Perhaps it was because of the incident in Stone Town that the Imperial Envoys were too embarrassed. For the rest of the journey, they were very cooperative. Even if they were sleeping in the open, they did not raise any objections, although they did occasionally find fault with their behavior. Still, it was all within Xiao Tianyao’s tolerance.

With the cooperation of the Imperial Envoys, there were no more monsters along the way. Soon, they left the eastern territory and arrived at the junction of the eastern, northern, and southern countries.

Xiao Tianyao fought with the people of the north and south all year round. The two countries were helpless. The people of the north and south wanted to eat Xiao Tianyao’s flesh and drink his blood, but they could not do anything to him. It was the same this time.

With the Imperial Envoys present, no matter how much the people in the north and the south hated Xiao Tianyao, they couldn’t lay a finger on him. They even had to treat him as a guest of honor, or else it would look like they didn’t give the Imperial Envoys any face.

Unlike Xiao Tianyao, the people of the north and south didn’t dare to neglect the people of the Central Empire. Once at the border, the North and the South brought over the food, drinks, and lodging delegated for the Imperial Envoys.

To make a good impression on the Imperial Envoys, the people of the north and south took great care of them by lavishing them with good meals, wine, and women.

At this point, the Imperial Envoys had finally received a grand reception, and felt a great sense of superiority, but… … no matter how well the North and the South treated them, they would have to leave. Even if there were people from north and south leading the way, they would be left behind.

From frugality to extravagance, then from luxury to frugality, the Imperial Envoys who had just enjoyed a handful were not willing to travel. They complained incessantly along the way, causing much trouble for the North and South, but the Imperial Envoys were not satisfied.

When Xiao Tianyao saw this scene, he just sneered.

People were like this. When they get things too easy, not only they will not cherish them, but will take them for granted. So he never spoils the Imperial Envoys since the beginning.

No matter how much the Imperial Envoys complained, no matter how ill-adapted they were, the road ahead was the same. A month later, they came out of the territory of the four countries and entered the intersection between the four countries and the Central Empire.

The Central Empire was separated from the four countries by a wasteland of nearly 10,000 mu. The edge of the wasteland was heavily guarded by the Central Empire, and people from the four countries were strictly forbidden to enter. This was the place that separated the Central Empire from the four countries, which made the Central Empire appear more mysterious.

Like all the people of the four countries, it was Xiao Tianyao’s first time to visit this place. And it was the first time he observed how desolate the wasteland was.

Unlike the natural desolation of the northwest, this wasteland was entirely man-made desolation. The wasteland was green and lush, and the soil was soft, hard, wet, and dry, a perfect place to plant crops. Even if people didn’t know anything about farming, could tell this fact. However, because the Central Empire wanted to keep themselves in mystery, to prevent the people of the four countries from entering, they left the whole land vacant.

Xiao Tianyao sat in his carriage and pointed to the open space in front of him, then said to Lin Chujiu: “Originally, 70% of this land belonged to the people who lived in the north. At that time, although the people in the north were suffering, they had enough food to eat. Unlike today, every year, many people starve to death.”

The horrors of the northern country can be said to be caused by the Central Empire, but with time, the people of the northern country forgot about this problem.

“Apart from this wasteland that separated the Central Empire from the four countries, there are also hundreds of thousands of Mu of fertile land. It was originally the land of the people in the north, but it was all taken over by the Central Empire.” Not only the fertile land but also the mines.

When the Shengyuan Empire split up, the Central Empire did not seize the opportunity to swallow the Shengyuan Empire, but they took away all the most valuable things of the Shengyuan Empire. As a result, the four countries failed to recover their vitality, and even after so many years had passed, the people of the four countries have been struggling to feed themselves.

“The war is all about money. The Central Empire thought of a great idea. The Shengyuan Empire is too big. If the Central Empire swallows the whole Shengyuan Empire, they won’t be able to digest it. In a few years, they will be in chaos again.” After more than a year of living in this era, Lin Chujiu somewhat knew the history. She didn’t know what Xiao Tianyao said, but she could understand his meaning.

However, what puzzled Lin Chujiu was that Xiao Tianyao seemed to love mentioning the Shengyuan Empire. She even felt a sense of regret and sadness when he talked about the Shengyuan Empire. As if he had seen the glory of the Shengyuan Empire. Xiao Tianyao was just a few years older than her, how could he possibly have seen the glory of the Shengyuan Empire?

Lin Chujiu pondered for a while, but she couldn’t think of a reason. Maybe she just thought too much.

After a long while, their party stepped into the wasteland. The wasteland lived up to its name. There was nothing but grass on the ground, not even a tree that was half a man’s height. There was no way to hide in the wasteland, and there was no need for guards to patrol. Their carriages were the only things moving through the vast wasteland.

Every 10,000 meters in the wasteland, there was a guard post to prevent the four countries from diving into the Central Empire, and also to prevent the Central Empire’s people from sneaking into the four countries. Every guard post they reached, they have to be checked again. Even imperial princes were no exception.

“They keep checking. It’s impossible to sneak into the Central Empire.” Lin Chujiu had finally seen how the Central Empire was wary of the four countries. The people of the Central Empire did not treat the four kingdoms as human beings. They completely treated the four countries as thieves.

“Therefore, the people of the four countries never found out anything about the Central Empire. They don’t know how powerful the Central Empire is if there will be turmoil, or what discoveries they have made. The Central Empire only let the four countries think they are strong and rich. While to the Central Empire, the four countries were just like their back gardens, with no secrets. If there is any movement in the four countries, the people of the Central Empire will know immediately if they cause any waves, then they will be held down by the Central Empire.” The four countries had no bright future at all. They would always be dependent on the empire.

Xiao Tianyao said this in a calm tone. As if he was simply stating objective facts, but Lin Chujiu heard a sense of loss and subtle ambition from his words.

At this moment, Lin Chujiu finally understood why Xiao Tianyao mentioned the Shengyuan Empire with regret and sadness. Xiao Tianyao was an ambitious man. He never put the eastern throne in his eyes. He wanted to unify the four kingdoms and recreate the Shengyuan Empire.

For a moment, Lin Chujiu was frightened. But thinking about what Xiao Tianyao had done, Lin Chujiu could understand it again. Looking at the Jinwuwei Army that he had built, she knew that he was up to something.

Lin Chujiu sat upright and held Xiao Tianyao’s hand tightly: “There will be hope. Aren’t we here in the Central Empire, right now?”

She knew what Xiao Tianyao wanted to do. If that was what Xiao Tianyao wanted, then she was willing to accompany him… …

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