Dunhuang was nearly 1,600 li away from Shanshan Kingdom. It wasn't exactly close, but it wasn't too far either, about the distance from Luoyang to Hejian.

Beyond Yangguan Pass lies the Gobi Desert. However, the climate in the Western Regions at this time was not as harsh as it would be in later generations, and marching was not as difficult. Even at the slowest marching speed for infantry, it would only take a little over a month to reach the destination.

However, for such a short distance, it took Lu Bu and his cavalry more than three months to reach it.

Mu Lang, who was accompanying him, couldn't help but urge him several times. Although Xun You had told him that the court intended to support him to sit on the throne of the King of Shanshan, he was still very anxious.

After all, more than a year had passed since the states of Cheshi, Xiaowan, and Qiemo attacked Shanshan, and he was afraid that his country would be destroyed.

On this day, Mu Lang couldn't help but come to the front of the army again. After hesitating for a moment, he found Huang Zhong, who had the best temper.

Mu Lang pleaded, "General Huang, you see, our army has been marching slowly for three months. If we delay any longer, the consequences will be unimaginable..."

"Sigh!"

Huang Zhong sighed softly, "It's not that I'm not in a hurry, but look at all the grain and supplies in the rear. If we don't protect them properly, what if they are lost? Wouldn't our army be in dire straits?"

Mu Lang turned his head and looked at the transport convoy that stretched for nearly twenty miles behind him, his lips twitching.

The transport team of 300,000 people, apart from the 50,000 soldiers from the prefectures and kingdoms, consisted entirely of able-bodied men, each carrying a long sword.

In Mu Lang's view, although those young men could not compare to the elite Han cavalry, they were more capable than most of the armies in the Western Regions. He really couldn't imagine that anyone would be so foolish as to raid a force of 300,000 men.

"You think too highly of those small countries!"

After silently grumbling to himself, Mu Lang shook his head helplessly and turned to leave.

Apart from the generals, the cavalrymen at the front of the column also dismounted and led their horses, so the marching speed was still very slow.

The able-bodied men in the rear supply train also gathered in twos and threes, walking and admiring the desert scenery as they went.

A group of soldiers from Dunhuang, guarding the baggage train, chatted and laughed.

A soldier nudged the sergeant next to him: "Hey, Brother Erlv, I heard your wife is pregnant again?"

Chen Erlv grinned and said, "You little rascal, you're pretty well-informed. Who told you?"

The soldier chuckled: "Do I even need to hear that? I live right next door to you. I used to hear you and your wife making noise every night, but eight months ago, it all suddenly stopped. Knowing your personality, what else could possibly keep you quiet except for your wife being pregnant?"

Chen Erlu glared at him: "You brat, why do you eavesdrop on my conversations all the time?"

As he spoke, Chen Erlv slapped the soldier on the head.

The soldier rubbed his head and chuckled, "I just wanted to learn. I heard that if we go to the Western Regions this time, we might get a woman from there?"

Chen Erlu raised an eyebrow: "Commander Zhang did say that, but you have to make good contributions first. You can't just expect to get women for nothing. There's no such thing as a free lunch."

The soldier nodded: "That's true, but we're just escorting supplies, how can we have a chance to kill the enemy and earn merit?"

"Yes, the cavalry under the command of those three generals alone could wipe them out. How could we possibly win?"

Several soldiers around him echoed this with equally distressed expressions.

Chen Erlu chuckled: "You don't understand, do you? If the three generals can handle this, why would the governor and prefect go to such lengths to summon us as well? Just wait, your time to prove your worth will come."

One of the soldiers was slightly taken aback: "Brother Erlv, do you mean that we came here not just for rescue?"

Chen Erlu glanced at him and said, "You instructors always tell you to read more books, but you never listen. Have you ever seen a rescue team that needs so much supplies and marches so slowly?"

"Yeah, such a big move is clearly aimed at conquering cities and seizing territory. In that case, wouldn't we also be able to kill enemies, earn merit, and share the women?"

The soldiers, having recovered from their shock, showed expressions of excitement, and the conversation naturally shifted to the women of the Western Regions.

As dusk fell, the army arrived at a long-abandoned earthen city.

This earthen city, originally named Zhaowuzhi, was initially established during the reign of Emperor Wuzhao. It was responsible for transmitting official documents to the Western Regions and for receiving envoys. Later, due to political turmoil, it was abandoned for a long time.

Later, Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu established his capital in Luoyang. In order to strengthen the Han Dynasty's control over the Western Regions, he ordered the re-establishment of the Protectorate of the Western Regions and the establishment of offices along the way. However, these offices were abandoned again during the reign of Emperor He. More than sixty years have passed since then.

Looking at the earthen wall that had withstood the ravages of wind and sand yet still stood firm, Huang Zhong and his soldiers couldn't help but show expressions of nostalgia, as if they were reminiscing about the scene when the Han soldiers entered the Western Regions with high spirits.

Just as everyone was sighing with emotion, a scout rode swiftly from west to east and soon arrived in front of Huang Zhong.

"General, according to reports, the allied forces of Cheshi, Xiaowan, Jingjue, and Qiemo captured the capital of Shanshan this morning and killed the King of Shanshan and a number of nobles and officials in Shanshan."

Huang Zhong's expression shifted: "Continue to gather intelligence, and keep a close eye on the movements of the four-nation allied forces."

"promise!!"

The scout responded loudly and galloped away.

Huang Zhong then looked at the guards beside him: "Quickly go and inform General Lü and General Dong to come for a meeting."

"yes!"

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