A lone plume of smoke rose from the vast desert. The setting sun stained the ground with blood and the biting northern winds carried the stench of rust and blood. The Rizhu King, Xianxian, was covered in blood. His fewer than three thousand remaining troops were ashen-faced behind him. Though on the verge of surrender, a sliver of pride remained in the heart of this eagle of the steppe. He wanted to see the Han emperor, who had ended the Xiongnu Chanyu's rule and brought the Western Regions to their knees, for himself.
The Han army formation slowly split open. There were no shouts of 'Long live the Emperor!' or deafening clamour. Tens of thousands of elite Han soldiers stood silently, like a steel forest. A massive, uniquely designed 'mobile palace' was slowly pulled out by eight purebred Akhal-Teke horses. Liu Xun was not riding a horse, but was seated on a high platform. He was wearing a black five-clawed dragon robe and was playing with a long, jet-black sword.
[System prompt] Current control skill: 'Imperial Majesty – True Dragon Descends' activated. The Rizhu King's psychological defences were detected at 85% (stubborn).
'Sage Shan, do you think I'm waiting for your surrender?' Liu Xun's voice wasn't loud, but under the system's "acoustic diffusion matrix" enhancement, it boomed like thunder in the ears of every Xiongnu soldier within a mile radius. Sage Shan's heart trembled violently as he looked up abruptly, only to see not an emperor, but a 'god' shrouded in blinding light.
(In reality, this was an optical illusion created by Liu Xun using the high-refractive-index reflective mirror array obtained through the system.)
'I'm waiting for the Eternal Heaven to provide an explanation.' Liu Xun slowly stood up, instantly switching his demeanour to 'compassionate yet ruthless'. With a casual wave of his hand, the Hidden Dragon Guards (the Han Dynasty's special intelligence force) beside him swiftly moved out. Instead of using traditional bows and arrows, they drew high-strength steel crossbows that Liu Xun had improved using the system's logic.
'Bang!' A thousand paces away, the Sun Chasing King's proud royal banner was torn in two.
'This is the first choice I give you: take your pride and become dust in this northern frontier. Next year, this grassland will be exceptionally fertile because of your flesh and blood.' Liu Xun's tone was as calm as if he were discussing the weather. The sage collapsed to the ground, overcome with a visceral fear of the unknown, epoch-making military oppression. However, Liu Xun withdrew his murderous intent and activated his 'benevolent father mode'. He descended from the platform, the sound of his leather boots echoing precisely the heartbeat of the Sun Chasing King. 'But this grassland always needs a gatekeeper.' He held out his hand to reveal several crystal-clear, virus-free potato seeds and a modified map of the city's construction.
'Surrender! I will teach you how to grow enough food to fill your stomach in this land. I will give you 'special forces-style combat training' so you can conquer those disobedient tribes. From now on, you will no longer be an exiled Xiongnu, but a 'steppe guard dog' of the Han Dynasty.'
Leaning down, Liu Xun spoke in a magical voice, audible only to the two of them, into the arrogant Rizhu King's ear: 'Follow me and you will see that being a dog is far nobler than being a wolf.'
That night, the followers of the Rizhu King received refined salt, flour and strong liquor — things they had never seen before — at the Han army camp.
While the Xiongnu soldiers were exclaiming that 'the Han Emperor is a god', Liu Xun's 'Hidden Dragon Guard' had already infiltrated their ranks silently. Ruffians and wandering knights mixed in with the army were spreading the fabricated myth of 'Han and Xiongnu sharing a common origin' in fluent Xiongnu.
Meanwhile, Liu Xun stood in the main tent, watching the Rizhu King's loyalty soar on the system panel and a mocking smile played on his lips.
The "Prairie Hound" collar was already in place, and only Liu Xun could take the lead.
Chang'an, West Market.
Even after the heavy rain, the newly constructed experimental reinforced concrete road remained as smooth as a mirror, drawing gasps of admiration from envoys of various countries.
Dressed in a black silk robe adorned with cloud patterns and carrying a long sword at his waist, Liu Xun strolled through the streets like a wealthy wandering knight, accompanied by several Hidden Dragon Guards.
He approached a stall selling spices from the Western Regions and casually picked up a gold coin that had been paid for by a foreign merchant.
[System prompt] Non-Han dynasty legal tender detected.
Metal composition: Gold (82%), copper (15%), containing trace amounts of radioactive minerals (origin: Hindu Kush Mountains).
Craftsmanship assessment: High-precision cold-pressing technology bearing the portrait of 'Weima Kadphises'.
Liu Xun's eyes instantly turned cold; he knew this was currency from the Kushan Empire. During this period, the boundaries of the Han Dynasty's territory often ended at Wusun and Dayuan. However, as a time traveller, Liu Xun was aware that beyond the Pamir Mountains, the Yuezhi people's empire was on the verge of a brutal expansion. They were trying to undermine the Han dynasty by manipulating the economies of small kingdoms in the Western Regions.
'The old man on this coin looks quite smug,' said Liu Xun, stroking the coin with the eager air of a pampered young master. He raised an eyebrow at the merchant. 'This stuff isn't common in Chang'an,' he said. 'But I find it quite rare. I'd like to exchange a few more. How many do you have?' Seeing Liu Xun's noble air and seemingly foolish wealth, the merchant lowered his voice and said, 'Sir, this is a gift from the "King of Kings". In Shule and Shache, this gold is worth much more than the Han Dynasty's five-zhu coins.' 'Oh? More valuable than mine... more valuable than the Han Dynasty's money?' Liu Xun wore a mocking smile, but his eyes were icy cold. He launched into his 'Top Performance: Marketplace Greed', successfully extracting information from the Hu merchants about a secret trade route that transported these gold coins specifically to the Western Regions, inciting local small kingdoms to 'de-Sinicise'. These gold coins were not just currency; they were a form of infiltration. The Kushans were telling the kingdoms of the Western Regions that the Han Dynasty's time was coming to an end and that a new power was rising in the west. Upon returning to the palace, Liu Xun instantly switched back to his 'Iron-Blooded Emperor' persona.
Inside the Xuan Shi Hall, a massive holographic sand table depicting the geopolitical situation of the Western Regions (a product of system simulation) glowed with a faint blue light. 'Since they want to play, I'll play a big game with them,' Liu Xun ordered the kneeling commander of the Hidden Dragon Guard, his voice cold. Using the 'Modern Double-Entry Bookkeeping' and 'Special Anti-Counterfeiting Printing Techniques' granted by the system, he quickly issued official Han Dynasty 'gold vouchers' to the Western Regions, forcing them to export silk in exchange for them. This reduced the market share of Kushan gold coins in a short period. He ordered the Rizhu King to lead his 'steppe guard dog' unit, disguised as bandits, to plunder all caravans carrying Kushan gold coins and expedite the construction of 'cement fortresses and beacon towers' in Shule and Shache. 'I want those small kingdoms of the Western Regions to know that holding Kushan gold coins is like holding a ticket to hell.' Three days after the plan was implemented, a secret report from the Protectorate of the Western Regions arrived. It stated that several people claiming to be 'Kushan envoys' were openly inciting local princes to resist the Han Dynasty's 'trade hegemony' in Shache. They were even carrying standard Han-made swords — clearly, some within the Han Dynasty had been corrupted by the Kushans.
Standing by the window and looking at the myriad lights of Chang'an, a cruel smile crept across Liu Xun's face. 'I had planned to deal with you Yuezhi remnants later, but since you're so eager to die, it seems the Han dragon flag will have to be planted west of the Pamir Mountains.'
Deep within the Weiyang Palace in Chang'an, Liu Xun stood before a huge bronze mirror.
[System Command] Load Disguise Module: [Western Regions Merchant Suge]
Appearance adjustment: Skin tone darkened by 30%; wrinkles added to the corners of the eyes; voice switched to 'a strong, smoky voice'.
Special bonus: the air of a wandering swordsman, effect increased by 50%. A moment later, the majestic emperor in the mirror vanished, replaced by a middle-aged merchant with sharp eyes and a face full of scars who was casually tossing gold coins in his hand. 'Your Majesty, if the old ministers of the court find out that I'm personally leading an incognito campaign on the frontier...' The Hidden Dragon Guard commander knelt in the shadows, his voice trembling.
'Old ministers?' Liu Xun sneered. 'That's the arrogance of wandering knights. They count their tallies in the court, while I'll count their heads in Dunhuang. The cement roads I built for them weren't for transporting Han swords to the Kushans.' Half a month later, Dunhuang. As a vital passage on the Silk Road, the area's prosperity had a wild, untamed quality to it. Along the main road, Hu women danced and the aroma of Han wine filled the air. Liu Xun, who called himself 'Boss Su', swaggered into the city with a caravan laden with 'System-Refined Fine Salt' and 'High-Strength Composite Bow Frames'.
'Boss Su, the rules of Dunhuang City are that we have to feed "Prince Sha" first,' a local guide whispered, pointing towards the city garrison. Liu Xun narrowed his eyes.
'Prince Sha' was merely a deputy general in Dunhuang, yet he dared to proclaim himself king in a place far from the emperor's reach. Furthermore, he observed that the Kushan gold coins in circulation were in better condition than the Han Dynasty's Wuzhu coins.
In order to lure out the big fish, Liu Xun hosted a lavish feast at Dunhuang's largest restaurant, Wangshan Tower. 'I have plenty of money and the finest steel,' said Liu Xun, standing on a stool with a flush face, looking the very picture of a nouveau riche. He pulled a gleaming dagger from his robes — a 'manganese steel alloy blade' produced by the system. 'Whoever can introduce me to "Prince Sha" will have this knife and that cartload of salt!' Those around him instantly began to breathe heavily. Liu Xun had perfected the art of 'playing dumb to fool the enemy', feigning to be a greedy merchant desperately seeking a patron while, in reality, he used the 'system's deep scan' to identify all the suspicious individuals in the tavern.
'Boss Su, the prince requests your presence.' A scarred man approached, his eyes filled with greed and murderous intent. In the secret chamber of the city garrison, Liu Xun met the so-called 'Prince Sha'. Dressed in a Kushan-style silk robe, the man lacked the imposing presence of a Han general. He said, 'Boss Su, your goods are excellent, but the laws of the Han Dynasty forbid the private sale of fine steel.' Prince Sha smiled sinisterly. 'However, I have a route that leads directly to the Kushan Empire, beyond the Pamir Mountains. As long as you supply the goods, I guarantee you can roam the Western Regions freely." Liu Xun sat beside a pile of Kushan gold coins. He casually grabbed a handful, instantly switching his expression from 'greed' to 'extreme indifference'. 'So, the border guard pay that I personally approved was all exchanged for these gold coins?' 'What did you say? 'I?' The lieutenant suddenly realised, gripping his sword hilt. With a 'crack', the gold coins in Liu Xun's hand were crushed into a gold ingot. 'Hidden Dragon Guards, close the net.'
At Liu Xun's command, several men in black leapt through the window, moving as swiftly as ghosts. Before the lieutenant had time to draw his sword, a steel crossbow bolt pierced his throat.
Outside Dunhuang City, the wind lashed against the blue bricks of the drill ground like knives. Liu Xun had taken off his 'Boss Su's' round-necked silk robe and put on the heavy black iron armour that had been kept secretly within the Hidden Dragon Guard. The armour plates clashed together with a cold metallic sound, as if some slumbering beast had awoken. Although he had shed his disguise, the ferocity honed in the lower echelons of the martial world intertwined with the emperor's majesty, creating a suffocating sense of oppression. Before him, two men knelt on one knee, heads bowed. The man on the left had grey hair and a face etched with deep lines. He was Chang Hui, the Marquis of Changluo. He had accompanied Su Wu on his mission, endured the snow and ice of the North Sea and broken through the chaos of the Wusun army single-handedly. In a sense, he was a living icon of the Han dynasty in the western regions. The man on the right exuded a heroic spirit; his eyes revealed a ruthless and reckless edge. He was Feng Fengshi, not yet renowned throughout the land — merely a sharp blade hidden in its sheath for now. 'Chang Hui, you're sixty-five this year, aren't you?' Liu Xun's voice echoed across the empty training ground, its depth amplified by the system. Each word struck the general's heart like a hammer blow. 'Your Majesty, Lian Po is old, but can he still eat? Please test him!' Chang Hui raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, his fighting spirit having been suppressed for too long.
Liu Xun wasted no words. He waved his hand and the Hidden Dragon Guards behind him carried in two black, lacquered wooden boxes. The boxes were heavy and cracked the blue bricks of the training ground on impact. 'While I was in Chang'an, those civil officials constantly nagged me with the saying, "If distant peoples don't submit, then cultivate virtue to attract them". They sat in their warm pavilions drinking tea, unaware that my people were bleeding on the frontier. Since the Kushans think their gold coins can buy the Western Regions, I'll show them a different kind of hard currency.' Liu Xun reached out and abruptly opened the first wooden box.
A flash of cold light, like autumn water, instantly illuminated the dimly lit training ground. It was a longsword, its body a dark blue-green and its blade faintly gleaming with a ghostly purple light.
[System Command] Distribute System Infrastructure Reward — Titanium-Tungsten Alloy Meteorite Breaking Sword
Attributes: Extreme Hardness, Self-Sharpening, Corrosion Resistance
Note: This sword can easily cut through all bronze and cast iron armour in the present world.
'Chang Hui, this sword is named "Severance". I bestow it upon you, not to guard cities. I want you to use it to destroy all life in the Kushan Empire east of the Pamir Mountains. Anyone who disobeys will have their head taken by this sword.' Chang Hui's hands trembled as he received the divine weapon. When his fingers touched the cold hilt, an overwhelming sense of power surged through his body. He abruptly drew the sword from its sheath and casually swung it at the testing stone beside him. With a sharp 'crack', the massive boulder, as thick as a man's embrace, was cleanly sliced away like tofu, the cut as smooth as a mirror. Feng Fengshi, standing nearby, stared in disbelief, his Adam's apple bobbing violently. 'Feng Fengshi, your stuff is over there,' said Liu Xun, pointing to the second wooden crate.Inside the crate were over a hundred short crossbows, each one uniquely shaped. Crafted entirely from high-quality steel, they were devoid of elaborate paintwork and possessed only exquisite industrial beauty. Intricate gear sets were engraved on the sides of the crossbows. These were the 'Thunderbolt Crossbows', modified by Liu Xun using the 'Modern Mechanical Transmission Logic' awarded by the system.
'This crossbow has a range of five hundred paces, and within fifty paces it can penetrate three layers of heavy armour.' Liu Xun grabbed a crossbow and pulled the trigger. A sharp whistling sound pierced the air. An arrow like a steel nail vanished instantly from the distant target, piercing three layers of iron and causing the earthen wall behind it to collapse.
'Fengshi, I am giving you three thousand Dragon Cavalry, all of whom are equipped with this crossbow, fine steel armour and stirrups. I don't want you to guard Dunhuang; I want you to lead the troops out of Yumen Pass and pierce the heart of the Kushans like a steel knife."
Liu Xun stepped between the two men and pulled two black tiger tallies from his robes. Unlike the traditional golden tiger tallies of the Han dynasty, these tallies were shaped like coiled black dragons with four blood-red characters engraved on the back. 'Act at your own discretion.' 'Take these,' said Liu Xun in an extremely low voice, revealing an undeniable savagery. 'Kill all the Western Regions kingdoms with rebellious intentions; kill Kushan envoys; slaughter those who obstruct our Han trade routes. There is no need to consult the Imperial Secretariat or heed the military orders of the Grand Marshal's office. Today, I grant you permission to execute first and report later; to annihilate nations and massacre cities.'
Feng Fengshi looked up abruptly, his heart pounding. 'Your Majesty, if those small kingdoms are merely coerced by the Kushans and have no intention of rebelling...'
'Then they are still guilty.' Liu Xun interrupted him, his eyes as cold as iron. 'Choosing the wrong side in the conflict between the Han and the Kushan is a capital offence. Feng Shi, remember where your weapons came from. I gave you the best armour and the fastest arrows, not so you could reason with me." Liu Xun turned away from them, gazing westward into the distance. There, the Golden Lion Legion of the Kushan Empire was braving the sandstorms to cross the Pamir Mountains, intending to challenge the dignity of this ancient dragon.
"The blood of the Han hasn't been hot for a long time. This time, I will make the entire Western Regions remember this burning taste.'" Chang Hui and Feng Fengshi fell silent. They kowtowed heavily, then abruptly stood up, their cloaks fluttering. One wielded a sword and the other a crossbow. They carried the emperor's ambition and epoch-making military might as they disappeared into the dark night of Dunhuang's swirling yellow sands.
On the high platform of the training ground, Liu Xun stood alone. The system interface flashed before his eyes:
[System Prompt]: 'Execute First, Report Later' permission activated. Western Regions prestige points are being calculated. Current nemesis: Kanishka, the vanguard general of the Kushan Empire, has entered the combat zone. The epic quest, 'Han Banner's Western Hunt', has begun. Phase One: 'Bloodbath at Chishui'.
Liu Xun gripped the longsword at his waist tightly, his knuckles turning white. He was no longer the boy who fought cocks and rode horses in Chang'an, ever wary of Huo Guang's moods; nor was he the street thug he once was. In this moment, he was the sole ruler of the Han dynasty and master of the Silk Road.'Kanishka, I am in Dunhuang waiting to see your head fall.' In the distance, the first rumble of thunderous hooves could be faintly heard. They were the Han Dynasty's Dragon Cavalry, baring their fangs in the darkness. The bloody drama of two civilisations clashing, directed by Liu Xun, the 'actor emperor', was officially about to begin. It was a profound, bloody and exhilarating war.
The golden lion banner of the Kushan Empire lay tattered on the banks of the Red River, trampled by the boots of countless Han soldiers. On top of it, a large, blood-stained Han dragon banner fluttered in the fierce winds of the Western Regions.
Feng Fengshi's armour was cracked and his modified Thunderclap Crossbow, hot from continuous firing, clattered to the ground. He wiped the blood from his face, his gaze fixed on the distance. Behind him stood three thousand dragon cavalry, silent as iron. Ahead lay the corpses of the supposedly 'invincible' Kushan Empire army of ten thousand.
In this battle, the mighty weapons of the Han dynasty had utterly shattered the myth of the Kushans' invincibility.
The news reached the Western Regions, causing tremendous shock. Within days, the rulers of the thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions, as if by unspoken agreement, abandoned their previous dignity and wait-and-see attitude. They had witnessed the 'Sword of Destruction' in Chang Hui's hand firsthand, a weapon capable of cutting through iron as though it were mud. They had also heard the thunderous shouts of Feng Fengshi's soldiers on the battlefield. Wusun, Dayuan, Kucha and Loulan... These nations, once torn between the Han Dynasty and the Kushan Empire, now gathered before the gates of the Western Regions Protectorate in Wulei City. There were no magnificent carriages or arrogant retinues. The rulers of the thirty-six kingdoms removed their golden seals and luxurious royal robes. In an atmosphere that seemed almost absurd yet incredibly awe-inspiring to the Confucian scholars of the Central Plains, they all knelt in unison, facing east — the direction of Chang'an and of Liu Xun.
'May the Emperor of the Great Han live long and prosper! King of Kings, your might extends throughout the land!' Their shouts shook the heavens and swept across the sands of the Tarim Basin, seemingly reaching all the way to the magnificent Weiyang Palace. This was not perfunctory tribute, but submission from the depths of their souls. They surrendered not only a letter of submission, but also the taxes, military power and future destiny of the land. From this moment on, the Western Regions would be an inseparable part of the Han Dynasty, rather than a vassal state.
Chang'an, Weiyang Palace, Xuan Shi Hall.
Liu Xun stood with his hands behind his back in front of a large holographic sand table. His eyes showed not the euphoria of victory, but the profound wisdom of strategic planning.
Suddenly, the space before him trembled slightly and a golden system panel appeared, displaying a torrent of text:
[System Global Notification]
The territories of the 'Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions' have been fully incorporated into the territory of the Han Dynasty.
National territory expansion: 25%
National cohesion: 40% up.
[Core Indicator] National Fortune Value is fluctuating wildly…
Current national fortune: 1,000,000... 2,500,000... 5,000,000 (breaking the limit)! Liu Xun felt an unprecedented warmth flow through his body as he sensed the power of the nation's destiny returning to the emperor. His acting skills, intuition and mental strength underwent a qualitative leap at that moment.
'Congratulations, Host.' The system's voice rang out, tinged with unusual excitement. 'Because you have achieved both "military suppression" and "civilisational assimilation" in the Western Regions, the Han Dynasty's civilisation level has reached a bottleneck.'
A smile played on Liu Xun's lips. He had painstakingly cultivated an intelligence network among the people under the guise of "Boss Su," manipulated the old aristocracy at court with his "acting skills," and constructed the Great Wall on the frontier with the help of "infrastructure." All of his efforts had been leading up to this moment.
'System, activate the next stage.' With Liu Xun's command, the heavy black stone door in the centre of the system panel slowly slid open to the sides, emitting a teeth-grinding scraping sound.
[National Destiny Settlement Completed] The next stage, [Dawn of the Industrial Revolution], has officially begun! Unlock the core technology tree:
Blast Furnace Steelmaking (Advanced Version)—completely ending the Bronze Age and ushering in the Han Dynasty's "steel torrent".
[Steam Engine Principle Diagram (Watt Prerequisite Version): Transforming the power of oxen and horses into the mechanical might of billowing smoke.
Large-Scale Standardised Manufacturing Logic: Every spear and every rivet can be mass-produced.
Liu Xun gazed at the shimmering blueprints, his pupils reflecting an unprecedented era. In this era, not only would the Han army conquer the Pamir Mountains, but the Han's railways would also crisscross Eurasia and their black smoke would obscure the temples of the barbarians.
'Your Majesty, there are urgent reports from the border! The princes are on their knees, begging you to decide on the rewards!" Outside the hall, an elderly minister stood trembling with excitement, his voice hoarse. 'Your Majesty, urgent reports from the border! The princes are kneeling and begging you to decide on the rewards!' Liu Xun withdrew his gaze, the deep look on his face instantly vanishing and being replaced by a compassionate yet domineering imperial demeanour. He slowly walked out of the Xuan Shi Hall and stood on the high white jade steps overlooking the entire city of Chang'an. The setting sun cast his long shadow. 'A reward?' Liu Xun murmured softly, then abruptly flicked his sleeve. His voice echoed like thunder through the long corridors of Weiyang Palace. 'Issue my imperial decree! The Western Regions will no longer be known as 'kingdoms', but will be renamed the 'Western Province' of the Great Han, falling directly under the jurisdiction of the Protectorate General. Tell those kings that if they wish to live under the protection of the Great Han, they must abandon their golden crowns and wear the official robes of the Great Han! Furthermore…'
Liu Xun paused, a madman-like glint blazing in his eyes.
'Issue an order to the Ministry of Works: I want a 'City of Black Smoke' to be built on the outskirts of Chang'an. I want the skies of the Great Han to have not only the sun, moon and stars, but also the flames of industry!" The ministers below exchanged bewildered glances. Though they didn't understand the meaning of 'industry', they could sense the transformative power emanating from this young emperor. Liu Xun stood in the wind, feeling the system's backend metrics steadily climb. He had risen from being a street rogue who deceived powerful ministers with his superb acting skills, pacified the martial world with ruthless methods and conquered the Western Regions with his far-sighted vision.
Now, he was about to embark on an even grander undertaking: forcing the Industrial Age upon this pre-Christian era.
'I sit upon this empire; I change this world.'