Li Shimin faked his death? Then I will be powerful enough to conquer the world!

The nine provinces of China, since the beginning of the universe, were created by the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, and have experienced the ritual and music of the Shang and Zhou dynasties, the iron cavalry of the Qin and Han dynasties, and the glorious and prosperous Tang Dynasty. The land of China has always been dominant in the east of the world. It is recognized by the world as the most beautiful and unique place in the world for its magnificent mountains and rivers, abundant products and profound culture.

Ancient ancestors looked up at the sky and observed the geography. With their extraordinary wisdom and grand vision, they were certain that this land was located in the center of the earth. So, with awe, they named it "China".

Over the long course of time, the people who were born and raised here only had a vague understanding of the profound connotation behind the name "China". It was not until they crossed the majestic and vicissitudes of time-tested passes of the Western Regions and resolutely embarked on the long journey to India that they truly realized the irreplaceable nature of their homeland.

The territory of the Tang Dynasty is vast and extensive. Even in the most remote border areas, although it does not have the prosperity of a bustling city, it has a warm and mild climate. The mountains, rivers and lakes are all generous gifts from nature, and every blade of grass and tree contains the vitality of life.

However, as the distance to India gradually shortened on the journey westward, the harsh environment came upon us without warning.

At this moment, according to the Tang Dynasty's seasonal calendar, it should be the golden autumn season with refreshing breezes, but this place seems to be ruthlessly bound by the scorching heat of the summer, and the heat is so dry that it is almost suffocating.

The scorching airflow invaded every inch of skin wantonly, and every breath was filled with scorching temperature.

Qin Ruzhao couldn't help but subconsciously raise his head slowly at this moment, looking straight at the scorching sun hanging high in the sky.

If he didn't know that there was only one sun hanging high in the sky in this world, he would really have thought that the sun of the Tang Dynasty and the sun of India were two completely different suns.

Li Jingyou never thought that he would one day live such a life.

At this moment, he felt very regretful in his heart, regretting why he had so easily agreed to the extremely difficult mission of going to India.

The hardships and difficulties along the way were beyond his imagination. His body and mind were suffering from double torture. He was exhausted and in extreme pain.

He originally thought that he could endure hardship, but when he suffered, he realized how unbearable the hardship was.

"General Qin, according to the map, there's an oasis not far ahead. We can set up camp there tonight and rest and recover our strength."

A soldier galloped all the way to Qin Ruzhao's side, bowed and reported, his voice unable to hide the joy of arriving at the destination.

Qin Ruzhao nodded slightly, a hint of relaxation quietly revealed in his resolute expression. He ordered calmly and forcefully, "Understood. Inform the entire army. Rest assured at the designated location tonight."

"Assign experienced personnel to ensure that every warhorse and camel has enough clean spring water to drink, so that there will be an ample supply of water for the journey that will begin tomorrow."

"This day is truly bizarre. It's already autumn, yet the sun is still so scorching. Go tell the brothers one by one to pay close attention to their health at all times, be careful of heatstroke, and protect yourself."

"As you command, General Qin!"

After receiving the order, the soldiers turned around quickly, rode away on their horses, and conveyed each of Qin Ruxin's orders to every soldier in the team one by one.

Li Jingyou, riding on a camel, heard Qin Ruzhao's words. A glimmer of anticipation suddenly welled up in his dim eyes. He couldn't wait to ask, "General Qin, how long will it take to reach the oasis?"

He really couldn't hold on any longer. He seldom rode a horse on weekdays. Now, no matter whether he was riding on the back of a tall camel or sitting astride a nimble horse, the rough saddle rubbed the sides of his thighs, leaving the skin and flesh exposed. The burning pain went straight to his heart and bones.

Even after applying cooling oil, the pain that followed him like a shadow was still difficult to dissipate, as if it was going to completely break his will.

At this moment, he only hoped to find a quiet and cool place as soon as possible, lie down and relax his exhausted body and mind.

"We're almost there. It's not far ahead. Your Highness, please be patient. We'll be there in a little while."

Qin Ruzhao comforted him patiently.

Li Jingyou nodded slightly, and his mind began to involuntarily sketch the beautiful scene of the oasis. Thinking that he would be able to rest and relax in that cool and pleasant place in a while, a trace of longing arose in his heart.

He endured the pain in his body and looked around. Everywhere he looked were desolate and silent sand dunes, with yellow sand flying all over the sky.

In this damn place, not to mention thriving crops, even a weak blade of grass can hardly grow tenaciously here.

The western route is too far and remote, and the conditions are so harsh and difficult. If it were not for the great invention of the convenient and fast train, the Tang Dynasty would never have chosen this route to send an envoy to India.

This small oasis is a well-known place for rest.

Merchants from various countries would solemnly mark its location on maps, and they called this place the "Fountain of Youth" with awe.

Ancient legends have been passed down from generation to generation on this land. It is said that this is an oasis formed by the holy tears shed by God out of compassion for the suffering of the world. Anyone lucky enough to drink the water here can prolong their life and maintain eternal youth and vitality, as if blessed by the light of God.

At this moment, the oasis is bustling with activity, presenting a vibrant scene with people coming and going, and herds of cattle and horses leisurely eating the tender green grass.

A rough estimate is that several thousand people gathered.

Among them, Arab merchants accounted for a considerable proportion. They wore colorful and unique clothes, and carried exotic spices, exquisite jewelry and other precious goods, and shuttled busily among the crowd.

There were also many merchants from the Western Regions in the Tang Dynasty. They enthusiastically communicated and chatted with people around them, sharing their travel experiences.

You can even see some merchants from faraway Europe, with high noses and deep eyes, and their eyes are full of curiosity about this mysterious East.

In this exotic land, we are carefully looking for business opportunities.

Wherever there are people, there will inevitably be disputes and conflicts, let alone in this desolate place far away from the constraints of the law.

In the Middle East, Arabs have always shown a strong attitude by relying on their geographical advantages and powerful military force. They often have evil intentions towards the property of other merchants and plunder them wantonly.

In recent years, Arabia has been forced to pay huge compensation to the Tang Dynasty every year, and the amount of compensation is as high as half of the national treasury. Coupled with the excessive taxation and extortion by the upper echelons of the rulers, the people of the entire Arab Empire are living in misery and despair.

In those days, Xue Rengui led his army to attack the Arab Empire. Along the way, there were flames of war, smoke of gunpowder, burning, killing and looting, which brought heavy disasters to the local people.

This deep hatred burned more and more fiercely in the hearts of the Arab people, and their resentment towards the Tang Dynasty reached an unprecedented peak.

However, now that their national strength has declined, they can only swallow their anger under the powerful threat of the Tang Dynasty and dare not speak out.

Even though he was burning with rage and the seeds of hatred were growing wildly in his heart, when he saw the merchants from the Tang Dynasty, he only dared to secretly attack the Tang Dynasty caravans in dark corners and carry out some insignificant revenge.

How can we not avenge the national hatred and family feuds?

This hatred, like a seed buried deep in the heart, takes root and sprouts under the watering of time, growing stronger and stronger, waiting for the day to explode.

At this time, all the merchants in the oasis looked towards the east at the same time.

In the distance, the Tang Dynasty’s army blocked out the sky and looked majestic.

The merchants were all shocked, their eyes wide open, their mouths open, they stood there speechless.