Zhutian: Starting from the Space-Time Merchant

Chapter 580 Let's go, I'll take you back to Khotan!
"Are you a human or a ghost?!"

Han Wang and the others gripped their weapons tightly and moved closer together to form a battle formation.

When Lin Dao appeared before the people, he was not met with immediate worship, but rather with deep vigilance.

After all, this place has always had a reputation for being haunted.

"I have a shadow, so of course I'm a person."

He pointed to the ruins of the house. "Your companion is seriously injured. Does he need medical assistance?"

Han Wang and the others were filled with doubt and uncertainty. After some discussion, they retreated back into the ruins.

Soon, they carried out a wounded soldier.

By this time, camp lights had already been set up along the forest trail, making the area quite bright.

"The Su brothers were hit by the stinky arrows of the Tibetans."

"When wind-evil enters the body, the wound becomes infected and suppurates."

Han Wang took a breath and said, "I'm afraid we can't hold out for much longer."

The so-called "stinky arrow" is not simply the kind of smeared feces depicted in movies and TV shows.

In reality, it involves mixing feces and poison together, boiling them, and then sealing them for fermentation, allowing them to breed a large number of bacteria.

The arrowheads should be soaked in the solution before use, just before engaging in combat.

Arrows soaked in water contain a large number of bacteria and pathogens. If they hit an enemy, the wound is prone to bacterial infection, leading to sepsis or tetanus.

In ancient times, medical conditions were limited, and wound infections often led to the death or loss of combat effectiveness of soldiers.

In this era, there is basically no cure for this kind of injury; it's all a matter of fate.

The high mortality rate in wounded soldiers' camps was mainly due to wound infections.

Lin Dao took out the first aid kit and went forward to check.

The Tang soldier named Su Xin trembled slightly, sweat beading on his forehead.

Reaching out to feel the neck, I could clearly sense that the body temperature was above normal.

Her lips were dry, cracked, and pale, but her face was unnaturally flushed.

High fever, coma, dehydration, infection.

Given their circumstances, if they hadn't encountered the forest path, they would have been doomed.

Lin Dao didn't waste any words and went straight to giving injections and IV drips.

"Take it."

Without a support frame, Lin Dao placed the IV drip in the hands of Han Wang and the others, making them hold it high.

In Su Xin's condition, feeding him food and water is useless; the only option is intravenous fluids.

We continued cleaning the wound, cutting away all the rotten flesh, and rinsing it with saline solution.

After applying the medication, the wound was simply sutured and bandaged.

After finishing all that, he set up a campfire and even brought out military overcoats for several white-haired soldiers to wear.

He had experience marching in the desert and knew very well that the temperature difference between day and night in the desert was huge.

It's unbearably hot during the day and freezing cold at night.

A campfire and a military overcoat are essential for sustaining life.

I set up the campfire, opened a few cans of food, poured in water and dehydrated vegetables, and added instant noodle seasoning packets to cook together.

The food in the pot was bubbling and the aroma of meat filled the air.

Han Wang and the others swallowed hard, their eyes filled with longing.

After the Khotan military town was captured, they fled all the way here, and were already exhausted and hungry.

With such delicious food right in front of you, how can you possibly resist?

Lin Dao placed the disposable tableware aside and gestured, "Eat whatever you like."

After all, they were well-trained regular troops of the Tang Dynasty. Han Wang and the others did not rush forward all at once, but took turns holding the IV drip bottles and went forward to eat and drink.

As for the previous precautions against Lin Dao, they have now been put aside.

If it's definitely not a ghost from the ancient city of Jingjue, then with their ability to create things out of thin air, what's there to be wary of?

To put it bluntly, these few remnants of their army are hardly worth the effort of someone with such great abilities to make any arrangements.

Lin Dao, sitting to the side, held a box of Master Kong black tea and drank it through a straw.

"The sixth year of the Zhenyuan era~"

"Why didn't you send me to the sixth year of Zhenguan!"

"That bastard Li Longji is long dead, and An Lushan is ashes. Who am I supposed to fight now?"

Lin Dao, who had hoped to participate in the Battle of Xiangji Temple, or at least the Battle of Talas, was clearly somewhat disappointed.

He really wanted to light lamps together for Li Longji and An Lushan, these two good buddies.

As for Yang Yuhuan, we can visit her along the way.

After all, Lin Dao really wanted to see what kind of figure the chubby girl, who was ranked among the Four Beauties, actually had.

Unfortunately, the time portal sent him to this time and space, but the things he wanted to do and the people he wanted to find had all disappeared decades ago.

After a brief complaint, Lin Dao refocused his thoughts on reality.

"The yellow time portal... it's to help the white-haired soldiers of Anxi!"

Their enemy was the Tibetan Empire at its most powerful period.

"And there are also the Karluks, Shatuo, Uyghurs, various Turkic tribes, mixed nomadic tribes, and small kingdoms in the Western Regions~"

"There are many, but they are all just minor troubles."

"This task is very simple."

The Tibetan Empire was the undisputed hegemon of this era, even conquering Chang'an.

They seized the lands of Longyou and Hexi, severing the connection between the Central Plains and the Western Regions.

They continuously invaded the Western Regions, eventually annihilating all the Tang army there and occupying the land.

This was the most glorious era for the Tibetan Empire, during which it established a vast empire stretching from the Western Regions in the north to the southern Himalayas.

At this time, the Karluks and the Shatuo were still minor figures.

They grew stronger by exploiting the Tang Dynasty, and eventually, a century later, they raised Li Keyong, the chieftain of the Shatuo tribe.

The various Turkic tribes, the mixed nomadic groups, and the small kingdoms of the Western Regions were all typical opportunists.

When the Tang Dynasty was powerful, they served the Tang Dynasty with their lives.

When the Tang Dynasty declined, it turned around and bleed the Tang Dynasty dry.

If we're talking about true strength, it's the Uyghurs.

This Uyghur is the same Uyghur that, decades ago, sent troops to assist the Tang Dynasty in suppressing the An Lushan Rebellion and participated in the Battle of Xiangji Temple. In reality, although they participated in the Battle of Xiangji Temple, they were mostly playing a minor role on the periphery.

The main force in the final battle was still the elite border troops of the Tang army.

The Battle of Xiangji Temple depleted the Tang Dynasty's resources, ultimately forcing them to rely on the Uyghurs.

What followed was extremely infuriating for Lin Dao. After recovering the two capitals, he allowed the Uyghurs to massacre and plunder the cities, carrying loads of gold, silver, jewels, and all sorts of supplies, and then bound men and women with ropes like cattle and sheep back to the grasslands.

How hateful!

What's most hateful is that Li Heng, that bastard, died decades ago.

Just like his father, he didn't give Lin Dao a chance.

Thinking of this, an enraged Lin Dao slammed his fist into the nearby ruins.

With a deafening roar, the wall that had stood firm for hundreds of years against the wind and sand was smashed by Lin Dao's punch.

Several Tang soldiers who were busy eating quickly looked over.

Seeing Lin Dao's angry face, which was constantly changing in the light of the campfire, they looked at each other, puzzled as to why he was angry.

"Uyghur~"

"Humph!"

On the surface, the Uyghurs, who married a princess of the Tang Dynasty, were allies of the Tang Dynasty.

In reality, they also harbored ambitions to replace the rulers, or at least to dominate the grasslands and the Western Regions.

Lin Dao had previously consulted some materials and learned that just this year, when the Tubo attacked Beiting, the Uyghurs sent troops to rescue them but were defeated.

There's not much to say about the defeat, but the Uyghurs retaliated by plundering Tang Dynasty prefectures and towns, and even killed the Tang Dynasty's Beiting Jiedushi (military governor).

Is this what you call an ally?
With a stern face, Lin Dao took out a small notebook and pen and wrote down each name.

The last one is the Uyghurs.

After changing the water bottles for the wounded, Lin Dao waved to several Tang soldiers to rest first, saying they could talk about it tomorrow.

Han Wang and the others surrounded the wounded soldier, who had stopped trembling and gradually calmed down, watching Lin Dao's figure disappear from sight.

Unsurprisingly, the Tang soldiers around the campfire discussed the matter all night.

As for Lin Dao, he went to rest in his warm bed.

Although I go to bed late and get up early.

But Lin Dao was still full of energy.

Lin Dao glanced at the beautiful woman beside him who was still fast asleep, his mind preoccupied with his career, and had no intention of exercising early in the morning.

After getting up to wash up and eat, I went to the armory.

"In the Western Regions, only a few thousand white-haired soldiers remain who can fight."

"There weren't many people recruited for land reclamation or military dependents."

"As for retired soldiers, we've lost contact with them for decades, and they're all long gone."

"Lacking sufficient human resources, I had no choice but to step in myself."

"I need heavy firepower!"

The armory, located in the space-time continuum, has been strengthened and expanded many times, and now forms a vast area.

There are many warehouses here, filled with all kinds of cold weapons such as swords, spears, halberds, armor, shields, bows, crossbows, and horse armor.

The largest warehouse, however, is where the big stuff is stored.

Mining trucks, transport vehicles, and various types of construction machinery were parked neatly one after another.

Opposite these civilian vehicles were rows of armored vehicles and tanks.

They even have light aircraft and helicopters.

Today's Lindao is truly a master driver.

Basically, there's no vehicle he can't drive, except for submarines.

Lin Dao selected a Cessna light aircraft, carefully inspected it, and after confirming that there were no problems, began refueling and completed the pre-flight preparations.

The ancient city of Jingjue is located in the desert and was an oasis during the Han Dynasty.

However, the oasis's water source was later cut off, and it was gradually abandoned.

Lin Dao didn't want to carry a few old men across the desert, so he simply flew.

They set off and arrived in the Zhenyuan era.

As soon as I stepped outside, I felt the vibrant atmosphere.

In the desert, once it gets light, the temperature rises rapidly under the sunlight.

The campfire had long since gone out, and the camp lights, pots, and other items had been moved to the abandoned house.

Hearing the commotion, several white-haired old men who had already taken off their military overcoats rushed out to check.

Upon seeing Lin Dao, he quickly bowed and greeted him, "Immortal Master!"

After experiencing a miraculous night, especially after the injured Su Xin woke up and was even able to eat simple food, they were convinced that Lin Dao had come down from the sky to save them.

In reality, if they hadn't encountered Lin Dao, the old men, lacking food, horses, and camels, would have eventually been swallowed up by this desert.

"Walk."

Lin Dao called out, "Come with me, everyone."

It's impossible to take off an airplane on sand, not even a Cessna, which is known for its low takeoff requirements.

Fortunately, the desert is not all sand and dunes; there are also large areas of Gobi.

About a mile outside the ancient city of Jingjue, there is a vacant lot that appears somewhat low-lying compared to its surroundings.

Lin Dao speculated that this should be the site of a former oasis lake after it dried up.

They retrieved the airplane and called over several white-haired soldiers to help the wounded up the plane.

He then jokingly asked, "Have you ever seen a deep pit or a giant cave here?"

It was meant as a joke, but to everyone's surprise, Han Wang nodded and said, "Yes."

"The cave was very deep and strange noises could be heard from it, so we dared not go in."

"Uh~" Lin Dao was taken aback, then smiled and went into the cockpit of the plane.

With all preparations complete, Lin Dao started the aircraft, pushed the throttle, and began to accelerate on the hard ground.

When the pointer reached 180, he pulled the lever and took off.

"Walk."

"I will take you back to Khotan!"

(End of this chapter)