Firmament

The girl is beautiful and can't be a smoker.

—Brown proverb

In front of the army tent, Baolig incorporated the young men of Khorezm into the Steppe Army's secondary army, Tanma Red Army.

Ali later learned that 30,000 young men had been incorporated into the Tanma Red Army in Samarkand. The Tanma Red Army was an invention during the western expedition of the Grassland Kingdom. They organized the Khorezm captives into a temporary army, and let the Tanma Red Army fight everywhere with the regular army. When they charged at the enemy's position, they ordered the Tanma Red Army to rush to the front, acting as a human wall for the soldiers of the Steppe Country.

More than 30,000 skilled craftsmen were soon sent by the army to the distant steppe country for the royal family and nobles. They left their homes, their wives separated, and their families destroyed.

On the banks of the Zeravshan River, the elderly, the sick, the sick, the disabled, women and children waited for their families to pay the ransom and ran to their homes in a panic. However, they had just walked a short distance when they were intercepted by another steppe country army. They were taken to the western city of Samarkand, where they were concentrated in a corner of the city and placed under the watchful eye of soldiers.

Ali and the captured Khorezm youths underwent daily military training under the command of Bollig. They learned to march in formation, ride horses, shoot arrows, and dance swords. Ali was intelligent and studious, and soon mastered the basic skills of a soldier. As he studied, he pondered: Isn't this learning how to kill?

One day after lunch, Ali and a few young men practiced archery on the grass.

A young Prairie State officer quietly came to the playground. He walked over to the side of the Khorezm youth and silently observed them. He is the orphan adopted by Hohba Ri back then, and now serves as the general's personal bodyguard.

Badr squinted for a moment, then waved his hand to interrupt Ali's practice.

He asked through the interpreter beside him, "Hey, Sarta people, what's your name?"

"Ali Abdullah. Ali replied without humility or arrogance.

Ali didn't like the superiority in Badr's tone. In order to avoid his own gaze meeting his, Ali deliberately lowered his head.

"Ali Abdullah, what a strange name!—how old are you?" asked Badr, continuing with interest.

"16 years old. The voice that came out of Ali's mouth was noticeably quieter.

Ali hated the brutal and arrogant steppe soldiers very much in his heart, but he could only hide his hatred as much as possible at this time.

Badr was clearly unhappy with Ali's performance. He lowered his face and raised his voice and scolded, "Hey, Sarta, didn't you eat lunch? "

Ali corrected earnestly: "My lord, I have my own name. My name is Ali Abdullah. I'm not a Sartha. I am an innocent Khorezm. "

Badr reprimanded contemptuously: "You are a standard Sarta! In the eyes of our steppe people, the Khwarazmians are the Sartas! What do you have to argue with me!".

Ali did not understand what Badr meant by the standard Sartas. However, he didn't want to continue arguing with him, so he chose to remain silent.

Badr continued, "What did you do before?".

Ali hesitated for a moment and replied, "Shang ...... Person. "

Badr let out a loud giggle suddenly. After a while, he stopped laughing and teased: "I said that you are a standard Sarta, and you are not happy!

Ali looked at the gloating Badr in bewilderment, and thought that this young officer was very funny, and there was some childishness in him.

The interpreter told Ali: "The Sata means merchant. "

Badr smugly asked, "Ali Abdullah, do you have any other specialties besides making money in business?"

Ali replied simply, "Cook." "

Badr asked with interest, "Oh, do you know how to make salta-style pilaf?"

Ali thought to himself, this doll officer is really rare and strange! Whether it is mutton pilaf or dried fruit pilaf, it is the daily food of Khorezm. Everyone can make fragrant flavored pilaf.

Ali replied proudly, "Of course." "

Badr's eyes immediately shone brightly, abandoning his previous reserve and arrogance, and said in a loud voice: "Okay. All right. General Hohba-ri likes to eat pilaf made by the Sarta people the most. Will you follow me?".

"......" Ali slowly raised his head, looked at the delighted Badr in confusion, and did not speak for a long time.

The interpreter warned Ali at a very fast pace: "Ali, don't look at Lord Badr's young age, he is the chief of the guard of General Huhe Bari. You must not refuse his request. Otherwise, he will take up a sharp knife and cut your neck like a lamb!".

Ali stared at Badr with pale yellow eyes, and noticed that the baby officer in front of him was not the same as those rough soldiers, and he revealed the elegance and shrewdness of the nobility.

He hesitated for a moment after listening to the interpreter's words, realizing that he had no choice, so he nodded slightly.

A smug smile appeared on the corner of Badr's mouth, and he said with relief: "Ali of the Sarta, I now officially inform you that from now on you will be the great general of Huhe Bari...... Forget it, don't talk nonsense with you. You can follow me now. "

Ali found that Badr's attitude changed drastically, and the ups and downs were somewhat comical. He put down the bow and arrow in his hand blankly, said goodbye to his friends who practiced archery with his eyes, and left the practice field silently.

Ali followed Badr and the interpreter through the heavily guarded guard posts to a large mass of military tents. He saw a tall and gorgeous military tent in the center, and guessed that this was probably the military tent of General Hohe Bari.

Badr did not take Ali into the military tent of Hohba Ri, but into a tent that smelled of mutton, and introduced him to the foreman in the kitchen.

From then on, Ali followed Hohba Ri and his army, walking the vast land of the Khorezm Empire, making tea and cooking for Hohba Ri, which destroyed his country, day after day.

At first, Badr didn't trust Ali. When a meal is prepared, he always orders Ali to take a bite first. Seeing that Ali had no problems, he would personally serve it to Hohe Bari to enjoy.

Ali's thinking was very simple: the army of the steppe country would one day return to his country. When they are done fighting, I can break free from their control and return to the warmth of my home in Samarkand, to my dear Ada and Grandma, and to live the peaceful and happy life I used to have again.

The reality is unusually cruel and unforgiving.

Young Ali never dreamed that since joining the army of the Steppe Country, his life path has undergone major and profound changes. The sky opened up a strange and mysterious time for him. This period of life is like a leaf floating on the surface of the Zeravshan River, drifting with the waves, swaying, weathered, frosty, rain and snow, through ups and downs, and finally drifting into the unknown distance.