After setting the tone, the Imperial Court immediately sent messengers to Gao Chang to convey the appointment of the Anxi Protectorate in Gao Chang. The officials who had been appointed to the Protectorate of the Western Regions would also set off soon after.
"The journey from Lan Province to Chang 'an is the easiest and fastest. You can ride a horse during the day and take a carriage at night. Traveling day and night, you can travel a thousand li in a single day." In the Chang 'an relay station, the three messengers proudly described their wonderful journey, drawing many admiring gazes.
"A thousand li in a single day!" Quite a few people were in an uproar. The fastest speed they had experienced was the express carriage of the Mo Family Village, which traveled eight hundred li from Chang 'an to Luoyang in a single day. If they continued to travel at night, it was possible to travel a thousand li in a single day.
"Although there are relay stations along the way from Lan Province to Jade Gate Pass, you can only ride horses. Moreover, the relay stations are quite far apart, but at least you have a hot meal and a place to rest. The truly difficult part is getting out of Jade Gate Pass, especially the two thousand li Gobi Desert. That's the most difficult journey. Each person has to ride three horses, bring enough water and food, and pass through as quickly as possible. Otherwise, once you run out of water or get lost, only death awaits you." When the three of them talked about the hardships of the journey, it immediately attracted waves of surprised cries.
The three of them looked at each other and couldn't help but feel proud. They had just received the Imperial Court's appointment, and this time, the three of them were the ones carrying the mission. Of course, there was no need for them to rush back eight hundred li. They could rest for a day and continue the journey the next morning.
"The three of you have worked hard."
"I would like to ask the three of you to retell the story of Mo Jiazi destroying the city in a single strike."
… … …
There were many merchants coming and going in the Chang 'an relay station, and they couldn't help but encourage them.
The leader of the messengers couldn't help but reveal a hint of pride. In the past two days, he had recounted Mo Jiazi destroying the city in a single strike countless times, and each time, there would be cheers.
"Speaking of which, ever since the start of the Western Expedition, Merton has created miracle after miracle. First, he created the Merton hat …" The leader of the messengers immediately attracted everyone's attention after laying out the legendary deeds of the Mo Family's Western Expedition. He continued until the last part where he destroyed the city with one strike. This immediately made the group of traveling merchants exclaim in admiration. After a long time, he reluctantly left.
Only after the crowd had left did the three messengers reluctantly return to the relay station to prepare. After all, they had to leave early the next morning to deliver the message to Gao Chang.
"Warriors, please wait!" Just as the three messengers were about to return, an old man, and his name was Mo Jiazi.
"What can I do for you, sir?" The three turned around and asked in surprise.
The elder in black said respectfully, "The three of you have spread the name of our young master. The Mo family is once again very grateful."
When the leader of the messengers heard that the old man was from the House of Mo, he immediately said respectfully, "So it's the Senior House of Mo. We were just telling the truth. If it weren't for Merton, we might still be fighting in a hot place like Gao Chang!"
The old man cupped his hands and said, "This old man is here today to ask for a favor. You may not know, but Princess Changle is pregnant. Now that the Gao Chang has been decided, if my Young Master can come back early, he may be able to make it in time for the Princess to give birth. Please send a message to my Young Master on behalf of the House of Mo."
As the old man spoke, he took out three stacks of banknotes and quietly stuffed them into the hands of the three messengers.
The three messengers roughly looked and immediately knew that there were at least dozens of banknotes, each of which was worth one tael of banknotes. However, the leader of the messengers refused without hesitation, "We admire Merton's character. It's our honor to deliver the good news to him. How can we accept this money?"
The black-robed elder persuaded them again and again before the three of them reluctantly agreed. Before they left, the black-robed elder was still full of praise. "The three of you are really strong warriors. The Mo Family will definitely remember your kindness."
After the old man left, the messenger at the side counted the banknotes happily and said, "There are a total of 20 taels of banknotes. The House of Mo is really rich. We didn't get so much even after taking such a big risk in the Western Region."
The leader of the messengers frowned and shouted coldly, "Are you looking for death? How dare you talk nonsense?"
Only then did the messenger at the side shut up in embarrassment. Although their robbery in the Gao Chang was an open secret of the Gao Chang, if the imperial court heard about it, no one would be able to bear the consequences.
"Merton is our comrade. Delivering a message is just a small matter. If we can use this opportunity to form a good relationship with Merton, that would be the best. However, we still need to be careful. We still need to confirm whether this news is true before we can deliver the message." The leader of the messengers shouted coldly.
The two messengers suddenly felt a chill in their hearts. If they delivered fake news, then they would have to bear the consequences.
"The two of you go and ask around. See if Princess Changle is really pregnant." The leader of the messengers ordered.
The two messengers hurriedly left and soon brought back accurate news. That was, Princess Changle was indeed pregnant. The leader of the messengers nodded slowly and the doubts in his heart disappeared.
Obviously, the people in the shadows saw all of this. Although the process was rather turbulent, the outcome was even more realistic.
The next day, the three messengers once again mounted their horses. Carrying the orders of the imperial court, they quickly galloped westward. Following behind them, the officials of the protectorate also learned, whether intentionally or not, that Princess Changle was six months pregnant and hoped that the son of the Mo family could return before giving birth. Naturally, the officials selected to serve as protectorates all understood this tacitly.
Afterwards, this opinion spread very quickly. As a matter of fact, even Princess Changle and Empress Zhangsun had similar opinions.
"In my opinion, the princess is about to give birth, and there's no one in the Mo clan who can make decisions. It's only right for the prince consort to return early. How can a woman not have a man by her side when she gives birth?"
"That's right. Moreover, the battle in Gao Chang has already ended. The prince consort has contributed greatly, so it's reasonable for him to return early."
"That's right. Giving birth is so risky. If there's no man by her side, how is it possible?"
… … …
Almost all the noblewomen who had met Princess Changle and Empress Zhangsun held this opinion and urged the Mo clan to return early. For a moment, the conspiracy regarding Mo Jiazi silently spread through the court.
"Meton is fighting for the country. Now that the army has not returned, how can he return on his own?"
"Now that there's a hospital for women and children, the risk of giving birth is very low. Changle alone is enough."
Fortunately, Empress Zhangsun and Princess Changle still had some sense and tactfully refused. However, everyone thought that they had good intentions, but they did not know that good intentions could also lead to bad things.
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