Chapter 340: The Xiliang Envoy

"This is a good thing, why is Your Highness looking so troubled?"

The bedchamber.

Zhao Xu was still examining the Imperial Edict; this time, there were three important pieces of information in Zhao Heng's Imperial Edict.

First, it permitted him to expand his Prince's Personal Army to 210,000 men.

This was something that should have been granted to him after he took control of Yanzhou.

It was only delayed by half a year due to the obstruction of officials from powerful clans like Dou Wei.

However, at the time the Imperial Edict arrived, he also received intelligence sent from Jingshi by the Four Courts.

Regarding the expansion of troops, Dou Wei seemed not to oppose it this time, appearing very low-key.

The second point concerned Jinzhou, allowing Zhao Xu to provide convenience for Ma Yuan and Mo Kuan.

There was also another point: the 70,000 Imperial Guards in Yanzhou would be transferred out of Yanzhou to Tongguan, ordering him to complete the handover of the mountain pass with the Imperial Guards.

This matter made Zhao Xu heave a light sigh of relief.

Even though he had conquered Jinzhou, he was still very concerned about the question of who would take over Jinzhou next.

If it were someone else, he certainly would not be happy.

He had sacrificed so many soldiers, and it was not to make wedding clothes for the likes of Dou Wei.

Fortunately, Zhao Heng was not yet muddled and had handed Jinzhou over to Ma Yuan and Mo Kuan.

With this civil and military pair there, he felt relatively at ease.

After all, both of them were still loyal to the Great Song.

As for this final point about visiting his relatives, how should he put it—his mood was truly a bit complicated.

There was a feeling where resistance and anticipation coexisted.

The resistance was naturally because he was a transmigrator.

If he faced Zhao Heng and Mi Fei, he would feel a bit guilty.

The anticipation perhaps stemmed from him possessing the memories of the Ninth Prince.

It was as if he had a new life, and he felt a sense of identification with the identity.

"When Your Highness was in Jingshi,

the other Imperial Princes always bullied Your Highness, so naturally, Your Highness does not want to go back," Feng'er said to Luan'er.

"That is true, but there were also people who were still very good to Your Highness, such as Changle Princess and Qingyang Princess," Luan'er chuckled.

Feng'er laughed upon hearing this, seemingly recalling happy memories related to their time in Jingshi.

"And there is also the Imperial Concubine; the Imperial Concubine has always been thinking of Your Highness," Luan'er said while patting Zhao Xu's back, a hint of longing in her eyes.

When they were in the palace, Mi Fei had also been extremely good to them.

Feng'er nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

Zhao Xu shook his head helplessly.

He naturally had to return to this Jingshi.

After all, this was an Imperial Edict.

Moreover, it was not that he could not return; what he was actually thinking about was the issue of his own safety.

He was, of course, clear that there were quite a few people in the current Great Song who wanted him dead.

Returning this time to visit relatives, he could not bring a large army into the capital.

According to regulations, he could only bring 3,000 men.

Traveling by land, passing through any province controlled by a powerful clan, they could finish him off as long as they were willing to risk it.

Therefore, he was determined not to travel by land.

Then the only remaining choice was to travel by water.

But there were two types of water routes: one was inland rivers, and the other was the ocean.

Traveling by inland river was actually no different from traveling by land, as he would still have to pass through the provinces of the powerful clans.

So for him, the only remaining method was to travel by sea.

This way, he could reach the Yangtze River from the sea, which was what the Great Song called the Jiujiang.

This "Wine" meant it passed through nine provinces of the Great Song, which was why it was called Jiujiang.

And from Jiujiang, he could arrive directly at the foot of Jinling City.

Here, he would not be afraid.

After all, when he went at that time, what he would be riding would not be an ordinary Merchant Ship, but the Warship he had ordered Chen Shou to oversee the construction of.

Thinking of this, he immediately felt much more relaxed and said, "If I must go, then I go."

Luan'er and Feng'er looked at each other upon hearing this and both laughed.

The vast Grassland.

Li Xin and a team of Xiliang Cavalry were heading toward the Khan Court.

Passing through waist-high weeds, he kept using a fan to drive away mosquitoes and insects.

"Prime Minister, it is just ahead," a Beidi cavalryman leading the way said at this moment.

As soon as the Xiliang envoy entered the Grassland, they were discovered by the Beidi cavalry.

After stating their purpose, the Beidi led them toward the Khan Court.

This was because they had already been informed in advance that the Xiliang envoy would be coming.

Li Xin nodded and urged his horse to continue forward.

This was something he had promised Tuoba Hao; as an envoy, his status also made the importance of this trip more apparent.

In the Jinzhuzhizhan, Xiliang lost everything.

In the end, they even lost Tongguan to Yan Wang.

Without Tongguan, it is as difficult as ascending to heaven for Xiliang to enter Jinzhou again.

Moreover, that place is currently held by Yan Wang's troops, and the soldiers use terrifying firearms.

At the same time, the defeat in Jinzhou not only cost Xiliang 150,000 troops.

Xiliang is even more panicked domestically because of this defeat.

Now, facing Beidi, they are naturally unable to do as they wish.

Therefore, Tuoba Hao and he both understand that they can only form an alliance with Beidi at this moment.

Stopping in front of the fence, Li Xin looked at the Golden Tent shimmering under the sunlight.

It is said that the outside of the Beidi Khan's Golden Tent is inlaid with a layer of gold leaf.

Now seeing it with his own eyes, this legend is indeed true.

Led by the guards in front of the tent, he entered the Golden Tent.

To his surprise, the Golden Tent was full of Beidi generals at this time.

Seeing him enter, these Beidi generals showed undisguised mocking smiles on their faces.

It was just like a pack of hungry wolves staring at a lone goat.

"Xiliang Prime Minister Li Xin pays respects to the great Khan." Bracing himself, Li Xin walked forward a few steps, knelt on the ground, prostrated his upper body on the ground, and stretched his hands forward.

This is the highest etiquette of Beidi; generally, only envoys from vassal states would perform such a humble salute.

He did this in the hope of facilitating this alliance between Xiliang and Beidi.

A flash of sharp light flickered in the depths of Mule Hongzhen's eyes, and he said slowly: "Get up. I am already clear about your purpose, and my answer is refusal. Back then, your Xiliang took advantage of the fact that the Grassland had not yet been unified to deceive our tribes and obtain the Hetao Grassland. Unless you cede the Hetao Grassland now, there is no need to say anything more."

Upon hearing this, a layer of cold sweat immediately broke out on Li Xin's back.

He did not expect Mule Hongzhen to raise such a difficult question for him.

The Hetao Grassland is an important horse-breeding ground for Xiliang.

If the Hetao Grassland were handed over, Xiliang would only be able to ride camels to fight.

He stammered: "Just as the Khan said, the Grassland was very chaotic at that time, and no one can clearly say what happened back then. According to Xiliang's historical records, this Hetao Grassland was gifted by the tribes at that time out of gratitude to Xiliang."

"Nonsense! Our tribes value the grasslands more than their lives; how could they give them to you? Hmph, you Xiliang people are indeed glib-tongued and untrustworthy. Someone, throw him out!" Mule Hongzhen was furious.

Li Xin was intimidated by Mule Hongzhen and did not know what to say for a moment; he was only anxious.

He really did not expect that Mule Hongzhen would make things so difficult for him.

However, just when he did not know what to do, Mule Hongzhen suddenly said: "It is just that our current enemy is Da Song, and Beidi is also unwilling to fight with Xiliang. However, it is possible for me to trust you once. Have your Emperor and I write a blood oath together at the foot of Yin Mountain. You only need to bring this message back; there is no need to say anything else."