Chapter 80
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Western Regions Chronicle (1)
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As soon as we left Han territory, the landscape changed completely, leaving me breathless.
"...Ptooey."
Sand and grit crunched between my teeth. An endless desert stretched before us, with the sun blazing mercilessly overhead.
My elite cavalry managed to hold on since they were lightly armored, but the central army was another story.
"Huff... huff..."
"Heok... heok..."
The soldiers clad in gleaming heavy plate were caked in sweat and dust, barely keeping their balance atop their horses.
But my eyes weren't on the central army soldiers—they were fixed on the carriage where Mai Lieze had holed up.
The carriage was utterly silent, like a tomb.
'He hasn't succumbed to the heat, has he?'
I wheeled my horse around and rapped on the carriage door with the butt of my whip.
"Elder, you still with us?"
"...Ugh... This old man's fine... Just keep the march going..."
A weak voice crawled out from inside. At least he was still alive.
After checking on Mai Lieze's condition, I led the soldiers onward in silence—when suddenly, the weary central army troops erupted in cheers.
"Look over there!!"
"Water! It's water!"
Far beyond the sand dunes at the end of their stares, a blue oasis and fortress walls shimmered faintly.
"Ooh! Water and walls!!"
The central army soldiers looked ready to bolt toward it, but they held formation—worthy of elites, at least.
I, on the other hand, was nothing short of baffled.
'No such place on the map.'
I recalled the weathered map from Mai Lieze, chronicling Ban Chao's western campaigns.
Terrain could shift, sure—but a massive oasis and fortress didn't sprout overnight. And atop a dune? More likely a mirage.
"Halt the entire army!"
I spurred to the front, blocking their path, and bellowed.
"That's an illusion! Don't squander your strength on eye tricks! Reform ranks!"
"Eh? An illusion?"
Just as the troops halted in confusion at my roar—
—Waaaaaah!
Not from the mirage's direction.
Hundreds of nomadic bandits burst from behind the left dune, howling war cries.
"Enemies! Ambush!"
The central army cried out in panic.
The bandits ignored the vanguard, zeroing in on the rear—our laden logistics caravan.
"Those arrogant scum dare eye my meal ticket?"
A scoff escaped me.
Casually, I drew a signal arrow from my quiver and loosed it skyward.
—Sweeeee!
"Scatter the army! Give those vermin a taste of arrows!"
Mai Lieze's central army flailed in panic, scrambling into a defensive ring around the carriage. My thousand elite cavalry? Different story.
"Commandery Administrator's order! Scatter!"
They fanned left and right in seconds, charging while unleashing arrow storms on the bandits.
"Gaaak!"
"Arrows! Scatter!"
The rear-rushing bandits plunged into chaos from the barrage, milling in disarray.
"Zhang Liao!"
"Yes!"
"Take their heads!"
"On it!"
Zhang Liao led a hundred swift light cavalry straight into the flank of the arrow-dazed bandits.
—Thud!
Without pause, he speared the neck of their apparent leader.
"Kraaak!"
"Boss is down! Run!"
The fight ended in a blink. The bandits broke and fled into the sands.
Zhang Liao sauntered back, bloodied spear in hand. All before the central army finished their ring.
Mai Lieze and Ban Lang stared blankly from the carriage window, faces drained of color in shock.
Ban Lang muttered in disbelief.
"How did they rout the bandits so fast—"
Ignoring their whispers, we stripped usable loot from the bandit corpses.
After crushing the bandits and pressing on, a small oasis appeared—one absent from the old map.
Our column encircled it upon approach, and locals drawing water emerged.
Murmurs rippled through the ranks at the sight of the tribesfolk.
"Th-those... are they human?"
Wei Sok beside me rubbed his eyes and yelled.
"Brother! Not Xiongnu either! What are they? Noses like that... hair like beast pelts!"
Wei Sok had it right.
Eyes deeper-set than Han or barbarians, noses strikingly high, some with red or tawny hair instead of black.
Spotting us, they screeched wildly, bundling children into tents and snatching up rusty spears and bows.
"My lord, they're hostile. Your order—"
Zhang Liao's hand drifted to his spear.
"Hold."
Tinderbox moment.
As Mai Lieze's central army groped for sword hilts, Ban Lang stepped up.
He doffed his helmet and shouted in their tongue.
"Fear not! We are the delegation from His Majesty the Han Emperor! Not here to harm you!"
Ban Chao's kin flashing the Han banner worked—their wariness eased.
I seized the opening.
"Captain Ban. Relay this."
"Yes, Commandery Administrator."
"We need water and rations. No raiders here—if they provide, we'll pay in silk."
"Got it."
Ban Lang translated; the apparent chief's eyes bulged. Distrust lingered, so I displayed bolts of silk.
Silk in sight, they fetched fresh water, lamb, and dried fruits pronto.
Fair trade over pillage—they lowered arms and unwound.
"Commandery Administrator Yeo. They ask our destination—answer?"
"Go ahead. Oh, and request guides to Xianxian if possible."
"Understood."
We hired their sharpest locals as guides. Their lead cut long desert hours.
Oases dotted with tribes—some hosted us warmly, others quailed.
No desire for strife, and future caravan path ahead—we trod lightly.
Bandits lusting after our silk hoards? Beheaded clean, no mercy.
At last, a guide pointed to the horizon.
"Largest realm here: 'Xianxian'."
"Whoa, that's..."
A vast oasis and city walls pierced the sand haze. Modest scale, but first grand walls past Han borders.
Han banners forward, walls stirred to life.
Gazing up, I said.
"Captain Ban. Send word of our purpose."
"Yes, sir."
King An of Xianxian lounged askew on a low divan. Throne long scrapped—no need to mind Han anymore.
"Your Majesty! Han soldiers at the gates!"
Brows knit at the urgent report.
"They sent a herald calling themselves envoys, begging audience."
".....!"
Courtiers buzzed; An licked parched lips.
'So... it's here.'
Had word of Han army outbound. Reality at the gates? Chest constricted.
"...Hah."
Xianxian tightroped Xiongnu-Han for decades.
Xiongnu ascendant? Cling. Han strong? Tribute. Post-Emperor Huan, Han grip on West vanished.
Protectorate dissolved, Silk Road severed.
"Why army now? Trade revival? Or... Protectorate reborn, us subjugated? Thoughts?"
Court cleaved.
"Fear not, Majesty. Scant numbers. Protectorate bid means tens of thousands. Trade envoys, surely."
An slammed the divan in fury.
"Forgot Ban Chao?!"
Court iced.
"Ban Chao, mere 38 souls—beheaded Xiongnu envoy, laid West at Han feet!"
Another ventured warily.
"Yet... Northern Xiongnu eyes us. Rash welcome risks wrath. Neighbors watch."
An's skull throbbed. Damned if you do...
Court stalled split; he silenced with raised hand.
"Quiet! Fetch the shaman now."
"Yes, Majesty!"
Soon, exotic-jewelled mystic woman glided in.
"Guide my choice: Receive Han envoys or repel?"
Eyes shut, she chanted—then prophesied in limpid tone.
"Shut gates, and they shall open them."
".....!"
"Shun tomorrow's woe, court not today's doom."
Unambiguous.
'Tomorrow's woe': Xiongnu reprisal.
'Today's doom': Han host at threshold.
An exhaled long.
"...Prophecy heard? Open gates. Ready Han welcome."
Gasp-cries of "Majesty!"—but An rose, crown straightened.
"No... I go forth to greet the Han envoys myself."
Resolute stride.
Gates creaked upward soon after Ban Lang declared us Han delegation.
Expected troops first—instead, splendid-robed officials emerged.
Foremost: obvious king.
"Brother, that's the king, eh? Out personally... wild."
"Hm... Didn't peg him for it."
I took Zhang Liao and a hundred elite cavalry, escorting Mai Lieze's carriage ahead.
Facing off, Mai Lieze alit with gravitas, Ban Lang interpreting.
"I am Mai Lieze, Han envoy. Who might you be?"
"King An of Xianxian. Delighted to host Han envoys."
"Deeply grateful Your Majesty greets this old servant thus."
Mai Lieze bowed first; An smiled easy.
"Xianxian and Han—old comrades! Exchanges lapsed, worry mounted. Emperor dispatches envoys anew; I emerge to welcome and learn his will. Ha!"
Laughter boomed. Gaze slid past Mai Lieze—to me, my cavalry behind—lingering, then Ban Lang.
"...Superb interpreter. Han blood, yet masters our speech? Marvel."
Ban Lang bowed Han-style, polite.
"Han Captain Ban Lang. Ancestor held Western Regions Protectorate; learned from kin elders."
'Ban Lang'—'ancestor Protectorate' dropped: An and retinue blanched pallid.
"Ba... Ban lineage... your forebear?"
"Aye, Ban Chao."
"...Ha... H-how such coincidence!"
An stammered.
Eyed Ban Lang fear-struck, then deference redoubled.
"Ha... Oversight mine. Such august guests—! Enter! Banquet readied in palace; His Majesty's will there."
"Yes, Majesty!"
An led to palace.
Stunned by his sudden abject courtesy, we trailed.