Three Kingdoms, I'm really not a general!

Chapter 663: Rebuilding the Western Regions Protectorate

avalanche!

"Formation!"

Ma Chao pointed his spear and his personal soldiers immediately raised their huge shields.

Zhang Bao roared and ordered the rear army to disperse to both sides.

Guan Ping rode his horse forward, trying to lead the front army out of the dangerous area.

boom--

Snow waves brushed past the edge of the army formation, stirring up snow fog all over the sky.

When the dust settled, Ma Chao found that the road ahead was completely blocked by snow.

"What are the casualties?" he asked in a deep voice.

Guan Ping rode back to report: "Seventeen people were slightly injured, no one died, but... three grain carts were lost and the road was completely blocked."

Zhang Bao punched the snow and said, "It must be the thieves from Kucha! How can there be an avalanche in this season?"

Ma Chao narrowed his eyes and looked towards the top of the mountain. He could vaguely see a few dark shadows flash by.

He clenched the golden tiger-head spear in his hand and said in a cold voice: "Now that the enemy has discovered us, the sneak attack has failed and they will definitely attack us head-on. Order the entire army to be on alert and set up camp here tonight."

As night falls, the temperature in the snowy mountains drops sharply.

Inside the central military tent, Ma Chao studied the sheepskin map by the light of an oil lamp.

Guan Ping pointed to a thin line and said, "If we go around the northern slope, it will take two more days, but we can avoid the enemy's ambush."

"Why take a detour!" Zhang Bao slammed the table and said, "Tomorrow I will lead the vanguard to fight our way out!"

Ma Chao shook his head: "The enemy is defending in a dangerous position. A strong attack will only increase casualties."

He drew an arc on the map with his finger and continued, "Ping'er, you lead 3,000 light cavalry along this path to go around the enemy's rear. Bao'er, you will make a big move tomorrow and feint an attack on the front. When the enemy's formation is in chaos, I will lead the main force to launch a surprise attack."

"Great plan!" Guan Ping's eyes lit up. "The people of the Western Regions are brave but lack strategy. They will definitely fall into this trap."

Zhang Bao scratched his head: "Then I have to hold my strength and pretend to fight?"

Ma Chao laughed and patted him on the shoulder: "Tomorrow you will have the chance to fight for real!"

This Ma Chao...

Now I can use this trick.

Zhuge Liang was worthy of his trust in him to be the commander-in-chief of the westward march.

...

Dawn the next day.

Zhang Bao led 5,000 soldiers and horses, beating drums and shouting, preparing for a strong attack.

As expected, the Westerners appeared from the ridge and rained arrows down.

Zhang Bao ordered his shieldmen to form a defensive formation, while he himself rode out on his own, pointing his snake spear to the sky and cursing, "How dare you, a cowardly rat, fight Grandpa Zhang!"

The leader of the Uzbek army was so excited that he screamed and rushed down the mountain with his soldiers.

When the two armies met, Zhang Bao's spear was as fast as a dragon, killing seven people in a row, but he deliberately fought and retreated to lead the enemy away from dangerous places.

While they were fighting, they suddenly heard shouts of killing from the rear of the Wuzi army - Guan Ping's light cavalry descended from the sky like divine troops and attacked the enemy camp directly.

When the enemy army was in chaos, Ma Chao personally led the cavalry to attack from the flank, and the silver-armored white horse struck into the enemy formation like a bolt of lightning.

"The great Han Xiliang Ma Chao is here!"

The roar was like thunder, and the soldiers from the Western Regions were terrified.

No one could stop Ma Chao's spear.

Seeing that the situation was not good, the enemy general pulled his horse to escape, but was blocked by Zhang Bao.

"Where to go!"

Zhang Bao swept his snake spear across, knocking the enemy general off his horse.

Guan Ping arrived in time and put his long sword to the enemy's neck.

When the battle subsided, Ma Chao rode up to the captured enemy general and asked in Qiang language: "Where do you get the courage to intercept the Han army?"

Ma Chao had always been close to the Qiang people, so he naturally knew the Qiang language.

The people of Kucha live in the Western Regions, and their language is similar to that of the Qiang people.

The enemy general didn't dare to speak, or... didn't know what to say.

He just lowered his head and said nothing. Ma Chao sneered and said to Guan Ping and Zhang Bao: "Such a small country dares to come to fight!"

"Let's kill them all, leaving no one alive."

The enemy general's face changed when he heard this.

Ma Chao turned around and said, "I will not kill you today. Go back and tell the leaders of each tribe that I will hold a banquet by the Shule River in three days."

"Those who are willing to obey will share the benefits of the Silk Road; those who want to fight..." He thrust the spear in his hand into the ground, three-quarters of the way into the stone, "Let you know the power of the Han Heavenly Soldiers."

Guan Ping was a little worried about letting the Russian general go: "General, is this too risky?"

Ma Chao looked at the setting sun, his silver armor stained with blood. "The nations of the Western Regions fear power but not virtue. When Ban Dingyuan and his thirty-six men conquered the Western Regions, they relied not only on force but also on courage."

"We have tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, and we have magical weapons. What can we do to fear them?"

Zhang Bao laughed loudly: "Uncle Ma, you are so generous! I will be the first to toast you when the time comes!"

...

Three days later.

Flags are waving by the Shule River.

Unexpectedly, not only all the leaders of Uzi were present, but also envoys were sent by the neighboring Western Regions countries.

Ma Chao sat high up in the tent, while Guan Ping and Zhang Bao stood on both sides with swords in hand.

The envoys from various countries trembled as they presented their letters of surrender, saying that the previous rebellions were all caused by momentary confusion.

Ma Chao listened calmly, then suddenly slammed the table and stood up: "Come here, drag him out and behead him!"

The warriors outside the tent came in. The messenger collapsed to the ground, begging for mercy.

Ma Chao changed the subject and said, "However, if the King of Wuzi is willing to surrender in person, I can report this to the Prime Minister and forgive the past."

The messenger was already frightened out of his wits, and after hearing this, he retreated in a panic.

Guan Ping on the side whispered: "General, you are wise. People in the Western Regions are suspicious by nature. They will not dare to come, but they will not dare not to come."

Ma Chao said, "If he comes, he will surrender. If he doesn't come, we can beat him until he surrenders. Don't worry about it."

Zhang Bao nodded repeatedly, rubbing his hands and asking, "Where should we attack next?"

Ma Chao unfolded the map and pointed to the west: "We must not let any of the countries in the Western Regions go!"

"Only when we rebuild the Western Regions Protectorate and return the Western Regions to the Han territory can this war be considered over."

Zhang Bao and Guan Ping couldn't help but shout "good" when they heard it.

I've been hearing about Xing Daorong conquering many islands and expanding territory overseas, and I felt itchy this morning.

This opportunity is right in front of you, how can you miss it!

Outside the tent, the setting sun stretched the shadows of the three generals very long, like three unsheathed swords, pointing directly at the heart of the Western Regions.

...

A few months later, Loulan Kingdom.

The gates of Loulan were wide open, and the king personally led all the officials to welcome them.

Ma Chao only brought ten personal guards into the city to show his trust.

The King of Loulan held a banquet, during which envoys from various countries presented their surrender letters.

There was a hint of fear in his eyes.

It can be seen that Ma Chao has really frightened the countries in the Western Regions these days.

"The general is so powerful that all the countries in the Western Regions are in awe of him." The King of Loulan raised his glass in toast.

Ma Chao put down his wine glass, his eyes were like torches: "The day when the Western Regions Protectorate is rebuilt, all nations will enjoy peace. Anyone who disobeys us will be punished." He tapped the table with his fingertips.

Soon Ma Chao climbed up to the top of the Loulan City Wall and personally wrote the inscription for the plaque of the Western Regions Protectorate.

The gold lacquer sparkled in the sun, symbolizing the re-establishment of the Han Dynasty's authority.

"From today on, the trade routes will be reopened, and all countries will stay in their respective positions." Ma Chao looked around at the envoys from various countries, "The Han Dynasty will ensure peace in the Western Regions. But if anyone robs merchants or bullies neighboring countries, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

The envoys knelt down and swore allegiance.

In the distance, the sound of camel bells of the caravan can be faintly heard.

The Silk Road, which had been interrupted for many years, has finally regained its vitality!

In this way, the Han Dynasty conquered both the East and the West, and the territory of the empire continued to grow.

(End of this chapter)