Shuhan

Chang'an, this ancient capital carrying thousands of years of glory and vicissitudes, appears more majestic and profound in the afterglow of autumn.

The ancient city walls cast long shadows under the setting sun, as if telling of the glory of the past.

At the city gate, there were heavy traffic and crowds of people, creating a bustling and lively scene.

At this time, the second prince Liu Xuan was in this city, starting a journey full of challenges and opportunities.

Since the meeting with Fa Zheng, Liu Xuan began his short but busy stay in Chang'an.

He knew very well that if he wanted to achieve something in this place far away from the power core of Luoyang, he must first build up his own power.

So, without hesitation, he exchanged all the gold and silver jewelry given to him by his mother Guan Yinping for war horses, armor and weapons.

Those gold and silver items once sparkled alluringly under the sunlight, but now they have turned into cold and hard weapons, carrying Liu Xuan's hopes and ambitions.

In a spacious parade ground in Chang'an, Liu Xuan, dressed in a black suit, stood tall and straight, like a pine tree.

His face was handsome and resolute, and his eyes sparkled with sharp light.

At this time, he was standing in the center of the parade ground, looking at the crowd gathered around him.

"Everyone!" Liu Xuan's voice was loud and powerful, echoing in the empty training ground.

"Although the Han Dynasty seems peaceful on the surface, there are still worries on the border. The situation in the Western Regions is complicated, and the remnants of the Xiongnu and the Qiang Hu often invade. As a prince of the Han Dynasty, I shoulder the heavy responsibility of defending my country. Today, I am here to recruit warriors who are willing to fight with me for the peace of the Han Dynasty! By then, it will be no problem to ennoble my wife and children!"

Liu Xuan's words, like a passionate war song, ignited the blood of everyone present.

There was a commotion in the crowd, and many young people's eyes were shining with excitement and desire.

They were whispering and talking to each other.

"This is the bloodline of the Han emperor. What an honor it is to follow him into battle!" a burly young man said excitedly.

His face flushed with excitement and his muscles were tense, as if he was ready to charge into battle at any time.

"Yes, and I heard that the second prince wants to arm us with the best war horses and armor. This is much better than being an ordinary soldier in the local area!" Another slightly thin young man echoed, his eyes full of anticipation, and his thin body seemed to straighten up a lot because of this anticipation.

After a while, many people signed up.

Liu Xuan felt a little relieved when he saw these young people who signed up enthusiastically.

He personally selected the warriors with a sharp and determined gaze. Every person who was selected could feel Liu Xuan's gaze full of trust and expectation, as if they were injected with a powerful force.

While recruiting brave warriors, Liu Xuan did not forget to make friends with the generals in the Chang'an army.

Because of his dual identities as Guan Yu's grandson and a prince, he naturally gained a kind of affinity in the army.

He often went around the military camp and talked with the generals.

"General Zhang, I've long heard of your great name!" Liu Xuan smiled as he walked up to a middle-aged general in armor and bowed.

General Zhang was tall, with a stern face and a look of determination from a veteran of many battles.

"Your Highness the Second Prince is too polite." General Zhang quickly returned the greeting. Although there was a smile on his face, there was a hint of alienation.

Liu Xuan didn't seem to care about General Zhang's attitude. He continued, "I heard that General Zhang was extremely brave on the battlefield and had made many military achievements. I really admire him. I hope General Zhang will give me more guidance in the future." Liu Xuan's tone was sincere and humble, making it impossible to refuse.

"Your Highness, you are joking. I am only doing my duty." General Zhang said, still maintaining a certain distance in his words.

Liu Xuan knew in his heart that although these people in the army were not distant from him, they were not overly close to him either.

The reason is very simple. His eldest brother is the crown prince and Zhang Fei's grandson.

In the eyes of these military generals, currying favor with the prince is obviously more promising than currying favor with him.

However, Liu Xuan was not discouraged. He believed that as long as he showed enough ability and sincerity, there would always be someone willing to support him.

Sure enough, some people in the army still bet on him.

A young captain named Li Yong took the initiative to find Liu Xuan.

"Your Highness, I am willing to follow you and serve you at your service!" Li Yong knelt on one knee, his eyes full of loyalty and determination.

His face is young and energetic, his body is agile, and he looks like a passionate young man.

Liu Xuan quickly helped Li Yong up, with a hint of surprise in his eyes: "Captain Li, I am honored to have your help. In the future, we must work together to establish merits for the Han Dynasty!" Liu Xuan's voice was full of enthusiasm, which made Li Yong feel extremely respected.

In addition to the people in the army, the wealthy and powerful families from all over Guanzhong also came to pay their respects to Liu Xuan upon hearing that he had arrived in Chang'an.

For a time, Liu Xuan's mansion was crowded with people, and carriages and sedan chairs were constantly coming and going.

These powerful families were all dressed in gorgeous clothes and had arrogant demeanors, but they behaved extremely respectfully in front of Liu Xuan.

"Your Highness, the Second Prince, I am the patriarch of the Wang family in Guanzhong, and I have come to pay my respects to Your Highness today."

A middle-aged man in a silk robe walked into Liu Xuan's reception room with a big smile on his face and bowed. His face was full of fat, his eyes were narrowed into slits, and when he smiled, he looked like a Maitreya Buddha, but his eyes were shrewd and calculating.

"Thank you, Patriarch Wang. Please take a seat." Liu Xuan said with a smile, but there was a hint of vigilance in his eyes.

After the royal patriarch sat down, he clapped his hands, and the servants behind him immediately brought up an exquisite box.

“Your Highness, these are some of the treasures collected by my family. They are all rare treasures. I present them to your Highness today to show my respect for you.” Patriarch Wang said as he opened the box. The antiques in the box sparkled with charming light under the sunlight.

Liu Xuan looked at these treasures and knew in his heart that this was just a means for the powerful families to win him over.

But he did not refuse, he just smiled and said: "Patriarch Wang is thoughtful, I will definitely treasure it."

Afterwards, other powerful families came, some presented precious gifts, and some even sent their family members to serve Liu Xuan.

"Your Highness, this is my son. He has been familiar with military books since he was young, and his martial arts are also quite good. I hope Your Highness can take him in and let him serve you."

A white-haired old man walked in with a young man and said respectfully.

The young man had a slender figure and a handsome face, but there was a hint of pride in his eyes.

Liu Xuan looked at the father and son and nodded slightly: "Your son is a handsome man. If there is a chance in the future, I will definitely cultivate him well."

During his time in Chang'an, Liu Xuan was almost always engaged in social activities.

Banquets were held one after another, and Liu Xuan always had a smile on his face while drinking. However, he was exhausted inside.

He knew very well that these powerful families were not truly loyal to him, they were just seeking benefits for their own families.

But he also understood that in this complex situation, he needed to use these forces to lay the foundation for his future.

At a banquet, Liu Xuan sat together with several powerful families and military generals.

After three rounds of drinking, everyone started talking more. "Your Highness, the current situation in the world is unpredictable. Although the Crown Prince is the heir to the throne, Your Highness also has extraordinary talents. In the future, it is still unknown who will win the world."

A powerful man from an aristocratic family, under the influence of alcohol, spoke boldly. There was a hint of speculation in his eyes, as if he was waiting for Liu Xuan's response.

Liu Xuan frowned slightly, feeling extremely disgusted with this sentence, but still kept a smile on his face: "Don't talk nonsense, the prince is the heir to the throne, and I will do my best to assist him."

Liu Xuan's voice was steady and firm, causing everyone present to feel a chill in their hearts.

However, Liu Xuan also knew in his heart that his situation was actually very delicate.

In Chang'an, far away from Luoyang, he had to work hard to develop his own power while avoiding arousing suspicion from others.

He knew that he had to be careful with every step he took, as any mistake could lead to him falling into an irretrievable situation.

At night, Liu Xuan stood alone in the courtyard of his mansion, looking at the starry sky, with a lot of thoughts in his mind. He thought of his parents far away in Luoyang, and thought of his mission. "Mother, father, I will never let you down. I will make a name for myself in Chang'an."

Liu Xuan spoke softly, his voice drifting in the silent night sky, as if carrying his determination, drifting away into the distance.

. . .

In the autumn in Chang'an, the sun is still scorching, but it is slightly cool.

The streets and alleys in the city are bustling with the cries of vendors and the noise of carriages and horses.

However, beneath this prosperous appearance, the undercurrents of various forces have never stopped.

Fa Zheng, the Shangshu Ling of the Han Dynasty, was filled with worries after hearing about the actions of the second prince Liu Xuan in Chang'an.

On a rare free afternoon, he decided to go to the Second Prince's residence to have a good talk with Liu Xuan.

Fa Zheng rode in a simple carriage and slowly drove towards the Second Prince's residence.

He was wearing a black robe, his hair was neatly tied on top of his head, a few strands of white hair sparkled in the sun, his face was thin and serious, his eyes revealed deep worry.

The carriage stopped in front of the mansion. Fa Zheng got off, looked up at the tall gate tower of the mansion, took a deep breath, and walked in steadily.

"The Minister of the Chancellery Fa Zheng requests to see His Royal Highness the Second Prince." Fa Zheng said to the guards at the door in a steady and powerful voice.

After a while, the guards led Fa Zheng to the reception room.

Liu Xuan had been waiting here for a long time. He was wearing a white brocade robe, with an upright posture, handsome face, and eyes that revealed the vigor and confidence unique to young people.

Seeing Fa Zheng coming in, Liu Xuan quickly stood up to greet him.

"Minister, please take a seat." Liu Xuan said enthusiastically with a smile on his face.

"I wonder what important matter the Minister has come here to discuss today?"

After Fa Zheng sat down, he stared at Liu Xuan and said solemnly, "Your Highness, I heard about what you did in Chang'an recently, and I am very worried."

Liu Xuan was slightly stunned, then he understood what Fa Zheng was referring to.

He still had a smile on his face and said, "Shangshu, please go ahead."

"Your Highness, do you know why these powerful families in Guanzhong want to curry favor with you?" Fa Zheng asked, with a scrutinizing look in his eyes.

Liu Xuan smiled lightly and nodded, "First, they want to speculate and bet on me, hoping that I will become successful in the future, so that they can also benefit from it; second, they want to rely on me to resist the imperial court's land measurement."

Liu Xuan's voice was steady, and every word he spoke was clear and powerful, as if he had seen through all of this.

Upon hearing this, Fa Zheng was stunned.

He didn't expect that Liu Xuan, at such a young age, could see the key points so thoroughly.

He nodded slightly and said, "Your Highness is smart. Since you know the reason, you should keep your distance from them. These noble families have complicated minds. If you get too close to them, you may get into trouble."

There was a hint of anxiety in Fa Zheng's tone; he was genuinely worried about Liu Xuan's future.

Liu Xuan laughed and said, "Minister, the power of these powerful families can be borrowed. I will face many difficulties when I go to the Western Regions this time, and I need help from all parties. With their support, I can build a strong army and make achievements in the Western Regions. As for their desire to use me to resist the imperial court's land measurement, when I arrive in the Western Regions, they will not be able to ask for help even if they want to. And I can also save some of their family bloodlines at the appropriate time, so that they will be grateful to me. Why not?"

As Liu Xuan spoke, he stood up and paced in the hall, with a confident look in his eyes.

Fa Zheng looked at Liu Xuan and couldn't help but sigh. After all, he was the son of your majesty, so he was really smart.

He nodded slightly and said, "Your Highness is very thoughtful and far-sighted. I am overthinking. In that case, I have nothing to teach you."

Fa Zheng's tone showed both admiration for Liu Xuan and a hint of relief.

In the following days, Liu Xuan, with the support of the powerful people in Guanzhong, began to intensively organize his own cavalry team.

In a spacious parade ground outside the city of Chang'an, Liu Xuan's busy figure could be seen every day.

He was dressed in a black suit and a jewel-studded belt around his waist, looking very heroic.

"Everyone, listen carefully. From today on, we will begin rigorous training. Our goal is to become an invincible cavalry and expand the territory for the Han Dynasty!"

Liu Xuan stood in the center of the parade ground and shouted loudly to the soldiers in front of him.

His voice was loud and powerful, echoing in the empty parade ground and stirring the blood in the soldiers' hearts.

The soldiers lined up neatly in the parade ground, their eyes full of trust in Liu Xuan and expectations for the future.

"We will follow your orders, His Highness!" the soldiers shouted in unison, their voices resounding through the sky.

Liu Xuan personally selected three thousand strong soldiers with excellent riding skills.

These soldiers came from different places, but at this moment, they all had the same dream, which was to follow Liu Xuan and make great military achievements in the Western Regions.

Liu Xuan equipped them with the best horses, armor and weapons.

Those war horses were tall and strong, with shiny coats, and each one looked like a warrior on the battlefield.

The armor flashed a cold light in the sunlight, the weapons were extremely sharp, and exuded a murderous aura.

Every morning, when the first ray of sunlight shines on the parade ground, the soldiers begin their arduous training.

They practiced archery on horseback, drawing their bows and arrows on galloping horses, and every arrow hits its target; they practiced charging, and the neatly organized team is like a steel torrent, unstoppable.

Liu Xuan stayed with the soldiers all the time. He demonstrated personally and gave patient guidance, paying attention to every movement and every detail.

"Zhang Yong, your riding and shooting posture is not standard enough, which will affect the accuracy of your archery. Look carefully, it should be like this." Liu Xuan walked up to a young soldier and personally corrected his posture. His eyes were focused and serious, which deeply moved the soldiers.

"Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness." Zhang Yong said with gratitude, his face filled with admiration for Liu Xuan.

During breaks in training, Liu Xuan would also talk with the soldiers to learn about their lives and thoughts.

His friendly attitude made the soldiers feel his care and strengthened their determination to follow Liu Xuan.

"Your Highness, we will follow you and never retreat even if we have to go through fire and water!" said a burly soldier, patting his chest.

His voice was rough and heroic, representing the voice of all soldiers.

Liu Xuan looked at them with a smile and said, "Okay, I feel relieved with your words. We are a team. As long as we work together, no difficulties can stop us."

As time went by, this cavalry team gradually grew.

Their riding skills became more and more sophisticated, their cooperation became more and more tacit, and they already possessed powerful combat effectiveness.

Liu Xuan looked at the team he had personally formed, his heart filled with pride.

It's time to go to the West!
Liu Xuan was full of ambitions.

"Your Highness, the journey to the Western Regions is long, so I hope you take care of yourself." Fa Zheng walked forward and said with concern on his face.

Liu Xuan nodded slightly and said, "Don't worry, Minister, I will definitely make great achievements in the Western Regions and live up to the expectations of your majesty and the people."

Say it.

Liu Xuan led his three thousand cavalry and marched towards the Western Regions in a mighty manner.

Their figures look particularly spectacular under the sunlight.

The sound of horse hooves and wheels interweaves together, like an exciting war song, playing the chapter of Liu Xuan's achievements in the Western Regions. (End of this chapter)