In the ninth year of Long'an, Jialai Yinghuo died, and the crown prince succeeded to the throne. He formally announced his surrender on behalf of the eighteen tribes. The new wolf king was conferred the title of king, and he received the decree after three kneelings and nine kowtows. The entire sparsely populated grassland of the eighteen tribes was incorporated into the Shuobei Province in the northernmost part of Daliang, and all the surrendered nobles were under the control of the Shuobei Governor.

From then on, the eighteen tribes no longer paid annual tribute to the imperial court, and all taxes were unified into ordinary taxes. The imperial court established a special agency to be responsible for the mining and transportation of the vast purple gold fields.

The whole country of Daliang celebrated.

Shen Yi stayed behind temporarily to take over, while Gu Yun was going back to the capital to report, and Madam Cao went with him. Chen Qingxu had just copied down the entire book of the Goddess's Secret Technique and had not had time to digest it, so he also said goodbye and went back to the Chen family.

Before leaving, Gu Yun called her aside. At first, he wanted to ask Wuergu if she was sure of solving the problem, but then he felt that it was useless to ask. A reliable person like Chen Qingxu would definitely not say anything. At most, he would say "I'll try my best." In this case, there would be nothing more to say. He thanked Chen Qingxu very solemnly and said, "I rely entirely on Miss Chen."

Chen Qingxu turned aside and didn't dare to accept the gift. He explained to Gu Yun for the first time: "Xiao Cao helped me translate a lot these past two days. In the secret arts of the goddess, witchcraft and poison are inseparable. Many incredible practices are ritualistic. Which ones are indeed meaningful and which ones are nonsense? It's hard for me to tell clearly at the moment. Marshal, give me some time."

Gu Yun hurriedly said it was okay.

Chen Qingxu took out another sealed envelope and reminded him, "These are all health-care prescriptions. Taking them once or twice won't work. You have to rely on time to slowly recover. The Marshal has lost too much, so it's better than nothing. You have to use medicine in moderation anyway."

Gu Yun nodded and put it away. When he looked up, he caught a glimpse of Shen Yi staring at him eagerly.

Shen Yi glared at him. Gu Yun had known him for so many years, but this was the first time he knew that Shen Jiping's eyes could actually be so smart as to curse people - anyway, he clearly saw the resentment in Shen Yi's eyes that said "Why do you two have so much to say?"

Gu Yun rolled his eyes at him and thought, "You are just standing there watching, can you expect a naturally taciturn girl to take the initiative to talk to you? There are useless people every year, but this year there are especially many."

The two of them exchanged glances for a while. Finally, Shen Yi couldn't help but walked over and said to Gu Yun unhappily, "Marshal, it's time to go. Don't waste time."

Then he turned to Chen Qingxu shyly.

Gu Yun was too lazy to watch him being kicked three times without making a single move, so he gently tapped Shen Yi on the waist with the handle of the whip, mounted his horse and left.

When Gu Yun returned to the capital to report, the common people had heard about it in advance and spread it by word of mouth. On the day of the incident, the streets were full of people waiting to catch a glimpse of the general of the Black Iron Camp. However, they waited for a long time and saw nothing. There were only a few civil servants representing the court to accept the surrender, along with the former Northern Frontier Garrison, the former Central Plains Garrison, and an unknown lieutenant general of the Black Iron Camp. Gu Yun found an inconspicuous little carriage and went home the night before. He went directly to the palace to meet the emperor the next day.

He used to love the style of parading through the streets and throwing fruits on the carriages, and his eyelids would hurt from blinking at the pretty girls on the roadside. But now he doesn't love it anymore, firstly because Jiangnan has not been recovered and he has no face, and secondly, he gradually began to dislike the glitz and bustle... He couldn't tell why, maybe he was tired, or maybe he was old.

At this time, Chang Geng, who was dawdling on the way north, had not returned yet. Chang Geng was not at home, and Gu Yun had nothing to do in the mansion except listening to birds and cursing in the street. He did not dare to relax and eat and sleep for three to five days to cultivate his vitality - that was the way of young people, and he no longer had such conditions. If he really relaxed his mental strings, he was afraid that what was waiting for him was not a refreshed spirit, but a serious illness.

So he hurriedly signed in before Li Feng, and then he had to rush to Jiangbei.

Before Gu Yun left, Feng Han paid him a visit.

Lord Fenghan didn't even have time to drink a sip of tea before he sat down and was eager to pull Gu Yun away: "Marshal, Prince Yan sent a letter asking me to show you this before you leave."

Gu Yun laughed and said, "Why, Lord Feng Han created a sea monster?"

Zhang Fenghan laughed and kept the secret without saying anything. A few years ago, he looked like an old man who had no one to see him off to the grave. It turned out that he had nothing to do. In recent years, he has lived in Lingshu Courtyard all day and night. Instead, he looks like an old tree that has blossomed, with a rosy face, as if he had met a beautiful old lady.

Gu Yun had no choice but to get on the old man's car and took on the role of serving tea and water, in order to prevent Zhang Fenghan from talking too much and making him dehydrated. "Mr. Fenghan is still strong and healthy at his old age, which is really enviable."

Zhang Fenghan hurriedly said "I dare not" and took the teacup. His gray beard twitched up and down, and he smiled and said, "The court needs an old man like me, and I am living a vigorous life. Everyone thinks that lighters and steel armor are dirty, but I have loved this business since I was a child. Not only do I love it, but I can also make a name for myself in it. Isn't that a good thing?"

Gu Yun pondered it and felt that this was true, but it was a pity that this principle could not be applied to him - it was normal for others to love lighters and steel armor, and it was also normal for officials to love high positions and generous salaries, but for him, saying that he loved fighting and killing people... It really didn't sound like a human being.

But it was he who chose this path at that time.

why?

Gu Yun couldn't remember for a moment, anyway, he remembered that when he was a child, he hated the words "going to the border" because it meant parting with his playmates, seeing his scary father every day, and not eating or sleeping well. When he was in his teens, he was dragged to the battlefield by his father's old subordinates. Before he could get excited, there was a big mistake in the first battle... Later, he gradually got used to the days of eating sand in the border, and was young and frivolous for a few years. When he heard Jialai vaguely point out the truth of the change in the Black Iron Camp, his original desire to expand the territory was completely extinguished, and every day seemed to be just fulfilling his duties.

When the whole country was immersed in the joy of the great victory in the northern border and the recovery of the south of the Yangtze River was perhaps just around the corner, the commander of the four borders and an old man sat in a rickety carriage, questioning themselves about their choices and were puzzled - he recalled his own life and found that whether it was the desire to flaunt himself in the streets and win the hearts of beautiful women, or the desire to rule the world with his iron hoofs... they were all very dull.

What he can remember now are basically the times when he wanted to give up.

Just as he was lost in thought, Zhang Fenghan said, "Marshal, we're here."

Gu Yun had sorted out all the old things after a pause, and put on an expectant expression to cheer the old man up: "Why don't you tell me what Lingshuyuan has done?"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly felt the ground shaking subtly, as if some huge object was passing by with a "bang", and loud shouting came from outside the car.

Gu Yun jumped down from the carriage and froze.

He saw a huge thing standing in front of him. Gu Yun: "...Is this the steam rail car?"

It was as if the blueprints that he had flipped through in the post station on a cold night had come to life. On the front of the carriage was a lifelike relief of a hundred horses galloping. A horse head with angry hair was at the front, raising its head and neighing. Behind it were carriages that were obviously big enough to carry things. The complex devices on the wheels were exposed, making it dizzy to look at. For an amateur like Gu Yun, it was impossible to tell which ones were useful and which were purely decorative.

"The railway is still under construction. This section is only for trial running. It's not long." Zhang Fenghan was so excited that his nose was sweating. "Ge Chen! Where is Ge Chen?"

A small round face popped out of the window behind the horse's head: "Hey, Master! Lord!"

Zhang Fenghan: "Show the Marshal what our car looks like when it runs!"

Ge Chen stretched his neck and howled, "Alright!"

After saying that, he shrank back into the front of the train. A monkey-like young Lingshu held two flags and gestured in front. The steam rail car started slowly. A purple and golden fragrance that only Gu Yun could smell floated out from the steam on the roof. Then there was a long whistle. The tail behind it did not affect the movement of the front of the train at all. It ran steadily faster and faster.

Finally, he disappeared from Gu Yun's sight.

A bunch of crazy spirits around them started to chatter and shout again, and Zhang Fenghan could only shout to maintain order: "Where are the rules? Where are the rules! Can you please give me some face in front of Lord Anding?"

No one listened to him.

Zhang Fenghan could only turn to Gu Yun awkwardly and said, "Excuse me, Marshal. They have been doing this for the past two days. Every time the car runs, they call out. No matter who comes, it doesn't work. Well, to be honest, this thing was originally bought at a high price by Lord Du through his overseas connections. However, whether those foreigners were involved in the invasion of our dynasty or not, they were very cunning and hid several tricks. From the time they took over the land along the canal until now, countless fine iron and black iron have been wasted. If it weren't for His Royal Highness Prince Yan's secret help, this project would have been abandoned by the higher-ups long ago... These kids have a hard time. Don't pick on them for their bad behavior."

Gu Yun stood there with his hands behind his back, still staring at the direction where the steam train disappeared. He actually wanted to scream like the other spiritual masters beside him, but he was afraid of scaring others, so he had to force himself to be calm. However, his heart had already followed the long train driven by Zi Liujin and ran away.

A steel rail like an artery was laid along the banks of the canal, and the two rivers were no longer a place far away from the emperor.

Gu Yun couldn't help but think of the vision Chang Geng had once told him: "Let all the lighters on the ground return to the fields, and let the kites flying in the sky be filled with ordinary travelers who are returning to their hometowns with their families to visit relatives..."

Gu Yun turned to Zhang Fenghan and smiled sincerely, "Fortunately, I have not given up in all these years, otherwise where would I be able to see this magical object in the first place?"

Lord Fenghan didn't get the point at all: "Hahaha, the Marshal is joking."

Gu Yun didn't know what name the history books would leave for him a hundred years from now. Anyway, he was there when the two rebellions in the Western Regions were suppressed, he was there when the capital was about to fall, he was there when the Northern Frontier surrendered, and he was there when the first steam railway car roared away - thinking about this, the confusion he had in his heart on the way here was actually solved, and he found a little fun in "I am everywhere" from it.

In early May, Gu Yun set out for the south. He learned that the King of Yan was traveling along the official road by land, so he simply abandoned the eagle and rode along the official road with a team of light cavalry. As expected, he "accidentally" encountered the King of Yan's carriage in Zhili, not far from the capital.

Chang Geng did not intend to delay the journey. He was "sharpening the knife before chopping wood" and he met all the people he needed to meet along the way, preparing to stir up a storm without leaving any room for any harm as soon as he arrived in Beijing.

This was a journey full of calculations. He had not expected to run into Gu Yun, who came and went without a trace. When he heard the report from his men, he almost jumped out of the car.

He pretended to be very polite in front of others. As soon as he arrived at the inn where he was temporarily resting and closed the door and dismissed the people around him, Chang Geng wanted to stick to Gu Yun and touched him all over: "Why do you ride a horse on the official road? Aren't you tired? Did you get injured in the Northern Frontier? Give me your wrist... How is your diet these days? Did Chen Qingxu say anything?"

Gu Yun leaned aside and listened to him repeat the usual long-winded questions in his letters. He was not in a hurry and asked with a smile: "Which one do you want me to report first?"

Chang Geng laughed for a while, and then realized that he was too excited: "Such a long journey, why don't you use an eagle?"

Gu Yun: "We'll change at the garrison post ahead."

Chang Geng was stunned for a moment, and suddenly realized what Gu Yun meant. He looked up in astonishment: "You are doing this for..."

"Isn't it? I've been waiting for a long time on the way, just to rob His Royal Highness Prince Yan." Gu Yun stretched out his hands to support his body on both sides, resting his chin on Chang Geng's shoulder, and said lazily, "If you want to pass by here, leave money for passage."

Chang Geng's throat moved slightly, and he inexplicably thought of the hand that had been sent from a thousand miles away: "Robbery or rape? The wealth includes a palace, a villa, a shop that specializes in selling rare items, and..."

Gu Yun pretended to be surprised and said, "So rich? This is my first time to rob someone and I met such a fat sheep. I'm so lucky... Then I want to rape her!"

Chang Geng laughed, and pulled him down unexpectedly, leaning over to Gu Yun's ear and said, "Godfather, I'm sure you've seen the steam car, what about what you promised me?"

Gu Yun immediately regretted his decision: "Look at my poor tongue, I just said something wrong, let me try again - young man, you better pay."

Chang Geng said to him in a coquettish tone, "I don't have any cash. My husband has spent all the cash on wine and women. Can't I sell my body to pay for it?"

He had been in the Liangjiang camp for several months, and his accent was almost brought over. He didn't know where it came from, and the three words "my man" were dragged out into Gu Yun's ears, making his back numb. He had no way to deal with this kind of "heart and liver", so he had to give him whatever he wanted.

Unfortunately, they only had a hurried night of warmth and affection, as the next day they had to pack their luggage and pass each other by, one going north and the other going south, like a shift change.

Prince Yan officially returned to the court and took charge of the Grand Council again.

Fang Qin silently prepared two memorials. If Prince Yan failed to deal with the issue of beacon tickets effectively, he would report Prince Yan for bringing disaster to the country and the people. He was short-sighted in promoting beacon tickets, which led to the current chaos. By taking advantage of this issue, perhaps he could abolish Prince Yan's several administrative reforms and restore the court, which was full of all kinds of people, to its original state.

If those wealthy businessmen who did not buy into the Ministry of Revenue's account actually followed the intervention of Prince Yan and successfully covered up the beacon ticket issue, then there would be a lot to write about - didn't Prince Yan always pride himself on being impartial and upright? Fang Qin knew that he had already conspired with Du Wanquan and his gang, but he had never been able to catch any evidence against him. This time, it was a good opportunity to bring them all out and talk about them - as a prince, he was trying every means to transfer the country's financial power to this group of ambitious businessmen... who even went to sea several times and had connections with Westerners. What was he thinking?

Fang Qin was fully prepared and had no intention of letting King Yan turn over - when he and King Yan passed by each other and nodded to each other at the grand court meeting, Fang Qin could feel that King Yan was not going to let him go either.