The following day at noon.
Xue Rengui escorted the delegation from Luoyang, bypassing Wuliangsuhai Lake, and arrived at Wuyuan City.
Cai Yong and Chen Ji were stunned by the magnificent scene before them.
On one side is a vast, misty lake, and on the other side is a bustling construction site.
The camps stretched to the horizon, and it seemed that there were sixty or seventy thousand people stationed here.
It's even more spectacular than the road construction.
Fifty thousand people worked like ants, leveling the land, quarrying, digging, and transporting stones.
The event was large in number and grand in scale, yet everything was arranged in an orderly manner.
Along the banks of the Yellow River and the southern foothills of the Yin Mountains, hundreds of horse caravans constantly traveled back and forth, transporting supplies.
In addition, squads of armored cavalry galloped back and forth, patrolling and keeping watch.
Amidst this surging crowd, the Wuyuan City, which was only two zhang tall, appeared so frail and pitiful.
"General Xue... what... what is going on here?"
Cai Yong and Chen Ji asked the same question at the same time.
"This is the Marquis's fiefdom, Wuyuan City!"
"Lord Marquis intends to make this place the central hub of the three prefectures," Xue Rengui said without any hesitation.
Upon hearing this, Chen Ji felt a chill run down his spine.
Yesterday's extravagant hopes have burst like bubbles.
This Marquis of Yinshan will definitely not hand over the three counties. Don't even think about getting him to reduce his army!
As for He Jin's idea of sending Liu Wei to Longcheng to take up the post of some kind of Protector-General of the Northern Desert, it sounds extremely naive.
How could Liu Wei possibly go?
Sigh!
Chen Ji had no other thoughts in mind; he just wanted to deliver the message as soon as possible and get the job done.
Cai Yong, on the other hand, seemed completely unconcerned.
He was merely a messenger; once the imperial decree was delivered, his mission was complete.
Perhaps we can make it back to Luoyang before the next heavy snowfall.
The cold of the northern frontier was something he couldn't withstand.
Furthermore, his own daughter was dressed as a man and accompanied him. Even if the deception was exposed upon their return, it wouldn't be a big deal, since the imperial decree had already been delivered.
The assassins who mingled among the imperial guards and were dispatched by Empress Dowager Dong, along with Cui Hao and his group, all became tense.
There are so many people here, and the number of soldiers guarding this place is estimated to be no less than five or six thousand.
Even if the assassination succeeds, I'm afraid I'll have to accept my fate and die!
It would be very difficult to escape if they wanted to.
Cai Yan, disguised as a man, followed the delegation. After meeting Xue Rengui's cavalry in Wujin, they traveled westward.
What she saw and heard along the way broadened her horizons.
In the Central Plains and Bingzhou, people were displaced, suffering from hunger and cold, and some even froze to death by the roadside.
In the Hetao region beyond the Great Wall, which was under the control of this prince, there were signs of good governance, social harmony, and people living in peace and contentment.
Road construction, city building, land reclamation, and military training—everything was thriving.
In this frigid border region, they are like torches in winter, warming the heart.
This made Cai Yan even more curious about this prince!
Wasn't it said that he was extravagant and indulged in sensual pleasures?
How come he changed completely once he arrived at the border region? He became diligent and hardworking, just like a wise and virtuous minister in a peaceful era.
The delegation consisted of about a hundred people, but they were divided into several groups, each with their own agenda.
"The Marquis was in that large tent when he heard of your arrival and made arrangements to receive you."
"Please dismount, gentlemen. Sirs, please bring two attendants and come with me to see the Marquis!"
"The rest of you, with the lodgings and banquet we have prepared, will go with my men to another place."
Xue Rengui led his group through the outer cavalry camp and the camp of the Xuanjia cavalry, and arrived at the tent in front of the one with the Liu character flag flying.
It was definitely not feasible to have so many people go to see Liu Wei together, so Xue Rengui immediately made specific arrangements.
Cui Hao quietly approached Cai Yong: "Lord Cai, please take me with you as your attendant!"
"Please help me, I want to see this prince and talk about the horse trade."
Cai Yong had already promised to help the Cui family with their introduction, so he did not refuse.
“Lord Cai…Lord Cai, I want to go with you too!” Cai Yan said.
This was a rare opportunity to meet the prince, and she wanted to see what kind of person he was.
Perhaps after Cai Yong announces the imperial decree, he will leave soon.
Cai Yong looked around.
Although the fifty palace guards traveled together, their mission was only to protect the envoy's safety.
We've now arrived at the Marquis of Yinshan's main tent; there's no need for them anymore.
Therefore, Cai Yong, along with Cai Yan and Cui Hao, entered the main tent as his attendants.
Chen Ji also brought two attendants with him.
These two men were from the General's Mansion and were also He Jin's confidants.
Chen Ji asked them to come along mainly to serve as witnesses, so that he could report back to He Jin when they returned to Luoyang.
"My lords, this way please!"
Upon seeing that Cai Yong and Chen Ji had quickly gathered their entourage, Xue Rengui led the way, guiding them into Liu Wei's tent.
The fifty guards, along with Cui Hao's companions, were taken to the other side by Xue Rengui's men.
After these people left, Shen Lian led two people out from the side.
He sniffed: "Xiao Chuan, arrange for a few people to replace the people we're hosting, get close to these people, and find out what's going on!"
Xiao Chuan nodded: "Boss, these hundred people are clearly divided into several groups, and they don't interfere with each other!"
“Some people, as soon as they approached the Marquis’s tent, would look around with their eyes darting about, as if they were trying to find out where they were.”
Shen Lian said, "I noticed that at first glance too, but let's not alert them yet!"
"They're still too green to try anything under the noses of our Embroidered Uniform Guard."
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