Chapter 586: King of Gaochang, Dunhuang.
Thirty thousand Imperial Guard troops were temporarily stationed here.
Inside the commandery city, Cao Bin was studying a map of the Western Regions.
"Ah..."
Looking at the map, Cao Bin suddenly sighed.
The maps they were using were all decades old. None of them knew what the Western Regions were actually like now.
Honestly!
This might be something he ought not to say, but why hadn't the Imperial Tutor sent them a new map?
Wouldn't that spare them a great deal of trouble?
Still, that thought was rather presumptuous. He hoped the Imperial Tutor wouldn't blame him if she learned of it.
He was only... giving voice to his feelings.
As Cao Bin was thinking this, someone entered the main tent. The man wore a convict's uniform. Cao Bin turned toward him, looking somewhat puzzled, and asked with a frown, "Who are you? What are you doing here? Who let you in?"
"My respects, my lord!"
Xu Su bowed to Cao Bin. "This humble commoner is Xu Su!"
"The... Imperial Tutor asked me to deliver a letter to you."
As he spoke, Xu Su took a sheepskin map from inside his robe, along with a letter.
"These are the items!"
Before they had left the pass, Verdant Green Maiden had spoken with Xu Su.
The guards therefore all knew that Xu Su had connections.
Over the past year or so, he hadn't suffered much hardship. Apart from his regular duties, he hadn't been made to do extra work.
Xu Su understood that all of this was thanks to Verdant Green Maiden's protection.
He was therefore utterly loyal to her.
Upon receiving Verdant Green Maiden's letter, he had immediately hurried to see Cao Bin without stopping to rest his horse.
Ordinarily, someone in a convict's