Chapter 305

When the supplies arrived, the Great King mixed some high-energy food brought by Baiyang Xin into the rations.

This time, the scarce provisions went ahead first.

Over these few days of rest, the Great King studied the map eight hundred times, working out which unit would take which route and where they would rendezvous, arranging everything perfectly—only missing giving each soldier a copy of the map.

The supply unit split in two, with an NPC leading the gunpowder crossbows to press the attack; one unit headed toward the Mountain State beyond Yumen Pass, the other went out of Yumen Pass northward, straight for Hou Che Shi.

These two units also brought Tang Qian's infantry, preparing to take over these small states after the Great King withdrew his troops; leaving just two court attendants there would be pointless.

Actually, Tang Qian and Wei Tinghou didn't understand; the Great King kept saying he would build a new checkpoint at the foot of the Tian Shan to lock down the Western Regions' states, making Yumen Pass the second line of defense with the first line moved forward.

When asked why not build it now, the Great King said he had no money.

This left the two even more puzzled, wondering if the money would appear in a few days—but the Great King said what he said, and Wei Tinghou never treated him like a child in serious matters; Tang Qian was also a devoted fan of the Great King, so neither of them pursued the matter further.

They had no idea the Great King was waiting for his Mengmeng's relief; he couldn't afford to build it himself and was hoping to make a profit later.

Thinking about the conscripted laborers for welfare, the Great King meanwhile kept feeding Tang Qian promises, saying he would use his border troops to build that checkpoint, paying them three hundred wen a day.

We have to let these newcomers get a taste of the benefits, so they know that following His Highness Prince You means a bright financial future.

Wei Tinghou watched helplessly as Explosive Old Tang was led astray by his maternal grandson, unable to find his bearings, and only then did he doubt the Great King had that spare money; only Wei Shen's smile was unfathomable—alas, you lot will eventually see the Great King's wealth.

This guy isn't just ordinarily good at making money—he even suspects Zhu Ti is an incarnation of the God of Wealth.

Don't think the schedule is tight; the Great King is actually out to wipe out a state.

Don't waste the people's resources and wealth on a one-off; petty skirmishes are meaningless—after fighting and abandoning them, he'll have to do it all over again.

All right, mainly it's about wasting wealth.

The force raiding the Western Regions also split into two routes; one route, personally led by the Great King with ten thousand cavalry, including Lingyin, Wei Shen, and Wei Ke, headed straight for the northernmost Qian Che Shi.

Another route led by Zhang Tu and Zhou Ke, likewise ten thousand cavalry, they went out of Jade Gate Pass and headed straight southwest to Shanshan.

The forces split into two routes, one south and one north, and finally agreed to rendezvous at Mountain State.

The Great King roughly worked out the marching time, siege time, and rendezvous time for the two detachments. A clear timeline table was laid out line by line and sent together with the map to the commanding officers.

"... "If this expedition goes smoothly, the Western Regions will enjoy peace for several years, and we won't need to send troops all the way from You Prefecture to support the Western Regions again. In this campaign, we must make the Western Regions taste the might of our You Prefecture cavalry, make them turn pale at the mention of You Prefecture, fearing us more than they fear the Xiongnu. Only when they are thoroughly frightened will we have peaceful days."

This expedition will surely be arduous, but for a lasting solution, I hope everyone strives to overcome it.

Comrades, we've been out here a long time; do you miss home? Do you miss You Prefecture?

Yes! Miss home! Miss You Prefecture!

Good! We'll pacify the three states of the Western Regions, retake the Northern Frontier, then return to You Prefecture! We strive for everyone's triumphant return—do you have confidence?

Yes!

Yes!

Yes!

Tang Qian muttered behind him, 'Again, again! Who doesn't know how? When I have free time I'll practice too!'

Wei Tinghou: ……

The Great King's cavalry set out; Wei Tinghou stood on the gate tower of Jade Gate Pass, gazing at a black cloud that would soon vanish, his feelings complex.

Not entirely worry; he also felt pride.

Tang Qian also followed his gaze and looked; to be honest, he was quite envious.

The next generation of the Wei family is quite reliable; looking at them really makes one covetous.

He went to stand beside Wei Tinghou, squeezed out a smile, and said, 'Wei Ke truly is an outstanding talent, and he's also steady and magnanimous...'

Wei Tinghou immediately became wary: 'No marriage alliance. I heard your daughter looks like you. Even for the Crown Prince's great cause, it's no good; having a grandson is fine, but having a granddaughter—what's good about that?'

Tang Qian: ……

He was so angry he took a deep breath, 'My daughter is already married!'

Wei Tinghou deliberately exhaled, 'Then that's good.'

What do you mean, old general? What's wrong with me? My grandson resembles me to an unknown degree; even at a young age, you can see his future mettle...

Wei Tinghou smiled, bringing the topic back: 'Ke'er looks not bad, like when I was young.'

Tang Qian, angered by him, no longer wanted to beat around the bush, got straight to the point: 'I heard he'll later follow the Crown Prince to You Prefecture; Wei Ke also counts as someone our Great General watched grow up. Now I want to entrust Xue Chao and Xue Ming to him, so they can also go to You Prefecture for training. I'm a rough fellow, not comparable to the Great General; beside me they'd learn nothing, so it's better to let them follow the Crown Prince and Wei Ke.'

Hahaha, look, you just need to speak straight! I really can't stand the affected speech of a rough fellow.

Tang Qian: ……

The Crown Prince's occasional mischief surely takes after this old codger!

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The Great King had barely rushed out of Jade Gate Pass when he ran into the Xiongnu corpse wall he himself had created; this fellow frowned, grimaced, spurred his horse and galloped past, shouting that this stretch of sand was no good, refusing to even glance at it.

Wei Shen, contrary to his wishes, followed behind, laughing loudly, insisting on describing to him what those people had become.

Wei Ke, whenever he recalled it, found it unbelievable.

With these two troublemakers who never ceased their joking and squabbling leading the army, they launched a lightning strike on the three states of the Western Regions, and in just a short seven days proclaimed that the three states had vanished from his map.

The Great King first swiftly took Rear Cheshi, then the neighboring Front Cheshi.

The resisting royalty were slaughtered on the spot; those who surrendered were treated according to the rules for prisoners, supposedly to be brought back into the interior for resettlement.

The surrendered troops were also taken back into the interior in the same way as the earlier handling of the Eastern Xianbei. Taking away the able-bodied men also weakened their strength; not taking ordinary civilians was already the Great King showing leniency out of consideration for them being his own people.

Next, the Great King announced that Cheshi was officially conquered, changing the state to a commandery; from now on this place would belong to the Northern Jin as the 'Cheshi Commandery'.

Previously, Cheshi had been split into front and rear parts, but now the Great King manually merged them into a single commandery.

On the spot he selected an attendant he brought as prefect, and also left him an attendant as deputy; from now on these two unlucky ones will have to reclaim land in Cart Master.

Fortunately, they were not isolated and without aid; an army arrived to take temporary military control; the King also assured them that he would immediately incorporate Cart Master into the interior.

When the Western Regions' states were taking advantage of the Great Jin's chaos to get some broth, no one could have imagined that the Prince You's cavalry would so quickly reach the foothills of Heavenly Mountain.