I became a prince in a martial arts world.

The thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions, apart from a few major powers, each kingdom was actually just a main city, plus surrounding towns and fortresses spanning dozens or hundreds of miles.

A country that possesses multiple cities is a very powerful nation.

For example, the Loulan Kingdom had a royal city and two medium-sized cities within its territory, making it one of the top-tier kingdoms in the Western Regions. Because of its proximity to the Central Plains, it absorbed a lot of Central Plains culture, and was bustling and prosperous, enjoying a great reputation in both the Western Regions and the Central Plains.

Loulan City.

"It doesn't seem that different from Longshan Prefecture." Zhao He looked around.

"That's because there are also many merchants from the Western Regions in Longshan Prefecture," Zhao Shan said, shaking his head.

The Western Regions are not part of the Central Plains. Wang Yu's title of King of the Western Regions of the Great Jin Dynasty can deter local tyrants in small places like Feisha Town and Huanglongji, but it will only arouse the vigilance of the Loulan Kingdom.

So they followed the example of the Shuntian Army and found an oasis near the ancient city of Loulan to temporarily station the Iron Eagle Cavalry. Wang Yu then led the two women, Ma Bojun, Zhao Shan, and Zhao He to Loulan to investigate.

Ma Bojun said, "The previous dynasty once set up a protectorate in the Western Regions to govern them, but unfortunately it was later abolished for some reason. The new dynasty's national strength is limited, and the thirty-six kingdoms no longer respect the Central Plains as their common ruler. Otherwise, why would they need to go through all this trouble?"

"It won't be too much trouble." Wang Yu shook his head. "I heard that the Loulan Kingdom only has three thousand soldiers and eight hundred cavalry?"

Ma Bojun nodded. "The Western Regions are sparsely populated. It's already quite good that they can muster three thousand soldiers. Even in places as far as Weili and Quli, it's difficult to muster a thousand soldiers. Only Kucha and Cheshi, which are even further north, are stronger than Loulan."

Li Yunxiu said, "This is also the reason why the previous dynasty's Protectorate system was difficult to maintain. The Western Regions are vast but sparsely populated and lack resources. The stationed troops are also very expensive. Even if foreign enemies invade, Anxi Road is enough as a buffer. Although the Western Regions are large, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages in terms of governance costs."

Ma Bojun understood. "That makes sense."

"That doesn't make sense." Wang Yu shook his head. "The lack of resources on the ground does not mean that resources underground are not abundant. Moreover, the Western Regions are not lacking in fertile lands with abundant water and grass. Otherwise, there would not be thirty-six kingdoms. If it were unified by a powerful country outside the region, it could attack Yumen Pass in the west and Longshan Prefecture in the north. Anxi Road would not be able to hold out at all. Next would be the prosperous Hexi Road and the heartland of the Central Plains."

"There are no great powers in the West, and neither are the Black and White Qiang in the Northwest," Ma Bojun retorted, looking at Li Yunxiu.

But Li Yunxiu fell silent.

Wang Yu skipped over that topic and walked through the city streets until he arrived at the entrance of a wider inn. Looking at the Yue Lai Inn sign written in Chinese characters, he was speechless for a moment, wondering, "Is this Loulan or the Central Plains?"

"Loulan is the smallest country closest to the Central Plains, and many people from the Central Plains come here. It is said that the previous king of Loulan had Central Plains blood, and the general who usurped the throne thirty years ago was directly from the Central Plains," Li Yunxiu said with a smile.

Wang Yu understood, "Indeed, rebellion is something that people in the Central Plains often do."

Li Yunxiu was speechless, while Qianqian chuckled to herself. Then, the group entered the inn, which clearly had a Central Plains style.

"what?"

As soon as he entered, Wang Yu saw a familiar face. It was the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) who was riding at the front of the镖队 (escort team) they had encountered when they left Longshan Prefecture.

Accompanying the master镖师 were two men dressed in tight-fitting clothes, and sitting at the head of the table was a middle-aged merchant dressed in brocade.

Wang Yu saw them, and they naturally saw Wang Yu and his group as well. After all, the handsome men and beautiful women attracted the attention of many guests in the inn.

The master镖师 immediately lowered his eyes, and taking in the commotion from the inn, whispered to the people around him, "I've seen those two old men; they were in the Zhenxi Prince's entourage that day. That young man should be Zhao Yu!"

The two men beside them immediately averted their gazes. Duan Rui on the left whispered, "What a coincidence, they're staying here too?"

On the right, Song Yuanjing quipped, "He really is a spoiled brat; he even takes two women with him when he goes abroad."

The middle-aged merchant said calmly, "Don't pay attention to the woman. The middle-aged man next to Zhao Yu is very likely the owner of White Horse Manor."

"To rout Ma Bojun with a single shot?" The master镖师's eyes twitched, a mixture of nervousness and eagerness.

"Brother Zhao, the mission is urgent." Duan Rui was startled.

The master镖师 nodded. "Don't worry, I know."

This group of people were the Shuntian Army who came to meet the Song siblings and retrieve the treasure.

The middle-aged merchant was Niu Zilian, one of the two military strategists of the Shuntian Army, and the chief镖师 (bodyguard/escort) was Zhao Lü, one of the four generals of Shuntian. In addition, Duan Rui and Song Yuanjing were also experts in the army. After arranging their men in a nearby oasis, they came to meet Niu Zilian.

"They're looking this way," Song Yuanjing said in a low voice.

Duan Rui was startled. "They recognized us?"

Zhao Lu snorted, "We ran into them when we left Longshan Prefecture."

Niu Zilian frowned. "Don't look. Remain unchanged in the face of all changes."

The group agreed. Duan Rui glanced at the others and saw an old man next to Wang Yu go to the manager and ask for several superior rooms. Then the group of six found a square table in the hall and sat down.

Wang Yu and Ma Bojun each held a piece of something wrapped in cloth, which jingled when placed on the table. Anyone with a little knowledge could tell that it contained a weapon.

Those who could travel in the Western Regions were certainly not devout men and women, especially since they were accompanied by two beautiful women. Although both women wore veils, their charm was still undeniable.

Those who didn't have any real skills all shifted their attention away.

Wang Yu glanced around. In addition to the Shuntian Army, there were many Loulan natives, merchants from both Han and non-Han ethnic groups, Western Region warriors carrying scimitars, and shrewd and brave Central Plains warriors in the hall.

"Your Highness, that man sitting in the corner looks like the head镖师 (chief镖师,镖队,镖师, a type of镖师, or镖师, a kind ...

When traveling, especially as part of a large caravan, whether on a mission or returning without a caravan, one should not dine alone in such a fine inn in the city.

Zhao He's eyes twitched. "Your Highness, could they be members of the Shuntian Army?"

As Wang Yu's personal guards, the two of them naturally knew the purpose of their trip and the opponents they might face. Besides the King of Loulan and the Qishan bandits, there were also the Shuntian Army's men who came to help Song Chengyue and his sister retrieve the treasure.

Wang Yu nodded. "It's pretty much true."

"What a coincidence, we ran into them as soon as we arrived." Zhao Shan asked in a low voice, "There are only four of them, they didn't bring any troops with them, should we call for reinforcements...?"

Wang Yu shook his head, "No rush, we still don't know if they've made contact with Song Chengyue and his sister, or if they've obtained the treasure map."

Zhao Shan understood and quickly admitted his mistake, "I acted improperly!"

Wang Yu waved his hand, "The Shuntian Army has come from afar and is unfamiliar with the area, so they pose little threat. However, you should know that there are also bandits and Qishan outlaws lurking in the shadows."

For the Prince of Zhenxi's Mansion, the main purpose of this trip was to retrieve the Loulan treasure, but for Ma Bojun, who came along, the main purpose was to eliminate the Qishan bandits.

White Horse Manor has been passed down for hundreds of years. Although it cannot be described as richer than a country, it is not short of money. Ma Bojun's interest in the Loulan treasure is not as great as the silver spear that Wang Yu gave him.

"Han Dingyuan and Shi Yinyu appeared in Feisha Town, but Chang Feng said he hadn't seen them in Huanglongji, which means they took a different route."

"The Qishan bandits and the Western Region bandits are in cahoots. The further they are from the Central Plains, the more familiar they are with the terrain. They might be in one of the oases where the bandits are right now."

"But there must be people in Loulan, after all, their goal is the Loulan treasure," Ma Bojun said.

"Not necessarily." Li Yunxiu shook his head. "The Loulan treasure is unlikely to be in the city. It could be in the abandoned ancient city of Loulan. So they might be lying in ambush around that ancient city."

Just as the waiter served the group of food and wine, the sound of horses' hooves came from the inn's entrance, followed by the sound of dismounting and footsteps. Five or six people escorted a man and a woman into the inn.

The couple were in their thirties or forties. The man had a light beard and a handsome face, while the woman, though showing some crow's feet around her eyes, was still stunningly beautiful and charming.

Ma Bojun's eyes lit up. "Han Dingyuan!"

"Ma Bojun?" The man was startled and instinctively reached for the Cloud Piercing Bow in the hands of his subordinate behind him.

The woman, however, pulled the man aside, gave Ma Bojun a charming smile, and then led the group to sit at a table on the other side of the inn.

"Tsk tsk." Qianqian looked at Li Yunxiu, "Were your lips blessed by a monk in the capital?"

Li Yunxiu glanced at Qianqian and suddenly said, "The four great bandits of Qishan are not all here. Wuchang Sword and Black Wind Old Monster are nowhere to be found."

"What do you mean?" Qianqian asked.

"Look at them, they don't look travel-worn, so they've obviously not come from afar. And when the waiter goes to ask them to order, he doesn't seem to know them, which means they're not staying at this inn."

Qianqian didn't quite understand. "So?"

"So they don't live in the city, but according to the garrison commander of Yumen Pass, they should have arrived in Loulan half a month ago."

Li Yunxiu said calmly, "This means they do live in the nearby oasis. Wuchang Sword and Black Wind Old Monster didn't come. Only White Flower Fairy Shi Yinyu couldn't stand the loneliness, so she dragged Cloud Piercing Arrow Han Dingyuan to Loulan Royal City to accompany her shopping."

Qianqian thought for a moment, unable to refute it, but still couldn't help asking, "How can you be so sure?"

Li Yunxiu glanced at Qianqian and said, "You're always dragging your husband out shopping."

Qianqian finally realized what was happening and, grabbing Wang Yu's hand, complained in a spoiled tone, "Brother Yu, she compared you to Han Dingyuan!"

It was clearly Li Yunxiu who compared Qianqian to Shi Yinyu.

However, Wang Yu was so shaken by her that he could only nod and say, "Okay, okay, I'll go shopping with her next time."

Qianqian glared at her, "No way!"

Li Yunxiu pursed her lips and suddenly said, "Han Dingyuan and the others seem to know the Shuntian Army as well?"

Everyone looked up and saw Zhao Lu and Han Dingyuan exchange glances before turning back to each other.

Zhao Shan's pupils contracted. "Could the Qishan bandits be colluding with the Shuntian Army?"

If the Qishan bandits and the Shuntian army colluded, and the two sides joined forces, even if Ma Bojun was a master of innate skill, he might not be able to stop them from attacking at once.

Everyone couldn't help but look at Li Yunxiu.

Li Yunxiu didn't draw a conclusion either, "Let's wait and see. The Shuntian Army has come from afar, and the Qishan bandits are greedy. Even if they cooperate, they will never work together wholeheartedly."