Without looking back, Li Ru followed the escorting constables towards Youzhou, and soon his figure disappeared from everyone's sight.

Watching Li Ru's disappearing figure, Xi Zhicai in the crowd couldn't help but shake his head and sigh. He hadn't expected that someone could sell all the refined iron right under the noses of the Emperor and Li Ru. This sudden turn of events had truly caught everyone in the village off guard.

...

At this time, Li Jue and Zhang Xiu led the soldiers of Liangzhou out of Yumen Pass.

Li Jue took out the intelligence that Xun You had given him and looked at it carefully again.

Li Jue then looked at Zhang Xiu and said with a smile, "Nephew, according to intelligence, the largest bandits heading to the Western Regions are no more than three hundred people, and there are countless smaller groups. If we send out a thousand people at once, it will not only be too much of a commotion, but also an overreaction!"

Zhang Xiu nodded. "What does Uncle think we should do?"

Li Jue was already acquainted with Zhang Ji, and after these few days of contact with Zhang Xiu, Li Jue also greatly admired Zhang Xiu. Now the two were addressing each other as uncle and nephew.

Li Jue raised an eyebrow and looked at Zhang Xiu, "I wonder if my nephew dares to lead an army alone to conquer the desert?"

"Why wouldn't I dare? Uncle, just give the order!"

"Haha~ Good! You truly are the men of Xiliang!"

Seeing Zhang Xiu's eager expression, Li Jue laughed heartily.

Then Li Jue said in a deep voice, "I will give you three hundred soldiers to command personally! According to this intelligence, advance along the southwest direction!"

"promise!"

Zhang Xiu couldn't help but feel excited. This was the first time he had led so many troops on an expedition, and he was leading the most elite Xiliang cavalry.

"Alright! Go! We'll meet at Yumen Pass one month from now!"

"promise!"

Subsequently, Li Jue dispatched three hundred cavalrymen, under Zhang Xiu's command, to head southwest.

Li Jue then looked at one of his lieutenants, "You lead four hundred men straight from east to west. Remember to change into bandit clothes before attacking!"

"promise!"

The lieutenant understood Li Jue's intention in an instant, and then excitedly led his troops westward.

After the division of troops was completed, Li Jue couldn't help but look excitedly towards the northwest.

"Brothers! Follow me and we're going to get rich!"

With a loud shout from Li Jue, the remaining three hundred soldiers roared and rushed towards the northwest, also in the Western Regions.

After a day's march, Li Jue's troops had penetrated deep into the desert, and after dark, they finally found a place to shelter from the wind.

Li Jue then sent out scouts to gather information, and then had the rest of the men dismount and rest to recover their strength.

"Ugh... Ptooey... What the hell is this place?!"

The temperature difference between day and night in the desert is huge. Feeling the cold wind at night, Li Jue spat out the sand that had accidentally gotten into his mouth during his patrol and cursed under his breath.

Seeing his brothers huddled together for warmth, Li Jue stepped forward and said, "Brothers, bear with it. Once we find the bandits' lair, we can drink and eat meat!"

Everyone's eyes lit up. A slightly thin soldier nodded tremblingly, revealing a lewd smile. "Hehe~ Maybe there are some women from the Western Regions over there, don't you think?"

"You son of a bitch, all you ever think about are women!"

Li Jue stepped forward and slapped the soldier on the head, laughing and cursing, "With your little body, can you take this?"

The soldier scratched his head and chuckled, "Even if I can't hold on, I'll give it my all and show them how strong and valiant we Han men are!"

Li Jue couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Damn it, you little brat, is that what you said? I told you to study more, but you wouldn't listen. Well then, let them see what the might of the Han Dynasty is all about!"

"Hehe~ Yes, yes, yes, the might of the Han Dynasty!!"

Haha~ Haha~

Upon hearing this, the surrounding soldiers couldn't help but burst into laughter.