"Xue Xiantu, you lead a thousand cavalrymen, carrying enough arrows, to Wutu Valley to block the Cheshi people's retreat route back to the northern foothills of Tianshan."
"Jiang Xingba, you will lead a thousand cavalry to capture the two key locations of Kucha and Wulei. Your goal is to drive Yuchi Jiong's remaining six thousand troops westward."
“I personally led the Xuanjia cavalry to launch an attack on the Xianbei people from behind, west of Puchanghai and under the city of Loulan.”
"My lord, you shall remain at Yumen Pass and await our good news."
"......"
Upon hearing Liu Wei's order to send troops, Xue Rengui no longer needed to pretend and immediately began to make arrangements for the battle.
"General Xue, does this mean you're going to abandon Loulan City?"
Shard and Manji were taken aback. The troops dispatched by this great man's general were all on the outskirts and did not enter Loulan City at all!
"Why are you just going to ignore it? General Xue has his reasons for doing this!"
"My soldiers are fighting bravely against the enemy, and I, the king, am naturally not willing to fall behind."
Knowing that the two Loulan people had this question, Liu Wei said calmly, "I do not need to stay at Yumen Pass to join the army and fight the Xianbei to the death."
"Envoy Manji, please lead the way for General Xue."
"Princess Sharde, your injuries have just healed, so you should stay inside Yumen Pass!"
Shard was anxious: "Your Highness, since you are personally taking the lead, how can I fall behind? If Your Highness does not mind, I am willing to accompany Your Highness."
Is this Loulan princess trying to cling to me?
Liu Wei remained calm and said, "Alright, let's decide on that then. Everyone, get ready immediately, we'll depart in a quarter of an hour."
"Here you go!"
......
Horses neigh and the wind howls.
Xue Xiantu and Jiang Xingba led their troops out of the pass first, their horses galloping through the yellow sand and disappearing into the vast dust.
Xue Rengui led the Xuanjia cavalry and auxiliary troops, three horses per rider, at breakneck speed, heading straight for Puchanghai.
Liu Wei, along with Shen Lian, a hundred guards, and Princess Sharde, followed closely behind Xue Rengui's army.
The warhorses galloped, and the Jade Gate Pass gradually shrank behind them, revealing an endless expanse of yellow sand before their eyes.
The marching route followed the endless stretches of oases in the desert.
In this situation, Liu Wei felt compelled to compose a poem to express his feelings.
So, Liu Wei, in high spirits, recited to the vast sea of sand:
"The Yellow River flows far up to the white clouds, a lone city stands amidst ten thousand mountains. Why should the Qiang flute lament the willows, for the spring breeze does not reach Yumen Pass!"
Shen Lian frowned, looking deep in thought.
Yao Guangxiao selected the best among the three thousand laborers who were digging the Daihai Lake and trained them to become Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards).
They even gave them names.
Shen Lian was appointed as a commander of a thousand men, in charge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard; Jin Yichuan served as a commander of a hundred men in the Northwest Division, responsible for intelligence gathering in the west.
Shen Lian and Jin Yichuan were the best among the Embroidered Uniform Guards, not only possessing superb martial arts skills but also being literate.
However, he had never heard of Tang Dynasty poetry before.
Upon hearing Liu Wei recite it, Shen Lian felt that the poem was grand and powerful, expressing his true feelings directly.
"I never expected my lord to possess such talent. I admire you greatly."
After frowning and pondering deeply, Shen Lian uttered this sigh.
Shard was already taken aback.
She studied Han culture in the Loulan Kingdom from a young age, reading the Four Books and Five Classics, pre-Qin philosophers, and a great deal of poetry and prose.
She's not good enough to write poetry.
But this prince of the Han Dynasty, without even speaking, produced a magnificent and elegant piece of writing.
Moreover, this poem is quite fitting for the occasion.
The saying "A spring breeze does not reach Yumen Pass" speaks volumes about the boundless beauty of the frontier.
"This prince is truly an exceptional individual! His future is limitless."
Seeing Liu Wei pontificating, pointing out the flaws in the country, and composing poems, Shard was already captivated.
This prince, who held considerable military power, was handsome, and possessed exceptional literary talent, far exceeded her standards for a lover.
Thinking back to the time at Yumen Pass, she had volunteered to marry this prince, only to be politely refused by him.
At that time, Shard was extremely disappointed.
Fortunately, she agreed to accompany Liu Wei to Loulan, which made her feel a little better.
Throughout the journey, Sharde was somewhat absent-minded, her mind filled with thoughts of Liu Wei.
She would steal glances at Liu Wei from time to time, and the more she looked, the more she liked him.
"I must make this prince fall in love with me!"
"If I could become his woman, it would be the happiest thing in my life."
Shard stared intently at Liu Wei, her eyes shining.
After reciting the poem, Liu Wei felt greatly relieved.
Such frontier poems can only be truly appreciated by visiting the actual sites.
The thought that this battle would bring Loulan to its knees, cripple the Cheshi Kingdom, the lackey of the Northern Xiongnu, and drive the invading Yuchi Xianbei westward.
By pursuing the Yuchi Xianbei, they subjugated the small kingdoms of the Western Regions along both the northern and southern Silk Roads.
Then, a powerful general was sent to oversee the Western Regions and manage its affairs.
Land, resources, warhorses, women...
In this way, Liu Wei possessed three strategically important border regions: the Western Regions, Hexi Corridor, and Hetao Corridor, and had initially achieved the strategic goal of "accumulating grain and building high walls" proposed by Yao Guangxiao.
Juyan Lake, a strategic location, serves as a link between the Western Regions, Hexi Corridor, and Hetao region.
When spring returns next year, Liu Wei plans to receive one million people from the system and fill the Western Regions and Hexi Corridor.
In Liu Wei's mind, the Production and Construction Corps strategy implemented in the Western Regions in later generations came to mind.
This vast Northwest will be Liu Wei's rear base for his future campaign to conquer the Central Plains and seize the throne.
Next, all that's left is for the Central Plains to descend into chaos, for the power struggles between the imperial relatives and the eunuchs, and for Dong Zhuo to enter the capital and wreak havoc.
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
