Chapter 622 War Dance
On the night of November 3rd, Tian Jun garrisoned a village in Suoyuan.
The residents of the community here have all run away, leaving many houses vacant, but there is still not enough space for the five thousand horsemen to stay.
So around this area of lishe, the Taishan Army set up tents in the wilderness again, with the sound of people and horses neighing, stretching for several miles.
By this time, the Taishan Army no longer considered the so-called concealment. Because not only were people neighing here, they also heard the noise in the south.
It can be said that at this time, the Taishan Army and Hu Zhen's army were only five miles apart, almost face to face.
When the troops were setting up camp, Tian Jun called over some of the elders he could find nearby. They had been harmed by the Liangzhou soldiers before, but when they were summoned by the Taishan Army, they were still trembling.
Therefore, Tian Jun still has to reiterate that their Taishan Army is here to do justice for heaven and to punish the people. He also promised these people that they would kill all the Liangzhou soldiers who harmed them.
Tian Jun consciously said a few words to eradicate the local tyrants and evil gentry. Because he found that many people present were also born with this identity, but without exception, they were robbed by Kansai soldiers.
But because of the identity issue, they were spared their lives in the end.
So in order to win over these local people who were familiar with the situation, Tian Jun kept this sentence.
And sure enough, when they heard that the Taishan Army was going to make the decision for them, these elders were excited. Among them was a country elder with a gentle face who burst into tears and said:
"Master Wang, it's really Master Wang. I've long heard about what the Taishan Army has done, and Qiu has never done anything to it. I, Jiexiu, have been looking forward to Master Wang for a long time. But when we saw him today, he was indeed a heavenly soldier."
"Heavenly soldiers? Humph!"
Tian Jun snorted in his heart. How could he believe the lies these people said? Why are they looking forward to Master Wang? He is probably hoping that all of us will be annihilated.
But in front of Tian Junxu, he actually preached seriously:
"The Han Dynasty has been abandoned. There are eunuchs at the top who are taking power, and there are powerful officials at the bottom who are greedy and violent. The people of the world have long been in dire straits. I, King Zhang, live in the north, and my name is Tu Xue. Have you heard that 'a saint must obey orders and fight, Zhang holds orders' "The king has the most virtue, and the five stars are like pearls." Do these two prophecies correspond to my king?"
These village elders are just rich people with some land in their families. How could they have heard of this? But since what he said is so mysterious, is the thief really a man from heaven?
While these elders were still thinking, Tian Jun continued to deceive:
"Dear village elders, look at the present. Now that our army has entered Bingzhou, we are victorious wherever we go. The people in all counties burn incense and knot grass to welcome our army. Where is Bingzhou? All village elders are knowledgeable. You know it. If you go down from our side, it will be Guanzhong. Once you enter the pass, the world will change hands. You say this is not destiny. Who is destiny?"
These elders felt passionate in their hearts, but their faces shrank and they did not dare to agree.
These people had just been robbed by the Kansai soldiers, and they were very disappointed with the so-called imperial court. The reason why I haven't said anything much until now is just because the people below have been in awe of the imperial court for a long time.
But now when I heard the general in front of me say that the imperial court was going to die, the shackles in my heart suddenly became much looser.
At this time, Tian Jun increased his efforts:
"In such a time of earth-shaking, everything will be overthrown and everything will be rebuilt. Do you know who I was before I joined the army? I was just a soldier, but what about now? I have thousands of troops and have made great achievements. And the elders They are all leaders of the same clan, so wouldn’t they be more powerful than Tian? The only difference now is an opportunity.”
The following elders did not expect that the general-looking young man in front of them was actually a servant. They felt contempt in their hearts, but they did not dare to show it on their faces.
However, they agreed with Tian Jun's words in their hearts, that is, if even the short guy in front of them could achieve such a famous job, then it would be no big deal for local tycoons like themselves.
As a result, these people were filled with passion and wished they could serve the Taishan Army immediately.
Tian Junchang has been working in the Central Committee and has become a human spirit through experience. Now when he saw the appearance of these elders, he knew that the time had come, so he took action.
He frowned and sighed, pretending to be difficult:
"It's just a pity. You are all powerful, but our Taishan Army has now established a system. Even if you want to join our Taishan Army, you can only start from scratch, and it will take many years."
There are also smart people among the elders, who are keenly aware of what Tian Jun did not say, so someone took the initiative and said:
"General, the Taishan Army has done a lot for us by helping the people and rescuing them from fire and water. Although we are weak and isolated, we have one or two strengths and are willing to go through fire and water for the Holy Army."
Seeing how knowledgeable these people were, Tian Jun simply said:
"Okay, let's just say it straight, Tian. Our army has arrived in Dusuoyuan for the first time, and I have something to ask of you. If you help our Taishan Army, you will have done a great job, and you will naturally have a share when the time comes. Great work is done.”
Fathers, look at you and me, very hesitant.
After all, if even Taishan's army couldn't handle something, how could they, ordinary people like them, have the ability to do it? I'm afraid they don't have to use their lives to do it.
But after Tian Jun said this, all these people's hesitation disappeared, their faces beamed with joy, and they all patted their chests and promised to live up to their trust.
In this way, Tian Jun once again reiterated military discipline. Now half of the horse soldiers and cavalry under his command are Wuhuan cavalry. Although they have been accepted by the Taishan Army, their character is hard to change. Without restraint, plunder is inevitable.
No, just before Tian Jun reiterated military discipline, the military law enforcement officials had just whipped three Wuhuan cavalry for violating the ban.
While improving military discipline, Tian Jun also asked the military commissary to bring some grain to the village elders to help the refugees.
There were also objections to this decision, so Li Fu said to Tian Jun:
"Tian Shuai, we are raiding with light cavalry and we don't have much food. If we distribute the food to these village elders, we are afraid that we won't be able to survive for a few days. The risk is too great. Besides, who are those village elders?" I know that if these grains are delivered to them, the grains will not be distributed to the refugees below. So I am stupid and don’t know what Tian Shuai means.”
Tian Jun laughed and said inexplicably:
"What is taken beforehand shall be given beforehand. Soon you will know."
Li Fu understood a little bit, so he stopped talking, but he didn't agree with Tian Jun's methods in his heart. He was also lamenting one thing in his heart:
"This Tian Jun is also a cheerful and upright man, but he didn't know that he developed such a temperament after going to the center for a few years to experience. Is this how the center treats others?"
Li Fu, who was purely a martial artist, could not understand Tian Jun.
Afterwards, Taishan's army replenished half a day's worth of grain, about fifty shi of corn, to these elders.
When they received the food, the elders all shed tears, saying that they must repay the Holy Army's kindness by smashing their bodies into pieces.
After the Taishan Army left, the elders changed their behavior again, and a few leaders gathered around to divide the batch of corn.
As the saying goes, the Han army came to rob me of food, and the Taishan army came to deliver food to me. This Taishan army is really a good man, but also a big fool!
……
Opposite Tian Junbu, in the Han army's camp that stretched for more than ten miles, Hu Zhen, who had just finished the army gathering, began to patrol the camp.
It was the winter moon, and on the Jiexiu Dusuo Plain, there were withered grass and frost, and the green trees on the cold mountains were all deserted and cold.
But even so, it's still much warmer here than outside. Hengshan Mountain in the north and Luliang Mountain in the west together resist the early wind blowing from the plateau, allowing the winter here to still have some vitality.
The warmth of this chat made Liangzhou Jun feel more comfortable. These Qiang people from the Hengduan Mountains have long been tempered into iron men by the bitter cold outside the Great Wall. As soon as they entered the Taiyuan Basin, everyone felt as if they had arrived in paradise.
Taiyuan is really a good place. But the Qin and Hu people could bear it, but Hu Zhen couldn't.
At this moment, he was wrapped in two large cloaks and patrolling in the cold night, his upper and lower teeth couldn't stop chattering.
His general Hu Guang could not help but persuade:
"Commander, we have patrolled a few battalions, and the morale of the troops is still good. Why don't we go back and warm ourselves up in the tent first."
Hu Zhen didn’t, he struggled and said:
"I, Hu Zhen, also came out of the Corpse Mountain and the Sea of Blood. I am not afraid of knives. Why am I afraid of this mere frost? Besides, tens of thousands of officials are not afraid, so what do I have to fear?"
After saying that, Hu Zhen continued to patrol the night with the Central Guards.
He walked all the way north and soon came to the position of the former army. Judging from the banner of this battalion, it should be the soldiers of the Yizhou Department of the Xiyuan Army.
Hu Zhen first took a look around the outside of the camp. He saw that the troops were very fierce, with antlers placed on every important road, and there were people on watch upstairs. He couldn't help but nod.
It was dark at night and he could not see clearly the style of the flag, so he asked Hu Guang next to him:
"What department is this?"
Hu Guang whispered:
"That's Yang Renbu."
Hu Zhen nodded and praised:
"I have long heard that this Yang Ren is a famous general in Yizhou and is also famous in the Xiyuan Military Department. Today I saw that at least in terms of running the army, this gentleman has the style of a famous general."
After that, Hu Zhen did not enter Zhang Ren's camp, but walked slowly to another camp.
Different from the strictness of Yang Ren's tribe, this place is very rough. There are not even fortresses, just hundreds of tents arranged haphazardly.
In the dark night, a bonfire was lit in front, and bursts of joyful singing and cheers came from there.
Seeing this, Hu Zhen's face looked a little ugly.
This time Hu Guang didn’t wait for Hu Zhen to say, and said:
"This army belongs to Gan Ning. This Gan Ning is a tiger general, with courage that is invincible to ten thousand men."
Hu Guang knew Gan Ning's abilities and was worried that Hu Zhen would have a bad opinion of Gan Ning because of his bad first impression.
But after hearing this, Hu Zhen sarcastically said:
"What kind of courage is invincible to ten thousand men? Since I joined the army, I have only heard of ten thousand armies lining up and clashing with each other. Only those who can cure ten thousand people can be defeated by ten thousand people. Like this Gan Ning, who cannot even cure three thousand people. Do you deserve to be called invincible? ”
Hu Guang did not dare to say any more, knowing very well that his words had the opposite effect.
When Hu Zhen finished saying this, he was ready to leave, but suddenly he saw an opportunity, an opportunity to rectify the Yizhou military system.
So, he turned back again and said with a gloomy face:
"Let's go and have a look."
Beside him, Hu Guang hesitated to speak, and finally sighed and followed reluctantly.
……
In the Chinese Army, Gan Ning had a drink with a group of Banzhen barbarian brothers.
Gan Ning was the son of a rich man in Ba County, but he was fierce and righteous, and extremely brave, so he became a rich man in the knight circle very early.
The Banzhen barbarians in Bajun were oppressed by Han officials in the early years, and Gan Ning often helped them, so they gradually gathered a large number of capable Banzhen barbarians. These people wore bells, dressed gorgeously, gathered and looted, and were known as As the "Jinfan Thief".
Later, Gan Ning was recruited by the local government as a county lieutenant, and then as a soldier in the Guanxi Grand Ceremony. The local county chief was worried about Gan Ning's instability, so he sent all these people to Chang'an.
Gan Ning was also proud of his ambition and wanted to make a fortune in Chang'an, so he brought two hundred banners of brocade sails and thieves into Chang'an with his army.
Afterwards, he was incorporated into the Xiyuan Army and came under the direct control of Emperor Liu Hong.
Gan Ning also had his own fate, that is, Liu Hong was very anti-traditional and anti-authority at heart, so he did not value the upright and orderly generals, but regarded the knight-errant Gan Ning as a talent.
He compared Gan Ning more than once to Li Guang, the flying general during Emperor Wu's reign, and treated him very well.
Gan Ning was also willing to fight to the death for Liu Hong. He fought bloody battles in the three battles of Weihan and made outstanding military exploits. He accumulated merit and became the captain of the school.
But as the saying goes, one emperor and one courtier, after Liu Hong's death, the prospects of Gan Ning and the Xiyuan Army were bleak, and now they can only be suppressed by the Liangzhou Army.
When Hu Zhen arrived, Gan Ning had finished drinking. When he was happy, he and a group of Banchen barbarian warriors started dancing around the fire pit.
This dance is both a sacrificial dance and a war dance for the Banzhen barbarians. They are preparing for tomorrow's war.
So when Hu Zhen came, Gan Ning and the others ignored him and continued to complete this grand dance.
Gan Ning and the others were naked from the waist up, and their faces and chests were all painted with fierce animal paintings. The fiery bonfire, passionate singing, and crazy rhythm made this small place full of male hormones.
And around these war dancing warriors, hundreds of people were surrounding them, shouting, clapping, and using their hands and feet.
They were all naked, covered with cinnabar, animal blood and the like, and some even wore sheep skull masks. They surrounded Gan Ning and others, stamping their feet and saying some incomprehensible words.
The climax of the war dance is when six strong men carry a strong bull to the campfire. Gan Ning, as the military leader, holds a ram's horn dagger in his hand, presses his whole body on the bull's side, and then kills it with the dagger. His neck was slit.
The bull, whose throat was slit and cut off from oxygen, felt the approach of death. It kicked its limbs and tried to stand up again, but the human seemed to have infinite strength and kept it pinned down.
Just like that, the vitality was cut off, and the four hooves that seemed to be able to break iron armor gradually became weak and weak. Finally, the bull opened its eyes and died unwillingly, leaving blood all over the ground.
Gan Ning let go of the bull, then dipped his fingers in the bull's blood and smeared it on his face, and made a final gesture of peace.
Following Gan Ning's call, all the military officers shouted in unison:
"Ha! Ha!"
Blood, sweat, and heat were mixed together, and a ferocious prehistoric air surged through the cold winter night.
Hu Zhen, who had been standing outside at this time, looked at Gan Ning who was covered in cow blood, and unconsciously pursed his dry lips. His original idea of killing the chicken to scare the monkeys was gone.
(End of chapter)