Free Web NovelChapter 2333: Chapter 2308: Entering the City
General Li generously had the soldiers immediately carry the boxes to Bai Shan’s tent, evidently wanting him to choose what he liked before heading out.
Truly in line with General Guo’s trusted lieutenant, this approach shows a consistent lineage.
Clearly, he also believes this diplomatic mission to be very dangerous; since there is danger, it’s natural to provide something to comfort people’s hearts.
Bai Shan didn’t touch these things, but he did open them for Bai Erlang and the others to broaden their horizons.
Bai Erlang opened a box of pearls and sighed, "Kucha may be small, but it is quite wealthy."
Bai Shan nodded. These things were specially selected, but they are not the best; the best batch is naturally kept to whet people’s appetites.
Bai Shan closed the box and said to Bai Erlang, "Manbao and I will go inside, and I’ll leave matters outside to you all."
Bai Erlang patted his chest and said, "Don’t worry. If the large army arrives, I’ll immediately urge them to enter the city to rescue you. If General Ashina doesn’t go, I’ll make a scene in front of the army, and Liu Huan, I’ll have him write to Minister Liu, making the next batch of grain supplies a bit challenging."
Bai Shan couldn’t help but laugh, "General Ashina is not that kind of person. I’m leaving you behind because if the army doesn’t arrive in time, I’m afraid some in the camp might really consider defecting."
Bai Erlang: "... It can’t be that bad, right?"
Bai Shan just reached out and patted his shoulder.
Bai Erlang suddenly felt his shoulder become heavy. What to do, he also wanted to enter the city. At least inside, there are taller people to rely on if the sky falls.
Daji and Assistant General Nie both followed them inside. What General Li didn’t expect was that Bai Shan not only chose Jin Kui’an to follow but also included Erge as well.
Apart from these two, all the others were brave warriors from the army, personally selected by General Li and Junior General Meng, who both said, "They are absolutely loyal and righteous men."
Only then did Bai Shan breathe a sigh of relief; apart from Jin Kui’an and Erge, he could entrust his back to the others.
However, Bai Shan did not show this lack of trust. On the contrary, he showed complete trust in Jin Kui’an and Erge, especially Jin Kui’an. He said to the soldiers, "When it comes to combat, listen to General Jin."
In the army, Jin Kui’an was merely a flag bearer due to his bravery in battle. General Guo felt it was a pity for him to be a mere soldier, so he was exceptionally promoted.
During the promotion, it was clearly stated that Jin Kui’an needed to make meritorious contributions to redeem his guilt.
There was a rumor among the soldiers that he might be promoted to vice general this year, but only a few confidants of General Li knew that General Guo only intended for Jin Kui’an to redeem his guilt as a flag bearer.
But the soldiers didn’t know this, and even Jin Kui’an himself didn’t know. So, Bai Shan continued to call him General Jin, and he acknowledged it, so the soldiers followed suit.
It’s just a title anyway; Bai Shan himself is not one of the military, so even if he called it wrong, the general can’t blame him when he gets well.
Two boxes of gold, silver, and jewels were tied to the carriage, and Manbao changed into different clothes, and rode behind Bai Shan. She turned to Zhou Liru and said, "Everyone’s injuries have stabilized in the past few days, just treat them according to the prescription. If you have any doubts, consult the military doctor."
Zhou Liru acknowledged.
With that, Manbao and Bai Shan departed together.
Twenty people with eighteen horses and one carriage passed through three checkpoints before reaching the Wang City. The city gates opened a small door to let them enter.
Bai Erlang watched from a distance as they entered and then turned his horse to head back. He asked Junior General Meng, "Should we boost morale once we return?"
Junior General Meng said, "Bai Shan said there’s no hurry today, boost morale tomorrow."
He explained, "Otherwise, with prolonged time, the soldiers would overthink, possibly triggering homesickness and changing their hearts in despair."
Bai Erlang tightly gripped the reins and asked, "Will the main army arrive tomorrow?"
Junior General Meng said, "Barring any unforeseen circumstances."
Bai Erlang temporarily suppressed his anxious heart.
Inside Wang City, someone had been waiting early. As soon as Bai Shan and his team entered, they were surrounded with weapons pointed at them, as if ready to strike at any moment.
Bai Shan smiled slightly, turned back, and clapped his hands, and the two drivers on the carriage opened the boxes, showing the gifts brought to the people of Kucha.
Even the soldiers surrounding them and the officials who came to receive them were momentarily dazzled by the gold, silver, and jewels inside.
Bai Shan smiled and asked, "I wonder if our sincerity would still satisfy the King?"
The official, noticing the Turks among the crowd whose eyes were gleaming, couldn’t help but change his expression and quickly asked Bai Shan and his men to close the boxes. With a grim expression, he stepped aside and said, "Envoys, please, but you’ll need to disarm yourselves."
Bai Shan replied, "Rest assured, only the three of us will meet the King, and we won’t bring any weapons inside. As for my escorts, I’m afraid they can’t lay down their arms."
The official frowned.
Bai Shan pointed at them and laughed, "We’re just twenty people. The three of us can’t even truss a chicken. This is inside Wang City; what is the King and the official worried about?"
The official took a closer look at Bai Shan and the people beside him, Zhou Man and Erge.
Besides Erge, the other two indeed didn’t look like people with high martial prowess, especially Zhou Man, who was even a female child.
The official furrowed his brow and asked, "Who is she? You even have a woman among your envoys?"
Bai Shan sighed and said, "This is our court’s imperial physician, ordered to come to the Western Regions to seek a medical prescription. Who knew she would be conscripted, and now she can’t go back."
He explained, "Our general is seriously injured, urgently needing good medicine to save his life. She comes on command to seek medicine. And though it seems like surrender, our general also has his demands."
The official was slightly surprised, which was unexpected for him. So, he didn’t dwell on the issue of weapons, primarily because the Turks had been watching from afar, looking eagerly, making it challenging to go into too much detail.
Thus, the official led them into the palace.
Of course, only the three of them and the two large boxes could enter. The rest were left at the gate of Wang City, taken care of by Jin Kui’an and Assistant General Nie.
The official left the three in a side hall and went to report to the King.
The King of Kucha was surprised, "Seeking medicine?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, did you forget? That day, we thought Guo Xiao was doomed after being struck by a stray arrow, but no news ever came out. Their army’s morale remained steady, and after three days, envoys came to seek peace."
The King came to a sudden realization, "No wonder Guo Xiao would seek peace; it was to save his life."
The official nodded repeatedly.
"What are the identities of those three envoys?"
"The leader’s identity is unclear, but he appears to be a civil official. Such matters indeed require their appearance; he is likely a former scribe in the army. One is a physician, the other seems like a Turk, likely a vassal general."
"Then be cautious." The Emperor of the Central Plains employs whoever, no matter how many they’ve defeated. Anyone who surrendered was used, so many vassal generals under them are skilled. There are well-known figures like Ashina and, naturally, also less famous ones.
