A few days later, on the Beiliang Road, a snow peak like a silver barrier stretched across the southern sky, the thousand-year-old ice and snow reflecting a cold glow under the sunlight, with the ltwater forming a river resembling a green silk ribbon, nourishing the fertile fields on both banks, the grass lush and verdant.
But the sky was yellow, with the wind rolling sand and dust, connecting to the firmant, creating a desolate scene.
"Xiao"
At the distant horizon, a piercing eagle’s cry shattered the sky.
Following swiftly,
"Drive"
"Drive"
At the end of the official road, dust began to rise as a procession slowly erged from the horizon.
Amidst the dust, at the forefront were several hundred troops in golden helts and silver armor, riding exotic horses and carrying a large flag emblazoned with the character "Qian", imposing and majestic.
Following closely behind, dozens of palace attendants held banners embroidered with auspicious beasts, various ceremonial objects, and in the center were several carriages with embroidered luan bird patterns on the drapes, accompanied by personal guards with horizontal swords, their fish pouches swinging at the waist, and copper bells ringing softly with their steps.
In the latter part of the procession, about twenty porters led over a hundred cals, laden with goods, their cal bells echoing the clanging of the copper gongs ahead.
Looking in the direction of the procession, not far away, a majestic heroic pass sprawled amidst the desolate landscape.
Liangzhou!
Backed by the Qilian Snow Mountain and connecting to the Great Desert to the north, it stood as the throat between the Central Plains and Western Regions. It was a comrcial hub linking the Western Regions trade route and a military fortress guarding Guanzhong, reputed as "Five Liang Capitals, Hexi tropolis".
Throughout history, this heroic city has left behind many immortal legends, whether it be the clanging of weapons and horses, drinking from the desert sea, or the Qiang flute and Hu won, the solitary smoke in the desert. Beneath the city walls, the Gobi desert was littered with remnants of ancient battlefields, with the snowlt nurturing fertile oases, and nomadic tents and sequential villages gazing across rivers.
Here, the folk were valiant, trade flourishing, and it was passed down in folk songs—Liangzhou within a hundred miles ten thousand households, Hu People half-resolved to play the pipa!
At this mont, it was dusk, and in the distance, the solitary smoke of the great desert rose straight. Soon after, the procession on the official road arrived outside Liangzhou City!
Liangzhou City, resembling a giant whale lying beneath the Qilian Mountain, the yellow-grey city walls full of weathering, with battlents lined like teeth, harshly dividing the Gobi and oasis. The nine pass gates were bustling with people, the arrow tower’s flying eaves pierced the sky, with copper bells under the eaves ringing in the wind, their sound traveling ten miles away. If one were to climb the tower and look northward, they could see the Great Desert touching the heavens, yellow sand surging like ten thousand galloping horses.
In front of the Southern City Gate, the approaching procession pulled their reins, the leading imperial guard splitting to either side, the carriage wheels stopping, as a palace attendant approached the foremost carriage, lifted the curtain, and from the tall carriage, a middle-aged man bent down and stepped onto the board.
This person was dressed in a deep red round-collared robe, the collar and cuffs trimd with a two-finger-wide auspicious floral patterned brocade, a jade belt with thirteen lychee patterns at his waist, a gold fish pouch hanging from the girdle, the black song turban’s tips slightly upturned, accentuating the sharpness of his face. His hair, though graying, was ticulously combed, exuding an air of character.
None other than the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Xu Liang, who had once been an envoy to Shu!
This Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, for unknown reasons, had journeyed thousands of miles from the Divine Capital to Liangzhou.
Xu Liang alighted from the carriage, his mystic cloud-pattern boots landing steadily, raising his head to gaze at the towering, imposing city walls, then lowered his head, a clear and solemn look sweeping over the officials greeting him, his brows slightly furrowing, but soon returning to calmness.
It was seen that in front of the city gate, the gate garrison led a group of armored soldiers in dark silver armor, bowing to welco, while nearby citizens were kept aside by the soldiers, gathering to watch the spectacle.
"It’s the Court’s banner!"
"Court envoys have arrived."
"..."
Amidst whispered discussions, it was seen that the leading garrison officer stepped forward briskly, saluting Xu Liang, and the nurous officials descending in succession from the carriages behind him,
"Welco, Special Envoy, and all the lords!"
"The lords have traveled ten thousand miles, enduring hardships along the way."
"Under the Prince’s orders, I am here to welco the lords. Originally, upon your arrival, the Prince should have co out of the city to greet you, but the Princely Heir has passed away, and the Prince is in deep grief, alas..."
"However, the Prince Mansion has received word of your arrival and will et you outside the mansion. I hope for Lord Xu’s tolerance."
The city gate garrison explained to Xu Liang, who had co to welco him outside the city.
After all, Xu Liang was not just a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, but an envoy sent by Your Majesty!
Representing His Majesty!
Seeing that no respectable figure from the Prince Mansion had co, a few officials disembarking from the carriages behind frowned or coldly snorted,
"King of Beiliang is grieving, but are all the others dead? We are here under His Majesty’s orders, specifically to pay condolences and offer comfort, to read the eulogy for the Princely Heir of Beiliang, but only a petty general like you cos to greet us, what a disgrace." An elder from the Imperial Clan Court, with an angry expression, unabashedly berated the city gate garrison,
The city gate garrison, despite being rebuked, showed no change in expression, rely apologizing.
At this ti, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Xu Liang, as the envoy, raised his hand, his face calm, and spoke:
"I understand, I am here on the Emperor’s orders precisely for this matter, I suppose the King of Beiliang is not in the right mind, lead on!"
"Thank you, my lord!" The city gate garrison received the words, imdiately turned, waved his hand, and soon, a subordinate brought a horse over, after which he swiftly mounted it, along with his subordinate soldiers, leading the Court envoy’s procession into the city.
The main street inside the city was paved with large yellow-grey stone bricks, around twenty zhang wide, exceptionally broad, capable of allowing multiple horses to travel side by side. Upon entering the city, the streets were teeming with people, bustling with activity.
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