Guliang County is located southeast of Tianyong County. It was noon, and two armies were facing each other at the intersection of the two counties. Between them was a golden canopy, under which was a long table and two small stools.
When Zhao Cheng walked toward Huagai, Wen Hu had already arrived.
Zhao Cheng arrived in front of the canopy and saw Wen Hu already drinking wine and eating meat, with the golden knife at his waist casually placed on the corner of the long table. He couldn't help but sit down casually, glanced at the top of his head, and said, "You're setting a pretty high standard! When do you plan to depose Yuan Li and establish yourself?"
"Bullshit!" Wen Hu tore off a piece of meat and cursed, "My uncle and I are utterly loyal to the late Emperor and His Majesty, and are loyal subjects of the Great Jing. This yellow parasol was bestowed upon us by His Majesty!"
Zhao Cheng said, "If you start cursing as soon as you arrive, how can we have a conversation?"
Wen Hu said, "It makes me feel better to scold you a few times."
Zhao Cheng said, "After losing a battle, all we can do is vent our anger by cursing."
Wen Hu spread his hands and said, "See, I really didn't scold you wrong."
"Alright, let's get down to business!" Zhao Cheng leaned forward, picked up a piece of meat, and started pricking it with a silver needle. He glanced at the golden knife subconsciously, keeping a subtle distance.
Seeing Zhao Cheng stab the piece of meat so many times that it was riddled with holes, Wen Hu was furious and said, "If you're afraid of dying, you don't have to eat my food."
"Are you trying to tan me?"
"Even if I wanted to kill you, would I use poison? Killing you would be as easy as killing a chicken, a single blow!"
Zhao Cheng shook his head and said, "You're an unethical person, so I'd better be careful."
"I'm not going to argue with you about this!"
Wen Hu, clearly unable to win the argument, said, "There are only two things, to make a long story short. First, my uncle asked me to pass on a message to you."
"explain."
"The Zhao family's prestige and power are already at their zenith, while the young emperor is incompetent. If you, teacher, can ascend the throne, I will certainly show you the respect due to a vassal state. I hope you will remember not to fail the expectations of the people, for Heaven's will not grant such a favor, and you will surely suffer the consequences!"
"Oh." Zhao Cheng opened his mouth slightly.
Wen Hu said dejectedly, "Did you understand? Your uncle supports your father becoming emperor."
"I understand."
"You understand, so you say 'oh'?"
"My senior brother was asking about my father, not me. How am I supposed to answer that? I have to go back and ask my father!"
Zhao Cheng looked at Wen Hu as if he were an idiot, which made Wen Hu very unhappy, especially since Zhao Cheng deliberately mentioned the words "my senior brother," taking advantage of Wen Hu once again.
"The second thing!"
Wen Hu was no longer interested in talking to Zhao Cheng and said somewhat impatiently, "From now on, Guliang County will be the boundary. Guliang belongs to your Dongjing. You can station troops on the border, but do not cross the border into Tianyong. The capital of Xijing, Yongliang, is not far from your garrison. If you make any unusual moves, you will suffer the astonishment and anger of the entire Xijing."
While chewing the meat, Zhao Cheng said, "I clearly have the advantage now, so why should I agree to let you stop here? I can get even closer to Yongliang."
Wen Hu laughed and said, "Stop pretending. You're outside, Zhao Huan is outside, and Changsui only has that little emperor. You dare to fight a protracted war when you can't even be sure you can conquer Yongliang? If you dared, you would have already made your move. Why would you wait for us to send troops before you act?"
Zhao Cheng picked up a cup of wine and put the silver needle into the wine and stirred it.
Wen Hu shouted impatiently, "No poison!"
Zhao Cheng continued, "The palace isn't just home to the young emperor; there's also A-Yun and my two younger brothers."
Wen Hu said, "Zhao Cheng, there's no point in you bargaining with me now. You took back Guliang in this battle and even made us lose Wang Ren. You should stop now and secure your gains."
“You know how gamblers are, once they win, they want to win even more.” Zhao Cheng downed his drink in one gulp.
Wen Hu's gaze darkened, and Zhao Cheng had a feeling that he was about to touch the golden knife.
The atmosphere suddenly turned icy.
"I know Yang Taozhi is protecting you in secret, otherwise you wouldn't dare to come, given your personality. But can you guarantee she can be faster than me?"
"I can't guarantee that."
Zhao Cheng shook his head and said frankly, "But she can guarantee it."
Wen Hu laughed, this time a very casual laugh, and asked again, "She can guarantee she's faster than me, but what if we attack at the same time? Can she be faster than us?"
In an instant, sand and dust swirled around the canopy.
Even Zhao Cheng, who knew nothing about martial arts, felt two sharp sword energies.
He didn't know if they had made a move.
But he knew that Xu Qingshan was Wen Hu's backup plan!
The sandstorm intensified, engulfing the canopy. The soldiers on both sides could no longer see what was happening inside and were rushing towards the canopy.
Zhao Cheng, amidst the sandstorm, was also unaware of what had happened. He only saw that Wen Hu had stood up, with Xu Qingshan standing behind him.
To his left and right were Yang Taozhi and... Xiao Qingcheng Gong Xue.
"The sandstorm should stop, shouldn't it?" Yang Taozhi asked first.
“Then let’s stop,” Wen Hu replied.
From just these two sentences, Zhao Cheng understood that they had already exchanged blows, but it seemed that neither side could gain the upper hand.
Zhao Cheng was very alarmed.
Wen Hu and Xu Qingshan are both Grandmasters, while Yang Taozhi is the only Grandmaster on their side. Yet Yang Taozhi managed to fight them to a draw with Gong Xue!
Just what a treasure my sister is!
Zhao Cheng had initially demanded a price, which was why Wen Hu had become murderous. Now that Yang Taozhi had called for the sandstorm to stop, it meant she hoped the fighting would cease, as there was no need to continue. Wen Hu agreed to stop, understanding that further fighting would only result in mutual destruction. Since a peace agreement had already been reached, there was no need to create further trouble.
A strong wind arose.
After the two sides' forces had been running wildly for a while, the sandstorm subsided, and Zhao Cheng and Wen Hu had separated, walking back to back towards their respective camps.
In the dissipating sandstorm, Yang Taozhi, Xu Qingshan, and Gong Xue could no longer be seen.
It was as if this negotiation was really just between Zhao Cheng and Wen Hu.
Two empty wine glasses, a plate of uneaten meat, and two silver needles were left behind.
Yes, Zhao Cheng's silver needles are disposable; he only uses them once.
After the army returned to camp, Zhao Cheng made arrangements for their return to the capital and then went to the tent that had been set up for Gong Xue.
"Miss Gong Xue, would you please come out and have a chat?"
Zhao Cheng didn't have to wait long before Gong Xue came out, still dressed as a woman disguised as a man, looking like an ordinary and thin guard.
Zhao Cheng smiled and said, "Actually, there's not much point in you dressing up like this. Even in the dim moonlight tonight, your beauty can't be hidden."
Gong Xue, holding her sword with both hands, said, "Young Marshal, do you intend to take another concubine? Just say what you have to say."
Zhao Cheng put his hands behind his back, looked at the night sky, and said, "Yuan Li has become a puppet of the Wen family uncle and nephew. I believe you have tried many times to save him, but you have failed."
“Your strength alone is limited. We will eventually break into Yongliang and help you rescue people. Until then…”
"Would you mind boarding my boat?"
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