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In the third year of Xuanwu, on the sixth day of December, Guazhou...
"Ha~"
In front of a beacon tower, five soldiers with standard Western faces were hugging each other in front of a bonfire to keep warm.
And on the beacon tower, there was a bright red Han flag.
These five people were among the first batch of dependent soldiers recruited since the establishment of the Western Region Protectorate. They were loyal to Guazhou Zhechong Prefecture among the ten Zhechong Prefectures under the Western Region Protectorate.
Since Bai Qi captured the Western Region, according to Liu Ce's plan, except for Longyou Zhechong Prefecture, which was all guarded by 25,000 Han troops, the other nine prefectures were all guarded by 6,000 Han troops in conjunction with the local strength of 500 to 1,000.
However, due to the current limited conditions, only five of the ten prefectures have been set up, but it is enough to cope with many wars. After all, the Han army's equipment is astonishingly well-equipped.
The soldier who was throwing potatoes into the fire was called Zhuomaimaiti. He only joined Guazhou last year and was under the command of Lu Yu, the captain of Zhechong Prefecture of Yuezhi (Guazhou).
Dolma Maiti is extremely poor. He is already twenty-eight years old, but he has four children and three wives and concubines to support at home. He earns a meager income by working part-time for local chieftains to herd cattle, and it often takes him three or four days to make ends meet. The whole family has a meal.
Since the Han army was stationed in Guazhou, the recruitment of auxiliary troops began last year. Zhuomaimaiti applied with the attitude of giving it a try. As a result, he was successfully admitted and became a Han army soldier in Fenghuo Fort here.
When his superior handed two sets of brand-new Han army velvet and heavy armor to his hands, Dolma Maiti could not believe that he would become a soldier one day.
On the first day when he became a new auxiliary camp, he and the young men who came to apply for the army like him had a full meal that they had not enjoyed for a long time.
The fragrant oil-fried rice, the mouth-watering Hu Pancakes, the piping hot mutton soup with two braised duck eggs. If the pancakes and rice are not enough, you can add more. Thinking about it, Dolma Maiti still feels like a dream.
That day, he and his companions ran around all night because they ate so well...
Every day after that, Dolma Maiti was able to eat enough, but the training of the Han army made them miserable. Fortunately, he persisted after three months of training and finally became an official soldier of the new annexed army.
Becoming a soldier in the new annexed army means getting military pay, two and a half silver dollars, which is only 500 dollars lower than the official Han army, which guarantees the life of Zhuomaimaiti and his family.
And although the treatment of the newly attached troops is not as good as that of the regular Han army, it is still not low, and it is completely different from the other local soldiers in the Western Regions.
Moreover, on the seventh day after he became a new auxiliary, his family was placed on the border of Guazhou, equipped with private houses for them to live in, and was also given a pasture to their family, completely bidding farewell to the history of starvation and cold.
Now, Dolma Maiti has tied his destiny tightly to the big man. It was the big man who gave him a second chance to choose life.
There are many people in the new annexed army who have the same ideas as Dolma Maiti. They all went from initial resistance to current acceptance and even recognition in just one year.
"Are the potatoes ripe? Check quickly and don't burn them to ashes."
The young man next to Dolma Maiti was named Hu Qisi. Like Dolma Maiti, he joined the army on the same day. He was the same poor and downcast, but he was completely changed after joining the Han army.
The soldiers used wooden sticks to stir up the fire, took out the ripe potatoes, endured the scalding heat and peeled off the skin, then dipped some salt in the potatoes and stuffed them into their mouths, which made them feel extra comfortable in the cold winter.
Of course, these potatoes are just their "snacks". The staple food is hidden in the Beacon Castle to be eaten after dark.
After Dolma Maiti swallowed the potatoes, he suddenly said: "I have decided that if I go on an expedition this time, I must achieve military merit and join the regular Han army."
Hu Qisi was startled and asked, "Have you really decided?"
Dolma Maiti nodded vigorously, pointed to the Han flag on the Beacon Fire Fort and said: "The Emperor of the Han Dynasty is tolerant of everything and has brought us happiness and a better future. I have no reason to stand still. As long as the Kushan people dare to If you do it again, I will definitely rush to the front to kill you!"
Hu Qisi nodded: "Yes, these despicable and shameless Kushan people, relying on the backing of Dashi, have bullied us for how many years?
It's time to teach them a lesson. I really hope to send troops to the border tomorrow and kill them all! "
The hatred between Guishuang and the various countries in the Western Regions can be described as indescribable. Guishan relied on his strong troops and horses to often send troops to plunder various parts of the Western Regions, which was extremely miserable.
Now, even the various departments of the new attached army understand that Bai Qi, who caused millions of corpses in various countries in the Western Regions in the past, has already planned to launch an offensive against Guishang.
This made the battalions of the new attached army gear up, and their enthusiasm was higher than that of the Han army's main camp. After all, they could not only take revenge, but also gain military merit, killing two birds with one stone!
"Click da da~~"
Just as everyone was looking forward to the future, the sound of roaring horse hooves came from far to near.
Dolma Maiti and Hu Qisi instinctively held the swords around their waists and looked out of the crenel with vigilance.
After seeing a Han flag appear among the cavalry at the foot of the fort, he took a breath.
The young general of the Han army under the fort reined in his horse and shouted at the top of the fort: "I am your new boss, Geng Gong! On the orders of Lu Yu, the former military lieutenant of the Yuezhi, Zhuomamat immediately followed the general. Protectorate of the Western Regions, go quickly!"
Just as Dolma Maiti was about to reply, Geng Gong ordered the soldiers behind him to shoot a document, and then he turned his horse and galloped away.
Dolma Maiti didn't waste any time. He took the documents without even looking at them. He immediately rushed down to the Beacon Fire Castle, got on his horse and said to his companions: "I think something big is going to happen. You guys should guard here and wait for me to come back."
After finishing speaking, he swung the horse's reins, put the Burmese armor on his iron helmet on his face, and galloped towards the Western Region Protectorate.
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In the Protectorate of the Western Regions, Duan Jiao from Longyou Zhe Chong Prefecture, Xia Yu from Shule Zhe Chong Prefecture, Tian Yan from Yiqu Zhe Chong Prefecture, Zhang Yichao from Anding Zhe Chong Prefecture, and Lu Yu from Guazhou Zhe Chong Prefecture were seated on both sides of the hall.
Now, the five people glanced at a chariot minister, who was kneeling in the middle of the main hall with his head bowed and trembling.
And sitting in the main seat was a young general who was only twenty-four or five years old.
He is the Protectorate of the Western Regions, the first Protector-General of the Western Regions, Bai Qi, the general who conquered the West.
I saw Bai Qi looking at a book in his hand with a gloomy expression. The atmosphere in the hall was so oppressive that it was almost suffocating, especially the Minister of Chess who was kneeling on the ground, who did not dare to take a breath.
After a long time, Bai Qi suddenly smiled, spread out the folded book in his hand, and said to the chariot minister: "You are really capable. The Kushan invaders are asking for help from our Han army.
I, Bai Qi, promised to keep your driver safe, but what did you do? Um? Explain, Lord Setia. "
Setia slowly raised his head and met Bai Qi's cold and sharp eyes. He immediately lowered his head in fear and said, "General, this has nothing to do with my country of Cheshi. It's all because the Kushan people are too cunning!"
