Late Han Zhao Tang

As the year draws to a close, Zhang Yu gradually has more free time and can focus on her children's education.

A cold wind howled, snowflakes fluttered, and the palace was completely covered in white snow. Inside the palace, Zhang Yu was reviewing the academic reports of his five children, with Sima Hui and Song Zhong standing on either side, bowing slightly in respect.

Although the five sons were of different ages, they were all students taught by Sima Hui and Song Zhong, and the content of their teaching differed only because of their different ages.

Zhang Luo, Zhang Bi, Zhang Zhang, Cai Xi, and their adopted son He Yan stood in the hall, occasionally looking up at their father with a mixture of worry and expectation in their eyes!
The most anxious of them were Crown Prince Zhang Luo and his adopted son He Yan. The former worried that he would not gain Zhang Yu's approval, while the latter was concerned that he would not be liked by Zhang Yu.

Zhang Yu carefully reviewed the five sons' studies. Among them, He Yan was the most outstanding in academics, proficient in Confucian classics and poetry. Next was Cai Xi, whose literary and historical knowledge far surpassed that of his peers due to years of instruction by Cai Yan and Cai Yong.

Crown Prince Zhang Luo was of average ability, neither outstanding nor bad. Zhang Bi, who was fond of martial arts and military affairs, unsurprisingly ranked last, and the third son, Zhang Zhang, was only at the level of his peers in academics.

In contrast to academic subjects, He Yan and Cai Xi ranked at the bottom, while Zhang Bi and Zhang Zhang were at the top, and Crown Prince Zhang Luo was only average.

Zhang Yu put down the summary of his sons' studies and encouraged them, saying, "Because of the war, I was unable to supervise your studies, but fortunately you have your two teachers and your elders to guide you. Now, seeing that each of you five has your strengths and weaknesses in your studies, and that you are all diligent in your studies, I am very pleased!"

"The Crown Prince is proficient in both literature and martial arts, but he is still far from being truly proficient. I hope the Crown Prince will strive to improve. Bi'er values ​​martial arts over literature. If he aspires to be a general, he must not neglect his literary skills. Yan'er is well-versed in the classics, but he must not be complacent. Xi'er, if he aspires to study literature and history, he needs to read widely, but he must also practice martial arts."

Children have different talents, and it's impossible to expect them to excel in everything. Besides, aside from the Crown Prince's special status, the other children should be nurtured according to their interests. Therefore, for Zhang Yu, the key is for his children to be of good character. After all, if these princes are of poor character and abuse their political privileges, it's impossible for ordinary people to discipline them unless the Emperor intervenes.

After a pause, Zhang Yu looked at his third son, Zhang Zhang, and asked, "Zhang'er is skilled in both literature and martial arts. I wonder if he has any ambitions?"

Zhang Zhang scratched his head and said, "I have no lofty ambitions, I only hope to share my father's burdens. My father is on campaign all year round, exhausted from riding horses and sleeping in the open, which makes my heart ache!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yu felt a surge of warmth in his heart. After fighting across the world for more than ten years, this was the first time he had heard someone feel sorry for him.

"Zhang'er is so thoughtful!"

Looking at Zhang Zhang's handsome face, Zhang Yu couldn't help but feel more fond of him and said, "Your knowledge is still lacking. In the future, you should study more with the two teachers. Only by being proficient in both literature and martial arts can you share my burdens in the future."

Zhang Zhang's face hardened, and he said, "I will remember my father's instructions!"

"You four should strive to do your best!"

"promise!"

After chatting for a few more minutes, Sima Hui, who was standing beside him, suddenly said to Wu Zi, "My sock line is loose, could you tie it for me?"

The five men were immediately taken aback; they had not expected Sima Hui to make such an impolite request.

Zhang Bi and He Yan looked disgusted, but unsure how to refuse, they remained silent. Zhang Luo, relying on his status as the Crown Prince, couldn't bring himself to do it. Cai Xi hesitated, unsure whether to act or not, and kept observing Zhang Yu's expression.

Zhang Zhang hesitated only slightly before stepping forward and kneeling down to tighten the ropes on Sima Hui's socks.

"Thank you, Third Prince!" Sima Hui said in gratitude.

"Don't dare!"

Within a few breaths, Zhang Yu's face remained expressionless, showing neither joy nor anger, as he observed the interaction between Sima Hui and Zhang Zhang, as well as the behavior of the other four.

After the five princes stepped back, Sima Hui bowed to Zhang Yu and said, "Your Majesty, although I have not been teaching the five princes for long, I believe that in respecting the virtuous and honoring the elderly, and treating the learned with courtesy, none of the princes are as good as the third prince."

Before summoning the princes, Zhang Yu asked Sima Hui which of the five princes was of the best character. Sima Hui replied that he did not know and hoped that Zhang Yu would allow him to try, which led to the incident of tying socks to his head.

"You have a remarkable talent for seeing the big picture from small details!"

Zhang Yu remained silent for a while before saying, "In the coming years, I will need your guidance, gentlemen. The Crown Prince is the foundation of the nation, and you two gentlemen must provide him with much guidance." "To receive the emperor's salary and to relieve his worries is my duty!" Sima Hui replied.

Previously, those who taught the princes were either Confucian scholars or skilled horsemen. After Zhang Yu surrendered the Chen Kingdom, Sima Hui was recruited by Zhang Yu to serve as an official, responsible for teaching the princes. Song Zhong was his deputy, assisting Sima Hui in the teaching.

Since Sima Hui entered the palace to teach, the princes' knowledge has improved considerably. More importantly, Sima Hui knows how to use methods to test the princes, rather than simply relying on academic assessments to distinguish their excellence.

Although Zhang Zhang's academic and military achievements are not outstanding, he is good at being kind, filial, and respectful of the virtuous, which makes Zhang Yu quite satisfied.

"Guards, bestow fifty bolts of silk upon Sima Hui and Song Zhong respectively, as a reward for their service in instructing the prince," Zhang Yu ordered.

"promise!"

A short while later, Guo Tu, carrying a military report, hurried into the palace to request an audience, saying, "Your Majesty is overjoyed! A victory report has arrived from Shiyi!"

"The Liangzhou has been pacified, so what brings this news of victory? Could it be that Shi Yi has launched an attack on the Western Regions?" Zhang Yu asked in surprise.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

General Guo Tu presented the report, saying, "Shi Yi received His Majesty's edict to station troops in Dunhuang and sent someone to contact the Governor of the Western Regions. Because the Western Regions were cut off from the Central Plains, the Governor's troops withdrew from Liuzhong City to Haitou (Lop Nur) to cultivate land. Haitou is close to Shanshan, and its country is fickle, often sending people to plunder grain and trying to drive the Han people out of the country."

"The Western Regions Chief Administrator died of illness, and Yin Yin, the Garrison Commandant, took over. Upon learning that the Western Regions had resumed communication with China, he sent a messenger to Dunhuang. At that time, Shi Yi learned of the situation in the Western Regions and wanted to send troops to Shanshan to expand the territory for Your Majesty. However, he was worried that Dunhuang was 6,100 li away from Chang'an, and that the military intelligence would be reported back and forth, which might cause him to miss the opportunity. Therefore, he led 2,000 cavalry out of Yumen Pass and went to Haitou to join the old Han troops."

"Knowing the details of the situation within the country, Shi Yi launched a swift attack and captured Shanshan City, taking the King of Shanshan prisoner and capturing over a thousand soldiers. He then captured Qiemo City, taking another six hundred prisoners, and obtained three thousand households with a population of over twenty thousand. The King of Shanshan has now been escorted to Chang'an by his troops, and Your Majesty will soon be able to meet the rebel chieftain!"

From the Eastern Han Dynasty onwards, in order to control the Western Regions, the Central Plains dynasties continuously stationed troops in the Western Regions to cultivate land, such as in the cities of Yiwu and Liuzhong. Due to internal turmoil in the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Protectorate General of the Western Regions was unable to maintain a more distant rule, so he could only shrink the border and move to the more fertile Haitou to cultivate land.

The one at the head of the sea is the site of the later Lop Nur, now known as Puchanghai.

Zhang Yu laughed a few times and said, "When Shi Yi went to conquer Hexi, I said that it was already difficult to pacify Liangzhou. Unexpectedly, Shi Yi went on a distant expedition to Shanshan and subdued more than 20,000 people of Shanshan. This should demonstrate the military might of our Great Tang Dynasty."

After a moment's thought, Zhang Yu said, "Now that we have conquered Shanshan, we shall govern it together with the former Han soldiers and civilians, and establish Shanshan Prefecture. The specific details of the prefecture's establishment shall be handled by the Governor of Liangzhou, who shall send someone to negotiate the land allocation."

"promise!"

From Dunhuang Yumen Pass, there are two routes to the Western Regions: the Loulan Road (Shanshan) and the Yiwu Road.

During the Western Han Dynasty, due to the fickle nature of the kingdoms of Kucha and Loulan, Fu Jiezi assassinated the King of Loulan, renamed the kingdom Shanshan, and moved the capital south. The Han army then took control of Loulan and stationed troops in Yiwu.

Now, Shi Yi will destroy the Shanshan Kingdom after it migrated south, and then combine it with the military and civilians of the Eastern Han Dynasty who settled in Yiwu Road. This area is roughly the scope of Shanshan Commandery.

"Your Majesty, now that Shi Yi has led his troops to conquer Shanshan, should we allow him to go further and conquer the kingdoms of the Western Regions?"

Perhaps misled by Shi Yi's undefeated record, Guo Tu's ambition grew, and he advised him.

Zhang Yu shook his head and said, "The Western Regions are vast and sparsely populated. China is not yet at peace. How can we rashly launch a distant expedition?"

As he spoke, Zhang Yu paced back and forth, saying, "I have heard that there is a way to connect with the Western Regions by going west from the Hehuang region and passing through the Western Sea. When Shanshan County was established, Shi Yi sought out the way and returned east, working together with Liangzhou to open up the route and persuade the Qiang tribes along the way to surrender, so as to demonstrate the power and benevolence of the Great Tang."

"promise!"

Zhang Yu was ambitious; his eyes were not only on the south, but also on the distant Western Regions and the Western Sea. After all, the northern frontier was without a ruler, Tibet had not yet risen, and apart from the Zhang Tang dynasty, there were no other rising powers in East Asia. Wouldn't it be a pity if he couldn't take advantage of the chaos to expand his territory as much as possible?

P.S.: I was installing a graphics card on my computer today, and it blue-screened afterward, severely impacting my updates. I'm managing to update using my phone today. I'll get my computer fixed tomorrow and then upload another chapter. (End of Chapter)