Ten days later, Li Zhongqian, Li Xuanzhen, and their party arrived in Shazhou.
The Northern Rong had issued a border blockade order, with extremely tight security. All passing merchant caravans and travelers were subjected to thorough inspections.
Li Xuanzhen had prepared in advance. Before departing from Liangzhou, he had made arrangements, using a captured spy of Yiqing Grand Princess to forge travel permits and disguise themselves as Northern Rong scouts. Under the pretext of "delivering birthday tributes to Yiqing Grand Princess," they passed through the Northern Rong guards' inspections, smoothly infiltrated the pass, and even boldly stayed at Northern Rong relay stations along the way, taking the most expedient routes and demanding the best and fastest horses.
Occasionally, some guards grew suspicious of their identities. The captured spy would then fly into a rage, berating the guards with an overbearing and arrogant attitude, threatening to report them to Yiqing Grand Princess at the Yi Province court and have them banished to Samarkand to endure the harsh northwestern winds.
Samarkand was even farther than Suiye, Kang, and Shi, rich in resources and a hub for merchants. It lay precisely on the northern route of the Silk Road to Persia, where countless caravans passed through, continuously transporting Central Plains goods like silk, porcelain, and tea to the West. Its geographical location was strategically critical. In recent years, the Northern Rong had rapidly expanded, and Wahan Khan had long coveted all the fertile lands north and south of the Pamirs. He had previously dispatched an expedition that reached as far as Samarkand, but no news had been heard from them since.
Within the Northern Rong, hierarchy was strict, and most soldiers were of common origin, all fearing banishment to Samarkand as a death sentence.
The guards, already half-convinced and half-doubting, dared not offend the seemingly authoritative retinue and promptly let them pass.
The spy informed Li Xuanzhen and the others that after Yiqing Grand Princess married into the Turks, she had successively wed the old Khan and his two sons. Later, their branch submitted to the Northern Rong, and Yiqing Grand Princess fell into the hands of a Northern Rong noble, who happened to be Haidu Aling's mentor.
Haidu Aling's Chinese language skills were taught by Yiqing Grand Princess. His profound understanding of Central Plains customs, culture, and the courts of various states was thanks to her unreserved instruction.
The group traveled day and night, braving the elements. The weather grew increasingly cold, with vast, desolate wilderness stretching in all directions. For days, they saw no sign of an oasis, only horse bones, camel bones, and even human bones scattered across the sand dunes.
Occasionally, they passed by towns built around oases. They would sneak into these settlements to gather information from the commoners but found nothing. The civilians were pale-faced and expressionless, too afraid to speak with strangers.
Fearing that further inquiries would arouse suspicion, they had no choice but to give up.
Li Xuanzhen's expression grew somber.
The further northwest they traveled, the more he realized the people's lives were even more arduous than he had previously imagined.
Shazhou and Guazhou had now fallen to the Northern Rong. Along the way, they observed that all commoners, whether of Hu or Han descent, were forced to adopt Northern Rong customs: braided hair, left-lapelled clothing, speaking the Hu language, and performing Hu rituals. The Northern Rong maintained a strict hierarchy, with the lower-class populace treated like livestock, living in miserable conditions.
Whenever Northern Rong soldiers passed by, ordinary people had to step aside to the roadside, bow respectfully, and avoid direct eye contact. Anyone who spoke loudly or looked up at the Northern Rong soldiers was deemed disrespectful, lightly punished with public flogging, or severely with hand amputation or eye gouging, meeting a tragic end.
Li Xuanzhen, fearing exposure of their identities, could not intervene when they encountered Northern Rong soldiers oppressing the people along the way. He could only grit his teeth in silence.On one occasion, they witnessed Northern Rong soldiers driving a group of elderly people out of the city—gaunt, white-haired figures in tattered clothes. Many men and women wept as they chased after them, tears streaming down their faces, wailing their final farewells before being forced back by the soldiers.
The elders, their faces streaked with tears, glanced back at their families in the city one last time before wiping their eyes and trudging away.
The city gates echoed with heart-wrenching sobs.
Li Xuanzhen clenched his fists and asked the spy, "What crime have they committed? Where are they being driven?"
The spy whispered in reply, "The Northern Rong value martial prowess above all, prizing strength and despising weakness. Every winter, they order all clans to expel those over sixty who can no longer farm or hunt... to avoid wasting food. Those who disobey must pay a tax—five taels of gold, ten sheep, or one horse, three dan of grain, or twenty felt blankets per person..."
For ordinary families enduring the harsh winter with no surplus grain, already burdened by heavy taxes to appease the Northern Rong, where could they find five taels of gold to redeem their elders?
Most elders, unwilling to burden their families, could only be driven to desolate, freezing lands to await death.
The parting at the city gates was a final, eternal separation.
The Central Plains travelers listening to this burned with righteous indignation.
How could such inhuman cruelty exist in this world!
Li Zhongqian signaled his guards to remain calm with a look—they were here to find someone, and it was best not to invite trouble.
He only wanted to rescue Bright Moon Slave; others' fates were none of his concern.
Leaving Shazhou behind, they passed five beacon towers and traversed eight hundred li of barren, uninhabited desert, drawing ever closer to Yi Province.
One day, while resting beneath a wind-eroded earthen mound pocked with hollows, Li Xuanzhen dispatched several guards to Gaochang, Qiuci, and other regions separately.
Li Zhongqian asked warily, "Why send them to Gaochang?"
Li Xuanzhen drew lines in the sand with his finger: "Here lies Yi Province, here Gaochang, Yanqi, Qiuci—this area forms the Northern Silk Road. When the dynasty was stable, it established prefectures and counties here with garrison troops. The trade routes were peaceful and prosperous then. After the Central Plains fell into chaos and the Western Regions were lost, the routes were cut off. Now most of these places submit to the Northern Rong."
"The Northern Rong's customs are savage—they suppress tribes with iron-fisted brutality and allow soldiers to plunder merchant caravans. Though these small kingdoms may pledge allegiance to the Northern Rong under duress, some surely still yearn for the Central Plains dynasty, especially since most nobles descend from prominent clans of the Hexi region."
"Since we're heading to the Northern Rong court to rescue someone, we might as well send scouts to test the waters—see if we can persuade them to coordinate with us from within, perhaps even unite against the Northern Rong in the future."
Li Zhongqian nodded, understanding Li Xuanzhen's plan.
They were deep in the Western Regions with no support; finding allies was prudent.
First, if discovered by the Northern Rong, they could flee to these territories. Second, with local assistance, their chances of returning safely to the Central Plains would improve. Third, naturally, it served the greater strategy of reclaiming lost territories for the court.
Li Zhongqian cared little for the third point—once he rescued Li Yaoying, he would take her straight back to the Central Plains.
"There's one more place I may need to visit personally."
Li Xuanzhen tapped a point furthest north.
"A Buddhist kingdom lies here, blocking the Northern Rong's expansion. The Northern Rong Khan once lost to its ruler—the Western Regions kingdoms must harbor their own calculations about this."Li Zhongqian furrowed his thick brows slightly: "The Buddhist Kingdom?"
Li Xuanzhen pursed his chapped lips and said, "The Royal Court reveres Buddhism. Their ruler is a high monk. About eleven years ago, he led troops to repel the Northern Rong Khan, gaining fame throughout the Western Regions."
Two years ago, Li Xuanzhen, Li De, and their advisors had discussed the possibility of reclaiming the Western Regions.
At that time, they all believed that for the Central Plains to recover the Western Regions would be equivalent to snatching food from the increasingly powerful Northern Rong—a fierce tiger.
Moreover, to the north of the Western Regions lay a prosperous nation that could not be underestimated. Their ruler was widely renowned and deeply loved by the people. With a single command, the entire country would follow him into battle.
Li Xuanzhen sighed: "Eleven years ago, the Northern Rong Khan was in his prime, arrogant and invincible, yet he suffered a major defeat at the hands of the Buddha Prince. This ruler is a prodigious talent. If he had ambitions for expansion, he would surely be a formidable adversary... Fortunately, he is an enlightened high monk, devoted to protecting the Buddhist Kingdom, with no signs of outward expansion."
"Haidu Aling is cunning and deceitful. I don't know if we can successfully rescue Bright Moon Slave. I'll first send people to gather information along the Gaochang route. If necessary, I will personally go to the Buddhist Kingdom, reveal my identity to the Buddha Prince, and request his assistance. The Buddhist Kingdom and Northern Rong have numerous conflicts; if I propose an alliance, he might agree to join forces with us."
"Once we reach Yi Province, if circumstances change, we'll each find our own way out. If we manage to escape Northern Rong safely, we'll meet up in the Buddhist Kingdom."
Having led troops in battle over the years, Li Zhongqian had his own strategic insights. Though he wasn't deeply familiar with the Western Regions, a moment's reflection allowed him to grasp the current situation. His mind raced as he weighed the pros and cons, and he nodded in agreement.
Li Xuanzhen had been compliant throughout the journey. Until Bright Moon Slave was safe, Li Zhongqian could endure temporarily and refrain from killing Li Xuanzhen.
Once Bright Moon Slave was rescued, he would take action.
...
While Li Zhongqian and the others crossed eight hundred li of desert and headed toward Yi Province, Yaoying was traveling south.
To avoid the Northern Rong young prince and his party, they had been traveling hurriedly for several days.
The world was frozen, ice stretching for thousands of li. As far as the eye could see, everything was a brilliant, crystalline white. Snow-capped peaks stretched along the horizon, their summits shrouded in mist and clouds, only occasionally revealing jagged outlines—magnificent and majestic.
Tanmoroqie's Falcon had been following them, acting as a scout, patrolling and keeping watch.
Whether it was sunny or snowy, Yaoying often caught glimpses of it soaring high in the sky.
One day, watching the Falcon swoop down and land on Su Dan Gu's shoulder, she remembered something that had been on her mind for days. She called Qinian over and asked if any Hu merchants sold messenger falcons.
Qinian thought for a long moment, then shook his head: "There are many Hu merchants who sell falcons, but I haven't heard of any selling messenger falcons. Does the Princess wish to raise a falcon? This servant can make inquiries for you."
Yaoying shook her head, dismissing the idea.
A loyal, well-trained messenger falcon was a rare find. Both Tanmoroqie and Haidu Aling's falcons had been raised and trained from fledglings. Moreover, messenger falcons needed to be familiar with their environment to be useful. Even if she could buy one, it wouldn't be of much use in the short term.
She stared wistfully at the Falcon, lost in thought. The Falcon stood on Su Dan Gu's shoulder, its sharp eyes glancing at her.
Yaoying chuckled softly and took out a piece of dried meat.
The Falcon glanced at her.
Yaoying turned her face away, not looking at it, her palm held upward.
After a moment, a slight sting touched her palm—the Falcon had snatched the dried meat from her hand.As the girl and her falcon were playing, the procession suddenly halted. Yuanjue, who had been leading the way, wheeled his horse around and galloped back. "Bandits ahead!"
Alarmed, the group swiftly assumed defensive positions. Guards drew their long sabers, forming a protective formation around Li Yaoying, while Qinian and others scrambled onto the large carts. Su Dan Gu turned, his calm green eyes visible beneath the mask as he gestured to Yuanjue.
Yuanjue acknowledged the order and retreated to Yaoying's side, signaling everyone to take cover on a nearby hill. Once the group had withdrawn to higher ground, Yaoying peered into the distance and spotted a gang of armed men charging toward them, brandishing clubs and blades. Their menacing aura glinted coldly in the light.
These bandits were cunning—using the terrain to conceal their tracks and muffle their horses' hooves, each draped in white cloaks that made them nearly invisible against the snowy marshland. Even the falcon had failed to detect them.
The bandits closed in with raucous shouts, reaching the convoy in mere moments. Xie Qing drew her saber and spurred her horse forward, but a Royal Court guard raised a hand to stop her, all eyes fixed on Su Dan Gu as they held their breath.
Yaoying followed their gaze. Su Dan Gu had ordered everyone to fall back while he advanced alone, guiding his horse to an elevated spot with unshakable composure. Her heart tightened—was he planning to take on all the bandits single-handedly?
Yuanjue rode up behind him, presenting a horn bow and several iron-tipped arrows. Su Dan Gu shed his black cloak, took up the bow, nocked an arrow, and drew the string taut, his arms extending like a gibbon's. Instantly, all the biting intensity of the rugged snow path seemed to coalesce around him.
The bandit leader sneered at the sight and pressed onward. An ordinary expert could shoot a hundred paces at most—what use were arrows at this distance, through whirling snow? Mere intimidation!
But Su Dan Gu remained motionless, arrow aimed into the distance, waiting.
As the bandits drew nearer, he still hadn't loosed the arrow. Xie Chong and Xie Peng grew restless—if they didn't establish defenses soon, they'd be trapped once the attackers reached them!
Yaoying shook her head at them, signaling patience.
The bandits' arrogant laughter carried on the wind. Then—several faint twangs of the bowstring, and the iron arrows shot forth like rainbows piercing the sun, cleaving through wind and snow to strike the marauders.
The distance was so great that the Hu leader initially showed no alarm, raising his saber to block. But as he lifted the blade, a whistling filled his ears—the arrow struck like lightning, embedding itself in his chest!
The chieftain stared in disbelief, face contorted, eyes bulging with fury. He tried to wrench the arrow out, only to realize its extraordinary force: from over two hundred paces, it had pierced straight through his armor!
His companions gaped at the wound in horror.
"Charge on!" the leader gritted out, urging his horse forward.
Su Dan Gu stood atop the snowy rise, looking down upon the distant bandits as if they were ants. He drew the bow again—whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—sending a second, third, and fourth arrow flying in relentless succession.
With a heavy thud, the Hu leader toppled from his saddle, mouth agape, eyes wide in death, his chest bristling with iron arrows. Every shot had struck him alone—each carrying overwhelming force, yet delivered with the ethereal ease of plucking a flower.Witnessing their leader's death, the others were terrified and dared not urge their horses forward. They didn't even bother to retrieve their leader's corpse, immediately turning their horses around and scattering in all directions.
Su Dan Gu did not continue shooting arrows.
Xie Chong and his companions watched in awe, whispering, "The Regent's archery skills are truly formidable."
With the bandits having fled and unlikely to return, the group descended the hill and continued their journey.
Xie Chong and the others remained vigilant, drawing their swords at the sound of approaching hoofbeats.
Yuanjue smiled reassuringly: "Don't worry. The bandits roaming this region of Gaochang are either displaced commoners or vagrants hired by nobles. Most aren't truly vicious - just a disorderly mob. With their leader killed by the Regent, the rest naturally dispersed. We won't encounter any more roadblocks all the way to Gaochang."
Though skeptical, Xie Chong maintained his alertness. Yet just as Yuanjue had predicted, the remainder of their journey proceeded peacefully without further bandit encounters.
Two days later, they safely arrived at Gaochang.
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