vrcanaries Chapter 1303 Reunion with Yunqing. Urgen
Chapter 1303 Reunion with Yunqing. Urgen
The wind and snow poured into the warm palace corridors, bringing a biting chill, but it did nothing to cool his boiling blood.
He had never run so urgently before, and he was soon panting heavily...
Finally, his gaze pierced through the swirling snowflakes and locked onto the dark figure standing beside the sled outside the palace gates, draped in snow.
It's him!
It's really him!
That face that appeared countless times in his dreams, giving him boundless strength and guidance!
Though the hardships of life may have left their mark, his steadfast demeanor remained as firm as a mountain, and his eyes as deep as the starry sea...
Yunqing Urgen would rather die than admit his mistake!
"Pfft!"
Yunqing Urgen ran all the way to him and, without warning, knelt heavily on both knees on the cold, hard, snow-covered palace steps!
The dull thud of the knee hitting the ground was clear enough to send chills down your spine.
Immediately afterwards, this towering man, this eagle of the grasslands who had never flinched amidst countless sword fights and conspiracies, began to tremble violently and uncontrollably.
Huge, scalding tears, like beads from a broken string, spilled uncontrollably from his eyes!
They surged forth, flowing freely down his weathered, bearded, and resolute face, dripping onto the snow in front of him and melting into small, deep pits.
He opened his mouth, trying to shout, but could only utter broken, incoherent syllables: "Your...Your Highness...It really...is it you...Waaah..."
His massive body huddled in the wind and snow, trembling violently, crying like a child. All his strength and dignity vanished before this man, transforming into the purest and most vulnerable outpouring of emotion.
The surrounding Turkic guards were already dumbfounded, frozen in place like statues.
Even though they admired Xiao Ce so much, Yun Qing Urgen's actions surprised them.
After all, Yun Qing Urgen had previously been quite careful in cultivating his public image...
Seeing the Khan, who was as majestic as a god in their hearts, kneeling in the snow and crying uncontrollably in front of a seemingly ordinary traveler!
Xiao Ce was somewhat surprised to see Yun Qing.Urgen's appearance...
He had anticipated that Yunqing and Urgen would have a strong reaction.
However, I didn't expect Yunqing Urgen's reaction to be so strong...
Xiao Ce gently helped Yun Qing Urgen up, then said to him, "Yun Qing, who bullied you? Why are you so agitated..."
Yun Qing.Urgen knelt before Xiao Ce, shaking his head repeatedly, and said, "No...no one bullied me...I'm just so excited...I didn't expect, Your Highness, that you really came..."
Xiao Ce saw Yun Qing Urgen's expression, smiled, then rubbed his hands together and said to Yun Qing Urgen, "Aren't you going to invite me in? It's quite cold..."
Upon hearing Xiao Ce's words, Yun Qing.Urgen suddenly realized what was happening, gave an awkward smile, and then said to Xiao Ce, "Your Highness...look at my brain...please come in...please come in..."
He then respectfully followed beside Xiao Ce, who looked at the palace and said, "Not bad, it's quite well done..."
When Yunqing Urgen heard Xiao Ce say this, he scrutinized Xiao Ce's expression.
They seemed to be trying to see if Xiao Ce was being sincere or just pretending...
"Your Highness, I didn't really want to renovate it. After all, the previous palace was built under your supervision... but..."
Xiao Ce didn't explain to Yun Qing.Urgen, but said with a smile, "Why are you so nervous... Are you afraid I'll accuse you of being extravagant...?"
Yunqing Urgen gave an awkward smile.
Xiao Ce said to Yun Qing.Urgen, "It's only right that you enjoy yourself. Besides, I made you the Great Khan of the Turks, not a puppet... This is your land, and you should do whatever you want... Along the way, I've seen your people living very well."
"Furthermore, I've heard from Yin Weiyong that your Turkic Kingdom is Xiao Kingdom's most loyal and obedient ally... No matter what, even if it means you suffer a loss, you will still obey... Very good..."
"If you, the Khan, can't even manage these public projects properly, how can the people believe they can live a good life following you..."
Upon hearing Xiao Ce's words, Yun Qing.Urgen's tense expression relaxed considerably...
He led us inside the palace.
The interior of this palace blends Central Plains architectural style with Turkic influences. Inside, it's warm and cozy, with a huge bronze brazier blazing with charcoal, releasing the sweet scent of burning pine and dispelling the last vestiges of chill that had crept in from outside.
The walls are adorned with brightly colored Turkic tapestries depicting hunting, migration, and legends of tribal heroes, creating a striking contrast with the beams, pillars, and window lattices in the Central Plains style.
"You did a good job decorating. I thought you would decorate this place to look like the Central Plains..." Xiao Ce said approvingly as he looked around.
Upon receiving Xiao Ce's affirmation, Yun Qing Urgen was overjoyed. He nodded and then said to Xiao Ce, "Your Highness, I have strictly followed your advice... to preserve and respect the cultures of each tribe... I have also strictly followed your instructions..."
As he spoke, Yunqing Urgen invited Xiao Ce and Yin Pan'er to the two large chairs at the head of the table, which were covered with thick bearskin. He himself refused to sit down and remained standing respectfully to the side, as if he were facing an elder.
Xiao Ce gestured to the seat below him and said to Yun Qing Urgen, “Yun Qing, sit down and talk. You are now the Great Khan of the Turks, the ruler of a country, there is no need for such formalities. The relationship between you and me is different.”
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Yunqing Urgen remained extremely humble... He carefully sat down on the chair at the lower end, keeping his back straight and his hands properly placed on his knees.
"In front of Your Highness, Yunqing will always be that lowly soldier who has been given a second chance by Your Highness."
Yun Qing.Urgen spoke the truth; he was completely convinced of Xiao Ce's abilities.
Although, a long time ago, Yunqing Urgen himself had also had a tiny bit of a thought.
However, it turns out that it was fortunate he thought about it; his little schemes were incredibly wrong...
Since then, he has never had any of those messy thoughts again...
He took a deep breath and began to report to Xiao Ce on the situation of the Turkic Kingdom in recent years.
His narrative was clear and logical, demonstrating a thorough understanding of the territory under his rule:
"Your Highness, following your guidance back then, relying on the two major hubs of the Northern Desert Royal Palace and the Three Passes of the Western Regions, the Turks are making every effort to develop trade and transit."
Today, spices, jade, carpets, and dried fruits from the Western Regions, tea, porcelain, ironware, and cloth from the Central Plains, and even novelties from further west, are all gathered and distributed through our Turkic trade routes.
We established three large markets for the distribution of goods, hired specialized guard teams to ensure the safety of trade routes, and formulated unified tax rules, thus eliminating the previous bad practices of various tribes setting up private checkpoints and exploiting merchants.
"Thanks to the prosperity of trade, the national treasury has become much fuller. We used a considerable portion of it to build irrigation canals and water towers, following the example of the northern deserts and the western regions, which solved the drinking water problem for many tribes deep in the grasslands."
In several settlements near the northern desert, new-style schools were also built, and teachers from the Central Plains and the Western Regions were invited to teach, enabling the children to learn to read and write and to understand the outside world.
"The lives of the herders are much more stable now. We have promoted the penning and hay storage techniques that Your Highness piloted in the northern desert, which has greatly reduced livestock losses in winter."
The iron farming tools brought by the caravans enabled some areas near water sources and with fertile soil to begin trying to cultivate wheat and vegetables. Although the scale was small, it provided another way to make a living.
"As for military equipment, in accordance with the alliances with the Xiao Kingdom, the Western Regions, the Slavic Kingdom, and the Indian Kingdom, we have not expanded our army on a large scale, but we have retained enough elite cavalry and archers. All soldiers have been equipped with standard swords and some muskets provided by the Xiao Kingdom, and the drill manuals of the new Xiao Kingdom army have been introduced into daily training."
While we dare not claim to be comparable to the elite troops of the Xiao Kingdom, we are more than capable of protecting trade routes, suppressing small bands of bandits, and deterring those treacherous tribes in the surrounding areas. Your Highness, rest assured, with Yun Qing guarding the northern gateway, we will be safe! If a powerful enemy attacks, the entire Turkic people are willing to fight to the death for the Xiao Kingdom and for Your Highness!
"Moreover, whether it's India or Slavic countries, they are as docile as kittens... After all, whatever they want to do is ultimately driven by sufficient interests, and the East Asian alliance is so powerful that anyone who dares to clamor is courting death... So, Your Highness... you have truly created an unprecedented and unparalleled achievement."
"It created such a powerful and prosperous era..."
Listening to Yun Qing and Urgen's boasting, Xiao Ce laughed and said, "Yun Qing, this is all thanks to you..."
"You've done a great job. You've adapted to local conditions, seized the key element of trade, boosted people's livelihoods, and stabilized the border defenses. You haven't let me down, nor have you let down this land and your people who follow you. I'm very pleased to see the Turkic people in such a state today. Keep it up, and cooperate closely with the Mongolian Plateau, the Western Regions, India, and the Slavic countries. Only with stable trade can the entire northern frontier and the routes to the west remain unobstructed... and only then will it be a win-win situation..."
"Your Highness is too kind!"
Yun Qing was so excited that he was about to stand up and bow again, but Xiao Ce stopped him with a gesture: "These are all the foundations that Your Highness laid back then, and they pointed out the direction. Yun Qing is just following the old rules and doing his best."
Xiao Ce waved his hand and continued to praise, "You don't need to be so polite. Governing a region is your responsibility. By the way, don't overthink it. My trip here is not specifically for the Turks."
Yun Qing immediately sat up straight: "If Your Highness has any orders, none of the Turks would dare disobey! Although I don't know how I can help, if Your Highness gives the order, I and the entire Turkic tribe will naturally serve you with our lives..."
Xiao Ce smiled, then waved his hand and said, "There's nothing major that requires the Turks to mobilize their troops for the time being. I'm returning east from the Western Regions, passing through the northern desert, and I thought I'd stop by to see you and the changes in this land. My next stop is India."
Yun Qing was slightly taken aback, then suddenly realized, and nodded with understanding in his eyes: "Is Your Highness going to visit Queen Eva and His Highness the Little Prince?"
Xiao Ce nodded: "It's been quite a while since we left; it's time to go see them, mother and child. Besides, when we left, that child was still in Eva's womb..."
Yun Qing immediately replied, "Although trade routes between India and the Turks are open, the railway between them is still under construction, and it will take some time before it is completed..."
"Therefore, we still need to take the regular carriage. The journey to the Western Regions is long and arduous, Your Highness and Your Highness must be tired! I will immediately order the strongest and fastest horses and a guide familiar with the route to be prepared, and also send a team of elite guards to escort you along the way!"
Xiao Ce waved his hand and said decisively, "There's no need for guards. We'll travel light and simply, so we won't attract attention. We can prepare fast horses and guides, though. But there's no rush; we can discuss it tomorrow."
Yunqing Urgen agreed, then, remembering something, quickly said, "Your Highness and Princess Consort have come from afar, and a banquet has already been prepared. I humbly request that Your Highness and Princess Consort grace us with their presence. Also... let Yunqing's family pay their respects to Your Highness and Princess Consort and express their gratitude for Your Highness's benevolence!"
When talking about his family, this burly Turkic man showed a rare hint of embarrassment and anticipation on his face.
Xiao Ce glanced at Yin Pan'er, who smiled and nodded.
Xiao Ce then said to Yun Qing, "Alright, it'll be more lively if the whole family eats together. Besides, I've never actually met your wife and daughters before... let's get to know them..."
Upon hearing this, Yunqing Urgen was overjoyed. He immediately stood up, walked to the palace gate, and whispered a few instructions to the guards standing outside.
The guard accepted the order and ran off quickly.
Before long, a series of slightly hurried but deliberately light footsteps came from outside the palace gate.
Judging from the speed at which they arrived, it was clear that they had been waiting for a long time.
The temple door was gently pushed open, and a woman dressed in magnificent traditional Turkic clothing, with a headdress inlaid with jewels and feathers, led three children of different ages in, walking in somewhat nervously.
The woman had a beautiful face, with the healthy rosy complexion and heroic spirit unique to women of the grasslands, and her eyes were clear with awe.
The eldest of the three children was about ten years old, a robust-looking boy. The next oldest was a seven or eight-year-old girl, and the youngest boy looked only four or five years old. They were all wearing brand-new leather robes and looked at Xiao Ce and Yin Pan'er at the head of the table with curiosity and a little timidity.
Yunqing quickly went to greet her, took his wife's hand, and led the children into the hall.
He bowed to Xiao Ce and Yin Pan'er and said, "Your Highness, Your Highness, this is Yun Qing's wife, named Sa Ren, which means 'moon'. These three are Yun Qing's sons: Batu, Qiqige, and Suhe."