During the subsequent march, Dong Zhuo used the same method to win over the hearts of the people of Kucha to the Han Dynasty by taking advantage of the so-called agreement.

Meanwhile, the merchants, under the protection of the Imperial Guards, traveled to various towns. While trading with the local residents, they used their silver tongues, honed over years of business experience, to make the residents deeply grateful to the Han Dynasty.

After more than ten days of marching, Dong Zhuo's vanguard arrived fifty miles east of the capital of Kucha.

Through the combined efforts of Dong Zhuo and those merchants, nearly 70% of the towns and cities within the territory of Kucha had sided with the Han Dynasty...

When the news reached the palace of the King of Kucha, Xie Zhiyu and the Xiongnu nobles were all greatly alarmed.

"What's going on? Didn't I send you to invite the Han army to mediate? Why did you bring their troops here instead?"

Xie Zhi's angry roar echoed in the royal palace's council hall, startling everyone who heard it.

The messenger responsible for delivering the message knelt trembling in the center of the hall, his back soaked with cold sweat.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Liu Yu's power in the Protectorate has been usurped by Yuan Shao. As soon as I arrived in Gaochang, I was intercepted by Yuan Shao's men."

He...he seems very unhappy about you mentioning that agreement..."

The messenger, trembling, recounted Yuan Shao's instructions to Xie Zhiyu in a seemingly earnest manner.

"How dare Yuan Shao? He doesn't even respect Liu Yu, a member of the Han imperial family?"

Upon hearing the messenger's words, Xie Zhiyu was also taken aback.

Within the strictly hierarchical Xiongnu society, the royal family held supreme authority. Even the strongest warrior in the tribe would have to bow respectfully to a child of royal blood.

"Your Majesty, this Yuan Shao is the son of the Yuan family of the Han Dynasty. It is said that the Yuan family is one of the most powerful families in the Han Dynasty, and is fully capable of influencing the decisions and policies of the Han Emperor and the court..."

The Xiongnu messenger also informed Xie Zhiyu of Yuan Shao's background and the power behind him.

"I never imagined that Yuan Shao had such a background!"

Upon hearing the messenger's account, Xie Zhiyu couldn't help but frown.

"Your Majesty, according to the scouts, the 20,000 troops in the east of the city are merely the vanguard sent by Yuan Shao. He himself is leading 40,000 troops and is heading this way."

Xie Zhiyu's expression changed: "What? Where did they get so many men?"

"Your Majesty, judging from the banners, uniforms, and appearance of that army, it seems to be the Han army!"

"Han...Han army?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Zhiyu was taken aback, took two steps back, and sat down on the throne.

"Could it be that the Han Dynasty has sent Han troops to annihilate us?"

"What...what should we do?"

"If things really come to this, let's run! We can't just sit here and wait to die!"

"Escape? Now we have the Xianbei people to the north, the Han army to the east, and the vast desert to the south. Where can we escape to?"

Upon hearing that the Han army had arrived, the Xiongnu nobles in the hall panicked, and a look of despair appeared on their faces.

The Han army's strength in siege warfare is beyond doubt. In the past, on the grasslands, the Xiongnu people were able to rely on the vastness of the grasslands to fight against the Han army.

Now, we are holding out in this ruined city of Kucha. I'm afraid we won't be able to hold out for long before the Han army wipes us all out.

Seeing his subordinates' pathetic state, the king on the throne lost the will to stop them, because he, like his subordinates, felt that they had lost all hope.

"Your Majesty, gentlemen, why don't we head west?" the messenger, kneeling on the ground, suddenly said.

"west?"

Xie Zhiyu frowned: "To the west is the Kushan Empire. Although it is not as powerful as the Han army, it is still far superior to the Western Regions. Taking it down will not be so easy."

"Your Majesty, the Kushans were founded by the Yuezhi, who were defeated by our Xiongnu. Our ancestors were able to defeat them in the past, and we can do the same now..."

Upon hearing this, Xie Zhiyu's expression shifted, and the eyes of the Xiongnu nobles in the hall also lit up.

"Your Majesty, I believe this is feasible!"

"Once we defeat the Kushans, we will gain a better foothold than here!"

"Yes, I don't believe that the Han army can catch up with the Kushans."

Immediately, a group of Xiongnu nobles also spoke up, hoping that Xie Zhiyu would send troops westward.

Faced with the advice of his subordinates, Xie Zhiyu couldn't help but be tempted.

In his view, his Xiongnu warriors might not be able to defeat the Han Dynasty, but they should have no problem fighting the Kushans!

Upon hearing this, Xie Zhiyu immediately said, "You are all right. However, it is already winter, and it is really not advisable to wage war now. Let's think of a way to delay until next spring!"

Upon hearing Xie Zhiyu's words, everyone in the hall frowned and pondered deeply.

"Report!!"

Just then, a guard rushed in, interrupting everyone's thoughts.

"Your Majesty, according to reports from scouts, a group of merchants, under the protection of the Han army, are telling the people of Kucha that they were spared from being robbed because of some agreement signed between the Han army and us."

"Of the thirty-five towns within the territory of Kucha, twenty-eight have already submitted to the Han Dynasty..."

Wow!!

Upon hearing this, the hall erupted in chaos.

"I never imagined the Han army would be so cunning?"

"That's right, it was clearly the king's benevolence that was attributed to the Han Dynasty, how did it become the merit of the Han Dynasty?"

"Those foolish Kucha people, we should have just kidnapped them in the first place!"

The Xiongnu nobles were filled with resentment when they realized that their act of not looting had inadvertently helped the Han Dynasty win the hearts of the people.

However, the man on the throne, Xie Zhiyu, turned his eyes and revealed a smile.

Xie Zhiyu smiled and said, "Please calm down, everyone. Although the Han army's actions are somewhat shameless, they have relieved our immediate crisis!"

Isn't the Han army using the pretext of an agreement with us to win over the hearts of the people? Then we can also use the pretext of the agreement to say that the Han army has lent us the capital of Kucha for temporary rest. In this way, they can't attack us at will!

This is what the Han army called: "Using a plan against a plan!"

In the end, a hint of smugness appeared on Xie Zhiyu's face, and he momentarily forgot about the predicament he had been forced into.

"Your Majesty is wise! In this way, we will have a chance to catch our breath as we advance westward!"

Upon hearing Xie Zhiyu's words, the Xiongnu nobles' eyes lit up.

Xie Zhiyu waved his hand: "Alright, everyone hurry up and go down to post notices saying that we have an agreement with the Han army that Kucha belongs to the Han Dynasty, and we are only temporarily stationed here, and there will be no war..."