Chang Geng did not respond. In the past four years, he had never dared to be lenient with both his body and soul for even a day, but not from the desire to make any grand contribution. He wanted to be strong as soon as possible, to quickly arrive at the day where he could have a casual conversation with the Bone of Impurity… to be strong enough to protect one person.

"Although the sea route is open, Central Plains people rarely go out to sea. The naval defense is also lacking. If relying only on the foreigners to travel here to bring in trades, in the end, the ones who will largely profit from it are still these sea traveling merchants, the meager amount of silver flowing in is not enough for the Emperor to secretly buy Ziliujin from the hands of the Westerners.”

Shen Yi: "This is only momentary, it’s not impossible to find a way out."

Chang Geng seemed to smile: "Yes, I have traveled to see the Silk Road this spring, the entrance to Lou Lan was flourishing to the point of unbelievable. When I thought of how all this was made possible thanks to yifu's efforts, I could not help but feel very honored.

"In about three more years, the Silk Road can be completely opened, connecting through the whole territory of Great Liang. Wait until the people can truly profit from it, there will be enough gold and silver flowing into the National Treasury. At that time, the Ling Shu Institute will no longer have to worry about money. Defenders everywhere will have plenty of troops. Who would still dare to invade the frontiers?

"If so, then whether the Ministry of War has the final say, or my yifu has the final say, in his eyes, there may be no difference at all."

Shen Yi was silent, he did not know why, despite being separated for five years, Chang Geng had come to understand Gu Yun even more.

But what he said was true.

In the past few years, Gu Yun still carried with him a raging murderous intent, quite often with no one around, he would talk of fighting this, fighting that. But since he was ordered to take over the Silk Road, he had mentioned these matters less and less.

On one hand, as he grew older, he had begun to think more and more, and his anger had begun to fade. On the other hand — it was because Gu Yun who has never once thought about grasping the military power in his hands from beginning to end, what he wished for all his life was for his home country to be at peace.

If they needed him to fight, he was willing to don his armor and mount his steed. If they needed him to defend, he was willing to be a lowly guard on the Silk Road.