A banquet was held in the Han Palace, where the emperor and his ministers enjoyed themselves immensely.

The atmosphere was lively and joyful, with toasts and laughter filling the air.

Liu Hong, Empress Dowager Dong, and Liu Hua's gazes lingered on Liu Wei quite often, their expressions varying.

Empress He, He Jin, Yuan Shao, and others also gave Liu Wei strong attention with their eyes.

Liu Wei, however, remained calm and handled the situation with ease.

The dinner party lasted until late at night.

Liu Wei rested at Liu Hua’s residence that night and returned to his villa in Beiman Mountain the next day.

Chen Lian, Wang Fangyi, Yan Da, and others came to report on the movements of the troops stationed near Beiman Mountain.

In addition to Chunyu Qiong's 5,000 troops, two more troops were added, bringing the total number of troops monitoring him to nearly 15,000.

Liu Wei smiled dismissively.

After all, this is Luoyang, and Empress He and He Jin would never openly harm him.

They are probably still busy celebrating Liu Bian's ascension to the throne and distributing the spoils among themselves.

"Just keep a close eye on their movements. We'll be leaving soon and heading back to the Hetao region!"

"If they dare to fight us, we'll show them what I'm capable of."

Liu Wei simply told them not to worry, and then asked about the latest intelligence: "Commander Shen, what news has been received from the strategist and the three generals?"

Chen Lian replied:

"Your Highness, our three counties in the Hetao region and General Zhang Liao's defense zone are at peace with Dong Zhuo in Bingzhou, and we are conducting normal trade."

"Dong Zhuo bought 10,000 of our warhorses, but they are short of money and food, and a conflict broke out with the Wang family of Taiyuan County."

Liu Wei nodded: "Send someone to the strategist first, and tell him that Dong Zhuo should continue to supply them with warhorses."

"In addition, fine salt and coal can also begin to enter Bingzhou, but we should first make private contact with the Wang family of Taiyuan."

"Continue!"

After Shen Lian wrote it down, he added, "General Xue's side is experiencing heavy snowfall, and his troops are lying low, so there are no major moves for the time being."

"However, he has already assembled his troops in Luntai, Kucha, Cheshi, and Shule, and plans to launch an attack north of the Tianshan Mountains."

"He will surely have a detailed battle plan to report to the prince."

Um!

Liu Wei nodded slightly.

Xue Rengui's Polu Army and the Western Regions Protectorate, 2,000 Xuanjia Cavalry, 5,000 Light Cavalry, 6,000 Auxiliary Soldiers, plus 60,000 reserve troops from the three established construction corps.

In addition, there were the small kingdoms in the Western Regions that submitted to the Han Dynasty.

Xue Rengui possessed enough power to annihilate the foreign tribes north of the Tianshan Mountains.

As for the Northern Xiongnu people north of the Tianshan Mountains, they must be erased from the map.

When spring arrives and the Pamir Plateau thaws and becomes passable, troops will be dispatched from the Ili River Valley after the Tianshan Mountains are opened up, expanding the territory, defeating the Kangju Kingdom, and taking over the Central Plains region.

Let Xue Rengui unleash his full potential and fight as far as he can, even as far as the Mediterranean coast if he wants!

"General Di is in Zhangye County, where he is engaged in small-scale clashes with Ding Yuan's troops. They are exchanging blows. The general facing off against General Di at the front line is named Ma Teng!"

"Ding Yuan's main forces are concentrated in the hands of Lü Bu, Zhang Yang, and Han Sui!"

“We discovered that Lü Bu was training troops in Xiping County. He found one hundred sets of our armor and trained a cavalry force.”

When Liu Wei was preparing to send troops to the Western Regions in the Hetao region and pursuing the fleeing Xianbei soldiers of Yuchi Jiong and his brothers in Hexi, he already knew about Ding Yuan's development in Liangzhou.

Ding Yuan amassed an army of 70,000 men and came with great momentum to reclaim the three counties in Hexi that had been occupied by the Xianbei.

Unexpectedly, Liu Wei acted first, exchanging his position for General Di Qing, who first captured Juyan Lake and then recovered the three counties of Hexi.

Finally, he fought a great battle with Ding Yuan at the Blackwater River outside Zhangye City.

Ding Yuan's army included the rebel forces of Bian Zhang and Bei Gong Boyu, the cavalry of the Qiang people, and the Han army that Ding Yuan had withdrawn from the Western Regions Protectorate, Juyan Lake, and the three prefectures of Hexi to quell the rebellion.

Their combat capabilities vary greatly.

In the Battle of the Blackwater River, Lü Bu and Xue Rengui fought fiercely, resulting in the loss of most of the Qiang cavalry.

Xue Rengui and Liu Wei marched into the Western Regions, while Lü Bu attacked Jiuquan. Due to insufficient supplies, he retreated to Wuwei.

After retreating, Ma Teng and Di Qing were left to confront each other.

However, to Liu Wei's surprise, Lü Bu was indeed a genius.

That day, Lü Bu fought a great battle with the Xuanjia Cavalry, killing more than a hundred of them, which in turn allowed Lü Bu to obtain a hundred sets of Mingguang Armor and horse armor!

Lü Bu not only equipped his troops with these weapons, but also used this knowledge to create an iron cavalry force.

"These people will all be influential figures in the future!"

Liu Wei remarked with emotion.

Lü Bu, Zhang Yang, Han Sui, and Ma Teng—which of them didn't later become a powerful warlord?

Especially Lü Bu!

"Hold Zhangye and prevent Ding Yuan from expanding westward!"

Liu Wei said, "I have already made this clear to General Di, and he should understand my strategic objectives!"

Soon, He Jin will summon Ding Yuan and Dong Zhuo to the capital.

By then, Liangzhou and Bingzhou will be vulnerable, and attacking them will be as easy as taking something out of a bag.

"General Zhang Liao's side is at peace with Bingzhou. He is escorting merchant caravans back and forth along the straight road outside the Great Wall and repairing the cities of Dongsheng and Guluo!"

"Guo and Yang's goods are piled up like mountains in Gao Nu's warehouse. The Qin Straight Road surface has turned from yellow to black."

Hehe, this is coal from fertile land, scattered on the Qin Straight Road!

This vital transportation route is the lifeline connecting the Hetao region with Guanzhong Plain, as Liu Wei currently does.

With Zhang Liao providing protection, they could rest easy.

Moreover, five thousand soldiers under the command of Pei Yuanshao were secretly hidden in Jiuzong Mountain.

If anything unusual happens in Guanzhong, it can reach Xianyang in half a day and threaten Chang'an!

Upon hearing Shen Lian's report, Liu Wei understood immediately.

Then Shen Lian reported on the progress of several groups of Imperial Guards.

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