Shuhan

The deep winter outside the Great Wall is like a dormant giant beast, wrapping the sky and the earth in a pale blanket.

The north wind carried sand and snow particles, making a whimpering sound against the city walls of Dunhuang Pass.

The patrolling Han army wrapped their cowhide cloaks tightly, and the frost on their bronze armor fell off. They held their halberds tightly in their hands and looked vigilantly toward the wasteland in the north that was swallowed by snow and fog.

The north wind blew the broken snow across the wall of the Governor's Mansion, freezing the red battle flag of the Han army on the watchtower as hard as iron.

As soon as the gong sounded at three quarters past the hour of Mao, a string of messy horse hoof prints suddenly exploded in the distant snowfield, like a wound torn in the earth.

"There is an enemy!" The Han soldier on duty clenched the trigger of the crossbow, his knuckles turning blue as they scratched the cold iron.

Gray-yellow dust rose on the horizon, and a rider came galloping with his horse's neck bent. His black cloak had already been soaked in blood, and it fluttered in the wind like a tattered battle flag.

The warhorse neighed and fell in front of the pass. The broken wolf-tooth arrow in the horse's belly was still oozing blood, and the wolf hair wrapped around the arrow shaft was trembling in the cold wind.

The rider struggled to roll off the saddle, his knees hitting the icy stone road hard, splashing tiny ice crystals.

His iron mask was gone, revealing half of his face covered with blood scabs. The wound under his left eye was still oozing blood, staining his crooked stubble red.

"Xianbei people!" The scout let out a roar like a broken bellows from his throat, blood oozing from his cracked lips, "The Xianbei Khan is personally leading 30,000 cavalry south!" He reached for the leather bag at his waist with trembling hands, and his blood-stained fingers slipped several times before he threw a sheepskin war document onto the snow.

The wolf head totem painted with cinnabar is particularly eye-catching against the backdrop of white snow, and dark red blood beads are condensed in the wolf's eyes, as if it will bite anyone at any time.

The city gate burst open, and Cao Zhang rushed to the front with an iron halberd in his hand. The beast heads on the black iron armor made clanging sounds when they clashed with each other.

He caught a glimpse of the wound under the scout's armor - it was a dent made by a mace, and the edge was stained with smelly wolf saliva.

"Tell me clearly! Which road did they come from?" The iron spear hit the ground heavily, causing the snow on the ground to fall.

The scout looked up at the big flag with the Chinese character "Liu" flying on the top of the city wall, and suddenly he started coughing violently. Dark red blood foam sprayed on the Han army emblem on his chest: "Going around Pulehai and bypassing our beacon tower."

Before he finished speaking, his pupils suddenly dilated and his body fell forward. Three eagle feather arrows were stuck in his back, and the eagle feathers on his tail feathers were still trembling slightly.

Su Ze squatted down and picked up the letter of challenge. The jagged teeth marks on the edge of the parchment showed that it was bitten open by a wolf.

The moment he unfolded the declaration of war, a fishy smell hit him in the face. The words of war written in cinnabar were so powerful that they penetrated the back of the paper: "The Han dogs took my ranch, and the blood debt must be paid with blood! In three days, I will destroy the Governor's Mansion!"

On the wolf claw print at the signature, fresh wolf blood is slowly spreading along the sheepskin fibers.

Cao Zhang suddenly shouted, and smashed the city wall with his iron halberd, creating a half-foot deep crack amidst the flying sparks: "Thirty thousand? My five thousand Mo Dao Battalion is worried about having no battles to fight!"

He turned his head to look at the top of the city wall, only to see that Liu Xuan had put on black iron armor at some point, and the jade pendant with dragon pattern was glowing coldly under the heart-protecting mirror.

When the declaration of war was presented to Liu Xuan, the young Chief Secretary of the Western Regions was studying "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu under an oil lamp.

His slender fingers stroked the words "The Han people dared to interfere in the Western Regions" on the declaration of war. The candlelight danced on his angular face, making the cold light in his eyes even sharper.

On the desk, a golden seal engraved with "Han Guiyi Qiang Chief" glowed coldly in the dim light, reminding him of the heavy responsibility he shouldered.

"Pass the order down," Liu Xuan's voice was intermittent due to the cold wind, but every word was as hard as iron.

"Close the city gates and raise the signal smoke. Ask Shanshan and Khotan to send reinforcements immediately, and call on the garrison troops from the old land of Qiuci to come to our aid."

He stroked the sword at his waist, thinking of the scene three months ago when he watched the caravan go away. At this moment, the sun was setting, and in the bloody sunset, a bloody storm was brewing on the snowfield outside the Governor's Mansion.

"Tell Cao Zhang and Su Ze to enter the tent." Liu Xuan suddenly closed the military book, his voice filled with unquestionable majesty.

When the two generals stepped into the military tent, they saw a sheepskin map spread out on the ground. The red lines marking the terrain of the Western Regions crisscrossed and gathered into densely packed red dots near the Pule Lake.

Cao Zhang's leopard-like eyes scanned the map, and his tiger whiskers trembled slightly: "General, the Xianbei are coming aggressively. I am willing to lead my troops in a fight to the death!"

Liu Xuan shook his head. He picked up a wolf-hair brush and pressed the tip of the brush down heavily on Pu Leihai. "General Cao is leading 10,000 Han troops to meet the enemy head-on. Remember, we can only lose, not win."

He turned his gaze to Su Ze, "General Su, take 5,000 vassal troops to bypass the northern foot of Tianshan Mountain and arrive at the west side of the canyon at midnight three days later."

At this point, his eyes suddenly became sharp, "We must let the Xianbei people know that every grain of sand in the Western Regions can become their grave."

Su Ze stroked his goatee and chuckled, "I understand. I will make those Xianbei people experience the pain of 'the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind'."

A suppressed laugh sounded in the military tent, but it stopped abruptly when Liu Xuan's eyes swept over everyone. The young general slowly stood up, and the white tiger pattern embroidered on his black brocade robe was faintly visible in the candlelight: "This battle is related to the safety of the Western Region. Anyone who is afraid of fighting will be punished by military law!"

Three days later, the iron hooves of the Xianbei cavalry crushed the silence along the coast of Pule Lake.

The thirty thousand cavalrymen were like a black tide. The heads of the Han army hanging on their waists swayed in the wind and snow. Some of the heads were even covered with icicles, and their pale faces were frozen with the fear before death.

The Xianbei Chanyu rode on a tall horse. He wore a helmet inlaid with wolf-eye gems, his scarlet cloak fluttered behind him, and there were still traces of blood on his scimitar.

"Flatten the Han people's pass!" The Shanyu's roar was torn apart by the strong wind. Behind him, the Xianbei warriors shouted in unison, and the sound shook the snow-capped peaks in the distance.

However, when their horses' hooves stepped on the ice surface of Pulei Sea, they heard a teeth-grinding groaning under their feet - the ice could not withstand the heavy pressure and made slight cracking sounds.

The Han army led by Cao Zhang had already been fully prepared. The tiger general was wearing bright silver armor, the black horse under his crotch was spewing white steam, and the Zhangba Snake Spear in his hand was shining coldly in the sun.

"Fire arrows!"

As he roared, thousands of arrows were fired, but they deliberately avoided the vital points of the Xianbei cavalry.

The Xianbei people waved their leather shields to block the attack easily, sneered contemptuously, and urged their horses to charge faster.

"Retreat!" Seeing that the enemy had taken the bait, Cao Zhang deliberately exposed his weakness and led his troops to retreat towards the canyon.

Seeing this, the Xianbei Chanyu laughed wildly and said, "The Han people are indeed as cowardly as mice! Chase them!"

Thirty thousand cavalrymen poured into the canyon like a tide, and the crisp sound of horses' hooves breaking the ice and their shouts intertwined with each other.

At this moment, sharp horns suddenly sounded from the hillsides on both sides of the canyon.

The Han soldiers who had been lying in ambush here pushed the pre-stacked stones with all their might. For a moment, countless stones as big as millstones poured down like meteorites.

Screams, horse neighs, and the sounds of stones colliding mixed together. The Xianbei cavalry walking in the front were instantly smashed into a bloody mess. The war horses were frightened and raised their front hooves, knocking down the cavalry behind them one after another.

The vassal army led by Su Ze also rushed out at this time.

These troops, composed of various tribes in the Western Regions, waved the captured Kucha scimitars and uttered whistles in their throats imitating the Xianbei people.

In the darkness, their black flags blended with the Xianbei flags, making it difficult for the enemy to distinguish between friend and foe. Su Ze led the way, slashing the throat of a Xianbei warrior with his scimitar, blood splashing on his face, the warm touch made a flash of madness in his eyes.

In the melee, the Xianbei Chanyu finally discovered that he had fallen into a trap.

He waved his scimitar and tried to reorganize the army, but the moment he looked up, he saw a stray arrow coming through the air. The arrow, with a sharp whistle, shot straight at his face. The Chanyu's pupils suddenly shrank, and he subconsciously raised his scimitar to block, but he only had time to rub the tail of the arrow. The stray arrow rubbed his right cheek and pierced into him, and the severe pain made him fall off his horse.

Before he lost consciousness, the Xianbei Chanyu vaguely saw the Han army flag fluttering in the bloody sunset. The huge "Liu" on the flag was dyed dark red, as if announcing the ownership of this land.

In the distance, Liu Xuan was riding a white horse, reining in his horse and standing in the setting sun. His shadow was stretched out, like a god descending from heaven.

When the last Xianbei cavalryman fell, the night had already enveloped the battlefield. On the ice of Pulei Lake, blood and snow mixed together, condensing into a strange dark red.

Liu Xuan walked on the messy ground to the body of the Xianbei Chanyu. He bent down to pick up the Chanyu's wolf-eye helmet and stared at his reflection in the gemstone, his eyes showing both the joy of victory and the pity for the war.

"Send the Chanyu's head back to the Xianbei royal court." Liu Xuan threw the helmet to his personal soldier.

"Tell them that we will not give up an inch of the Han territory."

The cold wind blew up his cloak, and the rustling sound echoed across the empty battlefield, as if it was a warning to all coveters.

The biting north wind carried sand and gravel, cutting through the vast wasteland of the Western Regions like a knife.

The Kushan scouts' horses paced cautiously among the sand dunes, their hooves sinking deeply into the soft sand and raising fine dust with every step.

The leading scout was wrapped in a thick fur cloak, and his hawk-like eyes penetrated the hazy dust. In the distance, he saw the newly erected Han army flags on the ancient land of Qiuci fluttering in the wind.

Not far away, the Northern Hun scouts also pulled the reins, their leather armor was condensed with last night's frost, and their scimitars shone coldly in the sunlight.

"Look!" The Kushan scout lowered his voice and pointed at the Han army formation moving like an ant colony on the horizon.

The neatly-made black armor reflected the cold light of metal in the sunlight. The copper bells on the chariot rang rhythmically with the footsteps, startling a group of vultures circling at low altitude.

The Han soldiers had firm looks on their faces; the ring-handled swords at their waists and the longbows behind their backs demonstrated their fighting power.

The Northern Hun scouts narrowed their eyes and carefully observed the layout of the Han army camp.

The newly built rammed earth city wall towered into the sky. On the watchtower on the wall, Han army sentries, holding powerful crossbows, scanned the surroundings vigilantly.

In the camp, smoke rose up, and the clanging of weapons being forged and the shouts of soldiers training could be heard faintly.

“They move very quickly.”

A Northern Hun scout whispered, his Adam's apple rolling at the collar of his rough leather armor.

"Military settlements have been built on the ruins of Qiuci."

The Kushan scout remained silent, reached out to take out a roll of parchment from his leather bag, and quickly recorded the scene before him with a sharp bone pen.

The cold wind howled, making his parchment rustle, and he was forced to press the paper tightly against the saddle and write quickly.

After finishing writing, he rolled up the battle report and stuffed it into the leather bag he was wearing, his movements skillful and cautious.

The Northern Huns' scouts also kept the intelligence they observed, knowing full well that this intelligence would affect the decision-making of their respective countries.

"Retreat!" The Kushan scout leader suddenly gave the order, and the war horses turned around with a neigh, raising a cloud of dust.

The Northern Huns' scouts responded almost at the same time. The sound of horse hooves rang out rapidly, and soon disappeared into the vast sea of ​​sand.

Their figures gradually became smaller and finally merged into the undulating sand dunes, as if they had never appeared.

Three months passed quietly in the wind and sand of the Western Regions. On the tower of the Governor's Mansion, the snow had not yet completely melted, and the biting wind was still whistling over the city wall.

Liu Xuan, wearing a black brocade robe and a white fox fur coat, stood beside the battlements of the city wall, gazing into the distance.

His hair was messy in the wind, but it did not affect the determination and majesty in his eyes. The jade pendant with dragon pattern on his waist swayed gently with his movements. It was tied by his mother before he went to war, carrying his mother's care and expectations.

Finally, a small black dot appeared on the distant horizon.

As time went by, the black spots gradually grew larger and the sound of camel bells could be faintly heard.

The first caravan loaded with silk was slowly setting foot on this ancient road to the Western Regions that had been silent due to war. The camels in the caravan were lined up in an orderly queue, and the silk on their backs was tightly wrapped and covered with rainproof oilcloth.

The merchants wore costumes from various places, with expressions of anticipation and nervousness on their faces. Their eyes showed both anxiety about the unknown journey and desire for future wealth.

Liu Xuan's fingers unconsciously stroked the jade pendant with dragon pattern. The cold touch reminded him of the snow in Chang'an on the day he set out for the expedition.

At that time, he set foot on this challenging land of the Western Regions with his father's expectations and his mother's concerns.

Along the way, countless battles and sleepless nights flashed through his mind. He remembered the fierce battle with Qiuci, where blood dyed the desert red; he remembered the cautiousness when dealing with the small countries in the Western Regions, and every word and every decision was related to the overall situation.

As the caravan approached, the garrison of the Governor's Mansion opened the city gates to welcome this team that symbolized peace and prosperity.

The merchants dismounted and saluted Liu Xuan on the tower. Liu Xuan nodded slightly, and finally a relieved smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

He walked down the tower, came to the middle of the caravan, and personally inspected the goods. The exquisite silk sparkled with brilliant colors in the sun, and the delicate texture and bright patterns made people admire.

"Your Highness, this caravan brought the best silk from Chang'an, as well as lacquerware from Shu and tea from Jiangnan." The leader of the caravan said respectfully, his eyes full of admiration for Liu Xuan.

"If it weren't for His Highness pacifying the Western Regions, we wouldn't have dared to embark on this trade route."

Liu Xuan patted the leader of the caravan on the shoulder and said in a deep voice: "This road to the Western Regions will become more and more prosperous in the future. But remember, no matter where you go, you are all citizens of the Han Dynasty, and the Han army will protect your safety."

His voice was firm and powerful, echoing at the city gate and sending a warm feeling through the hearts of everyone in the caravan.

As the sun sets, the golden afterglow shines on the walls of the Governor's Mansion, giving the entire pass a brilliant hue.

The shadow of the caravan was stretched very long by the setting sun, extending into the desert in the distance. Liu Xuan climbed up the city wall again, looking at the caravan going away, with a lot of thoughts in his mind.

He knew that this was just the beginning, and there were still many unknown challenges waiting for him in this vast land of the Western Regions.

At this moment, a desolate song came from the Han army camp: "Whoever openly offends the mighty Han will be punished even though he is far away!"

At first, there were only a few people singing, but then more and more voices joined in, and finally it gathered into a heart-shaking wave of sound.

The song passed through the city walls of the Governor's Mansion and echoed in the wind and sand of the Western Regions, as if announcing the majesty and determination of the Han Dynasty to the whole world.

Liu Xuan closed his eyes and listened quietly to the passionate singing.

His heart was filled with pride and a sense of mission. He was proud that he was a prince of the Han Dynasty and that he could expand the territory for the Han Dynasty and protect his people.

When he opened his eyes again, they were filled with a determined light, as if he had seen the future prosperity of the Western Regions and his own shining future! (End of this chapter)