Thousand Miles of Bright Moonlight - Chapter 151.1

Deep within the inland regions lay Gaochang, a land of strategic importance nestled between the northern and southern stretches of the Tianshan Mountains, where many different tribes lived side by side.

As a small oasis kingdom in the desert sea, it had once been under the rule of various fragmented powers, struggling to survive amidst the rivalries of greater forces. Whenever the Central Plains dynasties grew strong, Gaochang sought ways to align itself with them. Eventually, it was incorporated into the Tang Dynasty’s territory, becoming a vital outpost for the Tang in the Western Regions. Its rituals, customs, policies, official script, and language of the people mirrored those of the Central Plains.

When chaos engulfed the Central Plains, war erupted on all sides, and Hexi and Longxi fell into enemy hands, leaving the states of the Western Regions isolated. Once again, the Western Prefecture became known as Gaochang. Many aristocratic families and commoners from Hexi and Longxi fled westward to Gaochang seeking refuge. Han Chinese, Turks, Sogdians, Tiele people, and other ethnic groups settled here, with Han Chinese forming the majority.

The Yuchi clan, originally a noble family from Longxi, migrated to Gaochang, intermarried with the local royal family, and eventually replaced them, establishing themselves as rulers of the kingdom.

The current ruler of Gaochang was King Yuchi Damo, who had once married a noblewoman of the Zhang clan. A few years ago, when the great army of the Northern Rong pressed upon their borders, Gaochang submitted to the Northern Rong, and Yuchi Damo took the niece of the Wakhan Khan as his wife, pledging allegiance to the Northern Rong.

The royal city of Gaochang was built alongside a river, its terrain naturally fortified. For dozens of miles beyond the city walls stretched desolate plains, but as one drew near the city, the sounds of human activity rose sharply. Against the dry northern winds, caravans from various city-states traversed the drifting sands, the melodious ringing of camel bells echoing through the air. Merchants waiting to enter the city formed several long queues with their camel trains.

Yaoying and her companions dismounted one by one, waiting their turn to enter the city.

They had already prepared the necessary documents for passage, so there was no need to worry about being searched, though their identities still could not be exposed.

While they queued, Yuanjue spoke to Yaoying in a low voice. He was one of the few in their group who knew the true purpose of this journey.

Glancing at Sultan Gu at the front of the line, he scratched his head and quietly asked Yaoying, “Princess, there’s something I can’t quite understand. The King of Gaochang is named Damo, which suggests that the royal family are devout Buddhists. Most of the people here believe in Buddhism too, and they hold their king in high esteem. Every year, many of them travel to the Holy City to listen to the king’s teachings, and nobles compete in acts of charity. If we were to mention the king’s name, wouldn’t that be enough for them to agree to an alliance? Why must Your Highness come to Gaochang in person?”

Yaoying smiled and replied, “The Yuchi royal family originally migrated here from Hexi and were heavily influenced by Confucian teachings. The customs here differ slightly from those at the royal court, and my personal visit demonstrates greater sincerity.”

Yuanjue’s expression betrayed a hint of scepticism.

Yaoying did not elaborate further.

Though Gaochang revered Buddhism, and every year King Yuchi Damo sent offerings of grape wine to the royal court, royal authority remained paramount. This place had once been a prefecture of the Central Plains, with Han Chinese as the majority. In the past, the official academies taught the classics of Confucianism- the Five Classics and various historical texts. Although in recent years, under changing circumstances, these official academies had been abolished, and like other small kingdoms that submitted to the Northern Rong, they had adopted nomadic customs and spoke nomadic languages, the influence of the Central Plains had sunk deep roots here.

Back then, when Master Xuanzang returned to the Central Plains after his journey to retrieve the scriptures, he received immense favour from Emperor Taizong Li Shimin and his son Li Zhi, frequently interacting with the royal family. Xuanzang was an exceptionally shrewd monk who understood that only by relying on the imperial court could he truly spread the Dharma. He once submitted two requests to Li Zhi: to elevate Buddhism above Daoism, and to abolish the law that punished monks and nuns the same as laypeople, thereby granting clergy special privileges.

Though Li Zhi held Master Xuanzang in high esteem, he flatly rejected his requests. In the Central Plains, monks were expected to both transcend and participate in worldly affairs, but always remain subordinate to imperial authority. As an emperor, Li Zhi would never have been so foolish as to agree to Xuanzang’s petition.

By the same token, no matter how much Yuchi Damo respected Tumoroga, when it came to matters of alliance, he would still weigh the interests of Gaochang, not act out of sentiment.

Yuanjue and the royal court guards had grown up within the royal court, fanatically devoted to Tumoroga, believing that nobles and officials naturally ought to submit to the Buddha’s son. No amount of explanation from Yaoying would change that.

All these years, Tumoroga’s ability to subdue malevolent spirits and demons has never relied solely on the power of the Dharma…

A thought stirred suddenly in Yaoying’s mind.

Judging from Yuanjue’s attitude, it was easy to imagine how arrogant the royal court’s envoys to Gaochang must have been. Was this why Sultan Gu’s last mission to Gaochang had failed?

She glanced at Sultan Gu and shook her head with a wry smile.

Sultan Gu, despite his cold and aggressive demeanour, was not the sort of person who would allow pride to turn into rudeness. However, he was reserved and taciturn, thus, by no means a suitable envoy. When Tumoroga had fallen gravely ill, why had he chosen to send Sultan Gu to Gaochang?

Surely Ashina Bisha would have been the more appropriate choice for an envoy…

A cheerful sound of the pipa interrupted Yaoying’s thoughts. Up ahead, the crowd surged forward. It was their turn to enter the city.

As they stepped through the gates, the wind immediately lessened. The breeze that greeted them was warm, mingled with all manner of earthly scents and the bustle of human life.

Yaoying’s face was veiled, and as she walked, she paid close attention to the passersby, her brows faintly furrowed.

All along the way, regardless of age or gender, not a single person wore the clothing of the Central Plains. Both men and women donned short-sleeved robes, their hair braided and hanging down their backs. The men carried daggers at their waists, while the women’s braids were adorned with beads, jade, and strings of jewels.

This was once the land of the Central Plains…