Along the way, Yelü Yangwei was extremely uneasy, for fear that he had done something to displease Fang Er.
Stopping and starting, starting and stopping, they left Shenyang and exited the territory of Great Tang in just half a day, setting foot on the land of Khitan.
If one were to use the geographical positions of later generations, connecting the three counties of Beizhen, Xinmin, and Faku with a line, that line would be the current boundary between Great Tang and Khitan.
But as they traveled, Fang Er felt that something was not right.
He vaguely recalled that the Khitan royal tent was in the northwest direction of Shenyang. Why had they suddenly turned north?
He had Zhuzi call Yelü Yangwei, who was leading the way, over.
"My Lord, what are your orders?" Yelü Yangwei approached and stood outside Fang Er's carriage window, his face full of flattery.
Fang Er voiced his confusion: "Envoy Yelü, is this the way to the royal tent? Why does the direction seem a bit off?"
Yelü Yangwei's expression suddenly became conflicted, depressed, and wronged! The muscles on his face contorted.
"My Lord, after I returned from Chang'an, I learned that the royal tent had moved north.
Just as I was going to Chang'an, the Tuojue Naiman tribe and the Tiele tribe suddenly attacked with their entire clans. My king was no match for them and had to order his people to migrate.
My Lord, my dispatch to Shenyang to seek an audience with you was also ordered by my king, who feared that you would not be able to find the royal tent."
"Holy shit! Naiman tribe, Tiele tribe?
Wait, something's not right!
He quickly took out the map and beckoned to Yelü Yangwei, saying, "Come here, point out the approximate location of the former royal tent!"
Yelü Yangwei stepped forward a couple of paces, looked at the map in Fang Er's hand, and after carefully examining it for a while, pointed to the location of the Naiman tribe with his finger.
"My Lord, the royal tent was previously here."
Fang Er finally understood the reason!
So it turned out that when he was at Qikou before, he had inadvertently divided up the Khitan territory!
The Naiman Banner was sandwiched between Chifeng and Tongliao, and Nai Da Biao Rou's Tianyong tribe and Ba Le Meng Gan's Tianmeng tribe were to the south and north, respectively, sandwiching the Khitan royal tent!
Anyone who wasn't an idiot would definitely move! Because the Khitans couldn't fight them and dared not fight them!
This was awkward. Before the other party's request for allegiance could be processed, they were already driven to their doorstep by a subordinate of Great Tang.
Fang Er quickly pretended to know nothing: "Uh! Is that so? I will certainly seek justice for the Khitan King in the future. All right, continue leading the way!"
Yelü Yangwei cupped his hands: "Then I shall return to the front."
"Go ahead, go ahead!"
After Yelü Yangwei left, Fang Er lay in the passenger seat, unsure whether to laugh or to feel indignant for the Khitan King.
They traveled on and on, and finally, on the evening of the third day, they reached the location of the Khitan royal tent.
The Khitan royal tent, like the Tuojue Yatian, was both the residence of the Khitan King and the name of the entire Khitan power center.
In other words, it could refer to a specific tent, or it could be used as a place name.
The boundless grasslands were emerald green, and when illuminated by the sun, they seemed to be brushed with gold powder. With the gentle morning breeze, golden waves rippled across the green.
Various wildflowers bloomed here and there, bathing in the sunlight and competing in beauty across the vast grasslands, emitting a rich fragrance. As far as the eye could see, the wildflowers resembled colorful clouds and mist, scattered across the green grasslands.
Yelü Yangwei had sent someone to report by express horse in the morning, so as soon as they entered the royal tent area, a group of people came to greet them.
"My Lord, my king has come to welcome you. May I ask you to alight from your carriage to speak?"
Yelü Yangwei's attitude could only be described as humble. He stood outside the carriage window, his right hand over his chest, bowing.
"The Khitan King?"
Fang Er looked at the hairstyle of the person at the forefront and was stunned.
"System, can we discuss something?"
System: "You scoundrel, speak. Grandma is in a good mood right now. Speak quickly."
Fang Er: "Can we pull a Tony teacher from later generations over?"
System: "You scoundrel, what do you mean?"
Fang Er: "Look at how cool the Khitan King's hairstyle is. Can we bring a Tony teacher over to learn from him?"
System: "Get lost! Your aesthetic sense is negative!"
Fang Er: "........"
Speaking of the Khitan King's hairstyle, it was truly magnificent!
A gleaming, bald head!
Of course, the bald head wasn't the point.
The point was that, apart from the 99% of the head being bald, two small braids were left above the eyebrows. This was truly magical!
Fang Er wanted to invite those teachers from later generations to learn what true individuality and trend were!
He was bantering with the system in the carriage, but outside, Yelü Yangwei was embarrassed. What did this esteemed guest mean? He hadn't given an answer about getting out of the carriage!
Seeing his great king approaching, and Fang Er still not alighting, Yelü Yangwei leaned closer to the carriage window again to urge him.
"My Lord, would you like to get out and stretch your legs?"
Hearing his voice, Fang Er snapped back to attention.
He turned and glanced at him. Good heavens, his expression was as wronged as a young bride's. Fine, he shouldn't trouble the honest man.
He opened the carriage door, got out, stretched, took out a Hongta Mountain cigarette, and lit it. After three consecutive days, his body felt like it was falling apart.
"Hahahaha, are you the Duke of Shenyang County?"
The Khitan King led his entourage closer, dismounted, and walked directly over.
"It is I, Fang. Greetings, Khitan King."
Fang Er stood in place, leisurely smoking, showing no intention of bowing.
A king of a small tribe has no right to make a Duke of Great Tang bow!
The Khitan King was not annoyed, or rather, he dared not be: "Hahahaha, it is indeed I. Calling me Khitan King feels too distant. County Duke Fang can directly address me by my given name, Yelü Goudan, so as to appear more intimate."
"Ah?"
"Old Yelü gave you this name?
Goudan? You are definitely not his biological child!
However, since the Khitan King was so polite, Fang Er had to show some respect, right?
"Good! Since the Khitan King says so, I shall not be polite. In the Central Plains, when Han people address close acquaintances, they often omit their surnames. I shall call you Goudan, alright?"
"Hahahaha, calling me Goudan sounds even more intimate! County Duke Fang, please. I have prepared fine wine and good food, waiting for your early arrival!"
The Khitan King Yelü Goudan took Fang Er's arm and walked towards the great tent.
However, Fang Er, showing no regard, shook him off: "Well, Goudan, Fang dislikes being held by men, so you understand."
"Hahahaha, it was my impudence, County Duke Fang, please!"
Yelü Goudan quickly cupped his hands in apology, then turned and walked ahead to lead the way.