Teasing the First Dragon at the Start

Bai Su raised an eyebrow slightly and sighed softly: "There are no suitable candidates at the moment."

After all, this was less about sending a division to the Mauryan Empire to discuss trade.

In reality, they were merely using this opportunity to provoke others and stir up trouble in secret, just to find a suitable excuse for the Great Xia to send troops in the future.

Therefore, the envoys sent there needed to complete the tasks assigned by the court on enemy territory, while also trying their best to remember the local customs, the relationships and conflicts between the states.

Bring back this crucial intelligence to prepare for the future invasion of our army.

Such boldness, meticulousness, courage, and resourcefulness are not qualities that ordinary people can possess.

After pondering for a moment, Maodun said, "In that case, I will take on the mission."

Bai Su frowned slightly: "Leaving it to you... isn't that too dangerous?"

After all, the missions dispatched usually do not exceed a hundred people, and are mostly around a few dozen.

By deliberately exposing the valuables in the carriage to entice the local city-states to covet them, they intend to escape as quickly as possible after the other city-states take action.

Although the Mauryan Empire was unlike the Central Plains, it did not have a so-called prefecture-county system, its government orders did not reach the countryside, and the various city-states did not trust each other.

As long as they escape the local city-state in time, the city lord basically has no way to deal with them.

However, no matter what, the mission sent was only a few dozen people. Facing the pursuit of thousands of soldiers with only a few dozen people was an extremely dangerous situation.

Maodun's beautiful face revealed a gentle smile: "Don't worry, it's just a mere state, I don't take it seriously. When I was young, my father used me as a hostage and threw me to the enemy Donghu tribe."

"The day after my father sent me to the Donghu tribe in order to get rid of me, he dispatched a large army to attack the Donghu tribe, intending to kill me by using the Donghu king."

"But I still managed to escape back by virtue of my intelligence, and less than two years later, I led the Xiongnu to defeat the Donghu and occupied the entire grassland."

"Compared to the dangers we encountered back then, this level of danger is nothing."

"Furthermore, since you, my husband, want me to lead troops in the west to conquer the Mauryan Dynasty and serve as the Protector-General, then I must naturally produce merits that are enough to convince the people."

Bai Su looked at her calm expression, as if she were talking about something trivial, and couldn't help but raise her eyelids.

She's completely disregarding the other person.

But thinking about it, it's strange. As one of the most ruthless figures to emerge from the East Asian Monster Room, he once conquered the Donghu, forced the Yuezhi Kingdom to seek help from the Central Plains, dominated the entire grassland, and made Liaodong and even the Western Regions tremble in fear.

Now, facing a vast territory with numerous states, much like a larger version of the Western Regions, and with the Great Xia Dynasty backing her up, she naturally had little to worry about.

After pondering for a long time, Bai Su said, "Alright, in that case, the mission will be entrusted to you. I will select some brave and skilled men for you, and upon your return, I will personally recommend them to lead the army on the western expedition..."

"Thank you, my husband..."

Upon hearing Bai Su's words, a hint of surprise flashed in Maodun's beautiful eyes.

Bai Su looked at Maodun with a smile: "So how are you going to thank me?"

Maodun was taken aback for a moment, then seemed to realize something.

She lightly bit her red lips with her pearly teeth, glanced at Bai Su with her beautiful eyes full of charm, and then gently lifted her dark hair. Under Bai Su's surprised gaze, she slowly leaned down.

Bai Su froze, and couldn't help but gasp.

......

......

Meanwhile, outside the door, Yu Ji stood stiffly, holding some snacks. She seemed to have been standing there for a long time, listening for a long time, and her face was flushed with embarrassment.

She had originally intended to bring some homemade snacks for the adults to try, but she unexpectedly stumbled upon this scene.

The room wasn't very soundproof; she had already faintly heard it from a distance, and now that she had opened the door a crack, she could see it even more clearly.

They are adults and foreign envoys; how could they be together?

Just then, Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao walked over from a distance, talking as they went.

Upon seeing this, Yu Ji hurriedly stepped forward to block the two men.

Da Qiao was taken aback: "Sister Yu Ji, are you sick? Your face is so red."

Yu Ji's face flushed red, and she stammered, "Well... I think so. Could you help me find some medicine?"

Da Qiao didn't think much of it and nodded: "Miss Yu Ji, please come with me."

Yu Ji watched the two turn and leave before finally letting out a long sigh of relief.

But she didn't notice that the pastry in her hand fell to the ground with a soft "plop".

In this quiet courtyard, it sounded extremely jarring.

"who!"

Bai Su's voice came from inside the room.

Yu Ji thought to herself that something was wrong and wanted to turn around and leave, but because she was too nervous, she tripped and stumbled into the room.

For a moment, the three of them stared at each other in disbelief, as if time had stood still.

Yu Ji's fair cheeks flushed slightly as she whispered, "Um... I didn't mean to, I didn't see anything, can I leave now?"

Bai Su was taken aback for a moment, then a smile appeared on her face: "Since you're here, then don't leave."

Maodun closed the door and leaned against it.

Bai Su then put his arm around Yu Ji's slender waist, picked her up, and carried her towards the bed.

Yu Ji was completely stunned: "Oh!"

......

......

After an unknown amount of time.

The storm suddenly stopped, and the battle inside the room came to an end, leaving the entire room in a complete mess.

From the table to the window, and then to the bed, everything was in disarray.

Boots, clothes, and hair accessories were carelessly tossed on the ground.

On the bed, Yu Ji and Maodun lay on either side of Bai Su.

Yu Ji was rather frail, and at this moment she had already closed her beautiful eyes slightly and fallen into a deep sleep, the quilt barely covering her beautiful body.

Meanwhile, Maodun stared intently at Bai Su.

Bai Su looked at Maodun, who seemed somewhat embarrassed and annoyed, and couldn't help but ask, "What... what's wrong with you?"

Maodun slightly raised her eyelids. At this moment, she felt as if her whole body was falling apart, her whole body was warm and comfortable, and an endless sense of satisfaction welled up in her heart.

She gave Bai Su a slightly coquettish look, and said breathlessly, "How...how am I supposed to walk like this? How am I supposed to explain this to the guards at the post station?"

After experiencing a complete and utter defeat, the wolf king was now like a docile kitten, his voice even carrying a hint of weakness.

Bai Su couldn't help but laugh and said, "Then don't go back. Just tell those envoys that you accidentally got drunk and are staying at my residence for a day."

Maodun said softly, "That's the only way."

Seeing that she wasn't angry at all, Bai Su couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Aren't you angry?"

Maodun glanced at the sleeping Yu Ji beside him and couldn't help but say, "We grassland people have different customs from your Central Plains. We don't have any etiquette or manners. We respect the strong. In order to lead the tribe to continue, what's wrong with taking more wives?"

Looking at the straightforward Maodun in front of her, Bai Su couldn't help but say, "Really? That's truly a blessing."

Chapter 392 Yu Ji's Request

The next day.

Soft sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the doors and windows.

Bai Su frowned slightly, sat up from the bed, and lazily yawned.

"My lord... you're awake."

Just then, a soft female voice came from inside.

There she was, Yu Ji, dressed in a thin veil, sitting in front of her dressing table, combing her jet-black hair.

Hearing the noise behind her, she turned around and saw Bai Su staring straight at her. A shy blush rose on her fair cheeks.

Bai Su looked around and, seeing that only Yu Ji was in the room, couldn't help but ask, "Has Maodun left?"

Yu Ji nodded slightly and said, "The Chanyu said that business should not be delayed and that we should set off as soon as possible. So, after preparing the trade map between the Western Regions and the Mauryan Dynasty early this morning, she set off."

"What an ambitious woman who can't stand being alone."

Bai Su shook her head helplessly, put on a robe, got out of bed, and walked straight behind Yu Ji.

He took the comb from Yu Ji's hand and gently helped her tie up her hair.

Yu Ji showed no resistance and sat quietly in front of the dressing table. The clear bronze mirror reflected her slightly flushed cheeks, as if she had just been moisturized. She looked like a ripe peach, even more beautiful and charming.

Looking at the man combing her hair behind her through the mirror, she hesitated for a moment before asking, "My lord, are you planning to make an enemy of that country called the Mauryan Dynasty?"

Bai Su paused for a moment, then said, "I guess so."

Yu Ji's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she bit her lip lightly, unable to help but say, "My lord, the world has only just been unified, why must war break out again?"

After all, in her view, the greatest wish of all the philosophers of the Hundred Schools of Thought and the countless rulers and ministers of the Central Plains was to unify the nine provinces, end the war, and allow the people of the world to live a life of plenty and free from worries of panic.

Now, all these wishes have been fulfilled in Bai Su's hands, completing the greatest ideal of Confucius, the leader of Confucianism.

No one picks up lost items on the road, doors are left unlocked at night, and there is no longer any worry about famine in the world. It is clear that the ideal world of the Hundred Schools of Thought has been realized.

Why would Bai Su continue to strengthen its military and start a war against a foreign country with which it has no connection?

If it were some young military officers, it would be fine, since young generals need to make military achievements in order to be promoted and ennobled.

Bai Su had already seized power and become a pillar of the court, so in principle, he no longer needed to prove himself with achievements.

She simply couldn't understand why Bai Su would risk everything to actively provoke a war.

Bai Su gently tied her hair up and smiled, saying, "Because this is the only way to become a great power."

"The only way?"

Yu Ji's clear black and white eyes widened slightly in surprise, as she couldn't quite understand Bai Su's meaning.

Bai Su patiently explained: "The Central Plains may seem to be a vast and resource-rich land, but in reality, arable land is very limited. All the lands of the seven kingdoms combined account for only one-tenth of the arable land. Relying solely on agriculture and sericulture is insufficient to enrich the country, strengthen the army, and improve the lives of the people in the Central Plains."

"I defeated the Xiongnu and brought the grasslands under the rule of the Central Plains, giving us a vast pasture. Only then did the court have enough warhorses, cavalry, and a steady stream of cattle and sheep flowing from the grasslands into the Central Plains."