Chapter 97

In the spring of the fourth year of the Jianyuan era, outside the city of Chang'an, a vast crowd gathered. Emperor Liu Che of the Han dynasty personally led his ministers to see off the soldiers who were about to set out on a campaign, accompanying them all the way to a point ten miles outside the city before stopping. He took a cup of fine wine from a tray held by an attendant, "Today, I raise a cup to all of you, my brave soldiers. May you return victorious soon!"

"Your subjects are grateful for Your Majesty's kindness!" Li Guang led the generals in a bow of gratitude. Then, the twenty thousand Han soldiers shouted in unison, "Heaven protect the Han, sweep away the Xiongnu! Heaven protect the Han, sweep away the Xiongnu!"

Following this, General Li Guang took the lead, heading west. Next came General Wei Qing, General Gong Sun Ao, and other high-ranking officers. Li You also set out again with Chen Qingzhi, Pan Feng, and the soldiers who had followed him to the Western Regions. Unlike the last time, this time they had twenty thousand elite Han soldiers following them!

It was early spring, and the cold wind had not yet subsided. Snow still covered the distant mountains. The twenty thousand well-armored soldiers held long spears and wore swords at their waists, marching westward with a spirit of invincibility!

This is the majesty of our Han! Seeing Emperor Liu Che's expectant gaze, the confident smiles of the Han ministers, the excited expressions of the Han people who had come to see them off, and the astonished faces of foreign envoys like Fumitō and Rūvishika, Li You's heart swelled with emotion. He could not help but recite Li Bai's poem "Hu Wu Ren" aloud:

"Severe winds and frost wither the sea grass,

The sinews and bones of the Hu horses are strong and proud.

Thirty thousand Han warriors,

Led by General Li Guang.

White feathered arrows at their waists,

Swords like autumn lotus flowers, shining as they are drawn.

The heavenly army descends through the snow at the Jade Gate,

The enemy's arrows like sand, striking the golden armor.

Cloud dragons and wind tigers meet in battle,

When the moon enters the constellation of Tai Bai, the enemy can be crushed.

The enemy can be crushed, the banner of war extinguished,

Trample the Hu's intestines, wade through their blood.

Hang the Hu in the blue sky,

Bury the Hu beside the Purple Frontier.

No Hu, the Han way prospers.

May Your Majesty live for three thousand years.

But sing of the great wind that rises,

Where can we find brave warriors to guard the four directions?"

"Excellent!" Sima Xiangru, who had been appointed a courtier for presenting the "Shanglin Fu," was the first to praise the poem! The poem Li You recited was very much like the songs collected by the Music Bureau, with a grand and generous spirit! The strong desire of the Han army to completely eliminate the Xiongnu and other Hu tribes burst forth! It stirred the hearts of all who heard it, making them feel a surge of valor and enthusiasm!

"Excellent!" Emperor Liu Che and the Han ministers also praised Li You, "No Hu, the Han way prospers." It spoke directly to their hearts! With no Xiongnu to invade, the Han would naturally flourish.

"Excellent!" The cheers of the Chang'an citizens shook the heavens. The Xiongnu had brought them countless sufferings, and today was finally the time for the Han to take revenge. Now, the army was setting out to completely destroy the Xiongnu. Hanging the Xiongnu's heads in the sky and burying their bodies at the frontier, would they dare to invade again?

"Severe winds and frost wither the sea grass,

The sinews and bones of the Hu horses are strong and proud.

Thirty thousand Han warriors,

Led by General Li Guang.

White feathered arrows at their waists,

Swords like autumn lotus flowers, shining as they are drawn."

Inspired by this, the twenty thousand soldiers also began to chant the poem in unison, "No Hu, the Han way prospers. May Your Majesty live for three thousand years. But sing of the great wind that rises, where can we find brave warriors to guard the four directions?"

The valor of the twenty thousand soldiers was ignited by the poem. They held their heads high and marched westward with firm steps. Anyone who saw this scene would have the same thought—no army could stop their advance. Whoever dared to stand in their way would be crushed!

Emperor Liu Che stood on the high platform for a long time, watching until the last soldier's figure disappeared at the end of the road before he descended. Seeing the heroic and confident appearance of the Han soldiers, he knew that victory in this battle belonged to the Han!

After a few days of travel, the army finally reached the border. Deputy General Zhao Guangguo was already waiting there. He had already ordered his subordinates to prepare food and camps for the western expeditionary force and brought the latest news about the Xiongnu.

"Report to the general, I learned from the merchants coming from the Western Regions that King Xiutu and King Kunye, upon hearing that our Han army is advancing to the Hexi region, quickly gathered their troops and returned from the Western Regions!" Zhao Guangguo looked enviously at the soldiers who were about to set out to fight the Xiongnu. He really wanted to join them!

"Oh? How many troops does the enemy have? Where are they now?" Li Guang ordered a map to be spread out on the table and pointed to it.

"According to the merchants, King Xiutu and King Kunye have a combined force of forty thousand troops. Two months ago, these forty thousand troops were gathering near the Kingdom of Kucha, preparing to return to the Hexi region. However, their current location is unknown!" Zhao Guangguo answered respectfully.

"Kucha is 7,480 li from Chang'an! The army's march is slow, so they definitely have not returned to the Hexi region yet!" Li You pointed to Kucha on the map, then moved his finger eastward to the Yanzhi Mountains, "In my view, if there are no significant changes in the speed of both armies, we are likely to meet the Xiongnu army at the Yanzhi Mountains!"

The Yanzhi Mountains are located between the Wushaoling and Qilian Mountains. This area is rich in the red safflower used by Xiongnu women for makeup, and many of the Xiongnu princes' wives are chosen from the beauties of this region. In the Xiongnu language, the princes' wives are called "Yan Shi," hence the name Yanzhi Mountains.

"This place is about seventy li long from east to west and forty li wide from north to south, and it is a strategic pass controlling the east-west route!" Without waiting for Li You to continue, Wei Qing, who was familiar with the sand table and map, described the situation at the Yanzhi Mountains.

"If the Xiongnu get there first, it will be extremely disadvantageous for us!" Li Guang closed his eyes for a moment, then suddenly opened them and looked at Wei Qing, "General Wei! Are you willing to lead five thousand troops to occupy this place first?"

"I accept the order!" Wei Qing stood up and answered resolutely, "I will definitely capture the Yanzhi Mountains, block the Xiongnu, and await the arrival of the main force!"

"Excellent! General Wei will set out with five thousand troops at dawn tomorrow!" Li Guang patted the table in approval, "General Wei, if you have any requests, please speak up! I will not refuse!"

"Please provide the necessary supplies and personnel for the advance, such as winter clothing and horseshoe makers!" Wei Qing then turned to Li You, "I also request that the Grand Doctor arrange several guides familiar with the route to lead me!"

"Very well, I will arrange for Colonel Xu Yanian to lead ten guides to guide General Wei!" Li You immediately dispatched his most capable subordinates.

The next morning, Wei Qing set out with five thousand troops, and Xu Yanian also bid farewell to Li You and joined their ranks.

After seeing them off, Li You stood on the city wall, watching them depart. This was the first time General Wei Qing was stepping onto the stage of the Han-Xiongnu war. What kind of performance would he give?

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