The first time in history

Behind the carriage stood a flag, several meters high, like a towering mountain. The fabric of the flag was made of the finest silk, soft and smooth, and fluttering like ripples on the water. Embroidered on the flag was a lifelike golden dragon, several meters long, with bared fangs and claws, looking extremely powerful. The scales on the dragon's body shone with golden light, as if it were really alive.

The strong wind blew, and the flags fluttered, making a clear and pleasant sound. The five-clawed golden dragon danced in the wind, lifelike, as if it was about to soar into the sky. Its sharp eyes revealed a kind of majesty and domineering, which made people fall in love with it.

Under the sunlight, the golden thread on the golden dragon shone brightly, making the whole flag particularly eye-catching. The edge of the flag was also embroidered with various auspicious patterns, symbolizing the stability of the imperial power and the prosperity of the country.

"Damn it." Qian Mingduo cursed in his heart, "Is he really going out of the border?" He looked back at the flag-bearer who was following closely behind him. Although the wind and sand blew on his face like a knife, he still held his chest and head high, holding the reins in one hand and tightly grasping a large flag with General Jinxiu's surname in the other.

Qian Mingduo looked up at the big word "Han" on the flag.

"It seems that my surname is Han this time." Qian Mingduo nodded to the flag bearer, and the flag bearer bowed in return.

At this time, an officer rode up to Qian Mingduo from the back of the team and asked loudly, "General Han, it's getting dark and the wind is strong. Should we set up camp here?"

"Go ask the carriage." Qian Mingduo didn't know who was sitting in the gorgeous carriage. He thought for a moment and pointed in the direction of the carriage. "Ask her for instructions."

"Yes, sir." The officer pulled the horse's head and drove towards the center of the team.

Qian Mingduo followed closely behind the officer. He needed to understand the current situation through the conversation between the colonel and the people in the car.

"Your Highness," the officer leaned out of the car window and whispered, "General Han requests your advice, Princess. It's getting dark and the sandstorm is raging. Should we set up camp here?"

"Okay." A gentle voice said slowly, "Soldiers have worked hard. We will not travel today. Let's set up camp."

"Yes, sir." The officer turned his horse around and wanted to find Qian Mingduo to report. Unexpectedly, Qian Mingduo was right behind him. The officer was stunned and was about to speak. Seeing Qian Mingduo nod at him, the officer clasped his fists and bowed to Qian Mingduo, then galloped towards the front of the team, shouting loudly: "We will set up camp here today... We will set up camp here today..."

"Princess?" Qian Mingduo stared at the gorgeous carriage with the royal emblem and thought to himself, "Which princess from the Han Dynasty would appear in this vast desert?"

Qian Mingduo waved his hand behind him, and the flag bearer who had been following him hurried forward and walked side by side with him, and asked in a low voice: "General, what do you want?"

"I forgot what year this is...what year is this year?" Qian Mingduo didn't know how to ask this question. He wanted to know what emperor of the Han Dynasty this year was and what year it was.

"Oh, this year is the first year of Jingning?" Fortunately, the flag bearer understood what Qian Mingduo wanted to ask. "General, you have been too tired these days. Let me serve you and let you rest."

"The first year of Jingning..." Qian Mingduo quickly mobilized the knowledge reserves in his mind, frowned, and muttered to himself: "The first year of Jingning... It should be 33 BC, that was the era of Emperor Yuan of Han... The first year of Jingning..." As he muttered, he tried hard to recall the relevant content in the history book.

At this moment, a loud noise interrupted his thoughts. He looked up and saw the general in front of him loudly directing the troops: "Everyone, make a circle with the camels and horses! According to the convention, put the princess's carriage in the center, everyone, hurry up!"

Then, the officer turned around and ordered: "Let's cook!" The soldiers got busy, some leading camels, some driving horses, and others busy arranging the carriage. The whole scene seemed orderly.

A bright moon hangs in the vast night sky, like a huge silver plate, emitting a soft and cold light. The moonlight shines through the thin clouds and falls on the vast desert, covering this desolate land with a mysterious and peaceful silver veil.

Qian Mingduo did not eat. He patrolled the camp with the flag bearer who was also his personal bodyguard.

"It will probably take another two or three months for us to safely escort the princess to Yinshan where the Chanyu is." An old soldier's words caught Qian Mingduo's attention. He stopped, stood behind the old soldier, and listened carefully.

"Does that mean it will take another seven or eight months for us to get back to Chang'an?" A young soldier chewed a piece of hard naan and swallowed it with difficulty. "It's been almost a year since we went back and forth?"

"Yes." The old soldier shook the leather bag, carefully opened the stopper, and handed it to the young soldier. "Drink it, don't choke."

"Dad Zhang, have a drink," the young soldier said, pushing the leather bag away. "You haven't had much water all day."

Qian Mingduo signaled the flag bearer to share some of his water bags with the veterans. He turned around and walked away silently.

"Princess, going out to the frontier, Chanyu, Yinshan." Qian Mingduo pondered over these key words. At this moment, a beautiful sound of piano suddenly came from the gorgeous royal carriage.

Qian Mingduo listened carefully for a while, and his eyes suddenly opened wide, as big as a bull's eyes. He seemed to understand everything, and his heartbeat suddenly accelerated, the "thump thump" rhythm seemed to jump out of his chest with excitement.

Qian Mingduo didn't know what song was being played, but he was sure that the instrument was the pipa.

"Han, General, Go Out of the Frontier" These are the five words written on the note on the blind box.

"Princess, Chanyu, Yinshan, the first year of Jingning" This is the information Qian Mingduo received today.

Combining these information together, Qian Mingduo was so excited that he didn't know what to do. He felt his breathing was short and he gasped for air. He supported himself on the ground with his sword, bent down, and swallowed nervously.

"General, what happened to you?" The flag bearer quickly supported Qian Mingduo. "General, are you feeling unwell?"

"It's okay." Qian Mingduo slowly straightened up and looked at the gorgeous carriage. For some reason, tears welled up in his eyes.

When Qian Mingduo was sure that the person sitting in the carriage with the royal emblem was Wang Zhaojun, his heart seemed to be instantly tightly grasped by an invisible hand, and the excitement surged in his chest like a surging tide.

This was his second time traveling back to ancient times. He never expected to meet Wang Zhaojun, one of the four great beauties in ancient times, again. This was like a dream. His eyes widened, his breathing became rapid, and every breath was accompanied by an uncontrollable tremor.