Author: Gongsun Wujiu

Zhang Yue frowned. Although these envoys were wearing gorgeous brocade clothes, Zhang Yue still discovered their true identities. These were all Huns.

No wonder King Loulan, as the host, entertained me, but he came later than me.

Zhang Yue suppressed the anger in his heart and had a fight with King Loulan and these Huns.

After this banquet, Zhang Yue once again strengthened his determination to destroy Loulan.

Zhang Yue couldn't calm down for a long time after leaving the palace. When he returned to the station, he found Li Si.

"Sir, I would like to set up a stronghold here to explore Loulan's feelings. What do you think?"

"good!"

Li Si already knew Zhang Yue's thoughts.

"Know yourself and your enemy, and you can fight a hundred battles without danger. Duke Ming really has a long-term vision."

Even though Loulan Kingdom is small, it doesn't take three days to figure out all his situations.

When Zhang Yue left Loulan, he ordered Yang You and others to stay in Loulan temporarily.

Their mission is to collect all kinds of information about the Loulan people and prepare for Zhang Yue's future actions.

After leaving Loulan Kingdom, the scenery along the way is completely different. Walking along the Silk Road, you can see the vast desert along the way.

From time to time, we would encounter some caravans heading west. After meeting Zhang Yue and his party, these caravans spontaneously followed Zhang Yue.

Zhang Yue didn't care about this. If he were one of these businessmen, he would choose to do this.

Although the Silk Road was prosperous, there were many risks along the way. Horse thieves robbed the road everywhere, and many horse thieves were even organized by countries along the way.

Although the Han army could not say that Qiu had committed no crimes, they would never plunder these caravans.

It is naturally much safer to follow the Han army, especially since the Battle of Dawan has just ended, and the countries in the Western Region have just witnessed the thunderous wrath of the Han army, and they dare not easily provoke the Han army.

Seven days later, Zhang Yue and others arrived at Quli.

The Han army also organized a field camp in Quli, led by Quli Ying Tian Xiaowei.

However, the Yingtian Colonel appointed by the imperial court has just left Chang'an City and is still far away. There is currently only a group of Han troops stationed here.

The arrival of Zhang Yue and his party was warmly welcomed by the local Han army. After staying here for a day to replenish drinking water, the party set off again. The next stop was their destination, Luntai City.

"This is Luntai!"

Zhang Yue looked at the broken eaves and broken walls in the distance and sighed in his heart.

Luntai is located in the middle of the countries in the Western Regions, and its strategic location is very important.

Because the surrounding climate is pleasant and the water is abundant, it is very suitable for farming.

Li Guangli wrote in his memorial to the emperor that Luntai had five thousand hectares of fertile land, which should be true.

Because the fertile land Zhang Yue saw now was no less than ten thousand acres.

It was precisely because of the fertile land and the wealth brought by the Silk Road that the original Luntai country became a regional power.

According to Zhang Mian, the original Luntai City was a large city with a population of 30,000 and 6,000 soldiers in the city.

But these were all over a year ago.

Now all Zhang Yue could see were ruins and abandoned farmland.

How did the once powerful and prosperous Luntai Kingdom become like this?

This has to start with Li Guangli's Western Expedition. During his first Western Expedition, Li Guangli went to Luntai City, hoping that the Luntai Kingdom could provide some supplies to the Han army.

At that time, Luntai had completely turned to the Xiongnu, and naturally ignored the requests of the Han army.

Li Guangli, who was weak in strength, had no choice but to bypass Luntai and continue westward.

Due to lack of food, many soldiers starved to death along the way.

When they arrived at Yucheng City, there were only a few thousand people left, and they were short of weapons.

In desperation, they had to retreat. When the Han army retreated to Luntai, the Luntai people directly sent troops to attack the Han army.

Fortunately, Li Guangli was well prepared and no major losses were caused.

After taking advantage, the Luntai people began to swell, waiting for Li Guangli's second western expedition.

The Luntai people actually attacked the Han army again, and the Han army's forward was caught off guard and defeated.

More than a hundred Han soldiers were captured by the Luntai people, and then the King of Luntai killed all the captured Han soldiers.

He also made the heads of Han soldiers into wine vessels and presented them to King Youxian of the Xiongnu.

The actions of the Luntai people made the Han army furious. When Li Guangli's main force arrived, he immediately ordered an attack on the city.

How could the Luntai people be the opponents of the main force of the Han army?

The city was captured in just two days.

When the Han army learned about the treatment of their captured Paoze, the entire army could no longer suppress their anger.

Angry, Li Guangli issued an order to massacre the city.

All the nobles and soldiers of Luntai Kingdom were killed by the Han army.

Half of the ordinary people were also killed, and the rest were all expelled from Luntai City and left to fend for themselves.

After the Luntai Massacre, the countries in the Western Regions finally realized the power of the empire.

No longer daring to attack the Han army, Li Guangli successfully arrived in Dawan and completed the victory of the expedition.

When Li Guangli returned to the army, he had already considered farming in Luntai, so he left hundreds of lightly wounded soldiers in Luntai.

…

"Cai Ting, please quickly bring a group of troops into the city to investigate, be careful of the Huns ambush!" Zhang Yue ordered.

Luntai was originally the traditional sphere of influence of the Huns.

Today's Xiongnu Youxian King's army has undergone a series of reforms and its strength has been greatly strengthened.

Zhang Yue had to be careful in what he did. He only had such a small fortune, and everyone was like a seed to him. He would be extremely heartbroken if he lost anyone.

"promise!"

After receiving the order, Cai Ting left the brigade and led his soldiers to run towards Luntai City not far away.

Before they entered the city, more than ten riders came out from the city to greet them.

"It's the Han army!"

After seeing clearly the flag and appearance of the person coming from the opposite side, Cai Ting let out a long breath.

These people are the representatives of the group of wounded soldiers left behind by Li Guangli.

"He who comes is stopped!"

Cai Ting was not careless. While talking to these people, he ordered his soldiers to continue to explore the situation in and around Luntai City.

Half an hour later, he sent a safety signal to Zhang Yue.

Zhang Yue then ordered to enter the city, but he did not relax his vigilance. The soldiers entering the city always maintained their combat formation.

After entering Luntai City, Zhang Yue first ordered to control the commanding heights everywhere, and then met the Han soldiers who stayed in Luntai City.

…

"Why are there so few people here? Where are the others?" Zhang Yue asked the person in front of him.

This man's name was Wei Bao. He was the person with the highest official position left here by Li Guangli. He was originally a general. His fingers were frostbitten while crossing the Congling Mountains. So he was left behind when he returned to Luntai.

"To inform Duke Ming, after the army returned home, this place was harassed by horse thieves many times. Although we successfully repelled the horse thieves, our brothers were originally injured, so..."
Chapter completed!