The Nomads Retreat
The third year of exile was coming to an end. Zhang Qian began to receive letters, written in the clumsy hand of a teenager. His son wrote that he was diligently studying literacy and was already good at holding a brush and a wooden stylus — a pen...
In the remote province, rumors reached him about new and new victories of Chinese arms. In 121 BC, the Huns were defeated by Huo Qubing. In 119 BC, they suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Li Guangli. The number of prisoners was in the tens of thousands. So many horses were needed for their transport that the peasants of the northern provinces, from whom officials requisitioned them, began to hide their draft animals. The situation escalated to riots...
After the defeat of the Huns, the imperial council increasingly turned to the reason why all this was initiated: the "10,000 Li Plan." But the author of this plan was languishing somewhere in the province, and without his knowledge, it was unclear even where to start.
The End of the Exile
On a rainy autumn night, Zhang Qian sat in his hut and, by the dim light of a lamp, reread the tale of the journey of the ancient Emperor Wu of Han to the land of the Queen of the West, Xiwangmu. Supposedly, this elderly (he was 65 years old) traveler reached the Lake of Delight, the land of the Abundant Garden and the Jade Mountains in 325 days. And only after surveying all this, he returned home.
Through the noise of the rain, he heard the sound of hooves and loud voices. Zhang Qian put down the book and listened. Who could it be? In a remote village, at such a late hour and in such weather? Could it be bandits?
The fierce barking of dogs soon ceased. Then he heard the voice of his neighbor:
— The master is here! Not asleep yet. Do you see — the light is still glowing?
There was a polite knock on the bamboo door.
— Master Zhang! Master Zhang!...
Zhang Qian's heart stopped. Could it be?...
He opened the flimsy door. Along with the sound of the rain, a gust of wind burst into the hut and nearly extinguished the lamp.
Two people entered: the village elder Liu Shu, who, with human compassion and sometimes with a bowl of rice with fish or vegetables, tried to brighten the gloomy days of the exiled Bovanhou, and someone else, tall, in a cloak from which water was dripping. When he threw back his cloak, Zhang Qian recognized Gu Yin, one of the emperor's bodyguards. Voices could still be heard in the yard.
The guest either did not recognize the host or pretended not to:
— Is this the abode of the exiled Zhang Qian, the wise?
— You are mistaken. Here resides the insignificant commoner Zhang Qian.
Gu Yin bowed low. Again a bow. Again. And again. Then he pulled out a silk bundle from under his cloak!
— It is ordered to be delivered personally into your precious jade hands.
Zhang Qian unwrapped the dry silk. Inside was a box made of jade. In the box was a bamboo tablet exuding heavenly fragrances.
He brought the tablet to the dim light: on the glossy surface, beautiful characters were inscribed (by the emperor himself!): "We await you. The heavenly horse is at your gate."
Zhang Qian was restored to his property and titles. By the decree of Emperor Wu, the investigation showed that the prince was not to blame for the delay in reaching the battlefield. Just at that time, the Branch of Joy, Zhang Qian's daughter, turned 9 years old.
According to custom, she was to be given a second, adult name — now for life. And once again, the emperor graciously turned to his Bovanhou. Zhang Qian named her Lotus Flower. As we will see later, this young princess played a significant, albeit passive, role in Chinese diplomacy in the West...
The "10,000 Li Plan" was hastily discussed in the imperial council — already in the presence of the "specialist." The "specialist" told his lord:
— If we can persuade the Gunymo to relocate to the east (i.e., between Lake Lobnor and the Great Wall) with rich gifts and enter into marital kinship with the House of Han, we can hope for success in this. This will cut off the right hand of the Huns. Once we join the Usun, we will be able to bring Daxia and other western territories under our subjugation...
The emperor thoughtfully shook his head, and it was unclear whether he agreed or not.
— Moreover, — pressed Zhang Qian — it will be easy to persuade the nomads to relocate. After all, they left for the west under the pressure of the Huns only recently — 45-47 years ago.
...The velvet night embraced the imperial garden. The great and benevolent god Shangdi looked down from unimaginable heights: with millions of sparkling star-like eyes upon the sinful earth, honoring not him, but others: the god of war Guandi and Cai Shen - the god of wealth... It was precisely about war and trade that the emperor and his subject continued their long conversation in the Pavilion of High Solitude...
The Unknown Saka Settlement on the Shores of Issyk-Kul?