On February 15th, the Western Patrol Army broke camp and headed south to Yixun City.
This time, with people from Wanni City as guides, the army marched much faster, and easily managed to survive the strong wind and sand attacks along the way.
Liu Cheng didn't want the army to waste too much time on the march.
There were no infantry now, all were cavalry, and there were local people as guides, so he ordered the army to increase its speed.
However, even if it increased the speed, it would not be able to march as fast in the desert.
As fast as the plains.
The army marched along the Qiemo River.
Two days later, they arrived at a large lake.
The local guide told Liu Cheng: "General, this is Heifeng Haizi.
Like Puchanghai Lop Nur, it connects the Yinma River and Qiemo River."
"Lake in the middle of the river" Liu Cheng took a look and found that the area of the lake was not small, so he ordered: "Send the army to camp here, let the brothers have a rest, and replenish drinking water here."
The guide hurriedly tried to dissuade him: "General, the water in this lake is not drinkable."
Liu Cheng was surprised and said: "Why?"
"The water in this lake is salty.
The more you drink, the thirstier you will become.
If you want to replenish your drinking water, there is a well one mile to the west.
Travelers and business travelers often refill their drinking water there."
"Oh, this lake water is salty."
Liu Cheng walked to the lake, dipped a little of the lake water with his finger, put it in his mouth and tasted it.
Sure enough, it was slightly salty.
No wonder there were no traces of humans or horses staying by the lake.
The army camped for one night on the edge of Heifeng Haizi, and set off again the next day.
Working hard, they finally arrived at Yixun City before the sun set on the horizon in the afternoon.
A long time ago, messengers from Juni City rode fast horses and dared to arrive at Yixun City before the army to report the news.
After receiving the news, King Banren of Shanshan waited outside the city with the civil and military ministers of the Manchu Dynasty.
The setting sun slanted over the desert in the distance, and the earth exuded golden light.
A black spot appeared at the end of the northern horizon.
The black spot gradually grew larger, and soon black, brown, yellow, red and other colorful flags fluttered in the wind.
The long cavalry team appeared in the sight of the monarchs and people of Shanshan Kingdom.
The neat cavalry team gradually approached.
The black armor of the knights reflected the dark metallic luster, shining brightly, and the cold light flashed on the weapons, which was heart-warming.
Fear.
The galloping horses caused a large amount of sand and dust to fly into the sky.
Beasts, birds and insects were frightened and fled.
The huge momentum made the kings and ministers of Shanshan Kingdom tremble with fear, and many people lost color in their faces.
The army only slowed down a mile from the city gate and switched from running to walking slowly.
The war horses were wearing rough clothes and galloping in the desert with dry air.
The physical load on the horses was very heavy and they could not last long at all.
A quick march.
The army came to a complete stop, and the large tooth flags fluttering in the wind and the flags of various colors behind them also drooped.
Liu Cheng dismounted and handed his horse to his soldiers.
He held the waist knife and walked towards the monarchs and ministers of Shanshan Kingdom, followed by the civil servants and military generals.
At this time, the kings and ministers of Shanshan State also came forward to greet him.
Banren was a middle-aged man in his forties, wearing silk and satin trafficked from the Central Plains.
He put on a smile and said to Liu Cheng with the etiquette of Shanshan State: "I am glad to hear that the general has been ordered by the emperor.
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I led the army to the Western Patrol to Shanshan Kingdom.
I was so happy that I led the civil and military ministers of the Manchu Dynasty to greet the general and the soldiers of the Western Patrol Army."
Liu Cheng cupped his fists and said: "On behalf of the officers and soldiers, I would like to thank King Shanshan and the people for their kindness."
Ban Ren said: "The general and the soldiers have been working hard all the way.
I have ordered people to prepare wine and food for the soldiers to enjoy.
A banquet has also been prepared in the palace.
The general and the accompanying officials are also invited to attend the banquet."
Liu Cheng turned to Pang De, Zhang Xiu and Liu Ye and said: "You guys stay and lead the army to camp outside the city to eat."
"Follow your orders" Liu Cheng then said to Xu Huang, Ma Chao, and Chen Qun: "You guys should bring the cavalry battalion with me and follow me into the city, and Chi He, you can go too."
"promise" Ban Ren looked at Chi He in surprise and found that he seemed to be in a bad mood.
He frowned and said, "Chi He, you no longer handle government affairs in Goni City, why did you come with the general?"
Chi He said: "My brother came with me on the order of the general."
When Ban Ren saw Chi He carrying out Liu Cheng, he had no choice but to reveal the matter.
At this time, a captain wearing Han army armor and cloak came up to Liu Cheng, clasped his fists and bowed in salute: "Han De, the humble captain of the Western Regions Chief Shifu Yixun City Tuntian, pays homage to the general."
Han De and Liu Cheng looked surprised.
He remembered that in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, there was a general named Han De from Cao Wei.
He seemed to be from Xiliang.
He wielded a big ax and had the courage of ten thousand men.
It seemed that this guy was only in his twenties.
He looked like a soldier behind him, carrying a big axe, and asked: "Where are you from?"
Han De said: "Returning to the general, the last general is from Wuwei, Liangzhou.
He has been with his father in the Western Regions since he was a child."
Liu Cheng nodded, raised his hand and said: "Without courtesy, you go to the palace with me for the banquet."
Han De clasped his fists in excitement and bowed: "I humbly obey my orders."
Liu Cheng and his party immediately entered Yixun City under the guidance of Ban Ren and other monarchs and ministers.
The palace of King Shanshan cannot be said to be very grand.
Compared with the palaces in Luoyang and Chang'an, it is not even a bit inferior.
However, it is very luxuriously decorated inside and outside.
Brown blankets are spread from outside the palace door to under the throne of the main hall.
After the palace, the decorations on the buildings were no longer cheap or cheap, but white.
The wall lamp shades made of jade, the candlesticks carved with jade, and the hats of officials are all inlaid with gems.
The top of the palace is inlaid with many bright night pearls.
The jewelry on the palace maids and attendants are all gold, silver and jade.
The floor of the palace is made of It is made of patterned rock blocks of the same size and polished to a mirror-smooth finish.
Liu Cheng's thousand personal guards lined up from the city gate to the palace palace, taking over the defense with three steps and one post and five steps and one sentry.
The soldiers of Shanshan Kingdom were all driven aside.
The palace hall is brightly illuminated by the luminous pearls on the top, the jade oil lamps on the walls and the white jade wall lamps on the pillars.
There were two short tables where the throne was originally placed.
Banren said to Liu Cheng: "The general is the imperial envoy, representing the emperor of Han Dynasty.
His status is extraordinary.
Please take a seat."
Liu Cheng was not polite.
He shook off his cloak and stepped up the steps.
He knelt down behind the table on the left.
Ban Ren sat on the right.
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The officials and generals brought by Liu Cheng knelt on the left side of the hall.
The ministers and generals of Shanshan State were on the right.
Sit on your knees.
Banren clapped his hands, and the palace maids lined up to bring food and drinks one after another.
There were also some musical instrument masters playing music beside the walls of the hall with huqin and various other Western instruments.
When the food and wine were served, Liu Cheng looked at the food and wine on the table.
The food included wheat cakes, red dates, unknown fruits, beef, and mutton and asked: "Your Majesty, the water plants in Shanshan Kingdom have been restored in recent years."
Fengmei?
How is the food production?”
Banren smiled and said: "So that the generals and generals know that the lives and deaths of our people in Shanshan depend on the two rivers, Qiemo River and Yinma River.
Almost all the people live on the banks of these two rivers, and the grazing areas are also on the rivers."
We have little rainfall here, and most of our food production relies on river irrigation.
We mainly produce wheat and dates.
The annual harvest is about the same.
The number of livestock can only be maintained so much.
No matter how much it is, we can’t raise it. alive" Liu Cheng nodded after hearing this and asked: "Your fields are all used to grow wheat.
Is there any extra area for grazing?
Livestock can be raised in pastoral areas."
Banren said: "Of course good fields are used to grow wheat.
There are also deserts and saline-alkali lands with moisture on the ground that are not suitable for food growth, but weeds grow there and the soil is salty.
Livestock can be grazed in these areas.
There are also a lot of weeds and reeds growing on the riverbanks.
You can harvest the dense reeds on the riverbanks, chop them up and feed them to livestock.
Wheat straw can also be used as food for livestock, and livestock will grow quickly after eating it."
Liu Cheng knew that the country of Shanshan was vast despite its vast territory, but it was almost all deserts, deserts and deserts.
The area suitable for human habitation and production and cultivation was very small.
This also caused their population to be unable to increase.
Once the population increased to a certain level, To such an extent, it will inevitably lead to food shortages and difficulties in survival.
At that time, people will either starve to death or expand outward to seize territory by launching wars.
This has also caused wars among the countries in the Western Regions all year round.
"Come, come, come, general and your lords, please enjoy our Shanshan country's food and fine wine.
This is our own brewed kumiss.
I don't know if it suits the taste of the general and your lords," Banren greeted warmly.
Liu Cheng picked up the wine vessel and took a sip.
The taste was not very good, and it was even a bit unpleasant to drink.
Maybe it was because it was not suitable for the first time.
However, he did not come here specifically to eat and drink, but to find trouble.
Ren said: "Your Majesty, this time my general led his army to patrol the west.
When they arrived at Wuni City, two thousand sets of armor were stolen.
After investigation and search, it was finally discovered that these weapons and armors were hidden in the treasury of Wuni City.
The general immediately asked the city lord Chihe, but Chihe said that he was ordered by the king.
If not the king.
Even if my superior commanded me, even if I had a hundred courages, he would not dare to do this.
I wonder if your Majesty can give me an explanation?"
"What?"
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Banren suddenly stood up, accused Chihe and angrily said: "Chihe, why are you biting people?
Why did I ever instruct you to do this?"
Liu Cheng said to Chihe: "Lord Chihe, what do you have to say?
You should understand.
If you can't prove that this matter was ordered by someone, but you made the decision yourself, what will be the fate waiting for you?"
Chi He immediately stood up and said to Ban Ren: "Brother Wang, since we have received very little news from the Central Plains in the past few years, you have judged that there must be civil strife in the Central Plains, so your attitude towards the court has gradually changed.
You once Another He often instigated his younger brother and other officials to make things difficult for the people of the Governor of the Western Regions.
He also often sent people to incite the people to hinder the soldiers of the Tuntian School Captain from farming, and also deliberately sent people to cut off their water sources.
My younger brother always thought that the Central Plains Dynasty was ours.
Shanshan As the backer of the country, a large part of the food we eat comes from the Central Plains, and more than half of the fabrics we wear are trafficked from the Central Plains.
Even the safety of our country needs the protection of the Central Plains Dynasty.
If we lose the support of the Central Plains Dynasty, Other neighboring countries will come to attack us and seize our land, people, cattle and sheep.
Brother Chen has repeatedly written letters to advise, but you always refuse to listen.
You know that without the support of the Central Plains Dynasty, our Shanshan Congress will have a very difficult time
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