"Why won’t he even tell you his last na?" Shen Sen and the others looked puzzled. "It’s understandable not to reveal his full na, but he should be able to say his last na."
Zhao Yao mused, "I guess he used to be a very famous warrior. If he tells his last na, I’ll figure out who he is, so he deliberately doesn’t tell his last na."
Chu Huan nodded in agreent, "That’s quite possible."
"Then the owner of this mansion must have been very formidable in the past."
Tong Xi said at this ti, "Young master, I noticed when I was coming out that there are quite a few hidden experts in this mansion."
"Experts?" Zhao Yao was surprised, "Are you sure?"
"I’m sure. They hide themselves very well, so I didn’t notice their presence at first." Tong Xi’s martial arts are quite advanced. For soone to escape his notice at first must an they have skills superior to his.
"With hidden experts for protection, this uncle’s identity is even more remarkable." Zhao Yao beca increasingly curious about the hoowner’s identity.
"Boss, our father once warned us not to get close to this mansion." Zhang He suddenly rembered sothing and exclaid, "Could this person’s status be even higher than our father’s?"
"Your fathers are Great Generals, holding top positions. If the mansion’s owner holds a higher position than your fathers, it could only be a Commandery Prince or a Prince." Zhao Yao didn’t think so. "Presently, in the court, only Prince Dai is a living Prince, and there is no Commandery Prince."
The emperor’s siblings are all deceased, leaving just him. When the late emperor ascended the throne, he posthumously awarded his deceased sons and daughters with the titles of Prince and Princess. Currently, the only living Prince is Prince Dai.
"That makes sense. But what is the mansion owner’s identity, and why did our fathers warn us not to approach?" Song Jicai said with a puzzled expression.
"You would have to ask your fathers about that."
Zhang He and the others shook their heads vigorously: "If we ask our fathers about this matter, they’ll know we were near here, and we’ll surely be beaten to death by them."
Shen Sen said: "Our fathers said if they find out we’ve been near this residence again, they won’t be kind to us."
"Even if they don’t beat us to death, they’d beat us half dead." Song Jicai said, full of fear.
"Boss, you don’t know how our fathers really do hit us, and they hit hard. Sotis, they even hang us up to beat us, without any restraint."
Zhao Yao was shocked by Zhang He and the others’ words: "Hang you up to beat you? Is it the kind of hanging I’m thinking of?"
"Boss, it’s exactly as you imagine." Zhang He said with a grimace, "We’ve all been hung up and beaten."
Chu Huan and the other three quickly nodded in agreent with Zhang He’s words: "And they even use a whip to lash us."
Zhao Yao imagined the scene a little, and his mouth twitched slightly: "Are you sure you’re your father’s biological sons?" Although the old emperor often bullied him for fun, he never hung him up and whipped him."
"We think we were picked up from sowhere."
Zhao Yao laughed, "No wonder you’re so afraid of your fathers."
Chu Huan and the other four laughed awkwardly.
"Then I’ll inquire." Later, when I ask Lai Wu and the others, perhaps they know the identity of the hoowner.
"Boss, how are you going to inquire? The people nearby don’t know who the owner of the mansion is."
Zhao Yao smiled mysteriously, "I have my ways. I’ll let you know once I’ve found out."
"Alright."
"Where are we going next?"
Zhao Yao thought for a mont and said, "Let’s go play so football." In the palace, the Eighth Prince was frail and never accompanied him to play. The Fourth Prince was always busy and never had ti to play with him. As for the Third Prince and others, they disdain to play with him. So he had no choice but to often play football with Lai Fu and the others.
"Sure, we often play football." Zhang He said excitedly, "Boss, we’ll take you there now."
anwhile, in Zhenxiu Building, Liang Run was discussing cooperation with the Hu businessman, together with Tong An, Ding Yuan, and Ding Shan.
The reason for bringing Tong An and the others was to broaden their horizons and teach them how to negotiate and do business with others.
The Hu businessman didn’t expect Liang Run, who appeared so young, to be so seasoned in business. Fortunately, he always did business honestly, without deceit, otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to fool Boss Liang.
Seeing that the Hu businessman was still quite sincere, Liang Run discussed further cooperation with him, from purchasing horses to herbs and spices, to furs and at, covering many areas.
Tong An and the other three sat by, listening in awe.
The Hu businessman was a Wusun native nad An Ren.
In the previous dynasty, Wusun was a tributary state of the previous dynasty. Later, the rulers of the previous dynasty beca more greedy and cruel, so Wusun broke away from the previous dynasty.
The previous dynasty initially wanted to reclaim Wusun, but by that ti, the dynasty was already thoroughly rotten and embroiled in severe infighting, leaving them unable to care about a small country like Wusun.
As Great Zhou was newly established, the country had not fully achieved peace and had no energy to recover Wusun.
After breaking away from the previous dynasty, Wusun didn’t have it easy, because its neighbor was the Xiongnu, who watched it covetously. Not long after detaching from the previous dynasty, Wusun was occupied by the Xiongnu. It wasn’t until more than a decade ago, as the Xiongnu tore each other apart internally that Wusun managed to break free from them.
In these past dozen years, the Xiongnu had been embroiled in internal conflict, leaving them fragnted, with no one willing to submit to another, with each wanting to swallow up their rivals. Because of this, the border areas have known peace for over a decade.
Of course, Wusun’s leader wished the Xiongnu would continue fighting until the end of ti, but this was impossible. Recently, the Xiongnu’s Luandi tribe saw the rise of a very talented Chanyu who has already unified two or three tribes. Given his capabilities, he might unify more tribes in the future, potentially swallowing them all.
Neither Wusun nor the Dayuezhi wanted the Xiongnu tribes to reunify and restore the forr might of the Xiongnu Royal Court. If the Xiongnu tribes rge, these small nations could suffer, possibly facing Xiongnu invasion once again.
Wusun’s leader always kept an eye on Great Zhou. Over the years, seeing Great Zhou gradually bring peace to the Central Plains and improve the lives of the people, he hoped to establish ties with Great Zhou, especially after hearing that the current Emperor of Great Zhou was very capable, particularly in warfare.
If the Emperor of Great Zhou was as formidable as rumored, the Wusun leader would want to ally with him to resist the Xiongnu together.
Great Zhou naturally wanted to build good relations with Wusun and these smaller nations, as it would allow them to gather intelligence on the Xiongnu and unite in resistance against them.
The Xiongnu have always been the greatest threat to the Central Plains. Until they’re dealt with, the Central Plains can’t achieve true peace.
Though over the past decade, the Xiongnu, due to internal strife, haven’t had the strength to invade southward into the Central Plains, this doesn’t an they will always remain embroiled in conflict. Now that an outstanding Chanyu has erged among the Xiongnu tribes, the emperor is concerned he might unify all tribes, restoring the Xiongnu Royal Court to its forr glory, which would be a significant danger to Great Zhou.
To prevent the Xiongnu from invading Great Zhou, it’s essential to forge good relations with Wusun and others. Furthermore, it’s crucial to find ways to ensure the Xiongnu tribes continue their internal discord, preventing the newly prominent Chanyu from further unifications.
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