Duan Ge went to see his eldest brother.

Eldest’s face darkened, saying, "Send people out to search everywhere, find out whether it’s the Liangzhou army or some other stationed forces that have come, investigate thoroughly."

Duan Ge replied, "Eldest brother, sending people out now might mean they won’t return."

Eldest frowned, "Then what do you mean? Just stay on the mountain waiting? Covering your ears and eyes, how is that different from being blind and deaf?"

"I mean we shouldn’t let them scatter to search. It’s late today, tomorrow morning I’ll personally take people out to investigate."

"The whole day has passed, and they could have reached Liangzhou City by now, what can we investigate now?" Third, not approving of pursuing this matter too much, said, "Perhaps they were just roaming soldiers who happened to come across our path, and acted. If you ask me, they were unlucky. Kill the few remaining people in the camp as revenge for our brothers."

Many people agreed with Third’s words.

They liked plundering but didn’t want another major conflict with the Liangzhou army. They’ve fought many times without success; it hasn’t been satisfying.

Eldest and Duan Ge both frowned. Though they didn’t want to fight the Liangzhou army, the lack of ambition in their subordinates was disheartening.

After weighing the options, Eldest ultimately agreed to Duan Ge’s suggestion.

Not investigating is impossible; it’s scary to think about unknown opponents lurking in hiding.

Eldest pondered something and asked, "Could it be that the team you saw last night? Didn’t you say they were official troops?"

Duan Ge’s eyes shifted, his face showed some seriousness, "Last night we entered their camp, and there was nothing unusual..."

"It must be them," Third exclaimed, "Besides them, which official guards are around here? There are no hiding places around; they couldn’t have gone far since yesterday..."

Duan Ge said, "You just said a day is enough for them to reach Liangzhou City, why have you changed your mind now?"

The two immediately argued, and finally, Eldest stopped them, then sent someone to investigate their camp, "No one walked down the mountain today, they are either still there or have returned to Liangzhou."

"If it’s the former, it might not be related. If it’s the latter, it must be them," he said, "If it’s really these people, I don’t believe they’re heading to the Western Regions without passing through my path. When the time comes, hmm!"

Someone immediately accepted the task and returned to report by nightfall, "Their camp is still there."

Duan Ge found it odd and asked, "What are they doing there? Why haven’t they set off?"

"We sent someone pretending to be a herdsman, herding cattle and sheep. They said their official is very interested in the migration patterns of the tribes, so they need to stay in the Tata Tribe for a while." He said, "The little ones inquired; their official went to the Tata Tribe early this morning with lavish gifts. They sent gifts yesterday evening as well. Today they sent more. They have many cars, all packed with good boxes..."

"Enough, enough, we know all this," Duan Ge interrupted, turning to Eldest, "Eldest brother, I met those people last night, among them were a few particularly noble youths, the leading elder looks like a scholar. We guessed that the main official of this team is the Imperial Doctor from the capital last night."

Third asked, "So what?"

Duan Ge glanced at him and said, "It’s said that this Imperial Doctor Zhou is highly favored by the emperor and is affiliated with the Crown Prince. She has been living in the palace, familiar with the people around the Crown Prince. I see those youths are refined yet proud, should be the nobles from the capital."

Third’s eyes lit up, he turned to Eldest and said, "Eldest brother, this is a fat sheep we could rob..."

Duan Ge: "...Are you crazy to provoke such people? They are of high status; if anything happens, the Liangzhou army will definitely crack down hard."

"Damn it, Duan Ge wouldn’t let us go anyway, might as well take a big one and leave; we’ll set up camp elsewhere."

The people of the grasslands are different from the people of the Central Plains; they don’t fear imperial power much. After all, more than ten years ago, their leader was a Khan, not the emperor of the Central Plains.

Moreover, the capital’s control over the grasslands is not strong; apart from conscription and tax collection, the court has little demands on the tribes, the herdsmen mostly govern themselves.

Sometimes a tribe moves far away; fortune favors them. When occupying other tribes aren’t paying attention, they suddenly slip away to other places; when the government comes to collect taxes, they cannot find them, so even after collecting ten times, three or four times end up uncollected.

Under such circumstances, it’s impossible for bandits to fear the emperor much. Let alone the young cubs from the capital below the emperor.

So Eldest was tempted for a moment, but just for a moment. He still didn’t quite want to relocate the camp or face the Liangzhou army.

Seeing his hesitation, Duan Ge breathed a sigh of relief, quickly said, "Eldest brother, they are going to the Western Regions as officials. Even if they are nobles carrying more, it’s mostly their personal items. I heard those young masters even take a special chamber pot when they travel; what’s the use in robbing them?"

He said, "Though the items are good and plenty, not much is easily monetizable; better to rob a caravan where goods can be converted into cash. It’s not worth it to change places for them."

Eldest then was firm, "Right, it’s not worth it to suddenly relocate; Third, don’t go provoking them."

Third pouted.

Eldest directly said, "Wait until they leave, then keep the subordinates in check, let them pass directly."

Duan Ge complied.

Third reluctantly agreed.

Only then did Eldest have the mind to think about other matters, "Why did they think of investigating the migration patterns of the tribes? Tata Tribe wouldn’t be stupid enough to tell them such deadly details, right?"

"This is a survival secret for the tribes; Tata Tribe wouldn’t tell them. But telling them some fake news or simply the patterns of other tribes isn’t impossible." Duan Ge’s gaze was deep, "Officials asking about this matter, afraid it’s the Central Plains Emperor displeased with the grasslands, intending to take action."

It’s precisely this speculation that kept Duan Ge from doubting the actions of Zhou Man and her camp staying put.

In the imperial palace, the emperor sneezed, using a handkerchief to wipe his face, glanced outside before tidying his clothing, "Strange, I don’t feel cold at all?"

Gu Zhong quietly poured a cup of hot tea for the emperor, then smiled, "Perhaps some highness misses Your Majesty."

The emperor immediately said, "Probably someone’s cursing me instead?"

Bai Shan stood facing the wind, watching the twilight fade away completely, darkness enveloping entirely, and since no commotion came from the mountain on the other side, he could finally breathe out in relief.

Assistant General Nie strode up, frowned and asked, "Young Master Bai, was it you who spread the word that we’re exploring the migration patterns of the herdsmen?"