Firmament

Speak from the bottom of your heart.

- De'ang proverb

Hohbazhi led the army of the steppe country and the army of Tanmachi to evacuate Samarkand, and quickly advanced to Barich, south of Khorezm, searching for Aladdin Mahamat, who is said to have escaped there. Thousands of troops and horses surrounded Huhe Bari and galloped all the way to the south.

Badr rode a sturdy black horse and followed closely behind Hohbazhi and Baolig. Holding the trembling reins in his left hand and the hilt of his sword at his waist in his right hand, he vigilantly patrolled his surroundings with eagle-like eyes, conscientiously fulfilling his duty as a general defending the army.

Badr found a weak old horse that could not be charged, and gave it to Ali as an exception. It's not so much that he treats Ali, but so that he can keep up with the team and provide delicious meals to the generals at any time.

Ali rode on the back of a thin, old white horse, and followed behind the main force, trying to move forward. His melancholy eyes stared at the distant and strange ahead, and there was a sharp sting in his heart. He lamented sadly: The army of the steppe country has not yet collected its troops and returned to China, and I wonder how many cities and civilians in Khorezm will be mercilessly harmed

Located in the upper reaches of the Amu Darya River, Barihei is a world historic city with a very important strategic position, a transportation and trade hub for the Khorezm Empire, India and the Arab region, a thriving commercial economy, and a center for the manufacture of metal products, especially for its bronze objects inlaid with gold and silver. In the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, Barich was the capital of the Greek state of Bactria.

Although the civilians of Barihei had heard of the atrocities of the steppe army, they were lucky enough to think that the steppe country's occupation of Samarkand would die down and be stationed there to enjoy endless pleasure, and they would not care about the remote and remote Barihe. Barry is supposed to be a peaceful city.

On this day, the weather in Barihei was exceptionally sunny, with bright sunshine shining over the city.

The men walked out of the city gate with their families and went to the countryside for a picnic. Adults lay out brightly colored carpets, put honey tea and dried fruits such as almonds, raisins, and dates, and sit together and chat happily. The children are lively and active, chasing and frolicking in the woods, and from time to time they let out crisp and cheerful laughter.

In the afternoon, an elderly man went to urinate in a nearby pile of rubble when he suddenly noticed a yellowish cloud floating on the horizon in the distance. He looked at the branches around him with alarm, did not notice the wind blowing, and immediately felt that the situation was not good.

The old man hurriedly turned around and shouted, "Oh no, the people of the grassland country are coming!

The civilians were frightened by the old man's shouts, and immediately burst into hysterical cries. Everyone didn't care about etiquette and face, and ran back to the city with a roll.

In the blink of an eye, the Prairie Nation army rushed to the foot of the Black City of Bari.

The civilians stood nervously on the city wall, looking at the black-pressed army in fear, and their hearts seemed to be in a mess of ants in a dense patch. In order to avoid the destruction of their homeland by the steppe people, they tried their best to elect the most prestigious Grand Mullah Hussein as the representative of all the civilians, and held peace talks with the commander of the steppe country, expressing the willingness of the civilians to agree to surrender and be loyal to the steppe country.

Grand Mullah Hussein's eyebrows and beard were as white as snow, and his expression was kind and kind, which easily touched the hearts of strangers. Shouldering the heavy responsibility of the civilians of the city, he walked tremblingly out of the city gate accompanied by four young adults, accompanied by four young adults, and came to the arrogant Baolige.

Although Baolige is not very old, he has followed Hohe and Bari for many years, and has grown into a brave and strong-hearted general after being tempered by war. When he saw the gray-haired Grand Mullah Hussein humbly pleading with him, he felt very comfortable in his heart, and he could not help but smile.

Bao Lige waved his whip proudly and rode his horse to Hohe Bari to ask the general whether he would accept the surrender of the civilians of Barihei.

Huhe Bari pondered for a while, looked at Baolig with a sharp gaze, and asked softly, "Our goal is to track down the abominable Aladdin Mahama. If you leave behind a populous city, try to predict what might happen next?"

Bao Lige's mind was very clever, and he immediately figured out what Huhe Ba Ri meant, and replied loudly: "Return to the generals, they will rise up and rebel at any time, and stick a fatal knife in our back." "

Hohe Bari stroked his beard with satisfaction, grinned and said: "The young shoots on the grassland in spring have finally borne fruit in autumn, and the wolf cub with the nipple in his mouth has finally grown teeth. "

Hearing Hohe Bari praising himself, Bao Lige said happily: "General, I will go back immediately to organize the battle. "

Unexpectedly, Hohe Bari slowly raised his broad palm and stopped Baolige wordlessly.

He patiently inspired: "Why should my army use the word battle against these civilians? We will not go into the city, but will rest outside the city for the night and then leave. However, we have to send a small team into the city to count the population. Then, we ......".

Hohe Ba Ri made a meaningful action of cutting off his head.

Seeing this, Baolig understood this, and immediately let the horse go back and conveyed the will of Hohobari to the Grand Mullah Hussein.

When the civilians saw Grand Mullah Hussein return safely, knowing that their lives and the city were carefree, they immediately erupted in cheers of joy.

Hohba Ri really kept his promise and did not send the main army into the black city of Bari, but camped by the woods in the suburbs, drank tea and ate, and fed the horses.

The generals had finished their dinner, and the sky was getting dark.

Ali packed up his cooking utensils and walked out of the tent that provided food and drink for Hohba Ri. He came to the grove alone, wanting to walk around the neighborhood and soothe the depression that had been suppressed in his heart.

Suddenly, Ali faintly heard a miserable and frightened cry coming from the direction of Bari's Black City. He couldn't help but be stunned: Didn't the general accept the surrender of the civilians? What is happening in the city now?

Ali hurriedly ran to the city gate not far away, only to see that the city gate was wide open but unattended. He stood on his heels and craned his neck to look into the city, only to see the streets flashing from time to time with panicked figures, and clouds of fire rising into the sky, and smoke billowing from many houses.

Ali was curious and nervous. In order to figure out what happened, he desperately ran through and into the city. He was horrified by the sight of dozens of civilians lying in the streets. The soldiers of the Prairie Country rushed over with sharp knives and stabbed civilians fleeing in panic. The unarmed citizens were like cattle and sheep on the slaughterhouse, and they died tragically under the sharp knives of the soldiers one by one.

Witnessing this horrific and cruel scene, Ali's body began to tremble violently. They are just innocent civilians, not soldiers with swords and swords, so why should they be killed? If you want to kill them, why do you have to deceive them during the day? Why? Why is that?

Ali was extremely angry at what Hohba Ri and the soldiers were doing, and he felt deeply helpless and helpless. His heart was filled with blood. Tears of grief flowed from his eyes. The sorrow that spreads in my mind is higher than the sky and as deep as the sea.

Suddenly, Ali saw a familiar figure flickering in front of him. He looked closely, and it turned out to be Badr with a sharp knife in his hand!

Badr also recognized Ali. The look on his face was startled at first, and then with a cynical smile, he strode towards Ali.

Badr seemed to see something in Ali's face, and warned in a deep voice, "Who allowed you to enter the city? Do you understand?".

Ali stammered in the steppe language he had just learned, "Badr...... Sir, they're all ...... Innocent civilians, and already ...... Announcing to you...... Surrendered, why ...... to them Kill them all?".

Badr replied solemnly: "In the eyes of our soldiers, they are not innocent civilians at all, but a group of criminals who can turn into thugs at any time, enemies who can never be forgiven." Is there anything wrong with a brave warrior destroying a criminal enemy?".

Ali was speechless about Badr's strong words, and silently withdrew from the city of Bari with grief and indignation. As he staggered down the road, he reached into his pocket and clutched the pebble he had picked up on the banks of the Zeravshan.

Early the next morning, the steppe army packed up their tents and prepared to move forward.

Ali and the cooks loaded pots and spoons into large leather bags and carried them to the wagon outside the tent. He glanced in the direction of Barry's Black City, and suddenly found that the magnificent city had been reduced to wisps of smoke.

Ali looked at the black-and-red ruined city with resentment, mourning for the innocent civilians who had died, and praying for the safety of Ada, Grandma and all their loved ones. He has been trapped in the army of the steppe country, living in a fixed place, running around, unable to hear from his relatives. He didn't know that his parents, his third brother, Ayub, and Uncle Ahmed, had left for another world that was difficult to describe.

Badr hurried over, saw Ali with a sad face, and reminded unhappily: "You are now a servant of the steppe country, and you are no longer a subject of Sartaul. You definitely can't sympathize with those thugs. Let's go, what are you doing here!".

Ali glanced at Badr expressionlessly, and mounted his old horse like a wooden man, following the main force of the steppe country towards the mountains of the Hindu Kush.