You became an emperor by letting me AFK.

However, the information she gathered was high-level intelligence, all clearly laid out before her: [Loyalty of the Northern Desert Tribes: -25%]

Their loyalty to Linchun continued to decline.

Reaching a negative 25% threshold is already a very serious situation; most political entities would collapse and disintegrate within minutes. The reason this group of barbarians was able to hold on is because they were inherently loosely organized.

Otherwise, it will change its flag and regime like the "Green Valley Incident" of that year.

In other words.

This provided the Great Qian Dynasty with a great deal of room to maneuver; for example, Feng Tianyin was constantly sending envoys to bewitch people.

For example, the familiar face "Loulan Envoy Ke Rong" took on a heavy responsibility in his prime. Unlike his slightly immature self back then, he became more experienced after joining the Great Qian Dynasty and accumulating experience. With his eloquent tongue, he quickly made a name for himself in the northern desert.

Actually, the task given by Feng Tianyin wasn't difficult.

She was not in a hurry to subdue anyone or change the status quo, but instead tried to win them over, show affinity, or rather, sow discord among the tribes in the northern desert.

Therefore, if Xia He zooms in further, we will see [Da Qian's influence area +3%].

Small but exquisite.

Continuous accumulation allowed Daqian's influence to penetrate deep into the grasslands.

They were already severely weakened during the "wound-licking period" after their defeat in the Great Expedition, and their inherent admiration for strength was awakened. The barbarian tribe, which revered the strong, gradually yearned for the prosperous and rapidly developing Great Qian Dynasty.

Especially their admiration for Feng Tianyin herself, after all, she personally led the army to crush them in the ground.

Submitting to such a powerful leader aligns with the values ​​of the northern tribes, and their ancestors would understand. She has just been certified by the Heavenly Dao again—beautiful, powerful, and immortal.

Furthermore, hasn't the great shaman already cast his spell?

In many people's eyes, Feng Tianyin is simply "forcibly taking Gegentana for herself", which is quite ancient.

That's very barbaric.

After all, when the Khanate changes hands on the grasslands, it's not uncommon for the new Khan to take the former's wives and concubines. If this were to happen, wouldn't it be as if the pure and virtuous Great Shaman, whom the grasslands all serve, has been conquered by the High Priest and has gained a legitimacy from the Heavenly Dao...

That's so perfect! It perfectly matches the aesthetics of the tribes in the northern deserts. This scene is fantastic!

In short, they held Feng Tianyin in high esteem.

Xia He saw a series of gossips and couldn't help but laugh and cry: "They've been beaten into submission and have learned to make up their own stories, but there's also some traditional basis to it."

Simplicity and directness are what make you powerful.

Moreover, Feng Tianyin is also targeting the barbarian tribes. Since she has decided to annex them, she needs to lay the groundwork.

.............

Ke Rong, who was far away in Loulan, was summoned.

He could hardly believe his eyes when he saw the letter from Xia Yi. Logically speaking, organizing the Western Regions City-State Alliance back then should have created enmity between them. Why would they reinstate him to go to the grasslands? Although he had indeed dealt with the Northern Desert before, was it feasible? He had even been an enemy of the Great Qian Dynasty before.

He looked at the messenger with disbelief, but the messenger said, "It's genuine; no one would dare to impersonate the High Priest."

The seals of faith are sacred and inviolable; to divulge them is a capital offense.

"Ke Rong accepts the order."

To be honest, he's been quite anxious these past few years. After all, he was a staunch advocate for resisting the Great Qian Dynasty back then, and now that they've become one, it's naturally awkward. So he's kept a low profile, living off his ancestral home and occasionally doing business, which has made him quite content.

Having some savings but not being extremely wealthy, if one becomes too rich, they will be forcibly summoned to Xiayi.

However, I had no choice but to go this time; I couldn't disobey orders.

Even if he refused, given the high priest's personality, he probably wouldn't fly into a rage. But it's uncertain about others. Putting aside the local government, the neighbors know that he has been summoned by the temple.

The messenger was very high-profile.

It was a small team of three, carrying a flag, accompanied by local officials and ceremonial guards, who had to maintain the dignity of the high priest while delivering the message.

It is also a form of authoritarianism; without deterrence, things cannot be done well.

If he refuses, he will inevitably be bombarded with criticism.

Ke Rong asked himself honestly, and he didn't want to retire at a young age and stay at home to farm until he died. Everyone should have dreams and ambitions.

The opportunity has arrived

After quickly packing his luggage, he set off with the messenger to the capital as fast as possible.

The officials were naturally pleased to have encountered such decisive people. They disliked those who dawdled, as a trip back would take an unknown amount of time. Since the other party was cooperative, everything must be going well.

The group set off quickly, and Ke Rong spurred his horse on amidst the expectant gazes of the neighbors.

Over the years, the Daqian road network has become highly developed.

Even though the distance from Loulan to Zhuguan was only by land, they still sped along without delay.

Because of the well-established transportation system.

With post stations and imperial roads complementing each other, bridges were built over rivers and plank roads were constructed over mountains, forming a comprehensive road system that was sufficient to support the rapid passage of double-row horse-drawn carriages and served as the foundation for the exchange of goods and logistical support.

They boosted commerce, increased cohesion, and, more importantly, ensured a continuous supply of resources once the war began; these vital arteries supported the power of the giants.

Transportation has always been an area that Feng Tianyin pays close attention to. Even though the main roads have been basically built throughout the territory, the construction of side roads has not stopped.

She believed that carriages and roads were key anchors for the rule of the Great Qian Dynasty.

Walking on it, Ke Rong remarked, "I haven't traveled far for a while, and the road conditions have improved again."

unobstructed.

Previously, some roads in high mountains and dense forests were prone to bandits, but now the government is efficient, the people are harmonious, and the public security is good. People passing through the lush bamboo forests only stop to admire the scenery; a few years ago, they would have worried about being robbed.

That's why everyone is willing to contact each other with peace of mind.

When they arrived at Zhuguan, it was even faster; by boat, they could reach Xiayi in a day.

The inland port is bustling with activity, and the adjacent shipyard is constantly noisy.

It is said that when the shipyard was officially completed, the high priest praised the product as "riding the wind and speeding away" and wrote an inscription. Later, it was framed and made into a plaque for the shipyard and placed in the most conspicuous place, for fear that others would not know about Feng Tianyin's praise.

Indeed, she has beautiful handwriting.

Korong discovered that the handwriting was exactly the same as the handwritten letter. For some reason, the official's handwriting gave people a feeling of "consistent and upright style".

The handwriting is like printed text, making it very recognizable.

The writer must have been very precise with his pen, making sure that every stroke was perfectly aligned to the millimeter.

"Sir, the boat is ready."

Thanks to the high priest's personal summons, the port could immediately prepare vacant ships, allowing them to depart without queuing and with priority. There were no complicated preparations; the doors were opened wide for convenience.

A day later, Coron arrived at the temple for an audience as scheduled.

"Greetings, High Priest."

The girl working at her desk in front of him looked exactly the same as she did back then, without a trace of age.

Feng Tianyin quickly wrote out a letter of appointment and went straight to the point: "I need you as an envoy to persuade the tribes of the Northern Desert. The Great Prophet will tell you the specifics." There was no nonsense and no time for pleasantries.

Worrying that the other party dislikes a former rival is simply wishful thinking.

Gegentana continued, "Your real mission is to gather intelligence, sow discord, and bribe the various Khans to undermine Linchun's rule. The Great Khan might become suspicious and make things difficult for you, but don't worry, he's not a fool who impulsively kills envoys. Just follow the plan..."

Ke Rong listened attentively to the order.

Everything went smoothly; his subordinates were ready, and the delegation was sent on a mission in the name of the high priest.

This man, known as the "Conqueror of the Holy Land," was infamous among the tribes of the northern deserts.

Anyway, the northern barbarians fall for this kind of thing, so when Ke Rong launched a diplomatic offensive with Feng Tianyin's orders, people were unsettled.

He visited various tribes with money, supplies, and all sorts of rare treasures, and received a grand welcome. This was enough to demonstrate their attitude; as expected, after the Great Expedition, they had grown increasingly awe of the Great Qian Dynasty.

Everything went smoothly.

Everything here is very primitive, and people are powerless against the temptations of sugar-coated bullets.

Ke Rong realized that Da Qian had actually completed its infiltration many years before his arrival, and was just looking for a reliable person to reap the rewards.

The Khans were very positive about "submission" and even hoped to merge and join.

No wonder, after all, the northern desert is indeed backward.

Along the way, he even encountered many cave-dwelling tribes, their dwellings dug into small hills and mounds, filled with cave-like markings. The people wore simple animal skins or coarse linen fabrics, and their bodies were often adorned with totem paintings or scar patterns.

There is no stir-frying; the main cooking methods are grilling, stone boiling, and steaming/boiling in coarse earthenware pots.

The seasoning consists only of wild coarse salt and wild honey, resulting in a monotonous flavor, and it's mostly prepared by hand, which is very unhygienic...

This is the true ancient era, filled with the colors of hunting, cave dwelling, and eating raw meat and drinking blood.

Apart from Linchun, the other tribes are too diverse.

The barbarians also yearned for a richer life, so they flocked to the resources of the Great Qian Dynasty and became increasingly subject to economic control.

For example, once people had experienced the textiles of the Great Qian Dynasty, they could no longer tolerate linen and animal hides. Nobles also stopped favoring bone hairpins, jade pendants, perforated animal teeth, and clam shell necklaces, and instead embraced exquisite and sparkling ornaments.

They wanted to live a good life.

Good times are inseparable from trade with Daqian. Since we are so close, why not work together?

Therefore, Coron's lobbying efforts went very smoothly.

However, when he finally arrived in Linchun, he remained vigilant and paid close attention to dealing with the legendary Great Khan, who treated him with great hospitality.

Although Erbala was once defeated by Feng Tianyin, his outstanding abilities are recognized by the Great Prophet, so he should not be underestimated.

During the meal.

The two sides naturally began discussing recruitment.

Korong cupped his hands and said, “Great Khan Erbala, our High Priest is already of imperial stature, and the Great Prophet has a history with you all. Why don’t we join hands? We share a common faith and can create peace.”

At this moment, Xia He also entered the first-person perspective inside the tent, with other Khans around.

The atmosphere, however, seems rather serious?

Erbala, seated at the head of the table, glanced around and then said in an unfriendly tone:

"Some khans didn't come. Didn't I issue a summons? Don't they recognize me?"

He's probably not as angry as he appears; he's just putting on an act, subtly trying to sow discord within the Great Qian Dynasty. Xia He saw through this, let alone the experienced Ke Rong. The question is, how will they break this deadlock?

Of course, this is on the premise that the other party at least has martial ethics.