Seeing his hesitation, the strategist further explained the advantages and disadvantages: "Liaodong and Liaoxi were originally our tribe's homeland. If we can take them back, it will be enough to stabilize our tribe's loyalty to you, and it will also demonstrate our power to other Dongyi tribes and show the might of a king."

The King of Donghu's eyes flickered, as if recalling the bloodshed and unrest caused by the previous struggle for the throne.

After he ascended the throne, some tribal leaders became suspicious of him, feeling that he had only inherited his father's bloodline but had no notable military achievements. If he could lead his people to recapture Liaodong and Liaoxi in one fell swoop, it would truly intimidate the internal factions.

"But..." He hesitated for a moment, then slowly asked, "The Yan state has fallen, and Ji City has fallen into Qin hands. They won't abandon Liaodong and Liaoxi, will they?"

The strategist smiled, seemingly confident: "Your Majesty, the Qin ruler is ruthless and has ordered widespread massacres and extermination of the remaining Yan forces. He also has to deal with assassinations by Mo Xia and scholars, which will inevitably consume a great deal of time and energy."

"It will be a long time before they can mobilize their troops to Liaodong. Meanwhile, our Dongyi warriors are skilled horsemen and know the terrain of Liaodong and Liaoxi like the back of their hand. In addition, with the fall of Yan, the garrison will surely be in chaos and have no fighting power."

Upon hearing this, the Donghu King's eyes burned even brighter. He reached out and stroked the sword at his waist, its scabbard engraved with the totem of the Dongyi people, symbolizing the glory of their homeland and tribe. "If I remain timid and hesitant, how can I revitalize my tribe, how can I establish my prestige?"

He slammed his hand on the table and loudly ordered, "Issue my royal decree—assemble all warriors and prepare for battle immediately. I will lead the army straight to Liaoxi, then to Liaodong, to reclaim our ancestral lands, and let all the tribes of the grasslands see that we, the Donghu, are not pushovers!"

"Your Majesty is wise!" The strategist clasped his hands together, a satisfied smile on his face. Several leaders inside the tent echoed his sentiments, as if the war drums were already beating in their blood.

The following morning, at the Dongyi King's camp.

The bright sunshine illuminated a bustling scene, where countless warriors were leading their horses and preparing their equipment. Scimitars and spears gleamed coldly in the morning light, and the neighing of warhorses rose and fell.

The King of Dongyi, clad in fur armor, mounted a magnificent blue-maned horse and raised his arms, shouting: "My sons, follow me on this expedition and reclaim our ancestral land!"

War drums thundered, banners fluttered, and the sound waves soared into the sky. The Eastern Yi soldiers swarmed forward, following their king as they sped off towards the northeast.

They planned to seize Liaodong and Liaoxi before the Qin army could make any moves. At this moment, victory seemed assured, but the outcome appeared to be predetermined.

Despite the turbulent situation, the wicked man remained unhurried, waiting in Jicheng for an extra half month until Wang Jian's injuries had fully recovered.

It was noon that day.

In the main hall of the general's mansion, all the generals gathered for a banquet hosted by the wicked husband, and everyone was in high spirits. The aroma of wine and meat filled the air, making this moment of tranquility seem especially luxurious.

The wicked man sat in the main seat, his face calm but with a hidden sharpness. He raised his wine cup and said loudly, "Today's banquet is firstly to celebrate the recovery of the General, and secondly, it can be regarded as a farewell for tomorrow's expedition to conquer Liaodong and Liaoxi."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Jian, who was sitting below the hall, stroked his beard and then smiled and said, "What the Grand Commandant says is absolutely right. Liaodong and Liaoxi are the former territories of the Yan state. Now that the Yan state has perished, we should rightfully bring them into Qin territory."

Behind him, generals such as Chun Ning and Er Niu nodded in agreement. After half a month of rest following the fall of Ji City, the soldiers' strength had gradually recovered, making it the perfect time to prepare for battle and return to Xianyang to collect their rewards.

"Grand Commandant!" Wang Jian raised his wine cup and gave a slight toast to the wicked man. "I am so grateful for your help in healing this injury and not missing this battle. I thank you for your assistance."

The wicked man chuckled lightly and waved his hand with a hint of mockery: "General, there's no need for such formalities. They say an elder in the family is a treasure, and without you... I feel quite lost!"

At this point, his smile faded slightly, and his tone suddenly turned icy. "Moreover, I received a message from the Black Ice Guard last night that the King of Donghu has led his troops south, intending to seize two territories. He actually dares to snatch meat from the jaws of my Qin Kingdom. He really doesn't learn his lesson!"

"How dare he! He's courting death! He must be wiped out!" Several deputy generals below the hall spoke up with contempt on their faces.

Chun Ning's eyes flashed with a chilling killing intent as she muttered to herself, "Dong Hu, have you forgotten the suffering you endured so quickly? It seems the poison you used last time was too mild, so that you've forgotten the pain so quickly?"

Upon hearing this, Erniu slammed his fist on the table: "Grand Commandant, let me be the vanguard! I'll lead the Black Dragon Armored Army into their ranks, and I'll make sure none of those blind bastards escape!"

"Erniu, what's the rush? I've already made my plans." The wicked man glanced at him, a smile playing on his lips. "The General is leading 150,000 troops straight from Jicheng to Liaoxi; Chun Ning, Erniu, and I will lead one group straight to Liaodong, where the main force of the Donghu is located."

"I want to see for myself how many eyes this new king of the Donghu has on his body, and how he dares to be so bold?"

Wang Jian pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "The Donghu must be trying to take advantage of the gap while we are stabilizing the situation to quickly occupy the two counties, and then use the two counties as a base to resist our Qin army. This new king is quite shrewd and strategic."

The wicked man raised his cup in a gesture of respect, then downed the wine in one gulp: "Whether he plots or not is none of my concern. Since he dares to extend his claws, the Qin sword in my hand... will naturally be able to chop off their dog claws."

"Come, gentlemen, drink this cup of wine to the last drop!"

"We'll go back and reorganize the troops later. Tomorrow morning, we'll launch an expedition to Liaodong and Liaoxi, finish off the remaining territory of the Yan Kingdom, and give the Donghu a good show of Qin's power."

All the generals inside the room rose at the same time and said in unison, "We obey the Grand Commandant's command!"

In an instant, wine glasses were raised in unison, the clinking sounds mingling with bold words, creating an overwhelming atmosphere of battle. The soldiers in the hall were excited, as if the flames of war had already been ignited in their chests.

"After we destroy the Eastern Barbarians, we will return to Jicheng to celebrate!" Erniu shouted boldly, which drew cheers from the soldiers.

The wicked man narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at them with a smile. Once upon a time, he fervently hoped to transform the spirit of the Chinese people, so that when foreign enemies invaded, they would defend their homeland, vowing not to rest until their blood was spilled.

Now, it's finally done!

The food was finished, and the wine was almost gone. The crowd clasped their hands in unison once more and shouted, "Destroy Liaodong! Pacify Liaoxi! Let the world belong to Qin!"

Outside the hall, the early autumn wind, carrying a hint of desolation, swept into the mansion.

The wicked man rose to finish up, holding his wine glass and sighing softly: "The path of the world can only be paved with a knife. If anyone dares to disobey, cut off their heads and offer them as a sacrifice to the flag!"

"The string is drawn, and the Qin sword will be unsheathed."

"I ask the barbarians of the four directions, who dares to fight?"

Having said that, the wicked man downed the wine in his cup in one gulp. The generals' eyes were filled with fervor, and they all downed their wine in one go, then turned and strode away.