A family of loyal martyrs, starting with nine wives to continue the family line.

When Wei Zhao summoned Fang Zhaoru to the imperial study, Fang did not kneel as he entered the hall.

He paused only one step outside the threshold and bowed deeply to the imperial desk.

His white hair hung down, and his sleeves were still covered in sand from the journey.

The faces of the eunuchs in the hall changed. Hua Jieyu stood by the screen, her hand already on the short blade at her waist.

Wei Zhao did not move.

He even put down the folding paper he was holding first.

"sit."

Fang Zhaoru glanced at him but did not refuse, and slowly sat down at the lower seat.

The chair was newly made, and the back of the chair still smelled of wood.

As soon as he sat down, he coughed twice, as if he had rushed back and his bones were about to fall apart.

Wei Zhao poured him a cup of tea.

"I want to know the whole truth."

Wei Zhao looked at him and said, "Now that you're back, stop trying to fool me."

Fang Zhaoru nodded.

"Let's start from three hundred years ago."

Wei Zhao didn't speak, but simply looked up at him.

The slower the other person spoke, the clearer he knew that this matter was no small thing.

Fang Zhaoru said, "The sages of the Fang family once traveled to the far west and encountered the White Wolf tribe. At that time, the White Wolf tribe was not yet called the White Wolf tribe, but was just an exiled old tribe that migrated westward along the desert and mountain passes, looking for a way to survive and also looking for their ancestral land. The clan chief of that generation was unwilling to give things away for free, so the sages stayed in their tribe for three days and exchanged a strategy and a map for the secret map to be viewed."

Wei Zhao tapped his fingertips lightly on the table.

"Secret map?"

"Yes."

Fang Zhaoru said, "It's not a map of the Central Plains, nor a military formation map. It's a real drawing of the mountains, rivers, wells, oases, mountain passes, windy seasons, and snow lines of the far west. The White Wolf tribe has cherished it for generations. Without that map, they can't go back."

Wei Zhao's mind raced.

There's no going back.

These three words sound simple, but when applied to an entire tribe, they become anything but.

People can leave their hometown for one or two years, or even ten or eight years.

But if you don't look back for three hundred years and live by clinging to a single image, then it's not just an image; it's something ingrained in your bones.

"After the sages of Fangmen returned, they recreated the painting from memory, and that became the 'Landscape Painting'?"

"right."

Fang Zhaoru said, "But what he drew was not just the terrain. He also drew the routes. Which section could be crossed by horse, which section required changing to camels, which section required taking advantage of the winter snow, and which section would run out of water in the summer. He wrote it in great detail, so detailed that it was as if he was afraid that future generations would not understand it, or as if he was afraid that future generations would actually understand it."

Wei Zhao did not respond.

He was thinking about something else.

If it were just a matter of chance, the White Wolf Clan wouldn't have pursued it for three hundred years.

But if this map can help them find their way home, then it makes sense.

It makes sense that 30,000 iron cavalry could press all the way to Yangguan.

"You went to the Western Regions three years ago,"

Wei Zhao asked, "Did they recognize you?"

Fang Zhaoru put down the teacup.

"I recognize you. It's not me, it's Fang Men."

"How so?"

"The Khan of the White Wolf tribe at that time was still very young, around twenty years old. He didn't ask for the map, nor did he ask if I could hand it over. He only asked one question—"

Fang Zhaoru raised his head and looked at Wei Zhao: "Since you Fang Clan can draw it, can you take us back?"

The hall was quiet for a moment.

"What did you reply?"

I didn't reply.

Fang Zhaoru smiled bitterly: "I couldn't answer that back then either. The White Wolf tribe didn't want money, soldiers, or an alliance. They wanted me to remember the way and then bring it back. But I was too hasty when I was young and didn't take that matter to heart at all."

"Then why did you bring the 'Landscape Map' back to the Central Plains later?"

Fang Zhaoru remained silent for a while.

"Because I made a promise to someone."

Wei Zhao raised his eyes: "The Khan of the White Wolf Tribe?"

"Yes."

Fang Zhaoru said, "When I left, he gave me a horse, a bag of water, and a message. He said, 'If one day you people from the Central Plains turn around and see us, don't mistake us for stray dogs. We just can't find our way home.'"

Wei Zhao remained silent.

Looking at Fang Zhaoru's old face, he felt calmer than before.

Because he knew that this kind of person wouldn't fabricate a big lie.

If they really wanted to make something up, they would make it sound more like copywriting and wouldn't put themselves in such a humble position.

"Then why don't you return it?"

"I originally intended to pay it back."

Fang Zhaoru said, "But things changed after I left the Western Regions. The White Wolf tribe fell into chaos first. Some people felt that I had cut off their return route by taking the secret map with me; others felt that the map should never have seen the light of day again. Later, Bai Tulie took over and was willing to reason with them. His younger brother, Bai Tukui, only recognized the sword."

Wei Zhao's brow twitched slightly.

"Is Bai Tulie the one who died outside Yangguan Pass this time?"

"Yes."

"Where is Bai Tukui?"

"To live."

Fang Zhaoru said, "And he will be here soon."

Wei Zhao stared at him: "How can you be so sure?"

"Because I know him."

Fang Zhaoru lowered his voice: "I used to be in the White Wolf tribe. Bai Tulie was patient, obedient, and calculating. Bai Tukui was different. He felt that whoever blocked his way deserved to die. When my brother was alive, he could keep him in check. But after my brother died, he would only hold Yang Guan responsible for everything."

Wei Zhao slowly leaned back in his chair.

He hates people like that.

I dislike it not because I'm afraid, but because it's convenient.

The easiest enemies are often the most troublesome.

An enemy who is reasonable can be stalled with words, but the kind who is stubborn and inflexible will only go headlong into a dead end.

"So, three years ago, you deliberately headed east?"

"It wasn't intentional."

Fang Zhaoru said, "I originally wanted to find an opportunity to send the map back. But the White Wolf tribe was watching too closely, and I was afraid that if the Central Plains found out, they would treat this as a Western Region treasure and fight over it. It wouldn't be clean for either side, so I just put it off for now."

Upon hearing this, Wei Zhao actually smiled.

"It's been dragging on and on, and now it's even come to my attention."

"It is my dereliction of duty."

"Neglect is not important."

Wei Zhao said, "The important thing is that I now know what you brought back."

Fang Zhaoru raised his head.

"What does Your Majesty intend to do?"

Wei Zhao did not answer immediately.

He reached out and took the parchment scroll that had been lying on the corner of the table.

When Fang Zhaoru saw the rolled-up item, a flicker of emotion finally appeared in his eyes.

It wasn't the pain of losing a treasure that hurt, but more like the old scores finally being laid bare, and no one could escape responsibility.

Wei Zhao slowly unrolled the scroll.

The imperial desk was covered with blueprints.

The mountain passes, river channels, oases, wind belts, and snow-sheltered valleys are marked in great detail, layer by layer.

It's not the kind of map that only shows the general situation in the Central Plains, but a roadmap that can help an army survive and emerge from a desperate situation.

Wei Zhao stared at it for a long time.

Fang Zhaoru remained silent for a long time.

He already knew what was going on in his mind.

If this thing falls into the hands of someone with the right intentions, they could lead troops across the Western Regions.

If it falls into the hands of a stubborn person, they can use it as a banner to summon the tribe to obey orders.

If it falls into the hands of a caravan, it could reconnect the trade routes to the Western Regions that have been interrupted for several years.

Its most valuable aspect has never been the property itself, but the road behind it.

Once the road is open, soldiers can cross, goods can cross, and people can cross.

That's not a picture, it's a bone.

"I want to keep a copy of this map," Wei Zhao suddenly said.

Fang Zhaoru was slightly taken aback.

Wei Zhao had already rolled the scroll back up, his movements were very steady.

"The original can be returned."

He said, "But the copy must be kept. Didn't you say that the White Wolf tribe wants a way home? I can give them a way. But this way won't be given away for free."

Fang Zhaoru raised his eyes: "What does Your Majesty mean?"

"Send someone who understands their language to them, and also bring a decree."

Wei Zhao said, "Tell the remnants of the White Wolf tribe that they want to go home, and I will allow them to leave. But before they leave, they must pay tribute to Xinwu and become his subjects. When the Western Regions trade routes reopen, they can pass through, and caravans can pass through, but the rules will be set by me."

Hua Jieyu, who was standing to the side, had a fleeting look in her eyes when she heard this.

That's more like Wei Zhao.

It's not about wielding a knife and cutting down someone, nor is it about being so soft-hearted as to give away the road for nothing.

He wants to bring this road under Xinwu's control.

People can go home if they want.

You can walk the road if you want.

From now on, whoever walks whose path must first acknowledge Xinwu's tutelage.

Fang Zhaoru looked at him for a long while before saying, "Is Your Majesty not afraid they will disobey?"

"They've already taken it once."

Wei Zhao said calmly, "Bai Tulie is willing to reason, which means there's room for discussion. If Bai Tu Kui insists on using force, I'm not afraid. If he accepts the knife, so do I."

At this point, Wei Zhao pointed his finger at the map.

"Furthermore, I approve your idea of ​​'drawing another copy'."

Fang Zhaoru was taken aback.

"Give a copy to the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the Western Regions trade route should be reopened."