Chapter 967 - Farewell And The Black Medicine (1/2)

The nomads bade farewell to the Northwestern men from the 6th Combat Brigade. They hugged each other and invited their new friends to visit their homes in the future. All of them were extremely enthusiastic with one another.

Ren Xiaosu and Yan Liuyuan both knew that such a day would definitely come. At the very least, as long as the two of them were still alive, the Northwest and the grasslands would not wage war with each other.

Yan Liuyuan did not intend to participate in the subsequent battles. Now that the overall situation was decided, the expeditionary army's defeat was no longer in doubt. As the new king of the steppe, there was no need for him to risk the lives of his subjects any further. What they should do now was to return to the grasslands to recuperate.

He told Ren Xiaosu to leave it to him to guard the North in the future. In a sense, from today onwards, the nomads would replace Stronghold 176 as the Central Plains' first line of defense in the North.

If the expeditionary army tried to head south again, they would have to pass through the grasslands first.

Before leaving, Xiaoyu pulled Yang Xiaojin aside with reddened eyes and said, ”Xiaosu, that kid, has been through a lot. Now that he's finally come through that, I plead that you treat him well. Love is between two people, and as an outsider, I have no right to say anything. I only hope for both of you to live well. When you two bear a child, I can go to the Northwest to help you take care of it….”

All of a sudden, Yang Xiaojin's face turned red. She was not one to get shy so easily in front of Ren Xiaosu, but for some reason, she always felt like she could not open up fully to Xiaoyu.

As for having children, it was still too early to talk about that.

Yang Xiaojin asked, ”Big Sister Xiaoyu, are you also going back to the steppe with Liuyuan? I know you must not be used to living there. After all, the customs in the South are very different.”

Xiaoyu turned around and took a look at Yan Liuyuan. However, she said to Yang Xiaojin with a gentle smile, ”Y'all have Wang Fugui, Teacher Jiang Wu, Mr. Zhang, and so many friends with you in the Northwest, but Liuyuan only has me on the steppe. So I have to accompany him. Don't worry, I heard from Liuyuan that it's not difficult to get to the Northwest. If we ride horses, we can get there in ten days. It'll also be very convenient for me to go and visit y'all.”

Xiaoyu continued, ”Moreover, now that Xiaosu has become the future commander of the Northwest, it's only a matter of time before the Northern Plains and the Northwest link their trade routes with each other. Then I can travel with the caravans to see y'all.”

”Mhm, Big Sister Xiaoyu, you must come,” Yang Xiaojin said in seriousness.

”Alright, I'll go and join up with them now,” Xiaoyu said reluctantly. ”Xiaosu has never liked other girls before, that I can guarantee you. That's why, sometimes, he might not know what girls like or want to hear. If he makes a mistake, you can tell me when you see me again and I'll lecture him for you.”

”OK.” Yang Xiaojin smiled.

…

After Yan Liuyuan confirmed they were returning to the grasslands, he started discussing some serious matters with Ren Xiaosu. Ren Xiaosu then called Zhang Xiaoman, the Great Hoodwinker, P5092, Wang Yun, and the others over.

Then Yan Liuyuan said, ”There's many things we require in the grasslands, such as weapons, vegetables, tea leaves, and cloth. When I get back, I'll send Hassan to form a caravan as soon as possible and bring goods from the steppe to trade with y'all. I wonder if that's possible?”

The Great Hoodwinker was still needed to answer these questions. He thought for a moment and said, ”That's not a problem. We'll also form a caravan and head to the steppe to discuss this.”

”Besides that, I also hope I can send some children to Fortress 178 to attend school as there's a severe lack of knowledge among the nomads,” Yan Liuyuan said.

”No problem,” the Great Hoodwinker agreed immediately.

Yan Liuyuan looked at Ren Xiaosu again. ”Bro, I'd like to send some of our nomads to attend the Northwest's military institute. Is that OK?”

Ren Xiaosu immediately put a smile on his face. Yan Liuyuan was still as smart and quick-witted as ever. Sending people to attend a military institute was still considered a sensitive matter, so Yan Liuyuan did not speak directly to the Great Hoodwinker about this. Instead, he requested it to Ren Xiaosu as his younger brother.

Ren Xiaosu looked at the Great Hoodwinker and said with a smile, ”Can I decide on this?”

The Great Hoodwinker hurriedly said, ”Since you're the future commander, of course you can.”

Ren Xiaosu looked at Yan Liuyuan and said, ”Alright, I'll promise you that.”