The great man will live forever

Chapter 292: The Integrity of the Eastern Han Dynasty (Twenty-three Generals Return to Yumen)

"How many people are there on the other side?"

"2 people."

"How many of us are there?"

"Less than a thousand!"

"Fuck him!"

In other words, Geng Gong looked at the overwhelming 2 cavalry of the Northern Huns under the city and was not afraid at all.

He put poison on the arrow and shouted to the Northern Huns, "This is the divine arrow of the Han Dynasty. Those who are hit by the arrow will have magical phenomena."

"call out!"

Immediately, he raised his hand and fired an arrow. The wound of the person hit by the arrow began to bubble, and blood gurgled out like hot boiling water.

The Xiongnu had never seen this, and they were instantly frightened, and the army began to be in chaos.

Coincidentally, there was a continuous heavy rain. Geng Gong took advantage of the enemy's headquarters and rushed in. The enemy troops rushed in and out, killing the Huns one after another. The whole army of the Northern Huns was in chaos. This Han army was so scary that it was like gods descending from the earth. Mom, I want to go home and stop fighting, so I led my army to retreat.

Geng Gong immediately led his troops to move to Shule City, which was better defended and had more water.

Not long after, the Northern Huns came to Shule City. Although they were frightened at first, seeing that they were tens of thousands of people, they were not fools. After the initial panic, they naturally calmed down.

The Northern Huns are coming with great force this time and are bound to completely wipe out Geng Gong and the others. Moreover, they have an excellent way. As long as they cut off the stream upstream, the city will surely surrender without a fight in a few days.

The water source was cut off, but Geng Gong did not panic. He immediately sent people to dig a well, but no water could be found even after drilling 15 feet deep.

There had been no water for many days, and the soldiers could only squeeze the juice from horse dung to quench their thirst.

Geng Gong was not discouraged and personally led the team to dig and knelt down to pray by the well.

You have put in as much effort as anyone else, and even the gods will protect you. Under Geng Gong’s unremitting digging and prayer, not long after, the spring water suddenly gushes out, and everyone shouts long live.

Geng Gong immediately sent people with buckets to pour water under the city. The Northern Huns were shocked, where did this water come from? Is there another god coming to help?

The fight stopped and the whole army retreated again.

Geng Gong finally breathed a sigh of relief, but he knew that the battle was not over, but he did not know that the coming storm would be so violent.

Not long after, Han Ming Emperor Liu Zhuang passed away. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Liu Zhuang was a wise emperor, and as soon as he left, the court was busy with the new army to take over the throne, and it was afraid that they would not be able to take care of them.

So, after receiving the news, the Shanyu of the Northern Huns personally led an army to attack the Western Regions. Yanqi and Qiuci responded by attacking Che Division. Che Division surrendered, and Chen Mu, the governor of the Western Regions, was completely wiped out.

Geng Gong and Guan Chong were surrounded by the Huns' army in the city. Fortunately, before the siege, Guan Chong had sent people back to ask for help.

But the journey is far away and the round trip will take several months. Is it still possible?

It was too late. At this time, most people in the court thought so. Several hundred people would have to defend the city for several months. It was estimated that all of them were dead now, so there was no need to save them.

But Situ Baoyu strongly opposed it and said to the newly succeeded Han Zhang Emperor Liu Jin: "Sending people to garrison dangerous places only to abandon them in times of crisis. What would the Xiongnu think? What would the soldiers think?"

The intrusions from the Northern Huns will continue one after another. May I ask, Your Majesty, who is still willing to go?

At this time, if the governors of Dunhuang and Jiuquan counties are ordered to each lead 2000 elite cavalry to rescue them day and night, 40 days will be enough to bring them back. "

Emperor Zhang of the Han Dynasty Liu Jin agreed and asked Geng Bing to lead 7,000 troops to the rescue.

Bao Yu came from a family of officials, the grandson of Bao Xuan, the captain of Sili School, and the son of Bao Yong, the shepherd of Yanzhou.

In the early years of Jianwu, he was recommended by Dai She, the governor of Shangdang. He was a filial and honest man, and became the county magistrate of Gaojun. He put down the rebellion. He moved to Xianyang County and had outstanding political achievements. He was recommended by the Jingzhou Governor and served as Sili Xiaowei.

Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty ascended the throne and served as the prefect of Runan. In the 17th year of Yongping, he served as Situ.

In the fourth year of the founding of Emperor Zhang of the Han Dynasty, he served as Taiwei. He died in the sixth year of Jianchu at the age of seventy-two.

He served in the three dynasties of Emperor Guangwu, Emperor Ming of Han, and Emperor Zhang of Han. He abided by the law and paid attention to performance. He was a rare talent.

At this time, Geng Gong had been holding on for several months, and he encouraged the soldiers to resist.

The ancestors of Mrs. Wang, who was behind the chariot division, were Han Chinese. She often told Geng Gong secretly about the enemy's situation and provided him with food and military pay.

After a few months, the Han army ran out of food, so they boiled their armor, bows and crossbows in water and ate the animal sinews and leather on them.

Geng Gong and the soldiers treated each other with sincerity and lived and died together, so no one had any second thoughts. However, the number of dead increased day by day, and only dozens of people remained, but these people still had high morale.

The Chanyu admired Geng Gong's bravery, so he sent an envoy to summon Geng Gong to surrender and said: "If you surrender, the Chanyu will make you the King of the White House and marry the Chanyu's daughter to you."

Geng Gong lured the envoy to the city, killed him with his own hands, and roasted the body of the Northern Huns envoy on fire at the top of the city.

Xu Zhuangzhi was indeed very heroic by starving the Huns to the flesh and talking about thirsting for the blood of the Huns. However, this undoubtedly angered the Huns, so a more violent attack came.

"Kill, break the city!"

The Huns were densely packed and overwhelming, attacking day and night.

"kill!"

The Han troops in the city defended desperately and died one after another, but Shule City remained impregnable.

"Xiao Tang!"

"Show it!"

"Sang Mingyuan!"

……

The Han troops died one after another, and Geng Gong burst into tears.

After the battles, there were only 26 Han soldiers left in the city. On the other side, all the soldiers of Guan Chong had been killed in the battle. When the rescue team arrived, all they saw were corpses.

After the Han army captured Xiushi, the rescue force prepared to retreat, but Geng Gong was abandoned because the Han army believed that they could not survive and that the main force of the Northern Huns was attacking them.

One of Geng Gong's military officers, Fan Qiang, was in the army at the time. He insisted on rescuing Geng Gong. He firmly believed that there would be a miracle!

Miracles only favor those who believe in them!

In other words, people who believe in miracles may themselves be miracles!

The generals did not dare to go, but Fan Qiang insisted strongly and threatened to die, so they sent two thousand reinforcements to Fan Qiang.

Fan Qiang went to pick up Geng Gong via the road north of the mountain. On the way, he encountered snow more than ten feet deep. Reinforcements were exhausted and barely arrived.

They braved the heavy snow and crossed the Tianshan Mountains to the foot of Shule City. It was late at night. When the 26 nervous people in the city heard people shouting and horses neighing, they immediately stood up to fight.

But they heard shouting from outside the city: "I am Fan Qiang, and the imperial court has sent troops to welcome the captain!"

"General, the court has not given up on us."

"The imperial court has sent people to rescue us."

"Long live!"

"Long live the big man!"

"The great man has lived for ten thousand years!"

"The great man lives forever!"

The people in the city shouted long live and cried with joy. When the city gate opened, only 26 people were seen holding hands, with tears streaming down their faces. When they saw the Han army in front of them, everyone hugged each other and burst into tears.

After daybreak, Geng Gong and Fan Qiang led more than 2000 people. Under the pursuit of the Northern Huns, they retreated while fighting. Along the way, people kept falling and never got up again.

When they returned to Yumen Pass, there were only 26 of the 13 people alive in Shule City, 13 of whom had almost no human form. These people were in ragged clothes, with holes in their shoes, and their faces were haggard and their bones were broken.

The general Zheng Zhong arranged for Geng Gong and his men to take a bath and change their clothes.

Thirteen soldiers returned to Yumen, singing and weeping.

What is loyalty to the country, what is a passionate and loyal soul, and what is immortality?

This is it!

General Zheng Zhong was shocked by them, with tears in his eyes, and wrote to the court: "Geng Gong defended the isolated city with a weak force and resisted the Xiongnu army of tens of thousands.

Over the years, he exhausted all his energy, digging mountains and wells, cooking food, using bows and crossbows, and killed thousands of enemies. He was loyal and brave, and did not bring shame to the Han Dynasty.

He should be given glorious titles to encourage generals. "

After Geng Gong arrived in Luoyang, Bao Yu reported that Geng Gong's integrity exceeded that of Su Wu and he should be knighted and rewarded.

So Emperor Zhang of the Han Dynasty appointed Geng Gong as Cavalry Captain, Geng Gong's Sima Shixiu as Luoyang City Cheng, Zhang Feng as Yongying Sima, military official Fan Qiang as Gongxian Cheng, and the remaining nine people were awarded the post of Yulin.

Geng Gong's mother had died before that. When Geng Gong came back to make up for the funeral ceremony, Emperor Zhang of the Han Dynasty issued an edict to send Wu Guan Zhonglang to present cattle and wine to relieve the mourning robe.

In the second year of Jianchu (77), Geng Gong was promoted to captain of Changshui. In August of the same year, the Qiang people in Jincheng and Longxi rebelled. Emperor Zhang of the Han Dynasty sent agent generals Ma Fang and Geng Gong to attack the Qiang people.

In the autumn of the third year of Jianchu (78), Emperor Zhang of the Han Dynasty ordered him to return to Ma Fang, and Geng Gong stayed behind to continue his campaign against the Qiang tribe.

Geng Gong and Ma Fang were at odds, so the military supervisor impeached Geng Gong. Geng Gong was convicted and was dismissed from his post and sent to his hometown to die of old age at home...

Since ancient times, heroes have grown old and famous generals have come to an end. This is probably the case. Old age is miserable!

Two flowers bloom, one on each side!

It is said that when the Huns besieged Geng Gong, Banchao in the west was also attacked by Qiuci and Gumo (today's Wensu County and Aksu City, Xinjiang).

However, under the command of Ban Chao, he and Shule Wang Zhong were the horns of each other, echoing each other, and guarded Panlu City. Although they were alone, they still persisted for more than a year.

But not long after, Ban Chao received an order that made him extremely troubled. He completely abandoned the Western Regions and returned to China.

Because at that time the court believed that Chen Mu was dead and was worried that Ban Chao would be alone in the border areas and would be difficult to support, so he issued an edict ordering Ban Chao to return home.

At this time, what should Ban Chao do?

When Ban Chao was about to return after being ordered to do so, the whole country in Shule was worried. Captain Li Dan cried bitterly and said: "If the Han envoy leaves us, we will definitely be destroyed by Qiuci again. I really can't bear to see the Han envoy leave."

After saying that, he drew his sword and killed himself. Ban Chao shed tears and buried him. He was very moved.

But Ban Chao left anyway, because this was an order.

Banchao led his troops to the vassal state of Khotan. The king and people of Khotan burst into tears. They said, "We rely on Han envoys, just like children rely on their parents. You must not go back."

Many people even hugged Ban Chao's legs and tried hard to persuade him to stay.

At this moment, Ban Chao was moved. He looked at the people kneeling down and thought about his unfinished dream. He was so proud that he retreated from his horse and let go. He refused to leave and returned to Shule again with his 36 brothers.

And then, Ban Chao really started his god-level performance, sweeping across the Western Regions.

One person can be as powerful as a thousand troops. This sentence cannot be overstated when it comes to Ban Chao.

The expense of having thousands of troops is terrible, but Ban Chao's family doesn't need the expense at all.

People themselves say: "Use the barbarians to attack the barbarians, only those with good plans will do so!"

You can understand it in another way. In the Western Region, they will fight whoever my Banchao tells them to fight. This is the top strategy and the most powerful military strategist.

There is a saying in Sun Tzu's Art of War: "The first is to attack the enemy with the enemy, the second is to attack the enemy, the second is to attack the enemy, and the second is to attack the city."

Therefore, for Ban Chao, the number of soldiers and horses is not that important. His ability to sweep the entire Western Region mainly relies on courage and strategy.

After the Eastern Han Dynasty completely abandoned the Western Regions, Ban Chao, who decided to stay, was left alone.

Except for a few countries in the west, all the others voted for the Huns, so what will Ban Chao do next?

He first united the countries to the west, and then led 1 troops from all countries to directly attack Gumo Stone City and killed more than 700 people.

"Book of the Later Han Dynasty" writes: "In the third year after the founding of the Han Dynasty, Chao led 10,000 soldiers from Shule, Kangju, Khotan, and Kumi to capture Moshi City, destroyed it, and beheaded 700 people."

Then, he planned to strike while the iron was hot and pacify the entire Western Region.

Therefore, the above-mentioned Han Zhang Emperor Liu Jing said: "I secretly saw that the late emperor wanted to open up the Western Region, so he attacked the Xiongnu in the north and sent foreign missions to the west. Shanshan and Yuli were immediately converted, and now Kumi, Shache, Shule, Yuezhi, and Wusun , Kang Jufu is willing to join, and we want to work together to destroy Qiuci and level the Han Road.

If Qiuci is captured, only one percent of the Western Region will not be conquered. The people who discussed it in the previous life all said: "To take thirty-six countries, the name is to cut off the right arm of the Huns." '

Nowadays, all the countries in the Western Regions have entered the country since then, and they have all turned towards transformation. They are happy, big and small, and their tributes are endless. Only Yanqi and Qiuci have not obeyed.

I and thirty-six of my officials were entrusted with the envoy to go out of the territory, and faced many hardships. They stayed alone in Shule for the past five years. In the past five years, I have known the feelings of the barbarians and barbarians. When asked about the size of the city, they all said that they relied on the Han Dynasty and relied on the Han Dynasty. God waits.

If this works, then the onion collar can be passed through and the Qiuci can be cut down. Today it is appropriate to worship Bai Ba, the servant of Qiuci, as his king. Send him with hundreds of people on foot and cavalry, and join forces with other countries. In the years, Qiuci can be like a bird.

Using barbarians to attack barbarians is the best way to plan. I see that the fields in Shache and Shule are fertile and vast, and the grass grows freely. They are not as good as those in Dunhuang and Shanshan. The troops can be self-sufficient in food without spending any money on China.

The two kings, Gumo and Wensu, were specially set up by Qiuci. Since they are not their kind, and they are disgusted with each other, they are bound to fall. If two countries come to surrender, Qiuci will be destroyed.

I wish to serve as a minister and act accordingly. I am extremely sincere and there is no need to regret death!

Your Majesty, Chao Chao, is only inspired by the gods. He steals hope and is inconvenienced. Seeing that the Western Region has been pacified, Your Majesty raises a thousand-year-old cup and recommends the ancestral temple to spread great joy to the world. "

The general meaning is: "I have been in the Western Regions for several years and know this place well. Nowadays, most countries in the Western Regions are willing to hang out with us, except Qiuci and Yanqi. Among them, Qiuci is more difficult to attack, and other small countries are not a concern."

I can organize a coalition of countries to break it up. Your Majesty, you don’t need to use a large army or provide food and grass. I just ask that you let everyone discuss this memorial and then decide whether to implement it.

Chen Banchao is alone and blessed by the gods and has not fallen ill. He hopes to see the Western Regions return to China in his lifetime, and to see Your Majesty holding the wine glass of peace high and celebrating with all his subjects! "

Emperor Zhang of the Han Dynasty, Liu Jin, read Ban Chao's letter and was very happy and deeply moved. How could there be such a good minister who could help me conquer the Western Regions without having to fight alone. He was extremely supportive and firmly believed that Ban Chao could succeed.

I really want to repay you on the golden stage and support the Jade Dragon to die for you!

"Mencius Li Lou Chapter 2 Section 3" says: "If the king treats his ministers like his hands and feet, then his ministers will regard him as his heart and soul; if the king regards his ministers as dogs and horses, then his ministers will regard him as his fellow countrymen; if the king will regard his ministers as his own, If the soil is mustard, the minister will regard you as a bandit."

People's feelings are mutual. The country protects the people, and the people love the country. The monarch treats his ministers as his own brothers and sisters, and the ministers will treat the monarch as their own heart.

Emperor Zhang of the Han Dynasty, Liu Jin, was also a wise king. Without saying a word, your ministers don't want soldiers, so I have to give them. I pulled hundreds of prisoners out of the prison and called volunteers to prepare to increase Ban Chao's strength.

Xu Qian, a native of Pingling, shared the same goals with Ban Chao and requested to go to a foreign land to assist Ban Chao.

Emperor Zhang of the Han Dynasty Liu Jin immediately appointed him as the acting Sima, and found some hot-blooded men, including prisoners, a total of one thousand people, and sent Xu Gan to lead these thousand people to the Western Regions thousands of miles away to reinforce Ban Chao.

It’s that scene again,

"What do you want the great sage to do here?"

"Tread the southern sky and shatter Lingxiao."

"What if I don't go back?"

"I will never go back."

Although there are thousands of people, I am going!

Thirty-six people traveled to the Western Regions, and six torches drove away the Huns. The skulls of Hehepo, both ancient and modern, are all covered with falcons and crows.

(End of this chapter)