February 5, 1867 (the first day of the sixth year of Tongzhi).

Heavy snow has been falling for two days in the Bayingolin area at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains in central Xinjiang, and it has not stopped until midnight. The snow on the ground was more than a foot deep, and it was white near and far.

Bayingolin is located in the hinterland of Xinjiang, which is the northernmost edge of southern Xinjiang and is closely connected with Urumqi and Ili in northern Xinjiang across a line of snow-capped peaks in the Tianshan Mountains.

The military yamen (Yamen of the Karasar Minister) set up by the imperial court in the Bayingolin area is located in the center of Yanqicheng, a thousand-year-old town. Forty kilometers southwest of Yanqi City is the most important military town of Gongwei, the ruling center of this region, Korla City; Forty kilometers northwest of Yanqi City, at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains (present-day Halmodun Town, Hejing County, Xinjiang), Halmodun (present-day Halmodun Town, Hejing County, Xinjiang) was the tribal base camp of the Southern Road League of the Turghut Mongol tribe. The Turghut base camp of Yanqi, Korla and Halmodun forms an "iron triangle" of "Pin" character defense that acts as a barrier to each other, and is the most important heartland of Bayingolin area.

The direct distance between the Yanqi Military Mansion and the Hami Military Mansion in the east, the Aksu Military Mansion in the west, the Urumqi Military Mansion in the north and the Ili Military Mansion in the northwest is between 500 and 600 kilometers. There are a number of military stations along the way, and the delivery of newspapers and newspapers and the transmission of military information are quite smooth.

The Bayingolin region was also the imperial fief of the Turgot South Road League. In the seventies of the eighteenth century, after the Turghuts returned to their homeland under the leadership of Wobasi Khan, the core part of the tribe (the Turghut South Road League) was all settled in the Bayingolin area, where they had been herding for a hundred years. From the shores of Bosten Lake to Bayinbrook and Gongnaisi, which are adjacent to Yili, this vast territory of nearly 400 kilometers long and 200 kilometers wide is covered with mountain meadows, mountain ravines and alpine grasslands. The 4 flags and 54 sums of the Turghut South Road League are scattered here......

It was nearly midnight and the heavy snow continued. On the mountainside road northeast of Yanqi City, a group of hideous and vicious white-clothed masked night walkers were urging their horses forward.

These people seem to be very familiar with the terrain and roads here, and the routes they choose are carefully arranged. Not only did they avoid a number of checkpoints guarded by sergeants, but they also did not enter the crowded villages, and successfully crossed the frozen Kaidu River. Obviously, some of them have carefully investigated the topography and climatic conditions of this place before, and are familiar with it.

More than 100 kilometers north of Yanqi City, the highest peak of the Middle Tianshan Mountain, Tianger Peak, stretches from east to west, which is the boundary ridge between Bayingolin and Urumqi. On the north side is Urumqi South Mountain; On the south side is the most mysterious canyon in Bayingolin in the Middle Tianshan Mountains - the Heavenly Wolf Valley.

The Valley of the Heavenly Wolf is the northernmost edge of the Bayingolin region, and it is also the northernmost village of the 54 Sumu of the Turghut tribe, the residence of the Sharga Sumu. The entire Heavenly Wolf Valley is in an east-west direction, the two valley mouths are more than 20 kilometers apart, a small river passes through the valley, and the widest part of the valley is more than two kilometers. The widest part of the area is the Qingsong Village, a herdsmen's gathering area in the center near the mouth of the East Valley, where the office of Sharga Sumu is located.

This thousand-year-old village may be named after the cedar forest that surrounds the village. Throughout the ages, there have been countless legendary heroes who have walked the world after practicing their true skills in the deep mountains and ancient caves of the Heavenly Wolf Valley, and there are also many heroes of the green forest who rebelled against the imperial court who were wanted by the imperial court and hibernate in the valley to wait and move. Therefore, the Valley of the Heavenly Wolf is famous and mysterious.

Outside the mouth of the snow-covered East Valley of the Heavenly Wolf Valley, a reclining boulder is engraved with the mottled three large characters in seal font "Heavenly Wolf Valley". Behind the boulder, a 100-meter cliff on both sides like a knife split, sandwiched a mountain road more than three meters wide, is the only passage from the mouth of the East Valley to the Valley of the Heavenly Wolf Valley. In front of the mountain road, a huge log fence more than five meters high and more than ten meters wide was placed. There are several guards in the cave above the fence, and there are hidden sentry posts near the cave. This mountain gate is not only to prevent bandits, but also to prevent bandits, and has guarded the Xiaerga Sumu in the Heavenly Wolf Valley for more than a hundred years......

At midnight, in the wooden tent of Qingsong Village, Sangeji, the leader of Sharga Sumuzuo, was still talking about the current situation in Xinjiang with the two heads of ten households. Although today is the first day of the Lunar New Year, everyone is not happy, and their hearts have been empty.

"It is said that Kashgar, Khotan and Aksu were all occupied by the Kokands, and Kuqa was lost. So far, I have not heard of any news of the arrival of the imperial army. Is it possible that the flames of war will burn to us in the future? The head of the ten households asked Sangeji worriedly.

Sangeri also looked melancholy, sighed, and said: "With our current garrison strength in Xinjiang, we can't deal with tens of thousands of Kokand troops and British mercenaries. But now the imperial court is worried about internal and external troubles, and it is impossible to free up his hands to deal with the invading army of Kokand. It's hard to say what the future holds......"

The head of the ten households heard about the atrocities of the Kokand army, and said with some horror: "The people of Kokand are all crazy guys, and they kill people without blinking!" It's terrible to hear that tens of thousands of people were killed in every town they conquered, and that fifty or sixty thousand people were killed in Hota City alone! ”

The head of the ten households was a little puzzled by the momentum of the Kokand army's long-distance cross-border warfare, and asked suspiciously:

"The forward of the Kokand army has been more than 2,000 miles away from the country of Kokand, and the battle line is so long, it is definitely not easy to supply military supplies. Where did this small country come from, and how dare it move forward? Aren't you afraid that there will be no return? ”

Sangergi, who was older and more knowledgeable, combed and analyzed: "With the British supporting them and emboldening them, these thieves dare to take risks. However, the most important thing is that they saw the opportunity when the imperial court was now powerless to look west, so they dared to give it a go...... Now the ultimate goal of the Kokand people is not clear. If they stop in southern Xinjiang and we keep northern Xinjiang for the time being, we may still have a chance to breathe, and in the future, with the existing forces in Xinjiang, we can fight to the death. However, the Kokand army was in full swing, and the guns provided by the British were particularly powerful, so it was estimated that they would not stop there, and it was very likely that they would take advantage of the situation to advance eastward. ”

The head of the ten households said: "If the Kokand people come to attack our Heavenly Wolf Valley, with the natural danger of the two valleys and the Tibetan Cave of our Qingsong Village, we can completely deal with them for a while, and it should not be a problem to hold on for a few months!" ”

Sangeri took a sip of tea, thought for a moment and said, "Our place should not be their main offensive direction, and the team will not be able to use it here at all." I think that the two passes in the north and south of Xinjiang are the two passes in the north and south of the border, which they want to focus on......"

While he was talking, the sentry from Higashiyaguchi came to report that he claimed to be the head of the Tasaka Castle garrison barracks. The three of Sangeji were taken aback!

The head of the ten households said very suspiciously: "It's so late, how can there be officers and soldiers coming to us?" ”

The head of the ten households was even more puzzled, and said, "I have never heard that there is a general surnamed Sha in the Dabancheng barracks?" ”

Sangeji asked the sentry, "How many of them have come?" ”

The sentry replied, "There are two dozen of them." ”

Sangeri thought for a moment and said, "Let's invite them in first." ”

The sentry was ordered to turn around and go out, and as soon as he opened the door, he was stunned...... I saw that six or seven men in white night clothes had surrounded the big tent with guns, and two of them shouted in unison:

"The Daban Castle garrison has sent the chief Shaman-sama here!"

Seeing this, Sangeji hurriedly took two heads of ten households out of the tent to greet them.

Not far away, a team of people and horses walked slowly. This group of people is the mysterious team that travels in the night.

The officer-like man in the lead came to the tent and dismounted.

Sangeri hurriedly stepped forward to salute and said, "I don't know that Lord Sha is coming, I missed the welcome, and I ask for forgiveness!" …… Sha-sama, please! ”

Sharman nodded, and unceremoniously entered the big tent and sat down in the main seat. Two heads of ten households hurriedly served tea.

Shaman looked domineering, held the horsewhip in his hand, and said, "Lord Ben has come to inspect the defense of various places, and I hope that all the leaders will cooperate more." ”

Sangeji hurriedly responded: "Definitely, definitely! ”

Shaman asked, "Do you know anything about the current situation?" ”

Sangeji replied cautiously and said, "I know a little bit, I heard that the Kokand army has occupied most of the southern frontier, and it is possible to continue to advance......"

Sharman asked nonchalantly, "Are you prepared?" ”

Sangeji hurriedly introduced the state of defense in Qingsong Village and said, "Previously, the Khan King of our tribe had ordered us to strengthen our defenses. We, Sumu, have already sent additional guards to the east and west valleys, and suspicious people will never be put into the valley. The sixty young and middle-aged villagers of Bensumu were also all equipped with bows, arrows, knives and guns, ready to engage the invading enemy at any time. ”

Shaman continued to ask again, "With this little strength of your Su Mu, can you hold the Heavenly Wolf Valley?" ”

Sangeji hurriedly replied, "Although there are not many soldiers in our tribe who can go to the battlefield, relying on the natural danger of the two valley mouths, as long as the defense is properly arranged, it is not easy for them to attack it. ”

Shaman looked disdainful and continued to ask: "The Kokand army has foreign guns and cannons, and the natural danger of Taniguchi is not to worry about, and it can't stop them at all. What if they take the valley and attack your Qingsong Village? ”

The head of the lower ten households hurriedly replied: "Our Qingsong Village has organs everywhere, especially the large and small Tibetan caves are connected, and the entrance of the cave can attack the enemy at any time, even if they enter the Heavenly Wolf Valley, we will definitely be able to drive it out." ”

Sharman's eyes lit up: "Oh? ”

Sangergi was shocked! The Tibetan Soldier Cave in this Qingsong Village has always been the most important secret of the tribe, which is used to save lives, and must not be easily revealed! Now that the head of the ten households has leaked his mouth, it will be troublesome to be targeted by others.

Sangeri hurriedly diverted the topic and said: "Qingsong Village is surrounded by high mountains and dense forests, if someone attacks it, we can retreat to the mountain and take advantage of the favorable terrain to deal with them, after all, this is our own home, and we are familiar with every grass and tree......

An imperceptible smirk crossed Shaman's face, and he said, "Tell me about your 'Hidden Soldier Cave', I think this is the most effective means of defense." ”

Sangeji glanced at the head of the ten households. The head of the lower ten households also realized that it was indeed a very reckless move for him to reveal the biggest secret of the tribe to these people he didn't know, and he blamed himself very much in his heart, but it was too late to regret it.

"The 'Tibetan Cave' is now called a cave with several natural formations on the hill near the village. Legend has it that many years ago, some knights from the mainland practiced martial arts here and lived in the cave. We use these caves as a hiding place to hide from natural disasters, and there is no great use in other ways......" Sangeri carefully explained, hoping to distract the Sha Master from the "Hidden Soldier Cave".

"How many people can be hidden in the cave?"

"It's only fifty or sixty."

"Where's the main entrance?"

"It's in the back mountain."

Shaman asked with a serious face: "According to the will of the imperial court, the leaders and soldiers of all fortresses, towns, and villages in the northern and southern Xinjiang that have not yet fallen must verify and screen their loyalty to the country, and show their determination not to support the enemy, not to surrender to the enemy, and to resist to the end. Can you do that? ”

As soon as Sangeji heard this, his courage immediately increased, and he replied sonorously: "The Kokand people occupy our land, slaughter hundreds of thousands of my compatriots, and have a common enmity with us. If one day these thieves dare to come to the Heavenly Wolf Valley, our entire Xia Erga Sumu will definitely fight to the death to serve the country, and there is no ambiguity! ”

Shaman nodded and said, "Hmm...... You can say that again! However, if the Kokand people came to attack, the focus should be on the two fortresses of Daban and Tuxun. If the situation of the Guansai army is in an emergency by then, can you assist the defenders to fight the enemy together? ”

Sangeri continued: "It is our duty to assist the defenders against the invading enemy. The more than 60 young and middle-aged villagers trained by us in Sumu not only protect their villages, but also go to the battlefield to kill the enemy and make meritorious contributions when needed! Please rest assured, as long as the adults call, I will personally lead them to serve in the army. ”

Sharman nodded again and said, "Hmm! …… Very good! The leader of Sangeji understands the righteousness, and the court will be very pleased. So how about we go check out your hiding hole now? ”

Seeing that the secret of the "Hidden Soldier Cave" had been targeted, and it was no longer easy to hide it, Sangeji felt a little helpless, but he could only do it. He stretched out his arms and said:

"Lord Sha, please ......"

Everyone got out of the big tent and followed the back mountain path to the main entrance of the Tibetan Soldier Cave halfway up the mountain.

These "Tibetan Soldier Caves" in the back mountain of Qingsong Village are actually limestone karst caves naturally formed due to geological movement tens of thousands of years ago, the deep main cave is directly connected with more than a dozen branch caves into a radial shape, and each branch cave has a hole entrance, it is indeed a natural fortress that "can be attacked, retreated and defended".

The head of the lower ten households lit the torches on the stone at the entrance of the main cave.

Sharman inspected the entrance to the cave and asked, "Can there be more than sixty people in this cave?" ”

Sangeji replied softly, "Yes......"

Shaman's lieutenant leaned in and whispered a few words in Shaman's ear.

Shaman said to Sangeji in a matter-of-fact manner: "Leader Sangeji, your tribe's anti-enemy defense system is indeed well prepared...... In order to complete our inspection errand, please arrange for the trumpeter to blow the assembly call for the emergency drill now. Now we will carry out an emergency drill, and we can go back to the business after the drill. ”

Sangeji was shocked again! With some hesitation, he hurriedly asked, "You mean now?" ”

Sharman nodded, and said with a gloomy face, "Yes, now! ”

The three of them looked at each other puzzled. The two heads of ten households were also very puzzled, but the three of them knew that this was a military order and could not be disobeyed!

In desperation, Sangeji ordered the two heads of ten households: "Inform the trumpeter, blow the emergency assembly number!" ”

For the first time in a hundred years, an ominous bull's horn sounded in the middle of the night. People in their sleep could not have imagined that the catastrophe had quietly befallen them......

With just a bag of cigarettes, dozens of young and middle-aged herdsmen with bows, arrows, knives and guns hurried to the entrance of the Tibetan Soldier Cave.

Everyone didn't know what had happened to them in the middle of the night, and they all looked at Sangeji and the mysterious people they had never met.

Seeing that the personnel had basically arrived, Sangeji was ready to speak. The head of the ten households stepped forward and quietly reminded: "Ashan Kundu has not arrived yet." ”

Sang Geji already had a faint sense of foreboding in his heart at this time, and now that his deputy, Su Mu's Xiao Riding School Ashan Kundu, had not yet arrived, he felt a little relieved...... The current situation can only be taken one step at a time.

Sangeji introduced to everyone in a loud voice: "Folks! This is Lord Sha of the garrison barracks of Daban Castle. When I came to our Qingsong Village late at night, I was ordered to come to inspect the anti-enemy defense of our Qingsong Village. This is also the will of the imperial court! …… Lord Sha is busy with official business, so he specially invited everyone to come late at night to conduct a rehearsal of preparedness, and then Lord Sha will rush to other tribes to inspect. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation...... Now follow the orders of Sha Daren and perform the drill! ”

Shaman cleared his throat and said in a loud voice, "Folks! Everyone must be aware of the current situation in Xinjiang. The Kokand people had occupied almost all of southern Xinjiang. Everywhere they went, there were no chickens and dogs, and they had slaughtered hundreds of thousands of my compatriots! He is the most heinous and unworthy enemy! In the future, they may attack the passes and our homes at any time. There is an order from the imperial court! Soldiers and villagers everywhere must be prepared to resist the enemy in case of contingencies...... Now that we are planning a preventive exercise, would you like to cooperate? ”

When everyone heard that it was a drill to prepare for the attack of the Kokand army, they replied in unison: "Yes!" ……”

Seeing this, Shaman once again showed a hideous smile on his face, and ordered: "Okay! At present, assuming that the enemy's brigade has already attacked from the mouth of the East Valley, we will retreat into the 'Hidden Soldier Cave' in order to preserve our strength, and then move to the various branch holes to deal with the strong enemy...... Now all the personnel entered the main cave and quickly moved to the various branch openings to stand by. All action! ”

Without much thought, the fish rushed into the cave.