Deposed? I couldn't be happier! I wouldn't even be a dog to the crown prince.

The journey from Chang'an to Yangguan is more than a thousand miles.

The once bustling Zhuque Avenue was gradually left behind, replaced by an increasingly desolate ancient road made of loess.

At first, you could see vast stretches of farmland and wisps of smoke rising from chimneys.

Gradually, the green decreased and the yellow increased.

Upon arriving in Longxi, all that could be seen was desolation.

The wind became rough, whipping up sand and gravel that stung my face like a dull knife cutting into my flesh.

But this peculiar "Western Expedition Tourist Group" remains true to its original style.

The luxurious palanquin, pulled by eight giant pandas, moved with remarkable stability. Its wheels were coated with thick rubber (a system-level technological marvel), ensuring a smooth ride even on the gravel road.

Li Chengqian lay in the carriage, drinking chilled plum juice, looking out the window at the desolate desert landscape, and sighed:

"This is Northwest China."

"It's all sand and wind, there's not even a decent Wi-Fi signal... oh no, there's not even a decent rest stop."

"No wonder Old Li didn't want to come; it really is a tough job."

Wu Meiniang stood to the side, rapidly calculating on her abacus, checking the expenses incurred along the way, without even looking up.

"Your Highness, we have been traveling for twenty days."

"At this rate, we should reach Yangguan before sunset today."

"Yangguan..."

Li Chengqian narrowed his eyes. "Once we leave Yangguan, it will be someone else's territory."

……

At dusk.

A solitary pass appeared at the edge of the horizon.

It is like a nail, firmly driven into the endless yellow sand, separating the prosperity of the Central Plains from the wilderness of the Western Regions.

The setting sun, like blood, dyed the mottled earthen wall a ghastly dark red.

"Whoa—!"

Huo Qubing reined in the horse, and his steed, Saluzi, snorted and nervously pawed at the sand beneath its feet.

The army stopped.

Li Chengqian pushed open the car door and jumped out.

The moment my feet touched the ground, a desolate and ancient atmosphere rushed towards me.

Here, there is no hustle and bustle of Chang'an, no wealth of the Eastern Palace, only endless wind howling across the vast Gobi Desert, as if telling of centuries of loneliness.

"Is this Yangguan Pass?"

Li Chengqian tightened his fox fur coat and walked to a huge stone tablet in front of the pass.

The stone tablet has been weathered by wind and rain, and its surface is somewhat eroded, but the line of words carved on it is still clearly visible, with vigorous strokes that convey a strong sense of sorrow and parting.

[No old friends remain west of Yangguan Pass.]

(Note: This is a historical speculation, set as a remnant left by a wise person from a previous dynasty or a system easter egg. Do not attempt to verify it.)

"West of Yangguan Pass... there are no old friends."

Huo Qubing dismounted and walked behind Li Chengqian. Looking at the words, a rare look of emotion appeared on his young face.

"Your Highness, these words are beautifully written, but also truly poignant."

He pointed to the vast, uninhabited area beyond the pass.

"Once you pass through this pass, you will find yourself alone and surrounded by desolation."

"Our group of ten thousand or so people is like a handful of sand scattered in the desert; we can't even make a sound."

"I felt the same way when I fought the Xiongnu."

Huo Qubing touched the sword at his waist, his eyes becoming deep.

"The world is so vast, it seems like only myself and the knife in my hand exist."

"That feeling of loneliness is sometimes more unbearable than the enemy's scimitar."

Upon hearing this, the surrounding soldiers fell silent.

Yes.

This is the expedition.

They left their homes and went deep behind enemy lines.

Ahead lies unknown danger, behind lies a distant homeland.

Even though they were the most elite army of the Tang Dynasty, even though they had red cannons and panda chariots, at this moment, facing this vast world, the instinctive sense of insignificance of humankind still arose spontaneously.

A feeling of "tragic heroism" quietly spread through the military.

"desolate?"

Just then.

A soft laugh broke the somber mood.

Li Chengqian reached out and patted the cold stone tablet, as if patting an old friend on the shoulder.

"Old Huo, aren't you being a bit dramatic?"

He turned around, leaned against the stone tablet, looked at the solemn-looking soldiers in front of him, and a cynical smile appeared on his lips.

"Who told you we're going there to suffer?"

"Who told you that once you step outside Yangguan Pass, everyone becomes an outsider?"

Huo Qubing was taken aback: "Your Highness, doesn't it say on this stele? 'No old friends...'"

"Is what's written on the monument accurate?"

Li Chengqian rolled his eyes. "It's better to have no books than to believe everything in them."

"The person who wrote this inscription has a very narrow perspective."

"He felt that once he crossed the border, he would be in a foreign land, a desolate place, so he felt lonely and desolate."

"But in my eyes..."

Li Chengqian turned around abruptly, his eyes blazing as he stared intently at the line of text.

"In this world, wherever the sun and moon shine, wherever rivers flow."

"As long as the flag of our Great Tang is planted here, that will be our home!"

"Since it's home, how can you say there are 'no old friends' here?"

Done.

He waved to Wu Meiniang beside him.

"Meiniang, bring me a pen!"

"I want the biggest one! And the darkest ink!"

Although Wu Zetian didn't understand what was going on, she still quickly retrieved a specially made giant calligraphy brush and a bucket of thick, black ink from the carriage.

Li Chengqian grabbed the brush and dipped it hard into the bucket of ink.

The brush tip, laden with thick ink, gleamed with a dark, glossy sheen in the setting sun.

"Watch!"

Li Chengqian gave a low shout and exerted force with his wrist.

"Swish swish swish—!"

He did not write anything on that stone tablet.

Instead, he picked up his pen and drew a big X over the word "no" in the line "West of Yangguan there are no old friends"!

The ink dripped down, instantly covering the word that was filled with sorrow.

Huo Qubing's eyes widened.

Yue Fei's eyes widened.

All the soldiers stared wide-eyed.

Your Highness, are you going to... revise the poem?

"Desolate? Lonely?"

Li Chengqian threw down his brush, looked at the stone tablet that had been altered beyond recognition, clapped his hands, and revealed an extremely arrogant smile.

"This kind of negative energy is not suitable for our 'Western Expedition Sightseeing Group'."

"What are we going there for?"

"They're going to collect rent! They're going to buy goods! They're going to inspect the territory!"

"Since you're going to your own territory, why feel so desolate?"

He pointed at the stone tablet, his voice suddenly rising and booming across the empty Gobi Desert.

"The phrase 'no old friends' doesn't exist in my dictionary!"

"Old Huo, don't you think so?"