Yumen Pass has been the choke point connecting the Central Plains and the Western Regions since ancient times. When Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty opened the road to the Western Regions and established the four counties of Hexi, it was named because the Western Regions imported jade through this route. Yumen Pass can be said to be the most important link between Hexi and the Western Regions.
Passes are both important military towns and the throat of the Silk Road.
After passing Yumen Pass, you will reach the prosperous Dunhuang County. However, Dunhuang County has no danger to defend, so Yumen Pass can be said to be the last barrier to Liangzhou.
At this time, Lu Guang's army was speeding towards Yumen Pass. According to the distance, they would reach Yumen Pass in about two days. Probably because of God's mercy, it was actually a cloudy day today. This is really rare in the desert. No more
The sun is much less scorching, and the weather has already started to get cooler, so the temperature is just right, perfect for long-distance marches.
In the north, winter is long and summer is short, and there is no spring or autumn. That is to say, the cold air never comes, so it is very hot during the day when the sun is shining, and it is very cold at night. Duan Ye estimates that when the cold air moves south as usual, this place will probably be covered in snow.
.
Since Duan Ye was also in charge of the Jiuquan Army, it was impossible for this miscellaneous army to expect them to fight now, so Lu Guang thoughtfully put Duan Ye in the rear group, and Duan Ye felt at ease and took the time to build relationships with his soldiers.
The Gobi desert in front of us is endless, and the blue sky above our heads is cloudless. The horse team, whose head and tail cannot be seen before and after, is as small as ants in front of nature. However, the expectations and enthusiasm for the future are written on everyone's faces.
Duan Ye was riding his own yellow horse, wearing the armor he had just gotten used to, chatting and laughing with Duan Ping, Hu Kai and others around him.
After chatting, I found out that Hu Kai was actually a beggar, and he got into the Liangzhou Army by messing around. He himself admitted that because of his outstanding shamelessness and cleverness when he was begging, he didn't even get here.
The promising army was promoted one after another. When Duan Ye heard this, he couldn't help but asked curiously: "Hu Kai, I once heard that there is a beggar gang in the world. It is said that there are hundreds of thousands of members in the gang. The leader of the gang has unparalleled martial arts and has power all over the world.
From north to south, inside and outside the Great Wall, are you a member of the Beggar Clan?"
Hu Kai said nervously: "Well... General Mingjian, it is true that this villain was once a member of the Beggar Clan."
Duan Ye was a little dumbfounded. Could it be that Lao Jin's book was not a novel but a realism? Why did he get it right again?
Hu Kai went on to say: "Since King Ping of Zhou moved eastward and the rituals and music collapsed, beggars have appeared all over the world. Therefore, there are some beggars who form associations to protect themselves, but this beggar gang is not a martial arts gang."
"Oh, why is this?" Duan Ye became interested. It seemed that this matter was different from what Mr. Jin said.
"Well, beggars are actually a type of refugee. However, they make a living by begging, and their background is not necessarily humble. Many of them even have great talents. These refugees are everywhere, which is very disadvantageous to the imperial government. Therefore, Emperor Guangwu of Han Dynasty Liu Xiude
After he ascended the throne, he granted a beggar head to each of the thirteen states. There were counties under the prefectures, and beggar heads were present at all levels. They were hereditary and could not be replaced. Although they were still beggars and had a lower status than scholars, farmers, industry and merchants, those beggars
However, all matters related to the beggar are under the jurisdiction of the beggar. Generally, even if there is an issue, it will be resolved internally without a lawsuit. If a lawsuit is brought, such as a beggar suing the beggar, it will be dealt with as if the people sue the official. ""In this way, in various places,
A beggar is still an official?" Duan Ye was surprised to hear this, could it be that this gang of beggars could still break into the house?
"So, not really." Hu Kai said clearly, "Beggars have many affairs, and the imperial court set up beggar heads just to facilitate restraint and prevent the refugees from being used by careerists. Therefore, it was just to win over beggar heads, but there was no grade salary. However, because
The government offices generally do not interfere with the affairs of beggars, but those beggars are not beggars at all. Some even have farms stretching for hundreds of miles and are richer than the officials."
Duan Ye was surprised when he heard this. It seems that many things in history are very different from what the history books said. I didn't expect that this beggar gang not only existed, but also had such power. They can win over them.
What? What I lack most is manpower, money, and local support. And the Beggar Gang happens to be the most suitable force!
Thinking of this section, Duan Ye asked excitedly: "Then Hu Kai, are you considered a beggar?"
"To tell you the truth, Commander, I am a stable person. My ancestor was a beggar head in Anding County. However, my father once mistakenly believed in a traitor, which led to the position of beggar head being taken away by others, and the family was in ruins, so he really did it.
The beggar eventually joined the army."
"Oh, I really didn't expect that you turned from an amateur to a professional, hahahaha." Duan Ye found it interesting and couldn't help laughing. Duan Ping and Hu Kai thought for a while before they understood the difference between amateur and professional.
I couldn't help but laugh.
"However, Hu Kai, as you said, since the Eastern Han Dynasty, beggars in the world have been directly controlled by the central government. So 300 years have passed, is everything still like this? Now, do beggars in the world regard Jiankang or Chang'an as the orthodoxy?
?” This issue is what Duan Ye is really concerned about.
"This..." Hu Kai looked troubled and said with some embarrassment: "Since the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the imperial court's control over the beggar gangs in the world has been greatly weakened. Later, Sima Yan unified the world. Although it recovered, it was too late to reintegrate it.
, the Eight Kings Rebellion broke out again, so... the various regions of the Beggar Clan basically have their own system. At present, those in Jiangnan are probably closer to Jiankang, while those in Guanzhong certainly recognize His Majesty the Heavenly King, and those in Youyan still have feelings for the Murong family.
To remember, as for Longyou in Hexi Province...they are all local chiefs, and they are doing their own thing."
After hearing this, Duan Ye knew that today's Beggar Gang was basically in disarray, but this also gave him more opportunities, so he smiled and said, "Well, Hu Kai, although you are already the brigade commander of our army, do you still have any ideas?
How about taking back everything your family should have?"
Hu Kai's breathing suddenly became rapid. As the eldest son of his father, his father was killed and the family fell into ruin. His mother took her brothers and hid in the Qilian Mountains. She was originally meant to bring shame to her son. How could he not want to! His plan to join the army was not
Can he make his mark in the military and then get all this back?
The beggar gang sounds unpleasant, but once something happens in Guanzhong, the refugees heading northwest will basically go to settle down. That place is really a geomantic treasure! The leader of a beggar gang is not much less powerful than the county governor, and his family inheritance is passed down from generation to generation.
How could you not?
Seeing Hu Kai's expression struggling, Duan Ye took the opportunity to add fuel to the fire, "Just think about it slowly, and you can tell me at any time when you think about it. However, I am not only interested in your affairs, I think many of the people you have interacted with for generations are also interested."
Are there any beggars everywhere? Tell them that I, Duan Ye, am willing to make friends with them!"