Chapter 99

After defeating the Xiongnu army, Li Guang did not stop there but pushed all the way to Dunhuang, proudly displaying his military might to the various states in the Western Regions before withdrawing and returning to Chang'an!

At the same time, Emperor Liu Che issued an edict: besides the Wuwei Commandery, he established the new commanderies of Jiuquan, Zhangye, and Dunhuang in the Hexi region, formally incorporating this area into the Han Empire's jurisdiction. He dispatched troops to garrison the area, appointed officials to govern, and relocated civilians to populate the region. In a few years, the Han people would thoroughly assimilate this land.

On the eastern front, the seasoned defense of Cheng Bushi forced the Chanyu Junchen's army to retreat without success, safeguarding the peace of the regions south and north of the Yellow River. From this moment on, the Han people began to realize that the Xiongnu were not as formidable as they had imagined!

With the Xiongnu's retreat, Li Guang and Cheng Bushi received an edict from Liu Che, ordering them to return to Chang'an to receive rewards. They left Gongsun Ao to guard the Hexi region, and Li Guang, along with Wei Qing, Li You, and others, set off on their journey back to Chang'an.

"Alas, it is truly a great pity! Generals Chen and Pan were killed by the Xiongnu!" In the middle of the group, Wei Qing, with a pained expression, comforted Li You, "If not for this, with General Chen's wisdom and General Pan's bravery, they would surely have been ennobled and granted titles in the future!"

"Yes! But at least we achieved a great victory! I believe they would be comforted by this!" Li You also put on a sad face, forcing a few tears. His mission in the Han Empire was already complete, and it seemed it was time to return! In reality, he had already sent Pan Feng and Chen Qingzhi back into the Tiger Talisman, and their deaths at the hands of the Xiongnu were just an excuse to placate the others! Otherwise, how would Zhang Qian explain their disappearance when he left?

"Do not grieve, Doctor Zhang. Once we return to Chang'an, I will certainly request rewards for them!" Li Guang also consoled, feeling quite satisfied with his own achievements. He was almost certain to be ennobled now!

As a soldier, he viewed life and death more calmly than most. With Li You deliberately changing the subject, the three soon began discussing the rewards they would receive upon returning to Chang'an!

"I once heard that Emperor Wen said to you, 'If you had been born in the time of Emperor Gaozu, you would have been ennobled as a marquis with ten thousand households!' This time, you will surely fulfill your long-held wish upon returning to Chang'an!" Li You praised Li Guang, feeling quite pleased. Perhaps in this world, the story of "Feng Tang's easy aging and Li Guang's difficulty in being ennobled" would never be told again? But what kind of marquis title would Liu Che grant him?

"My victory in this battle is largely due to your efforts, Doctor! Without your reconnaissance of the Hexi region, your help in defeating the Wusun and forcing the Xiongnu to retreat to the Western Regions, and your contributions of the saddle, stirrups, and horseshoes, which greatly enhanced the combat effectiveness of the Han soldiers, it would have been difficult to achieve this victory!" Li Guang laughed heartily, praising Li You, "Upon our return to Chang'an, you will certainly be ennobled as well! And General Wei, who led the vanguard to block the Xiongnu's retreat at Yanzhi Mountain, killed the Chanyu Xiutu, and captured the King of Kunye, has also achieved great merit!"

Not only the generals, but the soldiers below them were also elated, eagerly calculating how much wealth and rank they would receive upon returning to Chang'an! The joy of victory filled the entire army! Someone started singing the "Hu Wu Ren" that Li You had sung when they left Chang'an:

"Severe winds and frost wither the sea grass, the sinews and bones of the Xiongnu horses are strong.

Three hundred thousand Han soldiers, led by General Li.

White feather arrows at their waists, swords like autumn lotus flowers gleaming.

The heavenly army descends through the snow at Yumen Pass, Xiongnu arrows like sand rain on golden armor.

Clouds and dragons, wind and tigers, all meet in battle, the moon enters the enemy's camp, and the enemy can be crushed.

The enemy can be crushed, the stars of war extinguished, trampling the Xiongnu's intestines and wading through their blood.

The Xiongnu are hung from the blue sky, buried beside the purple fort.

No Xiongnu, the Han path is prosperous.

May the Emperor live for three thousand years.

But sing of the great wind and flying clouds, how can we find brave men to guard the four directions!"

Their mood now was vastly different from when they set out. Although they were full of valor and determination, they had not been without worry and anxiety about the war. Now, they were filled with the joy of victory and genuine pride. Yes, those fierce Xiongnu were no longer a match for the Han. This time, we have reclaimed the Hexi region, and in the future, we will advance north from the regions south of the Yellow River, sweeping across the northern desert, and driving the Xiongnu far away! Then, the Han Empire will surely welcome a period of prosperity and peace!

Just as they did when they set out, Emperor Liu Che also led the high officials of the Han Empire to welcome the army ten miles outside Chang'an! Without waiting to return to the city, he immediately issued the edict for rewards:

Li Guang, for leading the army to defeat the Xiongnu and reclaim the four commanderies of Hexi, and for killing the King of Luhou, was ennobled as the Marquis of Le'an (in reality, this title was later granted to Li Guang's cousin Li Cai), with a fief of three thousand households!

Cheng Bushi, for his outstanding performance in the eastern campaign, was also ennobled as a marquis, with a fief of two thousand five hundred households, second only to Li Guang among the generals. In this world, they had no regrets, as historically they had not been ennobled!

Wei Qing, for leading the vanguard to occupy Yanzhi Mountain, defeating the Xiongnu remnants, killing the Chanyu Xiutu, and capturing the King of Kunye, was ennobled as the Marquis of Changping (historically, he received this title in the second year of Yuanshu for his victory over the White Sheep King and the Loufan King in the regions south of the Yellow River), with a fief of two thousand households!

Gongsun Ao, for his outstanding performance on the army's flank, was ennobled as the Marquis of Heji, with a fief of one thousand households!

As for Li You, he was not overlooked by Liu Che. For his contributions in his mission to the Western Regions, presenting the sand table and new horse equipment, he was ennobled as the Marquis of Bowang, with a fief of three thousand households, the same as Li Guang, which was one thousand households more than in real history!

When the army returned to Chang'an, the entire city was in a state of great jubilation! The Han people, who had long suffered under the Xiongnu, finally avenged their past humiliations. Countless civilians flooded the streets, admiring the victorious soldiers with envy. Cheers and applause echoed continuously, and some bold women even threw tokens of affection to the handsome soldiers, hoping to form a good match.

The benefits of this great victory extended beyond the immediate joy. Defeating the Xiongnu and reclaiming the four commanderies of Hexi greatly increased Liu Che's prestige. The Empress Dowager Dou, who had been opposing his personal rule, no longer had an excuse to do so. She was forced to issue an edict formally transferring the administration of the state to Liu Che. From then on, Liu Che could govern the country according to his own ideas without interference from the Empress Dowager!

After the banquet, Li You declined the invitations of the court officials and returned to his residence. He had done all he could for the Han Empire. Although the three years had not yet passed, it seemed it was time to return!

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