Chapter 612: They Will Surely Be Moved

Tuan Tuan hugged his neck: "Da Da, war costs a lot of silver; you help Father, and I also want to help you!"

Bai Buluo laughed: "Xiao Yuanhang's army expenses for his tens of thousands of troops are indeed not a small sum."

"But, Da Da, you're not poor either; you don't need this little runt worrying about this for me."

"Moreover, how much can you have? My ten thousand heavy‑armored iron cavalry, even without going to the battlefield, costs twenty to thirty thousand taels of gold per year."

Everyone was startled by the words; the heavy‑armored soldiers seen during the Grand Sacrifice Festival actually cost this much?

Tuan Tuan widened her eyes: "So much! Then, what if they go help Father fight?"

Bai Buluo thought: "If we launch a distant expedition to Xibei, the yearly cost would be at least ten times higher."

Tuan Tuan pointed to his chest, staring at his face: "Da Da, does it hurt here?"

Xiao Ningyuan rolled his eyes. Tuan Tuan, what a question! This is the first time I've heard anyone ask a monarch whether spending silver makes his heart hurt.

Bai Buluo was startled, then burst into laughter: "It hurts! With so much silver, not feeling the pain would be foolish!"

Tuan Tuan blinked: "Then Da Da, you feel the pain; Wei Chi Ming surely feels it too."

"He," Bai Buluo smiled, "he would feel even more pain. Yutian excels in commerce; Wei Chi Ming is a businessman, and his accounts are far more meticulous than mine."

Tuan Tuan looked at Xiao Ningxun: "Third Brother, I want to give Da Da a night‑bright pearl."

Bai Buluo smiled faintly. This child—does he intend to use his own night‑bright pearls as war funds for me?

"No need. Keep those little toys for yourself."

Xiao Ningxun understood, "How clever, Tuan Tuan!"

He clasped his fists and said: "Great King, allow me to step aside for a moment and bring you the night‑bright pearls that Tuan Tuan mentioned for your inspection."

"Third Brother, hurry and go, bring the biggest one!"

Bai Buluo felt moved; never mind, don't spurn Tuan Tuan's goodwill—at worst, we can return it to her after the war.

He waved his hand: "Go."

Xiao Ningxun rose and left.

Soon after, he returned carrying a bundle on his back.

Bai Buluo hugged Tuan Tuan while feeding her: "Good girl, eat a bit more."

Tuan Tuan's chubby cheek pouches said: "Hmm, thank you, Da Da."

Xiao Ningxun set the bundle on the ground and opened it; inside lay three massive night‑bright pearls.

The largest was a circle larger than a teapot; the two smaller ones were also fine, only about a circle smaller.

Bai Buluo was stunned: "Night‑bright pearls this big! Truly unheard of!"

Tuan Tuan, proudly shaking her little feet, said: "Pretty, right? Da Da, how much silver are they worth? Enough for your troops' expenses?"

Bai Buluo lifted Tuan Tuan, stood, and strode to the three night‑bright pearls, walking slowly around them.

"This size, this luster—each is worth a fortune!"

"The biggest can be called a rare treasure; I can't even say how much silver it's worth. If the two smaller ones are sold, each could fetch at least two to three hundred thousand taels of gold."

Xiao Ningyuan, when Third Brother brought out the three largest, immediately caught on.

He clasped his fists and said: "Great King, if we use these three night‑bright pearls as the war funds for the three Western Regions kingdoms to dispatch troops, Yutian and Shule will surely not refuse."

Xiao Ningxun nodded: "Exactly so; please accept the biggest one, Great King."

"The other two, Great King, can serve as tokens for the alliance's deployment; they should yield double the result with half the effort."

Bai Buluo looked at the two brothers, then at Tuan Tuan: "You kids are truly something!"

"Yutian and Shule have no heavy‑armored troops; they only have ordinary cavalry. The value of these two night‑bright pearls is enough for them to raise a national army for two years."

Tuan Tuan again pointed to his chest: "Da Da, does it not hurt here now?"

Bai Buluo laughed heartily, pinching her little cheek: "Not painful! Not at all! You really are a little clever spirit!"

Xiao Er and Lu Qi exchanged a glance and both laughed; now the favor of the Western Regions' troops is repaid, the lady has returned it for the Prince.

Bai Buluo said seriously: "The Western Regions have always prized treasures, even more than gold and silver; with these two night‑bright pearls, they will surely be moved."

"You may set out at once, take Wei Chi Guang back to Yutian, and invite Wei Chi Ming for a visit."

"I'll immediately send someone to invite the Shule King to come, and we will plot great matters together in Jia She City!"

Xiao Ningxun and Xiao Ningyuan rose and clasped their hands: "Thank you, Great King!"

Bai Buluo tossed Tuan Tuan up and caught her: "Go, Tuan Tuan stay with me here and wait for your return."

Tuan Tuan giggled nonstop.

The two brothers exchanged a look; Bai Buluo truly liked Tuan Tuan, holding her and unwilling to let go.

Xiao Ningxun helplessly ordered: "Xiao Er, you and Old Valley Master stay, we will go quickly and return swiftly."

"Yes!"

"Attendants, bring Wei Chi Guang out of the prison and hand him over to them."

"Yes!"

Xue Tong hummed, "Fine, once this is settled we'll return to Zhongyuan; then we'll see how you continue to monopolize my disciple!"

The two brothers immediately rose, took Wei Chi Guang, and rushed toward Yutian.

Bai Buluo spent each day with Tuan Tuan, the big and the small, wandering around the Kucha region, having a great time.

Ten days later, the two brothers returned, escorting Wei Chi Ming.

The Shule King had also arrived, and the three Western Regions monarchs began discussing the alliance and troop deployment.

Five days later, Bai Buluo reported the outcome to everyone: Kucha contributed ten thousand heavy‑armored soldiers, Yutian and Shule each contributed fifteen thousand ordinary cavalry, to aid Xiao Yuanhang in attacking Jingcheng.

All of a sudden, four ten‑thousand troops more!

The two brothers beamed: "Thank you, Great King!"

Bai Buluo asked: "But when will you dispatch the troops? These tens of thousands of soldiers still need time to prepare, and if everything is ready, we cannot just waste time."

Xiao Ningxun clasped his fists and said: "We will set out immediately and rush back to Xibei; the day we dispatch troops is certain, and we will immediately send someone to report to the King!"

"Okay." Bailuoluo tightly hugged Tuan Tuan, "but there's no need to set out immediately; let Tuan Tuan stay with me for another day, tomorrow morning I will personally see you off from the city!"

Everyone helplessly said: "We'll just follow the King's arrangements."

The next morning, everyone walked out of the palace; upon seeing, they were stunned.

Originally there was only one carriage, but unexpectedly two more appeared!

"Cough cough," Bailuoluo coughed twice, "Tuan Tuan, these two carriages are gifts from Dada for you, with food and toys."

He paused: "Right, there are also a few items that are gifts for your parents."

Tuan Tuan looked at the three big carriages, very happy, hugged his big face and gave him a kiss: "Thank you, Dada!"

Bailuoluo personally placed Tuan Tuan into the largest carriage, still reluctant: "Little Tuan Tuan, after the war is over, you must definitely come back to spend more time with Dada."

Tuan Tuan had eaten himself plump all around: "Mm-hmm, don't worry, I also promised Xiao An'an I'd go see him."

Everyone bid farewell to Bailuoluo and embarked on the return journey.

After several days, the carriage finally entered Xibei Daying.

Xiao Ningxun held Tuan Tuan as he had just walked near the commander's grand tent when he saw not far away, Xiao Ningchen's face full of killing intent, he raised his knife and cut down a person's head.

He hurriedly pressed his sister's face into his embrace: "Second brother!"