Dramatic changes in the movies and TV shows

Chapter 1250 Western Continent Crisis
A dozen or so bandits wielding curved knives rushed out from behind the sand dunes, whistling and yelling, and surrounded the area in a fan shape.

"Form ranks!" Guo Yuanzheng roared, drawing his sword with a clang.

The ten white-haired veterans instantly formed a circular formation, their blades pointing outwards, protecting Lin Hao and his pack at the core.

Lu Shisi's face was deathly pale, but he gripped the reins tightly, his other hand clutching the bundle in front of his chest, his eyes fixed on the approaching enemy figure.

Then, pulling sharply on the reins, Captain Lin Hao pleaded, "Sir, I am willing to be the vanguard and give you a knife!"

He pointed his withered finger at the bandits, bloodshot eyes flashing: "Let these barbarians witness the might of the Tang Dynasty's blade!"

Lin Hao threw the money bag to the ground with his backhand and said in a cold, iron voice, "Guard the horses and the military pay!"

Before he finished speaking, Lin Hao had already drawn his gun and sprang into action, riding like an arrow straight into the bandit formation!
The bandit grinned and brandished his knife in an attempt to defend himself, but Lin Hao's spear tip flashed with a cold light and pierced straight through his throat!
Before the bodies even hit the ground, a long spear swept across, shattering the breastplates of two bandits on the flanks, their blood splattering on the yellow sand.

The remaining bandits reined in their horses in panic, but Lin Hao's spear moved like a dragon, striking, thrusting, parrying, and parrying! The sandstorm swirled around them, and only the spearheads could be seen flicking and spitting.

In an instant, corpses littered the field, and the bandits fled several meters before being pinned to the sand dunes by flying spears.

The wind swirled with the stench of blood. Guo Yuanzheng stood frozen, his hand on his sword, his eyes flashing with a sharp light. Lu Shisi's mouth was agape, his Adam's apple bobbing.

They had never seen such swift and decisive killing methods before, as fast as lightning, as fierce as thunder, with eyes as deep as an ancient well.

"Check the supplies!" In no time, Lin Hao wiped the blood off his gun and returned to the formation, his expression completely calm.

The veterans silently divided up the water bags and rations, and gathered the sturdy horses. Suddenly, Guo Yuanzheng kicked over a "corpse," and a bandit who had been pretending to be dead cried out for mercy.

With a flash of light, the whole world became quiet.

······
Three days later, the colossal, earthen-yellow city came into view, and the group finally arrived at Xizhou City.

At this moment, the rammed earth walls of Xizhou were mottled, old wounds layered with newly plastered mud, and half a withered face peeked out from the crenellations, hissing through the wind:
"Everyone knows his name!"

Lin Hao spurred his horse forward and shouted loudly:
"Lin Hao, the acting military commander of the Anxi Protectorate, is here on the orders of Commander Guo to escort supplies to Xizhou. This is the official seal!"

After stating his identity and purpose, the old soldier guarding the city immediately reported to the Protector-General. Upon learning that Guo Xin of Kucha had sent someone to deliver military pay, Yang Xigu came out to greet him.

After a long while, the city gates opened, and a line of white-haired old soldiers filed out, standing on both sides.

Their armor was somewhat worn, but they gripped their swords and spears tightly in their hands, watching Lin Hao and his group warily, especially the warhorses carrying heavy wooden boxes.

The leading veteran general had snow-white hair and a face so deeply lined that a blade could be buried in it; he was none other than Yang Xigu, the military governor of Beiting.

He strode forward, his armor clanging, his eyes fixed intently on Lin Hao and Guo Yuanzheng.

"Where is the military funding?" Yang Xigu asked in a hoarse voice, without exchanging any pleasantries.

Guo Yuanzheng dismounted with the agility of a leopard, untied the packhorse's wooden box, and landed it with a thud on the scorching sand.

Then, the lid of the box was lifted, and piles of golden "Tang Jianzhong" copper coins were revealed.

Guo Yuanzheng then clasped his hands in salute and said, "Guo Yuanzheng, Ninth Cavalry Unit of the Xuange Battalion of the Wuwei Army of the Great Tang Dynasty!"

"By order of General Guo, the Grand Protector of Anxi, the military funds are to be escorted to Xizhou! Please inspect them, Protector Yang!"

"Received by Yang Xigu, Grand Protector of Beiting!" Yang Xigu took the document and waist token, then grabbed a handful of copper coins bearing the inscription "Jianzhong of the Great Tang Dynasty," a complex expression flashing in his eyes.

He looked up at Lin Hao and the other twelve riders and said, "Thank you for your hard work. Was the journey safe?"

"Reporting to the Protector-General, we were ambushed by bandits on the way, but thanks to the bravery of Commander Lin, the entire bandits were wiped out, ensuring the safety of our military funds," Guo Yuanzheng said in a deep voice.

His gaze swept over Lu Shisi, who subconsciously straightened his hunched back and tightened his grip on the bundle in front of his chest.

Yang Xigu finally turned his gaze to Lin Hao, and said with a scrutinizing look:

"Temporary Military Commander? Prince Guo actually entrusted you with such an important task? Has something happened in Kucha?" Yang Xigu spoke very quickly, expressing some doubt about Guo Xin's appointment of Lin Hao as Temporary Military Commander, or more accurately, concern for the safety of Kucha.

After all, the safety of Xizhou depends on the mutual support between Xizhou and Kucha. If something happens to Kucha, Xizhou will not be able to hold on either.

"Kucha still exists, and the people's hearts are not scattered, but our food supplies are dwindling daily. We are surrounded by powerful enemies, and our situation is as precarious as a pile of eggs!" Lin Hao dismounted and faced Yang Xigu directly, saying:
"Commander Guo has ordered me to travel east to seek reinforcements and escort military funds along the way. I also have other important matters to report to the Protector-General!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Xigu's hawk-like eyes narrowed. He nodded to Lin Hao and then said, "The rest of you hand over the military funds. You come back to the government office with me!"

"Yes, sir!" Guo Yuanzheng was the first to respond, and the group of white-haired veterans remained silent as they began to move the heavy money boxes.

The Xizhou Jiedushi's residence was more of a fortified fortress than an official residence.

The hall was small, with rammed earth walls and rough wooden beams, and the air was filled with the mixed smells of dust, sweat and leather.

A huge, badly worn sheepskin map lay on a rough wooden table, with distorted lines and indistinct place names outlined in charcoal and vermilion.

Lin Hao followed Yang Xigu to the somewhat dilapidated government office. Yang Xigu waved his hand, signaling the old soldiers on either side to silently step back and stand guard outside the door.

After the people in the government office left, Lin Hao used his skill and began to guide them in a low voice.

"According to the latest news, the Uyghur loyal Khan was poisoned by Princess Ye in March. The new Khan, Yaoluogeduoluos, has ascended the throne, and Jieyujias has lost power. Internal strife has already begun."

"The Tibetans have already laid a trap in Beiting, waiting for you and Jieyujiasi to join forces and fall into their trap. Protector, your departure will surely lead to your death. Commander Guo, please, Protector, refuse to join forces and defend Xizhou!"

Yang Xigu's body jolted violently, and the veins on the back of his hand, which was pressed against the horizontal sword at his waist, bulged.

"Poisoning? The new Khan? How did you find out?"

Yang Xigu lowered his voice even further, but it couldn't hide the turmoil in his voice. "Last month, Jieyujias sent me a message saying that the Khan was unwell and invited me to join him in attacking Tibet and recovering Beiting!"

"The trade routes are not yet closed, and there are also eyes and ears in Kucha!" Lin Hao said without changing his expression.

No, to be honest, it wasn't really a lie; it was just an excuse to state the truth.

"The Protector-General is trapped in Xizhou, cut off from news. Jieyujias is in dire need of protection himself and is eager to establish his authority and consolidate his power through a great victory, so he takes a risky move. However, his troops are disloyal, and the Tibetans are waiting in ambush. This battle is a sure way to die."

Lin Hao's gaze swept over the white-haired old soldiers outside the window. "The last remaining vitality of Xizhou, the last barrier of Anxi, how can it fill this bottomless abyss?" Yang Xigu really had no other choice. Beiting had fallen into the hands of Tubo, and as the Grand Protector of Beiting, he also had the responsibility to recover the lost territory.

Yang Xigu hesitated for a moment, then sighed and said:

"The Uyghur Grand Chancellor, Jieyujias, invited me to attack Beiting. Firstly, I am the Grand Protector of Beiting, and I cannot miss the opportunity to recover lost territory. Secondly, Jieyujias was invited to rescue Beiting last year and has done us a favor. Whether for official or personal reasons, I, the Grand Protector, cannot refuse!"

Seeing that Yang Xigu was still hesitant, Lin Hao added fuel to the fire.

"Furthermore, even if we win this battle, can Beiting really return to the Grand Protector's hands? How can the Grand Protector take Beiting back from Jieyujias? With just these two thousand soldiers in the city?"

The Western Regions are now a place where the strong prey on the weak. Two thousand men are barely enough to defend the Western Regions, let alone the vast territory of the Northern Court.

"Hmph!" Yang Xigu suddenly stopped in his tracks upon hearing this, turned around and stared directly at Lin Hao.

Lin Hao's blunt words revealed his current predicament, making him very uncomfortable. Fortunately, he was not the kind of person who was stubborn and did not ignore Lin Hao's words.

Just then, the old soldier on the city wall suddenly blew a bugle, a short and mournful sound!
"Report—!" The messenger rushed into the government office and shouted, "Grand Protector, a Uyghur envoy, a personal guard of Grand Minister Jieyujias, has stormed the camp with an imperial insignia!"

Yang Xigu and Lin Hao exchanged a glance. Lin Hao thought to himself that it wasn't too late. According to the original plot, after receiving this military funding, Xizhou would launch an expedition according to the Uyghur plan and be completely annihilated.

Yang Xigu believed Lin Hao's words even more, and then led Lin Hao and his subordinates to the city gate.

Beneath the city gate, a dozen or so fierce Uyghur warriors stared at the gatekeepers. Seeing Yang Xigu arrive, the leader, dressed in a magnificent fur robe and wearing a golden sword at his waist, held aloft a gold-inlaid wolf-head tally and spoke in broken Tang language, in a commanding tone:
"Protector Yang, the Grand Chancellor has made all the preparations. Please gather your troops from Xizhou within three days and bring them to Futu City (the old city of Beiting) for a joint attack!"

The intruder's impolite words caused the Tang soldiers at the city gate to change color. Yang Xigu took a deep breath and was about to speak.

"Clang—!" A piercing metallic scraping sound rang out!

Guo Yuan, like an iron tower, took a step forward, blocking Yang Xigu and the Uyghur envoy. His thumb had already pushed the hilt of the sword at his waist half an inch open, a flash of cold light piercing the sweltering air.

Behind him, ten veteran soldiers of the Xuange Camp simultaneously drew their swords, their movements perfectly synchronized, their silence as deep as an abyss, their chilling killing intent instantly locking onto the intruder, their meaning self-evident.

Lin Hao's voice rang out at the opportune moment:

"The envoy has come from afar with great difficulty, but this is a matter of national importance. How can we allow him to barge into the camp with his imperial credentials and reprimand the general? This is not how the Uyghurs treat their guests, much less the etiquette of allied forces."

He turned to Yang Xigu, clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, and said, “Protector, the wind and sand are fierce. Why not invite the messenger into the city to serve tea and give a detailed report on the military situation?”

Yang Xigu instantly understood, his face deepening with age, and he shouted in a deep voice:

"Guards! Invite the Uyghur envoy to the city's post station to rest! Treat him well and do not neglect him!" He then said coldly to the envoy.

"Regarding military orders, I will discuss them with my subordinates before giving a reply. Please rest for a moment, sir!"

The Uyghur envoy's face flushed red and then paled, his golden sword and talisman frozen in mid-air. He glared at Guo Yuanzheng and Lin Hao, then glanced at Yang Xigu's cold, hard face and the blades swung by the Tang soldiers around him, finally squeezing out a sentence through gritted teeth:
"Good! I hope Protector Yang will send out his troops as soon as possible, so as not to delay the military schedule!" The envoy angrily withdrew his staff and was "politely escorted" into the city by several Tang soldiers.

Back at the government office, Lin Hao, Guo Yuanzheng, and the few remaining core generals of Xizhou surrounded them on both sides.

Yang Xigu then had Lin Hao recount the details of the Uyghur internal strife.

"What? Uyghur internal strife!" This news was so sudden that the officers were immediately shocked.

Yang Xigu reached out and pressed down, and after the generals quieted down, he slowly turned around, his gaze sweeping over Lin Hao and Guo Yuanzheng, and finally landing on the faces of the white-haired generals, each face etched with the marks of hardship and fatigue.

"Did you hear everything?" Yang Xigu's voice was hoarse as he broke the silence. "The Uyghurs are in turmoil, the Tibetans have set up an ambush, and Prince Guo has ordered us to defend the city and refuse to join forces."

With a clanging sound of armor plates, a one-eyed captain suddenly stepped forward and said:

"Protector! Beiting is our home! The blood of our brothers still seeps into that land!" he said, his eyes bloodshot. "If there's a chance..."

“Going there is just suicide!” another captain said in a muffled voice.
"Last year at Futu City, out of two thousand brothers, only one hundred and sixty returned! If we send more in, who will defend Xizhou? What about Prince Guo's side?"

A heated argument broke out, with the group of white-haired officers disagreeing: "Jieyujias is unreliable! He ran away after his defeat last year, never caring about our lives or deaths."

"Not going? The Uyghurs will turn hostile, and Xizhou will become the next Beiting!"

"Defend? What can we use to defend? Our food supplies are almost gone, and we have less than 30% of our arrows!"

"Sima Lin said the Tibetans had laid an ambush, but Prince Guo wouldn't lie to us!"

Yang Xigu closed his eyes, his withered hand pressing against his forehead, his knuckles white. On his shoulders lay the shame of the fall of Beiting, the blood debt of two thousand comrades, and the precarious situation of the isolated city of Xizhou.

Lin Hao's intelligence was like a bucket of ice water poured over his head, jolting him from his frenzy of reclaiming lost territory, only to plunge him into an even deeper abyss.

Lin Hao's voice rang out again, clear and cold, piercing through the noise:
"Protector, fellow soldiers, if we attack Futu City (Beiting), we will be playing right into the hands of the Tibetans and be surrounded and annihilated. The western region will be left vulnerable, and if the Uyghurs become angry or the Tibetans take advantage of the situation, the city will surely fall!"

If we don't go, Jieyujias might be angry, but he's preoccupied with his own problems and unable to look westward in the short term. The Western Regions still have two thousand soldiers fit for battle; with fortified cities, stored provisions, and allied with Kucha, they can support each other and still manage to hold their own! We'll wait for Chang'an!

"Chang'an?" Yang Xigu suddenly opened his eyes, interrupting Lin Hao, his eyes filled with unfathomable bitterness and mockery.

"Twenty-five years! Lin Sima, tell me, does Chang'an still remember Anxi?" He pointed to the box of "Great Tang Jianzhong" copper coins and said, "Relying on this?"

Lin Hao met his gaze without flinching: "General Guo sent me eastward to let Chang'an know that Anxi still exists! The Tang flag has not fallen! As long as Kucha exists, as long as Xizhou exists, the territory of the Great Tang will remain!"

"Even if I am shattered to pieces, I will break through the Tibetan blockade and tell His Majesty and the world about the forty years of loyal service of the Anxi people and soldiers!"

"This is a glimmer of hope, better than being trapped in a lonely city and waiting to die, and better than being trapped in a dead end and wasting your life force!"

Yang Xigu remained silent upon hearing this, and after a long while, he finally made up his mind and said, "Then we will defend Xizhou and wait for reinforcements!"

His voice suddenly rose, like the clang of metal on metal, echoing throughout the city gate:

"To preserve this last line of defense for Kucha! And to leave a spark for Anxi, so that we may one day find an opportunity to return to Beiting. Only then can we repay the sacrifices of our comrades in Beiting!"

Then Yang Xigu pressed his hand firmly on the seal of the Beiting Jiedushi at his waist. That cold bronze seal now felt heavier than a thousand pounds.

He slowly raised his head, looking towards the northwest Futu City, his eyes churning with blood and fire, shame and resentment, which ultimately transformed into a deep weariness and resolve.

Despite Lin Hao's persuasion, the crisis in Xizhou has not yet been resolved, but the center of the storm has quietly shifted.