Liangzhou is located in the westernmost part of the Great Zhou, and further west is Sha Tin Pass.

After crossing the Sha Tin Pass, it can be regarded as entering the Western Regions. Originally, there was an Anxi Protectorate in the Western Regions, but now the entire Anxi Protectorate is occupied by rebels, and many state capitals that were originally attached to the Anxi Protectorate have declared independence. Some set themselves up as kings, some defected to the rebels, and some were still loyal to the Great Zhou and fought the trapped beasts.

Now it is even more difficult for the merchants of the Great Zhou Dynasty to enter the Western Regions again. Many people chose to abandon the trade routes of the Western Regions and chose to go to the remote south. But after all, scarcity is expensive, and many people are willing to take risks and take a trip to the Western Regions.

Shicheng is a fortress in the north of Liangzhou, with a high wall standing in the desert. Countless winds and sand blew by, and a dragon flag of the Great Zhou Army hunted and hunted. Some large chunks of sand and gravel fell on the city walls with a crackling sound.

The entire fortress was made of large blocks of masonry, and it was very strong, standing in the midst of puffs of dust.

There were about 500 people in Stone City, and the leader was a school captain. They were originally an outpost used by the Anxi Protectorate to monitor the direction of the Northern Wilderness, but because of their proximity to the east, they survived the turmoil in the Western Regions.

The soldiers here are all soldiers of the Anxi Protectorate, but judging from the news that came, the situation in the Western Regions does not seem to be ideal. Niu Rui, the third son of the Niu family, cleaned up the mess in the Western Regions while conquest all the cities that refused to surrender to him. The entire Western Regions is fighting every day, fighting endlessly.

Captain Ling Shao walked to the edge of the battlements and licked his lips that were cracked by dryness. The scorching sun shines on a person, and it can quickly make a person sweaty, and this kind of ghost weather will last for a long time.

Food is enough for the whole Stone City, but water is scarce. Fortunately, there was a well in the fortress, otherwise they would never have been able to hold out until now.

The endless wind and sand obscured the vision, and it was impossible to see what was in the distance.

"Captain, what is the letter from the Metropolitan Protectorate?" When he spoke, he realized that there was actually someone next to Ling Shao.

This is a rather old veteran, his armor is covered with dust, and his face is full of folds, one by one, showing the vicissitudes of life. A helmet was fastened to his head, and only one eye was left staring at the scene below.

If it was in the Central Plains, the soldiers defending the city would definitely be punished by the commander. But Shicheng is located in the desert, the sky is high and the emperor is far away, and the people in the fortress have long been familiar, as long as they can find the enemy situation in time, don't worry about those details.

Ling Shao squatted beside the veteran soldier and sighed: "The third prince doesn't know where to find a descendant of the former Chaoyang Emperor, claiming that today's son is a demon woman who is chaotic and intends to restore the previous dynasty. He also sent us a letter asking us to take refuge in the past. ”

The veteran said, "Captain, what do you think?" ”

Ling Shao was silent for a while, and said, "It would be good if Niu Shuai was here, we would always follow Niu Shuai, and we wouldn't be in a dilemma." ”

"In the end, the third prince is too anxious. Niu Shuai's family is in the capital, and now that Ming is reversed, there is no doubt that the entire Niu Mansion has been put in. What's more, Niu Shuai has been teaching us to be loyal to the monarch and serve the country on weekdays, and most of those who follow the third prince are Niu Shuai's kindness. I'm afraid that there are really few people who sincerely intend to rebel. The veteran muttered.

"But after all, he holds the blood of the emperor in his hands." Ling Shao muttered.

The two men fell silent at the same time, and after a while, the veteran muttered, "But...... The Emperor has been dead for a long time. How long has it been since our big week, and the days are just right. The old family's daughter-in-law just gave birth to a boy, and I still want to hold my grandson. ”

After that, the veteran turned his head to Ling Shao and said, "Captain, no matter what decision you make, I will follow you." ”

Ling Shao stood up and patted the dust on his body: "Let's be honest, I have followed Niu Shuai since I became a soldier. Before the first killing, if it wasn't for the axe that Niu Shuai skimmed, I would have been hacked to death by the horse thief. I must repay this kindness, and it doesn't matter to me if I rebel. It's just that we, brothers in Shicheng, can't implicate you. ”

The two chatted in the wind and sand, and the words were carried away by the wind. No one will report the news, and naturally everything will be said.

The veteran smiled: "If you want me to say let's not choose, just our Shicheng people are not enough for both sides." Let's just stay here, stay in this desert for the rest of our lives, and die here from old age, we can be regarded as having a belonging. ”

The two chatted, and the wind and sand outside were still blowing. Suddenly, the veteran stood up, two cloudy eyes staring into the distance.

Ling Shao also stood up.

The wind and sand in the distance, as if some figures were shaking in the wind and sand. It's hard to spot if you look at it from a distance. But the veteran had excellent eyesight, and he saw the clues in an instant.

"Ring the battle gong!" The veteran shouted, pulling out his bow and arrows from the side.

Without the veteran's reminder, Ling Shao had already sounded the gongs and drums, and the sound resounded throughout Shicheng. The soldiers of the Great Zhou Dynasty walked out of the stone city, standing on the edge of the city with bows and crossbows in their hands.

Five hundred Great Zhou troops were on standby.

In the distance, a black wolf flag fluttered in the wind and sand, and with a strange roar, a group of iron horsemen wielding scimitars walked out of the desert in the distance. In the middle of the iron horse, there are two unusually tall Phnom Penh Wolf King Flags. The nearby Iron Riders converged around these two royal flags.

When Ling Shao saw the wolf flag, his eyes suddenly froze.

"Northern Wilderness Iron Ride! Two king's flags, the Northern Wilderness has marched! Hurry up and light the beacon! Ling Shao yelled.

The wolf smoke went straight into the nine heavens, and a fast horse swept out of the back gate of the stone city, spreading the news of the march of the Northern Wilderness people all over the world.

……

Tang Yun and Lu Pengyuan are still investigating, and news has come from the palace that the empress has summoned them.

The two hurriedly put down the work in their hands, in fact, they don't have to care too much about things here. Practice makes perfect in dealing with these, and all clues will be properly kept.

Only when the early dynasty or major events are announced, the Taiqian Hall will be opened. On weekdays, he will choose a palace in the inner palace to handle government affairs.

Now His Majesty has just made a morning pilgrimage, and after breakfast, he needs to carry out a day's government affairs.

There was a eunuch in front of them, and Tang Yun suddenly caught a glimpse of a handsome and slender man passing by them.

The man was not wearing an official uniform, but was tightly dressed in a plain gown, which looked very elegant. His demeanor was very lazy, and when he saw Tang Yun and Lu Pengyuan, he didn't even say hello, and walked by proudly.

Tang Yun frowned: "Who is this person, the inner courtyard of the palace is like entering a no-man's land?" ”

Lu Pengyuan hurriedly whispered to Tang Yun: "That's His Majesty's face, you know ......"

Tang Yun turned his head and glanced at the man, then ignored it.

The two were taken by the eunuch to the Qianqiu Palace.

Before the eunuch could open his mouth to report, he suddenly heard a loud noise from inside, a bit like the sound of a vase breaking.

"What's the use of me keeping you! Get out of here! The empress's shouting came from inside.