The horse thieves attacked at night, which made the caravan really nervous.

The remaining days, the mercenaries were also excited and patrolled the night with their swords. The torches were lit up and greeted each other continuously. They could also enhance their momentum.

However, there was no trace of the horse thief. After a few days and nights, the defense became looser.

Human nature.

On the ground of the Western Regions, the temperature difference between day and night is huge. During the day, only a thin shirt is worn, but the cloak is wrapped tightly at night. The thirty-degree jade nectar is a bag for everyone. When it is cold, they take a sip and their whole body is suddenly warm.

Ten days later, the team arrived outside Quli City, located at the oasis at the source of the Peacock River.

This city was originally the capital of Quli Kingdom.

"(Qu) Li Kingdom, the king governs Quli City. One lieutenant, one hundred and thirty households, and one thousand four hundred and eighty mouths. Hundred and fifty soldiers were victorious, and there were rivers in the northeast and Quli... and five hundred and eighty miles to Kucha."

In the fourth year of Taichu (101 BC), General Li Guangli attacked Dayuan twice, destroyed Quli Kingdom, no longer appointed kings, and only set up a commander to accept state affairs, so it was called "Qulicheng". During the Jianwu period of the Han Dynasty, Shache dominated the southern border and divided the Wulei Kingdom in its territory. In the third year of Yongping, the Xiongnu invaded southern border, and Quli land belonged to the Xiongnu. In the sixth year of Yongyuan, Ban Chao led Kucha and Shanshan troops to attack Yanqi and Quli, and then Quli returned to the Hanting area.

Later, the Xianbei rebelled and the Qifu tribe entered the Western Regions. Quli City lost news. Now it seems that everything is as usual.

Liu Bei, who was dressed in Western Regions Hu costume and transformed into a Silk Road merchant, was in the team, looking up at the seemingly intact city walls.

One thing to remember is that the border defense during the Qin and Han dynasties was a three-dimensional defense network composed of beacons, fires, barriers, blocks, cities, etc.

Quli City is no exception. As the capital of Quli, Quli City is located in the middle and guards. The surrounding oasis is scattered with beacons and barriers, which serve as a supporter for each other. It is warned in peacetime and defends the enemy during wartime. The oasis is ditched and crisscrossed, and it can be self-sufficient. If necessary, it can support the army out of the frontier. Looking around, the fields are filled with just-cut wheat straw. Smoke in the city is curling, as if there are still people guarding it.

"Lord. An Xuan came to ask if he had entered the city." Qu Yi came to report.

"Enter the city." Liu Bei nodded slightly.

The mercenary came forward and shouted. Someone agreed to the city. He heard that it was a caravan from Dunhuang, so he stretched out a long pole from the wall and threw it hard, and steadily crossed the moat. Someone in the caravan put the pass certificate into the basket. He threw the long pole back and lifted the bamboo basket to the city. After inspecting the pass certificate from the caravan, the suspension bridge slowly fell down and the caravan entered the city.

Several veteran Han soldiers in military uniforms opened the city gate, opened the antlers, and left the city to welcome the caravan.

Although the few people had white hair and long hair, their skin was as beautiful as a portrayal. They were energetic and strong. Especially with their waists and backs straight, they were very imposing. They looked like old soldiers who fought for a hundred battles. Although there was no news from the Han court for a long time, they were loyal to their duties throughout their lives. People were in the city. When the city was in the Han Dynasty, the Han Dynasty was also there.

"Since the Xianbei chaos, there have been no caravans coming and going. I dare to ask, can my army come out of seclusion?" An Xuan, who rushed to meet, asked on the head.

"Yes." An Xuan replied with a smile: "I heard halfway through: General Supplementary Han, Chief of the Western Regions, and Marquis of Linxiang have led tens of thousands of infantry and cavalry out of Jianshui Jin Pass to reopen the Western Regions Changshi Mansion, and are in the process of garrisoning the land to reorganize troops in order to fight the Xianbei."

"Oh! I dare to ask, who is the new Duke?" the old man asked again.

"The new chief is the Marquis of Linxiang, the Great Han Dynasty, and is called General Fuhan. The young hero, the Qilin of the Tian Family. The one who defeated the Xianbei is the Marquis of the King." An Xuan replied.

"It turned out to be the one who defeated the Xianbei Tan Shihuai!" The old soldiers were overjoyed, so they gave way: "Go to the city with respect."

"It's hard work." An Xuan then led the caravan into the interior.

There are also families in the city.

As mentioned earlier, there are 'a hundred and thirty households, four hundred and eighty households, and 150 victorious soldiers' in the city.'

Seeing that the large group of people entered the city, each family opened the windows to watch. An Xuan asked, "I don't know where the lieutenant is?"

"Since Feng Duwei died in the city, no new Duwei sent him." The old man leading the way replied.

"Can there be future generations?" An Xuan asked again.

"How can the Han Dynasty have no descendants?" The old man replied with a smile: "If you settle down here, you will have to spread your branches and leaves and stay in the territory of our Han Dynasty."

"Why are there all the women and children along the way, and they have not seen young and strong?" An Xuan asked again.

"Sometimes they were hired by caravans or employed by various countries. The court has been around for a long time and has not received any military orders. How could the younger generation be willing to trap this place with our old soldiers? They all went out to make a living." The old soldiers smiled. I thought that even if there was no chief minister in the Western Regions, the Han court's power was still there. The surrounding countries did not dare to invade easily.

Those who violate the powerful Han Dynasty in an intellectual way will be punished even if they are far away. Translation: Don’t mess with me, I will kill you sooner or later.

The King of Kucha killed the captain Lai Dan in front of him. Seven years later, the Han Dynasty launched an army to attack. Although the old king died, his blood feud was not over. He ordered the current King of Kucha to hand over the noble Gu Yi who killed Lai Dan and beheaded him to sacrifice to Lai Dan.

This is my great man. He has always been so neat.

"So that's it." An Xuan nodded slightly.

He led the caravan into the camp and told everything, and the old man left.

Although entering the city is complicated, it is surrounded by high walls. Compared to camping in the wild, it is a hundred times easier, both psychologically and physically. Sleeping is also stable.

After the caravan set up a camp, the residents of the city rushed over to barter.

This is also one of the benefits of entering the city. Not only can you get sufficient supplies, but you can also make a small profit. An Xuan did this trip to a "big business", which doesn't matter. The Western Regions travelers who temporarily formed a team were enjoying it. Soon, the tents of several travelers were surrounded by people.

This is also the significance of the existence of travelers. The creation of civilization is spread along the Silk Road. Caravans are not only about the exchange of goods and exchanges, but also about the exchange of different ethnic cultures.

There is a lively market until the camp is closed.

Shi Huan brought a hundred embroidered officials to guard Liu Bei's camp. Qu Yi led a hundred Qu family under his command to climb first and circled around the entire camp. Qu family was in Xiliang for a long time. He was a little familiar with Hu language and dressed in Hu people, and there were many similarities. He pretended to be a mercenary, but no one doubted it.

"Lord, beware of night attacks." Xi Zhicai made a statement.

"It's reasonable for the history to say." Liu Bei nodded slightly: "There are only old soldiers, women and children in the city, but no strong. Moreover, the women are generous and have very rich money in their pockets. However, there is no profitable industry in the city. I believe that the wealth and goods in the family are robbed by men when they go out."

"What the lord said is very true." Xi Zhicai sighed: "The missing young and strong in the city must be a horse thief. But he doesn't know the inside story, and whether the women and children in the city have known it."

"I must not know." Thinking of the old soldiers who had been guarding the border for half their lives and had white hair and hair, Liu Bei couldn't help but sigh. The older generation was loyal to their duties, but the younger generation went out to be thieves. This is proof that the Han court was unable to control the Western Regions.

"What should I do now?" Xi Zhicai was already confident.

Staff members of the level of Xi Zhicai are really smart and close to monsters. Many of the seemingly secretive and unknown to outsiders are seen through by him. The way to deal with them is easy to pick up. The same is true for horse thieves who travel across the Western Regions and come and go without a trace. If there is a slight flaw, they will be seen through. Such a character is really terrifying.

By the way, who would have thought that the horse thief was actually a descendant of the old soldiers guarding the border. He also secretly fought with the countries in the Western Regions.

"Can you have a good idea for the official Shi?" Liu Bei asked.
Chapter completed!