The thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions, a year prior, had accepted the Great Qian’s proposal to form a Western Regions Alliance, enhancing cooperation and mobilization efficiency.
The King of Qiuci assumed leadership as the first盟主.
Upon receiving news of the Gui Shuang Dynasty’s advance into the desert, the nations of the Western Regions urgently dispatched representatives to convene a meeting in Qiuci.
“The Great Qian is close by, have they sent troops to assist?” “Even if they send troops, we don’t have enough provisions to support their long-term garrison. What is to be done!”
The meeting descended into chaos, with everyone speaking at once, unable to reach a consensus.
The King of Qiuci stated solemnly, “Great General Lü has pledged to guarantee the safety of the Western Regions’ populace! However, we are situated in the desert, and Lou Lan has allied with the Gui Shuang Dynasty, potentially guiding them. Therefore, this King proposes that the citizens of the Western Regions temporarily relocate to the western borders of the Great Qian!”
As soon as he spoke, the entire assembly buzzed with discussion.
“Doesn’t that mean abandoning the Western Regions? How can this be!”
The King of Qiuci sighed, “The might of the Gui Shuang Dynasty and the Great Qian is deeply ingrained. Great Qian intelligence operatives have also learned from the Gui Shuang Dynasty that they seem to be supported by a mysterious race called the Tian Ri Clan, and are expanding their forces at an alarming rate! If the two powers clash in the Western Regions, regardless of the outcome, it will ultimately be the people of the Western Regions who suffer.”
The assembled individuals wore troubled expressions.
Half of their nations were city-states, not nomadic peoples, and their ancestors had lived on this land for a thousand years; how could they bear to abandon it.
“The Great Qian will surely repel the Gui Shuang Dynasty, and even push into their homeland, eradicating the threat forever! By then, it will not be too late for us to return to the Western Regions and live in peace.” The King of Qiuci produced Lü Yi’s official document, stating gravely.
The crowd, looking at the Great Qian script, remained hesitant, “Can General Lü’s word be trusted…”
“The Great Qian will not break its promise, for this is also the intention of the Great Qian Emperor and Marquis An Guo!” the King of Qiuci replied, then produced Krystal’s personal letter.
After perusing it, the crowd finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Krystal, now a princess of the Great Qian and hailing from Qiuci, carried more weight than Lü Yi.
The letter naturally outlined Liang Xiao and Xiao Qing’s full intention to protect the Western Regions, and that a cavalry force on the Great Qian’s western border was ready to provide support.
“We will return and inform His Majesty, and mobilize for migration as soon as possible.”
Several days later, Lü Yi, who was preparing to dispatch troops on the western border, received news from Qiuci, his expression one of surprise, “Abandon the Western Regions?”
The strategist beside Lü Yi explained, “It appears the Gui Shuang Dynasty’s military might has become a severe threat to their safety. Compared to fighting in the Western Regions, this subordinate believes it is better to temporarily shelter the people of the Western Regions, and wait for our army to defeat the Gui Shuang Dynasty from the western border. The threat posed by the Gui Shuang Dynasty to the Western Regions will then vanish without a fight.”
Those in the command tent voiced their agreement.
Lü Yi immediately made his decision, saying to the Western Regions envoy, “Our army will dispatch a contingent of Great Qian iron cavalry to the Western Regions to provide support and prevent the Gui Shuang cavalry from pursuing you.”
Alagad, the envoy from Qiuci, was both surprised and delighted, and immediately presented a new map of the Western Regions.
“General Yue Yun, you are already familiar with our cavalry. You will lead ten thousand cavalry and be responsible for the support mission to the Western Regions!”
In the west, fifty thousand troops of the Gui Shuang Dynasty advanced towards the border of the Western Regions.
The King of Lou Lan personally greeted them, not forgetting to report, “The people of the Western Regions are determined to submit to the Great Qian; we cannot persuade them no matter what!”
The Gui Shuang Dynasty general gazed eastward, his eyes sharp, “The desert is not conducive to prolonged warfare. I will lead ten thousand elite cavalry to sweep through the Western Regions and slaughter them all, lest they assist the Great Qian and harass our army from the northeast.”
The King of Lou Lan, trembling, looked at the golden-haired, blue-eyed general.
He vaguely discerned that the other party intended to annihilate the Western Regions.
In the Imperial Palace of Da Liang, Mu Cheng listened to Qin Feng’s report on military matters, but his gaze fell upon a framed piece of calligraphy on the table.
“An old steed in the stable still harbors ambitions for a thousand miles. A noble warrior in his twilight years still possesses an unyielding spirit.”
This was a parting gift from Liang Xiao, which left him thoroughly satisfied.
Liang Xiao’s entourage traveled north by sea, resupplying along the way, finally reaching Qiantang in early spring.
As the capital of Da Liang was near the southeastern part of Great Qian, sailing north along the coast and then crossing the river from the Qiantang area back to the capital was the most efficient route, saving Zhuo Zifang from arduous travel.
The members of the Li and Yue families also traveled north with Liang Xiao, with only a few Da Liang chess players choosing to travel overland to various parts of Jiangnan, parting ways en route.
In Qiantang, at the Prefectural Office, Liang Xiao and his entourage gazed at the scene within, falling into contemplation.
After two years of Hong Jie’s efforts, the maids in the residence had all been replaced with women of exceptionally voluptuous figures, filling the air with laughter and joy…
Hong Jie, however, spoke with pride, “I have accepted your suggestion to improve the West Lake project, using labor for relief. We have now successfully built a long embankment, which can prevent flooding from West Lake!”
Liang Xiao and Zhuo Zifang’s eyes lit up, and they both exclaimed, “Let’s go see it!”
As natives of Da Liang, the members of the Li and Yue families had long admired West Lake, and they all followed.
Arriving at the lake, Liang Xiao looked out, feeling an unusual sense of familiarity.
The beauty of West Lake, the rain and sunshine, the emerald hues and red blossoms, the playful, charming words.
Even the few embankments bore a strong resemblance to his hometown.
Although the geography might differ, hydraulic engineering still relied on scientific principles and a pragmatic approach, hence the similarity was not surprising.
“As expected of a wonder of Great Qian! With this embankment, we no longer need to worry too much about floods…” exclaimed Li You, the head of the Li family, in awe.
The group admired the scenery by the lake, showering it with praise.
Liang Xiao looked at Hong Jie, his face filled with relief, “With West Lake stable, you can finally return to central government with me with peace of mind, can’t you?”
Zhuo Zifang also added, “Appointing you as a prefect of a city was truly a waste of your talent.”
Hong Jie pondered for a moment and said to Liang Xiao, “Then compose a poem for West Lake as a memento, and I will agree.”
Agree?
The wives behind Liang Xiao exchanged odd glances, and even Yue Wenxin and Li Xin began to entertain similar thoughts.
Could it be that the wives of Marquis An Guo were right, that more men were attracted to him than women…
Liang Xiao pondered briefly. To entice Hong Jie back to the capital, he had no choice but to wield his brush and ink on the spot, leaving behind a poem.
“Water’s surface, rippling, is lovely in the sun;
Mountain hues, hazy, are wondrous in the rain.
If West Lake were to be compared to Xi Shi,
She’d be suited equally by light or heavy adornment.”
As the poem spread, exclamations of admiration and applause echoed incessantly, and even the local men and women of Qiantang by West Lake cried out in amazement.
Hong Jie did not keep the poem; instead, he ordered it to be framed and sent to the academy in the heart of Qiantang for permanent collection, as his final gift to the city.
Liu Feng, a native of Jinling, had already received an urgent imperial decree from Liang Xiao via swift horse before Liang Xiao’s arrival in Qiantang, and had assumed the post of Prefect of Qiantang.
This was entrusted by Xiao Qing before Liang Xiao's departure. Upon his return, he would assess Qiantang’s performance and, if satisfactory, assist in appointing a new prefect and transferring Hong Jie back to the central government.
The people of Qiantang, grateful for Hong Jie’s incorruptible governance and effective administration, flocked to the north of the city to see off Liang Xiao and Hong Jie.
Hong Jie also returned to the capital with Liang Xiao.