I rode and slashed unparalleled in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 988 Su Yao's Triumphant Return and the Special Han Ceremony (6K2)

"Powerful, great, and invincible King Tang of Han, Great General, we, on behalf of the King of Dayuan and the King of Kangju, offer you our sincerest respect."

Inside the military tent, two messengers knelt on the ground, their foreheads pressed against the earth.

Su Yao sat upright in the tent, looking down at the two envoys from the far west: "What is the purpose of your king sending you here?"

The envoy from Dayuan raised his head and respectfully presented a scroll of parchment: "Our king, having heard of the great general's awe-inspiring power in the Western Regions, has specially presented ten heavenly horses, wishing to forge an eternal alliance with the Han Dynasty."

The Kangju envoy then said, "Our king offers a thousand taels of gold and a hundred gemstones, earnestly requesting the general to allow our caravan to enter the Jade Gate Pass for trade."

Su Yao took the gift list, his gaze lingering on the words "Pegasus" for a moment.

The Tianma (Heavenly Horse) was the most famous product of the Dayuan Kingdom. Its endurance and speed were astonishing, capable of traveling a thousand miles a day, and its sweat was like blood, hence it was also known as the "blood-sweating horse".

Su Yao clearly remembered that in history, Emperor Wu of Han had twice sent troops to Dayuan in search of this horse.

Before this expedition to the Western Regions, Su Yao also made a special trip to check the records of previous years. When the Han Dynasty had strong control over Dayuan, its king not only had to send his son to the capital as a hostage, but the two countries also had an agreement that specifically marked Dayuan's tribute obligations.

Among them, the Ferghana horses were specially requested due to their extreme rarity. However, apart from the Han Dynasty's capture of the capital and the subsequent plunder of dozens of them, Ferghana only offered two Ferghana horses and three hundred other horses each year.

This time, the King of Dayuan presented ten heavenly horses as tribute, which was indeed quite sincere.

"Your king is quite sensible," Su Yao said, handing the gift list to Guo Jia beside him. "However..."

Su Yao glanced at the King of Wusun and Princess Ashley sitting to his left and right:
"As far as I know, Dayuan and Kangju are now vassal states of the Kushan Empire. Do you have any written edict from the Kushan king with you?"

Su Yao's blunt question caused the two envoys' expressions to change slightly, but fortunately, it was common knowledge in the Western Regions that their two countries had submitted to the Kushan Empire, and they had been prepared for this.

The Dayuan envoy immediately explained, "Your Highness, although our country is now a vassal state of the Kushan Empire, we have never forgotten the kindness and favor shown to us by the Han Dynasty. This tribute is entirely due to my king's admiration for the Han Dynasty."

"That's right, that's right."

The Kangju envoy hurriedly added:

"For decades, the Great Han withdrew from the Western Regions, and our country was repeatedly bullied by the Wusun and Kushan, and had no choice but to submit. Now, the Great General's might shakes the Western Regions, and our country is in an uproar. We wish to return to the Great Han's banner and only ask for your protection."

"If the Han Dynasty is willing to restrain the Wusun and prevent them from invading our borders again, our country is willing to pay tribute every year and be a vassal state forever!"

Upon hearing this, Su Yao turned his gaze to the extravagant lifestyle of the Wusun king. This former ruler of the grasslands had a gloomy expression but dared not utter a word in rebuttal.

“Interesting.” Su Yao chuckled. “If your two countries become subjects of my Great Han in the future, then naturally there should be no more disputes between you.”

"However, are you sure you're ready to betray the Kushans? My Great Han has no intention of sharing vassal states with anyone."

Upon hearing Su Yao's words, the two envoys immediately looked troubled.

Clearly, their intention this time was to play both sides, not wanting to offend the Kushan Empire while also trying to curry favor with the newly rising Han Dynasty. But Su Yao directly saw through their intentions, forcing them to make a choice.

The Dayuan envoy, drenched in sweat, said in a trembling voice, "Your Highness, please understand that our country is located in a remote area, far from the Han Dynasty, while the Kushan Empire is right next to us. This is truly a matter of necessity."

"Yeah yeah."

The Kangju envoy hurriedly replied:

"Your Highness, the King of Tang may not know this, but the Kushans still have a large army stationed in our country to guard it. If our country rashly changes its flag, the country may be in danger of collapse."

"Oh? So they'll just let you pay tribute to our country so openly?" Su Yao's eyes flashed with a sharp light. "Or did you come here secretly this time?"

The two envoys exchanged a glance, and finally knelt down and confessed honestly.

As expected, although the envoys from Kangju and Dayuan were of a decent size, the officials they sent were actually of very low rank, far less important than those from other Western Regions countries, where the kings would personally come or send princes and high-ranking officials.

Ultimately, it was because they wanted to avoid the Kushans' notice that they deliberately used caravans as cover to carry out their tribute mission.

Upon learning this, Su Yao immediately lost most of his interest.

You can't have any in-depth conversations with an envoy like that.

The atmosphere inside the tent suddenly became somewhat awkward.

The two envoys were sweating profusely with anxiety, fearing that their mission would fail and they would be questioned upon their return. Just then, Jia Xu stepped forward and said:
"Your Highness, I believe that since both countries have taken the initiative to pay tribute, we should treat them with courtesy. As for their relationship with the Kushans, we can discuss that later upon returning to the capital."

As he spoke, Jia Xu gave the two envoys a meaningful look:
"I believe that once they see the prosperity of my capital and the strength of the Han Dynasty, they will be able to persuade their king to make the right choice when they return home."

Su Yao nodded slightly and looked at the two envoys: "In that case, you shall come with me to the capital to pay homage to the Emperor."

“Perfect timing. Tell us in detail about your country and the Kushan Empire on the way. Don’t even think about lying or trying to fool us.”

"As you can see, almost all the kingdoms of the Western Regions are included in this group. We will not listen to just your opinions."

Upon hearing this, the two envoys felt as if they had been granted a pardon, and repeatedly kowtowed, saying, "Thank you for your mercy, Your Highness! We will certainly tell you everything we know!"

Su Yao waved his hand, signaling the attendants to take them away and settle them in. After the envoys left, he turned to Jia Xu: "Wenhe, do you think the Kushan Empire will stand idly by and watch us conquer the Western Regions?"

Jia Xu stroked his beard and pondered for a moment: "According to what I've heard, the Kushan Empire has been plagued by internal strife in recent years, causing its power to shrink. It's likely they have no time to look eastward, which is why Dayuan and Kangju dare to harbor disloyal intentions. However…"

As he spoke, Jia Xu looked outside the tent and nodded slowly: "The more this is the case, the more sensitive they are to external interference. If they find out that Your Highness intends to take over Dayuan and Kangju, I'm afraid they will not let it go."

"So what if they won't give up?" Ma Chao sneered from the side. "Let them come! This humble general is just worried about not having a chance to avenge this humiliation."

He stood up and walked to the hanging map: "However, if they really dare to attack, it could be an opportunity."

Guo Jia immediately understood: "Does Your Highness mean to take this opportunity to advance westward?"

Su Yao traced his finger across the map, stretching from the Western Regions all the way to the west of the Pamir Mountains: "Since Dayuan and Kangju are both willing to submit, why don't we go with the flow?"

"But now is not the time," Jia Xu cautiously reminded them. "The imperial court has just pacified the Central Plains and has also fought a series of battles with the Xianbei and Wusun. The Western Regions kingdoms all need time to digest this."

Su Yao nodded: "Wenhe is right. However, the preliminary preparations can be started ahead of schedule. Don't forget that our goal is not just these small countries in the Western Regions. Kushan, Parthia, and even many vast worlds in the far west will one day fly the flag of our great Han!"

Upon hearing this, all the generals inside the tent were filled with fervor.

Young generals like Ma Chao and Yan Xing volunteered for the battle, and even seasoned veterans like Xu Huang and Gao Shun were eager to join the fight.

This scene left the King of Wusun and Princess Ashley, along with other important officials from the Western Regions, dumbfounded. They clearly hadn't expected the Han Dynasty to have such a large appetite.

Of course, this grand plan still needs time to be built.

Compared to the passionate generals, Jia Xu and Cao Cao were more pragmatic.

Having led the southern army in previous battles, they traversed the territories of many Western Regions states and put forward a series of practical suggestions based on the local conditions.

This included establishing military garrisons and settlements in Kucha, Shule, and Khotan, setting up government-run horse farms on Wusun land, carefully breeding horses, and vigorously developing horse trade with local herding tribes.

Guo Jia added: "In addition, we can follow the example of Wusun and have all the states send their princes to the capital as hostages, while selecting Han officials to assist in governance and gradually implement the Han system."

Su Yao adopted all of these suggestions on the way and dispatched a fast horse to request the court to send qualified officials to the Western Regions as soon as possible to liberate Liu Bei, Zhou Yu and others who had been settled there by Su Yao.

The caravan continued eastward, with envoys from various Western Regions countries joining them along the way.

When the group arrived at Yumen Pass, even though Su Yao only took 5,000 cavalry with him on the return trip in order to limit the size and control the local area of ​​the Western Regions, they still escorted more than 50,000 prisoners.

With the addition of tribute personnel and accompanying merchants from various countries along the way, the sheer number of people in the procession approached 70,000. It was a magnificent sight, with carriages and horses stretching as far as the eye could see, and the procession was hundreds of miles long.

Such a force far exceeded the capacity of Yumen Pass. It was only thanks to the rich spoils of Su Yao's battle, which provided ample reserves of cattle and sheep, and the careful planning and distribution of these animals by Guo Jia and Jia Xu, that the army did not go hungry.

Therefore, their team quickly passed through Yumen Pass and arrived at Dunhuang, the capital of Dunhuang Prefecture.

The governor of Dunhuang had already received the news and prepared food and wine to reward the army outside the city. The people inside the city also came out of the city to line the streets to welcome them.

"Long live the Emperor of Tang!"

"The general is mighty!"

Cheers erupted as Su Yao, mounted on his horse, waved to the crowd.

However, in Dunhuang, considering the size of the city and the sensitivity of the border region, Su Yao did not choose to enter the city. Instead, he accepted a banquet hosted by the governor of Dunhuang outside the city and then sent a small number of logistics personnel and representatives of the Western Regions Development Company's caravan into the city to purchase and exchange goods locally.

Even so, behind him, the Western Region royal families and envoys from various countries who were visiting the Han Dynasty for the first time were already awestruck by the grandeur and prosperity of the Han city.

Princess Ashley sat in the carriage, gazing at the bustling scene outside through the gauze curtain, her eyes filled with amazement: "Father, the Han lands are so prosperous!"

Gui Shemi's expression was complicated: "This is just a small border town of theirs. It is said that their capital, Luoyang, is a hundred times more prosperous than this."

Upon hearing this, Ashley couldn't help but feel excited about her upcoming arrival in Luoyang.

After passing Dunhuang, the marching speed noticeably increased. Local governments along the way sent people to welcome them and provide supplies.

When the group arrived in Chang'an, they received an unprecedentedly warm welcome.

Although Chang'an, the former capital of the Western Han Dynasty, was no longer the political center, it remained an important town in the west.

Especially after Su Yao planned the western expedition, the political status of this place was greatly enhanced. Not only was the great general Lü Bu stationed in the area, but the Western Regions Development Company also invested heavily in building various infrastructure facilities here, making it an important hub connecting the Western Regions and Luoyang.

Upon learning that Su Yao's entourage was approaching Chang'an, Gai Xun and Lü Bu specially led all the local civil and military officials out to meet him ten miles outside the city and respectfully invite His Highness the Prince of Tang to enter the city.

This time, Su Yao didn't refuse.

After instructing Jia Xu, Guo Jia, and others to settle the army outside the city for rest, he led the key personnel and the accompanying Western Region princes and envoys, and slowly entered the city surrounded by the officials of Chang'an.

In Chang'an, the streets were deserted as people flocked to catch a glimpse of this legendary figure. "That's His Highness the Tang Emperor!"

"I heard that he single-handedly killed over a thousand Wusun warriors!"

"Look at those prisoners, they're all noble lords from Wusun!"

"That is His Highness the Prince of Tang!"

"I heard that he single-handedly killed over a thousand Wusun warriors!"

"Look at those prisoners, they're all noble lords from Wusun!"

Whispers rose and fell, and the Wusun king, Guishemi, listened to these words in his carriage, his face growing increasingly gloomy. Princess Ashley, however, had lost her former gloom; she craned her neck, curiously surveying the magnificent city, her eyes gleaming with an unusual light.

At the banquet held at the Chang'an Prefectural Governor's Mansion, princes and envoys from various countries toasted each other, praising the wealth of the Han Dynasty.

Looking at the exquisite porcelain and delicacies before him, and then thinking of the so-called "delicacies" in his own palace, King Guisun of Wusun couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

After several rounds of drinks, Gai Xun rose to offer a toast: "Your Highness, this western expedition has enhanced our national prestige and secured our distant territories—truly an unparalleled achievement! I, your humble servant, offer you a toast!"

Su Yao raised his cup and drank it all in one gulp, then laughed and said, "The credit for this battle does not belong to me alone. If it weren't for the soldiers' bravery and His Majesty's support, how could we have achieved this victory?"

Everyone praised the Tang emperor for his humility.

The banquet lasted until late at night. When Su Yao returned to the inn, Hong'er had already prepared hot water. As she helped Su Yao change his clothes, she whispered, "Your Highness, Princess Wusun requests an audience."

Su Yao raised an eyebrow: "Oh? What's she doing here so late?"

Hong'er smiled and said, "The princess said she would like to ask Your Highness for some Han etiquette advice in order to avoid being impolite after arriving in the capital."

Su Yao chuckled and shook his head: "Let her in."

Ashley specially changed into a Han-style dress today. Although she was still a little unaccustomed to it, it made her skin look even more flawless and radiant.

She imitated the manners of Han Chinese women and bowed gracefully, saying, "I'm disturbing Your Highness."

Su Yao chuckled and gestured for her to sit down:
"Why is the princess dressed in Hanfu today?"

Ashley blushed slightly and quickly explained, "I saw that Sister Alisa changed into Hanfu after entering the city, and I thought it looked very beautiful, so I copied her."

As she spoke, her voice gradually lowered, and her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her dress. The light blue, curved-hem robe did indeed accentuate her fair skin, but the belt around her waist was tied crookedly, clearly indicating that she was not yet familiar with wearing it for the first time.

Su Yao looked her over with interest: "The princess is quick to learn. However, Han etiquette is very complex and cannot be learned overnight."

Ashley raised her head, a hint of stubbornness flashing in her amber eyes: "I can learn! Father said... he said I'll be living in Luoyang for a long time from now on."

At this point, she suddenly realized she had let something slip, and quickly lowered her head, her ears turning red.

Su Yao smiled knowingly.

Since that night, although he has not made any explicit statement, everyone has assumed that Ashley will become his woman.

This news, of course, could not be kept from his wife, the emperor, in Luoyang.

Just before entering the city today, the welcoming party included envoys from Luoyang.

The imperial decree they brought approved Su Yao's suggestion to pardon the Wusun prince. At the same time, Wan Nian also arranged for his marriage after they arrived in the capital, so that Princess Ashley could enter the Tang Prince's mansion as a concubine, thus formally establishing a marriage alliance between the Han and Wusun countries.

Su Yao naturally informed Gui Shemi of this matter immediately, and now it seems that he did not hide it from his daughter.

Su Yao looked up and sized up Ashley in front of him. The little princess looked shy, which was much cuter than when they first met when she was so willful and capricious.

“Since you want to learn Han etiquette, why not go to Hong’er? She’s a proper palace lady-in-waiting, so teaching you etiquette is a piece of cake,” Su Yao asked deliberately.

Ashley glanced furtively at Hong'er, who was covering her mouth and chuckling softly to herself, bit her lower lip, and said in a voice barely audible, "Hong'er teaches very well, but there are some things I still want Your Highness to teach me personally."

Her fingers tightened their grip, and the wide sleeves of her Hanfu slipped down, revealing a section of her snow-white wrist. Su Yao noticed that she was also wearing a string of silver bells in the Wusun style on her wrist, which made a soft tinkling sound with her movements.

"Oh?" Su Yao chuckled, reaching out to lift her chin. "Is the princess no longer afraid of me?"

Ashley shuddered.

In an instant, she thought of the countless times the two of them had spent together.

Initially, she cursed this man as a devil every day, and every time she closed her eyes, she saw him covered in blood walking in the crowd.

And now, that impression is still deeply etched in her mind, filling her with constant fear. But: "I'm terrified now, but my father said that His Highness the Prince of Tang is a man of his word, and as long as I serve him sincerely, His Highness will not mistreat me."

"Did your father really say that?"

Su Yao laughed three times and pulled Ashley into his arms:
"In that case, I will personally demonstrate and teach you properly tonight."

Ashley gasped and slumped onto Su Yao's lap. She tried frantically to get up, but Su Yao held her firmly down.

"What? Aren't you going to learn Han etiquette?" Su Yao whispered in her ear, his warm breath brushing against her sensitive earlobe. "The first lesson: how a Han woman should serve her husband."

Ashley froze, her heart pounding. She glanced furtively at Red beside her, only to find that the obedient maid had quietly slipped out of the room and thoughtfully closed the door behind her.

"Your Highness... No, Your Highness, please don't!" Ashley cried out instinctively, her legs kicking incessantly.

Seeing her flustered, deer-like appearance, Su Yao chuckled, released her hand, and gently patted her cheek: "Alright, I was just teasing you. If you're not ready, let Hong'er teach you some basic etiquette. We'll have a proper lesson when we get to Luoyang."

"No, that's not what I meant!"

Before he could finish speaking, Ashley suddenly grabbed his sleeve and mustered her courage to say:

"I'm just a little nervous because it's my first time. Your Highness, please continue. We women of Wusun are never afraid of challenges."

As she spoke, she awkwardly leaned in and lightly touched Su Yao's lips, then jumped away like a startled rabbit, her face turning so red it looked like it could bleed.

Su Yao was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled: "What is this? A kiss from the Wusun?"

Ashley buried her face in her hands in embarrassment: "I...I saw how Sister Alisa treated you."

"It seems my little princess is quite observant." Su Yao pulled her back into his arms, this time not giving her a chance to escape. "However, this is how Han etiquette is."

He lowered his head and pressed his lips to the girl's soft lips. Unlike the girl's shy touch, this one was passionate and deep, making Ashley instantly dizzy.

She responded awkwardly, her hands unconsciously climbing onto Su Yao's shoulders.

Before she knew it, Ashley was leaning against Su Yao's chest, panting, her eyes glazed over.

Su Yao gently stroked her loose hair and smiled, "How was it? Did you like the etiquette of the Han people?"

Ashley buried her face in his chest and nodded gently, the silver bells jingling crisply with her movements.

But the tears in the corners of her eyes added a touch of complex emotion to the scene before me.

"Alright, that's enough for tonight." Su Yao released her and straightened her disheveled clothes. "Go back and get some rest. We have to travel tomorrow."

Ashley looked up in surprise: "Your Highness, aren't you going to let me stay?"

Su Yao pinched the tip of her nose: "What's the rush? There'll be plenty of time after we get to Luoyang and get officially married. I don't want my little princess to suffer any injustice."

A hint of emotion flashed in Ashley's eyes. She suddenly knelt down and performed a standard Han Chinese greeting: "Ashley takes her leave. Your Highness, please rest early as well."

Seeing her feigned composure, Su Yao couldn't help but laugh out loud again: "Go ahead."

After Ashley left, Hong'er quietly returned to her room, a teasing smile in her eyes: "How could Your Highness let the beauty slip away when you had her in your grasp?"

Su Yao pulled her into his arms: "What's wrong, is my Hong'er jealous?"

Hong'er nestled obediently against his chest: "This servant wouldn't dare. It's just that...Your Highness seems really nervous."

"That's why I told her to prepare some more." Su Yao sighed softly. "Conquering a country is easy, but conquering a person's heart takes time."

Hong'er looked up at him, her eyes full of admiration: "Your Highness is so good to the princess."

Su Yao chuckled and playfully pinched her nose: "Am I not good to you?"

Hong'er blushed and lowered her head: "Your Highness is kind to everyone."

As night deepened, Chang'an gradually quieted down. In another room of the inn, King Guishemi of Wusun stood by the window, gazing in the direction of Su Yao's room with a complex expression.

"Father," Ashley gently pushed open the door and entered, "Aren't you asleep yet?"

Gui Shemi turned around, looking at her daughter's flushed cheeks and swollen lips, a knowing glint in her eyes: "Is he good to you?"

Ashley nodded, bowing her head, and said, "Unlike on the battlefield, the Tang Emperor is very gentle. He even told me not to rush and to wait until we reach Luoyang."

The king sighed and stroked his daughter's hair: "My little Ashley has grown up. As long as he treats you well, your father will be at ease."

Ashley leaned on her father's shoulder and whispered, "Father, the Han land is really big and beautiful. Once we get to Luoyang, maybe things won't be too bad for us."

Gui Shemi gazed at the bright moon outside the window without speaking. He recalled the magnificent scene of Chang'an he had seen during the day, and the prosperity of Luoyang that the Han officials at the banquet had discussed, and his heart was filled with mixed emotions.

At its peak, the Wusun people numbered only about 600,000 throughout the entire country, while the Han capital was said to have a population of over one million.

Perhaps submitting to such a powerful state would not be a bad thing for Wusun?
(End of this chapter)