang played this car, which was originally used to rest during the night march, but he didn't use it, but let Qingyan use it.

Zhang Fang waved his hand: "It's okay, you sleep, I'll close my eyes and sleep for a while." ”

Qingyan hurriedly said: "How dare the little maid, if you let Uncle Deng and Brother Tao know, you have to count the little maid for a while...... chirp said a lot of things, but didn't hear a response, and had the courage to move his knees closer to take a closer look......

Qingyan leaned against the wall of the car, curled up, one hand crossed her knees as a pillow, and the other hand lightly held the blade of the flying knife, feeling the cold and stinging - only then would she not fall asleep.

At the beginning of the day, the night of marching, the exhausted "Long Dragon" suddenly appeared in a commotion.

Qingyan woke up in shock, but saw a pair of bright eyes on the opposite side with a smile, looking at her.

Qingyan's face turned pale: "What's the situation?" Is it Kangju, or Huns......"

Zhang Fang smiled and shook his fingers: "Listen." ”

Qingyan listened attentively, ah, I heard-

"It's all about water! We see that it's all water! ”

At this time, the distance from Zhizhi City, the ultimate goal of the Western Expeditionary Army, was only 100 miles in a straight line, and Zhizhi was still ignorant. (To be continued.) )