Geng Gong presented the Dunhuang guard general Zheng Zhong's recital, which was to the effect: Geng Gong stubbornly defended the lonely city with a single soldier, when the black overlord was the key to rush, resisting tens of thousands of people, for more than a month, trying his best to sleep, digging mountains for wells, boiling crossbows for food, there is a tendency to die and no hope of survival; Thousands of soldiers were killed and wounded before and after, so that the enemy could not be destroyed, which was really a model for the generals of the Han Dynasty, and the emperor was invited to reward Geng Gong and others.

Situ Baoyu said: "Geng Gong held on to the lonely city with 2,000 people, so that the black overlord could not cross it, which shows his wisdom and bravery. It rejects the generous reward of the king of the black and white houses, the high lord of the horse, and his loyalty exceeds that of Su Wu, the former minister of the country, and hopes that His Majesty will reuse it. Li Yi said in his heart that Chen Mu had an unshirkable responsibility for defeating himself, and once the emperor reused Geng Gong, he would inevitably often contact the important ministers of the court, and his own recommendation was unknown, and the scandal of corruption and bribery would be exposed sooner or later, so he said: "It is very rare for Geng Gong to stick to the lonely city, but Chen Mu and Guan Chong are all defeated, and they are also responsible for poor rescue." Su Wu was in the land of Mobei for nine out of ten, Emperor Wu sealed his canonical state, referring to Su Wu can be awarded as a cavalry captain, Shi Xiu, Zhang Feng, Fan Qiang can be the general Sima, and the rest of the people are supplemented by the Yulin general. "Emperor Zhang's permission.

Everyone saw that Geng Gong had made such a great contribution, and it was unfair to only award him a petty official. Seeing this, Geng Gong only Xie En took office, and Geng Gong was still framed by Li Yi and other traitors and almost died in prison.

Emperor Zhang saw that Chen Mu was defeated and Ban Chao did not return, so he asked the ministers to discuss the strategy of abandoning the Western Regions. Gongsun Miao knew that Ban Chao was capable, and if he didn't transfer it back, he might be able to recover the lost territory in the Western Regions. thought that if Ban Chao made a great contribution, the court would inevitably reuse it. I also want to be indebted in Shanshan and lie about my military exploits, so I was reused by the first emperor, once Ban Chao made great contributions to the court and exposed my old bottom, wouldn't I lose my old face. I also thought that I had received a large amount of bribes from Chen Mu, and once the incident occurred, my official position would not be guaranteed. Besides, Geng Gong made this great achievement, Li Houye only became a cavalry lieutenant in one sentence, and Ban Chao can only serve as a junior officer in the army when he returns to China now, and he will not be a courtier, what can he do in the palm of my hand. If you don't return in the Western Regions, it will be beyond the reach of the whip, and once you have achieved the great achievement of recovering the lost territory in the Western Regions, the imperial court will inevitably reuse it. Thinking about it, his stakes are the same as Li Yi's, and Ban Chao must be allowed to return to China.

One day, Emperor Zhang convened all the ministers to discuss the strategy of defending the Western Regions, and when he saw that everyone was arguing, he said: "Prime Minister Chun, Taiwei Guo, you are familiar with the situation in the Western Regions. Chun Shoushi said: "Your Majesty, all the countries in the Western Regions are willing to return to the Han Dynasty, and Chen Mu's defeat was caused by the arson army doing business and improper guarding. Ban Chaochang Shi is loyal to the country, brave and witty, and has deep connections in the Western Regions, leaving him in the Western Regions to pacify, Hei Batian does not dare to easily offend, or stay. Emperor Zhang listened and nodded slightly.

Gongsun Miao hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, since the first emperor sent the general Dou Gu to lead an expedition to the Western Regions, he used hundreds of thousands of Han troops in a few years, spending countless money and grain, and the Western Regions served and rebelled. Ban Chao has been in the Western Regions for several years, and although he has connections in the Western Regions, he is a drop in the bucket and cannot reverse the overall situation. The old mother of the family is bedridden, His Majesty rules the world with filial piety, so that Ban Chao returns to the country, can comfort the feelings of the border generals, and respect the righteousness of filial piety before Ban Chao's mother. Geng Gong is good at fighting, and only 100 people returned to the country, if Ban Chao is not ordered to return to the country quickly, I am afraid it will be difficult for him to survive. ”

Li Yi saw Gongsun Miao say such a big truth, and thought to himself: This Gongsun Miao is really good at speaking. In order to transfer back to Ban Chao, Li Yi also went out of the squad and said: "Taiwei Guo is reasonable, and he should be transferred back to Ban Chao to comfort the hearts of the border guards." Emperor Zhang originally wanted to send troops to help Ban Chao recover the Western Regions, but when he saw that the two of them had said the great truth of loyalty and filial piety, he had to speak: "Spread the edict and make Ban Chao return to China to fulfill the filial piety of the son of man." ”

Chun Shoushi originally wanted to fight again, and wanted to stay in Banchao to fight in the Western Regions, if he couldn't enter the customs alive, wouldn't it hurt his friends, so he had to endure and keep silent. Emperor Zhang saw that there was no other opinion, so he ordered the retreat.

Ban Chao and Kunlun smiled back to Shule, and Li Xi visited. Li Xi saw Ban Chao and congratulated: "The general led 5,000 troops, rushed for thousands of miles, and defeated the tens of thousands of troops of King Zuoxian, congratulations!" The general's courage is my Shule barrier. Ban Chao replied: "The general has a good reputation, and he relies on the soldiers to use his life for thousands of miles, so the first battle was successful." The generals trained their troops well, and the combat effectiveness of the Khotanese army was greatly improved. The two sat down, and Li Xi asked: "Chen Mu is defeated, and the Han Dynasty doesn't know when to set up a new capital to protect it?" Ban Chao shook his head and sighed: "I am waiting to relieve the siege of Jinman, General Fan Qiang has conveyed the imperial edict, saying that the Western Regions will be temporarily withdrawn, and I have asked Geng Gong and General Fan Qiang to explain to the imperial court that the Western Regions cannot be abandoned." It's just that his two official positions are small, and I don't know if he can see the face of the sky. After that, he sighed again.

Seeing this, Kunlun smiled and persuaded: "Don't worry about the leopard head, there are still prime ministers in the court who are familiar with the situation in the Western Regions, if the imperial court asks me to evacuate the Western Regions, I will summon the prime minister of Chun to ask, and the prime minister of Chun will definitely persuade the emperor to let me hold on to the Western Regions." Li Xi was taken aback when he heard the imperial court's edict to temporarily abandon the Western Regions, and when he heard Kunlun laughing, he said with a little peace of mind: "The general must not abandon me." Che Shi and other countries rebelled against the Black Deception, Shache is eyeing me, my country is now in the middle of the Black Deception forces, if the general evacuates, the people's hearts will be chaotic, and our country will be enslaved by the Black Deception again. Ban Chao got up and held Li Xi's hand and said: "The general knows my heart, and I am willing to assist the countries of the Western Regions to resist the black and return to the Han Dynasty." In the Western Regions for several years, he has formed a deep friendship with the monarchs and ministers of various countries, and we are unwilling to retreat, so don't worry, and listen to the edict of the imperial court. Li Xi listened and persuaded Ban Chao not to evacuate the Western Regions, his feelings were fierce, Ban Chao was speechless, or Kunlun laughed and enlightened him, Li Xi left with tears.

A few days later, Ban Chao, Kunlun Xiao, Li Xizheng and Shule Wang Douti discussed how to deal with the fact that Weitouguo was provoked by Shache and Chen soldiers at the border to rob cattle and sheep. Dou Ti wanted to send an army to fight the thief, Ban Chao persuaded: "If the captain dares to invade, he will be instructed by the turtle, I will send troops to attack the captain's head, Shache will help, the battle will start, the black tyrant will attack, I am fighting on both sides, the situation is unfavorable, I intend to salute first and then the soldiers, and persuade the captain to withdraw the troops." Li Xi agreed with Ban Chao's opinion and sent Minister Wen Xuan to bring gifts to negotiate reconciliation.

At this time, I suddenly heard the guard report: "Da Han Qin has arrived." The crowd immediately stood up to greet them. The envoy turned out to be Guo Chun, a subordinate of Gongsun Miao. Ban Chao saw that it was Guo Chun, and said in his heart: "It's not good, this person has traveled thousands of miles to come to the Western Regions, and he will be entrusted by Gongsun Miao to return to China." But I had to get up and greet him. Guo Chun saw Ban Chao clasping his fists and saluting: "Under the holy decree, Ban Chao will accept the decree." I only heard Guo Chun read: "Changshi Banchao, it has been several years since I left the country, I rule the world with filial piety, and when I see that your mother is seriously ill, I specially edict Banchao to go home to respect his mother's filial piety, and return quickly when he sees the edict." Ban Chao thanked him for receiving the order, thinking that since he had been on the expedition with the general for many years, he could not take care of his family for the country, and he was really responsible for his mother, so he said without tears: "The minister obeys the order." ”