The Kingdom of Gaochang, located south of the Tianshan Mountains (present-day Turpan region), was one of the transportation hubs connecting the Western Regions with the Han Dynasty.
As early as the reign of Emperor Xuan, the Han Dynasty had sent soldiers to cultivate land and defend it.
During the reign of Emperor Yuan, a military fortress was built there, and it was called Gaochangbi because of its "high and open terrain and prosperous people".
Later, due to the chaos in the Han court, which was too preoccupied to attend to other matters, the Han lost control of the Western Regions, and Gaochang thus became an independent state.
Today, the Gaochang Kingdom has a warm climate and arable land. In addition, its special geographical location makes it a thriving commercial center.
Ten years ago, the local people lived a prosperous life, with surplus grain and no worries about food and drink.
However, ever since the coup that occurred in Gaochang, in which Crown Prince Lanyun died and King Lanming became king, the Kingdom of Gaochang has submitted to the Later Cheshi Kingdom and has to pay a large amount of money and supplies every year.
With the Gaochang treasury running low, Lanming began to exploit the people within the country, increasing taxes year by year.
After years of extortion and levies, most people in Gaochang are now penniless and starving.
In recent years, the people of Gaochang have been very dissatisfied with this tyrannical new king and have launched several uprisings, but all of them have been suppressed.
Therefore, in their despair, the people increasingly missed the old king and the kind prince.
On March 3rd, a cavalry force of two hundred men appeared five miles east of the capital of Gaochang and slowly approached.
At the front of the procession, a large banner with the Chinese character "汉" (Han) fluttered in the wind.
Below the great banner, Zhang Xiu glanced at the capital city of Gaochang ahead, took a deep breath, and turned to look at the carriage beside him. Inside the carriage sat his wife, Lanzhi.
"Lanzhi, the Kingdom of Gaochang is just ahead!"
As Zhang Xiu finished speaking, the carriage curtain was lifted, and Lanzhi peeked out to look ahead.
"Nine years have passed. Do you know how I've gotten through these nine years?"
Looking at the unfamiliar yet familiar city skyline ahead, Lanzhi's eyes suddenly reddened.
Looking at his wife's appearance, Zhang Xiu's eyes were filled with tenderness, and then he solemnly said:
"Lanzhi, now that we're back, don't worry, your husband will definitely help you get back everything that belongs to you!"
Lanzhi looked at Zhang Xiu with deep emotion and affection, "Thank you, my husband. I am content with you by my side!"
At this point, after years of trials and tribulations and self-cultivation within the Taiping Sect, her desire to restore her kingdom had faded. She was content as long as the people were doing well.
Faced with Lanzhi's heartfelt confession, Zhang Xiu felt both sweet and deeply guilty.
Recalling his conversation with Cheng Yu before leaving Luoyang, Zhang Xiu truly didn't know how he would face his wife, who loved him so deeply, in the future.
Before long, the group arrived outside the capital of Gaochang. To avoid her identity being exposed prematurely, Lanzhi sat back in the carriage.
Zhang Xiu's visit was on behalf of the Han Dynasty to Gaochang, and the Gaochang Kingdom had been notified in advance.
Therefore, an hour earlier, the current King Lanming had sent some officials to the city gate to greet him.
Soon, Zhang Xiu's entourage stopped, and the officials of Gaochang immediately stepped forward to pay their respects.
"Welcome to the arrival of the Great Han angel! May the Emperor of Han live ten thousand years! May the Han Dynasty live ten thousand years!!"
Zhang Xiu, still on horseback, merely nodded slightly: "Gentlemen, no need for formalities!"
Seeing that Zhang Xiu neither dismounted nor returned the greeting, the officials responsible for welcoming him couldn't help but frown inwardly, feeling quite displeased.
I had only heard that the envoys of the Han Dynasty were arrogant before, but now that I have seen it with my own eyes, I can confirm that their reputation is well-deserved.
There's nothing we can do; the Han Dynasty was simply too powerful...
When a nation is powerful, its envoys naturally become arrogant, and smaller nations can only endure it.
After a moment of reflection, the officials of Gaochang Kingdom still respectfully welcomed Zhang Xiu and his entourage into the city.
Although this is the capital of Gaochang, it is still a small country, and the size of the city is about the same as that of a county town in the inner prefecture of the Han Dynasty.
Apart from the royal palace and the residences of the officials, the buildings in the city were all very low.
Looking at the deserted street, Zhang Xiu frowned and turned to look at the official who was leading the way.
"Where are the people in your city? Why are the streets so deserted?"
The man from Gaochang Kingdom smiled and said, "In reply to the envoy, this was a special order from the king to clear the streets in preparation for your arrival."
"I see, your king is truly thoughtful!"
Zhang Xiu nodded, but inwardly he felt utter contempt.
The most direct way to know the level of a country or region is to look at how the people live.
Now, the Kingdom of Gaochang dares not let its people appear before the delegation, clearly because they have something to hide and are afraid of being exposed.
"The country may be small, but its ambition is certainly high!"
After muttering a curse to himself, Zhang Xiu became too lazy to speak to the official anymore. He knew that it was practically impossible for him to hear the truth from this official.
Before long, Zhang Xiu and his party arrived at the inn.
After settling Lanzhi in, Zhang Xiu, accompanied by only ten personal guards, followed the officials of Gaochang Kingdom out of the palace.
Inside the palace, King Lanming of Gaochang summoned all his officials to the council hall to await his arrival.
When Lan Ming and the others saw Zhang Xiu dressed in armor, they were also taken aback.
This was the first time they had ever seen a general sent as an envoy.
The big man's behavior is truly baffling.
As Zhang Xiu arrived at the center of the main hall, Lan Ming also snapped out of his thoughts and stood up with a smile on his face.
"Little Wang Lanming, welcome the great angel of Han!"
"Welcome to the great Han angel!"
All the officials and nobles inside the hall bowed in salute.
Faced with the salutes from Lan Ming and the other officials, Zhang Xiu remained arrogant and dismissive, neither returning the salute nor asking them to rise. Instead, he took out an imperial edict and held it in his hands.
Zhang Xiu looked at Lan Ming and said loudly, "I have come here with an edict from the Emperor of the Han Dynasty to be read aloud. King of Gaochang, receive the edict!"
Upon seeing this, Lan Ming's smile instantly froze, and he was also very displeased with Zhang Xiu's attitude.
Although he wanted to rebuke Zhang Xiu for his rudeness, he could only think about it.
Times have changed. Since Lü Bu, Huang Zhong and others supported Shanshan in defeating the four-nation coalition and signing the Treaty of Shanshan, the kingdoms of the Western Regions have once again witnessed the power of the Han Dynasty.
In the last two years in particular, the states of Jingjue, Xiaowan, and Qiemo have annexed many smaller states with the help of the Han army stationed there.
It can be said that, faced with the attacks of those Han garrison troops, currently in the Western Regions, apart from a few major powers, no one can stop them.
The Kingdom of Gaochang was a small country with only 40,000 people and a mere 3,000 guards. Compared to the mighty Han Dynasty, it was less than an ant.
If we offend Zhang Xiu today, we might face an attack from the Han army at any time, which could lead to the downfall of our country.
Thinking of all this, Lan Ming couldn't help but sigh inwardly, and then bowed to the imperial edict in Zhang Xiu's hand.
"Your subject, Lanming, obeys the imperial edict!"
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