After walking for another half month, they finally arrived at Yumen Pass. Gu Qing ordered the entire army to rest for three days.

The guard of Yumen Pass personally went out to welcome Master Wang, and respectfully invited Gu Qing into the official office, where he was treated to good wine and delicious food.

Gu Qing's status as county marquis and deputy envoy of Jiedu may not mean much in Chang'an. After all, the streets are full of courtiers. A brick thrown into the crowd can kill five fourth-rank officials.

But once he left Chang'an and arrived at the place, Gu Qing's status suddenly became extremely noble. The guard general of Yumen Pass was only a fifth-grade military attache, while Gu Qing was the second-in-command of the entire Tang Dynasty's western barrier defense line. The difference in status was more than a star and a half.

Gu Qing was not used to dealing with strangers, so he forced himself to socialize with the guard at Yumen Gate, then excused himself and returned to the camp.

There is still a sense of security in the camp. Only the ten thousand people in front of him are the power he can control. Only when surrounded by them can he sleep soundly.

It was still early when we returned to the camp, and most of the soldiers were awake. Bonfires were lit in the camp in groups. The cooks from each camp carried iron pots and large ladles, and took turns distributing dry food and vegetable soup to the soldiers.

Seeing Gu Qing return to camp, the soldiers stood up and saluted one after another with very respectful expressions.

The respect for Gu Qing was not only due to his official position and title, but more importantly, during the more than a month of marching, the soldiers gradually saw his character.

Gu Qing is generally a very kind person. He never puts on airs when chatting and laughing with ordinary sergeants. He sits on the floor like ordinary friends, and then chats about all kinds of things, although the topics the coach talks about pop up from time to time.

There are new words that I don’t understand, but Gu Qing’s attitude is really approachable.

But Gu Qing is not always kind. Whenever the army encounters matters that require the coach's decision, Gu Qing will become very serious. Sometimes he will even curse loudly when he doesn't like it. At that time, Gu Qing's face is really ugly, and he is not born with it.

His happy face was paired with a not-so-bright mood, and you could see the roar of storm, lightning, and thunder from his face.

Fortunately, Gu Qing didn't get serious very often.

The four captain generals headed by Chang Zhong were sincerely convinced of Gu Qing.

After leaving Chang'an for more than a month, every day was a dull march, but before leaving the city, Chang Zhong and others saw Gu Qing's ability with their own eyes.

Originally, the Ministry of Military Affairs only allocated 3,000 horses and 2,000 stones of food and grass to the army. However, when Gu Qing showed up, no one knew what method he used. The Ministry of Military Affairs respectfully sent 15,000 horses and 20,000 stones of food and grass to the Zuowei camp.

He also sent multiple weapons, arrows and crossbows.

As a general who leads troops all year round, what are you most afraid of when going on an expedition? It’s not the fierce enemies or the freezing cold environment, but the untimely supply of logistics supplies. Once the logistics are interrupted, the army will be in big trouble.

Originally, this army only had 3,000 horses when it set off, and the remaining 7,000 people had to walk. The food was only waiting for the next batch of supplies from the court while walking. The logistics can be said to be very tight.

However, I didn't expect that Gu Qing would be very generous when he came forward. Not only did he give each soldier a war horse, but he also had an extra five thousand horses. The food supply was increased tenfold. He could eat all the way to Anxi without any problem. It is said that the emperor's subordinates

A batch of grain supplies is also being planned and will be on the road soon...

They haven't seen Gu Qing's other abilities as a coach, but Gu Qing's ability in logistics is admirable. Chang Zhong and other generals have led troops on expeditions, but they have never had such a loose and wealthy environment.

March days.

…………

Being a general is actually the same as being a leader leading a team in the previous life. It requires a process from unfamiliarity to familiarity.

Regardless of status and official position, both parties are in a period of adjustment and adaptation. During this period, you must not pretend to be pretentious. You must show your true side so that your subordinates will feel confident after seeing it and know how to deal with the leader in the future.

Leaders must not be pretentious at this time, because pretending will not last long, and having two faces in front and behind will make subordinates confused and release too much wrong information to them. The running-in period will become very long and even affect the team.

cooperation and employee loyalty.

So after Gu Qing led the army and left Chang'an City, the way he behaved along the way was absolutely true. He was like this on weekdays. When he had nothing to do, he was lazy and like a salted fish without any pursuits. When he had something to do, he was serious and even cursed.

Spread your hands without any scruples and let the soldiers see you clearly. I am me, fireworks of different colors. Are you afraid of loving me?

This is how the general's majesty is accumulated. Gu Qing will not control ordinary sergeants. He only focuses on Chang Zhong and other four generals. As long as Chang Zhong and the four respect Gu Qing, ordinary sergeants will be in awe of Gu Qing.

Sitting down in front of the bonfire, Gu Qing casually took a piece of Hu Pancake and a bowl of vegetable soup from Han Jie and started eating them.

Although the general at Yumen Pass was polite, the official social activities consisted of drinking and chatting. After the banquet, Gu Qing was still very hungry.

After eating two pieces of biscuits, Gu Qing's stomach was finally full. After a lengthy burp, he felt sleepy while sitting by the fire.

Chang Zhong came over and whispered: "Deputy envoy, I asked the old man at Yumen Pass for advice. The old man said that it is best to prepare some camels and hire a few guides, otherwise it is easy to get lost in the desert..."

Gu Qing calculated the money he had brought, and couldn't help but feel a little sad. It was too much, but it was really not much.

I spent half of it as a gift to Yang Guozhong, and more than a thousand taels to buy iron for Han Jie and other personal guards to make plate armor. When I left Chang'an, I emptied the family warehouse and only had about five thousand taels left. When I arrived at the Anxi Protectorate,

I don’t know how much it will cost yet…

In the past, when a person lived alone, he always felt that money was just a series of numbers. The money earned yesterday had not been spent yet, and the money earned today was continuously moved into the warehouse.

But once he became the commander-in-chief of an army, Gu Qing realized how poor he was.

Not to mention a team of 10,000 people, even raising Han Jie and his team of 100 people was very difficult.

At this moment, Gu Qing felt that he was not worthy of being the head coach because he was poor.

"Buy, buy, buy!" Gu Qing gritted his teeth and said, like a man who married an extremely vain and money-loving woman as his wife, feeling both helpless and desperate for face.

Chang Zhong was embarrassed and shy and said: "Well, deputy envoy, there is a strong wind and sand outside the Great Wall. I heard from the old man that it is best for each person to have a piece of linen wrapped around their heads, so that they will not be blinded by the wind and sand..."

Gu Qing couldn't help but groan.

Of course a piece of linen is not valuable, but ten thousand pieces of linen...

"Don't be like this, give me some more time..." Gu Qing held his head in his hands in pain, like a middle-aged scumbag who was forced by his mistress to divorce his first wife.

Then Gu Qing perked up and suddenly said: "If we encounter a barbarian caravan after leaving the fortress, can we join in the fight?"

Chang Zhong was stunned for a moment, then turned pale with shock: "Why did the deputy envoy have such shocking thoughts?"

"Because of poverty."

"Deputy envoy must not do this! The stakes in this matter are too great. Besides, how can I, the majestic King of the Tang Dynasty..."

"Okay, shut up, I just said whatever I wanted."

After three days of rest, ten thousand soldiers walked out of Yumen Pass through windy sand and yellow dust.

After leaving the fortress, there was a sky full of yellow sand. Looking around, it was a vast expanse of yellow, as if there was no hope in a failed life.

After walking for less than half a month, the weather is getting hotter and hotter. It was still spring when we left Chang'an, but now it is almost summer.

Leaving Yangguan in the west and passing through Shazhou and Xizhou, the road is still endless desert, but the ground is gradually becoming uneven. There are even many corpses on the road that were not buried by the yellow sand in time. Most of the corpses are dressed as ordinary caravans. Only half of the skeleton was left after being eaten by vultures, and there were many carcasses of horses and camels on the ground. The further we walked, the more we walked towards hell.

The atmosphere in the team became inexplicably dull, and the soldiers were also shocked by the tragic scenes. They were not afraid of fighting to the death, but the tragic and cruel scene after such a fight was really difficult to adapt to.

Gu Qing's mood also became inexplicably heavy.

The corpses of these merchants along the way were obviously robbed and killed by bandits in the desert. Sure enough, as Zhang Jiuzhang said, there would be no peace after leaving Yumen Pass in the west. No wonder Li Longji solemnly stated that he must restore and open up the trade routes in the Western Regions. Today, this trade route The dense bones on the road told Gu Qing that this task was very difficult.

Perhaps this is not just the reason for bandits. The Anxi Protectorate of the Tang Dynasty and the surrounding Tubo, Tuqishi, and remaining Turkic forces are all competing with each other in this endless desert. The merchants passing by It's easy to become a victim.

If you want to open up the trade routes in the Western Regions, you must destroy all the surrounding hostile countries.

Gu Qing, who was riding a horse, was thinking deeply when he suddenly heard the sound of horse hooves in the distance.

A scout hurriedly rode over. When he reached Gu Qing, he reined up his horse and reported: "Deputy envoy, there are bandits thirty miles ahead. They are plundering a Hu caravan!"

"How many men do the bandits have?"

"There are more than 200 people. Judging by their appearance, they are not from the Tang Dynasty."

Gu Qing frowned and suddenly said: "Chang Zhong, come here!"

Chang Zhong turned his horse's head and clasped his fist towards Gu Qing: "The end will be here."

Gu Qing said solemnly: "You lead a cavalry team of a thousand people and annihilate that group of bandits. You are not allowed to let anyone go. Violators will be punished by military law."

Chang Zhong said loudly: "The last general takes orders!"

Quickly gathering a thousand men and horses, Chang Zhong took the lead and rode forward. The thousand soldiers behind him followed Chang Zhong and covered them up like wind and lingering clouds.

Gu Qing also signaled to Han Jie and asked him to follow with his guards.

"Master Marquis, they are just a group of bandits. Chang Zhong should be able to easily defeat them. Master Marquis, there is no need to go and watch the battle, right?" Han Jie advised.

Gu Qing shook his head and said with a smile: "I want to see Chang Zhong's ability to lead troops in battle, and I also want to see the quality of our elite left guard troops. Let's treat it as a training exercise."

Gu Qing and others followed Chang Zhong's troops from a distance. After riding their horses for thirty miles, they finally heard the screams of fighting in front of them.

Looking around, a group of bandits wearing black clothes and wearing turbans on their heads were riding horses surrounding a caravan with only a few dozen people left. The bandits seemed to feel that the situation was settled and were calmly moving forward. Riding their horses in circles around the caravan, strange laughter and whistles came from their mouths from time to time, just like a group of hooligans blocking a female high school student who had just finished school in an alley.

Chang Zhong was delighted to see the battle. He observed carefully for a long time, and after fully analyzing and judging the situation in front of him, he suddenly drew his sword and raised it high, shouting: "Soldiers, listen to my orders. One thousand men are divided into three teams, and the left and right wings are outflanked.
Chapter completed!