107 Jiuquan
Huo Yan: I hope you can be a flower in my palm, but you must be a Qilian pine.
The afternoon sun on the Mobei steppes was generous and blazing, baking the triumphant camp to a sweltering warmth. The air was thick with the scent of hay, leather, horses, and a hint of lingering alcohol—the unique aroma of exhaustion and victory after a major battle. Inside the central commander's tent, the furnishings were simple, with a thick felt carpet spread across the floor. Papers filled with military information and crudely drawn maps were scattered across the low table.
Wei Qing, dressed in a dark robe and unarmored, casually reclined on the armrest at the main seat, his posture somewhat languid, his gaze fixed intently on his young nephew, who occupied his camp bed across from him. Wei Qing indulged Huo Qubing greatly and naturally had no qualms about him occupying his bed without a tent. He simply felt that he was still acting like a child, and since the two armies were discussing the return journey, Qubing's presence was quite satisfactory.
Huo Qubing, dressed in his red brocade-edged casual clothes, unceremoniously occupied his uncle's soft wolfskin-covered bed, one long leg carelessly dangling over the edge. His face was filled with the lazy expression of "this is none of my business." Sunlight filtered through the cracks in the tent ceiling, landing on his dark hair, giving it a vibrant luster.
"It's up to your uncle to decide."
He mumbled incoherently, his eyes half-closed like a giant cat, as if he were about to fall asleep in the warm afternoon. The implication was clear: I only know how to fight.
Wei Qing looked at him like this, feeling both helpless and amused. He knew that once this guy left the battlefield, the string in his head would completely loosen. But didn't he also want to relax?
After raising the cub for so many years, shouldn't he take a break?
He slowly picked up a raisin from the low table and popped it into his mouth, chewing it carefully, feeling the sweet and sour taste melt on his tongue. Then, he poured himself a cup of steaming almond tea, which Huo Yan had sent for him. It was made with fine ground almonds and a little malt sugar.
He said, "I don't want to do it, you do it, anyway, you will be doing it yourself from now on."
My uncle went back to Chang'an to go shopping, ride horses and take the children out.
Huo Qubing sat up suddenly when he heard this. He felt as if he had lost his parents and was really exhausted.
"Boring, so boring!" The sunlight fell on the top of his head, making the young man's hair shine with a fresh and bright luster, and he muttered a few complaints. Wei Qing didn't say much, just pinched a raisin and put it in his mouth, then slowly sat down opposite him, crossing his long legs. In fact, Huo Yan's bad manners in sitting and standing were really inherited from him. Under Huo Qubing's helpless eyes, he ate another raisin, and didn't drink the tea. Instead, he leisurely fanned himself with his hands, sniffed the sweet fragrance with his nose, and then took a sip. After a sip, his face showed disgust. "Why is it not half as delicious as almond milk."
He sighed, "Ayan doesn't give me malt sugar."
Huo Qubing chuckled. Wei Qing looked up and saw Huo Qubing hunched over a low table, writing a report with an expressionless face. He didn't get angry, but continued, "Qubing, you're not feeling well. Your younger brother doesn't want you to drink too much mulberry juice, but I'm fine, and he doesn't want me to drink it either. Now he doesn't even send me malt sugar anymore."
When Huo Qubing heard his uncle's complaints, he didn't even raise his head, but his shoulders slumped even more.
Outside the window, the sky was high and the clouds were light, the grasslands were boundless and vast—it was a perfect time for a gallop! Yet he was trapped in this tent, reporting to this crap!
The sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, seeming to carry the breath of freedom of the grassland, casting a bright spot of light on the carpet temptingly.
No more candy!
"I don't want to live like this anymore."
He uttered four words lightly and lay down on the table, no longer as casual and happy as before.
Wei Qing seemed oblivious to his nephew's resentment, contentedly sipping the almond tea he had always despised, squinting his eyes and enjoying this rare moment of happiness. Raising a nephew was truly wonderful.
He has two such capable nephews! Two!
After admiring the way Huo Qubing handled military affairs, he put down his cup, lowered his long legs, stood up, and straightened his clothes. "I'll go running after I finish writing."
After leaving behind this unreliable remark, he lifted the heavy cowhide curtain, and his figure blended into the bright sunlight and faint noise outside the tent.
My uncle will go first to join in the fun.
Huo Qubing's face was expressionless. Even when everyone thought he had an icy face, he remained composed. He glanced at the general's personal guards standing by his side and said, "Go and summon Generals Gongsun He, Zhao Shiqi, Li Ju, and Cao Xiang to discuss the return route, sequence, and the transportation of food and fodder."
"Yes!" The guard took the order and walked out of the tent quickly.
Inside the tent, Huo Qubing resigned himself to his fate, his pen swiftly condensing all the personnel arrangements into a dry report. Wei Qing had just written an introduction, which seemed a bit disrespectful, so he revised it. Just as he was about to continue, the curtains were suddenly thrown back, and the guards who had just left returned, their faces showing a hint of panic and... a strange excitement?
"General of the Cavalry!" The guard clasped his fists, breathing slightly faster. "I don't think the generals will be able to come."
Hearing this, Huo Qubing's laziness in handling official business disappeared completely. His eyebrows raised, and there was even a hint of... barely detectable excitement in his eyes?
"Not willing?"
His voice rose slightly, clearly misunderstanding.
The guard shook his head like a rattle, his face looking like he was about to cry but couldn't. "It's not that I don't want to! It's... it's that the situation is too chaotic. The general is beating General Li, and General Li's people are also there. General Gongsun and the others are surrounding them to persuade them. I... I really can't pull it away!"
Only then did Huo Qubing notice how disheveled he looked, as if he had just emerged from a chaotic vortex. Almost instantly, the corners of his mouth curved into an almost sinister arc, completely devoid of the despair he had felt while writing the memorial. He couldn't care less about the memorial now. His brows arched, and his eyes shone with a startling brilliance. His previous laziness vanished, replaced by the excitement of a cheetah stalking its prey on the battlefield.
"Oh?" He raised his lips slightly, and stood up suddenly, his black robe sleeves stirring up a gust of wind. "Zhao Po Nu!"
The sturdy general Zhao Po Nu, who was standing at the corner of the tent like a shadow, immediately responded and stepped forward, his eyes also flashing with eagerness to try.
"Let's go!" As soon as Huo Qubing finished his words, he strode out at full speed. The hem of his dark outer robe rustled in the wind, rustling with a hint of eagerness. As soon as he opened the curtains, a deafening clamor from outside washed over him—a cacophony of shouts, exhortations, exclamations, and the muffled thud of fists and kicks, a cacophony of activity as tumultuous as a boiling pot.
It was indeed an "unprecedented spectacle" outside the tent.
In an open area not far from the general's tent, soldiers gathered in three layers, their voices thronging the air like a boiling pot. In the center of the crowd, a dark figure could be seen glimpsing, accompanied by suppressed roars and the dull thud of fists and kicks hitting flesh.
Huo Qubing stood at the edge of the crowd, listening to the noises coming from inside and taking in the lively atmosphere, his eyes brightening with excitement. He was about to rely on his status and presence to force his way in when he suddenly paused, as if remembering something. He quickly whispered a few instructions to Zhao Po Nu behind him. Zhao Po Nu's eyes brightened as he whispered, and he nodded vigorously, turning and sprinting towards the baggage camp.
Huo Qubing turned around and walked straight to Huo Yan's tent, lifting the curtain with familiarity.
The light inside the tent was dim, and the air was filled with the faint fragrance of herbs. Huo Yan was not in bed. Instead, he was reclining on a low couch covered with thick felt, wearing a dark green linen robe. His face was slightly paler than usual, with a hint of fatigue from illness. He was speaking in a low voice to Shi Ye, who stood beside the couch, his tone carrying obvious regret and longing.
"... Missed it! The excitement of my uncle personally teaching that old bastard a lesson! Shi Ye, isn't my injury just at the wrong time? Or..." He was about to ask Shi Ye to take him out to join in the fun, but his words stopped abruptly when the room became brighter, because Huo Qubing's tall figure was blocking the doorway, and his expression could not be seen clearly against the light.
The room was lit for a moment, and the remaining light was completely blocked by him.
1.9 meters is amazing!
"Move over here!" Huo Yan was speechless when he saw it was him. Then he quickly winked at Shi Ye. Huo Qubing moved over and said directly to Shi Ye, "Shi Ye, you go back first!"
Shi Ye sighed, as if he had been pardoned. He clasped his fists and bowed to Huo Qubing, and his feet were so fast that he almost stuck to the corner of Huo Qubing's clothes and rushed out with a "whoosh". The number one man under Huo Yan was definitely not an ordinary person.
Huo Yan watched helplessly as his only "mount" and "spy" was carried away by Huo Qubing. His face instantly fell, and like a frost-bitten eggplant, he shrank back onto the couch, his entire body enveloped in a deep sense of resentment, feeling "born at the wrong time, missing out on a century-long drama." "Uncle hits me, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!" His voice was muffled, with a hint of pathetic nasal twang, "Can you carry me?"
Huo Qubing walked a few steps to the front of the couch, raised his handsome eyebrows, smiled, stretched out his hand, and the back of his hand with thin calluses naturally touched Huo Yan's forehead, which felt slightly cool.
Ayan is healthy.
Huo Yan grabbed his hand, stretched out his slightly cold fingers, and smiled, "Will you carry me?"
His surprisingly bright eyes betrayed his burning gossip soul.
Huo Qubing watched his brother, desperate to join in the fun, and the annoyance he'd felt over military duties completely dissipated. He even found it a bit amusing. He nodded and said crisply, "Yes, I'm here to pick you up."
Huo Yan felt coaxed.
Then, before Huo Yan could react, Huo Qubing leaned over, his movements smooth and natural. He passed one arm through Huo Yan's knees, the other arm firmly wrapped around his back. With the perfect gesture of holding a child, he effortlessly lifted Huo Yan from the couch.
Over the years, Huo Qubing's posture of holding people has not changed at all.
Huo Yan naturally hugged his brother's neck tightly and picked up the felt. After he realized what was happening, he screamed and wrapped his own felt around his head.
"Well, I'm not going. Put me down! I can walk! There are so many people watching..."
His noble image as Huo Langjun! Ahhhh!
[I am really like a little bird.]
[This is Big Bird.]
[Baby’s face!]
[Hahaha, I’m older, hahaha, Huo Yan is the most shameless.]
…
"I know, don't worry." Huo Qubing's words were concise and to the point, leaving no room for doubt. He patted Huo Yan's head. He carried Huo Yan and walked out of the tent with steady steps, as if carrying a child. Outside the tent, Zhao Po Nu was already waiting with two strong personal guards, panting and heaving, carrying a simple marching stretcher. Standing beside him was Shi Ye, who had been called back, a speechless expression on his face.
Huo Qubing placed Huo Yan on a stretcher and raised an eyebrow. Huo Yan hated himself for understanding Huo Qubing so well. He lay down, half covered with the quilt. Huo Qubing was extremely satisfied and walked straight to the edge of the throng. Zhao Po Nu immediately transformed into a human mountain splitter, his large hands like palm-leaf fans slashing left and right. "There are wounded soldiers, get out of the way! Everyone, get out of the way!"
He was already as big as a mountain, with an intimidating aura, and with the stretcher, the crowded crowd seemed to be split apart by an invisible force, forcibly squeezing out a passage.
Huo Yan was carried by someone and followed closely behind Zhao Po Nu. Wherever he passed, the soldiers took one stealthy glance at him again and again.
Huo Yan had given up struggling at this moment. Fortunately, he still had a blanket. He didn't feel hot and wrapped his whole body with the blanket, leaving only a pair of eyes that were particularly bright due to excitement and embarrassment. They rolled around and looked eagerly at the center of the storm through the gap.
On the training ground.
Wei Qing, dressed in a dark robe, was as slender as a pine tree, yet his movements were as fast as lightning, with a kind of flowing ferocity. He dodged Li Guang's stumbling counterattack and landed a well-aimed hook punch on Li Guang's shoulder!
Wei Qing didn't like to fight, but no one could withstand him when he did. You can ask the Huns about this.
"Ouch!" Li Guang groaned in pain, his footing unstable, and he bumped into the guard behind him, and the two rolled into a ball. His gray hair and beard were disheveled, covered with dirt and grass, his nose was crooked, one eye socket was swollen and black, the corner of his mouth was cracked and bleeding, and his old armor was crooked, looking miserable. He struggled to be helped up, his only remaining eye was bloodshot, but there was no humiliation or anger, only respect, "General! Come again!"
For a man like him, your polite persuasion is not as good as beating him into submission. His fighting ability is actually not high. Even Huo Yan can catch him off guard, let alone Wei Qing.
Sure enough, the more he fought, the more convinced he became, calling him a great general.
Gongsun He, Gongsun Ao and the others were exhausted and panting, and surrounded Wei Qing in vain: "General, calm down! Calm down!" "General Li is old..."
Shi Ye moved flexibly around the edge, and when he saw an opportunity he would "accidentally" trip Li's personal guards, with a look of satisfaction on his face as if he had avenged his great hatred.
Wei Qing was paralyzed by being stopped. Who would have thought that he had only come to eat a roast leg of lamb, but before he could even say three words, General Li got excited and insisted on competing with him. He had wanted to stop a long time ago, but General Li wouldn't let him.
Wei Qing felt very aggrieved on the stage.
"Are you still fighting?"
What he meant was, "Stop it, let's eat meat." But in Li Guang's ears, he only heard, "Can you do this?"
He pounced again.
Wei Qing said nothing and threw another punch.
[It’s really durable!]
[I want to have a body like his.]
Huo Yan complained: It’s simple, just donate your head first.
Comments from the audience: No need for duck.
"Sit here and watch clearly." Huo Qubing said as a matter of course, while he stood beside the stretcher with his arms folded.
Huo Yan lay on a stretcher, with a great view, and covered with a blanket, which was both windproof and comfortable. This position was tailor-made for watching a show!
Worth it! Absolutely worth it!
He watched his uncle's fists hitting Li Guang's flesh, making him look miserable. His face flushed with excitement, and his eyes sparkled. He glanced at Huo Qubing beside him and nodded.
"Well done!"
Wei Qing, who was about to stop, suddenly turned around and met his nephew's excited face. Huo Yan quickly lowered his head, and then, in a flash, Huo Qubing narrowed his eyes. He understood. Then, the Marquis of Guanjun glanced coldly at Li Guang and said, "Old General, let's fight too."
He managed a rare smile and said, "This general will give you a hand."
Finally I found the old bastard who made me, Ah Yan, so angry.
Huo Yan was sitting on the stretcher. He suddenly pulled down the felt and held on tightly to Huo Qubing's hand as he was about to step forward.
My God, if he is beaten to death, he can’t bribe everyone present.
[My uncle beat Li Guang, and the wounds looked serious, but they were only superficial. Is he recovering? It's doubtful that Li Guang is still alive.]
[The disease can make Li Guang unable to get up.]
[Death immediately.]
[Damn, it’s really good for curing diseases.]
…
Huo Qubing pinched his right hand, saw the crack at the base of his right hand, and said nonchalantly, "Are you scared?"
Li Guang naturally refused to accept the defeat, and was then sent sprawling to the ground by a sweeping kick from the general. The general coughed and said, "Why don't you take me away?"
Gongsun Ao, Zhang Qian and the others stopped crying outside and borrowed Huo Yan's stretcher. One of them lifted the head and two lifted the feet. They blocked Li Guang's mouth and immediately left the sight of the Marquis of Guanjun.
Huo Qubing snorted coldly, it was obvious that he would not give up.
"Let's make an appointment. I'll give him a hand."
What are you humming? It's like Liu Che is possessed.
Huo Yan tugged at his sleeve and said, "Brother, let's go back. Please help me."
Huo Qubing snorted, and Wei Qing supported him on both sides as they walked back.
It was so terrifying that he held down two generals with his weak body.
The soldiers consciously made way for Huo Yan and saluted him.
Huo Yan wanted to cover his face, but his hands were both held, so he could only remain expressionless.
"Brother, don't beat Li Guang anymore." He thought back to the journey, and how Li Guang had been beaten badly by him. "He was beaten many times by me, and then by my uncle. If he was beaten again, he would be dead."
Wei Qing let out a laugh and attracted the attention of two handsome faces. Two pairs of almond-shaped eyes stared at him, both of them full of smiles.
Huo Qubing felt relieved, and then he hummed, "It is his blessing to have your guidance."
Huo Yan couldn't help but chuckle.
"Yes, I think so too."
[Guangzi: This blessing is for you, do you want it?]
[They are really not from the same family.]
[My uncle is laughing, without any objection.]
[They really think that when Ah Yan hits others, it is a blessing for them.]
…
Huo Yan lay in bed for a few more days, but he was keenly aware that his brother had found time in his busy schedule to beat Li Guang. He couldn't lie down anymore, so he brought two cans of goat's milk and took the time to comfort General Li. Of course, he didn't feel any remorse. All he said were excuses. Anyway, he just said, "Be honest and don't tell my uncle, otherwise I will have the strength and means to deal with you."
Who knew that Li Guang invited him in with a smile, without a trace of dissatisfaction on his face, and spoke nicely, but his words were all about asking Huo Qubing when they could spar with each other again?
Huo Yan took the goat milk away.
He left the tent, took a deep breath, and then said, "If I had known he was so easy to tame, I should have let my brother beat him up a few times a day before the battle."
Barrage: You didn’t let him go either.
Li Guang's aside, the deep autumn of northern Xinjiang had already begun, bringing with it a chill and a chill that swept across the entire Hexi Corridor. The rolling Qilian Mountains, like a silent dragon, shrank the grasslands at its northern foothills, stained with vast expanses of golden and ochre, their summer lushness fading. A strong wind swept through, wiping the withered grass like waves, stirring up a cloud of grass debris. The main force of the Xiongnu had been routed, fleeing far north, leaving behind surrendered tribes, the charred remains of their camps, and a vast territory eager to be incorporated into the empire.
The victorious army did not immediately return home. Wei Qing remained in Zhangye, managing military affairs and appeasing the surrendered Xiongnu tribes. Huo Qubing led his men to consolidate the newly acquired territory and deter the remaining Xiongnu, waiting for the next spring to make a final decision. Huo Yan also began to formulate a strategy for improving people's livelihoods.
In this somewhat dull late autumn season when people were busy with the aftermath, a piece of news spread quietly among Huo Qubing's personal guard camp like a stone thrown into calm water.
The news came from a captured Xiongnu prince. This man, savvy enough to save his life and secure better treatment, revealed a secret under Zhao Po Nu's persuasion: deep in the northern foothills of the Qilian Mountains, near the foothills of the Yanzhi Mountains, lay a little-known oasis. The oasis was lush with grass and water, thriving even in late autumn. A spring, fed by meltwater from the snow-capped mountains, was exceptionally sweet and rarely froze, even in the coldest weather. Herds of gazelles, wild deer, and even the occasional snow leopard roamed the spring's shores, making it a beloved hunting ground for Xiongnu nobles.
"The scenery is beautiful, there are plenty of prey, and there is a clear spring." The young Xiongnu king described it in stiff Chinese, with his eyes revealing his nostalgia for his hometown.
When this news was relayed by Zhao Po Nu, Huo Qubing had been exhausted by the tedious task of handling military affairs and inspecting defenses on his own for days. When he heard the words "beautiful scenery", "plenty of prey" and "clear springs", he immediately became interested.
He has always liked to indulge in the high and clear feeling of galloping between heaven and earth. Now that he can't go back to Chang'an, it would be nice for him to go autumn hunting by himself to relax his muscles.
Huo Qubing's voice was clear and powerful, carrying an unquestionable determination. "Assemble five hundred elite cavalry! Prepare strong bows and powerful crossbows! Take the Xiongnu guide with you! Set out at dawn tomorrow!"
"Yes!" Zhao Po Nu's eyes also lit up with excitement, and he laughed.
Huo Qubing's heart belonged to the wilderness, to the boundless sky and the galloping steed. The embers of victory needed a freer wind to blow away, and the soldiers' tense nerves needed a hearty release.
Their earth-shattering conversation naturally reached Huo Yan's ears. He was in Huo Qubing's warm tent, frowning over several scrolls regarding tax estimates for Hexi. Seeing the two men's enthusiastic conversation, he put the scrolls down and rubbed his brows helplessly.
My brother's temper is such that he's never idle for a moment. But... that's fine. The tense nerves need to be relaxed, and the morale of the soldiers needs to be boosted.
He called Shi Ye over and whispered, "Go pick out two jars of the best wine." He thought for a moment and said, "Do you have any zhujin?"
Zhujin is a highly refined wine that has been brewed many times during the Han Dynasty. Although it is not as easy to store and tastes as Huo Yan's Fuguang, it is also very precious because it is often used in sacrifices or rewards for meritorious officials.
Shi Ye searched his private vault thoroughly but only found one jar, which was quite a lot of floating materials.
He replied quietly, "Zhoujin is the wine bestowed by His Majesty. The Champion Marquis used several jars for the Heavenly Sacrifice. Three of them broke along the way, leaving only one."
Huo Yan didn't care. As long as they had it, they were fine. "Put the zhujin in the finest lacquerware and seal the floating light. Use beeswax to seal it carefully. Also prepare some high-quality snacks and preserved fruits." He paused and said to Huo Qubing, "Brother, you use the zhujin for offering sacrifices to the heavens, and the snacks and preserved fruits are for the soldiers to refresh. Have fun, but don't stray too far. Be careful."
"What kinds of preserved fruits are there?" he asked Shi Ye.
Shi Ye grinned innocently, "My Lord, there are still some jujube paste, pear jerky, and wolfberry sauce left from what Chang'an brought."
Jujube paste is a dry food snack filled with jujube paste, naipu is apple preserves, and wolfberry sauce is a sweet sauce made from jujubes.
None of them are delicious.
Huo Qubing sighed, put a piece of goat milk candy in his mouth, turned his head and asked Huo Yan, "Aren't you going?"
Before Huo Yan could answer, he said to himself, "That won't do."
He leaned his body, just as he used to do when he was gossiping in class. He rested his head on Huo Yan's desk, his hands supporting his head, a few strands of hair falling. He held his chin in his hand and looked up at Huo Yan. His black eyes were extremely bright, slightly curved, as if reflecting the moon. A youthful aura washed over him.
He is a 1.9-meter tall guy, and he doesn't feel tired even when he curls up his legs.
"That won't work, Ayan."
Huo Yan smiled brightly, "How dare you not take me with you!"
After saying that, for some reason, they both burst into laughter.
Twins sometimes have unique sense of humor.
The two of them talked to Wei Qing, and Wei Qing asked them to include Cao Xiang as well. At dawn the next day, the sky was slightly bright, and the eastern sky just showed a hint of white. Huo Qubing carried Cao Xiang and prepared to leave. The late autumn chill was like an icy knife, cutting the exposed skin. Five hundred carefully selected Han cavalrymen had assembled in the parade ground. Thick white mist was spewing from the mouths of the men and horses, and the iron armor was shining with a cold cold light in the dim morning light. Huo Qubing was wearing a red finely forged soft armor, with Huo Yan in front. Facing the vague gazes of Li Gan, Cao Xiang and others, Huo Yan coughed lightly to indicate that he was still a wounded soldier. Huo Qubing was afraid that he would be cold, so he put another layer on him, and then he rode his horse in front of the crowd, "Today, there is no war! Only beautiful scenery and prey! Let's go!"
At the command, the sound of hooves rolled like thunder! Five hundred cavalrymen, like a sharp red blade, pierced the late autumn morning mist and galloped towards the depths of the northern foothills of the Qilian Mountains! Shi Ye, carrying the wine and food prepared by Huo Yan, followed closely behind the team with Cao Xiang, who was still half asleep.
Led by their Xiongnu guides, the group journeyed along the winding valley. The air grew colder and more chilly as the terrain climbed higher. The massive snow-capped peaks of the Qilian Mountains, illuminated by the rising sun, shimmered with a holy, icy silver light, like gods looking down upon the earth. The vegetation at the foothills gradually became more abundant, with golden poplar forests, crimson shrubs, and still-green pines and cypresses dotting the landscape. The vibrant colors created a magnificent autumn scene. On the withered grasslands, herds of wild gazelles, startled by the sound of horses' hooves, could occasionally be seen, sweeping across the hillside like golden clouds.
The land of the Xiongnu is desolate but truly beautiful.
Huo Yan took a deep breath.
“We can try to develop tourism.”
Huo Qubing didn't understand, but that didn't stop him from nodding.
I understand the barrage.
[Celebrity Effect!]
[Baby, we can help you design a travel route.]
You could set up post stations along the road, build some tourist attractions, put up signs, and find a few Xiongnu people to perform some skits.
[Get some painters and check in for photos.]
[Postcard, small gift.]
[Hey, souvenirs, snack street, let’s go inside.]
Huo Yan chuckled, not bad.
Connecting Shuofang and Guanxi, create two dedicated tourist routes. One for the generals, the other for the champions, both ending at the Xiongnu royal court. Rather than relying on celebrity status, why not draw two lines based on fertile pastures? Who knows how his brother and uncle got away anyway? He simply divides the area along these two lines into Han and Xiongnu areas. The Han area is more profitable, while the Xiongnu are confined to the periphery.
He considered it carefully and felt it was feasible.
The Xiongnu royal court needs to be renovated and a hotel built.
Huo Qubing had no idea that he was thinking in a thousand twists and turns. After walking for most of the day, he passed through a dense poplar forest covered with golden leaves, and suddenly the view in front of him opened up!
A huge oasis, like an emerald green embedded between the golden grassland and the ochre-red rocks, suddenly caught everyone's eye!
This place seemed to be deliberately protected by the Qilian Mountain gods. The harshness of late autumn seemed to have lost its power here. The grass, though not as dense as in summer, still retained its vibrant green, gleaming with dewdrops in the sunlight. The clumps of saxaul trees, laden with orange-red fruits, resembled countless small lanterns. Several tall, unknown, ancient trees, with their lush branches and leaves, cast vast expanses of cool shade. Most refreshing of all, the crystal-clear spring at the center of the oasis!
Spring water gurgles from the cracks of the jagged rocks, gathering into a natural lake of moderate size. The water is incredibly clear, revealing pebbles, swaying water plants, and even small, swimming fish. Sunlight filters through the limpid water, casting dappled shadows on the surface. The lush vegetation along the lake's edge attracts flocks of wild ducks and geese. Farther in the distance, a herd of nimble gazelles can be seen drinking from the lake's edge, their ears alertly pricked. The air is moist and refreshing.
Huo Yan smiled and said that this was a good location.
Autumn travel arrangements.
"It's here! It's here!"
The Xiongnu guide pointed at the spring and shouted excitedly in a mixture of Hu and Chinese.
Huo Qubing reined in his horse and stood on a high point by the lake. His crimson armor, draped against the azure water and blue sky, was a dazzling sight. He took a deep breath of the refreshing air, his days of melancholy swept away. "What a wonderful place!" Huo Qubing exclaimed, startling a flock of waterfowl. "Pass the word down! Hunt freely within a five-mile radius of this spring! Return here before sunset! All the prey we catch will be used for tonight's feast!"
At the command, the soldiers who had been suppressed for a long time burst into thunderous cheers. One by one, they spurred their horses and whipped them. Cao Xiang was also inspired and rushed into the oasis and the surrounding mountains and forests, startling a large number of birds and beasts.
The noisy crowd dispersed, and the lakeside returned to a moment of tranquility. Huo Qubing dismounted, threw the reins to his guards, helped Huo Yan dismount, and then drove his horse into the woods, not even picking up the whip, to go hunting.
Huo Yan asked Shi Ye to go too, and he walked to the lake alone. He squatted down, stretched out his slender, strong fingers, and scooped up a handful of clear spring water. The water was icy cold. He looked at his handsome young reflection in the water, then looked up at the majestic and holy Qilian Snow Peak in the distance. "Mm, I'm really handsome."
The barrage of comments burst into laughter.
[Later, there was a stone tablet that read: In early October, Huo Yan, the Marquis of Tai'an in the Han Dynasty, went hunting here. He looked at himself by the water and said, "I am beautiful."]
[Hahahahahahaha.]
[You are so beautiful!]
…
Huo Yan was familiar with them. He washed his hands with water and sat down beside a big rock. I don’t know what he was thinking about.
Then he heard a howl. He turned his head quickly and saw a pair of golden eyes in the forest in the distance.
"Beautiful?"
He called softly.
Those golden eyes seemed to be smiling.
There was a pair of eyes beside it, but they were full of vigilance.
Huo Yan did not move forward, as there was a barrier of water between him and his little beauty.
He was also laughing, unconsciously.
"Did you see me because you smelled me?"
Xiao Piaoliang lowered its head, as if it had caught something in its mouth, and carefully placed it on the ground. It went back and forth with the tiger twice, and then lay down. In front of its paws were three little tigers, whose teeth were not yet complete and they were very small, like kittens.
Huo Yan looked at it again and again, "Is it your and Xiaohua's child? It's very cute."
Xiao Piaoliang roared softly, then she and Xiaohua each grabbed one, pushed the remaining cub forward, and ran away without looking back again.
Huo Yan cried out, having a bad feeling in his heart. Sure enough, Xiao Piaoliang came back halfway and roared, as if saying, Dad, please help me raise this child.
Huo Yan looked at the couple's backs as they walked away and cursed loudly, "Rebellious son!"
Despite his curses, he quickly crossed the river and skillfully picked up his tiger grandson.
This tiger grandson can eat and sleep well. Even when his parents ran away, he didn't even open his eyes.
Huo Yan had nothing better to do, so he checked his grandson's body. He discovered that his grandson was very thin and had a body covered in white hair. He couldn't help but curse, "You unfilial son! You can't even raise a child!"
[Ayan has already been substituted.]
[Hahaha, Ayan’s grandfather is holding his big fat grandson.]
[She married far away, was so beautiful, and could not get enough to eat, that she had no choice but to abandon her young son to his old father.]
[It’s okay, this guy’s other grandfather will be online soon, hahaha.]
[If you follow that grandfather, you will never go hungry.]
…
Huo Qubing came back from hunting and brought back a few yellow sheep.
He was regretting not having hunted the snow leopard, and Huo Yan put the tiger cub in his arms.
He caught it and grabbed the kid by the collar, "What is this?"
He asked Huo Yan.
Huo Yan chuckled and uttered two words, "White Tiger."
Huo Qubing raised his eyebrows, "Little Pretty is back?"
Huo Yan was still smiling, and he was actually not in a bad mood.
"Yes, congratulations, you're a grandfather."
Huo Qubing also laughed, "I'm happy too."
Then the two of them laughed inexplicably again.
The banquet took place in the evening. A massive bonfire roared, crackling and blazing, casting the shadows of the five hundred mounted cavalrymen across the grass behind them, swaying with the dancing flames. The fat from the roasting gazelles and wild deer dripped into the flames, emitting a richer, charred aroma that mingled with the scent of burning dry grass and permeated the cool air. Soldiers chatted and laughed loudly, showing off the day's catch to one another. They cut the fragrant, charred meat with their daggers and chewed heartily. Rough singing rose and fell, punctuated by the clatter of shields and the pounding of water bottles. The feast was filled with singing and dancing, but the wine was scarce. The spark of the feast had long since faded, and what little remained was consumed in the initial cheers. Without wine, the feast lacked its hearty exhilaration, feeling a little off, unable to compare to the feast in Chang'an.
Huo Qubing sat at the head of the table, his back against a massive rock. The light from the campfire danced across his handsome young face, illuminating his deep eyes. He ate his meat in silence, listening to the shouts of his soldiers. Then, abruptly, he stood up! His movements were quick and decisive, with an undeniable determination.
Everyone's eyes were instantly focused on him, and the noise around the campfire quickly died down as if it was strangled, leaving only the crackling sound of burning firewood.
Under the gaze of hundreds, he leaned over, grasped the jar's mouth with one hand, walked to the edge of the pool, and personally broke the mud seal of a jar of "Zhoujin" before everyone's gaze. The rich, mellow aroma of liquor instantly filled the air, penetrating everyone's nostrils like a substance, carrying the fragrance of grain and the sedimentation of time, even faintly overpowering the crisp scent of the spring water!
He picked up the heavy wine jar, his arm muscles bulging, his knuckles turning slightly white from the exertion, and slowly poured the amber-colored, honey-like nectar into the spring water. The wine hit the inner wall of the jar, making a clear sound.
“Gulp—Gulp—!”
The boy's voice is clearer than the sound of wine.
"This jar of wine was given by the Emperor. Today I invite my brothers to drink with me!!"
Five hundred elite cavalrymen held their breath, their gaze fixed intently on their commander, on the jar of fine wine. After a brief silence, five hundred throats erupted in earth-shaking cheers! The sound waves threatened to overturn the bonfire! A huge sense of recognition and honor instantly ignited every chest!
The strong aroma of wine, at this moment and in this place, is like a key that suddenly opens the floodgates of memory, and the scenes of blood and fire, life and death come flooding back!
The arm of the undefeated general trembled slightly, and the weight of the wine jar seemed to have suddenly increased by a thousand pounds. He said, "I also invite my comrades who are buried in the desert to drink with me!"
His voice was unusually low, slow, and each word was pronounced with an enunciated tone, carrying with it a dull pain that tore at his soul.
Actually it doesn’t hurt, just a dull ache.
The wine enters the water, making a dull roar like thunder!
"boom--!"
The tranquil surface of the lake was instantly ripped apart! The clear spring water was violently impacted and stirred by the rich, golden-brown color! The wine was like boiling lava pouring into a cold spring, quickly sinking, spreading, and blurring!
It is a long process for a boy to grow into a young adult, but it only takes a moment.
War is not only about military merit, it is about glory.
The other side of it is death. It is possible that the friend who jokes with you during the day will turn into bones tomorrow.
The jar was empty, and the wine in the jug was about to be drained. Huo Qubing's arms trembled slightly from the long, heavy load, but he held it steady. The last stream of thick wine, like the setting sun weeping blood, slowly trickled down from the jug's mouth.
The last drops of wine fell heavily, one by one, into the center of the lake.
"May you drink from this spring and rest in peace on this land!"
"May this spring never cease to quench my memory, forever remembering me, the men of the Han family—"
Everyone's eyes were red, and they wanted to scoop a cup from the water and drink with their former comrades and friends.
"color--!!"
This time, the cheers were no longer simply out of excitement; they were filled with tears, passion, and the tragic and heroic spirit of drinking with the dead! Many veterans could no longer contain themselves, tears streaming down their cheeks as they roared with joy! Without needing orders, they grabbed their water bags, earthenware bowls, and even their helmets, stumbling towards the "Jiuquan" drenched in a double dose of wine!
"Li Laosan, I want to drink with you!"
"Brothers, let's drink this bowl!"
"Drink together! Drink together!"
"Good brother, let's follow the general in our next life."
This more intense, more direct invitation to drink brought the pain and longing to a crescendo. Watching the soldiers rushing to the spring, Huo Yan stood up, picked up a clean ceramic cup, and prepared to walk towards the spring, bubbling with the spirits of wine and heroes. He wanted to scoop a cup too, a toast to the fallen heroes, and to his brother, who had shouldered so much and finally revealed a hint of vulnerability and deep affection.
He should be with his brother.
The barrage issued a warning.
[Dad! Please, don't drink it. Don't let Qubing drink it!]
[Historical records show that Huo Qubing died because he drank water from upstream where sick sheep had been thrown by the Xiongnu.]
[Please, please, don't let him drink the raw water!]
[Dad!!!]
The words exploded like thunder in Huo Yan's mind! "Hun... throw sick sheep... die..." These words carried a deadly chill, instantly freezing all his movements and thoughts! He looked up a few steps away, looking at Huo Qubing, who was being handed a ceramic cup filled with a mixture of spring water and wine by a personal guard! His brother's fingertips had already touched the wall of the cup!
“Don’t drink—!!!”
A heart-wrenching roar, filled with endless terror, drowned out all the noise! Huo Yan was like an arrow shot from a bow, rushing forward with all his strength!
“Snap!!!!”
A crisp and sharp cracking sound was heard!
With a swift movement that left Huo Qubing slightly stunned and Huo Yan himself in disbelief, Huo Yan slapped the ceramic cup that had just been handed to him away! The cup arced through the air and slammed heavily onto the rocks nearby, shattering instantly! The spring water mixed with wine splashed everywhere.
Huo Qubing looked at his empty hands, then at his brother in front of him, whose face was pale, chest heaving violently, eyes filled with fear and some kind of indescribable anxiety. He frowned and said in a hoarse voice, "Ah Yan."
Dead silence.
All the movement and sounds around the campfire froze at that moment. Hundreds of gazes, like icy arrows, were directed at Huo Yan, who had suddenly launched an attack and knocked over the general's wine cup. Astonishment and confusion filled the air.
Fortunately, they had a good relationship and no one came to beat him.
But at the same time, he knew he had to explain and cover up immediately! He absolutely couldn't mention the "poisoned water," as that would cause even greater panic and might even be exploited by someone with ulterior motives!
In a flash, a thought flashed through his mind. He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing all his fear, and instantly forced an extremely exaggerated smile onto his face. He spread his hands and spoke loudly to Huo Qubing and all the stunned soldiers around him.
"This is the zhujin bestowed by the emperor! The best wine!"
He spoke more and more calmly, "My brother specially brought this to offer sacrifices to the spring spirit and invited brothers to drink together! This heartfelt feeling, this wine spirit, is all melted into this spring water! How can you be so good!"
He deliberately glared at the soldiers holding water bags and pottery bowls, as if they had committed a grave sin. "Who are you fighting for water from, all of you, rushing to scoop it up? Huh? Fighting with our brothers for wine? We haven't had enough yet! How dare you?!"
Finally, he turned to Huo Qubing, with a frank smile that was almost "cheating", and pointed at the empty wine jar, "Brother, when we return to Chang'an, we will take the brothers to drink. Now we should drink with them first."
Huo Qubing's furrowed brow, first startled at Huo Yan's outburst of "arrogant and domineering" and "irrational" rhetoric, then slowly relaxed. He looked at his brother, whose seemingly calm eyes concealed an inexplicable nervousness and a hint of pleading. Then, thinking back to his own utterly incompetent, panic-filled save, a flicker of understanding, mixed with a deeper, complex emotion only brothers could experience, crossed Huo Qubing's eyes. He didn't question, nor did he challenge his own. He simply gave Huo Yan a deep look, a glance that seemed to penetrate all disguise, revealing the surging fear and desperate desire to protect him.
Then, slowly, extremely slowly, he loosened his slightly stiff fingers that were still holding the cup, patted Huo Yan's shoulder, and chuckled, "That makes sense."
The surrounding soldiers were momentarily stunned, then left in a state of confusion by Huo Yan's twisted logic, the tense atmosphere instantly relaxing. Someone couldn't help but laugh and curse, "Brother Yan, who's trying to steal the wine from the brothers? You're so smart!"
The laughter gradually rose, dispelling the strange silence.
The soldiers shook their heads, smiled, put down the water containers in their hands, and sat back by the campfire.
Huo Yan sat beside Huo Qubing, watching the roaring bonfire and listening to the soldiers' laughter and scolding. Only then did his tense nerves finally relax a little. Cold sweat trickled down his temples. He quietly wiped it away, leaving his palms damp.
Well, his bones are falling apart.
It hurts so much!
Huo Qubing didn't say much. After the banquet, he just lay silently on Huo Yan's lap and said to him, "Ayan, I brought them here, but I can't take them away."
I don't know how to describe Huo Qubing, who was so lonely. Huo Yan, watching the moonlight for a moment, thought to himself that people under the moonlight are always sentimental, and his brother is no exception.
He slowly bent his waist and slowly rested his head against Huo Qubing's forehead.
"Do you regret it?" He looked as if tears were dripping down his cheeks. "You should have been a nobleman in Chang'an. When you were old enough, you could become a palace attendant, squander your wealth, and then become an official when the time came. You could have lived a smooth and prosperous life. How wonderful it would have been."
He said, "I am so smart, it would be great if you could be under my protection."
"No way," Huo Qubing shook his head.
He curved his lips and smiled, "I am fighting for the Han people."
He added, "I never regret it, but I don't know if others will regret following me."
Huo Yan also laughed. He sighed, "Did they die a worthy death? Is anyone willing to follow you?"
"Of course." Huo Qubing chuckled and returned to his usual self. "The Champion Marquis is invincible. No one will disobey me."
Huo Yan smoothed his hair. His hair was like copper wire and was easy to comb.
"That means everyone knows my brother is trustworthy." The younger brother, under the moonlight, held his face, his eyes curved in a smile. "No one regrets it. I once followed the general, too. At that time, just looking at him filled me with energy. I think so, and everyone thinks so too. So the general must always lead us forward. With the general, we are the strongest."
How can I blame you? You can win the battle and save the soldiers from dying in vain. You are a great general.
All the soldiers of the Han Dynasty felt so.
Huo Qubing showed half of his canine teeth and said, "Ayan, I will snatch more people for you in the future."
He looked like he was going to break through the world. Huo Yan's forehead throbbed with pain. "I'll be thankful if you don't drink raw water."
Well, today the general poured wine into the spring, and tomorrow a sign was erected, and that place will be called Jiuquan.
【Author’s words】
Qubing was just feeling a little emotional. Nothing could defeat him.
But I said that Qubing is really uneducated, and Ayan can be taken care of carefully and make sure he lives a carefree life, but he may not like him that much.
In fact, he loves his brother very much, really, he loves him very much, without any pretense.
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