The mysterious bird of destiny, the beginning of China

Chapter 153 Zhang Qian: Grapes?You should bring it back and eat it with your countrymen!

"finally come!"

Erti handed the bowl to the soldier, with excitement on his face.

In front of him, he could see the big man's bright red flag rustling in the cold wind, fluttering like a knife.The Han cavalry came slowly, led by Li Guang.

But behind them, there was a large amount of supplies, including armor, weapons and other items!
"General Li, what are your thoughts?"

Erti rode up to meet him. This time Erti was accompanied by two Huns soldiers.

When Li Guang saw Er Ti, he also smiled. After all, it was known that Er Ti still loved the Han in his heart, and it was because of His Majesty's scheme.

As a general in the army, Li Guang had already guessed something, but he was not sure.

Therefore, when I saw Er Ti again, there was no longer any disdain, but only a smile.

"Didn't you already see it?"

Li Guang pointed to the supplies behind him and said.

Erti immediately went up to check and saw that Li Guang had brought a large number of armors, swords, and of course more daily necessities.

While Erti was checking the supplies, the surrounding Han generals were also looking at Erti and the Huns beside Erti.

Except for generals like Li Guang, other Han generals did not know Er Ti's identity and thought that Er Ti was a slave with the second surname.

Therefore, it is inevitable to look at him with contempt and disrespect.

Seeing this, Erti didn't care at all. After confirming the supplies, he turned around and thanked Li Guang: "Thank you, General Li, for your funding!"

After saying that, he asked the Huns to come forward and receive all the supplies.

During this period, Li Guang approached Erti and whispered: "Your Majesty, I know your plan. Please be careful in everything you do with the Xiongnu..."

Li Guang was a general in the army and had fought with the Huns many times. He naturally knew how ferocious the Huns were. He never thought that Erti would go deep into the Huns' den and do such a dangerous thing. Looking back, Li Guang couldn't help but admire him.

So, he said this.

"Thank you..."

Erti nodded, thinking of the suffering he had suffered, and it seemed that at this moment, it all disappeared.

Because, His Majesty in Chang'an City knows about his merits!

"Please also ask General Li to release some captured Xiongnu cavalry in the battle of Mayi City, and let them report to the Hun Royal Court, and explain that the military minister Shanyu was killed on the spot in Mayi City!"

Erti said.

"Can!"

Li Guang nodded immediately and knew the reason for doing so. After all, Erti probably still didn't know that the military minister Shanyu was dead at this time and was still kept in the dark.

At the same time, it was to prevent the Huns from becoming suspicious.

"When the Huns arrive, why don't I put on a show with you so that the Huns won't doubt you?"

Li Guang suggested.

"……it is good!"

Erti thought for a while and agreed.

After all, what Li Guang said was very reasonable. It would be more beneficial for him to perform for the Huns at that time.

Seeing Er Ti nodding, Li Guang couldn't help but look at the thousand Huns cavalry brought by Er Ti, and asked worriedly: "Are these one thousand Huns trustworthy?"

"Credible!"

Erti said so.

"That's good..."

……

The fiefdom of King Zuoguli is located to the west of the royal court of the Xiongnu. It is the fiefdom of Yizhike, the younger brother of the military minister Chanyu.

When the heavy snow came, the territory of King Zuo Guli was quiet. The soldiers of King Zuo Guli Yizhike had not yet awakened, but they heard the sound of a woman's coquettish shout coming from a camp.

"Soldiers! Soldiers..."

At this moment, a gorgeous but disheveled Hun woman rushed out of the tent, with a bright red spring color on her face. She was quickly adjusting her dress while shouting, "Call my maid." Come on, whoever can endure endless suffering, call my maid over quickly..."

Before he finished speaking, he saw a shirtless, muscular man rushing out of the tent, picking up the woman and returning to the tent again.

……

Zuo Guli Wang Yizhike walked out of the camp refreshed and looked at the soldiers training in the snow, feeling particularly happy.

Immediately, he stepped forward with a sword. At the same time, he took a bow and arrow from the soldiers on the side and got on his horse.

"Warriors, yesterday I personally crafted an arrowhead. When the arrowhead is shot, it will make a sharp cry like an eagle. Therefore, I named it Mingdy!"

"From now on, wherever my king's Mingdi is directed, you will all attack together. Those pointed by Mingdi are all your enemies!"

"Did you hear that!!"

"Yes!"

When the surrounding Huns soldiers heard this, they immediately responded together.

The Huns soldiers who could follow Yi Zhike, King Zuoguli, were all Yi Zhike's confidants and they were elite.

Seeing this, Zuo Guli King Yi Zhike did not show a satisfied expression. He drew his bow and arrow and looked around. At this moment, in the tent where he had just come out, a woman straightened her clothes and came out.

It was his beloved princess.

But he saw his eyes condensed, and the hand holding the arrow suddenly loosened. The arrow on the bow instantly drew a black shadow, and shot towards his princess in front of the camp in the distance.

"Om-"

A sharp and piercing chirping sounded, attracting everyone's attention.

Seeing this, some Huns soldiers quickly bent their bows and shot arrows.

"Whoosh!"

"Whoosh!"

"Whoosh!"

Countless arrows flew out, and looking at the princess in the distance, she was already lying in a pool of blood, with arrows stuck in her body.

The beautiful face was filled with a look of astonishment, and she refused to close her eyes, as if she didn't believe that the man who was in love with her just now would shoot her dead the next moment!

"Why don't you shoot arrows? Didn't you hear clearly what I said just now!?"

Zuo Guli Wang Yizhike didn't take a second look at the princess he was doting on just now. Instead, he immediately blamed his soldiers.

Just when Yi Zhike was about to bend his bow and shoot an arrow, suddenly a horse came running out of the snow in the distance, causing him to stop shooting.

"I've seen King Zuo Guli, urgent report from the south!"

"The Chanyu led [-] troops to attack the Han Dynasty, but was ambushed by the Han people. Now, the entire army has been wiped out!!!"

"what?!!"

When Yi Zhike heard this, he suddenly looked shocked and asked quickly: "How is Shanyu!!?"

"Chanyu...Chanyu, he...was killed!"

"This……"

Yi Zhike's face froze, and his face froze for a moment, but the next moment, he suddenly showed a look of ecstasy, "Hahahaha... OK!"

"Okay! That's great!"

Zuo Guli King Yi Zhike was delighted, and at the same time asked again: "How is the Han army doing?"

"On the southern border, General Erti led his troops to resist the Han people from penetrating into the grassland. They have been fighting to the death for a long time!"

"Erti..."

Hearing this name, Yi Zhike's face showed a look of reminiscence. After thinking for a moment, he ordered one person: "Quickly go to the Han border and inform General Erti, and ask him to quickly lead all the troops into Longcheng to help me win Shan Yu's position." , after the deed is accomplished, this Shanyu will confer him the title of King Youguli!"

"Yes!"

Seeing the scouts riding away, Zuo Guli King Yi Zhike immediately gathered his troops, and in the snowy camp, the horses neighed instantly.

…………

When the scout came to the border of the Han Dynasty, he saw two armies fighting in the distance. He did not dare to look more and hurried to the Xiongnu camp.

"By the order of King Zuo Guli, General Erti is ordered to return to the royal court quickly!"

At this time, there were not many Huns soldiers in the camp, but in the distance, some Huns soldiers could be seen fighting with the Han soldiers, but the distance was very far and blurry, making it difficult for the scouts to see clearly.

But it made him afraid to move forward!
After hearing what the scout said, a Huns immediately came out and asked about the situation.

In a moment, he quickly headed to the "battlefield" ahead.

……

Erti looked at the Xiongnu and Han soldiers who were competing in martial arts in the center of the field, then looked at Li Guang opposite, and said: "This time the Xiongnu military official Shanyu died, I'm afraid there will be turmoil in the Xiongnu royal court!"

"Oh? I'd like to hear about it!"

Li Guang knew little about the Xiongnu, let alone Erti's understanding of the Xiongnu royal court, and knew nothing about the internal situation of the Xiongnu.

I only heard Erti say: "The Xiongnu left and right wise kings and the left and right Guli kings all have different intentions, especially the Zuo Guli king Yizhike, who is the younger brother of the current military minister Shanyu. He has coveted the Shanyu's position for a long time. I'm afraid he won't be able to do it." If he misses this opportunity, he will definitely compete for the position of Shanyu!" "So, wouldn't he be a competitor with you!"

Li Guang said this.

"No!"

However, Erti shook his head and said: "I have a very close relationship with Yizhike. I'm afraid I won't be able to get the position of Shanyu this time. I can only wait for the future!"

"However, if Yi Zhike wants to be single, he will definitely need my help, so I can profit from it!"

"I see!"

Hearing this, Li Guang suddenly showed his true expression. He could not give any opinion on Er Ti's plan and could only listen to Er Ti's analysis silently.

At that moment, Erti's soldiers who were in the camp suddenly came to report, and the scouts of King Li from the left side of the city came, calling General Erti to rush to the aid of the royal court!
"finally come!"

Hearing this, Erti stood up immediately. At the same time, he drank all the wine in his glass and said to Li Guang, "Thank you, General Li, for your hospitality. I'll go!"

"You are in the Huns, be careful and take care of yourself!"

……

Looking at the back of Erti leading a thousand Huns soldiers away, a long trace was left on the snow.Li Guang was silent for a long time, but he admired Er Ti very much in his heart. Finally, he led the Han army back to Han Dynasty.

……

……

In the Western Region, the endless desert enveloped Zhang Qian, and the scorching hot weather came from all directions, leaving the two of them exhausted.

Zhang Qian was sitting on a snow-white war horse, and beside him, Tang Yi's father was sitting on a camel, and he was carrying a lot of supplies.

The yellow sand was flying in the wind, and within a moment, Zhang Qian felt his mouth full of sand.

At this time, the two of them were silent, except for the snow, which was snoring from time to time and seemed to be spitting out sand.

Time passed, the sky was getting dark and the wind stopped, and Tang Yi's father had time to talk to Zhang Qian.

"In front of you is the Cheshi Kingdom, which is a very powerful country among the countries in the Western Region. Not far from the Cheshi Kingdom, there is also the Loulan Kingdom. Both of these two countries live on the banks of the salt marsh and occupy the westward direction. The main road collects taxes and makes the merchants passing by miserable!"

Tang Yi's father introduced Zhang Qian to the geographical environment and national customs ahead. He saw that the two of them had been walking in the desert for nearly a day, but they did not feel hungry or thirsty.

This is all thanks to the divine horse who helps the divine bird - Ta Xue.

There is great strength in walking on the snow, and it is extraordinary.It seems that he is not afraid of the scorching heat and can carry a large amount of goods for consumption on the journey.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Qian immediately asked: "What is the relationship between these two countries and the Xiongnu?"

"This……"

Tang Yi's father was silent.

Zhang Qian immediately understood that these two countries were probably also vassal states of the Xiongnu, and they were the eyes and ears of the Xiongnu.

"But it doesn't matter. When we pass through the two countries, don't alert others. We must disguise ourselves and pass safely!"

At the same time, Zhang Qian looked at the beast sitting on Tang Yi's father's crotch. He looked at its tall figure and two sarcomas on its back, and couldn't help asking: "What is the name of this beast? It is quite convenient in the desert!"

"This beast is called a camel, and it is a strange beast in the desert!"

Tang Yi's father patted the camel's hump and introduced Zhang Qian: "The road to the west is mostly desert land, but camels are not afraid of the heat. They can last for a long time after drinking water once..."

……

Ten days later, the two passed through Cheshi Kingdom and successfully arrived at Loulan Kingdom.

The two of them stood in front of the endless lake, sighing.

"I never thought that there would be such a vast lake in this desert. I don't know how wide it is!"

Zhang Qian sighed.

"However, there is something like salt on this shore..."

"This lake is called Salt Lake. It is vast and vast. Countless countries in the Western Regions live on this lake!"

"..."

At this time, Bai Zhi also appeared from Zhang Qian's body. He was suspended high in the sky, looking at the big lake in front of him.

This is truly big, stretching as far as the eye can see, just like the sea!

Of course he knows where this place is.

After all, it is Lop Nur, the famous Sea of ​​Death in later generations!

But unlike the endless deserts and Gobi Desert of later generations, Lop Nur during the Han Dynasty was still a swamp!
A large amount of water condenses here and has not yet dried up.

However, Bai Zhi landed on the shore. Just as Zhang Qian said just now, on the bank of the salt lake, there is something like the crystallization of salt.

At the same time, he looked back in the direction he came from, and there were traces of the water flow in the past.

"...It's already drying up..."

Bai Zhi sighed.

How to change the world and the earth, the vicissitudes of life?

There were studies in later generations that claimed that the drying up of Lop Nur was caused by the loss of the huge Lop Nur due to excessive felling by Loulan and other countries in the Western Regions who lived around Lop Nur.

As for whether this is the reason?
Bai Zhi doesn't know.

After passing Cheshi Country, you can see that the earth is moist, dense trees grow in continuous patches, and green grass grows vigorously.

In a daze, it felt like I was in the Han Dynasty, in that land of blessed earth.

It is no wonder that such a land with abundant water and grass and fresh fish can feed the countries in the Western Regions.

In later generations, Lop Nur dried up, and the so-called Western Region countries also disappeared, turning into an endless desert with flying sand in the minds of later generations!
The two of them watched for a while by the salt marsh, and then walked towards the place where Loulan Kingdom was located.

Gradually, more and more exotic buildings and pedestrians appeared around them. The two of them wore thick clothes to cover their faces to prevent prying eyes from interested people.

In Loulan City, you can see a large number of merchants from various countries in the Western Region gathered here. They speak different languages, communicate with each other, argue with each other, and exchange goods.

Camels passed by one after another with their clear bells ringing.

A black-haired, blue-eyed woman with a voluptuous figure from the Western Regions...

Zhang Qian walked through the streets and saw many things.

"What is that?"

Suddenly, Zhang Qian pointed to the strange fruit on the merchant's stall nearby.

I saw that some of them were cyan, some were red, and some were purple, one in a row, each one in the shape of a small ball, gathered together, looking particularly attractive to the appetite.

Obviously, Tang Yi's father didn't know either, but he knew the language of the Western Regions and asked immediately.

After a moment, he replied: "This thing is called grape. It is a fruit from the Western Region. It tastes sweet and very delicious!"

"Try one!"

Zhang Qian bought a bunch of grapes and immediately put them into his mouth. The moment he bit them with his teeth, sweet juice exploded in his mouth. It also felt cool and refreshing, making people instantly relaxed physically and mentally.

After tasting it carefully, Zhang Qian showed an intoxicated look on his face. Then he spit out the grape seeds from his mouth, put them in his hand and looked at them for a moment, then carefully put them away.

This scene happened many times, and Zhang Qian left many fruits and crop seeds behind.

"Why did the messenger keep these seeds?"

Tangyi's father was a Huns. Although he had lived in the Han Dynasty for many years, he never understood the Han people's preference for farming.

"These fruits should be sent to the Han Dynasty so that the people of the Han Dynasty can also enjoy such delicious food!"

In a restaurant opened by people from the Western Regions, two people were enjoying Western cuisine while talking.

However, at this moment, there was a sudden noise outside, and immediately, a large number of people ran towards here, and at the same time, there were panic shouts.

"What happened?"

The two of them looked shocked. Tang Yi's father hurriedly listened. At the same time, his expression changed drastically. He quickly stood up and said, "No, the Huns are coming!"

"Huns?!"

Zhang Qian was shocked. He simply couldn't imagine that he was already here and could still be chased by the Huns?
Just when he stood up in panic and was about to hide, he suddenly saw other people in the restaurant who were fine.

It turned out that the panicked sounds were just coming from the street outside.

A Loulan man on the side saw the two of them acting like this and immediately explained: "It should be that the Huns in the city are robbing women. This happens every once in a while!"

After Zhang Qian heard the explanation, he looked at the faces of the people around him and couldn't understand them for a moment.

Could it be that when the Huns are bullying you Loulan people, aren’t the rest of you Loulan people angry?

Doesn’t the king of Loulan Kingdom care?
However, Zhang Qian instantly realized that the countries in the Western Regions were all vassal states of the Xiongnu in a strict sense!
The two sat back down again, but they were no longer in the mood to enjoy the food.

Zhang Qian thought of the Han Dynasty, and then looked at the Loulan Kingdom at this time. I am afraid that the same was true in the border town area of ​​the Han Dynasty in the past!
In an instant, Zhang Qian determined his goal. He must reach Dayuezhi smoothly, and persuade Dayuezhi to form an alliance with the Han to attack the Huns together!
Zhang Qian and the two did not stay in Loulan for too long, and then they set off on their journey again.

The rest of the journey became even more difficult.

In addition to the bad weather, it was also the dangerous terrain that made the two people trek through mountains and rivers. After a month of trekking, they were about to arrive in a western country again.

"The Da Yuezhi should be in front..."

Zhang Qian's skin is dark, his hair is messy, and the gorgeous Hanfu he wears has become shabby. The ringing of the talisman ring in his hand can be heard far away, echoing with the sound of the wind.

(End of this chapter)