Chapter 436

Chapter 436

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Side Story: The Western Regions’ Storm (5)

The book it belongs to:


Can a Strategist Not Ascend the Throne?

Chapter 436 Side Story (5) (Second Update)

To take the Xuandu Mountain route is not as simple as just giving up warhorses.

If we use modern geographical names, by the time they set foot on the territory of Wuchang Kingdom, they were already on the Pamir Plateau.

The northern route of the Silk Road reaches the Congling Mountains, which later generations named the Pamir Plateau. From there, one could either head north to Kashgar, passing through the Alai Mountains and traveling west between the Tianshan Mountains and the Pamir Plateau, or enter the Wakhan Corridor to reach the Panj River Valley and its delta formed by river alluvium. Choosing to take the perilous Xuandu Mountain route is extremely rare.

Of course, there was no Karakoram Highway at that time. To cross the mountains into foreign territory, all they could rely on were their two legs and sheer willpower.

Even the 20th-century explorer Stein, who retraced this route, said that the hardships and dangers experienced during the march far surpassed those of Hannibal and Napoleon crossing the Alps.

But for Ma Chao and the others, this was not just about competing for military achievements after unifying the world.

This was the first battle to proclaim the might of their nation to foreign powers!

They absolutely could not lose!

When the various armies marched out to attack Ye City earlier, the disparity in strength between the enemy and themselves was so vast that it seemed more like an unstoppable declaration of Da Yong replacing the Han Dynasty. Today, however, was the time for these generals to truly showcase their abilities.

“You should know that if you proceed with this method of deployment, you will lose the mobility of your cavalry,” Lu Yuan said seriously to the two who had spoken first.

Even though years of living in the Liangzhou region made it much easier for Ma Chao and the others to adapt to the environment of the Congling Mountains and Xuandu Mountain compared to any other general, this did not mean that these treacherous mountains would welcome them with open arms and allow them to pass through freely.

This was the power of nature. At least for now, they did not have the ability to change it.

Yan Xing had always been a man of few words, especially after the incident where Qiao Yan arranged for him to first defect to Dong Zhuo and then return. But upon hearing Lu Yuan’s words, he replied, “Then we’ll just have to resort to stealing horses after we cross the mountains.”

He said it so calmly, making horse theft sound as simple as picking up something, leaving everyone momentarily speechless.

Xu Rong had worked with Yan Xing for many years and knew his temperament well. At the very least, he was not someone who would act recklessly on impulse. If he dared to say this now, he must have some confidence, and it was clear that he was stubbornly determined.

In that case, it might as well be worth letting these two young men try.

However…

After some thought, Xu Rong still spoke up: “I think that after successively conquering the small states from Shanshan to Khotan, with the isolation between the northern and southern regions, we may not need to march alone. According to the Han records, Wuchang is 9,950 li from Chang’an, and Khotan is 9,670 li from Chang’an, with a distance of 300 li between them. Marching through such high mountains and deep valleys would take at least six or seven days. If we can take Wuchang, break through Wulei, and make the Congling Mountains a backup for the army heading south to Xuandu Mountain, while also having a route to directly reach the Kushan and Dayuan confrontation via the river valley, it might be a viable backup plan.”

“From the Prefect’s perspective, if you were to stay in Khotan to continue the efforts of subjugating Shache and other states, while I, along with Junyi and Yancai, conquer Wulei and descend through the plateau pass to seize the opportunity to advance, and Mengqi and Yanming head straight to the rear of Kushan via Xuandu Mountain, would that be feasible?”

Since the recovery of the four states, after several rounds of selection among the soldiers, the forces have increased by nearly ten thousand compared to before. As long as the military provisions from Liangzhou to the Western Regions can be continuously supplied, it would fully support their two-pronged advance at this time.

And to be blunt, in such an environment, even with compasses, cold-weather clothing, and various climbing tools prepared in advance, there is no guarantee that they won’t encounter avalanches or get lost in the mountains.

Having two routes would at least ensure that if one route encounters an accident, the advancement plan can still be brought back on track.

Lu Yuan replied, “In the letter that arrived with the peace talisman, His Majesty mentioned that we need not worry about subsequent support from Liangzhou. With General Huangfu in command, there is no need to worry about the transportation of supplies, as General Duan is shuttling between Shanshan and Yumen Pass.”

Huangfu Song had been itching for action for many years. Unfortunately, he knew that at his age and with his energy, he was no longer suitable for campaigning in the Western Regions, or else problems might arise. But now, as the Grand Commandant, he was overseeing this crucial Western Regions campaign from the rear, and he would not slack off in the slightest.

As for Duan Wei, his inclusion in this Western Regions campaign was no longer as a former subordinate of Dong Zhuo. He was just waiting for an opportunity to march north to Cheshi with ample backup, so the current task of transporting provisions was a great opportunity for him to further master desert marches.

But what moved Lu Yuan the most was Qiao Yan’s next words.

“His Majesty also said that we need not worry about her rejecting our marching plans. She is thousands of miles away. How could she, relying on a few letters and records from who knows how many years ago, understand the situation here better than we do? If that were the case, why would she have sent us here in the first place?”

“General Xu’s arrangement seems sound. Let’s proceed accordingly.”

Lu Yuan and Ma Dai would remain in Khotan to engage with the surrounding states, while the Queen of Jingjue, who had seized this opportunity, and the King of Shanshan, who had been granted the title of Guiyi Marquis in Chang’an, would assist in their actions.

Xu Rong, Fu Gan, and Zhang He would lead troops to sweep through the small states on the Congling Mountains and keep an eye on the western situation.

Ma Chao and Yan Xing would march via the Xuandu Mountain route.

Of course, before that, they would first need to deal with Wuchang Kingdom and select the elite from the elite to ensure that this arduous mountain journey would be accomplished with minimal losses.

During this mountain crossing, which might last nearly a month, they would also have to carry enough food and water until they reached the other side and obtained the next batch of provisions through foraging.

The preparations, including the conquest of Wuchang Kingdom, took them nearly another month.

To increase the chances of successfully crossing the mountains, Ma Chao had to suppress his eagerness to march and wait until March arrived.

For this plateau region, it was still not the time for the ice to melt, but at least it was no longer as bitterly cold as in December and January.

More importantly, the seemingly minor movements of the southern states submitting to Da Yong would eventually be noticed by those with keen eyes. They could no longer delay.

It was time to march!

But what Ma Chao never expected was that when he set foot on this life-or-death path, among his companions was none other than Yu Fan.

Ma Chao’s mouth twitched: “Why are you coming with me and Yanming?”

Yu Fan retorted, “Who else were you expecting? For Mr. Wujiao and the others to use their mystical arts to fly you over the mountains on clouds?”

Ma Chao: “…”

He hadn’t thought that far.

Whether mystical arts were real or not could be seen from how His Majesty scared Zuo Ci away back then.

Rather than hoping for such things to help him cross mountains unscathed, it was better to hope they wouldn’t encounter any disasters beyond human control along the way.

He just couldn’t help but think of how Yu Fan had rejected his proposal to simultaneously attack Cheshi and Shanshan with such absurd reasoning.

The valiant general of Da Yong and the clueless fool, ha!

It was as if they weren’t afraid of the two of them coming to blows halfway.

But then he heard Yu Fan say, “General, you have the bravery to break through three armies, but lack the foresight for long-term planning. Although I, Yu Fan, am no genius, I do have a bit of a brain and can offer some strategic advice.”

More importantly, he was blunt enough.

What Yan Xing said in front of Ma Chao might not carry much weight, but Yu Fan was different. He had even said that His Majesty, having resided in Chang’an for a long time, would face bloodshed, yet he wasn’t purged after His Majesty ascended the throne. Instead, he was entrusted with such important tasks. Ma Chao had better think carefully about whether to heed his advice.

Ma Chao clearly thought of this as well.

He also knew that relying solely on his and Yan Xing’s martial prowess was not enough to roam freely in such unfamiliar territory. Yu Fan, after all, was a strategist and could guide them to avoid any irreparable mistakes.

But even so, Ma Chao couldn’t help but retort, “Then don’t fall behind.”

Yu Fan responded with a cold laugh, “General, have you forgotten? What I said back then was that I had never personally traveled through this barbaric Western Region, so I couldn’t traverse a hundred li in a flash. But from the time we set out until now, it’s been over four months. If I were still using the excuse of not being adapted to hold you back, why would Prefect Lu have entrusted this to me?”

Yu Fan patted the box on his back.

Though he didn’t specify what it was, Ma Chao had a feeling it wasn’t something ordinary.

To avoid Yu Fan saying anything else that would make his heart skip a beat, Ma Chao decided to temporarily ignore the question of why they were traveling together.

As they crossed the Bole River and climbed to a border outpost of Wuchang Kingdom for a brief rest, they saw the snow-capped mountains in the distance becoming clearer against the plateau. Since it wasn’t yet the summer rainy season, the clouds and mist had parted, revealing a breathtaking view.

And when…





Ma Chao snapped out of the scene before him, which somewhat resembled Longxi Commandery but also didn’t, and saw Yu Fan, who had already stabled his horse in the capital of Wutu, catching up without breaking a sweat.

Looking at it this way, Yu Fan’s claim of not being a burden was not just an empty boast—it was an understatement.

As the perilous journey finally began here, Ma Chao couldn’t help but ask Yu Fan, “I heard you’re from Yang Province, where the mountain tribes are rampant. Have you ever fought them?”

“Not just fought,” Yu Fan replied candidly, “I can march three hundred li in a day.”

Even if this “li” from the Han Dynasty is only about 80% of the modern “li,” it’s still an astonishing figure.

“…” Ma Chao fell silent for a moment before finally uttering four words, “Pleasure working with you.”

His Majesty truly knows how to assign the right people to the right tasks. Sending Yu Fan to Liang Province as Lu Yuan’s assistant must have been in anticipation of today’s events!

Fortunately, this guy is an ally, not an opponent.

Ma Chao tightened his cloak, glanced at the sky, which seemed lower than in the Central Plains, and a look of determination flashed in his eyes.

The Kushan Empire across the mountains, as mentioned by Qiao Yan during her talks with them, is one of the four most powerful empires on the continent.

But the Han Dynasty is now a thing of the past, replaced by the Great Yong. It’s time for the Kushan Empire to witness their might!

——————

Meanwhile, rain finally began to fall in the Central Plains.

Since the snowfall last winter, the people of the Central Plains had guessed that the coming year might not be a drought year.

But guesses are just guesses. It wasn’t until this precious spring rain fell that everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

The third year of Yuanzhao would likely not be a year of disaster!

Not only was it not a disaster year, but it was also a year of recovery.

In the first year of Yuanzhao, there were battles between Qiao Yan and the Ye City court, and the powerful families, under pressure, gradually released their hidden households, causing undercurrents of unrest. The subsequent population transfers and prisoner trials also made the end of the year chaotic.

However, in the third year of Yuanzhao, except for Liang Province and the Western Regions, which were busy with troop movements and grain shipments, the rest of the regions were in a state of orderly preparation for the new year.

Years of seed accumulation and optimization, along with the widespread adoption of scientific farming methods, had eliminated any lingering doubts. People could now focus all their energy on the new year’s farming.

This year was the best opportunity to replenish the granaries depleted last year.

Although there were no tax reductions like last year, with yields per mu now far exceeding those of a decade ago, this was hardly a cause for concern.

Perhaps the only ones feeling uneasy were the noble families in Ji Province still serving forced labor.

A piece of news, like a nightmare, had reached their ears.

At the start of spring, Yuan Shao had fallen ill.

Yuan Shao’s repeated setbacks during the Jian’an era, the battles of Yuanzhao’s first year, the defeat in Yanzhou, and the eventual collapse of the Ye City court had already taken a severe toll on his health.

If he had been on the winning side and could have rested, or if he had escaped the political vortex by fleeing overseas, he might have had a chance. But—

Qiao Yan needed Yuan Shao as a rope to restrain the noble families of Hebei, forcing him to count wheat day after day, cutting off his last chance at survival.

Thick winter clothes and ample charcoal had spared Yuan Shao from the cold, but as spring arrived, he realized he had endured a year and a half in this monotonous, dreary state.

A year and a half, over five hundred days!

Day after day of counting had made him almost forget the passage of time, but the scent of flowers drifting into his cell reminded him of spring’s arrival and, in an instant, brought back memories of his youth.

In his youth, Yuan Shao had the freedom to gallop on horseback. In his middle age, he held great power, and every spring brought new prospects.

But today, he didn’t want to know that the cursed Great Yong Dynasty had survived another year, and from the jailers’ whispers, it was thriving more than ever.

Under this terrible contrast, his self-deceptive resignation crumbled.

Seeing his hair turn gray, he suddenly fell gravely ill, unable to rise.

And this illness…

“I’ve sent word to the doctors in Ji Province, and they report he likely won’t live past two months,” Qiao Yan said to Cao Cao, whom she had summoned. “Mengde, you had some history with him. If you wish to visit him in the Ye City prison, you may.”

“Whether I see him or not doesn’t matter much. My grievances with Benchu vanished with the fall of the Han. There’s no need to drag it out,” Cao Cao replied, sighing but not surprised.

If he were in Yuan Shao’s position, he would have perished with the Han when Ye City fell, rather than clinging to life for a year or two.

What good did it do Yuan Shao?

Perhaps it only made him realize that the Han truly had no chance of revival.

Even after last year’s drought, Great Yong continued to move forward with the people’s support.

“Wait,” Cao Cao suddenly thought of something, “what about the noble families of Hebei? How will they be handled?”

If Yuan Shao’s death led to leniency for the Hebei families who still owed debts, it would do no good for Qiao Yan’s imperial authority.

But executing them all would contradict her original intentions.

“With Yuan Shao’s illness, they’re already anxious,” Qiao Yan replied. “Let them worry a bit longer. When Yuan Shao dies, his sons can take over the wheat-counting.”

Yuan Shao’s third son, Yuan Shang, was executed, but there are still two others.

They can give the surviving Hebei families a chance to live on.

But this wasn’t the reason Qiao Yan had summoned Cao Cao today.

“Mengde, since you’re not going to Ye City, let’s discuss something else,” Qiao Yan suddenly changed the subject. “I intend to send you to Liang Province.”

“Liang Province?” Cao Cao was surprised. “Your Majesty, why? Isn’t Grand Commandant Huangfu already stationed there?”

Although Cao Cao had once mentioned his ambition to conquer the west in conversations with Qiao Yan, the military and administrative arrangements in the Western Regions were already well-organized. There was no need to insert him into the mix just for an old promise.

Their Great Yong Emperor was not one to act on sentiment, and she wouldn’t waste resources now.

“No, to be precise, I’m not sending you to Liang Province, but to the west of Liang Province, to the Xigong Salt Lake,” Qiao Yan clarified.

That is, the land beyond the Riyue Mountain Pass, from Huangzhong westward, located on the plateau.

“Looking back over a hundred years, this land was once under imperial control. But now, we only travel between Huangzhong and the salt lake, never establishing a commandery or government office to fully control the surrounding areas. Beyond the Xigong Salt Lake, there’s even more vast land waiting for us to bring it under our rule, subdue the Qiang people, and establish order.”

“With spring here, the plateau’s climate is no longer as harsh as in winter. It’s the perfect time to plan an expedition.”

After all, the grain was already being sent to Liang Province. Sending it further to Jincheng Commandery to supply Cao Cao’s development around Qinghai Lake wouldn’t be a strain.

She added, “However, this place can no longer be called Xihai Commandery.”

The Qinghai Lake area, named Xihai Commandery by Wang Mang because “the Han already had Beihai, Donghai, and Nanhai Commanderies, so it should have Xihai,” was reclaimed by the Beihe Qiang after the Green Forest and Red Eyebrows uprisings, and the name was abandoned.

Although the name hadn’t yet been reused for the Juyan Dependency in Zhangye, reviving it now would feel like rehashing old ideas.

It would also carry the unlucky connotations of Wang Mang’s short-lived reforms.

Qiao Yan wrote two characters on a piece of paper and handed it to Cao Cao.

Cao Cao glanced at it and saw the words “Qinghai?”

“Yes,” she replied, “let’s call it Qinghai Commandery.”

——————

Author’s Note:

Although this side story mainly focuses on the Western Regions, other areas are also touched upon.

Cao Cao is finally starting his western campaign, but it’s not to the Western Regions—it’s to Tibet.

The Xuan Du area is truly difficult to traverse.

A few people have taken this route.

First, it’s recorded in the Book of Han:

“The Book of Han: Records of the Western Regions, Wutu State”: “To its west lies Xuan Du… Xuan Du is a stone mountain, with impassable valleys. People cross by ropes.”

Then, in the Book of the Later Han: Biography of Ban Chao: “Ban Chao crossed the Congling Mountains and reached Xuan Du.”

Later, during Emperor Xuanzong of Tang’s reign, Gao Xianzhi crossed the Pamirs to conquer Little Balur, taking this route.

The Tanju Ridge (part of the Hindu Kush) is the area referred to as Xuan Du in the Han Dynasty.

So, Ma Chao’s journey will take a long time, and even after crossing the mountains, the path won’t be easy.

See you tomorrow at 9:30 AM! Daily updates achieved.