I Can Control My Ancestors-Chapter 50 - 19: Advancing North to Break the Enemy, The Changing Tide of Attack and Defense (Part 3)

Chapter 50: Chapter 19: Advancing North to Break the Enemy, The Changing Tide of Attack and Defense (Part 3)
Nowadays, the Western Regions are in utter chaos.
Apart from the numerous small states, there are also many Foreign Races.
And among them, their attitudes towards the Great Han vary.
Whether he would have this opportunity in his lifetime, even Gu Cheng himself couldn’t be sure.
Seeing this, Ban Chao couldn’t help but become serious. He pondered for a moment, as if contemplating something, and then suddenly said, "Brother, rest assured."
"If I ever have the chance, I will surely pacify the Western Regions for you, to eliminate your worries!"
He knew that Gu Cheng’s lifelong ambition was to pacify the Northern Xiongnu’s disaster.
"Good!"
Gu Cheng nodded, "If it really comes to this, you and I, brothers, will surely be remembered in history, revered by future generations."
The two brothers exchanged a glance and then burst into loud laughter.
Gu Yi had been silently watching all this.
Though he had thought that Gu Cheng might achieve great feats when he first saw Gu Cheng’s attributes.
But he never imagined it would turn out like this.
Pacify the Northern Xiongnu?
Gu Yi glanced deeply at Ban Chao, his anticipation for Gu Cheng’s future achievements growing stronger.
Could he really have this opportunity?
While Gu Yi was deep in thought, the entire Han Army quickly finished cleaning the battlefield.
And the subsequent developments were just as Gu Cheng had predicted.
No! It was even more successful than imagined.
The tragic defeat of King Huyan predetermined everything.
In no time, Yiwulu City was completely captured.
And Ban Chao volunteered, determined to set off on a diplomatic mission to the Kingdom of Shanshan.
To inform the entire Western Regions;
——The Great Han has returned!
...
Luoyang.
As time went by, seeing that no great disaster had occurred as imagined, the people gradually settled down.
This is human nature.
People believed it was the Emperor’s fasting that prevented disasters from happening.
However, compared to the situation among the commoners, the oppression in the court remained, even grew more intense.
The reason is quite simple.
Messages from three of the four armies had already been sent back.
Geng Bing’s army;
——Penetrated over six hundred miles into the desert, reached Sanmulou Mountain, but due to the Northern Xiongnu’s hasty retreat, gained nothing;
Lai Miao’s army;
——Reached the waters of the Xiongnu River, similarly without gains;
Ji Rong’s army;
——Due to false intelligence, didn’t even reach the target, Zhuoxie Mountain.
This news directly plunged the court’s atmosphere to rock bottom.
Liu Zhuang was furious, demoting Ji Rong to a commoner!
Punishments were also handed to the others.
As an Emperor, the pressure he was under at this time was unimaginable to others.
Even Gu Kang couldn’t completely reassure him.
If this truly failed, he was destined to be unable to fulfill his aspirations in life.
Some might even think this Emperor was not favored by the heavens.
Such consequences were unimaginable!
He needed a great victory!
Amidst Liu Zhuang’s increasingly heavy heart, the court officials felt like they were walking on thin ice.
An emperor always tense and worsening in spirit, made everyone experience what it meant to "serve the emperor like serving a tiger."
The entire court of the Great Han was thus increasingly oppressed.
But Gu Kang was different from the others. As time passed, he became increasingly calm.
Of the four armies, three had already sent back news, only one remained silent, why?
It must be because this last army encountered the enemy!
As long as they encountered the enemy, there was the possibility of victory or even a great victory.
Not like the other three armies, which achieved nothing.
Finally, amidst this tension, Dou Gu’s message was finally sent back.
Deyang Hall.
Feeling the Emperor’s eager gaze, the courier dared not hesitate.
"ing to Your Majesty!"
"Captain Dou Gu led his army northward, encountering King Huyan’s Northern Xiongnu forces at Tianshan, killing nearly two thousand enemies..."
"King Huyan suffered a great defeat and retreated."
In that instant, the sound of gasping for air echoed.
The ministers displayed expressions of shock.
And Liu Zhuang was the same, even standing up abruptly. He stared intently at the courier.
The cold eyes, which had been so for days, finally showed some change.
"Military Sima Gu Cheng personally led light cavalry in pursuit, encircling King Huyan’s army by Puli Sea."
"Killed over a thousand enemies.
"King Huyan retreated with his defeated troops, and we captured Yiwulu City."
"Subsequently, Military Consul Ban Chao volunteered as envoy, heading to the Kingdom of Shanshan, with thirty-six men, wiping out a hundred-member Northern Xiongnu mission."
"The entire Kingdom of Shanshan was in terror, and the King of Shanshan expressed willingness to return allegiance to our Great Han, sending his prince to Luoyang as a hostage!"
"Now... en route!"
The entire Deyang Hall was dead silent.
Everyone’s expressions changed, even Gu Kang’s alike.
Though he had foreseen that his brother, given his talent, if encountering the enemy, would definitely achieve merits.
But he never expected such a significant merit...
Of course, Liu Zhuang was the most emotional.
He didn’t conceal his emotions, first let out a deep breath, seemingly wanting to release the pent-up feelings of these days.
Then burst into loud laughter!
"Good! Excellent!"
"Truly the offspring of a great general, truly a general of our Great Han!"
The previously spirited and proud emperor returned.
Liu Zhuang’s eyes lit up as he swept his gaze over the ministers, all lingering frustration vanished.
Gu Kang looked at the astonished ministers and thought quickly, without any hesitation, immediately bowed deeply to Liu Zhuang, speaking with firm and powerful words:
"Congratulate Your Majesty!!!"
"Today, with this great victory of our Great Han, it is evident that the heavens are not displeased with our Great Han using the military."
"Rather, it informs us...."
"The stance of attack and defense between us and the Barbarians is different!"
————————
"In the tenth year of Yongping, Cheng followed Captain Dou Gu north to campaign against the Xiongnu.
Near Tianshan, unexpectedly encountered the enemy. Cheng courageously led the troops, led by example, the soldiers followed orders, and they achieved a great victory, killing nearly two thousand foes.
The enemy was routed, King Huyan led the remnants and fled.
Cheng pursued the victory, advanced swiftly, reached Puli Sea, and engaged King Huyan’s forces again.
The adversaries were utterly defeated, King Huyan barely escaped."
——"Biography of Gu Cheng, Later Han Book"