Author: Gongsun Wujiu

That night, Cheng Wen introduced Zhang Yue to the generals and officers at all levels of the Quli Army. The one who interested Zhang Yue the most was Changshui Colonel Ren An.

This name is famous in Zhang Yue's ears. The reason for this is not because he has any extraordinary achievements, but because later generations learned a text called "Book of Reporting to Ren An" when they were studying.

This time Ren An was sent to the Western Regions to assist Cheng Yan in managing the Northern Army.

The Northern Army was synonymous with arrogant and powerful soldiers in this era, and the people in Chang'an were also worried that the Northern Army would not be able to command the Northern Army at the critical moment.

This was the third person whose name was written in history books that Zhang Yue had seen since he returned to this era, so he couldn't help but take a few more glances.

However, due to the status gap between the two, there was no conversation.

The next day, Cheng Shen and Ren An led the army and set off after ordering generals.

However, Zhang Yue did not have high hopes for the two men's expedition this time, because judging from the information Zhang Yue obtained, the strength of the Cheshi Kingdom should not be underestimated.

Cheshi, formerly known as "Gu Shi", is originally a descendant of the Serbian race. He was nomadic on the east coast of Puchang Sea, adjacent to Loulan, more than a hundred years ago.

Along with the migration of Yueshi and Wusun, they were forced to move north across the Great Sand Sea, occupied the hot and low-lying land at the southern foot of the eastern Tianshan Mountains, and began to settle down.

Therefore, the appearance and customs of the Cheshi people are very similar to those of the Yanqi and other states who are also descendants of the Se race. They are all Turan people. Their ordinary subjects are half farmers and half herders, and their combat effectiveness is quite strong among the countries in the Western Regions.

Its capital was Jiaohe City (the site is located in the northwest of Turpan, Xinjiang). It connected to Dunhuang in the southeast, Loulan and Shanshan in the south, Yanqi in the west, Wusun in the northwest, and the Xiongnu in the northeast. It was the hub of the Silk Road.

Jiaohe City is unique in the Western Region and in the world because this city is not built with bricks, tiles, earth and stones like other cities.

Instead, it was dug out from the ground inch by inch on the island platform located between the two rivers! The terrain is very dangerous.

According to the records given by Zhang Mian, the Cheshi Kingdom had 700 households, 6,500 inhabitants, and 1,865 victorious soldiers.

Although the original force was not large, the Xiongnu would definitely provide some assistance to the chariot divisions, and the troops led by Cheng Shen, Ren An and others were not large.

In addition to the 1,000 troops from the Northern Army, there were only 800 garrison troops from Quli and Loulan, 200 troops from Loulan, and 500 troops each from Yuli and Weisu, which totaled no more than 3,000 troops.

Moreover, the only ones with real combat effectiveness are the 1,000 soldiers of the Northern Army, and the remaining 2,000 soldiers are just a fill-in.

To put it bluntly, Zhang Yue felt that the 500 followers around him could defeat them.

Before sending troops, Zhang Yue had warned the two of them to pay attention to the dangerous terrain of Jiaohe City and the ambush of the Huns, but neither of them took it seriously, so Zhang Yue had nothing to say.

Five days later, Zhang Yue decided to follow the original plan, and Guo Kai, under the banner of Zhang Yue, would lead Yi Cong to protect Cheng Ni and serve as the food route for Anjun.

Zhang Yue, on the other hand, quietly merged with Luntai's left curve and headed east quietly.

In order to avoid being discovered, Zhang Yue did not dare to take the main road, but chose to move along the edge of the desert.

In order to prevent the news from leaking, Zhang Yue was ruthless and issued a hush order, showing his heroic posture for the first time.

God seemed to be on the side of the Han army this time, and no obstacles were encountered along the way.

Seven days later, Zhang Yue and his party finally arrived in Loulan Kingdom smoothly.

At this time, Cheng Shen and Ren An's army had also launched an attack on Jiaohe City, and Li Guangli's main force of 30,000 cavalry had also arrived in Pulei and was about to fight with the Xiongnu Youxian King.

The Huns who were originally hiding in Loulan also began to take action.

By the Kongque River to the east of Loulan City, there is a fort that the Han army just built. The name of the fort is Pohu Fort.

Because the Han army attacked the Cheshi Kingdom, most of the Han army's garrison soldiers in Loulan were transferred away, and Pohu Fort was no exception.

Originally, there were more than 60 garrison soldiers stationed in Pohu Fort and its surroundings. Now there are only more than 10 garrison soldiers left to guard the area.

Several soldiers were chatting that day, and Pan Hong, the commander, also took a break from his busy schedule to take a nap. In his dream, he was about to...

Suddenly a cry woke him up from his sleep!

"What a long time, it's not good... it's not good..."

Pan Hong woke up with a start and looked up to see Zhao Hu'er looking to the east with a horrified expression.

"Zhao Hu'er, why are you howling? Nai Gong will kick you to death..."

Although he was cursing, he quickly climbed up the beacon tower.

While climbing, he asked, "Zhao Hu'er, what happened..."

Without waiting for Zhao Huer's reply, Pan Hong stopped talking and looked steadily to the east.

Rolling smoke and dust rose from the east, followed by bursts of horse hooves.

"Who is that?"

Soon, they saw clearly...

"Huns"

Countless war horses appeared in sight, and on their backs were the roaring Hun cavalry.

The smoke and dust raised by the horse's hooves makes people panic.

Zhao Huer exclaimed, "It's very long. If it's over, there will probably be thousands of riders!"

Pan Hong's heart was beating wildly, and he could only hear his own voice shouting at the end of his lungs into the yard:

"Second and third sons, quickly light the smoke and prepare to face the enemy..."

"The Huns are attacking!"

Soon two smoke pillars slowly rose from Broken Hu Fort.

The signal of the wolf smoke will be transmitted to Xuanwei Fort ten miles away to the west, and then passed to Loulan City twenty miles away.

Sure enough, Fort Xuanwei soon burst into flames.

Then all the beacons lit up with smoke.

"How could the Xiongnu invade at this time? All the Han troops in Loulan have been transferred away!"

An old soldier named Han Ye shouted in confusion. He instinctively felt that something was unusual.

Pan Hong had already stepped off the beacon tower at this time, and while holding on to the wooden ladder, he could faintly feel the earth vibrating.

Not sure if it was his own hallucination, but Pan Hong felt that the entire Pohu Fort seemed to be trembling under the iron hooves of the Huns.

Pan Hong took a deep breath and yelled

"Second and third sons, quickly follow me to get the armored soldiers!"

Each fort in the empire is stocked with various weapons and equipment.

Pohu Fort is the most important fort outside Loulan City, and its weapons and equipment are also very complete.

Although the soldiers who went on the expedition took away some armored soldiers, they were still very sufficient.

"Sir, there are too few of us to defend such a large fort!" Zhao Huer shouted.

Pan Hong thought for a moment and then decisively ordered, "Second and third sons, quickly move the weapons into the beacon..."

What Zhao Huer said was right, the Dunbao was too big to be defended by just a few of them.

Therefore, Pan Hong decided to abandon other places and only defend the highest and most important beacon.

"Sir, I will wear armor for you!"

Gao Yuan also came to his senses at this time, picked up the only iron armor and was about to put it on Pan Hong.

"No, give it to Han Ye..."

Thank you all for your support. Two updates today. I hope you will be satisfied!
Chapter completed!