In the Northern Qiang Palace, officials from several major clans, led by the Murong and Helan clans, were anxiously waiting outside the main hall.
The Helan clan leader went to urge the palace servants at the door more than once.
"Please inform His Majesty again. There is an urgent report from the border. Your Majesty needs to act as soon as possible."
The palace maids went in and out, and the music inside the palace gate gradually faded away.
After another stick of incense had passed, the palace door opened and the dancers inside came out in groups.
Except for Chief Murong, the other court officials couldn't help but frown.
The palace maids then came out and invited them in.
As you enter the hall, a burst of luxurious fragrance rushes into your nose, making you feel suffocated.
Doming, who was sitting at the top of the table, was half lying on the chair, holding a glass of wine in his hand, half drunk and half awake.
Seeing several ministers coming in, he managed to sit up.
"What is it?"
Seeing the dark circles under his eyes, which were obviously caused by excessive indulgence, the Helan clan leader showed dissatisfaction, cleared his throat, and bowed, saying,
"Your Majesty, urgent news from the border: Huo Yan led his men to launch a surprise attack on our army. We are now losing ground and may be unable to resist."
Hearing about the war, Duoming drank a bowl of hangover soup sent by the palace servants, cheered himself up, thought for a moment, and asked lazily,
"Do you have any suggestions on how to deal with this, my dear ministers?"
Several ministers expressed their opinions, some suggesting further reinforcements, others suggesting a halt...
After everyone else finished speaking, Duoming glanced at the silent Murong clan leader and asked, "What do you think, Murong clan leader?"
Chief Murong paused, took a step forward and said,
"Your Majesty, I believe that the reason Huo Yan's offensive was so fierce this time was because Helian Chang was the one leading the troops on the front line."
"He and Helian Chang have an irreconcilable feud, so naturally he is filled with resentment."
Duoming nodded and motioned for him to continue.
"I think that since the Grand Marshal is fighting on the front lines, why not use him to contain Huo Yan? We can use the remaining reinforcements elsewhere. It might be more effective!"
"Oh?" Dominic became interested and asked, "Where will the remaining troops be sent?"
The Murong clan leader sneered and uttered three words,
"Liangzhou City."
The other court officials listened and began to think about it, and echoed,
"Very good! According to the news we have received in the past few days, Huo Yan is now in Yucheng, and only the King of Jin from Dacheng is guarding Liangzhou City."
"This boy is young and has never been on the battlefield. It should be easy for him to capture Liangzhou City!"
"Liangzhou City is Dacheng's headquarters. Once it is captured, Yucheng and Longcheng will be attacked from all sides, let alone!"
After hearing this, everyone thought that this plan was feasible.
But only the Helan clan leader pondered for a moment, and finally spoke slowly,
"Your Majesty, if we split our army into two parts, Xiaoyue City's defenses will inevitably be weakened. If the enemy launches a surprise attack, how will we respond?"
As soon as the words fell, the Murong clan leader raised his eyebrows and sneered, retorting mercilessly:
"We've already tied down Dacheng's main force. How could they possibly have the remaining strength to launch a surprise attack on Xiaoyue City? Brother Helan is being too cautious."
The Helan clan leader did not refute immediately, but paused, looked at Duoming with deep eyes, and said slowly,
"After all... Dota's body has not been found yet..."
As soon as the words fell, the entire hall fell into an eerie silence, and the air stagnated for a moment.
Duo Ming, who had been leaning idly on the dragon chair, suddenly sat up straight, sneered disdainfully, and waved his hand.
"That bastard Dota's body must have been swallowed by the quicksand long ago! How many times have my men searched that desert? Even the Eagle Guards haven't made any movement! There's no way he's still alive."
He spoke with a firm tone, a hint of impatience in his eyes.
The Helan and Murong tribes also sent people to search secretly, but they also found nothing.
No matter how much you think about it, in the harsh environment of the desert, the seriously injured Dota has almost no chance of survival.
Chief Helan frowned, as if agreeing with Duoming's judgment, and said no more.
The meeting was quickly finalized and the distribution of the army was officially determined.
On the way out of the palace, he walked side by side with the Murong clan leader. After they left the main hall, he said quietly,
"Brother Murong, I'm afraid you're trying to kill two birds with one stone, right?"
The Murong clan leader was slightly startled, but just smiled, "Brother Helan, why do you say that?"
The Helan clan leader sneered, "As far as I know, Brother Murong reached a consensus with Helian Chang long ago to recommend him to return to Xiaoyue City..."
Patriarch Murong simply smiled and asked, "Brother Helan, do you think Huo Yan will let Helian Chang go?"
"Of course not." Chief Helan said firmly.
They were well aware of Huo Yan's ruthless methods, not to mention that Helian Chang was a traitor who betrayed Dacheng.
Huo Yan will never let him return alive from this expedition.
"If we recall him to Xiaoyue City, wouldn't that be like inviting a wolf into the house?" Clan leader Murong glanced at Clan leader Helan and said calmly, "Helian Chang is a cunning and treacherous man. Neither I nor Brother Helan will tolerate him..."
Chief Helan did not speak, but his eyes darkened slightly.
Patriarch Murong's smile deepened, and he continued in a low voice, "If that's the case, why not...kill two birds with one stone?"
He paused, then raised his eyes meaningfully. "Who knows, maybe Helian Chang can bring us an unexpected surprise, making him and Huo Yan fight to a draw... Then, wouldn't we be able to reap the benefits?"
After saying this, he flicked his sleeves, got on the carriage, and left leisurely.
Chief Helan stood there, watching the carriage go farther and farther away, and couldn't help but curse the old fox in his heart.
…
As the night deepened, the lights in the hall flickered, illuminating the magnificent carved beams and painted buildings all around.
As soon as the ministers left, Domin felt a sense of emptiness rising from deep in his chest, like an invisible hand tightly grasping his sanity.
His throat was dry, his breathing became more rapid, and his whole body was hot and uncomfortable.
He realized that something was wrong, but the desire was unstoppable like a raging fire.
He waved his hand impatiently, signaling the dancer guarding the side hall to come in.
Soon, several women in lightly dressed and graceful figures came in one after another and surrounded him.
Their snow-white arms were hooked around his shoulders, their soft and boneless bodies were pressed against his arms, and ambiguous and frivolous smiles came from their lips.
"Your Majesty... have another drink..."
The jade cup was filled with amber liquor, which he drank one cup after another, burning his throat and numbing his last bit of clarity.
The doubts in his heart were gradually swallowed up by the aroused desire. He was immersed in the sweet and soft embrace of the beauty and had no time to think about the strangeness.
The sound of stringed instruments rang out again in the hall, the dancers' sleeves fluttered, and amid the interweaving of lights and shadows, a swift figure quietly passed by the dark ceiling of the hall, as light as a flying bird, without making any sound.
The dark shadow shuttled through the secret passages of the palace like a ghost, bypassed layers of guards, exited the palace gate, blended into the night, and quickly disappeared among the scattered roofs of the royal city.
He passed through Xiaoyue City, avoiding patrolling soldiers, and finally landed lightly outside the wall of Prince Jing's Mansion.
Not long after, several secret letters were quietly sent out from Xiaoyue City and quickly sent in several different directions.
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