Mythical Three Kingdoms

Incidentally, Severus also learned an interesting piece of news, which was that the Han people, like them, had black hair and black eyes, completely different from those glamorously fair-haired and blue-eyed barbarians, so relatively speaking, both sides could accept each other better than the barbarians just from their appearance.

After all, compared to the fair-haired and blue-eyed barbarians, the two sides were quite similar after mingling for a long time, and both were quite tall, so in this respect, it seemed they had a better foundation for negotiations than those other glamorous types.

Of course, for Severus, this was just an added benefit. If both sides were cast from the same mold, at least communication wasn’t too difficult; if the ethnic differences were too vast, the enormous differences would be apparent from appearances alone, making negotiations somewhat challenging.

As for the cartloads of silk that Serali brought back, compared to the silk sold by those merchants, the level of the official gift silk was higher. If it was said to be Shu Brocade, then it’s indeed Shu Brocade, without any counterfeits, and the price was so cheap that it made the veins on Severus’s forehead bulge.

If Severus’s previous feeling towards Parthia was hatred, now it was almost to the extent of wanting to dig out and flog the ancestors of those Parthian bastards. Is there such a shameless middleman as you? Is this how you raise prices?

After seeing such a large quantity of precious silk, Severus’s interest in the Han Dynasty greatly increased, prompting him to prepare a thousand-strong delegation to negotiate with the Han Dynasty.

In addition, he ordered them to buy more silk on the way back; according to Severus’s plan, by the time this diplomatic mission returned next year, they would surely have defeated Parthia.

However, Severus was unaware that Parthia was brewing its own major move, waiting to let Rome experience deep pain.

Meanwhile, on the road in the Western Regions, Zhuge Liang and his party were unhurriedly heading to their destination, with the three leading figures guiding their followers, and an army of about fifty thousand, slowly advancing in the arid climate.

”Hmph, there’s nothing here but sand and desert, Ziming, don’t you find it annoying?” Sunx Quan said with depression as he looked at Lyu Meng.

Ever since Sunx Quan’s brother suddenly informed him he didn’t need to return to Jing-Xiang, instead assigning him a ten-thousand-strong army to go to the Western Regions, Sunx Quan inexplicably felt abandoned.

Or rather, it shouldn’t be said he was abandoned, but that after inheriting the title of Marquis of Wucheng, his brother intended to separate the family, unfortunately leaving Sunx Quan with only Lyu Meng, Pan Zhang, and a ten-thousand-strong force from the vast Sunx Family.

What displeased him even more was that his brother Sunx Ce, as if indifferent to whether he was willing or not, sent him to the Western Regions without giving him the chance to argue. Sunx Quan wanted to question Sunx Ce, but looking at his brother’s sharp eyes, Sunx Quan was left speechless.

Yet those pent-up grievances remained in Sunx Quan’s chest, unable to find an outlet.

”It’ll be fine once we reach the destination.” Lyu Meng said calmly to Sunx Quan. Although he seemed simple and dull, how could he be foolish if he could awaken his Spiritual Talent? From Sunx Quan’s tone and expression throughout the journey, he had already noticed the hidden discontent in Sunx Quan’s heart.

Lyu Meng couldn’t understand what Sunx Quan had to complain about. After losing the Imperial Seal, his brother did not pursue it. Hearing there was a training ground in the Western Regions, knowing a major war might follow in the Central Plains, he promptly sent his brother away for training. Yet, Sunx Quan was still full of grudges.

Lyu Meng felt helpless. Sunx Ce, at Sunx Quan’s age, shouldered the survival of the Sunx Family, yet still faced challenges positively, fought, and strived hard, starting from scratch, ultimately establishing such a great foundation.

Over the years, none from the Sunx Family, the old or the young, suffered hardships, simply because Sunx Ce’s grand figure was at the forefront, shielding them from wind and rain. Yet now, Sunx Quan had grievances.

Originally, during several interactions in Jing-Xiang, Lyu Meng thought the second young master was a decent person. Now, Lyu Meng could only say he lacked enough interaction. If not for Sunx Ce and Zhou Yu repeatedly instructing Lyu Meng to look after Sunx Quan, Lyu Meng might have silently distanced himself from Sunx Quan by now.

This guy doesn’t appreciate kindness and doesn’t use his brain for deep consideration; Lyu Meng was indeed helpless. Sunx Quan not only looked unlike Sunx Jian but also had a completely different character.

”How long until we reach the destination, and where are we even going? We’ve already passed small states in the Western Regions and even Wuxi Colonel’s Office, why keep heading west?” Sunx Quan said with a hint of agitation. The farther west they went, the more he felt like he was being exiled. Arid, desert, sandstorms, is this really for my benefit?

”It should take about ten more days, roughly ten days at our pace,” Lyu Meng replied leisurely.

”Huh, was it mentioned? So where exactly are we heading?” Sunx Quan looked at Lyu Meng suspiciously, wondering why he was entirely unaware.

”Military Advisor Zhuge previously explained everything and notified of the mission’s purpose.” Lyu Meng said calmly. At that time, Sunx Quan, discontent with Zhuge Liang, didn’t attend.

After all, except for Chen Gong, Zhang Liao, and Gao Shun on this march, the rest were essentially young people. The older ones like Wei Yan and Pan Zhang were just in their early twenties, while the younger ones like Sunx Quan were only sixteen or seventeen.