In response to the Parthian defenders' high alert, Ma Teng ordered his entire army to rest.
And so, Ma Teng and his men leisurely drank and ate meat below the city, while the Parthian garrison stood on the city walls in fear.
While the standoff was taking place in Anlia City, Gongsun Zan's White Horse Cavalry arrived outside Xilin Pass after several days of rapid travel.
Xilin Pass was originally a strategic western pass used by Parthia to defend against Roman invasion. After Marcus Aurelius defeated Parthia, this pass fell into Roman hands and was later incorporated into the Arab province.
Several years ago, after Sun Jian defeated the Arab governor and took control of the Arab province, he also took over this strategic pass and appointed Gao Shun to oversee it.
Looking at the pass ahead, Gongsun Zan immediately slowed down his horse and ordered his men to unfurl the Han flag and the White Horse Cavalry's military flag.
The guards at the pass were startled to see the white-horse cavalry suddenly galloping towards them.
Upon seeing the Han flag at the front of the column, a staff officer at the pass was immediately moved and sent someone to inform Gao Shun.
When Gao Shun arrived at the pass, Gongsun Zan also arrived at the foot of the pass.
"Is it Gongsun Bogui?"
Upon seeing Gongsun Zan outside the pass, Gao Shun was momentarily stunned, and then ordered the pass to be opened.
Seeing the travel-worn Gongsun Zan, Gao Shun asked curiously, "Brother Bo Gui, weren't you in the grasslands of northern Parthia? How did you suddenly come here?"
"To be honest, Brother Gong, His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived in Yizhou and has begun his attack on Parthia. I have come here on the Crown Prince's orders to detour into the heart of Parthia to carry out a special mission..."
Gongsun Zan also told Gao Shun the purpose of his visit without any concealment, but he did not say what mission he was going to carry out.
Gao Shun was quite surprised that the Crown Prince had arrived in Yizhou and was planning to settle there, but he did not ask too many questions.
Afterwards, Gao Shun had fodder and food prepared for Gongsun Zan and his party.
After resting for a night, Gongsun Zan led his soldiers and sped south.
"They've already made their move in Illinois, it seems Rome will have to follow soon too!"
Watching Gongsun Zan's departing figure, Gao Shun murmured to himself, then returned to his residence and wrote a letter to Sun Jian.
...
Five days later, Gongsun Zan led his White Horse Cavalry, and after a difficult march, they finally penetrated deep into the heart of Parthian territory and arrived near a city.
This city is called Moloch, and it is located three hundred miles southwest of the Parthian capital.
After some investigation, it was discovered that there was only a security team of about two hundred people in the city, and no troops were stationed there.
Moreover, apart from guarding the city gates every day and collecting entry fees, these security teams basically don't care about anything else, let alone patrolling the surrounding area and guarding the city walls.
After ascertaining the situation, Gongsun Zan led his men and, under the cover of night, sneaked into a dense forest five miles west of the city.
Fortunately, it was June, and the night was not cold, making this night less of a nightmare than many others.
The next day, just as the first light of dawn appeared on the horizon, Gongsun Zan roused all his soldiers.
After leaving two thousand men in the forest to guard the horses, Gongsun Zan led three thousand men, relying on the faint light on the horizon, and crept towards the city wall.
Arriving at the foot of the city wall, Gongsun Zan looked up at the wall, which was no more than two zhang high, and smiled. He then ordered his men to build a human ladder.
Soon, five soldiers climbed up the city wall using a human ladder.
After climbing to the top of the city wall, the five soldiers tiptoed to the back of the city gate and then easily opened it.
"Pass on my orders: send out a thousand men to guard the four city gates, five hundred men to follow me to attack the city lord's mansion, and divide the fifteen hundred men into five teams to bring all the nobles, officials, and wealthy people in the city into the city!"
"Here you go!!"
Upon hearing Gongsun Zan's order, the three thousand soldiers dispersed and rushed toward their respective objectives.
The sounds of soldiers running and the clanging of their armor plates were exceptionally clear in the quiet morning.
Many residents of Ansar who lived along the street were also awakened by the noise.
When a Parthian citizen opened his door and saw soldiers in white armor running in the street, he turned pale with fright.
Just as the Parthian man was terrified and about to shout, a powerful voice reached his ears:
"We are the Han army, we will not harm you civilians, do not be afraid, and do not shout!"
The Parthian people looked in the direction of the sound and saw an officer in white armor looking at them.
"Oh, I know about your Han army. One of my neighbors went to your Yizhou with the Han army back then. I heard that he's doing very well now."
Upon hearing that the other side claimed to be Han soldiers, the Parthian people were no longer afraid.
"Don't worry, you'll soon be living the same kind of life!"
The officer smiled and agreed, then led the group to continue running forward.
Watching the Han army depart, the Parthian people breathed a sigh of relief, then quickly closed the courtyard gate and ran back to their rooms.
"Husband, what's going on outside?"
The man had just returned inside when his wife got up and asked him a question.
"Madam, the Han army has arrived! We'll soon be able to live a good life!"
"Really? That's wonderful!"
Upon hearing that the Han army had arrived, the woman couldn't help but beam with joy.
It should be noted that Chu Qian came from a diplomatic background, and few in the entire Han Dynasty officialdom understood the horrors of cultural invasion better than him.
Therefore, after occupying Yizhou, in addition to being busy governing Yizhou, he also sent many of his men disguised as merchants to penetrate deep into Parthia territory and spread the good things about the Han Dynasty to the Parthian people.
At the same time, the spies that Chu Qian had planted also bribed a large number of Parthian scholars and some noble lords, changing the Parthians' perceptions by changing their culture, clothing, and customs.
Through years of continuous infiltration, in the hearts of the Parthian people, the Han Dynasty has become a prosperous, powerful, free, and peaceful holy land, inspiring countless people to yearn for it.
Like the couple, other civilians in the city who saw the Han army were also happy and excited. Many of them even became guides, leading the White Horse Cavalry soldiers towards the homes of nobles and wealthy people in the city.
In their eyes, compared to the nobles and rich people who had always oppressed them, the Han army was undoubtedly righteous and had come to rescue them.
When Gongsun Zan led five hundred soldiers to the city lord's mansion, the number of Parthian civilians who followed him reached over a thousand.
Everyone looked at Gongsun Zan and his group with eager anticipation, hoping they could break into the city lord's mansion and chop that damned city lord into mincemeat.
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