198: Before the troops were to surrender at Lake Baikal, they began to plan their return journey.

The morning at Lake Baikal was covered in thin ice, and the cold wind whipped snowflakes against faces, but it could not freeze the morale of the "Hui" dynasty soldiers.

Outside the temporarily erected negotiation tent, twenty improved cannon were lined up, their muzzles facing the lake, with sunlight spilling over the pitch-black barrels, casting an intimidating light.

Xie Hui, wearing a thick cotton robe newly sewn by Shuanger, with his black iron sword tucked at his waist and the negotiation terms clutched in his hand, stood at the tent entrance, waiting for the arrival of the Russian Army envoy.

Long'er stood by his side, dressed in capable short attire, holding a Russian translation in her hand. Her cold, beautiful face showed no expression, but her eyes were fixed on the road in the distance—according to the agreement, the Russian Army envoy should have arrived by now.

"Just now, a Scout reported that the envoy has brought fifty guards and is also carrying a gift box. It seems they want to be polite before resorting to force," she whispered to Xie Hui, "but their guards are all carrying swords, obviously not having completely let down their guard."

Xie Hui nodded, the corners of his mouth curling up: "It would be strange if they didn't have their guard up, after all, we just defeated their main force. Where is AKe? Tell her to check the terms again to ensure nothing goes wrong."

"She's in the tent," Long'er pointed behind her, "organizing with Shuanger. Shuanger also brought hot soup, saying it will warm everyone up after the negotiation."

As they were speaking, the sound of hoofbeats came from afar, and a team of the Russian Army rode over. Leading them was a middle-aged man wearing a purple robe; it was Ivan, the envoy sent by the Tsar.

Seeing the cannon outside the tent, his eyes clearly paused, but he forced himself to remain calm. He dismounted and cupped his hands in a salute to Xie Hui: "Your Excellency the Regent Prince of the 'Hui' dynasty, I am Ivan, the envoy of His Majesty the Tsar, ordered to negotiate with your dynasty."

Xie Hui didn't stand on ceremony, turning to walk into the tent: "Let's talk inside. It's cold outside; don't let your guards freeze."

Upon entering the tent, AKe and Shuanger quickly stood up. Shuanger walked over with hot soup, handing a bowl to each of Xie Hui and Ivan: "Lord Envoy, have some hot soup to warm yourself up. Winter at Lake Baikal is very cold."

Ivan took the soup and took a sip, a flash of surprise in his eyes—the soup was actually mutton-flavored and had medicinal herbs added; it warmed him all over, much more comfortable than the cold ale they usually drank.

He put down the bowl and looked at Xie Hui: "Your Excellency the Regent Prince, His Majesty the Tsar feels that the 'submission and tribute' proposed by your dynasty is too harsh. After all, we in Russia are also a great power, and there is no need to submit to a newly established dynasty."

Xie Hui didn't rush to refute, instead asking AKe to hand over the terms and having soldiers bring in a model of the improved cannon: "Envoy Ivan, don't be in such a hurry to call it harsh."

"Look at this cannon; it is one we captured from your main force this time, but we have improved the gunpowder. Its power is twice as great as the original, and its range is fifty paces further. We just tested it yesterday; one shot can blow through your wooden fortresses. Tell me, if we brought such cannon and marched to Moscow, could His Majesty the Tsar stop us?"

Ivan looked at the model, then at the words on the terms "Annual tribute of five thousand taels of gold, three thousand furs, and one hundred thousand shi of grain," his expression turning somewhat ugly: "But... but submitting is too damaging to Russia's dignity. Can it be changed to an 'alliance'? We are willing to send 'gifts' to your dynasty every year and form an alliance with your dynasty to resist enemies."

"An alliance?" Xie Hui laughed, "You just finished fighting a war against us, and now you talk of an alliance; who would believe that? Furthermore, our 'Hui' dynasty does not need to form alliances with defeated nations; we only need vassal states." He shouted to the outside of the tent, "Push that captured cannon over and demonstrate its power to the Lord Envoy!"

The soldiers quickly pushed a real cannon to the open ground outside the tent. Xie Hui had them load it with the improved gunpowder and aim it at a giant boulder in the distance—"Boom!" With a loud bang, the boulder was blown to pieces, and debris splattered far and wide. Ivan was so frightened that he quickly stood up, his face pale, no longer possessing his previous arrogance.

"Did you see that?" Xie Hui walked back into the tent, his tone calm, "That is just one cannon. We have over twenty more in our hands. If you add our cavalry and infantry, your Russia won't last three months. Either submit and pay tribute according to the terms, or we will march to Moscow, and by then, it won't be as simple as just paying tribute."

Ivan hesitated for a long time, finally lowering his head: "I... I agree to follow the terms! But I need to report to His Majesty the Tsar and have him sign the agreement personally."

"Very well," Xie Hui nodded, "I will give you three days. Three days from now, we will sign the formal agreement here. If you dare to go back on your word, I will order an attack, and don't blame me for not giving you a chance then."

Ivan nodded hurriedly and left in a rush with his guards, even forgetting to take the gift box he had brought. Shuanger picked up the gift box and opened it to see a gold-inlaid pocket watch and a few pieces of fine sable fur inside: "This envoy was too flustered; he even forgot to take the gift. Brother Hui, are we really going to wait for three days? Could there be a trick?"

"Don't worry," Xie Hui took the pocket watch and weighed it in his hand, "They wouldn't dare pull a trick. They just finished a war, the soldiers are terrified, and the Tsar doesn't want to keep fighting. Long'er, send a few reliable old subordinates to follow them; don't let them run away, and don't let them play any tricks."

Long'er nodded and turned to walk out, her steps faster than usual—she wanted to finish the negotiations and return to the Forbidden City sooner than anyone else; after all, there were still many things in the palace waiting to be handled.

AKe walked to Xie Hui's side, holding the just-organized copy of the terms: "Brother Hui, I have checked the terms, and there are no problems. Just now, I was chatting with Ivan's guards, and they said the Tsar actually wanted to stop the war long ago but couldn't bring himself to do so because of his pride. Now that we have shown our strength, they will definitely sign the agreement obediently."

"Hmm," Xie Hui took the copy and put it into his inner universe, "I know, so this negotiation will definitely succeed. Shuanger, have you contacted Wei Xiaobao? Tell him about the progress of the negotiations."

"I have," Shuanger said with a smile, "As soon as His Majesty Wei Xiaobao heard that Envoy Ivan had softened, he was so happy that he kept shouting to ask for more gold and silver. He also said that when we return, he wants to hold a victory banquet at the gate of the Forbidden City and let all the common people come to celebrate. Princess Jianning was also shouting on the side, asking you to transport that demonstrated cannon back for her to use as a decoration, saying it looks better than the bronze bells in the palace."

Xie Hui smiled helplessly: "I understand, I will remember. After the agreement is signed, we will return the troops to the capital, transport the cannon back for Jianning to use as a decoration, and then have Shuanger cook a good meal so we can celebrate properly."

Over the next three days, Xie Hui did not idle. While having the soldiers organize supplies (captured cannon, grain, gold, and silver), he discussed the route for returning to the capital with Long'er and AKe. Shuanger was busy making cotton clothes and medicinal medicine for the soldiers and specially made a new cotton robe for Xie Hui, thicker than the previous one, with the character "Hui" embroidered on the chest.

On the morning of the third day, Ivan indeed arrived with the formal agreement, followed by several officials, holding the signed agreement and the first batch of tribute gold. He walked up to Xie Hui and handed over the agreement with both hands: "Your Excellency the Regent Prince, His Majesty the Tsar has signed the agreement, acknowledging the 'Hui' dynasty as the Sect Master, and will pay tribute annually according to the terms. This is the first batch of five thousand taels of gold, and the subsequent furs and grain will be delivered to your dynasty's capital within three months."

Xie Hui took the agreement and glanced at it; it was stamped with the Tsar's seal, and the terms were consistent with what had been discussed previously. He nodded with satisfaction: "Good, I trust you. I will send a team of soldiers to escort you back, and by the way, tell your Tsar that if you pay tribute on time in the future, our two countries can live in peace; if you dare to break the agreement, you know the consequences."

Ivan nodded hurriedly and left in a rush with the officials, fearing that Xie Hui might go back on his word. Watching their retreating figures, AKe couldn't help but laugh: "They ran so fast, as if we would eat them. Brother Hui, can we return to the capital now? I want to go back to the Forbidden City early and see the new crops Shuanger mentioned."

"Yes," Xie Hui put away the agreement and said to everyone, "Long'er, you lead the old subordinates of the Divine Dragon Cult and the cavalry battalion to leave first and clear out any rogue soldiers along the route; AKe, you come with me in the middle and guard the supplies; Shuanger, you take the medicinal medicine and grain and follow at the back to take care of the wounded soldiers. We will meet at the border town in three days and then return to the capital together."

Everyone agreed in unison and began to pack up their things. Shuanger walked to Xie Hui's side, holding a cloth bag: "Brother Hui, this contains Medicinal Pill from Peach Blossom Island and clean cloth strips. Take them with you; if you get injured on the road, remember to use them. Also, I made you some sesame cakes and put them in the small universe; eat them if you get hungry."

Xie Hui took the cloth bag and patted her head: "Thank you for your hard work. When we return to the capital, I will definitely spend time with you and take you to the orchard in the small universe to pick fruits."

Shuanger nodded, her eyes full of anticipation—she had long heard Xie Hui talk about the orchard in the small universe, which had many fruits she had never seen before, and she had always wanted to see it.

When the team set off, the ice on Lake Baikal had thickened considerably, and the sunlight spilled onto the ice surface like a layer of gold. Xie Hui rode his horse in the middle of the team, looking at AKe beside him and Long'er in the distance, feeling full of reassurance—this expedition to Russia not only defeated the Russian Army but also forced the Tsar to submit and pay tribute, expanded the territory of the "Hui" dynasty, and completed the task in the outline of "conquering Russia and expanding territory." Next was returning to the capital and preparing to return to the real world.

He took out the key to his inner universe and opened it—inside, the eight volumes of the forty-two chapter sutra, the model of the improved cannon, the captured gold and silver, and the safety talisman and medicinal medicine given to him by The female protagonists were neatly placed. Looking at these things, he thought silently to himself: The world of the deer and the cauldron is about to end. Once back in the Forbidden City, after settling The female protagonists and saying goodbye to Wei Xiaobao, it will be time to take these treasures and martial arts and return to the real world.

Just as he was thinking, the walkie-talkie suddenly rang; it was Wei Xiaobao's voice: "Brother Hui! Where are you? I have agreed with Shuanger; as soon as you reach the border town, we will send mutton soup to you! Also, Princess Jianning has already chosen the location for the cannon you are going to give her, right at the gate of the Forbidden City, saying she wants everyone to see it!"

Xie Hui smiled and pressed the talk button: "We are almost there; we will reach the border town in three days. Tell Shuanger not to tire herself out; there's no need to send the mutton soup; we'll drink it after we return to the capital. Also, tell Jianning that the cannon will definitely be transported back to her, so tell her not to worry."

After hanging up the walkie-talkie, AKe leaned over and said: "Brother Hui, do you think His Majesty Wei Xiaobao will really hold a victory banquet when we return to the capital? I haven't seen such a lively scene before."

"He definitely will," Xie Hui nodded, "Wei Xiaobao loves liveliness the most. At that time, I will let you, Long'er, and Shuanger stand by my side and let the common people see the heroines of our 'Hui' dynasty."

AKe's cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly turned her head away, but couldn't help but smile—she had never imagined that she could go from a weak woman dependent on Zheng Keshuang to a "heroine" of the "Hui" dynasty. All of this was thanks to Xie Hui.

The team continued to move forward, and the figure of Lake Baikal became further and further away. Although there was still snow on the road ahead, it was full of hope. Xie Hui knew that after returning the troops to the capital, there were still many things to do—settling the female protagonist, saying goodbye to Wei Xiaobao, and organizing the treasures to take back. But he was not panicked at all because he knew that The female protagonists beside him would always support him, whether in the world of the deer and the cauldron or in the real world.

When the sun was setting, the team arrived in front of a small hill at the border. Xie Hui reined in his horse, looked back at the direction of Lake Baikal, and silently thought: Russia, goodbye. Forbidden City, we are back.