gnovel Chapter 26: The famous general Zhao Ponu, it's time for the weather to change!
Chapter 26: The famous general Zhao Ponu, it's time for the weather to change!
The moon hangs in the sky, cold and clear as frost, casting its silvery light that envelops the earth.
In the northern part of Chang'an, closest to the northern capital, stood the mansions of meritorious generals, including the mansion of Zhao Ponu, the General of the Xiongnu River.
"Grandpa!"
As soon as Zhao Anguo returned home, he saw Zhao Ponu standing alone under the big locust tree, looking lonely.
"Did you gain anything?"
Zhao Ponu slowly turned around and looked at his eldest son.
Under the moonlight, his dark face appeared sharply defined, as if carved by a knife.
He was eight feet tall and muscular, with his black hair tied up high and cascading over his shoulders, giving him a wild and rugged look.
As the first cavalry general of the Han army after Huo Qubing, his early life was full of legendary stories. Originally from Jiuyuan County, he fled to the grasslands in his childhood and lived under the rule of the Xiongnu, where he honed his skills in archery and horsemanship.
"Grandpa."
"His Highness does not practice nepotism."
"Whether they are descendants of founding marquises or members of His Highness's wife's family, they all, like me, must demonstrate their true abilities."
"The ranks of the Crown Prince's left and right guards and below were determined by their horsemanship, archery, and bravery."
When Zhao Anguo mentioned Crown Prince Liu Ju, his eyes were filled with reverence.
"Yeah?"
Zhao Ponu was somewhat surprised. He had seen this method before, and he himself had used it to gradually rise to his current high position.
The former champion, Marquis Jingheng Huo Qubing, governed his army in this way, prioritizing ability above all else, regardless of family background.
As the crown prince, Liu Ju's ability to abandon those complex networks of connections and use the simplest military skills to select generals truly surprised him. Even Marquis Changping, Wei Qing, couldn't do that in the army.
"Grandpa."
"Look, this is a precious sword bestowed upon us by His Highness the Crown Prince; it can cut through iron like mud."
At this moment, Zhao Anguo walked up to him excitedly, holding a silver-decorated, gilded-handled sword.
"Sizzle!"
Zhao Ponu picked up the horizontal sword with his left hand, gripped the scabbard tightly with his right, and suddenly drew it, the clear light of the blade reflected in his eyes.
"A fine knife!"
"It is indeed an exceptionally fine sword."
"You're saying this knife was bestowed by the Crown Prince, and you weren't the only one?"
"Twenty people, each with a halberd."
Zhao Anguo's answer stirred up a wave of emotions in this veteran general who had fought against the Xiongnu.
He had never seen such a fine sword before; even the sharpest ring-pommel sword of the Han army was inferior to this one.
"Slap! Slap! Slap!"
Zhao Ponu patted his eldest son on the shoulder and burst into laughter: "Hahahaha!"
"Grandpa!"
Zhao Anguo stared blankly at Zhao Ponu, who seemed to have gone mad.
"I thought that with the general gone, there was no hope for the Han Dynasty."
"But today, I realize that hope has already sprouted, just waiting for a single spark to start a prairie fire."
"Kid, you're much luckier than me."
Zhao Ponu was filled with emotion.
The champion, Marquis Jingheng, Huo Qubing, was merely a subject, while Crown Prince Liu Ju was an emperor, and the heir apparent was also an emperor. From this silver-adorned, gilded-handled sword alone, he could discern many things; this young Crown Prince harbored many secrets.
But at least, there are people like the champion Jing Henghou in this world, and that is enough!
"Grandpa."
"What's wrong with you today?"
Zhao Anguo looked at his father, who was behaving unusually, with some unease.
Zhao Ponu handed him a piece of yellow silk. Zhao Anguo opened it, his pupils contracted sharply, and he was shocked and pale: "This...this..."
"At dusk, a eunuch from Weiyang Palace came to announce the imperial edict."
"His Majesty appointed me as the Prefect of Dunhuang, in charge of the defense of Yumen Pass and Yang Pass."
"This departure will likely last for many years."
"Grandpa, Your Majesty..."
Zhao Anguo raised the yellow silk in his hand with trembling hands.
Zhao Ponu's promotion from General of the Xiongnu River to Prefect of Dunhuang seemed like a high-ranking official, but everyone knew that Dunhuang was located at the westernmost edge of Hexi, facing the thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions. It had to be on guard against the Xiongnu's attacks at all times, making it a strategically important frontier.
Although since 121 BC, when General Huo Qubing led his troops to defeat the Xiongnu and seize the Hexi Corridor, the empire had been strengthening its control and management of the Hexi Corridor through policies such as immigration to the border and resettlement of people for cultivation.
What will things look like in ten years? The total population of the four prefectures of Hexi, plus the 600,000 people who migrated there this year, is barely one million. The Great Wall from Lintao to the west of Dunhuang is still under construction, and farming, grazing, and animal husbandry are all underway.
It would take at least several decades to transform the four prefectures of Hexi into a fertile plain like the Hetao region.
Therefore, the imperial edict Zhao Ponu received was an exile, meaning he would never be able to return to Chang'an in his lifetime.
"His Majesty is no longer the wise and mighty emperor he once was."
"The champion, Marquis Jingheng, has passed away, the Xiongnu have fled far to the northern desert, and the glory of the empire shines across the land."
"Ever since I lost my title for the reward, I had already thought of this day. Sending you to the Crown Prince's Palace was only out of a sliver of hope."
"I never expected you could bring me such a big surprise. The transformation of the Han Dynasty will surely begin with the Crown Prince."
"Whether my Zhao family can stand at the top of the empire depends on you, kid."
Zhao Ponu stared intently at Zhao Anguo with his imposing tiger-like eyes, his resounding words echoing in the courtyard.
"Grandpa."
"I...."
Zhao Anguo, only 22 years old, was filled with fear and at a loss.
"You think our family has really fallen on hard times?"
Zhao Ponu slapped him on the shoulder and said cheerfully, "I'm not dead yet, it's not your turn to be in charge of the Zhao family."
"Stop acting all effeminate. A real man should forge ahead without hesitation."
"The governor of Dunhuang also oversees Yumen Pass and Yang Pass, and commands the elite troops in the westernmost part of the empire."
"Those wolf cubs from the Western Regions and the Xiongnu from the northern deserts are nothing but my prey."
"When you show up in Hexi one day, I, as your old man, will show you what I'm capable of."
"promise."
Zhao Anguo's reluctance to part was completely washed away by these words.
"Alright."
I'm leaving first thing tomorrow morning.
"I've been waiting for you here today because I have something to tell you."
"Now that you have joined the Crown Prince's ranks, do not concern yourself with those trivial matters. Follow the Crown Prince, and even if it means death, protect him."
"No matter what the Crown Prince does, even if he's going to tear a huge hole in the sky, you must follow him."
"Do you understand?"
Zhao Ponu solemnly instructed.
"promise."
Upon hearing these words, Zhao Anguo vaguely guessed what was going on. He didn't say anything more, but simply nodded, his eyes more serious than ever before.
"It's getting late, you should go wash up and rest."
Zhao Ponu waved his hand, dismissing him.
Goodnight, Grandpa.
Zhao Anguo walked heavily toward his courtyard.
Watching his departing figure, Zhao Ponu's eyes gleamed with an inexplicable light. It was time for things to change!
PS：汉制1引=10丈，1丈=10尺，1尺=10寸，1寸=10分，一尺约23.1厘米