Chapter 49 3. Purgatory

AD 75, August 6th.This day was only a few days after Geng Gong repelled the Northern Huns in the Western Regions thousands of miles away.On this day, a person who was very important to the soldiers who had been to the battlefield in the Western Regions or was fighting in the Western Regions left.This person is Liu Zhuang, the emperor who sponsored the Northern Expedition to the Huns and the Western Regions. Before Liu Zhuang's death, he left an edict stating that he would not build a sleeping hall or set up a sacrificial temple.Everything is kept simple, and the tablet is placed in the clothes storage room of the Empress Dowager Yin Lihua's bedroom.Unassuming and avoiding extravagance, Liu Zhuang's life is like a simple poem: he walked away lightly without taking a cloud, just as he came lightly.

The people of the Han Dynasty summed up Liu Zhuang’s political legacy, many of which are remarkable, among which the most praised by the world may be the two "everything" ideas: all the rules and regulations formulated by Liu Xiu will not be changed in any way; None of the relatives were promoted. After Liu Zhuang collapsed, Prince Liu Da came to the throne at the age of eighteen.On August 16th, Liu Da sent a funeral to Liu Zhuang and was buried in Xianjie Mausoleum (now southeast of Sanshilipu, southeast of Zhenjin County, Henan Province); on October 2nd, the world was pardoned.

After the funeral, Liu Da began to go to work.He readjusted his team and newly appointed Taifu, Sikong, Taiwei, and Lushang Shushi.Everything is going well, the palace is calm, Luoyang is fine, the sky is clear, what a pleasant weather. No one expected that a huge storm was quietly moving towards the Western Regions.It disturbed Geng Gong, and Luoyang City Palace was also stirred up by it. The cause of the incident was that the Kucha Kingdom on the North Road rebelled.The Kucha Kingdom united with a small country in the Western Regions to form an allied force to attack Che Division, and Chen Mu's entire army was annihilated.Then, the northern Xiongnu also took advantage of the fire to loot, and besieged Xiaowei Guanchong in Liuzhong City (now Lukeqin City in the southwest of Shanshan County, Xinjiang).

It has to be said that the rebellion of the Kucha Kingdom and the robbery by the Northern Huns were by no means accidental, they were all in collusion.Why didn't they rebel sooner or later, why did they come out as a group at this time? There is only one reason—Liu Zhuang collapsed. The Han Dynasty was like a big company, Liu Zhuang was the big boss, while Dou Gu, Ban Chao, Geng Bing, Geng Gong, etc. were just senior wage earners.For the Northern Huns and Kucha Kingdom, Ban Chao and other high-level wage earners are not terrible, but the big boss Liu Zhuang is terrible.The boss said that he wanted to invest in the Western Regions, and the Northern Huns would only be beaten if they robbed the business.Those countries in the Western Regions who dare not support investment will probably not be able to get beaten up, and they will be beheaded directly.

The boss of Liu Zhuang is very strong, and he is not ambiguous at all when he fights people.It is a pity that he only lived to be forty-eight years old and died too early. Liu Zhuangxin collapsed, and the whole country of the Han Dynasty was still immersed in great grief. This was the perfect time for the Northern Huns and the Kingdom of Qiuci to attack.The Northern Huns have already made up their minds, and this time they jointly dispatched, they will only make money and not lose money. Because Liu Da, the new boss of the Han Dynasty, is only 18 years old this year, and he is still young, how bold can he be?Courage is not innate, but out of experience, Liu Da is still young.Knowing the Han Dynasty, there is nothing like the Huns.The Northern Huns have dealt with the Han Dynasty for so many years, and this time they didn't miss it. Liu Da is indeed very tender, very tender.

Bad things happen every year, especially this year.After the northern Xiongnu besieged Guanchong, the queen king of Cheshi saw that the Han Dynasty was over, so he also rebelled and sent troops with the northern Xiongnu to deal with Geng Gong. It is estimated that Geng Gong had many nightmares, but they have never been as miserable as today.He stayed in Shule City for several months, and the food was exhausted, and the soldiers didn't even have anything to eat.Everyone had to boil the armor and eat it. Afraid of the smell of the armor, they boiled the leather from the bow and arrow. The Western Regions were thousands of miles away from Luoyang City. At that time, there were no planes and no food could be dropped by air. If they had to wait for reinforcements from the Han Dynasty, they would have to wait at least several months.How long are these months?One month, two months, or three months?no one knows.Everything is left to fate.

After Geng Gong was cut off from the water source by the Northern Huns last time, he did not despair.But this time, he really couldn't see hope.After several months of perseverance and resistance, the soldiers were full of fighting spirit, and no one retreated in fear of death.However, those who were not afraid of death fell one by one, and in the end, only dozens of people were left to continue fighting with their lives. Shule city is full of dead people inside and outside.An inexplicable and terrifying atmosphere permeated the city.This is not hopeless, but hell, terrible hell. There is no hope in the world, hope is not elsewhere, but in the heart.Geng Gong's heart is like a spark in a ghost town, shaking in the cold wind of the night, it may be swallowed and annihilated at any time.

What kind of power is this?This is not only the desire for life, but also the insistence on the freedom and absolute dignity of life. The Northern Huns Shanyu was shocked by Geng Gong's upright spirit.As an iron general, Geng Gong is very content to be able to gain the awe of his opponents on the battlefield.However, he resolutely refused to accept any mercy from the enemy.It's just that the Xiongnu Shanyu didn't understand. The Xiongnu Shanyu saw that the reinforcements from the Han Dynasty were far away, and Geng Gong could defend today but not tomorrow.In short, the camel will always be crushed one day.However, Shan Yu didn't want to overwhelm Geng Gong, but was going to close him.Ever since, Shan Yu sent an envoy to negotiate with Geng Gong.

Shan Yu's envoy arrived at the base of the city and shouted to Geng Gong on the top of the city, saying: "We admire your courage and spare you life. If you are willing to surrender, I will make you the King of the White House and marry the princess to you. " When Geng Gong heard it from the city, he smiled at Shan Yu's emissary and said, "Oh, there is such a good thing. Then come up and let's talk about it." The emissary Shanyu was very excited when he saw that there was something going on, so he quickly climbed up the wall.However, as soon as he climbed the wall, he immediately regretted it.

Before he could understand what was going on, Geng Gong beheaded the envoy.What made Shan Yu vomit blood was still to come, and Geng Gong actually set up the body of Shan Yu's envoy and roasted it in the city as a barbecue. Geng Gong is crazy, he is simply a big lunatic. Shan Yu was going crazy too.He increased the number of troops and stepped up the siege.A few days passed in a flash, but he still couldn't take down that lunatic Geng in the city. At this moment, everyone is going crazy.It just depends on who can last till the end. Geng Gong was not driven mad by the Northern Xiongnu Shanyu, but I think he would definitely be mad if he heard the following news.

At this time, the information that the Han army stationed in the Western Regions was encircled and suppressed had already flown to Luoyang.The information was sent by the school Wei Guan Chong, but guess what Liu Da will do after receiving it?He actually called people to a meeting to discuss without haste. It is necessary to hold a meeting to discuss, but the problem is that some people go so far as to say at the meeting: It is already at this time, what else can be saved.People, let's give up, and the Western Regions, let's just give up. The person who said this was named Fifth Lun.Lun is the first name, the fifth is the compound surname, from Jingzhao Changling. Speaking of which, Fifth Lun is also a legend.When he debuted in his early years, he was just a township cadre, and his main job was to collect rent and taxes.Fifth Lun's job is excellent, but he hasn't been promoted for many years. In this way, even he himself is depressed. Could it be that I have been squatting in the countryside all my life and ended my life?That is of course impossible.So depressed, he decided to pack up and leave, and moved with the whole family. Where did the Fifth Lun go?no one knows.When others inquired, it turned out that he moved to Hedong, and even changed his name and surname. No wonder his relatives and friends didn't know which mountain corner he was hiding in. Later, the Fifth Lun promoted Xiaolian, and Liu Xiu finally discovered this talent.In this way, he took one step at a time, experienced three emperors, and finally got into Sikong.From a township cadre to one of the three princes of the Han Dynasty, life is like a table of dishes, and the fifth Lun can be said to have tasted all the ups and downs. No one knows what grounds the fifth lun has to say it cannot save people.What we know is that his disastrous proposal almost killed Geng Gong, who was in a desperate situation, and even Ban Chao and others who worked so hard to conquer the Western Regions. At that time, as soon as Fifth Lun finished speaking, You stood up and quarreled with him.Geng Gong should thank this person. His name is Bao Yu, and he was Situ at that time.In Bao Situ's view, Wu Lun was almost as if he was standing up and talking without fear of back pain.He shouted to Fifth Lun: Humans were sent out by the Han Dynasty government. Now our people encounter difficulties and give up. Is this still human?This is one of them.Second, if we give up the rescue, it will actually increase the enemy's ambition and destroy our prestige.Then I would like to ask, in the future, if the northern Xiongnu and others come to border counties to make troubles, who will still be willing to defend their home and country for the Han Dynasty?People have long been cold to the heart. Third, Guan Chong, Geng Gong and others each led an army of no more than a few hundred people.But the Northern Xiongnu and the Western Regions attacked this time with more than tens of thousands of troops. They can't deal with hundreds of us with absolute strength. What does it mean?It means they can't do it.Therefore, if we send troops to rescue now, it is still urgent. The bickering ends here.Bao Situ called it a day, and Liu Da agreed to save people.Soon, the plan to send troops to rescue people came out. Liu Jin sent Geng Bing, the general of Zhengxi, to garrison Jiuquan County, acting as the prefect temporarily; he ordered Duan Peng, the former prefect of Jiuquan County, and Wang Meng, Yezhe, to recruit Jiuquan County and other three border counties, as well as the troops of Shanshan State, a total of more than 7,000 people, to Cheshi State. advance. After more than a month, the Han army finally arrived in Cheshi State.The country of Che Shi was divided into two countries, the front and the back, and the assembly point of the Han army was set at Liuzhong City in the former country of Che Shi, where Ji Xiaowei Guan Chong was stationed.It was right for the reinforcements of the Han Dynasty to rescue Guan Chong first, because Guan Chong sent the distress letter, and the situation here was critical, so it was no better than Geng Gong. After the assembly is complete, let's fight. The Han army attacked Jiaohe City (now Turpan City, Xinjiang), the former head of Cheshi, and captured a lot, killing nearly 4,000 people and capturing 3,000 people.The Queen of Cheshi couldn't stand it and surrendered again, and the Northern Huns couldn't stand it either, and fled away.However, when the Han army entered Jiaohe City, they found that Guan Chong had died in battle. That being the case, the next question is much simpler.Everyone packed up and rushed to rescue Geng Gong.But at this time, Wang Meng and others said that they were not going to save Geng Gong, so they withdrew their troops and went home. why? In fact, they are not to blame for this, because the price to be paid is too great to save Geng Gong.As mentioned earlier, the distance between Cheshiqian Country and Cheshihou Country is five hundred miles.The distance is not a problem, the problem is that there is the damn Tianshan Mountain between the two places.Tianshan is 5,000 meters above sea level and covered with snow all the year round.Unfortunately, they are now in the winter of January 76 AD. If they want to save Geng Gong, they have to cross Tianshan Mountain.How many people will freeze to death when large troops cross the Tianshan Mountains?I don't know, they dare not think. Could it be that he really abandoned Geng Gong and died fighting in that remote and lonely city? History will always remember this moment. Just as the generals of the Han Dynasty were about to withdraw their troops and go home, a deafening voice rang out: I resolutely protest against giving up the rescue of Colonel Wu! The roar shocked everyone.Everyone looked at me and I looked at you, all showing a dilemma.It's really neither to stay nor to go, they looked up at the unattainable Tianshan Mountain again, the depressed mood, exhausted all the words can't express. What is the furthest distance in the world?I am on this side of the mountain, and you are on the other side of the mountain. I clearly see Tianshan Mountain in front of me, but I dare not turn it over.It's fine if you don't dare to turn it over, but there are still people protesting at the scene. The generals of the Han army were hesitating, hesitating, and wandering.Finally, after deliberation, they came up with a plan that would allow them to step down.They said to the person who yelled at them like this, if you want to save Geng Gong, we will send you two thousand soldiers. The name of the person who yelled at the general of the Han army was Fan Qiang, and he was Geng Gong's subordinate.It was a coincidence that Geng Gong sent Fan Qiang to Dunhuang County to pick up the winter clothes of the officers and soldiers, and happened to meet the troops going out to rescue people, so he came with them.Unexpectedly, they would not be able to save Guan Chong, and they were going to not even save Geng Gong, so in desperation, they yelled angrily at them. History should not forget the little people, who can do great things.Fan Qiang decided to lead two thousand soldiers over the Tianshan Mountains to rescue people.In life one must see people, in death one must see corpses.At this time, it was snowing heavily in the sky, and there was more than ten feet of snow on the ground.However, Fan Qiang overcame many difficulties, crossed the Tianshan Mountains, and arrived at Shule City in time. Geng Gong is still alive at this time, and there are twenty-six people in the city.One night, they all heard the screams of people outside the city, thinking that the enemy was attacking again, they all got up and prepared to fight.At this moment, Geng Gong heard a familiar voice from far outside the city: I, Fan Qiang, the motherland sent us to welcome you, Captain! Is this a dream?It can't be a dream.Geng Gong held his breath again and listened carefully, another shout came from outside the city.He recognized it, yes, it was Fan Qiang's voice.God, you finally opened your eyes. When Geng Gong opened the city, everyone rushed out of the city as if they had escaped from a ghost town.The twenty-six dead soldiers hugged tightly with the brothers of the Han army, weeping in unison.This is the most tragic and mournful sound in the world. It penetrates the iceberg and snow and warms all life on the earth. The next day, as soon as it was light, Geng Gong and Fan Qiang led their troops to withdraw to the south.At this time, the Northern Huns heard the news and came to chase and beat Geng Gong.Geng Gong had no intention of fighting, so he fought and retreated, and finally returned to Yumen Pass.Geng Gong counted the heads, and half of the twenty-six brothers who followed him died, leaving only thirteen.Half of the living people are so thin that only skin and bones are left, like a withered person. Geng Gong and the thirteen others took a hot bath at Yumen Pass, changed into new clothes, and returned to Luoyang City.Those who die cannot die in vain, and those who live cannot live in vain.Then, someone sent a report to Liu Da, suggesting that Geng Gong be given an official title. There were two people speaking for Geng Gong.One is Zheng Zhong, the general of Zhonglang, and the other is Bao Situ, who managed to rescue someone with Fifth Lun.Zheng Zhong commented on Geng Gong's excerpts as follows: Geng Gong defended the isolated city with a single soldier, facing tens of thousands of people, for more than a month and a year, exhausted.The righteousness of respect has never existed in ancient and modern times, and it is advisable to show your honor and encourage generals. Bao Situ also sang: Geng Gong Jieyi surpassed Su Wu, he should be rewarded heavily. Geng Gong defended the city against the northern Huns in July, and returned to Yumen Pass in March of the second year, more than half a year.Half a year of purgatory, shocking the world, weeping ghosts and gods, can't he be as famous as Su Wu? After the report was typed, Liu Da agreed to be promoted, and worshiped Geng Gong as the captain of cavalry.The thirteen survivors who followed Geng Gong in battle were all appointed officials. From then on, Geng Gong finally had his own legend in the Jianghu—Su Wu in the Western Han Dynasty, and Geng Gong in the Eastern Han Dynasty.The miracle of life they created will be passed down forever on the yellow paper of history, in the legends of generations, and under the distant Tianshan Mountains.