Great Han Empire

Chapter 374 Pipa Shule Salt

"The Journey to the West"

Author: Scarlet Coral
Chapter 9 Pipa Shule Salt
"That old monk actually said that he wanted to take down Shule for the big man?" Zhao Guang put down his wine glass and looked at Zhang Hu suspiciously.

"That's not true. The old monk looked confident, not like he was bragging. He said that Shule was not a powerful country, but in recent years it has attached itself to Guishuang, a powerful country in the west (the Guishuang Empire, originally the Da Yuezhi, occupied the central Asia, and later annexed northern India, and became one of the four major powers in the world at that time) successively annexed the surrounding small countries, the national power increased greatly, and the army was good at fighting farther than Kucha and Yanqi. I'm afraid it will take a long time." Zhang Hu was tearing a leg of lamb voraciously, while secretly rubbing the oil on his hands on Xian Yugui, who was drunk beside him, "I think that man (referring to the monk) is very wicked. Not sure what to do."

Zhao Guang pondered: "A monk, worshiping Buddha and reciting scriptures is enough. If you have to offer some strategy for the country! Xiaohu, do you know the specific strategy?"

"Hey, Lao Zhao, what you said is so stupid. I am a mere general with hundreds of people, and the official Zhima, can I know these secrets? The old monk said that this matter is secret, and only three generals can be reported." Zhang Huhe Ran smiled, and used words to run on Zhao Guang, "I often tell Lao Gui that among the brothers who joined the army at the same time, only you, Lao Zhao, have a prosperous official career, and we will hang out with you often in the future. Come and help you spend some salary."

"What nonsense are you talking about! You are the captain of the personal army in the camp, serving General Gao. You are well-known and well-connected. You can't ask others to ask for it. How can we compare with the gang of killers? You are cheap and good-looking. Guy." Zhao Guang also lost all the "prestige of a general" he had accumulated on weekdays, and laughed and fought with Zhang Hu.

After laughing for a while, Zhang Hu said solemnly: "To be honest, Lao Zhao, we brothers have always admired you. Among the brothers in the same year, you have the highest martial arts, the best family background, and you are handsome, with a big face. It looks like a girl..." Seeing that Zhao Guang had a bad face, Zhang Hu hurriedly stopped talking, "Hey, it's only been a few days, and even the majesty of a general has grown... General Gao is right You also appreciate your performance before and after the battle of Kucha, it seems that there will be a big task for you in the near future, you have to be prepared."

Big task?Could it be related to the murder of Shule?Zhao Guang drank the wine in the glass, but his tongue was almost sour, "Wow, this wine from the Western Regions is really strange, it doesn't taste like wine, but it has this sour and bitter taste, it is intended to be used as vinegar Is it?"

Zhang Hu shook the wine glass slightly, looked at the colorful colors in the glass, and said with a smile: "Let me drink this wine like a cow chewing peonies, ruining a good thing! This is a high-quality wine specially produced in the Western Regions. Take a sip in your mouth, you will feel the sourness first, then the bitterness, after a long aftertaste, you will have a strong aroma. I heard from my father that the Marquis of Jinyang likes to drink this wine the most.”

Zhao Guang disapproved: "It doesn't matter how good it is, if you're not used to drinking it, you're not used to it! I said, Ah Hu, you specially asked me to come out today, isn't it just because of this drink?"

"You guys are still so ignorant. Brothers, don't you congratulate you for your promotion. Lao Xiong (Zhang Xiong) and Xiao Lei (He Lei) can't get down under the command of General Sima. The 'five tiger generals' lack the second, so I specifically asked me Congratulations to Lao Gui." Zhang Hu smiled mysteriously, "Although this Kucha is a barbaric place, it is actually quite charming, do you want to see it?"

Xian Yugui, who was drunk on the ground, stood up and said with a smile, "That's right, this Kucha music, singing and dancing is unrivaled in the world. When I was studying temperament with Cai, I heard it be mentioned in particular."

Zhang Hu curled his lips, pulled Zhao Guang's shoulder and said, "Lao Gui is a big bastard, he learns a fart rhythm, and keeps running to your house for nothing. He must have taken a fancy to one of your sisters, you have to pay attention!"

The three paid the bill and helped each other out of the tavern. Zhang Hu whispered a few words to a Gucha interpreter who was waiting outside. The house went upstairs and sat down, and several waiters spread some fruit drinks on the table and retreated.Zhao Guang's private seat is on the second floor, with a very good view. Directly facing below, there is a high platform that can accommodate dozens of people, and there are already a dozen musicians preparing for it.After a while, the sound of orchestral drums sounded, and the style of music was relaxed and happy, full of the characteristics of the Western Regions, very pleasing to the ear.

Zhao Guang's temperament is mediocre, and his mother and elder brother often shake their heads and sigh, but after years of listening to him, his knowledge in this field is extraordinary.After closing my eyes and listening to it for a while, I heard that its musical instruments include vertical harp, five strings, sheng, flute, Xiao, 筚篥, waist drum, copper pullet and so on.The musicians are all highly skilled and skillful in coordinating, and they played a tune praising the gods and Buddhas like a bunch of flowers.Hearing the wonderful part, suddenly everything is quiet, only the sound of the pipa can be heard breaking through the air, vigorous and lofty, shocking the audience, the strings are turned a few times, and the cheerful tune is gradually played.With the accompaniment of the pipa, a masked dancer with a red forehead, a scarlet skirt, white cloth trousers, a dancing ribbon in her hand, and black leather shoes on her feet jumped into the arena and danced gracefully.This girl's dance is very different from the solemn and restrained dance in the Central Plains. She steps on the colorful clouds, spreads her hands in the morning glow, her waist is like a willow, her eyes are mellow and affectionate, and her dancing posture is passionate and unrestrained.Accompanied by the sound of the pipa becoming more and more urgent, the dancer tapped one toe on the ground and turned faster and faster, just like a colorful phoenix flying in the sky and a butterfly dancing among flowers.When the dance reached its climax, the dancer lightly opened her red lips and sang a melodious and cheerful lyrics. Although the voice was not very loud, it penetrated clearly into the ears of everyone present. Although Zhao Guang and the other three could not understand what it meant, they were also moved by it. Deeply shocked by refined singing and dancing.After a dance, the sound of the pipa stopped, and the drums sounded again. The dancer bowed slightly, stepped off the stage and left with cheerful dance steps.

"One dance can captivate the city, one dance can captivate the city!" Xian Yugui murmured, "I heard that Confucius listened to Zhou's music, but Yun Sanyue didn't know the taste of meat, and seeing such singing and dancing today, we ordinary people won't let the sages focus on their beauty. .”

Zhao Guangshen agreed; "This dance and music really can only be found in the sky. If my mother can hear it, she will be able to write down the score and pass it on to future generations. It would be a beautiful thing."

"What's so difficult about it?" Zhang Human said indifferently, "If Auntie likes it, we can bring this group of musicians and this dancer back to Chang'an. Can the people of Qiuci stop us?"

Zhao Guang shook his head and said: "Forcing is not the right way after all." At this moment, a Qiuci attendant who came to add water approached him and said, "This lord's words are wrong. If you want to rob, I'm afraid you won't be able to get them."

"Oh?" All three of them looked at the attendant with great interest. The young attendant was quick to talk for a while, but when he saw a few big men and distinguished guests looking at him, he felt very nervous and stammered: "I... The dancer here, in addition to...in addition to dancing to make a living and entertain everyone, but also...to praise my Buddha with beautiful singing and dancing. , I'm afraid that dancer will... commit suicide immediately!"

Xian Yugui nodded again and again, and handed a Kucha silver coin to the attendant: "No wonder I feel that there is a hint of sacredness in the cheerfulness of this dance music. It turns out that there is such a meaning. You don't have to be afraid, my friend just said Just talking. Let me ask you, what's the name of the dance music just now?"

The attendant happily took the silver coin, and immediately became fluent in his speech: "Thank you for your appreciation, the song just now is a famous song composed by me in Kucha, the masters of music from Shule, Wusun, Guishuang and other countries——Shuleyan .”

Three days later, Pang De, the great general of the Han expedition to the west, personally commanded the army and entered his city.After the three main generals Pang De, Jiang Wu, and Gao Shun held a secret meeting with the prince of Kucha, Bai Hechou, and the national teacher, Pushan, the Mansion of General Zhengxi sent the following order to the whole of Kucha:
one.He Gancheng is tentatively designated as the Imperial Guard of the Western Regions of the Han Dynasty, and the whole country of Kucha will be handed over to the Han Dynasty

two.The king of Kucha, Baiying, was ordained to become a monk, the prince Baihe was worried about being a big man, and the other royal families of Kucha stayed in place.If there is any change, it will be regarded as treason.

three.The three kingdoms of Weitou, Wensu, and Gumo were placed under the rule of the Kucha Kingdom, and the families of the three kings were abolished as ordinary people. Those who did not surrender within the time limit were considered treasonous.

Four.All the domestic troops in Kucha entered the city within three days to accept the reorganization by the great Han.

Fives.Master Pushan, the national teacher of Kucha, and his disciples went to Jiaye Temple in Shule State to teach the Dharma.

six.Those who participated in the conspiracy before and after will be executed.

The king was dethroned, the prince was taken hostage, the army was incorporated, the national division was expelled, and hundreds of good heads were chopped off in the street - such punishment is not without severity.However, under the might of the great Han army, the people in Kucha all over the city had no intention of resisting. After all, although the Han army was said to kill people like Asura without blinking an eye, they did not do anything to loot* the people.Now that even the royal family is willing to surrender, of course ordinary people still have to live.So after the depression caused by tension in the first few days, the market in Gancheng gradually returned to its former bustling and bustling. Except that the banners of the Han Dynasty had been replaced on the top of the city, and there were frequent patrols of Han soldiers, it was also the same as in the past. No difference.

A few days later, the other two good news of the Western Expeditionary Army also came one after another:
Sima Yi's army, which was attacking the southwest, started a strategy before Gaochang raised his troops: Sima Yi knew in advance that Shanshan and Khotan had a feud, and they had been attacking each other for nearly a hundred years. Xu Yihou sealed him willingly to submit to the great man.After the Han army set off, the king of Shanshan had the support of a big man and was so courageous that he led the Shanshan army to invade Khotan on a large scale, and fought with the Khotan army in Qiemo (now Qiemo County, Xinjiang).The national strength of Khotan is similar to that of Shanshan, and they know each other well, so the battle situation was very stalemate at the beginning.The two armies fought for half a day, and when they were exhausted, the Han army suddenly appeared from the side of the battlefield, completely changing the situation—the Khotan army was quickly defeated under the attack of the two armies. King Tian was beheaded, his soldiers beheaded, and thousands of soldiers were captured.After this battle, there were no more soldiers in Khotan, and they died in one battle.After Sima Yi entered the western city of Khotan, he quickly and bloodily suppressed the rebellion of the nobles in the city, and successively sent troops to wipe out the surrounding small countries such as Shache, Manli, and Qule.So far, the South Road of the Western Regions has been completely pacified, and the time is almost the same as the time when Pang De entered Gancheng on the North Road.

Panghui Li Xin, who was attacking to the northwest, led the chariot master Wang Telier, and successfully joined up with the rest of his troops in secret.After joining forces, the Han army took the chariot and the rest of the ministries were fighting for the throne. They launched an attack, defeated each of them, quickly wiped out each ministries, and held a meeting of ministries in Yiwu to make them all surrender.On the other hand, after Wusun Xiaokun Mi Le Guangmi fled from Chashi and returned to China, he saw that the troublesome Princess Haiya had disappeared, so he officially became king and reunified Wusun with great ambitions.He took advantage of the Western Expeditionary Army's three routes, and when the rear of Gaochang City was empty, he brazenly led [-] troops to seize it.Unexpectedly, as soon as Wusun's army was assembled, it was detected by the scouts of the big Han who spread across the country.Pang Hui followed his plan and set up an ambush on the way to march, smashing Wusun at the foot of Tianshan Mountain, and chasing Wusun all the way into the border of Wusun.In this battle, Wusun's soldiers and horses were killed and injured countless times. Under the desperate rescue of the guards, Le Guangmi only escaped with his own body.After the East Road of the Western Regions was pacified, Pang Hui and Li Xin led their troops back to Gaochang to rest and prepare to reinforce the Western Expeditionary Army at any time.

Seeing that the situation on the other two roads was also very good, Pang De felt relieved.While writing letters to ask the dignitaries of Gaochang City, he left many matters such as city governance, reconnaissance and rebellion, and receiving the treasury to his civil and military officials, while he devoted himself to the matter of recruiting soldiers.The total number of soldiers from Kucha and Yanqi is about [-]. After excluding the old and the weak, the only son, the prostitute, and the nobles, there are a total of [-] usable soldiers.Pound dismantled all the original organizations, mixed soldiers from various countries into three battalions, and transferred a thousand veterans from his command to serve as officers, and went to the school grounds to supervise training every day in order to form combat power as soon as possible.In the midst of his busy schedule, Pang De also gave Zhao Guang a new order: order Zhao Guang's team to "secretly protect" Master Pushan from reaching Shule.

In Zhao Guang's tent, Luo An scratched his scalp, his face full of confusion, "Secret protection, what is this called? Since the general has ordered that Kun man to be expelled, why do you want us to protect him? Secretly? "

Zhao Neng sneered and said, "Hmph, I'm afraid this is the monk's scheme. I heard that the Shule Kingdom has been attached to Guishuang for a long time, and many people believe in Buddhism. If our team enters Shule as the bodyguard of Master Pushan, I’m afraid that they will be warmly received by the people of Shule, and they will take precautions. At that time, our team will attack at night, seize the city gate from the inside of the city, and enlarge the army to enter. Wouldn’t it be much easier to seize the city?”

"Master Zhao is right, this monk has such a vicious heart!" He Chong echoed, "Using the heart of faith to seek other people's kingdoms is really nasty. It would be better to seek internally.”

Zhao Guang listened to everyone's words, nodded, turned his head and said to Tuobafeng: "Since our team is going to enter the city as the guard of the master, we can't reveal our identity to the Han people. Tuoba Yamen is well versed in the way of scouting. For the clothes and things, Tuoba Yamen will report to the General’s Mansion for preparation and financing, and more reliable Qiuci interpreters will be selected to join the army, so as to prevent the Shule people from suspecting.”

Tuobafeng took the order to leave, Zhao Guang smiled to everyone: "There is nothing wrong now, let's go meet the master who needs protection."

(End of this chapter)