Although he was somewhat reluctant to admit it, Kang Maode knew that he did not have a cavalry force capable of confronting the Xianbei and Xiongnu.

The only way to win is by relying on numerical superiority.

Ultimately, Commodus left ten Janissaries to guard Rome, while he personally led an army of 200,000 to meet the enemy.

At the same time, at Kang Maode's request, Zhang Bao also dispatched two legions of Taiping Church defenders to follow behind the main army for medical treatment.

After a two-week march, Kang Maode's army encountered He Lian's Xianbei-Xiongnu cavalry 150 miles northeast of Rome.

Looking at the enemy camp ahead, Kang Maode also dismounted and set up camp on a high ground twenty miles away.

Although he had a significant numerical advantage, Commodus knew that of his 200,000 troops, only about 60,000 were actually capable of fighting. The rest were mostly newly recruited soldiers who were only there to bolster morale.

Inside the camp, Commodus also gathered his men to discuss the next steps.

However, to Commodus's dismay, all his men were surprisingly unanimous in their advice: to build fortifications there to prevent the enemy from penetrating deep into the vicinity of Rome.

This method, while saving Rome, was tantamount to abandoning all territories outside Rome, leaving them to be plundered by the enemy.

As a result, the losses are simply incalculable.

As for taking the initiative, Commodus didn't even dare to think about it.

The surrounding area was a vast plain, and facing the cavalry, his own army was simply lambs to the slaughter.

"Your Majesty, why don't you try negotiating with them?"

Just as Kang Maode was at his wit's end, Zhang Bao walked in from outside the tent.

"Peace talks? Is that even possible?"

Looking at Zhang Bao as he entered, Kang Maode hesitated.

"Your Majesty, these people have fled all the way from the Han Dynasty to this place, and they must be in dire need of all kinds of supplies."

And this is probably why the Slavic province was able to persuade them.

Since they can cooperate with the Slavs, they can certainly cooperate with us; it's just a matter of who contributes more.

"That makes sense!"

Upon hearing Zhang Bao's words, Kang Maode nodded and then asked, "Who should we send to negotiate?"

Zhang Bao stepped forward and said, "If Your Majesty trusts me, I am willing to go."

Kang Maode's face lit up with joy: "In that case, I'll have to trouble Master Zhang!"

After tidying up, Zhang Bao led several disciples and left the Roman camp.

Upon learning of Zhang Bao's arrival, Li Ru, He Lian, and Xie Zhiyu personally led their men to welcome him.

The group arrived at the main tent, and after taking their seats as host and guest, He Lian smiled and looked at Zhang Bao: "Master Zhang, have you come here to plead for Kang Maode?"

"No!"

Zhang Bao shook his head and said solemnly, "I have come here for the benefit of the Han Dynasty and the two kings!"

Upon hearing this, He Lian and Xie Zhiyu exchanged a glance and smiled knowingly.

Seeing the two men's expressions, Zhang Bao frowned: "What? Do you two kings not believe my words?"

He Lian smiled and waved his hand: "Oh, Master Zhang, please don't be offended. We already knew about your reasoning, and we are willing to negotiate with Kang Maode!"

"oh?"

Zhang Bao's eyebrows twitched, and then his gaze fell on Li Ru, who was standing next to the two of them.

Li Ru smiled and said, "Master Zhang, I had already discussed this with the two kings before we set off. Only a half-dead Rome would be in everyone's best interest."

Rome may be divided, but it must never perish; at least not until we have eliminated the other barbarians on the steppes.

Because, whether it's His Majesty the Emperor or us two kings, what we most want to eliminate are those blond-haired, blue-eyed barbarians. As for the Romans, keeping them alive and continuously extracting their usefulness is the best course of action!

“What you say, sir, is exactly what I was thinking!”

Hearing Li Ru's words, Zhang Bao nodded with a smile.

Li Ru smiled and said, "Then let's talk about the terms!"

Zhang Bao nodded slightly: "Please speak, sir!"

"First, Commodus must withdraw his troops and is not allowed to launch an attack on the Slavic Kingdom for five years."

Secondly, Rome must provide our department with one million shi of grain, forty thousand shi of salt, and one hundred thousand bolts of silk annually.

Third, Rome must open trade, exempt our merchants from taxes, and purchase our cattle, sheep, and various products from our herdsmen at high prices.

"good!"

Upon hearing Li Ru's three conditions, Zhang Bao agreed without hesitation, since he wasn't the one who would suffer the loss.

As long as He Lian and the others withdraw their troops, then I, as the person in charge of the negotiations, will have achieved an immense feat, and the prestige of the Taiping Sect will surely soar.

After a brief consultation, Zhang Bao returned to the Roman camp with the treaty drafted by Li Ru.

Looking at the treaty Zhang Bao brought back, Commodus frowned.

Everything else was fine, but the five-year ban on launching military attacks against Slavs was something he found hard to accept.

Five years, five years... no one knows what will happen in five years.

Furthermore, if such a rebellion is not quelled in a timely and decisive manner, it will be a significant blow to one's reputation, and other provinces will surely follow suit.

Seeing Kang Maode's hesitation, Zhang Bao stepped forward and advised, "Your Majesty, as far as I know, the Slavs have already ceded the border lands to the Xianbei and Xiongnu, making them easy prey for them. They will absolutely not allow you to touch them until they have their fill."

Rather than confronting them head-on, it would be better to set things aside for now and concentrate our forces to attack Gaul and Germania.

Once we take that place, His Majesty will be able to free up his hands to train his own cavalry, making it much easier to reclaim the Slavic territories!

After listening to Zhang Bao's words, Kang Maode considered them carefully and finally nodded helplessly.

If it were during the time of the unification of Rome, he would never have agreed to these conditions, but in the current situation, he had no choice but to compromise.

In his view, the Xianbei and Xiongnu only wanted supplies, while the Gauls, Germans, and Britons wanted to destroy his rule.

Commodus was perfectly clear about which of the two was more important.

In the end, Kang Maode signed the treaty brought back by Zhang Bao, and then began to send people to prepare the supplies needed by the Xianbei and Xiongnu.

After receiving the supplies, He Lian and Xie Zhiyu also began to lead their troops in retreat in accordance with the agreement.

The Slavic soldiers responsible for escorting the captured troops at the rear did not dare to ask why they were retreating, and followed them back.

Watching the retreating army, Commodus breathed a sigh of relief and began preparations for conquering Gaul and Germania.