73 Return of the Hero
Huo Yan: I wish my brother could punch a hole through the Earth!
Huo Qubing had been teaching Liu Ju and Zhu Yi swordsmanship for over a month. When Huo Yangang said he wanted to let Lei Bei teach Liu Ju, Huo Qubing pursed his lips.
He didn't like it, so Huo Yan could only spread his hands and look at him. "You're so eager to join your uncle in the fight against the Xiongnu. For you, the most important thing right now is to train the orphans your uncle has entrusted to you and get them approved to fight in battle as soon as possible. You know that, don't you?"
Huo Qubing nodded, then frowned at Huo Yan's increasingly teasing eyes and said, "It's not me who has to go, it's Juer."
When it comes to Liu Ju, Huo Qubing's head starts to hurt.
Liu Ju was only three years old. Given his status, he wouldn't need to personally fight on the battlefield; he would take care of the fighting. Sword training was merely about learning the basics; not only the palace guards, but even Huo Yan could teach him. But Huo Qubing also noticed that Liu Ju was shy and quiet, preferring solitude. But even a crown prince couldn't be too quiet, considering the rabble-rousing officials at court were more active than ever.
"Shouldn't Lei be killed?"
After listening to his story, Huo Yan crossed his legs proudly.
"You find it sad, but I find it endearing. We have to allow everyone to have their own personality."
There was nothing wrong with his thinking, but Huo Qubing looked around at his face and suddenly chuckled.
He had a better choice.
Being with Ah Yan, life will be lively even if it isn't already lively.
Huo Yanwan never expected that Huo Qubing whispered a few words in Liu Che's ear and directly rejected his advice, so the task of teaching Liu Ju fell on him.
grass!
Is this an advanced version of The Prince's Guardian? Huo Qubing just likes to force things.
Huo Yan cursed in his heart, then silently walked to the middle of the yard with the wooden sword passed down by his brother in the morning light. The two little cubs stood in a row behind him, like two juicy green onions.
Yang Shi, who was watching the sword from the side, was also looking forward to it.
"Will Brother Yan teach us? Is it possible that Brother Qubing has nothing left to teach us?"
Zhu Yi asked expectantly, and Liu Ju also blinked his big eyes.
Huo Yan: ...
He was silent for a moment, then said coldly, "Let's practice swordplay."
After saying this, in full view of the three people, he flapped his arms, took a soft starting stance, and practiced each move one by one, muttering to himself as he practiced.
"Tai Chi - Hunyuan Sword Technique - Calm the mind - Focus the spirit - Strengthen the foundation - Replenish the essence - Learn and achieve the world's perfection -"
Huo Yantuo's voice was so weak that it sounded feeble. He didn't even bother to put in the effort to wield his sword. Forget Huo Qubing's strength; wherever his wooden sword passed, it felt like nothing, unable to stir up even a breeze.
Yang Shi’s eyes were wide open, and his face was full of confusion.
Zhu Yi couldn't help but grumble, "This, this is so different from what Brother Qubing taught me! There's no wind at all."
Liu Ju didn't say anything, but the expectation on his little face faded a lot, and his eyes were full of confusion.
Huo Yan turned a deaf ear to him, immersed in his own "swordsmanship". His steps moved lightly, and he kept muttering, "Clear mind and clear eyes, live to be ninety-nine."
He finished his sword skills on his own, then put away his stance, wiped the non-existent sweat from his forehead, looked at the three little guys and said, "Alright, practice on your own."
Every time Huo Qubing came to the Pepper Room, he would first check their practice progress and then assign them tasks for the next few days. In comparison, Huo Yan was too perfunctory.
The three little guys looked at each other for a few seconds. The contrast between before and after was so strong that even Liu Ju couldn't help but wrinkle his face.
Huo Yan smiled, as if he had eyes on his back. He paused to spread out the book beside him and said to them, "Don't you want to practice with my sword? It's very good. Give it a try."
Zhu Yi shook his head silently.
Slogans and such are so stupid.
"Why don't you practice first?" Huo Yan, with a rare look of grievance, put down his wooden sword, squatted on the ground and drew circles, then said, "My set emphasizes using softness to overcome hardness, and blending in with the world. If you don't believe me, practice a set with me."
Yang Shi tilted his head, his face full of doubt, "Really? Brother Yan, please don't fool us."
Huo Yan looked at the three little guys seriously, his eyes sincere. "This seemingly soft opening move actually hides a secret. It's the essence of this sword technique. My brother taught you battlefield techniques to kill the enemy, but I'm teaching you how to integrate your mindset into your sword moves. This move is called pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger. The essence of this move is to add a little more power to the final thrust."
He squatted down, lightly picked up the wooden sword in his hand, and with the same opening move as before, the wooden sword brought up a strong wind and went straight to Zhu Yi's throat.
"You can pretend to wield a sword, then catch him off guard and kill him in the right place. Don't worry about whether he's good or bad. Being able to kill him is the essence of playing the pig to eat the tiger."
Zhu Yi's eyes lit up.
“Great!”
Liu Ju's eyes were shining and there was a hint of excitement on his face.
Huo Yan knew that his education was the best. He chuckled and gave each person a specially made human anatomy diagram.
This picture is not much different from the one in the previous life, except that a sentence about the consequences of being stabbed is added at the end of each path.
The three little ones were dumbfounded.
Huo Yan crossed his legs calmly.
"We are weak and innocent children. What should we do if we encounter bad guys when our brother, uncle and guards are not around? We can only use tricks as much as we can."
The three little ones understood and imitated Huo Yan's starting posture in a very realistic way. Their arms were soft and limp like noodles.
Zhu Yi gestured and shouted, "Tai Chi - Hunyuan!" Liu Ju and Yang Shi followed suit timidly. Although their movements were small, it was obvious that they were trying hard to imitate.
Huo Yan ignored the three of them and continued reading, making a note from time to time.
[Wow, this is a new manuscript submitted to the publishing house.]
[Since the publishing house was established, Ah Yan has separated his personal business from the publication of the publication. He dare not touch the publication of the publication.]
[This writing style seems...]
[Don’t say anymore, it’s the Records of the Grand Historian.]
[Is this the Chronicle of the First Emperor?]
[First draft, just written by Ma Qian.]
[Curious, what was Ayan's comment?]
[Huo Xiaoyan, don't cover it!]
[I told you you were fat and you gasped. You, damn, accepted it?!]
…
Huo Yan said, "This guy is actually very handsome," and then he rolled up the scroll.
He yawned and asked the children to take a break. According to him, one should not practice sword-fighting too much. Look at his brother, he has practiced so much that he is so skinny and has not gained much weight.
"Hey, babies, come here, I'll tell you a story."
He enthusiastically improvised and told a story about King Wuling of Zhao who promoted the Hu clothing and horse riding, worked hard to govern the country, and finally became the overlord of the Spring and Autumn Period.
The three little ones listened with great interest.
Liu Ju's eyes lit up again. He wanted to be as wise and brave as the King of Zhao that his brother described.
Then he heard his brother Ayan's calm summary, "In the end, he starved to death."
His budding ambitions were shattered in the shadow of "starving to death".
Just when he was at his peak, he died! ?
"Why? Why? Why?"
He had a lot of questions in his mind, so he grabbed Huo Yan's legs, trying to get Huo Yan to explain.
A look of doubt appeared on Yang Shi's face. She remembered that her father had not summarized it this way.
Huo Yan saw that the time was almost up and gave the three little ones a strange smile. "If you want to know what happens next, come here tomorrow."
As he said this, he picked up his small wooden sword and walked away leisurely.
"get out of class is over, I'm going home."
[Being late and leaving early is also slacking off]
[Another day of dawdling.]
[He only teaches nonsense.]
In his later years, King Wuling of Zhao passed the throne to his second son, Zhao He, who became King Huiwen of Zhao. He himself took the title "Lord Father." Later, Prince Zhao Zhang and Tian Buli rebelled and attacked King Huiwen, only for King Huiwen to have them killed. He dispatched Prince Cheng and Li Dui to lead an army to besiege the Shaqiu Palace where Zhao Zhang had fled, killing him and starving King Wuling of Zhao to death.
[He will teach you how to kill your father tomorrow.]
[King Huiwen of Zhao was the man Ayan wanted Liu Ju to become.]
[Yin, you are so yin.]
Huo Yan rolled his eyes.
"I'm sure you got full marks for reading comprehension."
The barrage of comments sent out the same smiling expression as Huo Yan.
Huo Yan hummed and laughed softly.
"You guessed right. I'll reward you by writing tomorrow's story."
Everyone commented: Fuck!
Huo Yan taught Liu Ju for the better part of a month, and even after he'd learned a few sword moves, he spent his days leading Liu Ju and the others in inventing things and telling stories, leaving Huo Qubing, who rarely visited the Pepper Room, shaking his head. Huo Yan, far from ashamed, was proud of it. He then changed the subject and recounted a few embarrassing childhood stories of himself and Huo Qubing.
"When I was a kid, my brother and I were shaking bamboo, and we fell into the snow halfway through. My mother slapped us. Another time, my brother kept saying he would take me to see my uncle's little yellow dog, and I even brought a small bowl of milk for the dog that I couldn't finish. But..." He covered his face, unable to bear to look at his silly look at the time. "The dog was bigger than me, and my bowl of milk wasn't enough for it. I later learned that my brother named it Xiao Huang, which means Little Yellow Dog."
Huo Qubing was silent for a while, then said slowly, "You didn't ask."
Huo Yan snorted, then struck while the iron was hot and continued to reveal more information, "Everyone makes mistakes sometimes, there's nothing to be ashamed of. When your brother Qubing was little, he foolishly used his feet to braid wheat."
Yang Shi and Zhu Yi rolled over with laughter, and Liu Ju couldn't help but slightly raise the corners of his mouth.
Huo Qubing got up and left.
Huo Yan saw him off with a smile on his face, feeling relieved.
He really doesn't hold a grudge against his brother for assigning the job to him, really.
"You guys have your hobbies too, right? When I was little, I loved rolling in the grass with my uncle and brother."
Zhu Yi said, "I just like dancing with branches."
Yang Shi complained silently, "Yeah, they only pick up flowers and beat them, leaving the ground covered with flowers."
Huo Yan laughed out loud.
Liu Ju hesitated for a moment and whispered, "I... I like chasing butterflies, but last time I was chasing a butterfly, I fell into the flowers, and my mother won't let me go anymore."
Huo Yan pinched the child's pink cheek and said, "Butterflies are flying around flowers, there is a clue in the flowers!"
Liu Ju didn't understand, but Huo Yan picked him up. Huo Yan said excitedly, "Hey, let's go attract butterflies today, okay?"
The children instantly perked up, their eyes sparkling with curiosity and anticipation. Zhu Yi jumped up excitedly, clapping his hands and shouting, "Great, great, Brother Yan, please teach us!"
Yang Shi also nodded vigorously. Although Liu Ju didn't say anything, his little hand tightly holding the corner of Huo Yan's clothes revealed his inner anxiety.
Huo Yan led the children to a corner of the Imperial Garden, where flowers were in full bloom and the fragrance was rich. He first asked the children to collect various brightly colored petals. Soon, Yang Shi and Zhu Yi returned with bags full of petals. Liu Ju also carefully grasped a small handful, as if holding a treasure.
"Next, let's put these petals together to form a large flower," Huo Yan said as he demonstrated, neatly placing the petals one by one on the grass. The children followed suit, and soon, a giant, colorful "petal flower" appeared before their eyes. Huo Yan tied a pale pink silk handkerchief he carried with him to a wooden sword, making a simple "flower flag." He placed the "flower flag" in the center of the "petal flower."
"Butterflies are extremely sensitive to color and are usually attracted to bright colors such as red, yellow, and purple because these colors are often associated with flowers rich in nectar. Butterflies have a large number of olfactory receptors distributed on their antennae, which can keenly sense the sweet smell in the air, so we can imitate flowers to attract butterflies."
After doing this, he asked the servant to bring a cup of honey water. He dipped his finger in the honey water and gently smeared it along the edge of the "petal flower". The air was immediately filled with a sweet fragrance.
"Okay, now let's just sit quietly and wait for the butterflies to come."
Huo Yan asked the children to sit down. Everyone held their breath, and Liu Ju stared at the special "flower".
At first, there was only the rustling of the flowers in the breeze. The children grew impatient waiting, and just as Zhu Yi was about to complain, Huo Yan quickly gestured to silence them. Just then, a white butterfly fluttered in, circled above the "petal flower" a few times, then slowly landed on the honey-coated petals and began to greedily sip.
"Here comes one!" Zhu Yi shouted excitedly in a low voice.
Soon after, more and more butterflies were attracted, white, yellow, and colorful, flying and resting freely on the "petal flowers".
Liu Ju was completely stunned, his face filled with surprise and excitement. His eyes followed the butterflies closely, and his little hands unconsciously wanted to touch them, but he was afraid of scaring away these beautiful butterflies.
Then a wet hand quickly dropped a bowl of honey water onto his hand. He looked at the boy beside him, confused, "Brother Yan?"
The boy asked him to stretch out his hand, and suddenly a yellow butterfly landed on his fingertips, and he couldn't help but hold his breath.
Huo Yan closed his eyes and rested calmly, as if saying, "Go and attract bees and butterflies, don't bother me."
Liu Ju couldn't help wanting to touch it with his hand, but the yellow butterfly suddenly flew away and then stayed on his thumb with reluctance.
"Ju'er, do you want to keep it?"
After a long while, Huo Yan spoke.
Liu Ju stared at the yellow butterfly greedily eating the honey for a while and nodded.
Huo Yan threw his coat away, trapping the butterflies tightly under his coat from head to toe.
The young man stepped out, picked up the butterflies on his clothes, pinched the yellow butterflies' wings from Liu Ju's fingertips, and raised the corners of his lips.
"I'll make a butterfly lantern for you guys when I get home, okay?"
Everyone agreed readily.
[Ah Yan, you're right. This is what you should be performing for your uncle.]
Huo Yan made butterfly lanterns for each child. Everyone holding the lanterns laughed even more happily. Liu Ju also completely relaxed, and there was a liveliness in his eyes that was rarely seen before.
Wei Zifu also received a lamp that her son excitedly handed to her. Facing the oil lamp, the fluttering butterflies were so beautiful that she couldn't help but sigh. Did she also love catching butterflies when she was young? It seemed so long ago that she had forgotten.
Huo Yan changed his usual habit of just leaving after getting close to her, lifted his robe and sat down below her, neither of them speaking.
After a long time, Wei Zifu smiled softly, her black hair was like clouds, with only a hint of white here and there.
"The makeup cream that Ah Yan gave me is very good. If Ah Yan comes tomorrow, I will give some more to my aunt."
Huo Yan pursed his lips and lowered his head, looking shy.
"I'll be happy if Aunt uses it well. I'll send it to you tomorrow."
Wei Zifu asked him to come to her, then stretched out her finger and touched his brow. The young man had fair skin, and her touch made his brow turn a little red.
"Aunt, can I go now?"
"You've been imitating your brother's behavior for the past half month, and your sister has also learned from you. You didn't even explain to me the matter of respecting your voice. All you three want is to make me worry!"
Huo Yan remained silent, with a mysterious expression on his face.
Wei Zifu became even angrier.
"Why didn't you say a word? Jingsheng is in trouble. As his brother, are you going to watch him go to the gambling house without helping him?"
Huo Yan fell to the ground and looked around for the servants.
Wei Zifu asked everyone to leave. When they were the only two left in the room, Huo Yan whispered in Wei Zifu's ear that the gambling house belonged to her uncle. Wei Zifu couldn't help but smile.
"Your Majesty, seeing that he is not doing well, wants to give him some pointers. This is a very good thing."
Huo Yan nodded in agreement, "Brother, I didn't mean to make you anxious, but it would be disrespectful to speculate on His Majesty's intentions. If Aunt learns of this, please pretend I never revealed it."
His words were all about how although my brother and I have received the emperor's grace, we are still closer to you, so I am willing to say a few more words for you.
Wei Zifu chuckled.
"There's something else I'm not sure if I should say," Huo Yan hesitated, and only after Wei Zifu's permission did he adopt a gentle demeanor and said, "Your Majesty, with such care and concern this time, is it because you hope that the younger generation of the Wei family won't follow in the footsteps of the Tian family, and that you can help Ju'er."
Wei has already shown signs of being rebellious.
Wei Zifu was able to secure the position of empress in Emperor Wu of Han's harem. She must have been very smart and could understand the elegant meaning of music. It was time for her to call her elder brother to talk.
Seeing that she understood, Huo Yan stopped talking. After finishing his dinner, he tactfully said goodbye and left, still holding a butterfly lamp in his hand.
The oil in the lamp lit up the candlelight, flickering. The butterfly was trapped in a cage made of silk paste as thin as a cicada's wing, flapping its wings weakly towards the fire.
Tsk.
He walked out of the Pepper Room with a lantern, took off the hairpin that tied his hair, extinguished the wick, tore the lantern into pieces, and the butterflies fled in all directions accompanied by the hot air.
A white butterfly landed on his red sleeve and was ruthlessly brushed away by him.
"I'm not as red as a flower."
[You are an unromantic fellow.]
[This butterfly looks quite like Tetsuko.]
[I like fancy clothes, so sweet.]
[Pig: Are you polite?]
Just when he had suppressed his worries a little, Huo Yan let the barrage of comments jump around in front of him. As soon as he looked up, Huo Qubing came jogging towards him, with none of his usual steady demeanor. Huo Yan looked at the setting sun, thinking that the sun still sets in the west, and then he was swept away by Huo Qubing like a gust of wind.
He ran after Huo Qubing, panting as he said, "My dear Bingbing, what happened? Did my uncle eat something wrong again?"
Huo Qubing's usually calm face showed a hint of ecstasy, his eyes were as bright as the sun. He paused, revealing half of his little canine teeth.
"Zhang Qian has returned and is now entering Chang'an."
The year Zhang Qian was sent on his diplomatic mission, Huo Qubing was younger than Liu Ju, so how could he possibly have met him? However, he had heard the emperor speak of Zhang Qian frequently over the years, and he knew his deeds well. So he was eagerly anticipating the event. He had been just like that when he took Huo Yan to see the yellow dog, excited and his eyes sparkling.
"Ah, so many years have passed!" Huo Yan was being led by Huo Qubing. Huo Qubing thought he was sighing, but unexpectedly, he turned around and urged directly, "Hurry up, brother! I run slowly, you carry me and run!"
Huo Qubing looked like he had no way to deal with him. He stretched out his hands to hold his waist and helped him to leave the ground. Huo Yan was pulled straight up by the roots and sat on his arms. There were a thousand horses galloping in his heart, but the fragrance in his mouth was held back by him. There was nothing he could do. He was not a good person at all. He was soft-hearted.
"Why don't you change your posture? This makes me look like a child."
In the autumn of the third year of Yuanshuo, Zhang Qian, the Han envoy who had been imprisoned by the Xiongnu for ten years, returned to Chang'an after thirteen years of hardships.
When Huo Yan and Huo Qubing finally squeezed into the crowd after squeezing here and there, they could only see a thin back and the Han festival he was holding tightly. The surface had faded to gray, but the yak tail wrapped around it still hung down stubbornly.
Huo Qubing felt a little regretful, as he still wanted to ask Zhang Qian about the topography of the Western Regions.
"My uncle has already issued an order to receive Zhang Qian in Chengming Hall, and all officials above the rank of 2,000 stone are required to be present. The two of us are not enough."
Huo Yan protected him in the crowd to prevent him from being squeezed. Seeing him like this, he took a deep breath and smiled when he heard the words.
"Well, I have an idea."
Huo Qubing pulled out another one, and Huo Yan gritted his teeth, "Have you ever heard of colluding with evil? Just carry me on your back."
[A wolf and a wolf in cahoots? The "bei" is riding on the wolf's neck, right?]
[In cahoots, hhh!]
[The description is quite apt, but the story behind this idiom was first mentioned in Duan Chengshi's Youyang Zazu from the Tang Dynasty, which Qubing was completely unaware of.]
[Every time the wolf goes out, the wolf has to rely on the wolf, putting its front legs on the wolf's hind legs to move, otherwise it can't move a step. Ah Yan's wolf is really incompetent.]
…
Huo Qubing asked, "What do you mean? What is a wolf? Can it pull out teeth like a wolf?"
The first reaction was to pull out the wolf's fangs, which shows how cruel it was.
Huo Yan covered his face, "Um, brother, let's talk about dealing with my uncle."
The next day.
Chang'an City was bathed in morning light, the nine-tiered towers of the Weiyang Palace's front hall piercing the sky. Zhang Qian, clutching a tarnished Han imperial seal, accompanied by his only remaining Xiongnu guide, Ganfu, and his wife, escorted by imperial guards, passed through the towering Xi'an Gate. This rammed-earth gate consisted of three parallel columns. The central gate, a bluestone-paved road, a royal road reserved for the emperor's imperial carriage, now made way for this slender, dark-skinned envoy. The deep ruts in the rammed earth of the two side gates, along with the rustling dust beneath Zhang Qian's feet, bore witness to the vicissitudes of thirteen years.
As I passed through the Nangong Gate, the echoes between the two doors reverberated through the city walls. This gateway, barely three meters wide, was constructed of blue bricks, its lintel carved with dragons, drenched in morning dew and imbued with a majestic air. The bronze armor of the gatekeepers gleamed coldly in the morning sun, their 10-foot-long halberds clasped in formation. But when they caught sight of the remnants of the vermilion lacquer patterns on the Han Dynasty ceremonial tablets, they suddenly parted ways.
As they ascended the steps to the front hall's platform, three rammed earth terraces unfolded one after another. On the lowest platform, twelve pairs of cloud-patterned tiles lined the roof of the gabled hall. The seal characters "Eternal Life" (长生无极) in their center shone golden in the autumn sun. On either side of the central corridor, the eunuchs, appointed by Emperor Wu of Han at Huo Yan's suggestion the previous night, stood solemnly in their black robes and purple robes. The jade pendants at their waists rose and fell with their breathing, blending with the agarwood smoke emanating from the bronze cranes holding lanterns in the corners of the hall, creating an invisible pressure.
In front of Chengming Hall① on the east side of Weiyang Palace, Huo Qubing, who spent 20,000 coins to become a palace attendant, and Huo Yan were holding spears in front, stepping on the white frost on the blue bricks. Huo Yan carefully observed the hero. Zhang Qian was kneeling on the Danchi② in front of the hall. Although he had changed into a ochre dark robe, his hands seemed to still be stained with red soil from the banks of the Shule River.
Kneeling behind him were his wife, the Hu family, and his only remaining follower, Gan Fu.
Huo Yan heard the melody of Kucha music sheets clashing against Khotanese jade carvings in the lacquer box held by his Hu wife, and saw the thick, black horsehair from Dayuan in the leather bag carried by Gan's father. These Western artifacts, transported across thousands of miles of wind and sand on this autumn day, blew through the hall like the morning breeze, like the thundering chariot of the Thunder God rumbling through the Han Dynasty, adding fuel to the thunder in the hearts of everyone, from the emperor to the common people.
At three quarters past noon, the sounds of bells and chimes came one after another from the front hall.
"Announce—Zhang Qian's audience!"
Ritual music blared, chimes rang, and the audience's call pierced the silence of the hall. Huo Yan and Huo Qubing led Zhang Qian into the hall. Zhang Qian took a deep breath, his hands trembling slightly as he held the map of the Western Regions. The jade pendant on his waist jingled slightly with his nervousness.
Huo Qubing didn't look away. Huo Yan glanced at him lightly, his brows full of spring breeze warmth. In a voice that only they could hear, he said, "Jade has a spirit. He also knows that the master has returned home."
Liu Ju, sitting on the throne, widened his eyes, leaned forward and looked towards the entrance of Chengming Palace.
The huge Chengming Palace was in complete silence, and everyone's attention was focused on that person.
Zhang Qian was thin, with wrinkles on his face. He staggered across the palace gate and walked towards the emperor step by step. His steps were slow but firm.
In the quiet hall, faint sobbing sounds gradually appeared and became more and more obvious. Many people began to raise their sleeves. Wei Qing wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes that would not dry up no matter how hard he tried. He was good friends with Zhang Qian and had witnessed the situation when Zhang Qian set out thirteen years ago, so his understanding was even deeper.
Zhang Qian walked step by step to the center of Chengming Hall. He carefully held the envoy in his hands, knelt down and presented it, his expression extremely pious. "I, Zhang Qian, have returned from a mission to the Dayuezhi under imperial decree. I present the envoy to Your Majesty and have fulfilled my mission."
Huo Yan sighed softly and turned around to see his emotional old uncle standing up from the throne and walking towards Zhang Qian.
"Thirteen whole years..." Liu Che cried out with tears in his eyes, "Zhang Qian, where have you been? Why haven't you given me any news? Thirteen years, thirteen years!"
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" Zhang Qian knelt down at Liu Che's feet and burst into tears.
The emperor and his ministers hugged each other and cried bitterly for a while. Zhang Qian hurriedly took off his backpack, removed the Wusun bone needle pinned to the right lapel, and took out the miniature sheepskin scroll hidden in the hollow tube. When the map was slowly unfolded on the gilded table, the cinnabar imprints of the thirty-six countries in the Western Regions burned like flames on the sheepskin.
"Your Majesty, please look," Zhang Qian's voice suddenly became clear. "The Kangju caravan said that there are celestial horses in the city of Yishi in Dayuan. They sweat like blood and can travel a thousand miles a day." His index finger pointed at a certain point on the map, and gravel from the ancient Cheshi Road was still embedded in the cracks of his fingernails.
Suddenly, there was a rustling sound among the officials below the stairs.
"After so many years, you still remember what I said at Jiantai⑥." Liu Che's fingers ran over the ink marks of Pamirs on the map. Although the aroma of the wine was richer now, Liu Che could still vaguely smell the aroma of pepper wine that the 24-year-old emperor and the 27-year-old palace official drank together during their night talk at Jiantai.
Liu Che suddenly stood up, his black robe with twelve chapter patterns sweeping across the bamboo slips on the table. He said loudly, "My envoys, like Emperor Mu's western tour, have truly paved the way for me!"
Huo Qubing's eyes shot out lasers as he stared at the word "Sindhu" (Sindhu) marked on the map. He couldn't help but licking his lips. This secret passage could also lead to Southwestern Daxia. What was the Buddhist religion doing? If he had time, he could go there and catch a few people to ask.
"He's a hero."
Zhang Qian's mission to Dayuezhi lasted only over a year, but he was detained by the Xiongnu for more than ten years. Of the original delegation of 100 people, only two returned to Han. This is truly awe-inspiring.
Huo Yan patted his back. In this room full of emotions, he looked like a monster. Then he saw the purple alfalfa seeds from Dayuan glowing in the jade box, and the myrrh resin condensed in the resting glass bottle.
Huo Yan could even make glass, but he was not interested in colored glaze. He just stared at the alfalfa seeds with shining eyes, as if he had seen thousands of horses galloping across the fertile plains of Guanzhong.
Oh my goodness, grapes, pomegranates, walnuts, and garlic.
Seeds, seeds, all seeds. He got rich, and this time he got rich, and he finally had grapes and pomegranates to eat!
Sometimes you don’t care about some things, but when they suddenly appear, you can’t wait to get them.
His eyes fell on the barrage, and he mouthed silently.
[Huo Yan: I don’t care, I want to eat all of this!]
Comments: I understand you, "Grape Planting" and "Pomegranate Winemaking"...
Zhang Qian described the customs and practices along the way in a hoarse voice. The room was filled with silence. Huo Yan wished he could bring Sima Qian along as well, as he could never remember everything.
Dayuan had alfalfa, grapes, and horses; Dayuezhi had walnuts (⑩); Kangju had sesame (⑩); Parthia had cinnamon and pepper; and the gold and silver wares of the Sassanid Empire of Persia and other places had unique shapes and exquisite craftsmanship, including containers such as Hu bottles, plates and cups.
Regardless, he clung to Huo Qubing, clinging tightly, his face flushed. Huo Qubing was the same as him, treasure saw, treasure got. He quickly formulated a battle plan and whispered, "Divide the troops into two groups and send down Cheshi and Loulan."
Huo Yan didn't quite understand, but he trusted his brother and uncle. He smiled softly, "Brother, go fight! I really want to do business with them!"
After defeating them, he immediately divided the area into several parts, designated them as specialized businesses, hired people to raise horses, and planted crops to send to the Han Dynasty. He then shipped the Han Dynasty's excess production capacity out, and the two sides exchanged resources. This was the best way!
As long as the Han army can get through, as long as he can get through, with absolute advantage and monopoly, he can tie them tightly to the chariots of the Han Dynasty.
He and Huo Qubing almost looked at Zhang Qian and licked their lips at the same time, wanting to go over.
"Brother, if you have to go to the Xiongnu, I have to go too. If you defeat the Xiongnu, I will build the road."
The envoy ordered that the staff presented be deposited in the Lanting in three days. The bronze bells on the eaves of the Weiyang Palace rang in the autumn wind, and the sound waves spread along the Silk Road.
The Big Dipper in the caisson of Chengming Palace was pointing to the palace gate. Wei Qing saw the post road leading to the Hexi Corridor winding like a golden snake under the autumn sun. This time, he could annihilate Mobei in one fell swoop.
Liu Che commended Zhang Qian and Ganfu, a slave from the Tangyi clan who had always followed him, and appointed Zhang Qian as Taizhong Daifu and Ganfu as Fengshijun.
Countless ambitions rise up under the narration of the hoarse voice.
I can't sleep tonight.
【Author’s words】
Crazy! It was extremely difficult to write about Zhang Qian's return. Really, I've been holding it back for three days.
My friends asked me why I write barrages. Ah Yan is like Superman. I said: Sometimes I want to complain about him, sometimes I want to argue with him, sometimes I am very annoyed with him, and sometimes I want to help him. That's it. Writing about him makes my hair fall out. I want to argue with him.
My friend was silent for a long time, and finally asked me to be serious.
Well, so from now on, my army of barrages will start to be aloof.
Well, I have always been cool!!!
① Gan Fu, also known as Tangyi Fu, was a prominent figure during the Western Han Dynasty. A Xiongnu, Gan Fu was captured by Han forces in a battle in 166 BC and later given as a household slave to Chen Wu, the son-in-law of Emperor Wen of Han. In 138 BC, Emperor Wu of Han appointed him as guide and interpreter for Zhang Qian's diplomatic mission to the Kingdom of Dayuezhi. During Zhang Qian's first mission to the Western Regions, Gan Fu and Zhang Qian were the only two of the hundreds of members of the envoy's team to return safely.
② Chengming Hall: Important political events were held here. In 74 BC, Huo Guang and other ministers, with the help of the Empress Dowager, announced the dethronement of Liu He, the King of Changyi, in Chengming Hall. It was here that the emperor made his move.
③ Danchi refers to the red steps in front of the palace and the open space above them. "Dan" refers to the color red, and "chi" refers to the open space above the steps, which also refers to the steps. In ancient court etiquette, Danchi was a key venue for important ceremonies and events. For major ceremonies such as the emperor's enthronement, court meetings, and enthronement, civil and military officials would line up on Danchi, maintaining a strict standing order based on rank, highlighting the royal majesty and the solemnity of the rituals.
④ Lacquer boxes first appeared in the Chu State during the Warring States Period. At that time, lacquer boxes had simple shapes, mostly round, with straight walls and flat bottoms, and were mainly made of hemp or wood. By the Han Dynasty, the production technology of lacquer boxes had become more mature, and the shapes and decorations had become richer.
⑤ Yutian jade carving is a kind of carving art that uses the Hetian jade produced in the Hetian area of Xinjiang, which was called "Yuktian" in ancient times, as the raw material.
⑥ Located in the Taiye Lake within the Jianzhang Palace. Over twenty feet high, it derives its name from the fact that the platform is situated in the water. It is a key structure within the lake, and its contrast with the surrounding natural landscape creates a unique garden landscape.
⑦ Records: "Sintu" first appears in the "Records of the Grand Historian: Account of Dayuan." At that time, Zhang Qian, while in Bactria, learned that Bactria could be reached via Sintu from the southwest of Shu (present-day Sichuan Basin). Related records are also found in the "Book of the Later Han: Accounts of the Western Regions." By the 2nd century, China had a preliminary understanding of Sintu's geography, products, religion, and politics, and knew that many areas of Sintu were part of the Yuezhi, the early Kushan Empire.
⑧ Alfalfa seeds are high-quality forage seeds, rich in nutrients such as protein, vitamins and minerals. They can be used to feed livestock such as cattle, sheep, and horses, and can improve livestock's production performance such as milk production and meat production.
9. In traditional medicine, myrrh resin has the properties of dispersing blood stasis, relieving pain, reducing swelling and promoting tissue regeneration. It is used to treat injuries caused by falls, pain due to stasis, carbuncle swelling and pain, persistent sores, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, and abdominal masses. Myrrh resin has a unique fragrance and is used in perfumes and aromatherapy products to add a distinctive aroma.
⑩Walnuts, sesame seeds
11. Loulan, located at a strategic point on the southern route to the Western Regions, was a crucial state on the Han Dynasty's southern route to the Western Regions. Entering the Western Regions from the Hexi Corridor, traveling west along the southern route would first encounter Loulan. At the time, Loulan was wavering between Han and Xiongnu allies, having surrendered to the Han before being attacked by the Xiongnu. This posed a significant obstacle to the Han Dynasty's westward advance. From a strategic perspective, capturing Loulan first would open up the southern route, ensuring the Han Dynasty's connection with the southern states of the Western Regions while also serving as a deterrent to other states.
Cheshi, a key location on the northern route to the Western Regions, was a necessary passage for the Han Dynasty to reach the northern part of the Western Regions. At the time, Cheshi was under the control of the Xiongnu, serving as a crucial stronghold and barrier for the Xiongnu in the northern part of the Western Regions, posing a significant threat to the Han Dynasty's expansion into the region.
12. According to the Records of Emperor Mu, King Mu of Zhou led seven assembled men in a chariot with eight horses, with Zaofu driving and Bo Yao as the guide. They set out from Zhou (Luoyang), crossed the Yellow River, went north over the Taihang Mountains, passed through the Hetao Region, then turned west, crossed present-day Gansu and Qinghai, arrived at the land of the Queen Mother of the West, and then went north to the "Northwest Plain" where "birds shed their feathers", and finally returned to the capital via the southern route of the Tianshan Mountains.
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