novelSusiti Chapter 22: Princess Anxi, Pluck the flower while it blooms!
Chapter 22: Princess Anxi, Pluck the flower while it blooms!
September 20th, 208 BC.
Emperor Ying Xuan of the Great Qin Dynasty personally issued an edict: General Xie Xuan of the Northern Army, along with his deputies Zu Ti and Liu Kun, led 80,000 troops of the Northern Army to conquer Parthia.
The Qin army was invincible, and in just five days it captured no fewer than twenty cities in Parthia.
On September 26, 80,000 Northern Army soldiers and 200,000 Parthian soldiers clashed at the foot of the Kopetdag Mountains.
Xie Xuan ordered Liu Kun to lead 5,000 Northern Army cavalry to charge into the enemy lines, while 75,000 infantrymen followed up and killed them, resulting in a great defeat for the Parthian army.
This seemingly fierce battle lasted only a little over an hour, ending in a complete victory for the Northern Army.
The 80,000-strong Northern Army swept through the land, reaching the Parthian capital of Nisa (near present-day Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan).
On September 27, Parthian King Arsace II personally surrendered the city, marking the end of Parthia.
...............
On September 30th, Emperor Ying Xuan of the Great Qin Dynasty personally visited Nisa.
"Da da da! Da da da!"
Three thousand white-horse guards escorted the young emperor, who rode on a black horse, as they galloped along the wide avenue in the city.
The Nisa Palace is located in the south of the city, covering an area of 14 hectares (210 acres), and is surrounded by tall adobe walls.
The palace was adjacent to the temple, and to the north were the residences of the Parthian guards and the ministers on duty, the royal treasury, and the royal tombs.
"His Majesty."
General Xie Xuan of the Northern Army, along with his deputies Zu Ti and Liu Kun, were waiting early at the palace square.
"A country was destroyed in ten days."
"This battle of Yudu will surely be recorded in the annals of the empire."
Looking down at the three of them, Ying Xuan smiled and said.
"Your Majesty flatters me."
"Your tiny country is not worth mentioning."
Xie Xuan replied modestly.
Not only him, but all the Qin generals present shared the same thought.
Let alone a small country resting in peace, this is a nation of millions.
Even a great nation like Seleucus with eight million people, what was it in the eyes of the Central Plains?
Any one of the Seven Warring States would have been a dominant power in Central Asia, West Asia, North Africa, or Europe.
"Hahaha!"
Ying Xuan laughed heartily, whipped his horse, and rode into the main hall of the Parthian palace.
A group of figures dressed in short, fitted tops with left-fastening closures, wide-legged trousers, and soft leather ankle boots knelt on the ground.
Their clothing was exceptionally exquisite, and they wore magnificent headdresses, necklaces, and belts.
The Parthians were originally a nomadic people, and their lifestyle and clothing were similar to those of the Parthians.
"Raise your head."
When Ying Xuan's cold voice rang out in the hall, everyone present trembled and looked up.
One of the girls caught his attention; her skin glowed like honey, she had a high nose, deep-set eyes, a slender figure, and black hair and black eyes.
"Your Majesty the Emperor of Great Qin."
"Arsak pays you his highest respect."
Parthian King Arsak II was as humble as a dog, having completely lost his dignity.
"hehe!"
The Qin generals and officials who accompanied him into the hall couldn't help but sneer.
If only I had known then what I know now!
"I'm tired."
"I will sleep here tonight."
"You shall serve."
With his riding whip pointed at the beautiful girl behind Arsak II, Ying Xuan's words were filled with domineering arrogance.
"only!"
Zhao Yun understood immediately and quickly raised his hand.
In an instant, three thousand White Horse Guards took over the Parthian palace, and King Arsak II and his entourage were driven to a side hall.
Seeing this scene, Xie Xuan, Zu Ti, Liu Kun, and other military generals all smiled knowingly.
"What's your name?"
After everyone left, Ying Xuan walked up to the girl, his eyes filled with undisguised intense desire.
"Rodguna".
The girl replied timidly, not daring to look him in the eye.
"ah?!"
A gasp echoed throughout the palace hall. Ying Xuan held the girl in his arms and strode toward the throne.
Immediately, a sweet, melodious voice, like the warbling of a nightingale, rang out, causing the White Horse Guards standing outside the palace to feel a flutter in their hearts.
..........
At three quarters past the hour of You (5:45 PM), the sun was gradually setting in the west.
The Parthian palace was brightly lit, and Fa Zheng, Lu Bing, Xie Xuan, Zhao Yun, Han Xin, Chen Qingzhi, Di Qing, and others had already arrived.
"Issue an imperial edict."
"Princess Rodguna of Parthia is very much to my liking; she shall be granted the title of Lady of Parthia."
"Arsak II was granted the title of Parthian King, with a fief of three thousand households."
"The Parthian king, along with his concubines and children, served the emperor."
Ying Xuan sat imposingly on his throne and proclaimed loudly.
"only!"
Without a word, the attendant hurriedly went to deliver the imperial edict.
"The province of Khorasan was established in the land of rest, to govern a million people."
"Shuiqiu Zhaoquan hereby appoints you as Governor of Khorasan."
"Zong Ze, you are appointed as the General of Anxi. Select 100,000 men from the surrendered troops to guard the area."
Ying Xuan issued two imperial edicts.
"only!"
Two figures stepped forward simultaneously.
This time, the destruction of Parthia yielded one civil official card and two military general cards.
Grade A civil official: Shuiqiu Zhaoquan, a famous minister of Wu and Yue, a veteran of three dynasties, with remarkable achievements in both civil and military affairs.
S-rank general: Zong Ze, a famous general of the Northern Song Dynasty who resisted the Jin Dynasty, was known for his loyalty and bravery.
SSS-level general: Li Cunxiao, the fiercest general of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.
"The merit of destroying a country should not go unrewarded."
Then, Ying Xuan turned his gaze to Xie Xuan and the other two.
*Whoosh!*
The three of them looked up at the same time, their eyes filled with anticipation.
"General Xie Xuan of the Northern Army was enfeoffed as Duke of Chen County, appointed as the Central Protector General, and received a salary of eight thousand shi (a unit of grain).
"The deputy generals Zu Ti and Liu Kun were enfeoffed as the Earl of Fanyang and the Earl of Zhongshan, respectively, and were granted the title of Light Cavalry Commandant, with a salary of five thousand shi (a unit of grain).
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
The three of them couldn't hide their joy and thanked him loudly.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yun, Han Xin, and other generals with titles maintained a smile throughout.
The newly joined members of the Qin Dynasty, Shen Tianzi, Yang Hu, Wanyan Chenheshang, Wang Zhen'e, Deng Qiang, and Li Cunxiao, were filled with envy.
"His Majesty."
"In dealing with the Central Asian countries, I believe we must not delay."
The Chamberlain Fa Zheng suddenly spoke up: "We should unleash a thunderous force to annihilate all the nations."
"color!!!"
The eyes of the generals gleamed.
Fighting them one by one would take forever; it would be better to deal with the Xia, Kangju, and other countries all at once.
"If you have any good ideas, please speak frankly."
Ying Xuan looked at Fa Zheng with great interest.
"His Majesty."
Fa Zheng said in a serious tone, "Central Asia is a vast and boundless land."
"It stretches six thousand li from east to west and five thousand li from north to south."
"Located between the Western Continent and the Central Plains."
"To avoid repeating the same mistakes, I believe that a continent should be established here."
"Following the example of the Western Zhou system, establish the Grand Secretariat and the Military Governor."
"After the fall of Parthia, the only threats were the Bactrians, Kangju, Sakya, and Alans."
"The territory of Bactria is mostly mountainous, and it is separated from the Hindu Kush Mountains from east to west."
"The capital city of Baktra (present-day Balkh, Afghanistan) was located south of the Gyu River (Amu Darya).
"Surrounded by mountains on three sides, our army only needs to seal the gap, and Eusedmus will have no way to escape."
"Kangju is different; they are a separate branch of the Xiongnu."
"Although they occupied the former territory of Dayuan (present-day Fergana Basin), they also retained a large number of nomadic customs."
"The royal court was established in Beitian (the ancient city of Kanka, southwest of Tashkent, Uzbekistan)."
"If our army breaks through the royal court, the Kangju people will scatter like birds."
"The Saga and Alans have already served the Qin Dynasty."
"Send envoys to summon the leaders of the two tribes, and then use the threat of a strong army to subdue them; they will surely be won over."
PS: Parthia (Kingdom of Parthia), Bactria (Kingdom of Bactria)