When he was in Jingzhou, Liu Xin didn't like to stay in Xiangyang, and often found all kinds of excuses to run around, and even went to the front line in person. The war in Hebei has not ended, how can Your Majesty leave lightly at this time! ”

Liu Xin sneered: "Hmph! Do you want me to be trapped in this boxy palace all day long, without leaving home? ”

Fu Zhu hurriedly said: "The minister is afraid, the minister doesn't dare!" ”

Liu Xin's face softened, and said: "There are you and Yuan Hao in internal affairs, and there are Gongming in foreign affairs, so why worry about it?" The Western Regions are too important for the Han Dynasty. If there is no Western Regions, what will arm our soldiers with? What to take to house our refugees? I can't be idle, I want to go to the Western Regions again, and the battle will be decided! ”

In fact, these are just high-sounding reasons, Liu Xin's purpose is to solve many mysteries in his heart. Is the Black Whirlwind in Kangju? How did she get in touch with Queen Kangju? Did Black Whirlwind give birth to a baby for him? He was desperate to know all of this, but he couldn't leave it to anyone else, so he had to go to the Western Regions himself.

Seeing that Liu Xin had made up his mind, he didn't dare to persuade him anymore, so he went to help Liu Xin prepare for the trip. Only then did Liu Xin beckon to Cai He, let him come to the front, and asked, "Cai He, how is that Queen Kangju born?" ”

Cai He shook his head and said, "Back to Your Majesty, the minister really didn't see it clearly. ”

Liu Xin asked again: "Then whether she is black hair or blonde, you can always see it, right?" ”

Cai He didn't understand what the color of her hair had to do with it, so after thinking about it, she shook her head and said, "She wore a headdress, and the minister didn't see it clearly." ”

Seeing that he couldn't come up with a reason, Liu Xin couldn't help waving his hand and said, "Okay, you go to the palace to see your sister." She said to me several times that she shouldn't have let you go that far again. You can tell her and reassure her that she will not send you to the nations again. Now, I have appointed you as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Ministry of Rites, who is responsible for receiving envoys from various countries. ”

For Cai He, who had just been weakly crowned, Lang Zhong was already a very high official position, Cai He hurriedly thanked him, withdrew from the main hall, and went to the back under the guidance of Li Ming.

Knowing that Liu Xin was going to drive the expedition in person, the entire harem suddenly exploded. This time, even Ma Yun didn't support him anymore. Indeed, now from Liyang to Yecheng, to Taiyuan, and the Mobei grassland, they are all in a mess, and I don't know how many people die in battle every day, but Liu Xin, as the initiator of this battle, has to go to the Western Regions. If he had not been crowned emperor, such a decision would have been forgivable. Now that he has been proclaimed emperor, he no longer belongs to himself, but to the Han Dynasty, in case of any mistakes in this trip, it will have an immeasurable impact on the entire government and the opposition.

But Liu Xin insisted on going his own way and left early the next morning. Before leaving, only one thing was announced, to establish Ma Yun's identity as the empress, and during the days when Liu Xin left Beijing, she would temporarily regent the court. This was originally out of line, but Ma Yun had a high prestige among the ministers, and no one raised any objections. However, Liu Xin also promised one thing, this is the last time to go out in person.

Liu Xin didn't bring women with him like the previous few times, not even Dian Wei, only Sun Ce and five hundred flying tiger guards. After all, now, the capital Chang'an is actually in a state of emptiness, and even important places like Hangu Pass are now handed over to the Flying Tiger guards to guard, if he takes Dian Wei and more soldiers away, it is very likely to endanger the safety of Chang'an.

This time to the Western Regions was different from the last time, Liu Xin was accompanied by cavalry, and there were no vehicles, and the speed was much faster, and he arrived at Yiwu City in half a day. The 20,000 soldiers of the Western Regions Legion received the order last night, and now they have been assembled. The territory of the Western Regions is vast, and combat is inseparable from war horses, so the Western Regions Legion is all cavalry, equipped with high-headed horses originating from the Western Regions.

Liu Xin did not inspect the research institute and training base as usual, and without stopping for the slightest, he led his army all the way west, and entered Ji County, the county seat of Hanyang County, Liangzhou, at noon. Hanyang Taishou Pang Yi had been notified in advance and sent someone to prepare lunch and forage. Liu Xin and his entourage continued on the road after a short rest, and stayed in Wuwei County that night, traveling more than 700 miles in one day. In this way, they ran non-stop, and two days later, the army had appeared in Shanshan Country in the Western Regions.

Hani, the king of Shanshan, was a staunch supporter of the rebuilding of the Western Regions Protectorate, and now after knowing the news that Liu Xin had been proclaimed emperor, he wanted to show his loyalty even more, and immediately led the civil and military ministers to meet him thirty miles east of the mud city.

Liu Xin didn't want to stay in Hunicheng, but he was only invited by Hani, and to maintain the stability of the trade route, he couldn't do without the support of these local heroes in the Western Regions. Liu Xin had no choice but to let the cavalry of the Western Regions Legion encamp ten miles west of Huni City to rest, and he took Sun Ce and five hundred guards into Huni City.

Only a year has passed, and the city has undergone earth-shaking changes, with a thriving scene of traffic and people coming and going in the market. In the past, Han people, who were rare to see here, have met a lot along the way. It turned out that some smaller caravans, whose goods were not many and their value was not high, did not have the ability or need to go as far as Wuji City, so they stopped in Huni City. There are also many merchants from the north and south, and business is still good.

Liu Xin didn't stay on the street, he had already agreed with Hani that he would continue to travel after the luncheon, and that he would never drink. For this luncheon, Hani made careful preparations, although Liu Xin's request made him a little regretful, but Liu Xin's identity was even more different than in the past, and he had to follow Liu Xin's orders.

Everyone rode horses, and there was no rule that horses were not allowed in the mud city, and they soon came to the front of the Shanshan Palace. Probably because of the easy entry of the black whirlwind last year, Hani was a little worried about the safety of the palace, and has been renovated, the palace walls are twice as tall as in the past, and the interior decoration of the palace is also new.

The luncheon was held in the same hall last year, which had been renovated and looked like a golden one. However, in Liu Xin's opinion, the hall looks a little cheesy after such a mess, and it is not as good as the original. But it can be seen that Hani had a good life this year, and presumably the reopening of the trade route also brought him a lot of taxes.

In accordance with Liu Xin's wishes, the wine has been withdrawn and replaced by a variety of fresh melons and fruits, and of course, delicious roast lamb. To Liu Xin's surprise, there was also a milk tea in front of each guest.

This year is the second year of tea production in Jiangnan, and the output is not very high, but Liu Xin still asked Cai He to send some tea to the kings of the Western Regions when he went to Dawan and other countries, and taught them how to make tea and boil milk tea. Hani was not interested in making tea at all, but the taste of milk tea fascinated him. However, he was able to bring milk tea out to entertain guests today, but he made a lot of determination. These tea leaves are his treasures, and even his younger brother, the former Shanshan general, and the current Shanshan Duwei Zhendaye, have not had a chance to taste them.

Liu Xin didn't expect tea to be so popular here in Hani, and couldn't help but smile and said: "As long as you are loyal to me, I will give you twenty catties of tea every year in the future." ”

Hani hurriedly shouted long live, slapped his slap twice, and a team of dressed girls rushed in. Hani arched his hand and said: "The minister has prepared some songs and dances to entertain Your Majesty, and please don't shirk Your Majesty." ”

Liu Xin nodded, the wine was no longer drunk, and it would be a little unkind if he didn't appreciate the singing and dancing anymore. The team of girls was slender and graceful, and their faces were covered with a thin layer of light veil, hazy and hazy, with a unique flavor. Liu Xin looked at the girl who led the dance, it seemed a little familiar, and after a closer look, she had already recognized that person was Hani's sister, Princess Liya of Loulan.

After the dance, Liu Xin applauded and said with a smile: "Shibei should be impressed for three days, I haven't seen you for more than half a year, Her Royal Highness the princess's dancing skills have been perfected, and I am afraid that no one in this world can match it." ”

Hani couldn't help but be overjoyed when he heard Liu Xin praise Liya's dancing skills, and said, "Liya, why don't you come and give your majesty a drink." ”

Liya seemed to be quite reluctant, twisted her slender waist, and came to Liu Xin for a while, bowed like a Han person, and said: "Your Majesty can't help it, where can the little girl's dancing skills compare to Madame." And Brother Wang is really, there is no wine here, what do you want my sister to respect? ”

Hani was a little displeased, but it was not good to reprimand her in front of Liu Xin, so she had to apologize to Liu Xin: "Your Majesty, you know that the little sister is straightforward, but in fact, she ......"

Liu Xin laughed and said, "Her Royal Highness the princess is a good friend of my concubine, and there is no need to be formalized in front of me, how can I blame her?" ”

Hani relieved himself and scolded Liya: "Don't hurry up and thank you!" ”

Last year, Liya followed Liu Xin and Minchan all over the Western Regions, and also went to Liangzhou, and her impression of Liu Xin has changed, but today's reluctance is because of Hani.

Hani attached great importance to Liu Xin's trip to the Western Regions, and after receiving the messenger's notice, he specially asked Liu Xin if he had brought his wife with him. When he learned that Liu Xin was not carrying a woman with him this time, Hani opened his mind. He wanted to leave Liu Xin to stay in the mud for one night, and then let Liya sleep for Liu Xin. But Liya was still worried about the black whirlwind, so she naturally refused, but her brother's fate was difficult to disobey, so she was making an awkward fuss.

When they heard that Liu Xin was not spending the night in the mud, the brother and sister were happy and worried. However, Hani soon came up with another idea to let Liya come out to dance to see if she could impress Liu Xin and try to make him stay.

Seeing that Liu Xin praised Liya's dancing skills and didn't care about her rudeness, Hani was even more happy, and was about to open his mouth to invite, when he suddenly saw a young general outside the door striding up to Liu Xin, arching his hand and saying: "Father, the front-line battle report!" ”