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

The news that Bai Tu Kui, the leader of the White Wolf tribe, was about to enter the capital was like a stone thrown into the already turbulent waters of the Xinwu court.

Before the morning court session even began, the civil and military officials had already split into two factions and were arguing fiercely outside the hall.

"Your Majesty, I believe we should set up an ambush outside the city, wait for him to fall into the trap, and capture and kill him in one fell swoop! This man is the younger brother of the Golden Crown Man, and the hatred for killing his brother is irreconcilable. He must have no good intentions in coming to the capital!" The speaker was the newly appointed Marquis of Wu'an, who had a fiery temper and a louder voice than anyone else.

A civil official immediately retorted, "Your Excellency is mistaken. The White Wolf tribe has already returned the Map of Mountains and Rivers, and their leader even risked his life alone; this is a sign of their submission. Our dynasty should be employing a policy of appeasement to demonstrate the magnanimity of the Celestial Empire. How could we possibly commit such a treacherous act?"

Marquis Wu'an glared at them: "Pacify? How many brothers died outside Yangguan Pass? Go talk to them about pacification!"

"Does the Marquis intend to shut out all tribes willing to negotiate? If so, wouldn't Xinwu be making an enemy of the entire world?"

Wei Zhao sat on the dragon throne and listened to the commotion below for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, without saying a word.

He knew in his heart that both sides had their points, but neither hit the nail on the head.

The military general was thinking about revenge and getting rid of the problem once and for all.

The civil officials wanted to appease the people and reduce conflict.

But Bai Tu Kui was neither here for revenge nor to surrender.

He was risking his life to pave a way for the entire White Wolf tribe.

"Stop arguing," Wei Zhao said, his voice not loud, but the hall immediately fell silent.

He glanced at the officials standing below, and finally his gaze fell on the map: "Issue my decree."

Everyone perked up their ears.

"Open the west gate and welcome the White Wolf tribe delegation into the city."

Upon hearing this, the civil officials breathed a sigh of relief, while the military officers' expressions darkened.

"People gathered to watch along the way."

The military officer's face darkened even more. To let the people see a group of defeated soldiers, fresh from a battle, swaggering into the city? What kind of nonsense was this?

"Three thousand Imperial Guards were lined up at the drill ground to welcome the guests, but no weapons were allowed to be carried by the soldiers."

Even the civil officials were stunned.

They lined up to welcome guests, but didn't carry any swords. What kind of strategy is this?

It resembled both a protest and a gesture of goodwill, leaving people confused.

Wei Zhao ignored their expressions and uttered the last sentence:

"I met him in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. There were no armored soldiers or banquet."

He paused, then added, "Let him speak first."

Once the decree was issued, all the civil and military officials fell silent.

They finally began to taste something different.

This is neither a simple show of force nor a mere courtesy from Your Majesty.

It's more like a game of chess; the board is set up, and you're just waiting to see how your opponent makes their first move.

After the court session, Li Huai followed Wei Zhao into the imperial study, still unable to suppress his doubts.

"Your Majesty, is the decision not to hold a banquet a deliberate attempt to intimidate the White Wolf tribe? I fear they may feel that our dynasty has lost its manners and harbor resentment."

Wei Zhao was reading a newly arrived memorial and didn't even look up when he heard this:

"His brother just died outside Yangguan Pass, and he has led two hundred elite tribal warriors all the way to the capital. If I were to host a banquet, would he eat or not?"

Li Huai was taken aback.

Wei Zhao put the memorial aside and picked up his teacup:

"If he eats it, it would be disrespectful to his deceased brother and he would be unable to explain himself to the entire White Wolf tribe. If he doesn't eat it, it would be a public slap in the face to me and an embarrassment to Xinwu."

Li Huai's mind worked quickly, and he understood immediately.

This is a dead end. No matter what Bai Tu Kui chooses, it will be wrong.

"Therefore, I simply won't give him the opportunity to choose."

Wei Zhao took a sip of tea: "Let's keep business strictly separate, focusing on matters and not personal feelings. Let him put his thoughts and actions on the table first. I won't force him, nor will I give him an excuse to say that I'm humiliating him."

After hearing this, Li Huai finally felt completely relieved.

He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and sincerely said, "Your Majesty is wise."

It's less a matter of sagacity and more a matter of clear-headedness.

Wei Zhao knew that no amount of fancy etiquette would work against someone like Bai Tu Kui.

You have to treat him as a real opponent who can compete with you, not a surrendered general who bows down and submits.

The most effective way is to respect him and also make him understand his bottom line.

Just as Li Huai was about to leave, Hua Jieyu walked in from outside the hall.

She held a thin roll of paper in her hand, her expression more solemn than usual.

"Your Majesty, an urgent secret report from the Western Regions."

Wei Zhao took the paper tube and unfolded the small note inside.

The letter was written in code by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and after translation, it was only a short sentence.

"When the leader of the White Wolf tribe left the tribe, he did not carry a sword, wear armor, or designate a successor within the tribe."

Seeing that he had finished reading, Hua Jieyu added in a low voice, "This person might genuinely be here to negotiate."

Wei Zhao remained silent.

His fingers gently traced the paper, but his gaze lingered on the words "no heir appointed."

The fact that he didn't carry a knife or wear armor indicates that he didn't want to make a move in the capital.

This is an attitude.

It is permissible not to designate an heir...

Wei Zhao's heart tightened instantly.

This means that Bai Tukui came with the determination to die.

If he dies in the capital, the entire White Wolf army will be leaderless, fall into internal strife, and be beyond saving.

He staked the lives of his entire tribe on this trip to the capital.

This is no longer negotiation. This is risking your life for an answer.

"He's not here to negotiate."

Wei Zhao placed the note on the candle flame and watched it slowly burn to ashes: "He came to see me."

I didn't understand what Hua Jieyu meant.

Wei Zhao did not explain.

What Bai Tu Kui wanted to see was an emperor who could make him willingly hand over the future of his entire tribe.

If he felt that Wei Zhao was unworthy, he would rather let the White Wolf tribe die with him in the capital than bow down.

This old man is far more ruthless than his brother, who only knows how to charge into battle.

Three days later, dust filled the air on the official road outside the west gate of the capital.

Countless people crowded on both sides of the road, craning their necks to look into the distance.

"Here it comes!"

A commotion broke out in the crowd.

At the end of the official road, a procession appeared.

Two hundred Western Region knights guarded the side. They looked very different from the people of the Central Plains. They were all tall and had stern faces. They looked like statues when they were on horseback.

At the very front of the procession was not a horse, but a tall, grey-white camel.

The camel was taller than all the warhorses around it, and it walked at a leisurely pace. The sound of its camel bells could be clearly heard amidst the clamor of voices.

A person was sitting on the camel.

He wore a black robe without any decoration, had deep-set eyes and a high nose, and his lips were pressed into a resolute straight line.

His waist was empty; there was neither a scimitar nor a longsword.

That face wasn't exactly handsome, but it had a kind of hardness that had been honed by the wind and sand.

He didn't look at the crowds on both sides; his gaze was fixed on the majestic city gate in front of him, his eyes revealing neither hatred, fear, nor anything else.

He is Bai Tu Kui, the new leader of the White Wolf tribe.

Li Huai stood on the city wall, watching the camel approach step by step.

This person, as expected, didn't bring a knife.