"Next year! I estimate that next year we'll all have a chance to go to war." Andrew Thompson smiled slightly as he spoke.

"You have some basis for that?" The others were all taken aback by Andrew Thompson's confident tone.

Andrew Thompson knew that next year would be the sixth year of Tianbao, and that in history, there would be a war that would determine the fate of Gao Xianzhi. He didn't know the specific details of the war, but he did know the general direction.

"My reasoning is simple. The Tang Dynasty has been building up its strength for several years; it's about time to use force against Tubo."

"You mean Little Bolü?" Paul Turner pondered for a moment.

"Chenggong, what do you think?"

Paul Turner nodded. "Perhaps! Tubo has blocked the main route through Little Bolü, causing the Tang to lose Tuhuoluo, and Little Bolü has become a rear base for Tubo's invasions of Anxi. It also makes it possible for the Turgesh to collude with Tubo. Since the Kaiyuan era, the Tang has campaigned against Little Bolü three times and failed three times. Now the Turgesh are in decline, the timing is gradually becoming ripe. I also think that if not next year, then the year after, the Tang will definitely campaign against Little Bolü again."

"Then let's wait for that day. Cheers, everyone!" George Price raised his cup.

"Cheers!" The four of them drained their wine in one go.

Just then, a young woman came up the stairs. She wore narrow-sleeved short robes, a pomegranate-red long skirt, a bow and arrows on her back, and held a three-foot-long sword in her hand. She looked around, seemingly searching for an empty seat.

Andrew Thompson was stunned for a moment. What a small world—how did she end up in Kucha too?

"Miss Grace, over here, over here!" Paul Turner suddenly waved and called out to her.

"Chenggong, you know her?"

Andrew Thompson glanced at Paul Turner. The way he called her so affectionately—could she be his lover or something?

Paul Turner chuckled. "There's no one in Kucha who doesn't know her. You'll get to know her soon enough."

The young woman heard someone calling her, looked around, and suddenly spotted them. She was overjoyed.

"Little Paul, White Cane, and Slow George, what are you all doing here?"

She ran over with a smile, then caught sight of Andrew Thompson, paused in surprise, and blurted out, "What are you doing here?"

Andrew Thompson gave a dry laugh. "I'm here to deliver the leopard skin to you. Since you've paid, of course I have to give you the goods."

"It's just a lousy animal skin, I don't even want it!"

The woman curled her lips and gave John White a hard shove. "White Cane, move over a bit."

She sat down and waved to the waiter. "Waiter, bring me a piece of flatbread first, I'm starving."

John White eagerly poured her a cup of wine and asked with a smile, "Miss Grace, where have you been these past few months? How did you get to know our new brother?"

"I went to Bohuan City and Shule for a bit, totally exhausted me."

Miss Grace downed her wine like a boy, a rosy flush rising to her pretty face. She glanced at Andrew Thompson, suddenly remembering how he had refused to sell her the leopard skin, and glared at him fiercely. "You three, this guy bullied me in Bohuan City. You have to teach him a lesson for me."

Chapter 11: The Polo Incident (Part 1)

"Drink! Drink!"

John White nudged Paul Turner with his elbow and changed the subject. "Chenggong, the food at this tavern is pretty good today. Did they change chefs?"

"Haha! It is good. Waiter, bring another plate of braised fish."

"You guys!" Miss Grace slammed the table in anger. "You're helping him bully me! I'm going to tell Uncle Feng on you!"

Andrew Thompson's head suddenly started to ache. Calling Feng Changqing 'Uncle Feng'—could this Miss Grace be...?

At this moment, the usually silent George Price smiled and said, "Qilang, you probably don't know Miss Grace yet! She's our General Gao's youngest daughter, nicknamed..."

"Slow George, don't you dare say it!" Miss Grace snapped, glaring fiercely at George Price. George Price quickly raised his hands and laughed, "Alright, alright, I won't say it."

Miss Grace glanced at Andrew Thompson. "Hey! What's your name?"

Andrew Thompson quickly replied with a smile, "My name is Andrew Thompson, but everyone calls me Seventh Son. If you don't want the leopard skin, I'll just sell it tomorrow."

"I paid for that! You wouldn't dare sell it!"

After a pause, Miss Grace asked him, "What weapon do you use?"

Andrew Thompson grinned. Is this girl trying to give him a nickname?

John White, always one to gloat, quickly said, "Miss Grace, Seventh Son uses a bow and arrows."

"Alright then, from now on I'll call you Stinky Daniel. Listen, Stinky Daniel, bring me the leopard skin tomorrow, got it?"

The other three couldn't help but burst out laughing at Andrew Thompson's new nickname, Stinky Daniel.

Andrew Thompson pulled a long face and thought to himself, "Damn, how did Gao Xianzhi end up with a daughter like this?"

...

After finishing their drinks, Mark Howard headed home first. Paul Turner and George Price had other matters to attend to, so John White and Andrew Thompson returned to the barracks together.

"Seventh Son, don't underestimate Miss Grace. She's skilled in archery and horsemanship, and her swordsmanship is top-notch. Not even a few men can beat her."

"I can tell. You all seem to like her, don't you!"