Yun Zhe stood at the intersection, watching the dust rising in the distance, and couldn't help but feel nervous. He turned his head to look at Jerok, who was hiding behind a big tree, and gave a wry smile.
However, when the elves appeared, Yun Zhe couldn't help but show surprise. The White Tiger led the way, followed by two knights. Judging from their attire, they weren't ordinary cavalrymen, but rather high-ranking officers like generals. Behind the two knights was a huge carriage, pulled by four horses—a rare sight indeed.
The white tiger roared and stopped about twenty or thirty steps in front of Yun Zhe.
The elven princess jumped down from the white tiger, smiled, and pointed to the two men behind her. "They are two generals. They will be the ones discussing this matter with you today."
"Yun Zhe!" A cry rang out, and a small, thin figure jumped down from the carriage. Yun Zhe looked closely and realized it was the poet. This Aluru hadn't changed much; if anything, his clothes were slightly more presentable. And the overall impression he gave was still that of someone as cautious as ever.
Yun Zhe looked at the elf princess with a puzzled expression, and then he understood what this Aluru person had come for.
“So you do know each other. That makes things much easier. Your old acquaintance now commands an army of two thousand men.” The elven princess smiled with satisfaction.
Yun Zhe's face showed neither joy nor anger; he simply nodded expressionlessly. His previous relaxed expression vanished, his face becoming as expressionless as wood. This change was noticed by the elf princess, who felt a sense of foreboding.
The princess reached out and stopped the poet, gesturing for him to stop. The poet looked at the elf with confusion and astonishment, but seeing the elf's resolute gaze and Yun Zhe's noncommittal expression in the distance, he stopped and carefully climbed back into the carriage. Before getting in, he still cautiously glanced at Yun Zhe.
Yun Zhe glanced at Jerok behind a tree and nodded. Jerok scanned everyone present and ran deeper into the woods.
"Your men have gone to inform the Earl, but have you considered what if your Earl doesn't agree with your actions?"
"So I never said it was my idea; I said it was the elves' idea. After all, there's no room for negotiation on this matter. As I said last night, I was just giving the elves another possibility. As for whether you leave or not, that's something I really can't decide."
The fairy princess smiled knowingly. "But she might still refuse."
"No, the only thing she might refuse is your terms. So the Earl will definitely send someone over, even if it's just to hear your demands."
"How do you know she won't refuse our request?" The elf princess straightened up, her eyes shining brightly.
"As I said last night, elves are a peace-loving race, and peace is our common goal. As long as we share the same goal, there's always something to talk about."
The fairy princess smiled with satisfaction, then asked a question with great curiosity.
"Yun Zhe, where did you learn all this? I thought about it all night, but I really can't remember having such a wise person around here."
A fleeting look of embarrassment crossed Yun Zhe's face, then he touched his nose. "I can't answer that question."
The elf stared at Yun Zhe for a long time, then turned away and said, "It's your turn."
One of the knights glanced at the elven princess and said loudly, "We are not only providing soldiers, but also weapons and food. We want two things, but first, you need to prove that you are indeed capable of controlling this land, instead of dragging us into an endless vortex of support and public opinion."
Yun Zhe glanced at the three people in front of him. The elf princess had already mounted her white tiger and slowly strolled to the side of the carriage. The other two elves jumped off their horses and walked to Yun Zhe with serious expressions.
Yun Zhe nodded. "This request is reasonable. I have a plan that can help us inherit the land in Lunlang, but it could very well lead to a protracted war with Lunlang. As for the scale of the war, it depends not only on our ideas, but also on the will of the other side."
What is your plan?
Yun Zhe revealed his plan in its entirety, leaving the two elf generals dumbfounded.
In the distance, the elf princess also cast a curious glance. She had heard about the plan and was very interested in Yun Zhe's idea.
"Why would the human troops cooperate so well?" another elven general asked, puzzled.
“They have no choice; they can only do this. Even if communication between the two sides is smooth, they will find that there is no better way.”
The two elven generals exchanged a glance and both took a deep breath. Then, they both thought of the same thing: "This Yun Zhe is very powerful, but he is also very dangerous."
Then they thought of the fire that night. They stared at Yun Zhe and asked almost in unison, "You started the fire that night, didn't you, Mr. Yun Zhe?"
"That fire wasn't just my idea; it was a method decided by many people." Yun Zhe spoke slowly and deliberately, displaying a righteous and awe-inspiring demeanor. "Moreover, if the elven cavalry that were pursuing us hadn't been so lax and arrogant, so eager for glory and so reckless, and so vigilant, they wouldn't have fallen into the trap and suffered such heavy losses."
Yun Zhe's last words seemed to strike a chord with the two generals. They had always dismissed the pursuit that night, feeling that His Highness had disregarded military discipline too much in his attempt to curry favor with the court nobles. Of course, they were even more relieved that their descendants hadn't followed those people.
"A rabble will only bring shame to the elven forces." But he certainly couldn't say that out loud.
“You are indeed a worthy opponent, and it seems that cooperation is indeed possible,” one general said. The other general remained silent, only nodding slightly in agreement.
Yun Zhe breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he caught the fleeting hint of smugness in their hearts; otherwise, he would have had a really hard time getting through this test today.
Yun Zhe had temporarily gained the elves' trust, but since the person who could actually make the decisions hadn't arrived, the elves didn't have much to say about some of the details. They simply agreed that the next round of negotiations would take place outside Donic City, and that the Aruru people would provide mercenaries. After that, the elves abandoned the wagon full of food and tents and returned to Donic City.
Two Aruru people were also left behind along with the carriage.
Yun Zhe stared at the nervous poet and the other Aruru, who was puffing out his chest and trying to appear calm. He asked in a low voice, "Tell me, how did you two become mercenaries again?"
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