Dramatic changes in the movies and TV shows

Chapter 1248 The Last Transfer in the Northern Desert of the Tang Dynasty

As soon as Lin Hao opened his eyes, he saw a person leaning against the ground not far away. Underneath the leather armor was a thin, white-haired old man.

No, he was a frail, battered old soldier.

Looking past the veteran and further into the distance, in the narrow, low earthen passage, there were many more similar figures, some sitting and some lying down.

Most of them had white or gray hair, wore tattered armor, and wore military robes so worn that their original color was no longer discernible.

"This is the Anxi Army, the Anxi Protectorate in Kucha City, in the sixth year of Zhenyuan, which is 790 AD!"

Lin Hao then began to receive the memories of the substitute's identity; Lin Hao was replacing a 48-year-old "soldier".

He was indeed a junior soldier, because most of the soldiers in Kucha were approaching sixty, and someone like Lin Hao, who was under fifty, was indeed considered a young "junior soldier".

It should be a month before the plot unfolds. This is the perk of choosing the blank card. If he had a choice, Lin Hao really wanted to choose Guo Xin directly and then go straight for the ultimate move.

However, you can't have your cake and eat it too. If you choose someone with a name and identity as a substitute, you won't get the benefit of being there a month in advance.

At this time, the Beiting Protectorate had already been lost, captured by the Tibetans and the Karluks!
More than a year ago, Khotan and Shule had already fallen one after another, and Yanqi and Xizhou were now also teetering on the brink of collapse and would soon fall as well.

Kucha will become the last isolated city of the Tang Dynasty in the Western Regions, while the Tibetan army is watching with predatory eyes, and its iron hooves may break through the dilapidated city walls at any time.

Meanwhile, the number of Tang Dynasty civilians in the city was decreasing, and they were getting older, and their food supplies were also running out.

As for reinforcements to Chang'an? Forget about it. The Hexi Corridor has long been cut off, and the two routes back to Chang'an are controlled by the Tibetan army.

Moreover, the Tang Dynasty at this time was already in its twilight years, barely able to save itself, let alone support the Western Regions.

However, Lin Hao now needs to go to the Anxi Protectorate Government Office, where, in his memory, the legendary General Guo Xin is located.

The highest commander of the Tang Dynasty in the Western Regions at present is Guo Xin, the Prince of Wuwei, the Grand Protector of Anxi, and the Military Governor of the Four Garrisons of Anxi.

He was the nephew of Guo Ziyi, a famous general of the Tang Dynasty. In the first year of the Shangyuan era of Emperor Suzong of Tang (760), many military towns in Hexi were captured by the Tubo. In the second year of the Yongtai era (766), Guo Ziyi, the military governor of Shuofang and the Grand Secretary, petitioned the court to send an envoy to inspect and pacify Hexi, Anxi and other places, and to establish chief administrators for Guazhou, Shazhou, Ganzhou, Liangzhou and Suzhou. Guo Xin, the General of Yunhui and the Grand General of the Left Wuwei, was ordered to inspect and pacify Hexi, Anxi and other places. It has been 25 years since then, and Guo Xin will continue to hold the position for a long time until 808.

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"Head east! Seek reinforcements!" Lin Hao declared emphatically.

Using a little trickery, Lin Hao successfully met with Guo Xin, and then described in detail his plan to go to Chang'an to seek help.

"Grand Protector, for the sake of the more than ten thousand white-haired comrades in this city of Kucha, for the last Tang banner of the Anxi Protectorate, break through the Tibetan blockade and head to Chang'an for reinforcements!"

Lin Hao didn't want to waste time, so he explained his plan while using his skills to guide Guo Xin to agree to his proposal.

"Chang'an!" Guo Xin said after a long while, somewhat lost in thought.
"The Tibetan army has blocked the roads, beacon towers are everywhere, and cavalrymen are like locusts! You alone? How can you possibly get through? Wouldn't that be suicide!"

"Even if it's a nine-out-of-ten chance of death, there's still a glimmer of hope!" Lin Hao said without flinching, meeting Guo Xin's scrutinizing gaze.
"If Kucha is trapped, there is no chance of survival! Protector General, this journey is not merely to seek reinforcements and supplies! It is also to inform the court and the world of the forty years of unwavering loyalty and blood-soaked defense of the Anxi army and people!"

"The Anxi Protectorate of our Great Tang Dynasty still stands! The Anxi Army of our Great Tang Dynasty has not surrendered! The Tang flag still flies atop the walls of Kucha!"

"Inform the court, inform the world...!" Guo Xin repeated these words in a low voice, a complex light flashing in his eyes.

Those were the resentments, grievances, and obsessions buried deep in his heart for decades, which were deeply stirred by Lin Hao's words and skills.

Ever since his perilous journey to Chang'an eight years ago, during which he returned with only an imperial edict of commendation but no reinforcements, Guo Xin had felt immense shame.
"How confident are you about this trip?" Coming back to his senses, Guo Xin's voice carried a barely perceptible hoarseness.

"Man proposes, God disposes!" Lin Hao said with utmost sincerity, without boasting.
"I dare not presume to say I have any chance of winning, but I will fight to the death! Even if I am shattered to pieces on the way, I will let Chang'an know that in the Western Regions, there is still Tang land! There is still Tang army!"

Guo Xin's gaze lingered on Lin Hao's face for a long time, as if trying to penetrate his skin and flesh to see the true nature of his soul.

Her eyes held scrutiny, doubt, and struggle, but were ultimately ignited by Lin Hao's almost fanatical courage.

"Alright!" After a long silence, Guo Xin slammed his hand on the table, making a dull thud. He stood up, his white hair trembling slightly in the dim light.

"What a fine 'inform the court, inform the world'! I believe in your courage!"

Guided by Lin Hao, Guo Xin emphasized the importance of Lin Hao's request for help and directly promoted Lin Hao to the position of Garrison Commander of Yanqi, making it easier for Lin Hao to travel east.

At this time, Yanqi had not yet fallen, and the garrison commander was concurrently held by Yang Riyou, the garrison commander of Kucha.

After drafting the petition for reinforcements and writing Lin Hao's appointment document, he summoned all the generals and announced it to them in front of everyone:

"Now, Lin Hao is hereby appointed as the acting military commander, to travel east to seek aid from the court. He may act as he sees fit along the way, and await the court's report."

The generals were stunned. Why was Lin Hao, a lowly soldier, suddenly appointed as the military commander?

"Huh?" Lin Hao was stunned for a moment, also confused.

Lin Hao originally only intended to guide him, so that he could act more easily and at most give himself the position of Garrison Commander. He never expected that he would become the Military Commander.

After probing Guo Xin's thoughts, Lin Hao realized he had made a huge blunder.

Guo Xin sent someone to Chang'an to ask for help. According to the Tang system, the person should have been a deputy Grand Protector (a third-rank official who could "know the affairs of the military governor"), a deputy military governor, or a civil official of the third rank or above, such as the military commander or chief secretary of the protectorate.

The garrison commander (rank 4-5) was a "general of a town" whose duties were to defend the city, cultivate land, and defend the local area. He was not qualified or had the status of "holding the imperial insignia" to ask the central government for help from thousands of miles away.

In short, the garrison commander was of too low a rank to have the authority to "report to the emperor" or to "go to the capital without going through the proper channels," so sending him to request assistance was a violation of regulations.

While it's possible to act expediently in an emergency, violating the rules can lead to serious problems later on.

Although Lin Hao is capable of achieving his goal, he ultimately loses the moral high ground and will not be able to convince the public.

Have you not heard of Zhang Yichao's nephew, Zhang Huaishen, who, for the sake of the righteous cause of leading the Guiyi Army, sought the title of Jiedushi (military governor) of Hexi? In the end, he toiled like a beast of burden until his death, only to receive a reduced-down-scale Jiedushi title of Shazhou, which greatly diminished his prestige. Finally, he was killed in a coup and his entire family was executed.

It must be said that in the Battle of Xiangji Temple, the Tang Dynasty really fought its own people ruthlessly, completely depleting the Tang's elite forces. The emperor, in order to weaken the power of the vassal states, could be said to have used every means possible.

However, the regional military governors in the late Tang Dynasty were indeed arrogant and domineering. They could rebel at will and kill their superiors at will, which was truly inhuman.

To put it another way, it's like you suddenly become emperor one day. You're doing well and are preparing to work hard, but then a general comes to you with an army and says: "Your Majesty, it's time to pay the soldiers' wages."

So you say, the imperial tax revenue has not yet been deposited into the treasury, and the military pay will be a few days later!

What? No money to pay the soldiers? Without saying a word, the general drew his sword and killed you, and then led a group of thugs to ransack your home.

Then, pointing the long sword, still stained with your blood, at the wealthiest civil official in the court, he said:
Come on, I heard your family is very rich, now you can be the emperor!
So the next unlucky guy became emperor, but after waiting for a few days, he saw that the new emperor had not yet paid the soldiers' wages, so the general took his sword and beheaded the new emperor on the spot.

They also confiscated the other party's property and then appointed the next wealthy civil official as emperor.

They're even more ruthless than capitalists, directly exploiting the people. This exploitation model applies to all officials, including but not limited to the emperor, military governors, and garrison commanders, using a uniform template regardless of whether they are civil or military officials.

Furthermore, the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period further exacerbated this situation, making it a common occurrence. Therefore, from this perspective, it was not unreasonable for the Song Dynasty to suppress its military generals so vehemently.

Fortunately, the Tang Dynasty has not yet been destroyed, and the border troops are, on the surface, mostly loyal.

Getting back to the main point, after Guo Xin made the appointment, instead of directly questioning him, everyone looked at Guo Xin with suspicion, wanting a reasonable explanation.

Guo Xin then told everyone about sending Lin Hao on a perilous journey to Chang'an to report to His Majesty and request assistance.

When everyone heard that Lin Hao was to go to Chang'an to seek help, they were immediately excited. The last time they contacted Chang'an was eight years ago, and now they could finally contact Chang'an again.

So everyone surrounded Lin Hao with eager eyes, wanting him to take a letter home to Chang'an.

However, they also knew that not only them, but others who knew would also beg Lin Hao, and everyone looked helplessly at Guo Xin.

"This is a letter I wrote myself, presented to Your Majesty!" Guo Xin's voice was deep and powerful, carrying a resolute air of entrusting his life to someone.

"Given the perilous situation in the Western Regions, and the unwavering loyalty of the Anxi army and people, you are my messenger, the last messenger of the Anxi army!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the empty doorway behind Lin Hao, as if he saw countless white-haired soldiers, their hunched figures leaning against the wall, a deep pain flashing in his eyes.

"Also, take the letters from our comrades home with you. Take as many as you can, whether they reach their destinations or not, so that they may have something to remember us by!"

Lin Hao looked down at the heavy oilcloth bundle in his hand; it was the last hope and longing of these old soldiers.

"Yes, sir!" Lin Hao took the package and said in a firm voice, "Even if I die ten thousand times, I will do my utmost to fulfill my mission!"

Watching Lin Hao collect the letters from the soldiers' families, Guo Xin suddenly thought of something and instructed Lin Hao again:
"The journey from Chang'an is long, so I will send a cavalry unit to escort you back. On your way back to Chang'an, you will pass through Xizhou, so please bring them some military pay."

Lin Hao was startled. Wasn't this the same story that Guo Yuanzheng of the Xuange Camp was going through in the original plot?
Guo Yuanzheng was ambushed by sand bandits on the way to escort the military supplies of Xizhou, resulting in the annihilation of the entire escort team. In the end, it was Lu Shisi who helped deliver the supplies.

However, Lin Hao was not worried, after all, with Lin Hao's ability, he could even single-handedly take on the entire Tang Dynasty.

Afterwards, Lin Hao collected the letters from the Kucha soldiers. To make them easier to carry, he simply created a spatial device and put it directly into his spatial ring.

Lin Hao carried a letter and a pair of cavalrymen sent to him by Guo Xin. The cavalry squad leader was Guo Yuanzheng, one of the main characters in the short film.

However, Lin Hao didn't say much. He simply called out to the cavalry and embarked on their journey back east.

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Hot winds whipped up dust, lashing Lin Hao's face, but couldn't suppress the increasingly strong smell of rust in his nostrils.

"Stop!" Lin Hao pulled on the reins, and the ten riders behind him stopped at the command, their hooves pawing restlessly at the hot sand.

The leader, Guo Yuanzheng, had scars on his face that looked even more menacing in the sunlight. His hawk-like eyes swept over the low earthen village ahead, and he frowned slightly as he said, "Sir, it smells of blood."

The earthen fortress before me was dilapidated, with most of the rammed earth walls collapsed and charred wooden beams pointing diagonally towards the sky. There were no roosters crowing or dogs barking, no smoke from cooking fires or people talking, only the whistling of the wind through the broken walls and the smell of rust.

"Everyone on alert! Form groups of three and search in a fan shape!" Guo Yuanzheng shouted in a low voice. The smell of blood made this veteran instinctively sense danger.

The ten guards were all skilled fighters selected by Guo Xin from the few remaining veterans in Kucha. Although their hair was white, their movements were as swift as a leopard. They scattered instantly, their swords drawn half an inch from their sheaths, a cold glint in their eyes.

Lin Hao dismounted, his boots sinking into the dark red sand. As far as the eye could see, countless corpses lay scattered among the ruins.

Some were dressed in tattered Tang army leather armor, their limbs contorted, their eyes wide with rage; many more were bald, bandit-like figures wrapped in animal skins, their gruesome wounds congealed with black blood. Flies buzzed and swarmed, licking the deadly feast.

Suddenly, a suppressed yet wildly joyful roar came from behind a half-collapsed mud house:
"I'm rich! I'm rich! I'm rich! Haha...!"

Lin Hao and Guo Yuanzheng exchanged a glance and then silently crept over.

Behind the earthen house, a figure with its rear end sticking out was frantically digging through the loose soil under the corpse of a bandit.

He was disheveled, his tattered coat stained with blood and mud, looking like a hungry wolf scavenging for food.

With a whoosh, he pulled a bulging leather bag from the ground, untied the knot, and a waterfall of golden copper coins poured out, gleaming alluringly in the blazing sun.

"Ha! They're all mine! Mine!" The man grabbed a handful of copper coins and slapped them on his face, laughing and crying, completely unaware of the figure approaching from behind.

Several shriveled water pouches and half a half-eaten, sand-covered flatbread lay scattered at his feet.

Lin Hao saw clearly that the man was tightly clutching a larger, bulging bundle in his arms. The fabric was badly worn, but he was protecting it fiercely. He never expected to run into him under such circumstances. This was Lu Shisi, the other protagonist in the short film.

Lin Hao made a gesture, and Guo Yuanju appeared from the side like a ghost, his iron-like hand grabbing Lu Shisi's shoulder blade! His other hand swiftly snatched the money bag he had just picked up.