Chapter 1377: Resolution: Crossing the Shifting Sands

"Your Majesty truly never abandoned us!" Inside the felt tent, Yang Ye let out a deeply moved sigh.

"Never once!" Wang Yinwu affirmed with certainty: "Over these past months, Hexi has received several imperial decrees. Your Majesty strictly ordered that the soldiers' whereabouts must be found—each decree more urgent than the last. Your Majesty and the court have always firmly believed that the soldiers would surely escape danger and survive!"

After determining that the expeditionary army had retreated westward, the court even decided, at the very end of the Northern Expedition, to restart the western advance and send reinforcements to the Western Regions, so as to receive the soldiers on their return.

Since the beginning of spring, twenty thousand royal troops have marched west from He-Long. By now, they should already have entered the Western Regions and joined the fighting there!"

Hearing this, Yang Ye and the others exchanged glances, joy showing on their faces. Looking at Wang Yinwu, Yang Ye said: "Director Wang, we are hiding in a remote corner of the world, cut off from all news, knowing nothing of the Great Han's situation. We don't know the current state of the realm or how the Northern Expedition is progressing. I hope you can enlighten us!"

To this question, Wang Yinwu naturally did not stint on answers. He described in detail the progress of the Northern Expedition's central and eastern armies. When they learned that the Han army had taken all of Liaodong, recovered all of Monan, that the Liao sovereign had fled north, and the Hu barbarians had retreated far away, they could not help but feel their hearts soar with excitement.

While taking pride in the Great Han's martial achievements, there was also no small measure of regret. Yang Ye said: "What a pity that we could not personally experience such a grand undertaking. The battle at Mobei ended in defeat, and we fled west in disgrace!"

"Lord Yang need not say such things!" Hearing this, Wang Yinwu immediately said: "As for the expeditionary army, everyone in the military holds them in the highest esteem. Light cavalry ranging across remote lands, galloping freely, fighting under harsh conditions—this is the conduct of true men. Though they suffered some setbacks, they swept through Mobei, threw Liao's rear into chaos, and left it unable to support its operations in Monan.

I have heard that had the expeditionary army not struck deep into Liao's heartland, giving it fewer troops to send south, the outcome of the Great Han's counterattack at Shanyang would have been uncertain, and the Great Han's northern border might have suffered far greater destruction!

Moreover, though Liao gathered its forces and overwhelmed the expeditionary army by sheer numbers, over these past months Liao's position in Mobei has deteriorated daily. The tribes are divided, each harboring their own schemes, mired in chaos. The Khitan's rule over Mobei has fallen into a great crisis, and they can no longer command the loyalty of the masses.

Therefore, the expeditionary army's soldiers fought bitterly and achieved great merit!"

Though Wang Quanbin's words were not without flattery and praise, his line of reasoning was sound. At least within the court, when merits and faults were being assessed, no final verdict had been reached on the Mobei expeditionary army due to their unknown whereabouts—but Emperor Liu's attitude was already quite clear.

Perhaps because of the great defeat, it was impossible to give the commanding generals overly high praise and rewards—just as Liu Tinghan, who had been defeated in Monan, had his merits and faults weighed evenly. But the achievements of the ordinary soldiers were still fully recognized, and they were rewarded and compensated.

As for Yang Ye and the others, more than personal honor and merit, they naturally hoped to receive the court's recognition. Having endured such a cruel and arduous expedition, having paid with so many soldiers' lives, they needed that recognition—otherwise, they would be failing the loyal soldiers who had sacrificed themselves for the Great Han.

"Director Wang's insight is quite extraordinary!" Perhaps because Wang Yinwu's words had pleased him, Liu Fang's face broke into a slight smile as he spoke.

"Your Highness flatters me!" Wang Yinwu hurriedly responded: "I merely express my respect for the expeditionary army's soldiers. I only wish I could have been one of them, riding across Mobei with the army!"

Hearing this, all three of Yang Ye's companions nodded, and even Wang Yansheng's sickly face showed a hint of satisfaction.

After a moment's deliberation, Yang Ye looked at Wang Yinwu and said: "Director Wang received orders to search for us, enduring untold hardships, trekking through foreign lands, coming all the way to the Golden Mountains. On behalf of all the soldiers, both publicly and personally, I welcome you and thank you!"

As Yang Ye said this, Wang Yinwu was about to exchange pleasantries, but Yang Ye interrupted: "Since we are all among friends here, I will speak frankly!"

"Please speak, Lord Yang!" Wang Yinwu instinctively grew serious.

"At present, our army's situation is extremely difficult. Food supplies are critically short—before spring arrived, we were nearly at the point of complete collapse.

These past days, the soldiers have united in purpose, gathering and fishing and hunting, barely managing to sustain ourselves. Our soldiers are all battle-hardened veterans, yet our situation is like that of displaced refugees—living day to day, with no certainty of safety.

Your arrival, Director, has brought hope to all the soldiers. After nearly half a year drifting in foreign lands, we will finally have a way home!"

"The soldiers have worked hard!" Yang Ye's words seemed to stir empathy in Wang Yinwu. His eyes glistened slightly as he spoke in a low voice. He recalled the arduous journey of his western mission over a decade ago, but compared to that, the expeditionary army's experience was perhaps even more bitter.

Yang Ye continued: "To be honest, before Director Wang arrived, I, Old General Wang, and His Highness had already made a decision—to break camp, cross the desert southward, and return to the Great Han through the Western Regions! It was a desperate gamble for survival, fraught with worry, but now we have even more confidence!"

After Yang Ye finished speaking, Wang Yinwu was silent for a moment, considering. Then he clasped his hands and said: "Lord Yang, crossing the shifting sands southward is still too dangerous. More importantly, south of the sands lie the Luntai and Beitai regions, still in Liao army hands, with the Tianshan range stretching across the south. Breaking through would be extremely difficult.

Now that we have found you, I suggest taking a detour—marching southeast along the mountain foothills. The road may be desolate, but it is far safer. I can also send word to Hexi, having Governor Lu prepare troops and supplies for support, and return directly to the Great Han!"

Wang Yinwu's thinking was simple and clear: since the expeditionary army had been found, the most important objective had been achieved.

"Your Highness, Old General, what do you think?" Hearing his opinion, Yang Ye asked Liu Fang and Wang Yansheng.

Liu Yang could clearly sense from Yang Ye's tone that he had other ideas. After a moment's thought, he said: "I am but one man under command; I shall follow military orders."

Wang Yansheng was even more direct. Uninterested in speaking in riddles or playing guessing games, he asked bluntly: "Chonggui, speak your mind directly!"

"This matter is not something I can decide with a single word!" Yang Ye sighed. "I had intended to continue with the previously agreed plan, but with Director Wang's arrival, the situation has changed. As he says, taking a detour to avoid the desert is indeed safer!"

The moment he said this, Wang Yansheng immediately stated his position: "If not for Wang Yinwu, our army's road lies to the south—we might even be ready to march within days!

Decades ago, Khitan iron cavalry crossed the shifting sands and subjugated the Western Uyghurs; ten years ago, the Liao army's western campaign also took this route. The same road—if the Khitan could walk it, why can't our Great Han soldiers walk it once?

We've retreated all the way from Mobei to this place, enduring a thousand hardships and ten thousand difficulties. What's a little more distance?"

Of course, Wang Yansheng's attitude wasn't purely about saving face or making bold declarations. After exchanging a glance with Yang Ye, he roughly understood Yang Ye's considerations.

Among those present, Wang Yansheng was probably the most familiar with the Western Regions' situation besides Wang Yinwu. Through his conversation with Wang Yinwu, he had gained the latest understanding of the situation there, which broadened their thinking.

Wang Yansheng, with his low, hoarse yet forceful tone, fixed his eyes on Wang Yinwu and said: "Director Wang just said that the Western Regions are currently contested by three parties—the Great Han, the Kara-Khanids, and Liao—each checking the other, locked in stalemate?"

Wang Yinwu nodded. Such military intelligence was naturally collected by the Wude Office, and as the leader of the He-Long region, he was naturally familiar with it.

"In truth, since autumn of last year, it has been the Kara-Khanids contending with the Great Han. The Liao army is but a remnant, having retreated to hold the northern side of the Tianshan. They hold only the two cities of Luntai and Beitai, with no more than four thousand troops and even fewer civilians. They survive only by relying on mountain terrain, holding the passes, eking out a precarious existence.

General Guo Jin once wanted to march north to attack and eliminate this Liao force, then drive the Kara-Khanid army out of the Western Regions. However, constrained by insufficient troops and the check of the Kara-Khanid forces, he could not carry it out.

This time, the court has sent troops west as reinforcement. There are already nearly thirty thousand Han soldiers in the Western Regions. Add the Uyghur auxiliaries and the Uyghur remnant tribesmen who went of their own accord, and the forces are quite ample. With Hexi also dispatching grain and weapons as support, even if the Kara-Khanids and Liao joined forces, they would be no match."

"Are the two lords thinking of seizing the two cities held by the Liao remnants?" As he spoke, realization dawned on Wang Yinwu, and he asked in surprise.

"Director Wang truly has insight!" Yang Ye also spoke, his expression turning serious: "Originally we only wished to return home. If we can, along the way, coordinate with the soldiers in the Western Regions to take the Liao army entrenched at Luntai and Beitai, that would count as atoning for our crimes through merit!"

"This old man absolutely refuses to return home in disgrace!" Wang Yansheng's aged eyes grew exceptionally sharp: "That remnant force's situation is no better than ours. Both are isolated armies. If we strike from two sides, our army will descend like heavenly soldiers, catching them completely off guard!"

In just this brief moment, Wang Yansheng and Yang Ye had nearly reached a consensus. Hearing this, however, Wang Yinwu furrowed his brow and hesitated: "Is this not too risky? The soldiers are in such poor condition—how can we guarantee their fighting strength? And a two-pronged attack, though a good strategy, would be extremely difficult to coordinate north and south. Combined operations would be hard to time properly, and the slightest mistake could bring total collapse.

Your Highness, my lords, I believe the soldiers have already endured enough. There is truly no need to take further risks!"

"We will handle the soldiers' fighting capability. As for setting the time and contacting the Western Regions, that will be Director Wang's responsibility—do it quickly and efficiently!" Yang Ye looked at Wang Yinwu and said with forceful determination.

By Wang Yinwu's own thinking, he was naturally reluctant. For him, safely bringing the expeditionary army back would already be no small achievement. However, this was entirely beyond his control. Though Director Wang was a big figure in Hexi and the entire northwest, before Yang Ye and the other two, he had no standing to argue.

Facing the gazes of the three, he could only sigh, clasp his hands, and say: "I will do my best!"

"Good! Then we should discuss and settle on an appropriate time to strike!" Yang Ye said.

Wang Yinwu quickly adjusted his mindset and began considering the matter, estimating the time needed for messages to travel, coordination, and plan implementation, then gave an answer.

As he was pondering, he heard Yang Ye's voice again: "The prince and his brother need not accompany the army. They shall return to Hexi together with Director Wang!"

At these words, Liu Fang abruptly stood up, nearly kicking over his rush stool, and stared at Yang Ye: "Commander, what do you mean by this?"

A slight smile appeared on Yang Ye's face as he calmly replied: "Your Highness, since you are in the army and have always considered yourself a subordinate, you should know the principle that military orders are as immovable as mountains!"

Liu Fang certainly understood Yang Ye's intent. By his nature, he would have wanted to argue, but noticing Yang Ye's calm gaze and hearing his words, he finally let out a wistful sigh: "If Brother Liu Fang leaves, how can his heart be at ease? In the future, what face will he have to face the comrades who shared life and death with him to this very day?"

Yang Ye remained unmoved, saying solemnly: "Liu Fang, hear the order!"

"Here!"

"You are ordered to accompany Director Wang back to Hexi with Liu Min, to report the military situation and coordinate operations!" Yang Ye said.

"Understood!"

Of this arrangement, none was more satisfied than Wang Yinwu. In his eyes, as long as the two princes were safe, that was enough. The safety of the entire expeditionary army was secondary—even if they were all lost, it mattered not.

And Yang Ye's military order hit the mark perfectly! He secretly rejoiced, and his gaze toward Yang Ye grew even more admiring, feeling that this Lord Yang was truly considerate.

Yang Ye's gaze shifted over as well, staring at Wang Yinwu with a somewhat cold look. Clearly, he had long seen through that little scheme of his. This man—no matter how sincere his words sounded—had never truly cared about the officers and soldiers of the expeditionary army from start to finish!