Han Sui had indeed lived up to Wang Yan's expectations. Even before receiving the weapons and armor, he had already begun deploying troops into the Western Regions, seizing resources and treasure while planting cotton on a massive scale throughout the Hexi Corridor to fund his purchase of military equipment.
There was no need for Wang Yan to say much about cotton. When Cheng Gongying left, it had been spring plowing season; by the time he reached Zhending, spring planting would nearly be over. By the time any message returned, the farming season would surely have been missed. They had prepared for this long ago and had to plant even more cotton.
At the same time, Han Sui actively reached out to the various barbarian tribes, persuading them to head for the Western Regions with him and attack Kushan. Han Sui had also grasped the key to uniting the majority and forging shared interests. In truth, that was precisely the essence of vertical and horizontal alliances.
To Han Sui, the various barbarian tribes were the majority, and they truly faced the same circumstances. General Wang was overwhelmingly powerful. He had sealed off every route south, cut off the trade routes, and allowed only merchants he sent himself to conduct trade—and the barbarians did not dare kill them. On one hand, they feared the terrifying retaliation that would make death a luxury; on the other, there was only this one merchant caravan. Without trade, they could not survive.
Yet while they did not kill the merchants, the merchants brazenly spread information, gathered intelligence, and mapped the land. Then, when winter came, Liao Hua would lead the Valiant Cavalry Camp to slaughter them. Their strength was steadily worn down, leaving them weaker and weaker.
Moreover, Wang Yan had now begun advancing into Liang