I, the prince, only want to be deposed.

Chapter 429 Brother Dongfang, please stand firm and receive the order!

An urgent report suddenly came back from Jiuquan County, and it was extremely urgent.

Could it be that the right wing of the Xiongnu crossed the Altai Mountains and launched a large-scale invasion, or was it related to Liu Ju's subsequent attack on the State of Gushi?

How could Liu Che dare to take such an important matter lightly?

He estimated in his heart that Liu Ju had dealt with the three kingdoms of Yanqi, Shanguo and Yuli, and Dongfang Yu had gone to the Kingdom of Qiuci to make friends with distant countries and attack nearby ones, so it was almost time to send troops to attack the Kingdom of Gushi, and the war might have officially begun.

After all, it would take a month to send urgent news back from the Western Regions even if one rode at full speed.

When he saw Liu Ju's memorial, all he knew was what happened a month ago. As for what was happening in the Western Regions now, even he could only guess based on the contents of the memorial.

Urgent reports from Jiuquan County would be delivered much faster, taking about half a month due to factors such as distance, road conditions, and post stations, so the news would naturally be more timely.

While talking.

Su Wen had already brought up the urgent report. He quickly plucked the feathers off it, broke the mud seal, took out the memorial and presented it with both hands.

"not good!"

Liu Che only opened the memorial and quickly scanned it. His expression changed even more. His brows were twisted into knots that were difficult to smooth out. He said in a deep voice,
"Su Wen, announce Wei Qing, no, announce all the ministers of the inner court to enter the palace, immediately!"

"promise!"

How could Su Wen dare to be negligent? He didn't even dare to say a word and hurriedly ran to pass on the order.

"Dongfang Shuo, you should also leave first. I have something important to deal with!"

"promise……"

Dongfang Shuo was also full of curiosity at this moment. He could tell from Liu Che's expression that the matter in the memorial was of great importance.

But Liu Che didn't tell him, so he naturally didn't dare to ask. He could only retreat quietly with a bad premonition in his heart.

After all, this urgent message came from Jiuquan County!
In this era, whenever Jiuquan County is mentioned, it is most likely related to the Xiongnu.

Although most of the time, the Han army set out from Shuofang, Wuyuan, Dingxiang and Daijun to attack the Huns in the north.

But anyone with common sense would naturally think that Jiuquan County was originally the Hexi territory of the Xiongnu. Since the Battle of Mobei, although there were no more Xiongnu in the south of the desert, the right wing of the Xiongnu still appeared in the Sanshan area and used this as a base to continue to communicate with the Western Regions. If the Xiongnu wanted to invade the Hexi Corridor, Jiuquan County would be the first to bear the brunt.

In addition, what Dongfang Shuo was most worried about was.

Once something went wrong in Jiuquan County, Dunhuang County to the west would be separated, and the Western Regions would be completely cut off from the Han Dynasty.

This way.

Be it Liu Ju, his son Dongfang Yu, as well as the generals Zhao Po Nu and Wang Hui, who are going to the Western Regions with the Han army, they will all be cut off from the Han Dynasty. Neither military supplies nor letters can be delivered. God knows if they can come back.
Oh my god, please don’t let anything happen to you!
My son has finally achieved the title of nobility. I think I will be able to support a woman in luxury in the future. If he doesn't come back, wouldn't that be a case of excessive joy leading to sorrow?

How can I be so embarrassed?

However, the actual situation was slightly different from what Dongfang Yu worried about.

Because in this urgent report sent back by the governor of Jiuquan County, it did not mention the news of the Huns' large-scale invasion, but the news that the Huns' Right Riju King Tiefu had assembled 20,000 troops to rescue the Gushi Kingdom.

And it took time for the Jiuquan County Governor to get this news through scouts and spies.

It would also take time to send someone to deliver the urgent report back to Chang'an.

So when Liu Che saw the news, it was already quite late.

The war between Gu Shi and the enemy has ended here, and the urgent report sent back by Liu Ju is already on the way, which will give Liu Che an unimaginable surprise.

But Liu Che doesn’t think so now.

He knew very well how many troops he had given to Liu Ju, and he also knew very well how unfavorable the situation would be for the Han army if 20,000 Hun cavalry suddenly came to support the Han army when it attacked Gushi.

Many times, wars are fought over an information gap, a small information gap. The Han army is about to face an unexpected force that is hard to defend against... Attack with intent and without intent, attack with preparation and without preparation. Let's put it this way, even if the person leading the troops this time was Huo Qubing, Liu Che would still be frightened and break out in a cold sweat, let alone Liu Ju, who was leading the troops for the first time?

But the governor of Jiuquan County did not specify in the urgent report whether he would send someone else to deliver the letter to Liu Ju! Liu Che felt that the problem was very serious. If something really went wrong this time, and the governor of Jiuquan County really did not send someone to deliver the letter to Liu Ju, then his life would be over!
Although Liu Che knew in his heart that even if the Jiuquan County Magistrate sent someone to deliver the letter, it would probably be too late.

After all, it would take longer to travel from Jiuquan to the Western Regions, passing through the four countries of Loulan, Yuli, Shanguo and Yanqi, and finally deliver the letter to Liu Ju than to send an urgent report back to Chang'an. By then, the Xiongnu King You Riju would probably have already reached the Kingdom of Gushi.

But someone has to pay for it, and Liu Che also needs someone to pay for the possible consequences.

Otherwise, he could only blame himself for ordering Liu Ju to go to the Western Regions...

Then all the ministers of the inner court entered the palace.

In just two hours, most of Chang'an was in turmoil.

Some were sending generals, some were mobilizing troops, some were allocating food and fodder, some were mobilizing horses, and the officials in charge of the national treasury were unable to keep their heels on the ground, even the Shaofu got into action.

Liu Che is not rich now.

In this expedition to Loulan and Gushi, in order to take care of Liu Ju, although Liu Che did not seem to give him many elite soldiers, he still spent a lot of money to make sure Liu Ju could fight a comfortable battle.

Later, after Liu Ju conquered Loulan, he submitted a petition requesting to establish military farms in Loulan.

Liu Che also generously approved a large amount of supplies, so that the national treasury, which was already not rich due to the promotion of agricultural activities and disaster relief in the past two years, became even more stretched.

This time, Wei Qing was temporarily ordered to lead the army to support Liu Ju, and it might be a support that was impossible to achieve.

Liu Che could only think of ways to raise food and military supplies from him, and unreasonably hold on to Sang Hongyang, trying to squeeze as much money as possible from him... As for the Fengshan Ceremony that he had been dreaming of, let it be postponed indefinitely.

But even so, the army can't just set out as soon as it wants. All the preparations take time...

……

Zhangye County.

Dongfang Yu hummed a little tune, rode on a pony, and led his personal soldiers on the way back to the capital to report leisurely.

That would mean he was fast enough.

When he returned to Loulan from Qiuci, he heard that Liu Ju had led the Han army to attack Gushi.

He was so delighted that he immediately seized the opportunity to leave Guo Zhen behind and bid farewell to Han Zeng and Han Ling, brother and sister, who stayed in Loulan to be responsible for farming and garrisoning troops. Then he walked straight into Bailongdui in the night and rushed towards Yumen Pass.

He was afraid that he would meet Liu Ju again, and then Liu Ju would force him to give him some "local specialties" from the Western Regions.

If this was the case, he was worried that he would never be able to return to Beijing to report.

The achievements of the Yanqi Kingdom are already great enough. Being able to be granted a title of nobility in life is the end of life that many people cannot dream of. What else do you need a bicycle for?
The sky is getting dark.

Dongfang Yu finally arrived at the official post station set up by the Han Dynasty court in Zhangye's Jide County. People like him who were holding a staff to deliver imperial edicts were naturally honored guests in the official post station. They were treated to delicious food and drinks, and even had the conditions to take a bath in the arid land.

As soon as I entered the hall, I saw an old acquaintance.

——Zhao Qian, who also served as the emperor’s envoy in the court.

"Hey? Isn't this Brother Zhao? Are you...also ordered by the emperor to go to the Western Regions to deliver the imperial edict?"

Dongfang Yu bowed and greeted him first, but he was still hesitating whether to remind Zhao Qian in advance to tell him not to accept the "local specialties" of the Western Regions easily. After all, the two of them had some personal relationship.

"Brother Dongfang?"

Zhao Qian was a little surprised to see Dongfang Yu. He stood up to return the greeting and raised the staff that was lying beside him.

"Oh my, Brother Dongfang is already here. I almost missed him!"

"Brother Dongfang killed many people in Yanqi and made Yanqi surrender by himself. He also asked for permission to go to Qiuci without caring about his own safety. This has become a good story among the attendants. Your Majesty also praises Brother Dongfang... Brother Dongfang is no longer the same as before. Don't forget me when you become rich and powerful!"

"Come on, come on, let's get down to business first. Brother Dongfang, please stand firm and accept my order!"

(End of this chapter)