Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 265 Entering the Qin Prince's Mansion and Still Trying to Escape
Changan.

The silk fabric transported from Xiangyang arrived in Chang'an and immediately attracted a large number of merchants.

This also included a large number of merchants from the Western Regions.

After Houmo Chenyue occupied Qinzhou, the trade route between Guanzhong and the Western Regions was not only not blocked, but became more stable than before.

After all, the Qin army had defeated the Tuyuhun in one battle and even killed their Khan. Their prestige was so great that all the surrounding forces, large and small, were filled with fear, and the order actually improved.

With trade routes open, merchants from the Western Regions and even more distant places were willing to come to Chang'an to purchase goods.

Silk was the commodity they valued most.

If it could be taken to the Western Regions or even further afield, such as Persia, a single piece of silk could fetch dozens of times its purchase price.

Valuable and lightweight, a single camel can carry a dozen or even dozens of other camels.

Merchants from the Western Regions could bring valuable goods, including warhorses, various gold and silver wares, glassware, spices, and medicinal herbs.

In addition, there are some important crops, such as alfalfa.

As an excellent forage crop, good alfalfa varieties, once cultivated on pastures, can greatly reduce the cost of raising warhorses.

Alfalfa was introduced by Zhang Qian during the Han Dynasty and has a close relationship with the Silk Road.

Successive dynasties attached great importance to this.

However, there are exceptions. For example, during the Song Dynasty, very few people knew what alfalfa was!
"If you want to buy silk, go to the market; don't all gather here."

Accompanied by Hou Jing, Li Shuang arrived at the warehouse. Looking at the dense crowd, he immediately spotted someone.

There's no other reason than that this person is very handsome, standing out from the crowd.

"Who's that show-off with the feather in his hair? I've never seen him before."

Hou Jingdao:
"His name seems to be Dugu Ruyuan. He is from Wuchuan and is currently serving as the prefect under Hebasheng, concurrently holding the position of military supervisor. This time, he was ordered to escort these silks to Chang'an."

"Dugu Ruyuan?"

Dugu Ruyuan delivered the cloth to Chang'an, but did not leave immediately. Instead, he curiously strolled around Chang'an and looked at its scenery.

The city was not long ago, and much of the land within it was empty and uninhabited, yet it was full of vitality, attracting people from all over.

There were Rouran women and Tiele people from the grasslands, Qiang and Di people from the Liang, Han, Qin and Long regions, Sogdians and Kucha women from the Western Regions, and even Persians.

However, these Hu people were ultimately just a bright spot in the scenery of Chang'an. What truly amazed Dugu Ruyuan were the Chang'an cavalry, who roamed freely both inside and outside the city, and the Guanzhong soldiers, who were equipped with heavy armor and long swords as standard equipment.

Just as Dugu Ruyuan was watching the spectacle, a person came up to him and said:

"Brother, your attire is truly extraordinary!"

Dugu Ruyuan looked at the man who was striking up a conversation with him. He noticed that the man was handsome and dressed like a Han scholar, so he bowed to him.

"You flatter me. I wonder what makes it so extraordinary?"

Dugu Ruyuan was not one to be easily fooled. Seeing the man's words, he insisted that he give a clear explanation. He had assumed that even if the other person didn't have malicious intentions, it was just polite talk. Who knew that the other person was actually quite knowledgeable?

"Take this feather in your hair, for example. It's no ordinary feather. It comes from an extremely rare eagle in the North, and only the bravest warriors can obtain it. Once you get it, you'll win the favor of countless young women in the North."

Upon hearing this, Dugu Ruyuan was overjoyed.

"Your Excellency is indeed knowledgeable. Few Han Chinese know this! I have been ridiculed by countless people on my way here."

"Such a mediocre person's words are not worth worrying about. May I ask your name, sir?"

"My surname is Dugu, and my given name is Ruyuan!"

"What a coincidence that we're here!"

Dugu Ruyuan was taken aback, somewhat puzzled.

"What do you mean by this?"

"To be honest, Brother Dugu, my wife is also surnamed Dugu, and we have lived in the Hexi region for generations."

"What a coincidence, my ancestral home is also in Hexi."

Dugu Ruyuan was somewhat incredulous, but then she heard the newcomer say:

"How about we have a drink?"

"It's disrespectful!"

...The next day, when Dugu Ruyuan woke up, he found himself in an unfamiliar place.

He touched his somewhat dazed head, and after he could see his surroundings clearly, he subconsciously touched his own body.

Nothing is missing!
As Dugu Ruyuan breathed a sigh of relief, he murmured:
"That shouldn't be the case. I remember only having a few drinks, how could I be drunk?"

At this moment, the door opened, and several beautiful maids came in, bringing water and towels to help Dugu Ruyuan wash up.

Dugu Ruyuan wanted to ask where she was, but the maids did not answer.

After washing up, Dugu Ruyuan stepped out of the house and found herself in a secluded courtyard.

At this moment, a servant came.

"please!"

Dugu Ruyuan didn't say much and followed the servant out of the side courtyard.

Along the way, watching the armored soldiers patrolling and the towering palaces, Dugu Ruyuan realized that there was only one place in the entire city of Chang'an where this was the case.

Prince Qin's Mansion!
The attendant led Dugu Ruyuan to a side hall, where Dugu Ruyuan met the young man who had been drinking with him the day before.

At this moment, he was wearing the royal robes of the King of Qin and sitting in the hall, having a meal with his ministers.

Upon seeing Dugu Ruyuan, Li Shuang said:

"Dugu Lang is here!"

"I was rude yesterday, and I hope Your Majesty will forgive me!"

"It's alright, sit down and enjoy the feast."

There was already an empty seat next to Li Shuang.

Everyone watched as the servants led Dugu Ruyuan to sit down not far from Li Shuang.

From the door to the seat, a distance of about a hundred steps, Dugu Ruyuan felt pressure. Those pairs of eyes seemed to be saying, "Why is this kid sitting next to the King of Qin?"
After Dugu Ruyuan sat down, Li Shuang said:
"This is Dugu Ruyuan, the military supervisor under Hebasheng, the governor of Jingzhou. He was the one who escorted the cloth and silk to Chang'an this time!"

So it was Hebasheng, the military governor!

The generals nodded subconsciously, but then realized something was wrong.

What kind of target is Hebasheng?

Despite their thoughts, seeing how familiar Li Shuang was with him, they could only suppress them for the time being.

Dugu Ruyuan felt the pressure and said:

"The military situation is urgent, and I am in a hurry to return and report. I was just about to take my leave of the King of Qin!"

"It's alright. I'm also acquainted with Hebasheng. I'll just say a few words to him, and Dugu Lang can stay in Chang'an without worry and enjoy himself to the fullest."

Dugu Ruyuan lowered his head and glanced at the tall palace gate. He had a feeling that once he entered, it would be difficult for him to leave.

"Yesterday I drank with Dugu Lang and heard him say he wanted to change his name to a Han name?"

Dugu Ruyuan nodded, but only chuckled softly.

"Just kidding!"

That's what they say, but it's mostly just a perfunctory response.

Dugu Ruyuan was a Xiongnu person who had been assimilated into the Xianbei culture. His ancestor, Dugu Fulu, was a chieftain of the Xiongnu tribe who initially followed the Tuoba clan to establish his power.

By the time of his grandfather, Dugu Si Ni, the whole family had moved to Wuchuan.

During the Six Garrisons Rebellion, Dugu Ruyuan and a group of meritorious officials from Wuchuan followed the Heba and Yuwen families in assassinating Wei Kegu. Afterwards, they fled to Zhongshan to avoid disaster, and later joined Ge Rong in starting a rebellion.

Unlike the typical northerners who blindly hate Sinicization and are hostile to Han people, Dugu Ruyuan has witnessed the rise and fall of the Six Garrisons along the way and knows that if he wants to succeed, he has to follow the ways of the Luoyang Tianlong people.

Without Sinicization, a northerner will always be a northerner.

"How about we choose the character '信' (trust/faith)?"

Li Shuang smiled slightly, and Dugu Ruyuan saw it, feeling even more clearly what she had just felt.

……

(End of this chapter)