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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 98: The Western Regions
Yuwen Shu was certainly not there to provide assistance. After successfully approaching the army of Tuguhun, he wasted no time in launching a surprise attack.
The Tuguhun forces were almost completely unprepared. Their Khan was thrown into a panic, and fearing a two-sided assault, he could only hastily retreat westward. However, they were already engaged in close combat, making it difficult for them to escape.
By nightfall, Yuwen Shu ordered the retreat and had over three thousand enemy soldiers executed, capturing more than four thousand others, including over two hundred nobles from the Tuguhun tribe.
The Khan managed to escape with his personal guards, but the majority of his soldiers scattered in disarray.
The court successfully occupied the territory of Tuguhun, spanning four thousand miles east to west and two thousand miles north to south.
Wang Yi nodded after reviewing the situation. "Indeed impressive. With minimal cost, we have dealt with both the Western Turkic and Tuguhun, compelling the states of the Western Regions to pay tribute. His Majesty can truly be called a man of great talent and strategy."
For Wang Yi, a known traitor, to say such things indicated just how well Yang Guang had handled this matter. However, Wang Yi's expression turned strange as he pointed out one last remark: "Why is there another Imperial Decree for a western tour?"
Since ascending the throne, the Emperor's days of stability in the capital could be counted on one hand. Year after year he traveled, whether heading south or north; having just returned from an excursion to the Eastern Capital, now he was preparing for another western journey.
Throughout history, there had not been a ruler so diligent.
Li Jian Cheng shook his head and began addressing state affairs. The primary issue at hand was naturally the labor for repairing the Yongji Canal. However, with support from several prominent families in Zhuojun, this task was not particularly difficult.
Moreover, Li Jian Cheng did not intend to exploit the commoners for their meager resources; he even arranged for some funds from the county to subsidize the work. Thus, it could be completed on schedule.
As for the heavy labor that would inevitably take a toll on the commoners, there was little that could be done. Digging canals was notoriously grueling work, especially with such a short deadline set by the Emperor; casualties were unavoidable.
Wang Yi sat idly in one spot, watching Li Jian Cheng in a daze. He never expected to live to see this day, let alone be able to leave that Villa.
After a while, feeling somewhat aimless, Wang Yi tentatively spoke up, "My Lord, I have been under your protection for several years without repaying you. Previously, I served as a postdoctoral advisor at the National Academy and have some experience in military affairs. If there are any trivial matters, I could lend a hand."
Wang Yi's current role was that of an advisor nurtured by the Li Family. After all, the events from years ago had been handled quite cleanly; most of the soldiers who had searched for him had perished during Yang Su's surprise attack on Zhao Ziyi's camp.
The remaining two or three were reassigned by Li Jian Cheng to serve under his own command and later died gloriously on the battlefield, leaving their families with generous compensation.
Thus, he was not afraid of being discovered. In such a vast world, it was inevitable that there would be a few who looked alike. Without solid evidence, who would dare to make baseless accusations?
Li Jian Cheng set down his brush and made room for him. "That is indeed what I wish for; I wouldn't dare to impose."
To be honest, compared to being in the capital, serving as a Prefect in the provinces was quite a pleasant job. There were fewer matters to attend to, and he didn't have to deal with the likes of tigers; all tasks could be delegated to trusted advisors.
Now that the realm was at peace, Zhuojun had its share of trivial matters but not many significant ones, as it only governed seven or eight counties.
After returning to his residence and changing into formal robes, he sent someone to deliver invitations for a banquet with the distinguished scholars of Zhuojun. In two days, they would also go out of the city for a hunting expedition.
While he might not serve me directly now, it wouldn’t be a disgrace to get acquainted with them.
Thus, four years of the Great Undertaking passed in the blink of an eye. The couple spent their first New Year’s outside together; it felt somewhat quiet but spared them from visiting relatives and elders.
In Zhuojun, there was no one of higher status than them. Therefore, they only needed to wait at the Governor's Office for representatives from various official families to come and pay their respects, which was quite convenient and stress-free.
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Great Undertaking Five years, Minister of Civil Affairs Pei Yun noted that there were many discrepancies in the household registration among the populace, with many still pretending to be young; those who had not yet reached old age were exempt from taxes.
The Emperor ordered a thorough investigation, even allowing the common people to report each other. In the end, the Ministry of Civil Affairs compiled a report stating, "This year, there are a total of one hundred and ninety prefectures, one thousand two hundred and fifty-five counties, and over eight million households in the realm.
The distance from east to west is nine thousand three hundred miles, and from north to south is fourteen thousand eight hundred and fifteen miles; it can be said to be extremely prosperous!
However, due to the large number of people fleeing and becoming bandits or pirates, an edict was issued declaring that items such as iron forks, hooks, and knives were prohibited and could not be forged without permission.
After dealing with these trivial matters, the Emperor finally set out on a western tour with his harem, Civil and Military Officials, monks, Taoists, performers, and two hundred thousand guards.
When the Emperor moved, it naturally involved thousands of horses and carriages, but the people in the capital had long since become accustomed to it. The officials also did not advise the Emperor against going on a tour.
Thus, they set out westward through Linjin Pass, crossing the Yellow River, and held a grand hunt at Xiping in Bayanshan, with over one hundred thousand participants. The Emperor even specially invited many nobles from various Western regions to join.
Their countries might not even have over one hundred thousand people, let alone an army of that size just for their entertainment. The handsome and imposing Your Majesty appeared to them as if he were a deity from another world.
Consequently, various Western nations began directing their armies to subdue the remnants of Tuguhun, successfully encircling them at the Fuyuan River.
The Emperor commanded Minister of Internal Affairs Yuan Shou to lead forces southward at Golden Mountain; Minister of War Duan Wenzhen at the northern Snow Mountain; Minister of Rites Yang Yichen at the eastern Pipa Gorge; General Zhang Shou at the western Mud Ridge, surrounding the people of Tuguhun from all sides.
According to reason, they should have been besieged to death, but the Emperor did not have the leisure to wait. Completely eliminating Tuguhun was one of the objectives of this expedition, but a more important goal was to connect this newly conquered land with the Hexi Corridor and reopen the Silk Road.
Thus, he ordered a strong assault, and the court paid the price with the lives of two third-rank officials, Left Guard General Zhang Ding and Grand General Liang Mo, both killed by stray arrows.
But as Your Majesty wished, over one hundred thousand troops from Tuguhun surrendered, while the remaining stubborn ones were thoroughly crushed.
The Emperor established four new counties here: Heyuan County, Western Sea County, Shanshan County, and Qiemu County, marking the first time that the entire eastern region of Qinghai and Xinjiang was incorporated into the territory of Central Plains.
In this regard, Emperor Merit is immeasurable.
However, the Emperor had no time to celebrate or mourn; he needed to open up the roads and flatten any obstacles with his army. Thus, he continued forward, crossing the towering Qilian Mountains.
The narrow mountain valley road had only ever been traversed by Hu Merchants; never before had such a large troop entered, especially with the Son of Heaven from Central Plains among them.
Since the Great Battle of Ba Gu, this valley stretched eighty miles north and south, with narrow sections allowing only one person to pass. Even robust generals had to apply oil wax on their bodies and be pushed through by Soldiers to barely make it through.
After the battle, there were still over a hundred thousand troops remaining. Moreover, there were also palace monks from Hundred Arts who slowed down progress. Ultimately, they could not pass through in the expected time. During the cold night filled with bitter winds and rain, while the Emperor's consorts had tents, lower-ranking officials and Soldiers could only endure the bone-chilling cold.
……………
(End of Chapter)
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