Turmoil in the Xiong State

Zhang Qian was twenty-four years old when he was sent on a mission to the Greater Yuezhi, and he was nearly forty when he returned to Chang'an City.

The cunning official Gongsun Hong dismissed the Yanmen Pass, citing force majeure. He lost his position and was sidelined for nearly ten years before finally returning to the court in recent years.

From Gongsun Hong's perspective, there was nothing wrong with his actions; otherwise, he would have likely never returned after leaving Yanmen Pass.

Zhang Xuezhou never imagined that Zhang Qian could return to Chang'an City.

He had never imagined that Zhang Qian would return to Chang'an City in such a way.

There was no swift movement like a cultivator running, nor the affluence of Zhang Qian enjoying life in the Xiong State.

As Zhang Qian walked toward Sima Gate, he appeared gaunt and emaciated, looking like he was in his sixties even though he was not yet forty.

If one were to look for anything special, it would only be that Zhang Qian's eyes still retained the clarity and brightness of his youth; he was still the same young man who wanted to serve the Great Han Dynasty when he joined the army.

The yellowed and damaged staff was tightly gripped in Zhang Qian's palm, and he used it as a crutch to prop himself forward.

The sound of gongs still echoed throughout the Imperial City District, but no one on the main streets of the Imperial City District treated Zhang Qian's return to Chang'an as a spectacle anymore.

Zhang Qian was undoubtedly one of the earliest young men to stand by the new emperor's side, and he was always loyal to his principles. It would be fine if such a person didn't come back, but if he did, his loyalty would be impeccable.

More importantly, where did Zhang Qian go, and what did he bring back?

Countless people are eagerly awaiting the final answer from the Weiyang Palace.

"Senior brother, it's been a long time!"

Zhang Xuezhou, amidst the gazes of many, focused on Zhang Qian, but his gaze ultimately lingered on the guide who lacked the qualifications to reach Weiyang Palace.

Wu Chao also looked haggard and had lost some weight.

Although Wu Chao was not doing well in the Western Sect, the Wu Chao that Zhang Xuezhou saw at that time was in a better condition and had not fallen into the current state of destitution.

"Wu Jin?"

A familiar voice approached, Wu Chao turned his head to look back, only to see Zhang Xuezhou getting closer and closer in the crowded throng.

He opened his mouth, but his parched throat made it difficult for him to speak, so he could only respond with mouth movements.

How did you end up like this?

Zhang Xuezhou found it hard to believe the situation at Wu Chao; it was so different from what he had imagined.

It's gone!

Wu Chao moved his mouth slightly before sending a wisp of his Law Power power in response.

"What's gone?"

"Our home is gone, my uncle defeated my father, our Lineage is gone!"

Wu Chao was deeply saddened.

The Great Han imperial family was embroiled in internal strife, and so was the Xiong State.

Chanyu Junch en pressed into the Great Han territory and launched continuous campaigns, the rear was engulfed in a chaotic power struggle.

The defeats of Daojun and Zhu Jiuyin ultimately had irreversible consequences. The uncontrolled Sacred Land and the Xiong State royal family fell out of control. Coupled with Wei Qing and others leading the army in a large-scale flanking maneuver to attack the Xiong State's logistics, Chanyu Junch en defeats and was forced to withdraw from the power struggle in the Xiong State in a hasty return.

The time was not long, only about two months, but Zhang Xuezhou did not expect that the Xiong State.

This internal strife didn't have a significant impact on the Great Han Dynasty, but for Wu Chao personally, it was undoubtedly a devastating blow.

Although Wu Chao practices Western Sect, no one doesn't yearn for their home to remain stable.

If Zhang Xuezhou is on the rise, and suddenly someone causes his family to be destroyed, it will undoubtedly have a significant impact on him.

"Your cultivation level is not weak, defeating your uncle shouldn't be difficult," Zhang Xuezhou said.

"My uncle is backed by Kunlun, the Western Sect, and the Zoroastrianism," Wu Chao replied, pursing his lips. "My father always harbored the idea of making the royal family independent, but he was far less obedient than my uncle, and was thus replaced. How could a mayfly like me possibly shake such a great tree!"

How did these three parties get involved in the Xiong State?

Zhang Xuezhou looked astonished.

Defeating Daojun and Zhu Jiuyin was already exhausting enough; if Kunlun and other forces were added to the mix, Zhang Xuezhou felt that the power of the Xiong State had not only not weakened, but had become even stronger.

"Before my father died, he sent us to the Han Kingdom," Wu Chao said.

"And then you brought Zhang Qian to Chang'an City?" Zhang Xuezhou asked suspiciously.

"Zhang Qian fled more than a year earlier. He took advantage of the chaos during the troop relocation to leave, but he ran in the wrong direction when escaping the Xiong State and ended up in Xiniu Hezhou. I was exorcising demons at the time, and when I heard that someone had captured Eastern Land, I went to check on him and brought him back. Only then did I learn that our Lineage had collapsed, and we were then relentlessly pursued by cultivators sent by my uncle. We banded together and fled for more than two months before finally arriving in Chang'an City!"

You two are truly destined to meet!

Zhang Xuezhou replied.

The chaos within the Xiong State's royal family was inevitable, but Zhang Xuezhou could not rule out the possibility of misfortune brought about by the sacrificial Chanyu Junch en.

Chanyu Junch en, who had been fighting against the Great Han Dynasty for many years, ultimately sought help from the Great Han Dynasty. This sounds like a joke, but it may have been the best choice for Chanyu Junch en he was in dire straits. After all, there was no other power besides the Great Han Dynasty that could oppose the Xiong State.

"You want to mobilize the power of the Great Han Dynasty to seek revenge?" Zhang Xuezhou asked.

"I want revenge!"

Wu Chao's fingers trembled slightly. Wu Chao had given up his right to inherit the Xiong State, but that did not mean he had abandoned his family.

The hatred of losing his family and loved ones is etched into Wu Chao's heart, and he will inevitably use every means to seek revenge until he dies or completely avenges his family.

"You have some connections in the Great Han Dynasty, you've had it for many years, could you help me?" Wu Chao asked in a low voice.

"The Great Han Dynasty and the Xiong State have always had conflicts and will inevitably continue to fight," Zhang Xuezhou said. "Zhang Qian will certainly be given an important position, and by following Zhang Qian, you can integrate into the Great Han Dynasty!"

"Um!"

Zhang Xuezhou's reasoning is very simple, and Wu Chao had already considered it long ago.

He had been somewhat uncertain before, but he was relieved when Zhang Xuezhou confirmed that Zhang Qian would be given an important position.

Zhang Xuezhou felt a pang of regret at Wu Chao's fate. The two had barely exchanged ten or so words when an imperial eunuch came out to announce that Wu Chao was to be summoned to the palace.

"My senior brother's message didn't help at all. Could it be that I'm just being paranoid and blindly trusting my current luck?"

Wu Chao brought some information, and the information was very important. The internal strife within the Xiong State was definitely good news for the Great Han Dynasty, but this news had no effect on Zhang Xuezhou.

He couldn't help but wonder if he was being too sensitive, thinking that many coincidental events might bring him benefits.

Zhang Xuezhou watched Wu Chao enter Sima Gate, but in the end, he could only shake his head and withdraw from the crowd of onlookers.

"Lord Dongfang, His Majesty requests your presence!"

When Zhang Xuezhou returned to his residence in a huff, he only saw a eunuch pacing back and forth at the gate. The eunuch almost jumped up when he saw Zhang Xuezhou return.

"Oh, what do you want me to do?"

Zhang Xuezhou was surprised, after all, the new emperor had just been in the side room discussing the Yang Corporeal Soul Incarnation Technique with the Empress Dowager and others, and the two had run out of things to say.

"I don't know!"

The eunuch delivering the imperial decree shook his head repeatedly.

Zhang Xuezhou couldn't find out any information, so he didn't speculate. Holding the token, he headed straight for the palace.