A lowly soldier becomes king, I slaughter my way through the late Tang Dynasty!

"May I ask your honorable name?"

The middle-aged man, dressed in Western Region attire, spoke broken Chinese.

"Li Rui, what about you?"

"So it's General Li. I have a name from the Central Plains, Liu Duobao."

"Huh? Who gave you that name?"

"My father, my ancestors traded with the Central Plains since the Han Dynasty, so we took the surname Liu. My father hoped to have many treasures, so he named me Duobao (meaning 'many treasures')."

"A good name."

"Thank you for the compliment, General Li."

After some polite exchanges, the two got down to business.

Liu Duobao asked with a worried expression.

"General Li, how much longer will this battle last?"

Li Rui shook his head.

"This is a highly confidential military matter and cannot be disclosed."

Liu Duobao nodded repeatedly.

"Understood. Could General Li please do us the favor of leaving Mancheng and going to Cangzhou to buy some salt?"

As soon as he said that, Li Rui understood.

Cangzhou is located by the sea and is a high-yield area for sea salt. Since the Western Regions are short of salt, this group of Khotan merchants came specifically for sea salt.

"no."

Liu Duobao quickly got up and handed a pair of goldfish to Li Rui.

These aren't live goldfish, but small fish made of pure gold.

Li Rui smiled and pushed the goldfish back.

Liu Duobao thought that the amount given was not enough and was about to reach into his pocket when he heard Li Rui say something.

"You can't leave. Even if I release you, you'll be captured by other Jin soldiers or Khitans."

Upon hearing this, Liu Duobao's face immediately fell, and he looked like he was doomed.

Suddenly, a soft murmur came from the second floor.

"If we can't leave, then we won't leave. General Li is strict in his military discipline and will surely be able to keep the city safe."

Liu Duobao's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly jumped up from his chair and looked up anxiously.

"What are you doing out here? Go back! Go back!"

The woman on the second floor smiled softly.

"Third Uncle, Jin soldiers are everywhere. How long can I hide?"

Liu Duobao looked terrified and glanced at Li Rui's expression.

He knew all too well how devastatingly beautiful his employer, who was also his niece, was!

I don't know how my brother, who looks so pathetic, could have given birth to such a beautiful daughter.

They had traveled all the way from the Western Regions, never daring to let her show her true face, for fear that she would be coveted by evil people and bring trouble upon them.

But now, Li Rui has seen this enchanting face.

Liu Duobao swallowed hard, not daring to think about what would happen next.

What if Li Rui forces himself on me...?

Oh dear! My poor niece!

Liu Duobao felt a pang of sorrow welling up inside, but then he suddenly realized something.

Li Rui merely showed appreciation in his eyes, without any lewdness!

Ok?

Liu Duobao looked up in surprise, thinking that his niece was no longer pretty.

"Who is this?"

Li Rui glanced at it a couple more times, then asked with a smile.

This woman was indeed stunningly beautiful. Her appearance was already exquisite, and her exotic charm made her truly captivating.

However, Li Rui had seen too many beautiful women in his previous life, so he wasn't completely dumbfounded.

"General Li, this is the owner of our caravan, and also my niece. Her name in the Central Plains is Liu Fuji."

The people of Khotan were Buddhists, and "Ji" means a woman of exceptional beauty.

A very good name.

By Wang Shuyu's standards, Liu Fuji's appearance score would probably be no lower than 95!

Of course, if you take into account background and character, the average will be unknown.

Yes, although Li Rui appeared calm on the surface, he was actually already thinking of ways to pursue her.

There's nothing I can do!

It's a system requirement!

It was definitely not because I was attracted to her beauty!

"Since you are the owner, please come downstairs for a talk."

Liu Fuji smiled sweetly, took graceful steps, and swayed her waist as she walked downstairs.

Liu Duobao secretly groaned, feeling that he would not be able to escape anytime soon.

"Why did Princess Buddha come to the Central Plains in person?"

As soon as Li Rui opened his mouth, Liu Duobao cursed him inwardly as shameless!

Isn't the Central Plains known as a land of great etiquette?

Li Rui called her "Buddha Princess" right off the bat. Where is this country of etiquette?

If Li Rui knew what Liu Duobao was thinking, he would definitely laugh and say it.

"I am a martial artist and do not understand etiquette."

The Central Plains have been in a state of moral decay for so long, what's the point of talking about etiquette anymore?

"General Li, I am the owner of the caravan. This is the first business I've taken over, so of course I have to come in person."

"Oh~ Buddha Princess is so young, yet she has crossed thousands of miles of desert and mountains to come to the Central Plains. She is truly a heroine among women."

"General Li, you flatter me. You are a true hero. I heard that you infiltrated the city alone, not only setting fire to open the city gates but also killing the Khitan commander. You are truly a hero."

"You flatter me, Your Highness. It is truly rare to find someone who can talk and laugh so amiably even in a foreign land."

"General, you are joking. No matter how much the Buddha Princess talks and laughs, she still needs your protection to sit safely in the city."

"Princess Buddha is so eloquent."

"A general is truly skilled in both literature and martial arts."

……

Liu Duobao sat between the two, his old face contorted as if he were constipated, his lips twitching incessantly.

On the left, they keep calling her "Buddha Princess," and on the right, they keep calling her "General!"

Why do I feel like... I'm totally superfluous!

Liu Duobao couldn't listen to it anymore!

He felt that if he wasn't there...

These two can talk about "General" and "Buddha Princess" at the same time, and then they can talk about it all the way to the bedroom!

"Ahem!"

Liu Duobao forced a cough, interrupting the somewhat lingering glances between the two.

Just as he was about to speak, he heard Li Rui ask with concern.

"Is your throat bothering you, Uncle?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Duobao nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood!

What the hell is Third Uncle?!

You two have only just met, how come you're already calling him Third Uncle?!

Liu Fuji was also stunned, clearly not expecting Li Rui to be so shameless.

Surprisingly, she didn't feel offended at all; instead, she covered her mouth and chuckled.

I think Li Rui is very dignified when he's serious, making people afraid to disobey him, but in private he's a very interesting person.

"General Li!" Liu Duobao, unable to contain himself any longer, said with a twitching mouth, "Aren't you in a bit too much of a hurry?"

Li Rui was stunned for a moment before he came to his senses.

hiss~!

Witch!

She really is a vixen!

I don't know what happened to me, I just kept getting more and more involved.

No!

Such a vile woman, who brings disaster to the country and its people, must not be allowed to roam free and harm others.

I, Li Ruizhi, am determined to rule the world, so let me bear this pain alone!

"Third Uncle is right, Li Rui was reckless."

Liu Duobao was completely numb.

From what Li Rui said, it means "I was wrong, but I won't change!"

Liu Duobao glanced at his niece again and found that Liu Fuji showed no resistance at all, but was just smiling and staring at Li Rui's profile.

For a moment, Liu Duobao even felt that time and space might be out of order.

Did they just meet?

Did I miss something important in the plot?

However, Liu Duobao may never understand this in his entire life.

Love at first sight does exist in this world.

Of course, this only applies to handsome men and beautiful women.

That's why it's said that with Liu Duobao's looks, he might never understand what really happened in his entire life.

"General Li, I have asked the restaurant to set up a banquet on the second floor. Please come upstairs."

Liu Duobao quickly changed the subject, afraid that if he said any more, Liu Fuji would be kidnapped by Li Rui.

The food was good, but Li Rui refused to drink alcohol, since they were still at war.

Taking this opportunity, Liu Duobao learned more about the recent major events in the Central Plains from Li Rui.

Li Rui also questioned Khotan about the details of the Kingdom of Khotan, confirming once again that Liu Fuji and her group were not Khitan spies.

Halfway through the meal, Zhang Yaozu barged in and whispered something in Li Rui's ear.

"Li Fengshi, the person you asked me to keep an eye on has made a move."

Li Rui nodded without changing his expression, then stood up to take his leave.

"I have other matters to attend to at the military base, so I must take my leave now. Please refrain from wandering around for the next while."

Liu Duobao quickly stood up to return the greeting.

"With the troops in disarray, we dare not wander off. General Li, please hurry."

Upon leaving the inn, Zhang Yaozu immediately gave a detailed report to his superior.

"Li Fengshi, you guessed right, that bastard Wang Digou really is secretly passing letters, accusing you!"