Chapter 313
Yuquan Pass.
"Your Highness, did you see that? Nuhachi's grandson was burned to a horrible state by gunpowder. If he hadn't received timely treatment, that grandson would definitely be finished."
Meng Tian slapped his thigh and laughed heartily. He felt a surge of satisfaction when he thought of Nuhachi's cowardly behavior.
Thinking about how they had been suppressed and beaten for so long, they finally got a real chance to vent their anger.
Zhang Cheng stood to the side with his arms crossed and said, "In my opinion, he won't die so easily. I heard that the doctors there are quite skilled."
"Didn't they say before that someone had half their head almost fall off, but they dragged it out for two whole months before dying?"
Meng Tian glanced at him, then saw Duan Gan standing in front of the sand table with an inscrutable expression. He touched his nose and said, "Uh, it's true, Lord Zhang is right."
Chen Jinghe: "It's been several days, and they still haven't made a move. Could it be that Nuhachi is really dead?"
“If he really dies, the Turkic Khaganate will definitely send people over again. We finally figured out Nuhaci’s character and fighting methods.”
"If they really change the personnel, we definitely won't be able to figure out their tactics in the early stages."
He looked at Duan Gan, who had remained silent, and asked, "Fourth Master, what do you think?"
“Murong Yan is still in their hands. They can’t help but use him to gain benefits, unless he is really killed.”
If Murong Yan were still alive, perhaps they would have used him to trade for gunpowder.
After all, in their eyes, gunpowder played a crucial role in turning the tide at Yuquan Pass.
Duan Gan lowered his eyes and stared at the area marked with a red circle on the array diagram, then tapped his fingers lightly twice on the edge of the table.
When Murong Yan was mentioned, he couldn't help but think of Tao Tao.
Tao Tao seemed to care quite a bit about Murong Yan, mentioning him twice in front of him when they were in the capital, and now mentioning him again in a letter.
He gave a silent, cold laugh. It would be best if Murong Yan were dead, so she wouldn't always be thinking about him.
Suddenly someone knocked on the door.
"My lords, it's time for your meal."
Nuhachi, wearing a wolf fur coat and supported by soldiers, arrived at the next tent. Looking at Murong Yan curled up on the bed, he smiled sinisterly and said, "The young generals of the Central Plains are indeed extraordinary."
"How long has it been? He's still not dead."
His expression was a bit strange, looking like a mix of regret that Murong Yan hadn't died, relief that he was still alive, and a grimace of suppressed pain.
His complex expression made his otherwise passable face appear distorted and ugly.
The person lying on the bed seemed not to hear anything, showing no reaction whatsoever, remaining completely still, with only slight breathing to let people know that he was still alive.
"Look at you! If you hadn't been so stubborn, you wouldn't have had to suffer like this. You're so ungrateful!"
Anachu walked over and started cursing.
"Have someone go and tell Duan Gan to exchange this brat for a thousand catties of gunpowder and fifty cannons. Give them a day to consider it."
“But every hour, I cut off one of his fingers and sent it to Yuquan Pass. When all ten fingers were cut off and he still didn’t intend to redeem them, I had no choice but to cut off his head and send it over.”
Nuhachi's gaze toward him was full of malice and viciousness.
Anachuo looked at him hesitantly, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped himself. "General, I don't think they would agree. If they really wanted this person, they would have asked us for him long ago."
"Are you stupid! If we can get the trade, then even God wants us to win. If we can't get the trade, killing this person won't cost us anything."
"Yes, the general is right."
Upon receiving the message, Meng Tian couldn't help but curse aloud, "These bastards! This subordinate will immediately lead men to rescue Murong Yan."
"Stop right there!" Chen Jinghe shouted.
"Don't be so reckless. Be careful they get angry and then Murong Yan will really be beyond saving."
Meng Tian paced back and forth in frustration. "What should we do? We can't possibly agree to his conditions. The quantity they want is enough to empty Yuquan Pass."
"Moreover, if we really give it to them, Yuquan Pass will truly be unable to be defended."
Zhang Cheng and Chen Jinghe frowned simultaneously. They really couldn't give them the gunpowder, otherwise they would have no choice but to give up on Murong Yan.
There will naturally be sacrifices in war. He died, so let's just ask the emperor to posthumously confer a title upon him.
“Give them to them.”
Upon hearing this, everyone present looked at the man sitting in the main seat in shock.
Duan Gan propped his legs up on the table in front of him, rested his elbows on the armrests, propped his temples, and lazily half-opened his phoenix eyes. He held a letter in his left hand, which hung down below.
It was written in crooked Central Plains characters, mixed with Liao language.
Yelü Lie could write Chinese characters, but his handwriting was terrible. He generally didn't write letters himself, only when he had a trusted confidant write them.
The text states that he was sending men to attack the Turkic Khaganate, but they were obstructed by Yelü Zongjing and many ministers. The Liao Dynasty was currently in a state of division and could only reluctantly offer 20,000 troops as a gesture of goodwill, who were already on their way.
I hope this can lend a helping hand to my benefactor.
Duan Gan planned to take advantage of the fact that the Turkic Khaganate was sending reinforcements to help Nuhachi, so that the Liao Kingdom could take advantage of the situation and not waste this pawn that had been planted in the Liao Kingdom.
Yelü Lie was quite grateful, knowing to send troops to help.
However, this is also good. He left Yelü Zongjing behind in order to contend with Yelü Lie. Once the Liao people are united, they should turn around and deal with the Celestial Empire.
Yelü Lie may seem honest and obedient, but he is also very ambitious.
How could someone born into poverty and suffering not be ambitious? Once such a person gains power, they are likely to forget their roots for personal gain and repay kindness with enmity.
He didn't really believe that the Liao Kingdom was as Yelü Lie described in his letter, but the people who returned were almost exactly as he had described.
Yelü Lie had promised to be loyal to the Celestial Dynasty forever after ascending the throne, but official documents were delayed indefinitely and various excuses were used to postpone the delivery.
It seems that after dealing with the Turks, he will have to make a trip to the Liao Dynasty.
After a moment of silence, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but ask, "Fourth Master, why? He's just Murong Yan anyway, so what if he dies?"
"How can we fight a war without sacrifices? And once we hand over the gunpowder, I'm afraid we'll be..."
Hearing the somewhat accusatory tone, Chen Jinghe quickly grabbed his arm, "Fourth Master has his reasons, let's just do as he says."
Meng Tian was also a little confused, but he spoke a step later than Zhang Chenghe, so he looked at Duan Gan, hoping to get an answer.
Upon seeing Duan Gan's indifferent gaze, Zhang Cheng realized that he had misspoke.
"I'm sorry, Fourth Master, it was my mistake."
"Two days later, 20,000 Liao soldiers will arrive from the northwest. They will intercept the fleeing Turkic army from this place."
"Given the nature of the Turks, when they obtain a large amount of gunpowder, they will surely think they have victory in their grasp, and then they will sing and dance, and their guards will be relaxed. I will send someone to infiltrate the enemy's ranks and ignite all the gunpowder."
"A thousand catties of gunpowder is no joke. If they're still alive after that, they can only be incredibly lucky."
When Duan Gan said this, his expression was indifferent and his tone was indifferent, showing no regard for the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.
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