In my dream of returning to the Tang Dynasty, I snatched Wu Zetian from my lap.

The army, which was ready to be mobilized, was thus held back for three days. But this was only the calm before the storm. In fact, Tang scouts continued to operate, gather intelligence, and made significant discoveries.

Nearly 10,000 Tibetan cavalrymen were stationed at a place called Guduo Ranch in the Hehuang Valley. This was the first large enemy force detected by the Far East Army.

The others were just rangers or small groups of soldiers, not even worthy of being called vegetables.

Li Yuanchang had privately discussed with Murong Khan and estimated that the Tibetan army's encampment was likely related to water sources and pastures.

Apart from a small area of ​​plateau, most of Tuyuhun is a natural pasture and grain-producing region, which is its most important resource.

Moreover, according to the Tibetan people's lifestyle, it was impossible for them to leave these places.

In response, Li Yuanchang has devised a grand plan to recapture the area. As soon as the abducted civilians return, he will launch an immediate attack.

Three days can feel both long and slow; they pass in the blink of an eye.

When Ama Awang returned, he was no longer a group of five, but a cavalry guard of one hundred men, escorting more than two thousand four hundred ragged civilians along the way.

A significant portion of them were beaten and humiliated, their expressions numb, and they became as thin as sticks. If the Tibetan army hadn't been worried that they might die on the way and displease Li Yuanchang, and hadn't given them a meal before they set off, they probably wouldn't have made it to Longxi.

"Your Highness the King of the Far East!" Ama Awang, seated on his warhorse, bowed deeply with a broad smile.

There's no trace of the previous unpleasantness.

"We have brought the people you requested, 2,437 people. These are all the Han Chinese who were captured in Longxi, and none of them died."

Li Yuanchang gave Guo Chao a wink.

Guo Chao quickly led his team forward to meet them and count the number of people.

Li Yuanchang, on the other hand, stayed where he was and waited.

At this moment, Ama Awang pointed to a row of horse-drawn carriages again.

"Your Highness, there are also these. These are gifts that the Commander-in-Chief ordered me to send to you. They are just a small token of my appreciation."

Bang bang bang!

One box after another was opened by the Tibetans, and a dazzling array of treasures instantly spilled out, the boxes filled with gold, jewels, and agate, all of which were priceless.

In addition, there were more than ten Tibetan beauties from the mysterious plateau.

Seeing this, Li Yuanchang laughed: "You've devoured the entire Tuyuhun, acquiring so much pastureland and grain, and you use that to test me?"

"Which prince couldn't withstand such a test?"

Amma Awang laughed heartily, thinking that Li Yuanchang was greedy.

What they fear least is Li Yuanchang's corruption; corruption makes him easier to control!

"Your Highness, the matter is urgent, and this is all the information we could obtain at the moment."

"But the Grand Marshal specifically instructed that there will be plenty of things like this in the future, and since our two families have frequent exchanges, ten times or even a hundred times more is not a problem."

Li Yuanchang wasn't in a hurry to turn against them; they were still receiving and relocating refugees.

"Is that so?"

"But there's no such thing as a free lunch. Do you really think it's that simple—you just want me to leave?"

Amma Awang chuckled and dodged the question: "Far East King, it really is that simple."

"To reiterate, we overthrew the Tuyuhun and were dissatisfied with the Tang Dynasty. We have absolutely no hostility towards the Far East King."

"In fact, we're on the same side."

"These gifts are merely a sign of respect; we would never dare to order someone like the King of the Far East around."

Li Yuanchang sneered disdainfully.

He believed it, and he had it.

To put it bluntly, corruption and bribery have always been the same throughout history: once you take one bribe, you're forced to take more.

Moreover, the Tibetans' ambitions were definitely not just limited to Tuyuhun; their bribery of me was certainly part of their plans for the next step.

Given Tibet's national strength, long-distance warfare would be extremely risky, and if they were to engage in a decisive battle in the Central Plains, they would actually be at a disadvantage.

The wars and conflicts between the Tang Dynasty and Tibet lasted for two hundred years without resolution because neither side could truly defeat the other.

But if we cooperate with Tibet, things will be different.

With the Tibetan Empire and the Far East Army holding each other back from the east and west, even the mighty Tang Dynasty couldn't withstand it.

Otherwise, given the Tibetan barbarians' bloodthirsty and ruthless style, how could they possibly be so relaxed and casual as to give him gifts?

At this point, all the hostages had begun to be transferred.

Upon seeing this, Li Yuanchang suddenly smiled and asked, "Is your next target the Hexi Corridor?"

Amma Awang's eyes flashed, a mixture of wariness and panic in them, followed by confusion: "What Hexi Corridor?"

The Hexi Corridor, the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, runs through several prefectures including Guazhou, Gansu, and Liangzhou. It was an important corridor for the Tang Dynasty to connect with and control the Western Regions.

It was also the focal point of the conflict of interests between the Tang Dynasty and the Tibetan Empire.

"No need to pretend, I understand the true intentions of your Tibetan Empire."

"Once the Hexi Corridor is cut off, you will gradually conquer the Western Regions, and then advance eastward with your iron hooves into the rich Central Plains."

Amma Awang was shocked.

How did Li Yuanchang know the empire's top secrets and plans for the next few decades?

Is there a traitor among them?

"Your Highness, I don't understand what you're talking about, but we've done everything Your Highness asked us to do. Now it's up to Your Highness to decide what to do next."

He quickly changed the subject: "After Your Highness withdraws your troops, if Chang'an makes things difficult for you, our Tubo will not stand idly by."

"If Your Highness doesn't mind, I can accompany you back to the Far East and serve as a liaison between the Far East and Tibet."

"Your Highness may also leave a contingent in Tibet for liaison purposes, facilitating in-depth exchanges between the two sides. Tibet promises to guarantee their safety."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanchang smiled again.

The Tibetan barbarians not only had the fighting prowess of barbarians, but also brains!

The fact that the Gar family and this military group could cause such great trouble for the Tang Dynasty is not a historical fabrication.

"To contact the envoy?"

"In my opinion, there's no need for that."

Rejected, Amma Awang frowned, wanting to continue his persuasion, but out of the corner of his eye, he noticed with horror that the Far East Army's positioning was wrong!

The hundred Far Eastern cavalrymen who were originally there to receive the hostages had somehow gathered, and cavalrymen had also appeared from other directions.

They stood in an arc, their eyes all hostile, subtly suggesting an encirclement.

Upon hearing Li Yuanchang's refusal, his freckled face suddenly changed color.

"King of the Far East, what do you mean by this?"

"I'm tired. You can tell my men," Li Yuanchang said, and slowly retreated.

"King of the Far East! King of the Far East!"

"What do you want to do?"

"Stop shouting. Now that the person has been delivered, your mission is complete. Now, we'll give you a piece of the pie too," Guo Chao said coldly.

The cold, armored vehicles gradually became denser, completely surrounding the Tibetan troops.

"Li Yuanchang!"

"What are you trying to do? You despicable scoundrel!"

"You broke your promise! You broke your promise!"

"I am a Bon shaman, the Buddha of the Plateau. If you dare to kill me, you will bear the wrath of the entire Tibetan Empire, and Longxi will be razed to the ground!" Ama Awang roared angrily, threatening Li Yuanchang incoherently. He was visibly panicked.