Chapter 1: The Suspended Spring

The dawn in the northwest is dry and cold, the outline of the Qilian Mountains becomes clear, the Silk Road leading to the Western Regions appears faintly, and the distant sounds of barking dogs from the garrison troops can be heard

As for Su Yanniang, he remained seated at the desk, repeatedly reciting Ren Hong's words; he had already memorized this minor official from Xuanquan

Half a year has passed, and Ren Hong has adapted quite well. From being an ordinary person, he has managed to secure a position as an assistant at Xuanquan, earning a salary that allows him to live comfortably, and he has begun to contemplate his future prospects

Like a clap of thunder

Before inexplicably arriving in this world, he had specifically driven to the Gobi Desert to search for the "Xuanquan Site," but he never dreamed that his fate would be closely tied to this ancient post station from two thousand years ago

... ...

Once upon a time, whether as a student conducting research with a mentor or traveling independently, he had nearly traversed all the famous scenic spots and rivers of the Western Regions

As an assistant at Xuanquan, a minor official in charge of food distribution, my salary is not high, yet I have to manage everything

Ren Hong pretended to rise and cupped his hands in apology to the two, for he had just stolen a famous saying from Ban Chao, which was made a hundred years later.

However, Ren Hong did not return.

Having said that, Chen Pengzu glared at Ren Hongdao and said, "Child, do you still dare to speak of going to foreign lands to seek fame?"

If you ask me ... ...

Hard work pays off for those who are diligent, it has finally arrived

Only the officials and soldiers stationed at Xuanquan Zhi suffer, as they must rise early and retire late, carefully attending to their duties

What Ren Hong is concerned about is the name that appears multiple times in this conversation about both literature and martial arts:

"Never." However, Ren Hong thought to himself: "Of course I have been there, there is also the Yadan Devil City, the ticket price is 80 yuan per person..."

Su and Chen were taken aback and turned around, just in time to see a young clerk suddenly rise, throwing down his pen and shouting angrily:

Ren Hong had already reached the door when he heard the words and turned back to say

Chen Pengzu frowned and said: "Even if we pass through the White Dragon Mound, there are still the thirty-six countries of the Western Regions, each with their own languages that differ from those of the Central Plains. An ordinary person who goes there would be left speechless, unable to even get a meal! What will you do?"

The illustrious names that shine in the annals of history: Huo Guang, Su Wu, Liu Bingyi, are temporarily not to be relied upon

Some words are better expressed in person by oneself

This is the morning of Xuanquan Zhi

Emperor Wu of Han has been dead for a long time, and the "transcender" Wang Mang should not have been born yet. This year is the third year of the Yuanfeng era, the ninth year of Emperor Zhao of Han, Liu Fuling's reign.

Chen Pengzu walked to the table and saw that the transcription of their talismans had indeed been completed on the simple surface carved from the poplar wood, and the clerical script was beautifully written; such multitasking skills were quite rare

Ren Hong suppressed the urge to yawn, kneeling behind the table, spreading out the ink and brush, squinting to observe the two documents presented before him—namely, the introduction letter and the pass from the Han Dynasty.

Or, according to the unwritten rules of the Han people, referred to as "the county magistrate"

He slammed the wine cup down heavily and gritted his teeth saying

It is said that to the west of Yumen, there are the White Dragon Mound and the Three Ridges of Sand, with quicksand stretching for a thousand miles, extremely perilous. Among those who enter, only about twelve manage to walk out alive! Have you been there?

Whenever mentioned, one must bow towards the east and refer to it as "the present sovereign"

As the war progressed unfavorably, Emperor Wu of Han became increasingly violent in temperament, constantly suspecting that someone was attempting to cast a curse upon him. He executed three chancellors in succession and imprisoned and executed two of his own daughters, causing widespread fear among the populace.

Brother Su, you went to Luntai for garrison duty back in the day, please share your thoughts!

Xuanquan Zhi is a relay station on the frontier of the Han Empire, located within the territory of Xiaogu County in Dunhuang Prefecture. It is surrounded by vast Gobi desert, with few inhabitants, and within a radius of several dozen miles, this is the only place to rest.

There is no other ambition; one should still strive to emulate Zhang Qian and Fu Jiezhi in achieving merit in foreign lands. How can one remain for long in the realm of writing and ink!

Even the envoys who uphold their principles face such numerous difficulties, let alone ordinary travelers and merchants, who are even less secure

He could see that he was wearing a yellowed linen robe, with a bit of ink stain on the cuffs, his wrists pale, and his palms devoid of calluses, which indicated that he was not engaged in productive work... Under the motion of the rabbit hair brush, on the light yellow poplar wood bamboo slips, one by one, ancient Han clerical scripts were taking shape...

In these eleven years, the Han troops have not ventured west beyond the Jade Gate.

Chen Pengzu realized that he still had not frightened Ren Hong, so he chased to the door and shouted: "The Han army will soon return to the Western Regions? If what you say is true, I will give you a fine horse for free"

Moreover, I have heard that General Zhang Qian of the Bowang Marquis is from Hanzhong County, and Fu Jiezai is from Beidi County, where the climate is distinctly different from that of the Western Regions. They are both able to venture into the shifting sands of the desert. As a child of the frontier, if it truly comes to me being the vanguard for the country, how could Ren Hong dare to lag behind others

Su Yanniang took a sip of wine and added: "In fact, the most troublesome issue in the Western Regions at present is neither the sandstorms nor the thirty-six countries"

Ren Hong's understanding of this obscure era is superficial, and he can only desperately cling to every piece of information in his memory

The heroes who showcased the might of the Han Dynasty in the Western Regions, such as Fu Jiezai, Chang Hui, and Princess Jieyou, must have all passed through Xuanquan Zhi, but what was the specific time of their passage

It was not until the calamity of witchcraft occurred that Emperor Wu of Han became somewhat enlightened. In his later years, he issued the Luntai Edict, allowing the people to rest and temporarily halting the expansion beyond the borders

After just a moment, the situation became clear. Su and Chen were tasked by the commander of Dunhuang's central district to go to the western Yumen Pass on official business to welcome the court envoy Fu Jiezai back. They set off at dawn and traveled for several hours. Currently, they are debating whether to have a drink before leaving or to finish their meal first before departing

If it were not for this, Master Fu would not have been so spirited in angrily rebuking its king in Loulan and executing the Xiongnu envoy in Kuqa. Currently, from Yumen to Dunhuang, Master Fu's actions are being celebrated and praised.

On the contrary, it is the Xiongnu who gallop through the Western Regions. We often go to the Yumen Pass to listen to the officials there, who say that from Loulan to Dayuan, the envoys of the Chanyu are incredibly imposing. Whenever they arrive in a country, the kings of the city-states bow down in submission. They even instruct various nations to rob and kill Han envoys, bringing shame to the Han Dynasty

The cauldron that was about to boil has finally cooled down somewhat

He no longer paid attention to Chen Pengzu's sarcastic remarks, stood up to tidy his brush and inkstone, but heard Su Yannian pounding on the table with his fist, saying with resentment:

However, some words, when conveyed through the mouth of others, have a more profound effect

The two talismans before him caught Ren Hong's attention

However, the Han Dynasty shifted from its aggressive military expansion to the opposite extreme, withdrawing all its stationed troops and agricultural soldiers from the Western Regions, abandoning its efforts in that area, and thereby providing the Xiongnu with the opportunity to return there

Whether it is the merchants from the East or the envoys from the West, they all must rest here, allowing their horses to drink their fill of fresh water, while they themselves procure some food to satisfy their hunger. If they can also enjoy a comfortable sleep on the beds of the inn, it would be even better than living like a deity

I just heard the two of you mention that Fu Jiezai killed the Xiongnu envoy in Kucha, which momentarily bolstered your courage, hence you made such remarks, disturbing the officials.

Thus, when the two began to discuss Fu Jiezis heroic deeds in Kucha, Ren Hong suddenly raised his hand and slammed the brush heavily onto the table!

So young, yet speaking such arrogant words, and coupled with the fact that Chen Pengzu was also a literary official "among the writing desk and inkstone", he immediately felt displeased and mocked Ren Hongdao

In the autumn of the third year of Yuanfeng (78 BC), on a day in the seventh month, the "Early Eating" festival had just passed.

Thus, whenever travelers passed by, Ren Hong often took advantage of his position to inquire about information and gather useful insights

Early in the morning, Ren Hong was awakened by someone and came out to receive the guests

Ren Hong's hand came to a halt, holding the pen in mid-air for a while, and he unexpectedly let out a long sigh

Ren Hong's gaze glanced ahead, where the owner of the talisman was sitting in the inn, sipping the freshly served cool rice wine

Fujitsu!

Now it was Chen Pengzu's turn to be astonished: "Such a convoluted and nonsensical language, it must be the translator from the typical country who would know it, yet you can also understand it?"

As for Chen Pengzu, he is the scholar opposite him, dressed in an official robe, with an unattractive appearance, sporting a goatee, and always fond of shaking his head, as if he finds every statement unworthy of his consideration

Ren Hong explained: "During the summer, a Hu merchant from the Western Regions was stranded at Xuanquan for two months due to certain circumstances. I then asked him to teach me the Loulan language. Although I am not very proficient, it is sufficient for daily interactions with him..."

The Xiongnu, as a great power among the various barbarian tribes, spanned thousands of miles from east to west, and could not be eradicated by just a few battles. Moreover, Emperor Wu of Han employed the wrong generals, leading to repeated defeats in the wars against the Xiongnu, resulting in the loss of over a hundred thousand troops, nearly reversing the early victories of Wei and Huo.

His grandiose declarations and the prophecy that the Han will soon return to the Western Regions

Never heard of, just like this Ren Hong, both are nameless figures in the annals of history

Chen Pengzu took over the conversation, describing the frequent ambushes of Han envoys by the city-states of the Western Regions

Su Yannian, the Commander of the Central Dunhuang Garrison

The laws and regulations of the Han Dynasty stipulated that every establishment must record the identity, number, and accommodation expenses of all personnel coming and going. This has been an unchanging rule for twenty years since the establishment of the Xuanquan site

Chen Pengzu had only heard rumors about the Western Regions. Seeing that he could not stump Ren Hong, he felt somewhat embarrassed and had no choice but to seek help from Su Yannian

Su Yanniang thought to herself: "When we reach the Yumen Pass and see Master Fu, I must inform him of today's events"

In the past six months, he has not wasted any time

Snap

Brother Ban Chao, I apologize!

It is all due to that strange sandstorm, which caused a promising 21st-century history student to, in the blink of an eye, transform into a young man of the Han Dynasty named "Ren Hong"

Su and Chen were somewhat surprised, but before they could savor these two sentences, Ren Hong said: "By the way, the food at Xuanquan is the best among the nine establishments in Dunhuang, Su Jun and Zhang Jun might as well eat before leaving"

The transmission of the two officials has been duly registered

After confirming that it was not a prank or a variety show, he could only begin his life in the Han Dynasty under the identity of "Ren Hong"

Certainly, this emperor, who is younger than Ren Hong, is still alive, has not yet received a posthumous title, and no one dares to call him by name.

Chen Pengzu cast a sidelong glance at Ren Hong, only to see that this young man was around eighteen or nineteen years old, standing eight feet tall, wearing a dark-colored cap on his head, without a beard, and his complexion was not dark.

Ren Hong did not refute this time; he silently stood up and handed the two sets of tokens to Su and Chen.

Ren Hong silently murmured: "Thus, two thousand years later, so many Han bamboo slips would be discovered at the site of Xuanquan, totaling more than ten thousand pieces..."

Ren Hongdao: "Although I enjoy conversing with past merchants and travelers, I will not delay my official business"

I believe that although Wei and Huo are no longer present, the pioneering efforts of the sons of the Han family will certainly not cease. Each generation will witness the emergence of new figures like Wei, Huo, and Zhang Qian

During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the Han army frequently engaged in military operations in the Western Regions, extending from Dunhuang in the west to the Lop Nur. They often established pavilions, and both Luntai and Quli had several hundred agricultural soldiers.

Su Yanniang, is the military officer sitting on the left, clad in armor, with a thick beard, a deep voice, and speaking loudly, with each word clearly reaching Ren Hong's ears

To my knowledge, there have been three incidents within three years

"You two, please wait. Young man, dare to speak recklessly, the day when the Han army returns to the Western Regions and drives out the Xiongnu is not far off!"

Ren Hong, however, smiled and said: "In fact, I can speak a little bit of the Western Regions Hu language"

Oh, were you not just chatting with us? The work at hand has not been neglected.

Alas, if the Marquis of Changping and the Marquis of Champion were still alive, how could the Hu invaders be so rampant

Marquis Changping was Wei Qing, and Marquis Champion was Huo Qubing, both renowned generals during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, who have long since passed away

The military officer Su Yanniang, with a beard soaked in liquor, had a straightforward personality. He did not take offense and instead clapped his hands and laughed heartily

"Accomplishing merit in foreign lands? You, a mere child, with no hair on your lips, yet you speak boastfully without shame. Do you not know the dangers of the Western Regions?"

Ren Hong knew that in the later years of Emperor Wu of Han, the grievances of the people in the east were boiling over, yet the old emperor remained obstinate, fixated on annihilating the Xiongnu during his lifetime

This cannot be said, Ren Hong had to respond: "However, the Gobi Desert in Dunhuang also exists, just not as vast. I was born and raised here, and I have become accustomed to this climate. I can ride a Bactrian camel and know how to seek out water sources and how to avoid sandstorms"

Having said this, he took his leave and exited

"No worries, young man, your earlier words also reflect the spirit of a brave warrior! Let us raise a glass together and drink."

But it is the Xiongnu

Dunhuang Central Commandant Wei Shi Chen Pengzu

Ren Hong was somewhat agitated, yet he still lowered his head, pretending to diligently register, while his ears perked up, carefully listening to every word of the passengers.

It is indeed the case that I chose the wrong place to wear, and unexpectedly ended up in the obscure Zhao Xuan Zhong Xing

Su Yanniang was an old soldier who had once farmed in Luntai, and he felt a deep sense of nostalgia when reminiscing about that period of his life

... ...

As a soldier, Su Yanniang felt indignant about this

What the two did not know was that Ren Hongcai, upon leaving the inn, revealed a triumphant smile

Since Emperor Xiaowu abolished the Luntai land reclamation, eleven years have passed

How can one legally leave this remote outpost and venture into broader horizons