Blocking the way

Going to the Xiong State to investigate is not a good mission.

Urged on by Li Guang, the new emperor had no choice but to seek ways to expand the territory.

The plan to thoroughly investigate the Xiong State and build a potential alliance to launch a pincer attack was hastily devised.

Only when a neighboring, Xiong State state can strike at and contain the Xiong State will the Han Dynasty have the confidence to retaliate or even launch a proactive attack.

Foreign affairs have always been a source of endless squabbles in the court, but the new emperor's current arrangement is quite neutral, not involving any foreign expeditions but appeasing the radical factions in the court.

This made Li Guang and others willing to wait, and it also prevented the conservative faction, led by Zhi Bu Ning, from speaking out against it. As for the faction that advocated for peace talks, they believed that the conditions for such a thing were too difficult to meet and would not have a significant impact at present.

A remarkably tacit balance was achieved in the imperial court.

However, everyone only offered moral support for the new emperor's proposal; when it came to actually taking on the task, no one did.

The matter ultimately came down to the excluded 'dissidents,' such as Gongsun Hong and others who were rejected by the Confucian School.

Then there was Zhang Qian, a court official who volunteered for the mission.

Gongsun Hong genuinely didn't want to do this kind of thing, while Zhang Qian was full of ambition and enthusiasm.

"Let me tell you," Zhang Qian said excitedly, "When I come back after a year away, we brothers can eat whatever we want, however spicy we want. If I'm granted a title because of this, it'll be a meteoric rise to power."

"That's right," Zhang Xuezhou flattered.

"Cousin, is the area outside the Great Wall really that good?" Rong Tianding asked in a low voice.

I don't want to go anyway!

Zhang Xuezhou replied in a low voice, which made Rong Tianding immediately understand.

Good advice is useless to a stubborn fool. Zhang Qian is clearly like an ox that cannot be pulled back, and Zhang Xuezhou can only offer as much help as he can.

Wu Chao would definitely be a qualified helper.

Wu Chao did not want to join the Western Sect, and was wanted by the Xiong State. He had no home to return to and could not borrow the power of the royal family. He was truly in dire straits and all alone.

In this situation, having a powerful ally to rely on is definitely the best option for Wu Chao.

While it's uncertain how much benefit the Han Dynasty could bring, at least within the Han Dynasty territory, Wu Chao might have had the possibility of breaking free from his "Buddha" brother and gaining some freedom.

As for Wu Chao leading the way for Zhang Qian, that's easier to explain. Wu Chao simply couldn't borrow the power of the Xiong State's royal family, which doesn't mean Wu Chao couldn't go to Xiong State Kingdom. As long as he used the Face-Changing Technique, Wu Chao could easily go to Xiong State.

As for the other arrangements, that depends on how Zhang Qian and Wu Chao respond.

"Then I wish you a speedy return, and that you'll be promoted and make a fortune when you come back," Zhang Xuezhou congratulated him.

"Manqian, don't worry, I will never forget you after I achieve success!"

The news was leaked by Zhang Xuezhou, Zhang Xuezhou also recommended a suitable guide. Zhang Qian felt that this was his best friend, and if he were to be promoted and become wealthy in the future, he would definitely support his friend.

Upon receiving Zhang Xuezhou's message, Zhang Qian was in a hurry to act. After thanking him repeatedly, he went out to find someone to help him.

"That area outside the pass..."

"If the Xiong State were so rich, with no gold and silver everywhere, and no medicinal herbs plentiful, why would they come to plunder the Han Dynasty?"

"Isn't this Lord Zhang going to be in trouble in the future?"

He won't suffer much loss!

Zhang Xuezhou felt that everything would be fine as long as Zhang Qian found Wu Chao.

With an insider like Wu Chao leading the way, it shouldn't be too difficult to gain some advantages and help Zhang Qian complete his mission smoothly.

Zhang Xuezhou and Rong Tianding went out and watched Zhang Qian hurry away. They also heard Gongsun Hong reciting the poem "Qiang Nei forgiving himself but judging others by his own standards, each of them harboring jealousy" from a house in the distance.

Zhang Xuezhou must say that people's joys and sorrows are not shared.

Although they were doing the same thing, Gongsun Hong and Zhang Qian had completely different mindsets.

Zhang Xuezhou could recommend a guide for Zhang Qian, but he couldn't recommend one for Gongsun Hong.

Firstly, he only knew Wu Chao, who was the only person who could guide him. Secondly, he had overheard Gongsun Hong and Shen Peigong's conversation and harbored some reservations, feeling that the other party was a seasoned veteran in the workplace and might be unpredictable.

People like Gongsun Hong are best left as casual acquaintances, not close friends. It's also best to avoid offending them to prevent being dragged into a trap.

After turning a corner in the alley, Zhang Xuezhou and Rong Tianding left.

He walked two streets and was about to walk through the area back to the West Market when an elderly man with a full head of silver hair, dressed in a scholar's robe, appeared in front of him, leaning on a cane.

Just as Zhang Xuezhou was about to continue on his way after glancing at the other person, he heard the other person exclaim softly.

"Nephew!"

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Zhang Xuezhou couldn't help but take a deep breath.

"Come, come," the old man beckoned.

"And who is this person?" Zhang Xuezhou asked, leaning closer.

"He's just changed his appearance and temporarily replaced that old scholar Yuan Gu," the old man said, waving his hand.

"Yuan Gu?"

"He's a great Confucian School scholar, but he's a bit too old. Otherwise, his status would make things much easier for him," the old man sighed.

"Go ahead and do it!"

Upon hearing the old man mention doing something, Zhang Xuezhou immediately sensed that it couldn't be anything good.

He waved his hand, indicating that the other person could do whatever they wanted as long as they didn't involve him.

"It's impossible now," the old man shook his head. "I originally intended to take a bottle of dragon blood treasured in the palace, but I didn't expect that the Great Han palace truly no longer possesses that treasure!"

What are you going to do with the dragon's blood?

Zhang Xuezhou originally wanted to get away as soon as possible, but when he heard his junior uncle mention the blood of the Ancestral Dragon, his heart skipped a beat, and he added a sentence.

"We have a top expert in our area whose body can evade soul-capturing Law Technique and Law Treasure, but cannot evade normal Technique Method. That's why he was thinking of using dragon blood to replenish his strength," the old man laughed. "Who knew that someone else would beat him to it all!"

"That's a pity!" Zhang Xuezhou sighed.

"It's not a pity!"

The old man replied to Zhang Xuezhou, then shifted his gaze to Rong Tianding, his sharp eyes scanning him up and down.

"This is truly a case of finding something without even looking for it," the old man said in a low voice. "I never expected it was you, little brat, who swallowed that blood!"

What are you going to do?

The old man reached out and grabbed at Rong Tianding, causing Rong Tianding to scream, but Zhang Xuezhou raised his hand to stop him.

A pale light swept across Rong Tianding's body and then vanished without a trace.

"Just as I thought!"

The old man's Technique Method was completely dispelled.

He looked at Rong Tianding, who was hiding behind Zhang Xuezhou, and then at Zhang Xuezhou, who was about to shout, and quickly waved his hand.

"Don't cause trouble for me here," the old man said. "I'm just trying it out!"

"And then?" Zhang Xuezhou asked warily.

"Then I thought we could make a deal!"

The old man didn't use logic or the power behind the scenes to intimidate people; he simply explained a very simple principle.

"Your abilities are insufficient to utilize this dragon blood. Even if you pursue it your whole life, you will most likely not be able to enhance the Technique Method it brings," the old man said.

"This is our business," Zhang Xuezhou said, frowning.

"But you can cooperate with us. We will take this blood and give you a corresponding reward," the old man said. "This kind of exchange is much better than others coming to capture your cousin and then using his blood to extract his Essence Blood!"

"If you don't tell, who can capture my cousin and bleed him out?"

"I can keep my mouth shut about this, but I can't control the other three groups involved," the old man said. "I can spot the clues. Your cousin might be discovered after they see him. It could take a year, two years, or even three to five years. Are you willing to take the gamble?"

The old man's words completely controlled Zhang Xuezhou and Rong Tianding.

Whether the old man's words were true or false, they simply couldn't gamble.