Chapter 1155: The Pride of the Empire
Unlike the miscellaneous soldiers, the most outstanding feature of the Xiliang Iron Cavalry is their excellent combat experience, and they are virtually never restrained by any situation. Most importantly, the Xiliang Iron Cavalry have long legs and are very fast, boasting a large activity range.
Once this idea emerged, countless thoughts began to grow in Li Jue's mind. Li Ru, that was Li Ru, the one who had led the Xiliang Iron Cavalry across maps, nearly undefeated. How could he not give them orders?
"Zhiran, if you say it like that..." Fan Chou tapped the table in thought, the more he pondered, the more he felt Li Jue's words made sense. Li Ru wasn't just any ordinary person, how could he possibly let them idle in one place?
"So, Zhiran, what do you think the strategist brought us here for?" Guo Si also snapped to reality. Li Jue's words were indeed a reminder. Does the Wuxi Colonel really need elites like them?
"The value of the Wuxi Colonel's existence is to intimidate the Western Regions, and the Han Court hasn't truly possessed the Western Regions for a long time. From my perspective, we should be considered the vanguard, mainly to ascertain the opponent's strength," Li Jue shared his guess.
"This also explains why we haven't been demoted and still have legitimate authority to wage campaigns," Fan Chou was now fully aligned with Li Jue's line of thinking.
Upon realizing that Li Ru was behind them, Fan Chou became thoroughly excited. As long as that powerful backing doesn't run away, there won't be any trouble regardless of the mess they create. Moreover, isn't the vanguard the one who most easily earns honors from ancient times?
Likewise, isn't it the commander and the vanguard who rob most fiercely from ancient times? Isn't it because these two are the easiest to gain merit? And aren't they now playing the role of the vanguard?
"So, will you do it?" Li Jue asked Guo Si and Fan Chou.
It must be said that the three of them are well aware that if the Han Dynasty rises again, their days will become difficult. The reason is very simple: Lyu Bu in this life did not excavate the imperial mausoleum, but these three guys did. Though Dong Zhuo took the lead before them, they were the executors.
This point is almost impossible to wash away. One could say, if not for excavating the imperial mausoleum, with the strategy Zhong Yao gave Li Jue, these three people would be accepted by any group of feudal lords they joined. They did really well in Yongliang.
However, even in this situation, Li Jue did not give up hope because Li Ru is still alive, and he successfully escaped to the Western Regions without anyone intercepting him. More importantly, he still has military power and nobility.
More crucially, Li Ru's servant Li Fan brought Li Ru's promise to the three. Li Ru assured them that when the world returns to unity, they would be unharmed, as for their offspring and friends, Li Ru stated that he would look after them.
It can be said it's precisely because of such a guarantee that Li Jue was content to stay in the Western Regions. In Li Jue's mind, Li Ru's promises are virtually without fail.
"We will do it. The strategist said that even with assistance, one must demonstrate sufficient ability," Guo Si laughed heartily and extended his hand, after which Fan Chou and Li Jue did the same. After their fists met, they shouted together, "Victory in this battle!"
Once the decision was made, there was nothing more to say. The vanguard is the easiest to earn great achievements, but the vanguard is also most likely to lose troops and generals. To serve as the nation's vanguard against another empire, Li Jue, Guo Si, and Fan Chou had already prepared for defeat.
Even if defeated, they must leave the strategist with enough intelligence. What kind of empire is the Great Qin, is it strong or weak, all need to be explored, and this cannot be achieved without sacrificing lives.
Li Jue, Guo Si, and others had long prepared for the day they would die in battle, with Li Ru's promise of blessings and his spiritual support being crucial enough for the three to face death.
"There is nothing more to say, on the plains, we are undefeated!" The robust Fan Chou stood up and said with absolute confidence.
Li Jue, Guo Si, and Fan Chou commanded to gather all the Xiliang Iron Cavalry. Fortunately, due to language barriers, the Xiliang Iron Cavalry hadn't ventured out much, so Li Jue was able to swiftly assemble them.
The sudden gathering of those troops caused alarm among the nobles in Taysi City, quickly escalating to Vologases V. However, when Vologases V went to inquire, aside from a few tall horses, the camp was already empty.
"Where have they gone?" As a noble, Andragos angrily seized Li Jue's amateur translator, demanding answers, then turned to Vologases V and said, "Your Majesty, please send someone to apprehend these rebels disobeying orders."
Anyue casually slapped Andragos' hand away and tidied his collar. As a translator, he held considerable pride, especially now that he was no longer a mere Wusun stand-in but an official of the Han Court.
Though only a Seventh Rank translator, holding the position of translating, Anyue had completely embraced this identity. He was no longer a stand-in, but an official of the Han Empire, even if only at Seventh Rank, he could joke and laugh with the Parthian Empire's emperor himself. Who are you to stand in my way?
Slapping Andragos' hand away, Anyue walked over to Vologases V, bowing slightly, unlike the last time when he was nearly bowing in fright, this time he was full of confidence.
Andragos, slapped aside by Anyue, was utterly dumbfounded. He was one of the seven noble families of Parthia, when had he ever been treated with such contempt? But seeing Anyue bow slightly to Vologases V, he decisively yielded.
"Your Majesty, the generals have gone to defeat the Great Qin for you." Anyue spoke in amateurish Parthian, though he exaggerated greatly, he was, in truth, still an amateur.
"How did it come to this?" Vologases V responded in a Parthian dialect, expressing his utter shock that the Great Han Dynasty's reinforcements were responsible to such an extent.
[These words are asking how the cows and horses ran to that place. Well, this has nothing to do with cows and horses, it's probably asking why the generals are not here.] Anyue was taken aback by Vologases V's dialect. He didn't understand the local sayings. To be precise, even the official language sometimes eluded him.
"The generals are confident and capable." Anyue was already in tears, but when he couldn't understand he spoke the common phrases, as a novice, he had to have this ability to survive.
Vologases V did not suspect the translator's incapability of understanding, but rather Anyue's answer led him to reflect deeply. [No wonder it was the Han Empire that defeated the Hun Empire. Confidence, capability, and this aura are enviable indeed. My nation, after Rome withdrew, only celebrated, not knowing how to pursue, let alone dare to utter such words.]
"Order half of the Wang City Guard Cavalry to follow the Han General's footsteps in attacking Rome!" Vologases V suddenly resolved to say.
"Your Majesty!" A group of people emerged, intending to stop Vologases V.
"Hmph!" With a cold snort, Vologases V directly handed the Royal Staff to Fravitta, ordering him to deploy the troops. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation votes, monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
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