"The lonely smoke is straight in the desert, and the sun is setting over the long river. When Xiao Guan is waiting to ride, he will protect Yan Ran."
Riding on a horse, facing the vast Gobi desert, Xu Mu was struck by the scene. It was approaching dusk, and the smoke from the camp stoves rose straight into the sky in the desert where the wind had not yet risen.
"My lord, this poem is filled with heroic spirit. My lord is indeed the greatest wisdom in the world. I, Chao Yi, admire you!"
Xu Mu raised his head strangely. The generals of Xishu have become more and more aware of his preferences, and they all like to shoot two rainbow farts.
"But my lord, the Protectorate has not arrived yet."
"Chao Yi, if you don't understand, I'll explain it to you later." Xu Mu turned around, his shoes stepping on the sand, kicking up waves of sand smoke.
In the distance, the howls of sand wolves can occasionally be heard.
Since there was no stone forest nearby, the horses and camels could only be formed into a circle as a means of sheltering from the wind and sand. As for the camp, it is located in a circle and is a bit crowded, but at least you don't have to wake up with a mouth full of sand.
Now, after the Chang Wu who went west had added more than 2,000 people in Yudang City, the number had reached 7,000, which was considered a sizable army.
Starting from Yudang City, it is still two or three days' journey from Yumen Pass. There used to be a post house halfway there, but the Qiang bandits nearby killed several Yudang people who were guarding the post house, so it had to be left abandoned.
"Chao Yi, pay attention to the situation nearby. Don't be careless when patrolling."
Xu Mu rubbed his forehead out of habit and walked towards the camp.
For two consecutive days, we marched in the desert. As his face gradually darkened, Xu Mu gradually got used to the Gobi weather.
A long team of more than 7,000 people marched straight and finally arrived at Yumen Pass.
According to Xu Mu's original intention, although the repair of Yumen Pass has not yet been completely started, the Western Region Protector's Mansion on the edge has been built by Chao Yi and King Yu Dang earlier.
From a distance, although it is not as good as the military palace in the Central Plains, the significance of this kind of protective palace is extraordinary. The most important thing is that the standing of the Protectorate Palace symbolizes the Central Plains forces' intention to take over the territory outside Yumen Pass again.
"Don't worry, my lord, I have left a battalion of cavalry in the Protector's Mansion. Unless a large army comes to attack, there should be no problems in this area."
Xu Mu nodded.
Although the Duhu Mansion is not big, it is still a bit stronger than an ordinary small camp. In addition, the Duhu Mansion also stores grain, grass, weapons, armor, and war horses.
"Last year, when I came here for the first time, as my lord said, the Duhu Mansion had become a place for raising horses and sheep, and the Qiang people in the nearby area did not have the slightest respect." Chao Yi approached and sighed. He said, "Fortunately, after several battles to suppress bandits, the area around the Duhu Mansion has finally become stable. Now, those Qiang people will hurriedly take a detour when they see the Duhu Mansion from a distance."
"I always remember what my lord said."
"Those who are obedient will prosper, those who jump off the beam will perish." Chao Yi took it seriously and spoke every word.
Xu Mu felt happy in his heart. Just as he and Jia Zhou had discussed, Chao Yi was indeed the best candidate to guard the desert. Of course, when the war between the North and the South begins, this general will rush to join the war with the iron hooves of Xishu.
"Lord, General Chao!"
At this moment, a man who looked like a general came over happily.
"My lord, his name is Ning Chun, and he is the camp general who is staying at the Protector's Mansion."
"Ning Chun pays homage to the lord!"
"No courtesy." Xu Mu said with a smile. Needless to say, the person Chao Yi brought out must be a good man.
"My lord, I have already prepared a whole-sheep feast to help your lord wash away the wind and dust."
"Brother Mu, he, he's talking about a mutton feast?" Si Hu, who was originally drowsy, asked hurriedly.
Xu Mu glared and continued to look at Ning Chun.
"There's no rush. Ning Chun, what's going on in the Protectorate recently?"
"Recently..." Ning Chun thought for a moment, "No big deal happened. Just a few days ago, a few merchants from the Western Regions wanted to bypass Yumen Pass, but I caught them. My lord also knows that although Yumen Pass has not been repaired yet, , but whether they are merchants from the Central Plains or from the Western Regions, they all need to pay customs duties."
"We also arrested a lot of people before." Chao Yi echoed from the side.
Listening, Xu Mu frowned. Due to the attitude of the countries in the Western Regions, things on the Silk Road were not going smoothly, which was why he insisted on entering the Western Regions.
According to Yin Hu's intelligence, several countries in the Western Region have been wiped out. Although it has the effect of killing chickens to scare monkeys, Yin Hu said in the letter that for some reason, the secret resistance of the countries in the Western Region is getting bigger and bigger.
"Chao Yi, what will happen if you are caught?"
"The penalty is silver. If there is no silver, goods will be used to offset the fine."
Xu Mu thought for a while and said, "In this case, bring these merchants from the Western Regions here first. I have something to ask."
Ning Chun immediately took the order, and within a short time, he caught three foreigners from the Western Regions wearing felt hats in front of Xu Mu. Before he could ask any questions, he was already so shocked that he kowtowed and begged for mercy.
When the Central Plains was powerful, many people from the Western Regions came to Liangzhou, and they all knew a thing or two about the languages of the Central Plains, such as these merchants.
"My lord, there are dozens of accompanying guards from the Western Regions. Do you want to arrest them all and chop them down?" Ning Chun said bitterly.
"That's not what I meant." Xu Mu waved his hand. He lowered his head and looked at the three kneeling merchants from the Western Regions.
In the future, it would be a pity to kill these people who are good at helping Xishu make money.
But now, due to various reasons, business dealings are more difficult.
"Tell me, this king, what are you selling when you come to the Central Plains this time?"
The kneeling merchant from the Western Regions raised his head tremblingly, "Reporting to this great king, I am selling luminous cups and some spices."
"If it were sold out, how much would the three of you earn?"
"If we sell them all, we can make about a thousand taels."
Xu Mu exhaled. As he thought, there must be profit in it. And a very important point is that these things are only temporarily sold to Liangzhou now. When the Silk Road is completely solved and there are official merchants in Xishu, such as luminous cups and spices, if they are sold to thirty states in the world, they will definitely be widely popular. Welcome, the profits generated can be imagined.
Of course, this all needs to be run carefully.
"Get up." Xu Mu smiled and comforted.
The three trembling Western Hu people did not dare to get up for a while. It was not until Ning Chun shouted from behind that they hurriedly straightened up and stood firm immediately.
"Tell me, in the Western Regions, besides the luminous cups and spices, are there any other good items?"
"Sweat foals, and wine."
"Anymore."
"Spicy soup, beautiful Orchid, this great king, I still have two Orchids in my caravan, which I can offer to your Majesty."
"This matter is not urgent. Is there anything else?" Xu Mu continued to ask, "For example, other types of ores?"
"Your Majesty, the countries in the Western Regions don't have these... Wait, I remembered, there is also a sword made of iron."
"Bintie?" Xu Mu's face was startled. The source of iron is mysterious. It is a fusion of various iron ores. Due to scarcity, it is rare.
"How many pieces of iron do you have in your caravan?" Xu Mu asked in a deep voice. Even if they could only build a long army of a thousand people, it would still be lethal enough for a surprise attack.
"Your Majesty, it's not less than ten pounds."
Xu Mu sighed in his heart. Come to think of it, if it were so easy to get, you wouldn't take advantage of scarcity.
"I want these ten pounds. In addition, if the three of you can find a way to raise more iron and steel in the Western Region, I will buy it at a high price."
The three barbarian merchants looked hesitant, perhaps a little worried.
"You three, do you know who this is?" Ning Chun said angrily, "Listen clearly, the person in front of you is the King of Western Shu!"
Suddenly, the expressions of these three people were shocked, and then they became ecstatic again. If you can get into business with the King of Western Shu, you will definitely make a profit from now on. Even in the Western Regions, they had heard that the King of Western Shu was working hard to revitalize trade in the Western Regions.
"Don't worry, King Shu, the three of us will do our best!"
"Very good." Xu Mu smiled, and there was finally a hint of expectation in his eyes.
