Three Kingdoms

Life, death, killing, and saving people may all happen in a single thought.

Zhang Liao was now forced to face this duality.

Everything has two sides.

There are people too.

Good guys, bad guys.

Good people can do bad things with good intentions, and bad people can occasionally do good things with good intentions.

People who are smiling often have a knife behind their backs, while people with black faces and strict demands are compassionate.

After Zhang Liao issued the order to the vassal army, many people breathed a sigh of relief, and many people jumped up angrily.

The night gradually fell silent.

Outside Xihai City, where the light and fire are concentrated, is the military camp.

In addition to the guard areas in the military camp, there are also some scattered bonfires scattered around the outside of the military camp. These bonfires are the Han people who are gathering around them one after another. Because there was no special planning, these scattered bonfires were scattered far and near, and were not neat.

Looking at this situation, even the dullest person can more or less understand the stormy waves lurking in the Western Region. Xihai City is like a lonely boat, being carried and surrounded by the surrounding wind and waves, especially since the Chief Protector has not shown up for a long time, but Zhang Liao is in charge. This kind of leadership is unclear and there is no definite sense of belonging, which also makes people feel uncomfortable. These Han soldiers went from being confused at the beginning to feeling vaguely restless now.

On the city wall, all the soldiers on duty were Han Chinese. These soldiers held lights and walked slowly on the city wall. The firelight can only shine for a few feet, and beyond the firelight is the darkness that is constantly trying to oppress.

The spirit of the Han soldiers was obviously much worse. Occasionally they would get together during the inspection, and they were not as strict as before. They would often get together and chat in low voices. The things discussed were nothing more than these changes in the Western Region, and talking about when troops would be sent to defeat these chaotic armies, etc. However, the discussions came and went, and no one could come up with any results.

Naturally, the few Han soldiers did not have any whimsical ideas. They were more interested in joining the group to keep warm and reduce their own anxiety. They were like patients in the ward discussing their condition, which actually did not help much in the treatment.

"The general is patrolling the city!" 』

The Han soldiers who were discussing were stunned for a moment, turned around and saw Zhang Liao walking up with Han Guo.

These few Han soldiers quickly dispersed and stood on the edge of the battlement pretending to be nonchalant.

Han Guo's expression was not very good because Zhang Liao had never agreed with Han Guo's suggestion.

Han Guo is young, so he doesn't have very strong control over his own expression.

Han Guo's suggestion was very simple. Kill Wei Xu, imprison Lu Bu, characterize the entire incident as quickly as possible, and then gather the morale of the army to strictly guard Xihai City. Han Guo didn't understand why Zhang Liao hesitated at this time, or maybe he had some other concerns, which he couldn't understand.

Zhang Liao said that he would take him to patrol the city, so Han Guo followed him. He wanted to know why Zhang Liao was unwilling to do this, or what the connection was with following him on the patrol?

Han Guo, his own name, represents everything. He followed Li Ru before, then came to Chang'an, and before that he went to Longyou to follow Jia Xu. Although he was not originally from a good background and his talent was not very strong, after following Li Ru and Jia Xu for so many years, he more or less became I also learned some. He even knew that Jia Xu sent him here just to assist Zhang Liao in suppressing these Qiang people in case something changes...

But Zhang Liao actually wanted to let the Qiang people go back?

What is Zhang Liao thinking?

Han Guo was still thinking, but he heard Zhang Liao asking the Han soldiers on duty, "There are rebels outside now, are you afraid?" 』

The Han soldier was originally an old soldier from Xiliang. He had also seen Zhang Liao. When he saw Zhang Liao asking questions, he immediately raised his chest and said loudly: "General!" What's there to be afraid of? How could these barbarians from the Western Regions be more cruel than Xianbei? These rebels are just a bunch of bastards! Can't stand our rush! 』

Zhang Liao laughed out loud, patted the soldier, and then asked the guards to give him some dried meat and military rations. It was also a kind of encouragement, and he praised, "He is a good man!" 』

The soldier received the reward, thanked him, and was done. But for some reason, he suddenly said, "General!" When are we going to fight out? Does the military merit of fighting with Daduhu before count still count? 』

The team leader standing aside trembled when he heard the words, but the soldier had already said the words, so he couldn't just grab and gag him immediately, and even if he gagged his mouth, didn't the words still come out?

Zhang Liao nodded slowly, "Of course it counts. You are bleeding and sweating, and your head is tied to your trousers. How can you lose military merit?" Remember them all, and we will reward you together after the fight is over! 』

Although it was just a verbal promise, it obviously made the soldier feel at ease. He kept saying that that would be good, that would be good...

After saying a few more words, Zhang Liao and Han Guo led the men and continued walking down, leaving the soldier behind whose ears were pinched by the team leader and given a good lecture.

Han Guo followed Zhang Liao thoughtfully.

Zhang Liao chatted a little with several other soldiers on the city wall. Although each soldier answered with different words, there were two points that were relatively clear, "military merit" and "protecting the capital".

Military merit, this is easy to understand. Most of the time, everyone must first ensure their own survival and realize their own value, so of course these people are very concerned about whether military merit is counted. Just like there is nothing wrong with overtime per se, the problem is that overtime is not paid and is required to be voluntary, and those who dare to resist working overtime without overtime are spared no effort to suppress them.

Zhang Liao understood this, so he would not stupidly say that Lu Bu was defeated, so there was no military merit and other remarks to stimulate conflicts. Instead, according to most people's understanding, he said that of course the hard work will be rewarded. In this way, even if it cannot be cashed out immediately, it can make these people feel a little more at ease.

The other part that mentions the Great Protector is a bit intriguing...

After returning to the official office in the city, Han Guo frowned and said, "General Wenyuan, do you mean that there are still people who want Lu Fengxian, so we shouldn't take action easily?" Before taking action, one needs to cut off his popularity in the army, otherwise there might be chaos? 』

Zhang Liao was silent for a moment and nodded slightly.

Different from the historical ending where Lu Bu was heavily besieged in Xiapi, the current Lu Bu has not completely reached the point where people hate him. For most soldiers and soldiers, they hate Wei Xu, but they are not too disgusted with it. Many blamed Lu Bu. This situation is very common in feudal dynasties. The most typical example is that the emperor is a good person, and the evildoers are some treacherous officials. As long as the emperor wakes up in time and kills the treacherous officials, then the emperor will still be a good emperor.

At the same time, in another aspect, Lu Bu's bravery on the battlefield was deeply engraved in the hearts of these soldiers. At that time, Lu Bu led these soldiers and chased some soldiers from the Western Regions as if they were mowing grass. These soldiers still remember him deeply.

At the moment when the people of the Han Dynasty were still ignorant, most of these soldiers did not understand what the future, politics, strategy, etc. were talking to these soldiers. Even though Lü Bu and Wei Xu defaulted on their military pay, as long as they gave them Once they have made up for it, they will immediately change their tune and say good things to Lu Bu and Wei Xu, praising Lu Bu and Wei Xu as living Bodhisattvas, living Buddhas, or other living things.

So even if Han Guo said that this was for the future of the Western Regions, for the future of the Han Dynasty, these soldiers would not understand it at all, and they would not care.

Han Guo thought for a long time, then nodded and said: "In this case... I will go to Lu Fengxian tomorrow..."

Zhang Liao was stunned for a moment, "Ah?" 』

"I'm trying to solve this problem. Han Guo said slowly, his eyes calm and steady, "I came to Xihai just to solve the problems in the Western Region... Although my abilities are limited, I will try my best... instead of just waiting..."

Zhang Liao frowned slightly, "Change it, I wonder if you have some misunderstanding..."

Han Guo waved his hand and said: "You and I are not familiar with each other in the first place. It is normal to have misunderstandings, but as long as there is a little similarity... Don't give up the strategy of Qiusi in the Western Regions easily!" 』

After Han Guo finished speaking, he stared at Zhang Liao seriously.

Zhang Liao was silent for a while and nodded in the same way.

……(*`ェ′*)……

Dark clouds rolled up from the sky and piled up quickly.

There isn't much rain in the Western Regions, but if it does rain all of a sudden, it will be fast and cold, and it will even snow in some places. It's really snowing in June.

It seemed like it was going to rain now. The wind was howling across the desert, carrying wind and sand howling in all directions. Pushed by the strong wind, dark clouds piled up from the horizon to the top of the head, until the entire sky above the head was crowded into a dark world.

It's like congestion on the ground.

It's really congested on the ground at the moment.

Under the strong wind and dark clouds, there was a scene of panic everywhere in the dilapidated camps around Qiu Cicheng.

Except for those Kushan people who had occupied good places and set up tents early, the rest of the herdsmen who lacked clothes and cloth would suffer a heavy rain in the wild.

In the Central Plains, sometimes the summer rain is still a kind of romance. In places like the Western Regions, the summer rain can still make people know what cold rain is when they are shot casually.

Everyone was busy, and sometimes the busy shepherds bumped into each other, like two flies flying around without heads.

During most of the feudal dynasty, these herdsmen were even more miserable than the Han people in the Central Plains, because the knowledge they could acquire was even less than the Han people in the Central Plains, and even the inheritance of the older generation might not be effectively preserved.

Every time there is a white disaster or a black disaster, the old and weak in the tribe become the first group of people to be abandoned...

In many cases, these nomadic peoples are more likely to follow the Western materialization route, which is different from the humanization route that China has taken since ancient times.

The materialization route means that everything is an object and everything is money, including people. A living person is a commodity, whether male or female, just like a mobile phone. If it is in good condition, the selling price will be high. If it has a brand, add some more, and then what feelings, psychology, stance, etc. You can increase everything you can, and push the price as high as you can. But if you actually buy it, most of the things it will be used for are communications.

Is it human...?

To give a simple example, the laws such as "hidden relatives" and "blood revenge" currently allowed by the Han Dynasty are, to a certain extent, manifestations of humanization. A person is not an object, not a thing, and not a business. When someone commits a murder, it does not mean that after paying a certain amount of money, the criminal can continue to walk free, but that "the murderer must pay with his life."

Objectification and humanization are like two sides of human nature. It is obviously inappropriate to simply divide them into good and bad. At different stages, at different times, and from different standpoints, there are often different answers.

Just like these herdsmen who came here because they were inspired, they came with a kind thought in their hearts and a beautiful wish. They hoped that they and their children could live like one person in the future, but in fact At the moment, they are actually living like an object. If someone needs it, they just throw it away.

These herdsmen are needed for grazing in peacetime, and they are needed as consumables in wartime. In their free time, they can also enjoy playing with these herdsmen. When they are angry, they can also bully these herdsmen as a way to vent their anger. It has many uses.

At the height of the ruins of Qiu Cicheng, Master Busen quietly looked at the hardworking herdsmen in the distance, clasping his hands together and whispering the Buddha's name.

He understood that this was his karma.

The Kushan people are now constantly recruiting brave men from the incoming herdsmen to form direct troops. Compared with the messy herdsmen camps in the distance, it is a different scene. These troops directly under the Kushan people have arranged their camps according to military requirements, and have perfected their weapons and armor as much as possible. They have also begun to gather for training these days, so even when the storm is about to come, they do not show panic. appearance.

In addition to being less proficient than the Kushan soldiers and having worse weapons and armor, these directly-affiliated troops are generally somewhat different from ordinary herdsmen and look more or less like regular armies.

Busen looked at these people and the herdsmen in the distance, silent. He was wearing a cloth robe that had been washed and turned white, and was fluttering in the wind. He was quite popular.

Not far from Busen is Taxa.

Taksa didn't have the complicated emotions of Busen. He only had excitement and expectations.

Taksa was also wearing a suit of armor. On the surface, he still looked solemn, but he was very excited inside. What you see in front of you is the strength you have accumulated, and your wealth in the future to create the Western Federation! I hope this stalemate lasts longer and I can gain more strength!

Taksa felt that the biggest reason why he had been attacked by Han generals before was that ordinary herdsmen were really vulnerable. In order to change this situation, he had to gain more power in a limited time and cultivate a herdsman with at least some strength. The arrival of troops with military literacy will lay a solid foundation for a decisive battle with the Han people in the near future.

A Kushan military officer came forward to report on the preparations for the coming heavy rain, and asked Taksa if he had any other instructions.

Taksa nodded, and then asked: "What's going on over there with the Han people?" Have the sentinels returned? 』

This is what Taksa cares about most.

In order to ensure the collection of information about the Han people, Taksa dispatched a lot of scouts, divided into several units, and set up an outpost camp in Yanqi specifically to detect Xihai City, and arranged a messenger every half day The soldiers came to report on the detection of Xihai City, and they really worked hard to prepare for the war.

"General, the latest news is that the Han people are preparing to retreat... They are gathering the Han people around Xihai City, and have sent troops to protect the route from Xihai City to Yumen Pass... General, the Han people are scared!" Victory will be ours in the end! 』

The Kushan Military Academy was obviously very excited and reported the news in a high-pitched voice.

Taksa nodded and said with satisfaction: "Very good." It looks like it's going to rain heavily. Looking at the weather, I don't know how many days it will rain... But no matter if it rains or not, the scouts can't relax! Pass on the word and let the sons and daughters work harder. I appreciate all the hard work! It will all be recorded in military merit! When you defeat the Han people, you will not only get trophies, but also additional rewards! 』

Kushan Military Academy responded loudly and then stepped back.

Taksa glanced sideways at Busen, who was making a gesture of harmony between man and nature not far away. The corners of his mouth raised slightly, and then returned to his solemn expression.

The Han are about to retreat...

This is good!

very good!

If the Han people made it clear and wanted to send a large number of reinforcements, Taksa would have to carefully weigh the victory or defeat, and then think about a retreat. But now that the Han people are ready to evacuate, what else is there to do? What about those who are hesitant? This is an opportunity, an excellent opportunity! This is an excellent opportunity for him to transform from a small general to truly become the Lord of the Western Regions!

As for Busen, just let him continue to be an eminent monk and a master. There is no need to worry about these worldly things. Therefore, what Taksa is most concerned about is, of course, whether the Han people in Xihai City are really going to retreat, or whether they are pretending to retreat but actually gathering troops to prepare for war...

In Taksa's view, the Han soldiers and horses in Xihai City are actually nothing. The key is whether the Han people have the intention to reinforce from the rear. Before coming to the Western Regions, he also heard that there was a very powerful Han general behind the Western Regions. All his men were elite soldiers and strong generals, and they came and went like the wind. If he really faced off against the large forces behind the Han people, he would probably be There is no chance of winning, so now that he is keeping an eye on Xihai City, he can know whether the Han people's strategy is to fight or withdraw.

If the Han people want to fight, then they will not let those Han people evacuate. After all, Taksa believes that the Han people, just like the herdsmen in the distance, are part of the assets. So these few days are very critical. If the Han really intends to withdraw, then he doesn't mind taking the opportunity to put some pressure on the Han.

By keeping a close eye on Xihai City, we can naturally determine the strategic direction of the Han people!

While thinking, Taksa suddenly felt a chill on his face. Looking up, I saw the dark clouds in the sky seeming to be crying because they could no longer bear the squeeze, and the rain was falling.

Taksa spread his hands, followed the rain falling from the sky, and then clenched them tightly. He felt that the key point of the war in the Western Region seemed to be coming, and he could definitely grasp it!

After the rainy season, it’s time to march in!