The Green Ridge is the Pamir Plateau in later generations, known as Bapa, in the Qing Dynasty, and it was still a Chinese territory until the Republic of China. Later, due to various reasons, the land finally lost control. In his previous life, Ma Lu had been to the ruins of Stone Town, but as for the place further west, he had not really been there because it was outside the border.

Of course, Ma Lan, a man in Guanzhong thousands of years ago, went to the land of Bapa, and he participated in the march to crusade against the secret and Xiao Bolu. Among the 8,000 Han sons and daughters around him, many of them have participated in such a march. When they arrived at the guard, even if they didn't rely on these guides, they would be able to find their way back to Anxi safely.

Anxi Jian'er was about to leave Achuan City, and the king of Tocharian was extremely happy, and it was needless to say that the tribute prepared for the Tang Dynasty was extremely precious, and he also enthusiastically provided dozens of locals as guides for the Anxi army.

The kindness of the king of the earth, Ma Lan is naturally the essential. But before leaving, these guides first held a funeral for themselves in advance, and Ma Lan immediately understood that this road would definitely not be easy to walk.

Therefore, just in case, Ma Ling ordered Changxingfang to loot in Achuan City, and prepare as many supplies as possible for crossing the Green Ridge. Of course, it is a method of adopting and buying, but the bid of Changxingfang is much lower than the cost. After the army left Ashu City, it can be said that there were ten rooms and nine empty rooms in Ashu City, and there was a lot of crying.

……

There are many small countries at the southern foot of the Green Mountains, the east is the four towns of Anxi and Tubo, and the west is the big food, which can be said to be the land of the four wars, and each small country is also the object of contention between the Tang Dynasty, Tubo and the big food. Since the rise of Tibet on the plateau in the Songtsen Gampo era, in addition to fighting with the Tang Dynasty to the north for the four towns of Anxi, there have also been many frictions with the white-clothed food in this area.

The white-clothed eaters were no match for the Tibetan iron cavalry, and most of the time the Tibetans had the upper hand. Due to the terrain, the friction is generally not too large.

From the city of Ashu to the east, the terrain gradually becomes higher, and the road becomes more and more difficult to navigate. More than ten days later, the frozen Kokcha River was crossed.

When I arrived here, I had already left the territory of Tocharo and officially entered the land of Bapa.

Although he had been mentally prepared, the difficulties of the road in the land of Bapa were still beyond Ma Luan's expectations.

The terrain of the southern foothills of the Green Mountains is a number of tall mountains running northeast to southwest, and the mountains are covered with snow all year round and are extremely high. Between the mountains are wide valleys, and there are many large rivers in the valleys.

These places are winter-bound for up to four months each year. The 11th month of the Han calendar is the coldest time in the land of Bapa. In many places, the mountains are covered with heavy snow, and it is impossible to pass at all.

Fortunately, there were dozens of Tocharians brought out by Ashu City as guides, otherwise they would have to get lost in such a place.

The army has been advancing along the river valley and can only travel a few dozen miles a day. This is quite fast, when General Gao led everyone west out of the Green Ridge, it took a total of three months to Talas, half of which was spent on a detour in the Green Ridge.

General Gao led everyone to attack Shiguo, and came out of the northern foot of the Green Ridge, and the weather at that time was much better than now. It's winter, and it's the coldest time.

However, the materials prepared by Ma Xuan were more abundant than those prepared by General Gao. The rich merchants in the city were swept away by the Anxi army, and the large and small villages and towns on the banks of the Zeravshan River between the two cities, I don't know how many years of accumulation, were swept away by Ma Lan this time. Being able to eat meat once a day has never been done on the march.

Marching at high altitudes is the most energy-intensive. Ma Lan knew this very well, and had already prepared enough dried meat when he built the sass, so that it could be used when crossing the green ridge. A large number of horses and camels were used to carry supplies, and the athletes tried to save as much physical strength as possible, and the old and wounded soldiers traveled on the camels' backs all the way.

This can be said to be the most extravagant march since the formation of the Anxi Army. This is one of the advantages of being in an enemy country, if it is within the territory of the Tang Dynasty, whoever dares to violate military discipline will lose his head.

Despite Ma Lan's hard work, the situation quickly became extremely grim since entering the southern foothills of the Green Mountains.

In the cold winter weather, there is no need to worry about encountering a sneak attack by the Tubo people, but the terrain here is too high, and the river valley area has gradually risen to more than 3,000 meters. Due to the continuous march, many Anxi athletes were unable to resist the epidemic and fell on the march.

The air plague is the altitude sickness of later generations, and there is no good way to do this disease in this era. Seeing the Han family fall on the side of the road one by one, Ma Lu's heart was extremely uncomfortable.

He even wanted to stop and let everyone spend a safe winter at the southern foot of the Green Mountains. But this is obviously impossible, there is no turning back from the bow, and everyone is caught in the enemy country, and it is easy to return to their homeland, where can they wait here for a few months.

The most troublesome thing is the camels, these guys who are regarded as treasures by Ma Lu, there are more than 2,000 in total, and after entering the Green Ridge area, they have become a complete burden, and they are not willing to move forward at all. Most of the supplies prepared by the Changxingfang were on their backs, and if these guys refused to move forward, they couldn't march fast.

Ma Lan is going to use these guys to form a cavalry for future battles in the river, where is he willing to throw it away. The wealth that these guys carry is all brought to the family, and without these guys, these riches can't be taken across the green mountains. Discard these guys, and none of them will promise.

There was no other way but to drive the camel slowly. Fortunately, the material reserves are sufficient, and the low prices and purchases along the way are supplemented, so there is no need to worry about supply problems.

All the camels were wrapped in thick blankets to keep these precious creatures warm in the cold weather. After passing the Tubo Gate, he turned to the northeast, walked along the bound water for a few days, and then entered the Bird Fei Governor's Mansion.

This is also the Protectorate Country, which was later called Wakhan Pamir, which was the main road from the four towns of Anxi to Tocharo.

There are few villains in the Protector Country, and they are conquered by Tubo or the Tang Dynasty from time to time. A few years ago, the Anxi army had just conquered once, and Tubo was defeated in the land of the river meander, so this is temporarily regarded as the territory of the Tang Dynasty.

By this time, it was already mid-November.

Li Juan's vanguard has long passed the protection of secrets, and the protection of secrets has already been looted. When the King of Protectors saw such a large army, he was so anxious that he was about to cry.

After several battles, the city of Sega, the protector king, was already in ruins, and there was really nothing to plunder. After all, he is a royal teacher, and it is not good to torture the secret protector too much.

This is the place I've been here, and when I arrived here, Ma Lan was relieved. After resting here for five days, he left the city of Kashen with the tribute of the king of Humi to the Son of Heaven, and continued to the northwest along the bound waters.

Since then, it's the old way. The difference is that the weather is even colder than last time.

The Tocharians were repatriated in the city of Kashen, and only half of them were left. Half of those who can return to Ashu City safely, I'm afraid there are very few.

Once here, you don't need a guide anymore. Looking for a frozen section of the river to cross the Bole River, along the Bomi River through the Dalongchi, embarked on the road to the Shule military town.

This stretch of road is inaccessible. It was no longer possible to obtain supplies from the natives, and the roads along the way were rough and avalanches were incessant, and although Ma Lan was cautious enough, many Anxi athletes were still killed here.

And on the side of the road, you can sometimes see the bodies of people and horses who have frozen to death. That is the elite led by Li Juan, which can at least show that Li Juan did not go in the wrong direction.

After a long journey of more than a month, crossing an unknown number of glaciers and mountain passes, and resting for a few days by the Dalong Pond, the Anxi army began to sprint in the direction of the green ridge guard.

At this time, from the beginning of one person and two horses, it has become one person and one horse. Walking in the southern foothills of the Green Mountains in winter is difficult to describe.

After more than ten days, when I arrived at the Green Ridge to guard and capture, I finally saw the Tang Dynasty Banner again.

"It's here!"

"Came back alive!"

The Anxi athletes cheered and fell to the ground and refused to go any further. A few sat down and lost their breath.

Ma Lu looked at this scene, and the corners of his eyes were slightly moist.

From the beginning of the launch of the Sa Mojian to the time of leaving the Sa Mojian, the number of Anxi Jian'er killed did not exceed 1,000. And this time in winter, crossing the Green Ridge, although it was along the river valley avenue, the dead Han family children were more than a thousand!

This is still under the condition of making all preparations, and there is still most of the grain here. Not a single person starved to death along the way, but there was still so much damage.

Under the power of heaven, human beings are always small and fragile.

Perhaps, it is a good idea to wait until winter is over to cross the green mountains.

But the desire for Anthy, the main side, made him unable to wait.

Of course, the sons and daughters of the Han family, who are anxious to go home, are unlikely to be willing to spend a winter in the southern part of the Green Mountains.

……

Hundreds of horsemen trampled on the snow and ice and met the army.

"General!"

When they arrived in front of Ma Lu, the young man at the head bowed down on his horse, and all of them saluted at the same time.

This is the five hundred Anxi athletes who set off in advance with Li Juan, and they are the elite selected from everyone. They are an army, so naturally they can't follow Li Juan to Chang'an, so they are waiting for Ma Lan here. As for Li Xuan, he came to the army to make a name for himself, and he was not on top of the official Han army membership, so he could do this.

The Tang army in Anxi faced each other, and the road was extremely safe. When Li Juan arrived here, he formed a caravan with tribute and the Zoroastrian saints and the children of the Sogdian king, and had been going to Khotan for more than ten days.

As long as they arrive in Chang'an safely, Ma Lan's plan will be realized.

Ma Lan nodded and smiled gently.

From the eyes of these soldiers, he can see his current position in their hearts.

That's exactly what he wants. Originally, he only wanted to return to Anxi safely with his group, but when he discovered the possibility of the Han people permanently occupying the river, he had a different idea.

The support of Anzai's athletes is the condition he must make to realize his plan.

There was a smile on his face, but his heart was a little sour.

If it weren't for his selfishness, there should have been more Han family sons and daughters who would have returned safely.

However, in the face of a rare opportunity in a thousand years, and in the face of the temptation of the dominance of Han civilization in Central Asia, he had no choice.