I became a prince in a martial arts world.

"The Minister of Rites is colluding with the enemy and betraying the country. Has the Shuntian Army already threatened the capital region?" Qianqian asked curiously.

"Of course not." Li Yunxiu shook his head, but his face was gloomy.

"How could Song Jingzhou possibly have contacted the Shuntian Army? Isn't he afraid of dying?" Qianqian's eyes crinkled with amusement. "And how did the Emperor find out?"

"I don't know." Li Yunxiu shook her head again, her delicate brows furrowing slightly. "But His Majesty shouldn't have killed him."

"Why?" Qianqian asked, "They've already betrayed us, why keep them alive for the New Year?"

Li Yunxiu said in a deep voice, "Because Song Jingzhou's wife's surname is Wang, she comes from the Northwest, and her brother is Wang Bin, the garrison commander of Ding'an Prefecture."

Qianqian raised an eyebrow, suddenly understanding. "I knew the emperor wasn't going to the garrison commanders of Yumen Prefecture and Ding'an Prefecture, but instead came to you. It turns out the Northwest Army is no longer reliable."

Anxi Road is located in the northwest. In addition to the Zhenxi Prince's Mansion stationed in Longshan Prefecture to guard against the Qiang people, there are also Ding'an Prefecture, Yumen Prefecture and Ningxi Prefecture further west, which connect to the northern and western regions.

Because of the existence of the Prince of Zhenxi's Mansion, the Northwest Army was not large, but it still numbered between 10,000 and 20,000. Among them, Wang Bin was the garrison commander of Ding'an Prefecture and also Song Jingzhou's brother-in-law.

For the first time, Li Yunxiu felt a little dissatisfied with the emperor. She knew the situation herself, so how could the emperor not know? Even if he wanted to kill Song Jingzhou, he should have considered the follow-up matters.

Emperors who frequently executed people knew that even if a civil official held a high position and great power, killing him was acceptable. However, when it came to generals who held military power, they needed to be handled with care.

Unless one is certain that the other party will not dare to resist, or that an imperial edict can strip the other party of their military power, one must be extremely cautious, especially given the current unstable situation in the world.

"Wow! Since the Northwest Army is already unreliable, why is the Emperor sending you to the Western Regions to retrieve treasures? Is he trying to use you as a tool to kill us?" Qianqian began to sow discord.

Li Yunxiu said calmly, "Wang Bin wouldn't dare."

Because if Wang Bin dares to attack Wang Yu and Li Yunxiu, the Zhenxi Prince's Mansion will definitely make him pay the price before chaos ensues. At least no open force in the Northwest will dare to target them.

"It seems the emperor does have some brains after all." Qianqian nodded seriously, then added, "But not much."

Li Yunxiu glanced at Qianqian, looking at the secret decree as if it were a hot potato.

At this time, she was in charge of the government affairs of the three prefectures in the Northwest, and things were just getting on track and everything was developing in a good direction. However, there were still hidden dangers, because the demonic sect represented by Qianqian had also set its sights on the Zhenxi Prince's Mansion.

If she and Wang Yu lead a team to the Western Regions, will Qianqian take the opportunity to seize power in the royal palace?

But if they don't go, that would be disobeying the imperial decree. Besides, this is the first order the emperor has given them. What employee can't even do their first job properly?

unless……

Li Yunxiu looked at Qianqian, "Have you ever been to the Western Regions?"

Qianqian shook her head, "No!"

Li Yunxiu smiled and said, "Would you like to see the magnificent sight of 'a lone plume of smoke rising straight from the desert, and the setting sun sinking round into the long river'?"

Qianqian was not stupid, of course. "You don't want me to be left alone in the palace."

Li Yunxiu said calmly, "If you don't want to go, that's fine with you. I'll go with my husband."

Qianqian said softly, "Brother Yu hasn't agreed to go to the Western Regions with you to retrieve the treasure yet."

The two women looked at Wang Yu together. Wang Yu nodded, his eyes shining. "Go, of course I'll go. I've never been to the Western Regions before. I've heard that the women there are fair-skinned, beautiful, and have slender waists. I have to go and see for myself."

The two girls rolled their eyes at him. Qianqian shook her head and scoffed, "Don't provoke me. I'm going, but not to see the desert scenery. I'm going to accompany Brother Yu."

Qianqian reached out and hugged Wang Yu, raising an eyebrow at Li Yunxiu, "Your martial arts are too poor; you'll only hold Brother Yu back."

Li Yunxiu and Qianqian exchanged a glance and smiled at each other.

Li Yunxiu guessed that Qianqian might want to use her witch's mind-controlling technique on Wang Yu, which would require Wang Yu to fall in love with Qianqian as well. Since that was the case, she naturally wouldn't let Wang Yu and Li Yunxiu go out together while she stayed at home.

Qianqian knew this, of course, but she would never admit it. Instead, she used the excuse that Li Yunxiu's martial arts skills were inferior to take the initiative.

Wang Yu glanced at Li Yunxiu, then at Qianqian. Both women wore expressions of complete confidence, and he couldn't help but sigh, "Aren't you two tired?"

Li Yunxiu snorted, "I'm here to mobilize troops. It's not advisable to send too many people to the Western Regions, but we'll be passing through Qishan. We don't know Wang Bin's attitude, and there are also bandits and government thieves in the Western Regions. I'll have to bring at least three hundred cavalry."

Qianqian pouted and turned to leave, saying, "I'm going to inquire about Song Jingzhou's children and the Shuntian Army."

Li Yunxiu narrowed his eyes, thinking to himself that the Demonic Sect indeed had a deep network in the Northwest, and also had spies in the Central Plains.

Only Wang Yu picked up the spring steel from the table, saying, "Luckily, this thing was made in advance, otherwise, when I went on a long journey, I would either rub my thighs or bounce my butt around."

Li Yunxiu and Qianqian, "..."

……

For an ordinary family, it would naturally take a long time to make a carriage, but for the Prince of Zhenxi's Mansion, as long as Wang Yu gave the order, a carriage with an adjusted structure and spring-supported carriage was completed in just two days.

At the same time, the troop mobilization order, approved by Li Yunxiu and stamped by Wang Yu, was also issued. Three hundred Iron Eagle Cavalrymen had arrived outside Longshan Prefecture and set up camp, while the relevant logistical supplies were also prepared.

Qianqian also found out some information.

"Song Jingzhou was killed on charges of colluding with the Shuntian Army, but the direct cause was that the court criticized the emperor."

"Niu Zilian, the Left Military Advisor of the Shuntian Army, and Song Jingzhou were from the same hometown. It is said that after Song Jingzhou died, Niu Zilian personally presided over the memorial service for Song Jingzhou and took the opportunity to question the emperor about his crimes."

"Song Jingzhou's entire family was killed, but his two children did escape: his son Song Chengyue and his daughter Song Qingchuan. Song Chengyue was a lay disciple of Dajingang Temple, and Song Qingchuan was a lay disciple of Taiyi Palace."

"What?" Li Yunxiu couldn't help but ask, "How did this involve the Great Vajra Temple and the Taiyi Palace?"

The Great Vajra Temple and the Prajna Zen Temple are known as the two leading sects of Buddhism, and the Taiyi Palace is not far behind, being the dominant force in the Southern Taoism sect, and its power is by no means inferior to that of the Great Vajra Temple.

Qianqian glanced at Li Yunxiu sideways, "Scared?"

Li Yunxiu said calmly, "What's so scary about it? Treason is an unforgivable crime. Even if they are direct disciples of the Great Vajra Temple and the Taiyi Palace, these two families can't say anything about them, let alone lay disciples."

Qianqian smiled and said, "That's it. The Buddhist and Taoist sects are subservient to the imperial court and have no ambition. Brother Yu took away the pills from the Great Vajra Temple without saying a word."

Li Yunxiu snorted, "Do you dare go to the Great Vajra Temple to confess your identity, and then say that in front of Master Zongshan?"

Qianqian didn't answer, but just smiled and waved goodbye, saying, "I'm going to pack my luggage."

……

Early the next morning, Wang Yu, along with the two women, Zhao Shan, Zhao He, and ten guards from the royal palace, joined forces with three hundred Iron Eagle Cavalry outside the city and headed west.

Not far from the city, the group saw a procession of people and horses winding along the official road, consisting of over a hundred large carts. In addition to the merchants and their assistants riding camels in the carts at the front, there were nearly a hundred porters and a dozen or so bodyguards in front and behind.

The royal entourage was naturally faster than the merchant caravan; they quickly passed the caravan and continued onward.

Wang Yu peeked through the curtains and, trying to make conversation, asked, "Did the caravan hire a security escort agency? Where can these agencies from the Central Plains escort caravans to—Yumen Pass or the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions?"

Li Yunxiu replied, "Under normal circumstances, the Central Plains Escort Agency does not leave the pass. Of course, if the money is enough, a trip to the West is not out of the question."

Qianqian chimed in, "I've heard that several escort agencies can transport caravans to the west of the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions, but I haven't heard of any further west."

The three talked as they walked, and the group gradually disappeared into the distance.

The head镖师 (chief镖师) at the front of the镖队 (镖队) arrived in front of the carriage, and saw the curtain lifted, revealing a middle-aged merchant.

"That was the procession from the Prince of Zhenxi's Mansion. The first carriage was luxurious and extravagant, and there were a full three hundred Iron Eagle Riders. It's possible that Zhao Yu himself was leading the team," the head镖师 said.

The middle-aged merchant nodded. "It seems that the Prince of Zhenxi's Mansion also knows about the Loulan treasure."

The master镖师's eyes gleamed. "Wealth is a powerful motivator. It is said that the King of Loulan buried his entire century-old treasury under the yellow sand, a sum worth tens of millions."

The middle-aged merchant laughed and said, "It may not be tens of millions, but as long as we can bring back five million, this trip will not have been in vain."

The head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) stared ahead, his eyes showing seriousness. "But Zhao Yu brought three hundred Iron Eagle Cavalry."

The middle-aged merchant stroked his beard and chuckled, "If we were in the three northwestern prefectures, I would turn tail and run if I faced three hundred Iron Eagle Cavalry. But if they enter the desert, they are like trees without roots. If they lack water for just two days, the whole army will be wiped out."

After the middle-aged merchant finished speaking, he retreated back into the carriage and simply instructed, "Speed ​​up, the Song siblings are probably getting impatient."

"yes!"

……

We left Longshan Prefecture and entered Ganliang Prefecture.

Now that we've arrived in Ganliang Prefecture, we should naturally pay a visit to the Ma family.

Baima Manor is located on the southern slope of Liangshan Mountain and the north bank of Ganshui River in the suburbs of Ganliang Prefecture. The land surrounding the manor for several miles is all owned by the Ma family and is also their horse farm.

When Wang Yu visited the Ma family, he naturally met the head of the Ma family, who was also Wang Yu's brother-in-law, Ma Bojun.

"Yu Lang also came for the Loulan treasure?"

Ma Bojun's first question stumped Wang Yu and the two women beside him: "You also know about the Loulan treasure?"

"If it weren't for the Loulan treasure, why would you need to personally lead the troops?" Ma Bojun stroked his beard and laughed.

Li Yunxiu couldn't help but ask, "How did Uncle know?"

Being called "uncle" by the world-renowned female scholar made Ma Bojun very happy. "It was quite a coincidence that the bandits from the Western Regions sent someone to deliver a message to the Qishan bandits, which was intercepted by one of Ma's disciples."

The letter mentioned the Loulan treasure, and it's said that the new Loulan king also learned of it, sending thousands of soldiers to search for the treasure across the mountains and plains. Therefore, they invited the Qishan bandits to come down from the mountains again to cooperate.

Li Yunxiu took a deep breath and said speechlessly, "How come everyone knows?"