Great Han Empire

Chapter 379

"The Journey to the West"

Author: Scarlet Coral
Chapter 14 The Warrior's Wrist Breaker

"You little bastards, did you turn the world upside down when no one cares about it? Do you still see me as the chief general?" When Zhao Guang and others rushed to Pound's tent with his own soldiers, Pound had already successfully controlled the situation .The four young generals who were still murderous just now are like children who have done something wrong, bowing their heads in the tent to accept his reprimand.

Pang De was clear in his heart, now is not the time to pursue the responsibility of these four young men, seeing that the scolding was almost done, he waved his hand and said: "Stop standing here, go and disperse the team!" Received an amnesty, hurriedly retreated outside.Pang De looked back and saw Zhao Guang waiting aside anxiously, and asked quickly, "How, what's the matter?"

"Report to Commander-in-Chief, the lower officials have found out that the [-] troops of the Guishuang Kingdom have left Congling, and it is less than ten days' journey from Shule City!"

"Oh, I see." Pound stroked his long beard seemingly indifferently, but the bulging veins on his hands reflected the agitation in his heart, "Well done, you guys go down and rest."

Just as Zhao Guang and others were about to leave the tent, a man who looked like a doctor rushed in from outside, bumped into Zhao Guang, and fell to the ground.After the man got up, he straightened his hat, knelt down in front of Pound and said, "Marshal, I'm incompetent, we can't heal Marshal Sima's injury."

Pound was startled and angry, and cursed loudly: "It can't be cured? What are you doing with so many medical craftsmen! Isn't it just a crossbow arrow? It missed the vital point, so why can't it be cured?"

"Master Sima's trauma is not important, but the fatal thing is that the arrowhead is poisoned! The poison is very strong, we have never seen it before. If it is in Chang'an, the villain can treat the antidote according to the pathology, but this time Xilai The medicinal materials he brought were insufficient, and it was impossible to prepare them. Right now, he can only use needle stones to slow down the poisonous hair, but if there is no antidote, Marshal Sima may not be able to survive the night. For the current plan, I think the only way to find it is from the Shule people. The antidote, but...but..." The medical officer said this, hesitating and speechless.

"Fuck away!"

The medical officer trembled in fright, and said loudly, "But I heard that General Gao killed too much after he entered the city, and the people of Shule had already objected. The situation has been calm these few days, but it is only due to the power of the army. That's why I forbear it. Today's assassination must have been done by the Shule people, and if I ask the Shule people for medicine now, I'm afraid it's just a tree for a fish!"

"Ah! Zhongda, it's my fault." Pound sat down on the couch in a slumped manner, silent.

When Zhao Guang heard this conversation, his heart felt as if he had been chopped by a knife and an axe, and he was too painful to speak.At this moment, Arda's voice was heard from behind: "My lord, I have a solution."

Everyone's eyes immediately focused on Arda, and Arda said calmly: "One of the people we came with is the best pharmacist in Anxi, as long as you invite him, come here, and he will be saved."

"What did you say?" Pang De rushed over regardless of demeanor, grabbed Arda's shoulder, and asked loudly: "What medicine man? Invite him to come! If Master Sima is cured, I will reward you a lot. No, no , quickly take me there, I will personally invite him to Lord Sima’s camp.”

The Parthians who were captured together with Arda, except for himself, were all properly placed in the big camp—except that they were not allowed to move around much, they were taken care of for three meals a day, and they lived well. .Pang De followed Arda and personally went to the Anxi camp to invite the pharmacist to treat Sima Yi.The pharmacist was astonishing as expected: after drinking several bowls of medicinal juice brewed with special antidote pills, the poison on Sima Yi's body showed signs of relief. The bleeding became bright red, and the bleeding stopped just now.After finishing all this, the pharmacist cleaned his hands, took out a vial of medicine from his pocket, and signaled the doctor to give Sima Yi a pill every hour, then nodded to Arda, and said a few words.Arda smiled and said, "The pharmacist said that the lord is fine, and he will wake up in two or three days."

Everyone in the tent was overjoyed when they heard this, and they all praised Pharmacist Anxi's superb medical skills loudly. "It's dangerous. Fortunately, these Parthians were treated kindly." Pound heaved a sigh of relief, only to realize that his back was soaked in cold sweat.

Zhao Neng looked at this scene thoughtfully.After everyone was out of the tent, he took advantage of everyone's inattention, secretly grabbed Arda and said in a low voice; "In your group, there are knights with strong martial arts, wise men like you, and doctors like you. What is it?" Arda smiled and shook his head, "It's not yet time to explain everything."

In the time of Xu, the Western Expeditionary Army had a large account to discuss affairs.

Officers above Sima and above of the Western Expeditionary Army gathered together to conduct military discussions in response to the pressure of Guishuang's army.

"Pang Shuai, please make a decisive decision! Lead the main force to retreat to Kucha and Gancheng. The last general is willing to lead the headquarters to buy time for the army to deploy defenses." The leading general Gao Shun knelt on the ground and nodded repeatedly. The atmosphere in the tent was tense for a moment.

The generals were silent for a long time, and the guards in the central guard said: "General Gao, why are you doing this? Although there is no danger to defend Shule City now, the city defense is very strong, and our army has [-] people. Even if the enemy comes There is one hundred thousand, so it may not be impossible to stick to it!" As soon as this remark was made, there were many echoes in the tent.

"Absolutely not!" Gao Shun said decisively, "There are three things in Shule City that cannot be defended: there is a saying in the art of war, if there are no soldiers to save, there is no city to defend. This place is thousands of miles away from Gaochang City, and reinforcements are nowhere in sight. One cannot be defended. The people of Shule have been renounced, and they will certainly not be able to fight against the enemy with us. The most important thing to defend the city is civil strife. This is the second cannot be defended. Shule is far less abundant than Kucha, and cannot sustain the army for a long time. The three cannot be defended. .”

Yueqi school captain Ling Tong heard this and objected: "As General Gao said, isn't it the same situation when he went to the city? What's the point of the army retreating to the city of Kucha? According to Ling, our army doesn't have to work hard to return west. It is time to gather the army here and fight in the field! Since our army entered the Western Regions, our army has won consecutive battles, invincible, and the morale is really useful! The mere Guishuang army is nothing more than a mob." As soon as the words fell, a group of young men The generals agreed loudly, gearing up one after another, eager to try.

"No! Our army doesn't understand Guishuang's real situation, and the number of people is much smaller than that of Guishuang. We have the fortified city of Kucha and he can defend it, hundreds of thousands of stones and grain and grass are available in the city, and there are reinforcements from Gaochang and Liangzhou behind. Why bother?" war?"

Si Lu Zhonglang Jiang Jin sighed, and persuaded: "General Gao's words are true, but the army that has been cut off is close to death! General Gao is the leader of the country, a big Han general, why take such a risk, why not just because of someone. ..."

Gao Shun didn't mean to stop talking, so he interrupted: "Wen Ze took a peek at Gao Mou! Today's incident in Shule was all caused by Gao Mou's failure to suppress him. The commander-in-chief was assassinated. Apologize! For procrastinating so far, I want to sacrifice my life for the lords! With Gao's trap in the camp, I will ensure the safety of the army's retreat, please do it!"

Pound held the long beard with his left hand and remained motionless - usually when he was about to make an important decision, he would hold the long beard and think, if he decided to make it, he would stroke it down; if he decided to give up, he would let go of the long beard.Most of the generals knew about his habit, so the eyes in the tent were all focused on Pound's one-foot-long beard.

At this moment, a burly young general came out of the queue, knelt down beside Gao Shun, and said loudly: "Wuwei Zhonglang General Yan Ba, I would like to go with General Gao to meet the enemy, please do it!"

As soon as the words fell, a few more people came out in a row, and knelt down one by one, "General Fenwu, Wang Ling, is willing to go with General Gao to meet the enemy, please do it!" "General Guan Ping, I would like to go with General Gao!" Meet the enemy, please come to the commander!" "Army Sima Yuwenliang, willing to follow..." Suddenly six or seven young generals knelt down on the ground, willing to go with Gao Shun to meet the enemy.

Zhao Guang, who was standing at the end of the generals, saw this scene, his heart was pounding, and he couldn't stand anymore, so he also ran forward and knelt down.

"Army Sima Zhao Guang, is willing to go with General Gao to meet the enemy. Please make it happen! The strength of Guishuang's army was witnessed by the subordinates. Please make a decision as soon as possible!"

Pang De let go of his left hand and slid down. He punched hard with his right hand and smashed the case in front of him to pieces. Withdraw the whole army to Kucha!"

Roman Empire, Rome, Palatine Hill, Giulia Basilica
The Roman Emperor Caracalla, wearing a silk bathrobe, was lazily lying on a deck chair to receive several elders.

A senator in a white robe trimmed with purple and red said respectfully: "The great Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (Caracalla's real name), about the Antoninus Act (the famous Granting full citizenship to all freedmen born in Rome) is nearly complete, and in some details we think it remains to be discussed. …”

Caracalla said impatiently: "Helvios, my old man, you don't need to say more about these details. You just need to tell me, when will my bill be passed by the Senate?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, I think as soon as the revision is completed, the proposal will be passed immediately, I assure you." Helvios wiped the sweat from his forehead, "The implementation of the Antoninus Act will make your The deeds will be passed on through the ages, and all Roman free people will be grateful for your gift."

"The gratitude of those free people is not worth half a sesterce (ancient Roman currency unit)!" The emperor mocked, "I just need them to fight for me and pay me taxes! Listen to me, The Antoninus Act must be passed before sunset tomorrow, otherwise, I can find someone else to do it for me. If the attack on Parthia (Parthian Empire) is delayed, I will send your family to see Pluto (Roman Death)!"

"Yes, yes, Your Majesty, as you wish." The elders were so frightened that they almost couldn't stand still, and hurriedly retreated humbly.

Caracalla was very satisfied with the effect of her anger. She picked up the golden cup from the plate served by the attendant, took a sip of barley wine, and said to the consul of the guard standing beside her: "Macolinus, my old man, you You see, these are the aristocratic elites of Rome, they are nothing more than a group of worms in gorgeous clothes! As long as I have the loyalty of the Legion in my hands, the dignity of the entire Senate is worth a few denarii (ancient Roman currency unit) .”

Macrinus lowered his head, with a hint of disdain flashing on his face, then put on a resolute expression, raised his head and said: "Yes, Your Majesty, the Roman legion will always be a sharp sword in your hand."

"Very good! After the bill is passed, I will recruit a large number of recruits to form ten new legions. Including my legions in Egypt and Greece, a total of thirty legions will be sent to Parthia to conquer Asia in one fell swoop!" Kara A fascinated look appeared on Kara's face, and she stroked the smooth silk cloth on her body, "I want to get even the country that is said to produce beautiful silk! King of the World, what a wonderful title, it suits me well, doesn't it?" ? Macrinus."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Karaka stretched his waist, "It's tiring talking to these worms, I'm going to the big bath to take a rest, you write a letter to the good-for-nothing Artapan V of Parthia for me, and ask him to send you a letter immediately. Cede Persia to Rome, or wait to bear the wrath of the Roman emperor and legions!"

"As you wish, Your Majesty."

Caracalla nodded in satisfaction, yawned and walked out.All the attendants followed and filed out.Looking at the emperor's back, Makrinus's eyes were full of burning anger, and he gritted his teeth and said, "May Jupiter's lightning devour you, tyrant!"

(End of this chapter)