Flipping through the map of Xinjiang, the east-west Tianshan Mountains are like a natural barrier, dividing the entire Western Regions into two parts, north and south, which also brings different natural environments and cultural characteristics.

The Ili River Valley is located in the western part of the Tien Shan Mountains, and its north, east, and south sides are surrounded by various branches of the Tien Shan Mountains.

Only the west side is relatively flat and open, and thus a special flare is formed.

This topography allows the humid air flow from the Atlantic Ocean to enter smoothly, bringing more abundant precipitation.

And finally in the desert, the Gobi is dotted with the central part of the Eurasian continent to irrigate a beautiful scenery of the pearl of the south of the Yangtze River and the Western Regions.

The Ili River in the Ili River valley not only has a large flow, but also has numerous tributaries that eventually flow into Lake Balkhash.

However, at this time, the Ming Dynasty did not call it that, but used its ancient name to spread the sea.

Extrapolating from the Ming Dynasty's Zhengde year, the last time this place was ruled by the Han people was when the Tang Dynasty had the Anxi Protectorate.

And since Emperor Hongwu set the world, not to mention the razing of the sea, the Ili region has not actually been controlled.

It was not until the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, after the final victory of the Qing Zhun War, that the territory of the Qing Dynasty expanded to the west, and it was agreed with Tsarist Russia: Hudong belonged to the Qing Dynasty, and Huxi belonged to Tsarist Russia.

In this part of the territory, Da Ming is a little weaker.

But this is not what people think in the current Zhengde period,

At this time, the Western Regions, the Eastern Chagatai Khanate had disappeared with the Turpan Khanate, and the Yarkand Khanate was also happy to mention the same fate, and the Ili River Valley was a vast area, even if Zhu Houzhao's previous life was only one-third.

The remaining two-thirds are within neighbouring countries.

But now the Ili River Valley, the pearl of the Western Regions with beautiful natural scenery, is no longer allowed by others in the Ming Dynasty.

Urumqi was not mentioned at this time, and when it had the Ili River Valley and the city of Ili, there was no place comparable to it.

The original Xinjiang Governor's Mansion of the Ming Dynasty was here.

The current governor's yamen and the military region's garrison are also here.

Since Lou Fangyong and the others crossed the Tianshan Mountains into the Ili region, they immediately felt the charm of this land.

In Ili,

The prologue of April is when the melting snow of the glaciers flows into the Ili River, like the notes of the earth, gently awakening the valleys and fields that have been sleeping for a winter.

Spring is coming, and new green shoots break through the soil and dot the forest meadows.

Under the blue sky and white clouds, the melodious flute of the shepherds drifts in the wind, and the cattle and sheep stroll leisurely along the grassy riverside, reflecting a quiet and harmonious pastoral scenery.

Even Lou Fangyong, a person who was very knowledgeable in the eyes of the other two, couldn't help but sigh, "I don't want to have such a beautiful place in this remote Western Regions!" Do you know that this place originally belonged to the Yarkand Khanate, and it was the current martial arts Bo who came down from the first battle, which is why we see the scenery of flowers and plants, cattle and sheep today. ”

Fang Yu said: "The younger brother heard that in Yili, Xinjiang, the chance of eating mutton is far greater than that in Ganzhou. ”

Lou Fangyong couldn't cry or laugh, "I'm not talking about mutton. ”

Xu Kai leaned in, "What kind of meat is Brother Lou talking about?" ”

……

More than ten days later, the three finally arrived in Ili City.

Ili City must have been expanded, the wall is thick and stable, the top is wide and flat, you can see soldiers patrolling from a distance, and the Ming military flag is also fluttering with the wind, there are corner towers and arrow towers on the left and right sides, and the outline line of the city wall is also against the backdrop of the snow-capped mountains, which is particularly clear and tough.

This thick city wall, like a watchman's fortress, stares at the mountains and rivers near and far, giving people a strong visual impact.

If you stand on the city wall and look down, the rows of houses in the city echo the rolling mountains outside the city, and you will feel that the Ili city wall at this moment is like a sleeping giant, quietly telling of its glory and tenacity.

"What a majestic city."

Lou Fangyong exclaimed, and then dismounted and lined up with the crowd to enter the city. This was not a time of military tension, but they still showed proof of consent issued by their original 'unit'.

By the afternoon, I finally squeezed in,

"Come on, get two catties of mutton."

Lou Fangyong listened to them chant a lot of sentences halfway.

Fang Yu and Xu Kai smirked, "It's time for Brother Lou to break the bill." ”

"It's okay, the lamb is cheap here." He pointed to the price sign hanging at the door, "That's what I told you on the road, the area is vast and the products are abundant, so there are naturally benefits." If you get all of our Daming people to go to Shaanxi and squeeze into such a small place, then don't talk about eating meat, it's a blessing to be alive. ”

"Then we have to thank that martial artist." Fang Yu had already gnawed, his mouth bulging.

Lou Fangyong corrected, "I thank the emperor." It's a pity that the Yibohai mentioned earlier is not yet the realm of the Ming Dynasty. ”

"One day it will be!"

And it did not come from the mouth of the three of them,

It was told by two men at the next table.

Both men were carrying spears, and they were both in their thirties.

"The three of them should all be recruiting soldiers from the military region, right?"

Fang Yu and Xu Kai were alert all of a sudden, thinking in their hearts, after finishing the people's set of fully armed, they were much more complete than them.

Lou Fangyong said: "Exactly." ”

"The two of us too. I just heard the pity in my brother's words, and it is talking about our brother's heart. ”

Lou Fangyong frowned slightly,

He sometimes can't tell whether the current people really want to do it for their own merits, or for the national prestige and glory of the Ming Empire as the court said.

Anyway, people with both thoughts have the same saying.

And to his surprise, I don't know when these two groups of people began to say the same thing, and began to fill the people.

He used to be fine in Shaanxi, after all, it was not a border land,

But I've encountered too many along the way.

Is the imperial court intentionally indoctrinated?

Not only that, but now many people who have read books and have not read books can open their mouths to talk to him about history and politics, and he can understand that men are naturally fond of these, but ...... That's too much, right?

Lou Fangyong can't get in touch with the policies of the upper echelons,

But his observation at the grassroots level can indeed feel this change.

It's an atmosphere,

Ming, border, army, soldiers...... There's an atmosphere that has changed.

Just like the two people in front of them, the calluses on their hands are not the ones who hold the pen and write, but as soon as they open their mouths, the 'taste' is too strong, and they say:

"When today's son has said many times, the Ming Dynasty is the Han dynasty that drove out the Mongols and re-restored, we inherited the Han and Tang Dynasties, and naturally we also want to restore the territory of the Han and Tang Dynasties.

Another person said: "In my opinion, the formation of the military region this time is to transfer elite troops to destroy this Kazakh Khanate!" ”

Where there are a lot of people, Lou Fangyong will take it a little.

Laugh at random and mix it up, without intersecting too deeply, after all, I don't know the details.

Five days later, the three of them went to the registration place of the military region, and when they arrived here, they found that

The place is so big, and there are so many people!

To put it simply, this is a huge open space, with a total of 20 tables, and in front of each table there is a small martial arts arena, on which some people are dancing with knives and guns.

Lou Fangyong was about to step forward to inquire about the process, when he suddenly heard a 'boom, boom' sound,

Everyone's eyes were drawn to the voice.

They didn't have to wait too long, and a group of Ming troops on war horses and scimitars appeared around the corner.

The leader is also in his thirties, with a simple beard on his upper lip, strong and powerful cheeks, and his eyes are like eagles.

As for the more than 50 riders behind him, all of them are brave and majestic.

"Let's go, meet General Han!"

"General Han?!"

Hearing this surname, the crowd began to have a voice of surprise and excitement.

Everyone's eyes are on it, this general is like a god general!

Lou Fangyong was envious in his heart: This is what a good man should look like!

The person who came was not someone else, it was Han Shishilang, who had just arrived in Ili for a few days, and he was not familiar with everything when he first arrived, so he had been running back and forth recently, taking control of the troops as soon as possible.

As an experienced general, he also attaches great importance to the quality of his soldiers.

He came here today for this purpose, he pulled the reins, raised his horsewhip, and shouted with Zhongqi: "There is a decree from the saint, the formation of the Xinjiang Military Region can be voluntarily registered, but as of today, the vacant quota of 60,000 people is less than 10%, and everyone who signs up today must be strictly controlled, this general has brought pro-soldiers, and those of you who can't go through ten rounds under them, this general doesn't want it!" ”

Lou Fangyong looked at those tall and burly men with cross-faced faces, and couldn't help but feel nervous in his heart, he was a scholar.

So he immediately spoke up, "General Han, the imperial court has ordered that all military regions must not stop anyone who voluntarily joins the army. Among those of us, there are such people. ”

Han Shishilang fixed his eyes, the person who spoke was indeed not as strong as the few people on the side, he grinned, "On the battlefield, the enemy only cares about your swords and guns, but he won't ask you how many words you know." ”

"Hahaha!"

When everyone heard this, they were all laughing.

Lou Fangyong already had a sense of pride, and immediately replied: "Since you have the ambition to join the army and kill the enemy to serve the country, you have never thought about anything else!" ”

"Oh? Are you a scholar who wants to kill the enemy and serve the country? ”

"That's nature, Yibohai is still in the hands of foreigners!!"

Han Shishilang's eyes flashed, and he immediately scolded with a smile: "There are really more eyes in the hearts of scholars than rotten turnips!" Who doesn't care about that credit, how can it be cheap for you?! You're right?! ”

His subordinates naturally responded, "Yes! ”

"However, since it is the emperor's soldier, the emperor's will cannot be violated, and he is a person, so he will join the army. But General Ben has a saying that in the front, after joining the army, General Ben doesn't care what kind of fame you have! ”

Then Han Shishilang swept around wantonly, "In the barracks, there is no snow and moon and wind flowers, the willows are still around, only the hot blood of the field, the true colors of men, those who are afraid of death, get out today!" ”

(End of chapter)