"Brother Di, they've headed to Dunhuang. Should we pursue them?"
"As long as you give me the authority, I will lead my troops to recruit more soldiers and build a force of three thousand men!"
Zhang Yi said with a greedy look on his face.
The method Di Qing taught them for recruiting soldiers was extremely effective.
As long as they appoint officials to their subordinates, they can appoint whatever kind of officials they can recruit.
In the chaotic end of the Han Dynasty, after the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the Eastern Han court was already teetering on the brink of collapse.
Since Emperor Ling of Han issued an edict ordering members of the imperial clan to govern the four regions and recruit their own troops, signs of separatism began to emerge.
Located at the western end of the Hexi Corridor, the three prefectures of Zhangye, Jiuquan, and Dunhuang were far from the central government, and local powerful families were eager to make their move.
Needless to say, the Protectorate General of the Western Regions had little actual control.
The thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions were harassed, plundered, and threatened by the Kangju people of Lingxi, the Qiang people of Qingtang, the Dingling people of northern Altai, and the Northern Xiongnu people. One by one, they actively or passively broke free from the control of the Protectorate of the Western Regions.
Only small kingdoms near Dunhuang, such as Loulan, Qiemo, Kucha, and Hami, still revered the Han Dynasty.
The turmoil in the three prefectures of Hexi led to the gradual disintegration of the Western Regions, resulting in widespread refugees and countless people being displaced.
If Zhang Yi were to take a small force with him, let alone be granted an official position, he could certainly raise a large army simply by being fed.
"Our lord has ordered us to manage Juyan Lake and conserve our strength, but the Xianbei are still eyeing us covetously outside the city."
"They won't attack the city anytime soon; they want to besiege us. If we leave the city, we'll be playing right into their hands!"
"The best course of action now is to hold this position and await the arrival of our lord's army."
Di Qing shook his head, disagreeing with Zhang Yi's suggestion.
"I was just mentioning it briefly. We owe everything we have today to Brother Di's support. Our lives are inextricably linked to Brother Di's!"
"That's right, we will follow Brother Di's lead."
Zhang Yi and Li Er both pledged their loyalty.
If Di Qing hadn't needed these prisoners in front of Liu Wei, Zhang Yi and Li Er would probably still be locked up in the dungeon.
"Stop! We are all soldiers under the Prince's command, and our lives belong to the Prince!"
Di Qing's face immediately turned serious. "If I ever hear you utter such treasonous words again, you'll be sent back to your dungeon immediately!"
Zhang Yi and Li Er felt a chill run down their spines, broke out in a cold sweat, and repeatedly clasped their hands in a gesture of respect.
"Brother Di, please forgive us. We were both short-sighted and spouted nonsense. We deserve to die!"
"I will obey Your Highness's orders in everything!"
Di Qing's expression improved slightly: "Return to the city wall to defend, and be wary of a sneak attack by the Xianbei people below the city."
"Here you go!"
......
I urge you to drink another cup of wine, for beyond Yangguan Pass you will find no old friends.
Yumen Pass and another important pass, Yangguan Pass, are located within the territory of Dunhuang Prefecture. Both were the seat of the Commandant and important garrison locations.
It is also a vital transportation route between the Central Plains and the Western Regions.
Two hundred miles west of Yangguan Pass, there is a vast oasis in the desert.
Originating from the glaciers of the Kunlun Mountains, the Peacock River flows quietly through the desert and into the oasis, nourishing its banks.
In this oasis, along the Peacock River, lies the ancient kingdom of Loulan, one of the thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions.
It was also the first stop on the Silk Road after Yangguan Pass.
The Kingdom of Loulan was located on this transportation route, with "envoys coming and going along the road," and the city's economy was booming and it was at its peak.
The booming commerce brought huge profits to Loulan, enabling the people of Loulan to live a prosperous life.
Goods and crafts from the Central Plains were also introduced to Loulan via the Silk Road, bringing Loulan a flourishing material and spiritual civilization.
Loulan had by then become a paradise in the Western Regions, a haven in the desert.
"Your Majesty, news has come from Hami that the Northern Xiongnu, north of the Altai Mountains, are showing signs of a large-scale southward invasion. We must strengthen our defenses!"
A bearded man wearing a long robe and a wide felt hat came before the king's chief minister to report.
When Zhang Qian traveled to the Western Regions, King Angui of Loulan submitted to the Xiongnu. Fu Jiezi of the Han Dynasty led a hundred soldiers to assassinate Angui and installed his younger brother, Weituqi, as king.
(Loulan was later renamed Shanshan. Anyway, this book is set in an alternate history, and Loulan sounds better, so we'll keep using it.)
The lineage has been passed down through generations, and Wei Liao became the King of Loulan at the end of the Han Dynasty.
"With the Protectorate of the Western Regions of the Great Han Dynasty here, our safety will be protected, so there is nothing to worry about."
The officer's hands were covered in jewels, he wore a precious agate necklace, and he was dressed in luxurious silk.
Even the scepter in his hand was inlaid with jewels and was priceless.
In his other hand, he held a crystal glass filled with scarlet wine.
Because of the trade along the Silk Road, the incredibly wealthy Loulan was a place where everyone, from the king to the common people, lived a prosperous life.
They originally had a population of 14,000 and more than 2,000 soldiers.
After they submitted to the Han Dynasty, apart from leaving behind soldiers to maintain commercial order, their external defense relied entirely on the garrison troops of the Western Regions Protectorate of the Han Dynasty.
"Your Majesty, I have heard from traveling merchants that there are rebellions in several counties in Liangzhou. The newly appointed governor of Liangzhou has mobilized troops from various regions to enter the pass and quell the rebellion."
"The troops from all parts of the Western Regions Protectorate have been transferred to Wuwei long ago, and there are not many soldiers left!"
"If the Xiongnu attack, we will be powerless to resist."
The bearded man looked worried.
He was Anran Weiji, the prime minister of Weiliao.
"Such a thing is true?"
Wei Liao usually drank fine wine and lived a life of luxury, leaving all the affairs of the country to the prime minister.
He knew very little about the many changes that had occurred in Liangzhou.
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
