Ten days later, Li Zhongqian and Li Xuanzhen’s group reached Shazhou.

The Northern Rong had issued border restrictions, maintaining extremely strict guards. All passing merchant caravans and travelers had to undergo thorough inspections.

Li Xuanzhen was well-prepared. Before departing from Liangzhou, he had made arrangements, using a captured spy of Princess Yiqing to forge travel documents. Disguised as Northern Rong scouts, they passed through the Northern Rong military checkpoints under the pretext of “delivering birthday gifts to Princess Yiqing.” They successfully infiltrated the border posts and even brazenly stayed at Northern Rong post stations, taking the most direct routes and demanding the best and fastest horses.

Occasionally when garrison commanders suspected their identities, the captured spy would fly into a rage, berating the commanders in an imperious and arrogant manner, threatening to report them to Princess Yiqing once they reached the Yizhou court and have them sent to Samarkand to face the northwest wind.

Samarkand was farther than Suiye, Kangju, and Shiguo, rich in resources and bustling with merchants. Located perfectly on the northern route of the Silk Road leading to Persia, countless merchant caravans passed through, continuously transporting silk, porcelain, tea, and other goods from the Central Plains to the West. Its geographical position was strategically crucial. The Northern Rong had expanded rapidly in recent years, and Khan Wahan had long coveted all the rich lands north and south of the Onion Range. He had previously sent an expedition force that reached as far as Samarkand, after which there had been no news.

The Northern Rong maintained a strict internal hierarchy, and most soldiers were of common birth, all afraid of being sent to die in Samarkand.

The garrison commanders, already uncertain, saw the guards’ arrogant attitude and dared not offend them, immediately letting them pass.

The spy told Li Xuanzhen’s group that after Princess Yiqing married the Turks, she had successively married three generations of the old Khan’s family. Later, when their branch submitted to the Northern Rong, Princess Yiqing fell into the hands of a Northern Rong noble who was Haidu Aling’s teacher.

Haidu Aling had learned Chinese from Princess Yiqing, and his thorough knowledge of Central Plains customs and various court politics came from her comprehensive teachings.

The group traveled day and night, through moonlight and starlight. The weather grew increasingly cold, and the wilderness stretched endlessly. After several days of travel, they couldn’t see any trace of oases, only scattered bones of horses, camels, and even humans in the dunes.

Occasionally passing through cities built around oases, they would sneak in to gather information from commoners, but to no avail. The common people were all pale-faced and numb, afraid to speak with strangers.

Fearing that too many questions would arouse suspicion, they had to give up.

Li Xuanzhen’s expression was grave.

The further northwest they went, he discovered that the people’s lives were even harder than he had imagined.

Shazhou and Guazhou had now fallen to the Northern Rong. Along their journey, they saw that all common people, whether Hu or Han, were forced to adopt Northern Rong customs – braiding their hair, wearing right-lapelled clothes, speaking the Hu language, and following Hu ceremonies. The Northern Rong maintained strict class distinctions, treating lower-class people like livestock, their circumstances tragic.

Whenever Northern Rong soldiers passed by, common people had to move to the roadside and bow respectfully, not daring to look directly at them. Anyone who dared to speak loudly or look at Northern Rong soldiers was considered disrespectful – the lighter punishment was public flogging, the heavier was having hands cut off or eyes gouged out, their fate miserable.

Fearing exposure of their identities, Li Xuanzhen could only clench his teeth in silence when they encountered Northern Rong soldiers oppressing commoners.

Once, they saw Northern Rong soldiers driving a group of raggedly dressed, white-haired, skeletal elderly people out of the city. Many men and women followed behind crying, tears streaming down like rain, wailing as they bid farewell to the elderly, only to be driven back by Northern Rong soldiers.

The elderly wept freely, looking back one last time at their relatives in the city before wiping their tears and walking away.

Heart-rending cries filled the air before the city gate.

Li Xuanzhen clenched his fists and asked the spy: “What crime did they commit? Where are they being sent?”

The spy answered quietly: “The Northern Rong worship strength and despise weakness. Every winter, they order each tribe to force out those over sixty who can no longer farm or hunt… to avoid wasting food. Anyone who dares resist must pay a tax according to regulations – five taels of gold, ten sheep, or one horse, three shi of grain, twenty felt blankets per person…”

For common people, during the harsh winter when households had no surplus grain and still had to pay heavy taxes to please the Northern Rong, where could they find five taels of gold to redeem their elderly?

Most elderly people didn’t want to burden their families and could only be driven to cold regions to await death.

The farewell at the city gate was a final parting between life and death.

Those from the Central Plains who heard this were all filled with righteous indignation.

How could there be such unconscionable acts in the world?

Li Zhongqian signaled with his eyes for his guards to remain calm – they were here to find someone, better not to create additional trouble.

He only wanted to rescue Ming Yuenu; others’ life or death didn’t concern him.

Leaving Shazhou, passing Wu Feng, and crossing through eight hundred li of vast uninhabited desert, they drew closer to Yizhou.

This day, while the group rested beneath a wind-eroded mound, Li Xuanzhen sent out several guards, dispatching them to various places including Gaochang and Kucha.

Li Zhongqian asked vigilantly: “Why send them to Gaochang?”

Li Xuanzhen drew several lines in the sand with his finger: “Here is Yizhou, here is Gaochang, Yanqi, Kucha – this area is the Northern Silk Road. When the previous dynasty was stable, they established prefectures and counties in various places, and stationed troops to guard them. Then the trade routes were peaceful and prosperous, populated with people. Later, when the Central Plains fell into chaos and the Western Regions were lost, trade routes were blocked. Now most of these places submit to the Northern Rong.”

“The Northern Rong customs are barbaric, using iron-fisted methods to suppress various tribes, allowing soldiers to plunder merchant caravans. These small states may pledge allegiance to the Northern Rong due to circumstances, but there must be some who still look to the Central Plains dynasty, after all, most of their nobility are descendants of famous families from the Hexi region.”

“Since we’re going to the Northern Rong court to rescue someone, we might as well send people to these places to explore the situation, see if we can persuade them to cooperate with us from within and without, to jointly resist the Northern Rong in the future.”

Li Zhongqian nodded, understanding Li Xuanzhen’s plan.

Deep in the Western Regions, isolated and without support, they needed to try to find some allies first.

Firstly, if they were discovered by the Northern Rong later, they could initially escape to these places. Secondly, with these people’s help, the chance of safely returning to the Central Plains would be greater. Thirdly, naturally, it was for the realm’s sake, for the court to recover lost territory.

Li Zhongqian didn’t care about the third point – after rescuing Li Yaoying, he would immediately take her back to the Central Plains.

“There’s one more place I might need to visit personally.”

Li Xuanzhen’s finger pointed to the northernmost point.

“There’s a Buddhist kingdom here that has prevented Northern Rong forces from advancing further. The Northern Rong Khan was once defeated by the Buddhist kingdom’s ruler, and the Western Region states must all have their thoughts about this.”

Li Zhongqian’s thick eyebrows furrowed slightly: “Buddhist kingdom?”

Li Xuanzhen pressed his chapped lips together and said: “Their court reveres Buddhism, their ruler is a high monk. About eleven years ago, he led troops to repel the Northern Rong Khan, making his name known throughout the Western Regions.”

Two years ago, Li Xuanzhen, Li De, and their advisors had discussed the possibility of recovering the Western Regions.

At that time, they all determined that for the Central Plains to recover the Western Regions would be like trying to snatch food from the mouth of an increasingly powerful tiger – the Northern Rong.

Moreover, there was also a prosperous kingdom to the north of the Western Regions that couldn’t be underestimated. Their ruler’s reputation had spread far and wide, deeply beloved by his people. At his command, the entire country would follow him to the battlefield.

Li Xuanzhen sighed: “Eleven years ago, the Northern Rong Khan was in his prime, invincible and unstoppable, yet he was thoroughly defeated by the Buddha’s son. This ruler is divinely talented – if he had ambitions of expansion, he would certainly be a formidable opponent… Fortunately, he is an enlightened high monk, focused solely on protecting his Buddhist kingdom, showing no signs of outward expansion.”

“Haidu Aling is full of schemes – who knows if we can successfully rescue Ming Yuenu. I’ll first send people along the Gaochang route to gather information. If necessary, I’ll personally visit the Buddhist kingdom, reveal my identity to the Buddha’s son, and request his aid. The Buddhist kingdom and Northern Rong have deep conflicts – if I tempt him with an alliance, he might agree to join forces with us.”

“After reaching Yizhou, if things go wrong, we’ll each find our way out. If we can safely escape the Northern Rong, we’ll meet in the Buddhist kingdom.”

Li Zhongqian, having led troops in battle these years, had his calculations. Though his knowledge of the Western Regions was limited, after brief consideration, he could see the current situation. His mind quickly turned, weighing advantages and disadvantages, and he nodded.

Li Xuanzhen had been very well-behaved throughout this journey. Until Ming Yuenu was safe, he could endure and temporarily refrain from killing Li Xuanzhen.

After rescuing Ming Yuenu, then he would make his move.

…

While Li Zhongqian’s group was crossing the eight-hundred-li desert heading toward Yizhou, Yaoying was traveling south.

To avoid the Northern Rong prince’s group, they had been traveling for several days straight.

The weather was bitterly cold, ice stretched for thousands of li. As far as the eye could see was a brilliant expanse of white, with snow-capped peaks stretching endlessly along the horizon. The mountaintops were shrouded in clouds and mist, occasionally revealing craggy outlines, magnificent.

Tanmoluojia’s grey eagle continued following them, serving as their scout and patrol.

Whether in clear weather or snow, Yaoying often saw its shadow soaring in the high sky.

This day, watching the grey eagle dive down to land on Su Dan Gu’s shoulder, she remembered something she had been thinking about these days. She called Qi Nian over and asked if there were any Hu merchants selling messenger eagles.

Qi Nian thought for a while and shook his head: “There are many Hu merchants selling eagles, but I haven’t heard of any selling messenger eagles. Does the Princess also want to raise an eagle? This servant can inquire about it for the Princess.”

Yaoying shook her head, abandoning this idea.

Loyal messenger eagles were rare and precious. Both Tanmoluojia’s and Haidu Aling’s eagles had been trained from chicks, and messenger eagles needed to be familiar with the environment to be useful. Even if she could buy a messenger eagle, it wouldn’t be of much use for the time being.

She stared intently at the grey eagle, lost in thought. The eagle perched on Su Dan Gu’s shoulder, its sharp eyes sweeping over her.

Yaoying smiled lightly and took out some dried meat.

The grey eagle glanced at her.

Yaoying turned her face away, not looking at it, palm facing up.

Soon, she felt a slight pain in her palm as the eagle snatched the dried meat from her hand.

Just as the human and the eagle were playing, the team suddenly stopped. Yuanjue, who was at the front, turned his horse and galloped back, “Bandits!”

Everyone was shocked, hurriedly taking defensive positions. The guards drew their swords, forming battle formations with Li Yaoying protected in the center. Qi Nian and others quickly climbed onto the large wagons.

Su Dan Gu looked back, his jade eyes calm and unwavering behind his mask, making a gesture to Yuanjue.

Yuanjue acknowledged and led people back to Yaoying’s side, indicating they should retreat to a nearby hillside.

Everyone withdrew to the hill. Yaoying looked into the distance and indeed saw a group of people armed with clubs and weapons galloping toward them ferociously, cold steel glinting.

These bandits were cunning, knowing how to use the terrain to conceal their tracks and muffle their horses’ hoofbeats. Each wore a white cloak – against the muddy snow, even the grey eagle had difficulty detecting them.

The bandits approached with shouts, reaching them in the blink of an eye.

Xie Qing drew her sword and kicked her horse’s belly, about to advance, but the royal guard raised his hand to stop her, looking toward Su Dan Gu, holding his breath.

Yaoying followed his gaze.

Su Dan Gu had everyone else retreat while he rode forward, ascending to higher ground, unhurried and composed, his presence deep and steady.

Yaoying felt nervous, thinking: Surely he’s not planning to kill all the bandits by himself?

Yuanjue rode behind Su Dan Gu, presenting a buffalo horn longbow and several iron arrows.

Su Dan Gu removed his black outer cloak, took up the longbow, nocked an arrow, and drew the bow full, his strong arms extended.

In an instant, all the fierce energy in that rugged snow-covered path seemed to concentrate on him.

The lead bandit saw Su Dan Gu and continued forward with a vicious smile. Ordinary people could shoot perhaps a hundred and some paces at best – at such a distance, with wind and snow, what use were arrows? Nothing but an intimidation tactic!

Su Dan Gu focused intently, arrow nocked, arrowhead pointing into the distance, completely still.

As the bandits drew closer, he still hadn’t released.

Xie Chong, Xie Peng, and others grew somewhat restless – if they didn’t set up defensive formations now, once those people attacked, they would have no retreat!

Yaoying shook her head at them, signaling to wait longer.

The bandits’ arrogant laughter carried on the wind. Just then, there was a light twang of the bowstring, and the iron arrow flew out like a rainbow piercing the sun, cutting through wind and snow, straight toward the bandits.

The distance was too great, and the Hu leader at the front wasn’t alarmed. He raised his sword to block, but just as he lifted it, the whistling sound was already in his ears. The iron arrow, swift as lightning, shot toward his chest!

The Hu leader froze, his face twisted, eyes nearly bulging out. With a curse, he reached to pull out the arrow but found that this seemingly ordinary shot was incredibly powerful – from over two hundred paces away, it had pierced through his armor!

The nearby Hu men saw his wound and were terrified.

The leader gritted his teeth: “Keep charging!”

He spurred his horse forward.

Su Dan Gu stood on his horse on the snowy hill, looking down at the distant bandits as if regarding ants, and drew his bow again. With several whooshes, the second, third, and fourth arrows shot out in succession, swift as pursuing wind.

With several heavy thuds, the lead Hu man fell from his horse, mouth agape, eyes wide in death, his chest filled with iron arrows.

Every arrow had struck him unerringly, with overwhelming force yet also a kind of ethereal ease, like casually flicking a flower petal.

Seeing their leader dead, the others were greatly frightened. They no longer dared to advance, abandoning even their leader’s corpse as they turned their horses and fled in all directions.

Su Dan Gu didn’t shoot anymore.

Xie Chong and the others watched in amazement, saying softly: “The Regent’s archery is truly formidable.”

The bandits had fled and likely wouldn’t dare return. Everyone descended the hill and continued their journey.

Xie Chong and his companions remained vigilant, drawing their swords at any approaching hoofbeats.

Yuanjue smiled and reassured them: “Don’t worry, the bandits roaming around Gaochang are either displaced common people or vagrants hired by nobles. Most aren’t truly vicious criminals, just disorganized rabble. Now that the Regent has killed their leader, the others will naturally disperse. There won’t be any more roadblocks from here to Gaochang.”

Xie Chong didn’t believe it but maintained his vigilance. However, it turned out just as Yuanjue said – the rest of the journey was peaceful, with no more bandits daring to rob them.

Two days later, they safely reached Gaochang.