Chapter 69

From Loulan to the Kingdom of Yanqi, one must cross the edge of the Taklamakan Desert, following the Kongque River; walking through the sparsely populated, arid, and desolate Gobi Desert and wastelands at the southern foot of the Kuruktag Mountains. During the day, the scorching sun hangs high in the sky, radiating waves of heat that make everyone feel as if they are on fire. At night, the temperature drops sharply, and the rudimentary tents offer no warmth. The Han soldiers huddle together, shivering, to try to withstand the bone-chilling cold.

If a sandstorm hits, it is even more disheartening. The fierce wind whips up sand and stones, blotting out the sky and earth, making human beings seem incredibly fragile in the face of nature's might. They can only huddle tightly together, hiding under the bellies of camels, praying that the god of death will spare them this time.

However, this is not the most terrifying thing. When traveling through the desert and the Gobi, the most crucial thing is water! From the moment they entered the desert, Li You ordered all members of the mission to discard everything they could, carrying as much water as possible! But the sandstorms, desert bandits, and wild animal attacks have made their water supplies dwindle!

Even more terrifying is that the sandstorm has made them lose track of the Kongque River. The group can only rely on the sun and the magnetic compass to determine their direction, following the memory of Tang Yifu to head northwest to the shores of Lake Dunhuang (Bosten Lake) and the Kingdom of Yanqi!

The desert is far more terrifying than the great snow mountain. When crossing the Wushaoling Pass, the mission lost fewer than ten people, but during the days in the desert, the Han mission has already lost no less than twenty people! Some died from the scorching heat of the day, some from the bitter cold of the night, and others in battles with desert bandits. Most, however, disappeared during sandstorms.

The scorching air enters the lungs through the nostrils, burning Li You's insides like charcoal. Each breath feels like a torture! In such conditions, even the most active members of the mission are too lazy to say another word! He reached out to touch the water bag at his waist but eventually put it back, licking his already cracked and dry lips. How much longer until they can leave this damned desert?

"Sir! There's a river ahead!" Suddenly, a hoarse voice shouted from the front of the group!

"What? A river?" The lifeless mission suddenly came alive again. Everyone cast hopeful eyes in the direction of the voice, following the soldier's finger to see a clear river flowing slowly from beneath the sand dunes. The green trees on both banks of the river brought a sense of coolness.

"It's not a mirage! It's a real river! Sir, we're almost to the Kingdom of Yanqi!" Tang Yifu's face broke into a smile. Along the way, they had encountered mirages, and several soldiers had even died because of them! Now, they had finally returned to the banks of the Kongque River!

"Hold on! Send out scouts to check for enemies ten miles upstream and downstream!" Suppressing the urge to jump into the river for a refreshing swim, Li You issued orders. "Everyone, prepare for battle!"

"Yes, Sir!" Although these soldiers desperately wanted to bury their heads in the water and drink their fill, the trust built up over the journey made them follow Li You's orders without hesitation.

The second prince of Loulan, Xiumi Tuo, couldn't help but praise, "Sir, if the Han Empire had ten thousand soldiers like these, what would the Xiongnu be?"

"Our Han Empire has a million lions, and there are no fewer than a hundred thousand soldiers like these!" Li You replied proudly, though in reality, in the entire Han Empire, it was rare to find soldiers as disciplined as them. Li Guang's subordinates certainly didn't reach this level, perhaps only the subordinates of the famous general Cheng Bushi could.

After a short while, the scouts returned with the news that everything was safe. Only then did the group rush to the Kongque River, leaving a few sentries to watch for any signs of danger. From Li You and Chen Qingzhi down to the ordinary soldiers, they all plunged into the clear, cool river, immersing their bodies in the water to enjoy the rare coolness.

"Ah, so comfortable! If I could lie here forever, I wouldn't trade it for the most popular courtesan in the brothels of Chang'an!" Xu Yannian closed his eyes contentedly and lay back in the water.

"Chang'an! How long have we been out? Four months or five months?" The soldier beside him had a nostalgic look in his eyes. "I miss the wheat porridge and the finest millet wine of Chang'an!"

"Chang'an, with its bustling East and West Markets, where merchants and travelers gather, shoulder to shoulder. When we return, I will definitely go to the best tavern and have a good drink!" Xu Yannian opened his eyes slightly, his eyes full of nostalgia and intoxication for Chang'an.

"What kind of city is Chang'an?" The prince of Loulan, Xiumi Tuo, asked curiously, seeing the look in the soldiers' eyes.

"That is a great city!" Chang'an is probably one of the greatest cities in the world right now. Only the city of Rome in the East and West can compare, Li You said proudly. "In Chang'an, there are the most magnificent city gates, the most splendid palaces, and the most prosperous markets. Here, you can find anything you want..."

"Um." Xiumi Tuo scratched his head, unable to imagine the Chang'an that Li You described. After a long struggle, he gave up and tentatively asked, "How does Chang'an compare to Loulan?"

"Ha ha ha ha ha!" Everyone who heard this burst out laughing, as if they had heard the funniest joke. Xiumi Tuo's head drooped lower and his face turned redder, realizing he had asked a very foolish question.

Will the idiom 'Yelang's arrogance' be changed to 'Loulan's arrogance' in the future? Li You stopped his subordinates' laughter and shook his head. "Second Prince, how big is Loulan? How many people live there? How many houses and palaces are there?"

Without waiting for an answer, Li You continued, "Chang'an's city walls alone are fifty miles long, with a population of nearly five hundred thousand! The city has twelve gates and eight main streets (north-south) and ten side streets (east-west). The people walking through the streets create a shadow with their sleeves, and the sweat flows like rain. People from all over the world yearn to be here. Fish and salt from the East Sea, fine horses from the northern deserts, silk and tea from the south, and furs and hides from the Western Regions—all the wealth of the four seas is gathered here... In terms of size and population, it is more than ten times that of Loulan!"

"Such a magnificent city, I really want to see it right away!" Xiumi Tuo's mouth dropped open, and it took him a long time to recover from his shock.

"Second Prince, rest assured. After we form an alliance with the Great Yuezhi, I will take you to this great city. I believe you will fall in love with it!" Li You said firmly, confident that anyone who saw Chang'an at this time would be captivated by its charm.

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