Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

The following morning, at Luoyang Port.

"General Shen, please wait. I am in Chang'an, awaiting the return of the royal army."

"Mr. Changsun, Young Master Changsun, I, Shen, on behalf of the imperial court, thank you for your great assistance."

"Farewell."

"No delivery."

Merchant ships flying the "Changsun" flag set sail and gradually moved away from the port.

Shen Lang and Jiang Shangxian waved goodbye together, and the performance ended only when the sail gradually disappeared from sight.

Jiang Shangxian finally couldn't hold back any longer and said to Shen Lang, "Brother, I'm truly impressed. They managed to get three million shi of grain in one go!"

The people of Luoyang no longer had to suffer from hunger; as long as the grain was transported, it would be enough to last until the autumn harvest.

In my opinion, for this reason alone, a shrine should be erected for you, so that all the people of Luoyang can worship you.

"No, I want to live a few more years, don't even think about harming me."

Shen Lang punched Jiang Shangxian and turned to walk towards the prefect's mansion.

"If Luoyang is not peaceful, the westward advance to Chang'an will not be able to proceed smoothly at all. After all, no one wants to see their retreat cut off."

Now we are just waiting for the supplies to arrive in the Guanzhong region before launching an offensive against Anding (Tongguan).

"Hehe, we've already taken Hangu Pass, how long can a small city like Anding hold out? With the firepower of my Imperial Guard, I'm afraid we can take it over in a morning."

Shen Lang mounted his horse and casually took off his sunglasses from his chest and put them on.

"Although Anding City is not as fortified and walled as Luoyang or Hangu Pass, it was still a defensive line that the Western Xia had expanded and managed for two hundred years, using Tongguan as its foundation."

Even though my Imperial Guards have a dominant firepower advantage, we absolutely cannot let our guard down.

Jiang Shangxian thought for a moment, then suddenly said, "How about we trip them up a bit?"

Shen Lang asked curiously, "What good idea do you have?"

"hey-hey."

Jiang Shangxian grinned and looked at the Western Xia slave soldiers who were repairing houses and city walls in the distance.

"Why don't we send a few slaves back to Anding and tell them about the situation here, to wear them down? What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Lang immediately understood Jiang Shangxian's meaning.

"Your Highness, you've really come up with a brilliant idea this time. Let's go back to the Prefect's residence and discuss it further."

"Hehe, you'll have to remember me for this after this is done. I was planning to have some fun at a brothel in Luoyang, but now I'll have to wait until I get to Piaoxiangfang in Chang'an."

I've heard that the Sogdian Whirlwind Dance there is absolutely spectacular, all about exotic flair.

"Tone it down, Your Highness. You do have a family, after all."

"I'll save my essence but not my feelings. My love for my queen is stronger than gold."

"I really hope the princess returns from her visit home soon. I'd love to see a bloodbath between the two of you."

"Ugh, is there any way to be so rude? Honestly, anyway, I, the King, must go all out and do something big..."

The two rode their horses, laughing and joking all the way back to the prefect's residence.

……

On the surface of the Han River, Changsun Ying clenched her fists as she watched the long line of busy figures on the north bank of the Han River.

These are civilians from the Heluo region collecting corpses, which are naturally those of Western Xia soldiers who were massacred by the Imperial Guard.

Shen Lang wasn't lying to himself; he really had annihilated all the Western Xia soldiers!

Last night, reason prevailed, and she didn't strip naked and lie on Shen Lang's bed to consummate the relationship, for fear that Shen Lang might find her distasteful and leave a bad impression, which would be troublesome.

Let's wait until the truth is revealed before making a decision on this matter.

"Ying'er, go back to your cabin. The river wind is too strong. If you catch a cold, you'll suffer again."

With a pained expression, Changsun Yang draped a cloak over Changsun Ying's shoulders.

Changsun Ying tightened her cloak and suddenly asked, "Father, what do you think of Shen Lang?"

"Shen Lang, even I, as his father, cannot see through him..."

Changsun Yang sighed and looked up towards the north bank.

"He is the greatest talent of our time."

Upon hearing this, Changsun Ying's eyes immediately lit up: "Father, do you really think so?"

"Neither humble nor arrogant, always impeccably polite, possessing such talent and achieving extraordinary fame, yet displaying a shrewdness beyond his years."

Like a sharp blade drawn from its sheath, but quickly sheathed after being stained with blood, demonstrating its controlled and measured nature.

He was adept at showcasing his talents and also knew how to assess situations. Had he not come from humble beginnings, he would likely be holding the top position among the Six Ministries by now.

Changsun Ying was overjoyed; she rarely saw her father speak so highly of someone.

"Really, Dad? Is that really what you think?"

"Yes, that's at least how I felt during this trip. Making an enemy of him would likely result in rivers of blood flowing through the powerful clans of Guanzhong."

This is why I, as his father, am willing to spend some money and provisions to cultivate a good relationship with him; the current Empress truly knows how to use people.

He paused and continued.

"Moreover, although we have benefited greatly from our allegiance to Western Xia, the Western Xia officialdom forbids us powerful clans from having any involvement whatsoever."

You must understand, powerful clans without influence are forever ants living under the slaughter of others. If the Great Chu were to recapture its old capital, Chang'an...

"Our powerful clan in Guanzhong will surely be able to return to officialdom and restore the glory of our ancestors."

Changsun Ying: "So, in other words, Shen Lang is someone whose fate is in the hands of the powerful clans of Guanzhong, is that right?"

Changsun Yang: "Let's see how he takes Anding. If he can successfully capture Anding, then the powerful clans of Guanzhong will naturally agree to let Chu regain control of Chang'an."

If not, then it's like spending three million shi of grain to establish a good relationship with him. This will give us a reason to appeal to the court abroad later; no matter how you look at it, it's a win-win situation.

Changsun Ying suddenly said, "Father, I've made up my mind. If Shen Lang really takes Anding and marches into Chang'an, then I will marry him!"

Changsun Yang was shocked upon hearing this: "What did you say?"

"Father! I have sworn since childhood that I will not marry anyone but a hero of the world. Shen Lang is so young and promising, and I have already fallen for him. I will marry no one but him in this life!"

"Nonsense!"

Changsun Yang shouted angrily.

"Do you know what you're saying? Shen Lang is so outstanding, how could he not have a wife?"

Upon hearing this, Changsun Ying immediately muttered, "Oh no, I forgot to ask him if he has a wife."

"It doesn't matter. Even if he does, let him divorce his wife. I refuse to believe that I, Changsun Ying, am inferior to his wives!"

"How could you possibly ruin someone's marriage?"

"The people of Guanzhong are so bold and unrestrained. As long as they see someone they like, they will do anything to get him. Father, your daughter truly loves Shen Lang, and I hope you will grant her your wish!"

"Ah~"

Changsun Yang sighed helplessly.

"Let's wait until Shen Lang takes Anding and marches into Chang'an before we make any further plans."

Changsun Ying's expression was resolute, and Shen Lang's heroic image kept lingering in her mind.

For the first time, she experienced what it meant to be moved.

……

Half a month later, in Anding City.

"General, spare my life! General, spare my life!"

"You damned lackey, how dare you come back? Why don't you go and be buried with General Helian!"

Inside the general's mansion, several Western Xia slave soldiers who had "escaped" from Luoyang to Anding were being severely whipped by Li Siqian, a Qiang general who was in charge.

Each lash was harsher than the last, whipping him until he rolled on the ground, groaning in agony.

"Men, drag him out, rip out his heart and lungs, and use them as a side dish for my wine!"

"Spare me, General!"

The slave grabbed Li Siqian's leg and burst into tears.

"General, my worthless life is not worth cherishing, and I should have followed General Helian long ago, but I will spare my life."

"I finally made it back to see you, just to tell you about the Chu army's military intelligence! Even if I die, please let me finish speaking before I die!"

"Alright, I'll give you, my dog ​​slave, one chance to explain. Speak!"

Li Siqian kicked the slave aside and returned to his seat to listen to his story.

The slave immediately told Li Siqian what he knew.

After hearing this, all the Western Xia generals present looked troubled.

"You mean, the Chu army has firearms that can easily penetrate two layers of armor from a hundred paces away?"

"Yes, everyone still has one. Once they start firing, the bullets are so fast that you can't even see their trajectory. That's how General Helian was defeated."

As soon as he finished speaking, a Western Xia general with a wounded face immediately said, "I said before, the reason why Hangu Pass was breached was..."

"You didn't believe me because of those terrifying firearms, but now? If a dog slave came all the way from Luoyang, do you think it would be a lie?"

Li Siqian frowned: "In that case, this battle is not feasible. How should we defend Anding City?"

The slave, however, said, "General, actually, it's not difficult to counter these firearms, as long as..."

When he shared his method for controlling rifles with Li Siqian, it was quite ingenious.

"You mean, as long as you cover your armor or shield with mud and sand, you can stop those projectiles?"

"Yes, I saw it with my own eyes. Those bullets couldn't penetrate the wooden planks covered in sand and mud at all."

Li Siqian slapped his thigh: "Alright, since that's the case, then quickly order all the slaves in the city to cover all the houses and huts in Anding City with mud and sand."

Furthermore, all the soldiers' shields had to be covered with yellow clay paste to prevent a sudden attack by the Chu army.

"Yes!"

All the Western Xia generals responded to the order and immediately went to get to work.

The slave kept his head down and didn't look at Li Siqian once.

Little did he know that a triumphant smile was playing on his lips.