As the only oasis in the Vast Sea Desert, the Yulan Kingdom occupied a strategically vital position, facing Shajia to the south and bordering Black Hu to the north. Over the years, both Shajia and Black Hu had coveted it, but the Vast Sea Desert formed a natural barrier, and conquering the Yulan Kingdom would inevitably exact a devastating price. Thus, despite their ambitions, neither great power had ever acted on them.
Hu Xiaotian smiled. "I'm afraid I won't be much help." Even if he took Ji City for himself, it would still be far from the Yulan Kingdom, with the Ankang Grassland and the Vast Sea Desert lying between them. His present strength hardly allowed him to stretch his hand that far.
Wanyan Liexin smiled. "An alliance wouldn't require you to send troops, Prince. We merely hope that when we march against the Yulan Kingdom in the future, you'll allow us passage through the Ankang Grassland."
Hu Xiaotian silently considered this. Black Hu's territory covered almost the entire northern edge of the Vast Sea Desert, but the closest point to the Yulan Kingdom was indeed the Ankang Grassland. Even "closest" meant roughly eight hundred li in a straight line. Yet borrowing passage through the grassland was impractical, since the Great Qu Mountain Range still separated it from Black Hu. Black Hu cavalry should be unable to cross that natural barrier. Were they planning to cross the mountains, purchase horses on the Ankang Grassland, and reassemble their cavalry before advancing into the Vast Sea Desert? The expense and hardship would far exceed those of simply entering the desert from the north. Wanyan Liexin's words were utterly unconvincing. The Black Hu people had probably begun coveting the Ankang Grassland.
Hu Xiaotian smiled. "We can discuss the future when it comes. The