Chapter 57: The Great Camp on the Riverbank

  Nieshi County includes today's Doucheng Xianyang, which is the central part of the old Qin State's homeland, while Guanzhong is the root of the old Qin State.

  After the First Emperor unified the world and divided it into prefectures, the old Qin state's territory was divided from north to south into the nine Yuangu Prefecture, Shanggu Prefecture, Beidi Prefecture, Longxi Prefecture, Neishi Prefecture, Hanzhong Prefecture, Ba Prefecture, and Shu Prefecture, totaling eight prefectures.

  There are twelve official roads from Neishi County to the old Qin State, excluding chariot roads and straight roads. They are: Jing River Road, Changshui River Road, Wei River Road, Ziwu Road, Tangshui River Road, Baoxian Road, Chen Cang Road, Jinniu Shu Road, Bashan Road, Baishui River Road, Pujin Road, and Wuguan Road.

  These twelve major roads are all the exit roads that connect Guanzhong to the rest of the world. Among them, the Zi Wu Road is the passage chosen by Wei Yan, a great general of Shu State in the Three Kingdoms period, who advocated for a surprise attack on Chang'an from the north through the Zi Wu Valley.

  The Chen Cang that Liu Bang adopted the strategy of "openly repairing the plank road and secretly crossing Chen Cang" four or five years later in history is now known as Chen Cang Road.

  Pujiang Road and Wuguan Road are two major roads that lead from Guanzhong to Hedong region and the southeastern region respectively.

  The starting point is Dujiangyan, the old capital of Qin State, which was a battleground for the long-term tug-of-war between the old Qin and Wei states.

  Wuguan Road, Wuguan is the gateway to the southeast of old Qin State and an important fortress for the long-term resistance against Chu State.

  The starting point of the Wuguan Ancient Road is Lantianba, where the rear base of the Qin State's large army was located. From Guanzhong, take any road to Lantianba, and then go through Lantian Valley, pass through Wuguan, exit the southeastern mountainous area, and arrive at Nanyang Prefecture and the former Chu Jing Xiang region, becoming the largest outlet for Guanzhong to communicate with the southeast.

  Apart from these two main roads, the gateway for Qin's eastern expeditions was Hangu Pass.

  The Hangu Pass was the gateway to the northeast of the old Qin state. During the time of Duke Xiao of Qin, the national strength of the old Qin state was weak, and in order to negotiate a peace treaty with the State of Wei and cease hostilities, the fertile lands of Qin Dong and Hangu Pass were ceded to the State of Wei.

  After Shang Yang's reform, the old Qin state recaptured Hangu Pass from the State of Wei and specially built a highway from Xianyang to Hangu Pass, which was the central passage leading east from Guanzhong to the states of Wei, Han, and Qi.

  The Blue Field Camp is the base of the rear support for the old Qin army's southern expedition, and the Wei River Camp is the base of the rear support for the old Qin army's eastern expedition to Hangu Pass. After the First Emperor unified China, the Qin army in Guanzhong was either stationed on the border, or sent on a southern campaign against the Baiyue, or dispatched to Huainan or Huaiyang.

  Above the great camp, people gradually left and became empty. Until Hu Hai's time now, there are only over a thousand soldiers stationed in this vast military camp on the east side of Xianyang, responsible for guarding and repairing this magnificent camp that witnessed the old Qin's conquest of the world from the Hangu Pass.

  Now the Great Camp of Weibo has regained its former glory, with more than 400,000 prisoners and slaves, and 200,000 imperial guards stationed here, making this vast camp suddenly bustling with people, full of vitality.

  The Imperial Guards who were originally in charge of maintaining order in Xianyang also arrived at the Weishui camp after escorting the prisoners.

  The distance from Bashang Palace to Bashang Dazheng is not too far. Before an hour, Hu Hai and others arrived at Bashang Dazheng.

  At this moment, the large camp on the banks of the Wei River is fully guarded by 200,000 imperial guards to prevent the escape of convicts and chaos. Because it was nighttime, the imperial guards standing at the gate of the large camp did not discover Hu Hai's group until they were less than fifty meters away from the gate.

  With a "whoosh", an arrow was steadily lodged in the road ahead of the horse-drawn carriage, bringing it to a halt.

  Suddenly, the feathered arrow made Zhang Han hastily stop his horse carriage. The twelve personal guards beside him also drew their swords and surrounded the carriage, looking around nervously.

  Feeling the carriage come to a sudden stop, Hu Hai opened the window and asked: "Why have we stopped, Zhang Ai Qing?"

  Zhang Yan was about to speak when a loud shout came from afar at the gate of the main camp.

  "Who goes there? You are ordered to leave immediately! Anyone who approaches the Imperial Guard camp without permission will be killed on the spot, no questions asked!"

  Upon hearing this loud shout, everyone knew what had just happened with that feathered arrow.

  Zhang Han was even more furious, and the sudden appearance of the feathered arrow would be unthinkable if it startled the horses. Hu Hai heard the words of the gatekeeper at the entrance of the camp and smiled slightly.

  "Zhang Han, have this soldier who spoke come before me, I want to see him."

  "Your Majesty, this soldier's words are insolent and he even intended to harm you with his arrow. He should be severely punished." Zhang Han said urgently.

  "They also don't know that I can be so loyal and devoted. How could they possibly say such severe punishment? You may go."

  Zhang Han reluctantly dismounted and walked alone towards the main camp gate with a "yes" sound.

  "Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!" Three arrows whizzed by, accompanied by a loud roar. "If you take one more step forward, these arrows will not fall to the ground! Leave quickly!"

  After the sound faded away, Zhang Han had not yet reacted, three feathered arrows were neatly arranged in a straight line at his feet.

  This time Hu Hai saw clearly, at a distance of nearly fifty meters, and it was at night that he could shoot arrows with such precision, which shows the soldier's archery skills.

  "Good archery!"

  Hu Hai got down from the carriage and stood behind Zhang Han, cheering.

  "Of course! You're leaving in a hurry!"

  The soldiers speaking at the gate of the big camp obviously also heard Hu Hai's cheers, and they didn't show any modesty, but still didn't forget their duties.

  When he heard this soldier's shameless words, Hu Hai was overjoyed and thought that this guy not only had superb archery skills but also seemed to be a very interesting person.

  The originally enraged Zhang Han, who was infuriated by the successive arrows, suddenly burst into laughter and shouted: "You little soldier, I am Lang Zhongling, Shao Fu Zhang Han, with an important matter to report to His Majesty. Quickly go and inform Wang Qian."

  Upon hearing Zhang Han's words, the imperial guard at the gate was taken aback for a moment before shouting back, "You claim to be Lord Zhang Han, but do you have any proof?" His tone had clearly softened somewhat, yet he still persisted.

  Token, Zhang Han definitely didn't have it. The seal was in his own mansion, how could he possibly carry it with him. Seeing Hu Hai's inquiring gaze, Zhang Han helplessly shook his head.

  The soldier saw Zhang Han not responding, and continued: "No token? Hmph, I knew it. You said you were ordered by the Emperor, do you have the Emperor's edict in hand?" Apparently he thought that since Zhang Han was not responding, these people must be guilty, so his tone suddenly changed again.

  Zhang Han was completely enraged by this soldier, wanting to go over and scold him, but fearing that this foolish-looking guy would directly shoot two arrows and kill himself, which would be a miserable death.

  "Lord Zhang indeed came in a hurry today and didn't bring his seal with him. I don't know if you recognize Lord Zhang, but if you do, please come closer to take a look and see if it's really him, or else please go inform General Wang Qian to come to the camp gate to verify." Hu Hai said with a smile.

  "Right! You are a member of the Imperial Guard and should recognize me. Come out and take a closer look!" Zhang Han hastily added.

  "Alright then, you take twenty steps forward and walk into the light so I can see." The soldier hesitated for a moment before agreeing.

  Zhang Han heard him, hastily took a big stride and walked forward twenty steps, already very close to the gate of the large camp. Under the light of the torches on the camp, the soldiers at the gate could clearly see Zhang Han's face.

  "See General Zhang!" The soldiers at the gate of the big camp immediately all bowed down.

  The soldier who spoke earlier was trembling with fear, his face pale and frightened, and he even forgot to salute.

  Zhang Han knew that Hu Hai was very interested in these soldiers and it was not good to argue with him, so he coldly said: "Open the camp gate and go inform General Wang Qian to come see me."

  At this time, Hu Hai saw that these soldiers had already recognized Zhang Er and also walked over. He didn't care about Zhang Er, came to the soldier who was still immersed in shock, patted his shoulder and said: "What's your name? Were those arrows all shot by you?"