Meng Yuxiu shook his head: "There are some things I need to explain, so don't let the news leak out."

The doubts in everyone's hearts were temporarily dispelled. They were all fierce generals who had followed Meng Yuxiu through thick and thin, so they were not afraid of their former defeated opponents. Instead, they were worried about other things.

A burly man with a dark face and a thick beard asked directly, "General, I have recently heard a lot of news from the capital. His Majesty sent you north this time. Are those things as rumored?"

Meng Yuxiu kept a low profile throughout the trip and never showed up, but the rumors surrounding him never stopped.

No one knew whether the emperor's transfer of the Grand General from the capital was to entrust him with an important task or to weaken him in another way. After all, the emperor was old, and his mind was not as sharp as it used to be.

These men who followed Meng Yuxiu, though military officers, were not without their own shrewdness. Although they were generals who were loyal to the cause, they were ultimately Meng Yuxiu's soldiers.

So although the big man's words were rash and inappropriate, no one present stopped him; they were all waiting for Meng Yuxiu to give a definite answer.

"I cannot interfere with the situation in the capital. His Majesty has his own arrangements. Moreover, as a general, it is my duty to address the difficulties outside the capital. There is nothing more to say. What? Do you all think I have been wronged?"

Meng Yuxiu glanced indifferently at everyone below.

He knew what his people were thinking. After speaking, his expression turned slightly cold as he said, "This is the Northern Border. Your eyes should be on the front, not behind you. Whatever you heard, forget it."

Meng Yuxiu's meaning was clear, and no one mentioned the treacherous situation in the capital again.

Soon, as night fell, Meng Yuxiu led his men to the place where he would meet with the leaders of the Northern Barbarian tribes—Yanyun, a city bordering the Yun Kingdom and the Northern Barbarians. Ten years ago, this place had been trampled by the iron cavalry of the Northern Barbarians, and ten years later, it had been reclaimed by Meng Yuxiu.

Ten years of trials and tribulations, ten years of bloodshed—this city, having endured so much, is unlike any other city that has moved south. Its nights are quiet and desolate, with every household's doors and windows tightly shut. Along the long streets, only the wind sways the dim yellow lanterns.

Meng Yuxiu's horse stopped at the inn by the city gate—this place was formerly the command center of the Yanyun Station. Ten years ago, the governor of Yanyun defended this place to the death. Several dark black marks on the plaque looked like bloodstains weathered over the years.

As Meng Yuxiu walked in, the room immediately fell silent. Several people sitting at a long table looked over, their deep-set eyes revealing unreadable expressions, though they all showed a hint of surprise.

It wasn't easy to see Meng Yuxiu. When they first heard that Meng Yuxiu wanted to see them, no one thought that Meng Yuxiu had actually come here.

Meng Yuxiu, through his involvement in the war between the Northern Border and the Yun Kingdom, has become a symbol of too much.

Then, the prominent leaders and nobles of the tribe stood up one after another and bowed to Meng Yuxiu, saying, "General Meng."

Meng Yuxiu remained indifferent as always, walked to the front and sat down, gesturing for everyone to sit down as well.

"I've called you all here today for no other reason than to talk about this winter."

Winter was not a good season for them, and for the Central Plains, it was a season to be wary of being bitten by wolves.

Meng Yuxiu's immediate mention of such a sensitive topic sent a chill down everyone's spine. Aquinas, one of the leaders of the grassland tribes, said, "What do you mean by that, General Meng? We've been keeping to ourselves all these years. Are you inviting us to the Central Plains this winter to celebrate your Spring Festival?"

“Everyone has their own customs, so there’s no need to force yourself. I just want to know, with winter approaching, do your tribes have enough food? And how are your cattle and sheep?” Meng Yuxiu said, “I know winter is not easy for them. My people have also said that quite a few people have been trying to sneak over recently.”

Someone said, "Those who tried to escape were caught and brought back. We will deal with them ourselves; there's no need for the general to remind us."

"If they're your people, you can do whatever you want with them. But with people coming in droves, who among you can control them?"

The indifferent tone at the end carried a hint of displeasure, instantly making the atmosphere tense.

This topic already made the leaders present tense. Who would want to admit that their people were not staying in their own territory, abandoning their hometowns, and sneaking off to the Central Plains?

But soon some people realized that Meng Yuxiu did not mean to humiliate them. Bashalin said, "General Meng, do you mean that our people have caused some trouble in your Central Plains?"

Upon hearing this, the others, who had been secretly gritting their teeth, were also startled and suddenly understood Meng Yuxiu's meaning, and all looked at Meng Yuxiu.

Meng Yuxiu had already observed everyone's reactions. Eleven of the eighteen tribes leaders from the Northern Territory had arrived. These people had dark, rugged faces, and there was nothing unusual about them.

Meng Yuxiu met eleven pairs of eyes and slowly nodded: "I encountered some trouble on my way here. I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. Those people are interesting. I don't know if they want to infiltrate the Central Plains to learn something, or if they just want my life."

“The latter is fine; I, Meng Yuxiu, am ready to face those open and covert attacks at any time. But if it’s the former…”

Meng Yuxiu's tone was slightly drawn out, and he raised his eyes to look at everyone present. "Since I am the great general who protects the country of Yun, I should do what a general should do. I should kill all these people who are causing trouble in secret, or eliminate them completely to prevent future troubles."

In an instant, the God of War's chilling killing intent sent chills down everyone's spine.

Immediately afterward, someone sneered: "General Meng, there's an old saying in the Central Plains: 'If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext!' General, you're trying to disrupt our peace with empty words. Isn't that a joke?"

Meng Yuxiu looked at the man who had spoken and saw the tribal totem on his clothes. He asked, "Are you from the Black Serpent tribe? Where is your father?"

The man was clearly surprised that Meng Yuxiu knew these things. His sneer froze, and he said, "My father Khan has passed away. I am the new chieftain of the Black Serpent Tribe."

Having stayed in the capital for so long, Meng Yuxiu had become somewhat negligent about the northern border and was unaware that a tribe's leader had changed. He frowned slightly and said, "I know your father; he was a hero of your grasslands."

The man nodded, lowered his head, and said nothing more.

Meng Yuxiu was that kind of person. Everything was clear-cut in his mind, yet he didn't share the rigid ideas of the world. The people he had chosen... "Don't you all know? No matter how powerful the former leader of the Black Snake Tribe was, he was still tricked and killed. His body is... never mind! General Meng, you come here and immediately question us. So the Central Plains really values ​​peace, is that it?" One of them cut off Meng Yuxiu's words, his dark face showing impatience. He seemed to be an impatient person and didn't understand the hidden meaning in Meng Yuxiu's words.