The mountain peaks in the distance are covered with snow, which seems to be without any blemishes, and the white is dazzling. The cypress on the mountainside is full of life, and the tall trunks and turquoise pine branches form a unique landscape in the cold winter. At the foot of the mountain is a pasture, where the yellowed dead grass sways in the cold wind, and the dry grass is covered with a little snow, which is a little dirty, showing signs of melting.

A herd of wild antelopes was running in the pasture, and two horses were chasing after them. With the sound of two crisp gunshots, I saw two wild antelopes running fast, scurrying up in the herd of antelopes, and then rolling to the ground, desperately struggling to move. Then the two war horses grabbed the reins, and with the angry neighing of the horses, two soldiers, a man and a woman, quickly turned over and dismounted. "Madam, a draw, no winner or loser." He Meng smiled, and Mrs. Xiuhua glanced at her as if she was going to say something.

At this time, the guards caught up from behind and carried the slain wild antelope on their horses, and the two extra war horses dragged four wild antelopes respectively, a total of 8 wild antelopes. "Didn't you say that a draw means I won, and talking counts?" Xiuhua was not convinced. He Mengjian couldn't fool and said boldly: "A manly man, he is a man of his word, and of course his words count." Admit defeat and say what you need to do? "Wash my feet tonight!" Xiuhua made an unreasonable demand.

"In front of the guards, you let the commander wash your feet, what kind of decency. No, no, another way of punishment," He Meng shook his head. "In my eyes, you are a husband, not a commander. Last time I lost, you let you take a bath, you lose and wash my feet, don't overdo it! "Xiuhua is unrelenting." Okay, okay, I'll give you a bath? So let's get even! "Why do you always want to take advantage of me, can't you? You have to wash my feet tonight! The kung fu guard came, and Deng Xiuhua glared at her husband and didn't squeak.

After winter, He Meng and his wife went to the pasture at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains to hunt. It's almost the New Year, and they have beaten more than 50 wild antelopes, and there is no shortage of meat in the canteen of the headquarters this year. Last year, the train from Hami to Lanzhou was opened, but the train from Hami to Urumqi was not opened, so the materials from the east were still transported by the transport team, so the shortage of materials is still serious. At present, the entire Western Front Army is struggling with logistical supplies. We still have to be self-reliant and have enough food and clothing.

At present, the section from Hami to Urumqi is stepping up the laying of steel rails, and it is estimated that the whole line can be completed in March. As He Meng gradually gained a foothold in Xinjiang. As of now, there are at least 12 military reclamation regiments, distributed around Urumqi and in the areas east of Urumqi. Presently. The Tianshan pastures have been taken over by the military reclamation regiment. The task of the army reclamation regiment in the pasture was to raise war horses and prepare forage for the cavalry units for the winter.

The garrison of the military reclamation regiment is a blue brick and gray tile building, surrounded by a tall wall, with turrets at the four corners, which are defended by heavy machine guns, and there are 4 infantry running in the fortress. If the army reclamation regiment encounters an enemy attack, it can defend itself. Outside the wall, there are three directions: southeast, west, and west. Surrounded by a fence wall, the shepherd's war horses rest in it, and at present, this military reclamation regiment has raised more than 3,000 war horses, and there are 4 military reclamation regiments of this size distributed in the grassland at the foot of the front mountain.

As soon as He Meng and his wife arrived at the department of the military reclamation regiment, the commander of the military reclamation regiment reported that Chief of Staff Lei had asked the commander to immediately return to Urumqi. He Meng glanced at his wife, meaning that there was no way, and his feet could not be washed tonight. Xiuhua disdained it and hurriedly packed up. Wild things and others loaded a full five carriages, and a cavalry company was ready to serve as a guard, and soon the group set off.

Three days later, they arrived in Urumqi, with half a month left before the old calendar year. At present, there are many Han people living in Urumqi, some who set up factories, some who do business, and some who come here to seek business opportunities. Ethnic minorities from Xinjiang have also gathered here one after another, making Urumqi initially a commercial city and increasingly prosperous, and now the entire urban area has reached 50,000 citizens. The traces of the fire are gone, replaced by the Islamic style and the Han people-epitek architectural style, and an even more magnificent new city is presented.

In the headquarters, Chief of Staff Lei Zhensheng handed the telegram to He Meng and said, "The headquarters is calling, please take a look." He Meng read the telegram and said happily: "The headquarters means that after the old calendar year, the operation of plotting the whole Xinjiang will be launched, and the headquarters suggests that the beginning of April is appropriate, but we need to refer to our opinions." Will the rail line be guaranteed to break through in mid-March? "Commander, I have ordered that the line must be opened to traffic by mid-March." "Excellent! There is still half a month to go before the Chinese New Year, and military deployment will begin after the New Year, and all officers and men will have a sumptuous festival before the war. ”

"Commander, the Turpan railway line has begun trial operation, and the distance of our transport team has been reduced by half, so that we can rush to transport a large number of supplies before the year, and the officers and soldiers can live a more prosperous life this year." Lei Zhensheng said happily. He Meng said: "After three years of construction, our defense line is now more stable, and now the enemy is no longer able to penetrate deep into the eastern region to attack and destroy. The excellent geographical conditions allowed us to protect the smooth construction of the railway line with a small number of troops. ”

He Meng raised his eyes and looked at the map and continued: "You see, the southern part of the railway line is a vast desert, and if the enemy wants to destroy it, he can only come from the Taklamakan Desert, which cannot survive, which is simply impossible. The areas north of Turpan and Hami are already connected with the Mongolian steppe, and it will be difficult for the enemy to launch an attack along our railway line from this direction. It seems that the strategy of the headquarters is right, as long as the railway is completed, we will have no worries. After occupying the whole of Xinjiang, the next step is to advance into Central Asia, and that is the time to raise your eyebrows. ”

Lei Zhensheng said: "Commander, it's been three years, you have been suffocated in the past three years, can you send troops to Central Asia, it's too early to talk about it, let's still think about how to capture the whole of Xinjiang!" "Chief of Staff, it's still a little early to talk about this, let's think about how to celebrate the New Year!" The two of them couldn't help but daxiao up. Lei Zhensheng remembered something and said: "Commander, I heard that you and your wife have beaten a lot of wild antelopes in the Tianshan grassland, and we can drink wine and eat meat in a big bowl this year." ”

"Yes! We have worked too hard in the past three years, and the good days have finally come to an end. I have sent the wild antelopes to the canteen and ordered them to clean them up, at least all the personnel of the headquarters will have no problem eating until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. This year, we have built a glass greenhouse to reduce the problem of transporting vegetables from the hinterland, and we can eat fresh vegetables in the severe cold of March 9, and the officers and men will not complain about the hardships of the day. ”

He Meng's home is a courtyard house, a typical Chinese-style house. He Meng dismounted in front of the door and handed the reins to the guards. At this time, the adopted daughter Peony flashed out of the street with a schoolbag on her back. Seeing his father-in-law, Peony happily ran over and said, "Father-in-law! You're back, and you're going to kill me, mother-in-law? "Peony is 15 years old, and she has become a quasi-big girl, her size has surpassed Xiuhua, and she is getting more and more beautiful. Currently, Peony is studying at the only girls' high school in the city.

He Meng said lovingly: "Your stepmother has arrived home early!" "Really? Mother-in-law! Mother-in-law," Peony shouted and ran inside. Hearing the shouting, Xiuhua came out of the room, and Peony stepped forward to hug Xiuhua, and that affection made He Meng jealous. Xiuhua is less than thirty years old, and she still looks young, and if you don't tell them carefully, the two of them seem like sisters. The 5-year-old son ran out of the house, shouting loudly for his father, He Meng picked up his son, kissed his son hard, and the hard stubble pierced his son and screamed.

On the evening of the 30th day of the Chinese New Year's Eve, all the officers and their families gathered in the headquarters auditorium. The auditorium was filled with tables and chairs, with officers seated together, and women and children seated together. For the first time in three years, everyone sat down to dinner, and the scene was very lively. The officers talked enthusiastically, the ladies chattered, and the children played in the open space, and the atmosphere of the New Year was intoxicating.

"Everyone, be quiet, be quiet!" Chief of Staff Lei Zhensheng clapped his hands and shouted. Seeing that the audience was quiet, Lei Zhensheng continued: "The headquarters has decided to celebrate the New Year this year, and will gather the officers and their families above the brigade level together for a lively New Year." Now, I would like to give the floor to the Commander-in-Chief to deliver a congratulatory message. In the warm applause of the audience, He Meng strode onto the podium. First of all, He Meng saluted and said: "Ladies and gentlemen, this year, almost the families of officers above the regimental level have come to Xinjiang one after another to reunite with their husbands. Your support is the driving force for the officers and men to take root in the frontier and fight for the country. ”

"Ladies and gentlemen, today is the day of family reunion on the 30th day of the Chinese New Year's Eve. Now the empire is thriving and prosperous. By virtue of the joy of the year, I first wish the president good health, the Chinese Empire a long time, the people of Li more than every year, and the imperial army to be brilliant again. I announce the opening of the banquet, and everyone should not forget to eat meat while enjoying the wonderful performance of the headquarters performance team for everyone.

The scene suddenly became lively, the girls and boys of the performance team on the stage lined up on the stage, accompanied by the music, and a song of blessing the motherland resounded in the hall: they all said that your flowers are really prosperous, they all say that your fruits are really fruitful, they all say that your land is really fertile, and they all say that your road is really vast. Fatherland! My Motherland, bless you my Motherland! I dedicate my magnificent youth to you, and may you always be young and happy??????。

Beautiful melodies and warm words made everyone stop eating, and everyone's eyes flashed with tears of excitement, and they were deeply immersed in it, they were intoxicated and proud of the nascent empire. (To be continued......)

PS: The Western Expedition will kick off the conquest.