Chapter 227: Inscription on Langjuxu Mountain

One day later.

When Mo Xiaobai found Ban Chao and proposed to take a group of skilled craftsmen from the Western Regions with him, Ban Chao paused for a moment, then spoke with a smile: “The Baron actually has an interest in the skilled craftsmen of the Western Regions?”

“This battle in the Western Regions seemed to favor our Han Army, but half of the credit should go to those Western Region master artisans. If they hadn’t been able to build cities and manufacture crossbows and many other offensive and defensive weapons, even if this subordinate had extraordinary abilities, I could not have held the Kingdom of Yarkand so securely. Old General Ban owes the Western Regions a tremendous favor of rebirth.”

Mo Xiaobai, having experienced hardship in his past life, was not blinded by this momentary glory. In this great battle, many things played a decisive role.

For example, those massive Western Region shields that could deflect sharp arrows and link together to form a shield wall, and the Han crossbows that Ban Chao brought from the Great Han and then improved with Western Regions smelting and forging techniques, making them even more powerful.

Even the craftsmen who built cities and fortresses, these seemingly unimportant professionals, were definitely the perfect territory citizens that any Lord Player would never have too many of.

Before Ban Chao arrived in the Western Regions, there were already deep foundations from various forces there. After all, this place had always gathered people from the Great Han, Persia, Greece, Rome, India, and other places. The collision and sublimation of cultures had appeared unknowingly, it just lacked a person who could completely integrate all these things.

Ban Chao’s arrival was like a key to opening Pandora’s box. Mo Xiaobai now was simply looking to pick up bargains, or rather, to pry away Old Man Ban’s foundation.

As for the thought of inviting Old Man Ban to Daming Village, even if Mo Xiaobai was as arrogant as he was, he dared not even think of it.

Old Man Ban’s glorious life was all left in the Western Regions, so it was best for him to stay there well. If they met in the Plane in the future, there might be a chance to ask Ban Chao to help defend a region.

Mo Xiaobai showed respect to Ban Chao, and Ban Chao was equally willing to help the young Lord before him. He nodded immediately: “Since the Baron has spoken, how can this old man refuse to give a bit of face? When the main army returns to Shule, I will allocate 30 artisans from various trades to you. Is that enough?”

“Thank you, Old General, for your help!”

Getting Ban Chao’s approval, Mo Xiaobai was overjoyed and clasped his fists. Although he could have recruited people on his own using money without Ban Chao’s order, doing so would have only allowed him to hire some second-rate Western Region craftsmen. The true top-tier master artisans were definitely still in Ban Chao’s own possession.

Now that the old man was willing to give away 30 people, Mo Xiaobai was already very satisfied. When this group moved into Daming Village, they would surely directly promote improvements across the village.

With the first major matter settled, Mo Xiaobai quickly started his second “major matter.”

He threw aside all the “inferior” heavy armor made in Daming Town for the Heavy Halberd Soldiers and picked over a hundred sets from the armor captured from the Kushan army to equip his own soldiers.

Taking a batch of armor for personal gain, the Dayuan Horses were naturally also not to be missed. The configuration was one soldier per horse, and the best warhorses were picked. With War Generals like Li Guang and Li Ji, there was no fine steed that could accidentally slip by unnoticed.

As the overall Commander of the army, Ban Chao naturally saw all of Mo Xiaobai’s actions. However, the old man was in a great mood at this moment and did not take the Kushan prisoners seriously. When Mo Xiaobai took a portion of them, he simply chose to pretend he hadn’t seen it.

Three days later, when the main army returned to Shule, Ban Chao fulfilled his promise more readily than ever, directly handing over all 30 master artisans of various types into Mo Xiaobai’s hands.

Having received the full reward, Mo Xiaobai then took his leave from Ban Chao:

“Old General, we part ways today. I hope we meet again in the future!”

“May we meet again. However, this old man cannot see you off to the distance.”

“Goodbye!”

Mo Xiaobai bowed and took another leave, then quickly led his soldiers to return to Yarkand. However, just as Mo Xiaobai was riding back and was only half a day’s journey away from the Kingdom of Yarkand, the Great Han Dynasty announcement spread across every corner of the Great Han again:

“Great Han Dynasty Announcement~ Congratulations to Player ‘Young Master Lanshan’ for collaborating with Dou Xian to chase, capture, and apprehend the Chanyu of the Northern Xiongnu, forcing the Chanyu of the Northern Xiongnu to surrender to the Han. The Northern Xiongnu have thus vanished from history, and the centuries of warfare between the Great Han and the Xiongnu are declared finished. Special reward: 1000 Merit for ‘Young Master Lanshan’, and a reward of 200 Merit for all Great Han Players.”

“Great Han Dynasty Announcement~ Because the Chanyu of the Northern Xiongnu was captured, the Xiongnu have completely submitted to the Great Han. The Cavalry General Dou Xian has led his army to retreat to Langjuxu Mountain, where he has inscribed a stone stele to record his achievements. All Great Han Players may now travel to Langjuxu Mountain to witness the ceremony.”

The Chanyu of the Northern Xiongnu had been captured!

As the Intellect Brain’s announcement entered the ears of every player, all Great Han Players could not help but feel exhilarated deep in their hearts.

The Xiongnu!

This great border menace that had plagued the Huaxia land for thousands of years had finally reached its end at this very moment!

“They caught the Chanyu?”

In the Western Regions, Mo Xiaobai, who was on his way marching, heard the Intellect Brain’s announcement and couldn’t help but rein in his horse to a stop.

Young Master Lanshan!

It actually turned out to be him!

Mo Xiaobai remembered very clearly. Although this Instance in his past life also ended in a total victory for the Great Han, the final victory was not perfect. The Chanyu of the Northern Xiongnu had, just as historical records stated, mysteriously disappeared amidst the players’ searches and pursuits.

But now, the Chanyu of the Northern Xiongnu had actually been found.

This was another important change in the course of the Instance.

“I have already brought the Dong sisters back to my Territory early. I didn’t expect Young Master Lanshan to encounter new Opportunities. This is quite interesting.”

“We are all Lords from around Dang Mountain. We will surely meet one day. When that time comes, I must take a careful look at what this City Lord of Ice and Fire actually looks like.”

Muttering these words to himself, Mo Xiaobai quickly raised an eyebrow and looked forward.

Although Young Master Lanshan capturing the Chanyu of the Northern Xiongnu alive was surprising, it would not affect Mo Xiaobai’s own train of thought. At most, he would silently praise the fellow’s good fortune a couple of times, then continue to urge his horse to keep moving.

Half a day later, Mo Xiaobai returned to the Wang City of Yarkand, met up with Liu Ye who had stayed in the city, and immediately gathered the wealth and goods that Liu Ye had organized.

At this moment, Mo Xiaobai wished he had ten Xumi Bags in his hands because there were so many spoils of war that a single Xumi Bag was simply not enough to hold them all.

After finally sorting through everything and packing the most precious batch of spoils into the bag, Mo Xiaobai reluctantly handed the rest of the wealth over to the Volunteer Soldiers of the Great Han who were within the Kingdom of Yarkand.

With this, the rewards from Mo Xiaobai’s trip to the Western Regions were basically all secured. There was just one last person left for him to handle personally.

…

Travelling three thousand li to the northern frontier, inscribing a stele under Langjuxu Mountain.

While Mo Xiaobai was busy collecting wealth in the Western Regions, the foot of Langjuxu Mountain, a thousand li away, became lively again.

The Han Army ran back and forth, and Players laughed and talked happily.

Everyone was waiting, waiting for the moment of glory about to begin.

Half a day later, a group of Great Han officials and scholars, including Dou Xian, Geng Bing, Geng Kui, and Ban Gu, walked hand in hand up to the top of Langjuxu Mountain. Instantly, the entire Langjuxu Mountain echoed with Han military music.

As for where to carve the stone stele, the Guardian Ban Gu had long ago found a suitable spot.

As this group of officials began the ceremony to sacrifice to heaven, all Players unconsciously straightened their chests and stood tall.

The backbone of the Han was just like the giant Stone Stele before their eyes!

Standing tall and straight on the peak of Langjuxu Mountain!