Chapter 387: Da Jing Noble Consort’s Family (Part 3)

The warriors’ dark arms were muscular and sinewy, pulling the slingshot’s rubber band back to their ears. At the moment of release, an iron “peanut” whistled out, raising a puff of dust a hundred paces away.

“Missed again!” The young warrior Bater shook the slingshot in frustration. “This thing is much harder to use than a bow and arrow!”

The old craftsman Mudu bent down to pick up a deformed projectile and sighed, “The tribe’s last iron has been melted to make these things… sigh!”

Bo Lu’s frown deepened.

The scene of the Turkic cavalry retreating in disgrace three months ago was still vivid in his mind.

The Da Jing border army had used a mysterious “peanut” weapon, and the bravest Turkic warriors fell like autumn grass. After the battle, they realized they hadn’t even touched the enemy’s clothes.

“Keep practicing!” Bo Lu Khan suddenly shouted, startling a few lambs grazing nearby. “Even if it’s a slingshot, we must show the people of Da Jing the power of Turkic warriors!”

Just as he was speaking, two splits suddenly appeared in the distant waves of grass. Two fast horses raced forward like arrows released from a bowstring.

The wolf-head flag flapped loudly on the rider’s back, and Bo Lu’s heart leapt – it was the messenger sent back by the emissary group!

“Report!”

The lead rider slid off the saddle, his knees cutting two deep furrows into the grass.

He held a scroll of bright yellow imperial decree high, his voice hoarse with excitement, “The Emperor of Da Jing has agreed to the marriage alliance! Granting two million stone of grain, ten weaving machines, and five hundred bolts of cloth. The goods will be sent to the Turkic after the marriage ceremony.”

The grassland fell instantly silent, even the wind seemed to hold its breath.

“Is this true?”

Bo Lu Khan’s hand trembled slightly as he took the decree, the golden dragon pattern embroidered on the silk hurt his eyes under the fierce sun.

He painstakingly identified each character of the Da Jing script and suddenly burst into laughter, almost scaring away the flowing clouds in the sky.

After years of conflict at the Turkic and Da Jing border, he never thought the Emperor of Da Jing would easily accept a marriage alliance.

That’s why he had the emissary group carry many inedible jewels as bargaining chips for the negotiation.

Unexpectedly, the Emperor of Da Jing was so generous.

Not only did he agree to the marriage alliance, but he also provided the Turkic with a significant amount of resources.

But what he didn’t know was that without He Shu’s clever tactics during negotiations, Princess Yujia wouldn’t have had the chance to acquire those resources.

“Heaven bless us!” Bo Lu Khan held the decree high above his head, the sunlight through the silk painting his face red, “Yujia is now the Consort of Da Jing!”

The cheers spread like wildfire.

The warriors raised their arms high in celebration, the women tossed colorful scarves, and children weaved through the crowd in play.

The old shaman struck a copper bell with his bone staff, his ancient voice chanting blessings.

Bater excitedly grabbed his companion, “Did you hear? Two million stone of grain! This winter, mother won’t have to save food for the sheep anymore!”

Bo Lu turned and walked toward the smelting tent, his leather boots kicking up dust.

He lifted the tent flap, the heat carrying the metallic scent of iron rushed in. Piles of unused “peanuts” sat like a small mountain beside the furnace. The fiery glow from the forge reflected intensely on his face.

“Melt them all.” He waved his large hand, “Forge them all back into scimitars and arrowheads.”

Mudu was so startled he dropped his tongs, “Khan, what if the Da Jing people…”

“There won’t be any ‘what if’.” Bo Lu grabbed a handful of bullets, grinning, “The decree is sealed with the Jade Seal. We’re in-laws with Da Jing now, they will protect us and never attack us voluntarily. We only need scimitars and arrows for hunting.”

The craftsmen exchanged glances, the fire casting their shadows onto the felt tent, making them look like a dancing group of monsters.

Finally, Mudu nodded firmly, scooping up the piled bullets and throwing them into the furnace…

At sunset, a bonfire was lit at the center of the tribe, and the Turkic people sang and danced.

With the resources Princess Yujia secured, they would not suffer hunger and cold this winter.

Bo Lu Khan sprinkled mare’s milk wine in all directions, the droplets sparkling like rubies in the firelight.

“Bater!” He called the young warrior, “Pick thirty riders, prepare ample water and provisions, depart for Yin Mountain in half a month to welcome back the emissary group.”

“At your command!” Bater knelt on one knee, suddenly hesitating, “Khan, should we… take some slingshots for protection?”

Bo Lu laughed, patting the scimitar at his waist.

“From now on,” Bo Lu Khan’s voice echoed under the starry sky, “we and Da Jing are like grasshoppers tied to the same string.”

The night wind brought the distant shepherd’s singing, mingled with the howls of gray wolves.

Bo Lu looked at the southern starry sky, vaguely seeing Yujia in a phoenix crown.

He touched the wolf tooth hanging on his chest, a keepsake exchanged with his sister when they bid farewell.

The cold beast tooth pressed against his skin, and Bo Lu Khan suddenly remembered the last words of the decree, “to remain allies,” and couldn’t help but smile.

The furnace fire burned all night, the sound of hammering scattered the wolf packs on the grassland.

By the time the morning star rose, the first batch of newly forged scimitars was already hanging from the warriors’ belts.

Bo Lu Khan stroked the newly engraved totem emblem on the blade, thinking that when the grain arrived, he would have the craftsmen set some gems in the knife handles.

After all, now the Turkic were in-laws to the Da Jing’s Imperial Consort.