After successfully thwarting Murong Xuan's assassination plot, Xiao Yichen knew that the war with Murong Xuan had entered a critical moment. He realized that Rong Kingdom alone could not withstand the large-scale attack that Murong Xuan was about to launch. Therefore, Xiao Yichen decided to prioritize diplomatic alliances and seek support and assistance from neighboring countries.
Xiao Yichen first dispatched his most capable envoy to the neighboring Liang Kingdom. Liang was a vast country with a powerful military; an alliance with it would provide Rong Kingdom with a strong safeguard. The envoy, carrying a letter personally written by Xiao Yichen and generous gifts, traveled day and night to the Liang capital.
In the Liang court, the King of Liang fell into deep thought after receiving Xiao Yichen's letter. He knew full well that Murong Xuan was ambitious, and if the Rong Kingdom were destroyed, the Liang Kingdom would also face a great threat. However, sending troops to help was no small matter and required a careful weighing of the pros and cons.
"Your Majesty, Rong Kingdom is adjacent to our country. If Murong Xuan's power increases greatly after annexing Rong Kingdom, our borders may never be peaceful. I believe we should form an alliance with Rong Kingdom to jointly resist Murong Xuan," a minister stepped forward and advised.
The King of Liang nodded slightly: "I understand this principle. But what kind of reward can Rong offer us? Moreover, the outcome of the war is uncertain, and I cannot easily risk the lives of my soldiers."
Just as the King of Liang was hesitating, Murong Xuan received news that Xiao Yichen had gone to Liang to seek an alliance. He knew that if the alliance between Liang and Rong Kingdom succeeded, his own plans would be greatly hindered. Therefore, Murong Xuan immediately dispatched an envoy to Liang Kingdom in an attempt to sabotage Xiao Yichen's alliance plan.
After Murong Xuan's envoy arrived in Liang, he presented the Liang king with even more precious treasures and made a solemn promise: "Your Majesty, if you do not form an alliance with Rong, our country is willing to sign a peace treaty with Liang, agreeing to non-aggression. Furthermore, we will grant Liang many preferential treatments in future trade. His Highness Murong Xuan aspires to rule the world. If Liang lends him a hand, Liang will surely be able to gain a share after Rong is pacified."
Upon hearing this, the King of Liang was even more conflicted. On one hand, there was the allure of Murong Xuan, and on the other hand, there was Rong's plea for help. He didn't know what to do.
At this moment, Xiao Yichen's envoy argued forcefully in the Liang court: "Your Majesty, Murong Xuan is a wolf in sheep's clothing, and his words cannot be trusted. Today he may promise Liang great benefits, but tomorrow he may break his promise and send troops to attack Liang. Rong and Liang have always been on good terms. If Liang extends a helping hand now, Rong will remember it and repay it tenfold in the future. Moreover, although Rong is small, it has many resources and specialties that can be exchanged with Liang to promote the prosperity of both countries."
After pondering for a long time, the King of Liang decided to remain silent and observe the situation for the time being. He said to the envoys from both countries, "This matter is of great importance, and I need to discuss it with my ministers. You two envoys should return to your lodgings to rest. I will inform you of my decision once I have made it."
Xiao Yichen's envoy returned to the post station, extremely anxious. He knew that time was of the essence, and every moment of delay increased the danger to Rong Kingdom. Therefore, he secretly sent people to contact some ministers in the Liang Kingdom court who were inclined to ally with Rong Kingdom, hoping they could speak favorably of Rong Kingdom to the king.
Meanwhile, within Rong Kingdom, Xiao Yichen was not idle either. He strengthened the defenses of the capital and borders while organizing the people to prepare for war. Lin Wan'er continued to cultivate her spiritual power, while using mind-reading to closely monitor the movements of the Liang Kingdom's court and Murong Xuan's subsequent actions.
“Young Master Xiao, I sense that the King of Liang is extremely conflicted. He wants to protect himself, but he is also worried about the threat posed by Murong Xuan. We need to find a way to strengthen his resolve to form an alliance with Rong,” Lin Wan’er said.
Xiao Yichen frowned slightly: "Miss Lin, do you have any good ideas?"
Lin Wan'er pondered for a moment: "I can try to use mind-reading to influence the thoughts of some key figures around the King of Liang, making them more inclined to ally with Rong. However, this is a risky move, and if discovered, it may arouse the resentment of Liang."
After a moment of contemplation, Xiao Yichen said, "This plan is risky, but we have no choice but to try it now. Miss Lin, you must be careful and not reveal your identity."
"I will, Young Master Xiao," Lin Wan'er nodded in response.
So, Lin Wan'er began to use her mind-reading abilities to subtly influence several important ministers of the Liang Kingdom. She implanted information about the benefits of an alliance with the Rong Kingdom and the danger posed by Murong Xuan into their dreams, attempting to change their subconscious thoughts.
In the Liang Kingdom's court, after several days of discussion, the king summoned his ministers again to discuss an alliance with the Rong Kingdom. At this time, several important ministers influenced by Lin Wan'er stepped forward and strongly advocated for an alliance with the Rong Kingdom.
"Your Majesty," said a senior minister, "I have been thinking deeply about this matter recently and believe that forming an alliance with Rong is the wisest course of action. Murong Xuan's ambitions are obvious. If Rong falls, our country will be in grave danger. Moreover, what the Rong envoy said is true. After the two countries form an alliance, they can support each other in many aspects, such as military and economic affairs, and develop together."
The other senior ministers echoed this sentiment. Seeing the unanimous agreement among his ministers, the King of Liang's heart began to tip in favor of an alliance with Rong.
Just then, Murong Xuan's envoy learned that the situation was dire and requested an audience with the King of Liang again. He tried to tempt the king with benefits once more, but the King of Liang remained unmoved.
"Envoy, there's no need for further words. My mind is made up. I will form an alliance with Rong Kingdom to jointly resist Murong Xuan," the King of Liang said firmly.
Murong Xuan's envoy slunk back to the Mu Kingdom and reported the news to Murong Xuan. Upon learning this, Murong Xuan was furious: "The Liang Kingdom actually dared to ally with the Rong Kingdom! I will make them pay the price!"
Upon learning that the Liang Kingdom was willing to form an alliance, Xiao Yichen was overjoyed. He personally traveled to the Liang Kingdom to discuss the specifics of the alliance with its ruler. The two countries held a grand alliance ceremony in their capital, signed a treaty, and agreed to support each other militarily to jointly resist Murong Xuan; and to exchange goods and promote trade between the two countries.
With the support of Liang, Rong's morale soared. Upon returning to Rong, Xiao Yichen immediately set about integrating the military forces of both countries and formulating a battle plan. Based on the characteristics of Liang's army and Rong's terrain advantages, he deployed multiple lines of defense to prepare for Murong Xuan's attack.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yichen held several military conferences with the generals of Liang, exchanging combat experience and tactics. Lin Wan'er, using her mind-reading ability, helped Xiao Yichen understand the thoughts and capabilities of the Liang generals in order to better plan combat missions.
“Young Master Xiao, General Li of Liang is experienced in battle, but he is rather rigid in character and may sometimes disregard the overall situation. We need to guide him more during battles,” Lin Wan’er said to Xiao Yichen after a military meeting.
Xiao Yichen nodded: "Miss Lin, your mind-reading ability has been a great help. With this information, we can better leverage the strengths of the Liang army and avoid its weaknesses."
Just as Rong and Liang were busily preparing for war, Murong Xuan was also amassing an even larger army in Mu. He knew that Rong's strength had greatly increased after allying with Liang, but he was not afraid. He firmly believed that his army could break through the defenses of both countries and realize his ambitions.
"Send the order: the entire army marches forth! Target: Rong Kingdom!" Murong Xuan shouted majestically from the command platform.
His massive army surged towards Rong like a tidal wave, raising clouds of dust in its wake. The atmosphere on the border between Rong and Liang was tense to the extreme. Xiao Yichen and the generals of Liang led the allied forces of both countries, ready for battle. They knew that a breathtaking battle was about to unfold. This battle would not only concern the fate of Rong and Liang, but would also have a profound impact on the entire region.
The escaped subordinate ran back to Murong Xuan and reported the defeat on the battlefield. Seeing his subordinate's disheveled state, Murong Xuan knew the entire plan had failed, and he slammed his fist on the table in fury. The teacups on the table were instantly knocked over and shattered, spilling tea onto his robes, but he seemed oblivious. His eyes burned with a raging rage, as if he wanted to incinerate everything before him.
"Useless! A bunch of useless trash! You can't even handle this small matter, what use are you to me?" Murong Xuan roared, his voice echoing throughout the palace. His strategists and generals all lowered their heads, silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to utter a sound.
Murong Xuan paced back and forth in the palace, his anger surging like a tidal wave. He had thought his plan was flawless, but Xiao Yichen had easily thwarted it once again. He knew that with the alliance between Rong and Liang, his situation was becoming increasingly difficult. But he was unwilling to accept defeat; his burning ambition struggled wildly within him.
“Your Highness, this defeat was unexpected, but we must not be discouraged. The alliance between Rong and Liang has just been established, and there are bound to be many issues to resolve. We can look for weaknesses in these areas and seek another opportunity,” the strategist said, forcing himself to speak, his voice trembling slightly.
Murong Xuan stopped and looked at him coldly: "What good plan do you have? Tell me. If you have no other feasible solution, I will not let you off easily!"
After a moment's thought, the strategist cautiously said, "Your Highness, we can first send people to spread rumors and sow discord between Rong and Liang. We can say that Liang is in control of the alliance and intends to annex Rong after the war. At the same time, we can secretly gather our forces, feign an attack on Liang's border, and draw away their main force. Then, we can send our elite troops to launch a surprise attack on Rong's capital, catching Xiao Yichen off guard."
Murong Xuan nodded slightly after hearing this: "This plan has some merit, but it will not be easy to implement. I will give you three days to arrange this matter properly. If there are any further mistakes, you will have to answer to me with your head!"
"Yes, Your Highness." The strategist accepted the order and left, his heart filled with worry.
In Rong Kingdom, Xiao Yichen remained vigilant after learning that Murong Xuan's plot had failed once again. He knew that Murong Xuan would not let the matter rest and would surely launch an even more ferocious retaliation. He and the generals of Liang Kingdom intensified the training of the allied forces and improved the defensive fortifications, while closely monitoring Murong Xuan's every move.
Lin Wan'er used her mind-reading ability to constantly sense the danger around her. She realized that Murong Xuan was plotting a new conspiracy, but the specifics remained elusive.
“Young Master Xiao, Murong Xuan seems to be brewing a much larger conspiracy, but my mind-reading ability is being interfered with by some force, and I cannot know the details for sure. We must be even more careful,” Lin Wan’er said, frowning, a hint of unease in her eyes.
Xiao Yichen gently held her hand and comforted her, "Miss Lin, there's no need to worry too much. As long as we unite and strengthen our defenses, no matter what schemes Murong Xuan may have, they will be difficult to succeed."
However, before long, various rumors began to circulate on the border between Rong and Liang.
"Have you heard? Liang has no good intentions in the alliance. They want to take advantage of this war to annex Rong. Then we will all become slaves of Liang."
"Yes, the Liang army is running rampant in Rong territory, robbing the people of their property. This is not an alliance, it is clearly an invasion."
These rumors spread rapidly like a plague, causing great panic and resentment among the people of Rong. Many people began to harbor hostility towards the Liang army, and some small-scale conflicts even broke out.
Xiao Yichen realized the seriousness of the matter, and he immediately ordered the rumors to be suppressed and personally explained the situation to the people.
"Fellow villagers, these rumors are all Murong Xuan's schemes to undermine our alliance with Liang. Liang is our ally; they sent troops to help us fight against Murong Xuan's invasion. We must not be deceived by these rumors. We must trust each other and unite as one," Xiao Yichen shouted to the people in the capital's square.
Lin Wan'er also used her mind-reading ability to calm the people down. Thanks to their efforts, some people began to believe the truth, but others remained skeptical.
Meanwhile, Murong Xuan, as planned, amassed his troops and feigned an attack on the Liang Kingdom's border. Upon learning of this, the King of Liang was furious and immediately dispatched his main force to the border to meet the enemy.
"Your Majesty," a minister advised, "I believe this may be a ploy by Murong Xuan to lure us away from our base. We cannot easily fall into his trap. We should send a detachment to probe the enemy first, while the main force should remain to guard against a surprise attack on Rong Kingdom by Murong Xuan."
After listening, the King of Liang found it reasonable and changed his mind. He sent a general with a detachment to the border, while the main force waited in the rear.
Murong Xuan was secretly furious to see that Liang had not fallen for the trap. However, he decided to take a gamble and still send his elite troops to launch a surprise attack on the capital of Rong as planned.
Under cover of darkness, An Ye led Murong Xuan's elite troops, stealthily approaching the capital of Rong Kingdom. They assumed that Rong Kingdom's main forces had been deployed to the border, leaving the capital vulnerable.
However, Xiao Yichen had already anticipated Murong Xuan's move. He had laid numerous ambushes around the capital, waiting for Murong Xuan's troops to walk right into his trap.
As the troops in the shadows entered the ambush, Xiao Yichen gave the order, and shouts of battle erupted all around. The Rong Kingdom's soldiers descended like divine warriors, charging towards Murong Xuan's forces from all directions.
An Ye was shocked; he hadn't expected Xiao Yichen to be on guard. But as a ruthless assassin, he quickly regained his composure and directed his troops to resist.
"Kill! Don't panic, let's break out!" Dark Night shouted.
Although Murong Xuan's troops were elite, they gradually found themselves in trouble due to the ambush laid by the Rong Kingdom. They were surrounded in a small area, making it difficult for them to utilize their numerical superiority.
Xiao Yichen charged into the enemy ranks, leading the charge. His swordsmanship was incredibly sharp, each strike claiming the life of an enemy. Lin Wan'er, from the rear, used her mind-reading ability to sense the enemy's movements and provide Xiao Yichen with intelligence.
"Young Master Xiao, there are enemy archers on the left, be careful!" Lin Wan'er shouted loudly.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yichen dodged the enemy's rain of arrows with a swift movement. He then charged to the left, annihilating all the enemy archers.
During the battle, Murong Xuan's troops suffered heavy casualties. Seeing that the situation was hopeless, An Ye began to consider retreating.
"Retreat! Retreat now!" Dark Night issued the order to retreat.
Murong Xuan's troops began their breakout attempt, but under the relentless pursuit of the Rong Kingdom, only a few managed to escape. During his escape, An Ye was struck in the leg by one of Xiao Yichen's men, but he endured the excruciating pain and continued his desperate flight.
The battle ended in a crushing defeat for Murong Xuan. His elite troops were almost completely wiped out, and his conspiracy was once again exposed by Xiao Yichen.
Upon learning the news in the Mu Kingdom, Murong Xuan was so enraged that he vomited blood. His body was already weakened by his previous injuries, and this blow left him bedridden.
"Xiao Yichen, I will never let you get away with this..." Murong Xuan lay on the bed, muttering to himself, his eyes filled with hatred and resentment.
In Rong Kingdom, Xiao Yichen, Lin Wan'er, and others celebrated their victory. However, they also knew that although Murong Xuan had been temporarily repelled, his ambitions had not been extinguished. In the future, they would still need to remain vigilant and safeguard the peace and tranquility of Rong Kingdom.
“Young Master Xiao, Murong Xuan has suffered a heavy blow this time and should not launch any large-scale operations in the short term. We can use this time to further strengthen our alliance with Liang and at the same time develop Rong’s strength,” Chen Feng suggested.
Xiao Yichen nodded: "Mr. Chen is absolutely right. We cannot be satisfied with the status quo. We must constantly improve ourselves in order to remain invincible in this chaotic world."
Therefore, Xiao Yichen began to work on further cooperation with the Liang Kingdom. They engaged in extensive exchanges and cooperation in the fields of economy and culture, promoting the common development of both countries. At the same time, Xiao Yichen also implemented a series of reforms within the Liang Kingdom, strengthening military training, developing agricultural production, and improving the lives of the people.
Lin Wan'er continued to hone her mind-reading skills, hoping to become even stronger so that she could better assist Xiao Yichen in future crises.
In this chaotic world, under Xiao Yichen's leadership, the Rong Kingdom gradually moved towards prosperity and stability. However, the shadow of Murong Xuan still loomed over them, and the road ahead was still full of unknowns and challenges.
Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er successfully weathered the crisis and burst into laughter within the General's Mansion, celebrating the success of their plan. Everyone in the mansion breathed a sigh of relief. Laughter echoed through the courtyard of the General's Mansion, dispelling the gloom that had hung over everyone for the past few days.
“Miss Lin, your mind-reading ability deserves the most credit for successfully thwarting Murong Xuan’s plot this time. If you hadn’t foreseen their plan, we probably wouldn’t have been able to deal with it so smoothly.” Xiao Yichen said to Lin Wan’er sincerely with a grateful expression.
Lin Wan'er smiled slightly and replied softly, "Young Master Xiao, you flatter me. This is also the result of everyone's concerted efforts. Without your wise decision and the brave fighting of the soldiers, I alone would not have been able to accomplish anything."
At this moment, the general's steward, accompanied by a group of servants, filed in carrying fine wines and delicacies, filling the stone table in the courtyard. The wine shimmered enticingly in the sunlight, and the dishes emitted a mouthwatering aroma.
"Young master, young lady, this great victory is truly a blessing for our Rong Kingdom. This old servant has specially ordered some light wine and snacks to celebrate your triumph," the steward said respectfully.
Xiao Yichen smiled and nodded: "The butler is very kind. Everyone has worked hard today, let's sit down and have a drink together."
Everyone gathered around the table, the atmosphere lively and cheerful. The soldiers drank from large bowls and ate large chunks of meat, releasing their post-battle fatigue and stress. The generals chatted about the highlights of the battle, occasionally bursting into hearty laughter.
"In this battle, our ambush tactics were perfectly timed. Murong Xuan's elite troops thought they could successfully launch a surprise attack, but they didn't expect to fall headlong into our trap," a general said excitedly, his face beaming with pride.
"Haha, that's right. It's all thanks to your brilliant strategy, young master. You had already deployed troops along their possible attack routes, leaving them no way to escape." Another general chimed in, raising his wine cup to toast Xiao Yichen.
Xiao Yichen raised his wine glass, stood up, and said, "Fellow soldiers, this victory is not my achievement alone, but the result of everyone's blood and sweat. Facing Murong Xuan's conspiracy, we did not back down and remained united; this was the key to our victory. I toast you all!" With that, he drank it all in one gulp.
Everyone stood up, raised their glasses in a toast, and shouted, "Defend Rong Kingdom!" Their voices resounded through the sky, displaying their lofty aspirations and heroic spirit.
Watching this lively scene, Lin Wan'er felt a deep sense of satisfaction. She knew how precious it was to have such a group of loyal and brave people fighting to protect their homeland in this chaotic world.
After a few rounds of drinks, Xiao Yichen said to Chen Feng, "Mr. Chen, although we have won this battle, we cannot let our guard down. Although Murong Xuan has suffered heavy losses, he will certainly not give up easily. We need to further strengthen our defenses, and at the same time, we should also consider a strategy of taking the initiative."
Chen Feng nodded slightly: "What you say is absolutely right, young master. I am already thinking about the next step of the plan. We can set up more watchtowers in the border areas to strengthen intelligence gathering so that we can detect Murong Xuan's movements earlier. In addition, we can also join forces with Liang to impose economic sanctions on Mu, weaken their national strength, and strike at Murong Xuan from the side."
Xiao Yichen pondered for a moment: "Mr. Chen's suggestion is excellent. Economic sanctions may put Murong Xuan in a difficult situation, but their implementation requires careful consideration so as not to affect the normal lives of the people of the three kingdoms. This matter needs to be discussed in detail."
Just as everyone was discussing, a soldier rushed over and knelt on one knee: "Young master, there is a group of people outside requesting an audience, saying they want to thank you and your soldiers for protecting us."
Xiao Yichen was slightly taken aback, then stood up: "Quickly invite them in."
A moment later, a group of civilians, led by soldiers, entered the general's mansion. They carried food, clothing, and other items prepared by themselves, their faces beaming with gratitude.
“Young Master Xiao, thanks to your and your soldiers’ valiant fighting, we were able to protect our homes. This is a small token of our people’s gratitude; please accept it, Young Master.” An old man stepped forward and said, tears glistening in his eyes.
Xiao Yichen quickly stepped forward to help the old man up: "Old man, this is what we should do. Protecting the people of Rong Kingdom is my duty, I cannot accept these things."
The people said one after another, "Young master, you must accept it. If it weren't for you, we would probably be homeless by now. You are a great hero of our Rong Kingdom."
Seeing the sincere looks in the people's eyes, Xiao Yichen was deeply moved. He said, "In that case, I will accept this food and distribute it to the soldiers. Please take the clothes back with you to keep your elderly and children warm."
The people nodded in agreement. A young woman stepped forward and handed Lin Wan'er a bouquet of flowers: "Miss Lin, you've worked hard too. We admire your wisdom and courage. This bouquet is for you."
Lin Wan'er accepted the flowers and said with a smile, "Thank you. It's what I should do."
Amidst the people's gratitude, Xiao Yichen's resolve to protect Rong Kingdom grew even stronger. He knew that he carried the hopes and trust of the people of Rong Kingdom on his shoulders, and he must not let them down.
After the victory celebration banquet, Xiao Yichen took Lin Wan'er for a stroll in the garden of the General's Mansion. The garden was full of blooming flowers, their fragrance filling the air. A gentle breeze blew, and petals drifted down, creating a scene like a fairyland.
“Miss Lin, you’ve worked hard these past few days. Once the situation stabilizes a bit, you can get some rest,” Xiao Yichen said with concern.
Lin Wan'er gently shook her head: "Young Master Xiao, Murong Xuan is still eyeing Rong Kingdom covetously. How can I rest in peace? I am willing to protect Rong Kingdom with you until we completely defeat Murong Xuan."
Looking into Lin Wan'er's determined eyes, Xiao Yichen felt a surge of warmth in his heart: "Miss Lin, it is my good fortune to have you by my side."
The two strolled through the garden, enjoying this rare moment of tranquility. However, they also knew that this was merely the calm before the storm, and even greater challenges awaited them in the future.
In the Kingdom of Mu, Murong Xuan was bedridden. Upon hearing that the Kingdom of Rong was celebrating its victory, his anger was reignited.
"Xiao Yichen, I will not be defeated by you so easily. The day I recover will be the day your Rong Kingdom is destroyed," Murong Xuan said through gritted teeth.
His advisors advised, "Your Highness, you are still recovering and should not get angry. We need to plan carefully and find the weaknesses of Rong Kingdom."
Murong Xuan snorted coldly: "I have my own plans. Go and make the arrangements, keep a close eye on the movements of Rong and Liang, and report to me immediately when you have the chance."
"Yes, Your Highness." The strategist accepted the order and left.
Upon returning to the capital of Rong Kingdom, Xiao Yichen continued his efforts to strengthen city defenses and military training. He personally inspected the city walls and fortifications, and placed even stricter demands on the soldiers' training.
Lin Wan'er used her mind-reading ability to investigate whether any of Murong Xuan's spies had infiltrated the capital. She traversed the streets and alleys, leaving no suspicious clue unchecked.
One day, Lin Wan'er sensed an unusual aura at the market. Following the scent, she discovered a suspicious-looking man. Lin Wan'er approached him and used her mind-reading ability to perceive his inner thoughts.
She sensed that the man was filled with hatred and hostility, and that he was secretly observing the capital's defenses. A thought struck Lin Wan'er; she discreetly followed the man to a secluded courtyard.
Lin Wan'er quietly sneaked into the courtyard and found several men discussing something. She hid to the side and used her mind-reading ability to listen to their conversation.
"We must convey the defense intelligence of the capital to His Highness as soon as possible so that he can send troops to attack Rong Kingdom at an early date," a man said.
“That’s right. But we must be careful and not be discovered. Rong Kingdom’s defenses are very tight now, especially that Lin Wan’er; her mind-reading ability is truly terrifying,” another man said.
Lin Wan'er sneered inwardly, deciding to play along. She used her mind-reading ability to implant false information into the minds of these men, then quietly left the courtyard.
Back by Xiao Yichen's side, Lin Wan'er told him what had happened. Xiao Yichen smiled slightly and said, "Miss Lin, this plan is brilliant. We can use this false information to set a trap and wait for Murong Xuan to take the bait."
Therefore, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er began to prepare a new plan to deal another heavy blow to Murong Xuan.
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