amaotonovel Chapter 1301 Leaving the Western Regions
Chapter 1301 Leaving the Western Regions
The people from Nanxi nodded, and said to Xiao Ce with some surprise, "Your Highness, you haven't gone to Tianzhu yet? I thought you had already gone..."
Xiao Ce smiled, then waved his hand and said, "That's right, I was held up by many things before..."
"However, it's not too late to go now. After all, so much time has already passed, a few more days won't make a difference..."
Da Lei, standing to the side, said to Xiao Ce, "Your Highness, I'll go with you... I've rested for quite some time now..."
Xiao Ce shook his head at Da Lei and then said, "You don't need to go. I'm not going to do anything. I'm just here for tourism, like I came to the Western Regions... You have a wife and children here now. You've been traveling for so long... it's time to settle down..."
Before Da Lei could say anything, Xiao Ce interrupted him, saying, "Alright, that's enough... What I've decided is decided... You should rest now. You should know that I'll need you sometimes. Rest when it's time to rest. When I need your help, I'll summon you immediately..."
After hearing Xiao Ce's words, Da Lei nodded: "Alright, Your Highness... then everything will be as you say..."
Xiao Ce smiled at Da Lei, then said to Nan Xi, "Alright, I've met everyone I needed to meet since arriving here... I'll be leaving shortly..."
Nan Xi was clearly surprised to hear Xiao Ce say this: "Your Highness, are you leaving?"
Gulimiza exclaimed without thinking, "Not bad, Your Highness, so fast?"
Xiao Ce smiled at Gulimiza and said, "You can come with me..."
Seeing this, Gulmiza waved her hand awkwardly: "That won't work either... I have my own business to do here..."
Xiao Ce said to them, "If nothing else were to happen, and the world were at peace, I would certainly stay. But that time is far from over... There are still many things to consider... Moreover, I firmly believe that this is merely the calm before the storm..."
After hearing Xiao Ce's words, they glanced at him and then nodded...
"Your Highness, we may not have heard everything you said clearly... we may not understand it completely either, but we will always be your support. Just say the word, and we will do our utmost..."
After hearing Gulimiza's words, Xiao Ce nodded, smiled, and said, "Don't worry, I definitely won't stand on ceremony with you... However, I probably won't need your help for now..."
Xiao Ce stood up and said to Nan Xi with a serious expression, "Nan Xi, time waits for no one. Seeing you all, seeing the Western Regions thriving, my biggest worry is that I can finally relax!"
"I think this is the calm before the storm. Before the storm comes, I want to see my unseen flesh and blood one last time."
"Nanxi, I trust you completely with the Western Regions. In case of any unforeseen circumstances, Yin Weiyong and Lin Zhong will contact you immediately. Remember, the Three Passes Pass is the heart of our connection to the entire East Asia; you must ensure its absolute smoothness and security."
Meeting Xiao Ce's gaze, Nan Xi said with unwavering resolve, "Your Highness, rest assured, as long as the Western Regions exist, this strategic hub will remain. Even amidst fierce storms, I will stand with the Western Regions through thick and thin."
Xiao Ce nodded in satisfaction, then turned his gaze to Da Lei and General Dan: "Da Lei, spend some quality time with General Dan and Lei'er. Conserve your energy; there will be a time for you to fight. And when you finally step forward, it will surely be a bloody battle!"
Da Lei nodded emphatically, his fists clenched, his eyes burning with fighting spirit and unconditional trust in Xiao Ce.
Finally, his gaze fell on Gulimiza's face.
After last night's moonlit chat and tender moments, her eyes were even brighter, and her wheat-colored skin shone with a healthy glow, but deep in her eyes lay a deep reluctance.
Xiao Ce extended his hand to her: "Miza, take me to the station."
Upon hearing this, Gulimiza quickly stepped forward and naturally took Xiao Ce's arm, this time without any hesitation.
After all, who knows when we'll meet again after this parting!
She looked at Nanxi and the others: "Your Majesty, General, I will see the Prince off first."
Nanxi and the others smiled knowingly and said no more. They bid farewell, saying, "I hope that next time Your Highness and Sister Pan'er come back, you will stay here for a while!"
Yin Pan'er took Xiao Niqiu's hand and nodded to Nan Xi.
Xiao Ce refused the grand procession arranged by Nan Xi.
Accompanied by Gulimiza, he, Yin Pan'er, and Xiao Niqiu, along with only a few plainclothes guards, quietly left the brightly lit Protectorate like ordinary wealthy merchants, and once again merged into the bustling city of Sanguan Road in the early morning.
More and more pedestrians are appearing on the wide stone-paved road leading to the West Station.
Camel caravans jingled, steam buses puffed out white steam, and various languages mingled. Sunlight shone on the buildings that blended Eastern and Western styles, creating a vibrant scene.
The little mudskipper stayed close to Yin Pan'er, greedily watching everything unfold. The lavish dinner last night and the exotic delicacies this morning, coupled with the unprecedented splendor before him, filled him with a sense of reluctance...
Xiao Ce hadn't been here long, but he already felt extremely familiar with everything here...
Gulimiza nestled close to Xiao Ce, her voice tinged with anticipation, "Your Highness, are you really not going to visit other cities? For example, the jade mines in Khotan, the newly built cotton mill in Gaochang, or the horse ranch at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains? They've all changed so much. The people would be overjoyed if they knew you were going."
Xiao Ce turned his head to look at her. He naturally knew Gulimiza; she was keeping him around. "Miza... as the saying goes, 'From a glimpse, one can know the whole leopard.' These three passes are the heart of the Western Regions. Every beat of its blood, the flow of its blood, the strength of its power, are clearly reflected here!"
"Are the trade routes open? Are the people prosperous? Is the order well maintained? Are people at peace? The volume of traffic at this station, the hustle and bustle of the streets, the spirit of the new army, and even the expressions on the faces of the merchants in front of your trading company... all of these tell me."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the orderly customs office, the bustling warehouse, the workers in neat overalls hurrying along, and the natural bargaining between roadside vendors and customers.
“What I see is a vibrant pulse, a thriving life force rooted in this land. This is more real and powerful than any deliberate inspection report. So, there’s no need for that. The Western Regions are wonderful, even better than I imagined. That’s enough.”
His tone was full of satisfaction and trust, a trust that was not only for this land, but also for Nanxi and Gulimiza who governed it, as well as for the millions of people who contributed to the prosperity of the Western Regions.
Xiao Ce said to Gulimiza, "I know you want me to stay... You really can come with me..."
Gulimiza felt a surge of warmth in her heart, and her eyes welled up with tears; she truly wanted to.
However, Gulimiza knew that she couldn't be the only one by Xiao Ce's side.
Therefore, what Gulimiza needs to do is to prevent Xiao Ce from becoming the only one in her life.
Therefore, she cannot.
Gulimiza said to Xiao Ce, "Your Highness, I want to... but I can't... I want to stay here..."
Xiao Ce was not surprised at all by Gulimiza's answer...
He smiled and nodded, then looked at the steam train station...
Under the massive dome of the Sanguandao West Station, the air was filled with the sounds of people and the long whistles of trains.
The "Northern Xinjiang Express," heading towards the northern desert, lies quietly on the tracks like a giant steel dragon, its chimney spewing out grayish-white steam and emitting a deep, powerful panting sound.
Unlike the trains heading to the heart of the Western Regions, this northbound train had longer carriages and larger water cars, clearly preparing for traversing the wider and colder northern frontier.
On the platform, Gulimiza stopped. Ignoring the people coming and going around her, she tiptoed and quickly planted a kiss on Xiao Ce's cheek, the kiss carrying the scent of jujube blossoms. Then, blushing, she took a step back and bowed deeply: "Your Highness, Sister Pan'er, have a safe journey! Miza... will wait for your return."
All those words ultimately boiled down to the simplest of prayers.
A warm feeling welled up in Xiao Ce's eyes, and he gently patted her shoulder. Yin Pan'er smiled and stepped forward, giving Gulimiza a tender hug: "Miza, take care. Please take good care of Nanxi for us."
The little mudfish followed suit and bowed earnestly to Gulimiza: "Goodbye, Madam Miza!"
The ship's horn emitted a long, resonant wail, urging the travelers on...
Without further hesitation, Xiao Ce took Yin Pan'er's hand with one hand and naturally protected the little mudskipper with the other, stepping onto the step leading to the carriage...
Gulimiza stood on the platform, watching them enter the spacious first-class carriage. The train slowly started, accelerated, and finally became a moving black dot on the horizon, disappearing into the direction of the railway tracks. Her bright figure remained standing there, motionless for a long time.
The wheels rolled northward...
A massive steam locomotive pulled a long train away from the hustle and bustle of Sanguandao, plunging into the increasingly vast and desolate landscape of the north.
The scenery outside the car window was like a giant scroll unfolding, constantly changing. For the first few days, it was still the Gobi Desert and ochre-red mountains on the edge of the Western Regions, with sparse vegetation stubbornly rooted in the barren land, and occasionally a few oases and grazing sheep could be seen.
The train roared across the massive railway bridge, below which lay a dry, wide riverbed, its surface exposed with white pebbles like the veins of the earth.
The carriage was warm and comfortable.
Thick wool carpets and large leather chairs provided insulation from outside noise.
Xiao Ce and Yin Pan'er sat by the window, while Little Mudfish practically lay on the large car window, its eyes wide open, greedily capturing every fleeting moment.
"Your Highness, Madam! Look! The wind is so strong! The sand is dancing!"
The little mudskipper exclaimed in surprise, pointing to the sand pillars whipped up by the gale outside the window. Those were tumbleweeds on the Gobi Desert, running aimlessly driven by the wind.
"Those are tumbleweeds and little loaches."
Yin Pan'er explained softly, "They will carry the seeds to very far places, where they will take root."
"Like a train taking us to a very far place?" the little mudfish asked innocently.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Ce smiled and said, "Yes, this train is like a giant steel tumbleweed, carrying people, goods, and hope, bringing vitality to all directions."
...
The journey was long, lasting six days.
Time flowed slowly amidst the rhythmic clanging of wheels on the rails.
Xiao Ce spent most of his time resting with his eyes closed, or flipping through a few thin books he carried with him, which contained briefings from various places and his own thoughts on people's livelihood, technology, and the huge threat lurking beneath the calm.
Yin Pan'er quietly stayed by her side, sometimes taking notes, sometimes reading books she had brought from the Western Regions, and occasionally whispering about the scenery outside the window or their worries about the future.
The little loaches became the most active element in the carriage.
From initial extreme excitement, he gradually grew accustomed to the rhythm of the train and became bolder. He began to explore the carriages with curiosity, carefully touching the smooth wooden panels and cool brass handrails, and even mustered the courage to ask the neatly dressed train attendants questions about the train.
When the train conductor patiently explained some simple principles to him, the light in his eyes shone brighter than the sunlight outside the window.
On the third day, vast grasslands began to appear outside the window!
A vast, boundless green carpet stretched to the horizon, dotted with herds of cattle and sheep like pearls, and white yurts dotted the lush grass, wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys. Occasionally, one could see herdsmen on horseback, dressed in traditional robes, reining in their horses as the train passed, curiously observing this roaring steel behemoth...
The little mudfish stared in amazement: "Your Highness! What a huge green carpet! A hundred times, a thousand times bigger than the Dragon Guard Ghost City!"
"This is the grassland, little loach."
Xiao Ce's gaze also turned to the window, tinged with a hint of reminiscence, "Mobei is deep within this grassland. That was the first place where I began to try to make a change."
The more Xiao Ce looked, the more intense his thoughts became.
The further north you go, the crisper the air becomes.
On the fourth day, rolling forests began to appear in the distance. First came sparse, drought-resistant shrubs, then groves of birch trees, their straight trunks gleaming silver in the autumn sun, their golden leaves swaying in the wind like burning flames. Later, dark green pines and cypresses began to dominate, their vigorous and upright forms exuding a solemnity and resilience typical of the north.
On the fifth day, the temperature dropped significantly.
In the morning, the little loach was pleasantly surprised to find frost flowers condensed on the car window, crystal clear and in various shapes.
He excitedly pointed it out to Xiao Ce and Yin Pan'er, as if he had discovered the most precious treasure in the world...
Xiao Ce followed his gaze and saw that the scenery outside the window was also tinged with a deeper autumnal hue. The forests were ablaze with color, a tapestry of reds, yellows, and greens, reflected in the occasional tranquil lakes—a breathtakingly beautiful sight.