Cao Zhang promised that the melon that was not called Hami melon at this time had not been eaten! But looking at the vast Lop Nur, the Great Wei Western Expedition Army that had been smoking was extremely excited. The cavalry who drove to Loulan City first didn't even care about the city. The soldiers surrendered at the top of the city were stunned and rushed towards the vast lake regardless of the waves. Whether it was people or horses, they snatched into the lake and drank it to the fullest.

However, after the first sip of water, both people and horses regretted it. He vomited it out loud, and then he evacuated it in a sad and unlucky way, and he turned around and spit out.

Damn it, Lop Nur is a saltwater lake!

Fortunately, the Peacock River, which maintained the lifeline of Loulan, was still there. Leaded by the guide, the Black Mountain infantry of the rear army had already arrived at the edge of the river. After drinking enough, they took off their boots and put their hot feet into the cold drinking water to relieve the heat. Many people also conducted a "water exchange" for the Peacock River, giving the scorched "Weihe River water" to the river.

Then the cavalry that came to his senses rushed to the lower reaches of the Peacock River where the infantry was. While drinking, he pointed his thumbs up, praising the river here that really tasted like a hometown!

…………

Although the water in Lop Nur is bitter and salty, the aquatic resources in the river are really good. Who would have thought that one-third of the people living in the desert actually rely on fishing to make a living, tied a rope behind the crossbow arrows he brought. The soldiers also rowed small poplar boats into the lake, and then lit a carbon fire on the edge of the Yadan landform group that needed to be visited in later generations to roast the big fish.

However, when the soldiers were joking, Cao Zhang, as the commander-in-chief of the Western Regions, was really unhappy.

The first rebellion to attack other vassal states of the Han Dynasty, and massacred and drove away Han officials, Yutian, who was located west of Lop Nur, next to the Pamirs, was closer to Dayuan City, which was more limited than the attack of General Li Guangli of the Ershi. Moreover, starting from Loulan, it was divided into the north and south roads around Lop Nur. Shanshan, who also rebeled against the Han Dynasty, was located in the south road, and Kucha, which massacred Han people, was located in the north road, and was located in the north road.

On the way, Kucha is two thousand miles away from Loulan. The marching speed of a day is fifty miles, which takes more than forty days. To ensure supplies, Shanshan’s Jade City is close to the point, but it is located in the south road for nearly one thousand miles.

A major difference from other troops in this era is Wang Hou's staff system. The command center has dozens of staff officers. With such a long marching distance and such harsh transportation, Deng Ai led the staff officers to calculate and transport the 30,000 main forces to the two places, which required at least more than 60,000 cattle and horses, 40,000 logistics troops, and nearly one million stones of grain. This is still a need for marching. Once a war starts, it is even more a bottomless pit.

How to move forward next has become an especially headache for Cao Zhang, the great captain of the Western Regions.

"Brother-in-law, what should I do next!"

Staring at the map and looking at Wang Hou who was in pain, Cao Zhang asked sadly again. However, although he was trembling with pain when he looked at the country where he was not free shipping, Wang Hou was as angry as ever.

"Xiao Wenzi, you are the Great Protector of the Western Regions. What do you ask me about?"

Lu Buwei's tragedy was that he had too much desire for power. Qin Yiren was not strong and allowed him to point fingers in everything. However, Ying Zheng was so powerful that he was so arrogant. Lu Buwei still didn't realize it and continued to point fingers, which eventually led him to the opposite side of Qin Shihuang. Not only did he deposed the throne and exiled, he was finally sentenced to death.

Taking it as a warning, Wang Hou, Lu Buwei, doesn't want to interfere too much, not to mention that he has a headache in front of him.

"you!"

His cheeks were so angry that he bulged straight and knocked on the table, but Cao Zhang shook his head helplessly.

"The Great Protector wants to build a Lianglou Railway, set off from Loulan, cross Hexi, and go straight to Didao!"

"Is the Western Regions Protectorate rich?"

"You need Chang'an merchants and Guanzhong Protectorate to invest in grain, otherwise the Protectorate would increase the Western Regions commercial tax by 100%!"

Not to mention, he grew up fast enough, Cao Zhang also learned to rule the chief with a rank of officials. Wang Hou also nodded very bachelor.

"Okay! I will immediately send an envoy to attract investment and investigate the projects on this road!"

The future of the Western Regions Protectorate was guaranteed, making Cao Zhang feel a little more comfortable, but immediately, he looked at the map of the 36 countries passed down from the Western Han Dynasty with sweat.

Deng Ai and other staff members came up with more than ten plans to fight the enemy. Some moderate factions sent envoys to surrender again. Some hawks believed that being a soldier was very fast. They divided their troops and carried dry food and carried lightly to quickly defeat the rebellious countries. Some steady factions believed that they needed to wait until the military rations and supplies of Dunhuang County were transported to Loulan before marching. They continued to form a large army to fight against which country to attack, and then killed the chicken to warn the monkeys, weighed the pros and cons. The heavy sense of responsibility made the playboy sweat and sweat.

…………

In the end, Cao Zhang divided his troops. After all, the main opponent of Tianshan South Road is Shanshan, an oasis power with a population of only more than 300,000 and 80,000 households, and the army is only 20,000 to 30,000. According to the combat effectiveness of the Wei army, the entire army cannot be suppressed. Moreover, Zhang Yun's mercenary group has been in Guanxi for several years and needs to be paid to them.

Therefore, the Shanshan Kingdom was decided by Cao Zhang and divided it to Zhang Yun as prey. The Heishan Mercenary Group was responsible for the attack. After the capture, it reported to the court and insisted that Zhang Yun was a Hu man. According to the model of the Heishan Kingdom, the Western Regions Protectorate supported him to establish a vassal state outside the Central Plains.

After garrisoning troops in Loulan for half a month, the latter army was transported to 20,000. After Zhang He's main force in the Western Regions Protectorate's Mansion arrived, Cao Zhang personally led 10,000 infantry and cavalry north to the mountain country.

This place is a small country with only a few thousand households and 10,000 or 20,000 people. Now it is still loyal to the Han Dynasty. However, north of the mountain country, it is the famous Cheshi Front and Back Country.

During the rebellious Han craze last year, these two countries were the main forces, and they plundered several large caravans from the Central Plains in succession, which was enough to be damned.

The most important thing is that the Cheshi Front and Houguo are relatively close to Dunhuang, only more than 900 miles away! It is only equivalent to the entire journey of Cao Cao going out to attack Wuhuan!

The big one among the shorts is considered the most suitable chicken. Apart from killing this chicken to scare the monkeys from other Western countries, Cao Zhang really has no other prey to choose.

In the past October, even the Western Regions began to gradually become colder, which was different from the heavy snow in the north. It was dry and cold. On the empty Gobi Desert, the sword wind made people tremble from their necks to their heels, but with a big sun, the thirsty person was smoking from their mouths.

"Brothers, work harder! In the mountain country, there are famous melons in the Western Regions. They just picked them and stored them in the cellar. When they arrived at the mountain country, I treat you and eat whatever you want!"

Carrying the banner of the Western Regions Protector Cao again, Cao Zhang roared in front of the iron armored cavalry, but this time, including Deng Ai and Wang Changle, two major staff officers who followed him, thousands of Guanzhong armored cavalry all curled their lips together.

I believe you!
Chapter completed!