The Myth of Daqin: The Soul of Yi Xiaochuan

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

During this time, Meng Yi personally welcomed his second brother-in-law, Lü Shi, into his residence and invited Lü Su to join him. This small gathering was filled with warmth and joy.

Since arriving in Jiuyuan, Lü Shi has remained steadfast within the Northern Camp, working diligently and without complaint. Through daily grind, he has gradually accumulated extensive experience, becoming adept at handling both complex government affairs and crucial logistics, developing his own unique set of skills. This earned him the respect of General Li You, who commanded the rear army.

At the banquet, Meng Yi raised his glass and said to Lu Shi, "This time I have been ordered to go to the distant Western Regions to carry out a mission, and my return date is uncertain. Susu is pregnant now, second uncle, I hope you can come to your house more often to visit Susu in your free time. She is alone at home and needs the company and care of her family." After that, he took a sip of wine.

Upon hearing this, Lu Shi quickly raised his wine glass and responded, "Brother Meng, rest assured. Taking care of my younger sister is my responsibility. You must be careful when you go to the Western Regions."

After they finished their drinks, Meng Yi continued, "Okay, I'll leave Susu to my second uncle."

Lu Shi patted Meng Yi on the shoulder and promised, "Brother Meng, you can go as you please. I will take good care of my younger sister and my future nephew."

At this time, Lu Su interrupted and said, "You two grown men, don't always say such sad words. My husband, you must return safely. The child and I are waiting for you."

Meng Yi and Lu Shi exchanged a glance, their lips simultaneously curling up in a knowing smile. Then, Meng Yi nodded swiftly and firmly in response to Lu Su's words.

At this moment, Lu Shi cast his gaze towards Lu Su's bulging belly beside him, his eyes filled with endless concern. He lowered his voice and spoke softly to Meng Yi, "Brother Meng, this journey west is incredibly arduous, and the future is uncertain. If you encounter any unexpected danger, you must prioritize your own safety! Never act rashly."

Meng Yi gazed deeply at Lu Shi, sensing the depth of his friendship from his earnest words. He nodded solemnly, indicating that he would carefully handle any potential situation.

At dawn the next day, the sky was not yet completely dark, and the morning light was just beginning to appear.

Mounted on a steed, Meng Yi led Ying Bu, Han Xin, Li Ziwei and fifty elite and brave cavalrymen in a heroic manner, embarking on a long journey to the Western Regions.

Before leaving, Meng Yi looked back again at the majestic Jiuyuan City behind him, and secretly made a vow in his heart: to try to return as soon as possible, reunite with his beloved relatives, and share the joy of family.

Everyone whipped their horses and galloped along at lightning speed. After a long journey, they finally arrived at the foot of the vast mountain range west of the Helan Mountains.

Looking around, what comes into view is a vast grassland, like a huge green velvet carpet spread across the horizon.

At this moment, it is midsummer, the sun is bright and hot, the sky is clear and cloudless, and the endless green grassland and the deep blue sky complement each other, forming a magnificent picture.

Meng Yi, Ying Bu and several others all showed expressions of ecstasy and contentment. They fully felt the comfort and relaxation brought by the gentle breeze blowing across their cheeks.

However, the other forty battle-hardened cavalrymen had been stationed in the northern border for many years and were already accustomed to such scenery, so they did not show much surprise.

At this time, Meng Yi pulled the reins and shouted loudly: "Brothers, we will set up camp here tonight!"

Then, everyone responded in unison: "Yes, sir!"

Afterwards, everyone quickly and methodically began setting up their tents. Some soldiers expertly secured the tent frames, while others busied themselves with making their beds. Still others sorted supplies, while others maintained perimeter security. The entire scene was tense and orderly.

Night quietly enveloped the earth, and the blazing bonfire illuminated the faces of Meng Yi and everyone else.

They gathered around the campfire, enjoying a simple yet warm dinner with relish. The air was filled with the aroma of food. They shared stories of their journey, seemingly forgetting all their fatigue.

At that moment, a sudden gust of wind howled past, accompanied by the muffled clatter of horse hooves that filled the night air. The originally relaxed and joyful atmosphere was instantly shattered, and everyone's nerves immediately tensed. Without hesitation, they grabbed their weapons and swiftly stood up, their eyes fixed on the pitch-black distance, alert for any possible threats.

As time passed, a group of indistinct shadows gradually emerged into view. The tense atmosphere grew increasingly solemn, and everyone gripped their weapons tightly, ready to engage in battle at any moment.

As the shadows drew closer, it became clear they were a small group of Qiang people. Both sides seemed to be aware of each other's presence, and a thrilling battle was about to break out. At this critical juncture, Meng Yi acted decisively and dispatched the soldier fluent in the minority language.

This man named Wang Er calmly put away the Qin crossbow, took a big step forward, and shouted at the cavalry opposite with a loud voice: "Asiba, Abasi, Amiba..." Although other people present did not understand the meaning of his words, their firm tone showed their willingness to communicate and reconcile.

At the same time, the Qiang cavalry captain on the opposite side saw this and slowly put down the scimitar in his hand. He responded in the same high-pitched voice: "Harry, I give it again..." Although it was also difficult to understand the specific meaning, the hostility between the two sides was obviously eased, and it seemed that they were communicating through this special way.

Wang Er turned sharply, his gaze fixed on Meng Yi beside him. He spoke gravely, "General, according to this man, they are members of the Shaohe tribe's guard. He emphasized that this area is already under the Qiang's sphere of influence. He also mentioned that their leader has always been friendly with the people of the Central Plains and has never initiated any war. Finally, he specifically reminded us to be extremely cautious, because continuing westward will lead us to the Canlang tribe, and it is said that the people there harbor considerable hostility towards people from the Central Plains."

After hearing this, Meng Yi nodded slightly. Then, he instructed Wang Er, "Tell him that we are merely passing through here and have no intention of offending him."

Wang Er hurriedly conveyed Meng Yi's original words to the other party, only to see that the man's expression seemed to relax a little, and his originally tense nerves gradually relaxed.

Through in-depth conversations and communication, Meng Yi finally grasped an important fact: the various Qiang tribes were far from united. Some were friendly toward the people of the Central Plains, while others were filled with malice and hostility.

Taking into account the complexity and volatility of the current situation, and in order to minimize the possible unnecessary disputes and conflicts, Meng Yi made a prompt decision: to adjust the original route and avoid the area controlled by the Canlang Tribe.

Before leaving, Meng Yi looked at the guard team from the Shaohe tribe with gratitude and waved his arms vigorously to show his respect.

The brave cavalrymen of the Shaohe tribe left behind a large bag full of dried meat and food as a gift, then turned around, whipped their horses, and rode farther and farther away until they disappeared.