You became an emperor by letting me AFK.

Xue Yong carefully tucked the package into his robes, not daring to be negligent in the slightest, nor to touch the tightly sealed lid. Whatever the contents, it was not for anyone else to see; he had to be a good messenger, and any mistake in any step would arouse Feng Tianyin's suspicion.

That person is strict with himself and others, dislikes making low-level mistakes, and if he displeases the high priest, the negotiation will fall through directly.

"Giddy up!"

The swift horse, raising clouds of dust, pointed towards the distance.

The messenger squad sped towards Xiayi, racing against time and not daring to delay.

Because while they hesitated, Daqian must have further mobilized troops. Once the die was cast and troops were dispatched, no matter how eloquent the letter was, it wouldn't change the military order.

The group quickly traversed the camp's perimeter, traveling day and night.

By dusk the next day, they had arrived at the outskirts of Xiayi's farmland, only to be stopped by a patrol of soldiers:

"Who is it?"

The interceptors were fully armed, equipped with everything from helmets and breastplates to arm armor, and carried a variety of weapons. They also had warhorses and wore leather armor.

The weapons are all made of bronze, with crossbows and bows aimed and providing crossfire cover in the distance.

Even Xue Yong wouldn't dare say that he could defeat the opponent given such a disparity in weaponry.

Moreover, their significance here is different:

The Great Qian Dynasty has entered a state of war alert, and troops have been stationed in border areas that were not usually taken seriously, creating an atmosphere of extreme tension.

“We are messengers from the forest camp, carrying a letter from the chief to the high priest.”

..........

The patrolling soldiers exchanged a few quick words with their superior, and then the officer in charge nodded and said:

"You can rest assured, but we need to have our people with you. We also hope you can rest for the night and resupply. This time difference will allow us to send someone to deliver a message, making things convenient for you. What do you think?"

"Thank you so much, let's arrange it that way."

I originally thought the Daqian Army would be inflexible and unwilling to adapt, which would lead to some disputes, but they handled things cleanly and efficiently, and made clear arrangements.

Even so, they did not let their guard down, and Xue Yong had people take turns keeping watch all night to prevent an attack.

The night passed peacefully.

The next day, two Daqian cavalrymen accompanied them.

The other party maintained a purely official attitude, following at a distance without communicating or disturbing them, merely monitoring their movements and maintaining a deterrent effect. The group crossed the edge of the farmland, rotating shifts at each outpost.

As expected, the journey was smooth.

"Boss, these guys are reliable. We ran faster than we expected."

"You may find it convenient, but this is not good news. Imagine if war broke out and we faced a well-organized army."

The messenger team had traversed most of the Daqian-controlled area, and had come into contact with their defense system.

And for some reason, it has a fierce feel to it.

why?

Upon closer inspection, Xue Yong noticed that every household had someone practicing, and everyone was working together to repair the road during their off-season. No wonder they were moving so fast; the horses' hooves trod on the soft, muddy ground were completely different from those on the compacted road.

The main road network extends towards the forest camps and is already in place.

He speculated that the war was established during the summer Heavenly Ritual, or even earlier, and that road construction continued into the autumn, setting the stage for a war.

The Great Qian Dynasty is more inclined to attack.

There weren't many decent city walls or fortifications along the way; everything was geared towards laying the foundation for field battles.

Feng Tianyin is not known for her martial arts skills, but she is definitely a brave leader. Since becoming the High Priest, she has never missed a single war in the history of the Great Qian Dynasty.

She has a domineering style and emphasizes mobility. She is usually the one who beats others up, and she should be no exception when it comes to the forest camp.

Xue Yong couldn't help but think that if he had arrived any later, he would have been met by the army.

fortunately.

On the third day, they arrived in Xiayi smoothly, and the journey, which they had originally thought would take seven days one way, was shortened by half. Overjoyed, they looked at each other, and couldn't help but think: It's too close.

With the roads built, Daqian can reach the front lines much faster, and the old adage "distance makes the heart grow fonder" no longer applies.

Therefore, communication becomes even more important.

Having put aside his thoughts, Xue Yong began to pay attention to his surroundings. He was now in the suburbs outside the city, with fields stretching out in all directions, houses scattered about, and the sounds of livestock coming from the pastures.

Of course, the smell of farmyard manure and the old oxen working the fields are indispensable.

Their camp cannot afford so many cattle.

"Woof woof!"

A few country dogs barked nearby, their eyes scrutinizing the owner's doorway. They sensed that this group was quite different; they were visitors from afar, and worth watching.

Of course, the locals recognized them much earlier, since the messenger team had been proclaiming along the way that they were there to make a conversation.

Xue Yong arrived at the door amidst everyone's attention.

There are no city walls in Xiayi yet. The so-called "main gate" is one end facing the central axis of the temple. The arched pillars at both ends show the grandeur, and the words "Xiayi" are written on them in a vigorous and powerful style.

The small characters in the corner of the plaque indicate that the inscription was written by Feng Tianyin, the owner of this city.

She wouldn't claim to rule over anyone, be anyone's master, or add any titles to herself, but everyone acknowledges one fact:

The High Priest is the supreme ruler of the Great Qian Dynasty.

Acting as a shepherd on behalf of Heaven.

Chapter 19 Observations in Xiayi

Welcome everyone.

Standing at the door was a young woman dressed in a ceremonial robe. Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly, revealing a sharp gaze.

It was Yu Xue who came to greet them on orders; the trial was also attended by clerks and guards.

"Hello, you can just call me Xue Yong. We are here on behalf of the forest farm camp to deliver a message and hope to have a dialogue."

"Just call me Yu Xue, and I will take you to see the emperor."

Thank you.

He tried to discern the other person's attitude from their face, but they remained calm and composed, neither humble nor arrogant, and impossible to decipher. Despite their young appearance, they showed no stage fright and were completely at ease.

The soldiers escorting them saluted and left, and the area under the jurisdiction of the Xia Yi garrison began from the gate.

Xue Yong did encounter clerks along the way, but none of them were as formal as Yu Xue's.

In the Great Qian Dynasty, formal attire consisted of sacrificial robes.

The intricate embroidery, adorned with various patterns, required a level of dye and textiles that most small towns couldn't afford. As the saying goes, clothes make the man, and this piece certainly conveyed a sense of solemnity.

The messengers dismounted and were led away by designated personnel to be fed hay and have their furs cleaned.

Ta-da!

The moment Xue Yong stepped onto the ground, he noticed something different: the ground beneath his feet was paved with gravel. While not as expensive as bricks and stones, it was still quite luxurious, considering it covered an entire city.

"It must be quite old, why isn't it growing grass or attracting insects?"

"Because the topsoil has been disinfected, for example, the soil on your way here is even turned over once, which can kill insect eggs and grass seeds as much as possible."

"You can do that too!"

He subconsciously wondered if this could be used to solve the annoying weed problem within the camp. The principle worked.

However, the specific timing, digging depth, and whether other auxiliary materials are needed are things only the Great Qian knows. Besides, their own manpower is limited, unlike the feeling that Xia Yi gives people at this moment:

lively.

Xue Yong had never seen so many people gather together before.

Admittedly, the forest camp has a population of 1, but most of them are scattered in the surrounding villages and cannot gather together throughout the year.

In contrast, Xiayi City probably has around 10,000 permanent residents, making it a large city.

Urban population means productivity.

Because most of them were involved in academia, politics, textiles, crafts, and construction, they were not directly involved in agriculture. In other words, the Great Qian Dynasty had a surplus of grain, enough to support the urban population to do other work, giving it a strong financial foundation.

"Aren't you afraid that if there's a flood and the harvest fails, what will happen?"

“We’ve built granaries, and the reserves are enough to last a year,” Yu Xue said dismissively. “Besides, the High Priest said that Heaven doesn’t like natural disasters.”

He protected this plain, ensuring favorable weather for many years.

.......

Looking at that proud look, I really wanted to refute it, but Xue Yong admitted that his majestic gaze was only fixed on Xia Yi.

Therefore, some people even voluntarily left their own camps and hometowns to seek refuge in Xiayi.

This is outrageous! They're all traitors.

This vast plain, nourished by the stream below, is a convenient shelter, unlike the City of Destiny, where camps and such can be destroyed at will, and the number lost to this day is considerable.

"From what you're saying, has your region experienced a natural disaster?"

“Yes, occasionally heavy rains can trigger flash floods and mudslides, which happen once every three to five years. I have family and friends who have died in them.”

"It's a pity."

"Since Heaven has a clear will, how does it view the chaos and turmoil in the human world?"

Yu Xue looked at the temple at the end of the central avenue, where incense was burned and offerings were made forever. The ethereal aura rose straight to the sky, probably hoping that the sounds of ordinary people could also reach that place. But how easy is it?

Even the favored Feng Tianyin can only meet once every ten years.

"The will of Heaven has always been difficult to fathom."

"However, you can communicate with the High Priest. She has communicated with the Heavenly Dao several times and is a wise woman."

I have long admired Xue Yong; even among the barbarian tribes, the High Priest of Xia Yi is considered exceptional. He symbolizes authority, divinity, wisdom, and bravery, embodying the essence of the Great Qian civilization, and single-handedly leading thirty years of prosperity and development.

She was even regarded as the embodiment of the divine way on earth.

Otherwise, how could she be immortal? Since her resurrection, Feng Tianyin's appearance has never changed; time seems to have frozen at the moment she was promoted to the position of Actor.