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This question involves the fundamentals of personal cultivation and is quite private.

However, when the Crown Prince inquired, Xue Rengui dared not refuse to answer, nor was there any need to conceal anything: "In my youth, I was enlightened by my elders, who laid a solid foundation for my studies. Later, I joined the army and met my esteemed teacher, a descendant of the Tiger General of the former Sui Dynasty, who taught me halberd techniques and combat skills in the army. As for the 'Primordial Qi Technique,' I was able to cultivate it after I made meritorious contributions, thanks to Your Majesty's favor. More than seven years have passed since then, and I have fortunately reached the fifth level, 'Primordial Unity,' which is still a step away from the sixth level, 'Qi Circulating Through the Heavens.'"

When mentioning His Majesty's favor, Xue Rengui's gratitude was palpable.

Upon hearing this, a look of understanding flashed in Yi Junze's eyes. The "Primordial Qi Technique" is divided into nine levels, and the fifth level is already the threshold for top-tier martial arts masters. Xue Rengui was able to reach this level within seven years, which is not only due to the compatibility of the technique with his own abilities, but also because his physical constitution, temperament, and perseverance are indeed of superior quality.

"The fifth level...not bad."

Yi Junze nodded slightly: "The Primordial Chaos Technique emphasizes a solid foundation and the gradual accumulation of strength. Xue Qing is in his prime, with vigorous blood and energy. If he perseveres, breaking through to the sixth level should not be difficult. At that time, with the integration of internal and external strength, his combat power will surely reach a new level."

His words were not empty words of comfort, but a precise judgment based on his own level of martial arts skill.

Xue Rengui felt a surge of warmth in his heart. To receive such praise and encouragement from the Crown Prince was truly an honor: "Your Highness's kind words will surely inspire me to strive even harder!"

Yi Junze seemed to have thought of something and casually asked, "Qing Xue has been in the Western Regions for a long time. Have you had any contact with local martial arts practitioners or extraordinary people? The Western Regions are vast. Besides the secular government, there must be some people outside the secular world or those who inherit ancient tribal secrets."

Xue Rengui pondered for a moment and replied, “Your Highness is absolutely right. The Western Regions are home to many ethnic groups and diverse beliefs, and there are indeed many who possess extraordinary abilities. I have met priests of Zoroastrianism in Persia, and the fire they use for prayer seems strange, capable of burning evil spirits; I have also heard of ascetic monks in the direction of India, whose yoga techniques can soften their muscles and bones and allow them to hold their breath for extended periods; steppe shamans can communicate with eagles and may possess secret medicines to stimulate their blood and energy. As for martial arts sects in the Central Plains sense, there are not many here, but some oasis city-states may have local powerful boxers, or skilled bodyguards hidden in caravans traveling along the Silk Road. I have always been cautious when dealing with them, focusing on gathering intelligence and avoiding conflict. The Imperial City Guard… under Commander Bai, should have a far greater grasp of this kind of information than I do.”

Xue Rengui cleverly steered the conversation toward Bai Qing'er, who had been silent all along.

Upon hearing this, Yi Junze glanced at Bai Qing'er, who was like a shadow beside him. Bai Qing'er remained expressionless, only nodding very slightly, which was taken as acknowledgment of Xue Rengui's statement.

Just as the two were chatting, clear footsteps came from outside the hall.

Wang Yan returned and bowed at the door to report:
"Your Highness, Commander, Prince Peroz... has arrived outside the gate."

Yi Junze's expression remained unchanged. He simply placed the teacup in his hand gently on the coffee table beside him and looked up at the outside of the hall.

Xue Rengui immediately stood up and asked Yi Junze, "Your Highness, should we summon the Persian prince immediately?"

Yi Junze nodded slightly: "Announce."

"Summon His Highness Prince Peroz of the Sasanian Empire of Persia to an audience!"

Xue Rengui issued a solemn order to those outside the hall.

A moment later, a series of slightly disordered but deliberately light footsteps approached from afar. Two Xuanwei Guards led the way, followed by several others.

Leading the group was Prince Peroz, the last heir to the Sasanian Empire. He appeared to be in his early twenties, perhaps even younger, but the days of fleeing, fear, and the devastation of losing his father and his country had etched deep weariness and panic onto his face. He wore a Persian royal robe stained with dust and sweat, even torn in several places, and a rumpled cloak over it, attempting to maintain royal dignity but unable to conceal his wretched state.

His curly brown hair was messy, his eyes were sunken, and his lips were chapped. Only his blue eyes suddenly shone with a complex light that was a mixture of hope and supplication when he entered the main hall and saw Yi Junze sitting in the main seat.

Prince Peroz was followed by two equally ragged and pale-faced Persian warriors, and an attendant who looked like an elderly scholar, presumably a scribe or advisor.

The group looked uneasy, their eyes quickly sweeping over the Xuanwu Guards standing solemnly in the hall, the composed Xue Rengui, and the white-robed youth who exuded an invisible aura even while sitting still. They had clearly guessed that this was the real person in charge here, and that his status was more noble than they had imagined.

Peroz took a deep breath, suppressing the trembling in his body and the turmoil in his heart. He stepped forward a few paces, and with the etiquette of a Persian court audience with a superior, he placed his right hand on his chest, bowed deeply, and said in slightly broken Chinese:
"Peroz, a citizen of a fallen Sassanid Empire, pays homage to Your Excellency! I beg Your Excellency to have mercy on my Sassanid people and save my nation from ruin!"

The clerk-like man quickly repeated the instructions in fluent Chinese in a low voice to ensure that the etiquette was correct.

Yi Junze's gaze fell on Peroz, calmly scrutinizing him without immediately telling him to get up, nor showing excessive sympathy or disdain. This silent scrutiny only made the atmosphere in the hall more tense.

After a few breaths, Yi Junze slowly spoke, his voice clear and calm, in Mandarin:

“Your Highness, there is no need for such formalities. Although the Sassanid Empire and my Chinese Dynasty are separated by mountains and rivers, we have always maintained trade relations. We are deeply saddened to hear of the great calamity that has befallen your country. Please be seated.”

Xue Rengui gestured, and immediately a servant brought over a cushioned chair and placed it below Xue Rengui.

Peroz hesitated slightly, but seeing that the other party's attitude was acceptable, he felt somewhat relieved and sat down as instructed, only half of his buttocks resting on the chair, his posture still respectful. His attendant stood respectfully behind him with his hands at his sides.

After he was seated, Yi Junze continued, "Commander Xue has already informed me of His Highness's ordeal, as well as... that letter written in blood. I can understand the pain of losing a father and the danger of losing a country."

Upon hearing this, Peroz's eyes instantly reddened, the grief and fear he had suppressed for days almost bursting forth. His voice choked with emotion: "Thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty! The Arabs have broken the alliance, brazenly invaded, slaughtered my people, and burned my temples. My father... my father also fell victim to the treacherous villains! The Sasanian dynasty's thousand-year foundation is in imminent danger! Now, only the Celestial Empire of the East can uphold justice and revive our lost kingdom! Peroz is willing to give up everything in the country and submit to its rule forever, only asking that Your Majesty send heavenly troops to drive out the Arabs and restore my Sasanian dynasty!"

He became more and more agitated as he spoke, and finally looked at Yi Junze with almost pleading eyes.

Yi Junze listened quietly, his fingers still lightly tapping the armrest. When Peroz's emotions calmed down a bit, he slowly said, "Your Highness's filial piety is commendable, and your ambition to restore the country is admirable. Our Hua Dynasty is a land of propriety and has always spread benevolence and virtue to all directions. We certainly have the duty to help our loyal vassals who are in distress."

These words ignited a renewed flame of hope in Peroz's eyes, and he almost rose again to thank them.

However, Yi Junze changed the subject: "However, war is a matter of vital importance to the state, a matter of life and death, a road to survival or destruction, and cannot be ignored. The Abbasid Caliphate has risen in the western wilderness, and its power is growing rapidly, with hundreds of thousands of troops and a territory spanning thousands of miles. Although our dynasty is not afraid, raising an army thousands of miles away, transporting provisions, and exhausting our soldiers are no small matter. Moreover, it is easy to provide emergency relief, but difficult to strengthen the foundation. Even if we drive back the Abbasid Caliphate for the time being, if the Sassanids do not have a strong foundation internally and no lasting support externally, we may not be able to avoid repeating the same mistakes."

These words were like a bucket of ice water poured over Peroz's feverish head. He opened his mouth, momentarily at a loss for words. The scribe behind him, however, flashed a look of understanding and worry, clearly realizing that this young nobleman of the Hua Dynasty was no ordinary person, and that his thoughts were far more profound than mere ambition or compassion.

"Then...then in your opinion, sir, what should be done?"

Peroz lowered his voice, tinged with trepidation.

Yi Junze did not answer directly, but asked, "Your Highness's blood-written plea for aid mentions 'eternal submission and annual tribute,' which is to be expected. However, submission and tribute also have rules and regulations. I wonder how Your Highness will define the Sassanid government's decrees, taxes, military, and laws after the restoration of the kingdom? And how will you ensure that the Sassanids will forever remain a loyal bulwark of our Hua Dynasty and a stable hub for trade routes between East and West?"

Now it's time to discuss the specific terms.

Peroz's heart tightened, and he glanced at the scribe behind him. The scribe nodded slightly, signaling him to proceed with caution. "Reporting to Your Excellency,"

Peroz composed himself and struggled to organize his thoughts: "If we can obtain the assistance of the Heavenly Army of the Supreme Kingdom and restore our nation, Peroz is willing to honor His Majesty the Emperor of the Chinese Dynasty as the Heavenly Khan, and the Sasanian Empire will forever be our subject. We will present five hundred fine Persian horses, gold and silver utensils, and a quantity of gems and spices as annual tribute. We will open all trade routes, treat Chinese merchants with preferential treatment, and halve the taxes. The Sasanian army... is willing to obey the Heavenly Kingdom's commands and jointly resist foreign aggression. We also wish to reform our domestic laws and regulations by referring to the good systems of the Supreme Kingdom."

These conditions were quite "generous" for a prince on the verge of extinction, practically handing over a large portion of the nation's sovereignty.

Upon hearing this, Yi Junze showed little expression, as if these events were still within his expectations, and perhaps even... insufficient.

After a moment of silence, his gaze seemed to pierce through Peroz, turning towards the more distant west, to the former territory of the Sasanian Empire. The air was thick with the scent of sandalwood, the atmosphere heavy with tension.

"Your Highness's sincerity is evident."

Yi Junze finally spoke again: "On behalf of my father, I can, in principle, agree to send troops to help. To revive the fallen and continue the lineage is the righteous cause of our Hua Dynasty."

Peroz was overjoyed and almost jumped for joy.

"However,"

Yi Junze raised his hand, stopping him: "There are a few things that need to be discussed with Your Highness, and Your Highness, in the name of the Sassanid heir, needs to establish a contract to confirm them as the basis for future legal succession."

"Please speak, sir! Whatever your request, I will grant!"

Peroz was now filled with hope; he seemed willing to consider any conditions as long as he could restore his kingdom.

Yi Junze slowly recited the terms, his voice clear and calm, yet carrying immense weight:

"Firstly, after the Sassanids regained their kingdom, they should immediately send princes or royals to the capital of China to learn Chinese etiquette and culture in order to strengthen the friendship between the two countries."

Hostages! This is a common tactic for controlling vassal states. Peroz's face paled slightly, but he gritted his teeth: "Yes! I... I can send my younger brother to Luoyang!"

"Secondly, to facilitate trade and exchange between the two countries, the Chinese 'Dahua Tongbao' and the old Sasanian coins should be allowed to circulate concurrently within Sasanian territory. Furthermore, the Ministry of Revenue of the Chinese Dynasty is specially authorized to establish a coinage branch within Sasanian territory to assist Sasanian in standardizing monetary laws and unifying fineness and weight, so as to benefit the people's livelihood and commerce."

Yi Junze spoke in a calm tone, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

Xue Rengui's heart skipped a beat, and he abruptly looked at the Crown Prince. This condition, seemingly merely technical assistance, even masquerading as "benefiting the people's livelihood and commerce," would, once the Huachao currency circulated widely in Sassanids, and Huachao institutions participated in or even dominated its minting, effectively giving Huachao control over Sassanids' economic lifeline! Its monetary policy, and even its national credit, would be profoundly affected by Huachao. This was far from a simple "assistance in regulation," but an extremely sophisticated and far-reaching means of economic control! And because of its covert nature, it was unlikely to immediately trigger a violent backlash.

Peroz and his scribe clearly had limited understanding of the deeper intricacies of finance and currency, only perceiving it as a means to facilitate transactions. Although they found it somewhat awkward, they seemed acceptable in the face of the immense allure of "restoring the kingdom." The scribe's lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but seeing Peroz's eager eyes, he swallowed his words.

“We can…we can discuss it,” Peroz replied cautiously.

Yi Junze remained noncommittal and continued, "Thirdly, to ensure the smooth flow of trade routes and to deal with a possible counterattack from the Abbasids, the Sassanids must allow the Chinese border troops to station a small number of 'auxiliary defense' forces at key passes and cities agreed upon by both sides, such as Mulu, Herat, and Bamiyan. The number of troops, their location, and the duration will be discussed separately. All logistical supplies for this army can be provided by the Sassanids or deducted from the profits of the Chinese trade routes."

Although restrictive terms such as "cooperative defense," "small number," and "negotiation" were added, once agreed, the military forces of China and North Korea could legally and permanently exist in the heart of the Sassanid territory, and their strategic deterrence and intervention capabilities would be immeasurable.

Peroz's face paled even more. This was tantamount to inviting a wolf into the house... But then he thought, if he didn't rely on the power of the Hua Dynasty, he wouldn't even have a house to live in, let alone invite a wolf. He struggled to look at the clerk. The clerk's expression was solemn, and he slowly nodded, the meaning clear: this is the price.

"……Can."

Peroz squeezed out the word through clenched teeth.

"Fourth, Chinese merchants have priority in cooperating on the exploitation of all key resources such as mines, forests, and salt lakes within the Sasanian territory. Specific details regarding exploitation and profit sharing will be separately agreed upon by both parties."

Peroz was somewhat numb and nodded blankly.

"Fifth, the Sassanids need to compile new laws under the guidance of the Chinese court. The basic principles of these laws must be consistent with the spirit of the Chinese laws of our court, especially the provisions concerning the protection of the rights and interests of Chinese merchants and immigrants. In the event of disputes between the Chinese and the Sassanids, if the Sassanid judicial system is not satisfactory to the Chinese, they may request arbitration from the Chinese envoys or military commanders stationed in the area."

Judicial privilege! This was almost the rudimentary form of extraterritoriality for the Chinese within the Sasanian legal system.

The clerk's face had turned pale, but Peroz was eager to restore his country and, being unfamiliar with Chinese law, thought it was a "minor matter" and nodded in agreement.

"Sixth, and finally,"

Yi Junze looked at Peroz with a deep gaze: "After the Sassanids regained their kingdom, any diplomatic correspondence involving major Western powers such as the Abbasid Caliphate and Rome must be communicated to the Chinese court in advance, and a copy of the document must be sent to the Xuanwei Envoy Office for record-keeping. The Sassanids are not allowed to arbitrarily form alliances with any forces that may endanger the security of the Chinese court and the Silk Road."

The right to know about diplomacy and a certain degree of control. This ensured that Sasanian foreign policy did not slip out of the control of China and North Korea.

After reciting these six points, Yi Junze paused and looked quietly at Peroz: "These six points are for the long-term stability of Sassanid and the consolidation of the good relations between Vasa. Your Highness may consider them carefully. If you agree, I will make arrangements immediately."

Peroz's mind was foggy. These six conditions were like six shackles, each eroding the Sassanids' future independence and sovereignty. But compared to the impending catastrophe, the shackles of the future seemed... bearable? He glanced at the scribe, whose eyes were filled with pain and helplessness, but who ultimately nodded almost imperceptibly. To refuse meant certain death; to agree offered a sliver of hope, even if that hope was fraught with peril.

"I……"

Peroz took a deep breath, as if using all his strength: "I, Peroz, heir to the Sassanid Empire, swear in the name of the gods and my ancestors that I agree to all the terms proposed by the superior nation! I hereby pledge this covenant and will abide by it for all eternity!"

A faint smile finally appeared on Yi Junze's face, like a gentle ripple on a frozen lake.

"Very well. Your Highness is wise and understanding; the Sassanid restoration is promising."

He clapped his hands lightly: "Minister Xue, prepare to draft the 'Huasa Mutual Assistance Covenant' in both Chinese and Persian, listing each of the terms we just discussed. Details can be finalized later by the special clerk and His Highness's entourage. Once the covenant is sealed, it will be the time for our Hua Dynasty to fulfill its promises." (End of Chapter)