Supreme Golden Palace

Chapter 214 Hexi (Part 1)

Kualü was the longest-reigning leader of the Tuyuhun. All previous Tuyuhun leaders held the title of "King" or "Khan." When Kualü became King, he modeled his system on the Han dynasty, establishing a bureaucracy and proclaiming himself Khan.

The royal court appointed a chief clerk and a military commander to oversee all affairs and participate in military decisions. Local areas were also divided into prefectures and counties, with city lords and garrison commanders to govern the people and collect taxes. Furthermore, following the example of the Han Dynasty's Imperial Academy, the court established the position of Doctor of Literature to guide the people towards civilization.

It can be said that the Tuyuhun after Kualü declared himself Khan was the most powerful period of the Tuyuhun. Its military might reached the western border, and it had more than 100,000 archers. Wherever its troops went, neighboring states dared not resist.

Its sphere of influence extended east to the Hehuang region, west to Khotan, south to Shu Han, and north to the northern deserts. It stretched for three thousand li from east to west and over a thousand li from north to south, all of which was Tuyuhun territory. Cities and towns were located one after another, and cattle and sheep roamed the fields.

"My lord,"

Upon hearing this, Yan Rui chuckled and said, "No matter how cunning Kualü is, with you in charge of Liangzhou, even if the entire Tuyuhun Kingdom were to invade, what could they do?"

"With the lord's divine might and the soldiers' unwavering courage, no matter what tricks he plays, it will all be in vain in the end!"

As a personal guard general, Yan Rui knew how formidable Lü Shang was. With Lü Shang guarding Liangzhou, Yan Rui couldn't understand why Lü Shang would dare to march south.

Lü Shang did not respond, his gaze returning to the direction of Chiling. The morning mist had completely dissipated, the smoke from the chimneys in the mountain valleys had thinned, and at the end of the ridge, a few gray shadows could be vaguely seen moving, seemingly cavalrymen patrolling.

Yan Rui,

After observing for a moment, Lü Shang said calmly, "The greatest taboo in warfare is arrogance."

"Kualu's ability to make Tuyuhun so powerful was by no means a fluke. Since he governed by imitating the Han dynasty's system, his ambition is evident."

"Such a person, if given the opportunity, will surely seize the chance to move south and wreak havoc on the western border,"

No sooner had Lü Shang finished speaking than the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from afar. Fifty riders in black armor galloped towards them, and upon approaching, the leader, Ling Yue, dismounted.

"My lord,"

Ling Yue knelt on one knee and said in a deep voice, "This subordinate has scouted along the White Crow Pass for thirty li and has found no signs of a large-scale gathering of Tuyuhun troops."

Lu Shang frowned slightly and said, "No major forces have been found assembled?"

Yan Rui, who was standing to the side, whispered, "My lord, should we send scouts deeper?"

"No need,"

Lu Shang shook his head, turned to look at the garrison commander of Baiyakou, and said, "Pass down the order that the number of sentries at Baiyakou and Zamukou passes be tripled starting today, with beacon towers lit during the day and torches burning brightly at night."

"If you encounter barbarian cavalry, do not pursue them; defend the passes to the death and use beacon fires to send messages."

"promise,"

The garrison commander bowed and responded.

Lu Shang glanced again toward Chiling. The morning sun had already risen above the mountain ridge, turning the bluish-gray mountain shadows white. The few gray shadows between the ridges had also disappeared into the forest, as if they had never been there.

"Return to Liangzhou,"

He turned his horse around, and eight hundred elite soldiers followed closely behind, their hooves clattering heavily as they trod across the blood-stained gravel road.

"Speed ​​up, get back to Liangzhou before noon!"

As the morning light spread across the horizon, the sound of horses' hooves echoed across the wilderness.

As the caravan traveled halfway through, the sunlight grew stronger, and knights on horseback approached from the direction of Liangzhou.

"My lord, please wait!" The knight, carrying a red flag, rushed forward and dismounted.

Lü Shang reined in his horse, his gaze narrowing slightly. The crimson signal flag was an urgent signal from the Liangzhou General Administration.

The knight knelt on one knee and said, "An urgent report from the General's Office: Ganzhou, Suzhou, and Guazhou are being harassed by barbarian cavalry. Smoke signals have been raised at Linsongkou in Ganzhou, Yumenguan in Suzhou, and Yangguan in Guazhou."

Upon receiving this urgent report, Lü Shang chuckled and said, "Ganzhou, Suzhou, Guazhou, plus my Liangzhou, the four prefectures of Hexi—what a feint to the east while attacking in the west, what a brilliant move to spread our influence far and wide!"

"Xiao Ji," he called out, his gaze sweeping over the officer on the left side of the formation, "take twenty fast cavalrymen and send three separate groups to deliver messages, instructing them to hold the pass at all costs and not to advance rashly."

"promise,"

Xiao Ji clasped his hands in agreement, then turned and selected twenty knights, all skilled horsemen. The knights mounted their horses, their hooves kicking up dust, and galloped off in three directions. As the next governor of Liangzhou appointed by Emperor Yang Jian, Lü Shang's power had long exceeded the scope of a normal governor. Although he was the governor of Liangzhou, the four prefectures of Hexi were also under his jurisdiction.

This is why the General Administration sent the urgent report directly to him.

"Speed ​​up the march,"

Lü Shang reined in his horse and turned around, his gaze sweeping over the eight hundred elite soldiers behind him.

"promise!"

All the soldiers responded in unison.

The sound of hooves suddenly intensified, and Lü Shang, leading a torrent of black-armored soldiers, galloped toward Liangzhou.

Before 9 AM, Liangzhou City was already in sight, and the black flag with the character "Lü" on the city wall was fluttering in the wind.

At the city gate, soldiers stood in formation, bows strung and swords drawn. Upon seeing that it was their own army, they slowly made way.

"My lord, return to your residence!"

On the city wall, the sentry announced the news loudly.

Lü Shang rode into the city. The streets had already been cleared of pedestrians, with only patrolling soldiers standing along the way. He ignored the shops and houses on both sides and headed straight for the governor's mansion.

At the gate of the mansion, Chief Clerk Li Gongting and Military Advisor Wang Shilong, along with their staff, were waiting. Seeing Lü Shang dismount, they quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "My lord, the detailed report from the General's Office is here."

Lu Shang took the detailed report handed to him by Li Gongting, glanced at it, and said, "Chief Secretary Li, immediately take stock of the treasury and distribute the surplus grain and fodder to the three prefectures, giving priority to ensuring the supply of Yumen Pass and Yang Pass."

"With the Emperor's southern expedition imminent, Hexi must not be allowed to fall into chaos!"

"This humble official understands the implications,"

Li Gongting accepted the order, turned around, and hurried towards the treasury.

Wang Shilong followed Lü Shang into the inner hall, where candlelight flickered and the map of Hexi hanging on the wall swayed slightly in the wind.

"Wang Sima, convey my order to conscript militia from the three surrounding counties of Liangzhou to reinforce the city's defenses. Any barbarian cavalry that approach must be killed!"

"promise,"

Wang Shilong bowed and accepted the order, then went straight to the outer hall to check the documents. A moment later, a dozen or so couriers, carrying tokens stamped with the governor's seal, went to the three surrounding counties of Changsong, Fanhe, and Guangwu in Liangzhou.

Inside the main hall, Lü Shang stared intently at the map of Hexi.

On the map, Li Gongting circled the three places of Linsongkou in Ganzhou, Yumenguan in Suzhou, and Yangguan in Guazhou with red ink, forming a diagonal arc, which is the western barrier of the Hexi Corridor.

Liangzhou, on the other hand, is located at the eastern end of this arc.

"If it weren't for the fact that I can't act rashly, I would really like to send troops now and wipe out the Tuyuhun."

Lü Shang's gaze slowly shifted westward from the arc along the Hexi Corridor, across the Red Ridge, and landed on the heartland of Tuyuhun, outlined in light ink on the map.

The Tuyuhun coveted the fertile plains of Hexi, and Lü Shang longed to drink from Qinghai Lake. It is said that one cannot allow others to sleep soundly beside one's bed.

As the future governor of Liangzhou, Lü Shang had long considered the fourteen prefectures of Liangzhou as his own. With the Tuyuhun entrenched in Qinghai and repeatedly raiding the western border, Lü Shang could not ignore the situation.

Just as Lü Shang was pondering, a subordinate's voice came from outside the door, tinged with caution, saying, "My lord, the General's personal guards have arrived."

Lu Shang said in a deep voice, "Let him in."

A moment later, a knight clad in black armor strode in. He clasped his hands in a fist salute and bowed swiftly, saying, "This humble general, Wang Wei, has come on the orders of the commander-in-chief to invite Your Excellency to your residence for a meeting."

Lu Shang raised an eyebrow slightly and asked, "What is it, Steward?"

Wang Wei straightened up, his tone solemn, and said, "The steward said that war has broken out in Hexi, which is probably no small matter. He needs to discuss the matter with the magistrate in person. Please come to the mansion immediately, magistrate. The steward is already waiting for you."

(End of this chapter)