The Human Emperor (200-400)

C337: Hidden Secret!

The might of forty True Martial realm veterans immediately showed through. Reminiscent of steel were the many True Martial halos; wherever they crossed, bandits would fall.

The raid was reaching its end, and they would soon be able to return victoriously. But at this moment, Wang Chong's mind was filled with the final words of that Arab assassin.

Wang Chong had interrogated him without much expectation, but who knew that he would actually manage to obtain some useful information.

"What did that fellow say?"

The refreshing fragrance of lotus leaves drifted up from behind him. Bai Siling took one last glance at the Arab assassin before walking up to Wang Chong.

Compared to everything else, Bai Siling was far more interested in Wang Chong's peculiar reaction.

"It seems like the Tibetans are up to something." Without hiding anything, Wang Chong told her what Ma Song had told him before, as well as the dying words of the Arab assassin.

That Arab assassin used to serve as a bodyguard of a wealthy Arab merchant, but on a journey to the Central Plains, the merchant party was raided by a bandit band, and the wealthy merchant died. By some stroke of luck, he managed to escape, thus surviving the ordeal.

But at the same time, he was left with nothing. In this foreign land, there was no kin or friend he could rely on, and even communication with the locals was an issue. Thus, the only local possible option left for him was to become a bandit.

He hoped that he could earn sufficient money to return back to his homeland.

But due to the language barrier, he ended up operating alone. In fear of the powerful armies of the royal court, he had to tread warily, so he hadn't been able to make significant gains yet. But one day, he met a Tibetan man.

The other party promised him that as long as he followed orders, he would help him to return to the Abbasid Caliphate, and even help him arrange his redemption.

"Redemption?" Bai Siling asked in confusion.

"Un. While I described him as a bodyguard, he was actually a slave. To be clutching onto life despite the death of his master whom he had sworn to protect with his life, he could easily be sentenced to a death penalty back in the Caliphate. Even if he were to return, all that would be waiting for him is death," Wang Chong replied.

The Abbasid Caliphate operated by a hierarchical structure far more rigid and stern then Great Tang, and slavery was commonplace there. As Bai Siling had never come into contact with that aspect of it before, she was unaware of it.

Hearing those words, Bai Siling fell into deep thought.

"Did he describe the appearance of that Tibetan man?"

"He couldn't remember much of the characteristics of that person. All he recalled was that the other party had instructed him to limit his activities to this area and cause as much trouble to Great Tang as possible. In fact, he had never even met the group of bandits below, or interacted with them before," Wang Chong replied.

"What are the Tibetans thinking? Is there any meaning to such actions?" Bai Siling fell into deep thought. The actions of the Tibetans were incomprehensible to her.

"While we don't know their true motive, it is a fact that the royal court and His Majesty have always viewed the route to the west with great importance. If there is a spike in the activity of the bandits along this stretch, that would pose a great threat to Great Tang's economic activities. Out of consideration for their safety, it is possible that the merchants from Abbasid Caliphate and Charax Spasinu might even avoid trading with Great Tang altogether.