On February 2, the fourth year of Qin II, the ice and snow in Xianyang had melted and everything was awakening. The willow trees by the Wei River had begun to sprout. Looking from a distance, a row of new greens was reflected in the blue river water.
In front of Xianyang Palace, neat caravans lined up.
On the right are the envoy Zhang Gou, deputy envoy Fang Ji, and more than 200 selected Qin army guards.
The large number of people on the left are the caravans of Bashi and Ushi. The leader of Ba's team was Ba Taoyao, and the leader of Wushi's team was Wushi Mu. The two of them unanimously chose to go there in person. After all, although going to the Western Regions was dangerous, the possible benefits far outweighed the risks. Especially for Basil, they urgently needed to develop new industries.
I walked up to Zhang Gou and looked at his weathered face, and I felt a little at ease. The mission to the Western Regions was different from the previous trips to Baiyue and Rongdi. Along the way, they not only had to face dangers from the enemy, but also had to overcome the difficulties and obstacles of more than 10,000 miles back and forth.
"This journey will be very hard. I am looking forward to your triumphant return in Xianyang!"
Zhang Gao clenched the staff in his hand, looked resolute, and bowed slightly: "I will fulfill my mission! Show off the majesty of my great Qin!"
I looked at Fang Ji again. Fang Ji was also in his thirties and in his prime. In the past, they often held the position of deputy and first-in-command when sending envoys to surrounding tribes, and they worked well together.
"Those who achieve great things need to have perseverance. I heard that you once confronted the barbarian king alone when you were in Baiyue, which showed the majesty of our Great Qin. I am looking forward to your even better performance this time on your mission to the Western Regions!"
Fang Ji bowed his hands and spoke with a firm voice.
"I will fulfill my mission! Show off the majesty of our great Qin!"
I nodded.
This sentence is something that dignitaries and officials must say before going on an envoy. It is the duty of an envoy to fulfill his mission and show his dignity.
Then I walked towards Taoyao.
I still trust this woman. As I have considered before, Bashi needs me, and he needs Silk Road even more.
"The porcelain has not been fired yet, and the refining of the refined salt will also take time. The refined salt I ordered Geyue to raise for you should be enough for this transaction. In order to make up for the loss of the porcelain, I ordered forty jars of wine to be used in good lacquerware I installed it for you, and there are also two cars of high-quality paper, have you got it?"
Tao Yao showed a shallow smile, bowed, and said gratefully: "Thank you, Your Majesty. I received it. I am satisfied!"
The things given to her this time were indeed quite a lot, and they were not much different from the porcelain and tea previously promised to her. Because of the forty jars of wine and two carts of paper, it was much better than before. Although she needs to spend money to buy it first...
When I walked in front of Wu Shi Mu, I smiled slightly.
"You, the Wushi clan, are quite familiar with the Hexi Corridor and the grasslands. If anything happens, you must do your best to help the Qin envoy and the Ba clan."
Wu Shimu was embarrassed. Since he said the wrong thing in front of me last time, he has been upset for a long time after returning home. Now that he heard my words, he knew that I was trying to point him out, so he quickly bowed and said, "I obey your Majesty's order."
I returned to the front and glanced around at the people who were getting ready to go.
"Trading with the Western Regions is our Great Qin's national policy and will play a vital role in our Great Qin. This time you won this honor and became the first batch of people to contact the Western Regions. Even I would be very envious. If it weren't for my identity The reason is that I must go there in person to experience the exotic customs."
Everyone smiled slightly.
"I have only two words: First, everyone in the caravan must obey the orders of the envoy Zhang Gou. If anyone dares to disobey the envoy's orders, I will severely punish them; second, you must remember: fulfill your mission and demonstrate the majesty of our Great Qin. !”
Everyone saluted and said in unison: "I obey your Majesty's order!"
After saying that, everyone started to set off in an orderly manner, and I didn't return to the Four Seas Palace until the last person walked out of the palace gate.
Zhang Han, Wu Jian, and Feng Ta were already waiting in the palace.
Seeing me coming in, the three of them saluted quickly.
I didn't sit down. I walked to the front and turned to look at the three people.
"Zhang Han, are the thirty thousand cavalry ready?"
Zhang Han saluted and said: "Your Majesty, everything is ready, just waiting for your Majesty's order."
I nodded and looked at Wu Jian and Feng Ta.
"This is the first time that our new cavalry army of Great Qin has left the camp. According to my speculation, after a winter of heavy snow cover, the Xiongnu will definitely plunder our Great Qin as usual. The Great Wall in Beidi and Yunzhong has been built, and the Xiongnu It won’t be that easy to break in again.”
"The Northern Qiang tribe has just returned to our Great Qin, and the Xiongnu must be dissatisfied. With both of these factors, I concluded that the Huns will be the first to attack the Hexi Corridor. At that time, the envoys and caravans sent by our Great Qin to the Western Regions were passing by. time. You will soon face the first battle of the new army. Are you afraid?"
Wu Jian's face turned cold and he was the first to respond: "Your Majesty, don't be afraid. Aren't they the Huns? I have dealt with them countless times when I was in the county, and I am still alive and well today. Now the new army has your Majesty's saber." , crossbows, saddles, etc., they will definitely make it impossible for those Huns to come back!"
Feng Ta also solemnly said: "My ancestors were all in Dai County, and they were plundered countless times by the Huns and barbarians. Now that I have the opportunity to lead the new army to take revenge, my sword has been sharpened long ago. Please be at ease, Your Majesty, I and I Wu Jian will definitely protect the safety of the envoys and caravans, and under this premise, he will ruthlessly kill those Huns with great energy!"
"Okay!" Looking at the appearance of the two of them, my confidence greatly increased.
To be honest, against the Huns, even with so many new troops blessed by BUFF, I am not sure.
Nomads have a natural advantage over farming peoples, not to mention the Qin Dynasty where productivity was so low. Even if the Qin Dynasty could defeat the Xiongnu, it would not be able to station troops on the grasslands. It could only send out surprise troops like Huo Qubing to drive them out, and then find a way to solve it once and for all.
I stepped forward and patted the two of them on the shoulders, and said solemnly: "I have ordered people to prepare two jars of good wine. When you return in triumph, I will stay with you in the Sihai Palace until you are drunk!"
The two of them bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Your Majesty! May your Majesty live forever!"
Then the two of them rushed back to the Chaoyi camp and led their troops to Longxi.
Watching the two people go out, I was a little lost.
"Zhang Han, tell me, how will the new army behave if they encounter the Xiongnu?"
Zhang Han understands my worries. After all, no one has ever been able to defeat the Huns in cavalry, let alone fight against the Huns on the grasslands outside the pass, which is their home field.
"Your Majesty, we have made complete preparations. The gates of the Chaoyi camp have been closed, and no one is allowed in or out. The new army is marching along the way to Longxi, and the food minister has also made arrangements with Li Xiang. No one will know that there are 30,000 cavalry. Follow the envoy."
"I have also seen the Hun cavalry. Judging from the training of the new army, I think the only advantage of the Hun cavalry is that the horses are better than ours, but they are not the same. So your Majesty, please feel free. What news is there about the new army? I will report to Your Majesty as soon as possible!"
I nodded: "The training of the supervisory army must also be strict. What I want is not speed, but quality. It must meet my requirements."
Zhang Han cupped his hands and said, "I understand."
After Zhang Han left, I was still feeling a little irritable, so I turned around and headed towards the side hall.
"Meng He, when I change into casual clothes, let's go see Wanlixiang."
