Practice for two hours a day and shoot a thousand arrows. This is the task Wu Dan sets for himself.≥≥

In order to defeat Liang Xiao, Wu Dan insisted on practicing every day and never dared to be lazy. To a certain extent, he was more diligent than he practiced arrows in the mountains with the great wizard. At that time, he had only one goal to practice arrows: kill Liang Xiao and take revenge. Now he has another goal: to preserve control of the countries in the Nanshan Mountains.

With one more target, he worked harder, but perhaps because he worked too hard, his hit rate did not rise but fell, which became an insurmountable stubborn disease. The first five hundred arrows could probably have about 150 hits the target, with a hit rate of only 30%. The last five hundred arrows were even worse, almost all below 100. Sometimes, only a dozen arrows could hit human-shaped targets.

The ground bow is indeed very strong, and it still has strong strength at a range of 200 steps. However, Wu Dan's eyesight cannot keep up. Apart from 200 steps, he can only see a vague black spot. Such eyesight is no longer accurate, and it is basically just relying on the mystery.

Wu Dan felt an indescribable fear in his heart. This fear forced him to constantly swallow raw sheep liver and practice it continuously. Perhaps because he ate too much blood, his temper became more and more violent.

After practicing the arrows, he returned to the camp. He heard that the food and grass collected had not yet been in place. He was immediately furious and did not listen to any explanation at all. He ordered the person in charge to be pushed out and killed. After a moment, the bloody level was sent up. Wu Dan's eyes were red and he pointed at another subordinate.

"You go and do it. If you can't complete the task within five days, this is your end."

There was a silence in the tent, and no one dared to speak, including the unlucky person.

After driving his subordinates out, Wu Shan sat alone in the big tent, feeling indescribable loneliness.

He raised his head and looked at the mountains in the distance with a wolf-like look. Summer is about to pass, and the grass on the hillside will soon turn yellow. The battle is about to begin, but he is not ready yet.

The fear in his heart was like a dark cloud, and heavier and heavier. After several months of waiting, he couldn't understand Liang Xiao's thoughts. Liang Xiao came from thousands of miles away, but he was reluctant to attack. Is he afraid or has other conspiracies?

Wudan did not have many countermeasures. All he could do was prepare for war as much as possible and extract more wealth and troops from the countries he controlled to deal with the possible wars that could come soon. So far, he has more than 10,000 cavalry, and more than 3,000 elite cavalry alone.

He was still worried and kept urging his subordinates to continue to put pressure on various countries.

As long as he can defeat Liang Xiao, he doesn't care about knocking bones and sucking marrow and peeling cramps and skinning the countries in Nanshan.

Dunhuang prefect Guo Wenbin reached out to cover his nose and directed hundreds of soldiers to carry wooden barrels out of the car.

This was Liang Xiao's request. Guo Wenbin didn't know what Liang Xiao used for this thing, but since Liang Xiao made the request, he would do his best to satisfy it. According to his merits and qualifications, he could not be the prefect of 2,000 stones. The emperor appointed him as the first prefect of Dunhuang County, so that he could stabilize the Western Regions in order to cooperate with Liang Xiao's actions.

Autumn is approaching and the war is imminent. He dared not be negligent. He completed the task two days in advance and personally brought people to transport the sticky and thick black liquid to Liang Xiao's camp, and then unloaded the truck. It was not until all the things entered the baggage camp and handed over that he felt relieved and took several subordinates to the central army's tent.

Liang Xiao was discussing the war with Xu Le and others. During the past few months, Ma Rong and his men conducted detailed surveys and mapping of the surrounding hundreds of miles and made a model according to Liang Xiao's requirements. When the generals saw this model, they applauded. Even Xu Le was very satisfied and looked at Ma Rong with a different look.

The tribe leaders were also a little stunned. They were all natives born and raised here, and they were confident that they knew the geography clearly. However, when they saw these models, they realized that their understanding was not complete. Seeing this model, they had a illusion like a god, as if they were in the sky, overlooking this familiar and strange land.

Only the Han people can do it. While they are alert, these tribes are more in awe.

When Liang Xiao learned that Guo Wenbin was coming, he immediately sent someone to summon him to the account. Guo Wenbin entered the account, bowed, and greeted Xie Guanglong and others. Then he noticed the model on the case and said with a smile: "This is Ma Zijin's work again?"

Ma Rong smiled without saying a word with a serene amount of satisfaction.

Liang Xiao waved his hand and called Guo Wenbin to the front. "Come on, Prefect Su, tell me, how will your harvest be like this year."

"It's okay, it's okay." Guo Wenbin said with a smile: "This year is a bit hasty and not prepared very well. Please ask the generals to take care of it. The preparation will be started in the spring next year, and it will be more relaxed. I estimate that with the land that has been reclaimed, it will definitely be no problem to support the standing supplies of one thousand cavalry."

"How did you do it?" Maqi couldn't help asking: "I know how much arable land there is in Dunhuang. It may be possible to support a thousand infantrymen, but it may not be easy to support a thousand cavalry."

"When it comes to grazing, you Yuezhi people do have advantages. In terms of farming, we Han people have more experience." Guo Wenbin is confident and confident. "If the commander does not believe it, I will look at it next year. If there is a word of empty words, I, Guo Wenbin, will not do it."

Maqi was still skeptical. Seeing this, Batu smiled and said, "Prince Guo is right. When it comes to farming, Han people are indeed better at it than us. Junhou, can you transfer a few people familiar with farming to help us next year?"

"You can discuss this with Grandpa Guo." Liang Xiao said: "It is a good thing to cultivate carefully and increase the yield. However, you should be more cautious in the situation in the Western Regions and Bin. Never be greedy for merit. After pacifying Nanshan this year, a thousand elite cavalry can maintain stability, but too many may not be a good thing. If you want to farm on a large scale, go to Tianshan. Kucha, there is sufficient water supply near Luntai, which is more suitable for farming."

"Junhou is right." Guo Wenbin realized what Liang Xiao meant. "Can you pacify Nanshan this year?"

“If everything is as perfect as you are responsible for it, it should be OK.”

Liang Xiao gave Guo Wenbin a wink and did not continue to say anything. Guo Wenbin understood and immediately led the topic elsewhere. Liang Xiao arranged some more things, and the meeting was over. The generals said goodbye one after another. Xie Guanglong, Guo Wu and other old acquaintances enthusiastically invited Guo Wenbin to drink later, and rushed to train.

Liang Xiao sat down in front of the terrain model, Xu Le sat on the other side, signaling Guo Wenbin to sit as well. Guo Wenbin took his seat and listened attentively. Liang Xiao raised his hand to Xu Le, and Xu Le said: "The Guo family and the son have been doing business in the Western Regions for many years. I believe he knows that the Western Regions are so critical to the court, one is jade and the other is horses. Most of the jade used by the imperial court comes from Khotan, and most of the horses are from Wusun and Dayuan."

Guo Wenbin nodded. He understood all these principles. The country's major affairs are only sacrifices and military affairs. Jade is necessary for sacrifices, and horses are indispensable for conquests. The emperor attaches so much importance to the Western Regions, so of course he has the ambition to expand territory at work. But if the court had not been heavily dependent on jade and horses in the Western Regions, he would definitely not have been so anxious to send Liang Xiao to the expedition.

Guo Wenbin was a businessman, and it was almost his instinct to observe his face and look at his colors. After staying in the palace for so long, he roughly knew the emperor's thoughts. If it were not forbidden to do so, it would be no easy task for Liang Xiao to return to the Western Regions.

"Control the Western Regions is our goal of this expedition. Although Tianlang is fierce, it is not all. Liang Junhou and I discussed with him that we wanted to use the opportunity of killing Tianlang to conquer the countries of Nanshan, first restore the jade business road. Then, based on Nanshan, we confront Wusun. If we could control Wusun, east of the Pamir Mountains, no one would dare to confront our Han army."

"What should I do about the issue of military strength? Should I transfer the Hexi garrison?"

Xu Le turned his gaze to Liang Xiao. "Junhou, Guo Fujun is not an outsider, just tell him the plan."

Liang Xiao nodded. "There is no plan yet. Qiangzhong has made a decision, but there are still many people with ideas. Mobilizing the Hexi garrison at this time is not conducive to controlling Hexi. In contrast, it is better to give up the Western Regions than to give up Hexi."

Guo Wenbin was a little troubled. "What will Junhou do? You are only one thousand cavalry now. Even if the tribes can fully support you, there will be no more than three thousand people. Not to mention Wusun, even Tianlang, it will be difficult for you to deal with it."

"The Wusun matter is temporarily released. Hunting the two ends of the aurora and mistress, and he is not determined to break with my great man. Dongfang Shuo has temporarily stabilized him. We have only one thing to consider now: defeat the Tianlang, and then severely damage the countries in the Nanshan Mountains, kill the chickens and scare the monkeys."

"What does the lord need me to do?"

"I need you to set up an ambush in Xingxing Gorge to trap the Huns who went south. Tianlang is Wudan. I guess he will summon the old Hunxie troops to help. Compared with the countries in Nanshan, he should trust these Huns more. If you can defend Xingxing Gorge and trap them for a month, I will be able to solve Wudan. But if when I fight with Wudan, Hunxie troops arrive, I will be attacked from both sides."

Guo Wenbin thought for a while. "I will rush back and summon the warriors from the garrison and tribes, and guard Xingxing Gorge for a month at all costs."

"That's great." Liang Xiao was overjoyed. "I asked Deng Guobin to go back with you. I hope you two will join forces to fight a beautiful blocking battle."

Xu Le said: "If the task can be completed in the end, I will definitely write to Your Majesty to ask for your merits."

Guo Wenbin was overjoyed and bowed. "Thank you, Mr. Xu."

Guo Wenbin embarked on his return to Dunhuang, and Deng Guobin walked with him.

As the prefect of a county and a newly established border county, Guo Wenbin was the top priority. He was escorting strategic materials. In addition to more than 200 Qiang people and more than 30 elite knights were accompanied. Liang Xiao was not afraid, so he arranged for Guo Wu to lead 200 Qiang cavalry to escort them, and five large chariots were surrounded by thick wooden boards, revealing only a few holes a foot square.

Guo Wenbin was very grateful, but he felt it was inappropriate. Wu Dan might come at any time. Liang Xiao was very important for every cavalry. It was unnecessary to send two hundred cavalry to protect him and Deng Guobin. He found Liang Xiao and was about to refuse. Liang Xiao laughed as soon as he heard this.

"Wenbin, you're thinking too much. These people are not to protect you, but to protect Deng Guobin and those big cars. The big carts are equipped with Deng Guobin's efforts for several months, and they are also a powerful tool to help you succeed. I can't let them fall into the hands of others, I must send someone to protect them."

Guo Wenbin was surprised and happy. He knew who Deng Guobin was. His months of hard work were naturally not ordinary, and he was definitely a weapon to defeat the enemy. Liang Xiao handed him such a weapon, which showed how important it is to defend Xingxing Gorge and guard the reinforcements of Hunxie troops. Of course, if he completed the task, he would definitely not ask for credit for him.

Maybe there is a chance to be a marquis.

Guo Wenbin suddenly became energetic. He looked at Liang Xiao and showed an inquiring look. Liang Xiao laughed, reached out to press Guo Wenbin's shoulder, and pinched it gently. Guo Wenbin understood and nodded repeatedly. "Don't worry, the city is there."

"It's better for people to be in the city."

Guo Wenbin nodded in agreement and left with a spirit of pride.

Liang Xiao's base was only more than 300 miles away from Dunhuang County. Guo Wenbin walked for five days and entered Dunhuang County. Just when the Qiang people thought it was safe and began to talk and laugh, they met a group of Xiongnu scouts.

The Qiang people didn't care much. When the autumn wind came together, it became common for the Huns to enter the country. It was not surprising to see the Huns' scouts. As long as they didn't meet the Huns' cavalry. But Guo Wenbin didn't think so. There was Deng Guobin and that weapon in his team, so the Huns could not hear any wind.

He ordered to be on guard immediately, rushed to the cart, and discussed with Deng Guobin and Guo Wu.

Deng Guobin stood up, looked around with his eyes, and discussed with Guo Wu. Guo Wu nodded and ordered the knights under his command to change into war horses and prepare for battle. Deng Guobin ordered five big cars to be placed at five points and staggered. The two knights turned over and dismounted, Xun opened the car door and went in, and then closed the car door. The moment the door opened, Guo Wenbin vaguely saw a powerful crossbow and couldn't help but be surprised.

The weapon that Liang Xiao mentioned is five car-mounted crossbows? If you want to shoot a target five hundred steps away, this crossbow must be a powerful crossbow of more than ten stones. No wonder Liang Xiao must keep it confidential. This powerful crossbow cannot be seen by the Huns, nor can it be seen by ordinary Han soldiers. The Ten-Stone City Guard Crossbow is a powerful combat crossbow that can only be equipped with an imperial city. If someone complains about it, it is a crime of usurpation.

Guo Wenbin was puzzled. Ten-Stone Crossbow is powerful, with a long range of 500 steps, but what can five crossbows be used in field battles? Moreover, how many people need to be used for such a large crossbow? Can so many people be installed in this carriage?

Just as Guo Wenbin was puzzled, Guo Wu led fifty cavalrymen and slowly rushed out of the battle formation.

The Xiongnu scouts stood on a small slope and saw the Han army's position clearly. They were not nervous. They turned their horses and prepared to retreat until Guo Wu and others were still two hundred steps away.

At this moment, Deng Guobin, who had been observing the Hun scouts with his clairvoys, waved his hand. Five large cars trembled almost at the same time. One was less than two feet long but thick as an arm, and it spread out in the air, turning into a faint shadow, pounced on the Huns in the distance.

At the same time, Guo Wu and others added and surrounded them from both sides—

(To be continued.)8
Chapter completed!