In the Western Regions, on the Silk Road, a caravan from Luoyang is slowly making its way forward.

Xi Zhicai sat in the carriage, looking out through the curtain at the lush crops on both sides of the road, a smile appearing on his lips.

The Han Dynasty had been governing the Western Regions for two or three years. Although a series of wars had led to a depletion of the male population in the Western Regions, it had also solved the problem of resettling immigrants within the Han Dynasty's territory.

Nowadays, many women from the Western Regions are betrothed to young men who have immigrated there and have children, thus bypassing the process of assimilation and education.

Thanks to the joint efforts of Han Dynasty officials and hardworking people, the Western Regions are now thriving, with agriculture, commerce, and handicrafts developing in tandem.

Lowering the carriage curtain, Xi Zhicai looked at the young man beside him and asked with a smile, "How are you? Are you getting used to the climate of the Western Regions?"

The young man's name was Yu Zheng. He was Yu Ji's eldest disciple and was ordered by Liu Hong to stay by Xi Zhicai's side, responsible for protecting and taking care of Xi Zhicai.

Yu Zheng said with a serious expression, "Thank you for your concern, sir. I am fine, but you must take your medicine on time as I instructed!"

"Sigh... it's not that I don't want to take it, it's just that your medicine is too bitter, it's really..."

Before Xi Zhicai could finish speaking, Yu Zheng interrupted him: "Good medicine tastes bitter, sir. You must take it, otherwise, I will follow His Majesty's orders and forcibly take you back to Luoyang..."

"Okay, okay, I'll eat it, I'll eat it, alright!"

Seeing Yu Zheng, that rigid guy, bringing up the emperor again, Xi Zhicai shook his head helplessly.

For a moment, the carriage fell into a somber atmosphere. Faced with a serious and rigid subordinate, Xi Zhicai was at a loss for what to do.

Outside the carriage, the Imperial Guards soldiers, dressed in merchant robes, tried their best to conceal their identities so that they would appear more like merchants than elite soldiers of the empire.

Unfortunately, the discipline they developed through long-term training makes it difficult for them to be as undisciplined as ordinary businessmen.

Dian Wei, who was sent by Liu Hong as the captain of the guard, also looked around with shining eyes, hoping that some foolish bandits would come by so he could have a go at them.

For the past few years, Dian Wei has been guarding the emperor. Although he doesn't say it, Liu Hong knows that Dian Wei also longs to fight on the battlefield.

Unfortunately, while Dian Wei was brave, he lacked the talent to lead troops. Helpless, Liu Hong had no choice but to take this opportunity to send him out to protect Xi Zhicai's safety.

However, Dian Wei's wish was destined to be in vain. Ever since the Han Dynasty began to control the Western Regions, it had never stopped cracking down on the bandits in the Western Regions.

In addition, many caravans nowadays hire Han soldiers for protection, and no bandit group would dare to rob a Han caravan.

Therefore, the bandit groups active in the Western Regions now all have their eyes on the caravans of the Kushan, Parthian and Roman Arab provinces.

Before long, the group left the oasis and entered a desert.

Under the scorching sun, Dian Wei, sitting in front of the carriage, slumped his head with a bored expression and began to snore.

After traveling for an unknown amount of time, a sudden wave of scorching heat swept by.

Dian Wei, who was fast asleep, twitched his nose and suddenly opened his eyes. He then grabbed the iron halberd beside him and jumped off the carriage.

"Halt! All troops on high alert!!"

With a loud roar from Dian Wei, the entire army immediately stopped. The Imperial Guard soldiers disguised as merchants also skillfully drew their weapons and looked ahead with full vigilance.

Xi Zhicai also lifted the carriage curtain and poked his head out, looking at Dian Wei beside him: "General Dian Wei, what happened?"

Dian Wei said solemnly, "Sir, there was a bloody smell in the wind just now. There must have been a battle ahead!"

"oh?"

Xi Zhicai's expression shifted, and he looked up ahead, but he could see nothing but endless yellow sand.

Dian Wei also turned to look at Yu Zheng, who was standing next to Xi Zhicai: "You stay behind and protect the master. I'll take some men to check it out!"

"Okay!" Yu Zheng nodded in agreement.

"Brothers, follow me!"

Dian Wei gave a shout, and then led more than two hundred men forward.

"This Dian Wei is so warlike!"

Seeing Dian Wei rushing forward, Xi Zhicai smiled, then lowered the carriage curtain, sat back down, and ordered the carriage to continue, following behind Dian Wei and the others.

Xi Zhicai, who had been in charge of military and political affairs for many years, didn't think much of the warlike sentiment of Dian Wei and his soldiers.

Great power chauvinism is rampant in the Han army today.

On the day they enlist, everyone is taught about conquest and attack.

Therefore, Xi Zhicai was quite understanding of the warlike behavior of Dian Wei and his soldiers.

The procession stopped after traveling for only a quarter of an hour.

Gazing at the dust-shrouded battlefield in the distance, Dian Wei took out his binoculars and stared intently.

"General Dian Wei, how is the situation?"

Just as Dian Wei was observing, Xi Zhicai jumped down from the carriage behind him.

Dian Wei lowered his binoculars and said in a deep voice, "Sir, a foreign caravan has been robbed by bandits, but the people protecting the caravan are our Han troops!"

"Oh? These bandits have such audacity to rob a caravan protected by our Han people?"

Looking at the battlefield ahead, Xi Zhicai showed a hint of curiosity.

Dian Wei said in a deep voice, "Sir, that band of bandits moved with a methodical approach. They don't seem like ordinary bandits; they look more like a well-trained cavalry unit!"

Xi Zhicai nodded and then said, "General Dian Wei, take your men and go. Remember to leave a few alive!"

"Don't worry, sir!"

Upon hearing Xi Zhicai speak, Dian Wei excitedly agreed. After leaving behind sufficient guards, he ordered his men to jump onto their horses and flank the bandit group from the side and rear.

Amidst the rising dust, Dian Wei's troops charged towards the flanks and rear of the bandit group from both the left and right.

The bandits who were besieging the caravan were thrown into chaos when they saw the cavalry suddenly appear. No one expected that another force would appear at this critical moment.

"Quick, stop them!!"

A bandit leader also shouted loudly.

"Hmm? This doesn't seem to be a language from the Western Regions?"

Upon hearing the shout, Dian Wei on horseback frowned slightly.

Although Dian Wei did not understand the language of the Western Regions, he had heard quite a few along the way and soon sensed that something was wrong.

In the Western Regions, a band of bandits who did not belong to the Western Regions appeared, which was indeed a bit strange.