In the city of Dayuan, a messenger on horseback galloped in.
"Grand Commandant!" The messenger hurriedly dismounted. "His Majesty has a secret letter!"
The wicked man, who was watching the Akhal-Teke horses train at the drill ground, frowned. A secret letter from the First Emperor had arrived; it was no small matter.
Upon opening the secret letter, the wicked man's expression immediately turned serious.
Torrential rains have been hitting Guanzhong, Henan, Hebei, and other areas for over half a month. Vast amounts of farmland have been flooded, and many people have been displaced. Even more critically, the harvest season is approaching, and the consequences of failing to harvest in time are unimaginable.
"Pass down the order!" the wicked man immediately commanded, "This Grand Commandant is to depart for Guanzhong at once!"
The generals were startled: "This..."
"No need for further words," the wicked man declared resolutely. "Select five thousand of the finest Ferghana horses; I, the Grand Commandant, will personally lead them back to Guanzhong. The rest of the army will be commanded by Meng Tian and Wang Li, continuing our westward expansion!"
He turned and went into the main tent to begin making arrangements.
"Meng Tian!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"You will lead an army of 100,000 and continue westward," the wicked man said, pointing to the map. "This region contains many prosperous oases, all of which are the targets of our Great Qin. Remember, we must not only conquer, but also cultivate!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
"Wang Li!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"You will lead 50,000 elite troops to garrison Dayuan City," the wicked man continued. "This is our base for westward expansion; it must be fortified like an impregnable fortress. Especially those horse ranches—they must be guarded with utmost care!"
"Your humble servant obeys!"
The wicked man strode to the map: "Remember, you two must coordinate with each other. While Meng Tian expands westward, Wang Li must ensure the safety of the rear. Send word immediately if there's any unusual activity!"
The two generals responded with a resounding "yes".
They all knew that the wicked husband's departure this time was to entrust them with the most important task.
"And..." the wicked man's voice deepened, "Though my departure is urgent, it is not a final farewell. Once the situation in Guanzhong is stabilized, I will return. By then, I will see an even greater empire!"
Having said that, he strode out of the tent: "Send the order: depart immediately!"
The selected 5,000 Akhal-Teke horses are ready to go. These are the finest warhorses, handpicked to usher in a new era for the Qin Dynasty.
"Grand Commandant!" The horse administration official from Ferghana rushed over. "These horses need extra care. They can't run for more than eight hours a day, otherwise the horses will easily get damaged..."
"Don't worry," the wicked man reassured him, "I, the Grand Commandant, know how precious these divine steeds are. I will take good care of them along the way."
Before departing, he instructed his two generals: "Remember, as you advance westward, also send men to scout the trade routes. Mark every oasis and every city along this route clearly."
He immediately mounted his horse: "Let's go!"
Five thousand Akhal-Teke horses galloped away in the morning light, heading east. These were magnificent steeds never before seen in Guanzhong, and they were about to bring new strength to the Qin Dynasty.
Meanwhile, in Guanzhong.
The rain keeps falling.
Qin Shi Huang stood atop the highest point of the Epang Palace, gazing upon the Guanzhong Plain shrouded in torrential rain. Countless fields were submerged, and the wheat seedlings in the farmland teetered on the brink of destruction.
"Your Majesty," an official reported, "the disaster in Henan and Hebei is even more severe. Thousands have drowned, and countless others have been displaced..."
Ying Zheng's face was grim. When he unified the six kingdoms, he promised the people a peaceful and prosperous life. Now, however, he had encountered such a natural disaster, and if not handled properly, it would surely shake the very foundation of his rule.
"Where is the wicked husband?" he suddenly asked.
"Your Majesty, they are already on their way back," the official reported. "He is leading five thousand Akhal-Teke horses, traveling day and night..."
"Excellent!" Ying Zheng's eyes lit up. "With these warhorses, the harvest will be much faster. Send orders to all regions to prepare for the Grand Commandant's return!"
At this moment, another secret report arrived: "Your Majesty! The Hanoi region is in dire need of assistance! The Yellow River's water level has risen dramatically and has already overflowed its banks. If it continues to rise, we fear the dikes will breach..."
Ying Zheng's expression changed. The Hanoi Commandery was located in a strategic location; if the dikes were breached, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Just then, dust suddenly rose in the distance.
"Report! The Grand Commandant has arrived in Yunyang!"
Everyone was overjoyed. With the wicked husband's abilities, he would surely be able to turn the tide.
Sure enough, the wicked man galloped on, day and night without stopping. Those Akhal-Teke horses lived up to their reputation, showing no signs of fatigue despite their continuous running.
"You wicked husband!" Ying Zheng greeted him in the palace, "I summoned you here because..."
"Your Majesty, I understand," the wicked man said, clasping his hands in a fist. "Please rest assured, Your Majesty. These Ferghana horses I brought can travel a thousand miles a day without thirst. They are perfect for disaster relief!"
He immediately began making arrangements: "Order the grain stockpiled in Yunyang, Huayin, and other places to be transported to the disaster areas immediately. These Akhal-Teke horses are best suited for long-distance raids and can be used as pack horses!"
"Furthermore..." he turned to a general, "Immediately send men to Hanoi County to reinforce the dikes before they breach. If there's no time, conscript laborers!"
The orders were issued like thunder.
The five thousand Akhal-Teke horses brought by the wicked husband were immediately put into use.
These divine steeds were indeed extraordinary, not only traveling a thousand miles a day, but also possessing immense strength.
The horses carried twice the amount of grain as ordinary horses, and quickly delivered the relief supplies to the disaster area.
"Grand Commandant!" An official rushed in. "Disaster victims in Henan and Hebei have rioted. They say the imperial court isn't providing aid and they're going to seize grain themselves..."
"You bastard!" the wicked man roared. "I, the Grand Commandant, will personally lead provisions to rescue them! Pass down the order, depart immediately!"
He mounted his horse and led two thousand Akhal-Teke steeds eastward at breakneck speed. Wherever they encountered famine victims along the way, they immediately distributed food and provided relief. With these divine steeds, the speed of disaster relief was greatly increased.
Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
The heavy rain finally stopped, and the disaster was brought under control.
"Your Majesty," the official reported, "the disaster situation in various regions has eased. The dikes in Hanoi have been reinforced, and the disaster victims in Henan and Hebei have been resettled."
Ying Zheng nodded in satisfaction: "This is all thanks to that wicked husband."
He looked at the wicked husband: "These Akhal-Teke horses you brought back are indeed rare and excellent steeds. Not only have they solved our immediate crisis, but they have also opened up new possibilities for our Great Qin!"
The wicked man clasped his hands and said, "I have established a horse ranch in Dayuan, and soon we will be able to breed these divine steeds in a continuous stream. At that time, the cavalry of my Great Qin will be even more invincible!"
"Good!" Ying Zheng laughed, "Then Meng Tian, Wang Li, and the others..."
"Please rest assured, Your Majesty," the wicked man said. "They are expanding westward. I will return immediately after I have dealt with matters here. There are even larger territories in the Western Regions waiting for us to conquer!"
As night deepened, the air after the rain was exceptionally fresh.
The wicked man stood in the Grand Commandant's mansion, gazing westward. He knew that Meng Tian and Wang Li would not disappoint him.
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