At this moment, time seems to be frozen in the footsteps of Taihao, Prince Xuanbao, and Kagatobu. They mounted their horses and followed the soldier, as if they had been swept into an unknown torrent, quietly flowing in the direction where the army had been greeted.

The soldier's figure was like a lonely boat, looking so lonely and firm in the sunlight. His steps were firm, like iron determination, leading the three of them to the unknown distance. Tai Hao's heart was full of suspicions, Prince Xuanbao's eyes flashed with anticipation and nervousness, and Kagatobu stared ahead with his unique calm gaze.

In the camp where the army greeted, the blazing sunlight shone on the metal armor, making the cold and hard iron armor warm. The Tibetan soldiers looked at them like torches, as if waiting for their arrival. The military flag fluttered in the wind and made a rustling sound, as if to welcome their arrival.

The army that had come to meet them was an elite army of two hundred iron horsemen. Like a torrent of steel, spread out in a rigorous formation. Every soldier wears bronze armor, a sword at his waist, and his eyes are like torches, and his posture is heroic. Their mounts are all carefully selected horses, black, white, and brown, all of them are energetic and imposing.

The leader of the army was in front, followed by his lieutenants and elite soldiers. Each of the two hundred soldiers stood upright on the horse's back, their eyes focused as if projecting a powerful force into the sky. It's a silent tribute and a deep awe. They know that their mission is to keep the mission safe, and they will defend this noble mission with their lives and blood.

When they walked up to the group of soldiers, Kagatob spoke in a deep voice and said, "Dare to ask you, are you the envoys who have come to welcome the arrival of the Eastern Empire?" ”

When the leader heard this, he nodded and said, "Exactly, are you an official of this Dafeichuan?" ”

Kagatobu arched his hand and said, "In Xia Bucai, it is the Si Ben of this Da Fei Chuan." This is Lord Taihao who came all the way from the Eastern Empire, and the one next to him is the crown prince of the Eastern Empire. ”

He glanced at Taihao and Prince Xuanbao, and that glance seemed to have crossed the vicissitudes and calmness of thousands of mountains and rivers. Immediately, he turned over and dismounted without hesitation, and the heavy armor seemed to be unable to hide the grace and calmness of his actions at that moment. He knelt on his knees, pressed his hands on the hilt of the sword at his waist, and bowed deeply, a solemn and sacred ceremony.

His voice was low and powerful, and he said, "In Lower Tashi Wangdo, see His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the Eastern Empire and Lord Taihao. The awe and piety in those words are like a strong wind from the mountains, rivers, lakes and seas, surging and unobstructed. His eyes shone with wisdom, as if he could see all the secrets and mysteries.

Xuan Bao said: "General, please get up!" ”

After getting up, Tashi Wangdo took a deep breath, and then said in his calm and resolute voice: "I am waiting for the order of the Queen Mother and Zampu to welcome His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Lord Taihao here. May I ask Lord Taihao, didn't you bring your retinue with you? ”

Taihao's eyes flickered slightly in Tashi Wangdo's words, and he replied solemnly: "Yes, we brought a hundred soldiers, as well as some carriages, goods, etc., and they are all parked outside the door of Lord Siben's house now." ”

When Tashi Wangdo heard this, a smile appeared on his face, which was a compliment to Lord Taihao's thoughtfulness. He said, "In that case, let's go now." ”

Taihao turned his head to look at the crown prince Xuanbao, Xuanbao looked at him, his eyes flashed with a decisive light, he nodded, and said, "It's not early today, let's hurry up." ”

So Tai Hao returned to the resting place of the soldiers he led, gathered all the soldiers, reassigned the soldiers who drove the carriages and horses, and after bidding farewell to Kagatob, he left with Tashi Wangdo's party. Prince Xuanbao was still sitting in one of the carriages.

On the way, Taihao jokingly asked Tashi Wangdo: "General, I heard that the new Tibetan Zampushang is still in infancy, I wonder how he gave you orders?" ”

Tashi Wangduo said with a smile: "Lord Taihao is really joking, Zampu is in swaddling clothes, so naturally he will not give me an order." The main ones who gave orders to us were the three queen mothers, as well as several ministers. ”

Tai Haoqi said: "I heard that the hero of Kozha Demba said that the predecessor Zampu Yangwu Rongzan had five wives, why is there only three queen mothers now?" ”

Tashi Wangdo said: "Lord Taihao doesn't know, the predecessor Zampu did have five wives, but they are now the empress dowager. And the current three queen mothers are the three wives of Tashi Dawa, and the current Tsampuraba Dorjee is the grandson of the former Tsangpu Yangwu Rongtsen. ”

Tai Hao nodded and said, "That's right, I remembered, that's what Kozha Demba Daxia said." ”

Tashi Wangdo continued: "Naturally, today's major affairs in the government are still decided by several important ministers. Although they often had differences in political opinions, they reached an unprecedented consensus on the matter of welcoming Lord Taihao and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. ”

Tai Hao asked, "I don't know which important ministers?" ”

Tashi Wangdo said: "There are the great minister Zhuoer Beizan, the patriarch of the DPRK and the central government Zuren Xide, the generals Shang Jieyun Tsen and Desi Songtsen, as well as some ministers of Lobsang Tenzin, Nima Sanji, Dorje Pubu and Bu Zhashi. ”

Tai Hao was well aware of the complicated situation in the Tibetan court, and he remembered what Kozha Demba had said, so that he could discuss strategies with the current Grand Minister, Zhuoer Beizan. Because Zhuoer Beizan is not only an official who promotes peace with the Eastern Empire, but also like an ancient well without waves, upright, and like a storm, he does not drag mud and water at all. He is not the kind of official who is stale and stubborn, but he is quite capable, and he can be called a clear stream in the DPRK and China.

Taihao asked Tashi Wangduo again, "General Tashi, is it the guard in the Tibetan Palace?" ”

Tashi Wangdo said in a deep voice: "We are not the guards of the imperial city, but the soldiers of General Shang Jieyunzan's mansion. General Shang Jieyunzan has given us strict orders that we must do our best to protect Lord Taihao and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. ”

Hearing this, Taihao's heart couldn't help but ripple. It stands to reason that to greet the envoys of neighboring countries, it is necessary to have the solemnity and majesty of the official armies of the DPRK and China. This kind of scene of greeting envoys with officials and soldiers was unheard of by him. This is not in accordance with the rules and etiquette, what does Shang Jieyun Praise mean?

Tai Hao's mind was swirling with doubts, and his mind was racing, thinking about all kinds of possibilities. Is it Shang Jieyunzan who wants to show them his eclectic personality? Or did he deliberately give them a disgrace in this way as a sign of disrespect to them? Or is there some deeper conspiracy he is hiding in this way?

After a long day of traveling, they passed by a desolate town called Doma. By this time it was getting late and there was silence all around, and they decided to pitch their tents in this desolate place for the night.

In the night, beside the bonfire, Taihao and Prince Xuanbao sat opposite each other. Taihao's eyes flashed with vigilance, and from time to time he looked around with alert eyes. He felt the tension in the team, as if to signal that something was about to happen.

Just then, a rustle broke the silence. Tai Hao immediately followed the prestige, only to see a team of dozens of warriors walking towards them. Their faces were resolute, and their bodies were filled with a thick murderous aura.

Taihao's heart suddenly lifted. He stared nervously at the group, thinking that they had come to assassinate the prince. He quickly stood up, ran to the side of Prince Xuanbao without hesitation, and assumed the posture of a guard.

Xuanbao felt Taihao's tension and protection, and his heart was both moved and guilty. He motioned to Taihao not to be impulsive, trying to see through the smoke of the campfire.

The teams confronted each other around a campfire. The leading warrior finally broke the silence, he glanced at Taihao and the crown prince Xuanbao, and said loudly: "We were sent by Vice Minister Lobsang Tenzin to greet the envoys of the Eastern Empire, may I ask which of you is?" ”

Taihao's mood eased slightly after hearing this. He found that the warriors were not coming at him, but to meet them. However, before he could open his mouth to respond, Tashi Wangdo had already said to the leading warrior: "The envoys of the Eastern Empire are all right, you can go back." ”

The leading warrior asked suspiciously, "Who are you?" ”

Tashi Wangdo replied lightly: "You don't have to know who I am. All you have to do is go back and tell Vice-Chancellor Lobsang Tenzin that they don't need to worry about the safety of the envoys of the Eastern Empire, and that it is our duty to protect them and make sure nothing goes wrong. ”

The leading warrior said firmly: "I'm afraid I can't help you, we have received an order that we must take back the envoys of the Eastern Empire, otherwise we will not be polite." ”

Tashi Wangdo smiled and shook his head, he looked at the leading warrior with a cold glint in his eyes.

"The order you received was only to bring back the envoys," Tashi Wangdo said, "and it did not say that you were to take action against the envoys of the Eastern Empire. The Eastern Empire envoys don't need your protection, we have our own protectors. ”

The leading warrior frowned, his gaze darting up and down Tashi Wangdo, as if assessing the strength of the other party. Then, he took a deep breath and said with resolute determination in his tone: "I must carry out my mission. ”

Tashi Wangdo didn't speak again, his hand already gripping the hilt of his sword. A fight is about to break out.

Seeing the tense situation, Taihao hurriedly stood up and said to them with a solemn expression: "Don't do it!" There was a calmness and majesty in his voice. Then, he turned to the leading martial artist and asked with a firm gaze, "Dare to ask what this hero should be called?" ”

The leading warrior smiled slightly when he heard this, and replied calmly: "If you don't change your name or change your surname in the downstream, you won't change your surname, Prandorjee." His voice was as loud as the bell, with a hint of pride.

Tai Hao nodded slightly, and said in a gentle tone: "Master Puranduoji, I don't know if Vice Minister Lobsang Tenzin has ever told you why he insisted on asking you to take the envoys of the Eastern Empire." His gaze looked through Prandorjee's figure, as if he could see through everything.

Prarandorjee's eyes froze, and after a moment of contemplation, he replied, "Are you an envoy from the Eastern Empire?" There was a hint of confusion and curiosity in his tone.

Tai Hao directly and resolutely refused: "I'm not, I'm just an ordinary official, and I followed Lord Tashi Wangduo to deliver things to the city. There was a sense of sincerity and honesty in his voice.

Pralan Duoji smiled slightly, a hint of appreciation flashed in his eyes, and said slowly: "Looking at your appearance, I thought you were the envoy from the Eastern Empire, since you are not, then it's okay." Have you ever met the envoys of the Eastern Empire? There was a hint of regret and curiosity in his voice.

Tashi Wangduo was extremely smart, and he instantly guessed the real reason why Taihao denied that he was the envoy of the Eastern Empire. He smiled and responded: "I thought what kind of envoy you were talking about, you go further, maybe the envoy from the Eastern Empire is now in Dafeichuan." There was a hint of banter and ridicule in his words.

Hearing this, Prandohjee frowned slightly, but then relaxed. So, he hurriedly took the dozens of warriors towards Dafeichuan.

The reason why Taihao deceived them was because he didn't know what the reason for Shang Jieyunzan and Lobsang Tenzin were fighting to pick him up, let alone which of them was good and which was bad. In order to avoid causing greater strife and strife, he had no choice but to deceive Prandoji.