The Western Patrol Army camped overnight next to the protective well.
In addition to the safety alert arrangements, Liu Cheng also ordered that all fresh water supplied to the soldiers be boiled to prevent the invasion of bacteria in the new area.
During the two days after leaving Yumen Pass, the soldiers were in high spirits.
The strange scenery of the Gobi Desert outside the Great Wall made these soldiers who had never been to the desert linger and marvel at the wonders of nature's uncanny craftsmanship.
After marching for two more days, the Western Inspection Army arrived at a place called Julucang.
Julucang is a military station and granary.
It is the most important transportation station on the Loulan Road between Shanshan Kingdom and Dunhuang.
It is also the largest granary on this road.
Some of the grain and grass obtained by the Han Dynasty in Shanshan Kingdom and Gaochang were transported.
Come here, it is the base camp on this Loulan Road.
There are more than fifty soldiers stationed in Julucang.
It is a solid fortress with ventilation holes.
Soldiers are on guard day and night, and their bows and arrows are never out of their hands.
The Western Patrol Army replenished some grain and grass here.
This grain has been stored here for several years, but it is still edible.
After the old grain is eaten, new grain can be transported.
After leaving Julucang, the soldiers and generals felt that it was not very fun, and they began to complain one by one.
Marching in the Gobi Desert was indeed not a pleasant thing.
The soldiers and generals who came from Chang'an thought that the desert was infinitely beautiful at first, but they If you watch too much, that's all.
And after a long time, you will get visual fatigue and feel boring.
In particular, there is a big difference in temperature between day and night.
It is extremely hot at noon during the day, but freezing to death at night.
Many people have been blown by the wind in the desert for several days, and their skin has become dry and cracked.
Some people have been baked dry by the desert sun.
Dry and hoarse.
Fortunately, the Western Patrol Army was all well-trained soldiers, not just a bunch of random people.
After Liu Cheng repeatedly emphasized military discipline, the soldiers consciously stopped complaining.
Marching in the desert, they always felt like drinking water.
After suffering enough, the soldiers gradually began to learn to save drinking water and learn to live in the desert.
There is a well on Loulan Road southwest of Julucang, called Xisha Well.
It is also a place to replenish drinking water and food on this road.
It is like the service area next to the highway in later generations.
You don’t need to rest here, but you must bring it with you.
Plenty of food and water.
Once you stop here, you need to replenish food and water.
Sorry, you have to pay for it, it's very expensive.
After passing Shaxi Well, the Western Patrol Army set off to the northwest.
The vast desert is nothing but sand.
From time to time, one or two dry poplar trees can be seen along the way.
The army headed northwest along the valley where Loulan Road was located.
After walking for two days, they saw a landform belt reflecting silver luster appearing in front of them.
This landform belt ran from northeast to southwest, with no end as far as the eye could see.
A group of long mounds made of gravel, It is composed of gypsum mud and salt-alkali, and is gray-white in color.
When there is sunlight, it will reflect a little silver light, like scales.
It looks like white dragons swimming in the sea of sand, with their white backs disappearing in the waves.
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Now, head to tail, boundless and majestic.
A middle-aged guide pointed to the silvery-white mounds in the distance with his riding crop and said to Liu Cheng: "General, please look, this is Bailongdui, the only way to Loulan and Gaochang."
Another guide added: "The terrain here is strange, the weather is changeable, and ghosts are often haunted.
It is very dangerous.
But almost all business travelers who take this road do not spend the night here and pass through it in one go.
Now our supplies have been Use most of it, it will be dangerous if you are trapped in a sandstorm."
The vanguard of the army came to a stop outside Bailongdui.
Liu Cheng sent someone to contact Ma Chao and asked Ma Chao to bring people to join him.
About half a day later, Ma Chao came over from Bailongdui with his troops.
When Liu Cheng saw the soldiers behind him, all of them were emaciated, with yellow faces and listless spirits, he was shocked and asked hurriedly: "Meng Qi, you guys What’s going on?
Haven’t we already wiped out the Hunzhi horse bandits and Wu Zhi’s group entrenched here?
How did it happen like this?”
Ma Chao dismounted and walked over, cupping his fists and saluting, and said with a wry smile: "Back to General, we set out from the bandits' den three days ago to wait for the army to join us outside Bailongdui.
Unexpectedly, we encountered a sandstorm not long after we walked out of the bandits' den.
Trapped between mounds, food and water Most of it was swept away by the wind and sand, and what was left was only enough for us to last for two days.
The wind and sand raged for three days, and it only stopped in the morning.
After the wind and sand stopped, we set off immediately.
On the way, we met the general who was sent to look for us.
Our people, we just came out."
Liu Cheng nodded, thought about it and gave the order: "No matter what, let the soldiers eat and drink first before talking about the other arrivals.
Order the whole army to continue moving forward and prepare food and water for the soldiers of Meng Qi's forward camp."
"Yes, General" The army continued to set off into Bailongdui.
Ma Chao's forward soldiers quickly received food and water.
They ate and drank while marching.
After entering Bailongdui, Liu Cheng asked the guide: "How long does it take to walk through Bailongdui?"
The guide replied: "About forty miles" Liu Cheng raised his head and looked at the sky.
The sun had already set to the west, and it would get dark in at most two hours.
He was about to give the order when the clerk in charge of the compass rode over quickly and reported: "General Qi, the commander of the compass There is a huge deviation in accuracy.”
When Liu Cheng heard that this was a big deal, he immediately rode up to the compass car.
He looked at the direction pointed by the puppet's finger on the compass car, and then looked at the direction of the sun.
Sure enough, there was a big deviation.
He frowned and said :"how so"
The clerk raised his hands and said: "General, if you are marching on flat ground, even if you march continuously for more than ten days, the accuracy of the compass will not deviate too much, but it is different in the desert.
When the wheels turn, they will not be in contact with the sandy ground.
The friction is small and cannot be compared with that on flat ground.”
Liu Cheng knew that the compass worked using mechanical principles rather than geomagnetic effects.
He frowned and asked, "Can it be adjusted?"
The clerk replied: "Back to the general, we can't do it now.
There is no specific thing to refer to, so we can't determine where the south is.
Unless the army camped here today, wait for the sun to set and record the setting point, and then wait for the sun to rise early tomorrow morning.
Record the hourly liter so that you can determine the direction of true south."
Liu Cheng thought for a moment and waved his hand: "Forget it, let's not adjust the coming people for the time being.
Send the order.
The army will advance at full speed.
We must get out of Bailongdui before dark."
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It is too dangerous to stay in Bailongdui.
There are more than 10,000 soldiers and horses.
Once trapped here, the sky will not respond and the earth will not work.
Things will be very serious.
After the military order was issued, everyone started trotting on their horses, and the mules, horses and camels hauling food, water and other military supplies were also pulled and galloped.
Thousands of horses galloping broke the peace of Bailongdui.
Wherever the army marched, smoke and dust rose everywhere and shot straight into the sky.
Such a big movement seemed to offend the white dragon lying on the desert, and it became angry.
In less than half an hour, the sky became gloomy, the sun disappeared, and wisps of cool wind came, making it feel like sitting on a horse and running.
Extremely comfortable.
The guide who was following Liu Cheng was horrified, his face changed drastically, and he said to Liu Cheng: "General, it's not good, the weather is going to change.
This is a sign of the coming sandstorm.
You must find a place to avoid the sandstorm, otherwise you will easily be blown away by the sandstorm."
"Sweep away" When Liu Cheng heard this, he looked at the dark clouds in the distant sky.
The sand and dust on the ground were swept up into the sky, and their shapes changed unpredictably, like devil's faces.
He immediately reined in his horse and shouted: "Stop advancing, all the troops will move forward."
Teams and units gathered together and hid behind the mounds to avoid the wind and sand, hurry, hurry, hurry."
"Also, stick the weapon in the sand as deep as you can.
When the wind and sand blow, hold on to the weapon tightly."
When the military order was conveyed, the soldiers were stunned.
One general shouted: "What are you doing here?
Do you want to die?
If you don't want to die, immediately follow the order."
When the soldiers came to their senses, they immediately followed the order and gathered together in teams to find mounds to hide in.
They also gathered mules, horses, and camels together to prevent food and water from being swept away and buried by the wind and sand.
Just when everyone had almost hid themselves, a sandstorm swept over.
The overwhelming sand blew and hit their faces, causing pain.
Clothes and flags blew loudly, and the whistling sound covered up all sounds.
The sky was filled with sand.
The sky was so thick with dust that it was almost impossible to see.
The huge force brought by the raging wind and sandstorm seemed to overturn the mounds.
The soldiers hiding behind the mounds were still affected by the wind and sand.
They followed the order and clung to their weapons to prevent themselves from being blown away.
The sandstorm raged for more than an hour before gradually abating.
The sand in the air disappeared and the wind subsided, but it did not stop.
At this time, many people were buried in the sand.
Liu Cheng took a look at the sand buried in his body, and immediately shouted: "Herald, where is the herald?"
The herald heard the sound and crawled out of the sand and called: "General, I'm here!"
"Hurry up and order all ministries to count the number of people, supplies and water, quickly, quickly, quickly" "Yes, General" The soldiers crawled out of the sand one by one and began to assemble and take roll call under the organization of the officers and generals.
The officials with heavy logistics began to count whether there was any loss of supplies and water.
The results were quickly reported to Liu Cheng.
To his relief, although the sandstorm came suddenly, with proper preparation, there was no loss except a few mules and horses.
At this time, the sky was getting dark, and it would be dark soon.
After weighing the situation, Liu Cheng ordered the army to continue setting off, even if it was dark, they would have to leave the white dragon pile before setting up camp for the night.
Marching at night in such an environment is extremely dangerous.
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Unfortunately, the army still got lost.
After problems with the accuracy of the compass, the Western Patrol Army lost its way
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