Xi Tong pointed behind Yun Ye and said slowly, “That fat guy is also coming. He’s a vulture that specializes in eating corpses.”

“If he doesn’t come, you two can’t establish a foothold in this area at all. You’ll have to leave the way you came.” Yun Ye used his knife to slice down the top layer of roasted mutton, placed it on a plate, and handed it to Xi Tong, who was covered in blood.

Xi Tong put down the roasted meat, grabbed a wine jar, tore off the wax seal, and after taking a fierce drink, held the wine jar looking somewhat dispirited. Han Zhe also held a wine jar, having lost interest in speaking.

Yun Ye handed the roasting work to Liu Jinbao. Crossing his legs, he sat properly on the felt mat and said to the two brothers who seemed beaten by frost, “Witnessed the ferocity of the Abbasids? I heard from Guo Ping that your casualties were quite severe. How about it? Has your desire to be kings diminished a bit?”

Han Zhe turned his head to look at He Shao approaching, pointing at him and asking Yun Ye, “With this fat guy, do you really think you can reverse our declining situation? Yusuf suffered a disastrous defeat at your hands. Such a crushing defeat—I don’t believe he can remain calm. Next, he’ll definitely wage war against us. You’re leaving, and we’ll be the unlucky ones. Our future days will be difficult!”

“My wife invited you over to help me. As brothers, I’m naturally extremely grateful. But sentiment is sentiment, state affairs are state affairs—these two cannot be confused. The Beiting Protectorate has completed its strategic objectives and will naturally return to the country. This is beyond question. You’ve ravaged this land for over a year—you’ve probably grabbed enough, right? When it’s enough, stop. One returning to southern Tibet as a religious charlatan, one returning to Hebei as a local tyrant—both are good choices. Why must you come here to be kings? This is inviting disaster upon your descendants.”

“When did you start having ideas of becoming kings yourselves? Han Zhe, I know you’re doing these things because you’re bored to death. Xi Tong, let your wife settle down! She’s not your only wife. You have over twenty wives behind you. Little Tie is still lying unconscious on the Camel City right now. You love your wife—don’t you love your son?”

Xi Tong furrowed his brow, about to speak, when He Shao’s duck-like voice came from afar, “Brother Xi Tong, Brother Han Zhe, you absolutely must not leave this blessed land! Allow little brother to explain the reasons one by one.”

“Little brother has been lingering in the Western Regions for over a year and has gained a general understanding of the local conditions and customs here. The Western Regions are prosperous lands with abundant products. Whether wheat, cotton, or the jade, iron ore, and copper ore in the mountains—none of these can compare with what we have in the Central Plains. As long as you two can establish a firm foothold here, little brother can open up trade routes from here to the Central Plains.”

“You’ll be responsible for plundering outside, little brother will be responsible for selling to the Central Plains. From time to time, we’ll borrow Yun Ye’s prestige to prohibit Western Region merchants from entering the Central Plains. Haha, just think how much wealth we’ll make!”

He Shao, who had fattened up again, sat down on the felt mat with difficulty, gasping heavily. Walking ten li today was truly deadly.

Yun Ye looked at He Shao, who was eating mutton with his hands, and just wanted to slap him to death. He was trying to persuade the two to leave, but this bastard hadn’t heard anything clearly. Thinking the three of them were discussing a wealth-making plan, he spouted nonsense right away.

Han Zhe laughed, “Precisely what I was thinking! Brother He is indeed a great figure among merchants. Just casually speaking, he’s immediately found a wealth-making plan for us brothers. Little brother couldn’t ask for more. Brother Xi Tong probably has no objections either?”

Xi Tong laughed loudly, “It should be exactly so! We brothers roam the Western frontier, each one a hero and good fellow. As long as we join hands, we can definitely make great wealth. Brother He, rest assured—plundering and killing will be left to this elder brother. You just need to transport the goods to Chang’an for sale. But I wonder what Marquis Yun thinks?”

He Shao patted his belly, very happy. Yun Ye had talked for so long without getting these two unruly figures to agree to cooperate, but he himself had successfully reached an agreement with just a few words. What remained were minor matters like share distribution. This world truly was one where profit moves hearts!

Yun Ye’s face was as black as the bottom of a pot. Watching the three of them joyfully clinking wine jars and drinking, he himself was now filled with worries. These three people had all gone mad…

When things exceeded his control range, he wouldn’t try to control them. Xi Tong and Han Zhe were unwilling to leave. They didn’t know the Western Regions would soon become the Warring States period. Once the Sixteen Kings arrived in the Western Regions, still wanting to make wealth? Being able to keep their lives would be good enough.

Lying face-up on the felt mat, today was rare—a good day with no clouds or sand in the sky. Xiao Miao placed her husband’s head on her lap. Neither of them wanted to pay attention to the three men drinking over there.

A sensible person speaking confused words! He Shao didn’t necessarily not know his thoughts, but he deliberately played dumb, wanting to establish connections with Xi Tong and Han Zhe. Whether he himself participated wasn’t important. He clearly had to return to Chang’an. The newly arrived Beiting Protector He Shao had ten thousand ways to worm himself into this wealth-making small group.

Originally, he hadn’t expected to persuade the two of them. Yun Ye just wanted to make a final effort. He Shao’s arrival completely turned this effort into bubbles. So be it—heaven wants rain, mother wants to marry—let him be.

Not mentioning those vexing facts, the atmosphere among the four became very good. Between cup exchanges, the sun had already set in the west. Looking at the red clouds on the horizon, Yun Ye gently pressed on the shoulders of Xi Tong, Han Zhe, and He Shao, pointing toward the camp direction and saying, “Tomorrow I’ll be leaving. The Yun family’s influence will also completely withdraw from the Western Regions. Don’t count me in your business. Since you like it, then do it. Just be careful of the Sixteen Kings—not one of them is easy to deal with.”

“This campaign may perhaps be my last campaign. From now on, I want to be a country farmer. These years, always running east and west—no time to show filial piety to old grandmother, young sons with no one to educate them, wives who married me also guard empty chambers alone. Speaking of it, this life has been very unfair. In a daze, I’ve already reached middle age. Now it’s good—I can properly live a few years of peaceful life.”

“You still have the courage to forge paths through thorns. I only hope heaven can protect you and let your wishes come true. After I return to Chang’an, remember to write me letters so I know you’re still alive…”

Speaking to this point, tears already glimmered in Yun Ye’s eyes. Forcing a smile, he drained the remaining wine in the jar in one gulp and stumbled toward the main camp direction. Xiao Miao quickly supported Yun Ye.

“Xiao Ye!” Xi Tong called out to Yun Ye.

Yun Ye stopped briefly, waved backward, then slowly climbed onto Wang Cai’s broad back. Without urging, Wang Cai, who had long wanted to return to the Camel City, carried Yun Ye in a flash toward the Camel City.

“My marquis has left some things for you gentlemen. After we leave tomorrow, you can go get them.” After saying these words, Liu Jinbao cupped his fists toward the three of them, also mounted his warhorse, and quickly departed.

Returning to the Camel City, the entire Camel City was deathly silent. The officers and soldiers each had gloomy faces. Among them, Cheng Chumo’s expression was the ugliest. Fan Hongyi closed his eyes, not saying a word.

He truly couldn’t speak. In one day, over thirty thousand surrendered prisoners were killed. No matter who it was, their heart wouldn’t feel too good. Du Ruhui gave Yun Ye much face. To avoid making Yun Ye uncomfortable, he invited him to comfort and entertain his allies while he himself took over the Camel City’s political affairs. He produced the Emperor’s edict, ordering Fan Hongyi to take over thirty thousand Abbasids to the mountain foot to separate them, then used five hours to kill all these thirty-plus thousand people. The only reason was there was no way to bring all these thirty-plus thousand prisoners to the Great Tang. Du Ruhui stubbornly believed these people would sooner or later be the Great Tang’s disaster. They also couldn’t be left in the Western Regions—this would only greatly increase the Sixteen Kings’ strength.

“Old thief Du has lost all conscience!” Cheng Chumo ground these words out from between his teeth.

“What else do you want Minister Du to do? He originally didn’t need to bear such an evil reputation. A handwritten letter from His Majesty comes down—should we not do it? Open your eyes wide and see clearly—those Abbasids are full of hatred toward us. There’s simply no possibility of reconciliation between us. Before, I wanted to avoid this situation, but Minister Du awakened me. He has His Majesty’s edict in hand—no prisoners after each battle!”

“We deliberately let the Turks go, which has already caused an uproar in court. If this time we’re soft-hearted toward the Abbasids again, believe it or not, after returning to Chang’an, all your merits, Cheng Chumo, will flow away like water. This time Minister Du did nothing wrong.”

“I know you hold respect in your hearts for the Abbasids who fought bravely to the last moment. This is a soldier’s thinking, not a politician’s thinking. Now that the war is over, you must adjust your soldier’s thinking toward the politician’s side. When you return to Chang’an, go out less. Here’s your command arrow. Take twenty thousand cavalry overnight to open the road. From now on, we must return to the country at full speed. The supplies on the Camel City have reached a dangerous state.”

Cheng Chumo viciously whipped the hitching post with his horse whip, causing this enormously massive Don River horse to retreat repeatedly. Cheng Chumo liked everything big, especially warhorses. When cleaning up the battlefield, he had set his eyes on this horse at first glance. Reportedly, this was the fat Yusuf’s mount. This horse weighed a full two thousand jin, almost exceeding other warhorses by forty percent.

Seeing Cheng Chumo about to climb onto this horse’s back, Yun Ye grabbed him down, “No good! This horse can’t be given to you. You should still ride your Black Stallion. I have use for this horse.”

“What now? The people have been killed, that’s that. Why can’t you even give me the horse? This is my war trophy!” Cheng Chumo finally erupted.

“I know! This horse has great use. We’ve campaigned all the way to Dayuan—shouldn’t we bring two precious horses back for His Majesty? Look at your appointment certificate—still from fifth rank. Isn’t that embarrassing? Zhangsun Chong is already a silver-green glorious official of proper fourth rank.”

“Wasn’t that obtained by flattering the Emperor!” Cheng Chumo muttered.

“You actually said it right! I’m taking this horse precisely to flatter the Emperor. Most embarrassing is I have to help you flatter him too! Taking advantage of this opportunity to get your official position to fourth rank. Don’t make me angry anymore. I’m still very uncomfortable today.”

Cheng Chumo ultimately still walked toward the cavalry camp, whipping the air with his horse whip while cursing…