Chapter 87

Wang Cheng'en dismounted, affectionately patted the head of the fine horse, and then slowly walked towards the severed head of Zhong Xing, knowing that if he could return to Chang'an safely, this would bring him immense wealth and honor! The Han people hated Zhong Xing to the bone, and by eliminating this thorn in the emperor's side, the emperor would surely reward him generously!

"Sir! I have brought the head of Zhong Xing!" Wang Cheng'en galloped up to Li You, holding Zhong Xing's head high. Xu Yannian and others behind him were beaming with joy, without a trace of jealousy.

"Good! Once we return to Chang'an, I will certainly request rewards for all of you from His Majesty!" Seeing this notorious traitor die at the hands of his subordinates, Li You was deeply moved. How many losses could be avoided for the Han if this man had died so many years earlier? Most importantly, without him, the great general Huo Qubing would not have drunk the water contaminated by dead cattle and sheep, fallen ill, and died at the young age of 24.

If Huo Qubing could live to forty or fifty! What a blow it would be to the Xiongnu! With such a trusted and talented general leading the Han army, they would surely drive the Xiongnu out of the northern desert and the Western Regions much sooner!

"Sir, the Xiongnu troops have scattered and fled! There are no more obstacles ahead! We can cross the river and return to Chang'an safely!" Tang Yifu's face was also full of joy! Although the Yellow River still lay ahead, it was nothing compared to the hardships and harsh conditions they had endured for a year!

"Go to the Xiongnu camp! See if we can find boats to cross the river! Back to Chang'an!" Li You shouted, and the over two hundred soldiers behind him cheered. For the Han soldiers, after more than a year, they could finally return home! For the envoys from Loulan and Da Yuezhi, they could finally see the legendary and magnificent Chang'an!

After interrogating several Xiongnu captives, they quickly found the location of the Xiongnu camp. Upon arrival, they indeed found many boats; these were prepared by Zhong Xing earlier to prevent the Han envoy from crossing the Yellow River and escaping their interception, but now they would benefit Li You and his men!

"Year after year, I toil to make golden thread, only to sew clothes for others!" Li You murmured a couplet, thinking that Zhong Xing's schemes had all been for naught, and now he had even saved them the time to make new sheepskin rafts. "Take all the useful things from the camp, guard the captives well! We will cross the river! Back to Chang'an!"

Chen Qingzhi directed the soldiers familiar with boats to make several trips across the Yellow River, transporting all over two hundred members of the envoy and dozens of Xiongnu captives to the east bank. They burned the boats and set off again on their journey back to Chang'an.

With the last obstacle to returning to Chang'an removed, the Han soldiers, eager to return home, rode with renewed vigor. They sang Han ballads at the top of their lungs, heading towards their long-lost homes. The second prince of Loulan, Fumituo, and the famous general of the Kushan tribe of Da Yuezhi, Hu Weishika, both wondered: What kind of nation is the Han? What kind of city is Chang'an? What could make their faces light up with such joy?

With the supplies obtained from the Xiongnu camp, they easily crossed Longxi and Tianshui, reaching the border of the Han. Entering the border and following the Wei River eastward, they could return to Chang'an in a few days!

"Who are you?" The sound of hooves echoed, and a group of well-armored Han soldiers, led by a vice-general, blocked Li You and his men.

Li You signaled his men to stop, then slowly rode forward. He raised the Han envoy's staff high and shouted, "I am the Han envoy Zhang Qian, sent by His Majesty to the Western Regions! After more than a year, I have accomplished my mission and am returning to Chang'an! May I ask which general is in front of me?"

"Ah! It's Envoy Zhang! This subordinate, Zhao Guangguo, greets you, Envoy!" Upon hearing "Zhang Qian" and recognizing his face, the vice-general quickly dismounted, walked a few steps forward, and bowed, saying with excitement, "I escorted you out of the border last year, thinking I would never see you again! Who would have thought that in just over a year, you have returned! This is a sign of heaven's favor for our Han!"

"Zhong Xing has been beheaded by my soldiers! I have also brought envoys from the Loulan and Da Yuezhi kingdoms in the Western Regions!" Recognizing the vice-general who had informed him of the Xiongnu interception last year, he raised his voice, "The route to the Western Regions has been thoroughly explored! The day of our Han counterattack against the Xiongnu is not far off!"

"Heaven favors our emperor! Heaven favors the Han!" The border soldiers, who had long suffered from the Xiongnu threat, cheered. They seemed to see the day when the Han army would advance far into the Hexi Corridor and destroy the Xiongnu!

"Envoy, you have had a long journey! Please follow me into the border, and I will set up a banquet to refresh you and your men!" Zhao Guangguo said with great joy.

"Thank you, General! However, I am eager to report to His Majesty in Chang'an, so I must decline your kind offer! But I have one request to make of you!" Li You politely declined and then made his request, "Our horses have been overused on this journey. I hope you can provide us with fresh horses so we can return to Chang'an sooner."

Zhao Guangguo immediately agreed, and after a quick meal inside the border, they changed to the horses provided by Zhao Guangguo and set off for Chang'an.

A few days later, outside Chang'an, a group of cavalry galloped towards the city. The general guarding the city gate immediately led his men to meet them. After a few words, his face changed, and he respectfully led Li You and his men into Chang'an, to the north gate of the Weiyang Palace. The guard there quickly came forward, "Who are you?"

"I am Envoy Zhang Qian, who has not disgraced my mission and has returned from the Western Regions! Please inform His Majesty that I must see him immediately!" Zhang Qian solemnly raised the Han envoy's staff. The red tassels on the staff had faded, and the staff itself was worn, but this only added to its dignity.

"I will report immediately!" The guard did not dare to delay and ran to the Weiyang Palace.

After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, hurried footsteps came from the palace gate. A eunuch shouted from a distance, "Is it Envoy Zhang who has returned? His Majesty summons you! Envoy Zhang, please enter the palace quickly!"

"Wait here!" After arranging his men, Li You followed them into the Weiyang Palace. The general walking beside the eunuch caught Li You's attention. He bowed and asked, "May I ask the general's name?"

...