Liu Xin was about to be persuaded when he suddenly saw Ban Thief shaking his hand at him and said, "Your Majesty has been working hard all day, please rest early, just have me here." ”

Listening to Ban Steal'er's words, Liu Xin also felt a burst of fatigue. Since leaving the fortress of Uzbeli, Liu Xin marched all the way, and pursued Murza until late at night last night, and after returning to the city of Khotan, he had a "big battle" with Ban Bao'er, and went to inspect the city defense in the early morning, so he didn't have a good rest.

And Liu Xin also felt that in this case, it was really inappropriate for him to stay here. Liya is not his woman, and he doesn't know where to start, so it's better to let Ban Thief persuade here, maybe it's easier to communicate between women and women.

Liu Xin did not sleep in the palace, but returned to the temporary barracks of the Han army, not for safety reasons, but to avoid suspicion. This night, Liu Xin slept very soundly, Ban Thief was safe and sound, and his worst worries had been solved.

As the day began to tilt westward, Liu Xin, who had slept for four hours, finally woke up, and Sun Ce was already waiting outside the door. He was ordered by Liu Xin to go all the way south, successively caught up with and annihilated two defeated Kushan troops, and only turned back until the border of Guishan, and also brought back two Guishan prisoners, both of whom were high-ranking generals in the Kushan army.

When Liu Xin heard this, he said excitedly: "Quick, bring them up!" ”

After a while, two unkempt and embarrassed Kushan people were dragged into the big tent. After the defeat of the city of Khotan, they each led a remnant army to return to the country, but they did not want to be caught up by Sun Ce, and their soldiers were all slaughtered, only the two of them were captured alive by Sun Ce because of their gorgeous clothes.

Liu Xin didn't ask the names of these two people, waved his big hand very domineeringly, and shouted in a deep voice: "I will spare you for the time being." When I go back, I will tell you about the king and tell him to fight less about Kangju's idea, otherwise I will personally lead the army and set foot on Kushan! From today onwards, Kushan's caravans are not allowed to engage in trade with the Han for three months. Remember, it's just a small punishment, if he doesn't come to his senses, hum ......"

The two Guishan generals escaped with their lives, where did they dare to argue with Liu Xin, so they had to make promises, and when they got out of the tent, they ran away with their heads and fled south without touching their feet.

Sun Ce was puzzled: "Father, did you just let them go?" ”

"If you don't let them go, do you want to keep them to eat?" Liu Xin waved his hand and said, "After this battle, the Guishan people will not dare to come forward in three or five months." ”

Sun Ce frowned and said: "The Guishan people have raised troops to break into the territory of Kangju, and the person they are trying to do will definitely not be the thing that Murza promised, and their desire to dominate has been revealed. The children are worried that after our army returns to Chang'an, they will make a comeback. ”

"Do you know why I cut off their trade routes for three months?" Without waiting for Sun Ce to answer, Liu Xin had already continued, "Because fighting a war is a very expensive thing, and cutting off the trade route is cutting off Guishuang's financial route. Without money, what do they take to arm the army? What to take to compensate the fallen soldiers? If you continue to fight, you will be reckless, and I am afraid that the position of the king himself will not be imprisoned. ”

Sun Ce, who didn't know the price of firewood and rice, and had never been in charge of internal affairs, naturally couldn't understand the truth, and Liu Xin didn't have time to explain to him slowly, waved his hand, and said, "Early tomorrow morning, you will return to Chang'an with me." I will leave 10,000 cavalry behind to help the Empress Dowager Kangju defend against the remnants of Guishan and Murza. In addition, I have sent Pegasus to Chang'an to transfer 30,000 soldiers and armor. ”

Sun Ce was shocked: "What? Father wants to send soldiers to them? ”

"Of course, the armor used by our Han army itself can't be given to them, but after years of fighting, countless old-style armor have been captured, and it is costly and laborious to destroy, so it is better to use it as a personal favor." Liu Xin stood up, patted Sun Ce's shoulder, and said, "You've worked hard these days, rest early." I'll go to the palace and have a look. ”

In the palace, I don't know what Ban Thief said to Liya, Liya is not as excited as in the morning, but she is a little embarrassed when she sees Liu Xin.

Liu Xin saw that Liya was in a good mood, and she also put her mind at ease and said to them: "I will return to Chang'an tomorrow." ”

Ban Thief was surprised: "So fast! Won't Your Majesty stay here for a few more days? ”

Liu Xin shook his head and said, "I have been very reckless this time, and there are still many things waiting for me to deal with in Chang'an, and I can't stay for a long time." ”

Ban Thief already knew that there was a big battle going on in the Central Plains, and Liu Xin had not received a battle report from Chang'an for three consecutive days, she understood Liu Xin's mood very well, and muttered: "A few of them are injured, do they want to go with you?" ”

Liu Xin thought for a while and said, "Since their injuries have not yet healed, it is better to stay in Khotanese City to recuperate with peace of mind, and then I will send someone to pick them up after the injuries are healed." ”

Liya herself didn't seem to want to leave very much, nodded silently, and agreed to Liu Xin's arrangement. Sister Cleya suddenly stood up and said in unison, "Master, we are out of the way!" We're with you! ”

The physical fitness of the gladiators was unusual, they were much more seriously injured than Liya, but now they had already recovered seven or eight points, not to mention letting them ride on horseback, even if they were allowed to go into battle to kill the enemy.

Liu Xin suddenly had an idea and said, "Both of you sisters are from Great Qin, and Empress Dowager Kangju's mother is also from Great Qin. In my opinion, you will follow the Queen Mother in the future, so as to protect the safety of the Queen Mother. ”

Sister Cleya glanced at each other, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed, "Master, don't drive us away!" ”

"I am not driving you away, but I am looking for a good home for you." Seeing that Sister Cleya was still on the ground and refused to get up, Liu Xin glared and said, "What? You don't even listen to me, the master? ”

Sister Cleya reluctantly got up. Although Liu Xin had been exempted from their status as gladiators, they themselves still regarded themselves as Liu Xin's slaves. Slaves have no freedom, let alone the right to choose, and the master can give them away as if they were goods.

Seeing Sister Cleya's reluctance, Ban Stealer said with a smile: "Your Majesty, my skills, where do I need someone to protect me, let them follow Your Majesty." ”

Liu Xin waved his hand and said, "You haven't seen their skills, don't jump to conclusions too early." Clea, Maria, the two of you have a fight, show the Queen Mother. ”

Sister Cleya was suddenly startled, hugged her head and cried, and made a big call, and then pulled away.

"Wait!" Ban Thief suddenly shouted, turned to Liu Xin and asked, "Your Majesty, why did you let them kill each other?" ”

Liu Xin was inexplicable and asked, "When did I let them kill each other?" ”

Ban Thief glanced at Liu Xin, and said angrily: "You didn't say it earlier, I only know now that they are gladiators, so naturally they will not die." ”

Liu Xin hurriedly said: "Cleya, Maria, you all stop, don't fight." Didn't I tell you earlier, you're not gladiators anymore? From now on, you will stay by the Queen Mother's side and protect the safety of the Queen Mother's mother and son. If you can't, don't come back to see me again! ”

Sister Cleya panicked and looked at Ban Thief as if she were rescued. Ban Thief saw that these two people were extremely loyal to Liu Xin, and now that they knew that they were gladiators, he didn't want them to leave Liu Xin's side. But after hearing Liu Xin mention her son, Ban Stealer changed her mind. With her skills, even if the ministers and nobles of Kangju can't tolerate her, she can guarantee that she can leave at any time, but what about her son? She can't stay by her son's side all the time, right? Ban Thief finally understood Liu Xin's good intentions, these gladiator sisters were two personal guards arranged by Liu Xin for her son!

Thinking of this, Ben Thief laughed and said, "Clea, Maria, haven't you two heard your majesty's words clearly?" ”

Sister Cleya suddenly came to her senses, came to Ban Thief'er, and bowed down.

Ban Thief helped them up and said, "Actually, there is nothing wrong with you following me. It's been so long, you can't even speak Chinese well, and following me can at least ensure that you can learn faster. ”

In fact, Sister Cleya has only been working with Liu Xin for seven or eight days, and she can understand most of the words, and she can say one or two common words, which is not simple, where is it better to go to work and steal children have learned two or three languages since childhood.

Sister Cleya looked up at Ban Thief and shouted "Master" in unison.

Seeing that Sister Cleya obediently softened, Ban Thief laughed, pointed at Clea and said, "Actually, Your Majesty just let you try your skills, which is simply superfluous. Didn't that Alystein die at your hands? ”

Cleya didn't take the credit of others, and bowed to Ban Thief and said, "Back to the master, the thief was not killed by the slave, the slave just picked up a bargain." ”

Liu Xin has always been good to their sisters, and in front of Liu Xin, they don't have to call themselves slaves, but now that they have a new master, Cleya doesn't dare to hold them up.

Ban Thief is a smart person, and she also knows how to use some grace and power, and said with a smile: "I am very happy to meet people from my mother's hometown here, and we will be sisters in the future." I'm a few years older than you, so call me sister. ”

Sister Cleya naturally didn't even dare to say it, but she couldn't resist Ban Stealer's repeated insistence, so she had to accept it. In fact, they were originally born in the Great Qin aristocracy, how could they be willing to be slaves for life? It is precisely because Liu Xin does not treat them as slaves that they are loyal to Liu Xin, and now Ban Bao'er regards them as sisters, and they have secretly made up their minds to protect the mother and son even if they abandon their lives.

Ban Thief was also good at observing words and feelings, and knew that the two sisters had returned to their hearts from now on, so she took Cleya's hand and asked, "Then please tell my sister who killed Alystein?" ”