Chapter 73

"When we set out from Chang'an, I brought over a hundred subordinates! As soon as we reached the foot of the Qilian Mountains, we encountered over a thousand elite troops of the Xiongnu royal court blocking our way! Our Han envoy team broke through with a hundred against a thousand, killing over three hundred Xiongnu and breaking through the encirclement! We then crossed the Yellow River and climbed over the Great Snow Mountain! We successively defeated the Qiang people, the Xiutu King, and the Kunye King's troops! Along the way, we killed thousands of Xiongnu and burned over ten Xiongnu tribes! Only then were we able to enter the Western Regions!" Li You answered with a firm tone, the scenes of the fierce battles over the past few months flashing through his mind. The fifty-odd soldiers left in the envoy team had gained such a formidable aura only after enduring such hardships.

"After entering the Western Regions, we repelled countless bandits and finally reached the territory of the Da Yuezhi!" Li You waved his hand, and immediately, ten soldiers brought forward their recent spoils, "General, please look, this is the banner of the Wusun cavalry!"

"These are the most elite cavalry under the command of the Wusun Right General!" Hu Weishika grabbed the banner excitedly, examining it for a long time before saying, "These people have killed countless of our Da Yuezhi soldiers! Hu Weishika thanks the Han envoy on behalf of the fallen soldiers of the Da Yuezhi today!"

The Wusun Left and Right Generals were equivalent to the Left and Right Yuhu Kings under the Xiongnu Left and Right Xianwang, both positions held by members of the royal family, commanding a certain number of troops and being the most powerful figures in the Wusun state, second only to the Great Kunmi. The Left General had a slightly higher status than the Right General.

"Yesterday at noon, while we were marching, we encountered three hundred Wusun cavalry attempting to rob us. Our Han envoy team immediately launched a counterattack. After a fierce battle, we killed over a hundred, and the rest fled in all directions!" Li You said casually, then sighed, "Unfortunately, three soldiers in the envoy team also lost their lives!"

Fifty against three hundred, killing over a hundred enemies while only losing three soldiers! And these were the most elite cavalry under the Wusun Right General! Hu Weishika was at a loss for words! If this were in their Da Yuezhi, they would probably need to send at least a thousand cavalry to achieve the same results as the Han envoy team. How were these Han soldiers trained to be so brave and fierce?

Probably even the most elite royal guards of the Da Yuezhi king would not be their match, Hu Weishika thought. After all, they were a powerful force that could defeat the elite troops of the Xiongnu royal court. What were the soldiers of the Da Yuezhi and Wusun compared to them?

"The Han soldiers are... truly too powerful!" Hu Weishika finally managed to say, while the second prince of Loulan, Xiumi Tuo, was already used to it! He had seen the formidable combat power of the Han envoy team many times on the journey. His attitude had changed with each battle.

From initially trying every means to escape, he now followed the Han envoy team with all his heart! If the Han soldiers were all as powerful as this envoy team, it was only a matter of time before the Han defeated the Xiongnu and entered the Western Regions. At that time, with the support of the Han, wouldn't it be easy for him to inherit the throne of Loulan?

Li You then ordered his men to bring forward several banners and curved swords, all spoils from the battles with the Wusun cavalry from the kingdom of Guimo to the Da Yuezhi, "The journey from Chang'an to here is long, and with continuous battles along the way, the gifts I brought from Chang'an are almost all lost. Now, I can only offer these and some silk to your king as gifts! I hope you will not mind!"

"The noble envoy is too polite! Seeing these Wusun banners and weapons, the king will certainly be very happy!" Hu Weishika remembered that Li You still needed to meet the king of the Da Yuezhi, so he quickly stood up and said, "I will lead the noble envoy to the palace. The king will be very happy to see these!"

At this time, the king of the Da Yuezhi was also in this city, overseeing the battle. The Da Yuezhi had concentrated almost all their troops here, preparing for the decisive battle with the Wusun Great Kunmi, Lijiaomi. If he were not here, he would not be at ease! It was unknown whether he would think of the previous king who was killed by the Chanyu of the Xiongnu.

After arranging the defense of the eastern gate, Hu Weishika led his royal guards to escort the Han envoy team to the palace of the Da Yuezhi king in the city. This city was much smaller than Chang'an, and they soon arrived at the palace gate. Hu Weishika dismounted, "Please wait a moment, noble envoy, I will report to the palace!" He then led several royal guards with the silk, banners, and weapons given by Li You into the palace, leaving Li You and his team to wait outside.

"Please, the Han envoy, enter the palace to meet the king!" After a while, a minister of the Da Yuezhi kingdom came out and said loudly.

"You all stay here, I will be back soon!" Li You led Chen Qingzhi and Tang Yifu into the palace of the Da Yuezhi king. In the hall, he saw a middle-aged man sitting on the throne, enthusiastically examining the Wusun banners. Li You held the Han flag and bowed, "Han envoy Zhang Qian pays respects to the king of the Da Yuezhi! May Your Majesty be in good health, and may the Da Yuezhi kingdom flourish."

"Thank you, Han envoy! I also wish the Han king good health!" The king of the Da Yuezhi quickly put down the banner and said solemnly, "Envoy, please take a seat!"

Li You did not correct the difference between king and emperor, and led Chen Qingzhi and Tang Yifu to the seats prepared for them. Immediately, attendants brought in the food and wine of the Da Yuezhi kingdom.

"General Hu Weishika said that your envoy team has repeatedly defeated the Wusun army with fewer numbers on your journey here! Could you tell me more about it?" The king of the Da Yuezhi was most concerned about the war with the Wusun. In the face of continuous defeats by his own army, the sudden appearance of a Han envoy team that had repeatedly defeated the Wusun was like a drowning man grasping at a straw, giving him hope.

Li You recounted the details of the battles with the Wusun, and the king of the Da Yuezhi and his ministers nodded in agreement, deeply impressed by the combat power of the Han envoy team.

"The reason our Han envoy team could defeat the Wusun army is twofold: first, our Han soldiers are brave and skilled in battle, and second, our Han generals are more adept at commanding the troops, allowing us to win with fewer numbers!" After seeing the king of the Da Yuezhi fall into deep thought, Li You continued to entice him, "Although the Wusun have superior individual combat skills, they are not invincible. As long as your army adopts the right strategy, you will surely win this battle!"

"Oh? Could you elaborate, noble envoy?" The king of the Da Yuezhi said eagerly.

"Your Majesty! Why don't we make a bet?" Li You exchanged a glance with Chen Qingzhi. It was finally time to reveal the plan. Whether it would succeed or not depended on this moment!