Chapter 117 "The fate of this city is just like this!"...
Sawulanhe sat there blankly, the words of the barbarian-speaking soldier seeping into his ears intermittently.
He stared blankly at the other person's lips, unable to hear most of what was being said; his mind was buzzing.
What do you mean by saying that Father killed Suwua and that he disrupted the morale of the army? Doesn't Father want to save him?
When he heard the widespread rumors that Sawulanh might ascend to the throne, Sawulanh suddenly looked up.
How could this be? How could this be? He was his father's most beloved son. From the moment he was born, the Sawu tribe should have belonged to him. What about his mother, his mother, and his uncle? Why did even they abandon him?
Two lines of tears rolled down Sawulanhe's face, which was noticeably thinner.
The sergeant watched him warily.
But the pain in those eyes was instantly replaced by intense hatred.
That bastard Sawuzhen, and his vile mother, have somehow bewitched Father. If he could return, Sawulanhe's bloodshot eyes would be filled with malice, and he would surely tear that bastard to pieces!
Furthermore, his teeth were grinding together so hard that Sawulanh could even taste the blood in his own mouth, as well as the blood in his father's.
No, that man is no longer a father.
His father wouldn't leave him here to be bullied and humiliated, and he wouldn't say such heartless things.
Ji Chengnin must be lying to him!
Sawulanhe was delirious, laughing and crying at the same time, his voice hoarse and unintelligible: "No, you're lying to me, you're all lying to me!"
The soldier watched coldly as he lay on the straw mat, wailing and crying. After a long while, he added coldly, "But the general does not intend to kill you."
Sawulanhe's face was a mixture of dust and tears, and he looked nothing like the arrogant and domineering person he had been just a few days ago. He opened his eyes wide in disbelief, "What did you say?"
He pounced on it.
"Swish—"
The blade is drawn.
Sawulanhe paused abruptly, then stiffly retreated to his original position. "Whatever you want, I will..." he said, before bursting into maniacal laughter again.
The sergeant said indifferently, "The general does not intend to kill you. On the contrary, he will give you a fast horse so that you can return to the Sawu tribe immediately."
Sawulanhe's smile froze.
His eyes were wide open, and because he was thin, his cloudy eyes looked particularly terrifying when they were wide open, with the blood vessels seemingly about to burst.
"What did you say?" Overjoyed, Sawulanhe felt dizzy. Forgetting the knife, he grabbed the soldier's wrist. "Ji Chengnin is going to let me leave? When?"
The sergeant remained expressionless. "Now."
A moment later, in the study.
The young soldier who had spoken earlier stood in front of Ji Chengning. "General, Sawulanhe has already ridden away."
"Well done," Ji Chengnin smiled.
His gaze casually swept over the military report, and he saw that it said that Shuoye Tiyunqing had already received the letter.
He raised his lips and said, "Pass down the order that all soldiers must be on high alert and ready for battle for the next few days." Ji Chengnin smiled, revealing two small tiger teeth, looking smug, like a fox that had caught a chicken wing. "This general will take you to hunt wild animals."
One of the soldiers asked in confusion, "What kind of wild animals could be out in this heavy snow?"
Zhou Mufang squatted on a small stool, chewing on a freshly baked coarse flour pancake, and mumbled, "For example, wild warhorses, wild weapons, wild armor, there might be a lot of them on a day like this."
The person asking the question was even more confused, "Huh?"
Seeing Ji Chengnin tilting his head to look at him, Zhou Mufang tore off a piece of the baked pancake. "Want some?"
Ji Chengnin nodded.
Just as Zhou Mufang was about to hand it over, the young marquis walked towards him, took the pancake, and left him only the small piece he had just torn off.
Zhou Mufang watched the fire for a moment before baking the pancakes until they were crispy on the outside and fragrant on the inside. The salt had long since dissolved and seeped into the pancakes along with the oil. She also brushed a layer of chili sauce on the inside, making them incredibly fragrant. Zhou Mufang was furious. "It's not like we're out of pancakes!"
Ji Chengnin was not ashamed. He took a bite and sighed, "It tastes especially sweet when you steal someone else's food."
Zhou Mufang's face was full of sorrow.
...
Three hours later.
Sawulanhe was cold and tired, shivering in the cold wind, but dared not stop.
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind along the way, each one sending chills down his spine.
Before I knew it, dust and smoke were rising everywhere!
Could it be that Sawu had known the news in advance? Sawu Lanhe was startled and almost fell off his horse.
He hesitated, unsure whether he should ride back, but the group of men gave him no time to hesitate and rushed forward like a whirlwind.
To his surprise, the leader was none other than Shuoye Tiyunqing.
Sawulanhe trembled violently and cried out in a hoarse voice, "Mother!"
Shuoye Tiyunqing received the news this morning. The letter told her to wait at this place, and that the jade would be returned to Zhao intact soon.
She knew this was likely a trap, but she couldn't resist bringing her men. Not to mention that the Sawu tribe's encampment wasn't far from here, and even if there was an ambush, her brother could quickly come to her aid. If Sawu really found out about this before she arrived, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Shuoye Tiyunqing unexpectedly saw her son whom she had been longing for day and night. Her eyes instantly reddened, and she immediately stepped forward, grabbed Sawulanhe's hand, and said in a trembling voice, "My son has suffered."
Thankfully, she came.
Seeing that Sawulanhe was thinly dressed and disheveled, they quickly took off their cloaks and wrapped Sawulanhe in them.
Sawulanhe trembled and whispered, "Mother, does Father not want me anymore?"
Shuoye Tiyunqing's expression froze slightly, then she gently stroked Sawulanhe's hair, her voice extremely gentle, yet carrying an indescribable chill, "Yes, your father has been bewitched by evil spirits, he is no longer your father."
She continued softly, "According to our tribe's old custom, a sacrifice should be offered to drive away the demon."
...
Five days later, at midnight.
After several days of preparation, the Cangzhou army marched out of the city. This was an army of only a thousand men. Their horses had their hooves wrapped in cloth, and the soldiers had gags in their mouths. Their orders were strictly obeyed, and not a single sound could be heard.
At this moment, the army advanced silently, their eyes shining brightly even though it was the middle of the night.
Although they did not know why they were aligning themselves with the Sawu tribe at this moment, no one would question Ji Chengnin's decision. It was this young commander who, with only a thousand men, intercepted 30,000 shi of grain and several thousand warhorses, achieving a victory in the first battle!
The cold wind whistled and seeped into my armor, but I didn't feel cold.
"Whoosh—"
A strong wind swept across the sandy land.
The scout rode back quickly and reported, "General, a troop has emerged from the Sawu tribe's encampment. They haven't raised any large banners, and their march is disorganized!"
Ji Chengnin's eyes lit up. "Great!"
That's exactly what he's been looking for.
It made no difference to him whether it was the prince from the Sawu tribe who escaped.
They're all mouthwatering fatty meat!
Gusts of wind blew, thick smoke billowed, and the temperature difference between day and night was too great. A layer of cold, tangible white mist hung over the entire grassland.
The army that emerged from the fog was all dressed in black armor, just like—in the eyes of the unprepared barbarian army, they looked like the underworld generals under the command of Yama!
The leader wasn't even wearing a mask; his beautiful face appeared even more alluring and eerie in the mist. He held a large banner as tall as a person, and when he saw them appear, his eyes showed not fear, but rather a strong excitement.
A chilling excitement!
How can someone fight a bloody battle without feeling fear, but instead feel excited?
Upon seeing them appear, the leader waved his large banner heavily, the jet-black banner with gold accents fluttering in the strong wind.
Suddenly, the silent team seemed to come alive and charged towards them!
This is a scene that wouldn't even appear in a nightmare.
Despite their valiant efforts, they could only watch helplessly as their small boat, like a tiny vessel swallowed by a giant wave, was submerged by the black tide.
"Report—"
The scouts of the Sawu tribe scrambled into their camp.
"Your Highness, no, the rebel Sawuzhen's army has run into the Cangzhou army!"
Sawulanhe's body trembled suddenly, but he quickly regained his composure.
Shuoye Timu asked in a deep voice, "How many of them are there?"
"General, it's too dark for me to see clearly, but there are troops everywhere, and their shouts are deafening. I estimate there are several thousand men!"
Shuoye Timu suddenly stood up.
Sawulanhe grabbed Shuoyetimu's arm. He had been drunk earlier, and his eyes were still bloodshot. "Where are you going, Uncle?"
"The Cangzhou army only has a few thousand men; this is a golden opportunity!"
Sawulanhe shook his head vigorously, "Ji Chengning is most skilled at using schemes. I also thought they were only a hundred or so people that day, but suddenly several thousand people appeared out of nowhere and surrounded us. Uncle, you must not underestimate the enemy. Maybe this is just bait. The Cangzhou army is waiting for you behind us!"
Shuoye Timu said, "But..."
“No buts. I am the Great Khan now. Uncle, are you going to disobey even the Great Khan’s words?” Sawulanhe’s voice turned cold when he saw that Shuoyetimu was not listening. “Besides, so what if Sawuzhen’s men are all wiped out? It saves us the trouble of dealing with them!”
Shuoye Timu slowly loosened his clenched fist.
He looked at Sawulanh's nonchalant face and couldn't help but sigh silently.
The sky was just beginning to brighten.
The smell of gunpowder, blood, and burning things mixed together, which was extremely unpleasant, but when it entered the nostrils of the Cangzhou generals, it excited them to the extreme.
The city gates were wide open, and before ordinary people had even woken up, the troop had already quietly entered the city.
The seized items had not yet been fully inventoried, but Ji Chengnin didn't care much. He just asked Zhang Yuhuai to tally the total and give him a written report.
Right now, what he most wants to know is the detailed situation within the Sawu tribe.
Inside the military tent at this moment.
The young general, still in his armor, had a face like white jade and eyes like cold stars. A chilling aura enveloped him, and even without saying a word, he was enough to make people tremble.
But his expression wasn't fierce; on the contrary, the smile on his lips could even be described as charming and romantic.
He waved his hand, indicating to his subordinates that they didn't need to suppress the person in front of them.
The man before him was extremely tall, with long, slightly wavy, reddish-brown hair and remarkably resolute and upright features. He looked somewhat similar to Sawulanhe, only older and more composed.
His body was bound, but his expression remained unchanged, as if he had bound a wild and untamed wolf.
This man was none other than Sawuzhen, the great king of the Sawu tribe.
Sawuzhen stared at Ji Chengnin warily, his eyes sharp as a hawk's. Far from relaxing because of Ji Chengnin's gentle and friendly attitude, he became even more vigilant.
It was this seemingly frail young man who pierced his arm with just two arrows.
What's more, he was the one who put Sawulanh back!
Sawuzhen would never forget the look in that man's eyes when he shot the arrow—cold yet excited, like a frozen river surging with magma.
The arrowheads had been pulled out, and his arms hung limply at his sides.
Ji Chengning smiled slightly and said, "Your Highness of the Sawu tribe, I have no intention of making things difficult for you. As long as you tell me what has happened in the Sawu tribe these past few days, I can guarantee your safety."
Sawuzhen stared at Ji Chengnin's face with a gloomy gaze. After listening to the translation, he sneered, "Want me to be sent back so you can see my brothers and I killing each other?"
Ji Chengnin raised an eyebrow.
Just as he was about to speak, Sawuzhen's eyes flashed with ferocity, and he suddenly pounced on Ji Chengning.
"Whoosh—"
He couldn't get close to Ji Chengnin at all; in fact, he really didn't want to.
The blade was drawn much faster than he had imagined. With a "crunch," the blade sliced through the neck flesh, and blood gushed out instantly.
The guard with the sword looked somewhat apprehensive. "General!"
Ji Chengnin looked at Sawuzhen's eyes, which were gradually losing their luster, and waved his hand, "This is not your fault. He was determined to die. He has some backbone. Take him away."
Ji Chengning's gaze fell on the kneeling, trembling subordinate.
After translation, the soldier said, "General, they said that since Sawulanhe returned, the Sawu tribe has become increasingly chaotic. Sawuzhen thought he was the next Great Khan, but Sawulanhe not only did not restrain himself, but also became more and more unrestrained. However, Sawulanhe has the Queen and the Great General backing him up, so even the Great Khan does not dare to touch them. A few days later, the Queen said that Sawulanhe had provoked evil spirits outside and asked Sawulanhe to perform a sacrifice to exorcise them. Unexpectedly, the altar caught fire, and the scene was very chaotic. After the situation stabilized a little, the Great Khan was actually killed. Sawulanhe said that Sawuzhen did it and even wanted to kill Sawuzhen. Sawuzhen was no match for the army of Shuoyetimu. In order to protect himself, he could only lead his troops to break through the siege, but unexpectedly, you stopped him."
Ji Chengnin's gaze was deep.
After a long pause, he chuckled listlessly, "They want to go and seek refuge with Tilan Wangyue?"
The soldier asked in a foreign language, and the subordinate officer stammered, "Yes."
Ji Chengnin waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to take the man away.
He said, "Keep an eye on the Sawu tribe." A smile appeared on his lips. "Send the Great King's body back."
"General?"
Ji Chengnin remained silent, casually fiddling with the statues on the sand table.
Sawugu had few adult sons, and even fewer with the strength to contend for the throne. If Sawuzhen were still alive, Sawulanhe and Sawusuha could temporarily form an alliance due to this pressure. After all, neither of them was sure whether Ji Chengning would send Sawuzhen back.
But if Sawu really dies, the fragile alliance will be immediately shattered. What will happen to the two equally ambitious people who covet the throne?
Who would be gentle, courteous, frugal, and yielding in the face of power?
"Click".
Ji Chengning threw the statue onto the sand table.
Although Sawusuha was not born to the Queen, the Queen was her aunt, and Shuoyetimu was her uncle!
"General, what should we do next?"
“Wait,” Ji Chengning said with a smile, “Oh, and also, keep a close eye on Tilan Wangyue’s grain route. If someone delivers grain, and if you have the capacity, it would be best to use it for our own purposes. If not, just burn it.”
They only harass, without launching a direct attack.
Each time, only a small cavalry unit needs to be dispatched. The cavalry is extremely mobile, and the grain transport team simply cannot keep up. However, if Tilan Wangyue sends troops to meet the grain transport team, it will waste more manpower and resources for nothing.
The subordinates were secretly alarmed.
This move is an open conspiracy, but who can stop it?
Ten days later.
Upon receiving the message, Ji Chengnin got up in the dead of night, put on his clothes, and hurriedly unfolded the secret letter.
The text above simply reads: "Sawulanh and Sawusuha had a dispute, and Sawusuha severely injured Sawulanh and became the new ruler."
However, after a series of losses and internal strife, the Sawu tribe no longer had the energy or ability to stay in such a close place to the front line.
The Sawu tribe was originally a nomadic tribe. Sawusuha, in order to obtain the hard-won throne, took the initiative to withdraw from the front line and decided to return to the heart of the grassland. After this incident, the Sawu tribe was severely weakened and it will probably take decades to recover.
Sawusuha's decision was also for the continuation of the tribe. However, within the Shuojia tribe, the Sawu tribe was the mainstay. Now that the Sawu tribe had returned to the depths of the grasslands, the entire Shuojia tribe was in chaos, with everyone having their own thoughts.
But Tilan Wangyue didn't care about those restless thoughts at all. The only thing he cared about was that the grain and fodder that the Sawu tribe had promised him had not yet been delivered!
The Sawu tribe used to protect their supply lines, but now that they're no longer there as a shield, he either needs to move his camp forward to extend the supply lines and protect them, or...
Under the lamplight, a deep gloom flashed in the man's eyes.
The supply lines were already stretched thin and fragile, not to mention that Ji Chengning frequently sent people to harass and plunder grain, and if they couldn't get any, they would just set fire to the grain with rockets!
Tilan looked up at the moon and asked in a deep voice, "How is that matter going?"
"Your Majesty..."
"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! Ji Chengning has suddenly launched a military campaign against the Binya Kingdom!"
"What?"
...
Actually, calling it a military operation isn't entirely accurate. Ji Chengning merely sent men to bomb a small city in Binyage Kingdom and kill the soldiers delivering grain.
Ji Chengning knew very well that apart from Le Rong and Shuo Jia, which were eyeing the Central Plains covetously, every country outside the region wanted to take a piece of the Central Plains. However, either the Wei Dynasty still had its lingering power and dared not act openly, but dared to provide support in secret, or they were betting on both sides, helping whoever won.
Binya Kingdom is the former; it is nominally neutral, but in reality, it has been secretly supplying food and provisions to Tilan Wangyue.
The young marquis personally oversaw the battle, and the cannons roared deafeningly.
Ji Chengning gave the envoys, who dared not speak their anger, a sinister smile. “Go back and tell your king that my dynasty has a blood feud with the Le Rong barbarians. Only by annihilating their entire clan can I quell the hatred in my heart. If you dare to send more grain and supplies to assist us in the war, hoping to get a share of the spoils, your fate will be just like this city!”
With a casual flick of the young marquis's finger.
The cannon fired from its glowing red barrel.
It exploded with a deafening roar, and flames shot into the sky!
-----------------------
Author's note: Thank you to Minghuang for the 456 moonstones.
Thank you to my dear Wangxiang Qingqing for the 600 moonstones.
Chirp chirp.
Sorry for the long wait.
I have seen all the bombs and nutrient solutions you threw, thank you.
[Sprinkling flowers][Sprinkling flowers][Sprinkling flowers]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com